Spring Blooms When I'm With You

A/N: So I decided to delete altogether the original ending to avoid sadness. If there's anyone who would like to read it, you may leave a message to my Instagram @hansora_author

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Kenichi and Fumiko grew up splendidly as well as their youngest brother, Itsuki.

The youngest one was born in the early autumn days.

The twins adored their little brother. Whatever they did, they didn't forget to make him join them as well.

One day in spring, the three siblings were brought out of the suburbs.

"Mommy, are we there yet?"

Fumiko stretched out her neck, looking at her Mommy and Daddy who sat in the shotgun seat and the driver's seat respectively. For the nth time, she asked the same question.

Tsubaki burst into laughter while Ren shook his head in helplessness. Tsubaki turned her head to look at the only princess in their small family.

"We're almost there. Look, we've entered the village already."

She pointed at the lush greenery surrounding them. Fumiko tilted her head and looked outside the car windows.

Paddy fields, water streams, vast blue sky and a peaceful atmosphere.

"Mommy, Mommy... Hug..."

Itsuki rubbed his sleepy eyes then stretched out both of his short hands toward Tsubaki. He wanted to get out of the child's car seat but his little body was restrained by the belts. His chubby face twisted as if he wanted to cry.

"Good boy, Itsuki. Mommy will hug you after this, en?" Tsubaki patiently persuaded her youngest child. She gave him a soft smile then reached out a hand to pat his little head.

"Itsuki, look. What does Big Brother have in my hand?"

Kenichi stepped forward to coax his two years old little brother. He showed a toy car to Itsuki. The little bun beamed instantly.

"Hehe, Big Brother, car..." Itsuki grinned happily.

Thus, his attention was directed to the toy car.

Tsubaki chuckled. She shifted her eyes to her husband who gave her a glance.

"We're here," Ren moved one hand away from the steering wheel and gently clasped Tsubaki's hand, "Welcome home, sweetheart."

Tsubaki smiled, "It's good to be home."

The husband and wife took the advantage of the spring school break to bring the children to visit their relatives. They went to the old house first and stayed there for two nights.

Grandma was enthusiastic as she welcomed her great-grandchildren. Although she was too old already, her body was still bursting with energy.

Granny Sumiko was delighted as well. She was currently staying in the old house. Grandma was the one who invited her a few times before Granny Sumiko agreed.

Granny Sumiko didn't want to follow Tsubaki when the latter asked if she wanted to follow her move in the suburb. Her excuse was she didn't want to disturb their small family.

Then, Grandma persuaded Granny Sumiko to come and live in the old house. Since then, the two old ladies often spent time together, alleviating both of their loneliness.

While in the city, the couple took the three siblings to visit Tsubaki's birth parents' burial sites. The children knew their mother had two pairs of parents.

After staying in the old house, Tsubaki and Ren brought their children to Tsubaki's hometown next. It had become a tradition ever since they made the cottage their new home.

Taking them to let them see where their parents' roots were from. The siblings also knew that this was where their parents met, even though it was safe to say that Itsuki still didn't really understand it.

"Be careful, don't trip yourself."

Tsubaki reminded the children when Kenichi and Fumiko got out of the car. As for Itsuki, she unlatched the child's car's seatbelt, carried him then lowered him to the ground. Itsuki happily ran to his brother and sister.

Ever since he could walk when he turned one, he had become a certified dashing dynamo of their home, charging forward to wherever he could go.

The house was in a good condition, neat and clean as Ren often arranged for someone to clean it occasionally.

"Take the keys," Ren gestured at the pocket of his pants, "I'll carry the luggage."

"Darling, should we go and greet Aunt Touko and Uncle Kiyonaga after this?" Tsubaki glanced in the direction of the old couple's house.

"En," Ren smiled, "Bring the gifts that we have prepared too."

"Hehe, okay~"

Tsubaki went to unlock the door and let the children entered. Fumiko helped to remove Itsuki's shoes. Kenichi turned around and went to take some lighter luggage from his father.

Ren didn't refrain Kenichi from helping. It was good that his eldest son had this kind of awareness.

"Ah~ Fumi wants to sleep~"

"Sleep... Sleep..."

Fumiko threw herself on the carpet and rolled a few times. Her action was followed by Itsuki.

"What are you doing?" Tsubaki laughed, feeling funny to see their antics, "Let's go and greet Grandma Touko and Grandpa Kiyonaga first. Then, you two can rest."

"Okay~"

Even though Fumiko only wanted to rest after a long car trip, she still obediently followed her mother.

"Go and greet, go and greet," Itsuki repeated the words, earning another laugh from Tsubaki.

"Let's go," Ren bent down and carried Itsuki. He smiled at Tsubaki and the other two children, "After this, we can sleep for a while then Daddy and Mommy would bring you to see around the village, en?"

"Yayy~ Fumi wants to play! Play!" Fumiko was excited because she loved running across the vast field found in this village.

"Play, play," Itsuki raised up his small fists, "Itsuki... play too."

"Okay, Daddy, Mommy," As usual, Kenichi was the calmest one.

Aunt Touko and Uncle Kiyonaga prepared a feast to welcome the family of five. They chatted a lot during the meal. After two hours, Ren and Tsubaki brought the children back home as they saw how sleepy they were.

After putting them to bed in Satsuki's old room, the husband and wife entered Tsubaki's room to rest. They changed their clothes, washed their faces and lied down on the bed side by side.

"Darling, should I expect something from you?" Tsubaki asked while staring at her husband who was hugging her close.

Even after years of marriage, they still acted like newlyweds, so full of affection.

From this close distance, she could see fine lines began to develop around his eyes. Her dearest husband would enter his 40s soon yet, to her, he would always be the young man she met during her youth.

Ren lifted up a corner of his lips, revealing a smirk, "Why do you think so, sweetheart?"

"A wife's instinct, ah," Tsubaki playfully rubbed his chin.

How could she not tell that her husband was preparing something to surprise her? They had shared the same bed for almost a decade. All his little actions couldn't escape her sight.

Ren purposely heaved a heavy sigh, he looked as if he was deeply troubled by something.

"Sometimes, I hope that you're not too smart," He complained. He sounded so aggrieved as if he was being wronged by her.

Tsubaki laughed again, "Humph! It's good that you have a smart wife!"

"Hehe, yes. Sweetheart, sleep ah. We couldn't sleep peacefully once those brats wake up."

"Fumi and Itsuki would be mad if they heard you," Even though she said that, Tsubaki was still laughing.

Fumiko and Itsuki loved to crash on their bed whenever they had the opportunity while Kenichi would just silently watch from one side, shaking his head in helplessness at the sight of his siblings became energetic.

"It's true, ah. Last night I couldn't hug you because Itsuki wanted to sleep in the middle," He complained again.

"Okay, okay~ I'll hug you to sleep. Rest well, darling. You drove for hours."

"I want to..."

BAM!

"Mommy~"

"Mommy, Mommy..."

Two small figures dashed into the room without showing any sign of sleepiness. Next, the couple's bed was occupied by intruders.

Tsubaki and Ren, "..."

Since when did they wake up?

"Mommy, Daddy, Fumi wants to sleep here," Fumiko squeezed herself in between her Mommy and Daddy.

"Sleep together, together," Itsuki followed suit.

The little bun slumped on Tsubaki, insisting on his Mommy to hug him while sleeping. His diapered bum stuck out as he laid on his Mommy.

"Fumi, Itsuki, let Mommy and Daddy sleep by themselves," Kenichi came. He let out a yawn, showing that his nap earlier was disturbed by his siblings.

Tsubaki and Ren exchanged a glance. She laughed funnily at the sight of her husband's pitiful face.

"Hehehe, don't sulk, darling~ There's nothing we can do," Tsubaki laughed again.

Ren sighed, "Aye... Alright, alright. Everyone, sleep here. Come."

Ren beckoned at Kenichi to come closer. The young boy sleepily dragged his feet, climbed on the bed and slumped on the other side of his father.

Thus, the family of five took a nap together. The spring breeze outside gently c.a.r.e.s.sing the leaves and branches of the tree surrounding them, cooling the area.

In the evening, Tsubaki and Ren brought the children to play at the stream located behind the house. While Kenichi, Fumi and Itsuki happily played with the water, the husband and wife sat on one of the huge rocks.

As they put their slippers aside, the couple submerged their feet in the stream, enjoying the cool and clear water running through the gaps of their feet and toes. Dry towels were already prepared for the children, resting on the rock beside Ren.

Tsubaki rested her head on her husband's c.h.e.s.t as Ren wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She was full of smiles and laughter as she watched the children had a water fight. Their entire bodies were drenched with water yet they could still laugh happily.

"Darling, are you really alright with just them?" Tsubaki suddenly asked the question in a low voice.

Ren let out a laugh, "I've done the procedure, sweetheart."

Five months after Tsubaki gave birth to Itsuki two years ago, Ren proceeded with his plan to undergo a vasectomy operation.

"I know but, I feel sorry for you," Tsubaki sighed.

Although her husband didn't say it, Tsubaki knew Ren actually wanted more children to accompany them but he said three were enough to avoid putting more strain on her body. His childhood was lonely even though he had Grandma and the others with him.

"You and our three children are my treasure," Ren locked his gaze on his wife's eyes. Tenderness brimmed in his eyes as he smiled softly at her, "No matter if we have children or not, one or two children or else, what matters is the present."

He didn't regret his decision to go through with the procedure. The most important thing for him was to focus on his wife and three children rather than dwelling on what-ifs.

Tsubaki smiled with honey dripping. She leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"I love you," She smiled again.

Ren laughed happily. Without taking off his eyes from hers, he took one of the towels, spread it, placed it on both of their heads before he kissed her with the towel covering the sides of their faces.

Can't help it, there were children with them.

"Ah! Mommy and Daddy kiss again!" Fumiko exclaimed while pointing at their parents whose faces were hidden by the towel.

Itsuki followed his sister, "Mommy and Daddy, kiss... Kiss..."

"Fumi, Itsuki, don't look!" Kenichi quickly pulled his siblings to look in another direction.

The siblings' exclamations made both Tsubaki and Ren laughed behind the guise of the white towel.

Soon, night arrived. The couple persuaded the children to sleep by themselves. Fumiko and Itsuki relented after making their parents promised to let them sleep with them tomorrow night. Kenichi tucked his siblings in then said good night to Tsubaki and Ren.

As usual, they could depend on their eldest son.

After kissing them goodnight, Ren brought Tsubaki to sit on the plank in the yard. The couple sat there while enjoying the night breeze.

The moon was so bright tonight as the clouds shied away from it. The twinkling of the stars illuminated the dark sky, sending the rays to the Earth.

"Sweetheart, this is what I prepared for you."

Ren took something out from one side of the plank. He had already hidden it under the throw pillows that they put on the wooden plank.

Tsubaki eagerly looked at the thing in his hands.

It was a red gift box wrapped with a white ribbon.

"Hehe, I was right when I thought you wanted to surprise me with something~" Tsubaki joyfully teased her husband.

Ren burst into laughter. He leaned forward and nuzzled their noses together, "Open it. I hope you'd like it."

Tsubaki's clear and bright eyes were staring back at him, "On what occasion is this for?"

"Hurm, take it as commemorating the year we lived here together before," Ren replied softly.

Tsubaki carefully untied the ribbon with Ren looking at her with tenderness. The white ribbon splayed on her l.a.p. After pulling up the lid, what hidden inside laid before their eyes.

Wide-eyed with surprise, Tsubaki blankly looked at her husband and the thing inside the box back and forth.

Pleased with her reaction, Ren cupped her face and kissed her lips, "Are you that surprised, sweetheart?"

"Yes... Yes... Darling! It's beautiful!"

What waiting for Tsubaki was a frame of carved wooden artwork specially sculpted by her dearest husband.

Camellia and lotus flowers framed the artwork, her and his namesakes.

At the center, two figures, a man and a woman were holding hands while not far from them, three children were carved showing there were playing together. Behind the children stood a small house resembling the cottage of their new home.

The intricacy of her man's hard work and dedication were materialized on the frame.

After almost seven years of dwelling with carved arts, Ren's skills improved year by year. To Tsubaki, this artwork was the most beautiful and finely detailed made by her man.

"This is for you, for me and for our children," Ren gently brushed the back of his hand over her face, squeezed her cheeks and kissed her, "I just want to tell you, my sweetheart, Tsubaki, until the end of my time, there are only you for me."

Because to me, my world would only bloom with spring with your existence.

A stream of tears fell on Tsubaki's cheeks. She put the frame down, hooked her arms around his neck and touched their foreheads together. She was smiling and crying at the same time.

"Me too... There are only you, my darling, Ren, until the end of my time."

Ren laughed softly above her lips. He pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.

Even ten, twenty or thirty years from now, they would only have each other in their hearts.

-The End-