Notes:
Happy Birthday to me❤
Hehe As I had said, I was thinking of uploading this chapter exactly this day where today I'm celebrating one more year of life❤and what better to share with you than one more chapter of this story.
Seriously, thank you so much for all your support. I owe you all a slice of cake🍰
Without further ado, enjoy the chapter
Chapter 13. A Little Piece Of Africa In The Heart
June 16.
04:27 p.m.
"The report on what happened yesterday at the Zenin residence has already been delivered in a timely manner, Mr. Ijichi said that also the leader Naoya has already given his report to the headquarters about yesterday's meeting" said Katsumoto while holding the tablet in his hands.
"Speaking of that leader, did Naoya send the list of weapons he said disappeared from his warehouse?"
"The list has not yet been sent to us"
"I understand, it remains to wait for him to send us that list, maybe this will also help us with the investigation and we will be able to identify what possible weapons this assassin is using to carry out these attacks" Yuta sighed.
"And now that we have just mentioned this topic, is there any progress with the Sorcerer killer? What information do we currently have about yesterday's victim?" He asked while he was finishing reviewing some papers, at that moment, he was sitting in the living room of that apartment, with several papers on the table.
Katsumoto looked at the screen of his tablet-"Well, as far as yesterday's victim is concerned, we still don't have enough information about her, so for the time being we will continue investigating her to find out if she was a "target" or a "commissioned "
Yuta sighed "Then we can only wait for the reports on this investigation, by the way, today we have no news on whether there are any new victims?"
Katsumoto shook his head.
"Luckily, if you can put it that way, there have been no reports of casualties this morning"
Yuta relaxed his shoulders a little when he heard that as he looked out the window of the apartment where he was staying. Hearing that answer comforted him too much and more than prayed to heaven that nothing would come up that afternoon about that case.
He even looked more cheerful than usual, and the previous day, the stress of having gone to the Zenin residence and, by the way, having seen one more victim of that murderer, had left him very stressed that night.
But it seemed that also something inside him had changed after reading that letter from Mai where she told him something about what happened seven years ago.
"I guess that's the only good news of the day" he leaned his back against the chair he was sitting in and let out a sigh of relief.
"It seems so, sir"
Yuta seemed encouraged by those words and the following would seem to put him in a better mood.
At that moment, the alarm on the Sorcerer's cell phone began to ring, warning him that he should get going and get ready, since he had a very important commitment to attend to that afternoon.
"If there are no more things we need to attend to regarding this case, I guess we can take the rest of this day" commented Yuta with a smile and standing up. "That goes for you too Katsumoto, you can take the rest of the afternoon to rest or relax. We both need a break from all this"
Those words came as too much of a surprise to the assistant.
"Are you sure we can take a break?"
"I'm very sure, and I've already told you before, haven't I? I want to take a few days to rest from all this business. And I think it's a good idea to start from this afternoon, Katsumoto, take a few days to rest too" commented Yuta with a smile.
"Sir, are you sure you are feeling well?" asked the assistant with confusion and even more so to see him in such a good mood.
"I feel wonderful!" Yuta look at his cell phone again –" At this moment I must hurry as I have to leave for a very important appointment I have to attend to"
Katsumoto looked puzzled at such words. But he thought that this rest perhaps it might help his boss clear his mind so that he could concentrate properly on the investigation later.
And incidentally, to calm his poor nerves as that assistant really needed a break.
"Okay, before I leave, is there anything else you need, sir? Do you need a ride to your engagement site?"
"This occasion I want to go on my own. Although I would like you to do me a small favor Katsumoto before retiring to rest" commented the sorcerer with a big smile.
Yuta's heart was beating with too much enthusiasm. He had to hurry and more than his children were waiting for him. He simply wanted to see them and Maki and spend time with the three of them.
Even so, Yuta did not tell Katsumoto that he would meet Yurika and Yuudai that afternoon. This was to protect them.
05:57 p.m.
The afternoon was falling fast in Kyoto. And lunchtime was already on the table.
And that guest had arrived punctually for his appointment with destiny.
Before announcing that he had arrived, Yuta admired the plaque outside the house. The one that had the surname Fushiguro marked in a beautiful golden tone on that black stone. He sighed a little as he read that surname, which, in a way, he knew had saved his children from a cruel fate.
The doorbell of Fushiguro's house rang with joy, warning that the guest had arrived.
"It must be Yuta!"
"He has just arrived!"
Yurika and Yuudai, they had been excitedly waiting for their guest all afternoon, shouted with excitement.
Those two children at that moment were in the dining room with their mother, the three of them were finishing preparing the table where they would serve the food that together with their aunt Tsumiki, had prepared to offer to their guest.
On the other hand, when Maki heard that doorbell, she felt that her heart wanted to stop.
"Let's go open!" commented Yurika with a big smile.
"I just felt his cursed energy, so it must be Yuta!" Yuudai replied excitedly.
Maki looked at her children who were very excited.
She felt her heart break as she heard her children's footsteps speeding away down the hallway as they ran toward the front door.
"It seems that Okkotsu kun was punctual in arriving" Tsumiki commented with a big smile.
She was standing very close to the stove in that kitchen, as she was finishing preparing the food.
Tsumiki took one last look at the pans, that dish they had prepared was ready to be served. Then she turned off the grills and turned to look at Maki.
She knew Maki was the most uncomfortable with this guest.
"I don't know why I opened my big mouth..." said Maki very annoyed, a big grimace formed on her lips, she regretted her decision to invite Yuta to eat at her house.
But it was too late for regrets.
On the other hand, Megumi, who was finishing arranging the guest room in case Yuta stayed overnight with them that day, and once he heard the doorbell ring, he went to the kitchen.
The man noticed Maki's uncomfortable face and even felt Tsumiki's look of sympathy.
Tsumiki sighed for those words that Maki had said.
"Well, well they say that when the weather is bad, you have to have a good attitude." she commented, looking at her with a soft smile while she took off her apron.
Maki let out a sigh at such a phrase said by that sweet woman.
"I just hope this ends soon and he gets out of here..." she said crumpling a napkin she was holding tightly in her hand.
Megumi put his hands in his pockets as he walked to the threshold of that dining room – "You know that we are doing this for Yurika and Yuudai, besides Okkotsu senpai has the right to spend time with his children"
Maki gave his a look of utter annoyance at those words.
"I know. But I just hope that idiot doesn't say that he is their biological father. Otherwise I swear I'll kill him, because I'm really not ready to tell them the truth" she commented, feeling the bile rising in her throat.
Megumi sighed at those words.
"You know that sooner or later Yurika and Yuudai will have to know" he commented without taking his eyes off her.
Maki sighed at the thought. She did not know how her children would take that revelation. Which she hoped would never have to be discovered.
"I know, and I just hope it doesn't happen tonight..." she whispered, taking a last breath to gather her courage and try to leave the dining room to meet Yuta.
"It's like Tsumiki says, let's put a good face to this and just pretend we are just getting to know each other, that's all we can do right now. Still, there are some things I'd like to talk to Okkotsu senpai" Megumi answered before leaving to greet that sorcerer.
Maki could not move her feet.
"I'm not ready for this..." she said quietly, bringing her hands to her chest while she listened to her excited children and heard the voice of Yuta, who had already entered her house. So Maki decided to wait a few more minutes before leaving the dining room.
She needed a moment to take courage.
Yurika and Yuudai ran at full speed towards the front door of their house, while their aunt Tsumiki went after them to make sure that the one who had arrived was Yuta and not someone else.
Tsumiki gently opened that door and poked her head in to take a look.
A big smile appeared on her lips at the sight of the one standing outside the black gate of that house.
"Come on children, it's time for you to welcome your guest" commented Tsumiki looking at the twins as she opened the door wide for the two of them to run to greet the adult who had arrived.
"Yuta Kun!" both children shouted in chorus.
Those cheerful voices made Yuta's face light up. A big smile formed on his lips. Even his heart wanted to leap out of his chest at the sight of his children running towards him.
Both children opened the gate and quickly went to hug him.
"We're glad you came!" commented Yurika with a big smile and still hugging him.
"Yes! We've been waiting for you!" Yuudai commented, still hugging him.
"And I'm glad to see them" commented the Sorcerer of special grade, stroking with his free hand the hair of those two, as in his left hand he carried some presents in a bag, as well as a small bouquet of flowers.
"I even see that both of them are dressed for the occasion" said Yuta looking at how those two little ones were dressed.
Both twins wore the same beige and green colors on their clothes.
Yurika was wearing a nice dress in a dark green shade, along with a light beige long-sleeved T-shirt and brown socks. Yuudai, on the other hand, was wearing a pair of pants in a light beige tone, was also wearing a long-sleeved T-shirt in a dark green tone and highlighted his socks in the same color as his sister's socks.
"Thank you very much!" replied Yurika kindly.
"We wanted to look presentable for the occasion!" Yuudai replied with a smile.
"Yes, we are also dressed like this because we want you to join us for the last night of the Yoiyama" said Yurika, walking around excitedly.
"Would you like to join us Yuta kun? We are going to the same shrine and the same festival we went to the other day, where we meet you!" explained Yuudai.
"We want to see the fireworks one more time with you and dad Gumi before he and Aunt Miki return to Tokyo"" said Yurika.
"Please say yes!" Yuudai begged, clasping his little hands together.
"Plis" His sister also joined hands and both children made puppy eyes.
In truth, Yuta felt too much tenderness for those two, and he couldn't say no to that request either. It was all for the sake of spend time a little more with his children, although deep down, it still hurt him that he could not call them as such.
At that moment, the Sorcerer squatted down, passed his free hand over the heads of those two and tousled their hair a little.
"Of course it will be a pleasure to accompany you to see the fireworks once again" commented Yuta with a big smile.
Once the children heard that answer, they shouted with happiness and jumped up and down.
But for the moment, it was time to move their guest to the comfort of their home.
"Come Yuta kun, you're just in time, the food is ready!" said Yurika taking his free hand.
"Come on! Come to our house!" Yuudai also took that free hand.
And so they began to lead their guest to the entrance of their home.
Yuta admired every part of the house where his children lived, even observing how well kept the front garden was.
Both little ones led Yuta to the front door, where Tsumiki was watching with too much tenderness that scene between a father and his children.
"Welcome Okkotsu kun, come in!" commented the chestnut girl kindly, welcoming him in that small genkan they had at the entrance of that house.
"Thank you very much Fushiguro san for the invitation" commented Yuta with a bow.
"You can call me Tsumiki, there is no need for so many formalities" she commented with a gentle smile, "Besides, the idea of inviting you was actually theirs" she said pointing to her nephews.
"Still, thank you very much for the invitation and by the way, you can also simply call me by my name" commented the guest kindly.
Yuta knew that she said that to pretend that they were just getting to know each other. Although in reality, in the past Yuta had hardly spend time with Tsumiki even though he knew about her and her family relationship with her stepbrother Megumi. So that time, it could be considered as one of the first times they talked and spend time together.
"Yuta kun!" commented Yurika approaching Yuudai with a pair of white slippers.
"We bought them exclusively for you, so that you can enter the house comfortably" Yuudai said, handing the shoes to his guest.
Megumi did not take long to appear in that hallway, approaching the entrance to greet him. Standing next to Yurika and Yuudai.
"Welcome Okkotsu"
"Thank you very much for this and for letting me into your house, Mr. Fushiguro" commented Yuta with a smile as he changed his shoes and entered the house.
"You don't have to thank me, come this way" commented Megumi with a very polite tone as he watched Yuta enter and they began to guide him through the small hallway of their home to the main room.
On the way, Yuta began to admire the inside of that home.
He could see that it was an orderly and clean place. Besides, as soon as you set foot inside, you could feel a pure harmony.
Once they passed into the living room, Yuta's eyes focused on the furniture and he noticed that there were some ornaments and toys on the table.
That room also had a shelf full of books, which he assumed were Fushiguro's since he knew that he was a man who read a lot and hoped that his children would be at least good students or at least children interested in reading.
He was also struck by the large TV in the living room, as well as several traditional paintings and some small tables next to the armchairs with photographs and lamps, which gave a touch of elegance and modernity to the place.
He could even notice that this place had everything his children needed. Everything that he could not give them because of his absence.
"Mom! Yuta kun is already here!" Yuudai shouted excitedly towards the hallway since Maki was the one who was missing there.
But what most caught Yuta's attention was that cactus with three beautiful flowers on its tip, that plant was in a beautiful pot and next to it, there were several family photos.
But there was one photo where Yuta felt his heart grow small as he saw that picture of Yurika and Yuudai when they were just babies, both of whom were being held on their mother's chest.
Tsumiki noticed how that guest did not take his eyes off the picture of those two babies.
"Yes, that's how young these two children were" she answered, approaching the photograph to take it and show it to the real father of these two.
Yuta felt like crying at the sight of the photograph, but he had to control himself.
"They were very small..." said Yuta with a tender smile on his lips and feeling his eyes watering.
"And then they grew up and became very naughty children" answered Megumi looking at those two children, who were each on one side of him. Yurika on the right and Yuudai on the left.
"Dad!" they shouted in chorus.
"You're going to embarrass us in front of Yuta kun!" replied Yuudai in a pout.
"Don't say bad things about us to Yuta kun or else he won't want to come to see us!" Yurika replied with a grimace.
"But your father is right, you two are very naughty" said Maki entering the room. She felt her heart stop as she saw Yuta finally at home, "Sorry for the delay, I was just finishing setting the table"
Maki's golden gaze met Yuta's blue gaze. That was a feeling she hated to witness. She could see how Yuta was still looking at her with love.
The guest decided to break that eye contact, so he decided to deliver the gifts he had brought for that family as tradition and protocol dictated.
"I brought you some gifts" he said with a smile as he took some small boxes out of his bag.
Quickly those children approached to take the gifts brought by that guest. They were super excited to take those two traditional little boxes wrapped in elegant white paper. Their honey-colored eyes were completely lit up and their smiles were huge.
"Yurika, Yuudai, how do you say?" commented Maki, putting her hands on her hips, she was partly upset because she did not want her children to receive anything from that man, but she had to act in front of those children.
"Thank you very much Yuta kun!" said those two in chorus and very excited to open those gifts.
"Children, don't open those presents yet, it is rude to open them in front of your guest" commented Megumi looking at the twins. The twins stopped and grimaced at this call for attention.
"It's no problem to open them in front of me" explained Yuta, "I just hope you like them, they are traditional sweets"
"That they will only be able to eat them until after they attend to your guest!" said Maki addressing her children, who pouted at their mother's words.
"It's okay, Mom" commented the twins in chorus, accompanied by a noise of annoyance as they rolled their eyes.
"I'm looking you!" Maki scolded, crossing her arms at the gesture her children made.
Yurika and Yuudai better smiled and decided to obey her because they didn't want to make her angry.
Yuta let out a small chuckle at that, he was still surprised to see Maki behaving like a mother.
Then, the guest sorcerer started to take more things out of the bag he was carrying in his hand "I also brought some gifts for all of you" he handed a box to Tsumiki and Megumi as well.
"Thank you very much Yuta Kun" replied Tsumiki politely.
"Thank you Okkotsu senpai" Megumi took that present with respect.
Yuta continued speaking "And for your mother, if you don't mind, I brought her this small bouquet of flowers" he commented with a slight smile while in his hands he carried a small bouquet with some white lilies accompanied with a few roses and some gerbera beads, both in pink tones "I think that last time I didn't introduce myself properly with her and this is also my cordial way of apologizing"
Those flowers stood out for being beautiful, besides being a symbol to apologize and to show that one still felt love for that special person.
Maki pressed her lips together for a moment and her hands crossed over her chest, she couldn't bring herself to take those flowers as she exchanged a glance with Yuta. Looks that were charged with various emotions and feelings that still existed between the two of them.
She tried to keep her face from turning red while her eyes kept looking at Yuta.
That look seemed strange to Yurika and Yuudai. Instead, Megumi, in order to break the ice between those two, cleared his throat a little so that Maki could say something.
"Thank you for the flowers, but they are not necessary... just as your apologies are no longer valid..." Maki rejected proudly as she looked away.
Those words made Yuta let the air out with some sadness.
But Tsumiki decided to intervene
"Even so, they are a very beautiful present, I will put them in water and by the way I will put them in a nice place here in the house" she said taking that bouquet.
"And by the way, where are Itadori, Kugisaki and Inumaki?" asked Yuta, holding in his bag the other gifts he had brought for those three.
"Uncle Toge had to go out on a job" Yuudai replied.
"And Aunt Noba went out on a date with Uncle Yuuji" Yurika replied, waving her hands.
"Although Aunt Noba seemed upset when we said you were coming for lunch. She said that if she saw you here she was going to beat you up, so Uncle Yuuji better take her out to eat" Yuudai commented that while shrugging his shoulders.
"I don't think she likes you"
"But we really like you, Yuta kun"
These children responded with a gentle smile.
Yuta scratched her head a little at those answers "I understand. I guess she's not the only one who didn't like it at all"
"Well, come to the dining room, the food is ready" said Tsumiki with a big smile, "Children, it is time for you two to attend to your guest."
The meal was served and those flowers of forgiveness were gracing the occasion, standing in a vase in the center while those six people were seated around them.
And just as the condiments could not be missing in the meal, the chats, the glances between the ex-lovers and the questions could not be missing either while that family meal was taking place.
"Maki san told me that you met Yurika and Yuudai at the mall" answered Megumi looking at his guest before putting some food in his mouth.
Yuta scratched the back of his neck, "That's right, I have a feeling that meeting them that day was perhaps the work of destiny. The truth is that if I hadn't arrived in time, I don't know what would have happened to these two children" he answered, looking at the little ones with a smile.
The twins returned the gesture with a big smile.
"Thank you very much for taking care of them on that occasion and I hope they didn't cause you any more trouble that time" commented Tsumiki looking at the guest.
"Not at all, they are very good children" commented Yuta before putting more food in his mouth.
"Even that day Yuta took us out to eat hamburgers!" Yurika commented with a big smile.
"Yeah!, even that time we met his assistant! And he was the one who bought us our yellow and purple sweatshirts!" Yuudai said, waving his little hands happily.
"Yuudai!" his sister mumbled his name, annoyed that he was revealing more information than he should.
"Sweatshirts? So the sweatshirts they arrived with that time were not a gift from their grandfather Ui?" asked Maki seriously looking at her children.
"Oops..." the boy let out, making himself small at what he had said.
Maki sighed, "I guess I should have a serious talk with "her grandfather" about what happened that day" she said very seriously.
"You don't have to scold them, those two sweatshirts can be considered a gift from me to Yurika and Yuudai, especially because it was very rainy that day and I didn't want them to get sick" said Yuta, catching Maki's attention.
Again their eyes met.
Her golden gaze seemed to challenge that blue gaze, which simply could not take its eyes off her. Above all, Yuta also wanted to intervene for his children. But Maki, she didn't want him to meddle in the lives of those two.
"And tell us Okkotsu, what are you working on?" asked Megumi to change the subject and find out a little more about what his guest was currently doing in that city.
"I guess you must be working on something too important to have an assistant of your own" Maki commented, putting her hand on her chin. She, too, wanted to know what she was dealing with.
"Yuta kun is a detective!" Yurika replied enthusiastically, "A detective who has traveled abroad!"
"And he's not just any detective, but one who also sees curses and eliminates them with great agility just like mom and dad Gumi do!" Yuudai replied, holding up his chopsticks.
"That's right!, we saw how he can fight against big curses with a sword and with the help of that shikigami that goes with him, just like daddy with his creatures!" answered Yurika with a big smile looking at Megumi.
"-Yuta kun is very skilled with the sword! We saw him kill a big curse the size of our house!" Yuudai continued to move his hand with those chopsticks back and forth, as if it were a demonstration.
"Good with the sword, huh?" commented Maki with a mocking tone, "I wonder who she learned it from?" she threw that hint in a very direct way looking at Yuta, who was almost sitting in front of her at that circular table.
Yuta disbursed a slight smile when he heard all that "Well, more than a detective, I would say that I am an investigator working for some people who entrust me with some cases" look at Megumi first.
Megumi knew that his superior would say no more at that moment, so he would try to talk to him alone later.
Then he lowered his gaze to his food and slightly moved the rice with his chopsticks- "And about who taught me to fight with the sword, I would say it was a girl I met in my adolescence, who I would say was a great teacher for me in this fighting thing and by the way, she taught me to value my life more"- his gaze turned to Maki- "I would say that she is still a woman who was very important in my life, not to say that she was the love of my life"
Maki looked too seriously at Yuta for those words, although she felt her heart pounding for that comment, her pride made her not blush.
"Yuta kun Are you talking about the woman you are looking for here in Japan?" Yuudai asked.
"-Did you find her yet? " Yurika asked curiously, putting her elbows on the table and bringing her little hands to her face.
Maki pursed her lips again. She knew they were talking about her, then she looked at Yuta seriously, asking him through her gaze not to reveal that she was that woman. She even made a slight no by shaking her head.
Yuta could notice that nervousness in Maki, he wanted to play a little with that feeling, but he did not want to be reckless, especially in front of his children, whom he looked at with a tender smile when he noticed their remarkable curiosity about such a subject.
Their guest sighed.
"No, I haven't found her yet..." he looked at his children, "But I hope to be able to find her very soon and tell her so many things that I've kept to myself for a long time and that I've wanted to tell her"
Both children looked at each other, seemed to mentally exchange a few words, held each other's little finger and smiled before turning to Yuta.
"We hope you will be able to find her soon"
"Yes, we will continue to pray to the gods for you to find her"
These little ones answered, releasing their little fingers, and then joined their little hands as they did that day in the restaurant, closed their little eyes, and did the same ritual as that day.
Their mouths uttered something in a very low voice. Only a "Please" was barely audible.
Those twins quickly gave three claps and made a very slight bow. Bowing very slightly forward.
Tsumiki smiled sweetly, she felt too much tenderness watching that little ritual she had taught them.
Instead, Megumi sighed and just drank some tea as he watched those two perform that ritual, from which, he had quickly grasped that the woman Yuta was referring to was undoubtedly Maki.
Maki felt that her heart skipped a beat when she saw that ritual of her children. She knew that they were so innocent and sweet in that situation.
Then he looked at Yuta, who gave him a faint smile. It was as if they had been thinking the same thing at the time.
Yuta returned his eyes to his twins "Thank you very much for your good wishes, Yurika, Yuudai" he replied with a smile and with eyes full of tenderness, which wanted to shed tears but he controlled himself.
Again his blue eyes returned to Maki. Who was still very serious about everything her children were doing for Yuta.
The atmosphere felt somewhat tense between the guest and the twins' mother, so Tsumiki decided to change the subject.
"So Yuta kun, What is it like to be abroad? How long have you been out of Japan?" she asked curiously before putting more food in her mouth.
"Well, I was seven years out of Japan, so I can say that I enjoyed being abroad a lot" he answered looking at the chestnut.
"Really?" Maki asked "And how many countries did you visit?" she leaned her elbow on the table and brought her hand to her cheek, staring at him. "And by the way, did you visit them alone or were you accompanied by someone else?"
She wanted to know what he had done in those seven years where she had stayed in Japan.
Megumi also paid attention to that conversation, she knew that the best thing to do was to listen quietly, although it bothered him how passive aggressive Maki was being with her questions and comments.
Yuta let out a slight chuckle, he could feel Maki's anger and perhaps jealousy towards him with that question. "Well, most of the time I was only accompanied by a few assistants, although I admit that in my travels I met some very interesting people and some very beautiful women"
Maki's lips tightened at that last remark, even raising an eyebrow. Then a hint of jealousy was reflected in the grimace she made with her mouth, this at the thought that Yuta might have met and even slept with other women while she took care of his children and spent various sorrows in his absence.
Yuta continued talking even after seeing the look on Maki's face when he heard that answer.
"But I confess that I would have liked to visit those countries I went to in the company of "that woman" that I am still looking for here in Japan. Especially because at the time I asked her to accompany me, but she simply abandoned me without giving me more explanations and without confessing to me that important thing that she wanted to tell me so much at the time..." he threw that answer looking at Maki.
She moved her tongue inside her mouth and bit the inside of her cheek when she heard that answer. She had many mixed feelings at that moment and if it wasn't because they were pretending in front of their children, Maki would already be claiming to that sorcerer that she was NOT the one who abandoned him. Rather, as she had told him that night at the festival, someone had conspired to separate them. But it seemed that Yuta was an idiot to figure it out on his own.
Besides, Maki had her reasons for not revealing her pregnancy to him at that moment in that train station seven years ago, and now that he was in front of her, she felt she should to clear things up about her previous relationship with he. Although that moment was not the right time for that conversation. So she would wait to talk to him alone, when their children were finally asleep.
Instead, Yurika and Yuudai looked at each other when they heard that answer. They both exchanged a few words mentally and even made some gestures because they didn't quite understand what was going on.
Still, they were very attentive and more than curiosity began to itch with the behavior of their guest and their mother.
Then, Yuta took a breath and continued answering those questions but now looking at the others at the table "And I can tell you that in these seven years I visited many places and learned a lot about many cultures. I traveled and met some interesting places in India and China. I also traveled for a while in the Middle East and from there I traveled to some cities in Europe such as Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Rome and Venice" answered with a big smile.
He continue talking. –" I also visited places in North America like some cities in the United States and Canada, but I liked more the Latin countries. Among them I visited Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Brazil and I can say that those areas of the world have very fascinating cultures and by the way, they have some of the rarest and most powerful special category curses I have ever seen" He sigh, he seemed to have a good memory at that moment.
"But the place I liked the most was Africa. I must say that it is the most beautiful continent I have visited and the one that has left me many teachings, both personal and professional" he held his right hand to his chest, "They say that home is where your heart is and I can say that I already carry a bit of Africa in my heart. That place is already like my second home. Because my first home is here" he looked at his children with tenderness, because he knew that he belonged there, next to them
"Really?" Maki snorted, "And what else did you learn from that country that you say is your second home?" she asked with a slight grimace.
Yuta looked at her with a smile.
"Besides learning interesting things about curses and cursed objects, I was also able to train with very strong people. And I also learned some words and phrases in several languages, since that country has a great diversity of languages. Among those languages I learned a bit of Arabic, Afrikaans, a bit of French, a bit of Portuguese and Spanish and other languages spoken there.
"Could you tell us something in some language of that country?" Yuudai asked with too much curiosity.
"Yes, we want to hear you say something in another language!" said Yurika excitedly, clapping her hands.
"Sure" He looked at all of them and began to speak in some Afrikaans.
-Die familie is soos die bos, as jy daarbuite is sien jy net sy digtheid, as jy binne is sien jy dat elke boom sy eie posisie het.
"And what the hell does that mean?" asked Maki, wrinkling her forehead.
Yuta smiled "The translation would be something like "The family is like the forest, if you are outside of it you will only see its density, but if you are inside you will see that each tree has its own position" he said looking at everyone at the table, "it is a phrase said in South Africa to refer to the family and how you get to know all its members once you feel part of them"
Those children seemed fascinated by the words in another language that their guest had spoken.
"Everything about your travels sounds fantastic Yuta kun, even the language stuff" said Tsumiki, surprised to hear all that.
"So you were in Africa again..." whispered Maki in a very, very low voice as she heard everything Yuta said.
"And when you were there, did you see lions?" Yurika asked excitedly.
"And elephants?" Yuudai asked with a big smile, leaning his little hands on the table.
"And crocodiles?" asked Yurika.
"Zebras, giraffes?" Yuudai asked more excitedly. "The pyramids?!"
Yuta smiled too much to see his children's excitement at hearing about that continent.
"Yes, I saw all those animals and I also visited the pyramids, I can say that they are beautiful at night. In itself, the whole of Africa has the most beautiful landscapes you can imagine"
"We want to go to Africa someday!" Yuudai replied excitedly.
"Really? Why?" asked Yuta curiously.
"The main reason is because Mom was telling us that a boy she loved in high school went on an exchange trip to that country and he would send her pictures of the places he visited while he was there, and they would talk at night and he would tell her that Africa was very interesting!" answered Yurika, resting her hands on the table.
"That's why we want to get to know Africa and more than that, it's a country that Mom also wants to know, especially a city that says all its doors are blue!" Yuudai commented with a smile and turning to look at his mother, "Right Mommy?"
Maki almost choked on her food when she heard that. She felt shame for her children to say that.
"Yes, but I told them that that boy was just a high school classmate of mine and his father's, right Megumi? That he was just an acquaintance of ours" commented Maki looking at her relative, trying to get him to save her from the situation her children were putting her in.
Megumi finished taking a sip of his tea "Yes, he was a good high school classmate, in fact he was a senpai that I always admired and will continue to respect" he said that looking at Maki.
"And may I ask, what became of that boy?" Yuta asked curiously, but he had to continue pretending to be a stranger they were just getting to know.
Maki kept a moment of silence before trying to respond to that. She took a slight breath, she wanted to scream, but she had to control himself.
"I don't know... we haven't heard from him for years, maybe he has died or simply found happiness somewhere else…"she answered dryly.
Yuta sighed when he heard that answer.
"I understand..."
Their gazes were still fixed on each other.
They were so close, yet so far away. Yuta really wanted to clear everything up with Maki, but he knew he couldn't say it, not even in front of his children.
So there was no choice but to keep pretending until it was just the two of them.
Yuta smiled a little and diverted his gaze to his children.
"Changing the subject, I must say that this food is delicious, especially the steak tastes great, it's on point, I must say that this is my favorite dish" He flatter.
"Thank you, Aunt Miki helped us cook!" commented Yurika.
"Yes, but who gave us the idea of this kind of steak and without the fatty edge was mom's idea!" Yuudai replied "She said you might like this dish, Yuta kun"
The Sorcerer smiled at that. Because there was only one person who knew that he liked his steak that way, cooked to perfection and without the fatty edges, and that person was Maki.
Yuta looked at that woman again "Thank you very much for the food"
"The one you should thank is the two of them" Maki replied with a slight smile and looked at yheir children, "They are the ones who wanted you to come for eat in the first place. Besides, they want you to spend time with them"
"Thank you very much Yurika, Yuudai for inviting me to be part of your family" thanked Yuta with a big smile.
The twins exchanged a few words mentally and then looked at their parents with a smile.
Megumi sighed a little at the interaction she saw from this family that deserved to be together. Still, that dinner had to come to an end.
"Well, I think we should finish eating soon to be able to go to the festival tonight if we want to enjoy it early" said Megumi looking at everyone present.
Then he looked at Tsumiki, who smiled slightly, it seemed that Megumi understood what was going through his sister's mind.
"That's right!" Yuudai commented, going back to eating.
"We must hurry!" said Yurika, putting more food in her mouth.
Tsumiki's eyes also looked at those four, she felt sorry for Yuta and in part, she felt guilty that those children bore the Fushiguro surname.
She wanted to clear it up with Okkotsu.
07:14 p.m.
"Okkotsu senpai…" when Megumi was about to speak to that guest, the voices of the twins interrupted them.
"Yuta kun, let's go!"
"It's about time we went to the festival!"
"Dad, you too, don't just stand there, come on!"
Said those twins trying to get those adults, who were just about to sit on the living room sofas to get going.
The meal and that talk about what more countries and cultures Yuta had known in those seven years, as well as everything else he did abroad had ended minutes before
And once they finished dinner and helping in the kitchen, Megumi wanted to try to talk to Yuta. Who had followed him into the living room. But that talk would be delayed.
Those who were the most excited to go out to such a festival were Yurika and Yuudai, who wanted to spend time with their guest, but at the same time, they wanted to be with their stepfather. So both children had stood facing Megumi.
"We are going to the festival, aren't we, Dad?" asked Yurika looking at Megumi.
"Come on, Dad, say yes! Besides, Aunt Miki promised us that we'd go today too before you go back to Tokyo!" Yuudai said, waving his little hands.
"Let's go, Dad, so we can take Yuta with us and spend time with both of them!" said Yurika with a smile and moving around a bit.
"Please dad, let's go to the festival! You promised we would go too!" said the twins in chorus as they jumped lightly on their places and clasped their little hands together, making puppy eyes and staying close to Megumi.
Yuta's lips tightened slightly. That feeling of hearing his children say daddy to someone else made him uncomfortable, that discomfort stung his chest, it was the jealousy he never thought to experience.
Megumi sighed and rubbed his left shoulder as he used to do when something bothered his or he felt uncomfortable. "Okay, let's go. Okkotsu senpai, would you like to join us" he looked at the sorcerer.
Yuta nodded his head yes.
"I'll be happy to accompany them and more that I gave my word to Yurika and Yuudai that I would go"
"Well, go finish getting ready, we'll leave in five minutes" commented Megumi, putting his hands in his pockets, later he would try to talk to Yuta.
"Yup!" Both children ran.
"An apology senpai, the two of them always have a lot of energy"
"There's nothing to apologize for, and they do have a lot of energy, I've already checked" Yuta commented with a slight smile.
The five minutes Megumi gave for those children to be ready passed quickly.
Almost everyone was ready to leave.
Once Yurika and Yuudai finished putting on their shoes, each twin each took one of Yuta's hands and began to guide him to the exit.
Tsumiki and Megumi were behind those three. All of them were ready to get going, when suddenly Maki stopped at the threshold.
"Well, don't come back so late at night, okay?" said Maki, addressing her children in particular.
"Maki san, aren't you going to join us?" Yuta asked quickly. He felt that he should talk to her about many things.
She just shook her head no.
"Not this time"
"Why not, Mommy?" asked her daughter.
"Yes Mom, why don't you want to come with us?" asked her son in a sad tone.
Maki started to explain "Because someone important is coming to see me since we are going to talk about some work stuff and I told her that I would meet her here at the house in about half an hour" she looked at her children "Besides, you should spend time with your guest, that's why you wanted him to come, isn't it?" her gaze then went to Yuta.
Maki continued speaking, "Besides, they are going with their aunt Tsumiki and your father, so I know your will be fine without me this time" she gave a smile to her children, accompanied by a caress on their cheeks.
"It's okay, Mommy" replied Yurika, hugging her mother.
"We'll try not to come back so late at night" replied her son, also hugging her.
Maki stroked her children's hair.
"Now go and do no mischief, and obey your father and your aunt in everything" she said goodbye, "Now go, the fireworks will be launched soon"
"Come on Yuta kun!"
"This way!"
Each child again took the hand of the Sorcerer, who, before taking another step, He turned to talk to Maki.
"Maki san, do you think I could talk to you if I came back?" He asked uncertainly. –"There is something I would like to tell you about what we talked about the other day" Yuta looked at her seriously.
Maki stared at Yuta while her arms were crossed over her chest. She also felt the gaze of her children on her, who looked at them curiously.
She sighed and loosened her shoulders, "Okay, we'll talk when you get back. Now you'd better go, you'll be late!" she waved her hand in a sign for them to leave.
"Thank you" Yuta replied with a smile.
"Come on children, I'm already hearing the drums in the distance" said Tsumiki, making the twins start walking in a hurry hand in hand with their guest.
Behind them was Tsumiki smiling to see how those two were jumping and holding hands with their real father.
Instead, Megumi shot a quick glance at Maki before starting to walk. He felt that she was hiding something, though a part of him wanted to believe that maybe she just didn't want to live with Okkotsu yet.
"Anything, don't hesitate to let me know" commented Megumi staring at her, trying to find something wrong with her.
"Don't worry, I can take care of myself!" said Maki, taking her right hand to her waist and moving her left hand to tell her to move away, "go, your children are waiting for you!"
"Dad, don't fall behind!" shouted Yurika, who had run to Megumi to grab his hand and pull him to hurry him up.
Megumi sighed and just followed the girl to join the others.
Once those five disappeared around the corner. Maki heard a particular flapping sound overhead. She knew it was too late at night for two black birds like the crows to be flying around.
She quickly picked up two pebbles and threw them at the crows, causing them both to fall to the ground, groaning in pain.
"I don't want them to be after my children and much less spying on them, understood? And by the way, let's see when you two deign to appear because we must talk urgently!" commented Maki with too much fury looking at those two birds on the ground, sending that message before those two birds died.
And just as Maki said, her guest soon arrived to talk about an important topic that was going around the world of sorcery and that could affect the integrity of her children.
In addition, at the festival, Yuta was going to begin to discover more things from the past and, incidentally, he was going to reaffirm some things that Mai had told him in her letter, above all, regarding the Fushiguro surname.
Coming soon...
Hearing the word "Dad" triggered various feelings and emotions in Yuta. He felt too much sadness and could only bear to see and hear how those children treated that man with black, spiky hair with too much affection.
Even Yuta became jealous, since Fushiguro knew quite well the tastes and those things that those two liked so much, as well as those ingredients that Yurika and Yuudai did not like, and that was demonstrated when he ordered food for those twins.
There was a moment where Megumi, felt the gaze and the cursed energy fall on him, as Yuta began to feel pure jealousy towards that former high school classmate. But the sorcerer who came from abroad tried to control himself and not to think about that negative feeling. He had to learn from everything he saw in order to know everything about his children.
But still, it was a little hard not to be jealous of the heir of the ten shadows.
[...]
That adult watched with tenderness as his children's golden eyes lit up and filled with emotion at the sight of those lights above their heads.
Yuta pursed his lips slightly and blinked a couple of times to clear his tears before looking up at the sky.
That scene passed with a gentle slowness that he wanted to treasure in his heart. And more so when he felt how those two children grasped tightly each hand that held him, showing their excitement to see those lights.
A scene where, even though he was their real father, to those children at the time, he was just their new friend.
[...]
"Dad!"
Both children said in chorus, as they started to say some things to Megumi with too much enthusiasm after seeing the fireworks.
The sight of that scene made Yuta sigh and just watch them in silence.
"I guess Fushiguro has done what I could never do... marry Maki and by the way, have all the love of my children... whom I hardly know" whispered Yuta feeling alien to all of them.
That reaction was noticed by Tsumiki, who sighed, it was time for her to talk to Okkotsu.
[...]
Tsumiki sighed when she heard that.
"And I must admit that Yurika and Yuudai loving Megumi as if he was really her biological father is my fault" she said without looking away from the Sorcerer, "Yuta Okkotsu, I owe you an apology..."
Those words left Yuta confused, "Why do you say that Tsumiki san?" he asked with confusion.
Tsumiki continued speaking.
"The truth..." she took a slight breath and looked at Yuta once more "I was the one who convinced or rather, forced Megumi to marry Maki and adopt Yurika and Yuudai as hers... so it's practically my fault that your children carry the surname Fushiguro instead of yours..."
The sorcerer remained silent as he continued to listen intently to that woman.
"It all happened seven years ago..."
To be continued...
Notes:
I hope you liked the chapter❤
There's a lot of mystery with Maki right now, don't you think? 👀Anyway, she'll be talking to Yuta again very soon.
Anyway, what do you think of the story?
In the next chapter, Yuta finally Will speak Megumi and Tsumiki, and as you can see, she will tell him something important about seven years ago that has to do with her family name. Yuta will also have an interesting talk with Megumi 👀
Thank you so much for your congratulations and support hehe, I seriously owe you a slice of cake🍰
We keep reading❤