33.
Twins
A/N: So, in one chapter, I said Nao was having a girl, and in another, it was announced that it would be a boy. So, rather than go to the trouble of revisiting and revising one chapter or the other, I've decided that Nao is getting twins. I can only hope that the fourth wall will protect me from Miss Yuuki's wrath.
"Twins!" Natsuki tried to hide her smile, but found it a daunting task.
"Ara, but I thought it was a boy."
"It is a boy. And a girl,"Nao sighed, rubbing her head, "The genetic test showed the girl, but the ultrasound showed the boy. Their heartbeats are apparently in perfect synch, so no one noticed it right away."
She was lying in the hospital bed, looking very, very tired, and Natsuki and Shizuru watched as the nurses brought in the twins.
"Where's Reito?" Natsuki looked around.
"He's on the phone downstairs, calling Mai and Yuuichi, and begging them to round up an extra set of baby clothes," Nao smiled weakly, "It's time to feed them, so…"
"Were you doing this one at a time?" Natsuki asked, "Or will you be doing double service?"
"Allow me," Shizuru picked up one infant, "I can rock one child while you feed the other. Who's first?"
"You're already holding Daisuke, so I'll feed Kasumi first," Nao said, "And thanks."
Shizuru smiled, "You did much more for me. Holding this little sweetie pie is hardly an imposition."
Natsuki leaned against the wall, smiling warmly, "Now this is something I never thought I'd see. You two being bosom buds. It's a far cry from that night, seven years ago."
Nao smiled, then winced, "Oh. That pinched. You never said anything about that, Kuga."
"And ruin the surprise?" Natsuki smiled, "You get used to it. And I bought you a breast pump, which makes life a lot easier."
"My, such a strong grip," Shizuru marveled as Daisuke pulled on her finger, "You've inherited your Father's strength."
"He's got your eyes, too, Nao," Natsuki looked at him curiously, then she looked at Kasumi, "Hmmm. So did she."
"Looks like we'll have to wait a bit to see whose hair they got," Nao smiled lightly.
Reito came in, "I'm here. I wired Mai enough money to buy new clothes and a second crib. Kuga, I hate to impose, but…could you meet her there. I don't want to give my wife the impression that I'm trying to duck out on my responsibilities."
"Ok. I can help out, too. But, I hate to be the negative voice, here, but is there room in the guesthouse for another crib?"
"Ara, about that, I have an idea. Natsuki, I'll come with you. Reito, here's your son."
As they walked down to the hospital lobby, Natsuki looked at Shizuru, "What's up that you couldn't discuss in front of Nao?"
"Well, it's a large step, and I wouldn't want to make an offer that would involve huge changes without first discussing them with you."
"Ok. What changes?"
"My grandmother passed last week. My parents are moving to one of our smaller properties. They're effectively retiring. They want to hand the reins of the business over to me, now. They would leave me the mansion just north of Fuuka. You were there. It's a massive house. There would be room for you, me, the children, your mother. We could even let Reito and Nao live there without trouble, since Nao would want to remain close to Naomi. And I wouldn't mind being able to dote on those two charming little bundles, myself."
Natsuki looked at her uncertainly, "Moving? I mean, I'm a novelist. I can work anywhere. But we'd be uprooting the kids. Taking them somewhere new."
"Which is why I wanted to discuss it with you."
"And what would we do with the current house? Sell it?"
"Actually, I thought we could offer to let Mai and Yuuichi rent it for the same amount they currently pay for that miserably small apartment they inhabit now. They could sublet the guest house for us, too."
Natsuki pursed her lips in thought, "It's not a bad idea. And your parents are fine with letting us move into their old home? I mean, the servants there would be fully aware of our relationship. I don't care, but it might make your business life…difficult."
"I don't care. I've risen above many challenges in my life, and what's the point of being in a relationship with someone as wonderful as you if I can't tell the world about it. Besides, I've already demonstrated my skills at making money to the board. Money, ultimately, is the only thing that the board, and the investors, will care about. Who I share my home and bed with would be of no consequence if I can offer a 15% return on investments."
Natsuki paused, then smiled, "You want to tell the world that you have me?"
"That's the thing that I've always wanted," Shizuru smiled at her, crimson eyes twinkling.
"Well, then, I'm all for it," Natsuki embraced her.