As we climb into Ryoki's car, I untie the ribbons in his hair.
"But Mama, Daddy looked pretty." Mizuku frowns in the back seat. I ruffle her hair and smile.
"I know, but I don't think he likes purple ribbons."
Ryoki scoffs and starts the car.
"Hello? Shinogu? Kari?" I say opening the door. I hear giggling and Mizuku runs in before me.
"Neptune-chan? Uncle Shinogu?" She disappears into a room, and runs out her face red.
"Mama, we should go." She says hiding behind me. Ryoki walks past me.
"Where is she? We should be getting ready for my parents."
"Hatsumi-chan?" I hear a giggling voice. I take a step forward, and Kari peeks out, wrapped in a blanket.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd be here so soon." She turns and whispers something.
"Give me just a minute okay?" She disappears a moment, and I sit on Shinogu's couch.
"We come pick her up, and she's messing around with your brother." Ryoki scoffs.
"Daddy, what were Uncle Shinogu and Neptune-chan doing?"
Ryoki exchanges looks with me, and Mizuku climbs on his lap. He opens his mouth to say something, but Kari runs in, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and some jeans.
"Sorry Ryoki-sama." She bows to Ryoki, then to me. "Sorry Hatsumi-chan, my favorite person ever."
"Why are you in a hurry to meet my parents?"
"Because your Mom thinks I'm not enough of a 'lady'," She sticks her tongue out at the word. "And she's making me go shopping with her."
"Hey Kari where you going again?" I hear Shinogu call out.
"My aunt's house, I'll be back tonight. No way I'm staying another night in that hell hole." She looks at Ryoki. "No offense."
"None taken." Ryoki and I mutter at the same time. She pulls something from her purse, and smiles at us.
"Here, I took this." I look at the picture, and smile. It's when we were cosplaying. Me dressed as Kagome, Mizuku as Rin, and Ryoki as Inuyasha. We're all standing together talking, smiling.
"Thanks." I say finally.
This picture's better then my old one anyway, why do I have a weird feeling about it?
"Mom?" I say as I open the door to our apartment. After dropping off Kari, we had driven back. Akane is asleep on the couch, and a wonderful smell is coming from the kitchen.
"I almost have dinner ready. You three better change into nice clothes."
Mizuku fixes her bandage, and looks at Ryoki. "Do I have to wear a dress? Dresses are icky."
"We should all just wear pajamas for all I care." He frowns.
"We have to tell her Ryo, you know that." I whisper. He sighs and looks at Mizuku.
"If I have to dress up, so do you."
I come out of our room, in a new black dress. Ryoki wears a suit, and Mizuku frowns at the pink jumper I made her wear.
"But Mama..."
"I'm sorry, but we have to look nice." Mom comes out of the kitchen smiling.
"Dinner's done, you three be polite, and call me when it's done."
"You're not staying?" I say shocked.
"I'm sorry Hatsumi, but Hikaru's at home alone, and I don't wanna be here when it happens."
Abandoning her own child...but then I would if it was her coming...
"Okay Mom, bye." I watch her leave, and look at Ryo. "What do we do ?"
An impatient knocking comes the door. I open it, and find Mrs. Tachibana alone.
"My husband will not be joining us, please let's sit. My husband had to go to the office." She says walking in without a word in greeting. She comes in and sits at our table, looking as bossy as ever. "I'd rather not eat though, I want to talk now!"
I sit down, and Ryo and Mizuku do the same. We all look at one another unsure of where to begin.
"Mizuku was born out of wedlock then." She says in an angry tone. I nod weakly and she pulls something from her purse.
"Look at this Ryoki. You have become Tokyo's joke and have brought us with you!"
It's a magazine, and on the front is a picture of me, Ryo, and Mizuku. The words 'TACHIBANA IN AFFAIR WITH LOCAL MOTHER'. I gasp.
"We're all ashamed of you Ryoki, and do you know what you've done? They're talking about firing your father. The President of their company Ryoki.." She wipes her eyes a moment.
"What do you want me to do then?" Ryoki says acting as if she had only said she had a headache.
"Take her out of here Ryoki, send her and the child.." She looks at Mizuku hatefully, "away from here. Tell the press she was a fan of your store's or something. You can take her back in a few years.."
"Bull shit. I'm not gonna just disappear on her and my daughter because of a rumor.."
"It isn't a rumor. You're dating a woman with a child..."
"My child!"
"The company that loaned you the money to start your shop, they can decide to raise your interest so high that you lose it. Face it Ryoki, this is your only option."
Mizuku looks at me, unaware of what is being said. I know she feels it though, the same as I do, thinking the same thing.
He's leaving us, isn't he?
It's been hours since Mrs. Tachibana left, but we're all feeling the same way. I stand in my pajamas, on the balcony staring out at the sky with Mizuku in my arms.
"Mama, what're we gonna do?" She whispers.
"I know what we have to do." I sigh. "And I've done it before. Mizuku, listen carefully to me darling."
"Okay." She says obediently.
"Go to your bedroom, and pack everything up you want to keep." I say softly. She opens her mouth, but closes it and scampers to her room.
I walk into our bedroom, where Ryoki is fast asleep on the bed. I wipe my eyes and look down at him.
"Ryoki, maybe she's right." I whisper tears falling from my eyes. "No she is. Ryoki I can't ruin your life, and I won't let Mizuku get too attached. I'll return someday." I kiss his cheek, and throw my stuff together.
Somethings never change. This was never meant...God why does it have to be this way?
"Mama, where are we going?" Mizuku whispers sleepily. I look around the empty train, and back at her.
"I don't know, we'll find somewhere to go." I sigh. Suddenly I feel a hand on my shoulder. I look back at Kari, dressed in a school uniform.
"What're you doing here with all your stuff?"
"Mizuku and I are leaving."
"A trip? I'll come, oh I love trips!" She smiles.
"We're not coming back."
Her expression falls, and she shakes her head. "No what about Ryo? You arn't I'm confused."
"We have to go Kari." I say softly. She sits beside me, and I see the childishness in her eyes, the stuff that I lost so long ago...
"Don't go Hatsu-chan, please don't." She begs. I look away.
"Please Kari don't make this hard. I'm leaving."
"Then I'm coming with you." She says picking Mizuku up and setting the small girl in her own arms.
Somehow, that is so familiar. Please God don't make Kari as stubborn as I am..
"No Kari, don't be silly..."
"I'm not. Let me go, or I swear on my life I'll never let you leave Tokyo."
"Fine then." I sigh. "We're going to Kyoto."
"Good, because I've got a whole lot of money for my schooling, and living cost in Tyoko with me."
"Where..."
"Good thing I met up with you Hatsumi, because I was on my way to a boarding school, with all the money for the next five years with me." Kari grins. "Good thing Mom doesn't notice anything."
"God Bless you Kari." I grin.
A/N: Oh my off to Kyoto! Oh and just to tell you, it's spring time in the story. Yes it's strange that Kari's parents havn't noticed all that money gone, but sadly her parents don't want anything to do with her so theyare gonna kickher out and send her away.
Hint:
I look up at him, shocked at both the kiss, and the fact that he's standing in my living room in boxers.
REVIEWS:
RyokiLover: You are the reviewer champion for this chapter :) Here is a ribbon. Yes I love the braids :)
HARU is my LOVELY: LoL beat up the maid? Thanks for the cool points.
Jenbo: Braids make everything cuter.
Shadow Elf Sofi: So sorry about the email thing, I have lots to do. I know not being caught up can suck sometimes.
The Little Emo: LoL you can have a ribbon for the heart attack. Yes, but sick that her mom said he was hot. Horrible sit down wasn't it?
The littlest weasley: LoL everyone loved the braids. You get a ribbon for last time.