Chapter IX
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(Present)
Natsuki noticed that her control is slowly slipping away, that the anger she kept locked up inside became loose. She thought she can face the man she hates the most in a calm manner but she was wrong. Standing in front of this man who attempted to ruin her new found family makes her sick.
"Are you just going to stay standing there?" Her father stated. His voice is hoarse than usual. His body leans on white soft pillows of a comfortable bed with wires of the machines beside him attached on his arms, an oxygen mask is hanging on his neck.
"What do you want?" Natsuki asked in gritted teeth. She really doesn't want to be here, honestly, but Alexa's constant pleading won her over. The raven-haired woman remained standing by the door frame even when the man beckons her to seat anywhere she likes in the luxurious room.
"Sit" the man ordered like he used to before throwing a coughing fit. He momentarily placed back the oxygen mask on face and take a series of deep breaths.
"No" was the defiant Natsuki's answer. She felt her hand moved an inch seeing her father in a helpless state but stopped herself in time to make a move. "I am busy so why don't you just get it on with."
Kichirou looked at his daughter from a distance, eyes imprinting the image of his eldest daughter deep in his memory. Their relationship was not the best father-daughter, Kichirou was sure of that, but he only thought what is best for the raven-haired. That is what he's been believing since Natsuki was born differently. He may have not said it before but he really loves his daughters. "Huff! I guess the worst father award goes to me" He thought bitterly as he reaches for a glass full of water but his hand is still weak so the glass just slipped on his grasp, landing on the marbled floor where it breaks in million pieces. With mild disappointment flash through his features, he just sighed and lean his back on the soft pillows once more.
"If you don't really have to say anything, I think I'll just go.." Natsuki spoke after a while, turning her heels around and face the closed door.
"Natsuki.." Her father called, effectively halting the woman from leaving.
Her name being called with so much emotion sounded so foreign coming from Kichirou's mouth that Natsuki actually thought that it must be a hallucination or a mere trick of her imagination. She turned her head towards the bed, eyes hardening with conflicted emotions as his father smiled at her for the very first time. Something was definitely wrong, thought the raven-haired woman. All her life, never before had she seen this man showed any kind of good emotions to Natsuki, he's always been as harsh as a whip and cold as a steel. They shared a blood, yes, but that is all there is in their relationship.
"Can you come a little closer, at least? Please?" Her father begged, smile still plastered on his lightly cracked lips.
Against her will, Natsuki's feet moved on its own until she was merely three feet away from the foot of his father's bed. She didn't want to be close to her father but somehow she felt something tug inside her heart seeing how weak he is. She can see clearly how much Kichirou had changed after being hospitalized as she came closer. His fit body and handsome face was thinner than before. His perfectly nurtured white skin is almost as pale as a sheet of paper. The wrinkles around in lips, eyes and forehead caused by stress and aging are showing. A part of his former pumped up cheeks are now sagging.
He is no longer the man that with one single look can make Natsuki shiver in fear.
"I am pathetic.." Her father stated "I'm sure that is what's running through your head." The man said, earning a blank stare from his eldest daughter. "I didn't call you here again to beg for your forgiveness, Natsuki. We both know that it is impossible right now and only time can tell if you can forgive me-"
"Then why am I here?" Natsuki interrupted, agitated that her father is acting like a different person. A kind and loving person which the raven-haired woman knows that he's not. He taught her that long ago since she was young and Natsuki believe that she had no reason to believe him to be a good person now.
Kichirou silently sighed at the irruption. He really hates it when people cut him off while he speaks but it's not like he can do anything about it now that he's in this state. He was too weak to even retaliate to them. Speaking alone is hard for him to do these days so he decided to cut off the chase. "I want to see my granddaughter." He said as looked back at Natsuki's hardening eyes.
"…Absolutely not" the raven-haired replied through gritted teeth.
"I know you're still mad about what I said before, what I did with you and Shizuru but please Natsuki. For the first and maybe the last time, let me see my granddaughter."
It was like a flicker but Natsuki actually thought of agreeing to her father when he said for the 'last time'. What does he means by that? He's still fairly young, 48 years old, as far as she can remember. However, she wasn't able to think further into this since her stepmother, or rather her former stepmother, came in to the room carrying a tray with foods.
The two woman shared a smile before Alexa put the tray on a near coffee table. "Have a drink, Nastuki. I'm sure talking with your father is tiresome" The blonde woman said sweetly, causing the tension building inside the room to somehow drift away. She turn to look at her former husband, "You old man, it's time to drink your medicine" she stated coldly with a hint of love (?) in her voice, if that was even possible.
Natsuki watched as Alexa moved and assist Kichirou to sit up. She stifled a chuckle when the woman scolded the (former) fearsome Kuga Kichirou about the broken glass on the floor. Even when their marriage is now null, the blonde woman remained on Kichirou's side especially when the man hit the lowest part of his life. She doesn't have to that but she said that Kichirou is still the father of her lovely daughter so she can't leave him alone and vulnerable. It was very noble and admirable, if you ask Natsuki.
"I'll think about it.." Natsuki suddenly said after watching the interaction between her father and Alexa. This brought the attention of the older two back to her. "I will also ask my wife if she would allow to" Without waiting for a reply she opened the door and leave, hearing the first ever 'thank you' coming from her father.
"Maybe..he did changed.."
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(Past)
Sighing for the second time early in the morning, Shizuru decided to take a seat at their small living room after seeing her daughter run towards her school again. She wonders why Natsumi suddenly acting so eager and excited to be early these days when just few weeks ago, it took all Shizuru's convincing power to make Natsumi stepped out of the house. She tried asking before but her little brunette remained secretive, going as far as saying she just got a friend and nothing more.
Her mother had gone to find a new job, against to her husband's will, while Haru scurries after the little brunette so that means only her and father are the only ones left in the house.
"May I ask what's occupying your mind?" Masao asked, sitting beside his startled daughter with two cups of tea on his hand. He offered the other one to the brunette before taking a sip on his own cup. "You had been sighing a lot these days, Shizuru." He later commented, eying his daughter as the woman's gaze failed to meet his.
"Father.." says Shizuru. Her fingers trails the rim of the cup, her eyes mirroring its contents. After the events of yesterday finally registered in her brain, she had been thinking how confess to her parents about her secrets but so far, it's getting hard to do since she herself doesn't know if she really want that. It's like her mind and heart are contradicting each other, bringing the pros and cons of the situation that concerns her daughter.
So the real big question is what would happen next if she did reveal Natsumi's real father. "It would come out eventually since Reito already know", she thought dryly as she remembers her former friend. Would her parents get angry at her for keeping this secret? For saying that the 'father' of her child is already dead? What would her daughter think when she finally meets her dad who in the eyes of many is a woman? What would Natsuki think? So many questions that needed an answer but Shizuru felt she's not ready yet to face it all at once. "That's right. I don't need to face all of it now. I just need to take one step at the time.."
"Hmm?" the man hummed, urging for the brunette to continue talking.
"…Why didn't you asked me more about Natsumi's father?" She started, testing the waters if it is okay to cross over the topic. "I know I said that he's dead but why did you and Kaa-san just accepted that without asking for more? Not that I'm complaining to you father but rather.. I'm just wondering.."
Masao mused on it for a moment, noting the silent question on his daughter's eyes that she failed notice and hide. "Because I, We respects you, Shizuru." He said with a comforting smile. "Though your mother and I know that Natsumi's father is alive, not like what you said and not that we're blaming you for lying to us, but we supported your decision to not discuss the topic any further." The man explained as he too eyed his reflection on the cup.
This simple response made Shizuru silent. Of course they knew they were lying when she said that, they are her parents and they knew her daughter so well. "I'm sorry, father" she said while looking down at her lap. Her parents had nothing but supportive to her and all she did was lie to them. Perhaps she was ashamed to admit that she fall in loved to some stranger she met in a foreign land but got her heart rip open afterwards. "No, if anything, I am not ashamed that I met her and it was Natsuki who fathered my child. She had given me the greatest gift I could ever have.."
"If it makes you a little better, I always longed to be a grandfather" Her father said with a serene smile. "It doesn't matter to me if you're married or not, as long as I know my children is happy. And as far as I can see, you are happy with Natsumi even without that guy beside you, so I am happy as well."
Shizuru smiled at her father, feeling lighter and somehow happy that he was the one sitting beside her. He always knew what to say to make her feel better. "Thank you, father"
Silence ruled inside the living room as the two sipped their tea at the same time.
"…When you met mother, how did you know that she will be the one you'll marry?" the brunette asked out of the blue, shocking her father in the process. Even Shizuru was shocked that she asked that question. Marriage is far away from her concerns now so where that question did came from? She don't know. Nonetheless, she stared expectantly at her father's red eyes, asking for the answer with her own identical one.
After a moment, Masao smiled fondly at her. If he thought about it, this is the first time that Shizuru asked the story about between her parents. It made Masao blushed a little due to shyness but figures there will be no harm done telling your kids how did their parents met.
"Hmm.. At first of course, I didn't know." The man started. "The moment we saw each other, I can tell that Setsuna will be difficult so I tried to avoid her." Masao paused to laugh a little as he remembers how far he'd gone just to avoid the purple-eyed woman. "Every time we met, we're always at each other throats. We always end up debating which is better than the other or what is best among the rest.."
Shizuru listened carefully at his father's story. A lovely smile plastered on her face as she tried to imagine her parents on their younger age. She silently wondered if she'll ever find someone, someone naming Natsuki, will give her the happiness like her parents have.
"Have you and mother ever had a fight that you feel like your relationship is over?" Shizuru asked with uncertainty after her father tell his story. She gripped the cup tighter as her mind raised more question regarding her relationship with the raven-haired.
Masao paused at the follow up. He can tell that there's more to the question but decided to answer nonetheless. "Honestly, every fight your mother and I had feels like our relationship will come to end." He answered truthfully. "There was this time that I thought it will really be the end of our marriage but thankfully it didn't come to that."
"So, you apologize? ..Is the words ever be enough?"
"Of course it is not enough, Shizuru. So I continued to apologize no matter how much I put myself down just to show how much I love your mother. I showed it with actions as well as words just to reclaim your mother.. I'm just grateful that she gave me a chance to at least explain myself… After all, chance is all we need." He finished with a smile.
"I see.."
Another moment of silence pass between the two. Both are in deep thoughts and both is calculating their words.
"Can you tell me now who this person behind your thoughts is?" Masao asked to break the silence. It's almost time for him to leave for work but he can't just do that if his daughter is obviously in stress.
"Father.. " the brunette started after a while, debating if it was best to finally open up or not. She was aware that her father still have to go to work and didn't want her revelation to occupy his mind throughout the day so she decided to tell it later. Or maybe some other time. "It's nothing. You should go to work now, father." Shizuru started to collect their empty cups when her father grabs her hand.
"I don't know what it is bothering you, Shizuru. But know that your family is here for you." said Masao as he got up. "Nothing will happen if you just think about it in your head. It is better if you express it, not only with words but with actions as well. Remember that, Shizuru."
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Upon entering her restaurant, Natsuki was greeted with an amazing aroma. Her sensitive nose asking her body to follow the smell. A smile was slowly presented on her face when the thought of Shizuru cooking inside the kitchen popped in her head.
"Good morning, Kuga-san" her new assistant manager greeted with a smile when the raven-haired walked closer to the counter. When Natsuki looked questionably at her, she released a light laugh and corrected herself. "I mean, Natsuki-san."
"Good morning too, Yukariko-san." Said Natsuki as she tried to catch a glimpse inside the kitchen through the glass panel behind the short-haired brunette. "Is there someone cooking inside the kitchen?" she asked after a while, hoping to see a certain brunette wearing a white toque and apron.
"Yes. I believe that Harada-san is inside." For a second, Yukariko saw a disappointment flash on her boss's eyes but said nothing.
Nodding her head as a 'thank you', Natsuki decided to go inside the kitchen herself and see what exactly her new Sous Chef is up to. She pushed the steel door open, silently hoping to see Shizuru inside as well but cannot hide the disappointment this time when her emeralds landed on the short dark-haired sous chef cooking in front of a large wok pan, alone inside the big well-equip kitchen.
"Good morning, Natsuki-san!" greeted by the chef after noticing her boss standing at the kitchen's doorway. "I hope you don't mind me cooking for everyone's breakfast." Harada Chie said with a wink. A wink that could probably swoon every waitress working in the restaurant in an instant. With an exception of Natsuki of course.
The two raven-haired woman then smile at each other before Natsuki uttered her reply. "Not at all." She walked around the around the counter and stood closer to Chie. "After the breakfast, and if everyone is already present, please tell them that we're having a brief meeting. I'll inform Yukariko-san as well" Natsuki swiftly scanned the kitchen, eying the cleanliness and shiny counters before exiting towards her office.
Chie nodded her head and playfully replied a stiff "Yes, ma'am!"
Natsuki looked over her shoulder and shook her head lightly, smiling at her employee's welcoming treatment. She walked pass Yukariko and told her about the meeting before walking towards her office where her paper works lays on her table.
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It was exactly nine in the morning when every staff in restaurant is at present. Well, everyone except the master chef who they, aside from Yukariko, haven't met yet.
Sitting on the right side of a large rectangular table is where the assistant manager Yukariko is, preparing to pray before eating. The sous chef, Chie, who's already flirting with everyone that doesn't have a penis on them.
There is also the three beautiful waitress, Akane, a short haired brunette. Shiho, a pink haired girl with a weird hair style and Aio, also a brunette but with longer hair than Akane and the one seated beside the sous chef.
At the other side of the table were the guys. A goofy blonde guy named Yuichi who's spouting non-sense about sports he liked to play. A spiky dark haired man with a scar on his face, Masashi, who's seating like he was the yakuza boss with arms across his chest. And lastly, a brown haired self-proclaim pretty boy named Kazuya who's already flirting with Akane.
There's also about ten more people sitting at the other rectangular table but they are not as rowdy as the one who got mentioned. Some of them are kitchen helpers while the others are the floor cleaners.
"Yukariko-san, is Natsuki-san going to join with us?" asked Chie.
"Yes, I think. She said she will come down after some phone calls. She-" The rest of Yukariko's explanation was disrupted when someone entered the restaurant.
All pairs of eyes stared at the entrance, stared at the stranger standing awkwardly while looking back at them.
"Ara, good morning?" Shizuru said to break the ice.
In an instant, Chie was beside the brunette, much to Aoi's displeasure, offering a red rose that she pulled out from her toque. "Hello, gorgeous." She offered it to Shizuru with a wink. "What brings a beautiful woman like you in our still-closed restaurant?"
Shizuru giggled at Chie's attempt to flirt with her, not that it's working. "Actually, I came here to work." Her eyes wanders at the other occupants of the table, smiling at each one of them, though they are not the one's she wanted to see. Her eyes, as much as she wanted to deny it, craved for the long dark-haired woman with compelling emerald eyes. Just thinking about the intensity within those eyes send shivers to Shizuru's spine. She cleared her throat to re-compose herself. "Is Kuga-san, inside her office?" she asked.
The guys, and the girls minus Yukariko who had been smiling at Shizuru, can only nodded their heads in response as they are totally smitten with the brunette's beauty to open their mouths. Shizuru is only wearing a plain shirt and jeans but her charm and attractiveness is overflowing. They watched in pure silence as the brunette made her way to the office, finally breathing an air that they didn't knew they were holding upon meeting their newest co-worker.
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"Come in! It's open." Natsuki shouted after hearing a series of knock on her door. Her nose is buried with the inventory list and whatnot that she didn't knew the person she wanted to see was the one who entered her office. "I've double checked the inventory just in case and it's all good. All that's left is to discuss this to the chef's." she informed, still oblivious to the person standing in front of her table.
"Ara, it's good that I'm here then." The brunette said, suppressing a giggle at the startled expression on Natsuki's face when the woman finally looked up.
"S-Shizuru?" the emerald beauty said in disbelief. "What are you doing here?"
Titling her head a little, the brunette simply answered, "To work, of course."
If only Shizuru knew how happy Natsuki is after hearing her said that words. Truth to be told, the raven haired already loss the hope of seeing the brunette again after their awkward moment yesterday at the police station and after she wasn't present in the kitchen when Natsuki arrived. They didn't even said another word to each other aside from 'goodbye' as they parted ways. She wanted to stop Shizuru from walking away from her, to ask her if they finally can a have a proper talk about their past but refrain herself after remembering how emotionally tired the brunette must been after her face-off with her former best friend.
Natsuki cleared her throat to hide the embarrassment she's feelings upon seeing the brunette's innocent smile. Or was that a smirk? "Oh r-right, yes. Here, work y-you will.. ehem! I mean, of course, Fujino-san" She stammered. She knocked on her head repeatedly on how stupid she must have sounded since Shizuru burst out of giggling. "That's really great of you, stupid, to be flustered while looking at her pretty face! Way to impress a woman who you still have some apologizing to do, Natsuki! Good job!" the raven-haired woman thought dryly, still imaginary slamming her head on her desk, repeatedly.
Shizuru remained standing in front of the table, now giggling behind her hand as her mind tried to recall the things she wishes to say before her first day begins but it didn't go as plan. Though seeing Natsuki's flustered face and stammering is not so bad too.
Finally coming to her senses, Natsuki slowly stood up from her seat and carefully come closer to the brunette, offering a formal handshake that the woman gladly took. "Thank you for accepting, Shizuru. Oh, and welcome to the restaurant." She let go of the brunette's hand, against what her heart's yelling, before gazing at Shizuru's angelic face that didn't change much since they first saw each other. "Slowly, Shizuru. I will make it back to you slowly. That I promise you.."
"Natsuki.." Shizuru suddenly called when silence took the room, kicking the raven-haired out of her thoughts. A ghost smile instantly marred on her face as Natsuki's cheeks flared and her beautiful emerald eyes finally focused at her own burgundy eyes, making her knees go weak just by a single glance.
Though their eyes are identical, for Shizuru, Natsumi's emeralds are still too young and pure. Too innocent and carefree like a fresh water flowing down on a stream. Natsuki's on the other hand, are a tiny bit darker if you actually made a time to compare them. The raven-haired woman's eyes are matured by age and molded by the hard circumstances in her life. It often show her emotions but also hides it perfectly well, like a mirror that can show you what you want to see or what the owner of it wants you to see.
Before Natsuki can even utter another word, Sous Chef Harada burst inside of her room unannounced. Two set of eyes stared, or rather glared at the interruption, making the short-haired woman shivered visibly on her spot.
"I should have locked the door.." The two of them thought at the same time.
"Do you need something, Chie?" Natsuki asked as she momentarily step away from Shizuru to get something on her desk. She stack some papers together while waiting for the sous chef to respond.
"Well boss, breakfast can't start with you so Yukariko-san and the others are asking if you'll be coming down anytime soon.." Chie explain warily, darting her eyes towards the calm general manager and the smiling brunette. "I'm surely interrupted something fishy there, didn't I? Ho ho ho. Boss and Employee? This will be fun!"
Catching Chie looking at the other occupant of the room, Natsuki straightened her back and stood closer to the brunette. Their elbows touched due to sudden closeness, making the other two raised their eyebrows at her action. She won't admit it out loud but she felt some kind of jealousy blossom within her as Shizuru continues to smile at the short-haired chef. She got her unspoken wish when Shizuru's eyes finally stared back on her. She cleared her throat. "Chie, this is Fujino Shizuru, our master chief." She said while motioning towards the brunette. "Fujino-san, this is Harada Chie, she will be our sous chef. You two will work hand in hand in the kitchen so you better get well together."
The two woman bowed their heads at each other and smile. They exchange proper greetings that got awkwardly cut offed by Natsuki, who placed herself in between the two of them, before deciding to join the other staff at the breakfast table.
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The rest of the day flowed fast for Shizuru that she wasn't even noticed that it was already past seven in evening, meaning her shift is finally over. Since it was the first day, there wasn't much work to do. Along with Chie, the two of them prepared over twice a dozen of food that will be added to their new menu. All of it, plus some desserts, got approved by non-other than Natsuki herself and Tomoe, who came to see how the things are going inside her friend's resto and Tokiha Mai, an orange-haired woman who turns out to be a famous chef and Natsuki's other friend.
Seeing the bubbly woman close to the raven-haired didn't brought any discomfort to Shizuru since she knows that Mai is already engaged to someone. Well, there were times that the brunette wished she was the one to offering a spoon to Natsuki but she would not say that out loud. She really, really tried her best not to act differently and glared at every employee that states their interest on their raven-haired boss. Not that she could blame them though since Natsuki is an epitome of perfection.
As for Mai, the woman has an amazing talent, Shizuru complemented after tasting a ramen noodles that looks and smells like it was cooked for a high class restaurant but the ingredients and procedure used is very simple.
For the whole day, Shizuru thought Natsuki would come up to her and talk about personal things but the raven-haired never did. The only time that Natsuki would come close to her was to ask her thoughts about the food listed on their new menu and nothing more. This actually irked Shizuru since she thought the emerald eyed would at least show some interest to make amends, to say she's sorry again for coldly leaving the brunette before without an explanation. Or something like that.
"Going home?" Natsuki inquired as she enters the changing room, making the sole occupant shriek. "Sorry, didn't mean to startled you." she added silently when Shizuru turned to glare at her.
"Hmm" the brunette hummed, freeing her hair from the black hairnet placed on her head. She turned her body around and continues to remove the chef's white coat as well, leaving her with a thin white blouse she brought earlier. Her face lightly heated when she caught a sight of Natsuki still looking at her from the mirror's reflection. Her back is turned so she let the blush fully covered her cheeks. "Do you need something?" she asked in attempt to remove the tension building inside of her body as she imagine those eyes looking at her bare flesh instead. "Stop it. Don't go there.." she silently whispered. She felt really hot ...and suddenly became claustrophobic even though it was only her and the raven-haired are the once occupying the room.
"Ah..uhmm.. yes, actually." Natsuki said, licking and biting her lips while Shizuru ran a hand to her exposed neck, probably feeling tired and sticky after all the cooking inside the kitchen. She gulped painfully as if the time slowed down, tempting her to swat the brunette's hand away so Natsuki's hand can do the job instead. "I-I-I think I'll just wait outside!" she blurted after censored images flashes through her mind. Not waiting for a response, she grabbed the door knob and leave Shizuru alone. Unknown to her, the brunette chef knows that Natsuki kept ogling at her so Shizuru decided to put a little free show.
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Fifteen minutes later, Shizuru saw Natsuki sitting at one of the tables in the restaurant. It was just eight in the evening but the raven-haired manager decided to close it early, saying that since this is the first day they had the discussion about the timing and shifting of the staff so she's letting them have fun for now. Almost all of them agreed to have a welcoming party at the nearest bar but there are some who excused themselves with a reason of their awaiting family.
"Sorry for waiting" Shizuru stated as she stood in front of Natsuki.
The raven-haired is seated at a table with a glass of wine on her hand. She was obviously deep in thought since she didn't even looked up when Shizuru came closer. Her emerald eyes are slightly down casted, staring at something on the table cloth while her brows are knitted together.
"Natsuki?" the brunette called with worry. As much as she would like to stare at her Natsuki, she didn't want to see the raven-haired loss in her own world with a scowl on her handsome face. "Did I just claim her?" she mused back on her previous thought to recall if she did such thing.
"Ah, Shizuru" the woman finally said. She gesture the empty seat in front and asked if the brunette would like to join her for a drink. "Wine?" She offered, raising an old bottle of wine to Shizuru but the woman politely decline. The two of them are the only people left as far as Natsuki knows so she indulged herself with some alcohol to help calm her buzzing nerves.
Shizuru stayed silent while watching her boss pour another serving of red liquid in her own glass. She can see that the raven-haired's hand was lightly shaking as she do so but the brunette didn't know if it's due to alcohol or nervousness. This is the first time they were alone in a room without worrying to be irrupted by someone so she too felt nervous about where their conversation will be heading to. She had a hunch on where it will start but she debated if she should point the direction later to another matter in hand.
"So," Natsuki started, sipping some wine from her glass. "Will you be staying for just a month or till your contract expires?" she asked. She imaginary punched her face after those words escaped her mouth. She keeps denying that she's nervous but maybe that was not the case.
"Eh?" That was not what Shizuru's hoping to hear from the raven-haired woman at all. Aren't they here to talk about themselves? She internally scolded herself for being assumptious. Of course Natsuki wanted to talk to her since she had yet signed the contract. "C-contract," she finally answered after clearing her throat. She felt really disappointed but didn't show it on her face. She remained calm on the outside but a different scenario is happening inside.
They continued to talk about her contract. Sometimes, Natsuki would asked questions but nothing of personal, most of it are things that concerns restaurant. Shizuru too would asked about stuff like what is Natsuki's plan in the restaurant and whatnot.
They were like friends catching up with each other but still wary about crossing the line so they kept some questions to themselves. They have all the time they need now that they're here together so there's no need to hurry, they both thought. They were laughing about some joke that the sous chef and Tomoe made earlier that day when Shizuru's phone started ringing. The brunette got up and excused herself answered it swiftly upon seeing their home number.
"I need to go." Shizuru said after she came back at the table to grab her bag. "See you tomorrow, Natsuki." She said hurriedly. She turned to leave but the woman's bandaged hand caught her wrist. The hold slowly slid lower so they hands connects, bringing memories of the past surface on their minds.
"I'll send you home." Said Natsuki without missing a beat as she quickly grabbed her phone and keys on the table and led Shizuru out of the parking lot. She didn't let go of the joined hands even after securing the locks of the restaurant and unlocking her car.
"It's okay. I can home by myself." The brunette argued while trying to remove the other woman's hand on her but the hold didn't budge. "Let go, Natsuki" she ordered. Panic mixed with worries surged through her veins at the thought of Natsuki meeting their daughter for the first time without so much of a warning on both side. She's not ready to have this situation now especially when her friendship with Natsuki have just been renewed. She's not ready to have their innocent child get into this without a proper explanation and introduction.
Natsuki did what was asked and let Shizuru's hand go. "Why is there something your hiding from me?" she joked but her smile dropped when the brunette stared back with wide eyes. "Don't worry, I can still drive after that wine. I'll take you home safely, Shizuru.." Natsuki smiled as she gently shoved Shizuru at the passenger seat of her car. If only she knew that her being drunk is not the issue that Shizuru's worrying about. The emerald-eyed woman waltz to the other side and gracefully seated herself on the driver seat to start the car, aware that the brunette is staring at her all through the ride.
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(Present)
"You're staring." The woman accused gruffly. She can feel those eyes looking at her even if her own arms are draped across her eyes. "I can feel it so don't even try to say otherwise, woman."
The woman being accused off laughed lightly at her wife's exceptional senses with regards to her ogling. "Ara, you can't blame me if I have the most amazing woman on my bed, na-ke-d and fully exhausted." She teases, laughing louder this time when patches of redness appeared on her lover's firm cheeks. "You're so cute!" the honey-haired woman squealed as she snuggled closer and tightens her hold on her beloved's torso.
"Shizuru!" was the embarrassed replied of the tomato-faced raven-haired woman. She was honestly beyond exhausted, mentally and physically, but laying on their bed now with the love of her life fills her energy up somehow. Wickedly smirking, she tried to retaliate by tickling the brunette mercilessly until the woman gave in and begged for her forgiveness.
After their mirth has come down, Natsuki tried to talk discuss the issue that's been bugging her mind since seeing her father few days ago.
"Well, I really don't mind." Shizuru answered, snuggling closer to her lover and laid a hand on Natsuki's tattooed hip. "No matter what your decision is, I'll follow you. If you don't want to, that's fine but if you finally decided to give him a chance and that is better. He is Natsumi's grandfather after all."
"He don't deserve your kindness, Shizuru"
"Maybe, maybe not. But all people deserve a chance to change, Natsuki." Shizuru lifted her head and placed it on Natsuki's bare chest. She gaze lovingly at the person who's holding her heart and spoke, "Evil or not, he is still you father and for that I thank him for bringing you in this world."
With her answer finally decided, Natsuki wasted no time claiming Shizuru's sweet lips. She grabbed the brunette's face with right hands while shifting their position so she now lays on top, carefully minding not to put too much weight on her lover as her left arm supported her body.
Moans of ecstasy echoed throughout the room as two revisits the sweet spot of the other. They already did it quite a few times that day but they are not complaining to do it again. Since they already talked about having another child, the two of them didn't bother to use any contraceptives.
They climax at the same time, Natsuki made sure of that. She passionately kissed her wife one more before slowly slips out of Shizuru. Or at least that's what she intends to do until she felt two legs secured her hips.
Natsuki looked at her wife with a raised brow before playfully bit the giggling brunette's creamy neck and says, "Don't you have a restaurant to run tomorrow?"
"Ara, that is true. But that is tomorrow and you are now" Shizuru purred, biting back a moan as her lover sucked on her pulse while feeling the hardness growing inside in core. Her fingernails trails on Natsuki's back, leaving angry red lines on her lover's pale skin when her lover moved to fondle with her breasts.
And then their whole routine started once more. It was not sex like most people do but rather, a love making. A love making full of passion, adoration, intimacy and their commitment to each other.
By the end of it, they were both tired and panting hard but neither one can't deny that being connected like this with your lover after long day of work and stress is one of the greatest feeling to experience.
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Tomorrow came in a flash in Kuga household. Shizuru was the first one to open her eyes, shaking her Natsuki awake before going downstairs to prepare some breakfast for her two emerald eyed beauties.
"Good morning, Kaa-san!" little Natsumi chirped as she come in to the kitchen with her favorite stuffed toy in tow.
"Good morning to you too Natsumi" The older brunette turned off the stove and kissed her little angel on the forehead. "Where's your mom?" She questioned when she didn't see her lover anywhere near the kitchen or the living room.
"She was talking to grandma Alexa on the phone." Natsumi replied as Shizuru placed her safely on the high stool at the center island in their kitchen. "I don't think mommy is happy," the little one commented before adding, "She's only scowling. And she only do that if she's in thoughts or angry."
Shizuru giggled at her daughters remarks. Her daughter is just five years old, going six in a couple of months so she honestly don't know how she can speak like this. Her musing was cut offed when her lover entered the room. "Is there something wrong?" she asked after seeing the evident scowl on Natsuki's face.
Natsuki shook her head and didn't answer verbally her until she sat beside her daughter, placing a hand on the little one's honey hair. "Nothing," she said in hushed tone while looking at Shizuru's worried eyes. "I was just talking to Alexa-san and she invited us for a family dinner. Alyssa is graduating top of her class and.." she paused to look at her daughter who's munching the pancake that Shizuru cooked. "Father wants to see Natsumi before he.."
Shizuru clasp their hands together when Natsuki stopped on her sentence, knowing well what are the words that was left unsaid. "Natsuki.."
"I'm fine, Shizuru" The raven-haired said reassuringly to her wife before facing their daughter who remained ignorant to the topic. "Hey, Natsumi after school, would you like to see grandpa?"
Looking like a chipmunk with huge cheeks, Natsumi looked questionably at her dark haired mother who laughed merrily along with her wife at the sight of their daughter. "Will Grandpa-Masao coming here with Grandma-Setsuna?" she asked after gulping the pancakes. She got scolded a little by eating without properly chewing but she just smiled apologetically to her burgundy eyed mother.
"No, I'm not referring to you Okaa-san's father, Grandpa-Masao," Natsuki clarified, earning a confused looked from her daughter "I'm talking about Kuga Kichirou, your other grandfather .. my father."
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(Past)
"Why won't you let me drop you off at your house?" Natsuki asked after Shizuru instructed to stop the car near a familiar convenient store. "Geez, it's not like I'm going to stalk you or something.." she added silently.
"It's not.. It's just that it will be hard for you to turn your car since the streets are not wide enough near my house" The brunette lied. She unbuckled her seatbelt and thank the raven-haired, grabbing her bag and opened her own door.
Natsuki followed the woman's action and hurriedly stood beside the brunette. "I'll see to it that you safely arrived on your home then.." She smiled at Shizuru but unfortunately for her, the brunette's mind is off somewhere to even notice the charming smile she's giving.
"You don't have to do that. It is safe here" Shizuru stated with agitation. She ran a nervous hand on her hair and tried to smile back at the worried raven-haired. "Please go home safely, Natsuki."
"Okay, I understand" Natsuki said with a nod. "I'm was just hoping to talk to you about a different matter. One that's not concerning the restaurant this time.." Earlier, she felt that it was really inappropriate to discuss their personal life inside or near the restaurant so she was constricting herself the whole time. She could have talked while driving but that was not what she had in mind if she was going to ask Shizuru's forgiveness again. She wants to do it while looking at Shizuru's burgundy eyes.
Before the brunette can speak her response, her eyes caught a sight of her father coming out of the convenient store. A clear plastic bag was on his left hand while the other holds the little brunette who smiled brightly when their eyes met.
Shizuru's eyes widens as her child wave at her while Natsuki follows her line of sight and froze on spot recognizing the little girl that called her chef 'mother'.
"Kaa-san!" The little brunette exclaimed in excitement upon seeing her mother. She release her hold on her grandfather's hand and latched herself Shizuru's body, embracing the stiff woman tightly before noticing a familiar woman staring at them. "Natsuki-san?" she called, bringing those identical eyes to look at her.
The little emerald eyed brunette's voice broke the two older woman out of their stupor. The time ticks slowly as the three of them stood close to one another. The wind suddenly blows, sending shivers to the brunettes' body.
It was like a bucket full of ice was dumped on Shizuru's head seeing Natsumi smiled at Natsuki while the woman stared blankly at their daughter.
"Good evening" Masao interjected after seeing the panic on her daughter's eyes while looking back and forth at the mysterious woman and Natsumi. He perfectly suppressed a gasp seeing the raven-haired's porcelain face especially her eyes. "Emerald green.. exactly the same as Natsumi.." he muttered internally. He actually felt like he was faced with the future version of her grandchild. "Could it be?.."
"F-father," Shizuru called after getting over the initial shock. "What are you doing out so late with Natsumi?"
The raven-haired remained silent as the brunette faced her father, conversing about something but the words are not registering in her brain at that moment. The only thought she had was the young brunette staring at mother. "Natsumi" She bit the inside of her cheeks that it almost bled. "Her age.. her face.. her eyes.."
"Your mother forgot to buy some tea so I went to buy a new box. Little Natsumi here came to accompany me. She said she will keep me protected." Masao laughed when the little brunette shyly blushed. He was well aware of the woman's similarity to her grandchild but understands that Shizuru would explain it to him in due time.
"A-ah, is that so" Shizuru said as she looked at her daughter trying to talk to the raven-haired woman. "Father, can you take Natsumi home now? It is rather cold out here." She requested, smiling gratefully at her father who didn't question her further and just acknowledged Natsuki by bowing a little at the woman's direction.
Natsuki bowed as a respect for elderly but didn't utter a single word as she watched the two walked away.
"Bye Natsuki-san!" Natsumi beamed as she waved her hand "See you tomorrow!"
After the two were gone, Shizuru slowly breathes through her mouth. She didn't even notice she was keeping her breath until her lungs told her to breathe. Things are happening too fast for liking but she was already too late to bitch about it. This is not what she planned to happened at all. She was not ready. Her little Natsumi is not ready and by the looks on Natsuki's face earlier upon seeing the child, she too was not ready.
Alas, she slowly faced Natsuki, ready to face and answer all the questions that's running to the raven-haired mind. "Nats-" she started but wasn't able to finished since Natsuki's cold voice interrupted her.
"Is she my daughter?" was the woman's direct question. She was not begging for an answer, she was ordering to get one. Her posture is rigid as her hands are calmly placed on her side, contrary to what Shizuru's been expecting. There was too much emotion on her emeralds eyes that the brunette is having a hard time deciphering what they meant.
"She had the right to be angry at me for keeping our child a secret so why can't I see any hint of anger in her eyes? Natsuki, what are you thinking?"
"Shizuru, is Natsumi my daughter?" The raven-haired woman asked once more as she stood closer to the brunette and hold the woman by her shoulders. Their face are close enough to taste each other's breath.
Natsuki's emerald eyes gaze at Shizuru's burgundy eyes, shimmering at the lights of the convenient store.
Opening her mouth without breaking their eye contact, Shizuru weakly answered, "Yes".
Next thing she knew, Shizuru was engulfed with the arms she waited years to feel around her body once more.
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A/N: Hey guys! I know, super late update but I was busy these past few days. Or rather weeks. I lost something very important to me and let's just say I'm grieving inside. It was hard for me to write so I hope my readers will understand. I don't even know if I write this chapter well enough to read.. He he
Anyway, I'll try to keep updating every week but no promises. Just know that I will not drop any of my stories without notice.
No -Review's Corner- on this chapter but I would like to say my THANKS to all that reviewed, favorited and follows the story.
Feel free to point any mistakes you see in this fic. Have a nice weekend, ya'll!
