"Hey babe?" Nemuri asks, she's laying against my chest.
"Hmmm?" I grunt, opening my eyes and seeing her smile always makes me feel a lot better than I normally do. She sits up, the sheets falling off her shoulders.
"What do you think about a topsy turvy wedding?" her eyes take in my body, "You in a white suit, me in a black dress? Waiting for you at the altar?"
"Sounds good..." I sigh, reaching for her again, she settles back down and I close my eyes, breathing her scent in. It hangs sweet in the air. A nice early morning sunrise streams in the window.
Her and I just kind of lay there, basking in each other's presence. It's not like we never see each other but after yesterday and the fact that she almost got hurt... the fear that shot through me when I thought she'd get blown away hasn't gone away. I bury my face into her chest, hearing her warm summery laugh and snuggling in. All I need is right here. My fiancee, my cat, my house... all I need. I'm so happy I could almost die.
But I don't want to, so I won't. Nemuri smiles down at me.
"Honey? What do you wanna do today?" she asks, "I'd love to stay in and cuddle all day, but that's just not all that great, you know?"
"I know..." I sigh, "I do have an idea though."
"Oh?" she asks.
"Well, you haven't met my mom yet so... do you wanna go do that?" I ask, "My siblings other than Shoto might be there."
"Oh? Well, sure." she agrees, "We'll just have to be careful."
"Wait, why? We're together, aren't we?" her pointed look tells me all I need to know. It's weird that we have to hide it. Because it makes me want to show it off even more. She's my fiancee and I'm happy to be with her.
"But I don't want to hide it, Nemuri." It comes across more petulant than I mean it but she nods and answers with...
"I don't want to either, but it's only for a little bit." she assures me but that assurance sounds unsure, like she's scared too.
"Look. Nobody will bother us if we just act natural." I wrap my arms around her, "Besides, we'd be star-crossed lovers, and people'd love to see us succeed!"
"You watch way too many dramas."
"Hey! Dare to Dream was a weird phase in my early career and you know it!" Countering, I get out of bed and go into the bathroom. Brushing my teeth and getting in the shower. We could go out for groceries, I haven't exactly done it yet. So that's what we ended up doing. Nemuri tying her hair back into a long ponytail and wearing her normal glasses. She wears a Queen t-shirt and normal enough pants with her combat boots.
I just throw on normal enough clothes, checking myself in the mirror and all. I should be good to go. We end up taking the car and it's a nicer day than most. Traffic is busy but nowhere near as bad as it normally is. Nemuri and I sing along to the song playing through the speakers. Instead of being stressed about what happened before I went along with Nemuri and we ended up in the grocery store, just normally shopping like we weren't heroes. The Volcano incident was all over the news, the kiss too.
"Midnight and Enavant? What kind of relationship have they had? Is it a bold new marketing strategy from Midnight or a new drama for Enavant, that Slice drama from a few years back-"
"I swear they're the hottest new hero couple since Kamui Woods and Mt. Lady's rumors. She's older than he is, more experienced, and he has that sweetheart energy like with his drama days."
Why are they talking about us? What's it to them? We love each other and that's it. No other motives. Nemuri sighs and shakes her head as we pass by the TVs. People wrapped up in them and sort of looking around.
Oh shit.
What if they see us?! My breath starts puffing out smoke. She notices and grabs my hand, steering me towards another aisle. Closing my eyes, I try to center myself. Try to stop dooming my mind to constant freaking out. What if this ends up with heartbreak? What if she ends up abandoning me? She's everything to me. I mean it. Nemuri grabs my shoulders, looking down at me with a soft expression.
"Koyurei, baby, look at me." she guides my eyes to hers, "It's okay." She makes everything seem so effortless and painless. She could lull me to sleep in moments, calm the panic in just one use of her quirk.
"Let's just keep going, okay?" she smiles, "How about we get something like cake? Would you like that?" My mind latches onto that. Really silly that it does that but as long as I'm not trying to melt down.
It's like a jazz band all playing different pieces at once in my body. A symphony of wrong that blasts out of me like a tide of noise. All of it just coming out in nervous energy. Tapping, shaking, maybe even dropping a few things and catching them just in time. Just think of the cake. Maybe red velvet? Devil's Food? Nemuri's? Ew ew ew! Not the last one! Get your mind out of the gutter, me! Besides, we're gonna go see my Mom and well, that's just going to be awkward.
Nemuri peruses the cakes, holding my hand with her slender fingers wrapping around it. Everything kind of fades as we just shop like normal. Everything is normal as we get back to the car. Getting home and putting the stuff away, I stare off into space with just the idea of everything falling apart just inches from my hands. Like everything else did. Remaking myself is harder than being someone already.
As we put away our groceries, Nemuri tends to dance a little. Bobbing her hips from side to side, her ponytail swishing along to the beat. David Bowie's *Let's Dance* plays on her speaker. She spins me into her arms, taking me into her playful world.
I shake against her warm touch as she leads me in the dance. Just taking me through the motions. It's a life I'm happy to live. Just being here with her makes me so happy I could die. That's when I remember we gotta go see my Mom. I pull away and start moving towards the door, "I set up a time for us to go see her a week ago!" I explain, grabbing a few things to bring with us. Some clothing, maybe a book or two.
Nemuri giggles at how prepared I am, "Seriously, someone lit a fire in you."
"Well, we're on a schedule!" I reason with a shrug. We get back in the car. Next stop: The institution!
The soft amber rays of sunlight stream in through the curtains. My mother sitting at the desk flipping through an album of clippings she saved when she could get them, gray eyes less baggy, but she looks over at me.
"Hm? Oh, Koyurei." she smiles and I march my way in, "Who's that?" she cocks her head a little. Nemuri smiles and takes the lead.
"I'm Nemuri Kayama, I'm Koyurei's fiancee." she bows and smiles, "It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Todoroki."
"Ah, Koyurei speaks very highly of you. Please, call me Rei." Mom grins and Nemuri sits down on the bed next to me. Mom stays pleasant enough but then she starts.
"Do you know why Koyurei loves you, Nemuri?" she asks, with a soft smile.
"Well, he loves me because I help him sleep, I gave him the chance to live without being near his father…" she's stopped by Mom shaking her head.
"No, that's not why at all, Nemuri. It's because you remind him of me." she smiles just a little, "How safe he felt, how he always knew I'd be listening to him talk about those cute little Goranger figures, you're that kind of person for him."
"You're a safe person, Nemuri." she finishes, "I want you to promise me that you'll love my son and cherish him as I do. That means any unsavory conduct will not be tolerated." she glares at her and Nemuri gulps.
"Yes, Ma'am!" she sputters, "I won't do anything to hurt him, I swear!"
I smile, "Wow mom, really digging your claws in." she looks at me with softer eyes and an almost serene smile.
"Of course, you're my oldest after all, a surprise but… a good one. I want to make sure Nemuri is a good woman for you." there's a knock at the door.
"Oh? That must be Fuyumi." she says.
"I'll answer it!" I pop up, "You two keep talking." I get to the door and slide it open, and there she is. My little sister Fuyumi. Shoulder length white hair with red streaks. Her school ID around her neck.
"Hey Mo- Oh my god, Koyurei!" she squeals, pulling me into a tight hug, "Oh my god it's been so long!" she swings me around a little.
"Whoa whoa whoa, little lady!" I gasp, hugging her back, "Man, it's been a long, long time!" she separates from me and smiles.
"How've you been, Fuyumi?" I ask.
"Oh you know, can't really complain at all. I'm teaching kids no-" she sees Nemuri and gawks.
"Wha-? Buh? Buhhh?!" she points at her like crazy, "That's… that's Midnight." her face goes taut and she straightens before bowing.
"I'm Koyurei's little sister, Fuyumi. It's nice to meet you." she says.
Nemuri smiles, "Right, Koyurei's very proud of you." she bows, "I'm Nemuri Kayama, your brother's fiancee."
"Wait…." Fuyumi straightens again, "WAIT."
"Wha-? But-? WHAT?!" she screams, "Mom! Did you know?!" Mom laughs a little.
"Aww, Fuyu… of course I did! Koyurei couldn't stop talking about her in his letters and how amazing she is!"
Nemuri looks at me with a smile, blushing just a bit, "God I love that." she blurts. Mom and Fuyumi both stop, turning towards her with an almost in sync, 'I can't believe you said that' expression on their faces.
"What? It's part of Koyurei and I's whole dynamic." she explains, "I praise him into a puddle, and then kiss his sweet little face until he's dizzy."
Mom smiles serenely, "Well, their father was… very domineering." she looks down at her arms, "He got a little too eager a couple of times." there're swaths of white burn scars on her pale skin, before she gives us all a bright smile.
"But let's not talk about him, my children." we all sit down but Nemuri stands, almost awkward but she steels herself.
"That includes you, Nemuri. Seeing as you're going to be my daughter in-" again, another cutoff but this time it's someone I haven't seen in a long while. White spiky hair with a few little red streaks at the temples, his gray eyes soft and his broad build just as squishy.
"Mom, you wouldn't believe what I just heard!" he calls, "Koyurei's dating Mid-" he pauses as he sees the four of us sitting down near her or in my case by her. He blinks slowly, then takes a deep breath.
"Hey Natsu!" I wave, "We were just kinda shooting the breeze and I was JUST thinking about you!"
He walks forward before running into my arms, "Koyurei!" he yells, sweeping me off my feet and swinging me around like a leaf in the wind, "Ahahaha! I missed you!"
"What is it with everyone swinging me around today?" I ask as Natsuo dumps me onto my feet. He strides over to Nemuri and sizes her up.
"Natsuo." he states.
"Nemuri." she answers, "I've been dating your brother."
"I know." Natsuo crosses his arms, "Are you sure you're not just using him?"
"I'm sure." Nemuri snaps back, "Feisty little boys like you give me a good challenge. Rest assured that your big brother is VERY happy with me." She grins and his cheeks turn red but at the same time it's just one of the things that maybe would be very good to know.
It's just the fact that he's happy to see me that makes me so relieved. Like I didn't ruin everything between all of them. Natsuo grins and Fuyumi does too. Mom looks at Nemuri.
"So, what're you thinking about with the wedding?" she asks. Nemuri grins and pulls out her phone.
"Well, I was thinking I'd be waiting for him in the chapel, and he takes the bride's role." she explains, "It's just going to be us, you guys, my folks, and close friends. That's it." Nemuri smiles and hugs my mom.
"Just let us know if you can show up, if you can't then it'll be okay, we'll just send you lots of pictures." We all kind of sit together but Mom clears her throat.
"Fuyumi, Natsuo, give us the room please." she says. Her tone's serious. Did we do something wrong or is it just Mom trying to do something? My siblings leave and Mom continues.
"Nemuri, take this as my blessing to marry him. I know you two are absolutely smitten with each other but please keep in mind he's still very fragile." her eyes grow distant a bit, "Also he's very stubborn."
Nemuri laughs a little, "Don't I know it." she states, "But I'll take good care of him, Rei, I promise." Mom smiles and looks up at her.
"I'll hold you to that."
The life we're about to start seemed closer than ever to actually being real. Then there's that feeling again, the one of dread and fear sitting in my gut as we left. Something is gonna happen and I'm not sure if I could weather the storm if it hits.
But with Nemuri I feel like it won't be half bad.