19.

Answers and Questions

Shizuru had miscarried in mid-March. Nao had been implanted with the cloned embryo in late April. And Mai Tate (nee Tokiha) had delivered her first child in mid-May.

Everyone was visiting Mai's home.

"Ara, he reminds me of a very small Takumi, albeit with a much more vibrant hair color," Shizuru cooed over Toshiro Tate, "Of course, with you and Yuuichi as parents, it was always going to be that way."

"Can I talk to you ladies about something?" Mai asked her friends.

"What's up, Mai?" Natsuki asked.

"It's just…I think that Yuuichi is curious about trying my breast milk," Mai sighed.

"Every boy who saw those things was at Fuuka High was curious about that," Nao grinned.

"Laugh it up in a few months when Reito wants to sample yours," Mai shot.

"Oh, no. I'm turning that duty over to Shizuru the moment Naomi is born," Nao said, "She's Naomi's Mom. I'm just providing room and board until it's time for her debut."

"Okay, fine. But…it's still weird, right?" Mai asked.

"I think it's perfectly natural curiosity," Shizuru replied, "Even I was curious about Natsuki's milk."

"Look, Mai, if you think Yuuichi is just doing it as a turn-on, you don't have to indulge him," Natsuki jumped in, "But if you think he's just curious, you can let him sample some after you pump it into bottles. But given Yuuichi…I'd shoot it down fast."

"Ara, Natsuki is so harsh," Shizuru smiled, "Does this mean Natsuki is no longer making me my morning milk tea?"

"Sh-SHIZURU!!" Natsuki's blush was fire engine red.

Mai also blushed, "Wait, is that…how you two…?"

Nao laughed long and loud, "Oh, I always wondered when I'd get to see the payoff for that."

Mai decided to change the subject, "So, Nao, when are you due?"

"Well, according to Doctor Kuga, it's a little unsure because of the implantation process. Depending on the development of the embryo before implantation, either late January or early February. Saiyuri's third birthday is coming up, and then Kuga's 22nd birthday, slash 3rd anniversary with Fujino."

"Isn't Nao's 19th birthday next month?" Shizuru asked.

"Yes, I'm turning into an old lady, like all of you."

"Well, if you don't want a cake," Natsuki smirked.

"Chocolate. Three layer. Vanilla ice cream. And if anyone compares me to the balloons, I won't need one of Alyssa's armbands to summon my Element. "

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"So, I wanted to ask you for a favor, Alyssa," Natsuki said as they left Mai's apartment.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. I wanted to see if either you or Miyu could teach me ballroom dancing."

"Didn't you dance with Shizuru at your wedding?"

"That was just slow dancing. It didn't take any actual talent. I wanted to do something more sophisticated for our next anniversary," Natsuki sighed, "And I can't ask Shizuru to teach me if I want to surprise her."

"Miyu," Alyssa turned to her, "Do you know anything about ballroom dancing?"

"In fact, I do. It was one of the earliest programs that Father ran to test my fine motor controls. I can say, without boasting, that I am remarkably light on my feet."

Natsuki clapped her hands together and bowed her head, "I'm begging you, Miyu, to teach me."

"While I have no objections to teaching you, I should remind you that you're going to have to find a suitable excuse to offer your wife as to why you are suddenly spending a good deal of time with another woman without raising her suspicions."

Natsuki smirked, "How long do you think it's going to be to teach me?"

"Given your age, physique, dexterity, and motor skills, I would say anywhere between two to three months. Also, there is another potential flaw in your plan."

"Which is?" Natsuki asked.

Alyssa smiled with an air of superiority, "Does Shizuru even know ballroom dancing, herself?"

Natsuki's brow furrowed, "I…uh…"

"Perhaps it would be best if you worked as a couple to learn. Or at least both took classes at the same time."

"Ara, I see Natsuki, Alyssa, and Miyu, deep in coversation," Shizuru smiled, "Am I interrupting a modern conspiracy?"

"Miss Fujino," Alyssa spoke in her crisp voice, "How would you feel taking ballroom dance lessons to prepare for your anniversary?"

Shizuru looked thoughtful, "Ballroom? Why, that's something I've not tried before. It might prove interesting."

"Very well. You can study with Miyu, and I'll teach my sister."

"That sounds delightful," Shizuru said, "Teach her well, Alyssa-chan. I'll look forward to learning from Miyu."

Natsuki lightly flicked Shizuru's forehead, "Oi, married!"

"Do not worry, Miss Kuga," Miyu said, a faint smile on her face, "Miss Fujino will not sway me with her feminine wiles."

"Ara, asking out of mere curiosity, Miyu-chan," Fujino put her finger on her chin thoughtfully, "But…are you capable of that sort of activity to begin with."

"To quote a relative of mine," Miyu said, "I am fully functional. In every way. I am programmed in multiple techniques."

Shizuru grinned, "The mind boggles."

Natsuki huffed, "That does it. Miyu, you're teaching me. Alyssa, you can teach my wife."

"Ikezu."

"That's not going to work, Natsuki," Alyssa sounded like she was trying to explain something as patiently as she could to a small child, "Even though I've grown a bit in the past few years, I'm nowhere near as tall as Miss Fujino, with her robust 162 centimeters. And then imagine us in heels…"

"Now, am I imagining Miyu in heels, or Natsuki?" Shizuru mused.

Alyssa turned to Natsuki, "Is she always like this?"

"As long as I've known her," Natsuki sighed, but smiled, "It's troublesome, but what can I do? It's love."

"Well, long before our anniversary, we do have Nao's birthday to plan for," Shizuru reminded them.

"I know exactly what I'm getting her," Natsuki grinned.

"Oh?"

"Yep. The answer."

"The answer?" Shizuru looked thoughtful, then went wide eyed, "Oh, of course! To the mystery!"

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"Sayoko Tsukiyama held Anri close to her, 'Are you okay?'

"'Better than okay,' Anri smiled her most mischievous smile, 'I know who it is, Sayoko. I know who your sister is!'

"Sayoko looked at her lover with amazement, 'Anri, they tried to burn your family house to the ground, and your first thought…is for me? I was terrified that you'd been killed!'

"Anri looked at Sayoko as though she were seeing her for the first time, that night, 'Oh, my dearest Sayoko, I didn't mean to worry you. I was never in any danger. My family built in a panic room many years ago, and it also has an escape tunnel that leads out to hidden passage behind the old well. But it was important for me to draw in our quarry.

"'And there he is! Detective Yuuki, arrest that man! He's the one who tried to burn down my family estate!'

"'But that's…'Sayoko was stunned.

"'Senizawa-sensei. Yes. You'll find that he isn't, in fact, Genji Senizawa. The real Genji Senizawa was murdered and replaced by this man when you first enrolled in the University, Sayoko. He believed that you were actually closing in on him and his organization, as well as being on a path to finding your sister, Mikoto.

"'He's been observing us for the last three years, acting as our friend this whole time, while, all the while, he was plotting against us. It was he who hired the assassin that shot me last year. And it was he who then killed that assassin before the truth could be revealed. And he knows where your sister is.'

"'I'll never tell you anything,' the fake Genji Senizawa said defiantly.

"'As if I need you," Anri stuck her nose up in the air, 'There were many clues to Mikoto's new identity. Her age, for one thing. We knew she had to be three years younger than you, since you were six and she was three when they claimed your family.

"'Then there was the matter of the birthmark. A crescent shaped mark on her left hip. There was the lullaby that your mother sang to the two of you in your cradle. And there was the fact that your sister was allergic to buckwheat. So, it was clear to me that your sister could only be…'

"'Megumi Hasagawa! But, Anri…I've known Megumi for years! Why…?'

"'Why didn't you recognize her? It's quite simple, actually. Megumi was separated from you at such a young age, for both of you. You didn't meet her again until you were twelve, twice as old as you were when she was taken. She had no strong memories of you, and you only had a few scant memories of a small child who was still just a toddler with all of her baby fat. When you met her again, you didn't know her for who she was. But you became fast friends, regardless.

"'Don't you remember what you told me, Sayoko? When I was being silly and jealous, you took me aside and told me that I had nothing to worry about. You said…'

"'I said that while I loved Megumi, it was not a romantic love. It was like the love one would have for a sister,' Sayoko recalled.

"'You were never romantically interested in her, even though you did say she was someone you loved. In your own way, part of you still knew who she was supposed to be to you, and you treated her accordingly,' Anri smiled.

"'Then, I'm not Megumi Hasagawa, but Mikoto Tsukiyama?' the girl in question asked.

"'A DNA test will clinch everything for certain,' Anri said, 'But I think it's quite clear. You're Sayoko's long lost sister.'"

Nao finished reading the story, and wiped at her eyes.

"Was it that moving, Nao?" Natsuki asked.

"No," Nao sniffed a bit, then gave Natsuki a smile, even as she dabbed at her eyes, "Fujino and I lost the bet with Miyu."

"In light of the festive occasion," Miyu said, "I will release you from the terms of our wager. However, I do claim bragging rights."

"She's going to be insufferable," Nao sighed.

"If you think that's bad, try getting her to teach you to waltz," Shizuru shook her head.