Chapter 2: Out of wedlock
Mai groaned as she woke to a pounding headache and an unwilling body. Her head was telling her it was morning but her body was insisting it was still the middle of the night. Oh the joys of jet lag!
She and Yuki had arrived home on the previous day during mid-morning, giving Mai enough time to sort out her washing and unpack her and Yuki's clothes. Wanting nothing more than to head to bed, Mai persisted onwards. With Yuki being born in England it meant Mai would need to get all of her baby food from the local store since there was none in the kitchen cupboards. Luckily Luella had sent Yuki's pram, cot and high chair ahead of them and got delivery men to leave them in her apartment. She really didn't know what she would do without Naru's parents.
As she turned and stared at the little girl, her daughter, in her arms, the child's hauntingly familiar brown eyes stared back at Mai's of similar colour before the little girl opened her mouth and babbled out the nonsense that was baby speak
"Yes, that's right, this is your new home," Mai said in Japanese and the child cocked its head as it listened to her. Mai smiled brightly as she buckled Yuki into the pram, for the last eleven months she's spoken to her in English; obviously the child had picked up on the different words. Yuki was a miniature genius in the making Mai decided proudly.
The trip to the shop was uneventful but she did get weird glances off her old neighbours who kept looking at the lack of a wedding or engagement ring. She resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at them or make silly faces; it took a lot of willpower. Sighing as she got home, she left Yuki sleeping in the pram and unpacked the groceries while fretting over what her friends would think. She'd been sure they'd be fine but now that she was actually in Japan she wasn't as confident.
But as Mai glanced at her alarm clock only to realise she was soon going to be late the thought of her friend's reaction didn't occur to her. She fed Yuki hurriedly while packing the child's bag for things she'd need throughout the day.
Mai sighed exasperatedly as she realised she'd forgotten to register Yuki with a minder. Making a quick decision Mai quickly plonked Yuki in her pram and left the house.
Taking the familiar route to SPR was euphoric as Mai recalled all the times she'd dashed along the pavement late expecting Naru to bite her head off. Fond memories now she was looking back on them.
Glancing at her watch Mai quickened her pace until she stood staring up at the office as familiar to her as the back of her hand. After a year and a half nothing had changed about it at all.
She got Yuki out of the pram and put the pink bag straps over her shoulder while she expertly folded up the pram before hauling it up the steps. They really need to get an escalator, Mai thought as she reached the top out of breath before bracing herself and entered the office.
The bell tinkled overhead as she set down the pram and shifted Yuki back on her hip before she slipped down any further. The office was quiet and everything was still the same, she smiled gently before letting out a quiet laugh at the state of the telephone on her desk.
The turning of the door knob alerted her to Lin leaving his office, "Koujo-san," she smiled brightly as she stepped closer to him, deciding the element of surprise would be the best method with the Chinese man, "I need a favour," she saw him glance at the child in her arms with confusion as he looked at a few similarities between her and Yuki.
Before he could register anything she quickly dumped Yuki into his arms, ignoring the reproachful look the toddler gave her as she wobbled precariously before Lin took the sense to get a better grip on her.
"I forgot to get a minder for her so I need you to look after her, it's only for today," Mai babbled on with instructions as she put the baby bag on Lin's free arm and smiled brightly. Mission accomplished!
"Mai?" the voice, ever so familiar to her sounded shocked. Mai couldn't help the shivers running along her back at him saying her name. It hadn't really been her friend's opinions of her and Yuki that she'd cared about she realised as she took a quick glance at him, Naru.
He stared at her and then the baby and Mai nearly cringed as she wondered what was going through his head. Making a quick escape she had never been so relieved to be out from under those penetrating eyes. She wondered if it was wise to leave her baby with those two, were they really capable of looking after a baby? Mai shuddered at her thoughts response to that question. But maybe Naru could bond with Yuki, especially if he was going to see more of her more often.
"Taniyama-isha," a young woman came up to her and Mai desperately tried to remember the nurse's name as she realised she had finally reached the hospital in an almost dream like state. "I hope you had a good experience, the head doctor would like to speak to you before you start on the wards," Mai smiled brightly as the young woman left and prepared herself for the busy day.
It wasn't as sunny as she dashed across the road between cars stuck in traffic at half five. She was late typically as she ran through the open SPR door and into the dim interior and wondered faintly if Lin was going to kill her.
She saw Naru sitting in an armchair reading a dark coloured book at the same time she spotted Yuki sleeping on a blanket over the woollen rug.
"Hello Naru," she forced cheeriness into her voice where there really was none as she dumped her handbag on the desk and walked over to check on Yuki, "I'm sorry about landing her on you and Lin, I hope she wasn't too much trouble,"
Naru looked up and sighed before setting aside the book, which Mai noticed was on the origins of Voodoo, fascinating just fascinating, she thought sourly to herself. "I see your time in England was eventful," he said sarcastically as he laid his eyes on her, the meaning behind his words clear to here.
"Certainly a life experience," Mai narrowed her eyes and decided she wasn't going to be playing this game with him, "Is there a problem Naru?" A frown was set on her face at the tone of voice he had used; she had been hoping to avoid a confrontation.
Naru stood up directly before her, forcing her to raise her head to stare up at him, his blue eyes stared darkly into her own before he gestured towards his lair, "My office, now,"
She led the way ignoring the butterflies fluttering erratically in her stomach as she perched nervously at the chair opposite his on the other side of his desk, his office still as dark and gloomy as ever. Somehow it comforted Mai to know that much hadn't changed over the last year.
"Does the father know?" Naru asked through gritted teeth. Mai was glad for the dark interior of the room as she felt her blood flood to her cheeks, she really didn't want this conversation with him of all people.
"No I assume, I couldn't contact him. His telephone and mobile were out of service, the letters I sent were returned saying he didn't live there anymore and he never replied to my e-mail," Mai stopped as she saw Naru staring at her left hand.
"You're not married or engaged?" he said with disapproval and Mai felt a burning rage build up, if Naru was going to be like those stuck up old woman staring at her with disgust she'd set him straight soon enough.
"No I am not!" she snapped, harsher than she'd intended and winced as she heard Yuki begin to cry in the reception.
"How old is she?" Naru asked with a sigh, ignoring the cries of the child and the harried expression of worry on Mai's face as she kept glancing at the door, motherly instinct telling her to check on her daughter.
"Eleven months," Mai spoke distractedly as the wailing went up an octave. Not able to stand it any longer she left the room with a scowl as she headed towards the couch area. Her eyes flickered towards the rug before she stopped and double checked. Yuki wasn't there…
Turning around to the door Mai finally noticed the man staring at her while his arms held her wiggling daughter.
"Mai?" Naru came out of his office and stared at the man by the door with a glare.
"What are you doing here?" Mai growled as she stared at the smirk on his smug face and felt an intense wave of hatred towards him.
"Why Mai, I have a right to see my daughter. What sort of a father would I be if I didn't see how she was faring?"
First of all 'isha' means doctor. I wanted to say doctor Taniyama, so I just took the word isha and used it as an honorific on her name. Not sure if its right or not though. If anyone knows if it's right or not could you confirm it for my sake of mind, please and thank you.
Next piece of info on the agenda, BLEACH OST 4 has been released, apparently since December but I only found out today, lol I am so behind. Well I downloaded it and listenend to it and I have to say I wasn't impressed with it. I was expecting all the unreleased major cool songs from previous seasons to be on it, but sadly I was disappointed :-( :'-(
Lol, well back to the story, there have been a few reactions to Yuki or as one person put it 'that creature' or something along those lines. lol I must say that review had me cracking up lol
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed, it really makes my day to read your comments :)