Epilogue

Izumi pov:

I woke from blissful sleep with a soft groan and stretched my arms above my head before opening my eyes to see the wooden ceiling above. I reached to the side and frowned slightly realizing that Ryuusei wasn't next to me. I looked to the side only to see him standing next to the window, wearing robes that were loosely tied around his waist and exposed quite a bit of his toned torso. I sat up while holding the blanket up to cover my bare skin and Ryuusei's turquoise eyes met mine when he heard the shuffling.

He smiled, his eyes softening. "Good morning, Love. Did you sleep well?"

"I did." I answered and stifled a yawn.

"You still look sleepy." He said with a chuckle and walked towards the bed. He took a seat next to me, causing the mattress to dip and reached out to move some hair behind my ears.

I just laughed and closed my eyes, letting him caress me gently. I snapped my eyes open though when I felt him tug the blanket I was holding to cover myself. I raised a brow and slapped his hand that was still trying to get the blanket off.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked.

"I want to see you, Love. Can I not?" He asked smartly making me feel a light blush surface.

"No you can't." I said flatly and tugged the blanket out of his hands.

He didn't give up, obviously, and shoved me back with him hovering over me. He was smirking slightly and he looked over my exposed shoulders, even rubbing his thumbs over the red marks he had left there, claiming me as his. He leaned down and kissed one of them making a shudder run down my spine.

"Why are you still so shy, Love? It's not like I haven't seen you before." He teased, letting his breath fan over my skin.

"S-shut up....perv." I said but shut my eyes as his caresses began to make my mind cloudy.

"You hurt my feelings, Love...." He said softly, airily.

I couldn't resist and I took a hold of his face to pull him up to my lips. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and he put a hand under my head as we got lost in our moment of passion. His hair tickled my face, neck and shoulders and goose bumps erupted on my skin.

Hurried footsteps and a sudden clatter in a distant corridor of the palace snapped us back to our senses. We parted from the kiss and I chuckled while placing a hand on Ryuusei's bare chest, right above his heart.

"We should get dressed before your daughter barges into the room along with Shichiro without warning." I said and Ryuusei smirked.

"Oh? So she's my daughter when she's mischievous?"

"Obviously. She's my daughter when she's saying something smart or sassy."I said with a shrug.

"You never cease to amuse me, Love....I love that about you." He responded and lowered himself to give me a chaste kiss. "Would you like to shower first?"

"I'd like that."

He got off me and I wrapped a blanket around my frame before walking into the bathroom. I washed up and got into a comfortable kimono and Ryuusei followed suit. When we were ready, we headed out together, only to be stopped in the middle of the corridor by our daughter running to us while being chased by Shichiro.

"Mama! Papa!" She squealed through giggles and I bent down to pick her up in my arms.

"Good morning, Bumblebee!" I said and tickled her in the stomach, earning louder giggles.

"Uncle Chiro chase me and give tummy tickles too!!" She said with a beaming smile making Ryuusei and me laugh.

"Good morning, Onii sama, Onee san." Shichiro greeted us with a smile, his face flushed with color from chasing Amaya. [Name means night rain]

"Did you sleep well, Shichiro?" Ryuusei asked and he nodded.

"I did, Onii sama. Amaya slept well too but she woke up earlier than usual." He said with a chuckle.

Shichiro had matured a lot over the past four years – he had become more focused on his studies and took hand to hand combat training and sword fighting training very seriously. He became even more serious after Amaya was born two years ago, saying that as her uncle, it was his responsibility to watch over and protect her at all times. And Amaya loved her uncle just as much and stuck to his side almost all the time.

Shichiro had grown into a very handsome young man – he was tall like Ryuusei with responsibility and strength reflecting on his sharp features. But he still managed to have that warm and childlike aura around him that Ryuusei and I found comforting. He was just as caring too, and sweet, and always respectful and gentle with the three of us.

After taking a break from missions during the pregnancy and while Amaya was still a baby, I had got back to training and stealth missions again. Ryuusei had told me it was unnecessary but I wasn't the kind who could stay idle for long. I needed the excitement and adrenaline rush and I had insisted on going on missions with those of the Elite Division. Besides, I was quite efficient in information gathering all the more thanks to my smart glasses still in working condition. We were able to crack a lot of small cases that happened to stir in the shadows – such things had to be taken care of in the beginning so another incident like that of Taheji's wouldn't happen again.

Although, I would have to take a break again but I'm sure Ryuusei would be more than happy about it.

"Why don't we have breakfast together? It's not very often I get to eat breakfast with the three of you – I'm glad there aren't any important meetings this morning." Ryuusei said and took Amaya into his arms.

"Amaya eat with Papa!" She cheered with both arms up in the air, absolutely ecstatic.

"I think eating together is a good idea. Perhaps we can sit in the courtyard." I suggested.

Ryuusei and Shichiro agreed and we had a few attendants arrange a table in one of the gazebos in the garden's large courtyard. Since it was rare that Ryuusei got to spend time like this with his daughter, I let him pamper her and feed her breakfast. It was quite a sight to see since Amaya refused to sit in one place while eating and Ryuusei had to run behind her throughout the gazebo and surrounding courtyard to feed her while she played. Thankfully, she wasn't a picky eater and didn't give Ryuusei any trouble besides all the running around.

When Amaya was done eating, having openly said that she was full, Ryuusei joined me and Shichiro at the table. He let out a barely audible sigh and looked at me with a gentle smile.

"I didn't know Amaya's mealtimes were so energy draining – I'm impressed you do it several times a day and still don't look tired." He said and I laughed.

"I honestly didn't know I could be so pampering, tender or patient until Amaya was born." I said with a shrug. "I guess this is what people mean when they say 'power of a mother'. You won't know it until you've become one yourself."

"Your words just made me fall in love with you more, Love. The fact that you're the mother of my child makes me proud." Ryuusei said and I noticed a spark of possessiveness in his eyes.

I shook my head still smiling and glanced at Amaya as she looked over and smelled the flowers growing in the garden. Under Ryuusei's command, ten soldiers had been ordered to watch her and keep her safe even when she was barely fifteen feet away from us while in the palace gardens. He was being way too protective – it was sweet in its own way though, I suppose.

"Love? Why haven't you eaten anything yet?" He asked and I tore my gaze away from Amaya.

"I don't really have much of an appetite." I said, doing my best to ignore the morning sickness I was feeling.

"You're not hungry? You barely ate anything last night too, Onee san." Shichiro pointed out, sounding a little worried.

"Are you unwell?" Ryuusei asked and reached out to cup my face tenderly.

"Well, not exactly." I trailed off vaguely, causing them to get even more worried.

"What do you mean, Love? Maybe you should....no, I will call for Tamotsu sensei immediately. He should check up on you and make sure you're alright."

"Woah woah, hold your horses, Ryuusei." I said while holding his arm before he could get up. "Don't get so worked up over me losing my appetite. I'm absolutely fine."

"No, I will not be satisfied unless I hear that from Tamotsu sensei himself. You know very well that I will not take even the slightest risk in the matters of you, Amaya or Shichiro – and this is no exception." Ryuusei said sternly and tried to stand but I stopped him again. "Izumi, Love, please don't stop me. You need to see..."

"I'm pregnant, Ryuusei." I said, making him freeze. "I kind of figured it out a couple of days ago when I started having the same symptoms I had when I was pregnant with Amaya. This morning sickness isn't anything to worry about so sit down and eat your breakfast."

"You're....I'm going to be a father again?" He asked, his eyes going slightly wide.

"Yes, you are." I answered with an amused smile.

"That's wonderful news, Onee san! Congratulations!" Shichiro chimed excitedly.

"Thank you, Shichiro."

"I'm glad, Love." Ryuusei said and I looked back to him to find him watching me with a grateful smile. "I'm glad you came to this time and I'm glad I met you. I never thought there would come a day when I would find someone as transparent as you that I would trust with my life. And I'm grateful that the heavens gave a man like me a chance to experience the love of a family – there is nothing more that I can ask for in my life."

"You sound really weird when you talk so emotionally – it's so rare and I still find it strange." I said, my smile widening.

"It's true that I am thankful, Love." He said. I closed my eyes as he leaned forward to place a soft kiss on my forehead before meeting my eyes again. "And I hope that we have another beautiful daughter."

"Another daughter? Weren't you the one who said you wanted an heir for the throne soon?"

"I did....but I suppose it can wait. We are still young and we have much time ahead of us. I want another adorable daughter first – one that I can spoil with all the love I can offer."

"Then let's hope Nihon hears news of another beautiful princess being born in a few months." I said with an amused laugh. "Although, your words are a little worrying. I hope you're not expecting to have ten children – that would be exhausting, to say the least."

"You're amusing, Love. Don't worry, I want a cosy family of six – me and you with three children and their uncle Shichiro would be the perfect family."

"Which will get bigger again once Shichiro is married." I teased, earning a dark blush and incoherent stuttering from Shichiro.

With another laugh of joy and nostalgia about everything that happened since my first meeting with Shichiro and Ryuusei, we settled down to enjoy a pleasant breakfast before commencing duties of the day.

THEEND!

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Ryuusei and Izumi had a daughter! And they're going to have another kid soon! Yay!!! ^////^ And it's good to see that Izumi hasn't given up her sassiness and awesome personality, right?

And isn't it great that Ryuusei is happy that he finally has a loving family? It's something that he missed out on when he was a child but he has Izumi, Amaya and Shichiro by his side now as honest allies that he wouldn't give up for the world. I'm so happy that he and Izumi were able to find completeness in each other :3

Another story finished! TwT It feels great to start a new story and an even better sense of accomplishment when I complete one. I want to thank all of you who read this story, voted and commented on the chapters because it was the biggest inspiration and motivation for doing my best on this story [as well as all the others I've written and will write in the future]. And I hope you all enjoyed it!

Please feel free to tell me your thoughts on the story! I'll be more than happy to see loads of comments XD

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