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As the credits rolled on the classes movie night Eri all tuckered out still managed to give the class a good night. I carried her to the car Toshi helped me buckle her in the seat and we drove on home the singing rain melody still hummed on her lips. Her innocence reminds me of an old friend of mine. Today on August 17th we thought we lost him despite him being here only a small amount of time. As we park into our garage she sleepily stirs from resting on the window sill. Toshi goes ahead as she asks for ups like a toddler would. I obliged saying “Alright sweetie. I know you’re tired but you’re gonna have to change into your PJ’s by yourself.”
She nods “Okay Daddy I will.” Before I lift her up and she sweetly nestles into my shoulder.
I smile softly treasuring the moment as we head inside. Zashi lets the cats out in the living room but Toffee ends up following me and Eri to her room accompanying her as I briefly leave to let her change and say goodnight to Toshi. Zashi heads to Toshi’s room too soon after saying goodnight to him before joining me with Eri. We tuck her in together, Zashi sets up her lullaby music and then we each give her a goodnight kiss on the forehead as her lullaby’s familiar intro plays along. An intro I’ve known for a long time, one I’ll know for all time.
“Oyasuminasai princess. Sweet dreams.”
“Oyasuminasai sweetheart. Sleep well.”
She smiles preciously and says with a yawn in her voice “Oyasumi *yawn* nasai
papa and daddy. Sweet dreams to you too. See you tomorrow…”
We nod as we both say “See you tomorrow…” and I smile as I slowly back away towards the door and watch her nestle further into the pillow like she did on my shoulder with a huge smile of her own.
Zashi goes on ahead but doesn’t go into our room piquing my curiosity. I leave Eri’s door open a crack to still allow the song to drift across the house and follow him to find him standing in the kitchen with a sake bottle and two shot glasses waiting on the counter. My smile turns thankful a bit but I shake my head before filling a glass and giving it to the mini altar of another friend “Cheers Nem. Payment for stealing your day last year and having you clean up the mess I made.”
I grab one of the lavender scented electric candles from the bottom drawer of the altar, light it and give a short prayer before standing up and returning to the kitchen. I put away the Sake bottle, turn around and take in the light in front of me. He’s smiling gloriously in the moonlight, a sun eclipsing the moon. I come closer to him and we embrace. I kiss him on the cheek warm in the cold night air and whisper “Cheers Zashi.” He chuckles a little as he squeezes tighter “Cheers Shou. Staying sober?”
I nod “Yeah besides I got hope now and what’s brewing in the present are all good things.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I don’t think so, I know so.”
His glorious smile grows wider and I too hold tighter, saying “I don’t want to lose sight of these good things ever again.”
“You won’t Shou, not with my help. I’ll help you protect them.”
“As I’ll protect you all too…”
He nods gently and then still in our embrace he leads me to dance with him, Boo and Toffee lightly playing with each other as they follow along our movements with Eri’s lullaby still drifting around us
~
Oh, and on these quiet days
Where souls embrace so silently.
Oh, the rain may wash away.
All these words that young lovers say.
And maybe the walls will crumble
And the sun may refuse to shine
When I say, I need you
Baby, you've gotta know
Baby, you gotta know that's for all time
Baby, you gotta know that's for all time
Say that you'll never go, that's for all time
Baby, you gotta know that's for all time
Baby, you gotta know that's for all time
Baby, you gotta know that's for all time ~
Being lulled by the song and entranced by each other we both ended up tripping into our comfy couch. He gives a little oof sound with the impact. Boo and Toffee pounce on to the coffee table as we both share soft chuckles at our little blunder and I ask “You good? I still have my leg on.”. He gives a gentle nod and says contently “Yeah I’m just fine.”. Boo and Toffee both give a meow at the same time. We smile and pet the two of them the best we can before cuddling closer to each other. He cradles my head as it rests by his heartbeat filled with rhythm and soul like every other part of him. He softly smiles and kisses my forehead before saying “I love you Shouta…” .
I snuggle closer briefly before sharing his smile as I go to return the kiss, aiming for his lips instead of his forehead. Soon after giving it I somewhat sleepily reply “Me too Hizashi… I love you so much.” There is only comfort as he manages to grab the blanket from between us and the back of the couch and drape it over our bodies. Boo and Toffee curl up together too on a little cat bed we have near the mantle holding the TV. He sighs contently as both of us begin to sink further into the couch and he also sounding half asleep says “Oyasuminasai love… Sweet dreams.” I hold him and the blanket closer. I see Toffee yawn and soon follow suit my yawn carrying into my voice as I respond “*yawn* Oyasuminasai. Sweet dreams dear have the sweetest of them all…”. Then we drifted asleep as Eri’s lullabies continued on their shuffle, ever embracing all of us on this good Friday evening, one that will continue to happen for what I’m sure would feel like thousands of years to come.