Forever With You

Thirteen

"Please, wait here," the man who introduced himself as Yamaguchi told her. "I'll let them know you've finally arrived."
"Wait," she reached out to tug on his shirt. "They knew I was coming?"
He blinked. "Well, yeah. Takeda-sensei called ahead to tell us."
"Oh. Right."
A few minutes later, she was seated in a cushioned chair, her wagon and bags absconded with to wherever, and the letter Takeda-sensei had given to her was open and now in the hands of Prince Tsukishima. Grimly, he handed it to his husband, Prince Kuroo.
"I already knew he was a shady bastard, but...?"
"Yeah, this goes beyond anything I've known him to do."
"Your copycat, but worse."
"I was never that bad."
"I know." Prince Tsukishima smiled fondly and then turned his attention to her. "Let me first say that we'll help you. You're home here, and at Nekoma."
"Thank you, your highness."
"Now, Takeda-sensei kindly explained your situation to us, but I want to hear it from you."
"Yes, your highness." With a halting voice, she recounted everything that happened between herself and... Terushima.
"And the child is his."
She wasn't that sort of girl, she wanted to scream, who else would it be? But she simply nodded.
"Yes, your highness."
After a few minutes of silence, which felt like forever stretched out before her, he rose to his feet, and Prince Kuroo did the same. Struggling, she tried to rise, too, but the prince was beside her in an instant, gently laying a hand on her shoulder to keep her seated.
"No, stay there. It's fine," he assured her. "We believe you. There have been rumors of other incidents surrounding his name, and none of it any better than this. You, and your child, when it comes, will be more than welcome in our household."
"T-thank you, your highness." Her voice was tight with the tears that were suddenly falling from her eyes.
"Takeda-sensei gave you a glowing recommendation, Yachi. And, as it so happens, one of our nursery maids recently married and moved to Aoba Johsai. You may have her position, including her room."
"I'll have to check with Nekomata, but there may also be an opening for you to fill in our nursery at Nekoma, as well," Prince Kuroo added. "It's yours, if you want it."
Now, she couldn't speak at all. Her teacher had been right about him, about them both.
"Thank you," she managed to whisper.

After she went to the nursery, Hitoka consoled the boys for a little bit and made sure they would stay with Kiyoko, Eri, and Runa. Then, she took Aiko, and went to the family nursery, where she cleaned up herself and her daughter, changed into her finest dress, and dressed Aiko in her cutest onesie. She was as ready for this as she'd ever been, and so she left to return to the dining room, Ushijima meeting her at the top of the grand staircase to escort her down.

She knew this was something she had to do. If she didn't, there's no telling what else he might say, how much worse it might be. Who else he'd lure into his bed; who else he'd leave without a single care about the consequences. She was well aware that he could have had more women fall into his trap since he left her, but she was damn well going to try to stop him from doing it again.

She stopped just before the doorway, listening to everything being said. Listening to Terushima lie to everyone, and the blushing when Prince Kuroo, Prince Tsukishima, and Duke Semi tried to get him to incriminate himself, and also defend her.

"Takeda-sensei, you were right," she whispered to herself, and kissed her baby, before standing in the doorway, and announcing her presence. "They don't have to, I can tell them everything you didn't... Yuji." When she saw everyone's attention on her, she took a deep breath, exhaled and stood up as straight as she could, slowly making her way into the room.

She endured his words, calling her nothing, nobody, a liar, but she stayed strong. When she reached Duke Semi's side, she impulsively reached for his hand, seeking strength and receiving it when he squeezed her hand in return. She wanted to keep holding on, but this was her mission. Plus, he was about to find out the part of her life she had hoped to keep secret a little while longer.