"How do you feel?" Kenshin asked affectionately. This "ritual" worked both ways, and his already considerable sympathy for this little one grew into an all-encompassing feeling of love. His heart trembled, and his only desire at that moment was to care for and protect this girl from all problems and make sure nothing ever threatened her again.
"Mmm… Strange. I love you very much, more than mom and dad… Is that normal?" she asked, being completely inexperienced in such matters.
"Wow! Aya, Natsumi, do you feel that? Kenshin, how did she become one of us? Doesn't that require…?" Kasumi drew out questioningly, feeling that Makoto had changed. Over a long time, they had all mysteriously gained incredible sensitivity to Kenshin's other wives.
Aya and Natsumi also looked at Kenshin in surprise, waiting for explanations.
"I don't fully understand how I did it, but it seems I have a more 'civilized' way of concluding a marriage contract," he said with a laugh and, unable to resist, hugged little Makoto, pressing her to his chest.
She squealed gently in surprise but a moment later blissfully hugged him back, resting her head on his chest. She felt so cozy and comfortable, as if she had returned to distant childhood, right into the arms of a loving mother. Due to her very narrow outlook, this association was the only thing Makoto could compare it to.
"That's wonderful! Makoto, girl, now we're one family!" Kasumi said joyfully and hugged them both with Kenshin.
Although Aya and Natsumi weren't as impressed by Makoto's cute character, they were still glad that the new girl turned out to be so good. They both had nothing against her candidacy for Kenshin's wife, so they joined the general hugs and bewildered her with their attitude.
"T-thank you… I'm so glad I met you, m… Kenshin!" Makoto declared through tears. She still couldn't believe that all this had happened to her in one day. At that moment, she was most afraid of waking up and finding out that everything that had happened was just a dream of a little girl waiting for a miracle.
"Don't be afraid; it's not a dream. Everything around is real, as are our feelings. From this day, there is no more Aoki Makoto. Now there is only Nakayama Makoto!" Kenshin declared loudly, making all the girls shudder. His voice wasn't loud but passed through all the walls of the huge castle, reaching every member of the Nakayama Family to the core.
"Father got married! Did you hear?!" Thirty-Second asked joyfully. His blood was boiling, and his soul was incredibly happy.
"Of course I heard! That's wonderful!" Twelfth replied, standing on the wall.
Similar conversations spread to every corner of the huge Nakayama Family house. All of Kenshin's sons were incredibly glad of this news and wanted with all their hearts to congratulate their father and his new wife.
*****
After the excitement in the recreation room died down and Makoto finally calmed down, Kenshin personally began teaching her the basics of card games based on D&D. To his deepest regret, the "create refuge" ability at this stage still didn't allow for more interesting entertainment, but he wasn't upset and enjoyed what was available.
After officially becoming his wife, Makoto completely stopped being afraid and shy, becoming incredibly affectionate and playful. She constantly pressed her back against him, sitting on his lap and begging for affection, and Kenshin hugged her with great pleasure and, as a reward for success, lightly kissed the back of her head.
He didn't have a single lewd thought toward this affectionate girl, and all his actions were purely platonic. Makoto seemed to have no problem with this, and Kenshin was perceived by her as an older brother she never had.
An hour after dinner, Hitomi entered the room and, seeing a rather colorful scene, was a little surprised but decided not to comment and talk to Kenshin privately.
"I'm done with that rebel. She's got quite a sharp tongue… I barely restrained myself from hitting her!" Hitomi said displeasedly, pouting her lips.
"You did well to restrain yourself. I ask you all to be more tolerant of her. It seems Noriko has a hidden Kekkei Genkai, and I believe that's why she has a bad character," Kenshin said and kissed the leaning Hitomi on the lips. She wasn't shy in front of this new girl at all and was waiting for her portion of praise.
"So Noriko has a Kekkei Genkai? Then it's clear why you chose her," Kasumi said and didn't hesitate to approach Kenshin to receive a well-deserved kiss.
"I would have rescued her from that place even without such talents. She has suffered a lot and deserves a good life. In the worst case, I'll settle her in a separate building, but still try to get along with her," Kenshin said with a sigh and alternately kissed Aya and Natsumi, who didn't want to be left out and demanded kisses.
"And what's special about me? Why did you choose me?" Makoto asked with interest.
"You are no less special than Noriko; few can understand that," he replied and kissed the back of her head. It was a little unusual for him to hear the formal "you," but Makoto refused to change it, wanting to show him respect with every address.
"S-sir, m-maybe I should also address you formally and behave like a little girl. Does that turn you on, sir?" Kasumi purred seductively, taking the most graceful and seductive poses, making everyone present suppress bursting laughter. At the end of her speech, she elegantly turned her back to him, and the room rang with a loud smack from Kenshin's palm contacting her incredibly firm butt.
"Ah! Sir…" Kasumi whimpered, but Kenshin only gently stroked the bruised spot and decided to change the subject.
"How is Noriko's health?" he asked when Hitomi took her place at the table.
"Much better than I expected. The serious issues are only a few incorrectly healed bones and a slightly displaced spleen. Apparently, it ruptured, and regeneration went wrong. I don't know if your ability will restore her health, but I advise not to rush and let me put her in order. At the moment, she's sleeping after I corrected her disfigured nose," Hitomi reported, as if Kenshin were the chief iryo-nin and she was briefing him.
"I'll talk to her in the morning, and we'll decide what's best. Thank you," Kenshin said gently, and Hitomi smiled joyfully. She really loved being useful to him and enjoyed praise.