Disclaimer: Not mine folks!

Author's Notes: As pointed out by a friend of mine, yes, last chapter was inspired by Shooting Stars. It's a wonderful fanfic about NG. Mostly focused on Tohma. I'm not condoning stealing written work. While the gist of that chapter was the same as the one in Shooting Stars, my thinking was that I wrote it differently enough to have it pass. But, before even starting to write that chapter, I did try to e-mail the author of Shooting Stars. Unfortunately, the e-mails never made it through and kept being sent back to me. I even went so far as to search for another e-mail address she may have been using, by searching around on LiveJournal and all her friends. Sadly, no luck. I say this though: If the author contacts me in anyway and asks me to take down that chapter, my full intention is to remove it and change it. I had to put that in, because I forgot to mention it in the last chapter. My apologies. As you read, it was late when I finished.

Moving on! This chapter is… Well, duh, what do you think it is! It's happened before and it happened again! Everything's coming 'round full circle! NORIKO'S SECOND CHILD!

I wrote that with the intention of you guys having it sound like a professional wrestling announcer's voice. I dunno shrug Aku woke up not too long ago, so give her a break. Just waiting for the soda to kick in.

Please enjoy this next installment!

Noriko's Story

Women.

We get one of two images in our minds when we hear that word. A huddled rampaging mass of bitches, screeching like harpies as they ride in on fire breathing behemoths, swinging oversized shopping bags and purses, sending men running in scattering clumps.

Or, we see in our minds eye, the tall, statuesque beauties with long hair, a soft voice, perfect china doll features. In every way they seem quiet, polite. So far away, yet so completely touchable.

When you hear words like 'soft' 'delicate' 'demure' 'lust' you think of a woman. Or words like 'harpy' 'screech' 'witch' 'whore' you think of a woman. Effeminate men could be related to these words as well, but your first conclusion is never a man. Admit it.

Because we are caring and commanding. Soft and tough. There is nothing we can't be. We are the Dreams. We are the Nightmares. We are the world and it inhabitants. We are necessity. We are everything, and that amounts us to nothing.

Until we find the one devoted love, we are nothing. And where better to find such devotion than in that of our very own children? They depend on us, need us, want us around. While the husband may tire and bore and become self-dependant, the children will always need us. Even when they are grown and have their own families, they still need us. And we need them. We need that final cementing bond of true love.

Now was my time to forge this bond.

I wasn't ready.

True Love And Devotion

I couldn't do this again. There was no way I could ever go through this again. But did I really have a choice? I wasn't going to get rid of it, but I couldn't exactly keep it either. I was so fucking screwed.

Oh, ha ha. Look, a play on words.

I couldn't keep myself locked away forever like last time. It was impossible. I had work to do! This wasn't high school where we were playing for fun. This was real life. People depended on me on a larger scale now.

I had to fess up. They had to know.

I decided calling Ryuichi first would be easiest. If nothing else, maybe he'd cheer me up.

I called him the next day, crawling out of bed, still dragging the sheets with me to cover me. Flopping on the couch, I picked up the phone, calling the singer, hoping I wasn't waking anyone. I knew it was early. I hadn't been able to sleep.

" 'Lo?" It was Ryuichi's tired voice.

"Hey, Bunny Boy," I greeted softly, smiling a little.

"Seaweed… it's not up time yet," he groaned.

I sighed. "Yeah I know… sorry. I just… needed to talk to someone."

"What's up?"

Oh Gods… I never thought I'd actually have to tell. "I had sex last night…"

"You called me just to tell me that? Well, I had sex last night too. Soon to be this morning as well. I'll talk to you late-"

I cut him off. "Unprotected."

Silence. Horrible, suffocating silence.

Finally "Who is he?"

I pulled the phone away from my ear, looking at it. Did… did Ryuichi just growl?

Placing it carefully back at my ear, I asked, "Why?"

"Because I'm gonna kill that shit!"

Oh man… not what I had expected.

"C-calm down! It was only one night, right? I can just…" I faltered for words. I could what? What could I possibly do? "I have to go, bye."

I hung up before he could argue, locked my door, pulled all the blinds and sat back on the couch, letting myself fall to one side to lie down, legs curling up.

Damnit… what now?

Clinic. Go to a clinic and pretend this never happened. If I wasn't so against it, I probably would've gone.

A week. I give myself a week and take a test and then decide what to do. That's exactly it. Just like last time.

I tried to keep it off my mind the whole week. Tried to relax, though it was hard with the phone ringing off the hook, and being completely scared that I would run into Tetsuya or Ryuichi. But, the week finally came and went and I picked up a test and tossed it in the bathroom, intent on forgetting about. I couldn't, but that didn't mean I couldn't try.

Okay, I couldn't.

The next day I was locking myself in the bathroom, doing exactly what I had done years before. It felt exactly the same. An out of body experience. I saw myself tear through the flimsy cardboard box, tip out the plastic wrapped test. Again I waited five minutes, and then checked.

I had to go see Tetsuya.

I dragged myself out to my car and over to his house. Knocking quickly before I gave myself a chance to run away. Waiting, I felt frozen, hating the sickening feeling of dread that was eating me up inside.

He answered, looking surprised.

"Hey," I said quietly, avoiding his eyes.

"Hello." That was it. That was all he said.

I shifted on my feet. "Um… can I… come in?"

He stepped away from the door. A signal that I could enter. So I did.

Tetsuya shut the door, making himself a drink and offering me one. I turned it down. Silently he took a seat at the table, I followed suit, sitting opposite of him. I couldn't pry my eyes off the table, where my hands rested in a tight knot.

"So," Tetsuya said, breaking the silence.

"So," I sighed, feeling my shoulders drop a little.

Another silence.

"I'm pregnant," I confessed. "But… I just thought you should know was all. I mean… I'm not expecting anythi-"

"Noriko," Tetsuya interrupted. I looked up at him. "Are you positive?"

I nodded, not wanting to speak for fear of spilling tears.

"Well, then, there's only one thing to do."

Ooh, such finality in that tone. I heard the sound of a key turning in a lock, chains rattling.

"Oh, no… I mean, I just wanted you to know," I protested, with an embarrassed laugh.

"Marry me," he said, leaning back with a shrug, watching me.

"Why?" I asked, immediately wishing I hadn't.

He raised an eyebrow. "Because it's best for the child. And we have a mutual chemistry."

He was right, I knew. But… my job! My friends! The guys… Fuck, I needed to talk to Tohma.

"I-uh-I… yeah," I sighed, defeated. "Yes. We'll have to get married then."

Fuck. I was trapped.

"So, I'll talk to my parents. I expect you will go do the same," Tetsuya said, getting up from the table.

My parents? Fuck, fuck, fuck!

"Yeah, no problem," I said, getting up and heading for the door.

"I'll be seeing you soon, then."

"Yeah, real soon," I said with a weak smile, leaving.

I got in my car and went around the block, parking. I fumbled with my phone, dialing Tohma's number with trembling fingers.

"Hello, Seguchi here," he soft voice answered.

"Tohma?" I said, knowing full well it was him.

"Noriko?" He asked, almost unsure.

My voice was thick as I hunched over the wheel of my car, trying not to cry. "I'm getting married."

"Oh, that's wonderful!"

No! No it's not!

"Yeah… I know, right?" I tried laughing, but a choked sob came out.

There was a silence before he spoke again. "Nori-chan, is this not what you want?"

"No! No, I… I do… it's best…," I murmured, one hand fisting in my hair.

"Best for what? Him?" Tohma asked, gently trying to pry the answer out of me.

"Oh… I don't know about him. But… for our kid. Surprise, Tohma!" I said with weak enthusiasm. "I'm pregnant too."

"Ah," he said softly. "I see. Well… congratulations on both, Nori-chan."

Stop it… stop pretending all of this is alright! Please… tell me I can't do any of this for the sake of the band. Tell me no. Stop me! Tohma, make it go away… just… make it stop.

"Thanks… I have to go," I said quietly.

"Of course! Many things to plan, and people to call," he said happily. "Please, call me if you need any help.

I did… that's why I called in the first place…

"Sure," I said and hung up.

I threw my phone hard at the dashboard and it bounced up, hitting the windshield, forming a crack.

Lovely.

I went home and crawled into bed. I call mom tomorrow. Or maybe next week.

I couldn't hold off until next week. The next morning, after throwing out all my cigarettes (again) I sat on the couch and called my mother.

If anyone had burst in, telling me that in exchange for some impossible task, I wouldn't have to call my parents, I would've accepted the task right away. Anything other than this.

Surprisingly, my mother picked up right away. "How nice of you to call."

I hate when she does that. I know she's no happier to hear from me than if her house just exploded.

"Hello, mother," I greet with a painfully polite voice.

"Your father and I are already working on the arrangements," she told me.

"Um… what?" How could they know already? Did I call in my sleep?

A soft 'oh, you silly little girl' laugh floated into my ear. "Your father and I have known Tetsuya's family for a long while, Noriko. They told us yesterday."

Fucking lovely.

"Oh, that we want to get married?" I asked, hoping the pregnancy wasn't mentioned.

"What else? Anyway, your father and I are so pleased you've decided to settle down and quit that horrible band you've been-"

"Quit? Who said anything about quitting?" I interrupted, eyes narrowing.

I could almost picture her, lips pursed, eyes narrowed like mine. "Well, it seems like the right thing to do. You should be home to take care of your husband… not play around in some silly band in… what you think is clothing."

"Mother," I said sternly. "We have a contract. I'm not quitting."

"But I'm sure your father's lawyers can-"

"I. Am. Not. Quitting."

"Noriko, remember who you're talking to, young lady," she snapped.

"I know full well who I'm talking to. But I'm not yours to order around like this anymore! This is my job. I plan to keep doing it. Thank you for the help with the wedding. Call me if-"

"Why are you always like this? I can't believe the nerve-"

"I'm pregnant too. Good-bye, mother," I told her, and hung up.

Oh, fuck… I was so dead.

Dude, sorry it took so long! I had my going away party the other day! Oh, so fun! My friends threw it, and they got me a pinata! We broke the bat on accident! And pin the nose on the clown! I was closest! Tons of pictures, AND BATMAN SHOWED UP! My bestest guy pal, Jon dressed up as Batman. He stripped later to the Thong song, but not as Batman. No fair. pout lol. Then his hottie girlfriend Nicole stripped too! lol! She was wearing a thong. It was all quite funny. You really had to be there, I guess.

Anyway, I ramble! Next chapter is the wedding and pregnancy! Nori's pouting in my head at this. She doesn't want to relive any of it. Poor girl. Sucks for her! Her angst is your entertainment! I now have to go reasearch Japanese weddings. Bah. Laters! Review!

SL