*Tekeshi*

"Here you go, my two precious boys," Anis said, handing me a box wrapped in white cloth. "I packed a special meal for my little boy." She pinched the chubby cheeks of the kid in my left arm.

"Mommy, isn't' coming?" the boy asked, sniffling.

She shook her head. "Sorry, Tetsu. I can't. I have something to do."

He lowered his head. "Me wanted to play with Mommy..."

Anis furrowed her brows. "How about I take Tetsu?"

"Ya sure?"

"Daddy come too," Tetsu said, hugging me.

"You need to pick one," I said, rocking him in my arm.

He looked back and forth between us and started to cry.

"There, there. Don't cry, Tetsu..." Anis said.

"Tetsu, wanna go play?" our oldest son asked, running downstairs along with his sister.

"Taku!" he said, pointing at his big brother. He reached his hands out.

I sighed and let go of him.

"Let's go play hide and seek!" Teresa said before running out of the house.

Tetsu nodded and chased after her.

"Seems he picked his siblings over us..." I said, lowering my head.

"Think he wanted an out from choosing." Anis giggled. "Taku and Tere sure saved us." She adjusted the apron she had on. "Now, to get cooking!"

I smiled. "Let me help." My eyes shifted to the box in my hands. "Though, I better hand this over to the kids as a snack."

"Good idea! I'll get everything ready in the meantime," Anis said, turning around. "Gonna make little Tetsu the best birthday meal he's ever had!"

I snickered. "He's only had two other birthday meals, so not much competition."

She scoffed. "But the first and second were pretty tasty."

"Yeah, though I was the one who made those."

My wife narrowed her purple eyes at me. "How prideful. I'll defeat ya this year with my meal! Ya try to make your own."

"Two meals?"

"Yup. Plus, Tetsu probably wouldn't mind. He's a growing boy."

I snickered. "He's rather chubby."'

She glared. "Are ya calling him fat?"

"No... but... he should start to lose some weight. It's unhealthy if he continues like this."

Anis sighed. "Guess ya're right..."

I walked over to her and hugged her. "Let's go and make him that best meal ever, together."

Her face reddened. "I... guess..." She averted her gaze. "Say, Shi. When are you leaving for your mission?"

"Next week. Originally, it was going to be today, but I managed to convince the king to delay it."

She raised an eyebrow. "How did ya do that? I doubt Osamu would just delay it so ya can spend time with Tetsu."

I snickered. "Yeah. I told him that the logistics of the mission were off. Thankfully, Sofia and Sebastian backed me up on that."

Anis smiled. "I see. Though, ya shouldn't lie about such things."

"I didn't lie. There's a lack of proper tents. A lot of the ones we have require mending. Though, the issue can be fixed within a day."

"I see," she said, sighing. "Guess it gives them time to check other stuff too. At least, I hope they use it wisely."

"I'm sure they will. Osamu hates to waste time, so he'll use it wisely."

"Hmph, that reliableness is probably one of his few good points."

I snickered. "On my part, I'll be using that free time to teach Tere how to fly."

Anis got closer and hugged me. "I'm sure she'll love that. She loves spending time with her papa, as do Taku and Tetsu."

"Yeah... I just wish I could spend more time with them," I said, looking down.

"Once the embers of war burn out, you can," she said as she continued to hug me. "I miss ya a lot too, Shi." Her violent eyes closed. "I miss the warmth of having ya by my side."

I touched her chin and leaned in to kiss her.

"W-why so sudden?" she asked, turning away. A deep crimson covered her face.

I snickered. "Sorry, I was pulled in by ya cuteness."

She grumbled, continuing to avert her gaze. "I rather you call me beautiful..."

"That too," I said, walking on ahead. I rubbed the back of my neck and snickered. "Ya're still the same as when we met."

"Hope that's a good thing," she said, leering at me.

"For the most part."

She smiled. "I... Wait, why for the most part?"

I chuckled. "I rather not say."

Anis pouted. "Fine, be that way," she said, catching up to me.

I wrapped my arms around her and snickered. "Don't be mad."

"I'm not mad," she said as she began to chop carrots. "Now, go take that food to the kids."

I sighed. "Okay, will do."

She snickered as I walked away. "Don't take too long."

I smiled. "I won't, unless if the kids tackle me or drag me into their games."

She giggled. "I can see Tere and Tetsu doing that."

I laughed. "Same here. I best hand this over to Taku then." I rushed out of the kitchen's back door and found Tetsu looking around. His head was moving so fast that I began to fear it would fall off.

His golden eyes widened as soon as he saw me. His chubby little feet carried him over to me. For a kid his size, he sure could move fast.

"What's wrong, kiddo?" I asked, kneeling beside him.

"Need to find hiding spot," he said, bringing his hand to his mouth.

"I see. Bet you're looking for a good one, huh?"

He nodded. "Tere will be looking soon. Me better hurry."

I patted his head. "Don't be too nervous, or your big sis will pick up on it."

He pressed his lips against his fingers. The kid looked over his shoulders. "No Tere. Me safe for now." He ran off. "Best find spot."

Around the back of the house were fields of lavender.

"Psst. Kiddo, hide in the field of flowers."

He turned his head toward the field and smiled. He ran over to me and hugged me. "Thanks, Pa."

I ruffled his hair. "No problem, little one. Oh right, take this. It's your food for later. Share with your siblings."

He nodded. "Okay!" My little boy turned around and rushed into the field, but not before waving bye.

I laughed and waved back.

"Okay, time to go prepare today's festivities!" I said, pulling my sleeves up. I walked back inside and saw Anis hard at work. Her hands moved back and forth rapidly as she kneaded some defrosted dough that I had prepared three days ago for this occasion. I had put it in the freezer to enhance the flavor, as well as save us some time.

I proceeded to wash my hands and then took the bowl of chopped tomatoes with some onion bits she had prepared and poured them into a preheated frying pan. I rapidly beat them with the back of a wooden spoon, crushing them. The juices simmered nicely. I poured a teaspoon each of oregano, salt, and basil over the sauce as well as a pinch of sugar.

Anis proceeded to slice some mushrooms. She wasn't much of a fan of them, but Tetsu loved mushrooms.

***

[An hour later]

"Alright, think it's ready to decorate" Anis said as she touched the cake to see if it had cooled down.

I raised the frosting bag in my hands. "I'll take care of this," I said, grinning.

"Alright, I'll go put up the decorations and get the gift."

Gently, I applied a coat of chocolate frosting around the top and the sides using a small offset spatula. Though the cream began to become runny...

I sighed and put the cake in the freezer to let it cool down. It likely would take half an hour before I could apply the fondant and the other decorations.

The backdoor suddenly slammed open. "Pa!" Tere yelled.

"Her, Tere. What's wrong?" I asked, turning to look at her.

"We can't find Tetsu," she said, tears in her eyes. "Taku is looking for him."

I snicker. "He's in the lavender field."

She bit her lip. "Taku is currently looking there..."

I laughed. "Come, I'll help you find him," I said, taking her hand. We stepped out of the house and saw Taku rummaging through the long stalks of lavender.

"Tetsu, come out! Tetsu!" Taku yelled. "Ya've won the game. Come out wherever ya are... Tetsu?"

I stepped forward and scanned the field slowly. My ears twitched at the sound of gentle breathing.

I laughed. "Relax, Taku," I said, making my way into the lavender. I moved through the stalks slowly, trying not to make much noise.

I smiled as soon as I came across a white cloth sticking out from under a black box. The kid had his head reclined against the box. The sides of his mouth were covered in red sauce.

"Me the best knight..." he mumbled. He had a large smile on his restive face. Around him was a dragon-tail that seemed to pop up whenever he slept. It always vanished right before he would awaken, so he never had a clue.

I chuckled as I knelt down next to him. "So, ya dream of being a knight, huh?" I moved the long strands of hair out of his face. "It'll take a lot of work, but I'm sure you'll become a great one. One better than me..."

"Pa..." Tetsu mumbled, he held out his hand out to me. His eyes remained closed.

I covered my mouth. Taku and Tere were worried to death while this one was here dozing off.

I picked him up with one arm and swung him over my back, and used my left hand to take the box. There was something inside. In fact, it felt only a third-lighter.

I smiled.

"Pa?" Tetsu asked, opening his eyes. "Food yummy..."

I laughed. "Well, ya old man and ma made it for ya."

He grinned, hugging me. "Pa and Ma make yummiest food."

My heart swelled just hearing that. "Of course, ya Pa and Ma made it with love."

He giggled. "Me love ya!"

"Me lova ya back, so does ya Ma!"

He smiled. "Me know."

I felt like hugging him. He was just so cute! Like a bear cub.

"Tetsu!" his siblings yelled as soon as we neared the end.

"Did me win?" he asked, tilting his head.

"Of course, ya won!" Tere yelled. "We looked everywhere for ya! Didn't think ya'll be hiding so close to home..."

He smiled. "Pa told me to!"

"Yup! Hide in plain sight; few will ever expect it."

Tere nodded. "I'll look close next time!"

"Next time is me turn to look," Tetsu said, pouting.

"Oh... right..."

"Me will look here first!" he said, giggling.

"Hmm..."

"Guess now it'll be expected," Taku said, grinning.

"Oh, right. Here ya go, kiddos. Ya food! Tetsu already ate his part."

Tetsu nodded. He closed his eyes once again.

"I better get your little bro to bed. Seems he's still not used to waking up at this time."

"Good thing ya didn't go on that hike after all," Tere said, giggling.

"Yeah, I would be carrying this one all the way to the peak of Mt. Sika."

"Me can hear that..." Tetsu mumbled.

All three of us burst into laughter.

***

After taking Tetsu back to his room, I returned to the kitchen and took out his cake. Tere and Taku watched as I slowly rolled chocolate fondant over the top.

"I wanna learn how to do that," Tere said before popping a carrot into her mouth.

"It's so cool. Hey, Pa."

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

"Xime must be here," Tere said, jumping out of her seat. My little girl rushed out of the kitchen, but it didn't take long for her to rush back in. This time with Xime in tow.

"What's wrong, Tere?" the green-haired little girl asked, puzzled.

"Pa's preparing a cake! Ya said ya wanted to be a baker before. This is ya chance to learn from a master!"

I snickered. "I'm not a master..."

Xime's eyes glistened at the sight of the cake. "Chocolate!"

"Yup. Tetsu's favorite. I plan to put white chocolate roses around it and the words 'Tetsu Turns Three'."

She giggled. "Tetsu loves alliterative stuff."

I snickered. "He does, huh? Then it's a good thing I came up with it."

"Seems everything is coming along well, cuz," a woman said as she stood by the doorway.

"Hey, Himeko!" I said, waving. In her arms was a brown-haired baby boy with fluffy cat-ears.

A red-haired man with similar ears as the boy poked his head in. "Smells delicious in here."

"Hey, Mik!" I said, putting down my utensils. I walked over and shook his hand. "How have you been, buddy?"

"I've been good. I'll soon be ordained as a priest."

I laughed. "That's good! You've been dreaming of that for years! I glanced over at my family. Seems we're all living out our dreams right now. So, are you two the only ones here?"

"Yo, Shi!" a voice called out. Miki and Himeko stepped aside from the entrance, allowing a white-haired teen to pass through.

I hugged the guy. "Skah!"

Skah snickered. "I missed ya too, big bro," he said, hugging me back.

"What have you been up to?" I asked, breaking away from him.

"Been traveling around the world still. Oh, right. I have a surprise for ya."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "A surprise? Today is Tetsu's birthday, not mine." Mine was twelve days ago.

A black-haired girl with braided hair stepped into the kitchen. Her stomach was slightly round.

Skah hugged the woman. "We're having a kid!" he said, grinning.

"What?" I said, jumping. "So soon? You barely married three or four months ago." Then again, said marriage came as a surprise...

"They seem to work fast," Himeko said, snickering.

"Hime," Miki said, sighing.

"Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" Hime asked.

"It's going to be a boy," my sister-in-law said, rubbing her stomach.

"We're going to call him Roa!" Skah said, squeezing his wife's shoulders. "Maybe he'll be friends with his cousin Tetsu. Say, where is the birthday boy?"

"He's in his room, sleeping. Unlike you, he struggles to wake up early."

"Ohh. I wanted to give the birthday boy his gift. Guess I'll wait for the festivities to start."

"Are Rocio and the others here?"

"Rocio couldn't come. She's still enjoying her honeymoon with Daisaru."

I lowered my head. "I see..."

"Big brother!" someone yelled.

"Selena!" Skah said, smiling.

"Little birdie!" she said, hugging him. "How have you been? How's the married life?"

"Good. I just explained to Shi and the others that we're having a kid. He's due in about six months."

Her eyes widened. "A kid? What are you calling him? I can help you with names! I got a list I made when I was pregnant with Serrano."

Skah snickered. "We already got a name figured out."

"Where is Serra anyway?" I asked.

Selena glanced over her shoulder and chuckled. "Come out, Serra."

A blue-haired kid with silver eyes glanced at us. He hugged his mom's right leg tightly.

"He seems shy," Anis said, walking up to us.

Selena nodded. "Yeah, he is."

Serrano blushed.

Anis snickered and patted his head. "He's so cute! Though, not as cute as my little Tetsu."

"Tetsu?" Serrano asked.

"Right, you two haven't met since you were babies. He's currently asleep, but I'm sure he'll like to play with you once he wakes up."

"I better finish this before he does," I said, turning my attention back to the cake. I quickly applied the rest of the fondant around the cake. I took tiny candy roses and put them around the cake then wrote 'Tetsu turns three' in red letters. "There, now to put it in the freezer."

"Something smells good here," a voice called out. We all turned to see a lady with wavy dark brown hair.

"It sure does," the man standing by her side said.

"Suddenly, I'm hungry," the pepper-haired boy standing between them said.

"Ma, Pa, little bro" I said, putting the cake back down.

"Where the birthday boy?" my little brother asked, looking around.

"He's asleep," Anis answered for me.

"Ahhh. I wanted to fight him."

Anis narrowed her eyes at him. "He's barely three. He's too little to spar."

"He wanted to spar last time I saw him," he said, snickering.

"I can spar with you," Taku said.

My brother grinned. "Okay, but ya better give it your all, Taku!"

Taku smiled. "I will."

The two boys ran outside.

"Wait for me!" Tere said, running after them.

"Ya want to come?" Xime asked, glancing at Serrano.

Serrano hid behind Selena again.

"Go, on Serra," Selena said, nudging him forth.

Xime smiled at him.

The blue-haired kid gasped.

"It's fine," she said, turning around. "Don't want to pressure you."

Serra lowered his head.

"Say, where is Aza?" Skah asked.

"Pa is busy," Serrano said, lowering his head.

Selena patted his head. "He'll get some free time soon."

He hugged her. "He's always busy..."

I walked over to him. "That may be so, but he still love you," I said, kneeling beside him. "Don't ever forget that."

"That he does," Selena said, hugging my nephew.

Serra smiled slightly.

"Ma, Pa?" Tetsu said, entering the kitchen with a red blanket in hand. His eyes widened as soon as he noticed the guests.

"There's my little dragon!" Ma said, picking him up. "Woah, ya've grown so big now!"

Tetsu giggled.

"In more ways than one," Pa said.

Anis glared at him.

Pa snickered.

"Who're you?" Tetsu asked, looking at Serra.

"I... I'm Serra," he said, moving around his ma.

Ma put down Tetsu.

"Me Tetsu!"

"Little Tetsu," Xime said, snickering.

Tetsu pouted. "Me be taller than ya eventually..." He turned his attention back to Serra. "Wanna play?"

Serra remained silent.

Tetsu smiled and jogged over to him. "Let's go!" he said, pulling him.

Serra let out a small cry as Tetsu dragged him away from his ma.

"Don't be scared, Serra. Play with your cousins."

Serra nodded reluctantly as he struggled to keep pace with the now fully awakened Tetsu.

***

[Half an Hour Later]

We all went outside and placed the food out on several tables for everyone to grab something. Anis' parents and sister had arrived in the meantime, as well. With everyone gathered, we encircled the cake area.

"Kids, come over!" Anis yelled.

A dirt covered Tetsu rushed over. "Food!" he yelled.

Serra and the other kids followed, exhausted.

"Yup, we got you something special too," Anis said as she wiped his face off with a white towel.

"Huh? What?" he asked, jumping up and down.

She picked him up until he could see the cake.

His face beamed. "Cake!"

"Yup, and not just any cake," I said, placing three candles on it.

Tetsu gasped. "Birthday!"

Anis squeezed our dusty boy. "Yup! Happy birthday, Tetsu!"

He clapped his little hands together and laughed.

"Hope ya have many, many more," I said, hugging him.

"Say, how about a picture?" Ma asked, lifting up a pocket camera.

"Sounds like a great idea!" Anis said. "Tetsu, try to blow the candle during the picture. Everyone, line up!"

"Here," I'll take the picture," Pa said, taking the camera from Ma.

"Wait, you should be in the picture too," I said as everyone moved behind the cake.

He smiled. "Oh, I plan to be," he said, grinning. "Now, say 'Happy Birthday, Tetsu'!"

Anis and I continued to hug our little boy.

"Happy birthday, Tetsu!" we all yelled in unison.

**Solar Note: Hope you enjoyed the special. Published this today as it's August 28th, Tetsu's birth date ^_^! Let me know your thoughts on it :)**