Chapter 4

As Part of the Family

"I hunt….and slay demons…" Mai says.

"Demons…?" Nayuki breathes. "Wh-wha? That's impossible! I thought demons exist in fairy tales!"

Mai shakes her head. "I heard rumors going around that the school has been broken into. But none can find any evidence or suspects. So I had to step in."

"O-oh…" Nayuki blinks twice. She has never seen real demons or a demon slayer in real life. But it happened right in front of her eyes. She wonders how many demons are there in the school in total.

"On the other hand…" Mai closes her eyes. "Why are you here?"

"Um…I had to get my notes and-" Nayuki starts but gets cut off.

"You're leaving someone behind…" Mai says.

"Eh!? Wh-wha?" Nayuki says. "I-I mean, Okaa-san's just fine and there's this girl-"

"That's what I mean…" Mai says. "Go to her. Quickly."

"B-but why!? What does she need me for!?" Nayuki cries.

But the stoic girl walks away without another word. Nayuki panics.

"Oh no! I gotta see if Okaa-san or Makoto-chan are okay!" Nayuki rushes out of the school and sprints to her house.

She opens the door and pants heavily. "Haaah….haaah…Makoto-chan! Okaa-san!"

"Ara~" Akiko's voice comes from the living room. "Welcome back, Nayuki~"

The cute bluenette runs to the living room to see her mother sitting on the couch with Makoto sleeping on her lap. Akiko winks and puts a finger to her mouth. Nayuki sighs in relief. All that worrying for nothing. What was Mai trying to warn her about?

"There's dinner in the fridge~" Akiko says softly. "You can heat it up if you're hungry~"

"Thanks, Okaa-san," Nayuki says. She turns around and squeals in delight mentally. 'Okaa-san's food is the best! I am so happy!'

Nayuki happily heats up the food and then eats it. Akiko giggles softly at her daughter's enjoyment.

A few Days Later*

Makoto is all happy and proud to be in the Minase household. She can eat as much as she wants, play, and even watch some television with Akiko, all while Nayuki is at school.

Speaking of which, Nayuki is deep in thought. It may have been a few days, but Makoto is starting to make the cute bluenette a bit jealous. Sure, it's a childish thing to do, but the worst thing that could happen is that Makoto could be all lovey dovey with her.

"No, no, no, no!" Nayuki shakes her head roughly while sitting at her desk. She grabs it with both hands. "That's impossible! Makoto-chan barely knows Okaa-san! Unless…! Makoto-chan just so happened to become a sadistic little thing! Like what she tried to do to me one time!"

She recalls Makoto pulling a nasty prank on her, trying to get in the bath at the same time and then touching her breasts without permission and messing around afterwards. She imagines the worst case scenario with Akiko.

*Fantasy*

"Okay, Akikoooo~" Makoto says. She is wearing a black domnitrix outfit with thigh high boots and elbow gloves. She cracks her whip and licks her lips. "You know what to do next, don't you~?"

"Noooooo…!" Akiko whines as she is curled up in a corner. She is wearing a purple bondage outfit. "No more, please! Have mercy…!"

"Too late for mercy, dearie~" Makoto coos. "Now get on all fours!"

"Nooooooooo…!" Akiko screams.

*End of Fantasy*

"Ahhhhhhhh!" Nayuki cries as she shuts her eyes tightly. "Get that out of my head! Why would Okaa-san wear such an erotic thing!?"

"What about your mother?" Kaori asks with an eyebrow raised.

"KYAAA!" Nayuki nearly jumps out of her seat at the sight of Kaori standing next to her with her arms crossed. "K-Kaori-chan! How long have you been here?"

"Long enough to hear you panic over something," Kaori says. "What seems to be the problem?"

Nayuki sighs. "Okay. Do you remember the stray girl I told you about?"

"Makoto, right? Yeah you told me her name the day after she revealed it to you," Kaori replies.

"Well…she is turning out to be a troublemaker…" Nayuki explains. "And…I don't know how to deal with it while I'm at school and she's alone with Okaa-san."

"Hmmm…" Kaori rubs her chin in thought. "She's like a little kid who needs attention. Maybe try and figure out what she enjoys the most and see if that helps her occupy herself more often."

"Hey, that's a great idea!" Nayuki exclaims. "I know of a kid's nursery who is in desperate need of an assistant! I'll go check with them after school today~"

"Heh, you do that then," Kaori pets her best friend on the head. "Do your best, Nayuki."

The cute bluenette giggles at being petted like that.

Later*

During lunch, Nayuki notices Mai walking alone. Sayuri must be busy with something, which is the perfect opportunity to ask her the question that has been on her mind for a while.

"Mai!" She calls and the stoic girl stops to turn around.

"Yes?" The stoic girl asks.

"You told me something about not leaving someone behind," Nayuki says. "And you were referring to Makoto, the girl that's staying over at my house. What did you mean by that?"

"She needs you," Mai replies. "More than…anything…"

"How do you know about that?" Nayuki asks.

"Just a feeling…" Mai says and then turns to walk away.

"Ah…" Nayuki reaches a hand out to call for her but she finds herself not saying anything. Maybe she has to figure all of this out herself.

Later*

Nayuki did not see Ayu in town today, so she decides to head straight home. She arrives at her house within ten minutes and opens the door.

"I'm home, Okaa-san," Nayuki calls. "Are you feeling okay?"

Suddenly, a petite girl trots over to the entrance. "Welcome back, Nayuki-chan~"

Nayuki's eyes widen at the sight of a certain petite brunette. She doesn't have her coat and her angel winged back pack on her. She is just wearing her regular clothing.

"Umm….uhhh…" Nayuki raises an eyebrow and is about to speak when Akiko beats her to it.

"Surprised~?" The violet haired woman says. "Ayu-chan came here and informed me that you are her friend. So I let her in~"

"Is that…really okay?" Nayuki asks. "I'm sure that her parents-"

"They said it was fine," Ayu interrupts. "They let me stay here for the night or two."

"Fufu! Ayu-chan was talking about you non-stop while playing with Makoto-chan~" Akiko says. "You two must be super close~"

"Close…?" Nayuki says softly. "I…I don't think…Ah!" Her eyes widen at a fragment of a memory inside her head. A crying girl. With long hair and has a red head band on her head. The memory disappears and Nayuki stares at Ayu. "Were we…that close…?"

"Well of course~" Ayu says with a happy smile. "We meet each other every day, eat taiyaki together and chat most of the time while taking long walks. Doesn't that consider friendship~?"

Nayuki is at a loss for words. She is either dreaming again or just had a rough day. But here is Ayu. In the flesh. And Akiko probably didn't even take at least 3 seconds give her approval when Ayu asked her to come in. It's always immediate.

Ayu trots closer to Nayuki and takes her hands in her own. "I want to get to know you more, Nayuki-chan! So we can be the best of friends! And maybe with your mother and Makoto-chan! Please, Nayuki-chan~?"

The bluenette hesitates and looks over at her mother, who nods. Nayuki smiles and pets the petite girl.

"Okay. You can stay with us for a while~" Nayuki says. "Actually…I want to get to know a little about you too."

"Then it's a deal~" Ayu happily says.

"Yaaaay! A playmate!" Makoto cheers who has been listening from a corner.

Nayuki gives a small smile as Makoto and Ayu run around, playing tag. Akiko takes this chance to walk over next to her daughter.

"Isn't it great that our household is so lively~?" The young woman says as she cups a hand on her cheek.

Nayuki doesn't say anything. This makes Akiko a bit concerned and gently turns her daughter around to face her.

"Do you want to talk about what's bothering you?" She asks softly.

Nayuki slowly nods. It may be alright to at least get it out of her chest. She and Akiko head upstairs and toward the balcony where they watch the stars in the clear blue sky. It is then that after a few minutes of silence, Nayuki decides to speak up.

"Okaa-san…" she says softly. "Strange things have been happening to me lately."

"Why is that, dear?" Akiko asks turning her head to face her daughter.

"Well…I meet these girls and it feels like something in my head has been triggered," Nayuki says. "Like how I first met Ayu-chan. I really don't know why this is happening, but whatever this memory is popping in my head, it's trying to recall something." Nayuki looks down. "Like earlier…I saw…a little girl crying. She looked like…Ayu-chan, but…was it really her?"

Akiko's expression softens and slightly turns her head. "So it's starting, huh…?"

"Okaa-san?" Nayuki asks. "You're spacing out again."

"A-Ara, ara~" Akiko chuckles nervously, cupping a hand to her cheek. "I must be losing it too."

"I don't blame you," Nayuki says. "Anyways, that's what I wanted to tell you."

Akiko pauses for a second, trying to think of the right words to say. She steps closer, gently turns her daughter to face her and caresses her cheek.

"Whatever those memories are…" she says softly. "If it's truly trying to tell you something, then you must continue searching. It will eventually come to you. I know it."

"Yeah…" Nayuki says. "A lot has happened since….we lived together for so long."

Akiko tenderly hugs her daughter. "Yes…it has. And it's a good thing you are trying to fit the pieces of the puzzle."

"Yeah…" Nayuki rests her head on her mother's chest. She can feel Akiko gently stroke her long blue tresses. "Okaa-san…"

"Yes, Nayuki?" Akiko asks.

"Can you…sleep with me tonight…?" The bluenette whispers. "I just want…someone to sleep with."

Akiko smiles a gentle smile and kisses her daughter on the forehead. "Of course, sweetie. Anything for my dear Nayuki~"

Nayuki smiles a small smile and the two remain like this until Ayu and Makoto call both of them for food.