Somewhere on Autumn Woods Drive
By Rikku Minouke
Disclaimer: Don't own YYH
AN: I'm sure there are many of you who have read my work from the beginning and know a lot about what I went through a few years back. I had to stop writing and seek medical help. I kind of disappeared for a while. One can never be cured from what I went through, but I survived and this story is important to me because it's inspired by some of those true events. And if this story touches you or impacts you in any way, then it's done exactly what I hoped it would. This story is meant to give strength to those who went through something in their lives that they weren't sure if they could handle. No body has to be alone, but some times it takes us a really long time to see that. If you've made it this far into my story then be prepared to stick around for the long haul.
Chapter twenty
It was hard for me to prepare for a baby when I was so caught up in trivial matters. I should have had been spending that time getting things ready for the big arrival. The heart has a bit of trouble prioritizing sometimes.
The car ride home was silent as I stared out the window. The dark sky slowly shed snowflakes over the ground and Kurama's car. Barely a buzz in the background, the radio played a local station. Glancing over at the man next to me, Kurama intently watched the road and didn't appear to have much else on his mind. I exhaled and turned back to the cold window.
Seeing our turn off, I couldn't stop the yawn from stretching my lips. "We are almost there," Kurama's voice broke through the silence. I nodded subconsciously. It was almost like time was taunting me at how long it felt like until we pulled off the highway and crept a little bit closer to our apartment. "Do you work tomorrow?"
"Yeah," I said quietly, not even turning to look at him. I watched the trees pass by us as we turned into the apartment complex and drove into the underground garage.
Once he parked, we both left the car and walked leisurely to the elevator. My mom had bought me clothes for my Christmas present but none of them would fit me anymore so I told her she should return them. It took her a moment to respond at the time but she had eventually. I think they probably are going to get me things for the baby.
"Do you want me to stop by tomorrow before I head to work?" he asked and I shrugged. Honestly, I wasn't feeling up for conversation right now. "Botan?"
"Hmm?" I responded as we entered the elevator and pressed the button for our floor.
"Talk to me," Kurama said and reached out to talk my arm with the tips of one hand. "What is going on in that brain? I can't read your mind and I don't know how to help if you shut me out."
"I'm alright, Kurama," I tried to apply a small smile on my lips even though I still didn't look at him.
He didn't respond, but I heard him take a deep breath. We waited for the elevator to ding open and then walked the short distance down the hall. I watched him fiddle with the keys in his hands until he'd found the winning one. Sliding it into the lock, I heard the tumblers click and the door was pushed open. Stepping aside, Kurama let me enter first before following and locking the door behind us. The apartment was dark and quiet, yet I still wouldn't want to be anywhere but here.
"It's only ten, did you want to watch a movie before bed?" he asked and I kicked off my boots into our hall closet. Shrugging off my jacket I watched him toes his shoes off out of the corner of my eyes.
"What did you have in mind?" I had no doubt my voice sounded hollow. I grasped one of the green plastic hangers and slid my jacket on it before replacing it on the rod. Flicking my wrist, I turned on the main room light.
"Nothing with babies," Kurama said and I actually looked over at him, shocked. He had a playful smile on his face and I just rolled my eyes. "Alright, how about Roman Holiday?"
I took a huge breath and really looked at his face. How does he do that? He knows what I want to watch before I do. Somehow he knows what I need. Even though it was illogical I blamed his red hair. It was just so very red that it had to magical. Nodding, I said, "I do like old movies."
He smiled then and took off his black jacket and hung it up. I walked to the living room and poured myself a glass of apple juice while I let him set up the movie. "Did you want to change into your PJ pants before I start? I think I will." There he goes again. He knows what I need… There has to be a catch somewhere in this.
Oh wait, I already found out the catch. 'Just friends.'
I set my glass on the counter and strolled to my room. Flipping the switch up, I flooded the room with light and snatched my pink and grey cotton plaid shorts. I swapped my nice black slacks for the shorts and the blue and black striped blouse for an aqua sports bra and white beater. Then I found one of my cat print blankets my mom had sewed for me in high school and headed back to the living room. Kurama had just returned from his room and grabbed my drink for me. We met at the couch where the menu was already playing. As I sat down and he set my glass on the table, I watched Kurama quickly turn around to turn the light off.
He had replaced his nice clothes for a grey t shirt and his blue sweatpants. I liked those pants. They looked so comfortable and they had cargo pockets. Imagine all the fun things I could carry around in those pockets.
"Ready?" Kurama sat on the opposite side of the couch as me. Nodding, I leaned into the back of the couch and spread the pink and purple cat blanket over my bare legs. He picked up the remote and pressed the play button. His arm stretched out over the back of the couch as the opening sequence started to play. I felt really stiff as I leaned against the other arm. "Botan?" I heard Kurama sigh after a moment. Glancing over at him, I saw his eyebrows raised. He made eye contact with me for a few seconds before speaking again. "Come here, Botan." My body stiffened every more at his command. "Please?" And his tone was soft and made me feel like putty on a hot day. Mentally, I sighed at how he could make me go from zero to sixty in two seconds.
Biting my plump bottom lip, I grasped my blanket in one hand and scooted across the distance so that I could curl into his side. Oh, he felt so nice to cuddle against him. The warmth of his body soothed my muscles. I let his arm drape around my shoulder and meld me into the nook at his side. For now, I would just enjoy the comfort and worry about the confusion and my problems tomorrow.
AN: new chapter tomorrow afternoon after work!