Here’s my entry for the SMML Spring event. And yes, I’ve temporarily disabled anonymous reviews. Key word is temporarily; so don’t have a heart attack on me. This is going to be pretty short, but to the point, at least, I’m currently working on another project, so look out for that.

…..I LIVE.

OoOoOo

“No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.”

-Guinea

oOoOoO

Winter had finally loosened its grasp on the earth. The air was a balmy mixture of incense and new flower blossoms, swirling together and intoxicating every soul who came across it. In those blossom trees, the branches festooned in primrose pink, small birds cooed and fluttered about the tree’s outstretched limbs. Those mammoth plants coiled their roots in the thawed, rich soil, already shoots of merry green grass and tiny vines of flowers making themselves present. Spring had a way of doing that, slowly creeping up on winter, snuffing it out and making life anew.

People were that way also, it seemed.

There was a soft clack of glass upon glass, the green liquid of tea wriggling in the sunlight, thrown in through the open shoji doors. It swept over the objects in the small room, bathing everything in hazy yellow warmth. A warmth very much appreciated; spending those few months in nothing but snow had put more than one person at worry. “Isn’t that right…?” a woman spoke, pink lips curling into a smile, one hand straying over her swollen belly.

Seta Misao was indeed expecting a child.

She was seating in that little sunlit room, gazing out the open doors at the spring afternoon. She was no longer that flighty sixteen year old anymore, instead a woman of twenty-three, taller, her face and dark hair subdued greatly. Her attire had changed also, for now she wore cotton yukata’s and kimono’s fit for a married woman. As the weather was warm, the woman was donned in a light blue yukata, braided hair falling at her back. The lingering childlikeness had not disappeared however, and she could often be seen giggling happily with her husband. Who wouldn’t be happy in her situation; married, happy, and a little piece of themselves resting inside her at this moment….?

Misao let out an excited little laugh, both hands smoothing over her abdomen as the little one inside her kicked gently. “Soujiro!” she called, flipping the braided plait of hair over one shoulder, rising. Still in breathless giggles, she walked to the patio, still searching for her husband of three years. The birds in a nearby tree flittered nervously, and another light breeze veiled her form as her feet padded upon the smooth wood.

Her lips pulled into a small pout, and placing her hands on her hips, she stubbornly waited in place. “Seta Soujiro! Where are you! If I get my hands on you—ah!”

That pout pulled into a delighted grin, another peal of light laughter leaving her mouth as a pair of hands swept over her ribs. “Soujiro!” she gasped out, whirling around, facing the slightly taller man with a mixed look of joy and aggravation. “Where were you? You missed it, Sou!” She half whined, swinging her arms about his neck. “Oh, what did I miss? I was out helping Omasu with the orders...” he said, straightening out his rumpled white robe, looking down with adoration.

His smile coupled her own, and his slim fingers furled about her waist. Like the woman in front of him, the assassin turned husband had changed, greatly so. The false innocence about his features had softened, the blank rain colored eyes filled with life, yet he retained the calmness that he had always possessed. There was certainly something different about his presence too, and nary a man could tell that this was once the teenage assassin named Tenken no Soujiro.

His wife stamped her foot impatiently, tugging at the short brown locks at his nape. “What did you miss? You missed,” a sly grin met her lips, and her hands seized his quickly, placing them on her rounded stomach, “this.” Misao’s heart did a leap as his eyes widened, his fingers twitching under her own, his expression melting into a soft and wistful surprise. His gaze was fixated on that one area, before finally traveling up to her brightly smiling face.

“That’s…” he finally spoke, once again looking down, his hands traveling along the area where the unborn baby kicked insistently, “that’s ours?” he muttered quietly, coupling his gaze with her own.

The woman only nodded, looking down also and closing her green eyes as a small kiss was planted upon her forehead. “Yes,” was her only answer.

The winter had left its cold grip on the earth, and new expectations, new hopes, and new happiness accompanied the life of spring.

It was the beginning.

OOoOo

Throws confetti I always loved spring, and I hope you liked this little drabble..oneshot…thing, enough to leave me a nice review. Thanks to my new (and first) beta, White Rabbit for helping! Though, I think I should have concentrated on Sou a bit more…