NO REST FOR THE WICKED
Chapter XIV: Inception
"The trouble is, you think you have time."
XXX
"Natsuki!"
She could hear someone calling her name, multiple voices actually, and feel smooth fingertips glide across the soft skin of her forehead. A hand cupped her cheek, loose strands of hair fell onto her lips and stuck to the gloss covering them as their owner leaned over her prone form.
"I think she's coming to," Another voice said, "Give her some space, sweetie."
She groaned as the initial shock began to wear off. Eyes the color of green diamonds slowly cracked open. It took a few moments for the blurriness to subside, and the fogginess of her mind steadily began to evaporate until she could finally make sense of her predicament.
"Shizuru?" Natsuki called, panicking slightly.
Why was she on the floor? How did she get there? Did she fall? Did she hit her head? And Why the hell was her eccentric cousin Anh Lu leaning over her wearing the smuggest, most amused expression she'd ever seen in her life?
"I'm here." Shizuru's voice cooed into her ear.
She was sitting with her legs folded beneath her to Natsuki's left, a worried frown etched on her beautiful features. "What the hell happened?" Natsuki whined, rubbing her temples.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Anh inquired, making no effort to hide the bemused undertone in her light voice.
Good question. What was the last thing she remembered? She wracked her brain for any possible explanations, and when it finally hit her, she suddenly felt the need to faint all over again.
"Oh no you don't." Anh said, roughly pinching her cheeks to prevent Natsuki from doing so.
"T-twins," Natsuki mumbled, "We're having twins!"
Shizuru chuckled. "I'm aware." The smile she wore was equal parts shocked and nervous, but also teeming with inexplicable joy. "Now we won't be forced to decide on a single name. You get your 'Keira' and I get my 'Kaiya'."
"Those are wonderful names." Anh swooned. She didn't have any kids yet, but she loved the idea of them as well as them in general.
Natsuki grinned shyly as she placed her hand on the gentle swell of her girlfriend's belly. Not only was she going to be a father, but a father of twins! The first pair of twins in the Kruger clan. Her excitement increased tenfold.
Although, her father would probably kill her twice as hard. A single child was expensive, and the addition of another would only add to it. But her father made enough money to support her and Natsuki for the rest of her lives in a single month.
Of course she'd get a job as well. She couldn't fathom the idea of sitting around the house doing nothing while her dad worked her ass off supporting her daughter, her daughter's girlfriend, her granddaughters, and her ill childhood friend's daughter.
"When do you plan on telling your father about this?" Anh inquired as she glided over to the corner of the room where a pitcher of cold water sat on a deserted table.
That was another thing. They'd postponed such important information because Shizuru was terrified Reagan would react the same way her father did, but that was only because she'd hardly known the woman then.
She'd probably be angry. She'd probably yell and ground them both until they forgot what freedom was. But she'd never sentence her only daughter to life on her own over an honest mistake.
Reagan loved Natsuki more than life itself. Natsuki knew that. Shizuru knew that. Anh knew that. Anyone and everyone who'd ever had the pleasure of seeing them together knew that.
"Whenever you feel comfortable." Natsuki told her girlfriend, and grabbed her hand, squeezing it tightly. "She might kill me, but it'll be worth it. She'll be excited to be a grandfather."
Shizuru's eyes softened as an image of their eccentric guardian playing with their twin daughters popped into her head. They'd love her for sure. She had certain charming silliness that was both amusing and endearing. Not many people possessed such a carefree, laidback nature as she.
"I'm ready." Shizuru replied sincerely.
Anh clapped her hands in delight. She thought the two made a lovely couple. She hoped they stayed together for the rest of their young lives. It was early, but even the ditzy Anh Lu could see something magical blossoming when she observed the way they interacted.
"Let's continue with the ultrasound, ne?" She said. "Let's make sure everything is coming along nicely. Twins can be very tricky."
Natsuki kissed the back of her girlfriend's hand and returned to the chair beside the observation table. After another fifteen minutes everything was complete. Anh gave the couple pictures of their babies, affectionately labeled 'Natsuki Jr.'s'.
She made enough so that both Reagan and Reito could each have two, and Nao as well if she desired.
Natsuki's phone buzzed in her pocket while Anh was happily chatting with Shizuru. It was from her father.
Dad,
Some idiot got his hand stuck in a rotating engine. Apparently, I'm the only one who's capable of getting the bastard out. I don't know when I'll be back so don't wait up, okay?
Natsuki frowned.
Natsuki,
Aw, okay. But I have something to tell you when you get home so don't leave me hanging for too long.
The little grey bubbles indicated her father was in the middle of typing her response. She thought she'd be reading a paragraph by the end of it, and was more than a little annoyed at what was actually there.
Dad,
Is it important?
Natsuki,
Yeah.
Dad,
If you get tired of waiting just text it to me. I'll keep my phone on me. Is there something wrong, Natsuki?
Natsuki,
No, but it's something you should know. Come home as soon as you can though, okay? I love you.
Dad,
I love you too, kid.
"What's wrong?" Shizuru asked as her conversation with Anh finally ended moments later. She hugged Natsuki's arm to her chest and rested her chin on her shoulder.
"Dad had to go take care of something at work, but she'll be back later. We'll tell her then, okay?" Natsuki replied, winding an arm around her waist.
Shizuru nodded, and practically joined at the hip, the soon-to-be parents slowly made their way out of the clinic. "Is Lu-san Nina's mother?" Shizuru asked timidly, not wanted to cause offense. She wasn't entirely sure because Anh looked relatively young, but so did Reagan, and she was a parent.
Natsuki snorted. "No, Anh's married to my other cousin, Revy." She then leaned in close and covered her mouth with her hand, as if she had a secret. "Nina's mom's a nun."
"Ara?"
Natsuki nodded, taking her girlfriend's raised eyebrow as an indication of disbelief rather than the simple gesture it was. "She works at the church near the school. Yukariko. She's the really pretty one with the short hair, blue eyes, and the beauty mark."
Shizuru's mouth formed an 'o' in realization. "Sister Yukariko Sanada." She was familiar with the pretty little blonde. She'd had pleasant little conversations with her in the past. She'd have never guessed it.
"She and Riku had Nina when they were both eighteen, and you know Yukariko being a nun and an avid follower of God and religion or whatever forced Riku into a marriage because having a child with someone who isn't your spouse is considered a sin." Natsuki explained.
"Ara," Shizuru blinked, "They don't look anything alike."
"You're telling me," Natsuki huffed, "But Krugers have strong genes, which is why my dad and I look so much alike, and Nina's practically the spitting image of Riku. They even had the same eyes before, you know."
"Riku-san wasn't always blind?" Shizuru inquired as she threw her leg over Natsuki's bike and reached for the helmet. She'd have never guessed that either. Riku wore her blindness like it was all she knew.
"Nah, she's only been blind for five years now. She wanted to be a boxer all her life, but everything went to shit when she was diagnosed with glaucoma. I think Nina was only eight then.
Riku couldn't take care of Nina. How could she when she needed taking care of herself? Her and 'Riko were never really in love, and the divorce was inevitable."
"Poor thing." Shizuru sympathized. She couldn't imagine what that felt like, being forced to give up your dreams.
"Yeah, Obaa-san took her in when no one else would. Everyone believed she drove Yukariko away with her bitterness. She didn't even defend herself. My dad was the only one who did. Eventually, Yukariko got married again to a pastor named Sergay Wang. He's a real douche, though."
"Ara, Sergay Wang, head of one of the holiest, religious families in Japan, the Ancient and Most Noble House of Wang." Shizuru said effortlessly. Being apart of one of the most powerful families in the nation meant she'd fraternized with the most elite of the elite.
"Yeah," Natsuki sighed. "He got that scar on his forehead from my dad. Punched him right in the middle of one of his ceremonies for bad-mouthing Riku and the family. Said our entire existence is the most abominable of abominations. Ah, good times."
"How noble of her." Shizuru smiled. "Is there anyone left in Japan that your father hasn't punched?"
"Heh, I doubt it." Was the amused reply.
Natsuki parked the motorcycle in the first available spot she could find and helped ease her girlfriend off of it. School had only been in session for about an hour, and with the morning classes they never missed much.
She quickly walked Shizuru to class and bid her a farewell and a kiss on the lips before trotting downstairs to the lower level.
"You're late." Midori sneered in a very Snape-like fashion as Natsuki tried to sneak in while her back was turned. "You know the drill."
"Sit down and at least pretend to work if someone important comes in." Natsuki recited effortlessly.
"Very good." Midori said, returning to her rather inappropriate magazine. Natsuki clambered over backpacks and outstretched legs to get to her seat and plopped down in her chair. Her friends flashed her curious looks.
"We got a new kid." Chie barked as soon as she sat down. "Came in earlier while you were off doing god knows what. and she's HOT!" She tilted her head to the back of the classroom where indeed a stunning brunette with long chocolate hair and straight bangs sat gazing out the window.
Her blue eyes suddenly turned and met Natsuki's green. She seemed to be studying her. After a moment or so she smiled beautifully and offered her a playful wave. Natsuki awkwardly waved back and turned around.
Unnaturally cheery, she labeled the girl.
"Aw come on!" Chie groaned and slapped her forehead in frustration rather harshly. "What the hell was that?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow. "What's your problem?"
"YOU, you are my problem!" She said, pointing a finger in accusation. "Always stealing the hot chicks! You glance at her and get a flirty wave, I SMILE AND WINK AT HER AND I GET A FREAKING EYE-ROLL."
Natsuki blinked.
Tate put his phone down and turned around to glance at his friends. "You get all the hoes without even trying, dog. Save some for the rest of us."
Sighing, Natsuki leaned back and crossed her arms. Who the hell needed 'hoes' when you already had all you could ever want?
And twins.
XXX
Senoh Aoi didn't have any trouble finding Natsuki despite her mistress' rather vague description of the girl. But like Namikaze said;
Those eyes don't lie.
And they certainly didn't. When Natsuki turned to catch a glimpse of the pretty young new girl, Aoi saw a fire in her eyes that wasn't present in any mere human's. She was excited for the opportunity her mistress had given her, and she would not disappoint.
So when the bell rang and that troublesome girl with the short hair and glasses tried to make her way over to her, who Aoi easily avoided by melding with the crowd, she was determined to avoid her at all costs.
She followed Natsuki for a bit until she came to a stop in front of one of the classes on the upper levels. A multitude of faces strode out, each and every one of them casting flirtatious glances at the dark-haired young woman, who only rolled her eyes in response.
Aoi leaned against a locker and watched intently as a gorgeous young woman with long, flowing chestnut-blonde hair came out after the dejected group of admirers. She watched as Natsuki's cool features morphed into a genuine, adoring smile.
The girl's arms wound around Natsuki's waist, her cheek came to rest on her left shoulder. Natsuki might've been asking her questions because the girl would either nod or shake her head every once and a while.
How interesting, Aoi thought as her perspicuous azure gaze carefully dissected each and every subtle movement the couple made.
In the crowded hallway, they may have seemed like any other affectionate couples with their secretive whispers and affectionate touches to any wandering eyes, but Aoi knew better.
Her perception and her ability to read situations, even if they appeared to be completely normal. She wasn't Namikaze's head girl and personal favorite for nothing.
Natsuki's sweetheart eventually excused herself to attend her next class, and Aoi saw it as the perfect opportunity to make her move. The hallways thinned out as other students quickly dispersed, but Natsuki was seemingly in no hurry whatsoever.
She was certainly taking her time walking as slow as she was. She made sure to keep her distance as she continued to tail the dark-haired teenager down various hallways, up tons of stairways and through a multitude of pathways.
Aoi frowned. She was starting to get a bit fatigued. Sure she did a lot of walking and running in heels, but she wasn't immune to the toll it brought on petite body.
Natsuki rounded a corner and Aoi followed.
However, when she stepped around the worn pillar, she got something she wasn't quite expecting. Natsuki was standing in the very center of the hallway with her arms crossed, wearing a deeply perplexed frown.
"Will you quit it?" She demanded.
Aoi blinked as Natsuki steadily approached her. "Huh?"
"Stop following me," Natsuki barked, "It's really creeping me out. What the hell do you want?"
She knew I was following her this entire time, Aoi mused, amused and a little impressed. Either she is perceptive or I let myself get too careless.
Aoi grinned beautifully and clasped her hands together behind her back. "I have something for you, actually." She sing-songed.
"Huh?" Natsuki made a face. "You have something for me? You barely know me!"
Aoi giggled and reached into her bag. "It's not from me," Was the light reply as the girl extracted a large bottle of Colt .45 from her purse. She pressed it eagerly into Natsuki's arms.
"W-what…!" Natsuki's eyes frantically searched the hallway for any wandering eyes or faculty members. If they witnessed what was happening now she'd be suspended for sure! "Are you crazy!?"
Aoi just might be, but she wasn't going to tell Natsuki that. She just smiled in response as she turned on her heel. "Wait, why're you giving me liquor?!" Natsuki demanded. She didn't even like Colt .45.
"I'm only the messenger," Aoi replied softly.
And with one last impeccable smile, the brunette disappeared around the corner, leaving a flabbergasted Natsuki in her wake.
Returning the favor? We've only just met…
Natsuki glanced at the bottle in her hands, absently twirling it around as she tried to dissect the elusive new girl's motives. It was then she noticed something was attached to the bottom of the bottle. It was a sticky note, and written on it in elegant cursive was a message.
I hope you enjoy my little present. Consider it as me returning the favor. If there's ever anything you need come and see me. You know where to find me. I look forward to our next encounter, Nat-su-ki.
~ S. Namikaze
X
Natsuki squinted at the note, seemingly trying to figure out if what she was reading was truly there. "How did she…?" She looked around, this time searching for a pair of intense dark eyes, but of course she found nothing.
The dark-haired teenager stuffed the bottle of hard liquor into her messenger bag and shoved her hands into her pockets as she finally began walking to her next class.
"If I ever need anything…" She chuckled and crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it in a trashbin. "What more could I possibly need?"
Unknown to her, a familiar pair of electric blue shrouded in darkness was watching her every move. Upon hearing the incredulous question, Aoi let a sad smile overtake her full pink lips. That was the problem with humans, teenagers especially. Everyone had that invincible mindset.
When Natsuki's footsteps could no longer be heard, the girl slunk back into the shadows in a graceful flurry of fluttering skirts and chocolate brown hair.
XXX
Hours later, Natsuki and Shizuru were eagerly awaiting the arrival of Reagan. But as the hours progressed and day turned to night without a word or her showing up, Natsuki eventually called it quits. "I guess it was more serious than she thought." The teenager muttered dejectedly.
Shizuru rubbed her back soothingly. "Perhaps she is just running late."
Natsuki nodded. Her father was famous for not showing up on time. "Yeah, you're right. She's always late." She shook her head with an bemused snort. "She'd be late to her own funeral."
"I'm sure she'll be home later tonight," Shizuru said softly, "Or if not, there's always tomorrow."
Natsuki yawned and laid her head down in Shizuru's lap, oddly comforted by the eerie heat pulsating from her girlfriend's belly where her twins were resting peacefully. She smiled, unable to wrap her head around it. They were really having twins! Oh, the suspense was killing her.
The two eventually retreated to Natsuki's bedroom when it was apparent her father would be later than expected. Long after the moon was highest in the sky, when she was awoken out of her slumber by the uncomfortable pricks of the need to urine is when Shizuru realized something.
There was no jacket strewn over the back of the couch. No rumbling roar of an approaching motorcycle. No bags left hazardously by the door.
Reagan never came home.
XXX
I don't even want to write the next chapter, T.T but the show must go on. No Chapter Preview this time. Thank you for all your love and support! I read each and every one of your kind responses, always taking your feedback into consideration!