Forever With You

Twelve

"Yachi? Is that you?" she heard Terushima call out.

The man was on his feet and moving toward her, but she was already maneuvering to the side, giving him a wide berth, and making her way to Prince Kuroo. She thanked all her lucky stars that she didn't faint this time. Not like she meant to last time, either, but still. Seeing him again was... still too much to handle.

"Yachi? I know you heard me." His voice was taunting her.

Hitoka stopped in her tracks. She had to. She was nothing more than a nanny in the royal household. She couldn't ignore those above her, not without repercussions. Even if she knew Prince Kuroo and Prince Tsuki would forgive her for ignoring Terushima, they weren't the only ones here right now. Slowly, almost painfully, she turned back to face Yuji Terushima, her biggest mistake, and Aiko's father.

"My apologies, my lord," she said quietly as she curtsied deeply. "I did not notice you."
He waited for a beat. "A pretty little liar, just as I remember you."
"Rude," someone else said in her defense. She didn't recognize the voice. Either way, she stood up straight but kept her head bowed.
"Rude, and uncalled for," a very familiar voice said. She bit her lip and tried not to shuffle her feet. Moments later, she felt a slight touch on the small of her back. "Go on. The boys are waiting for you."
"Thank you," she murmured, and turned to go to her charges, but not without stealing a glance up at Duke Semi. He winked at her, and then focused on Terushima.

"Come back here, Yachi! I wasn't done talking to you."
She almost stopped again, but Prince Kuroo gestured for her to come to him. When she got there, he placed a hand on her arm to keep her there. She knelt down, and gathered up Haru and Yuki, both with watery eyes and scared faces.
"Yes, you were," Duke Semi said, but it was echoed by Prince Tsuki.
"She has you under her spell, too, I see," Terushima sneered. "Trust me, Yachi isn't the angel she makes herself out to be."
"Bastard," Duke Semi growled.
"On the contrary, I'm legitimate."
"Willfully misunderstanding the meaning and intent behind the slur," Prince Tsuki said quietly, his arms crossed over his chest. "Typical of you."
Terushima's eyes narrowed on the Prince. "Are you accusing me of something, your highness?"
"Did I say anything to make you think I was?"
Hitoka was shaking. The boys in her arms were beginning to whimper. All of this because they all had the misfortune to be in the dining room in the first place.

"Prince Kuroo, please," she looked at him imploringly. "Let me go. I need to take the boys back to the nursery."
"Good idea. I'm sorry for keeping you."
She shook her head, and put the boys down momentarily. Neither of them liked that, and were soon holding up their arms to her.
"Mama, up!"
"Mama, please, up!"

An audible gasp ran through the entire room. Hitoka ignored it all, picking up Yuki, and then taking Haru from Prince Kuroo. It was awkward, holding both boys, but if it meant getting them out of here faster, she'd do it. Turning slowly, she started walking out the way she came. Eyes forward, looking only at the doorway in front of her, murmuring comforting words to her boys, who clung to her like baby koalas.

She didn't notice it right away, but she knew when one more person joined her. From that point, until she was safely out of the room and to the staircase, she wasn't bothered by anyone, much less Terushima, who'd growled something at her as she passed. She didn't hear it, ignoring him completely.

"May I help you, ma'am?" a deep voice said from beside her. She looked up at the speaker; one of Duke Semi's guards. He looked taciturn, but his eyes were kind.
"Haru? Will you let this man carry you, please?"
"Noooo!" He clung even tighter.
She sighed. "Yuki? Please? I can't carry you both up the stairs."
Yuki, bless him, clung tighter for a few moments, and then gave her a sweet butterfly kiss before letting go and holding his arms out to the guard. Hitoka tried not to laugh as the two regarded each other warily, and went up the stairs.
"Thank you, ummm?"
"Ushijima, ma'am."
"Thank you, Ushijima."
"You're welcome, ma'am."