How Papa Met Mama: Lullaby
By Kitara Lira
"A lullaby?" Dark brows arched skyward, twitching ever so faintly.
"Hai! A lullaby!" The little smile grew even wider, "Please Papa? I can't sleep without one." Those little lips turned downward in a pout. Pyjama clad arms quickly folding in a stern manner across the chest, "Mama always sings me one," Was the bit added as if that would assure the ultimate outcome.
"Yeah," Puffed the adult in the room, "That's because she's your mother, that's her job! That and the fact that she can actually sing!" Bare arms mimicked that of the younger: the Battle of Stubbornness. It was clear which parent Yuki had learnt this little stunt from as the yellow and green eyes refused to admit defeat.
Several moments passed, both sets of eyes beginning to water and redden from the respective owners abuse.
When all seemed hopeless, a set of eyelids flickered shut, arms raising high in a tantrum, "Gah! Yuki, can't you just wait till your mother comes home tomorrow night? She'll sing you all the songs that you could ever possibly think of!" Offering her best bargaining skills the blunette rose to her feet, arms emphasizing the point by stretching as far as they could humanly reach without breaking off, "All the songs!"
"No," Determined eyes shot her Papa down, causing the standing woman to seemingly deflate; sinking down to the carpeted floor, "Papa can sing to me tonight." A nod; damn… this child was just as stubborn as her, if not worse!
"Yuki…" Natsuki's voice cracked, pleading eyes gazing upon her daughter, "I beg of you… one more day…"
"No," The little one couldn't help but smirk – internally inside of course – as her Papa allowed her body to flop back onto the carpeted floor, arms spread wide. If you were listening closely enough it was possible to hear the heavy strain of curses. Though whether they were aimed at the young girl or the mother of the young girl Yuki couldn't be certain.
"Fine! I'll sing you a bloody song," rising to her feet, the young woman stomped over to the single sized bed, seating herself with a grunt, "What do you want to hear? And it better be something I can sing!"
"Papa, you're the best!" A warm body connected itself to Natsuki's back delivering a sloppy kiss to her cheek, "Well," Yuki paused her index finger instinctively falling to rest upon her chin – certainly a Shizuru inherited trait.
Again Natsuki's brow twitched as her daughter bore a striking resemblance to her mother, "Damn it, if I didn't know any better I'd say this child was a clone of Shizuru and not my daughter at all, but I was there during the whole ordeal. Not clone. Nope definitely not a clone… unless Shizuru isn't telling me something..." Mumbled Natsuki.
"Blush!" Yellow orbs sparkled with excitement.
"Blush?" Natsuki stopped, racking her memory only to draw a blank.
"Papa," The little girl scolded the older Kuga, sliding off the bed and pattering out of the room.
"Yuki…?" What was she supposed to do? She had just been smacked across the back of the head by her only daughter – not that it hurt of course. Perhaps did she want her Papa to follow her?
The multitude of questions bombarding the blunette were put to rest the moment she saw the head of brown bobbing back toward her.
"Yuki where did you…"
"It's on your phone!" Concluded the little girl producing the electronic device from the depths of her pyjama pocket. Pushing a few buttons here, several more there, Yuki's eyes (and smile) grew wide as the device came to life.
When you look at me I start to blush
And all that I can say is you and us
Natsuki's face went from a look of shock to one of pure horror in a nanosecond, "Yuki!" The object was plucked from little fingers and snapped shut, effectively dulling the sound, "I will not sing this song."
Moisture formulated in Yuki's eyes, her bottom lip quivering ever so slightly, "But… but Papa… you sing it all the time in the shower…"
Busted. Head to toe, Natsuki genuinely looked like a tomato, "I-I-I… I do not sing in the shower!" Huffing – arms crossed about her chest – Natsuki felt triumphant she had won the battle.
But again Yuki had a surprise in store for her Papa. Without a word she again picked up the phone. One button was pushed to end the song, several others to do God only knows what.
"Yuki… what are you doing…" Emerald eyes glanced curiously at her daughter, attempting to peer at the screen of the phone.
Each moment that passed left Natsuki feeling more and more anxious. What could possibly be on her phone that could incriminate her to singing in the shower… unless…
"Found it!" Yuki gleamed holding the phone high in delight. One more simple click of her stubbly finger and the phone came to life.
"What the…" The small screen was shoved into Natsuki's face sending her eyes into a cross-eyed state. A voice – her voice – mixed with the sound of running water echoed through the room.
When stars are falling dark will light the way
We'll hit the ground and fall into the shade
I'll light the night with fire and run away
With you!
Currently the Natsuki on video had her back turned to the camera; in her left hand she held her favourite bottle of shampoo using it as a substitute for a microphone. The audio stream was picking up two familiar sets of giggles, though it appeared Natsuki hadn't noticed. (Well duh! If she had noticed this video wouldn't exist!)
The real current Natsuki paled, her jaw resting ever so gracefully upon the floor, "Wh… whe…"
On the video, Natsuki's voice belted out the next few lines, accompanied by many over dramatic hand movements.
I wanna be in love with only you
I wanna watch the sky turn gray then blue
I wanna know the kiss that's always new
I wanna be in love with only you
A few more cackles could be heard before the video cut, "Ara…" A sweet voice murmured, momentarily melted the rage bubbling from within Natsuki.
"Mama!" The phone flew high into the air only to land moments later on the previously occupied space. Yuki flung herself at her mother, hugging to her as if letting go would invoke the end of the world, "You're home!"
Little arms reached up and on instinct Shizuru bent forward, drawing her beautiful daughter up and into a warm embrace, "Fufufu and it seems I couldn't have picked a better time," Pointing casually over to the hunched figure upon the bed Shizuru continued, "Papa doesn't look so pleased…"
"Damn right I'm not!" Roared the Kuga jumping to her feet, steam seemed to seep from her ears, "Shizuru… Yuki… You better…"
Before she could even finished Shizuru had already darted off down the hallway, a giggling Yuki bouncing up and down in her arms, "Yuki honey, no bouncing right now, Mama needs to run." Though spoken with a serious tone a soft, very gleeful, undertone remained. From behind the both of them could hear the thundering steps of the Great Kuga Monster.
"I'm going to get you!"
The front door sprung open and out leapt Shizuru. Running on her own would have been nothing, however when you added the weight of a bouncing child – not so easy. So onto the grass Shizuru collapsed, crimson eyes looking back to those of her lovely (storming) wife, "Natsuki… I love you… please."
Emerald eyes didn't seem as forgiving. Stomping the last few steps Natsuki began, "I don't think so honey." A wicked grin spread across her lips, "Time for you to pay…"
It was one of those moments in life where everything seemed to move in slow motion. One moment Natsuki was looming above her wife and giggling child, promising impending doom and the next? The next she slowly bent down, inching forward then…
BAM! The Kuga Monster struck. Creeping fingers found the honey haired woman's sides pressing on with the tickle attack.
"Eep! Natsuki!" The cried echoed through the neighbourhood, frightened parents shuffling their children indoors.
After sufficient punishment had been dealt to her wife, Natsuki turned to her daughter who had been quietly attempting to sneak off, "Where do you think you're going munchkin?" Asked Natsuki with a grin.
Yuki gulped, "Ah!" Was the only pre-battle cry the young girl could release before the Kuga Monster struck.
Author Note: What can I say... heh this is one of the few bubbly pieces I can continue to write. It's weird, the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I write about a family like this... I guess a part of it reminds me of my own childhood. All those silly moments, the smiles and high pitched laughter that would echo through our small trailer court house. But it's not only that. Writing like this... someday I want to have a house like this. Filled with laughter and love.
Hahaha but who am I trying to kid, I'm "K! The relationship illiterate!" I think I'm going to just have to steal my sisters' kids and become "K! The coolest Aunt ever!"
Now to normal notes:
1 - I'm not all high tech/new aged... I don't have a beta! I haven't really slept well the last few weeks so if you see an error? Point it out, I'll try and make a point to go fix it.
2 - The song I used is Blush by Plumb. I originally had been saving it to make an AMV someday but... Let's just say I make AMV's as often as... every fourth or fifth Leap Year comes around. So eons.
3 - I'm not so sure I have a third point... so... yeah... Consider yourself... lucky?
