Butterfly in Thy Stomach

[Zero]

As promised, Zero is currently riding his motorcycle with Mitsuko in tow towards the tropical islands of Fijion just to spend their time together in the butterfly park, and then they'd stay over at Paradise Hotel nearby for the weekend.

He had already advised their kids to be responsible over the weekend without their parents, and had asked Madame May to watch over them when she's free from her inn work. Matthew looks a bit upset that Mitsuko is leaving for the weekend, but at least Savannah is there to keep him company.

He's driving slowly, trying not to get into his speed demon tendencies while his wife is with him. They packed light since it's just one weekend, but Mitsuko has prepared bentos for lunch in their picnic basket and Zero joked that the basket looks to be much bigger than their clothing luggage. He can't wait to eat them though, and blow bubbles with her.

Entopia Butterfly Park is a new addition within the island of Fijion, apparently the area used to be an agricultural conservatory park for biodiversity research. Now it became a recreational hotspot for being the first butterfly park in the domain to be situated within the tropics.

"Miki, look!" Zero screamed through the winds and pointed. At the far end of the road, right near the famed Archira Waterfall where they got married in, is a huge tropical dome. It's so big, one could see it from afar. Once they got nearer, an immense amount of colors pop out in their view outside the dome. A huge beautiful garden is outside the dome, with many kinds of colorful flowers and plants galore.

Zero parked his bike and helped Mitsuko off, then they both removed their helmets before gawking at the garden from the parking lot. "What the hell, it looks straight out of a movie. And we're not even there yet." He whistled, impressed.

After locking his bike and taking the picnic basket with him, Zero holds his elbow out for his wife to take. "Shall we, Mrs. Cipher?" Clearly excited about their date, he leads her into the beautiful outdoor butterfly garden. The smell of flowers wafts around them as they walk around.

It's such a nice weather to walk around, not too bright, not too drab. Zero is busy congratulating himself in his head about how good of a decision he made to choose this perfect day for their date that he doesn't realize a butterfly has landed right on his hair, making him look like he's wearing a bow on his head.

[Tag Mitsuko]

[Mitsuko]

Mitsuko was so glad that her husband Zero had arranged this date just to spend some more quality time with her. The angel had a feeling that because of how her depression affected her mind, thoughts, and behavior it also affected whether or not Zero could approach her for a date. But now that they both have clarity as to what caused a small breakdown to occur in their marriage, Mitsuko and Zero were both committed to rebuilding their foundation. Having an overnight date to reconnect even more to each other was a wonderful idea.

In the week leading up to the date Mitsuko and Zero began to talk again like they used to. They had began to spend many nights talking to each other for hours about anything and everything,  and  sometimes even their son Matthew joined them. On one of these chatty nights in particular Matthew started to open up to his parents about how he felt that he could possibly be gay, but he was still confused about his emotions, he even told them that he found Sage-Lynn to be adorable, and that he felt that she was crushing on him. Zero and Mitsuko advised their son to just be her friend at this time especially if he was still confused about his sexuality, and he didn’t have to rush into a romantic relationship at his age. Mitsuko also shared the story about her ex boyfriend Neji, how she was 16 when she met and started dating him, and how sadly he had left her life in the blink of an eye, and how she stayed committed to him for almost two years, but then she had to move on. She didn’t feel ready to move on, but life forced her to.

So Mitsuko wanted her son to take things slowly when it came to romantic relationships at his age, especially if he was still figuring himself out. His focus right now should be school, his health, and nurturing the friendships he has made. The angel wasn’t exactly saying no for Matthew to experience a teenage romantic relationship like she did, but she just wanted her son to be careful and gentle with his feelings and his heart, while also being gentle, honest and thoughtful with his future partner, and no matter if he was gay or not, Zero and Mitsuko will always love him.

Zero and Mitsuko also explained to their son that it took time  for the both of them to get to know each other all over again.They had their childhood as a strong foundation, but their friendship needed time to grow, and it did. Then after almost two to three years of dating seriously, Zero proposed to Mitsuko and they got married. After their long chat that night Matthew embraced both of his parents in a hug, and squeezed himself in between them sleeping in their bed with them. All Mitsuko and Zero could do at that moment was look at their teenaged son with adoration. He was their first born, and was the one that started their journey as parents, so the bond they had with him would be a little different. Matthew was raised with a lot of trial- and error because Mitsuko and Zero had him so young- in fact Mitsuko was already pregnant with him when she got married, and she couldn’t turn to her mother for advice, as her mom was killed when she was five.

Despite having a natural maternal instinct, Mitsuko still  had to learn so much about motherhood on her own.

Because of the renewed closeness between Mitsuko and Zero, the angel began developing another habit to show her love and affection. If Zero was in his office working or with a client or in a meeting with other bounty hunters, then Mitsuko would stop by his office periodically popping her head in the door way to say hello, and would place a chocolate Hershey kiss in the palm of his hand whenever he got the chance to hold her hand for a few minutes. Mitsuko was learning that while it was absolutely okay to give Zero his space and privacy to do his work, it was also okay for her to stop by his office to greet him for absolutely no reason at all. In appreciation for Zero, Mitsuko even started to come up with ideas to renovate Zero's office.

Zero and Mitsuko also reminded each other that their relationship isn't just full of requests or reasons to be there for each other. It was always nice to just show up for no particular reason. They were once very good at this.

She didn’t have to worry about bothering Zero or interrupting him. If he was going to be super busy for the day Zero would let his wife know, but assured her that he will check in on her, and it was okay for her to check on him too, and for them to have lunch together. One of the mistakes both of them made was giving each other too much space, so they were working on correcting the balance of space that they gave to each other. Not too much, but not too little either. If Zero was in a grouchy mood he would communicate that kindly to his wife, and Mitsuko would know to give him a lot more space to regulate his emotions, and after he was calm and relaxed Zero would confide in her about what happened. It was also no surprise that whenever Mitsuko would pop in Zero’s office, both of their faces would just light up when they looked at each other. Not much had to be verbalized between them.

This morning just before they left for their overnight romatnic getaway, Zero and Mitsuko took some time to have breakfast with their children, and it was then the stern side of Zero came out as he told their children to be responsible, and to look after each other. Matthew had the biggest pout/frown when he knew his mother wouldn’t be at home- in fact he was huffy and puffy about it, and had a slight attitude, which Zero had to nip in the bud- with being strict and stern in his tone of voice, but his eyes showed empathy toward his son. Matthew and Mitsuko were two peas in a pod for the longest time, so Matthew’s feelings were understandable. But Matthew had to remember that his parents needed dates and privacy so that they could nurture their marriage too. Fractures in their marriage (even small ones) could have a negative impact on their children, so Mitsuko and Zero needed time together, even if the fractures that did happen were unintentional and not from a lack of love for each other. While Matthew was getting his attitude nipped in the bud by his dad, Mitsuko stroked her son’s golden hair gently, and then gave Savannah's hair a fancy braid.

With everything squared away at home, Zero and Mitsuko were now on their way to the butterfly park. When Zero drew attention to the park she responded in that same excited voice. “Can you believe that this exists near the waterfall where we got married?! And then we were pushed in the water. Hahaha. You know our 15th wedding anniversary is coming up. We should stop by the waterfall again. But this time with our children.” When Zero finally arrived at the park they both took a moment to admire it. And when Zero held out his arm for Mitsuko to take she smiled, and intertwined her hand with his arm. They were both so excited for the date that they were skipping in their steps as they walked, and that’s when Mitsuko noticed a butterfly in her husband’s hair. She didn’t crack a joke about it, instead she gently moved off his hair to show him the little hitch hiker. “Would you look at this little guy? Such a pretty color too. Probably my mom saying hi to her son-in-law.”

[Zero]

It was a fantastic idea by Mitsuko for them to visit Archira Waterfall on their 15th wedding anniversary with their children, Zero thinks it would be a great way to bond with his family and create another core memory there, this time with their children. He's been ruminating it in his head all the way until they reach the butterfly park, not even noticing the butterfly on his hair.

"..Huh-?" When his wife suddenly stopped strolling beside him and reached for something on his head, Zero paused everything and unconsciously leaned forward to make it easier for her get whatever's on his hair. The blink in his blue eyes when he realizes a butterfly landed on him was coupled with a huge smile at Mitsuko's remark of said butterfly possibly being her mother visiting them. "Hi, mom!" He responded, quick-witted as always. "Look at how pretty your daughter dolled up for the day~"

He casts his eyes towards his beloved, always noticing even the tiniest little effort Mitsuko does for their special day. "That's a new lipstick, I can tell. I've never seen you wore that shade before." Zero inched closer to the angel to jokingly inspect her lips with great detail. "Needs a tiny little smudge here. Let me help." He then gently held her chin in place as he plants a moment's kiss on Mitsuko's plush lips.

"Mm. Softer than velvet~" Zero remarks with a teasing smile. He always enjoys any form of affection from her, but what he loves most is whenever her cheeks get blushy when he shows affection. It made him want to try all sorts of things starting from surprising her with kisses to the more intense things. And Zero knows for a fact that he can be very intense.

His eyes caught sight of the same white butterfly fluttering around them and promptly apologizes despite himself, "Uh. Sorry for the PDA, mom." A little chuckle escapes his throat at his own joke, then Zero readjusts the picnic basket hanging in his arm.

"So do you want to take pictures first and then eat, or eat first and then pictures?" The weight of the picnic basket reminded him that they have food, thus he casually questioned her on what felt best at the time. He takes a sideway glance at her as he asks so, but something about the lighting and the way she's standing in the midst of flowers and butterflies like this made him pause.

"...Someday, when we're old and gray," Zero suddenly said, his voice quieter than usual. "I'm going to look at you standing beside me, just like this, and I'm going to look into your eyes and know that it's only ever been you." His words spilled out without filter, spontaneously, genuinely. "And that is going to be the greatest joy of my life, as it is right now in this very moment."

He is so sure that he would recognize her in all steps of life, in another lifetime entirely, in different bodies, different times, and he would love her in all of it, until the very last star in the sky burnt out into oblivion. "Have I told you I love you today? Because I do. Very much."

[Mitsuko]

As if on cue, when Zero planted that kiss on her lips, her cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink. Mitsuko was the shy one in their relationship, so it was hard for her at times to say to Zero’s face that she enjoyed it whenever he would give her random kisses, watch her adoringly as she brushed her blonde hair at bedtime while she sat in front of her vanity, and occasionally when she changed into her nightgown. These little expressions of physical intimacy and affection, and emotional intimacy lately was healing the small little fractures of their marriage, and that emotional intimacy between them had a huge positive impact on their sexual chemistry.

The kiss Zero gave his wife felt flirty, seductive, but loving all at the same time, and the angel returned it. Then when the butterfly showed up and Zero commented on it she laughed gently. “No no don’t be sorry. I… I like it when you express your affection randomly, I even like it when you watch me sometimes change into my nightgown at bedtime, and I start brushing my hair. It.. How do I explain this without tripping over my words? It makes me feel more confident.. I.. mean.. my body has changed so much since I had kids. It’s not the same as it once was, and… I was worried you’d find me unattractive. That’s silly of me to think that right?” She smiled and gently took the picnic basket from her husband. “Here let me help you with this.” Mitsuko’s stomach growled and her cheeks deepened in shades of more pink even more shy that Zero would have heard how hungry she is. “Excuse me.” ‘At.. least it was a stomach growl and not a fart… Matthew though is a master of those hahaha. As funny as it is, I’ve had to remind him a few times to say excuse me and be polite about them.’ She then began setting up their picnic on the grass- feeling at home by being outdoors and getting the fresh air. As an angel on earth, the energy of the planet could be a bit harsh for her sometimes due to the strife people go through, so being outdoors was one of the ways she could replenish her energy- well as best as she can that is.





Mitsuko took out her lipstick and showed it to Zero once he did come closer to her. “I’m so glad you like this shade. I went shopping the other day with Savannah when you were busy in your office. This color caught my eye due to the color of my hair. I tend to try and match shades that go well with my natural hair color, that way the lipstick can be the star of the show, I was a brunette when we reunited at Ida valley.. I’m not sure why I colored my hair in the first place. Well, thank goodness I didn’t experience all the colors of the rainbow! Haha.” Mitsuko finished setting up their picnic spread, with cute bento boxes. But then something else caught her eye within the basket itself. A bubble blowing toy. Her blue eyes lit up instantly. “You got me a bubble blowing toy?! Can I use it first?” Due to her excitement Mitsuko didn’t even wait for Zero’s answer. She opened the bubbles and began blowing them, all in her husband’s direction, but she looked so happy. A few bubbles popped on Zero’s pants and she cracked up. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean for the bubbles to pop in that place. Y’know… ummm.. where your impressive goods are?” she complimented but she laughed at what where those bubbles chose to pop. It was unintentional but at the same time flirty and fun.



When Zero asked if he had told her that he loved her for today she smiled and kindly answered. “Not yet~ we were so busy with Matthew this morning.. I’ve never seen him that grumpy. But he understands. He has a hard time with me not being at home, but he will eventually have an easier time with this. I was okay with him sleeping in bed with us for that one night. It can’t be an all time thing because…” Her blushing cheeks returned and her heart sped faster than a bolt of lightning. "You and I need our private time too. Matthew is a growing boy. Since we have allowed it a few times already and I didn’t mind because he did really need us, I just hope he hasn’t latched on to the idea as if it will become a routine thing.. I’m caught between a rock and a hard place as his mother in saying no. I hate to say no to either of our kids.. but I know as a parent we have to set boundaries with them. When he was a baby I said yes to him almost all the time. I spoiled him a lot. But with you as his father, he didn’t grow up to be an ungrateful kid.” Mitsuko started to confide in her husband about some worries she has about their son, but she is also grateful that Zero’s strict nature as a parent has prevented Matthew in growing up selfish and unkind.

“Matthew isn’t a perfect son. But he’s an ideal one. I don’t know where I’d be without him. It’s going to be a little hard for me when he turns 18 Zero. The transition from a child to an adult can be a rough transition for parents, and learning to let them go and letting them be responsible for their own lives.” Then the angel started to speak about concerns of the current state of the economy, but as a little break from speaking, she kissed her husband- to show him affection, and as a thank you for hearing her heart as they talk about their kids. Matthew was her main concern in terms of him being uncomfortable in being alone and on his own when compared to his sister, because Savannah was comfortable in her independence, and from observing their daughter, Savannah embraced independence with her whole heart. Savannah did miss being with her family though. “But when he turns 18… I… I don’t want him to move out unless he has a steady job that pays him well in which he can support himself properly. The economy isn’t like it was when you and I were young teens. My brother Jake and I were on our own since I was little until he and I were separated, and then up until the age of 13 when my godparents died, and you… were gone and I was left on my own, well that’s when I started to live independently. I don’t know how I supported myself at that age, but somehow I managed. There was a kind person that let me live in her cottage for free in the countryside in Japan in exchange with helping her with her tutoring job. Because of my age I had to get her permission to work. I wasn’t 15 yet where it would be legal for me to have a job. So there are laws for minors.” She then touched Zero’s cheek to reassure him that it wasn’t his fault that he was taken from her all those years ago.

“Long story short, the school in the Domain gave me shelter and education, once I turned 16. I don’t want our son to struggle with things like this. I want both our kids to have better than we did. So I don’t want to kick both our kids out right when they reach that age. I want them to have steady jobs that can support them, because as you and I get older Zero.. I don’t think we can financially support them forever, unless they were in some sort of trouble. I want Matthew to be okay. I want Savannah to be okay. When Matthew starts living on his own.. he’s going to have difficulty at first, not because he doesn’t have life skills, but who he is. And how attached to us he is.” She then rested her forehead against Zero’s chest. “I love you Zero. I’m glad we are raising our kids together.” On Mitsuko’s index finger she wore a angel wing ring, as a reminder to herself of who she is, and when she is in the depths of her depression and trying out her medication for the first time, that she is always loved by her family.

When she starts her medication for postpartum depression it will be a little rough before it gets better, but just being on this date with her husband was the right call, and deep down she was looking forward to their night together- but she was way too shy to tell her husband that out loud, because Zero would know what that means. They took a break from being sexually intimate last week, where they instead focused on their emotional intimacy, and that was needed. Mitsuko missed talking to her husband so deeply, so she’s happy that that was their focus last week, and right now. Also during the week at Madam May’s instance, Mitsuko and Zero went out on a mini double date, with her and her husband to a club. It made Mitsuko uncomfortable at first to have a date at a club and bar, but since it was a double date, then she had nothing to worry about. It wasn’t the environment for her, but it was important to try things out again, and her husband Zero kept her safe all night long, and even checked her drink to make sure no one slipped anything in it. She and Zero danced together,and their energy was magnetic, so it was obvious that their sexual energy had been building up to this overnight getaway, because they hadn’t acted on it last week at Mitsuko’s request.

Mitsuko then got out the camera, and she started to take a few selfies with her husband, a lot of the pictures were loving, but others were fun and energetic, and Zero could probably feel a lightness to his wife’s energy and her being. Something that he probably hadn’t felt emanating from her in so long. Years. Almost decades if they keep in mind their 15th wedding anniversary. Four years will quickly fly by and before they know it, they will have been together for two decades.

15 years of marriage isn’t easy. It takes work, but for Zero and Mitsuko and despite their hard times their marriage still embodies: Playfulness, love, emotional intimacy, honesty, courage, sexiness and kindness.