Do you see how fast I can update when I don't need to deal with FIGHTING/MONOLOGUE SCENES!?
Word Count: 10,153
My head cracked against the hardwood floors of my bedroom and I took a moment to clutch the point of impact, curling up in misery. Damn, you'd think Shoichi would have made that landing softer or something.
I groaned and slowly unravelled before wincing as something tugged on my hair. I pulled my hand down and blinked, seeing three more rings than I was used to wearing on my fingers. A Sun ring, a Cloud ring and a ring that looked like the wing of a bat wrapped around my middle finger.
"Verde-san even made me Licky," I muttered, gently touching the metalwork.
I gave a long, tired sigh and laid back on the floor, staring up at the ceiling I hadn't seen in weeks. The scent of the room was so achingly familiar, and I wanted nothing more than to crawl into my bed, my bed, and sleep it all away like it had just been some bad dream.
But the tightness of the skin on my stomach told me that there was no sleeping this away and that I needed to get up to find Shamal.
Then the familiar sounds of heavy footsteps brought me to attention, Kaede ripped the door open and stood there. She looked dishevelled, hair loose and face gaunt, still dressed in a nightgown despite the clock telling me it was three o'clock.
"Kaa-san-"
I choked as arms wrapped around me and my face was smothered into Kaede's chest. She held onto me tight, shaking all over and pressed frantic kisses to the top of my head.
"Where did you go? Are you okay? My baby, if anything had happened-"
Kaede drew back and stared at me. I winced. Shit, I wasn't binding.
I tensed up, ready to bolt to my feet and make for the door.
"...Welcome home, Daiki-kun," she chose to say instead, pulling some dust out of my hair. "Go take a shower and take a rest. Dinner will be ready soon."
I watched my mother for a moment, resisting the urge to do as told and get out of her line of sight.
"I need to go somewhere," I said, "Need to pick something up. Ojii-san said so."
Fuck, with the amount of stuff I was blaming on my grandfather, I sure as hell hoped Kaede would never following him up on it.
The woman stared down at me for a good moment, before she sighed and gave a resigned nod. She didn't look like she was happy to let me go, her eyes jumping to the scratches and bruising that marked me up.
"Do you really have to go? You just got back..." She asked, taking stock of my abrasions. I grit my teeth quietly, why was she resisting now? Kaede never went against grandfather's 'orders'.
"Yeah, but it won't take long."
She frowned a bit, "Okay, but not too long."
"I'll be back soon," I assured before booking it out of the house.
I wasn't wearing a binder, but with an already small chest and bandages wrapping up the majority of my torso, I barely received a glance as I quickly made my way through Namamori's streets. It was jarring, seeing the place looking as it was after so many days stuck with ten years later. I could spot stores that were replaced, whole blocks of buildings that had been swapped out for skyscrapers and highrise apartments but were currently little mum'n'pop stores and kombinis.
I shook my head and turned into the gates of Nami-chuu, the place quiet with only a handful of clubs and committees still on site given the time. Out of a window I caught sight of what looked like Kyoya, and the boy regarded me as I entered the school building.
"Shamal-sensei!" I called as I entered the infirmary.
"Guchi-chan!?" The nurse yelped, tossing a rancid magazine into the far corner of the room before spinning around. "You're back!"
"Yeah, from the future."
"I'm sorry what?"
I blinked. Wasn't everyone involved meant to know what happened?
"That's where I went. That's where everyone went."
"What do you mean everyone?" He squinted at me for a moment, before the thundering sounds of feet along with the jangle of metal made us turn.
"Daiki!" Takeshi gasped as he came to a screeching halt in the doorway, Lambo on his back and Mephisto trying to get around his legs. "I'm here!"
"Mama!" Lambo called out, reaching over Takeshi's shoulder to grab me.
"Right on time," I smiled before plucking Lambo into my arms and holding him tight, the boy burrowing his face into my chest.
"Has Shamal-sensei checked you yet? Did anything happen at home?" Takeshi asked, putting his hands on my stomach.
"No to both."
"What am I checking?" Shamal asked, sitting up in his chair.
"Daiki's stomach! Go lay down," the Rain demanded, grabbing me until I was on the infirmary cot.
"It's okay, sweetie, take it easy," I hushed, catching him by his hands before he could physically assault the nurse. "I feel fine after future Shamal-sensei gave me some vials."
"Vials?" Shamal repeated.
"Yeah, they were like liquid Flames. Or Flame infused syrup?"
The black market doctor blinked before he rubbed his face and let out a long breath.
"Future, you said? I must have completed that damned project of mine, then." He got up with a great heave and pulled out his stethoscope to looped around his neck. "Okay, let's see the damage."
I gave Lambo a quick squeeze before lowering him onto the cot beside me and carefully took off my shirt. Takeshi came over and helped me out when my stitches refused some movement, helping the ends over my head and off my arms. He continued to touch me when the shirt was off, hands on my arm.
That made Shamal blink, staring at the arm under Takeshi's touch.
"'Guchi-chan, didn't you have a tattoo?"
I winced. "Yeah. Gotta get that redone."
Takeshi kissed my shoulder and cuddled into me, eyes squeezed shut. Lambo crawled into his lap and sat there, needing comfort.
"Takeshi should Bo-kun be-" I started but Lambo made a loud, wordless noise of indignation.
"...Tell us if you want to go, okay, baby?" Takeshi instructed gently, wrapping his arm around the small boy. "Don't try and power through it, we'll understand."
"I wanna stay," Lambo murmured, grabbing the material of my pants stubbornly.
Shamal frowned as he looked at the layer of bandages before he said, "Let's take a look under there."
As Shamal got prepared I continued to fuss over Lambo, tsking at the state of his onesie and the need for a good, hot bath when he got home.
"You too, Takeshi, don't think I've forgotten that broken jaw!" I scolded, cupping his face for good measure. "My poor husband."
Takeshi absolutely glowed at the term, leaning his cheek into my palms, before turning as Shamal approached. I took my hands back and fixed myself forward-
Rubber gloves, white coats-
I threw myself back against the concrete wall and kicked my legs out to keep them at bay, the person dressed as a doctor wheezed as I got them in the stomach.
"Daiki!"
Takeshi?
I turned. Takeshi crawled across the cot towards me and hushed me down cradelling my face in his hands, sitting astride my lap and blocking out most of the concrete room.
"It's okay Daiki, I'm here. You're safe now. We're in Namimori now." He smiled down at me with the utmost affection, playing with my earrings and caressing my nape. "You remember, right? We said goodbye to Lussuria-san and Squalo-san and then we all came home. We're home now. No one can hurt you here."
I continued to stare at Takeshi as he talked, feeling some kind of dizzy as the room pieced itself together and the sound of a grumbling Shamal reached my ears.
Takeshi cooed my name again before letting one of his hands lay over my eyes, then he addressed the school nurse.
"I think you should take off your coat and gloves, Shamal-sensei. Please."
"Jeez, give a man some warning."
I stayed in the dark, grounded by the weight in my lap as Shamal bustled about the room. Takeshi kissed my cheek and talking in my ear as the good doctor removed his gloves with a sound that made me grit my already clenched teeth.
"Good girl," Takeshi hushed, keeping my eyes covered. "My wife. My wife is such a good girl for me."
"Mm," I hummed, lips sealed shut but wanting to let Takeshi know that I was listening closely.
I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him to me, letting him control what and when each of my senses picked something up. He cooed and continued to kiss my cheek and ears before we both jumped as Shamal gave a yelp and Lambo shouted, "Don't scare my Mama!"
Mephisto barked along with him but didn't jump to bite like I knew he would if Lambo's target had been anyone less familiar to the dog. The pup paced around in a restless tapping of claws against linoleum floors.
"Fuck, 'Guchi-chan, get your brat to heel!"
"Bo-kun, Mephisto!" Takeshi scolded, "Shamal-sensei didn't mean it, you shouldn't kick people who scare Mama accidentally."
I let out a sound and cuddled closer to the Rain, almost indignant with myself at how quickly my ears started to burn at the sound of my Takeshi calling me 'Mama'.
"Okay, okay, let's get this started," Shamal sighed and all too soon Takeshi took his warm hand off my eyes and slid off my lap.
I felt cold and exposed, staring after him forlornly even as Lambo was coddled into his lap instead. Takeshi caught my stare and smiled supportively, grasping my hand with his own and holding tight. There was a sniff at my ankle and I glanced down to see Mephisto's snout peeking out from under the cot frame, the pup close but out of the way so no one tripped on him.
"Ready to unwrap, Guchi-chan?" Shamal asked, dressed in his dark shirt and tie, hands thoroughly sanitized but bare.
"Yeah, sure," I nodded, before lifting my arms and letting Shamal undo what his future had done.
"Make room, Yamamoto-san," the doctor instructed and Takeshi slipped off the cot to sit with Lambo on Shamal's chair.
I let out a breath as the last layer of bandages came away, my skin bumpy and patterned with their texture and so very itchy in places. There was tape crisscrossing my stomach, Shamal's final bid to keep everything together in case I tilted or stretched beyond the little elasticity this new flesh was offering.
Takeshi hissed out a noise and turned Lambo around in his lap, pressing his face into his chest. He didn't take his eyes off me, though, and I could see them wandering up and down my body.
Shamal walked around the cot and pressed on my skin at points, checking for inflammation or tenderness. He made note of places I flinched or didn't react to, a hand on my shoulder making sure I kept my upright posture.
Takeshi smiled at me when he saw my eyes focusing on him through the examination, his own hands absently petting Lambo's hair. I jolted minutely as I felt Rain brush up against me, and instinctively my Sun wrapped around him and hunkered down together, Rainy Flames littering me with little kisses even as I flinched when Shamal prodded an especially tender stitch.
"Okay, lay down for me, Guchi-chan," Shamal instructed and I toed off my shoes before swinging my legs up onto the bed.
I gave a long sigh as I laid my head on the cot's pillow, suddenly realising how exhausted I was. We hadn't stayed long in the Future after the battle, barely a couple of hours to put our affairs in order and say our goodbyes. It had been a quietly chaotic moment of picking up anything we didn't want to lose, making sure to leave things we shouldn't have on us, like scraps in our pockets. Barely enough time to take a break.
"We should go home after this," Takeshi hummed to distract me as Shamal surveyed the damage on my stomach, the cold metal of his stethoscope running along my ribs. "Take a bath and cuddle together?"
"Hmm," I agreed softly.
"Lambo-san wants grape candy," our baby announced and the Rain joyously agreed that Lambo deserved many candies after their trip.
"Not too many," I finally uttered and Takeshi sat up, eyes shining in their happy way that always seemed to pull at my heart and ego. "Don't need a stomach ache."
"Mama's right," Takeshi nodded, patting Lambo's back. "We don't want to get a stomach ache again right after coming home."
"But Daddy cuddled Lambo-san a lot when he was sick. Belly rubs, Daddy!"
"Daddy will give Bo-kun belly rubs when he's not sick too," the Rain laughed, gazing at the child with so much fondness.
I smiled before turning my head forward and sitting up at Shamal's urging, the man letting out a long sigh as he massaged the bridge of his nose.
"Anything else I should know before I make up my mind about just how fucked you would have been in our time?"
I shifted on the cot sheepishly and glanced in Takeshi's direction again for a second, before taking a breath and, so very hesitantly, stuck my tongue out.
"What do-" Shamal squinted before his eyes widened and he cursed under his breath. "Jesus Christ."
"Does it look that bad?" I asked with a wince.
"More the connotation of it," the doctor explained slowly.
Lambo made a loud noise and Takeshi was quick to hush him, bouncing his lap for the boy.
"Just a minute," I requested of the good doctor before slipping off the cot and kneeling in front of Takeshi, Lambo looking at me over his shoulder. "You okay, baby? We're nearly done."
"Lambo-san is fine," he sniffled, but didn't resist when I urged him over into a hug, wrapping his arm around my neck and pressing his cheek into my shoulder.
"Okay," I smiled, "Bo-kun is doing very well. Give Mama a kiss?"
Lambo squeezed me before giving me a quick kiss making me coo and cup his face. I rubbed his back as he leant against me again, hushing him as he cuddled in close before returning to his father.
"Do I get a kiss?" Takeshi laughed and I eased myself back onto my feet.
Taking his face in my hands and pressed a kiss on him, feeling him smile into it.
"Okay enough of that, back on the bed, Guchi-chan."
I pouted at the black market doctor and rebelliously gave my love another short kiss before setting myself back on the cot. Shamal touched my jaw, hands freshly washed and sanitized again and cool to the touch.
He felt around my jaw for any sort of unevenness or fracture before urging me to open up. Shamal made a face again when he saw the indent in my tongue and then proceeded to produce a wooden tongue depressor - but before he could press it against my tongue my jaw clicked shut and I leant back.
"Sorry," I muttered out, "Just, uh, give it to me. I'll do it."
Shamal raised an eyebrow before handing over the wooden spatula. I withheld a shiver as I pressed it against my tongue and let him see the back of my throat, trying to recognise the taste of wood, rather than metal.
"I might give you an antibacterial mouthwash," Shamal hummed idly, shining a little flashlight down my throat. "We don't want that tongue of yours getting infected after all that progress."
"Okay," I agreed, quickly taking out the stick and pegging it at the bin.
"You seem to have a thing about stuff in your mouth now," the doctor commented, staring at the abandoned stick before he glanced over at Takeshi and said, "Guess you're out of luck for a while."
"Huh?" Takeshi blinked before his shoulders sagged a bit, a mournful frown tugging at his lips. "Oh."
I grabbed a cotton swab and threw it at the boy with an indignant grunt. He gave an aborted 'ehk' noise as I got him in the forehead. Lambo giggled from behind his hands, always a little sadist.
"Okay so, in total," Shamal began, over at his little sanitary sink in the corner of the room. "You're getting an antibacterial mouthwash, new bandages, and whole fuck ton of bed rest. I don't want you ripping that skin, I felt how thin that was."
"Makes sense."
Shamal began showing Takeshi and I some sort of cream that reduced scarring and those it missed would be kept moist and flexible. He showed us how to apply it, explaining to Takeshi that he'd need to help me get to the ones on my back. He gave me a small tub of it, before proceeding to wrap me up again.
"I want you on bedrest Guchi-chan, no running off to kick-box with the Varia," Shamal warned. "And you need monitoring. The damage is extensive, but you've healed well so far."
"Monitoring? Do I need to come back next week or something?" I huffed as Takeshi helped me back into my shirt, Lambo playing with Miphy on the floor.
"Constant monitoring, Guchi-chan," he corrected, "If you take a turn for the worst we'll need to react fast. So you need to be with someone who knows the situation. Pack a night bag and canoodle with your boy here for a week or two."
"I can't stay with Takeshi for a week-"
"Yes, you can!" Takeshi rebutted, "Tou-san would understand, and you know he loves having you around."
"But Takeshi, a week-"
"Or two!"
"-Is such a long time, I'd be overstaying my welcome by then."
"No you wouldn't," he assured, grabbing my hand and lacing our fingers together. "I'll talk to tou-san now, you get ready to go. Make sure you grab all your meds and bandages."
"But kaa-san wants me home tonight," I interjected, holding him before he could run off with his plans. "And I need to talk to her about something important. Take Bo-kun with you tonight, I'll try and come tomorrow. Just use today to set up."
Takeshi frowned at me, his hands clamping down. He was visibly displeased and something in his eye made me shift uncomfortably. He didn't want me to get worse, I understood that but-
"Sounds like a plan," Shamal said as he dried and then moisturized his hands. "Guchi-chan, spend the night getting your affairs in order and pack a bag with all the stuff you'll need. Yamamoto-san, get your house ready to have another occupant. Make sure your room can accommodate them, they're going to be spending a while there."
"It won't be much different to an extended sleepover right?" I asked slowly.
"No, constant bed rest," Shamal corrected, "Stay in bed for a week, I'll send an email to your teachers to pardon you."
"Just stay in bed? But-"
"You heard Shamal-sensei, Daiki," Takeshi scolded gently, but there was a small smile on his face and a gleam in his eye. "You've already pushed yourself so much, just take a break for a while."
I stared at him for a moment, before lowering my head in defeat. With a great grumble, I leant against the boy's shoulder and let him kiss the top of my head, an arm wrapping around my waist in a hug.
"Love you lots," he murmured to me and I cuddled into his shoulder with a huff. "Say you love me too."
"I love you too, Takeshi."
"Thank you." I could hear the smile in his voice before he gave the top of my head another kiss. "I'll walk you home. I'll need to pick up some stuff for Bo-kun anyway."
"You just want to spend more time with me," I snickered, playing with the hand on my waist. "Are you going to be okay with Bo-kun and the puppy?"
"Yeah, Bo-kun's a Mama's boy but I can get him to work with me most of the time. Its Miphy I need to watch out for, he won't budge unless it's a direction from you or I beg him."
"I have them well trained," I laughed, before looking to the puppy who was valiantly sitting through Lambo's attempts to tie his ears in a knot. "I'll take Miphy home tonight. I'll need the fluffy support."
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay over?"
"I'll be fine."
"Here you go," Shamal finally said, handing me a little care baggie of bandages, antibacterials and creams, both anti-scarring and numbing. "Mouthwash after every meal, scar cream after showers and numbing as required."
"Okay," I nodded.
"Got it," Takeshi echoed. "Thanks, Shamal-sensei!"
"And Takeshi's jaw? Can you check it for us?" I asked, grasping the boy and pulling him more to the centre of the cot.
"What? No."
"Shamal-sensei, please?" I implored, "Just check his jaw and tell us how it's healing."
Takeshi wisely chose to stay out of the interaction, instead just enjoying how I was cuddling him to my chest and lightly touching where I remembered the fracture.
I continued to stare at Shamal imploringly as he stood there with crossed arms. The man frowned and I made a noise of sadness as I cuddled my Takeshi.
"Eh, I suppose there's stuff even Shamal-sensei can't fix, huh?" I sighed, playing with a bit of the Rain boy's hair. "Maybe Luss-onee will fix it for us, I've seen them heal a lot of things."
"Oi, oi, oi," Shamal interrupted, takin a step forward and yanking me by my ear. "Firstly, you're not going anywhere near the Varia for at least three months. Secondly, who said I couldn't fix the kid?"
"No need to hide it, we understand. Future you has had ten years to get better, we can't expect you to know how to heal every kind of wound at the moment," I soothed.
Shamal stared at me.
"Fine, but I hate you."
I grinned and moved aside to let the doctor inspect Takeshi's jaw, touching it with his hands and feeling around. He made a soft hum as he ran his fingers along where I knew the fracture to be, before continuing up the face and around the cheekbones.
I held the Rain's hand through the inspection just like he did mine, playing with his fingers and tracing his palm.
"Noticed any loose teeth?" Shamal asked, taking his hands back.
"At first, yeah, but then future you gave me a Vial and they stopped," Takeshi explained and I took the chance to slide back next to him. "It only hurts now if I clench my teeth or eat really chewy or crunchy stuff."
I made a soft noise in the back of my throat and Takeshi was quick to soothe it out, kissing my knuckles and giving me a soft smile. I frowned and wrapped my arm around him, letting him drop his head onto my collar.
"Daiki! Takeshi!"
We both turned sharply as Ryohei came thundering through the door, nearly tripping over his feet as he crashed into the doorframe.
"Oh God, another one," Shamal grumbled.
"Bro! Are you okay? You got checked?" The Sun asked, taking a large step over Lambo's head before stopping at my side.
"Yeah, we're fine," I soothed, "Takeshi too. Shamal-sensei checked his jaw."
"His jaw is fine, by the way. It's nearly healed, just barely a hairline fracture left. Apply ice, eat soft foods and don't let anything push against it. Brush your teeth three or four times a day, and try to use a soft, small toothbrush. Like a kid's brush."
"Got it," Takeshi nodded.
"Great, is that everything now? No one's broken their leg or been disembowelled or anything?" The doctor sighed, giving Ryohei a suspicious look.
"No, other than some minor to major mental trauma, I think that's everyone," I smiled. "Thanks, Shamal-sensei."
"No problem, now get out."
Takeshi balanced Lambo on his shoulders as we walked through Namimori in the afternoon, our baby yawning and leaning heavily on the Rain's head. I smiled at them, one of my hands stationed on the child's back in case he started falling backwards. Takeshi hummed idly, too tired for chatter but wanting to fill the silence with a happy noise.
I thought he was just a bit too pleased with the idea of me staying for two weeks.
Ryohei walked on the other side of me, carrying Mephisto in his arms. The poor puppy kept grumbling, but he had been moving so slowly after we had left the infirmary that I didn't have the heart to let him keep walking himself since he had to take four steps for our every one.
"So what's the plan?" Ryohei asked, scratching Mephisto under the chin until the puppy panted in glee.
"I'm going home today to...organise some stuff," I said slowly, "Then I'll be spending the next two weeks with Takeshi. Shamal-sensei wants me under watch."
"You going to be okay?" Ryohei asked as we came to the fork in our roads, his hands in his pockets to cease their fidgeting. He knew what I meant by 'organising'.
I smiled at him, warm with his concern, and gently thumped the younger Sun on the shoulder to try to lift his mood - only succeeding by so much. My smile wavered with his as his eyes expressed fear for me, earthy tones boring into mine imploringly, almost as if urging me to say 'actually, could you come with me?'
Takeshi frowned at me before nudging himself into my side, thankful that someone other than him was apparently seeing reason.
"I'll be fine, Ryohei," I answered, squeezing his bicep in comfort. "She may be...unstable, but she's still my mother, and she does love me."
The Vongola Sun didn't seem completely convinced despite my words, his own hand coming to clasp mine over his arm. Roughness from scabs and calluses rubbed over my own on our fingers and I laughed as I came to lean up against my brother.
"I really don't think you should be alone for this, Daiki. You're used to being all fucked up by her," he sighed, following me as I pulled us aside to sit on a step, Takeshi settling down beside me, Lambo transferred to his lap. "She's been manipulating you for years, bro; what's stopping her from doing it again? She could trick you again!"
"Except this time I'm going to be persistent, brother," I hummed, linking hands with his on my lap and playing with the Vongola Sun Ring. "I've got a drive now, I won't be distracted. I'll think of you and Takeshi to keep me on course."
"But what if you are," he pressed, stress clear in his voice and expression, the crease in his brow severe. "What if she becomes violent? You know that we heard the phone call between you and Shamal-sensei, we heard her in the background!"
Takeshi shifted and I wrapped an arm around him quickly, murmuring in his ear to keep him calm.
"She won't, I won't let her hurt me. And Bo-kun is with Takeshi tonight, so he's safe too," I assured them both, squeezing my love.
"You're too soft with her, Daiki. You wouldn't hurt her, you don't have the heart."
I smiled softly and fixed the bandages on Ryohei's fists, spotting frayed ends of the material and being sure to remember to buy him more wrappings when I got the chance next.
"Good thing I don't need to hurt her then," I huffed, and he slumped into my shoulder. "I have you on speed dial, brother. And if it makes you feel better, I'll record the interaction on my phone in case it goes wrong."
Ryohei breathed out heavily through his nose and scuffed his shoe on the path, unhappy with my lack of budging, but accepting that no further progress would be made, the time closing in with every second more.
"...Text me when you get home, then text me again when it's over with the result. Got it?" He grunted, though the pleading note in his voice was undisguised.
"And me too," Takeshi huffed, "I'll text you when I come to get you, make sure you answer."
"Of course," I nodded, "Anything else?"
"Be careful."
As he said this, he looked me directly in the eye, unguarded in his fear and distress in an open plea for me to see 'sense' or at least a parody of it.
Instead, I continued to smile and said, "Of course, Ryohei."
I waved to him as we parted and I could feel his eyes on me right until the last moment; the trepidation stirring his Flame as sunshine tried to follow, reaching across the Forge to poke and prod mine in a last-ditch effort, before subsiding with a defeated sigh. Then, it sent a burst of encouragement, one last wish of luck, and the distance dissolved the bridge back into the inky black.
Takeshi glanced at me as we walked the last stretch. He had obviously been hoping that Ryohei would talk some sense into me. That my brother would reach me where he couldn't. It had put him out a bit, their collective dismissal, but he still gave my fingers a brief squeeze to show he was there.
"I'll see you tomorrow, my loves," I cooed to the Rain and Lightning as we stood in front of the Yamaguchi bakery, kissing each boy in front of me.
"Bright and early," Takeshi assured. "I'll set everything up tonight and come get you between seven and eight."
"Ask your father first," I reminded gently. "...And we'll need to talk to the others soon about what they heard."
"We'll deal with that later, you come first," he hushed, giving me a quick kiss on the lips. "Let's sort you out, then we can handle them."
"As you wish," I submitted, before cupping Lambo's face and crooning at the boy. "Somebody's taking the train to Sleepy Time Junction already?"
"Mmm, Sleepy Junction," Lambo murmured before letting me lift him off Takeshi's shoulders and onto my chest, where I cuddled him. "Goodnight, Mama."
"Goodnight, baby," I soothed, rubbing his back until Lambo's head dropped onto my shoulder and he was sound asleep. "Good baby."
"Goodnight to you too, my love," I whispered to the Rain, who was watching us with some kind of great affection in his eyes. "Sleep well, and be careful of your jaw."
"I will," he agreed, before reaching out and wrapping me in a hug, squeezing our son between us. "Be safe, Daiki."
Takeshi smiled and took Lambo back against his own chest, and with one more kiss, I whistled for Mephisto.
The front door of the bakery was imposing in a manner that it usually wasn't. It didn't hold the dread of my mother, nor the clench of lies. This time, the door was imposing as it showed a challenge. I would not come out unchanged - and I demand it to be for the better.
"Hi, kaa-san, I'm home," I breathed, getting her to look over her shoulder with a warm smile and glazed eyes.
"Daiki-kun," she greeted distractedly, "Did you do your errand?"
"Yeah, it was just a small thing," I hummed, before coming down to sit beside her as I turned off the TV. "Kaa-san, we need to talk."
"Oh? About what?"
"Your health," I answered gently, "Your mental health. Growing up in the Watanabe Yakuza, under grandfather, wasn't ideal and I think - I know you're still reeling from it today. Otherwise, I don't think a lot of what's happening in this house would be."
"I'm perfectly fine, Daiki-kun," Kaede warned, her smile fading.
"Then attend one consultation, for my sake. Just so I know that my mother's okay," I pressed, "After the Watanabe and Yamada-san, I wouldn't be surprised if you did have - not something wrong - but something hurt."
My mother didn't look convinced, and it made me sigh out in stress, having rathered her not to have taken this path.
"Kaa-san, you either take that option, or we go straight into scheduled sessions. One hour, once a week, at the least. I won't let you stay like this, it's not good for either of us."
"I don't need to," she frowned.
"You really do," I insisted, "We don't leave burns or cuts alone, kaa-san, so why would we leave your mental health alone?"
"I'm not sick," she huffed, sitting up slightly. "I'm not insane so why would I need to see a psychologist? Are you calling me a psycho?"
"I'm calling you hurt," I snapped back, "And you being hurt has hurt me."
Kaede jolted when I said that like I had physically struck her. She then grit her teeth, lifted her chin and said, "You're just being too sensitive. This is just a rebellious phase of yours, I won't go to a psychologist just to please you."
"Then I'll leave," I said evenly, "It's not healthy for me to stay around people who hurt me. I'll move into the Watanabe, and away from you."
"You can't do that, I'm your mother."
"If I'm being groomed to run a yakuza I think I can move out of a bakery," I huffed, "You can keep the bakery, and you can hire more workers. But I won't stay here with you so long as you don't get help."
"If you leave, that's it, I won't let you come back!"
"So be it."
Her face was starting to go red, frustration and anger showing in her skin and expression. I sighed when I saw that, knowing that with all the steam coming out of her ears she wouldn't hear anything else I said. I got up from the couch and moved to the stairwell, barely listening to her yell at me as I did.
I had said all that I needed to, anything else from here would just exhaust me.
"Think about it, kaa-san. How important am I to you?" I asked, before whistling for Mephisto and the two of us bounded up the stairs and into my bedroom. I gave a great heave as I sat on my bed, and didn't even bother to reprimand Mephisto as he bounced up and made himself comfortable on my blankets. "That went better than expected."
I flopped onto my back and as I stared at the ceiling, I pulled my phone to my ear and pressed the familiar speed dial.
"Bro!"
I flinched. No, no, no, that was too close.
I moved the phone onto the speaker and nudged it further away from me, choosing to listen to Ryohei's voice rather than the slight crackle of the audio.
"Hey Ryohei," I sighed. My voice came out kind of bland, I felt almost numb as I stared at the ceiling light. "So I finished my talk with kaa-san."
"How'd it go?"
"As well as it could, I guess."
"Oh," he breathed, "Do you want to come over?"
"No, I'll be okay. I'm going to Takeshi's tomorrow, anyway," I murmured.
There was a long pause and I let Mephisto paw across the bed until he dropped his chin on my stomach. I idly laid my hand on his head and scratch behind his ears as he huffed.
"Do you want me to stay on the phone with you for a while?"
I blinked at the ceiling again, trying to gauge my own mood. It didn't take long, and I should have known Ryohei would know even before I did.
"Yes please."
"Okay. So I found a spider in my bed when I got back. I cried."
|Y.T|
The bedrooms were all prepared, he had spent just about all night setting everything up so that Daiki and Lambo would be comfortable in the Yamamoto household. The small spare room - once a walk-in closet - had been turned into a children's bedroom that, while it wasn't exactly spacious, it would cater enough for someone of Lambo's size. He'd even arranged for one of Mephisto's beds to be tucked next to the cot so he could watch their baby.
Takeshi's own room had been reorganised. Bed no longer up against the wall but in the centre of the room with another side table on the other side. Sheets had been stripped and new ones laid, with another pillow thrown against the headboard for a second occupant. He hadn't been able to stop grinning when he had seen it that morning while making space in his wardrobe. Another power board had been plugged into what he had decided was Daiki's side - furthest from the door so she could get the sun from the window in the day - with enough room for phone chargers and computer ports.
He had put coasters on Daiki's side table so she could have water next to her, as well as a trash bin close by. And to top it all off, he folded an extra blanket at the bottom of the bed, in case she got cold.
Daiki was coming to stay with him. He had to make sure it was perfect! Shamal said a week, but they could stretch it out to two. He was so excited.
Takeshi brushed himself down before sending Daiki a text and bolting out the door at exactly seven am the next morning. He had a bag with him, completely empty, just in case Daiki needed to throw anything else in before they fled the little bakery.
The Rain came to a halt outside the Yamaguchi Bakery and quickly shot Daiki another text. He took a moment to look at her contact name, he needed to update it quickly.
To Shujin-kun: I'm coming now
From Shujin-kun: See you soon.
To Shujin-kun: I'm here!
From Wife: Okay, nearly ready!
He stood there impatiently, before jumping forward as the doors opened and Daiki stepped out to greet him.
"Hey," she smiled, "Nearly ready to go. But can you help me grab some more of Mephisto's food?"
"Sure, just stuff it in the bag," Takeshi agreed, handing over his backpack before taking her night bag off her hands. "Miphy ready to go too?"
"Yeah, I just had him go relieve himself before we left."
"Good thinking."
Daiki ran back inside and Takeshi waited, before taking a sharp breath when he saw the figure or Kaede peering through the doorway from deep inside the house. She was frowning at him, severely, like she blamed everything wrong under the sun on him. Takeshi squeezed the night bag tighter, he had an inkling why.
Mephisto came bounding out of the house and rounded Takeshi's legs with excitement, sniffing his shoes and getting up on his hind legs to pant at the Rain. The boy grinned and reached down to pet the puppy, dodging a slobbering tongue as he did.
"Bye kaa-san," Daiki called, standing on the front step. There was a tension, and a deliberate decision to speak from outside the house. "Call me if anything happens."
Kaede glanced off to the side, arms crossed over herself. Takeshi hated how he saw Daiki's fist clench, knowing the girl to be far too soft.
"Love, let's go," Takeshi invited, "Before our Bo-kun wakes up without us."
"...Coming," she murmured and closed the door behind her.
Daiki was quiet for the walk, her eyes downcast as she all but hugged her bag. She was having some sort of inner debate, and Takeshi waited for her to air her grievance to him once she was a bit more organised.
Finally, as they passed a large park she said, "She looked so lonely. Just her in the house."
Takeshi frowned but didn't voice how little he cared about whether Kaede was lonely or not after all she had done and was still doing to Daiki. He reached out and grabbed the girl's hand, holding it tight in his own.
"I know you think I'm too soft on her, but...She's my mum, Takeshi." Daiki sighed, their pace slowing down as they walked together. "She's always been there and I know I don't have to help her but I want to. I don't want to just cut her out, I want her to get better so that I can keep seeing her, keep seeing my mum."
The Rain made a soft noise as Daiki finished talking, her voice wobbling a bit in the end. He ran his thumb over her knuckles and leant his temple against her shoulder, he felt it when she leant her weight against him too.
"When you spoke to her last night, what was it about?" He asked softly, letting her control their pace.
Daiki shifted a bit and squeezed their hands. "I told her she had to start going to counselling, or I'd move out."
Takeshi twitched. His mind raced around; Daiki moving, one place she already had, out of Namimori all the way at the Watanabe. An hour away by car, maybe more by train, so far from him-
"What was her reaction?" He chose to ask instead.
"Threw a fit, as expected," Daiki grumbled, "But I think I'm getting through to her. And going to stay with you is helping a bit since I said I'd leave if she didn't."
"You can stay with me longer if you need," Takeshi assured, looking up to her. "Our house is always open to you, you know that. We've even got you a side table now, so our stuff isn't all tangled up!"
"Mm, but I liked that. Seeing my stuff mixed in with yours."
Takeshi blinked before his face lit up in a grin and he cuddled into Daiki's arm, she let out a short laugh and kissed the top of his head, softly reminding him to not push his jaw against her too much.
"I liked seeing it too," he admitted, before letting out a sigh as he said, "But there's only so many times I can get all the way to the train station before I realise I've got your phone instead of mine."
"Eh? And what about that time you wore my glasses to school? You don't even wear glasses!"
"It was early and they were next to my phone, I just put them on!" Takeshi smiled as Daiki let out a laugh, happy to let her forget about the sad things for a moment.
Daiki gave a huff and dipped her head to plant a kiss on him, the Rain all too pleased to let it happen. He hummed as she pulled back, before walking forward with a skip to his step, tugging her along, eagre to get home.
"Tou-san! We're home!" Takeshi called as they kicked off their shoes.
Daiki paused, before quickly asking, "Does your dad know about me-"
"Welcome home," Tsuyoshi greeted from the kitchen island, he glanced at Daiki before he smiled warmly. "Good to see you back safe, Daiki."
Takeshi saw the moment the girl nearly stumbled at the response, and he watched her all but cuddle her night bag as she said, "Good to see you too, Tsuyoshi-tou-san."
Mephisto ran into the house and bounced around the father's legs, Tsuyoshi bending at the knee to give the puppy a vigorous petting. The old Yamamoto had a soft spot for the pup and spoiled him rotten whenever Mephisto and he crossed paths.
"I'm gonna go get Daiki settled in. Has Bo-kun woken up yet?"
"Not yet," Tsuyoshi answered, and the snowy pup rolled onto his back, ready for a round of thorough belly rubs.
"We'll check in on him before you tie me to the bed," Daiki smiled, before letting herself be tugged down the hall, leaving the man some quality time with the dog. "Huh, your room's changed."
"Yeah! Now we won't need to crawl over each other to get off anymore."
The two dumped their bags on the floor and while Takeshi sorted out between Lambo's and Daiki's clothes, the girl organised her electronics, plugging everything in and connecting to the house's internet. She tossed her phone onto the empty side table along with her glasses case before joining her Takeshi at the door.
"Some more of Bo-kun's clothes?" He asked, holding a small stack in his hands.
"Yeah, I'm thinking of properly moving him out of the bakery. Even if I go back, I don't want him in that environment," she explained, leaning against the doorframe tiredly. "Would you be okay with that? I don't want to send him all the way to the Watanabe if I can avoid it, especially if I'm not there myself."
Daiki shifted a bit before continuing to say, "All his friends are here and after what he's been through I'd rather not jostle him around too much. He needs some kind of stability. But if you can't then-"
"It's okay," Takeshi soothed, the smile growing across his face the more she talked about their baby. "I can look after him. Whatever Daiki wants."
"Whatever Daiki wants'?" She echoed with a humoured huff. "Careful, my love, that's a dangerous promise. I want a lot of things, not all of them good."
"Tell me!" Takeshi asked eagerly. "Tell me everything and I'll do it all!"
The Sun let out another laugh before cupping the uninjured side of Takeshi's face. "Maybe later, we'll have a lot to get through. But for now, let's do the easiest one?"
Takeshi smiled as Daiki pressed a kiss on his lips, then another one, and then a third, a fourth. They both giggled senselessly as the barrage of affection continued before Daiki eventually pulled away and just nuzzled her love's nose.
"Good luck satisfying that one, my love. It only grows every time I see you," she admitted.
"Good," Takeshi decided, before pecking Daiki on the nose and watched her scrunch it up habitually.
"Come on, let's see our Bo-kun," she urged and he led the way to the spare room they remembered being the hide'n'seek hotspot.
It had been cleared out and a chest of drawers, a toy box, a chair, along with a small bed had been moved in. It used to be Takeshi's bed before his growth spurt had hit him like a truck and left his joints aching and his feet hanging off the edge. Now it was fitted with some old sheets he had found deep in Daiki's drawers, faded frogs patterning the sheets a soft green.
The toy box was overflowing a bit, the Rain had scrounged together as many of his childhood toys from storage to distract the child when Daiki went missing. Lambo had loved each of them, and had sat in his father's lap while he played with the weakening patchwork bear. Of course, all were second to the great Mary who had the position of power at the head of the bed, beside his pillow.
Daiki cooed as she entered the child's room, Lambo still fast asleep and drooling slightly, legs sprawled out to take up as much space as possible. She crossed the room quietly and knelt down beside the boy's bed, smiling down at the sleeping boy as she pulled the blankets up his body and tucked him in.
"Mama's back, sweetie," she whispered to him, gently petting his hair. "Mama's here."
Lambo made a little noise in his sleep and his hand began to paw around sluggishly, before his little fingers found Daiki's and clung tight to her, hugging her hand to his chest.
Takeshi chuckled as he came and sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing the baby's stomach soothingly. He smiled as Daiki rested her cheek on his knee and together they sat for a while, just watching their baby sleep soundly in his bed, far away from any danger, past, present or future.
Then there was a loud yap and Daiki spun to hush Mephisto as he came bounding down the hall, nearly crashing into the bedframe in his rush to return to the family's side. He sniffed each person, before excitedly pacing the room when he recognised Lambo, softly whining with the desire to jump on the boy.
"Shh, it's okay, puppy, calm down," Daiki soothed, bringing him to her lap where she pet him. "Baby's sleeping, let's let him sleep."
"Come on," Takeshi urged quietly, "Let's get you ready for bed too."
"It's barely eight in the morning," Daiki laughed, but guided Mephisto to his bed by Lambo's and allowed herself to be led back to their bedroom. "I'll go take a shower and then we can get all those creams and bandages done."
"Sounds good. Have you had breakfast?"
"Not yet, you?"
"Neither, you shower and I'll get something ready for us."
Before Daiki could resist Takeshi shoved a towel into her chest and pushed her towards the bathroom with a short, 'go on, wife.' Takeshi scoffed as she pouted at him from the bathroom doorway before he waved her off and she sulked into the shower.
The Rain gathered some fruit and fried some eggs on rice before turning as Daiki came back into the living room, towelling her hair dry. He smiled wordlessly before going back to sliding an egg onto a small bowl of rice. They'd likely eat again when Lambo woke up for a proper breakfast, so they'd just have a small snack now.
"Thank you, love," Daiki smiled as she helped set the table up and ate with him.
Takeshi broke the yolk of his egg and ate slowly, watching Daiki carefully maneuver her spoon so that the metal wouldn't touch her teeth or tongue. He made a soft noise and pushed a pair of chopsticks at her, but she stubbornly refused and kept trying to eat with metal.
"You don't need to do that, Daiki, don't push yourself today," he scolded gently. "While you're here just relax."
"I'm pushing because I'm here," she sighed, "If I...react badly, I'm in a safe place. I'll be okay, 'cause you and tou-san are here."
Takeshi paused for a good moment before he felt a burst of pride and affection in his chest. He smothered his grin by shoving rice in his mouth, but the happy blush that stained his face was obvious enough to make Daiki hum sweetly.
"Okay," Takeshi relented, "But only in moderation! And only when someone's around."
"Of course," she smiled.
After they finished eating their light breakfast, Daiki cleaned up while Takeshi made his way back to the bedroom and unpacked Daiki's medicine bag from Shamal. He found her antibacterial mouthwash and brought it with him to the bathroom where a soft toothbrush was already prepared for himself.
"Remember to wash your mouth, Daiki," he called down the hall and the girl came out of the kitchen.
The two followed the instructions given to them from the Namimori nurse, Takeshi being extra careful around the teeth that used to be wobbly. He gave his jaw a few test bites after rinsing it out before Daiki gave him a warning grunt around a mouthful of mouthwash.
"Sorry," he murmured.
Daiki spat out the antibacterial, grimacing at the almost bitter taste that was left in her mouth.
"Bandage time," she hummed and Takeshi perked up from wiping his face. "Hah! Look at you! So excited to see me with my shirt off!"
"I'll take mine off too, so we'll be even!" He offered, backtracking a little bit.
"That might make it more awkward," Daiki snorted, but she was still smiling as she was tugged into the bedroom and told to sit on the bed.
Takeshi took out the anti-scarring cream and bandages. He unscrewed the cap of the cream's tub, before standing in front of Daiki, shifting around with a mixture of nervousness and excitement. He grinned when she looked at him, before waiting impatiently as she began to shuffle her way out of her loose nightshirt.
"Mine too?" He asked, grabbing the edge of his own shirt.
"Well, if you want to?"
Takeshi barely let her finish her question before he tugged his shirt off and threw it on the back of his desk chair. He smiled when he heard Daiki give an aborted wheeze of laughter before he joined her on the edge of the bed and dipped his fingers into the scarring cream.
Daiki sat still while Takeshi applied generous layers of cream to her skin, sharp eyes taking every piece of skin in for memorisation. He noticed her roll her eyes at him and pouted in response before running his thumb along her breastbone and smearing the ointment. He continued to rub it in, being sure to get every scar and discolouring and taking his sweet time doing so. He wasn't in any particular rush for Daiki to cover herself up again, and the longer he spent slowly and purposefully touching her, the more he saw her beginning to relax, shoulders drooping a bit and breath deepening.
"Do you think we could use this on your scar?" Daiki asked after a moment, her own hand laying on Takeshi's shoulder, lightly thumbing at the damaged skin.
"It's probably too late," he admitted, and he saw the pain in her eyes. "It's okay though, it's only a little scar." She didn't respond and just kept looking at the wound with guilt. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to try."
Daiki perked up and, while Takeshi was still applying to her collarbone, took a dollop onto her fingers and began to gently spread it across the discoloured and tight skin.
"Now your back."
Daiki turned around and leant forward as Takeshi ran his hands along her back, being careful not to disturb the healing as he spread the ointment. The guilt had knocked her out of her calm state and Takeshi fully intended to bring her back to it, needlessly tracing his wife's spine despite there being no scars there. He smiled and massaged along her shoulder blades with palmfuls of cream, thin, fading lines networking her skin as he listened to Daiki coo a bit in thanks.
"If you do that while I'm laying down I'll fall asleep no problem," she hummed as he let his hands lay there, just pressing on her skin.
"Then I promise I will," he smiled, before he grabbed the roll of bandages and moved to kneel in front of her on the floor. Takeshi paused his fiddling as hands came and cupped his face, and he smiled when he saw Daiki gazing down at him with affection. "Hello there."
"Thank you for helping me, Takeshi," she murmured, voice audibly relaxed and gentle enough to make the boy nearly shiver. "You do so much for me."
"I said it before: anything my Daiki wants. Anything my Daiki needs."
Daiki stared at his face for a moment, before leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss on him. Then his cheek, and then his forehead and then again on his lips.
Takeshi smiled proudly through the slow kisses, so pleased he had caused this reaction from her. He let his hands reach and press on his wife's skin again, enjoying how warm it was against his palm. He let his hands wander as he was kissed, before stopping when he realised he was straying close to where Daiki had always told him to stop before.
"It's okay," she murmured, hands sliding off his face, down his arms and then guided his hands further up her stomach. "A little bit of touching is okay."
Takeshi released a long breath as he was kissed again and his hands were guided up along Daiki's ribs, feeling them expand as she breathed before he was brought to settle on her chest.
"Not much there, huh?" Daiki joked quietly, letting him touch and explore. "And the binder, it flattened it down quite a bit. Nothing like Lal Mirch or Kyoko."
"My Daiki," Takeshi hummed, kissing her cheek, before pressing another on the side of her throat and working his way down to her chest. "My Daiki is so pretty. So perfect for me."
Takeshi smiled as arms wrapped around him and brought him into a firm hug. He dropped his cheek into Daiki's shoulder and let himself be held, listening to Daiki breathe into his ear.
"Ready to finish up with bandages?" Takeshi asked softly, noticing himself begin to doze in the atmosphere.
"Yeah," Daiki accepted and let the Rain slip out of her arms.
Takeshi grabbed up the bandages from the side table and began to wrap his Daiki up, laying his hand on her side as he continued to bind up her abdomen.
"Looser around the chest, love," she instructed gently, "Just like that."
"All done?" He asked as he clipped everything in place with the hook.
"All done," she echoed. "Ready for bed."
Takeshi helped his love back into her pyjama shirt before packing away the medical bag and crawling into bed together. He smiled as he found Daiki waiting for him, resting on her belly expectantly.
"You promised," she hummed and he wasted no time in reaching across.
Daiki cooed as Takeshi lightly dragged his fingers down her back, feeling muscles uncoil their tension as she relaxed into their pillows. Her eyes closed and she let out a long breath, enjoying the attention he was giving her.
"Daiki, Daiki," the Rain cooed, getting a lazy glance from the corner of amber-earth eyes. "My Daiki."
"Your Daiki," she huffed in agreement, rumbling something low and pleasant as he kneaded a knot in her shoulder.
"You're gonna stay at my house for a while, yeah?" Takeshi urged softly, watching as she closed her eyes and let herself be lulled by him. "Shamal-sensei needs you to be under watch until we're sure your injuries are all fixed up. So you're staying with me until then."
"Haha, okay, love," Daiki sighed, finding his hand near her throat and kissing the rough palm, littered with scabbed over nicks from shrapnel. "I love you. The most," she murmured, nuzzling the wounds with an expression of pain and guilt.
Takeshi frowned at her softly, before scooting closer and dragging the girl to rest against him, her head dropping down onto his chest and arm coming to be strewn across, letting him feel her weight as she got comfortable. He hummed lowly and returned to touching her back, careful of closing wounds and the outlines of stitches beneath bandages.
"I love you too, Daiki. My Daiki," he breathed out airily, grazing his lips over her temple as she snuggled into him more.
"Ready for lots of cuddling?" She asked lightly, her voice betraying how calm she felt at the moment, nearly drifting off to sleep.
"Lots of kisses and cuddles," Takeshi grinned, so purely happy at the idea of two weeks uninterrupted snuggling. Of coming home to Daiki looking all dozy in his bed.
"You think Bo-kun will be okay on his own in his room?" Daiki murmured.
"If he needs us, he'll call or just come here, you know that."
"I know...I'm just worried."
Takeshi smiled and hugged Daiki, playing with her hair until he felt the muscles in her body start to unwind.
"You're Mama, of course you'll be worried," he hummed and she responded by burying her face in his chest. "What's wrong?"
"You calling me Mama makes me feel all weird."
Takeshi paused, before he absolutely beamed at his darling, seeing the tips of her ears burn red. He cooed and tangled a hand in her hair, the girl huffy and blushy.
"A good kind of weird?"
Daiki grumbled mutely for a moment before admitting, "Good kind of weird."
Takeshi giggled and cooed as he hugged the girl, feeling her grumble before squeezing him back. The Rain smiled and continued to pet her hair, enjoying how much longer it was after so much Sun and time.
"So, so far we have 'wife' and 'Mama' as your weak words," Takeshi hummed, and Daiki scoffed before laying her cheek on his chest.
"Oh, shut up," Daiki muttered and Takeshi only cackled.
"Oh, you know I love you," he snickered and pulled on the blankets and covered them both in warmth. "Going back to sleep?"
"Woke up too early for this bullshit," Daiki murmured, before sliding off Takeshi's chest to instead just cuddle against his side. "Wake me up at ten or something."
"Okay," Takeshi smiled before settling an alarm and sliding down the headboard to lay beside her. "Let's nap."
Daiki made the smallest noise through her nose as Takeshi kissed her on the forehead. The boy blinked when he felt a pressure on his hand before smiling softly when he saw Daiki's fingers loosely linking with his own.
|Y.T|
