Izumi felt bad. Every time she'd start to make a break through with Emmett she would tell him to stop. She knew he was getting frustrated and would eventually go find someone else to be with, but she didn't know how long before he left.
Emmett went to go see Sage every couple of weeks and to see his nieces. Every so often Kurama, Sage and the girls would come over.
Kurama would go talk to Izumi. "How's training going for you?" he asked.
"Great, I think Hiei is getting bored with me...I've been there but he hasn't, or I pissed him off" she told him.
He chuckled. "He's probably bored, he'll think of something harder for you and come back...how are you getting along with Emmett? Any progress with breaking down the sex barriers?" he asked bluntly.
She turned every shade of red there was and shook her head. Izumi was to embarrassed to explain why she couldn't let him near her yet.
Kurama dropped his voice. "He's not going to wait forever Izumi...there are only so many times you can tell a guy no before he gives up and finds someone else"
Izumi hung her head. "I know" she whispered. "I know"
That night after Sage and her family left she went up to the spare bedroom and sat on the bed staring off into space.
Emmett found her sitting alone and knocked before going in. "Izumi...?" he asked softly trying not to scare her.
She looked up. He had seen she'd been crying.
"I'm sorry Emmett, I truly am, if you want me to go so you can find someone else who will give you the intimacy you deserve, I will go...let me gather up my things..." she said getting up from the bed and starting walking out of the room.
He grabbed her hand. "Don't go...let me take care of you...I want you to experience sex in a loving manner..."
Emmett picked her up kissing her as he took her back to the bed. He set her down and started kissing her softly all over her body, removing clothes as he went.
She enjoyed the kissing and the touching, it was the actual sex part she couldn't handle, but she had a feeling he was going to force those walls down.
He laid her down on the bed and slowly entered her and waited for approval before continuing. Once he got it, he stayed slow and steady, letting her feel, the love he had for her. Her body loved how he felt and moved with him. Izumi, finally let those walls come down and enjoyed herself.
-
Kenji was at Naoko's. He was cooking dinner for them when she came in.
"I'm home Kenji!" she called.
"In here" he said from the kitchen.
She went in and kissed his cheek and looked around the kitchen. It was a mess, but he was trying to cook for him that was a vast improvement compared to having take away every night. She was just a little burnt out on it and so was he.
"Sorry, I'm just trying to make you dinner...I'm really trying Nao" he said.
He was covered head to toe in flour and spices with a bit of egg all over. Naoko supressed a laugh and jumped in to help him with dinner.
"Tomorrow I'll teach you how to boil water and make an egg, we'll start slow with cooking" she told him.
Kenji hung his head. "I'm sorry...I wanted it to be perfect. I wanted to purpose to you tonight..." he whispered.
"What?! Really?! Kenji...I would love to be your wife and if you clean up maybe we can actually go out to eat?" she hinted softly.
He nodded and went to shower. Kenji felt better once he cleaned up. He still felt bad for making a mess out of the kitchen. Kenji went downstairs and noticed Naoko had the entire kitchen cleaned and had changed to go out.
She came up behind him. "Kenji...were you serious about marrying me?" she asked.
"Yes of course I am! I didn't think I could ever love someone so much as I love you Nao..I want you as my wife for the rest of our lives" he said slipping the ring on her finger.
She kissed him. "I accept, I cannot wait to be your wife" she told him.
They left and went out to eat. Naoko couldn't wait to tell Sage and Emmett the good news. Kenji couldn't wait to tell Izumi his good news. He hoped she would marry Emmett so she could be just as happy as him.
-
"Suichi...do you think Izumi will break down those walls of hers with Emmett? He's not going to wait forever for her to recover from this" she told him watching the girls play.
"Sage...she went through something very traumatic in her life...you don't get over that over night or in a year...this will take the rest of her life and yes he is a patient person and I know he can only be patient for so long...but he loves her enough to continue to be patient, he will help her break down those walls and barriers. It's not for you or I to decide how to live her life. And trust me, I already told her he isn't going to wait forever to her to get it together" he told her taking Skye to give her a bath.
She followed with Kumiko. "Emmett and I didn't grow up like that and I'm sure you didn't either" she told him.
"You're right I didn't, but sadly there are idiots out there that take advantage of their kids or someone else's kids and hurt them. Theirs happen to be their father...Emmett knows how to get through to her, let him work on her his way and back off Sage"
She was taken aback by his tone. Sage had never heard him talk to her like that. Emmett was her twin and she hated the fact that he was hurting and Izumi was stringing him along.
"You've never spoken to me like this before and Emmett is my twin and by God I WILL PROTECT HIM" she snapped.
He glared at her, his emerald eyes darkened his voice very calm.
"Do NOT snap at me again, or you will be here by yourself raising two girls and no support from me" he told her evenly.
He went back to giving Skye a bath and gave her his biggest smile. Skye smiled and splashed him and he laughed.
Sage couldn't believe it. He didn't understand having a twin and what it meant to protect them with every fiber of your being. How could he threaten her like that?! She had to talk to Emmett and make sure he was okay before deciding what to do with Kurama. She had a lot to think about.