After breakfast, Kenshin kissed Aiya and Hitomi on their bellies, ordering them to head to the maternity room and rest all day, then went out to the yard and returned to work on the marble block.
Besides the two huge blocks, he had brought many smaller ones to practice on first, and hadn't miscalculated. Even with theoretical knowledge of deep carving, grinding, and polishing, he ruined one test sample almost immediately.
Only after an hour did he find the right method and tools. Another hour went to learning inscriptions on the fragile marble, and only then did he begin the main work.
Everyone was very curious about what Kenshin had in mind. While the sons watched from afar, the wives weren't shy about approaching and asking questions. Makoto and Karin especially stuck close to him, running around nearby and pestering him with questions.
"If she's bothering you, I can take her away, my lord," Keiko said softly. She had approached a few minutes earlier and was waiting for a break so as not to distract Kenshin from his work.
"Nothing of the sort. They don't just not bother me—they fill the house with a joyful atmosphere. Aiya and Hitomi are due to give birth today, which means in a few days our home will be filled with children's voices…" He said with a contented sigh, stroking the still slightly rough block of marble.
"Children are immense happiness and a great blessing. Not a day goes by that I don't thank fate for this little red-haired bundle of joy…" She replied with a smile, fully relaxing under the aura of calm emanating from Kenshin.
He merely smiled and continued leisurely chiseling inscriptions into the large block of marble. Keiko watched his precise movements in silence for several minutes and finally, during one of the next breaks, asked:
"Is Makoto yours?.."
"My wife," Kenshin replied calmly, stunning the red-haired woman.
"But she's just a child…" Keiko muttered.
"This little one is far more mature than she lets on. She likes feeling like a child, and I surround her with care," Kenshin answered, not taking his eyes off the huge chunk of marble.
"Forgive me, my lord, I shouldn't have pried into your affairs," Keiko said meekly, belatedly realizing she risked losing his favor.
"Stop being afraid of me. No one here is 'my lord,' and you don't need to fear my wrath. Questions like that aren't enough to anger me," Kenshin said in a calm tone. He was thoroughly tired of this servility and wanted simple, trusting conversation.
"Alright," Keiko replied with a smile and continued watching Kenshin's work serenely. She loved being in his company. For the first time in a very long while, she felt safe and truly relaxed.
The work was only finished by seven in the evening, with just one final touch left. Kenshin focused on his "Shelter Creation" ability and began erecting a building around the two marble blocks.
Once the memorial hall was fully complete, Kenshin placed the urns with the ashes on the pedestal, right under the portraits of the smiling Keiji and Eighth. Looking at the images of his fallen sons, he couldn't hold back tears and collapsed to his knees, honoring them for their displayed valor.
After an hour spent alone with his deceased sons, Kenshin seemed to have completely shed his grief, and only then did he allow everyone else to pay their respects to the departed and honor them.
Each of his sons entered one by one, spending anywhere from ten minutes to half an hour inside, then silently exited and returned to their tasks. This ceremony was unspoken and not regulated by Kenshin in any way. Everyone grieved in their own manner. Some stayed silent the whole time, while others chatted nonstop with their two fallen brothers. Some shed tears, while others told funny stories.
At nine in the evening, Aiya and Hitomi's waters broke, and by 9:15, Kenshin was holding two infants in his arms: the Thirty-Seventh and Thirty-Eighth. The blue-eyed and white-eyed babies gazed at their father with interest, feeling an unbreakable bond, and only cried when they were handed to their mothers.
"They're so beautiful…" Makoto whispered in fascination, unable to look away from the two bald bundles.
"Can I hold them?" Karin asked curiously, feeling drawn to the newborns.
"Tomorrow. Everything tomorrow. For now, they need rest. Let's go," Kenshin said gently, stroking both girls' heads. The birth of his sons had made him extraordinarily tender, and like one enchanted, he showered love on those around him.
The next few days passed in a whirlwind of tasks piling up on Kenshin. He had to not only attend to his women and the newborns but also continue training without interruption.
On the 425th day, Kenshin spent most of his free time studying Fifteenth's new powers, measuring his strength, speed, and various bodily parameters. After reaching Jonin rank, Fifteenth could hold his breath for about fifteen minutes without reducing physical activity. For Ichiro, the limit was ten minutes of breath-holding without the slightest movement, and five during active actions.
Kenshin also noted with surprise Fifteenth's incredible regeneration. A cut on his hand healed in literally an hour, and by evening, no trace remained. He was thrilled by the prospects and his son's increased power, but for more serious tests, he needed Hitomi.
About a week earlier, she had told him she'd gained some enlightenment from a fifth-grade biology textbook, and Kenshin hoped his beloved wife could find the path to becoming an Iryonin on Tsunade's level—or even higher. However, he had personally insisted she devote all her free time to the baby for the next few days and forget about work.
On the evening of the 426th day, Natsumi and Kasumi presented him with two magnificent infants: the Thirty-Ninth and Fortieth, along with the coveted twenty-second level. He immediately invested the free skill point into "Shelter Creation," raising it to the sixth level, and smiled contentedly at the realization of new possibilities.
First and foremost, various medical items became available, far higher quality than alcohol and bandages. He still lacked access to top-tier hospital equipment but could now create high-class hospital beds with vital signs monitors.
And most importantly, something that couldn't fail to delight him—he finally gained access to electricity. The available electrical devices weren't particularly diverse and mostly unnecessary, but the prospect and myriad new possibilities thrilled Kenshin.