Chapter Six. Would?
Nemuri crossed her arms, pouting again for the fiftieth time today. Her blue eyes set on somewhere away from me. I sighed and laid on her a little.
"Babe, is this about Kira?" I asked.
"No, it isn't…" she huffed, fidgeting a little, "Just… thinking. About us. And… and the kid." Her face turned to mine, "I mean… we're almost thirty in a few years…"
"Okay? So… what does that have to do with her?" I asked.
"Well! I… I always wanted a kid! But with all this shit with being a hot pro hero… it's just like when I was younger," she huffed. I hugged her tightly.
"Hey, Nemuri, a kid won't fix this. I should know, I was a Fix-It kid." I stated, "All we can do right now is live on and maybe I'll see my daughter every now and then,"
Nemuri settled against my chest, "Just the thought that you had sex with her kinda makes me… feel off," she shook a little in rage, "I mean… how fucked up is that! A year without even knowing you have a kid!"
I nodded, "Well… Kira is too little to be a year… but I see your meaning." I said, "I mean… I know you want one, but is that really a good reason? Let's really think about this before we commit, ya know?"
Nemuri nodded, "I know… I'm being silly… but do you still miss her?"
I raised an eyebrow, "What makes you say that? Of course I got a daughter from her, but I never looked back, I just want you to know that I want to be with you every single goddamn day, it doesn't matter what it was like before… all that matters is now, but… would you theoretically marry me if I asked?"
Nemuri's eyes widened, "Would I?" she echoed, "Well… yeah. If that's okay…" she mumbled. I just smiled and kissed her. Hopefully this couldn't go wrong. Nemuri still stayed in my arms for the rest of the day. She was oddly clingy. Always the most important thing whenever we're cuddling and watching movies.
She munched on some popcorn. We always watched movies on our lazy days and the usual suspects were mostly action or something else like a cheesy romantic comedy.
Horror movies weren't even an option if I didn't want Nemuri shoving my face into her breasts. She smiled and let me pet her hair.
"Tenkara, why'd you ask me about marrying you? Ooh, are you going to pop the question?!" Nemuri hugged me tightly, "In that case I will!"
"Whoa! Take it easy! I was just speakin' theoretically," I said as she kissed me on the neck, cooing softly. Her happiness was honestly adorable. I knew that she always liked our movie nights. Just a night where she didn't need to be a hero or out on patrols for the hungry eyes of villains and even her own fans.
She didn't like being eye candy. I could tell. She always looked so uncomfortable about it. But seeing her in her oversized sweater and house shoes, with her normal glasses on and her hair in that cute ponytail.
There was nothing more beautiful than that.
"Hey Tenkara, why don't you go anywhere?" she asked, "I mean, it's gotta be about something…" the credits were rolling and the popcorn was mostly bits and kernels. I looked down at her with a fond smile.
"Well… yeah. My mom always tried to control Haneru and I. She was the parent that was around the most," I explained, "So with Kizuki and you… it was like one big adventure, I could do what I wanted,"
Nemuri just smiled, shifting over to my lap, laying her head under my chin, "Man, you've been really huggy today," I commented, "Afraid I'll go running?"
She nodded, "The last time I saw you before you came back you just… ran off. I mean, it was right after Shirakumo happened." Nemuri said, "Just the fact you've been through so much scares me to death. I mean, you've killed people, you were thrown into prison because your quirk was deadly,"
I huffed, "They were making us soldiers, I just wanted to avenge my brother… I mean… What was a kid supposed to do when their only family member leaves them? I did what I thought was right, I did the heroes a damn favor!" Nemuri just rubbed my back a little, "I'm terrified, Nemuri… one day you're not gonna come home, you'll just… not be honored or anything like that…" I felt my eyes sting horribly, tears filling them.
Just the thought of losing any of them made me go crazy in Tartarus. Just the notion that Nemuri wouldn't be waiting or anyone wouldn't be around to see me get out. I cried into her arms, feeling her hugging me back.
She didn't say much, just hugged me tightly. I cried as much as I could. Letting it all out again as Nemuri kissed me. It felt better but at the same time I felt a little bad. If I had known about my daughter, or if I didn't run out on Kizuki, would I be happy?
I could've convinced her that maybe we should've kept the baby or worked something out. I would've killed to be in that room when she brought her into the world. Just to see her for the first time. It killed me inside.
Knowing I'd miss her first steps, her first word, her first everything. She'd have no knowledge or desire to know me. Whether it was for the best remains to be seen but at the same time I wanted nothing more than to raise the little lady.
Kizuki still loved me. I knew that the minute we locked eyes in the office that day. Nemuri loved me too. Ever since UA. So… why was I doubting at all. I let go of Nemuri and she got around me to go towards the bedroom.
I didn't follow her, getting out my phone.
'Here goes nothing…' I thought.
"Sorry for calling ya on such short notice, Kizuki…" I sighed, shaking the tiredness out of my head as my ex sat across from me, watching our baby in her little carrier. Needless to say it seemed Kizuki had things down.
"It's not every day you call me, so what's wrong?" she asked.
"Just… things…" I mumbled, looking down at my hands. The morning light streaming in from outside, she leaned over the table, studying me.
"You're stalling," she stated softly.
"Stalling? Me? No…" I said, "Just… I was thinking about this… our baby." I reached my finger out, hearing a tiny coo and feeling her tiny hand grab my finger. Kizuki sighed.
"Tenkara, if you want to be with Nemuri, then be with her, stop being so dramatic…" she closed her eyes and took a deep breath, "Just… I know I made a mistake, a big one. And yeah, I miss you sometimes, but…" she twirled a length of hair around her fingers, "I want you to move on, please. Just do it for me,"
I shook my head, "Kizuki, what's so wrong about it?" I asked, "I mean… this is our kid Im thinking about,"
"Didn't you have parents who stayed together for you and your brother but the minute your dad died your mom went insane? Listen, we had our time, and… and dammit! Why is it so hard to get rid of you?" She growled, unwinding her hair and pouting, "I miss when you'd hold me in your arms as I worked on an article, or those times where you'd come onto me while I was working, god, it made me lose my mind…"
I laughed a little, "I remember dragging you to bed and just making you sleep. Or even coming to the publishing company to watch you work."
"Wait how?"
"Cloaking with iron filings… but I get it… I- put the recorder away."
"What recorder?"
"In your hand, dummy!" I exclaimed with a laugh, "When do you NOT work?" Kizuki looked at Kira, who was wiggling my finger, looking around with her red and black eyes. She smiled at her.
"Only when Kira needs her mommy." She said, "And when I need to take a break,"
I feigned shock, "Oh my GOD! Kizuki Chitose taking breaks?! I better check with the airlines, because pigs are certainly flying!" Kira began to fidget, whining and Kizuki sighed, unbuckling her and doing her thing that only women can do for babies, I didn't watch, I just ignored it. Kizuki just smiled.
"Still nervous, hm…" she asked, "Tenkara, you're still an innocent little kid in a twenty something's body, I'm surprised you can fuck Nemuri with a straight face," she gained a twisted little smile on her face, "Or even me… but hey… you're good at it~!"
"Kizuki, there's people here! Take it easy!" I hissed, "Just… ugh… okay… I am..."
"Alright. Good boy." she said, burping Kira and holding her, "Isn't Daddy a good boy, Kira-chan?" Kira giggled and I huffed.
"Well great…" I huffed, "Now you got the baby thinking exactly how you do,"
"You're just jealous…" she cooed at Kira and I, "Isn't daddy jealous?" Kira squealed out a laugh. I scoffed and got to my feet, setting down some yen for the coffee. I paused and leaned down to Kira, giving her a little kiss on the forehead.
Kira laughed and batted my face with her pudgy azure hands. I smiled a little and stood to my full height.
"See ya around, Kira!" I cooed, leaving and smiling widely. Walking back to the station wasn't hard. It felt easier than ever. I jived back to the apartment, finding the door unlocked and I got in. Seeing Nemuri rushing around, stuffing things into a few suitcases.
Her eyes frantic, her hands shoving clothes into the bags like a madwoman. A purple haired, blue eyed maelstrom of a woman. She looked up at me and breathed out a sigh of relief. She ran into my arms.
"Oh thank god!" She exclaimed. I didn't know what the hell was going on, but judging by the fact she shoved my suitcase full to bursting we were going on a little trip together.
"O-kay…" I mumbled, patting her back, "What the hell is this?"
"Well… ya know that question you asked me?" she asked, "My… My family called. My Mom and Dad…" she twirled some of her hair around her fingers, a nervous tick I haven't seen since we were in high school.
"Uh huh…" I said, nodding slowly, "So… we're going to go see them?" I assumed.
Nemuri nodded, smiling wryly, "One hell away from the real one…" she sighed, letting me sit her down on the bed and pull her into my lap. She just held onto me.
"So… how bad are they?" I asked.
"Do you want to cut your hair, get rid of all your Metallica shirts, and start gaining an appreciation for soft rock?" she asked, touching foreheads with me.
"Uhm… no." I decided after not much thought. "The shirts I had were rare and I had to fight for them online." She just smiled and kissed me.
"Okay… that's a good answer," she said, "Of course, my family are awfully traditional," she handed me a yukata, black and silver, my color scheme. I smiled.
"So… you guys are the more classic assassins...cool." I stated.
Nemuri rocked her hand back and forth, "Sorta." she said, "If you can call strutting around and commentating on other women's fashion as assassination work?"
"I call it fashion assassination," I stated. Kissing her and nudging her a little, "That black dress you wore was hot as hell,"
"Yeah… I knew you'd like it…" she sighed softly, "I know you won't like it, being around my family. You've always been like that around others."
"Well, growing up as the son of a hitman for the mob does that to you," I smirked, "If they wanna fight me then they can bring it on,"
She laughed and kissed me again, pulling me down into bed. I laughed and hugged her tightly. Of course I'd fight for everyone important to me.
Would?