The leisurely and sophisticated beauty that she had been blossoming into was gone. Replacing it was a maternal and earthy woman that only the most shallow would consider unattractive.
She'd worked hard over the last few years and it showed in the greying hair, tanned skin and the crow's feet and laugh lines etched lightly into her skin. It did not detract from the woman's beauty, however, which came shining from the smile which sat easily upon her face, or the way she held her youngest close to her.
"Yeah, I did," Nabiki said. "I had to. But it's fine. I got a lot out of it." She smirked down at her baby daughter and then ruffled her Tse's hair.
"Momma," Tse muttered with a pouty expression.
"And who are these little girls?" Megumi asked leaning forward toward Tse, who grabbed at her mother's clothing tightly, half-hiding from the attention.
"Oh, such a cute little girl," Tsubame cooed, half-giggling.
"Shouldn't we be talking about something else?" Sanosuke asked.
"Oh you know what women are like with kids," Yahiko said, not noticing the brief dark expression certain women were directing toward them.
"This is Tse," Nabiki said. "Say hello, Tse."
"Nihao," the little girl said timidly, sketching a quick bow. Nabiki sighed a little. The assorted women giggled slightly at the word.
"In Japanese," she chided gently. The child pouted slightly before bowing again. "I never managed a son, Aoshi keeps complaining about being outnumbered." That brought a smile to several faces as well.
"Hello," she said again.
"She is a sweet little girl," Kaoru said. "And Jiro seems to be doing well as usual."
"Oh yes," Kasumi said cheerfully. "He's quite energetic."
"And I see some new faces here as well," Nabiki said, indicating the young girl with the same darkened shade of red hair as her brother.
"Oh yes," Kaoru said. "This is my daughter Misao."
"Misao, eh," Nabiki said, taking a moment to look the girl over closely. The girl swallowed nervously at the inspection, staring at the severe expression in Nabiki's face just moments before the smile returned. "Cute name. And who are these others?"
Introductions were made between the children and adults then.
"Kenji," Kaoru said. "Could you perhaps take your sister and the children into the yard and watch them for a few minutes?"
"But I want to hea..." Kenji started before interrupted by a quiet cough from his father.
"Kenji," Kaoru repeated. "This is not a matter for discussion. I want you to keep an eye on the children."
"Hai, mother," Kenji said resignedly, before leading the children off to the yard. Most of them went readily enough, though Tse needed to be prodded a little.
"Go on, Tse," Nabiki said lightly. "I'm right here with your sister, now go play with the children."
After some further hesitance the child walked into the yard with the other kids.
See other episodes by Thrythlind
(Posted Mon, 11 Aug 2003 18:54)
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