Things to remember:
A) I do not own Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler/Innocent Venus, sadly. But that's okay. I'll live.
B) I own Lincent and Kosuke and Hiroki. They are mine.
C) This is a work of FICTION. So because of this fact, anything I say goes. No complaining if something below does not make sense. I will be more than happy to explain my logic if you ask me.
D) Heavy OC content
E) 12/14
F) This is a sister fic to The Way We Were In Tokyo.
More relevant info to this chapter: What is this? A story finished in one night? An update only about two weeks late? Looks like this captain has her groove back XD. I'll rant about why I was late bit by bit for the next could of bottom author's notes. This chapter begins the dark part of this story. A lot happens this chapter and next. Brace yourselves, darlings.
And to those of you inquiring about Ciel, Sebastian, and Lin reuniting, they do. All in good time ;)
Special thanks to: SaviourofVideogamelands1, landyblanc(you, darling, make my day. you give me faith that this story will bring some people joy. I hope you like the ending :D), toothless20
Sincerely wishing you all well,
Kida-Asumi, the Captin of Sirius
- January 1994 -
Hospitals always gave Lin conflicted feelings. While they were the doorway to death, they also opened to new life. The latter was why she walked with her husband and parents into Hyuuga Memorial. Her son and his wife had just welcomed twins into the family once again. Unlike their first set, they did not foresee a second baby. Thus their newly all blue nursery would need some pink for their newest daughter.
"Grandma!" Two young female voices called out as they stepped out of the elevator. Lin grinned as Lizzy squealed and ran forward to the bundle of grandchildren. All five of Mikoto and Fugaku's other children were playing with various toys. Their Uncles, Yoh and Obito, were watching them. Obito's son, Mitsuru, was with them as well.
"Mama Lin." Obito said as he hugged her. Akina clung to her leg, grinning. Lin chuckled, kissing his cheek.
"Hello, sweetie. Are Jo and Sana here as well?" She asked, looking around. Obito shook his head.
"Nah. They took Assa home a while ago. Yoh and I are doing a guy's night with Mitsuru tonight. We are gonna leave soon after you see the babies." He explained.
"Where is Itachi?" Jin asked. Kosuke took a seat, and instantly had an armful of two small boys. Liz sat next to him, chuckling and cooing to the girls.
"He hasn't left his mother's side yet." Yoh explained. Jin nodded, throwing a grin at Lin.
"Well, my dear, shall we go and see our newest grandchildren?" He asked, offering her his arm. Lin nodded, patting Mitsuru on the head.
"Let's." She agreed. When they entered the room moments later, she felt her heart leap pleasantly.
"Oh wow." Jin breathed beside her. On the bed sat Mikoto, a pink bundle in her arms. Fugaku sat in the chair next to her, a blue in his own. Itachi sat with Mikoto, staring transfixed at his new sister.
"Names?" Lin asked. All three looked up, Mikoto grinning, Fugaku smirking, and Itachi remaining impassive.
"Oten and Kida." Fugaku said, standing up. He met his parents at the foot of Mikoto's bed, showing them his newest son. "Much like their siblings, these two are practically identical. They take after me more so than Mikki." He added. As Lin took Oten into her arms, she nodded her agreement. Oten looked a lot like Fugaku had when he was a baby.
"Kida was such a surprise to us. At least we knew of Akina's existence." Mikoto murmured, grinning down at her little girl. Itachi placed a protective hand on top of her.
"Is she ok?" Jin asked, looking away from Oten.
"Perfectly healthy." Mikoto nodded.
"We're very lucky." Fugaku added. Lin agreed, stroking Oten's face.
"Would you like us to take the children?" Jin asked. Mikoto nodded.
"Just go to our house with them. Sana is going to stay with us for a bit while we adjust from going from five children to seven." Fugaku explained. Jin clasped his shoulder, grinning.
"No problem, son. We're here for you." He promised. Lin nodded, staring down at the baby.
"We most certainly are. We must keep these young ones safe." She said. Whether it was from Hotsune or Madara, even she wasn't sure.
Something odd happened the first week the twins were home. Lin had just gotten off the phone with Fugaku when Oboro stumbled into her house, hacking up a lung. His two sons were behind him.
"Sweetie?" Lin asked as she stood, placing the phone on the table next to her.
"Mom sent us over here for cough syrup, Grandma." Sam piped up as Oboro caught his breath.
"Daddy has been coughing like this for a week." Jo added, adjusting his glasses. Lin frowned.
"Boys, why don't you watch TV while I get your Daddy some medicine." Lin suggested. The boys grinned and nodded in unison. As they searched for the remote, Lin gently put a hand on Oboro's back and led him into the kitchen.
"Did you catch a nasty flu, sweetie?" Lin asked. Oboro shrugged, watching as his mother poured out the right amount.
"I have no idea. I just got this annoying cough." He said. Lin nodded, handing him the medicine.
"Take the bottle home, sweetie. If it's not better soon, promise me you'll see a doctor?" Lin asked. Oboro nodded.
"Sure thing, Mom, sure thing.
- February -
Lin could always sense when her boys were sick. All they had to do was walk into the room and her maternal instincts kicked in.
So why were they failing her now?
Oboro had developed a fever. A sever one. Maki had called Lin hysterical. Apparently a temperature scan revealed it to be 102 degrees. So she and Jin quickly drove to Oboro's house, Lin had wondered where this fever could have come from. After all, she had seen him yesterday morning. What could have happened?
When Lin entered the house, Maki was curled up on the couch with Sam and Jo, reading them a bedtime story. The pinkette looked up and smiled.
"Thank goodness you're here. Oboro has finally gone to sleep." She said.
"I'll stay with Maki and the boys." Jin murmured as Lin began to head for the stairs. She nodded. A few minutes later, she was opening his door. Oboro lay on the bed, his face as white as the walls. Suppressing a gasp, she walked closer to him. He looked worse for wear up close. Her baby boy had never gotten this sick.
Could it have been that cough?
- March -
"And then my teacher sent the boy to the corner!" Kane exclaimed. Lin and Mikoto chuckled at the hyper 4 year old. Each woman was feeding a twin - Mikoto was feeding Oten, and Lin was feeding Kida. The three younger children and Itachi were playing in the backyard.
"Anyone home?" A male voice called.
"Back here Tobi!" Mikoto called back. "I'm watching Mitsuru for the day so he can run some errands." She explained to her mother-in-law. Lin nodded, smiling at her foster son as he exited the house, Mitsuru in his arms.
"Mama Lin! Mikki!" He greeted them jubilantly. Mitsuru wiggled out of his arms and ran to the yard. When Obito opened his mouth to say more, the phone rang.
"Would you get it?" Mikoto asked. Obito nodded, heading inside to retrieve it. When he exited again, he was frowning.
"Ok, 'Gaku, Mama and I will be right there. I'll see if Maho or Mizuho can watch the kids. Kakashi is watching the boys?" He asked before nodding. "See you soon." He said, hanging up. "Mama, Oboro collapsed at work. He's at the hospital now with 'Gaku and Grandpa Kosuke. Grandma Lizzy is taking Sam and Jo to Kakashi and Rin's place. Maki is on her way to the hospital with Uncle Jin." He explained. Lin gasped, standing up.
"Lin, give Kida to me. Tobi, call Mom and see if she'll watch the children." Mikoto requested. He nodded. Lin passed Mikoto her two month old daughter, frowning.
"What in the world is going on?"
Lin held onto her daughter-in-law tightly. Maki was as pale as her husband, and had tear stains on her cheeks. Jin, Fugaku, Obito, Kosuke, Mikoto, and Liz were huddled over in the corner, discussing various things about the situation. Jo and Sana were with Fugaku's seven children.
"Mama Lin?" Maki whispered. Lin smoothed back her hair.
"Hm?" She asked. Maki took a deep breath, leaning against Lin.
"I'm pregnant." She said softly. Lin's eyes widened and she pulled back in surprise. "If Oboro dies, he won't see this baby enter the world." She sobbed. Lin's heart stopped for beat.
Oh dear lord. Maki was right. She pulled Maki tighter into her arms and sighed.
"We won't let that happen. Oboro will get better and welcome his new child at your side." She swore. Maki nodded, cuddling closer to her mother-in-law.
Both hoped that this would be the future.
"Bleach poising?" Maki asked, aghast. Rin and Hiashi nodded.
"It's so odd. The concentration we found is very small, yet it has done so much. Maki, has Oboro been trying to get high?" Hiashi asked. Maki shook her head, frowning.
"No. Since he got his cough in January and his fever in February, Fugaku and I have kept a close eye on him. What in the world is going on?" She whispered. Fugaku pulled her close, frowning.
"Is there a way to reverse it?" He asked. The two doctors nodded.
"Yes. It will take some time, but as long as his immune system holds, it should work out." Rin informed them. Maki breathed a sigh of relief, leaning into Fugaku.
"Thank god. Is he awake yet?" She asked. Both nodded. Lin took Maki's hand and led her into the room. Oboro was sitting up and sipping water.
"Mom and Maki." He greeted them. Both women ran and hugged him tightly. He returned the hug, kissing Maki.
"Thank goodness you're ok." Lin said, pulling back as Maki situated herself at her husband's side.
"I'm sorry I worried you. What happened?" He asked. Maki and Lin shared a look as Fugaku led the men into the room.
They didn't know how to answer that.
- April -
Death was a part of Lin's life. She had lost a parent and a grandparent. A home. Now she had also lost her youngest child. As she and her husband led the family to the cemetery that would now hold Oboro, she couldn't help but blink back tears.
He lost his battle with bleach poisoning. No one could have predicted it would happen. All of his tests were going good, and then suddenly he wouldn't wake up. Understandably, Maki was hysterical. She was sedated because of the baby.
Her son left behind a beautiful wife and two beautiful sons. A third child on the way. As Lin approached his burial site, she couldn't help but bite back sobs. Their family surrounded the grave, the women crying, and the men with drawn faces.
Quietly, Kosuke began the ceremony. It was quiet and peaceful, yet full of agony and despair. Lin felt as if her heart was being shredded and her eyes were burning.
How could she have let this happen? She was demon, for the love of god! Surely she could protect one child! Yet she had failed, and now her family was paying the price.
Her grandsons were paying the price.
Maki was sworn in yesterday to fill all of Oboro's positions. It was such a big task for the pregnant woman, and Lin worried for her health.
How she wished her father was here with her.
- May -
Oboro's death brought about many changes to the family. Fugaku and Maki both had to work long hours, which left Mikoto at home with seven children under the age of 10 and Maki's sons in Lin's care. Lin herself often came to work to help lighten Maki's work load.
Maki's baby turned out to be a little boy. She had recently requested the gender and Oboro's prediction turned out to be correct, much to everyone's thrill. Before his death, he predicted they were having a son.
He would never know he was correct.
With all of the changes taking place, Lin had been unable to search for her father. She missed him dearly and wanted nothing more than to be with him again. Yet her family needed her more, so she focused on them.
Why must her heart be in two places at once?
"Look at how big they are getting!" Lin gushed as she spotted Fugaku holding Kida and Oten. Mikoto chuckled from her seat. The woman had shown up today to surprise Fugaku and their youngest children with lunch.
"I know, Aunt Lin, I know. Soon they'll be crawling." Miskito mused as Lin took Kida from her father.
"Where is Maki?" Lin asked.
"The bathroom." Fugaku replied, tossing Oten into the air.
"Pregnancy bladder." Mikoto elaborated, chuckling when Kida yanked on Lin's necklace. Lin nodded, gently prying the necklace out of the baby's grip. She certainly did not need a reminder on the pain that was the pregnancy bladder. Sitting down, Lin looked at the papers on the table and frowned.
"'Gaku…what is this?" She asked softly. These notes looked as if…
"I'm going to find the bastard that killed Oboro, Mom." Fugaku declared. Lin's eyes widened.
"Are you insane? This could put us all in danger!" She screeched. Kida began to cry in response. Lin apologized to the baby as she began to soothe her. Fugaku nodded, resting his hands on his wife's shoulders.
"I am well aware. Mikoto and I have discussed all of the pros and cons of this situation. We are prepared for whatever comes after us. Mother, we must do this. I will keep this family safe." He said. And as Lin looked into his eyes, she knew that there was no changing his mind. Come hail or high water, her son would find this killer. He would avenge his baby brother.
"What does Maki think of this?" Lin asked, looking down at Kida's tear stained face. How in the world would this affect the children?
"I am in support of it, Aunt Lin." A soft voice murmured. Lin looked up and towards the doorway to find her 5 month pregnant daughter-in-law standing in the doorway. Maki looked very worn out. Her skin had gone from glowing to pale. Her bright blue eyes were now dull and had bags under them. Her bright pink hair had been cut and pulled back into a tight bun.
And her colorful clothing had become all black.
"Truly?" Lin asked, standing up. Maki nodded.
"Yes. I want justice for my husband and sons. They deserve it. I have but one requirement." She said, rubbing her stomach. Lin nodded.
"Anything." She promised. Maki smiled bitterly.
"I would like to move in with you and Jin."
Later that afternoon, Mikoto lay napping in bed. Beside her bed was a playpen with the twins snuggled contently together. Her other five children were playing amongst themselves under Itachi's watchful eye.
No one but a black cat with blue eyes witnessed a man sneaking into Mikoto's bedroom window. This cat watched as this man gently closed and locked the windows and doors. Then he sat upon Mikoto's bed and stroked her face.
"My Mikki. Soon it shall be just you and I, my love. I have destroyed one brother. Soon it shall be two." The man murmured. One of the twins squirmed in their sleep. He looked over at them, quietly hushing the twin. "And you two will soon have a new step-daddy." He said. With a happy sigh, he lay down next to Mikoto. "My love." He murmured as he pressed kisses against her cheek.
Outside the window, the cat began to growl and hiss.
- June -
As Lin began to set up her unborn grandchild's nursery, she couldn't help but grin.
She would finally have children living with her again! Today Maki and her two sons were moving in. The pregnant woman was helping her sons unpack with Mikoto as the guys moved stuff into the spare rooms.
Grandmothers grow bored, Lin had quickly learned. A bitter part of her wondered if that was why her father had left. Shaking her head to clear away that thought, Lin focused instead on the little socks she had in her hands. Soon they would be on little feet, and this thrilled her.
She adored babies.
Thinking of small children had her reflecting on a conversation she had had with Obito, Maki, and Fugaku at work. She had been inquiring if Obito would have any more children. After all, Mitsuru was almost five. Her foster son had stuttered out answers and blushed. Then Fugaku and Maki had entered the room and joined her in teasing him.
The conversation concluded with Maki not wanting anymore children anytime soon, Fugaku wanting more later on, but not now with two six month old babies at home, and Obito unsure. The entire thing was very amusing and left them all in a good mood for a lunch together.
Now as she put the socks in the dresser drawer, she thought of her father.
He had sent her a letter. He would not disclose his location, but he gave her his condolences for Oboro's passing. It broke his heart as much as it hurt hers, apparently. For reasons he refused to explain, he could not be with them, but was safe.
How she missed him so.
"Grandma?" At the sound of her oldest grandchild, Lin looked up.
"Yes?" She asked, smiling at Sam. Sam smiled back, walking over to her.
"Grandpa wants to know if we should just order pizza for dinner." He said. Lin chuckled, standing up.
"We should. Want to come with me to tell him?" She asked, offering Sam her hand. He did, grinning.
"Yeah!" He exclaimed. He took her hand and they left the room together. As they walked down the hallway, Lin felt optimistic about the future. Changes were sure to come but she was sure her family would remain strong.
After all, what could possibly go wrong next?
A/N: Silly Linny, don't you know by now not to ask those types questions :P So, now I have been born. Yay! Yes, I am indeed that little six month old baby. No I will not become important in this story. Lin will still be the focus of attention. It's sad that Oboro is gone, but it was destiny that he die. Poor Lin. First she loses a son to madness, now one to death. And where in the world could Sebastian be, or what is he up to? Keep reading, final chapter before the epilogue is next :D
- Kida-Asumi