Interlude: Satisfied (In the Eyes of a Mother)

Suzuran was a young woman with great talent with the needle and was as gentle and sweet as her name suggests.

She was sought after by many but one man had only captured her heart.

The young woman loved him truly, not because of his looks or other superficial things like that.

(Though yes, she thought he was handsome but that's not what had captured her heart.)

Suzuran married a man rightfully apt for his name, Akio. He was bright, brave, gentle and kind. Shy at times but that's a trait they both shared.

The villagers don't think that she should have looked for more, someone rich, someone reliable and would keep her comfortable, because she was beautiful, talented and kind. But she didn't listen to what they all had to say, timid she might be, but Suzuran knows when to stand up for herself and make her own decisions.

And if Suzuran listened to them then she wouldn't be this happy. So happy and content with her life.

Suzuran was an orphan, she lived a hard life before, so she can endure hardships like any other again. She was happy, so that would be enough. They could be enough.

(She is satisfied.)

Months passed after her happy marriage life with Akio. After those few months there were some great news that came off of their love for one another. A child! She is going to be a mother!

She doesn't care what the others think that it would only cause them more financial problems in the future. She doesn't care whatever the hell they say, because she is happy from the life growing inside of her. They were both happy for things to come.

(But she can't deny that she was also afraid. Afraid if she would be a great mother. Oh Kami, she hopes that she will be. She'll do everything she can to make her child feel loved, a childhood that was memorable and one that her future child would look back to with a smile. Suzuran hopes that she'll be enough.)

Autumn was starting to set it sails, turning leaves to pretty orange, red and yellow, falling to the ground, little animals scrambling about preparing for the winter that was coming.

Suzuran was heavily pregnant, expecting a child and was happy with her life.

...

That was until tragedy struck its claws into her life once again.

(Why… Why? WhywhywhywhywhywhyWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWHYWH—)

...

News of a bear causing harm to whatever creature got on its way was rampant and that it wasn't safe to go out alone at night in the chances of getting struck by its deadly fangs and claws.

Akio was brave, was kind and was slightly stupid. The man she loves made a foolish decision of taking on the bear while he and the other men were hunting for meat. He was good with his gun and was quick-witted, but because of his soft heart, he chose to get in the way of the bear's claws on someone's back and was struck instead.

He was still alive then, but a few weeks later he died of infection and lack of proper medicine because they can't afford to.

(Daiki wasn't able to look her in the eye since ever he brought her husband bleeding over the red, red autumn leaves. Suzuran had been angry with him then, blaming him for her dear stupid husband's state of being and the large man himself blamed himself too. It took a few months until she finally saw through the haziness of grief and sadness that the man wasn't at fault, not really. Suzuran told him this as much but Daiki had been stubborn, sworn his life to hers and her unborn child. Even if she had refused, Daiki would surely still see to it, so she pretended not to hear him and shoved a bowl of spicy beef curry to his face.)

Suzuran was left a widower with a child that was yet to be born.

She cried, she cried and cried until she slowly became numb with the sadness, slightly healed but a scar would remain. She has to be strong. She can't afford to be weak at a time like this. She can't afford to let her child loose everything all at once before she – and Suzuran is very sure that it would be a baby girl – could even breathe into this cruel world, before she could even let out her first cry.

Suzuran would be strong, no, she is strong. She would greet her child with a great wide smile, making sure that it would be the first thing she would see in this cruel, cruel world.

*****

Suzuran was eighteen when she first laid eyes on her. She was beautiful, lovely, adorable and everything that she could ever wish for. The child has Suzuran's eyes but her mouth had the same curve as Akio's whenever he smiles.

The melody of her life seemed to come back after everything had been monotonous, so toneless, that's why Suzuran, "Senritsu, you're my little Senritsu."

Day by day her motivation rises up whenever she sees her little Senritsu, her little Songbird that brought back the tune in her life.

For a month and a half her Senritsu cried and cried. The child wailed as if in pain of something. As if she had lost something precious. Perhaps, the babe felt the loss of her Father who had died and loved her very much.

It was tiring and hard, but Suzuran endured. Because Senritsu is her child, her baby that she carried for nine months, the child born from Suzuran's and Akio's love, bringing her into this cruel, cruel world. So, she is patient, gentle with her lullabies that never fails to make her Senritsu be at peace.

Months past and the child would no longer cry as much, but smiles so much. It never failed to bring a smile on Suzuran's lips whenever she sees the little quirk on her child's lips, reminiscent of her late husband's own smile.

Childish giggles and babbles filled the empty house with such warmth and joy that was never present since the day Akio died, and Suzuran can't be any happier than that.

She is content with her child and her living on this home that she and her husband started. It is enough. She is satisfied.

*****

Senritsu had just said her first words and Suzuran can't be any happier, oh how smart and adorable her child is!

"...L've 'ou, Kaa-'an."

(Suzuran really loves her child dearly. And in her own opinion, Senritsu is the loveliest of all the babies in the world. Nobody can question that fact that would not answer to her and set of needles.)

*****

Her Senritsu has grown up, able to stand on her wobbly two feet. Suzuran could tell that her child is special, smart for her age like she understood it whenever Suzuran would talk about the unfairness of hiking price of rice and able to talk in full sentences with a cute lisps that comes with her age.

(Suzuran is one proud happy mother, her Senritsu truly is the loveliest child of them all.)

Her child was skittish, easily scared of things she can't understand or loud sounds that was too sudden, she jumps and cries out for her everytime this happens, Suzuran relishes in it, feeling needed and loved. It was endearingly cute, that she can't help but squish her and sometimes accidentally endanger her with her tight hugs.

She doesn't mean too, but her child is just too cute. Extremely cute.

*****

Senritsu was with Daiki again. The man whom her husband had saved.

Without much thought, her daughter had charmed the bear of a man by curious glances and sweet tiny smiles. She was glad that even without a father, her child would have someone to rely to.

(And it was adorable to see her hanging by Daiki's broad shoulders and squealing, it painfully reminds Suzuran that Akio wasn't here and wasn't the one teasing and spoiling their wonderful daughter with her.)

Senritsu had asked about her father once, but she never brought it up again afterwards. It hurts Suzuran to think that her daughter is thinking that the other children just happen to have one and she happen to have none.

If only Suzuran could speak of Akio without bursting to tears and passing out. If only Suzuran had a much stronger heart. Then, she would have been able to tell her little Songbird about her handsome, stupidly kind and awkward father and their story together, of how much Akio loved her too as much as Suzuran does or more.

(What Suzuran didn't know is that Senritsu understands this perfectly well, she just never bothered to voice it out.)

Suzuran gave her daughter a gift.

A headband to make her daughter even cuter. It never failed to bring a smile to her face whenever she sees it on Senritsu's hair, standing proud against her dark locks that she inherited from both of them.

Senritsu cherishes it like it was the most sacred treasure to grace humanity, and it warms Suzuran's heart. It feels like her chest is going to burst from how happy she is.

Suzuran is really one blessed mother to be bestowed by God with a wonderful kind child. And she couldn't ask for anything else.

She is satisfied.

*****

Senritsu is being bullied.

Senritsu, her precious daughter is being bullied.

Senritsu isn't saying anything but Suzuran knows.

Suzuran might be sweet and soft, but she can be hard and lethal to those she loved. She glared fiercely at the woman who was badmouthing her Songbird, making the woman flinch in fear, probably unnerved that the sweet and soft Suzuran is glaring at her with great intent.

"Now, now, Songbird. Kaa-san will always protect you."

*****

Songbird has made a new friend in Tsutako-chan's cute little brother. He was a polite child who smiles sparingly, has a unique way with words and most importantly, defends her little girl from her horrible bullies.

Little Giyuu is good for her, now her baby smiles more and has someone to turn to.

Suzuran is satisfied.

*****

Suzuran later learns that her child had a talent. A special talent. Her Senritsu have sharp ears, the main reason why she was easily startled. The reason why she loves her lullaby so much.

It's another thing to make her child even more special.

But neither way, her daughter was already special from the start. Sweet, gentle, smart, talented and absolutely adorable.

Her daughter didn't tell her about it, Suzuran found it on her own, Senritsu must have been thinking along the lines of not being a burden or not wanting to disappoint Suzuran. So young yet already so considerate, her daughter is very empathetic like that. Suzuran couldn't get any luckier than this.

She is satisfied.

*****

Suzuran can't be with her child anymore, but that doesn't stop her from watching over her precious Songbird.

Looking at her Senritsu now, standing straight, uniform cladding her body and a cheerfully colored haori that had stories to tell. The hat, or the headband that Suzuran made still stood proud at the crown of her baby's now blonde locks at her side was sword made for something special.

Two (or was it three with the demon girl in the box) boys stood by her side, smiles on their faces as they laughed at one thing or another. The amber eyes that resembled her own glimmered with warmth and joy that was reflected by the boys at her side.

A smile stretched over woman's lips.

Suzuran might not be with her child and guide her as she grew up, but she still watches over her. Seeing the contentment that was in her child was enough.

It would be enough.

She is satisfied.

*****

"Let me sing a lullaby

As you close your eyes,

And as you're drifting off to sleep

How I hope that the dreams that you find

Are bright!~"

"Love, can we meet again soon in the bluest of skies?

Where a tomorrow waits for you and I

So hold me tight one more time, but don't kiss me goodbye

'Cause I know that I'll see you on the other side"

"I will think of our song when the nights are too long

I'll dream of you for that's where I belong

Love, can we meet again soon in the bluest of skies!

Only, in my dreams, do we meet again~"