"King! Come on! You're gonna be late." She called from downstairs purse on her shoulder and cell phone in her hand "Again." She mumbled the last part
"I'm coming!" he called running down the stairs
"Got everything?" she asked
"Yes ma'am."
"Alright let's go."
"Bye Kiba!" he called as he ran outside Lady simply smiled at him and received a wink in return
They both climbed in the Hummer and Lady sped off in the direction of his school. "Mom?"
"Yes?" she answered
"Are you going to work tonight?"
She sighed "Yes, but mommy's gonna get a different job so I can be home with you at night."
"It's okay. I like staying with Aunt Dy. But now I have Toboe, Hige, and Tsume to play with and Kiba to tell me stories!" he exclaimed
She chuckled "I'm glad you're happy." She answered pulling up in the drop off lane at his school "Have a good day okay?"
"Okay. Bye Mom love you."
"I love you too."
She watched him walk inside the school before driving off. It must be strange going to school with humans. He probably feels the same way she does working with them, but she really does need to find a better job. King needs her home with him at night. Waitressing in skimpy clothes pays good money, but the hours just aren't worth losing time with her son. 'One depressing thought after another.' She thought miserably. She really wanted to be in her favorite place right now just to forget.
She had a sinking feeling that Tsume has an objection to her budding relationship with Kiba. In which case it, is none of his business. He's not just gonna walk back in her life and all of a sudden try to take control. No. 'I've done fine all on my own without a "protective big brother" I'm pretty sure I'll do just fine now.' She thought as she angrily turned into her drive way.
Deep down though, she did miss her brother. A lot, but she's never tell him that. He would just leave like the first time. 'Depending on me is the best way to be'
When she got in the house she put her purse down by the door and went into the kitchen to get a glass of water. Her brain was going a million miles an hour and she needed to relax and mellow out before she did anything else. 'Where's Kiba?' she thought as she gulped down her water. When she was finished she placed the glass by the sink and went upstairs. She walked sluggishly; she wasn't in that big of a hurry. She then set an alarm so that she would get up an hour before she had to pick up King, set out her work clothes, and flopped on her bed. She was tired and she needed a nap.
As she snoozed away, Tsume peeked through her doorway to watch her. He saw how utterly exhausted she was and he couldn't help but feel a bit guilty. She had enough to worry about without him showing up and trying to dig up painful memories. Maybe now was just the time to be with her and help out a little. They could talk about the past later. He looked at the clock and noticed that it was about time to pick up King. He would let her sleep and go pick up his nephew from school. It was a start.
When Lady woke up she noticed that it was oddly late in the day. She looked her clock and panicked realizing that she had slept through her alarm. She jumped up and rushed to throw her shoes back on, but froze when she heard her son's familiar laugh coming from downstairs. She went down stairs and found King playing a game with Toboe. Who had gone to pick him up?
"Hi mom!" he greeted
"Hey," she answered a bit distracted Who had picked him up? "Did Dy bring you home?" she asked
"No. Uncle Tsume did."
"He did?" she was puzzled Why would Tsume pick King up?
"Yeah. You looked really tired so I thought I would pick him up. That's okay right?" Tsume said coming in and leaning on the door frame
"Um thanks?"
Kiba then came downstairs just waking up from a nap of his own. He gave her a nuzzle and a kiss on the cheek before heading in the kitchen. Tsume growled and Lady gave him a puzzled look absolutely confused. Why had Tsume done such a nice thing for her? He can't just go around doing nice things and then leave again. Because that's what she was waiting for. For him to leave. But first to address the issue of his growl.
"What are you growling for?" she asked
"Come talk with me Lady," he said with a sigh
"No. Why did you growl when Kiba kissed me?" she asked again with a bit more force
Kiba tensed for the argument that was sure to follow
"I don't want you courting with him." Tsume answered firmly
"King close your ears. Better yet c'mon Tsume." She said anger clear in her voice. She led him out to the back yard "You wanna talk? Let's talk. Who the fuck do you think you are? I am a grown ass woman Tsume you don't tell me who I can and can't court with!" she exclaimed
"I'm your brother Lady—"
"Was my brother!" she corrected "You left remember?"
"It wasn't like that! I swear. If you would drag yourself out of your pity party and quit victimizing yourself and listen to me I could actually tell you what happened!" Tsume snapped
"I am a victim Tsume! Victim of many things!" she screamed "Everyone who I ever thought gave a damn about me left me! I've been raped, beaten, used you name it it has happened to me. I am a victim. A victim of fate and her sick sense of humor!"
Tsume's heart tore at the confession and he could have cried right there, but he didn't. He took in a deep breath to calm himself
"But really Tsume I just want to know why you left me!? Were you tired of me? Was I a burden? Did I get on your nerved too much? Was I holding you back? I just want to know!" she cried tears welling up in her eyes "You were I all I had left after mom and dad were killed. I looked up to you and I depended on you. I needed you Tsume and you just left me for dead. To be beaten and raped! And you wanna know something? I screamed for you. I screamed and cried and prayed to God for you to come back to me. But you never came!" Tears were now freely flowing down her face and Tsume's heart tore even more
"Lady…" he started search for words he moved closer to her and she moved a step back "I'm so sorry. If I had known any of the things you just mentioned would happen to you I would have never went out that day. I didn't leave you by choice. " he said his voice softening "I was being careless and I got caught when I was getting food. By the time I escaped you weren't where I left you. I looked everywhere for you sissy."
She was crying more now "You mean I wasn't the reason you left?" she said her voice thick with emotions. Everything she thought she knew was wrong, her brother didn't abandon her…
Tsume shook his head and opened his arms. She willing ran into them "No never. I love you. You're my baby sister and I am so sorry that you felt like I abandoned you and didn't love you. Like I said if I had known any of that would have happened I would have never have left you there. I would never leave you on purpose. You're all I have." He said stoking her hair softly
"I'm sorry for hating you all these years," she cried "I blamed you for everything bad that ever happened to me and so, so sorry."
"I forgive you." He whispered into her hair "And I'm never leaving you again."
He then let out a breath that he hadn't noticed he was holding. Who knew one growl would lead to this? It felt like a giant weight had been lifted off of both their shoulders. They could move forward and be like they were before.
She pulled back and wiped her eyes "I'm glad we're okay again. Because I missed you."
He smiled "I missed you too. I'm always gonna be here and no one is ever going to hurt you again as long as I'm around."
She laughed a little "I guess. But you still never answered my question."
"What question?"
"Why did you growl when Kiba kissed me?"
He let out a big sigh and sat on the ground "It's not that I don't like Kiba. Because I do, I don't have any issues with him anymore. It's just that, I really don't think he deserves someone like you. But I'm biased. Because I'm your brother and no one is ever going to be good enough for you. "
"But I think I'm really falling for him. He calms me. " she said honestly
"That's all well and good but just know: If he hurts you. I'll hurt him. I'm not gonna come in and try to tell you how to live your life. I've kind of forfeited that right, but it's okay." He said calmly
They sat outside and talked more for hours then she just happened to look up at the darkening sky."Oh shit I'm going to be late for work!" she cried "Oh my God!" she ran in through the back door. Kiba, who had been listening to their whole conversation unashamedly, smiled and shook his head. Yes that was the girl he was falling for so deeply. As scatter brained as she was.
Lady scrambled around her room throwing her work clothes and make up in her bag and running around the house looking for her keys. "Tsume! Where are my damn car keys!" she screamed
Hige shot King a deadpan look "Is she like this often?" he asked
"Only when she's in a rush like she is now." He answered not taking his eyes from the TV
Tsume dug in his pocket and handed her the keys to her car. She then gave him a kiss on the cheek, found Kiba gave him a kiss on the cheek, gave Hige, Toboe, and King kisses on their foreheads and ran out to her car. "I'll be back in the morning! Bye boys!" she called over her shoulder
'My boss is going to kill me!' she thought as she sped off toward the direction of the club in which she worked.
