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1. Summer Fruit
Naoya was excited. He had found the most perfect watermelon at the summer market today, and he could carry it! He knew who he wanted to share it with, as well. Struggling to keep the watermelon in his arms he pitter patted over to Tojis engawa, giggling in happiness.
He rounded the corner, skipping. Toji was resting, stoic as always. He turned his head, eyes widening at the watermelon barreling towards him bellowing Tojiiiii-kunnnn.
Toji swore and caught Naoya, whose head popped up beaming brightly. Aw damn. He was seriously too cute. Toji was a sucker.
“Toji-kun! Look, look! I got the nicest melon just for us!” Naoya chattered excitedly, shoving the watermelon into Tojis face.
“I can see that, Nao-Chan.” Toji said dryly as he carefully plucked the melon and the knife the kid had been sprinting with out of his hands.
Christ, who gave the kid this knife? Toji listened to Naoya’s excited chirping about the summer market as he carefully carved the melon, oohing and ahhhing appropriately.
Soon enough Naoya was snuggled into his lap, happily going to town on his watermelon. Toji couldn’t help but feel a rush of tenderness for the kid as he combed his hand through Naoyas hair.
He wanted his little cousin to stay this way, sweet and clever forever. Toji tried hard not to think of the harsh future in store for Naobitos golden son. Today was just them. Eating a watermelon in the humidity of the summer heat.
2. Ranta’s Sunflower
Ranta was cautiously overjoyed. Today he and Naoya were visiting a big garden! Ranta giggled and kicked his feet. He adored his golden cousin, even though sometimes Naoya would push him or make fun of him for being so delicate.
None of this deterred Ranta, who was a sweet and cheery child by nature. His mother had a pretty garden at their section of the Zenin estate, that she carefully kept full with orchids. Ranta loved it, loved flowers.
Naoya and him were driven to the sprawling garden by an elder member of the clan, and accompanied by their minders and Toji-san and Jinichi-san. Ranta blushed a bit at Jinichi, he was just the coolest! He was in charge of the Hei, and Ranata would definitely deefintly be there one day!
The garden was amazing! He sprinted around exicdietly with Naoya as they gathered berries. Then, Ranta saw the sunflowers. They were taller than him and Naoya, their cherry clors lifted up to the sun as if to say: Hello, Hello, look at this sunlight, look at this summer place! Ranta glanced towards Naoya who was eating the blueberries he picked with single-minded intensity. His dark hair had begun to lighten out to golden blonde, giving it a two toned look. Ranta looked back at the sunflowers, then at Naoya. He blushed, then giggled.
Naoya, who had been demolishing the blueberries, nearly choked when Ranta popped up next to him. Naoyas startled gaze was immediately taken up by the sunflowers shoved into his face. Spluttering, he took them. “Ranta! What are you doing-!” He began only to be cut off by Ranatas flushed face.
“I got these for you Nao-chan! Because… because they look like you! So pretty.” Ranata told him, blushing deeply at Naoya’s look of confusion, which quickly morphed into an eual blush as Naoya pulled Ranata in to talk his ear off about proper presentation.
For years after, Ranata always gifted Naoya a sunflower on his birthday, which Naoya carefully kept then pressed into a little book.
He did not speak of the orchids he carefully sent to Ranta either.
3. Duty and Care
Toji had been of two minds when he’d decided to keep Naoya in the loop of his life after leaving the clan. A large part of him wanted a clean break- Naoya was still too naive and loyal to keep his mouth shut, surely. The other lesser part was reminded of all the time they spent and how much Toji truly did love Nao. He was scared to just disappear, worrying that might irreparably break his cousin.
Toji was not a good man, but even he did not want to be the cause of a child’s shattered innocence. So he’s decided to teach Naoya how to sneak out, use the train and how to call him.
His wife adored Naoya. Toji thought it was good, since Naoya had been picking up too much of the misogyny in the clan. He had to know how to be civil. Hana had won him over with sly fruit treats and taking him to the movies. It made Toji impossibly happy to see his wife and Naoya together.
When Hana told Toji she was expecting, Toji was stunned then filled with a quiet sort of happiness. He was hesitant to inform Naoya, but his wife took charge. Naoya was a bit petulant at first, but as he got more involved, he got more excited, constantly saying how he’d be a good cousin like Toji.
Toji was relieved. A cold part of him also was quelled at the thought of ensuring Naoya wouldn’t see his child as a threat. Toji was no fool. His baby almost certainly had the 10 shadows which would automatically place him before Naoya. Not that Toji had any intention of return. He knew how the sorcery world worked and how his clan worked.
So, when he sas Naoya, his hair beginning to take on the two tones of his father carefully helping Megumi stand up and walk with delight in his eyes, a part of him was at peace.
4. Piano Evenings
Naobito would be the first to inform you that he was not made for fatherhood. Frankly, he never wanted to have children, much less the brood he had ended up with through two wives and a scattering of bastards floating around. He took very little part in the raising of his older sons, entrusting them to tutors and their mother. All had cursed techniques, but none had the ability to reach his level of power, none had his fox like intellect.
He only realized his error as time went on, and his sons twisted from passable members of the clan and society to trouble making louts in their teenage years. Things truly came to a head after the three eldest banded together to injure a member of the Kamo’s. The way the other clan heads and members had looked at him with disbelief at the situation. They had only ever known him to be powerful, run his clan smoothly and efficiently. All knew of the collected nature of the Hei, the standard of decorum all were held to. So for his three eldest to be the way they were, showed his flaw. His failure as a parent. Naobito was surprised at how much it bothered him.
He exiled his three eldest and separated from their mother, granting them an allowance and his estate in Chongquing. A more minor estate. All sons were sent with supervison. He watched them after that, even as some of his bastards of the same age surpassed them. Let it be known Naobito handled his offspring appropriately. He remarried after some years too a younger sister of the current Kamo clan head, who was churning out children much like Naobito who was completely disgusted to make the comparison. Meanwhile, the Gojos had the six eye prodigy and not any more which Naobito personally thought was idiocy.
His wife was demure and talented, her cursed technique involved the movement of electricity to make her movements swift. Perhaps this would increase his chances of projection. Her eyes were the shade of amber. Naobito found himself hovering more, at home more, listening to his wife play piano in the evenings. Their first child was a girl, born in the cherry blossom season who they named Sakura much to Naobito's private embarrassment. She was a cherry, happy little thing. Naobito found himself loath to part from her, totaling her around to his meetings.
Ougi thought it was beyond ridiculous. Naobito promptly broke his nose. Sometimes all brothers are is petty, no matter the age. Later, when Amki and Mai were born, Naobito remembered this. He ensured that they were not shuffled aside. Especially Maki. He had learned a horrible lesson from Toji. That was years in the future however, and for now, Naobtio realized for the first time what it was to be a father.
His daughter was his quiet light, a cherry child. When his wife fell pregnant agin, Naobito realized he was happy. That was new. Little Sakura was very excited, taking her new status seriously. His son was due in July. Sakura had gotten her mothers cursed technique. Naobito had a good feeling about this next child, that they would have his projection.
Naoya Zenin was born in the evening in mid July, making his displeasure at his eviction known immediately. From the start, he was lively, getting into all manner of things he should not. Naobito was proud of him, more at ease then he ever was before. Often, the family would gather and listen to his wife play piano. Naoya began to also play, like his mother.
Naoya did in fact inherit projection. Naobito thought he should be happy. To his surprise, he felt a growing dread. Naoya continued his piano lessons. Continued them with his sorcerer training, playing even when he was bruised. This caused discord between his wife and him, as she protested the harsh methods. Things cooled when she was pregnant once more. She gave birth to another daughter. Shortly after, both passed.
Years went by. Naobito drank, and watched his children. Although much of his will was gone, he made a point for them to sit and have Naoya play the piano. These were the times they were closest. Naoya played beautifully, as if his lively spirit imbued itself with the notes of Tchaikovsky and Debussey. Naoya’s favorite was Claire de Lune.
Naobito would sit with him after he played, and let his youngest rest on his shoulder. He knew then that he loved his son, as he should have cared for his eldest. That was the past. With the current upheaval, the death of Toji, he knew things would only get worse. But, for now, he had his golden child and his daughter and the piano evenings. It was enough.