Things to remember:
A) I do not own Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler/Innocent Venus, sadly. But that's okay. I'll live.
B) I own Lincent and Kosuke and Hiroki. They are mine.
C) This is a work of FICTION. So because of this fact, anything I say goes. No complaining if something below does not make sense. I will be more than happy to explain my logic if you ask me.
D) Heavy OC content
E) 1/14
F) This is a sister fic to The Way We Were In Tokyo.
More relevant info to this chapter: I'm back after a long absence. My sincerest apologies. This story is a few chapters from being finished, and finished it shall be by June ;) I met the love of my life in November, began actually talking to him in February, and began dating him in March. He is my best friend and I know I'm going to spend the rest of my life at his side. But he's not really why I was gone. I am going through some hard emotional stuff, and he is helping to pull me through it. In fact, he is the reason I'm posting, so thank him, everyone! School has also been busy, since it's my senoir year. But now the Captin's back and ready to go ;) Enjoy this mammoth of a chapter!
Special thanks to: SOS-ASAP, thekathrinequeen, Kick-Aft, erinako, Angelous dolor
Sincerely wishing you all well,
Kida-Asumi, the Captin of Sirius
"Bye Mom!" Madara waved as he and his three brothers left for school. Lin chuckled, waving after them.
"Be good, boys!" She called. Warm hands grasped her shoulder's a moment later.
"They'll be fine." Jin murmured in her ear. She grinned, turning to look up at him.
Nearly 13 years had passed since Oboro's birth. In that time, Lin had grown close to Sana and Jo Kagarashi and her relationship with her husband had greatly improved. In fact, a passion she never could have dreamed of consumed their relationship.
Her sons were all doing very well in school. Her son Madara was Salutatorians for his class, with Minato Arashi as Valedictorian. Mikoto was the third highest behind them. They were to graduate next spring, but planning needed to be done a year in advance…which was only a few weeks away. Fugaku, who was a Freshman, was currently valedictorian. Her adopted son Obito was the salutatorian. Oboro would be entering high school in a year or two.
Her parents were doing fine. Currently, Liz and Kosuke were in England, watching over the companies there while Lin focused on Madara's graduation and college plans.
She and Jin adopted Obito on her father's insistence. In the sixth grade, the boy began to live with them during the school year, then returned home to his parents over the breaks. Obito fit right in and they all quickly grew to love one another. Liz was thrilled at having another grandson to spoil.
Oboro and Maki had began dating in March. They seemed to have a great relationship and very cute. Lin and Liz thought they looked very cute together, and they never hid their approval. Fugaku and Obito never had steady girlfriends, though both had had them. Fugaku's most notable was Kiki Aneko and Obito's was Maho Kazami. Madara and Mikoto, Lin suspected, had had a fling, but it was over now. Mikoto was currently dating Minato.
There was one tragedy in Lin's life, however. The disappearance of Sebastian. Liz had told her that it was for the best, but Lin had her own ideas of why he left. And she did not like thinking about them. She hoped that she'd see him again, one day.
- June 1985 -
"I'll miss you, Mama Lin." Obito said as he hugged his adopted mother. They were at the airport, waiting for his parents and siblings to arrive. Lin returned his hug, kissing his cheek.
"I'll miss you too. But you'll be back in the fall." She said, running her fingers through his hair.
"Maki!" Oboro called as soon as two sets of pink hair appeared. The younger was very pale and all but collapsed into his arms.
"Maki?" Jin asked as he and Fugaku helped her into a nearby chair. Lin and Obito observed the other three people as Madara hugged Mikoto. Jo was watching after his youngest child, his year old son Yoh in his arms. A six month pregnant Sana looked annoyed.
"We need to return to the compound. When are Liz and Kosuke expected to return?" Jo asked Lin as he approached them. Yoh grinned at his brother, reaching for him. Obito took the toddler, wandering over to his baby sister.
"Why?" Lin asked. When Jo didn't answer, she knew that whatever it was, it wasn't good. "They are expected to return tomorrow. Would you like me to get them here tonight?" She asked, hugging Sana and Mikoto when they finally approached. Jo nodded, wrapping an arm around Sana as Lin did the same with Madara.
"Yes. This cannot wait.
"Grandma and Grandpa!" Obito beamed when Liz and Kosuke entered the house. Liz grinned and the two ran for hugs. As they laughed, Sana asked everyone but the youngest two teens and adults to leave. When they did, she asked for everyone to sit down.
"Maki, will you please explain to everyone why we're here?" Jo asked calmly, squeezing his wife's hands. Taking a deep breath, Maki stood and clench Oboro's hand. Lin instinctively took her husband and mother's.
"I'm pregnant. A month this weekend." She explained. Oboro nodded, rubbing her back as Lin and Liz gasped.
"Are you serious?" Jin asked quietly as Kosuke stared at Maki's stomach. Maki nodded.
"Sit down." Sana demanded, her voice thick. Maki nodded, complying.
"Actually, please step out for a moment. We are going to discuss this, then call you back in in a minute." Kosuke spoke up as Lin and Liz tried to come to terms with the situation and Jin shared a look with Jo.
"A grandbaby." Lin murmured weakly as soon as the door was closed.
"A huge problem. Obito isn't even thirteen!" Sana scowled. Lin frowned at the malice in Sana's voice.
"We're keeping the child." She said firmly, sending a warning look towards the pinkette. When Sana frowned too, she realized she must have guessed correctly.
"Of course we are. It's our heir to the family." Kosuke said firmly.
"It's my grandchild too and I'm not sure if I want to raise two babies." Sana pouted.
"He can be raised here then." Liz said.
"A grandson?" Jo whispered. Sana shot him a glare them shook her head.
"Unacceptable. That would be hard on my daughter."
"And giving up her baby wouldn't be!" Lin protested, standing up.
"You have no right to the baby if your son doesn't want it. Besides, it's the mother's family that gets the final say." Sana added smugly. Lin's jaw dropped.
"You bit-"
"Enough!" Jo and Kosuke called together.
"Fighting will get us nowhere." Jin agreed.
"That child that is in Maki's womb is of Uchiha blood. We will not give it up without a fight, so don't even bother Sana." Liz said sternly.
"And we wouldn't want to." Jo added. Sana pouted.
"So what do you suggest?" She snarled.
"That is why we're here." Kosuke murmured. Sighing in defeat, she leaned against her husband as Lin sat down next to her own.
"So we're keeping the child. Can we all agree on that?" Liz asked. They all nodded.
"I want them to marry." Kosuke spoke up.
"I do not." Lin disagreed.
"The child needs our name, Linny." Liz said, squeezing her hand.
"Marriage no longer is required for things like that. They are thirteen and a child will tie them together for life."
"I agree. A marriage certificate would be like an arranged marriage. Sana and I do not want that for our daughter." Jo said. Sana nodded.
"And we too do not wish it for Oboro. Lin and I both were almost faced with arranged marriages and we couldn't go through with them. Our son shouldn't have too if we couldn't." Jin agreed.
"So they'll have the baby…and keep it where? Here, your house? Shared custody?" Liz asked. Sana and Jo shared a look.
"We already discussed this. If the baby was to be, kept, it would be done here. I am having a baby two months before theirs. Just as mine started sleeping through the night, theirs would be not even close. For the health of the children and our family, Maki would live with you for the school year once the baby was born until the next one after it's born. Then the child would switch off every other month until it's born." Sana explained.
"We are also moving to our South Dakota house, and while Mikki doesn't know it yet, ours will be hers once she's married." Jo added. Jin and Lin shared a look as Liz and Kosuke nodded.
"That is perfectly acceptable for us." Lin said. Nodding, Sana sighed again.
"Let's inform the children." She said. Liz stood to retrieve them. She came in, a hand on each shoulder. Maki and Oboro were linked by their hands, Maki's hand on her stomach.
"Sit please." Lin requested. The two did. Smiling gently, Lin reached for their hands. "You little ones, so very young and having one of your own. We have a plan." Lin said.
"Am I going to have to give up my baby?" It was not Maki that asked, but Oboro. Lin felt her eyes warm with tears and she shook her head.
"No, sweetheart, no. It will stay in the family. In fact, you two will raise it." She smiled. The two shared a surprised look.
"Really?" Maki asked, looking towards her parents. Jo and Sana nodded. Maki grinned, hugging Oboro.
"Oh thank god. Oh thank god." She whispered, tears running down her face.
"Yeah." Oboro agreed, hugging the mother of his child.
Lin shot a glance at Sana, who had an unreadable face as she watched their children. She couldn't help but feel that this would be more hard on Sana than the pinkette let on.
- January 1986 -
As Lin and Maki washed the dinner dishes, Lin glanced down at the bump that now visible on the future-mother-of-her-grandchild.
The last few months had been trying ones. Maki had moved in with them at the start of the school year, she and Oboro happy to be together. She had been 4 months pregnant at the time. That month also saw Fugaku age to 15 and brought in Jo and Sana last child, Asami.
The little girl looked just like her father, much like her brother Yoh. She was a loud child, and Liz claimed that just predicted what she'd be like as a teenager. Lin had no doubt - Asami would be very spoiled.
In September, her baby boy turned 13. His birthday brought him great news; the baby was a boy. Maki and Oboro were thrilled and began their search through the family tree and baby names books. They refused to tell their decision until he is born, much to Lin's disappointment.
October brought an amusing Halloween full of Maki dressed as a pregnant Marilyn Monroe and Oboro as JFK. Lin and Liz went overboard with their pictures and laughter.
November was a month full of family bonding and good food. Lin also adopted a black cat with odd blue eyes. Thanksgiving was a good dinner at Sana's house. Talk of the next few months kept the adults up well into the night. When Lin laid down next to her husband that night, she was full of anticipation for the future.
December celebrated two birthdays, Christmas, and rang in the new year. Madara, Lin's pride and joy, turned 18 and Yoh, Sana's baby boy, turned 2. Both birthday parties were full of love and presents and dinners that left their diners stuffed. Christmas was a great occasion, and Kosuke and Liz designed two nurseries for their future great-grandson - one at Jo and Sana's, the other at Lin's. It moved Maki to tears.
And then the new year was here.
Ten days before Mikoto Kagarashi turned 18, her baby sister awoke to a sharp pain in her back. Hissing in pain, the pinkette sat up and gently shook awake Oboro, who was sleeping beside her. Lin let them share a bed while Maki was pregnant, because there was no point in keeping them apart.
"Hm?" Oboro asked as he opened his eyes. Maki winced at another sharp pain.
"I think it's time." She murmured. Oboro sat up, eyes wide.
"Really?" He asked, suddenly awake. Maki nodded. Oboro nodded in return, then jumped out of bed and ran to his parents bedroom.
"Mom, Dad, Maki's in labor!" He called out as soon as he got into the room. Both sat up in surprise.
"Gather her bag and wake your brothers. We're calling her family and your grandparents." Lin said calmly as she and Jin got out of bed.
"Don't forget your coats." Jin added. He and Lin shared a happy and anxious smile as they joined hands.
"Shall we welcome our grandson?" Jin asked. Lin nodded.
"Yes we shall."
Maki was in labor for six hours. The baby was big for her size, the doctors claimed, but Lin thought he was small.
She first go to see him at ten o'clock in the morning on the 18th of December. Lin walked into the room with a big white bear, Jin walked behind her, carrying balloons and a box of cigars.
Maki was rocking the baby by the window, a gentle smile on her face. Oboro was nowhere to be found, and Sana and JO were in the waiting room.
"Knock, knock." Lin spoke gently, not wanting to startle the young teen. Maki looked up, her blue eyes shining with pride.
"Why hello, Auntie Lin, Uncle Jin. Would you like to meet your grandson?" She asked. Lin nodded, eyes locked on the baby. Grinning, Maki gestured towards the chair beside her rocking chair.
"Lincent Rachel Phantomhive Uchiha, meet your first grandchild. Osamu Uchiha. Sam for short." Maki added with a wink as Lin took the baby. Lin felt her heart skip a beat as she stared down at the baby. Sam had dark blue hair, something Lin knew was from her mother. And his eyes were as blue as Maki's.
"Hello, Sam. I'm your Grandma Lin. You are so beautiful." She cooed, gently brushing his cheek.
"He is." Jin whispered softly as he peeked at the baby over Lin's shoulders. Together they looked down at their grandson, unaware that two sets of eyes were watching them from the roof across from them.
One was red.
The other blue.
- June 1986 -
Six joyful and trying months passed quickly at the Uchiha Compound. Many of Sam's firsts had happened, and many more were sure to come. Obito had turned 16, and now had a driver's license. Maki turned 14 in April, the day Sam first sat up.
Little Sam, now five months old, was learning to crawl as his mother prepared to attend her sister and boyfriend's brother's graduation. His father was down the hall, helping said brother get ready.
"Knock, knock." Sam looked up to find his Grandma Sana standing in te doorway. A little girl with black curls was on her hip. Her blue eyes watched Sam intently.
"Look at those lovely pink ringlets." Sana said to Maki, walking over to her little girl. Maki put down the curling iron ad smiled.
"Don't they look great? I'm pleased. Look at my handsome little guy." Maki cooed, turning to her infant. She picked up Sam, who clung to her and beamed.
"He's so cute." Sana smiled.
"Hey!" Asami protested, tugging at her mother for attention. Maki grinned, reaching out to capture her sister's hands.
"You're pretty too, Assa." She said sincerely. Asami beamed, snuggling into Sana. A knock on the door had them looking up to find Liz grinning at them.
"Alright, lovely ladies and Sam, let's go get some diploma's to our family history!" She chirped. The two nodded, walking over to the elder woman.
"Congrats, my son. I am so proud of you." Lin whispered into Madara's ear as they embraced. She knew Sana was doing the same to Mikoto. Her son looked so handsom in black. His darker skin was very obvious, just as Mikoto's pale. He was all grins and took part in many of the pictures she subjected him too.
Her pride in joy. Lin doubted that he could ever disappoint her. He would do great things that would be remembered forever.
- December 1986/January 1987-
As the New Year came and went, Lin received news that she was two receive two more grandchildren.
She was informed the first week of December. She, Jin, Sana, and Jo were brought into Jo's private office. Oboro and Fugaku followed in Maki and Mikoto.
"We're pregnant. I'm a month more so than Maki." Mikoto announced. The four's eyes widened.
"Maki!" Sana nearly screamed, shocked and horrified. Her little girl was only 14! To be having a second child…
"Oh Mikki!" Lin cried happily.
"Fugaku, this was your doing?" Jin asked as he stood to hug his sons.
"Would you please excuse us." Jo said, clearing his throat. He and Sana escorted their girls out of the room.
Lin was thrilled at the thought of two more grandchildren to spoil. Sure her Oboro was young, and Fugaku was too she supposed, but that didn't mean too much to her. Oboro was a great father for Sam and a loving boyfriend. Fugaku was a responsible boy and her heir to the Uchiha line; Madara was for the Phantomhive, she had been told 10 years ago by Kosuke. Her boys would make great fathers and their children would be very loved.
After Jo got Sana to calm down a bit, the four returned to the room and discussed how to proceed.
Maki was to continue school with her family for this semester, then move up to the Compound for the next semester. The baby was due in the summer, so she could live at home for school all year next year.
It was decided that Sam and this new baby would be switching between their parents every few months because keeping their parents together was obviously not a good thing. Those crazy teenage hormones, Lin thought to herself.
For Fugaku and Mikoto, however, it was decided they would get married, so that this child could be heir.
December brought Madara's 19th birthday and Yoh's third. Mikoto also found out that her child would be a little boy, much to everyone's thrill.
The new year was like a new dawn for the family.
- June 1987 -
The wedding was beautiful. At six months pregnant with their son, Mikoto was positively glowing. Her sister Maki, five months pregnant with her second son, was lovely as well. Little Sam was adorable in his little tux! The wedding took place on their front yawn on a beautiful spring day, March 9th.
It was one of the most memorable days in Lin's life.
Those first six months also shown Mikoto's 19th birthday, Obito's 17th, and Maki's 15th. Sam was turning out to be very intelligent and could sing the ABCs by the time the school year was over. His young parents we so proud.
Today was just as important. Mikoto was currently in the delivery room, about to give birth to a life-changing child. The family was very excited, and little Sam was bouncing on his father's lap. Asami was sleeping on her father's and Yoh was playing with Liz.
They waited for four hours, all discussing possible baby names for Maki's second child.
Finally, Fugaku walked out with a blue bundle and a huge grin on his face. Lin and Maki jumped from their seats, crowding around the teen.
"Aw!" They cooed. The baby looked just like Fugaku, with black hair and black eyes.
"What's his name?" Yoh asked. Fugaku grinned.
"Itachi. Itachi Uchiha." He announced proudly. The baby blinked his eyes at the name, staring up at Lin. Lin stared back, smiling.
- December 1988-
"Grandma!" Itachi laughed as he ran into her arms, his red cheeks glowing.
"Itachi!" Lin called back, hugging the child tightly. "Ah, there you are, Mikki. Come on in and say hi to your nephews." Lin winked. Mikoto nodded, smiling. She and Itachi were going to spend a week with Lin while Fugaku was in New York. December was Oboro's month for the boys, so while he was at school, Lin was watching them.
A year and a half later had blessed the family some more. Fugaku was now 18 and a high school graduate. He took immediate control of the family business, with Kosuke and Liz as his mentors. Madara was covering half while Fugaku learns. Obito joined the Uchiha military and was in New York for a weekend of bonding with Fugaku. He too was now 18. Mikoto and Madara had celebrated their 20th birthdays, with Madara's 21st later in the month. Maki and Oboro were now 16 and more mature and responsible. Yoh would be five next week and Asami had just celebrated her 3rd birthday. Sam was almost three and knew his multiplication tables. A very bright boy, and a good one too. He was a good role model for his one year old brother Jo. Named after his grandfather, who had been a great support for Maki in this pregnancy, the boy too had blue hairs and eyes, and looked a lot like his brother. Now a year and a half old, he and Itachi were progressing well in their developments.
Lin loved her current life. She had three beautiful grandsons and a lovely growing family. Her companies were prospering and everyone was healthy. But as Mikoto kneeled to hug Sam and Jo, she had no idea how the nights events would turn their happiness upside down.
- April 1989 -
Maki and Oboro decided to marry. He proposed on New Years and she gladly accepted. The boys and the two of them were thrilled, and their families were happy for them.
Yes here it was, their wedding day, and as Lin made sure everything was perfect, you could cut the tension in the air with a knife. As she noticed her three grandsons running towards the front of the ceremony, she could picture two more children running with them.
This allusion was not a fantasy. Oh no, it was a reality. Lin was awaiting two more grandchildren. Both were out of wedlock.
That December night in New York changed everything. Obito, her adopted pride and joy, got a friend, Maho Kazami, pregnant after a night of drinking and dancing. They were 5 months along with another little boy. Everyone was so happy when Obito told them.
But the second pregnancy is something no one is proud of. Fugaku too got someone pregnant…but it wasn't his wife. It was an ex-girlfriend. Kiki Aneko was 5 months along with Fugaku's first daughter. It nearly tore his marriage to Mikoto apart and was tough on young Itachi. They were still adjusting, but Lin could see that they were fighting back too. This marriage wouldn't crumble easily.
Her son Madara was acting odd, Lin noted as she spotted her oldest hugging Mikoto. Her women's intuition claimed that her son was trying to sweep Mikoto off her feet, but she wasn't so sure about that. Certainly her son would never do such a thing.
- January 1990 -
"Happy New Year!" The room chorused together. A few second later, startled cries filled the air. Chuckling warmly, Lin walked over to the playpen set up by the fire.
"Hush now, little ones. Grandma Linny would never let anything happen to you." She assured the two four month olds. Yoh, Asami, Sam, Itachi, and Jo were by the window, talking to Obito. Mikoto and Fugaku were looking at the family photos. On the couch and chairs was the rest of the family, laughing and bonding.
The last eight months had been trying ones. Maki and Oboro were now 17. Fugaku was 19 and Madara was 22. Asami was 4 and Yoh was 6. Sam would be 4 in a few weeks. Jo and Itachi were two. Mitsuru Kagarashi-Kazami, Obito's son, had entered the world. He had green hair, from Maho's family, everyone assumed, and brown eyes from Obito's. He was a quite baby with a nasty temper. His cousin Kane Uchiha was a good baby as well. She had black hair and eyes just like her father, step-mother, and brother. Her existence had taken some getting used to, but now Mikoto loved her as if she was her own. In fact, she was asking if they could get full custody of the girl.
Overall, the year had been good. Her family was doing fine. Yet there was one thing that Lin missed more than anything.
And that was her father.
"Ah, Sebas-chan, would you pass me the peas, please?" A grinning red head asked his uncomfortable comrade. When the butler did, laughter rang throughout the house.
"Welcome to your new life, Sebastian." A giddy blond said, his long bangs covering his eyes.
The black haired demon bit back a gulp and nodded.
As Liz watched her great-grandchildren chase one another, she couldn't help but smile bitterly. Their existence proved that the Phantomhive curse was still in effect. It demanded that the women in the family be young mothers and the father's get them pregnant out of wedlock.
So far, the curse was doing what was predicted of it.
A/N: If any of you are confused by the events that happened, let me know. I'm worried the months will mess you up. Don't worry too much about them. Ihope you guys enjoyed this chapter! The next will be the start of the darkest period the Uchiha family will ever face.
This is also a good time to mention that Messages in the Sky, Mikoto's side of the story, I will be working on as well. It is now going hand in hand with this story. Another story I will be posting in June by the name of Falling From Grace, will feature more Kuroshitsuji characters and Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments. It is the shinigami's lives and how they progress as Sebastian and Lin go threw their own lives. It'll be interesting ;)
- Kida-Asumi