I do not own any of the characters of K. They belong to Gora/Gohands.
I apologize for any OOC-ness of the characters. It's just my take on how they might behave in the event of situations such as these arriving.
Rated 'M'
A/N: I know it's been about 9 or 10 months, and I'm very sorry! Please enjoy!
PS-Anna's a bit OOC in this story, but you'll know why when you read.
PPS: Chapter has rated stuff in it. I'm not marking it off like how I usually do so please use your discretion when reading.
Growing Pains III
by chickypeg
Chapter 14: Mood Swings
Izumo had annoyed her this morning and she had acted coldly in response:
"Anna, you should try to eat a little more. The baby needs..."
"I know what the baby needs, Izumo. I can't help the way I feel," Anna responded in an uncharacteristically sharp voice. She hopped down from her barstool and walked out the door. On the counter was a half eaten waffle and a cup of tea she had barely consumed.
Yata had irritated her and she had glared at him.
"Anna, I don't think you should be walking around barefooted."
He said this just as she entered the living room after leaving her hardly touched breakfast in the bar. In response, the beautiful female stopped and looked him dead in the eye. Yata was taken aback and the way she stared long and hard at him. There was a slight narrowing of her eyes that indicated that she was irritated with him.
"Ah...Anna, I was just thinking of the baby," he said in attempts to soothe her.
She sighed, knowing he, as well as the rest of her rowdy clansmen were concerned and wanted to take care of her, especially in this vulnerable state she was in.
"I know," she told him, and left the room.
Kamamoto had eaten the last pudding which she had been looking forward to, Bando had been boasting for an hour about finally getting a girlfriend and had given her a headache, Fujishima smelled like a dog (he had just given two a bath) and caused her to become nauseous and Mikoto was the most stupid of them all because he wasn't even home!
Idiots! Her clansmen were all idiots!
These were the words that raged in Anna's mind as she entered her room. She sat down on the side of the bed and placed her hands on her lap. The dress she wore was long sleeved and purple. Its material was very heavy and lacy.
Anna hated it.
Normally she loved these cute dresses but on this humid September day, she just wanted it off. Septembers tended to be cool and clear, but the only thing one could really expected from the weather was unpredictability. This unexpected heat made her cranky.
Furthermore, she was just about four months pregnant and her breasts felt sore, heavy and full. They spilled out of the cups of her bra and pressed hard against the scratchy material of the dress's already tight bust.
Irritated, she caught it by its hem. Like an angry bunny struggling out of a bush, she wriggled out of her outfit before tossing it aside. It landed on her husband's armchair with a loud flop. Her red bra followed and she breathed a sigh of relief when she released her curves from that cursed underwire cloth.
She contemplated wearing on one of Mikoto's shirts, but she was annoyed with him too so she decided against that.
Eventually, she chose a baby pink nightie. The material was cool and fell smoothly down her body, barely hinting at her slightly rounded tummy. The nightie had lacy straps that came down in a V-neck and covered both her breasts. A small demure black bow held the neckline together and just hinted at her cleavage. It was very short, coming just above mid-thigh.
Had she been more concerned, she might have realized that she looked very tempting at the moment. While the nightie had an innocent color, it revealed her long slender legs and enhanced the tone of her flawless pale skin. There were several layers of thin, gauzy lace that covered her bust and had an extra bounce every time she moved.
Given her current state of mind, she didn't care about what she looked like, only how she felt. She went to the dresser and picked up her hairbrush. Sitting on the stool, began to comb her very long hair. Pregnancy made it shimmer healthily and her skin glowed. She was the sort of woman who positively bloomed during the months she carried her child.
At the moment, Anna barely acknowledged her appearance. Right now, she just wanted to braid her hair because it was annoying her too. It kept getting in her way, spilling unnecessarily around her, getting in her mouth when she ate. She was tempted to take a scissors to it and cut it all off!
Thoughts about irritating clansmen, her stupid husband, swollen body, the damned heat and her thick, pointlessly long hair kept running through her mind. Every reflection made a temper she didn't know she possess boil.
Anna suddenly paused in her stroking her hair with her brush.
Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.
What am I thinking, she asked herself.
She had been mean to Izumo and Yata, she had been cold to her clansmen and she was annoyed for no reason with her husband.
Although her face which gazed back at her in the mirror remained expressionless, her hand shook as it slowly lowered to the dresser before it joined the other one on her lap. Both her palms formed fists before she closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Control, she needed to have control. She was high strung for no reason and was on the edge of lashing out everyone who didn't deserve it.
The door opened, startling her from her attempt to control her struggling mind.
"Anna, I'm home. Izumo said-" came her husband's deep voice.
Mikoto Suoh ducked when a hairbrush came flying his way. It slammed into the door he had just opened, almost leaving a crack, before it fell lifeless to the floor. He gazed at it, frowned and turned his attention to his wife.
"What did I do...this time?" he queried as he arched a red eyebrow. Her was used to her uncharacteristic behavior given all her recent mood swings, but this was the first time she displayed any sort of violence.
Oh, from the way she was looking at him right now suggested in no way that she was capable of something as atrocious as pelting him with a hairbrush in hopes that it would spilt open his hard boiled head.
In fact, she gave the impression of serenity with that pretty doll-like face, and that halo of silky white hair that framed it. His eyes darkened when he noted what she was wearing. He knew she wouldn't go downstairs dressed like that, but damn it all, she looked like a ripe nymph ready for loving. Had she not tried to bust his head open, he might have thought she was deliberately trying to entice him.
Anna turned away from him and picked up his hairbrush to use now. She stiffened when she noticed several red strands sticking out. With a dainty hand, she began to pull them out one by one. Although she remained blank faced, the way she flicked aside the hair indicated disgust.
"You just came home and the first thing you wanted to do was bully me," she stated with a cold edge to her voice.
"I wasn't going to do that," he denied.
She paused in plucking a another ruddy strand from the brush.
"Izumo told you I didn't finish breakfast."
"He did."
"I am an adult, I can take care of myself and my baby. I am not incompetent," she informed him importantly as she returned to her meticulous task.
"Of course not," Mikoto agreed.
"Everyone acts as if I'm a child who can't look after my own body because I'm pregnant. Even Izumo."
"They're concerned."
Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she glanced at him.
"They're overbearing," she corrected in a tone that was reminiscent of a solemn child's. In fact, she sounded very much like a little girl right now who was angry because she wasn't being treated like a grown up, despite the fact that she was a young woman. Perhaps this dichotomy of being both child-like and woman-like was something she would never escape from, even when she became old and grey. Furthermore, she looked no older than sixteen even though she was already twenty.
"Ah, I suppose they are," Mikoto conceded.
She gave him a slight frown.
"Mikoto wants to force-feed me breakfast."
"No," he told her and calmly picked up the hairbrush she had tossed.
She turned her head to face him as he approached her, his hairbrush in hand. She gave him a slow assessing look before facing the mirror again.
"Liar."
Mikoto scowled down at her. He snatched away his hairbrush from her, not wanting her to destroy it as her own that was in his hand had already suffered a severe crack from its impact on the door.
"Have I ever lied to you?" he demanded.
Anna's lower lip trembled ever so slightly and her head lowered to hide her expression.
"No," she whispered.
Mikoto released a heavy breath, thinking about what Izumo had said to him a few minutes ago:
"Anna barely ate this morning," the bartender informed him, "lately she eats more in the afternoon, so I think she should be fine. I'm just a little concerned because her appetite is fluctuating..."
Mikoto grunted and turned to go.
"Mikoto."
The King glanced back at his second in command. The bartender was clearly worried.
"She seems a bit off today. You'll be patient with her, won't you?"
Mikoto hadn't responded because he wasn't really known for being patient. Anna was different though. He was more tolerant with her-but when she was normal (as in 'not moody and willing to pelt him with a hairbrush').
Had she been anyone else, he might have had another person deal with her because he wasn't the sort to burden himself with such an issue which he didn't really know too much about. However, she was Anna, his wife and she was carrying his child.
All he could suspect was that her mood swings were a little stronger today.
He placed a gentle hand on her head while setting aside the brushes.
"I came to ask you if you were feeling alright," he told her quietly.
Anna's eyes widened on him. He sensed a shift in her mood, as if all the anger drained from her.
He stiffened when he heard a sniffle.
"Anna," he voiced her name carefully.
He was stunned to see that long tears were streaming down her beautiful face now.
"M-Mikoto," she sobbed his name and covered her face with her hands.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
This was the first time she had ever burst into tears like that.
"Mikoto is so kind to me and I am so mean!" she answered.
The Red King fought hard to be patient.
Mikoto knelt on one knee in front of her warily.
Even if he was a king, and even if he was her husband, he didn't know a blessed thing about how to comfort her right now. Her behavior was borderline irrational and truthfully, he just didn't know what to do!
Well, there was one thing he could do which was the only thing he knew actually worked. He reached out to take her in his arms but she pulled back sharply when she sensed him tear.
"No!"
Mikoto stared at her now, silent as he watched her take in deep heaving breaths. She placed her hands on her lap and curled her fingers tightly into the soft material of her nightie. Her cheeks were flushed red and stained with her tears, her eyes were red from her crying.
"Control, I need to control..." she whispered, but more tears leaked down her face. She shut her eyes as she felt a familiar sensation build up inside of her.
"Anna-" Mikoto began and reached out to touch her arm. He pulled back quickly and stared at his fingers which were red, as if they had been burned. He looked from his small injury to her. Her expressionless mask had been obliterated by her crying before. Now, she was simply bewildered. Her large eyes looked from him before she turned to his wound. Then, she trembled.
Mikoto could feel it.
He was connected to her and he knew this feeling.
This was Anna's power starting to act like a wild beast due emotions which she no longer had a tight hold over.
It spilled over out of her and for a brief moment, he felt everything she was feeling: physically nauseous, heavy, cranky and hungry. Emotionally her feelings were like rocky sea water, shifting and dispersing, sometimes in heavy waves and at the moment, hardly calm at all.
Mikoto tsked and moved forward. His large hands gripped her waist, holding in her place despite the way she struggled against him. He buried his nose in her ear and whispered softly, "Enough, Anna. It's alright."
She stopped struggling and continued to weep softly as he nuzzled her gently, washing away her distress.
"Mikoto," she sobbed his name.
His shifted his head and pressed gentle kisses on her forehead.
"'S alright," he assured her in his usual rough tone. Her quiet crying gradually subsided until she gave a mere hiccup and burrowed against him. He tightened his arms around her in response, knowing she wanted his warmth.
Sighing softly in gratitude, she lay her head on his shoulder as his thumbs ran lazy, soothing circles on her hipbones. His heat, his scent, his touch comforted her. All those awful feelings she had previously melted away as she found herself lulled to sleep with the sound of this man's beating heart.
Izumo peeked through the ajar door as he was still concerned about Anna. He was surprised to see Mikoto carefully lowering his wife to their bed. Anna's beautiful form was lifeless and her hair was spilled like a river on the bed where she lay.
Izumo didn't ask how Mikoto got her to sleep. The Red King had his ways of handling his pretty wife. The bartender was nevertheless fascinated with the show of gentleness this often rough, rugged man displayed to his wife alone. As proof of this tenderness, the red head took a blanket and covered Anna with it, drawing it up to her chest and carefully tucking it around her shoulders.
"Mikoto?" Izumo voiced his friend's name.
Mikoto pulled out a pack of cigarettes before issuing an order to his second in command.
"Call Natsume. Tell her to get here right now."
Izumo, troubled, simply nodded and obeyed.
After Izumo left, Mikoto walked over to the room's small window. He placed a cigarette in his mouth and used his finger to light it. As he inhaled, the tip of the cigarette briefly became a glowing ember from his flame. Then, he removed the cancerous stick from his mouth and released a stream of smoke outside.
He ensured Anna wasn't affected by the smoke, given her pregnancy. He could have gone outside and had his cigarette, but he didn't want to leave her side, so he remained where he was, broodingly watching over Anna as he his habit of polluting the atmosphere calmed him.
Anna stirred from a deep, dreamless sleep. She sensed a familiar powerful presence and knew her husband was nearby.
Turning her head to the left, she saw that he was sitting in his armchair with an unlit cigarette in his mouth. His eyes were lowered, as if he was asleep and his hands were in the pockets of his black jeans.
"Mikoto?"
Her voice was unusually raspy.
His eyelids lifted and he slid a slow glance at her.
"How do you feel?"
"Ah...I'm not too sure," she responded and moved to sit up. She felt a bout of dizziness and pressed a palm to her forehead, trying hard to suppress it.
"How long have I been asleep?" she questioned.
She was startled when the bed shifted under Mikoto's weight. She raised her face to his handsome one. He was more quiet than usual as he pressed warm knuckles to her smooth cheek.
"About an hour," he replied, golden eyes probing her face for any signs of distress. Gently he stroked her soft skin before cupping her face in his calloused hand.
She swallowed a lump in her throat.
Mikoto was so sweet to her. He was a lazy man who didn't like anything troublesome and she felt that this was what she was becoming to him-nothing but a hassle. The tears she couldn't control were welling up in her large eyes again. They glowed red from his color that reflected in them, and looked like pretty jewels.
"I'm nothing but a burden," she whispered.
He frowned slightly as his thumb lightly caressed her sensitive lower lip.
"I've never complained," he pointed out.
The tears spilled over now and he gently flicked one away with his index finger.
"Anna, I don't think too much crying is good for you," he told her softly.
"And right you are about that!" the voice of a buxom female boomed.
Mikoto turned his head to see Yuki Natsume standing there. She grinned at him.
"Took you long enough to get here," he grumbled.
Yuki snorted.
"You brat. I come when the King calls, but there was a bit of traffic coming down the mountain. Now, shoo. Let us ladies converse," she told Mikoto.
He grunted and stood up.
Noting his wife's wide eyes were on him, he patted her head in assurance before leaving out the door.
Natsume set down what seemed to be a large, black leather back on Mikoto's armchair.
"Anna, you are positively glowing," she complimented the girl she had once cared for while she attended school. She began to rummage through the bag.
"Thank you, Natsume-san," Anna responded sincerely while Natsume pulled out a stethoscope.
Natsume smiled at her as she put on her piece of medical equipment and came to Anna's side.
"You are always a good girl, aren't you, Anna? Come, let me give you a general check up and then I'll use my power to see if there's anything else wrong."
As Natsume carried out her tasks, she asked her a couple of questions.
"You should be seventeen weeks along by now. How is the morning sickness? Has it gotten any better?"
"Only a little nausea this morning."
Natsume checked out her ears and then her mouth.
"It's to be expected," she explained, "but your appetite has improved, hasn't it? Izumo tells me you're eating more in the afternoon."
"Yes."
Natsume nodded and removed her stethoscope. She took it along with the other equipment she had been using to the armchair, where she deposited them into her bag.
"Izumo was worried this morning."
"Izumo worries too much," Anna stated.
Natsume chuckled.
"I agree."
Anna suddenly became contrite. "I was mean to everyone today."
"Why don't you tell me about it?" Natsume suggested before placing a hand on her forehead. She had the ability to sense what was wrong with a person physically.
Anna explained everything, including how her power had overflowed. When she was through, Natsume was smiling with understanding which startled Anna as she expected her to be more concerned.
"Anna my dear, you are pregnant and you are hormonal. Even if you act a little crazy, being moody doesn't make you insane."
"But my power-"
"You feel badly when you snap at your comrades, and your strange lack of control over your feelings is making you increasingly anxious. You need to relax a little more. Your comrades are forgiving people and I daresay half the time they deserve their scolding. Are those buffoons taking you out?"
"They used to," she responded.
"Used to?" Natsume repeated sharply.
Anna nodded.
"They think Homra's enemies will try to target me if they know I'm pregnant."
"And you're starting to show so they've become paranoid and afraid?"
"Yes."
"What about your hard-headed King? He isn't the type to keep you locked up."
"He's been after a drug trafficker and doesn't come home until late at night."
Perhaps something in her eyes gave away the fact that she felt a little forlorn.
"You must miss him a lot," Natsume commented.
Anna remained silent, but the slight twist of her pretty mouth indicated that yes: she did miss her husband a lot. The older woman continued speaking now:
"They need to take you out often and let you get some fresh air. If you need to cry, don't suppress it. If they're annoying you, don't feel bad if you get angry. It's normal. You haven't outgrown your tendency to keep your feelings back, have you Anna?"
"I'm sorry," Anna murmured.
"No, don't be. You've still come a long way from being unable to express yourself. I'm going to talk to Mikoto and Izumo," the older woman informed her as she moved to collect her bag.
Natsume wasn't surprised to find Mikoto quietly smoking outside the door.
"Is this going to happen often?" he asked her.
He looked casual, as if he didn't care, but Natsume knew better. She sensed his tension.
"If you're talking about her power's outflow then no-not if you assure her that it's okay to have mood swings."
"I've never told her it bothered me," he said.
"I'm sure you haven't but I think she knows you don't like troublesome things and perhaps she's concerned about whether or not she's making you weary with her behavior."
Mikoto frowned. He recalled her earlier words about herself being a burden, thus confirming what Natsume just said.
"She doesn't like the way she feels, Mikoto. She doesn't like being moody and it only serves to frustrate her and make her guilty. All of her senses are more acute now, and in a similar fashion, so is her power. She may unintentionally pick up your thoughts. The main problem with this is that with her power being stronger now, it's a little more difficult to control with her accumulated frustration. Just soothe her-don't baby her and treat her like an invalid."
Mikoto nodded and Natsume continued:
"She felt a bit of morning sickness, but she does want to eat. I think this made her cranky, together with the humidity."
Mikoto recalled wondering why one of his wife's dresses had been on his armchair.
"She's in a better mood now. I believe she thanks you for that. You're doing a good job with her already, but just be a little more patient. Expect some changes next month-sleeplessness, weight gain-"
"She's pregnant, isn't she supposed to gain weight?" Mikoto pointed out.
"I was referring to you."
He lifted an eyebrow.
"Increased appetite and unusual cravings at ungodly hours. She may drag you to eat with her."
That wasn't too bad. Seeing her eating more would certainly ease some of his concern for her.
"Expectant dads can gain up to an average of 14 pounds, but I suspect your metabolism never slows down so you should be fine."
The King snorted.
"Anyway, keep doing what you're doing with a touch more patience. I also think she needs to be as comfortable as possible. Your men also need to stop treating her like a baby. She understands their concern, but I believe she may feel at times that they still consider her a kid. It is annoying to be pregnant and have a bunch of immature male brats tell her what to do."
Mikoto grunted. Yeah, he knew his wife being pissed about that. She had told him as much earlier.
"Moreover, if your men are filthy-yourself included-please shower. I mentioned before she has heightened senses. This particularly applies to her sense of smell. If you guys stink, she will get sick from your stench."
Mikoto nodded.
"In general, just make sure she eats well, try not to get too overbearing and just reassure her from time to time that it's alright for her to feel the way she does. The mood swings are normal, you just need to prevent her from becoming frustrated with herself. She loves you guys a lot and she doesn't want to unintentionally hurt anyone's feelings when she's in a bad mood she can't help."
Mikoto nodded.
"Go in and check on her. I gave her some honey to appease her stomach until Izumo cooks."
"Why honey?" Mikoto asked as he moved to the door.
"She can swallow it easily and it will give her a bit of energy. Although she's hungry, she's become extremely picky with her food. I also provided her with a bottle of water to wash it down so the sweetness doesn't nauseate her."
The Red King nodded and entered the room.
Anna was sitting up on the bed. She had a small bowl with about two tablespoons of honey in it. She scooped up some in a spoon, about to consume it.
Mikoto opened the door at the same time, startling her. The spoon tilted slightly and the thick, gooey liquid spilled onto her thigh, just below the hem of her nightie that lay lightly on her. She quickly moved to get it into her mouth, but not before some dripped onto her chest and oozed down the inner slope of one smooth breast.
Finally, the sweet syrup was in her mouth. She swallowed it just as Mikoto came near to the bedside. He silently picked up her bottle of water and handed it to her. She accepted it with one hand and set aside her small bowl with the other. As she uncapped the water bottle, Mikoto came to sit beside her on the bed.
"Better?" he asked quietly.
She nodded.
"The honey is helping," she replied.
Mikoto surprised her when he placed his large hand on her stomach where his baby lay. His golden eyes watched her body quietly.
"This brat is troublesome, isn't he?" he asked.
"Mikoto..." she began, but he covered her mouth with his own unexpectedly. He tasted the honey from her mouth, and licked its remnants from her lips.
When he drew back, he smirked at the way her cheeks had reddened. Noting there was some leftover honey on the very corner of her mouth, he lowered his head again and used his heated appendage to lick it away.
He lifted his head and told her while gentle caressing her stomach, "The brat's troublesome, but you aren't a burden,"
Anna watched him carefully.
"Does Mikoto dislike the baby?"
He snorted.
"I've said before I have no problem with him."
"It's a girl," she said to him.
Mikoto's hand moved from her stomach to the demure ribbon at the bodice.
"Right," he muttered, knowing she was deceiving him.
"Mikoto, what are you doing?" she asked when he loosened the ribbon.
"There's honey on you," he responded as he slowly drew the left side of the bodice slightly away to reveal the inner slope slope of her full breast. "Can't let it waste," he told her before using his hot, wet tongue on her creamy skin.
She whimpered and caught his red head in her hands.
Her husband was the sort to take what he wanted, when he wanted it, regardless of time or place.
And right now, he wanted her.
His mouth now sucked insistently on her flesh before his hand covered one firm, sensitive globe. He tested its weight and lifted his head curiously.
"You're heavier," he remarked when he tested its weight again.
"It's my milk," she responded, her cheeks flushed red.
Mikoto looked intrigued.
"You're planning to nurse it?" he asked her.
"Yes."
He was silent before he pulled the bodice away enough to reveal one beautiful breast. He covered it again and gently caressed the naked flesh, knowing how sensitive her burgeoning curves were now. She hissed at his touch and cried out softly when he lightly teased the tip with his fingers, then his tongue.
"Mikoto...Izumo or Natsume could walk in," she protested.
He released her from his wet hold and moved down her body.
"Oh? Aren't you wearing this to seduce me?" he asked huskily and kissed her again. He knew the real reason why she was wearing on the nightie, but at times, he couldn't help but want to tease her. He did derive some sort of twisted pleasure from her blushing face.
His hand pushed aside rest of her bodice to reveal her neglected breast. He fondled her, making her moan softly against his mouth.
It took a lot of effort, but somehow Anna managed to press her hands against his broad shoulders and push him away as she tore her mouth from his own.
"No, Mikoto I-"
She gasped when he attacked her neck, nibbling softly at its base before giving his attention to her heavy curve that was in his hand. With a stifled moan, she gave in. Mikoto wasn't going to stop anytime soon. She didn't really want him to either.
Wanting more of her, he decided to move further down her body, pausing only to tenderly kiss the curve of her tummy. Anna blushed at his sweet gesture. There were times when his emotions were so strong, they spilled from him and she was able to pick on them, like now. He was anxious because he knew nothing of being a parent, he was uncertain because he was afraid to hurt it, yet interested because there was something inexplicable he felt in his heart over this scrap of humanity that was going to be his own flesh and blood.
Even if he didn't show it, Mikoto really did want his baby.
Anna stiffened when sensed that they were going to be intruded upon. She pulled the bodice of her nightie together quickly.
"Mikoto, stop," she ordered while tying the bodice's ribbon.
He ignored her as he reached her thigh.
His tongue bathed her sweet flesh with broad strokes as he removed the final bit of honey. Then, clamping down with his lips, he sucked hard. Anna covered her mouth with the back of her hand to prevent a sound of pleasure from escaping.
There came a knocking at the door.
"Mikoto, Anna, I'm coming in!"
Izumo entered the room and frowned. Something felt off but he shrugged. Anna was lying on the bed where the covers were tossed aside. Mikoto was sitting beside her and was frowning at him.
"I came to see Anna. Natsume-san said you might be hungry by now and that we should make sure she eats something," Izumo was saying. He had a plastic bag in hand. He searched through it and described some of its contents, "the guys got some snacks. There's some pudding from Kamamoto 'cause he felt bad about eating the last one. Here's some pocky and seaweed," he rambled on before he looked at the pair.
"I'll leave this with you to munch on while I'm cooking."
Mikoto, realizing he was blocking Anna from Izumo, stood up and moved to the nearby chair.
As he did so, he revealed Anna's ripe, nymph-like figure. Although she was dressed, Izumo was about to turn away because he felt she was dressed in a way that only Mikoto should see. Her nightie wasn't see through, but it was a bit sexy and made her look like a seductress.
However, Izumo paused when noted certain marks on her normally perfect skin. He glanced at her, then glowered at Mikoto.
"Can't you keep your pants on?" he demanded.
Mikoto gave him a lopsided frown.
"What?"
"Anna's got hickeys all over you idiot!"
Mikoto looked at his wife and understood what Izumo was saying: indeed, Anna had fresh, dark red mark close to her inner thigh. Another one was partially shown on her cleavage and another on her neck. Her skin was so white that it was impossible to hide those love bites. Even if she could, she couldn't hide up her mouth which was swollen from her husband's kisses.
"You know she isn't well and you've got the baby to think of and all you can do is-"
"Izumo," Anna cut into his tirade.
He was relieved that she had pulled the blanket over her.
"Yes Anna?" he asked sweetly.
"I'm sorry," she apologized.
He knew she was talking about her snapping at him earlier. Natsume had mentioned to him some of her troubles when she had spoken to him downstairs.
"It's alright. I know I worry too much-we all do. Now tell me, what do you want to eat?"
She looked thoughtful.
"Hamburger steak...with egg."
"Are you sure you can manage the egg?" Izumo asked.
She nodded. She had a sudden craving for this particular meal.
"Okay, I'll go do it. I'll make one for Mikoto as well."
"Thank you."
"I'll leave the snacks here while I cook."
She nodded.
"And Mikoto, please. She isn't well, give her a break," Izumo said, rolling his eyes.
"Go away, Izumo," Mikoto growled.
The bartender only cackled on his way out. Once the door shut behind him, Mikoto turned to his wife.
"Do you want the snacks?"
"Later."
"Aren't you hungry?" he questioned, fighting hard not to display his irritation.
"I want real food."
He gave her a lopsided frown and reached down to flick his finger on her forehead.
"That's a good answer, brat."
She rubbed the middle of her forehead where there was a red mark. He brushed her hand aside and gently touched his mouth to the light mar to her skin. He did want her right now. He wanted to tear that nightie to pieces and reveal her young, pregnant form. He wanted to absolutely devour her.
But he wouldn't.
Not yet anyway. He didn't want to hear a growling stomach when he made love to his woman. Plus, he could see that her earlier weeping had made her tired. Once she had a short nap and some food later, he would do as he pleased with her.
Oh, and she would certainly welcome him into her arms. Anna was a very passionate woman whose heat matched his own.
Mikoto released a heavy breath and got into bed beside her. She shifted to make room for him and allowed him to take her into his arms. She gave a soft sigh of pleasure when she felt his warm chest against her back. His long arm came around her, banding her to him.
"Doesn't Mikoto get angry?" she asked him.
"About what?"
"Moodiness."
He shrugged.
"I know you don't like feeling this way and you put up enough with me," he replied. That was his way of saying he knew he had many flaws and he didn't expect her to be perfect all the time. "It isn't easy, is it?" he asked suddenly. He was leaning on his elbow, watching her carefully from behind.
"What is?"
His hand moved and cupped the curve of her belly.
"This," he replied, gently stroking with his large hand.
She shook her head.
"It isn't," she answered honestly, but turned to look at him over her shoulder, managing a warm smile. "But when I think of holding something that's both Mikoto's and mine, I know it's worth it."
"Is that so?" he murmured almost thoughtfully.
She blinked up at him and stated, as if realizing for the first time, "Mikoto feels the same way,"
Mikoto's mouth turned downward slightly, then he turned away with his back facing her.
"Get some rest, brat. You need it."
Anna rolled onto her back and to her side to face him. She continued smiling behind him, knowing she wasn't the only one who held back what she felt. She hid her negative feelings, he displayed those. He hid up his positive ones, she sometimes showed her own. She leaned over him slightly to whisper in his hear, "Mikoto, I love you,"
Her breath tickled his red hair.
Mikoto turned his head slightly to look at her. She noted that there was the barest trace of a smile on his handsome mouth. Then he turned away and went to sleep.
She smiled as she lay down again, snuggling against his warm back. Soothed by her husband's familiar scent, she began to drift away. Vaguely, she was aware that he had turned around again and was easing her against his strong, hard body. Warm lips touched her forehead and a gruff voice murmured, "'Love you too,"
A/N: Thanks for reading. I haven't updated in a while because a lot of stuff happened and I think my brain had become very dry from this story. I had been writing it for two and a half years and at some point I felt that I was no longer enjoying it. But, after a long break, I feel better. Unfortunately, just as I was able to get a little time to write again, my computer is in need of a new battery AND a new adapter, so there is like a chance I won't be able to update for a while.
I have also started cleaning up the annoying errors I saw in the old chapters from GP I and II. It's a slow process. I am removing any unnecessary and long A/N's, as well as the responses to the reviews I would leave at the end of the chapters. I think those things get in the way of reading, and I assume everyone would have read my responses to them anyway.
Goodbye for now, and thanks for the support, and if you've read this chapter, thank you for not forgetting about me, if you're new, hope you enjoyed!