I know... Long time! But life is really messy right now and cant seem to focus on anything else! This has been written more than a month before but i am uploading it today! I apologize to the readers but can't do anything about it... will try to be more frequent but no promises... Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of it... just the imagination!

Isn't It Incidentally Incestuous?

Chapter:2

The Tokyo Surprise

Natsuki still stood at the very place trying to be okay with everything going on around her. All of this was quite comically inexplicable, for her! The circumstances that had lead to this particular situation were not a fact, but a devilish conspiracy against her! The first random woman she tried hitting on turns out to be the supposed half-sister of her mother and apparently a prominent part of her crazy-assed-family's-not-yet-disclosed tell-tale? You have got to be fucking kidding me! That moment she understood the real usage of the phrase, 'what a small world', and cursed herself for not being a member of the presumably extinct Mars-woman or Martian! Do they even exist? I am so so sooo screwed! She craned her neck to peek into the living room and saw her mother and Shizuru sitting side by side on the couch making awkward small talk! Trying to make no sound she hurried up the stairs to her room and embraced the safety that engulfed her with a heavy satisfactory sigh.

Both the grown up women had noticed the immediate exit of the younger one, but only one of them knew the exact reason behind it. Shizuru had to bite into her lower lip to stop the smirk that was so eager to ornate her features. Now, when the younger one was out of the field these two could get down to business. Seako, not caring much about hospitality, pushed herself off the couch to get a glass of red. With an insubstantial look towards Shizuru, whose posture was now much more relaxed than earlier, she casually asked, "you want some"?

"I will have a glass of white, thanks", Shizuru too replied without giving too much care for her tone. She was not happy with this sudden family indulgence but the events pertaining to Natsuki had so far amused her. But not as much to shadow the tactical manipulations she had faced from Seako recently!

After a few minutes of sipping their respective drinks in silence, Shizuru spoke as calmly as possible, "Seako", she waited for the other woman to pay attention, "in future I would appreciate if you could contact me directly instead of going to my mother first". It was not a hidden fact that Seako could be menacingly manipulative when needed but using her mother to get the desired result was not fair on her part. Shizuru could never deny anything her mother asked her to do, and much to her indefinite irritation, Seako had a capability to sweet talk her mother into doing anything she wanted. Even if it was a sudden abrupt visit after three years-seven months-five days of no contact at all!

Seako knew this was coming. She smiled a bit evilly and took a sip of her drink before reacting. "Now why would I want to do that"? She was somewhat enjoying the rage and annoyance betraying in Shizuru's figure. "Even when I was young she could never say no to me! It is actually undeniably comforting to know some things or rather some people never change", she articulated smugly not directing it particularly towards Shizuru.

They both had been somewhat forced to turn a blind eye to the situations and speculations revolving around the Kuga and the Fujino family. Seako was barely in her early teens when her father had left them. According to her mother's angry rants, Shizuru and her mother were responsible for that. But as wild and careless she had become during her teen years, she didn't care a pinch about her broken home. Her mother, when on deathbed, had burdened her with a promise to accept Shizuru as her younger sister. Her father too did not live long after that. And the only person alive to enlighten these two troubled souls, Shizuru's mother, had been-until forever- waiting for the 'right time'! During the course they had carried on with their lives, separately and deliberately avoiding each other. But the craving for truth still lingered somewhere in the back of their minds, just resting!

The timbre politeness lacing her usual voice had developed itself into an ice-cold non-caring one. "Don't you think it's a little too selfish? Even for you?" The irritation and helplessness of this situation finally got to her. She had a busy and crazy life back in Tokyo. The rush of the metro and the threat to excel or get kicked out of her work tenure was too much to handle in itself. The last thing she needed was having a spoon fed, pampered, immature, and overly-zealous fresh college girl to babysit! Also, on top of that, this particular girl was the daughter of her-according to some confusing family ties- crazy, manipulative, selfish, and bitchy half-sister!

Taking a moment to think about the question Seako did realize it was true, but what she wouldn't do just for her precious daughter? "There is no length of anything I wouldn't cross just for Natsuki, and you should keep that in mind while she resides with you". She warned Shizuru and by the looks of it, Shizuru could tell it was a fair and dangerous warning. "After what your family had put my mother through, I think you owe me at least this much", again she took a manipulative guilt inducing jab which she was sure would make things go her way. She knew it was, at this point unnecessary to dig out graves, but well…as they say it's just decomposed graves- no foul, no harm!

Shizuru's hold on her wine glass tightened extensively enough to break the stem. This thing with her mother and the Kuga family had always kept her chained to things she despised, but just as Natsuki was Seako's weakness, her mother was her's! "I will keep that in mind". She gave a tight dishonest smile over her glass. Oh, how I am going to love tormenting your daughter…you just see! That fleeting wicked thought gave her an immediate relief. Almost, bordering to happiness as somehow this meant she had an upper hand here. "Anything else"?

The weightlessness of the last part indicated that she was not as wound up as a moment ago. After finishing up their drinks Seako suggested that they should get through a civilized dinner with Natsuki. Shizuru didn't resist as she was starving. After setting up the plates, she called up Natsuki to join them. Some feeble resistance later she finally found herself literally being dragged towards the dining area. Watching this sort of mother-daughter dynamics was another amusement for Shizuru. After five minutes of silent chewing they were interrupted by one of Seako's poker friends, thankfully for Natsuki it wasn't the pedophile one!

Shizuru knew the window of opportunity was going to be small here so she jumped into action. "Ara, why isn't Natsuki eating properly", she reverted back to the sweet, honey-laced, heavy Kyoto accent.

Natsuki had already been dead nervous about sitting on the same table as this woman and when her mother went to talk to one of her friends, she knew she was in a dangerous territory! Trying not to fidget she continued playing with the rice on her plate and absentmindedly tried to make it into her favorite Ducati. Just as she was ready to design the amazing body of her 'rice-bike' with some colorful veggies, that very amazing spell-binding tone caressed her hearing senses torturously. Stopping mid movement, she tried to look directly into those crimson perilous pair of eyes. The preying look, the smirk, and a subtle raise of perfectly curved eyebrow made her still as a rock! Second time that night every sense in her body just blatantly denied their existence. The only response she could muster was a pathetically weak whimper and a lousy lopsided twitch of her lips. After keeping this same expression for a few seconds, she willed herself hard to move or smile properly or in the least say something as long as it was not another meek snivel. Some effort later her lips parted and the choked breath released sounding like, "heh…he"!

Shizuru wanted to jump with joy at the result of her teasing. In that miraculous instant she felt like she could write the most meaningful, significant, and impressive one-liners for every happy occasion a human being could ever encounter but at the same time she also had no word to demonstrate her elation! Take that Seako! "Oh, don't you worry Natsuki, I won't tell your mother about our little chat last night". You, my poor girl, have no idea what you have gotten yourself into…tsk! For a slightest fraction of second she felt pity for this blue haired unknowingly adorable innocent girl, but well, nothing that had happened to her was fair. So why should she give up this opportunity? Nope, not in a lifetime!

Natsuki was mere inches away from face-planting in her almost full plate when Seako returned. "You still haven't finished your veggies, Natsuki", she noted oblivious to her daughter's tormented soul and sat at her chair to finish off rest of the dinner. The previous uncomfortable silence followed too. Fortunately, for everyone, everything was finished after minutes of resettling. Natsuki did not waste any time in excusing herself as politely as she could and made her way to her room. Shizuru and Seako dropped the civilized act and went back to discuss the living arrangements albeit in as less words as possible. Half hour later of this impersonal business talk, Shizuru bid adieu and made her way out of this unlikable house. She still could rest and unwind for few hours before she had to catch the early flight to Tokyo. She stood in the streets waiting for a cab while operating her phone. Inside the house, Seako went back to cleaning the dishes. Natsuki, in her room, was pacing fanatically. Out of stupid curiosity she went to the window and saw Shizru hailing for a cab at the street. To her luck, that very moment she caught the sight of distinctly prominent pair of predatory eyes. Even from down the street the gaze made her motionless, more like spineless! She could blink only when the cab stopped in front of Shizuru. Before climbing in, Shizuru smirked, tilted her head slightly and waved her fingers at Natsuki.

She turned, rested her head and back, on the wall while keeping her eyes closed. Out of sheer nonsense frustration she bumped her head into the wall few times. The only thought piercing her mind was that how was she supposed to live with someone whose only presence can virtually turn her into an invalid! Also, it was not a matter of only days or months; it was years. And she didn't have the courage to endure the side-effects of Shizuru's mere existence for years. She shivered as she replayed the goodbye in her mind. When logically viewed, she couldn't not go to Tokyo but convincing her mother to let her stay with Nao was also not an option. I could try talking to mom again…but what will I say? She pondered and pondered but no good reason came to her thick mind. Okay…lets see..hmmm, here I go. Hey mom, if you don't want to see your daughter slowly and torturously turn into a deaf and dumb invalid please cancel my stay with her. Annoyed with her own reason she groaned and pushed herself off the wall to go downstairs. Like that would ever work!

Downstairs, Seako was slouched on the sofa with a glass of red in the right hand. Her legs were stretched out on the coffee table and she was rubbing both her feet comfortingly with each other. Her mind was currently taking a relaxed stroll through her past. Earlier she too, like her mother, took refuge in blaming someone else for the things that had happened to her and her parents. Her teenage rebellion could have destroyed her life but it didn't instead it made her life more bearable and complete. How? Simply because Natsuki was the result of one such stupid spur-of-the moment action! But, the sudden need to grow up and years of survival on her own had changed her perspective for good. Now she understood that people and their emotions could never be so simply explicable. A smile and a self-pleased sigh escaped her lips when she caught the sound of her daughter's heavy footsteps behind her.

"You look awfully tired for someone who didn't do anything at all", Natsuki remarked and sat herself on the coffee table facing her mother. Seako's smile turned into a melodious laugh. "Mom, are you drunk"? Natsuki asked because her mother would never laugh at herself, ever! She made herself comfortable, took Seako's right foot in her lap and started massaging it lightly. She saw her mother look at her through slightly tired, low lidded eyes, "What"?

Seako smiled a little sadly realizing how immensely she was going to miss listening to her daughter's smart ass comments. "You are funny…just like me". Natsuki avoided countering this with another comment. She switched the right foot with the left one and concentrated unnecessarily hard at it. Seako realized what was going on, "what is it"?

Natsuki was just waiting for her mother to catch up. She kept her gaze fixed on the foot and spoke hesitantly, "do I absolutely have to live with her"? She didn't want her mother to think that she was questioning her judgment but in a way she was. "I mean I didn't even get to talk to her properly. And frankly, those red eyes are just too scary", she rambled.

"Not my fault you cooped yourself up in your room the whole time she was here", Seako lightly reprimanded her, "I did arrange this dinner for you to get a little acquainted with her". In a way, she was grateful that Natsuki was mostly absent as it gave her the leeway to deal with Shizuru the way she wanted. "Well, at least you now know how she looks", she finished.

Natsuki realized that her mother had knowingly avoided answering the question. She had no choice but to up her game and make herself strong enough to not let Shizuru's presence affect her like that. The most damaging were those eyes and she needed a shield from those, then maybe she could behave a little like herself! She remained silent and kept massaging her mother's feet one by one. Seako too had something she wanted to confirm, and this was probably the right time. She pulled her legs away and bent a little forward looking at Natsuki seriously.

Natsuki saw her mother's body language and lifted her eyebrows a little, "hmmm".

Seako inhaled leisurely and relaxed her nerves. She had a doubt but only her daughter's reaction could confirm it. "Can I ask you something"?

"Yeah"?

"If you feel like not answering then don't but please don't lie about it okay", Seako kept her voice calm and a little low that usual.

"What is it mom", Natsuki replied in the same manner and slid a little forward reaching her mother's hands.

Seako looked down at those reaching hands and enveloped them in her own palms. "Natsuki, tell me the real reason you want to go to Tokyo". Her grip involuntarily tightened when she realized her daughter's muscles tighten in response.

Natsuki had an idea what was coming but she didn't expect her mom to be so direct. She didn't want to lie and hurt her more than she probably already had but this was something she needed for her own peace of mind. Sometime's her mother's capabilities to know everything about her life frustrated her but at this moment she was glad her mother knew the truth. That meant she didn't even need an attempt to lie! Her silence was answer enough but she also wanted to say something. "Mom…you know everything. I just want you to let me do this, for me…please mom! Only once", she sighed and looked at her mother. Those aged light emeralds didn't show any anger; only love, hurt, and little bit of understanding too.

Seako took a sharp breath and released Natsuki's hands from her grasp. She stood up, "it's getting late. Go to bed okay"? She went to the kitchen and placed the wine glass in the sink. Stilled herself and after having a glass of water she proceeded to her room. She was about to reach her room's door knob when she heard Natsuki's faint call from the bottom of the stairs. She stopped but didn't turn to look at her.

"I love you mom. Good night".

Seako's already sad and heavy heart melted at this sweet gesture. "I love you too. Good night", she greeted back and went into her room. Exhausted from the emotional and mental exertion of completely different events and situations, they both retired for the night.

The next morning, everything reverted back to normal. The usual mother-daughter bickering continued relentlessly during the two days Natsuki prepared for her departure. As suspected, Seako had made a scene at the airport treating Natsuki like a five year old flying for the first time without supervision. What seemed like hours of shouting, cursing, and crying later she finally breathed a sigh of relief! Nao had gone to Tokyo a day early to settle in her place and to survey the university before starting the session. Her nerves were high in the sky much like how she literally was two hours earlier.

Right now she was in the cab being driven to her destination of next four years. More than anything she wanted to glance and awe at the mind-blowing infrastructure that was Tokyo but her mind was preoccupied with the fear of facing Shizuru. In previous two days she had tried breathing exercises and a little bit of yoga for the final facedown. But now all that seemed nothing but naïve and a stupid waste of time plus effort. With that much concentration I would have beaten the world's best score at Warcraft! Her mother told her not to blindly trust the cab driver and keep her eyes on signposts at all times. The last signpost meant she was not being kidnapped and the destination was too near for her comfort. Within two minutes the cab stopped a few blocks away from Hanazono Memorial Hospital, Tokyo. After paying the driver she faced a four storeyed posh building. Must be expensive...huh? She needed to go to the third floor. Looking around she realized there was no elevator in this damn building! She patted herself on the back for managing as less luggage as possible which of course didn't make her mother happy. A decent amount of work out later she reached the main door of the desired flat. She puffed out her lungs and steeled herself for whatever was to come her way. She slightly knocked twice and waited…I am brave and courageous…those eyes do not affect me…no they don't! She kept chanting and waiting, chanting and waiting…and the door opened revealing…a brunette?

Natsuki was sure she had come to the right address…but a brunette? Someone else lives with her? She took out the note, in which she had dotted down the address, from her jeans' right front pocket and tallied. See I am at the right address.

"Aaahhh…you must be the house guest she was expecting", the brunette spoke and pulled Natsuki inside by her arm. Pushing her further in the brunette took her luggage and closed the door. This woman knew that the girl was not at all comfortable. She watched her silently for a minute and took pity. She took a few steps and involuntarily Natsuki backed away a little keeping her gaze fixed anywhere but at the woman. "Relax…I don't bite", she made her way to the middle door down the hallway and while passing Natsuki she added, "at least not until you ask me to".

Natsuki was scared, confused, angry, hungry, tired, and antsy. Her confidence was dissipating bit by bit the longer Shizuru took to appear. Fidgeting was not helping so to stop it she folded her arms tightly across her chest, scowled deeply, and started examining the flat. It was huge and well decorated. The kitchen was at the left end of the large hall, opposite side there were three doors. She assumed those were the rooms. The electronic appliances were well kept and shining. Not bad at all! Seako had told her that Shizuru was a pretty busy person so how come her house was so well kept? Before she could speculate an answer she heard two familiar voices and turned.

"Ara, you are here", Shizuru made an obvious observation. The brunette whispered something in Shizuru's ears and exited the apartment. Shizuru and Natsuki were alone now. She noticed the brave front dissolving with every second and she smiled.

As always Natsuki was simply helpless. Her hands dropped at her sides, shoulders sagged a little bit, and anger in her eyes got quickly replaced by fear when she saw those crimsons nearing. Her breaths became shorter and shorter with every step. She gulped and wanted to step back but that damn useless pair of legs were numb.

Shizuru was now only a few inches away from Natsuki, which obviously she did on purpose. Wow…I didn't know I had a sadistic side…this feels so good! "You know it's just so fascinating that some geniuses keep developing proverbs or sayings for every apt situation", She clasped her hands behind her and tilted her upper body a little forward, "don't you think so too"? It was, of course, rhetoric and not meant to answer; so straightening up she continued. "Like with you and your mother. 'An apple doesn't fall far from a tree'. Seako was a wild teenager and you most certainly are following her footsteps, aren't you"? She prodded with the purpose of insult and when she saw Natsuki's jaw clench she knew it hit the right chord! She cleared her throat and relaxed her own stance. "Firstly, welcome to Tokyo", her voice was not soft, glare hard, and demeanor aggressive, "secondly, this is my home turf and you will play by my rules. The last door down the hallway is your room. Washroom attached, so you won't have any problem. Don't ever try to enter any other room without permission. While we are both in the apartment, stay out of my way or better yet be invisible. Thirdly, I am not your parent, guardian or your babysitter so I won't feed you or tell you to eat or drag you to the dining table. I do not care even if you starve yourself to death. Fourthly, you get in any trouble in college, do not call me also do not put my name anywhere as your emergency contact. I mean it! Lastly, I somehow sense that you are far too desperate to stay in Tokyo to tell your mother about this conversation. So, that spares me the trouble of threatening you to keep shut", Shizuru finished with a tight smile and backed away. She opened the front door and looked back at the statue of the terrified, angry, and definitely confused girl in the middle of the room. "Ara Nat-su-ki", she reverted back to the soft, torturous, overly accented honey-laced voice. The unique pronunciation of her name broke the spell and for a fraction of second the emeralds disappeared under the currently dysfunctional eyelids. When she looked at her with hollow eyes she smirked the way she loved to and continued, "enjoy your stay", and walked out without waiting for a reply. Oh…but I bet I will enjoy it more than you…my little house guest!

All the mistakes are mine and i have not proof read this chappie, so be gentle with the comments please!

Will hopefully see you soon or may be not!