I wrote a few pages so far but more and more of a story is forming in my head to deal with some of those loose ends in my omakes. I'm calling it Fallout, although I suppose I could call it Fertility though it would kind of ruin the fun of it. Assuming readers have read the omakes, the joke is on Keitaro, of course.
*******************
ôKeitaro, we got some mail. Its from Granny Hina," announced Kitsune, wandering down the hall in her matronÆs smock. She was pregnant again, seven months, so she sort of waddled.
ôHuh, I wonder what thatÆs about?ö asked Keitaro, putting down the sticky spoon covered in curry. HeÆd been working with Su on her family recipes over the years, getting better at cooking. HeÆd never be as good as Shinobu, more popular than ever with her TV show rebroadcast via worldwide satellite TV on the Food Network. The scandals which occasionally broke about her personal life were troubling and Keitaro worried from time to time about his friend. She never answered his letters and heÆd stopped sending them after a couple years.
Their youngest, Maya, fretted in the baby carrier on his back. She liked to watch what he was doing all the time, cute little slitted eyes and big grin in her toothless mouth. It wouldnÆt be long before she sprouted those too and started running around like her older sister. He rinsed and dried his hands before opening it, reading the contents.
ôWow, hey Kitsune Dear, weÆve been invited to the family reunion in a month,ö he yelled back up the stairs. This royal apartments had no servants, preferring a more traditional Japanese lifestyle and the implied privacy which would allow them to be a proper family. He didnÆt want his kids to be treated differently, though KaollaÆs children seemed to be just fine, if not preternaturally observant from time to time. AmallaÆs three children, all boys, were little terrors despite still being so small. Their nannies were some of the most tireless people Keitaro had ever known. Raising his own two girls had been hair raising enough. They tended to play little pranks on him sometimes.
ôReally?ö she asked, coming down to look at it with him in the kitchen.
ôGranny is holding it at the Hinata Inn,ö he said. ôItÆll be nice to see Sis again,ö he admitted. He missed KitsuneÆs grimace at the mention of Kanako. SheÆs found the young woman trying to steal into his bed more times than she cared to remember. Keitaro remained guileless even after four years of marriage. It was one of the things she loved about him.
ôWell, Professor,ö she emphasized, ôAre you ready to return to life in Japan? WeÆre almost packed. Todai wants its most famous professor to start teaching classes this fall.ö
ôSure, I guess. Its kinda intimidating after having the run of the site.ö
ôAre you going to miss the Royal treatment?ö she teased. Keitaro rubbed the back of his head. His daughter Maya grabbed his hand and fussed his hair with her sticky little hands, cooing.
ôYeah, itÆll be weird driving again,ö he admitted.
ôUh-uh. IÆm driving. YouÆre still almost as bad as Seta,ö she shook her finger at him.
ôI love you,ö he said, sliding close and dipping his wife into a passion-filled kiss. She shivered in his touch, dazed when he finally lifted her back to her feet.
ôWhew. YouÆve sure gotten good at that, hero,ö she murmured. It was times like this that she was glad sheÆd won his heart. The last four years together had been busy, but wonderful. He was good to his word, keeping her happy. The times he spent with Kaolla Su were harder but she tried not to think about it. And she really tried not to think about the secret visits from Motoko. Part of her ached in jealousy over that, but some of that was pity for her friend.
ôIÆm still a little worried,ö he said, changing the subject back to their move from Molmol to Japan.
ôDonÆt be. Professor Mumiya will do a fine job managing the site with the Royal Tourism Board. And Haruka found us that cute little house with the patio in the district. You can even see the Hinata Sou. Taking the train just like old times,ö she reminded him. ôAnd itÆs a good place for the children to grow up.ö
ôSpeaking of which, whereÆs Kimiko?ö he asked. Their eldest was two and when she wasnÆt throwing temper tantrums she was a little angel.
ôPlaying with her picture diary. I gave her some crayons and sheÆs telling stories to herself. I left the camera on her in case she says anything cute,ö she smiled. It was KeitaroÆs turn to frown. What Kitsune called cute, he found disturbing. If he didnÆt know better, heÆd say their firstborn child was psychic. WhatÆs worse he did know better which meant that she almost certainly was.
ôShe say anything about the trip?ö he asked.
ôNah, something about a sandbox and a playground and meeting all her brothers and sisters,ö said Kitsune, smiling.
ôWell, its time to get dressed and finish up the final packing. Remember to clean all that up before you put it away. I donÆt even want to think what those dishes would look like with two week old curry growing in them,ö she teased.
They finished dressing up and Kitsune packed Bentos for the family.
ôAnd then Keiwana said æI wanna play with that,ö chirped Kimiko musically. ôNo, I want to,Æ said Meikoto. And Na-chan stamped her foot and yelled æKei, you baka!Æ TEE-HEE,ö she laughed. She was a bright little girl with daunting blue eyes and her motherÆs light brown/blonde hair. She looked up at her motherÆs approach. All these brown boxes left her confused and frightened. She couldnÆt play with all her toys and there were more and more of them all the time.
ôMama? Are we going away today?ö she said in her trembling little voice, suddenly sad. Kitsune scooped her up, grunting at the weight of her daughter.
ôYes sweetie. Molmol is home to you, but weÆre going back to Japan, not just for a visit but to live there near Auntie Haruka. Mommy and Daddy have many friends there,ö explained Kitsune yet again.
ôBut Auntie Kaolla is here, and big brothers,ö she complained.
ôYes yes. TheyÆll come for visits, and weÆll visit here sometimes too,ö assured her mother.
ôSooner than you think,ö said the Other Voice Kimiko used sometimes. Kitsune froze, trying not to panic again. She hugged her daughter, fear and worry eating at her. Again, she blamed herself for how her daughter behaved at times. It scared her and Kitsune wondered if sheÆd pushed herself too hard when she was pregnant. Keitaro had needed her, it was true, but stillà.
ôI love you mommy,ö said her cute voice again, little arms gripping her.
The movers worked with quiet efficiency and in a couple hours the truck was loaded with their belongings. She looked around at the empty furniture turning the room back over to the seneschal, who bowed low to the family before leaving them to their trip out of the palace.
Kaolla greeted them politely, nannies minding her children.
ôIÆll miss you Keitaro. ItÆs been wonderful to have you here with me. I am glad to have been allowed this privilege,ö she said formally. Keitaro hugged her and kissed her cheek.
ôIÆll miss you too, Kaolla-chan,ö he agreed.
ôIÆll see you in August at the Reunion,ö she said, waving the invitation he recognized.
ôWell, you are family,ö he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. The children waved goodbye to their father with help from their mom. Kitsune saw a tear grace his eye before he turned away.
A short ride to the airport followed, the city even more busy than before. It was crawling with electric cars and scooters blaring Molmolian folk songs and what sounded like an antique Brazlian Jazz tune Keitaro recognized from HarukaÆs collection. Kitsune raised an eyebrow at it as well. The airport was busy but four carts loaded with brown paper boxes each labelled with their new place in Tokyo they entered the terminal. With far less fanfare than their arrival had been, they finally reached the single JAL flight 1 of the day, crowded with Japanese workers, various Polynesians, and a few Europeans scattered in the press. Holding tight to their children, a porter checked in their luggage and the boxes of belongings, far fewer than theyÆd have thought for four years of living in an exotic foreign country. Keitaro paid the high fee for air freight, wincing at the cost. HeÆd gotten far too used to the unlimited Su wealth. It was time to scale back his life and slow down a little. Spend more time with his family and more time with his kids. He hoped a life more ordinary would agree with him.
***************
More later.
*******************
ôKeitaro, we got some mail. Its from Granny Hina," announced Kitsune, wandering down the hall in her matronÆs smock. She was pregnant again, seven months, so she sort of waddled.
ôHuh, I wonder what thatÆs about?ö asked Keitaro, putting down the sticky spoon covered in curry. HeÆd been working with Su on her family recipes over the years, getting better at cooking. HeÆd never be as good as Shinobu, more popular than ever with her TV show rebroadcast via worldwide satellite TV on the Food Network. The scandals which occasionally broke about her personal life were troubling and Keitaro worried from time to time about his friend. She never answered his letters and heÆd stopped sending them after a couple years.
Their youngest, Maya, fretted in the baby carrier on his back. She liked to watch what he was doing all the time, cute little slitted eyes and big grin in her toothless mouth. It wouldnÆt be long before she sprouted those too and started running around like her older sister. He rinsed and dried his hands before opening it, reading the contents.
ôWow, hey Kitsune Dear, weÆve been invited to the family reunion in a month,ö he yelled back up the stairs. This royal apartments had no servants, preferring a more traditional Japanese lifestyle and the implied privacy which would allow them to be a proper family. He didnÆt want his kids to be treated differently, though KaollaÆs children seemed to be just fine, if not preternaturally observant from time to time. AmallaÆs three children, all boys, were little terrors despite still being so small. Their nannies were some of the most tireless people Keitaro had ever known. Raising his own two girls had been hair raising enough. They tended to play little pranks on him sometimes.
ôReally?ö she asked, coming down to look at it with him in the kitchen.
ôGranny is holding it at the Hinata Inn,ö he said. ôItÆll be nice to see Sis again,ö he admitted. He missed KitsuneÆs grimace at the mention of Kanako. SheÆs found the young woman trying to steal into his bed more times than she cared to remember. Keitaro remained guileless even after four years of marriage. It was one of the things she loved about him.
ôWell, Professor,ö she emphasized, ôAre you ready to return to life in Japan? WeÆre almost packed. Todai wants its most famous professor to start teaching classes this fall.ö
ôSure, I guess. Its kinda intimidating after having the run of the site.ö
ôAre you going to miss the Royal treatment?ö she teased. Keitaro rubbed the back of his head. His daughter Maya grabbed his hand and fussed his hair with her sticky little hands, cooing.
ôYeah, itÆll be weird driving again,ö he admitted.
ôUh-uh. IÆm driving. YouÆre still almost as bad as Seta,ö she shook her finger at him.
ôI love you,ö he said, sliding close and dipping his wife into a passion-filled kiss. She shivered in his touch, dazed when he finally lifted her back to her feet.
ôWhew. YouÆve sure gotten good at that, hero,ö she murmured. It was times like this that she was glad sheÆd won his heart. The last four years together had been busy, but wonderful. He was good to his word, keeping her happy. The times he spent with Kaolla Su were harder but she tried not to think about it. And she really tried not to think about the secret visits from Motoko. Part of her ached in jealousy over that, but some of that was pity for her friend.
ôIÆm still a little worried,ö he said, changing the subject back to their move from Molmol to Japan.
ôDonÆt be. Professor Mumiya will do a fine job managing the site with the Royal Tourism Board. And Haruka found us that cute little house with the patio in the district. You can even see the Hinata Sou. Taking the train just like old times,ö she reminded him. ôAnd itÆs a good place for the children to grow up.ö
ôSpeaking of which, whereÆs Kimiko?ö he asked. Their eldest was two and when she wasnÆt throwing temper tantrums she was a little angel.
ôPlaying with her picture diary. I gave her some crayons and sheÆs telling stories to herself. I left the camera on her in case she says anything cute,ö she smiled. It was KeitaroÆs turn to frown. What Kitsune called cute, he found disturbing. If he didnÆt know better, heÆd say their firstborn child was psychic. WhatÆs worse he did know better which meant that she almost certainly was.
ôShe say anything about the trip?ö he asked.
ôNah, something about a sandbox and a playground and meeting all her brothers and sisters,ö said Kitsune, smiling.
ôWell, its time to get dressed and finish up the final packing. Remember to clean all that up before you put it away. I donÆt even want to think what those dishes would look like with two week old curry growing in them,ö she teased.
They finished dressing up and Kitsune packed Bentos for the family.
ôAnd then Keiwana said æI wanna play with that,ö chirped Kimiko musically. ôNo, I want to,Æ said Meikoto. And Na-chan stamped her foot and yelled æKei, you baka!Æ TEE-HEE,ö she laughed. She was a bright little girl with daunting blue eyes and her motherÆs light brown/blonde hair. She looked up at her motherÆs approach. All these brown boxes left her confused and frightened. She couldnÆt play with all her toys and there were more and more of them all the time.
ôMama? Are we going away today?ö she said in her trembling little voice, suddenly sad. Kitsune scooped her up, grunting at the weight of her daughter.
ôYes sweetie. Molmol is home to you, but weÆre going back to Japan, not just for a visit but to live there near Auntie Haruka. Mommy and Daddy have many friends there,ö explained Kitsune yet again.
ôBut Auntie Kaolla is here, and big brothers,ö she complained.
ôYes yes. TheyÆll come for visits, and weÆll visit here sometimes too,ö assured her mother.
ôSooner than you think,ö said the Other Voice Kimiko used sometimes. Kitsune froze, trying not to panic again. She hugged her daughter, fear and worry eating at her. Again, she blamed herself for how her daughter behaved at times. It scared her and Kitsune wondered if sheÆd pushed herself too hard when she was pregnant. Keitaro had needed her, it was true, but stillà.
ôI love you mommy,ö said her cute voice again, little arms gripping her.
The movers worked with quiet efficiency and in a couple hours the truck was loaded with their belongings. She looked around at the empty furniture turning the room back over to the seneschal, who bowed low to the family before leaving them to their trip out of the palace.
Kaolla greeted them politely, nannies minding her children.
ôIÆll miss you Keitaro. ItÆs been wonderful to have you here with me. I am glad to have been allowed this privilege,ö she said formally. Keitaro hugged her and kissed her cheek.
ôIÆll miss you too, Kaolla-chan,ö he agreed.
ôIÆll see you in August at the Reunion,ö she said, waving the invitation he recognized.
ôWell, you are family,ö he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. The children waved goodbye to their father with help from their mom. Kitsune saw a tear grace his eye before he turned away.
A short ride to the airport followed, the city even more busy than before. It was crawling with electric cars and scooters blaring Molmolian folk songs and what sounded like an antique Brazlian Jazz tune Keitaro recognized from HarukaÆs collection. Kitsune raised an eyebrow at it as well. The airport was busy but four carts loaded with brown paper boxes each labelled with their new place in Tokyo they entered the terminal. With far less fanfare than their arrival had been, they finally reached the single JAL flight 1 of the day, crowded with Japanese workers, various Polynesians, and a few Europeans scattered in the press. Holding tight to their children, a porter checked in their luggage and the boxes of belongings, far fewer than theyÆd have thought for four years of living in an exotic foreign country. Keitaro paid the high fee for air freight, wincing at the cost. HeÆd gotten far too used to the unlimited Su wealth. It was time to scale back his life and slow down a little. Spend more time with his family and more time with his kids. He hoped a life more ordinary would agree with him.
***************
More later.
