Chapter 20: Natsume's Conflict

'I only been asleep for a few hours…' Ema stares at the clock with fatigue. She turns on her right side to gazed at the sleepy Yusuke on the couch. The way the red-haired boy slept, was his left leg hanging off the edge while his arms are up in the air above his head. Ema only smiled.

It made her feel thankful that she isn't alone. Even though, it was nerve-wrecking having a boy in the same room with her. Ema felt bad that she was here laying on the bed, but Yusuke kept insisting she took the bed and he would lay on the couch.

Boom!

All of a sudden raindrops were hitting on the window rough as thunder made loud drumming sounds. Ema chocolate eyes widen as she continued to stare intensely, it sent her chills. She quickly covered her ears as she squints her eyes shut.

'Please go away…' as she chants inside her head thousand times.

Out of the blue she felt arms wrapped around her shaken body and slowly open her eyes too see Yusuke there. "It's okay...I am here." Yusuke whispered in a reassuring voiced. This made Ema's heart race, but soon it calmed when she squeezed him tighter.

Back then, times when a thunderstorm would occurred she felt alone in an empty house with no body. When she was a little girl she would run in her room closed the door, turning off the lights and crawl into her bed cover herself. When she would hear a sound of thunder she would let out a little scream as she silently cried to herself. She wished that her dad was there, but he had to travel all the time. The neighbors never checked up on her when the weather was like this. Things slowly changed when Juli came into picture. He would curl up to her under the covers and talked with little Ema. It gave her comfort...but now it felt different. This comfort is something she always wished for...and it made her feel safe. Slowly, she drifted into a deep slumber.

...

The next morning, Ema was still asleep as she snuggle up to Yusuke. The red-haired boy was slowly waking up, but didn't notice anything out of sorts...yet. He slowly opened his eyes slightly seeing the beauty Ema laying next to him breathing softly. She is laying on his left arm while his right arm is wrapped around her in a tight embrace. It felt the most natural thing, until Yusuke finally realized what he was doing.

As soon he was fully conscious, Yusuke was about to screeched, but closed his mouth. 'W-Why am I here!? I was on the couch!' Yusuke thinks as he blushes. Then he started to think harder, then started to remember that he heard Ema about to cry to herself, self-consciously he went too her. 'Damn...I was sleep walking again...but…' he looked at Ema again. 'Waking up next to her is not the worst feeling in the world.'

Ring! Ring!

Yusuke jolted up from the bed. "Oh crap! I don't want her to wake up, yet!? The red-haired boy looked at his caller ID. "Damn it's Natsume." He cleared his throat as he slid to answer his phone, "Uh...hello?"

"Yusuke! Where the hell have you been!?" Natsume shouts through the phone.

"Uh. Natsume-nii-San.."

"Seriously! We thought someone abducted you or something!?"

"W-What I am not that careless geez…" Yusuke quietly pouted to himself.

"Never mind that. Have you found Ema, yet?"

He turned around and looked at Ema as she is still asleep. "Yes...she's here with me. Sorry I haven't told you guys,yet."

Natsume sighed in relief, "Where are you guys at?"

"Oh at a hotel called Four Leaf Clover. But uh...Natsume-nii-San I will bring her back soon, okay?" Yusuke whispered.

"No. I am coming over I...want to talk to her myself. I will let the family know that you two are safe. I will be over shortly." Then Natsume hung up the phone.

Yusuke shuts his phone off and only sighed.

"Who was that?"

It started the young man as he saw Ema, as her expression became darken. It bummed Yusuke out because she looked so peaceful.

"It was Natsume. He was worried that I didn't come back to the hotel last night. But...I did tell him that you are here with me." Yusuke rubbed his messy bed-head as he slowly walked over sitting across from Ema.

"I don't know what to say to Natsume. I know he will insist of me going back to the hotel where our family is at." Ema stood up from the bed and looked out the window. "Good. At least the thunderstorm is gone." The scene from last night made Ema blush and awkwardly gave Yusuke a smile. "Um...thank you for comforting me last night."

"W-What!" Yusuke shouts as he lost his balance and fell down on the hard-wood floor. "I...uh-um," Yusuke jumped on his two feet and bowed deeply while closing his eyes tighter. " Sorry for my behavior! I sleep-walk sometimes...so I am sorry!"

Ema just let out a laugh, "It's okay...It didn't bother me...so…"

Knock! Knock!

"It's Natsume."

Yusuke walked to open the door and witness Natsume looking frustrated. He walked inside and Yusuke closed the door behind him. "Ema are you okay?" He asked with concern.

"Yes...I am. I am sorry Natsume." Ema bowed.

"What happened? Can you tell me?" Natsume asked.

"Natsume I don't think she is ready to tell you what happened." Yusuke said with a stern voice. That didn't stop Natsume giving him a mean look.

"Yusuke...I didn't want to cause a scene with Ema, but why didn't you call any of us last night? You knew we were looking for her. We almost had to call the police-" Natsume was scolding Yusuke till Ema interrupted.

"No Natsume, don't blame Yusuke. He didn't do anything wrong...it was my doing. I pretty much drag him into my mess." Ema tried to give a reassuring smile.

"Ema…" Yusuke whispered.

Natusme looked at his brother and back to Ema, "Alright. It's just your father and our mother told us you were upset, but didn't tell us why. Forgive me if I seem rude. The family was worried about you."

"But...why though?" Ema question feeling like she didn't belong to the family any more. It only confused Natsume more. Ema feels like she needs to tell Natsume the truth. "Yusuke can I be alone with Natsume? I want to tell him what happened."

Yusuke didn't want to leave, but he wanted to help Ema out. "Okay. I will go down the lobby to get us breakfast…" Yusuke grabbed his shoes and walked out. As he was starting to walk he felt jealousy rising inside him. "I guess...I can't be her shining night in honor all the time…"

…

Ema was sitting on the couch while Natsume is sitting on a chair across from her. "Last night, I wanted to go talk with my father, but I overheard him and Mrs. Miwa talking about me. Mrs. Miwa wanted my dad tell me the truth, and I didn't know what she meant about that. Until, my dad revealed that I wasn't his daughter...and that I am adopted."

Natsume amethyst eyes widen in shock, "Are you certain?" As he watched her nod she looked heart broken by the news.

"Don't you see...I am no longer part of the Asahina family anymore." Ema was about to cry till Natsume spoke.

"That's not true, you are part of our family. That will never change." Natsume reach out to her hand.

It made Ema pull away, "But I have cause so many problems for your family. I am more like a burden...I just can't face you guys...or my dad no-I mean...Rintarou."

Natsume shook his head to disagree, "No you are not a burden. Ema you being part of our family has made us a better family. You make my brothers happy and I. We….love you. That will never change." Natsume got up from his chair and embrace her into a tight hug.

"Natsume...I...just...don't know how to face my dad. I am afraid to find out the truth why he did adopt me. What if my parents never loved me…?" Tears started to fall on her rosy cheeks, "Sniff...Or what if he never loved me and that he only felt sorry for me being an orphan."

"He does love you. I don't see him not loving you because...Ema you are amazing." The ginger-haired man slide his hand through her silky brown hair it felt damp from the rain from the night before, but it still felt soft. "You will not be alone no more...you have a family." Until Natsume tried to do anything Yusuke came back.

"Ema I didn't know what to bring you...so I bought every flavor muffin there was...so…" He saw what Natsume was doing, but the ginger-haired man drop his hand and acted like nothing didn't happen. Until, his cell phone started to ring. He pulled out his phone and looked at caller ID.

"Hello Ukyo, yes both of them are here. Yes there both okay. Yes we will come back soon." Natsume hung up and stared at the young teens. "Everyone is anxious too see you." Natsume looked at Ema. "Especially Rintarou. You should go and talk to him and get your answers."

Ema had to think about it until she sighed, "I guess I can't hide up here forever...okay. I will go talk to my...father. I hate to admit it...but I still love him...for that may never change. I hope he still loves me."

"He will Ema. We will be there for you." Yusuke tried to smile to make Ema feel better as he handed her a bag full of muffins. "Now...what flavor do you want?"

"Chocolate please." Ema inhaled the aroma of the fresh muffin took a bite and felt better.

Yusuke was excited to chow down till Natsume asked. "You know you are sharing too, right?"

"What! These muffins are for Ema and I!" Yusuke gave Natsume a pouted face.

"Yeah and thanks to me that you are not grounded. I had to convinced Ukyo and Masaomi. So give me a muffin for my reward." Natsume grinned mischievously.

"Geez whatever just don't take-" Yusuke stop till he watch Natsume take a bite of a blueberry muffin. "Hey! Natsume! That was supposed to be mine!"

As the two brothers fight over the blue berry muffin. It made Ema giggle silently to herself. She is having anxiety of going back to see the Asahina family, but she has to go back so she doesn't lose this family. Because she grew to love the Asahina family.

Author Notes: All I can say is sorry for the wait! I am very happy how this chapter has turned out. Man I am feeling tired, stayed up typing this chapter. Going to bed! Thank you for the favorite, follows, and reviews! It means the world too me. I shall update soon!

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Peace out!