Author's note - Hey everyone! This second oneshot of the series is going to be Kai x Popuri. It's not one of my favourite pairings, admittedly, but I've done my best with it. I hope it's turned out okay! Also, a big thanks to my reviewers, Awesome Rapidash and Dancing Raindrop.
Shocks
Crash.
The ferry rocked and wobbled dizzingly as it was battered by merciless, towering waves. For the umpteenth time, the driver attempted to keep the boat steady, but it was to no avail.
CRASH.
As the floor beneath her tilted yet again, Popuri sank further into her seat and covered her face with shaking hands. This was just horrible, she concluded miserably. After giving herself a moment to recover, she warily opened one eye...then, after a further moment, tried the other. She scanned the deck slowly, very slowly, taking in each wooden plank one at a time. Before long the railings came into view followed by a glimpse of the vast, navy blue - urgh, no.
She was soon back to where she started, head in hands.
CRASH.
Kai gripped the steel railing tighter as another wave hit, but, unlike his wife who groaned in the background, he loved this. It was all part of the deal as far as he was concerned. Part of being a traveller, part of the life he'd chosen. He swayed in time with the deck, while staring out at the clear, bright blue sky.
"Kai..."
He turned around to see Popuri peering anxiously through her fingers at him. Aww, he thought, smiling sympathetically back at her. He knew full well that the travelling between places was what she really hated, especially if boats were involved. "You okay, love?" he asked, as the moans got louder.
"Mhmm," she mumbled, closing her eyes again. "I mean...No. Yeah." She shrugged helplesely. "Don't know, actually."
Kai smiled, this time a little more worriedly, and came and sat beside his wife. He put his arm around her and she leant against him weakly. "You hate all this, don't you?"
"No! No, no, it's just the travel sickness, you know that," Popuri explained. She was speaking a lot slower than usual, obviously in a bid to avoid a spate of projectile vomitting.
Kai rubbed her back, before hesitantly asking, "Do you - do you think it's maybe the baby that's causing it? I mean, you're never normally this bad!"
They both stared at her stomach even though there was no bump of any size yet. Popuri ran her delicate hands over her flat waist, her eyes sparkling. "Hmm, maybe," she mused. "I didn't really think of that."
The vessel carried on sailing, as a silence fell between the pair. "We'll be arriving in Mineral Town soon," Kai pointed out, after a while. Like his wife he was speaking a little differently from how he usually would; in his case much quiter.
Popuri patted his arm soothingly. "You're worried about telling Rick, aren't you?"
"Nah! Why would I be bothered about someone like Rick?" Kai insisted, while his pink-haired companion simply laughed.
After what seemed like an endless enternity to Popuri, the boat finally docked at Mineral Town beach. Her sickness vanished almost instantly as she stepped onto dry land and she found herself practically skipping along the pier.
All of this was much to her husband's amusement, but he discovered he was too nervous to even chuckle. Popuri was only too right, he realised, it was Rick. Her brother didn't exactly intimidate him; never had done. Otherwise, he'd never have dared to marry Popuri, would he?
But, no, the problem was that he knew exactly what Rick would say when he heard about his sister's pregnancy.
And it wasn't: 'Oh wow, I just can't wait to be an Uncle'.
Oh no, certainly not. In fact, if Rick had a word count for the next few hours 'irresponsible' would definitely top it. And what was worst of all?
The stupid chicken boy was probably right...
"Kai!" Popuri called suddenly, breaking straight through his whirl of thoughts. She was already at the other side of the beach, nearly about to climb the steps into town. A small frown appeared on her face and she shook her head at him. "Come on, Kai! Quit day dreaming and hurry up! Mom and Rick'll be waiting for us."
He snapped into action, racing to catch up with her and taking each and every bag they had into his arms at once. "Sorry Poppy!" he panted, balancing a navy suticase with great difficulty. "I was just...thinking...you know."
Popuri let out a little giggle, "You don't have to carry everything, Kai. Here, give me the suitcase and a couple of the smaller bags. There!" Once they were sorted out and on their way into town, Kai could feel her watching him a little too intently.
"This place never changes, does it?" he asked as they strolled along the quaint streets. Bright sunlight bounced off the cobbles of which a sweltering summer heat rose to the clear blue sky above. He'd tried to keep his tone as calm as possible in asking, but Popuri was quick to realise he was only changing the subject.
She nodded in agreement, but quickly slipped her slender hand into his larger one. "Yeah," she replied softly. "It never does." But then, giving his hand a squeeze, she pulled him close, so close that she could whisper right in his ear. Her breath tickled the side of his face as she murmured, "I know you're nervous about telling Rick, you know. After all, I may have candyfloss for hair, but I certainly don't have candyfloss for brains."
"I already know that, you silly thing!" he laughed, pulling her closer still.
"So will you admit you're nervous about Rick then?" Popuri pressed. They were walking past Yodel Farm now, so Kai could see there was little point in lying; it was probably written all over his face.
"Weell...kinda." He watched her closely for a moment. "...Aren't you?"
They came to a standstill just yards from Poultry Farm, now gripping hands as though their lives depended on it. "Okay," she admitted. "I am. But even though he's my brother, and I love him, he doesn't always know what's best for me. He didn't want me to marry you, after all, and that was just ridiculous because marrying you turned out to be the best decision of my life. Didn't it?"
Kai jumped to attention. "Yes, ma'am," he agreed, jokingly. He was grinning broadly and very nearly laughing, but still Popuri was unsatisfied. She could tell when it was just an act and when it was genuine. Needless to say, now was definitely an act.
"What is it Kai?" she asked again, hoping she didn't sound too pushy or whiny. She decided it didn't really matter, as desperate times called for desperate measures.
He looked hesitant, but eventually sighed, "What if he's right, Poppy? What if we're doing the wrong thing by dragging a kid into such an unstable lifestyle? Maybe we should re-think our plans - "
Popuri jerked away from him a little. She looked geninely shocked, but not neccesarily unhappy at what she'd heard. Just curious, that was all. "Are you - " she began, then paused. "Are you suggesting that we maybe don't lea - ?"
Suddenly, with a bang and clatter, the door to the farm house burst open and two figures ran out into the sunlight. One was tall and thin, with floppy blond hair and thick glasses, while the other, the female of the pair, was slightly shorter, had much longer brown hair and pale skin.
She spotted them straight away. "There you are!" she called out, appearing half-exasperated. Oddly, it sounded to Kai and Popuri as though Karen was on the verge of laughing or crying. Either way would be weird enough, as she was usually such a laid back person. Neither one extreme, nor the other, really.
As they approached, it became apparent that Karen, who was hand in hand with Rick, was both both crying and laughing - or grinning at the least. "What's up?" Popuri asked the couple, after the usual greeting hugs. Or, in the case of Rick and Kai, curt handshakes.
Karen looked as though she was bursting to tell them, her green eyes shining with pride. But Rick very quickly shook his head and, with a sigh, she nodded. "We'll you tell you in a minute, okay? Once you're inside. Lillia will want to see your reactions, I expect. Or something like that," she added impatiently. She glanced at Rick, giving his arm a tug. "Come on, then! Lets go, I can't keep it in anymore!"
Barely waiting for the others, Karen rushed off towards the house. "Wow," Popuri smiled, watching her friend with amazement. "She's certainly happy."
"Uh-huh," Rick agreed, though he didn't appear to be listening properly. In fact, the same dreamy smile Karen wore could be found on his face. Popuri regarded him with amusement for a moment.
Then she gasped.
"What?" the guys asked in unison. Kai had his head on one side, looking concerned, while Rick was frowning at her as though she'd grown an extra head.
"Nothing! It's really nothing. Just...can I speak to Kai for a moment? Alone? You go in, Rick. We'll be with you in a sec. Go on!" she added, as he continued to hestitate.
When the door eventually clicked shut, Popuri seized her husband by the shoulders - much to his confusion and alarm, of course. "Karen's pregnant," she announced, sounding insanely proud of herself. "Isn't she?"
Kai, however, was comletely and utterly nonplussed. "Huh?" he managed after a moment of simply staring. "I don't understand."
"Well, think about it. The happy looks, the excitement, the whole we've got something to tell you...It's obvious."
He nodded; it did seem to make sense after all. And yet - "But they're not even married!" Kai laughed suddenly, realising. "In fact, I thought they'd only just starting dating. Nah, if I know Rick, he's one to take things a little slower than that."
As realisation hit her, Popuri's face fell. "Oh," she said, clearly deflated. "I guess so. And there was me imagining our children growing up together..."
Kai put his arm around her comfortingly. "Hey! They still might. I mean, Karen and Rick are obviously very close - "
And, just like that, seemingly in unison, it hit them.
"You don't think - ?"
" - An engagement maybe - "
" - I can't believe it!"
Sure enough, when they pushed open the door there was no doubt about it. A large white banner reading, 'Congratulations', was hung near the fireplace and mingling with the usual scent of baking was the faint smell of alcohol. Champagne, judging by the glass in Karen's hand.
They all smiled welcomingly at the new arrivals, and Karen, apparently, could keep the news in no longer. "We're getting married!" she practically screamed. After that, everything was a whirl of hugs and kisses and, tears and laughter. And, unfortunately, champagne.
Popuri stared nervously at the glass that had been thrust into her hand. Her teeth nibbled along her bottom lip, as she contemplated not drawing attention to the fact that she wasn't drinking it. At first, it seemed as though nobody would notice; Rick and Karen were, frankly, more interested in each other.
Lillia did though. She was her mother, so of course she did. She watched her daughter intently and saw it all. Saw Popuri's glowing, shining eyes and her rounded happy features...
And with a quick, teary whisper of, 'Oh Poppy, darling', she was across the room and hugging her as though she'd never let go. Watching her over his mother-in-law's shoulder, Kai could only beam. It was okay, he realised, as the worries of earlier faded away.
Sure, Rick gave them his opinion when he heard, but it still went much better than expected. After a moment of ranting, his 'protective older brother' persona fell for a moment and he showed them how truly pleased he was. Deep down, at least.
It wasn't the best reaction in the world, but it was a start. And even if his suuport didn't last, it really didn't matter.
What mattered was that they'd made a sick, frail woman's day. A day that got better still when she realised just where her grandcild would be growing up.
A/N - Well...good? Bad? I'd love to know what you think! Next up will be Doctor x Elli, which I hope to post within the next few weeks or hopefully sooner. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review!