Chapter 4

A.N. DON'T HURT ME! LoL I got bored and it really sucked. So now I apologize for the last chapter. This one is a bit nicer…

Disclaimer: Blue Seed… I OWN IT (Unfortunately only in my dreams) For if I did own it I would be living in a mansion and be driving around some Jaguar. As you can see, I am not so :sticks tongue out:

// Momiji looked down at the sword and then back at Suzanah-oh. Why couldn't she put it down? Rather than asking him, she turned to Kaede. "Why? Why can't I put it down?"

"Momiji, the sword you hold in your hand is the very sword Suzanah-oh used to destroy the Arigami to save the first Kushinada," Kaede answered slowly before smiling a her husband.

Momiji blinked twice before looking to Suzanah-oh. "Please… take it," she begged, holding the sword out for the God to take.

Suzanah-oh shook his head. "There is now only one person who can take it from you, and until he does you will carry with you the burden of the sword."

Momiji looked down at the old sword. Was this the burden Kusinagi felt? Was this why he pushed her away so much? But Suzanah-oh had stated that… no! That was not what he meant. Momiji returned her gaze to Suzanah-oh, "Who can take it?" she begged desperately. She wanted to be rid of it! Just knowing she couldn't let go made her hate it that much more.

Suzanah-oh shook his head again. "Your destiny, your soul mate."

"Kusinagi?" Momiji asked in shock.

"Perhaps, or perhaps…" Suzanah-oh trailed off and stepped to the side showing Murakumo.

Momiji gasped and took a step back. "No…"

Murakumo stepped towards her, his raven hair flowing behind him in its lengthy waves of silk. His moon-colored skin reflected the light from the candles that had appeared to show him better.

Instinctively, Momiji stepped back. "Please no…" she whispered. If he could take the sword… what then? She didn't love him!

Murakumo stepped towards her once again and continued to smirk. After finally backing Momiji into the wall, he stopped before her. As he reached for the sword, Momiji closed her eyes. It didn't make sense! She let out a sob, and the name that came out with the sob instantly awoke her, "Kusinagi!"//

Once again, Momiji's eyes flew open. However, this time rather than seeing Suzanah-oh at the foot of her bed, she saw Kusinagi standing above her, a look of concern and relief covered his face. "Are you all right?"

Momiji blinked and sat up. She fought back tears from the emotions caused by her dreams. Why wouldn't these dreams cease? After regaining control of her emotions she nodded her head yes and forced herself to look into Kusinagi's cat-like eyes and was shocked to find a tender glance in them before he blinked and they were their normal selves.

Kusinagi stood and looked Momiji over, making sure there was nothing wrong with her at all. When finally convinced that she had only been put to sleep for her own good, Kusinagi gave her one of his trademark smiles before stretching.

Before Momiji could say anything she heard her aunt calling from downstairs. "I'll be right back," she said softly and stood. Kusinagi watched as she wrapped a plain white robe around herself and walk out the door. He decided it best not to follow; after all, Momiji's aunt didn't know of his staying.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Ryoko sighed and leaned back in her seat. They'd been traveling for almost three hours now and they were already running late. Not a word had been exchanged between the two since they had gotten in the car, which lacked a radio. The silence was driving Ryoko insane! But she wasn't about to complain to her husband about it, not with the stress he was already going through.

"I can't believe it," Kunikida growled, for once not yelling. "Why do they have to come back now? Once through that is enough for Momiji!"

"Daitetsu…"

"Damn it! We've already lost her once!"

"Daitetsu…"

"Can't those demented plants just stay asleep?!"

"DAITETSU!" Ryoko screamed, "Keep your eyes on the damn road!"

Daitetsu swerved to avoid going off the road and flashed his wife a shocked glance. "Sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's all right," Ryoko replied softly and smiled.

Kunikida stared at her for a moment before letting his eyes fall down to her slightly swollen belly. He sighed softly and looked back up at the road. "I suppose you're still going to deny you're pregnant just to stay in the TAC?"

Ryoko blushed slightly. She wasn't THAT far along, but still… far enough that it was beginning to show. "I… would like to be of any assistance."

"Uh huh… I know you, Ryoko. If you want to be of any assistance then talk to Midori and Yaegashi about it, they could use some lab help."

"I don't do lab work!"

"You do now," Kunikida replied slowly and looked at her. "Or you do not assist at all."

Ryoko bit her tongue. She didn't want to sit out and watch as everyone else ran around when she was still perfectly capable of doing something. She'd have to settle for lab work.

Once again the two sat in silence. Ryoko hated the silence when she was with Daitetsu, it was not natural. She sighed and stared out the window to watch the scenery go by.

Kunikida glanced over at his wife. He wished he hadn't said that to her as harshly as he did… but he didn't want anything to happen to their child. Returning to driving he noticed that he just missed the damn short cut to Maya's. Slamming on the brakes he jerked the car into reverse and flew back to the road. He then floored it and drove down the long road to Momiji's aunt's home.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Momiji returned to her room and noticed that Kusinagi was gone. She sighed softly. Why couldn't he have just stayed for a little longer? Reaching her closet she pulled out a white blouse with a royal blue skirt and vest. Someone told her it made her look more mature and exposed her figure, which had long since become slender. She didn't want to show her body off, but she was in a rush and it was the only professional attire she packed. She sighed softly and grabbed the black shoes that went with it.

As she turned she tripped over her own foot and fell forward. Closing her eyes she crashed to the ground. Why do I have to be such a klutz?! You'd think that after all these years I could at least get walking down!

It was then that she noticed the time. "Oh my God!" she squeaked. 1:45 already! I wanted to take a shower!

Kusinagi stepped from the doorframe and approached her. "You okay there, Princess?"

Momiji looked up at him and blushed. "I'm fine…"

Kusinagi nodded and helped her up. "Maybe you should get ready."

Momiji looked down at her watch and was out of the room without another word. Locking the door she began to take her night clothes off and slip on clean underwear before pulling the white blouse on. Pulling up the skirt she blinked. "Nooooooooooo!" she whined as the zipper got caught on her blouse.

Kusinagi knocked softly on the door. "You okay in there princess?"

"I'm fine!" She snapped.

"Then what was the yelling for?"

"None of your business!"

Kusinagi shrugged. "If you need anything…"

"I don't!" Momiji screamed and frantically tried to unzip the damned thing carefully. "God!"

Kusinagi chuckled and leaned against the wall beside the door. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that she was having problems with her zipper, especially when he heard the rip of the shirt followed by a groan.

"Why me?!"

"Need help yet?"

"NO!"

Kusinagi smirked.

Finally, Momiji emerged with a look that caught Kusinagi completely off guard. He hadn't seen her in that… "Wow, Momiji…" Her eyes were accented by mascara and eyeliner, and her lips were a bright pink rather than their natural color and her hair was being pulled back into a neat bun. When finished, Momiji looked up at him.

"Yes?"

"When did you get that?" Kusinagi asked, now noting how the vest showed off her now slender waist and the skirt accented her hips.

Momiji tilted an eyebrow and looked down at it. She hated the sleeves, what possessed her to grab something so… peasant like? The sleeves were loose down to her wrists, where they tightly clung to her wrists. But what she hated the most was her skirt and how it was much shorter than her usual tan one. Rather than responding she looked down at her watch. "1:59…"

Knockknockknock.

"They're here," she said softly and walked past Kusinagi, who was still shocked to see her as she was. Following her he couldn't help but notice the scent coming off of her… like that of a spring rain only a bit sweeter. Her new perfume was serving as artificial pheromones to him.

Stop it! He ordered himself.

As they made their way down the stairs Momiji bolted for the door, only to trip over a rug. Once again she closed her eyes and awaited impact only to be shocked when it never came. She opened her eyes and looked down at the ground, then down at the hands holding her by the waist. She stood and turned to Kusinagi, who was smiling at her. Momiji blushed slightly and stared up at him for a spell before he started to subconsciously lean in…

KNOCKKNOCKKNOCKDINGDOOOOOOOOOOONG.

Momiji turned on her heal and finished her journey to the door. Opening it slowly she couldn't help but smile brightly at seeing Kunikida and Ryoko standing there. "Hey guys!"

Ryoko smiled in response, Kunikida simply stood there with a serious expression across his face. "How are you, Momiji?" Ryoko asked.

"Fine, thank you. Come in," Momiji replied and stepped aside.

Kunikida's glance went from Momiji to something behind her. Momiji turned and saw Kusinagi giving her father his trademark smile. "Good, you're here," Kunikida said quickly.

Momiji flashed Kunikida a glance before leading the way through the living room, pausing briefly to introduce her aunt to the three of them. "Maya, this is Kunikida Daitetsu and his wife Kunikida Ryoko," she said softly. She then heard Kusinagi clear his throat slightly and added, "Oh, and this is Kusinagi Mamoru."

"Hajimemashite," the Kunikidas said with an ojigi. (Pleased to meet you… ojigi=bow)

"Pleasure to meet you all," Maya replied softly, smiling particularly at Kusinagi. "So you're Kusinagi? My sister-in-law has told me a lot about you."

Kusinagi nodded. "I hope it's all good."

"Oh yes, you and Momiji are good friends, am I right?" Maya asked.

Momiji fought back a blush and looked up at Kusinagi as he took over the response. "Well, yes. I guess you could say that."

"I see. Is there anything more than friends?" Maya pried.

Momiji's jaw dropped.

Kusinagi smirked. "I dunno, by what standards are you speaking of?"

Momiji felt her heart drop to her stomach as she forced her mouth closed. Was she expecting him to say yes? …

Maya chuckled. "Oh probably none of my business anyway."

Momiji cleared her throat slightly. "We'll be out in a little while, Maya, do you want any tea?"

"No thank you, Momiji. You have a meeting planned so you just hurry along."

Momiji nodded and motioned for the kitchen. As the four entered Momiji turned with a smile, "Tea anyone?"

Kunikida remained serious and shook his head. Ryoko shook her head no, "Thank you though."

Kusinagi stared at her a minute and finally determined that she had also offered some to him. "I thought you were out?"

"Oh yeah…" Momiji said softly, thankful that no one wanted any. She blushed slightly as she motioned for the table, where the Kunikidas took a seat and Momiji took one across from the two. Kusinagi leaned against the wall with crossed arms.

"Momiji," Kunikida started slowly, pausing to look up at Kusinagi. "You both remember what Yaegashi was working on two years back?"

Momiji and Kusinagi exchanged confused glances before Momiji looked back at Kunikida. "Could you refresh my memory?"

"The Arigami detector just incase they decide to reawaken. You should remember, Kusinagi wasn't too happy about it."

Kusinagi let out a humph. He remembered only giving them a sample of his blood because it would ensure no surprise attacks on Momiji, she wasn't even aware of him giving up his blood for it.

Momiji glanced at Kusinagi before returning her focus on the couple before her. "Why not?"

Ryoko kicked Daitetsu's foot and looked up at Momiji. While searching for a reason to tell her as to not upset Kusinagi about it, Kusinagi cleared his throat and spoke up. "I donated some of my blood so they could have a sample of Arigami DNA," he glanced up at Ryoko and Kunikida before going back into his silent mode.

"Uhm, yes," Ryoko said softly. Kusinagi just rolled his eyes and waited for them to continue.

Kunikida glanced at Momiji and sighed. "Momiji, I know how much you want to stay and take care of your aunt, but I have to insist that you do not stay this far away from civilization."

"Why?" Momiji asked, shocked. "What's going on?"

Kusinagi tensed as well but allowed Momiji to question them. He'd just rip them apart with words if he opened his mouth.

"Yes, of course," Kunikida started. "Yaegashi's machine works…" He trailed off and looked up at Momiji.

Momiji nodded and stared at him. When he said nothing she opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Kusinagi.

"And?"

Sensing the stress level from Kunikida rising, Ryoko decided to finish. "And…" she started.

HAHA! You have to read the next chapter to find out! Though I'm sure you already know what it is…