Kazuhiko was not a man who felt the need to express himself to others, keeping a shell of himself on display for others to see. His smile's seemed to reach his eyes, but there was really no reflection of happiness and his gestures would always seem a little rehearsed. This too was reflected in his music and not even his parents had been able to breach this facade since he was small. Only Rishu was able to witness his real self without a mask and perhaps this was as Rishu had long since seen through it and persistently tested it for cracks in the past. But at this time, Kazuhiko could not hide beneath his mask. The sun seemed to beam too brightly and warm, ignoring the reality of a steely overcast sky, directly into his heart. Into his soul. He felt as if both were currently too large to be contained within the frame of his body and that the smile stretching across his face could not even begin to express his happiness. The last time he had felt so full, so brimming with life's abundant energy, was the moment little Kou was ushered into the world. And now he had another son and he would soon meet that son. He laughed, his joy spilling from throat and lungs without restraint. He had not even thought to enquire about that boy's second gender. It simply didn't matter to him. He walked into Kou's room, where he heard the child cooing. The little one was challenging himself, trying to put his small foot, babygrow and all, into his dribble coated mouth. The nanny did not appear to be around, Kazuhiko assumed that the baby had not long woken from his nap. Kou giggled at echoed Kazuhiko's energies as he wiggled joyfully in his daddy's arms as the man scooped him into his hold. "There's my baby boy!" Kazuhiko spun him gently, before bringing him to his chest, which instantly became wet and warm. "Want to play the koto with daddy!" Kou's giggles filled the room once more and he slapped the firm chest he was pressed against enthusiastically. Kazuhiko took this response as an affirmative, grabbed a toy tambourine then carried his son to his private music room. Joyful music began to pour from the room, there was no score to follow and an odd mix of random beats broke into the pure notes, but it attracted the attention of others nonetheless. Even the students that had just begun to leave their lessons all cocked their head's to one side and listened before breaking into whispers; was this the treasured Madam Fumiko playing? But it did not sound like her usual style. Old Yabuta, a teacher here, listened with a more practiced ear and recognised the player. He nodded in approval. It seemed that Kazuhiko had finally learned to put some heart into his usually soulless sound. Madam Fumiko had been enjoying a cup of tea in her sunroom, her cousin had come visiting. In this relaxed atmosphere, they had dropped the formalities and spoke to each other by given name. The music drifted into the room, Madam Fumiko paused briefly as the notes reached her ears, but returned her attentions back to her beverage a heartbeat later. Mrs Hoashi was less discreet. "It sounds as if you have an.. interesting student within your school," the woman stated, politely. As an experienced koto player herself, she could distinguish between artful and skilful playing. However, personally she preferred accuracy over emotional playing, keeping true to the scores, especially those written by her husband's ancestors. "That is Kazuhiko, Shizue ," Madam Fumiko replied. Shizue Hoashi inwardly thought that this was why he had become a manager rather than his mother's heir, but wisely kept her peace. All the more reason to have her cousin accept her daughter as the next head of the Fumiko school. Mrs Hoashi had already encouraged her daughter to introduce herself to the school's teachers, the girl should be with them now. "Speaking of whom," she inquired, "has Kazuhiko given any more thought to taking Kurea as his bride and mother to his little son?" Madam Fumiko was not in the dark to her cousin's dreams. Indeed, having a talented player like Kurea would be a boon to her family and school, but she would not force him to accept another woman that he did not like. She had seen with her own eyes that things had not been quite right between he and Esme, even before Kou had been born. Of course, that did not mean she would not continue to encourage him to seek a new bride. She did want to teach the next generation of Fumiko's before her fingers became too worn from playing, after all. Plus it was in the best interests of the family. "While Kurea is an admirable and lovely daughter," Madam Fumiko said, carefully, "Kazuhiko feels that he is too old for such a vibrant girl. Unfortunately, my son is a stubborn one, I doubt he will change his views upon this." "Such a pity," Mrs Hoashi replied, but was unable to keep the disappointment from her eyes. "While it is true that Kurea is young, it just means she has many more years to share with her future husband and more time to give him children. She loves little ones as much as her own koto, after all." "Indeed," Madam Fumiko replied, nonchalantly. "More tea, cousin?" Shizue nodded, gently and pushed forward her cup. Seeing as she could would get no further through Kazuhiko's mother, she would just have to instruct her daughter to rely on her charms and think of ways to increase the number of times their paths crossed in the future. She was not the only one to think this way. As the students had been turned out of their lessons and ushered on home, Kurea had been on route to return to her mother, but her curiosity over the music had gotten the better of her. The notes had changed from a random bright selection that strung together like a dance of joyful majors, to a more familiar piece depicting the beauty of summer. It did not quite have the vibrancy and burst of happiness of the first, but it still held some of the feeling. A tinkle of tiny bells and a loud bang broke once more into the pure notes of the koto, causing Kurea to inwardly wince. As her mother had already claimed, she loved the koto, so much so that inferior playing and interruptions irritated her. Even if it was caused by a six month old child that the player smiled adoringly at each time he joined in with his own.... noise. "That was beautiful, Fumiko-san," Kurea offered, softly as the man ceased playing at the sight of the girl at his door. He had not shut the door to his music room, too desperate to express his brimming emotions upon the instrument in a way he had not ever before. He had no other way to share his joy at that moment. The girl glanced down at the baby in his seat, who shook the tambourine with its bells and plastic cymbals, almost violently, before trying to wedge the corner of it into his mouth. "You too, Kou," she added, trying not to shudder as the drool dripped off of the little discs. "What are you doing here?" Kazuhiko said, coolly, rising to his feet. He was wearing casual clothes which fitted his frame quite differently to the suit she had first seen him in and was more revealing that the thick coat wrapped over him at their last meeting. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. Although, the plan her mother had would have been for her to marry for benefits rather than love, she definitely would not hate being married to this man. "My mother is sharing tea with Madam Fumiko," Kurea replied, somewhat honestly. "I took advantage to learn a little from your teachers, Fumiko-san. I was trying to find my way, so I might return to my mother's side, but I became lost on route. I heard the music and followed it. My apologies for the interruption." Kazuhiko looked at the blushing girl, her eyes downcast with long lashes shadowing them and inwardly sighed. Whether or not this was a trick played by his mother, he didn't really care, though he felt it was not really her style. She was ordinarily more straightforward. "My mother is in the receiving room?" Kurea shook her head leading Kazuhiko to believe that she must be in her sunroom instead. He picked up his son from his toddler seat and placed the child to his side. "I will guide you to where our mothers should be sharing tea," he told the girl and indicated the direction with his hand. "This way." The man guided her to different part of the property and into the room which held an old, worn koto that was not as beautiful as the ones Kurea had been able fortunate enough to appreciate before and she could help but wonder why it was displayed here. Above it were several photographs in black and white depicting a small child playing upon a similar instrument. They passed through this room before the girl was able to catch a closer look and into a bright warm room that lived up to its name even if the actual sun was still oppressed by the cold, grey sky. Orchids and a small bay leaf tree brought a touch of greenery to the room, while the furniture was otherwise sparse. Just a small, ornate metal table and matching chairs, two of which were currently occupied. "There you are Kurea," Mrs Hoashi smiled at her daughter, before turning to speak with Kazuhiko. "Thank you for guiding by daughter to me, Fumiko-san." "It was no trouble," Kazuhiko replied, politely, with a slight bow, before comforting Kou, who had become a little fussy. "And this must be your son!" The woman was not ready to allow him to escape, now that this opportunity had presented itself. Kazuhiko caught the slight eye roll of his own mother, letting him know that the situation he had found himself in was not her doing. "Such a cute child, don't you agree, Kurea?" "Yes, mother," Kurea said, softly. "A pity about his mother," Mrs Hoashi sighed, dramatically. "To turn your back upon your own child due to his misfortune. My daughter would never be so callous." "Of course not, mother," Kurea offered Kazuhiko a small smile. "I would love my child regardless of his gender." "And I'm sure an Omega needs his mother's love more that any other," Mrs Hoashi added. "Well," Kazuhiko interjected, "Kou has me, so he is not wanting in any way. Now if you will excuse me, I believe it is time for his nap." "Oh, of course," Mrs Hoashi said, hastily. "Wouldn't want him becoming overtired and fussing too much." "Indeed," Madam Fumiko agreed. "Mother," Kazuhiko excused himself, quickly, inwardly apologising to Kou for using him as an excuse to escape. They did not return to the music room to play, the mood was long since lost.