Chapter Text
It was the dawn of the night when Kuro was doing his patrol to see if there was a survivor or a runaway after the clans’ war. Stepping onto the rubbish making his way from one corpse to another, to his surprise, there he saw a person with a ragged cloth over his head. Kiryu's eyes widened at the realization.
His eyes were not mistaken, it is the head of the clan their troupe attacked. Hiding behind a demolished wall, breathing heavily, clutching a bundle of purple silk. The wounded man saw and received the red-head's intimidating aura and felt fear through his veins. Kuro saw the man gripped tight, and opened his mouth to speak.
“... Please spare my child…” The man begged, obviously beaten and worn out, Kuro felt bad, he's still a human being with feelings after all. “... End my suffering, my child is innocent.”
Kuro knows who he's speaking to and knows it will not end well if he keeps himself there standing and doing nothing. There he stood, gripping the handle of his weapon, getting himself prepared to execute the enemy.
“You're the head of the Kanzaki clan, we just murdered all your people and you want me to care for your child? An enemy of yours? At least think rationally till your last breath, for the sake of your child.”
The wounded man in front of him let out a weak chuckle, “A father will do everything for his child… you… not wielding your sword instantly before I said those words to you was a good enough reason for me to trust you… Stupid isn't it?” With all of his power, he tried to open the bundle of silk revealing a sleeping child. “His name is Souma… He turned one today.”
Kuro stares at the father and child. They have the same hair color, Kiryu thought. The baby in his arms sleeping so peacefully, pity he's not going to see his family again.
Before Kuro could talk, he heard the siren of their troupe, heavy footsteps approaching. There's not much time left for this commotion.
Wavering anxious eyes bore into Kuro's,“Sir. I beg you.”
…
“Kiryu, it's late, why are you still here, the others are leaving already.”
Kiryu retrieved his sword back and dusted off his hands as he was finished with his work, “Simply putting the pest out of its misery.” Adjusting the fabric wrapped around his body.
“Ever so generous!” The other man pats his back hard causing him to stagger forward, “The duty's done, go home now, your partner's waiting for you.”
Kuro bid goodbye timidly at the mention of his partner, gathering his things before walking back home.
-//
“I'm home.” Not expecting a reply, he proceeded to walk in and laid the bunch of fabric on the tatami mat gently. “I'll be back…” He whispered softly, not wanting to wake up the sleeping baby.
As he came back, bloody hands were now cleaned. Delicately unwrapping the fabric, with a proper light, he saw how tiny and fragile the poor thing is.
“The war's over… or was it…” Carrying the child in his arms, he looks peaceful, Kuro thought. Sharing his warmth, hoping the child will open its eyes. His head was full of thoughts and unable to think straight at the moment, he was taken away with the child in his arms.
“What will Hasumi say?”
“Should I leave now and raise this child alone? it will be a lesser burden for Hasumi.”
“I can't leave him alone…”
“I want my child to see the light of life and live with his family without the hatred we've been through.”
Carried away with his thoughts, a child in his arms, head hung low, lost in thought. Everything became silent and failed to comprehend the sound of a creaking door.
Why was his partner not moving? Worried, dropping his belongings, Keito rushed up to him, “Kiryu!”
Removed from the state of unconsciousness, Kiryu turned his head to the voice of his lover.
“Danna…” It was so weak, Keito’s eyes blinked rapidly, worried and flabbergasted at the sight he saw.
“You- What happened?” Said Keito sternly, still, there was a faint hint of fondness, sitting next to Kuro, looking down at the child in his arms. “Whose child is this?”
Kuro failed to give a reply, lips thinned in line, caressing the child's hand through the thick silk.
Sighing, hopeless to receive a reason from his lover, “We'll talk later… let me see the child.” Insisting to take the child, Kuro used his body to shield the baby away from Keito, he looked at him with worried eyes, and nodded, “No, I'm simply going to carry it. Don't worry.”
He reached his hands out to take the baby. Already in his arms, the child miraculously opened its eyes. Keito was met with violet orbs, tilting its head, mouth agape. The older halts his breath, exhaling deeply, moving his finger near the baby's face.
The baby babbled incomprehensive words and grasped Keito's finger hard. Making the older smile, Kuro watched the two interact which woke him up from the endless worry he had in mind.
“Quite a strong child, aren't you?”
Kuro watches the two, as anxiousness gradually withdraws from his body, he decides to tell Keito now whose child he's holding. “It's the child of the head of the Kanzaki clan, I suppose their first born, his name is Souma.”
Keito hummed, still looking at the child who's gripping his fingers tight, “For a child, he's really holding my fingers very strong. Indeed a son of a samurai.”
“Danna.” Keito looked up at Kuro with a smile, faced with Kuro's furrowed eyebrows. “You know how serious this case is, right?”
“Kiryu, I am very much aware of the situation.” Said Keito, lowering the baby in his arms, the serene smile on his face was replaced with anger. “The Kanzaki clan is our enemy and this child I'm holding is the one that can continue their royalty blood. Adopting this kid is already a huge betrayal. If our clan recognized this child, we would get in trouble and kill us three.”
“I know.”
“Yet you're too soft hearted to finish this child's life together with his family.” Keito spat, Kuro who's sitting straight accepting all the words from his lover's mouth. “That worthy kindness of yours will get our lives in danger.”
“If you were contemplating and anxious about adopting the boy from the very start, you could've just left him there alone and maybe some kind person will see him adopt him, leaving the responsibility to them.”
Kuro nodded his head and stood up, “We'll leave, I will raise him alone at my family's house.”
Those words made Keito place the child down, gently, to face his lover. “Absolutely not! Kiryu, stop walking away from me!”
They ended up in their room, Keito facing Kuro's back, “What do you think you're doing?! Do you really think you will go through this by yourself?! How stupid can you get?” He reached out for Kuro's hand to hold.
He felt his lover's hand squeezed his own, “I don't want to be a burden and lose my loved ones again.”
Kuro already lost his family, he can't bear to see his lover suffer through his risky decision. A hand pressed on his arm, “You're never a burden to me.”
“You have me.” Keito continued, leaning his head down on his lover's shoulder, “We will take care of him, even leave this district if we can, but that is for the future. We will work on it.”
“I'm sorry.” Defeated, he let his head drop onto the top of his partner's head and then sighed. What will happen to him without Keito?
“What I said earlier was true but that kindness of yours is also your strength. You're charming, ever so helpful and generous. You're not a murderer and saved this innocent child's life. Your work is different from your personal life. I told you a hundred times already to not down yourself and be more confident, right?” Keito used his point finger to flick Kuro's nose, making him laugh shortly, “Easier said than done, Hasumi.” Said Kuro, placing a kiss onto the back of the hand he's holding.
Keito snickered at the action, turning his body towards the other and cupping his face with both of his hands, looking into Kuro's eyes, “The reason why I'm not acting differently earlier is to ease up your emotion but I'm thinking it went the other way.”
Kuro felt the heavy weight on his shoulder was removed, Keito, his light, looking at him with a small yet genuine smile, caressing one of his scars fondly, “I'm with you.”
“I lov-” Kuro's words were cut off with Souma sobbing and a heartfelt giggle of his partner, “I love you too, let's go back to our child now.” Said Keito, patting Kuro's shoulder to stand up, our child? He saw his partner tilting his head confused. “Come on now, no more questions, Kiryu.”
That is when Kuro's life became more bizarre. He watched how delicate Keito's hands were as he reached out for the crying baby laying on the mat. Singing a lullaby to soothe Souma back to sleep, but the baby seems like had other plans.
“What are you staring at, little man?” Keito questioned the child and flashed him a smile. Earning a giggle from the child, Keito turned his head to Kuro with the same smile he had with the child.
Kuro never felt this happier before. Who could've predicted this would happen to their relationship? Cherishing the moment, he watched the two with a fond smile, “Don't just stand there, come here.” Following what his partner said, he walked behind his partner, wrapping his arms around Keito's waist, and saw the younger’s eyes already looking at him.
“Souma.” Keito brought the baby up, earning a playful giggle. The two felt joyful listening to their child's laughter. Pressing his lips onto Souma’s forehead, there he whispered, “You will be in our care.”