Another Night
Silently, I went back out into the kitchen, almost freaking out when I forgotten about the omelette but was relieved when it turned a golden brown. I turned the stove off and place the omelette onto a plate. I made a smiling face with ketchup on it before bringing it over the the table. I sat down and began to think about random things before I heard the click of a key opening a door.
"Shin?"
I heard the creaking of the door stop suddenly and the next moment it flew open, hitting the wall wit ha loud bang. There was Shin, guitar on his back and his smoke in his mouth.. but it now slipped out onto the ground. He hadn't changed since the last time I saw him. His eyes were wide, with surprise? Anger? Relief?
"Na..Na?" His voice sounded choked with disbelief and hope. Maybe he thought I was an illusion?
"Welcome home, Nobu." I smiled warmly. I watched as tears trailed down his cheeks. He took off towards me in a sprint. Once he reached me, he hugged me tightly and I hugged back as hard. We stayed like that for what seemed forever. I whispered soothing words into his ear to calm him down while he cried and hiccuped. After that we sat in the booth on the same chair. He cuddled up to my like a little kid, refusing to let go of my shirt, afraid I'll disappear if he releases me.
"Is this a dream?" He asked after awhile. I ran my hand through his silky hair.
"Of course not. I'm really here. I'm here to stay." He tightened his hold on me, refusing to let go any time soon.
The only sounds that were heard was the cars going by outside and the second-hand clock ticking in the kitchen. I can't remember how long we were in that position but I started noticing the sky turning orange. The sun must be setting.. I looked down to find Shin wide awake as I was. I made a movement, ready to get up but his hands painfully clutched my hips.
"Ouch.. Shin.. " He looked up with me with a burning passion in his eyes and I thought he was going to cry. Did he think I was going to leave again?
"Shin, don't worry, I'm not going anywhere. I just need to warm up this omelette and my legs are getting pretty numb." I smiled playfully. He pulled back instantly , looking down, sheepishly.
"Sorry, Mama."
"It's fine." I smiled motherly at him now, bringing the plate over to the microwave. "Would you like your Mama to cook you something to eat?"
"Yes, please!" Shin's eyes seemed to sparkle and I couldn't help but laugh at his cute expression. I quickly made him an omelette stuffed with ham, green peppers and cheese. By then the other omelette was warmed up. I brought them both to the table with two forks and two knifes. Setting them down, I now sat across from Shin, watching him dive into the food. He seemed to notice this.
"Aren't you going to eat too?"
"It's not mine to eat"
"Eh? Who's is it?" A million things ran through my head at that moment. The main ideas that did were if I should tell him or not.
"I think.. you have the right to know, Shin."
"Huh? The right to know what?" I hesitated.
"Shin, would you like to meet your sister?"
...
Shin dropped his fork and knife, causing the noise to echo in the almost empty room louder then it should have. He seemed to be timeless, unmoving like stone. I had to shake him light to get him talking.
"Sister? You mean Sachiko?" I nodded.
"That's right."
"But..all this time I thought she was with Takumi, you as well. He said he wanted to hide you guys form the press and wouldn't even allow us to see you.. "
"Yea, I read that in the papers. Stupid Takumi. The truth.. well, I think after showing you the truth, you'll understand much better. Be right back, I'll bring her out." I got up and walked to my bedroom. There was Sachiko, looking so innocent and pure, an angel. Sometimes I wanted to cry because in a couple years, she's soon going to see what kind of a ugly world we really live in. I shook her lightly, waking her instantly.
"Mama.." She rubbed her eyes and searched for her hair.
"Ah, ah, ah, none of that Sachiko, all your hair will fall out before you turned ten." She giggled. I picked her up and slowly brought her out to where Shin was still seated. He watched me with wary eyes. When I was in front of him, his eyes rested on Sachiko, who was rested comfortably on my hip, my arm around her so she didn't fall.
"Takumi's child.. " I could hear the venom in his eyes. So slowly, I let Sachiko's hood fall back, letting her blond hair fall forward, curving the frame of her face. This seemed to come as a shock to Shin because he shot backwards.
"N..Nobu's..?!" I nodded and now there was no smile on my face, just a blank mask.
"Now, do you understand?" He nodded furiously, keeping his on Sachiko. I walked over to the living room and sat on the old couch. Shin followed and sat beside me, as close as possible.
"When I was in labour, Takumi was in London, doing a recording. Of course at first I was sad. Plus none of my friends were there to support me but I was two days early so it was understandable."
"What?! Why didn't you call us?! We would have been there in a heart beat!"
"Oh yes, that would have gone well since I was screaming and grunting most of the time."
"Oh, right." I laughed softly but continued. "After they told me Sachiko was blond, I was shocked. I was so sure she was Takumi's because Nobu and I were always careful but we didn't count the time the condom broke.. Anyways! I called Takumi after to tell him it's over. After that I called my mother and I have been living in my hometown for a year. I also kept my cellphone off because I didn't want anything to distract me, all my attention was needed for Sachiko. Of course Takumi made a nuisance of himself and I knew I couldn't stay away forever. So now I'm going to get Sachiko into a preschool before I get a job."
"I see.. I'm so relieved. That's better then Takumi locking you up." I laughed and lifted Sachiko so she was cradled in my arms. I extended her out to Shin. He looked shocked.
"Shin, you would like to hold your sister?" The emotions fear and joy played on his face. As if he wanted to hold her more then anything but afraid he would drop her.. "Don't worry, I trust you'll do fine as a big brother. Hold your arms like this, yes, and your hand right there, perfect!" I placed Sachiko in his ready arms. She stared up at him with bright, innocent eyes. She was quiet through the whole talk with is surprising since she is usually hungry after her nap. She was curious about Shin, just the way she looked at him, because the only people she was ever surrounded by was family. I rarely allowed her outside, fear of Takumi finding us.
Ever so slowly, a bright, wide smile broke onto Shin's face. He cooed Sachiko which made her smile big in return. I felt touched by the scene that few tears escaped down my cheeks. I wiped them quickly before Shin could see.
"I'll let you feed her Shin, if she doesn't get her food soon, I know she'll throw a fit."
---
After Sachiko was done eating, Shin played with her some more. When it was nearing ten PM, he started reading her some bedtime stories until she fell asleep. After that he came out into living room where I was and laid down on the couch, his head in my lap. I ran my fingers in his hair, soothingly.
"She sure takes the energy out of you."
"Indeed. But she is such a joy to have around. I was afraid you wouldn't like her."
"Well.. If she was Takumi's, I don't think I would have held her." That pained me a little but I brushed it off. "You seem so different now Mama..more serious, careful..not much of a scatter brain as before." Sweat drop.
"Well I had to mature for Sachiko, right? She has to depend on me and I don't want to disappoint her."
"Hey Mama..do you plan on telling Nobu?" My hand stopped running through his hair for a couple seconds before I started again. I knew this question would come up sooner or later.
"Well.. I don't exactly plan on telling him soon.. "
"But he has to right to know!"
"I know Nobu, I know!" I started crying now and I wiped the tears away furiously. "I'm just not ready, I want to be independent for awhile, plus I want to tell Nana too, and Yasu! I need support from them too but I can't do it alone.. Plus Nobu has Yuri, I don't want to ruin his happiness with her."
"Mama, did you know that Nobu still loves you very much?"
"Huh?" He nodded.
"It's true. Whenever Yuri is around him, it looks like he's trying to hard just to see her there and not you. Once time I passed his room and they were doing it, then when he came he yelled out your name instead of her's." He grinned up me and I swore my whole face went red. This made him laugh.
"Plus, no one really likes her. When she's around, she's all clingy with Nobu, squeals and complains too much over the stupid things. One time Nana almost smashed Nobu's guitar over her head just because she couldn't stop laughing at some corny thing Nobu said. And I tell you, her laugh is really annoying." I laughed softly
"If you told Nobu that Sachiko is his, he would drop Yuri in a heart beat, for you."
"Tell me about Nana, how is she doing now?" I said, wanting to change the subject.
"Well I assumed you got my text from two weeks ago?" I nodded. "Well she seems to be doing fine now. She's smiling more often, sometimes laughing. Sometimes it's forced but at least it's something. She was so lifeless after you left, even Ren couldn't get a reaction. Nana believed that Takumi killed you and lied about keeping you away. She went nuts. But she seems stable right now. When do you plan on telling her?"
"Well..I really want to see her, but won't she be a bit shocked to see I'm still "alive"? I wouldn't be surprised if she thought she was dead when she see's me."
"Trust me, she would love nothing more then to see you at this moment." I laughed, feeling better already.
"Well I better get to bed, I have to get up early to get Sachiko to a preschool then I must go job hunting. I bought an extra bed for you Shin, it's in Nana's old room. I'm pretty sure it'll be more comfortable then the seats." I started to get up and walk to my room but I was stopped by the hand on my wrist.
"Can I..sleep with my Mama tonight?" I looked at him. He had his head turned slightly to the side, a blush on his cheeks and his bottom lip stuck out in a pout. The sight was completely adorable.
"Of course you can, you're always welcome to sleep with your Mama." I was pretty sure he was still afraid I might leave in the middle of the night or something so this was the least I can do to ease his worries.
That night we fell asleep with peaceful minds. I slept on the right side, Sachiko in the middle and Shin on the left. It almost felt like a perfect family, all that was missing was the father..
---
I got up early the next morning. I made pancakes, eggs and sausages for breakfast before waking Sachiko. After we ate, we got dressed. I left a note for Shin, saying that breakfast was on the table and that I would be out for half the day. I brought Sachiko to a preschool a couple blocks from where we lived. The place looked a bit old but it would be good enough for now.
After that I set out on job hunting. I stopped at places such as restaurants, cafes, hotels and everything in between. Working three jobs sounded okay. I would first get one job, make enough money to pay for a babysitter then I would be able to get two more jobs. I'd work until I have enough saved up to support Sachiko and myself for awhile.
It was only ten in the morning and I had already dropped off seven resumes. I saw a cute little cafe shop that I never saw before. When I walked in and noticed that that place was completely pink.
"Whoa.." The chairs were pink and puffy, the floor was a marble pink as well as the counter top, the wall was pink and the lights were pink! A year ago I would have loved to come to this place every day, but now it just doesn't seem necessary. I sat down at a stool, ordered a cream cheese covered bagal and a cup of tea. The hot tea felt going down my throat.
"Another night, another dream but always you-" The ring tone for my phone. I pulled it out and flipped it open.
"Mama, where are you?
-Shin"
I smiled at the short messages and started to respond just as the cafe shop door opened..
"But Nobu! I really like this shop! I want to come here!"
"Yuri, it's too..pink!"
I felt my heart stop then pick up triple times the speed as I felt movement beside me. I was thankful that my hair grew out past my shoulder blades so I used my hair as a curtain to hide my face. I peaked through and saw some girl sitting next to me and Nobu sitting on the other stool beside her. I quickly text Shin about the situation and my whereabouts then I put my cell on silent. I haven't changed my ring tone in years and I don't plan on doing it soon. Well, that might change. I watched my phone while I chewed on my bagel silently. The couple beside me were still bickering about the color. For goodness sake, just order dammit and get the hell out! My cellphone lighted up as I got a the new message I was waiting for.
"I'm almost there, I can see it.
-Shin"
I could almost sigh in relief when I heard the door open.
"Hey Nobu!"
"Shin! What are you doing around here? Stalking us?"
"Don't flatter yourself, kid."
"What?! Your the kid around here!" As if I knew what Shin was thinking, I moved myself and my stuff a seat away. Shin sat himself down in my old seat.
"Loud as always Nobu, your causing a disturbance to those around you."
" Oh gee, I wonder who's fault that is. By the way, she looks somewhat..familiar.." I looked to the side, away from them. This was too dangerous.
"Quit checking out other woman!" Yuri half whined, half squealed. I took this as my cue to leave before Nobu could really get a good look. I decided to drop off my resumes some places a bit farther from here before heading back to apartment 707.
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A/N:That you to those who reviewed! :3 I hope the chapter was good!!