Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chiyo didn’t feel well that morning. In all honesty, she’d been unwell in the mornings for a while now, though she hid it as best she could from her beloved lover Date Shigezane. He noticed that she wasn’t quite herself, and let her lean into his strength for comfort. She’d told him it was likely just a bit of illness, perhaps a little too much sake the night before. 

She felt a little guilty for misdirecting him. It wasn’t as though Shigezane was especially gullible, but there wasn’t much of a reason not to believe her, was there? It wasn’t as though Chiyo lied to him nor was there any reason for her to be deceptive over an upset stomach! Only…. There was. Kneeling in their room, she smiled privately to herself as she looked at a calendar. 

It was coming up on three months since she last bled. Nearly time to tell Shigezane! Thinking about his reaction was a delicious secret that she savored all to herself for the moment. Would he be excited, or nervous? Probably both all at once. Her lover did have a habit of underestimating himself when it came to duty and responsibility. She couldn’t wait to see the look on his face though, or to start acquiring the little things that the baby would need.

”Shigezane, you can not keep hiding from me!” Ibano, Shigezane’s grandfather and the man who raised him, burst through the door only to pause with a sheepish smile on seeing it was only her. A bit of a blush came to both of their faces as the woman was wearing only her sleeping kimono and her hair not yet prepared for the day. “Ahh forgive me Chiyo, I thought he was hiding in here.”

“No, it’s quite all right. He can be a little difficult to track down. I might try the training grounds.” Chiyo smiled warmly, trying to casually turn over the bits of paper where she had been tracking her cycles and the days since. 

“Oho… what’s this?” Ibano couldn’t help but notice calendar marks on the papers his grandson’s lover was shuffling around. Especially since the woman was so rarely secretive, it made the desire to peek absolutely irresistible. “Are we about to be expecting a new Date heir?” 

“No! I mean…. Yes, I mean… I think so.” Chiyo’s blush grew deeper, hugging her papers close to her chest and smiling bashfully. “I haven’t told Lord Shigezane yet, I wanted to wait another few days until… well until my next… You know.” 

“Your next missed cycle? I am old, not unfamiliar with the process of child making.” Ibano laughed good-naturedly, his eyes taking on a mischievous sparkle that was more in line with Shigezane’s demeanor. “Keep your secret from him, Chiyo.I think we should make a little celebration of the occasion. Make it a surprise that he will remember.”

Chiyo eyed Ibano with mild suspicion but a blooming grin on her features as she slowly realized what the older man was suggesting. Date Shigezane, the clan troublemaker, was in for the prank of his life.

The planning, and arrival of certain key players, took a little while to arrive. It worked out rather nicely, giving Chiyo time to make certain of her news before they moved ahead. However, it was becoming increasingly difficult to hide the impending surprise. Shigezane had picked up that his lover was up to something, nuzzling into her neck at night and nipping at her earlobe as he tried to get hints. 

“I don’t think I can evade him much longer,” Chiyo giggled, hiding the blush on her cheeks with a fan as she sat with Ibano, Masamune and Kojuro. Officially, the latter two were here on clan business but really, they were plotting out how to turn this event into the prank of a lifetime for Shigezane. 

“He is quite determined, when he gets it into his head to be.” Kojuro chuckled softly, refreshing the mother-to-be’s teacup. Of course, he’d also seen to it that they arrived bearing gifts for the young couple - plenty of clothing for a young child as suitable for the Date status, and for Mother as well. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea? I don’t want to upset him, thank you Lord Kojuro,” she reached forward gracefully to take her teacup.

“It is a horrible one,” Masamune spoke quietly, his hands folded neatly in his lap. “However, it might teach him something to be on the receiving end of his pranks.”

“I think it’s a rather lovely idea,” Kojuro gave Chiyo a reassuring smile. “And one that we are all pleased to help with. Though it sounds as though we had best put plans into motion. Has he been told that we’ve arrived?”

“Not yet, though Shigezane will realize something is happening soon.” Ibano smiled, lifting his teacup. “And once we’ve this matter resolved, we’ll also need to begin preparations for their wedding.”

“You think he will want to marry me?” Chiyo squeaked out with a blush, flustered by her lover’s grandfather stating the matter as an already settled fact.

“He ought to have done it already.” Masamune grumbled, though he was blushing a little as well.

“Naturally, our Shigezane looks nowhere but you. With a child on the way, it is only a matter of formality.” Kojuro smoothed things over with a smile. “I can think of no one better to help support him as he takes a stronger role within the clan.”

“You flatter me, Lord Kojuro.” She smiled, looking down into the teacup Chiyo cupped with both hands. It was a little nerve-wracking, the idea of being pregnant with Lord Shigezane’s child and them marrying - and poor Shigezane didn’t even know what any of the other Date lords were plotting! Hopefully it will all be good fun…

Kojuro had to work quite hard to keep his smile under control as he delivered Shigezane to Masamune for the distraction. He’d found the playful Lord in the kitchens, trying to convince Chiyo to abscond with him to the village before they were caught. The poor woman was grinning but likely on the verge of revealing their plans!

“Ugh, Kojuro, come on. You don’t really need me for a meeting on trading strategy do you?” Grinning, he nudged Kojuro’s shoulder with his own as he hoped against hope for a reprieve. Chiyo was hiding something, something good and he wanted to know what!

“That you aren’t currently educated on the topic is exactly why we want you here. You need to learn the ins and outs so that you can assist with planning, both here and for the Date collectively.” The older man scolded him sternly while sliding open the door. “You and Lord Masamune will speak at length with potential merchants and you will choose one to invest in.”

“Where are you goin’!” Shigezane whipped around as soon as he realized Kojuro wasn’t following him in. Odd. Kojuro almost always followed Masamune around.

“I have other clan business to attend to, so you must also serve as Lord Masamune’s assistant. This way you can assist him when I am otherwise disposed.” He nearly lost control of his smirk, watching the growing horror on Shigezane’s face as Kojuro slid the door shut again. The young man was, in many ways, the spirit and glue of the Date but he was not the best at taking on responsibility within the clan. At least he’d already done his duty and begun producing the next generation, Kojuro mused with a smile. Though he didn’t spare much time for those thoughts - he and Ibano had quite a lot of work to do!

”Shigezane!” Ibano raced into the council room, disrupting the meeting that Masaume was leading.

”What is it, Gramps?” Raising his eyebrow, couldn’t help but be grateful for the interruption. He loved the Date and didn’t mind doing his duty to the Clan, but he preferred when duty was more exciting, or at least more interesting. Unlike other samurai who grasped for power above their stations, Shigezane was entirely happy with his place in the clan. Especially now, with Chiyo at his side.

”She’s gone! They took her!” The old man gasped out, having to hide the sparkle in his eyes.

“Calm down, Gramps, who took who?” Even as he told his Grandfather to calm himself, Shigezane felt tension brewing in the pit of his stomach. He could only think of one woman close enough to Gramps to provoke a reaction like this. 

“Chiyo! Lord Masaume, forgive me for interrupting but they’ve taken our Chiyo.” Ibano bowed, following the script they’d practiced.

“Who the hell took her.” Scrambling to his feet, Shigezane growled out the words. Bandits? Another clan, maybe someone they had fought recently? He’d sever heads from shoulders till he had her back, safe in his arms where she belonged.

”She must be retrieved immediately. Who was there?” Masaume rose slowly, dismissing the other attendants with a wordless wave of his hand. They were not entirely in on the plan and he didn’t need extra helpers. It wasn’t as though he was especially good at pulling off pranks to start with.

“It was only myself, I tried to stop them but there were too many of them and she pleaded with me to come back and alert you, Shigezane. She knew you would come for her.” Ibano bowed to his grandson - mostly to cover his smile. It was a romantic touch but it had made Chiyo smile and the boy would like it. “I believe they are a group of bandits, trying to make a name for themselves. As they rode away, they threw this on the ground and said you would be able to find her when you solved this riddle.”

”The hells?” Shigezane took a folded bit of paper that his grandfather offered him. He didn’t entirely believe what he’d just heard, until he unfolded it to read the writing. Then he believed it even less, with his brows furrowing. “It says to seek out the smallest rice bowl in the castle.”

”That would be your first bowl, in the storeroom.” It was entirely fortunate that Shigezane was distracted by the bit of paper, for Ibano could barely hide his smile as he spoke.

”What the hell do they want with the rice bowl I used as a baby?” Shigezane muttered under his breath, though the others barely heard it because he’d already taken off towards the storage.  

Shigezane turned the little rice bowl over between his hands, not paying any attention to the delicate details of the carefully painted pattern in the glazed bowl that had once fed his own chubby cheeks. There was nothing special about the little bowl, but underneath he’d found another bit of paper with another riddle. Impatient to hurry up and find Chiyo, Shigezane turned back to the others.

”Where you first saw sakura blossoms will lead you to your prize. What in all the hells is this shit!” He stared down at the writing in disbelief, blinking owlishly.

”I remember the spot, we’d best not waste time.” Kojuro spoke with a fond tone, placing a hand between Shigezane’s shoulder blades to gently push the man into forward movement. “You looked adorable, chubby hands reaching for the falling petals.”

”All babies look cute,” Shigezane chuckled a little, despite the growing anxiety. “Though me in particular, right Gramps?”

”You always were quite cheerful.” Ibano hid his smile behind his sleeve, watching the younger men dash off to the next location. Already knowing that they would find another clue, and then another. All leading to a very particular destination. While they solved the ‘puzzles’, he started directly for the little outbuilding that had been prepared for this.

”Since when does Lord Masaume care about a woman?” Shigezane teased, glancing over to his cousin. The series of odd puzzles was straining his thin patience and he needed distraction as they raced to the next location. Annoying the highest ranking Date was exactly what Shigezane needed.

”To take one of the Date women is an insult to us all,” Masaume’s lips pressed together in a thin line. He loathed the common misconception that he hated women. As a rule, he was simply… uncomfortable around them. Chiyo was different, warm and gentle and wanted nothing from him except to help keep Shigezane safe.

“Chiyo is dear to us all,” Kojuro chuckled a little, then suddenly gave Shigezane a little push between the shoulder blades. “Look, that building has all the windows covered - that must be where they are hiding her!”

Masaume and Kojuro exchanged quiet smiles as Shigezane suddenly gained a fresh surge of energy and dashed ahead. They’d never seen the younger Date so serious and intent on anything in his life. The man drew his sword as he ran and nearly knocked down the door in his hurry to throw it open. Their only regret was not being on the other side, and unable to see the young man’s face.

”Chiyo! I’m here, doll! Everything’s…. All right…?”

Honestly, she felt a little guilty, watching Shigezane burst through the door with his sword in hand. But it was also very precious to see her samurai come to save her, especially since all that Chiyo was currently at risk of was overeating. The young woman was currently settled into a comfortable sitting position, surrounded by familiar faces. Vassals, the townspeople, other members of the Date clan - all of whom were starting to giggle with good-natured affection.

”Look at how much he adores her”, “Such a happy couple”, “We’re blessed to see such joy!” Along with a variety of other approving remarks, all of which confused Shigezane greatly. Chiyo was hiding a guilty giggle behind her hand, her beautiful eyes laughing as he approached. Sheathing his sword, he cradled her face in both hands, looking at her this way and that. Just to be sure.

”You’re really all right?” He murmured softly, tracing her cheeks with his thumbs. If anything had happened to her, he wouldn’t have been able to stand it. Just the thought made him struggle to breathe now that the adrenaline was wearing off. 

”Mmhmm. I have news for you and… well… your grandfather wanted to make the occasion memorable.” Chiyo laughed sheepishly, starting to blush a little as she realized that she was going to be revealing this news in front of… everyone . She.. should have thought this through a little more!

”What sort of news?” His brows knit together all the more, especially when he heard Kojuro’s laughter as the other two Date lords arrived. 

“The best kind, for a young man in your position.” Ibano spoke up firmly from where he sat beside Chiyo. “Now, show your manners and sit down beside your love. I will pour you a cup of tea while she tells you everything.”

”Yeah… sure thing, Gramps.” Shigezane’s lips twisted in annoyance even as he complied. Chiyo looked well though. Glowing even. Her hair was brushed till it shone and she was decorated with symbols and colors of the Date and his line. That kimono looked new as well. A gift from Gramps? She usually didn’t go spending large amounts of money on herself.

”Right. Well…” Chiyo hesitated, unable to stop herself from looking at every eager set of eyes around them. “I… Or rather we…”

”What’s wrong, doll?” His hands reached out to her own, threading their fingers together and not giving a damn who saw. Gramps said it was good news but she looked so bashful and nervous. Maybe Gramps was wrong, or maybe she was being pushed into something? What if-

“Lord Shigezane, we are expecting!” She blurted it out as her hands pulled his in, placing them upon her belly through the layers of soft silk and pricy cotton. Watching his eyes grow wide. In a few moments, he’d gone from a rescuing avenger with sweat dotted brow to a proud poppa with a lopsided grin spreading across his face.

“You serious, doll? You mean it? We’re gonna have a baby? Haha! You hear that! We’re gonna have a kid!” Shigezane couldn’t stop himself, not that he especially tried. He scooped Chiyo up, spinning her around and laughing. Uncaring about Gramps’ sigh of resignation, propriety be damned - he was gonna have a baby! Setting Chiyo back on her feet, Shigezane kissed her forehead and ignored the hoots that came from the onlookers. 

“My Lord, our audience!” Chiyo blushed, hiding her face in his shoulder but everyone could hear the smile in the modest woman’s voice.

”Hells, like they don’t know how babies are made.” Shigezane snorted, but grinned with his arms wrapping around her shoulders. “So… no kidnapping, huh?”

”No, you can blame me for this entire endeavor. Perhaps now you’ll have an appreciation for how others feel during your pranks as well.” Ibano offered a teacup to Lord Masaume, who waved it off politely. Kojuro stepped in to take it.

”What I’ve learned is that I need to up my ante, and that wives aren’t sacred in our family.” Shigezane laughed, kissing the top of Chiyo’s head. “Just you wait, once the squirt gets here, I’ll get them to help me out and you’ll never have peace of mind.”

”Technically, she’s not your wife.” Masaume pointed out, creating a moment of awkward silence among everyone in the room. After all, it wasn’t out of the question that Shigezane would marry someone else for the sake of the clan. Though nobody wanted to say it, especially in the midst of such happy news.

”Huh. Guess that’s the first thing we gotta fix, huh doll?” Shigezane didn’t seem to notice the momentary change in mood. Just offering Chiyo one of his bright, beaming smiles as he leaned back to look at her beautiful face. “Whadda say… wanna get married?” 

“Yes!” Chiyo laughed, tears of joy pricking her eyes as she threw her arms around Shigezane’s shoulders. While he spun her again, making her sleeves flutter in the air, she could hear the indulgent and approving laughter of their onlookers. Even Lord Masaume cracked a thin, barely there smile. In this moment, her happiness seemed boundless. She and Date Shigezane were building a life, a family together. He would make her part of his clan and they would be together. Like something out of a children’s story.