36.
Talking
"Nice digs," Midori grinned as she entered the mansion. A servant quickly stepped forward to collect her bags.
"We've got a room for you and another for the twins," Natsuki smiled at the two redheaded children standing at Midori's feet, looking up at her shyly.
"Great. You know, I'm thinking of renting the guest house that you guys have at your other property. I'm moving back to Fuuka to start teaching at the Academy again."
"Retiring from being an archeologist?" Natsuki was surprised.
"Well, everything's getting more dangerous out there, and I've got these two angels to take care of," Midori grinned, "Imagine, me, having twins at the age of seventeen."
Natsuki rolled her eyes, "Weren't you seventeen when I met you eight years ago?"
"Mama says that beautiful ladies are seventeen for life," the little boy said. The girl just smiled.
"That's right, Jun," Midori's grin grew, "Anyway, my kiddos can play with your kiddos in the garden, and you and me, we can catch up. And Mai told me that we should swing by the cake shop later. Where's that lovely wife of yours. I never really did get to know her, and I think now's as good a time as any."
Natsuki smiled, "Oh, she's taking care of some important business."
888888
"First, Fujino-san, let me start by telling you that I know about the HiME, the Festival, and the truth about the powers you once possessed. I know that these things are real, and I know that they happened. So you can tell me about them without fearing that I won't believe you," the young man spoke calmly and clinically.
"And how can you know such things, Doctor?"
"Simply put," he took off his glasses, setting them on the table, "I worked for Searrs before leaving that group. I was in charge of Alyssa's mental well-being."
"And then you went to work for Dr. Chiba."
"Less stress. Better hours. Less likelihood of being shot by strange men in dark suits. Bit of a pay cut, but there's always tradeoffs. So, you came here to talk to me about…?"
Shizuru looked uneasy, "In every dream, I'm hurting Natsuki. Every. Last. One. And in more than a few of them, I'm taking a sadistic glee in it."
"Fujino-san, are you worried that you're actually going to hurt your wife?"
"What? No! Never!"
"But your dreams scare you. Why?"
"Because, during the Festival, I became a demon. In almost every sense of the word. I killed many, many people during that time. There was something dark living in me then, and I fear that it still is, somewhere."
"And you're afraid that part of you will hurt your wife, or you children?"
"I fear it may bring them harm, if not be the cause."
He smiled slightly, "Fujino-san, you're a powerful businesswoman, and living in a same-sex relationship that mirrors a marriage, although in this nation you aren't technically married. You've recently gone very public with your relationship, and, you come from a very traditional family. There are many aspects to you, and some of them seem to be in conflict with each other."
"We moved into the old family home, recently," Shizuru said, "Natsuki thinks that memories of my late grandmother are fueling my nightmares."
"Tell me about your grandmother."
Shizuru did. The lectures. The punishments. The stern old woman who sent her to be part of the Festival.
He nodded, "Fujino-san, most women live in fear of becoming their mothers. I think you live in fear of becoming your grandmother. That taciturn old woman who berated you daily, until you went to Fuuka. You have gone back to your family home, and it's dragged up memories of your anger, self-resentment, and hurt.
"You outed yourself publicly at the same time you took up residence where you remember the very woman who told you that you were vile for feeling that way. And now, memories of what you did to District One are coming through, as well, and it's turning into dreams of you hurting your wife. Fueled slightly by memories of a time you actually did.
"But consider, Fujino, that you weren't yourself when you did those things. You were at war between what you wanted, and what you'd been told you could have.
"I can't free you from the guilt of the past. But I can say that District One was trying to herd a bunch of adolescent girls into a shooting war, and they should have no complaints about being caught in the crossfire of the war they themselves initiated.
"As to who you are now, that's for you to determine. But I agree with one thing you said. I don't think you'd ever harm your family. I'm far more worried that you would harm yourself."
Shizuru sighed, closing her eyes, "What should I do, then, Doctor?"
"Think of the demon that you became as the product of your grandmother's hatred. It was her hatred, directed at the things you love. So, when you realize that you're dreaming, try to take control of the dream. Lucid dreaming. And don't think of it as you being cruel and vicious in those dreams. Picture your grandmother. And then, take charge of the dream, and be the heroine for your wife. I have techniques I can use to teach you how to do that. Would you like to begin there?"
Shizuru nodded, "Yes, lets."
888888
Shizuru was exhausted when she got home, but she was greeted by the sight of her children, playing cheerfully with Midori's twins.
"Ara, my household has grown in my absence."
Reito came in right behind her, "Hmmm. Red hair. Either Nao had more children when I wasn't looking, or our guest of honor has arrived."
"Well," Midori showed up, a very distinctive flush on her face, "If it isn't Kanzaki and Kuga. C'mon, the party's in here!"
"Ara, I distinctly remember removing all the alcohol from the house before I left," Shizuru looked puzzled.
"She brought her own," Natsuki smirked, joining her wife, "Something from Greece called Uzo."
Reito looked mildly alarmed, "You and Nao haven't…"
"Not me, anyway," Natsuki said, "There was an incident in the dorms back right before the Festival, and I learned early on that I don't do drunk very well. Your blushing bride, on the other hand, has a bit of extra blush today."