"Takae-san?" Ryoki says surprised. Mizuku squirms in his arms, and I just stand there.
"I've been looking all over for you Master Ryoki." She says with another wide smile.
"Why?" He says blankly. Mizuku finally gives Takae a dirty look.
"Daddy make the bad lady go away! Please please make her go away!" She pleads to Ryoki, and he looks at Takae.
"I did fire you yesterday, what're you still doing here?"
"Oh Master Ryoki, you don't have to lie. I've come to tell you yes to your question."
I look between them, and Ryoki makes a weird face.
"Question?"
"Oh don't be shy just because Hatsumi-san is here, you asked me to marry you."
I gasp, and Ryoki curses aloud.
"Bull shit." Mizuku gasps at his words, and I take her from him and hold her to me.
"But you know you love me Ryoki, it's obvious." She puts a hand on his cheek. "Come on Master Ryoki, would you stay with this woman and her little brat?"
"What did you call Mizuku?" I demand. Ryoki's eyes widen at my anger.
"An ugly little brat. Looking at you, God knows if my Ryo is it's father." She reaches up to kiss Ryoki, but I won't let her.
I lift my hand, and slap her hard. Before I know it she punches me, and we're fighting like two small boys instead of two grown women.
Finally, I stand over her and her black eye, and frown. "How dare you! Call her that again and I won't let you walk away from here alive."
Takae scrambles to her feet, kicks me in the stomach with her heeled boots, and runs away from us. My stomach hurts horribly, and I collapse.
"Hatsumi! Hatsumi wake up!" Ryoki calls, but I can't see him.
"Mama, oh mama wake up don't be dead no no please!" Mizuku cries out. I slip away, my fists clenched.
I wake up in cold sweat. When I look behind me Ryoki is fast asleep. I put my head on his chest and try to remember what happened.
I beat up Takae-san, God who knew I had that in me, then it all went black. Oh no the dinner!
I reach over and take my cell off of the table. In bright letters it says '49 new messages'.
"Mmm." Ryoki moans in his sleep and wraps an arm around me. I turn to him and kiss him softly.
"What will we do?" I ask him. He doesn't reply though, so I lean into his strong arms, and drift back asleep...
I wake up before Ryoki, and hear my cell ringing again. I turn the volume off, and change into some jeans and a hooded sweatshirt.
As I walk into the living room, a knock comes at the door, then another. Oh no, who is it?
Gently I open the door, and Akane is standing there.
"Finally, I thought you two had ran to another country." She says coming in. We sit in the kitchen, both of us drinking coffee.
"I wish." I sigh. Akane looks at my face a moment, then traces a bruise.
"What is that from?"
"Our escape from the Tachibana house. Is that why you're here?"
"Ya, Mom's freaking out and ranting like crazy, and Mrs. Tachibana went off saying the family honor was dead or something."
"So they know we're not...married." I say weakly. Akane shrugs, and another knock comes to the door.
"Don't answer, it's probably Mom." She advises. I nod, and then see Mizuku walk from her bedroom. She starts to the door, but I grab her quickly.
"Shhh." I whisper. She looks at me confused, and I take her into the kitchen.
"Hatsumi? Ryoki-kun?" My Mom calls after us through the door.
"She sounds worried." I say softly. Akane nods.
"She's called me four million times after you two didn't return. Mrs. Tachibana's called too."
"Is Mrs. Tachibana the old lady?" Mizuku whispers. I nod and suddenly hear my mother bang one last time.
"Hatsumi Narita, if you are in there please open up. If you don't talk to me about this, Mrs. Tachibana will!" She yells.
I sigh and go to the door. As I open it, Mom puts her arms around me.
"Oh Hatsumi, god I thought you'd disappeared on us again." I look down at her, and stared at the tears forming in her eyes.
"I never disappeared, I just moved out." I say uncomfortably. She wipes her eyes, and sits down on the couch.
"I'm sorry, but when you three didn't return, I thought you had run away or something." She looks around suddenly, amazed by how huge the apartment is.
"What the hell's going on in here?" Everyone turns to see Ryoki in his boxers, his hair ruffled, and Mizuku holding his hand smiling.
"Look daddy, mama's mama came." She points to Mom, and Ryoki's eyes widen.
"Uh, hi." He says looking away from us. Akane grins at me, and Mom just gives a gasp.
"We were talking about last night." Akane says to him laughing. He let's go of Mizuku's hand and disappears into our room, obviously embarrassed.
"Wow." I turn to give Akane a dirty look, but it was Mom who said it.
That is sick, and wrong.
"Ryoki you dressed yet?" I say peeking into our room. It's been fifteen minutes, and he still hasn't come out.
"Ya, hold on." I step in, and he comes out in a t-shirt and some jeans. "What's your Mom doing here?"
"She busted in." I sigh. He puts a hand under my chin and tilts my head up to look at him.
"So she didn't know about..." He begins.
"No, no one but Akane knew. Subaru found out a few months ago."
"Then is that why you left? I mean why didn't you tell me?" He demands. Tears form in my eyes, and I pull away.
"I was scared. I mean I was preggo Ryoki, and..." I fall to my knees, memories flashing through my head..
"Akane, help me." I whisper to the shadows. I know what's happening, oh no I'm having it!
The door opens, but I don't open my eyes. I think I'm screaming, but everything is so loud in my head...
"Hatsumi? Oh no it's happening isn't it? Come on, I'll get you to the hospital." She says helping me up.
Ryoki helps me to my feet, and pulls me close to him. I rest my head on his chest, and he ruffles my hair.
"I'm sorry." He sighs.
"Hatsumi? You home?" I turned and saw Akane in the doorway. I had fallen asleep on the couch again, my baby girl in my arms.
"Ya, oh shit what time is it? Did I miss work?" I look around and Akane rolls her eyes.
"You're on leave stupid. Now don't worry about anything, just sleep okay?"
I shook my head. "I've been sleeping all day, then Mizuku got hungry, and..." I pause and notice that damn picture on my table.
"I should shred that." I muttered. Akane picked it up a moment, and put it down.
"I'll buy you a frame for it." She drops some food on my table, and starts to leave.
"But I'm gonna get rid of it!"
"Sure you are."
"You two okay in there?" Mom calls from outside the door. I wipe my eyes, and relax.
"Ya Mom, we're just talking." Ryoki kisses me, then we step into the living room.
"So you two aren't married?" Mom says startled. She's said it four times so far. We had explained everything to her, but this is the only thing that upsets her.
"No." Ryoki says obviously bored of saying it again.
"But then..." She looks at Mizuku, who is braiding Ryoki's hair with purple bows.
"What?"
"You had a child out of wedlock!" She says shocked. Akane rolls her eyes.
"Mom that's not the point, the point is Mrs. Tachibana's gonna blow a gasket."
Ryoki looks up at Akane. "Junior, I could care less what my mom does."
"But with a snap of her fingers, our Mom would be on the streets, and so would Subaru's parents!" Akane frowns.
"Then I'll buy them apartments. I'm not going to lick her shoes after everything she's pulled."
"Come on Mizuku, let's change you out of your pajamas." I pick her up and leave.
Once I have Mizuku in some new clothes, my phone vibrates. I pick it up and put it to my ear.
"Hello?"
"Hatsumi-san? This is Kari, could you do me a favor and give the phone to Ryoki?"
"Sure why?"
"Because I'm supposed to be at his mom's place in fifteen minutes, and I'm at Shinogu's."
"Um..we'll come by and pick you up then."
"Thanks Hatsumi-san, I really really owe you."
I close the phone and Mizuku climbs into my arms. "Mama, who was that? Was it the bad lady?"
I play with her hair a moment and shake my head. "No it was Neptune-san."
"Neptune-chan? Can we go visit her? Please!" She begs.
"Ya, we have to pick her up she's visiting Shinogu."
"She's here." I suddenly hear Akane call out. I carry Mizuku into the living room, where the others sit stunned.
"Ryoki? It's your mother, answer this door!"
"I'm here too Ryoki, we need to talk to you and Hatsumi-san." Mr and Mrs. Tachibana are outside our door knocking.
"What do we do?" I whisper. Ryoki looks around a moment.
"Well we're sure as hell not explaining this now." He mutters. He goes to the door and opens it a bit.
"Hatsumi and I arn't dressed yet. We're sorry to have run out. Come back here at..." He looks at the clock. "Five for dinner."
"I don't know Ryoki..." Mrs. Tachibana begins, but Mr. Tachibana talks to her softly so we can't hear, then she sighs. "Alright, we'll be back."
As soon as we know they're gone, I look at Ryoki. We both know what's going to happen. We have to tell them.
"We have to pick up Kari." I say breaking the silence. Ryoki nods and Mom stands up.
"Well then, Akane and I will make dinner, and you two should...think about what'll happen."
I nod, and Mizuku jumps into her father's grasp. He holds her to him, and I almost fall over at how cute they are.
We start to walk out, when Akane yells for us to wait.
"What?" I ask. She points to Ryoki and I look up at him. Mizuku's braids were still in his hair.
A/N I was gonna cliffie it, but the braids were too cute to miss.
Hint:
"Ryoki, maybe she's right." I whisper tears falling from my eyes...
Reviews:
the littlest weasley: Congratulations you are our review winner for this segment! You're always a great reviewer :)
bobthebrick04: well, obviously I don't have to answer your question now...
Dru's Pen: I know you can't stand cliffies, but you need to update :)
HARU is my LOVELY: I know I love sunglasses now. It turned out to be Hatsumi saying it.
RyokiLover: Yay He's a good dad. I know she's annoying. Thanks I only have talent because of you guys support. :)
Shinogu/Azusa Hater: First off, how can you hate Shinogu? He's so cute. He didn't mean to knock her over, he didn't see Mizuku sitting in Hatsu's lap. Thanks for understanding.
LotisMasterBrit: Thanks, your story's great too :)
the blackestfaery: 'cuddles Mizuku'
I know she's so cute and smart. Takae will get it in the next chapter though, don't worry. Well not that she didn't get some in this one though..