I seem to get more inspiration for one shots than my actual stories these days.

NOTE: Misao and Soujiro are both 26 and are married….and YEP they do have a nice little bundle of hyperactive energy named Kenjiro.

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Snow crunched lightly under the new found pressure, the once undisturbed blanket of feather like snow succumbing to the weight effortlessly. Frost hung lightly on leafless trees, their naked arms stretching to the off white color of clouds wrapping thick fingers over the sun.

Childish giggling filled the chill air, bouncing from the skeletal frames of surrounding trees only to fade soon after. “Wait Kenjiro, don’t go too far ahead now!” a warm, motherly voice accompanied the laughter, lightening the atmosphere like such a pure sound would.

“We’ve got such a lively thing haven’t we?” A soft voice, a male voice even in all it’s light texture of flow from the vocal cords. More gleeful laughter filled the air, sweet bubbles shattering the silence deeper than eternity it seemed. Another low chuckle, leashed through closed lips.

“Yes, reminds me so much of myself when I was young.” Misao stated tenderly, slender eyes taking in the sight of the five year old mere yards ahead, shrieking with joy as he jumped into a billow of white. She was more of a young woman now, instead of the flighty, firecracker of a girl she was years before.

Her face was more heart shaped, pretty contour framed gracefully by tamed dark locks. Her once wild bangs were subdued, falling over her eyes in a thin veil of soft stings. Thick eyelashes encircled glittering sea green gems. Her small mouth curled into a smile, spilling forth another group of giggles.

Her body was enveloped in a flattering lavender Kimono, her old Ninja suit long discarded. Her chest was complete, delicately fitting into her proportions like a china doll. Over her trim shoulders hung a thick cotton Haori, her slim hands folded into it’s cloth. Her braid whipped behind her in a steady motion, gold clasp at the end glinting dimly.

She was suddenly pulled gently to another’s side, smiling warmly and snuggling her head on his shoulder while one willowy arm snaked around his lean waist. A breath of warm air stirred her bangs, soft mummers tickling her ear and neck softly. “Oh doesn’t he though? I remember those times you would squeak with utter joy and bound down the stairs like he does.”

“Is that so? Well, what about you? With that giggle of yours, it’s no wonder Okina mistook you for a girl!” She replied with a slap on his arm. “But…you don’t look so much of a girl now.” she whispered with amusement painting her voice. Indeed, her words rang true, the almost too feminine frame and face he once had was filled out slightly than prior to his most unexpected marriage. The cropped hair was longer, sleek, thick locks falling well over his shoulders, controlled by a leather strip bound at the base of his neck.

Somewhat uneven bangs fell below his eyebrows, hanging close to cobalt whirls that had lost their emptiness long ago. Though his face was still feminine, it held proof of adulthood that it had lacked. He was slightly taller, leanly muscled but not thin or wiry either. He wore a simple white Hakama, topped off with a faded blue gi and dark blue Haori.

Seta Soujiro leaned his head to the top of his wife by six years, savoring the warmth that her body provided him like so many times before. He felt her slender, warm fingers twine with his as she let go of his waist. “Sou..” she sighed happily, shutting her eyes as they continued down the snowy trail with the piece of their love chuckling madly as he trotted little legs through the snow.

“Mama!” the child shrieked gaily as he picked a handful of downy light snow and threw it in the air above him. The five year old, a short, cheerful package of energy, loved to go outside and see what his curious hands and eyes would find. Chestnut brown hair framed the boys’ face, a handful of bound short hair resting at his neck. His eyes, the color of a green ocean, sparkled with delight as a snowflake landed on his outstretched finger.

On his slightly chubby shoulders hung a thicker, well sewn Haori that reached his knees; and solid indigo gi covered by a flapping scarf .His blue hakama swished about his ankles as he ran down the well used path, thick tabi dry as ever.

“So….what are we going to do when we go home? You know how much he likes to go in this.” Misao laughed softly, waiting patiently for her husbands reply. “Well, let’s let him have a little fun, I’m enjoying this too.” He turned his head slightly, capturing her lips in a gentle caress. “Yick!” They departed with laughs, watching their sons’ face change at their action. Kenjiro stuck his tongue out, crinkling his little nose and went about in the snow once more.

He stopped running, however, turning back to face his parents with a wicked grin on his face. “Kenjiro…what are you up to now?” Misao warily asked, smile dancing on her lips even through her tone. The said son let out another fit of mad giggles, scooping up a handful of snow and padding to them happily.

When he was close enough, the toddler hurled the ball of snow as far as his tiny limbs would allow, clapping with laughs as it hit his father square in the forehead. Kenjiro screeched gleefully as his father chased after, a warm smile painted on his face. Misao watched with contentment, laughing out loud as her husband scooped the toddler up and began spinning in circles.

“Stop that now, he’s going to get sick!” Misao tried to chide, but soon her laughter and bright smile gave her true feelings. “Oh alright, worry much.” Soujiro said tenderly, setting Kenjiro down on the snow, laughing softly as he tried to regain his balance. Soujiro caught the boy softly as he stumbled, lifting him above his head and placing him on his shoulders.

Kenjiro’s chortles died down, eyelids suddenly becoming heavy with weariness as he settled on his fathers’ shoulders, resting a rather plump cheek on the top of his head. Soujiro held onto his feet gently, wriggling at the ticklish brush of tiny fingers curling around his neck loosely.

He felt a petite hand rest on his arm, smiling fondly at the sight of his happy wife as they turned around, coming back the way they originally came. “Anata.” Misao murmured softly a few moments later, bright eyes fixed intently on her husbands face. “Yes?” He responded, shifting his neck to gaze down on her beloved face. Misao’s hand strayed to atop of his, squeezing gently, long eyelashes covering her eyes as a loving wife and mother would at a treasured memory or uttered phrase.

Safe, surrounded by him, the warmth his body gave off, his familiar scent, made everything seem as if it were wrapped in a silky haze. Mine. She thought, unbidden realizations circling her mind as she gazed at the two most precious things in her life. Ours. it supplied scant seconds later as her gaze shifted to the young child resting peacefully atop his shoulders.

Understanding her silent assent, he nodded slowly, bringing one hand to tangle into the wealth of her hair as he drew her nearer. The air was still around them, silence hung comfortably light, shifting slightly by faint bird calls and the nearing sounds of civilization.

Kyoto was a less busy place in this weather, an occasional laugh from restaurants, dishes clanking and carts moving among the streets broke the air. It was already late into the evening, the suns’ dying rays casting orange patterns on the city, the faintest tint of early stars showing in the pinkish red sky.

They both lived a small two blocks away from Misao’s adopted family, they often visited the friendly group of ninja’s, and having no need for commands from their reliable Okishira, Misao and her new family had moved to a home just big enough to house three people and possible guests.

The trio reached their destination, Misao sliding open the door and walking inside, her husband careful to slide the door shut quietly as to not wake the child perched on him lazily. The house was quiet and roomy, a standard kitchen and eating table, dishes piled on small shelves on the wall.

A small staircase led up to the upper rooms, both just across from each other for a parental reassurance. Soujiro padded up the stairs after his wife, carefully lowering the slumbering Kenjiro into the laid out futon in his modest room.

Misao gently covered him with a blanket, gazing on the sleeping child and brushing strands of hair affectionately. Soujiro looked on them from open door, adoration shining in his clear indigo eyes, thanking whatever god that had allowed his life to take such a drastic turn.

Giving her napping son one last, loving caress, Misao got up, smiling broadly as she joined Soujiro, closing the door behind her as the last rays of the sun left the skies. Soujiro opened the door to their room, slipping off his Haori and tabi, assisting Misao take off her own.

Their double futon was already out on the floor, Soujiro leaned down, sighing with contentment as he made himself comfortable as Misao changed into a sleeping Yukata like the one he already donned when she sat admiring their son.

She came in a moment later, dressed in a white sleeping robe, hair loose to fall about her waist in waves of soft tresses. She joined him in bed, shifting to make herself comfortable as he pulled the blankets over them both, wrapping his arms snugly at her waist.

Misao sighed his name, resting her head in the crook of his shoulder, bent knees atop of his own, being cradled gently against his form. The married couple fell asleep like that, no longer plagued with bloody rain or lonelyness in each others’ embrace.

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Echh….I don’t like how the end came out, but I liked. Hope you do too! Keep them Sou/Mi fics coming guys!