A/N: Expect errors…Read and Review!
Disclaimer: I do not own Mai-Hime
Chapter II: Bad Blood
"Ara ,it's been a while, Natsuki."
If my eyes were wide out of shock and disbelief a while ago, it didn't take long before they narrowed into slits, along with the furrowing of my brows.
"Why are you here? How did you get inside?" I spoke with anger.
Her mouth opened to answer but it never came. The beeping of my mobile phone interrupted her. I stared coldly for more seconds before I took the gadget out from my right pocket.
"Hello?"
I heard father speak from the other line.
"Natsuki, I forgot to tell you that your sister, Shizuru, is finally back. She's at home now. I had this urgent call from the company so I needed to leave them for a while. You're going to be surprised whom she's with by the way." I noticed the glee in his voice as he said the last.
"Father, I'm already home." I replied while I glanced at the two unexpected visitors. "I didn't have any idea. I thought some burglar got inside the house and it got me worried. And yeah, she's with a small girl. " I added with slight wonder. I saw Shizuru move past me to follow after the child who went to sit in front of the T.V.
"Oh! Really? I just assumed you're not gonna be around 'till seven. I thought you always forgot your time when you're with Yuuki." He chuckled.
"Of course not!" I vehemently denied although there was a brush of red on my cheeks. I forgot being mad at Shizuru's presence for a while.
"So you finally met Miyuki then?" he queried. "That adorable little girl with Shizuru?"
"Yes."
I wanted to tell him how I thought of the kid to be the fruit of Shizuru's adultery, but I decided not to. I unconsciously turned my head to Miyuki's direction as I had those thoughts but Shizuru did something that got me really distracted.
'Was she just staring at me the whole time?'
Shizuru quickly let a small smile tug away from her lips.
I found myself lost in a blush that I completely forgot what to say to father on the other line. Good thing he started to ask a question again that put me back on the topic.
"Did you notice how much resemblance she got from Shinji?"
At that, I wanted to think that Miyuki was really my brother's daughter. 'But that's quite unlikely because he died without—Wait! That is unless Shizuru was…'
"She's a female version of him. But I must say, she resembles you more, Natsuki. She really is a Kuga, no doubt." He added and that's quite enough to convince me of my suspicion.
Miyuki was Shinji's and Shizuru's daughter.
I heard some mumbles from father's line before he spoke again. "Natsuki, meeting's about to resume so I'll leave them to you for the mean time. I'll return at eight as always. Anyway, they'll be staying for the night so lead them to their room." he said before he ended with "…And Natsuki… I'm hoping that you'll treat your sister nicely this time. I do not wish for my granddaughter to feel that her own aunt unreasonably despises her mother."
It was a relief that father never waited for a yes or no from me because surely, I knew I wouldn't answer him if ever he did. But perhaps, for the sake of my niece, forgetting my animosity wouldn't be a bad thing at all.
'No, I can't and that's it.'
The connection went dead after that.
I couldn't understand why I should still help Shizuru get to the room. She didn't need my help anyway for she knew well where it was.
When brother was still alive and had just gotten married, both of them visited the house frequently. They stayed at the Shinji's old room which was now turned into a guest room.
Shinji left our home for Kyoto to attend college. And from there, he met Shizuru and fell in love. Of course, Kyoto was where they resided.
Getting back to my earlier point, Shizuru could manage finding where she'd stay. Besides, she might think that I enjoyed her being there when in fact, it was the opposite. If it weren't for father and Miyuki, I wouldn't have second thoughts on kicking her out.
Speaking of Miyuki, I honestly adored her. Even before I knew that she's my niece, I had this fondness for her. I was just so glad that she really happened to be my brother's child. She's sort of the reason why I momentarily forgot about my issue with her mother.
Thinking about those now, for my niece, I blurted nonchalantly "Oi, woman…" I had purposely dropped calling her by her name because of an obvious reason. "…if you don't like to sleep there, I'm forced to lead you to your room."
Shizuru, who was in seiza position while playing with her child, landed her gaze on me as I quickly left the living room. I didn't catch her expression but I was so sure that she had that freaking infuriating smile on her lips again.
She was already behind me when she spoke.
"Ara, Natsuki walks fast. I needed to half-run just to be in tow. You're already on the stairs when I left the room."
I gave her no reply although I was too aware of the two pleasant scents that she had.
Camellia and Jasmine.
Reaching our destination, I stopped in front of the guestroom's door then opened it along with the lights. It's a good thing that I had it cleaned yesterday after not being tidied up for a month. Or maybe it wasn't a good thing at all. If I only knew that Shizuru would be the one to use it, I should have kept it untidy.
'I regret unknowingly doing her a favor' I thought. 'But no! Miyuki will sleep here too! Right! It's nice that I had it cleaned.'
The room wasn't something you would call elegant or luxurious. It wasn't pathetic-looking either. Being it formerly my brother's haven, its simplicity remained. The area was quite spacious though even with the bedroom furniture around. It was a little like mine with the sliding door to the balcony at the room's far end.
Since brother died, nothing drastically changed except for the bedding and curtains. His personal belongings and other memorabilia had long been brought to Kyoto even before that happened. I thought some of his old clothes and remaining pictures were the ones that stayed in the house.
I stepped aside from the entrance to lean on the room's wall. I coolly looked up to Shizuru's entering form as she headed at the center of the room. She roamed her eyes around and she did that for about a minute then eventually went over the curtained sliding door with utter grace.
I was honestly expecting her to open it. But before she did that, she spun around only to meet my gaze. I slightly flinched at that for some unknown reason and awkwardly sailed away my eyes from her.
"May I?" she abruptly questioned. Her usual composure was there.
I looked back at her but with puzzlement then I understood what she was going on about. She didn't need to ask for one though.
"Don't ask permission from me. Get that from my brother." I retorted.
Shizuru made no comment on that. Nonetheless, I could tell she was a little surprised with my answer. I thought what I said got to her for she didn't turn on her back to open the other door. Instead, she gave me a relaxed smile while she slowly strode across, scanning the place once more.
"Ara, this place is giving me nostalgia." she declared to herself but enough for me to hear. I saw her motioning towards the bed then sat on its edge.
'She's definitely hard to read.' I said mentally as I saw her off the bed. She followed a stop not that far away from me. I felt a sudden urge to ask a burning question.
"Perhaps, I might get down for Miyuki. She must be—"
"I don't give a damn about why you went missing, but I want to know why you kept Miyuki from us; that my brother actually left a child. For five damn years, no mentions of her? Why is it just now?" I sternly spoke, cutting her off while I stared coldly. I wasn't leaning on the wall anymore.
She didn't reply.
"You know what, I was thankful that you were gone for many years, hoping you'd never ever return. It could have been a dream come true if only you weren't really here, back at this house. But there's this part of me that considers your return to be some sort of a miracle- a kind of blessing- because I knew how much father missed you."
I was already shaking because of anger. My fists were tight, impatiently waiting for her to say something. But she only stood there as if nothing was happening.
"You knew well how much grief brother's sudden leaving had inflicted upon him. But knowing that he still had me and you, he stood up. The idea of his remaining family made the pain go away. And if you just told him about Miyuki or any of your whereabouts way earlier, it could have been less worry years for him. Or perhaps with just Miyuki, his sufferings could have all been gone. Did you even think of that, huh? !" I didn't realize that I was already half-shouting.
"I have my reasons, Natsuki." she replied finally. Her emotions were hard to read though.
Looking at it, what's transpiring in the room had somehow taken place five years ago during that funeral. The only difference was no one but the 3 of us was around. No father, Nao and my relatives. It's just me, Shizuru and my emotions.
I bitterly laughed before I mocked her. "Well, of course you got your damn reasons which definitely involve you and your disgusting ways with that man-whore boyfriend of yours! Isn't that the reason you left brother? Because that asshole can satisfy you more? You never came back because of him? Why he isn't with you now is just a huge wonder! Because from what I knew, you can't even get your freakin' hands off each other!"
To be honest, I was waiting for a slap to come after that and I had prepared my hand for the blocking. But nothing came. I was only her still calm voice that followed after.
"Ara, is Natsuki done with speaking?"
My brows wrinkled with confusion. I just couldn't understand how she could still maintain neutrality despite of all the things I had said. I had never met someone as enigmatic and unyielding as she was.
"About Miyuki…" she paused as if telling me that my last statement would be ignored. I refrained from talking for the time being to listen. "…I wasn't aware that I had her, until just days after…" she hesitantly trailed as if she was going to say something tabooed."…Shinji died…"
"Do not speak of my brother's name as if you cared about him!" Icy words left my mouth, forgetting my earlier thought to just listen.
The Kyoto woman kept her mysterious eyeing on me for ten more seconds without speaking. I couldn't decipher what she was thinking and then, she proceeded to talk again. "I care about your brother, Natsuki and I lov-"
I snapped. "Oh, really? ! You cared? And what else? loved him? Don't make me laugh, woman! If you were in truth feeling that way, you wouldn't be called an immoral because you just can't be satiated by one man! If I wasn't only seeing brother in Miyuki, I could've sworn that your constant whoring with your lover impreg—"
"Mama?"
That made me shut up. Completely.
Twisting my head toward the entrance, I saw my niece. She was holding the dog toy, looking up at our direction.
'Had she been there while I was saying those things?' I worriedly asked myself. Even though I hated her mother, I couldn't afford to let the child know the immoralities and selfishness that Shizuru did. But observing the little girl, she seemed to not have heard any of them.
"Ara, Miyuki…I thought you were watching downstairs. And hasn't Mama told you not to go upstairs without assistance? Hmm?" Shizuru said to her daughter. She was bent in front of her so she could look at the child clearly.
"I know Mama, but I can do it alone now, see? I'm here." The accent was undeniable. Hearing her talk, it's as if a tiny version of Shizuru spoke.
I noticed the mother sigh which was actually my first time witnessing. "I shouldn't have left Miyuki alone."
"Mama, kannin na. I disobeyed you. I was scared when I saw this ghost on the T.V. She was crawling like she wanted to come out of the screen. " Miyuki explained as Shizuru embraced her.
I only stood there, staring at the two. Somehow, I felt jealous of Miyuki because she still had her mother.
Miyuki roamed her eyes around as her mother let go off her. The latter straightened up and fixed her cardinal pools back at me.
I returned her a blank one.
Shizuru was about to say something more when the smaller chamois-haired girl dashed across the spacious area for the bed. She adorably climbed on it then immediately sprawled herself atop. She repeatedly spread and unspread her legs and arms, clearly enjoying what she's doing.
A soft giggle came from the older woman who was obviously entertained by her daughter's actions. I did the same as my sister-in-law, only mine was too subtle to be little did I know, that didn't manage to escape Shizuru's perceptiveness.
"Ara, Mama, this room is so comforting. I think I like it here than mine back at home although this is a little smaller." She commented innocently, sitting up from lying down, her stuff toy on her lap.
Miyuki was just being honest when she mentioned about the room's size. I had never set foot nor seen their home in Kyoto, but according to father and my late brother; it was definitely a noble's house. Hearing how Shizuru's family was wealthy, it's no surprise they had left her something huge. Considering that the house was big, surely, the rooms were just reasonably spacious as well. Miyuki's room wasn't an exception even if it's way too big for her size.
Shizuru chuckled elegantly before commenting on her daughter's claim. "Ara, ara, does that mean Miyuki wants to stay here longer?" Miyuki nodded excitedly with a huge grin on her small face. "Kannin na, Miyuki, but we're only staying for tonight since we need to leave for tomorrow early. Your class resumes in the afternoon then."
Half of my mind was thankful that Shizuru wouldn't stay longer; but half of me wasn't. Miyuki wanted to stay.
As much as I wanted the woman to leave, I also hoped for my niece to be around. If Miyuki stayed, Shizuru would definitely be with her. The mere reality that I was already disliking the Kyoto-woman around the house for just a single night made me think of what more when she finally stayed longer?
The little girl's happy expression turned sulky, but just for a while because it was immediately replaced by a satisfied look. "Don't worry Mama…" she beamed, hopping off the bed. "I guess seeing Grandpa, Grandma and my two Papas is already enough." She ran towards her mama for a hug then looked up at her. "It's not like we won't come back to pay them a visit, right Mama?"
I saw Shizuru nod although I could assume that she was bewildered like me about what the child had said.
'Two Papas? Perhaps, the other one was brother…wait…so it means…thoseflowers were from them.' I contemplated.
However, I was saddened about how I wasn't mentioned by Miyuki. I went on with my internal rambling about the other Papa. I guessed that she was referring to Shizuru's lover.
'I knew it! That man had tagged along! But, had the man not been with them for long for Miyuki to sound like that? Well, he must be the main reason why Shizuru came here. Maybe to meet up with him for he probably had some business here in Fuuka, and he doesn't have time to go back to Kyoto? But this woman is really something else alright. She even made Miyuki call that guy her Papa? How insufferable!'
My blood boiled once again at my last thought. 'But what was Shizuru perplexed about?'
My stupor was broken by an abrupt embrace around my waist. I was surprised to see Miyuki. She was smiling contently as she tightened her grip on me. She loosened her hold and scurried again across the place. This time, she scrutinized the displays on the walls.
I grinned to myself.
"I honestly never expected both of us to be here." Shizuru spoke all of a sudden and that made me look at her. She didn't remove her gaze from her daughter as she continued, "I wasn't planning either, but a time came when she started asking questions about her father. She was curious why she never got to see him around as well as the rest of the family."
I wanted to tell Shizuru that it's just a good thing that her lover had allowed Miyuki to know of her real father, and didn't brainwash my niece into believing that Shinji never existed. I decided against it for the risk of Miyuki hearing it was high.
"And because of that, I finally realized that I had been hiding her from what she should have known."
I wasn't fully convinced, but she seemed to be picking carefully on her words for an unknown reason. It's like, she was telling a vague and incomplete story that needed more revelations to be shared.
Just like telling a riddle.
Father came home way earlier than expected. Even without him telling anyone, I knew it was because of the little girl seating on his lap. It showed how happy he got whenever he's with her. She was the granddaughter he never thought he had.
All four of us were inside the kitchen. Father claimed that he hadn't eaten yet because of the continuous meeting they had. He never bothered eating outside because he knew either Shizuru or I would be preparing the dinner. The former did it though. I wasn't able to for she had already done it before I even got home.
Shizuru and Miyuki had taken their meals beforehand, so they were just there for company. Meanwhile, I was reluctant to be in the room even though my stomach needed some attention. I couldn't stand eating in Shizuru's presence that I'd rather suppress my hunger or just go dining outside instead. It's also unfortunate that the food being served was made by none other than her. My pride couldn't take that even if I'd die without eating.
Why was I there anyway? 'Well, I want to show Shizuru that I'm not affected by her presence.'
Okay, to be honest, I was. I still needed to control my irritation and anger when she's around. It's like a game of who-walks-out-first or something like that. Although I wasn't sure if the woman felt the same, I just assumed she did. Also, I wanted to show Miyuki that I wasn't disregarding her presence, same with father.
"Shizuru, I almost forgot how good you are at cooking. Having a taste of it now just made me remember." father said after taking a mouthful of the supper. "Right, little lady? Mama might be a super chef in disguise." He turned to the young girl on his slap, giving her a happy expression.
"Yes! Mama was actually a chef, Grandpa! She had to quit so she could fully take care of me. She didn't want to leave me with Aunt Haruka and Aunt Yukino anymore because she didn't want to bother them. They're good friends of Mama by the way." the child breathlessly told. Father only stared at her then to Shizuru in awe.
"My grandchild sure knows lots of things, Shizuru. I guess those were for a grown up to explain." I heard him chuckle after that as he encircled his left arm around Miyuki, hugging her closer. The small lady giggled while Shizuru thanked him for the earlier cooking compliment.
'So Shizuru was a chef.' I thought. ' ..and she just left the job to be with Miyuki.' I hated to admit it but the woman was indisputably a responsible mother. I could tell how Miyuki's good upbringing was all by her doing. But of course, I wouldn't tell her that.
"You were a chef, so that's why." my father spoke again. He was smiling. I didn't know if Shizuru had spoken with father about her reason of not showing up for years; either of her return or the thing about my niece. But it seemed to me that for him, he needed no explanation. The truth that Shizuru was here and with an unexpected blessing which was Miyuki, were already enough for him.
'Inever inherited that part of him.'
"Oh, yes! I forgot. You took up Culinary Arts back in college. And during that time…you met my son." I saw a flicker of sadness in those blue orbs of father at the mention of Shinji, but it quickly changed to a happy one. I didn't catch Shizuru's reaction to that by the way.
All three of them suddenly focused their attention to me which made me wonder what they were fussing about. I gave them a clueless look.
"What is it?"
Growl.
'So that was it. I'm hungry, what can I do?'
"Ara, Natsuki seems to not have taken her dinner yet. I cooked enough for the four of us." The cardinal-eyed lady extended her arm at the mouth-watering dishes on the table. "You can take any of these."
I was really tempted to taste them and my extreme hunger wasn't helping at all. I must not let the woman see how I wanted to indulge myself with the food that she made.
'I must not feed on it. Decline the offer! Fight the temptation!' I mentally demanded myself. In the end, "No, I'm not hungry at all. My stomach just tends to do that even if I don't feel like eating." I inwardly groaned.
'Yeah, what a great lie.'
Growl.
"Ok, Natsuki, I don't want to ask you this but; are you on a diet? For your boyfriend at least?" my face went immediately ablaze with my father's question. He was half-amused while Miyuki stared at me. She was already seated on a chair beside father, across her mom. Shizuru on the other hand, had that indecipherable look on her face.
"F-father, what made you say that? I-I don't have a boyfriend. I-I don't have time for that…yet." My last word was almost a whisper. I could feel the warming of my face as I pouted. Looking away from my father, I accidentally landed my gaze on the Kyoto-woman. She gave me her usual smile which just aggravated me.
I scowled.
My old man was in mirth as he replied. "I'm aware because girls your age are conscious about their body. Or perhaps… all the girls." He looked at Shizuru for a while to have an affirmation from her which she only answered with a silent chuckle.
Father turned to me again. "I say, they might be afraid that their special someone would call them 'that' so they'd go into dieting." He unexpectedly sighed. "Ah, I'm so reminded of how your mom used to be like that. She refused eating a meal because she thought I might go around telling her that she's unhealthy and fat. Well, I honestly told her that she better eat rather than starve herself only because of that. I'd still love her whether she's thin or fat anyway."
Though there was a bit sulkiness in his voice, he gave more the impression of contentment as he remembered his and mother's past. I saw father open his mouth again to say some more but closed them once he noticed Miyuki get off her seat to go over me.
"Even if you do really have a special someone, it doesn't necessarily mean that you shouldn't eat. Mama said it's not right to skip even a single meal. And, do not deny your hunger." She explained like a grown up while her once raised pointer finger was directed at my stomach." Your tummy's grumbling. Madly."
I was floored.
"See that , Natsuki. Your niece had you lectured already. " he laughed. "You heard her, now's the time to forget about dieting. Just eat." He munched on his almost forgotten food after that.
'I simply just don't want to eat Shizuru's cooking and now they all misunderstood that I'm on a diet and have a boyfriend. Oh great! But I have no choice but to oblige. Besides, I'm terribly starving. Maybe I'll forget about my pride for the meantime.' I coolly took the bowl of rice and the dish while trying my hardest to not feel embarrassed over how I lied about my hunger.
Miyuki was now sitting on my side, staring at me while she wore an innocent grin. She was probably glad that I started feeding myself. I gave her an awkward smile. I was definitely trying my best not to blurt out a highly positive comment on the cooking once I tasted it. I couldn't let Shizuru find out that I was totally enjoying it.
Setting aside my animosity, I must point out that Shizuru wasn't a chef for nothing. Her cooking was a testimony to that. It wasn't my first time to try on it actually. Back when she and brother used to pay their visits, she had already shown how good she was at it. Although at that time, I wasn't that close to her but I didn't hate her. So I had no qualms into showing her appreciation.
'But that was in the past. I won't give her even a bit of compliment.' But somewhere inside of me insisted, 'At least not out loud.'
Anyway, father was talking about how it's a nice thing for him to have forgotten some papers a while back. It made him return home to retrieve them. And if he hadn't done that, Shizuru and Miyuki could have had arrived at home without anyone to welcome them. But it also just so happened that, when he drove them around Fuuka, an urgent call from the company forced him to leave them alone in the house.
Thinking about it, it was fortunate that I wasn't around when they first came. Because maybe, if I were to have seen Shizuru at the doorstep, I might had slammed the door at her face without noticing that she brought someone with her that didn't deserve such treatment. I didn't want Miyuki to be involved with any of that.
Back at what I was doing, I pretended that I didn't take pleasure in consuming by looking bored and uninterested. I wanted to ravish on everything served on the dining table if truth be told. My expression would only change to a positive one when I'd turn to Miyuki who seemed to love scrutinizing me. Shizuru of course was a different matter. If only it's possible to show all negative emotions at the same time, I'd gladly do it to her.
"Shizuru, I've been thinking of this since at work…"
The said woman shifted her attention from something back to my old man.
"Would you mind moving in here with Natsuki and I for good?"
I painfully choked on my food.
To Be Continued…
