42.

Life, The Universe, and Everything

"How many baby showers have I been to, now?" Mai laughed, helping to lift Natsuki's swollen feet to an ottoman.

"Yours included?" Natsuki grinned.

"Two for me," Mai said, "One for Mikoto. Two for Nao. One for Shizuru. Still amazed how that worked out, with those two. One for Akira. One for Akane. This is the second one for you. Midori was overseas when she had her kids, but I did send a gift."

"Well, you can join me in attending Haruka's next week," Natsuki smiled at her, "Shizuru wants to come, too, but there might be some trouble she has to attend to with the American branch. The group translating my Pathfinder series into English wants to do photo covers for the novels and try and sell them in the regular fiction section."

"That's a problem?" Mai asked.

"It's been tried before," Natsuki said, "American fans weren't happy. Apparently, they did an atrocious cover for the Spice and Wolf series over there that had them balking. And then, the retailers just put them in the manga section, anyway, instead of the regular fiction section like they'd planned.

"I know my market. If I want U.S. fans to buy my stuff, I have to have it where fans will expect it, and they're going to want original covers and illustrations, not some half-assed attempt to sell them to a 'broader audience'."

"I guess that makes sense. What about your new novel series?"

"Ruby and Emerald," Natsuki said, "Well, have you read any of it?"

"I got the pre-reader copy that your publisher sent. Thank you, by the way, for putting me on the list. It's a nice treat, to get to read stuff before anyone else," Mai smiled, "But…they were a bit vague on the premise and I didn't get a chance to actually pick it up, yet. Lots of wedding cakes, these days."

"We are moving into the month of June," Nasuki nodded, "But call it a supernatural mystery series. Ruby is a young woman who just inherited a strange mansion, said to be haunted by the Emerald Lady. But Ruby meets, and falls in love with the Emerald Lady, and learns that the young woman was murdered, but she doesn't know by whom. So, Ruby is trying to help the spirit of the woman she loves find peace by learning the truth of who killed her and why. And she finds that she, herself, may be in danger from the secrets that she uncovers."

"That seems sad," Mai said, "If Ruby helps Emerald move on, won't she be alone again?"

"No love is without risk," Natsuki pointed out, "But you'll have to actually read it in order to find out what happens. You know me. I have a strict 'no-spoilers' policy."

Mai grinned, wrinkling her nose at Natsuki, "Ikezu."

"I felt a grave disturbance in the force," Shizuru appeared from seemingly nowhere.

"Eep!" Mai squeaked.

"Good news, Natsuki. I was able to convince the gentleman at marketing not to alter the covers."

"How'd you do that?" Natsuki asked.

"Do you remember how Studio Ghibli dealt with the situation when Harvey Weinstein was doing the American release of Princess Mononoke?"

"What happened?" Mai blinked.

"Word is they sent the man a katana with a note that read, 'no cuts'."

"I thought that story was made up," Natsuki frowned.

"But well known enough that it is still an effective deterrent. I simply explained to the gentleman that I am still his superior, that I am definitely your wife, and that if he so much as airbrushed a single hair on the character's heads, I would cut him from the company. He got the message."

"Scary," Mai shivered.

"Natsuki, who, besides Mai, are we expecting?"

"Well, Midori said she'd swing by. And Nao and Reito. I think Shiho said she could make it."

"You invited Shiho?" Mai looked at her with a sour expression.

"Someone," Natsuki cast a meaningful gaze at Shizuru, "thought that having a popular pop idol do the opening theme for the Pathfinder anime would be a good idea. So there's supposed to be a huge publicity team here to take a picture of famous author Kreuger and pop star Shi-chin celebrating together."

"But…I thought you kept your picture off the cover of your books for privacy," Mai said, "Since a lot of people still oppose your relationship."

"That's why the image of Kreuger will be provided by a volunteer stand-in," Shizuru smiled, "Nina, dear!"

A young woman with amber colored eyes and raven hair came into the room.

"Wait, but that's…Chun Mei?" Mai blinked.

"I'm flattered you remember," she hugged Mai, "But I go by Nina Wang now. Professional model, and I have done stand-in work for people who want to keep their anonymity, too. Helps to have a stage name to keep my own privacy when I need it. So, if someone goes looking for Nina Wang, they find my professional website and pricing for studio gigs. But they won't find the house and properties listed to Chun Mei, where I can take a breather when I need one."

"It's why I write under a pen name," Natsuki added.

The doorbell rang, and they opened the door to Mikoto, "Wow, Kaichou's house is huge!"

Shizuru chuckled, "I haven't been Kaichou in eight years now, Mikoto. How are you?"

"Well, I heard it was a party, so I brought my appetite," Mikoto grinned

"Of course you did," Natsuki smirked.

"Aw, c'mon. It's not like I'm that bottomless pit I was when I was a kid," Mikoto grinned, "I was going through a growth slash combat spurt then."

"Well, it's good to see you, anyway, squirt."

"I'm amazed at how well you've kept your figure…well, minus the baby bump," Mikoto said, "I would've thought that becoming a writer would have had you sitting around a lot and stuff."

"Natsuki is very diligent in her exercises," Shizuru informed her, "Even now, while pregnant, she does those exercises that the OB/GYN says are safe."

"Hell," Nina said, "Even pregnant, she'd have half my modeling agency in a fit, trying to compete with her looks."

Shizuru smiled contentedly, a smile which both Mai and Natsuki understood to mean, "And she's all mine, thank you very much."

"So, Natsuki's third child," Mikoto leaned over and gave Natsuki a playful peck on the forehead.

"And second pregnancy," Nao came into the room carrying a basket with a huge bow on it.

"You guys are the weirdest classmates," Nina sighed.

"You try being born to a vast ancient conspiracy and see how normal your life turns out," Natsuki leaned back in the chair, "I'm gonna take a like snooze. Don't mind me. And keep a path to the nearest restroom clear, just in case."

"I'm here!" Midori announced loudly, "And I brought some refreshments that even our Mom to be can have!"

Midori held up seem green bottles.

"Um…what's that?" Natsuki asked suspiciously.

"Non-alcoholic apple cider," Midori said, "It's a brand from California. It's what I drank when I was pregnant. No alcohol. Perfectly safe. And lots of vitamin C."

Shizuru examined one of the bottles carefully, then nodded, "It's safe."

"Well, of course. Hey, I may be a party hard seventeen year old…"

"Nobody buys that anymore," Mikoto said bluntly.

"But I'm responsible when it comes to keeping babies safe and sound."

"There may be some paparazzi outside," Shiho Munekata walked in, "Oh, hey, Mai. I see you must be sampling your cooking quite a bit. Good thing your husband likes to have something to hold onto."

"Why you little…" Mai grumbled.

"And Natsuki, looking good. You could do one of those magazine covers holding your adorable little baby bump."

"I've seen those covers. No one but Shizuru will ever see that much of me."

Shiho shrugged, "It couldn't hurt, you know. Let 'em know that you're still spry and sexy while you've got the ability to flaunt it. It doesn't last forever for any of us, y'know."

"As Natsuki said," Shizuru's look was meaningful, "Only I ever need know these things about her."

"You two are so old-fashioned," Shiho sighed, "Well, you're both old money, so I guess it can't be helped."

"Old fashioned?" Shizuru and Natsuki exchanged a glance.

"Yeah. All the really cool lesbians are flaunting it these days."

"My relationship is not a marketing scheme," Natsuki huffed, "And I'm not sharing Shizuru with the world. I built my career on talent, not tabloid."

"Whatever. I'm just saying, being a bit more on display couldn't hurt your brand, any."

"Shiho, mingle with the other guests," Shizuru suggested in a way that made it clear it wasn't a suggestion.

"Ooohhhh, I could strangle that brat!" Mai hissed.

"Not if I strangle her first," Natsuki growled.

"I could save you both the trouble," Mikoto suggested helpfully.

"Remind me not to renew her contract when it's up," Shizuru said.

"Well, anyway, let's not let her rain on our parade," Mai suggested, "Natsuki, want some of Midori's non-alcoholic bubbly?"

"Sure. Hit me with a shot."

Mai poured, and Natsuki took a tentative sip. There was movement in her abdomen that suggested that Sachiko approved.

"It's not bad," Natsuki said, downing the rest, "Kinda sweet and tart."

"Ooohhh," Nao came up, seething, "Pour me a glass of whatever that is, and keep me away from that Munekata brat."

"What'd she say to you?" Mai smirked.

"She suggested I stop cribbing off of my friends married life for my manga and go for something sexier."

"Mikoto has offered to strangle her later," Shizuru offered, helpfully.

"And deprive me of the satisfaction?" Nao pouted at Mikoto.

"Sorry."

"Anyway, so, Natsuki," Nao sat down next to her, "Mother of three, delivering two of them yourself. Published author. Wealthy and successful. What are you going to do next?"

"Well, after this party, hopefully get a good night's rest," Natsuki grinned, "But other than that, I think I'm going to just be contented to count my blessings. By the way, Alyssa and Miyu should be here in a minute, if the GPS signal from Miyu is any indicator."

"You lo-jacked Miyu?" Mai blinked.

"No. She came lo-jacked. She just let me know how to see where she was. For security."

"Nina is right, we do have some strange classmates," Mai shrugged.

"Well, it's just how life goes," Natsuki said reasonably, "No one is actually normal. Normal is an average. You take any one person out of the average, and they'll deviate so greatly as to be seen as abnormal. Granted, we skew a little further outside the averages than most…"

"Way outside," Mai agreed.

"Astronomically outside," Shizuru sighed.

"But no one I know can claim normalcy. So, the secret to life, the universe, and everything, as I see it, is to just be yourself, be kind to others, and enjoy it one day at a time. Now, someone do me the favor of rubbing these elephant feet of mine, because they ache something awful."

Shizuru smiled, "I believe that falls under my privileges, being the wife, and all."

There was movement in Natsuki's stomach, and then the rumble of an empty tummy, "Yeah, Sachiko, I hear you. Mai, can you be a dear and bring me a plate of everything?"

A/N: My apologies to Shiho's fans. Both of them.