Whispers in the Winter Wind

They entered the house, and Yasushi spotted his mother, Kohana, standing in the living room. His father, Yuji, was beside her, while his younger sister, Himari, peeked out from behind Kohana's leg, her curious eyes fixed on him.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" Yasushi asked, his tone holding more surprise than anything else.

Kohana crossed her arms and tilted her head slightly, her voice carrying a playful edge. "What, am I not allowed to visit my son anymore?"

"No, that's not what I meant—" Yasushi began, but before he could finish, Kohana brushed past him and reached for Yunxue, pulling her into a quick embrace.

"You're back," Kohana said warmly. "I heard about your return from Yinhaie earlier. Was the trip alright? Your belongings arrived earlier, by the way."

"It went fine, Miss Kohana. Thank you for helping earlier," Yunxue replied as she stepped back, offering a polite nod.

Yasushi's eyebrows drew together as he glanced between the two of them. "Wait — what do you mean? And... hold on, where exactly did you run into Yinhaie and Nandini?"

Yunxue wiped her forehead with her sleeve, but before she could get a word out, Kohana stepped in. "I went with Nandini and Yinhaie to the airport to pick up Yunxue, along with two other staff. Afterward, we dropped her at your workplace and took her belongings to your home."

Yasushi pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a long breath. Thoughts churned in his head. 'I told them not to leave the house too much. But what can I do? Can't blame them for wanting to help,' he reflected as another sigh escaped him.

Kohana gave him a look, one brow raised, before speaking again. "Don't get too worked up. You know they're not the type to sit around all day. They're doing their part. Advika and Yue are in the kitchen with their mothers, helping out too."

Without giving Yasushi a chance to respond, Kohana gave a quick, apologetic smile and nudged Yunxue toward the hall. Yasushi stayed rooted for a moment, rubbing his temple, then followed.

When he reached the kitchen, the layout spread before him, organized and functional. Two sofas sat to the side where two kids were seated, babbling animatedly.

Yasushi's daughter sat to the left, her gray hair from Nandini contrasting with her brown skin, while her purple eyes mirrored his. She was talking nonstop, her small hands waving as she babbled to the child across from her. That child, named Advika, carried Yasushi's last name, Futakao, a decision he and Nandini had made together.

The other child, Yue Futakao, sat across from Advika. She had inherited Yasushi's black hair and Yinhaie's brown eyes, a quiet connection to both of them. Yue was just as animated, answering Advika's chatter with her own bursts of sound, the two completely absorbed in their exchange.

As Yasushi stepped closer, their heads turned, and their expressions brightened. Both began making more noise, their babbles louder and more directed. A laugh escaped him as he bent down to scoop them up, one arm cradling each child.

"How are my girls today?" he asked.

Their tiny voices rose again, happy and full of energy, though still just incomprehensible sounds. Neither had spoken their first word yet, and everyone around them eagerly waited for the moment it would happen, knowing it could be any day now.

He kissed each of them gently on the forehead, drawing soft giggles from the two toddlers before crouching down to play with them for a while. After a few minutes of laughter and babbling, he left them to their own devices, and they immediately began chattering in their baby language, clutching their toys and waving them enthusiastically.

When he turned back, he noticed his younger sister, Himari, standing off to the side, her wide eyes quietly observing him. He crouched again, arms spread wide as he called out to her with an inviting grin. "Him-Him, where's my hug?"

Himari tilted her head, as if contemplating his question, before she toddled over and wrapped her arms around him. At two years old, she had developed a shy demeanor that her parents were certain she'd outgrow. The family believed the same. Though quiet, she could express herself when she wanted.

"How was your day?" he asked, lifting her up with practiced ease as he started toward the kitchen where Yinhaie and Nandini were busy preparing dinner with his mother.

Himari took a moment, nestling her head against his shoulder before answering in a soft, halting voice. "…Played with Advika and…Yue…ate…food." She paused, letting her words settle before shutting her eyes and settling comfortably against him, her tiny body warm and still.

Yasushi didn't answer, his hand moving across her back in small, soothing circles as he stood behind the two. "So you went out, huh? Hope you didn't push yourselves too hard," he said, addressing both Nandini and Yinhaie with a tone caught between concern and exasperation.

"We're not fragile, Yasushi. You worry too much," Nandini replied, turning to glance at him with a soft grin, her words direct.

"She's right. We're grown. We can handle being outside for a few hours, even on an extended leave," Yinhaie added, her expression light as she turned and tapped the tip of his nose with her finger.

"I get it, but winter's coming back around, and you both know how unpredictable the weather gets here," he said, his brows knitting together. "Just be careful. That's all I'm asking."

"Alright, alright. We'll be careful," they both answered in near unison, their tone more indulgent than dismissive, though Yasushi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. His worry felt excessive, but he couldn't shake it off.

"Mom," he called, his voice dropping slightly. His mother turned her head, her look landing on Himari, who had drifted off to sleep in Yasushi's arms. She chuckled softly, stepping closer to relieve him of the child. Holding Himari carefully, she brought her to the spare room, laying her down without disturbing her.

Yasushi nodded to himself and made his way to the bedroom he shared with Jingliu. Opening the door quietly, he saw her curled up on the bed, hugging his pillow. One of his shirts was draped over it, as if she had placed it there deliberately for comfort. Her breathing was soft, and the room felt calm.

He exhaled slowly, careful not to disturb her, and began changing into clothes more suitable for the day. After slipping into his outfit, he sat down near her on the edge of the bed. His hand moved almost instinctively to her hair, lightly brushing through it. His touch was gentle as he rested his palm on her head, moving in slow, repetitive motions.

Yasushi knew how drained Jingliu and Xinyi were after their school days. The academic environment demanded a lot from them, and even with occasional breaks, it was clear those weren't enough. He had spoken to Jamie recently, bouncing around ideas for some kind of technology that could ease the burden.

They had gone through sketches, plans, and possibilities together, but nothing had materialized into a functional solution yet. Jamie, always ready to lend a hand, had promised to keep brainstorming. For now, Yasushi could only hope they'd figure something out soon.

"She's out of energy," said a voice, pulling Yasushi's attention toward Xinyi, who stifled a yawn behind her hand.

"What went on today?" he asked as she stepped into the room and settled beside him.

"We had group discussions and impromptu presentations for most of the day. She was picked as the leader for our group. Jingliu gave it everything she had during the whole thing. Even before we made it back, she was already nodding off," Xinyi explained.

"I get it," Yasushi muttered, brushing a hand through Jingliu's hair, causing her to stir slightly. "When did you all return?"

"About ten minutes before you and Yunxue. As you can tell, she didn't last long," Xinyi said, chuckling softly.

Yasushi glanced at her and asked, "And you? I can tell you're tired, but nowhere near as much as her."

"Hey, I helped her. She'd be even more drained if I hadn't. Sure, the rest of the group pitched in, but she put in way more effort than needed and left us with barely anything to do," Xinyi said, crossing her arms and exhaling heavily.

Yasushi chuckled faintly. "I wasn't accusing you. I just asked. But thanks for explaining."

The room settled into silence. Yasushi's hand moved lightly through Jingliu's hair while Xinyi watched from the side. After a moment, she stretched her arms over her head, letting out a soft groan. "Alright, I'm going to grab something to eat and call it an early night. See ya."

As she turned to leave, she placed her palm against his cheek, kissed the same hand, and winked. It was her indirect way of teasing him, something she'd done enough times to spark an argument with Jingliu in the past. Now, though, Jingliu didn't seem to care one way or the other.

Yasushi had told her to stop before. She would pause for a few days, then go right back to it. Eventually, he gave up. Watching her leave, he let out a long breath. He was about to turn toward Jingliu when he felt her grab his hand.

He turned back, surprised to see her staring at him, eyes wide and fixed on his face. "…Good evening?" he asked, his voice careful. She didn't say anything, just held his hand tighter and pulled him closer. Then, without a word, she wrapped her arms around him. Her breath came out soft and slow as she leaned into him.

Yasushi adjusted, settling into the hug and resting his hands lightly on her back. "I heard you were busy today," he said after a moment. "You want to call it an early night?"

Jingliu stayed quiet, her head against him as she breathed evenly. He knew this pattern — she was probably taking in his scent, something she'd done many times before. After a long pause, she shook her head. "No. I'm fine," she said, her voice quiet but stable. "I got a few minutes of sleep earlier. Once this school stuff is done, I won't have to think about it anymore."

Yasushi chuckled. "Just waiting to get out of school, huh? Well, my job's hectic too. I'm guessing yours and Xinyi's will be the same since you'll both end up working with our parents."

Jingliu groaned softly and pressed her face into his chest without a word. Yasushi laughed again, the sound breaking the quiet around them. They stayed like that for a few minutes, speaking in low tones, until Kohana's voice called up from downstairs, telling them dinner was ready.

+-+

"Is this really okay? I mean…taking a day off just to go shopping with me," Yunxue asked. Her voice came out hesitant as she glanced between Yasushi, Yinhaie, and Nandini. Their children, Advika and Yue, trailed behind, chattering with each other.

"You're overthinking it. It's one of my regular days off," Yasushi replied casually, shrugging off her concerns. "Not like I'm skipping work or anything."

They arrived at a square dotted with shops. Yasushi slowed down, letting Yinhaie and Nandini catch up while they kept an eye on their kids. Turning to them, he said, "Hey, I need you two to help her out with clothes. I'm terrible at this stuff."

Nandini chuckled, a knowing look passing between her and Yinhaie. "That's an understatement," she said lightly as the two women moved ahead to join Yunxue.

The group strolled through the area, their conversation flowing easily as they moved from topic to topic. Eventually, they entered a store. Without wasting time, they began browsing through racks, each item evaluated and passed along, searching for the right fit for Yunxue.

Yasushi kept his pace behind them, mostly silent. Clothing wasn't exactly his area of expertise, and he'd learned that the hard way. Back in high school, tagging along with Xinyi and Jingliu had been his attempt to help, but every suggestion he'd made back then was shot down. The responses hadn't been mild either — they outright told him his taste in women's clothing was bizarre.

At first, he'd defended his choices, thinking they weren't so bad. But after asking around, the reactions from others had been hesitant but unanimous. That was the point when Yasushi stopped trying altogether. Instead, he focused on his own style and left everyone else to make their own picks, fully aware of his inability to contribute in that area.

After what felt like an eternity of walking through the store, Yasushi felt a heavy hand clamp down on his shoulder. He turned, startled, to face a towering man whose glare could've melted stone. Behind him stood two women, their expressions equally unpleasant as they sized him up. Confusion hit him harder than any insult could.

Yasushi narrowed his eyes, his voice low but firm. "And you are?" he asked, his posture rigid as he looked up at the taller man. At five feet eleven inches, Yasushi wasn't short, but the stranger's six-foot-three frame towered over him like a wall.

The man's tone matched the hard set of his jaw. "We've been watching you. You've been following these women the whole time, you fucking creep. Leave them alone," he said, each word dripping with irritation.

Yasushi raised an eyebrow, his confusion clear as he glanced at the man. "What the hell are you talking about? I came in with them," he replied flatly.

The man's grip tightened on Yasushi's shoulder. "Don't play dumb. Walk away, or—"

Yasushi turned his head slightly, catching sight of his group. Their sharp stares matched the intensity of the scene, though his daughters, Advika and Yue, were frozen with wide eyes. The tension hit Yasushi hard, spurring him to action. His hand shot up, closing around the stranger's wrist like a clamp.

The man grunted, trying to pull away, but Yasushi's hold didn't falter. His grip dug in, the strength from years of honing his ki making the man wince. The stranger twisted his arm, attempting to break free, but Yasushi's hand stayed locked, unmoving.

Yasushi's voice came out low and cold. "Fuck off, or I'll rip this hand off and shove it up your ass. Threaten me or my daughters again, and you'll see what happens, you cunt."

The man flinched as a wave of ki pressed down on him, sending an involuntary shiver through his body. His face lost all color. He barely registered the pain as Yasushi released his wrist, which dropped limp and useless — clearly broken. Without another word, the man stumbled back, clutching his injury, before turning and bolting like his life depended on it.

The women who had been with him stared in shock, exchanging confused looks before calling after him. Their words were ignored as they scrambled to catch up. Yasushi, meanwhile, didn't spare them another glance. His attention turned instead to his daughters, who had been watching wide-eyed from the corner.

His tone softened, his demeanor returning to its usual calm. "Let's keep moving," he said simply, as though the incident had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The three women accompanying him chose not to address what had occurred. His daughters, however, raised their arms toward him, signaling their desire to be carried. Without hesitation, Nandini and Yinhaie handed over their daughters, allowing him to hold them as the group resumed their search for clothing for Yunxue.

The first store didn't have what they were looking for, prompting them to move on. They browsed through several others, taking their time to explore each option. Eventually, they found clothes that suited Yunxue.

Once the task was completed, they decided to have lunch together. With the day already feeling full, they headed back home afterward, hoping to relax and prepare dinner together.