Chapter Thirteen: Resolutions
Boilerplate: Since I had a few PMs asking, I should let everyone know: I don't do lemons. My stories are rated M as a barrier against getting banned in case the language or descriptions in the stories cross the line for a T rating.
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Having to spend the weekend waiting for the results of Naru's tests was both a cause for concern and anticipation. Concern because of the possibility that the genetic markers could—Mutsumi called it a chance of a chance—indicate a problem. Anticipation because ultimately, everybody wanted to know what the baby would be, to start referring to a he or a she instead of an it or an awkward phrase like the baby. But since the earliest they could learn was Monday after Naru got off of work, they had to sit on it.
It wasn't all bad, Naru thought as she got dressed to teach. She and Mei had a wonderful time catching up on everything since the wedding.
"Wow," Mei had said. "If I had known you were in trouble in Nagasaki, I would have flown down myself to help you!"
Which, Naru thought, was an odd way to put it.
Meanwhile, she and Tomoka were able to talk frankly and let down some of the hurts and defensive barriers that had accumulated over the years. It wasn't something that would be solved in a weekend, but at least talking and visiting was no longer something Naru dreaded and avoided… that barrier was breached at least. But, now it was time for them to leave if they were going to get Mei back to school at St. Ursula's on time, while Naru needed extra time to prepare for classes.
"I'm sorry we couldn't be here for the big announcement," Tomoka said a little shyly. She was still unsure about her Asperger's and what were the appropriate boundaries with her stepdaughter after all.
"Oh, don't worry, I'll call you once I have the results," Naru said with a sincere smile. Then she looked more awkward. "Umm, I know we have a long way to go Tomoka, and we started our rough. But I am glad we got to get this chance to talk finally. I never expected we'd have something like this in common."
"Too bad it wasn't something like a similar taste in movies or books," Tomoka said wryly. "I hope you won't go to hard on Miss Maehara. I don't think she's a devious person. I think she thought she was doing the right thing." She looked around. "I wonder where she went? I wanted to thank her."
"Hmm, I thought she was right here," Naru responded. "I wonder where she went."
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It had been a draining weekend, and Motoko was glad to be back at Todai, instead of dealing with Tsuruko's blunt comments and questions. Despite her saying she had learned her lesson, Tsuruko still bluntly crashed on through with whatever she felt like doing. The result was, Motoko only achieved a fraction of the words she hoped to get in on her story. But Yuto-san was understanding when Motoko told him the story at the cafe.
"Yes, some members of my family have no sense of balance either," he said, placing his left hand near her right on the table. "When they want something, they just keep going with no sense of what you need. Is your sister like that?"
He extended his little finger and made brief contact with Motoko's hand.
"Y- yes, something like that." Motoko was flustered by the contact, but kept it under control. The touch wasn't unwelcome after all and might have been accidental. "We have a traditional family and she is my ane- umm, oneesan." Try not to talk like a rustic, she chided herself. "So I can't very well tell her to just go away." Well Friday night I did. That was unlike me. But I didn't drink any alcohol. I just had some of the fruit juices and a couple pieces of the candy Kitsune tucked away under the counter.
"It feels that way with my father when he decides to comment on how I manage the writers he assigned to me. I can't very well just brush him off." He gestured with his hands and, when he brought his left hand down, it made more contact with Motoko's hand. "But if she went home this morning, then at least she won't be likely to interrupt your writing any more."
"True," Motoko smiled. She hesitated, remembering her older sister's comments. "Yuto-san, is my writing childish?"
"Childish? Why would you say that, Motoko?"
Motoko raised an eyebrow at the omission of an honorific, but as she was attracted to him, she let it slide. "A… reader said it to me. She thought that my writing might appeal to the shoujo reader, but not the josei."
"Well," Yuto said easily. "It's true that your writing will be more appealing to the younger and less experienced readers than it will for the lonely housewife who knows exactly what she wants to fantasize about. But the shoujo market is a good one to be in. When the reader grows out of the shoujo market and wants something steamier, they'll just move on to one of our authors who can supply it."
Put that way, it almost sounds like pornography, Motoko thought, sweatdropping. It did sound kind of unwholesome. But she also felt a little irked. She thought she was a good writer in the same way she thought she was a good swordswoman. So to learn she was deficient in an area made her want to correct those flaws. "I feel like I would be better served to improve my writing in general though."
Yuto patted his hand against hers. "I think your stuff sells well. But if you want some pointers, maybe we can have dinner after you're done with your classes?"
That's an odd way to put it, she thought. It made her slightly uncomfortable. But still, he was handsome and she knew she needed to reach out if she was going to find someone instead of just settle. "I'd like that," Motoko said, smiling. Then she stopped. Dammit, I forgot this was my day to escort Naru. Shinobu had scuttled out that morning before Kanako read off the duty roster… and of course Motoko had forgot to tell her about the swap. Oh she owes me now….
"I'm sorry Yuto-san," she said in a sweet tone that belied her interior disposition. I will need to do something after my last class. Perhaps we can meet after I make sure everything is okay?" She hoped he was willing. He was a bit aggressive, but she was interested in learning about whether their flirting might lead to something more serious.
"Sure, today or tomorrow is fine," he said, handing her his card and placing his hand on top of hers. "Just call when you can."
"Er, right…" she said, looking at his hand.
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The Mechatama test was taking place in a shielded laboratory. Su, dressed in a lab coat, scurried around making adjustments while targets were set up. Five had the faces of wanted criminals. Two had the faces of police officers, two had the faces of JDF soldiers. The last had the face of Prime Minister Abe. The final adjustments made, everyone stepped back behind hardened plexiglass shields.
"The test," an official read aloud, "involves combat ready robots using facial recognition software to determine friend from foe. The test objective is for the... mechatama? is that right...? to eliminate only the enemy targets and not the destructive power, speed, and accuracy will be evaluated. Begin with the buzzer."
The buzzer sounded and, almost too closely spaced to tell apart, five bursts of automatic fire erupted from the robot. When the smoke cleared, five targets were destroyed, while the targets of the five criminals remained unscathed.
The official sweatdropped. "Destructive power, 100%. Speed, 100%. Accuracy, 0%. It needs work in the facial recognition department."
Su smiled enigmatically to the berating she received from the department head. "Dream number two on schedule," she murmured.
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Keitaro sat at his desk and unwound as the students filed out at the end of class. The lectures were going smoothly, and the time between helped him take advantage of the Todai library in preparing for next semester when he began his Graduate studies. The professors had lent him their syllabi so he hoped he would be able to learn and be ahead of the curve once he started.
Things were going smoothly at home. Naru was responding well to therapy and treatment, seldom holding things any more, and they were both excited to learn about the results for the baby this afternoon.
He also reflected that it had been awhile since he had done anything meriting a punch. That might mean he was getting soft, but it was nice not having to face the wrath of irate women. Maybe he was learning what to avoid. Or maybe it was because Kokeru had been the one taking the brunt of the abuse that otherwise might have landed on him. Better that little punk than me!
But it was hard trying to wait for the news. Unfortunately, his guest lectures today were immediately before and after Naru's appointment, leaving him no time to be there. Naru had told him that she understood, and he knew she meant it. But dammit, he should be there. Well, studying will keep me from worrying until I can't function.
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"So, what's that about?" Haruka asked, pointing to a letter Kitsune was toying with.
The two of them had learned that if they smoked up on the roof while everyone else was gone, the breeze made sure that fumes wouldn't impact the rest of the house, and Mutsumi wouldn't show up like the wrath of the kami. This was their last chance of the day before people started returning from school.
"Hmm?" Kitsune looked up from her cigarette. "Oh, the editor of one of the magazines I used to freelance for was planning a retrospective issue next year. I guess something I wrote a ways back was popular. He wants to reprint it with something modern I've written."
"Are you going to do it?" Haruka asked, hoping to sound encouraging, while hiding her question of whether Kitsune had written anything in the recent past.
"I don't know. Back then, I was writing things about my trip to South America, and later it was about my adventures in bar-hopping in Japan." She made a face. "I can't really do the first one any more, and I really don't want to put myself through the second any more." She shrugged. "Does anyone want to read about the life of a woman past her sell-by date?"
Haruka, who was 35, sweatdropped. "Well, I noticed you have become more reclusive in the last year or so. But maybe it's not so much trying to recreate the wild and crazy Kitsune of 19 any more. Maybe it's finding where the adult Kitsune belongs. Remember, your readers have gotten older too." Hopefully wiser.
"You're probably right," Kitsune nodded, taking a drag on her cigarette. "But I don't have any idea where to start finding that outside of the bars and clubs."
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Hmm, Keitaro thought perusing the texts. There seems to be a correlation between the cult of the Turtle in Pararakelse and Molmol on one side, and the Khmer Yu Water Buffalo on the other. He decided to ask Dr. Suigyu—the resident expert on Southeast Asian archeology—for his opinion and reached for his phone to text.
It wasn't in his bag or his pockets, A frantic search turned up nothing. Dammit! He wasn't as worried about missing calls from the university (though it was a professional concern) as he was by the realization that he was out of touch with Naru. It was bad enough he couldn't be there for the appointment. But now he couldn't be there for her on the phone either if the news was good or bad. He frantically jammed everything into his bag and hurried out to retrace his steps or find someone he knew who could contact Naru.
An alarm at the door stopped him and the librarian came over. "Did you perhaps forget to separate the library books from your personal books?" she asked politely.
It turned out he had. Sighing, the librarian pointed to a sign by the door. It had a picture of Seta and read: PLEASE DO NOT BE LIKE THIS MAN! CHECK TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE CHECKED OUT ALL BOOKS YOU INTEND TO BORROW!
Keitaro sweatdropped and handed over the book he had accidentally scooped up. I knew he had a reputation but damn….
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Though she had scoured the Todai campus, Shinobu had managed to evade her to the point of even screening her calls, so Motoko had wound up being the escort again.
Naru was called back to for her appointment while Motoko cooled her heels in the reception area. It gave her time to make some edits on her latest draft and to think about her conversation with her sister. What Tsuruko said still irritated her, especially about her writing only having appeal to the shoujo and not the josei. But she couldn't help wonder about it. Am I settling? Am I unable to find what I want out of life on my own? Do I need to stop being so frigid? On one hand, she actually liked her writing and did want to finish her law decree. On the other hand, she'd be 24 next month, almost her sell-by date. The thought of becoming the stereotyped woman who bought a condo and lived alone with Shippu didn't appeal to her.
Did I latch onto Keitaro because I had real feelings for him? Or did I just latch onto him because he was the only male I didn't feel uncomfortable around? The fact was, her sister's antics did lead to a fear and mistrust of men, and so it was hard to respond when men at college showed interest in her. Even when Yuto-san had made contact her, she felt uneasy. Maybe Ane-ue was right when she said I needed help to get out of this. On the other hand, when she gets involved it's a disaster. She loved and respected her sister, but her idea of subtle was like using a tank to squash a fly.
She was so wrapped up in thought that she was startled when Naru cleared her throat.
"Umm, are you ready to go Motoko? Or do you…?"
Looking at her watch, Motoko was surprised to learn that she had been sitting there for half an hour. "Oh, I'm sorry! I was lost in thought…" She fumbled for her things, embarrassed that she had gotten no editing done.
Naru was silent as they walked to the station, so finally Motoko, bursting with curiosity, asked "So? What's the news?"
Naru smiled, which told Motoko the news wasn't bad. "I can't tell you yet! Keitaro's the one who gets to know first!"
"You mean you haven't called him yet?" Motoko asked, a bit surprised.
Naru made a face. "He must be in a meeting or a lecture right now. He's not picking up his phone and not responding to the texts." She pulled out her phone and dialed again. Then, shrugging, put it back in her purse. "I'll try again in a little while."
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"ARF!" Hachi protested as the phone on his master's nightstand woke him up yet again. He circled around three times and laid down, wurfing to himself with annoyance.
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Shinobu and Takane sat in the cafe, enjoying their tea as they watched the leaves fall from the trees. It looked like a storm was coming. "I'm... dreading going home." She had almost said she wished she didn't have to go home. I caused enough problems with that last time! she chided herself. Now that she was aware of both of their weaknesses, she was determined to be more cautious.
"Oh?" Takane asked, concern in his voice. "I thought you said you patched things up with Naru."
"We did," Shinobu said. "But my friend Motoko covered for me and I owe her one." She looked embarrassed. "Since we were going to meet this afternoon, I snuck out this morning before she could call it in. I think she'll be a little annoyed."
Takane chuckled. "I appreciate it, but it's best not to let the interest on debts pile up. Is it something I can help you with?"
Shinobu sweatdropped. "Umm, that depends on how you feel about going on errands for… women's matters." While she always welcomed time together with him, the thought of having a male going along on an OB/GYN related appointment was embarrassing.
Apparently he thought so too. "Ah, well then maybe not that. But maybe we can plan around whenever your friend catches up to you?" He smiled warmly. "It might be too cold for the beach, but the Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival is coming up. It gives us a chance to walk together and visit the food booths."
"I'd like that," Shinobu said, matching his smile. Not so much for the food booths of course… someday I'll get a chance to cook for you. Since she felt so confident in the kitchen, she wanted a chance to cook up a storm for him.
Smiling, they spontaneously began leaning towards each other, faces brought closer together.
Suddenly Su appeared, wrapping an arm around the neck of each of them. "Heya Shinomu! Heya Taka!" She looked around and slipped something into Takane's shirt pocket. "Do me a favor, will ya? If anybody asks, you didn't see me, okay?"
"Who is going to ask?" Shinobu asked warily.
Su shrugged innocently. "Dunno… but definitely not the police. Oops, gotta go!" Looking around, she ran off quickly.
"What a strange woman…" Takane said, wondering what had just happened. "Why would she specifically say the police wouldn't be looking for her?"
Shinobu winced. "I don't know, but it's probably a good idea to move on before they do."
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Everyone waited impatiently in Kitsune's while Naru told Keitaro the news first privately in their room. Meanwhile Motoko was glaring at Shinobu who was glaring at Su.
"Ahh, come on, Shinomu," Su said cheerfully. "I told ya you didn't have to worry about the police asking about me!"
"Su!" Shinobu growled. She had been the last one to get home. "The Kōanchōsa-chō was the one asking questions! Do you know how much time it took before they let us leave?"
"Speaking of time," Motoko said coldly, "Don't think of sneaking off to school too early tomorrow. We have some settling up to do!"
Shinobu sweatdropped.
"Sheesh," Sara snapped, toying with her can of juice. "It's one syllable or two. How long does it take to tell him the news about what the baby is?"
"Maybe there's more to it than that?" Mutsumi said, flatly.
"What else could they be doing that's taking up so much time?"
"No comment."
Naru and Keitaro arrived about then. Their clothes looked hastily reassembled and they were blushing slightly. Sara blushed deeper.
"I really didn't want an answer to that question!" she muttered.
"So, what's the word?" Haruka asked. Everyone was waiting impatiently. Well most of them. She noticed that Kitsune had a bit of a melancholic smile on her face. What's going on with her?
"Hold on," Naru said excitedly. "I promised I'd make sure Tomoka knew when everyone else did!" I never got a chance to do this when I discovered I was pregnant, so let me have this. She dialed the phone and after waiting for a moment, she said, "Hi, Tomoka, it's me. I have the news. Let me put you on speaker!"
She stood up while everyone crowded around. "Okay, settle down everyone!" she said, beaming. "First of all, the blood and genetic tests came back negative. The baby is doing well and looks healthy."
There were happy sighs of relief around the teahouse qua bar. Now that this was no longer an ominous threat hanging over their hopes for the Urashima family, the mood became more festive. But the bigger question remained.
"Well, what is it?" Kanako asked impatiently, speaking for all of them.
"It's a girl," Naru said, a radiant smile on her face. "We're going to have a daughter."
The mood became bedlam as everyone swarmed Naru, gently touching her baby bump and offering congratulations to her and Keitaro.
Almost everyone. Kitsune sat at the counter, smiling like everybody else, but it seemed forced. She brought her hand down to her own abdomen for a moment. Then she reached down behind the counter, pulled out a flask, and took a long swig from it. I made my decision years back. Now I have to live with the consequences of it, she said, trying to remain stoic. Sighing, she put the flask back under the counter. I'll wait until she goes to bed. I won't ruin her night by getting hammered now.
Then, walking over, she embraced Naru and said, "I'm so happy for you!"
Author's Notes
Resolutions is the end of the "Stepmother" story arc, but not the end of Life Moves Forward. The next arc is titled "Christmas Cake." The plan is to go more into Kitsune and Motoko's lives.
I did know what the baby was going to be as far back as when I first published Forever and a Day (which I published over a year ago). But the time it took until medical tests could determine it meant I couldn't put it into the story until now.
Originally I was going to have a follow-up with what happened to Rika Sasaki from Barriers, but as I wrote it, I decided it was way too dark for the tone I was trying for in this arc. So that was a 1500 word detour that went nowhere.
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"to start referring to a he or a she instead of an it or an awkward phrase like the baby." If I remember my Japanese lessons correctly (it's been almost 20 years), that wouldn't be a problem in that language. They'd probably just refer to the baby as aka-chan. But since I'm writing in English where pronouns matter more, while vague and awkward phrases are annoying to write… and probably more so to read.
"Dream number two on schedule," she murmured." In the manga, Su's number one dream was to marry Keitaro, and have all the people and Hinata House itself transported to Molmol. Her number two dream was world conquest.
"Meiji Jingu Gaien Ginkgo Festival." A mid-November event, enjoying walking among the Ginkgo trees and enjoying the food and attraction.
"It's one syllable or two." Well, in Japanese it would be two syllables or three.
"The Kōanchōsa-chō was the one asking questions!" AKA the Public Security Intelligence Agency, it's the Japanese equivalent of the FBI.