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Dinner barely qualifies as such, a mound of unseasoned rice and miso soup, but Hikaku is feeling queasy enough that he fears trying to eat anything more would make a quick and sudden reappearance. It also means he doesn't need to encourage Kagami to try anything new; rice is simple, familiar, and easy enough to clean up that Hikaku is happy to let Kagami try to feed himself.
Grains of rice stick to the toddler's chubby cheeks, but there is less mess on the table than usual. The chopsticks Tobirama brought in, designed for a child's smaller fingers, are definitely helping. A month ago, this far into the meal would have seen him put his chopsticks down in favor of using his fingers. Now when he does it, it's to signal that he's finished.
"Are you full?" Hikaku asks.
Kagami nods and waits patiently for Hikaku to clean his face and fingers before standing. It reveals a few more grains of rice on floor than Hikaku expected, but they're easy enough to collect, not having been ground into the tatami.
"See bugs?" Kagami asks, his eyes wide and hopeful.
It's not quite sunset. They have a little time.
"Yes, we can go look for cicadas," Hikaku says. He stacks their dirty dishes on a tray to clean later and clears the table of any stray grains of rice before they have a chance to harden.
Kagami stands by the door, bouncing on his toes as he waits for Hikaku to finish. He's such a good child. It makes Hikaku's heart ache for the boy's parents. He hopes they haven't lingered after their deaths, that their bodies were found and given the appropriate rites. But if they haven't moved on, then Hikaku hopes that they can see Kagami is happy. This isn't what he would have chosen for either of them, but it's all too easy to imagine how much worse they could be.
As it stands, Kagami might be a hostage against Hikaku's good behavior, but he's not ill-treated. He's alive and healthy and growing every day. He is not afraid of their jailer, and freely seeks and receives Tobirama's affection. So far, Hikaku has done nothing to discourage it. A happy child is much easier to raise than an unhappy one.
Kagami wriggles with excitement as Hikaku slides the door open, chakra crackling along the frame as the fuuinjutsu separates and allows outside noise into the house. The cry of the cicadas calls Kagami out onto the engawa and down the stone steps into the back garden.
"Stay near the house," Hikaku says in gentle reminder.
Kagami doesn't acknowledge him, too intent on finding a cicada to hold. He can't wander too far —there are fuuinjutsu anchors in the garden that prevent them from leaving— but Hikaku would prefer to keep watch from the house. He's not sure he has the energy to chase Kagami if he chooses to wander.
Hikaku carefully lowers himself to sit on the edge of the engawa, letting his bare feet dangle over the grass. The cool autumn air helps with his nausea, and he closes his eyes to breathe.
The baby inside him kicks. One would think that he would be used to it by now, but it never fails to startle him. If all goes well, he's about two months out from giving birth and allowing Tobirama to fashion another intangible lock for the chains that keep him here. Half-Senju or not, Hikaku would never leave an Uchiha child behind.
"Look!"
Hikaku opens his eyes to see Kagami grinning up at him, a cicada cupped in his open palms.
"That's very nice, Kagami-chan, are you being gentle?"
"Mm!" Kagami squats lower and lower until he can sit in the grass, his eyes on the cicada as it calls out. He stares in fascination as its wings rustle, his tiny hands held open so that it can choose to fly away if it wants to.
The sun sinks lower in the sky as Kagami remains engrossed, and Hikaku takes a moment to catch his breath. He'd like to take advantage of the peace, but if they're going to be inside before dark, Hikaku needs to start the process now.
"Alright, you need to put the cicada back. We need to go inside."
"No." Kagami's answer and frown is completely expected.
"It's almost nighttime, Kagami-chan. We need to go inside. Can you put the cicada back or do you need help?"
Kagami shakes his head. "No help!"
"Then you need to put the cicada down. Can you tell it goodnight before we go inside?"
Kagami looks thoughtfully at the cicada, and then carefully puts it down in the grass. "Bye-bye!"
"Thank you, you did a wonderful job," Hikaku praises. "It's time to go inside now."
Kagami wriggles on the grass and holds his hands up. "Up please!"
Hikaku holds back a sigh as he gets to his feet. He can do it. He will do it. He's just tired. But picking Kagami up will be a million times easier to deal with than trying to coax him up the stairs.
"I'll get him."
Hikaku stiffens as Tobirama's voice calls out. The man strides across the garden and swoops down to pick Kagami up, who giggles and presses his small hands against Tobirama's cheeks.
"Tobi home!"
Tobirama bounces Kagami in his arms for a moment, eliciting another happy giggle. "That's right, I'm home. And it's time for you to be in bed."
"No bath?"
"Do you need a bath?" Tobirama asks the question, but tilts his head to look at Hikaku for the answer.
"His feet are probably filthy," Hikaku says while Kagami shakes his head, "But otherwise, he should be fine."
Tobirama hums and walks back to the engawa, setting Kagami on the edge. "You don't need to take a bath if you stick your hands and feet out. Can you do that?"
"Mm!"
A single hand seal pulls a curl of water from the air that curves around Kagami's hands to wash them clean and then twists down to also catch his feet and ankles. It's an efficient and playful way to get clean —Kagami giggles during the entire process— except for the way that it makes Hikaku's heart catch in his throat. He's seen that water on the battlefield, used with that exact same precision, to cut down fully grown men. The casual way Tobirama uses his water affinity around the house will never stop making Hikaku nervous.
"All done." Tobirama stretches the dirty water out into mist that falls into the garden without disrupting any of the cicadas. "Go inside, it's time for bed."
Hikaku makes to follow after him to set the futon out, but fingers curl around his wrist and gently tug him back. He doesn't fight it when Tobirama turns him around, lifting his chin to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry about the mess, we weren't expecting you home for another few days."
"Children are messy," Tobirama says dismissively. "Touka came by with food?"
"Yes, two days ago." With enough fresh food to last them a week, even though she came by more often than that.
"Are you feeling ill?"
"No," Hikaku denies in confusion, only to realize why Tobirama is asking. He must have seen the dirty dishes. "A little queasy, but I'm fine."
"Let me see."
It's not really a question when his fingers are already plucking at the knot of Hikaku's obi. Without the support, his yukata falls open around the bulge of his stomach.
Hikaku can no longer see the swooping fuuinjutsu inked onto his pelvis, but the image is burned into the back of his mind. It'e easy to follow the shape of it as Tobirama investigates, sending careful tendrils of chakra along the lines to make sure it remains stable. It's an intimate process that makes his blood heat with arousal, and, more annoyingly, stirs the child within him. Without any clothing in the way, he can see the way his skin moves as he's kicked from the inside.
Tobirama hums, low and pleased. It settles the flicker of worry in Hikaku that had lit at the careful examination.
"You're doing well," Tobirama says, removing his hands only to place one back on the curve of Hikaku's stomach.
Healing chakra spreads over his skin like a net, not cool but soothing nonetheless, and the baby settles. Tobirama's other hand reaches for Hikaku's temple, another wave of healing chakra easing his nausea until it fades away into nothing.
Hikaku leans into Tobirama's chest, suddenly exhausted. There are still things he needs to do, but he wants nothing more than to go to sleep himself. Possibly right here, since that would mean he doesn't have to move.
"Lean back a little," Tobirama murmurs.
"Mm?" His eyelids feel too heavy to move, but he tries to do as he's told.
"Good enough." Tobirama loosely reties his yukata and Hikaku takes a step back, trying to wake himself up enough to go inside and get Kagami settled so he can finish the little tasks he couldn't do during the day and go to bed himself.
He doesn't get very far.
Tobirama lifts him into his arms, carrying him into the bedroom where the futon has already been laid out. Kagami is fast asleep beneath the blankets, clutching a soft toy dragon against his chest. Tobirama sets him back on his feet and tucks a stray lock of hair behind his ear.
"Go to sleep," Tobirama says, nodding at the bed.
Relief sweeps through him. It's both permission and command, and a tacit assurance that there will be nothing sexual tonight.
"The dishes—"
"Are already done. I'll join you later, I have a few more things to do."
Things like a mission report, probably explaining how he was able to finish as early as he did. Nothing he could or would be allowed to help with, even if he wasn't a heartbeat away from falling asleep.
"Goodnight, Tobirama-sama," Hikaku says, gratefully tucking himself in next to Kagami.
"Goodnight," Tobirama echoes, and extinguishes the lantern, leaving only moonlight to cast shadows on the wall.