25

Coming Home

"Darling!" Miia falls weeping into my arms. "Darling!"

"Aw, my poor Miia." Chuckling, I hug her as Smith closes the front door behind me. "You missed me?"

"Uh-huh." She sniffles. "So much. What would I have done if I had to bring up our daughter alone?"

More laughter escapes me as I carry her to the living room where everyone is waiting. "That would be bad. But now we know that's not happening."

"Uh-huh." She launches into fresh tears.

I give her to Smith, who starts patting her on the head, not unlike me. Cerea is standing behind her, her teeth worrying her lips, her tears held back in the corners of her eyes.

"I'm back, Cerea." I smile at her.

"Welcome…" She starts weeping, "… back, my dear Master!"

Without speaking, I open my arms. She kneels and hugs me, weeping like a girl reunited with her mother.

Unlike Miia, all I do to console her is pat her head, returning the intensity of her hug.

"I thought I had failed in my duty as your knight," she sniffles, her forehead against my shoulder, her body trembling. "I thought I could not protect you and if something… had happened, I would never have forgiven myself."

"Is that so, Cerea?" I chuckle as I continue patting her head. "What would you have done about our daughter?"

"Huh?" She meets my eyes for the first time.

"Don't lose hope so soon, Cerea." I put my forehead against hers. "I couldn't protect myself. If you couldn't, then it's not a problem. I don't hold it against you."

"Really?"

"Really, my love. If I had anything against you, I wouldn't be hugging you like this."

"So, if you don't hug me, that means something has made you upset with me. Should I remember that from now on?"

"No." I kiss her on the lips, cupping her cheeks. "When I'll be upset with you, I'll let you know, so you can make amends."

"How will I make amends?" She cocks her head to the side.

"We'll worry about that when we get there." I pat her head. "For now, get me an orange."

"As thou command!" She rushes to the kitchen.

Mero is sitting on her wheelchair, waiting for me to finish consoling Cerea.

I walk to her and fresh tears appear on the corners of her eyes. She balls her fist, crushing the handkerchief in her hand.

I hug her. She puts her face against my belly.

I pat the back of her head, waiting for her to speak.

"I thought you had left us for someone else. You had met a beautiful girl and decided to leave us all behind with your children, to fend for ourselves."

She is shaking with sobs as she speaks. Her voice is broken with her tears, but I get her point and have a hard time controlling my laughter.

I stoop before her and hug her. "That tragedy of yours will never come to pass, Mero, but keep imagining. It keeps things lively."

"Hai!" She brightens.

"Now, girls." I stand up and clap my hands together.

Having their attention, I walk to the front door, taking the orange Cerea brought me from her hand. "I'd like you to meet someone."

"Who?" Miia, Cerea, and Mero ask in unison.

I open the front door. Rachnera walks in, her gaze on my family tentative.

"This is Rachnera," I say after locking the door and entwining my fingers with Rachnera's, who smiles and blushes at me. "She'll be a part of this family from now on. Oh, she's the one who kidnapped me."

"What!" Miia and Cerea's wrath is palpable.

"How can you allow her in this house, Darling?" Miia slithers to me, Cerea close behind her.

"What's the problem with her?"

"For starters," Miia pauses as she and Cerea browse Rachnera with their intense glares. "She kidnapped you."

"Hai!" Cerea joins in. "I will not allow her close to you."

"Don't worry, Cerea." I chuckle and take Cerea's hand, making her blush. "She didn't hurt me. It was all just a big misunderstanding."

"Misunderstanding?" Mero asks, a questionmark appearing above her head.

"Yeah. It's a long story so let's not get into that. She'll be a part of this family, and you'll accept her. There'll be no prejudice about anyone's appearance here."

There is silence and stares focused on me.

"Did I say something wrong?"

"Darling." Miia sighs. "That is the last thing that can happen in this house."

"I agree with her," says Cerea.

"So do I." Mero raises her hand like an enthusiastic child in class.

"You know better than anyone that she won't meet any prejudice here." Miia slithers to us. "We have been targets of that too. Don't you remember the couple?"

"The one I punched into the wall for hurting you?"

"That's the one." Miia gives me a bashful smile. "With you around, how can there possibly be any racism? You accepted us without any bad feeling. The least we can do is pass on that kindness."

Rachnera smiles and kisses my cheek. "You're pretty nice, aren't you, Honey?"

"What are you doing!" The smile on Miia's face is replaced by rage, like the Sun hiding behind thunder clouds.

"What?" Rachnera locks her arm with mine. "He's my honey. I can kiss him whenever I want. Can't you? You call him Darling, I call him Honey. You have a problem with that, honey?"

"None." I smile at her.

"Aw." She giggles and rubs her face against mine.

I avoid looking at Miia, who is fuming with rage like a volcano.

"Yamato." Smith walks to me, her stockinged feet thumping on the floor. "Where are my two assistants?"

"Waiting outside."

"I guess I should leave then."

"Not yet. You, Zombina, and Tio will have dinner with us before you leave."

"Sounds great!" She goes into her happy child mode. "I thought you'd never ask."

"Of course I'd ask." I chuckle as I touch her shoulder.

"Rachnera." Smith turns her attention to the newcomer. "I'll take care of the paperwork, to officially make you a part of Darling's family."

"Darling?" Rachnera half-whispers to me.

"Yep!" Smith smiles. "I'm one of his wives, you know."

"Oh, yes. I remember."

"Good." Smith nods.

"Are we all gonna stand here?" I raise my hands. "Let's go inside. I'm starving."

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