Title: 3. laws of variation
Pairing/Character/s: Yuki/Machi
Word Count: 571 words
Summary: Machi, like millions of girls before her, thinks about the names of her future children. Takes place before Ch. 42. References Ch. 7! Anyone catch it?
Dedication: The idea comes from Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella and that episode of Friends where Ross admits he has chosen the names of the children Rachel will bear him.
A/N: Yet another stupid idea that panned out. I was shamed into posting this. Every time someone puts this story on alert, I am shamed into wracking my brain for more stories. Blah.
Matsuda Shota is a yummy Japanese actor. Namie Amuro and Ayaka Hirahara are singers.
She is feeling the fabric of a pale green cardigan when she hears two voices behind her. Eavesdropping comes naturally to her, and she pretends to look for her size as she listens. The speakers are both women; best friends, most likely, from the way their voices overlap endlessly.
"I'm thinking of naming him Shota, because I would so leave stupid Daichi for Matsuda Shota. In a heartbeat, too."
"Oh yeah, he was so cute in Hana Yori Dango! But wait, how does your husband feel about this?"
"He doesn't mind, but if it's a girl, he gets to name her Namie because he would leave me for Namie Amuro."
"You guys are crazy. You wouldn't leave Daichi in a million years."
"If Matsuda-san proposes, I'm a goner."
Their laughter fades away as Machi begins to contemplate her children's names. She liked Ayaka Hirahara's songs, but Sohma Ayaka didn't sound right. Matsuda Shota was one of her favorite actors but Sohma Shota didn't have a nice ring to it.
She doesn't stop thinking, though. Part of her knows it is ridiculous to decide names when she wasn't even pregnant. It is also good sense to pick names now. The last thing Machi wants is to blank out when the nurse asks for a name.
Two hours later, as she buys groceries and steams the salmon with Yuki, the perfect name still hasn't emerged. Yuki notices that his girlfriend is very quiet, even for her.
"What are you thinking about?" he ventures casually, washing the chopsticks.
Machi's answer comes out before she can think. "Our children's names."
The chopsticks slip from his hands, clattering to the bottom of the sink. Machi looks panicky. She straightens the tablecloth so that her hands have something to do. "I'm just thinking, it's not anything…"
Yuki is beaming, picking up the chopsticks and kissing her cheek.
"Yuki," she tries lightly, "Do you know what our children's names are?"
He puts down the utensils. "I've just thought about it, but, well… We'd have boys because I can't stand the thought of perverted boys dating my daughters. We'd have two, enough so they can be best friends and partners in crime but not so many that they overwhelm us. We'll live near a park so you can dump them off when they get annoying. I'll take martial arts with them every Sunday. You'll teach them how to treat girls because they'll have perfect manners." Machi can't suppress her bubbling laughter.
"Prince Yuki, Jr.?" she teases.
He contorts his face in disgust at the thought of another Prince Yuki. "Neither of the boys can be called Yuki or Ayame or Shigure-"
"Or Kakeru."
"Of course. These boys will be gentlemen on the outside and shameless troublemakers on the inside."
Machi is looking bemused and touched. He's imagining a future with her. "Two boys just like their father," she murmurs, pride emanating from her smile. She places her hands on his shoulders and presses their foreheads together. "That's a lot to handle."
His eyes are joking, almost challenging. "It is. So, how about it? Sohma Machi, do you feel like being a mother?" Yuki breathes, cupping her cheeks.
"What, here? The salmon's getting cold."
"You look ravishing under fluorescent lighting, Machi."
"Oh, my, you're so suave." She's being sarcastic but kissing him anyway.
Several months later, Machi is staring at the positive pregnancy stick. She still didn't have a name.
A/N: Isn't it funny how Yuki got a daughter anyway? I know I say Yuki and Machi are married here, but it was only to connect back to the previous chapter. Who knows if Yuki and Machi have a baby out of wedlock? If you don't understand why Yuki cups Machi's cheeks, you have to look back at Ch. 7.
I'd still like to hear which chapter you guys like the most. I have nothing interesting to say about it, but I like hearing it.
Only 7 more chapters to go! Then I have to edit everything. Damn.