"Lying? About what?" Yasu asked his finger held tightly in the babies fist.
"A few months ago…my parents, Mika, and I were in a car accident. They died immediately. I was touch and go for a few days and spent a month in the hospital recovering. Mika was only two months old, I'd thrown myself over her so she wasn't hurt. I'd just finished school but by the time I was out of the hospital and was able to get Mika from the hospital ward, all the money my parents had went to my hospital bills and their burial. I sold the house get a job and moved in here." Nyoko sank down beside Yasu and ran a finger down Mika's arm. "For all intents and purposes, she is mine. I'll raise her to call me mom and when she's old enough I'll tell her the truth. I want to take care of her, protect her. That's why I can't just rush into helping you. I can't fail her." Nyoko wept softly and held her head. She'd been keeping strong for Mika, she'd known once she left the hospital she wouldn't be able to grieve for the parents she'd loved; she'd have too much to do.
Yasu's silent support was breaking down the walks she'd kept up since the day she'd walked out of the hospital. She cried harshly and heard footsteps enter the room. For a moment there was a murmured converstion then one set of footsteps moved away and then warm arms enveloped her.
Yasu wrapped his arms around Nyoko's shuddering body, his demon leaping up to protect her. He growled softly in his throat and she slowly began to calm down. She looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears. "Nyoko you are so strong, so beautiful." He ran the pads of his thumbs over her cheeks to wipe away her tears. "You really are amazing."
She blushed and looked away. "Stop lying to me."
Yasu growled again, angrier this time and drew her attention back to him. "I don't lie."
Nyoko gave him a grateful grin and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Thank you Yasu."
He leaned back as she got up to say goodbye to the babysitter and to cuddle Mika before beginning to make her battle. Yasu watched her putter around the small apartment kitchen while balancing her expertly on her hip. He knew Mika had lost her job how did she plan to keep this place without a job, how was she to feed Mika and herself? He'd seen her the days that she'd worked, she was always so tired afterwards, she'd make herself sick if she kept it up. "Nyoko…" He started tentatively approaching her.
Nyoko turned smiling at him and handing Mika to him so she would be able to use both hands. "What's up Yasu?" Her eyes were still slightly swollen but she gave him a sweet smile.
"Well…" He started smiling softly at the gurgling baby he held. "Why don't you move in with me?" He looked up as she froze and rushed ahead to try to explain his comment. "I don't mean my room! We have plenty of space, you can borrow one of our cars and be able to your own person and all but…I don't know how to say this right, I just would love it if you stayed with me…with us. Both you and Mika." He moved closer to her and saw the raging emotions in her eyes. "I am in love with you. I want to start a real relationshop with you but…I understand how much you have at stake." He lifted Mika to eye level and she grinned kicking her feet. "I just want you go be safe and happy."
Nyoko took the now warmed up bottle and tested the temperature before taking Mika and feeding her. She was silent for a long time then looked at Yasu. "Let me think about it alright?"
Yasu nodded, relieved she hadn't just refused outright. "Alright, well…how about I come over tomorrow for dinner? We can talk more about it then?"
Nyoko gave him a smile and kissed Mika's head. "What do you think Mika? Should Yasu come back for dinner tomorrow?" Mikas giggled and grinned and held her hands out to Yasu.
Yasu took Mika and hugged her kissing her cheek. "I guess that's a yes. I'll bring dinner."
Nyoko grinned and kissed his cheek as she took Mika back. "Alright. You know what I like right?"
"Meat, meat, meat right?" Yasu said grinning.
Nyoko grinned. "Damn right. Now get going. I need to finish feeding her and put her to bed." Yasu leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips before leaving. Nyoko locked the door behind him and held Mika gently as she ate.
Moving in with Yasu would be very helpful, getting a place to stay for free, food to eat for free; from what she'd seen of Kagura, Kagura would definitely help with Mika, probably Yasu's sisters too. But…she didn't know if she wanted to help them, Mika needed her to concentrate on her. She couldn't just rush headlong into something that might be dangerous to Mika.
But then again…Yasu and his family were demons. She'd seen the strength of his uncle Inuyasha. There must be some way that they could keep her safe if they did this right? Nyoko looked down at Mika as she yawned widely and smiled softly. She laid Mika gently in her crib and grabbed the baby monitor before closing the door. She left the apartment locking it behind her and went next door to Mrs. Nozama's apartment.
"Mrs. Nozama?" She called out poking her head into the womans room.
"Hello Nyoko dear! Are you doing better?" Mrs. Nozama asked coming around the corner from the back and giving Nyoko a hug.
Nyoko blushed softly. "Yeah. I had a question to put to you…" Nyoko said looking out the window. "That was my friend Yasu, he and I are really close, I'm practically in love with him." She laughed self-consciously. "Well, as you know I lost my job and I can't afford to pay rent for next month. Yasu invited me to move in with his family, he lives in a big house right outside the city. I met his family, they all seem really nice but…do you think I should?"
Mrs. Nozama smiled at her rushed questions and explanations. "Shall I tell you a secret deary? When I met my Ned, I ran away from Japan to follow him to America. I barely know him from Adam but after just two months I knew that he was the one for me. It wasn't until he died that I finally came back here where my sister was. Sometimes you just got to go."
Nyoko stared at the old woman in front of her and realized that for a woman she had known really about as long as she'd known Yasu, the woman really knew her. "Can you watch Mika for a bit? I need to go pick something up for tomorrow."
Mrs. Nozama smiled understandingly and nodded. Nyoko left her in her own apartment with the baby monitor and ran down the stairs and outside. She looked around considering which way to go then darted off toward the right store. She was gone for almost an hour before she found exactly what she was looking for. She picked up the shirt and held it out admiring the soft silver design on the red background. The red matched his eyes and the silver his hair; it was perfect. She turned away and her attention was grabbed by an item on the sale rack. It was a delicate necklace with a pink cherry blossom pendent. She knew she had to get it but was unsure exactly why. She bought it and the shirt and wrapped the necklace carefully before darting back towards home. She reached the bottom of her apartment and could hear Mika crying from the bottom of the stairs.
Her heart leapt into her throat, something was wrong. She darted up and slid to a stop in shock as she stared at her apartment door. The door was wide open, barely hanging on its hinges. Nyoko's eyes widened with fear as she came around the top of the stairs. Mika! She thought and rushed forward into the apartment.
A boy was standing in the middle of the room, someone she didn't know. He held Mrs. Nozama by the throat and Mika screamed in her crib. Nyoko launched herself at the stranger breaking his hold on Mrs. Nozama but it brought his attention to her. As he met her eyes she recognized she did know him. That same feeling of death touching her was there again. It was the boy from the road.
"You should back away now." He said his eyes glowing a dark red. "Back away from the demons and priestess." He slapped her hard sending her flying into the bookshelf on the back wall. "If you want to protect yourself and this old woman, not to mention that baby girl." He walked out of the room kicking her back into the shelf as he passed.
Nyoko struggled to her feet and staggered to Mrs. Nozama's side. "Mrs. Nozama! Are you alright?"
The old woman nodded and sat up coughing heavily. "I'll get the baby. You call that young man. I bet he'll want to know about this." She said her voice harsh with pain.
Nyoko watched the strong woman dart toward the back and Mika before picking the phone up from where it had fallen in the attack. Her fingers raced over the buttons and tears began to pour swiftly down her cheeks. This was exactly what she had been fearing.
Well the boy has made his second appearance but we still don't know who he is...
Next time:
Nyoko glared at Kagura. "Say that again."
Kagura raised one eyebrow. "You can't leave here."