You tap impatiently at the clear plexiglass of your watch, the minute hand moving at a sluggishly slow pace. You were standing next to a bright red tori gate, mere centimeters from passing through it and entering the 'spirit world' as it's touted in Shinto dogma. They were late.

The irony wasn't lost on you, the Warden of Time was late. It was cold, even with the rays of the sun shining down on you. The air was biting cold, your breathe visible with every exhaling breath. The early days of the New Year were not the warmest.

"Hello!" you look behind you, a husky and sonorous voice had called out to you. Someone was emerging from the staircase leading upwards. Her hair tied up in a fancy bun, seasonal winter flowers arranged around her head like a bouquet. She had a smug but shaky smile on her face, her cheeks and nose blushing lightly red due to the winter cold. Even she, of all beings, could experience the sniffles.

She held on her right hand an oil-paper umbrella, the Japanese name for it was the wagasa. It's pale sky blue color matching her long and flowing kimono, it looked pretty, but was mostly decorative instead of practical considering the circumstances . She had a white fur pelt over her shoulders covering layers of garments, important in this kind of weather. The motifs of the large kimono predominantly featured several white snakes, albinos to be exact, coiling and slithering across the breadth of the fabric trying to avoid obstacles such as golden gears and red chrysanthemum flowers, upon a backdrop of a Japanese pond. It was a breathtakingly beautiful piece of art, a hemp blue ribbon dead center tying the obi that held it all.

You whistle as she approached, her smile grows larger, she's sashaying towards you like a model while being mindful of where she stepped. Her sandaled, sock covered feet had to be careful here, the ground was iced all over. It would be embarrassing if she tripped over herself, made all the more difficult with the little one next to her.

Krunny was impatient, not cooperating as Kronii tugged her along with the other hand. Your daughter was holding onto a small snake plushy you had bought recently. She wore a kimono that matched her mother tit for tat, but instead of sandals she had little blue winter boots. You weren't going to risk your daughter's health for fashion.

You decided to stop standing there like a dumbass, walking on over with your far more practical winter attire of a coat, thick pants and boots. You scooped up Krunny with one hand while offering Kronii your shoulder in another.

"Thanks lover." Kronii breathes out in relief, you could tell she barely survived the staircase journey with these heeled sandals, especially in these kind of temperatures. She wraps her long slender arm around your waist, letting herself relax as she used you as a walking crutch.

The three of you enter the shrine, following protocol, even though you weren't practitioners of Shinto. You bowed twice before the tori gate, washed and purified your body with the water font and then proceeded to stand before the offering box in the shrine itself, joining the crowd of fellow well-wishers who had arrived earlier.

Kronii and you clap your hands together in quiet contemplation. Krunny is a little confused, her tiny head swiveling around as she looked at everyone else praying.

"You clap your hands like this, and then make your New Year's wish," you crouch, helping your daughter. Kronii looks at the adorable scene between you too, a glowing smile on her lips as little Krunny tries her best to emulate daddy.

You all clap again, done with your wishes. You give Krunny the honor of depositing the monetary offering, holding her up in your shoulders as she throws the coins inside the box. The three of you walk away, planning to go out for some ramen. Kronii with her arms around you in a warm embrace, Krunny still on your shoulders, holding up the wagasa while you were left with holding the snake plushie.

You exit the shrine and begin the long descent down the staircase. Krunny pokes your scalp with the end of the umbrella, while you had to help your poor wife navigate down the frozen steps.

"What'd you wish for daddy?" she asks while she continued her assault.

You think for a while, you didn't actually pray for anything. You were busy watching over both the wifey and daughter to have anything in mind. Well you're in trouble.

"Why not you tell us first?" you decide to pull the old switcheroo and reverse the question on her. Your daughter's childish naivety wouldn't see it coming.

"I want a sister or brother," oh dear, she said that instantly. You and Kronii freeze in your tracks, giving each other embarrassed and heated looks. Your daughter was a sharp one, you're afraid of what she'd be like as a teenager.

"I-It's a bit too early for that dear," Kronii sputtered out, averting her gaze, as if the moment your eyes met with hers you'd try to to fulfill Krunny's wish in the hotel room later that evening. To be fair to her, she wouldn't be wrong.

"What about you mommy?" you sigh in relief, looks like you're still out of the spotlight.

Kronii has a finger on her chin, thinking deeply as she traversed over the hazardous terrain. You're surprised, it appears having something to ruminate over had improved her motor skills. Maybe she should do this more often.

"I wished for another year," she finally answers, staring at you in quiet contemplation. "Another year?" Krunny repeated in confusion, she was too young to appreciate the meaning of it.

"Yes, another year with you and daddy. When this year ends, and we return here I'll wish the same, and do the same for the next year and the year after that," you heart falters for a bit, her blue eyes still on you. Her gaze holds you lovingly, you can hear both melancholy and joy behind her voice. Her words touched deeper considering it came from the Warden of Time.

"Oh, okay, then what's your wish dad?" Krunny's returned to you, the three of you standing in the middle of the stairs. You're tongue tied, your mind scrambled at the words of your wife. She smiles with a teasing look, delighted by how much she's confounded you.

"My wish is the same as yours Krunny, I want to give you a sibling," Krunny erupts in gleeful celebration, while Kronii just elbows you in the ribs. Her earlier dreamy look of affection replaced by one of scandalous anger. You can't help but laugh even through the pain, your hand slithers around Kronii's hip like the snakes on her kimono, pulling her closer to you as you walked onward. The three of you continuing on your merry way.

"You're just humoring her right?" Kronii whispers out her question, you refuse to answer. The only hint of your intentions a lecherous half grin.

She wanted another year? Alright, but bitch is going to spend a quarter of that year bedridden after you're done with her tonight.