CHAPTER 8

Setting her book down on her lap, Mei let out a frustrated sigh. Itsuki had been gone for over an hour and her imagination started driving her crazy with countless scenarios.

'What could they possibly be talking about? Why would Yuzu want to talk with him after she abruptly left last night?'

Finally, getting up from her seat she decided a walk would help clear her head. Opening the front door Mei was stunned to find someone just about to knock.

"This place is really spectacular Yuzu." Itsuki looked around the perfectly designed restaurant before taking a seat across from the blonde chef. He was dressed in his usual dapper manner.

"Thank you, it's been a really long road getting here." Yuzu felt truly blessed as she admired the results of the time and effort she had invested in Riku's Place. Her eyes briefly scanned over toward the kitchen. She immediately shot a stern death glare at Mayu with a few other staff members eavesdropping from afar. Catching the non-verbal reprimand, Yuzu's staff returned to their stations.

"Sorry to drag you out here, but I couldn't get away from work." Yuzu looked back to Itsuki as she spoke. He gave a soft smile before he answered her.

"No, it's fine. You said you have something important to talk to me about. Is everything ok?"

Itsuki was happy to hear from the blonde since he was secretly hoping to run into her again.

Even though he didn't know Yuzu very well, he wasn't one to turn his back on someone that needed help. So he agreed to meet Yuzu since she mentioned that it would be best in person.

"Sorry, I know that this probably doesn't make any sense, especially since we haven't seen each other since that night."

Yuzu spoke in a rushed voice as she tried to ensure she communicated clearly with Itsuki.

"Yes, that really amazing night! I recall having a lot of fun." Itsuki gave a wide smile as he thought back to the night they had spent together.

"Umm, y..yeah, about that…" Yuzu paused. Her heart was pounding and she was so nervous that she was starting to feel sick to her stomach. Itsuki took in the sight of the nervous blonde as sweat started to run down the side of her face. He went to speak but Yuzu quickly pulled out her phone and faced it towards him.

"This is my daughter, her name is Haruka….."

Itsuki looked at the screensaver on the phone. Little Haruka was on her Mama's shoulders as they both wore wide smiles and flashed the signature Yuzu peace sign.

"She is beautiful, just like her mother." He spoke honestly as he waited for Yuzu to continue.

"She turns 6 next month." Yuzu watched Itsuki closely.

He looked from the blonde, then back to the picture, and turned back to the blonde again…Realization finally hit the usually calm young man as he sat back in his chair. Shock colored all his features, before he asked for clarification.

"Wait, are you saying?..." He couldn't finish his sentence as he thought of how this news impacted his world right now.

Yuzu could clearly see he understood what she was implying. Pulling her phone back, the young mother looked her one night stand straight in the eye as she answered his question.

"I'm not sure, but she could be."

"May I meet her?" He asked.

Yuzu feared this question would come up.

"Actually, would you like to get tested first?" Yuzu hoped that he wouldn't be too upset at her suggestive question. To her surprise Itsuki appeared very understanding.

"Of course, I understand. I'll do any test you want."

Yuzu felt like she could breathe easier since their talk went much better than she expected. Surprisingly, everything else went rather smoothly for her as well. She was able to leave work early and they headed straight for the hospital. Itsuki had a DNA sample taken and the doctor indicated that they would only have to wait a day until the results were in.

However, everything took longer than Yuzu had expected. She was about to message Ume to check what they wanted for dinner. But to her surprise her mum had already texted.

Opening the text, Yuzu's heart sank as she silently read Ume's message. 'Yuzu, sorry I got called in to work and Matsuri has gone out of town for the day. I had to drop Haruka off with Sho at the mansion. Can you please pick her up from there when you're ready?'

"What?!" Yuzu said out loud as it hit her. Mei was at the mansion, which meant that Haruka was probably with Mei right now. While at the hospital, Itsuki informed her that he had a scheduled meeting with Sho that afternoon which meant Haruka and Mei were alone at the mansion.

"Is everything ok Yuzu?" Itsuki asked as he looked at the highly distressed blonde.

"Yes, sorry Itsuki I gotta go." Yuzu rushed to her car as Itsuki quickly remarked, "Ok, I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?"

Yuzu rapidly replied, "I'll let you know when the doctor calls." Without a second to spare, the frantic blonde zoomed off.

Mei slowly opened her eyes and looked down as her legs felt heavier than normal. A small smile formed on her lips as she saw Haruka fast asleep on her lap.

A FEW HOURS EARLIER….

"Mei, I'm so glad you're home, is Sho here?" Ume asked as she stood in the doorway holding Haruka's hand, just about to knock.

"He just left Mother, is something wrong?" Mei asked as she looked from Ume to Haruka.

"Yes, I need you to watch her for a few hours. Yuzu should be finished soon but I have to attend to a work emergency." Ume quickly explained as she handed Mei Haruka's school bag. Then, getting down on one knee, Ume gave her granddaughter a kiss on the forehead as she spoke in a soft loving voice.

"Ok Haruka-chan this is Mei. She will look after you until Mama picks you up, ok?"

Haruka looked over her granny's shoulder and locked eyes with Mei who seemed to have a blank look plastered on her face.

"Ok Granny, I love you." A quick hug and Ume headed back to her car.

"Umm, Mother wait, what should I-"

Mei was cut off as Ume turned to her and gave a smile as she spoke.

"Don't worry Mei, she will be fine. Maybe just feed her a snack later, ok?"

Before Mei could reply Ume had started her car and was gone.

Mei turned to the little girl who was still staring at her.

"I'm Haruka Okogi, it's very nice to meet you."

Mei couldn't believe how well mannered Haruka was as she looked at the little girl bowing to her respectfully.

Reciprocating the gesture, with the same amount of respect, Mei bowed as she introduced herself.

"It's nice to meet you Haruka-chan, I'm Mei Udagawa."

To this day Mei still felt strange not introducing herself as an Aihara.

Mei had never really been around children and she didn't have the slightest clue as to how she should look after a child. But luckily for her she wasn't really babysitting.

"Can we go out to the flowers again, please?" Haruka looked up to Mei as she gave a smile.

'I was heading out that way.' Mei thought as she went to head towards the area Haruka had requested. Haruka grabbed Mei's hand causing Mei to jump slightly at the unexpected contact. Yet, after a few seconds she found herself holding onto the small hand easily.

The two wandered around the garden and Mei instantly observed that Haruka had her mother's curiosity. The kindergartner asked questions left, right and centre. Mei answered each question honestly. But then Haruka asked the one question that Mei had hoped would never leave the little girl's mouth.

"So how do you know Mama and why do you call Granny, Mother?"

Mei glanced down at Haruka. She was only a young innocent child after all. Looking to the cherry blossom trees, Mei spoke.

"Your mother is my stepsister and your granny is my stepmother."

Haruka placed her finger in the air as she realised something.

"So then you're my Aunty!" She concluded happily as she looked at Mei.

Before Mei could reply Haruka spoke again in a quieter tone.

"How come you and Mama look sad all the time?"

Mei was shocked at how observant and serious the little girl was behaving. After taking a seat at a nearby bench Mei looked Haruka in the eye as she explained, "We have been through a lot, your mama and I. But we are slowly healing."

Mei wasn't really sure if she was getting her point across. Nevertheless, Haruka jumped to her feet as she exclaimed, "The beach! We should all go to the beach. That always cheers Mama up. Maybe it will do the same for you. Do you like the beach?"

Mei looked into Haruka's bright vibrant violets before she spoke softly.

"The beach sounds lovely."

The next few hours Mei learned Haruka was above and beyond her years in school. The five-year old even liked the same books as Mei. 'Mother was right about her avid reading.' Mei thought, as she now had Haruka laying on her lap for story time. Soon the two violet eyed charmers dozed off. The last thing Mei remembered before falling asleep, soon after Haruka, was a sense of peace and delight.

Mei looked to the front door as she heard a car pull up. Carefully maneuvering so as to not awake Haruka, Mei made her way to the door and opened it.

"Mei."

Yuzu was only a few steps away as she greeted her stepsister.

Mei looked at Yuzu who looked like a hot mess.

"Yuzu, she's inside on the sofa. She fell asleep while I was reading." Mei lead them both inside. Yuzu's smile grew wide as she walked to her daughter and kissed her on the cheek.

"Sorry Yuzu, I know that you didn't want me to meet her yet but Mother-"

Yuzu cut in, shook her head and spoke softly.

"No, it's fine Mei. Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable…"

Looking back down to her daughter Yuzu continued to speak.

"She wasn't any trouble was she?"

Looking to the little girl curled up in a ball on the sofa, Mei spoke in a loving tone that Yuzu had never heard her ex use before.

"She was no trouble at all."

The sound of another car approaching caught the attention of both women as they made their way to the front door.

"Itsuki, I thought you were with father." Mei questioned in a somewhat abrupt manner.

"Uncle sent me back to gather some files….." He looked at Yuzu with a surprised expression before he continued to speak.

"Yuzu I didn't-"

Itsuki stopped mid sentence as he heard a small voice.

"Mama, I missed you."

All three adults looked down to see a half asleep Haruka grabbing Yuzu's hand as she used her other hand to wipe the sleep from her eyes.

"Morning sweetie, sorry for being so late." Yuzu picked Haruka up and held her daughter on her left hip as she used one arm to keep her steady.

"Its ok, I had a lot of fun here with Aunty Mei."

Both Yuzu and Mei looked at each other shocked at the young girl's statement.

Yuzu went to speak but Haruka spoke first as she looked at Itsuki.

"Hello, I'm Haruka Okogi. Who are you?"

Mei could see the nervousness in Yuzu's face. She then looked over to her cousin who seemed distressed as well. Looking at the three, Mei's eyes widened as realisation hit her.

'I see. THAT'S what it is.' She annoyingly thought as she waited for her purple eyed cousin's next move.

TO BE CONTINUED….

HERE IT IS EVERYONE :) THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT, THERE IS GONNA BE ALOT OF ANGST CHAPTERS COMING UP, JUST THOUGHT I WOULD WARN YOU NOW. ALSO I DONT KNOW WHEN I CAN UPDATE NEXT, IVE JUST HAD ALOT OF WORK DUMPED ON ME AND IM GONNA HAVE TO PUT ALL MY FOCUS INTO IT FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I WILL TRY TO BE BACK ASAP.

HAVE A GREAT DAY AND HAPPY READING.