I want to be your Koi Fish... - Nine Tails

~59~

Remorse? Understatement! She felt as if she had thrown a shrapnel at her sister. Why her...why Fubuki...why not another, less susceptible child? Tossed by a heavy burden, she stormed into Shinogi's office and slammed the door just as violently. The red-haired man sipped his tea in peace. Upon seeing her, he immediately set the mug down on the dark countertop and gestured to the chair in front of him. She sat down obediently, as if summoned to the headmaster's rug, her heel clicking nervously. It seemed that he already knew something, the information reached him. She guessed that Ayame had enlightened him about what had happened, at least in part. The thought made her feel even worse. She pulled her skirt up over her legs, biting her lip.

- How much? - she finally asked in a shaky voice.

- But what "how much"?

- How much will it cost to get her back on her feet, Kureha? - she replied firmly.

- I don't know if you realize what you're asking. Shizuka never again...

- HOW MUCH TO GET HER ON FEET?! - She growled more and more annoyed. - I will cover all costs. Allow me at least this form of repaying some of the faults.

- She doesn't...

- Get her the best specialists, first-class care. Please. I will pay for everything. - she interrupted him again. - The cash is completely clean. I am paying, not my husband.

The doctor just sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead with one hand and pointing to the door with the other. She didn't wait for any translations. As she sat down, she got up and walked out, clicking her heels vigorously. She still had to elude her entourage to relieve herself by walking home.

>>><<<

Fled. He didn't even notice when she disappeared from the hospital. He was waiting for her in the car, near the exit. There weren't many other ways, but he knew she was clever, easily finding a way to go undetected. He sighed heavily, signaling Kizaki that he would wait for her at home. She probably had too much energy again, she had to get rid of it. He hoped they wouldn't follow his example and they wouldn't have to look under Mount Fuji or anywhere else she might go.

She came back just as he was about to let people follow her. It was approaching midnight, and Kizaki and the others were barely sitting on their asses with nerves. So was he, but he couldn't let it show. She looked relatively normal, except that she was so tired that she barely heard him ask "where have you been?" She just waved her hand, muttering something unintelligible, and headed for the bathroom, leaving her shoes carelessly tossed around the front door. She fell asleep like a stone...or maybe he just thought so, because he himself fell like the dead. But something made him wake up. It was two o'clock in the morning on the clock. Hanabi was gone, she left, leaving the corner of the quilt open and the doorway from the bedroom open. He couldn't see any blaze of light, so she probably wasn't sitting around eating another jar of chocolate. Although who knows, she was so skilled that she could easily do it in the dark. He found her in the living room, curled up under a dark blanket. Raven hair was illuminated by a silver glow mixed with the glow of the surrounding colorful neon lights coming through the opened blinds. She turned around, clearly feeling his presence, and he sat next to her.

- I can't sleep and I didn't want to wake you up... - she murmured softly.

- Nightmares again? - He asked.

It was not the first time they met in such a situation, not always at night. When they met, it happened from time to time, then calmed down, only to return after the wedding, but it ended after a few weeks. As if she overcame what was bothering her. The unreasonable, unfounded remorse seemed to come back like a boomerang.

-I saw her again. She said that I shouldn't be there, I'm useless, it's best that I die... - she whispered downcast, sitting down and snuggling into him. - ...because I only create problems for normal people.

He knew from the beginning that her mother-in-law was a "cute little person." She didn't hide this fact from him, and she herself did not play nice during their first and last meeting. From what Hanabi told, she seemed to be completely normal, nice loving - until the last pregnancy. It was during the time when she carried it under her heart that something happened that no one expected. The mother of three rejected the fourth child, treating it as someone else's, unwanted, redundant and poisonous. Hanayama was surprised that Goro tolerated such a thing for 10 years, but on the other hand, he rather loved her, he still gave her a chance that the woman did not take advantage of. Despite her father's immense love, Hanabi emerged from the situation horribly wounded. She didn't admit it often, but he knew it still hurt. He saw that all these mood swings or severe depression in difficult situations, especially family ones, were connected with old scars that were still bleeding. It was enough for something to wobble, and she felt it twice. Trying not to move his slender body away from him, he lay down next to him to get rid of his gloomy thoughts with a bear hug.

Several weeks have passed. Hanabi admitted that she secretly funds her sister's stay in the hospital, but does not want to bother her with her presence. After all, they had not previously parted under cordial circumstances. However, when her father called with a proposal to have dinner together, she agreed immediately, probably not even thinking that her siblings might also be present. All three appeared, including a bunch of children and a redheaded doctor. Oh yeah, he almost forgot he was going to be his father-in-law's next son-in-law. What a small world... There was also Shizuka, sitting comfortably in an armchair, sipping green tea. The bandages were barely visible under the thin blouse. Quite naturally, he went to the living room and sat on the couch, while Hanabi froze for a moment after taking off his shoes, then muttered something to Goro and disappeared upstairs. When he looked at Soga, he just waved his hand as if to say that she would be fine and would probably be back soon. He looked around. At the table sat him, father-in-law, Shinogi, blooming Ayame, as if more conciliatory than usual, completely relaxed Shizuka knitting a sweater and tall, dark ginger Yuri. Judging by the sounds from the kitchen, Yui was in charge behind the wall, calmly assigning tasks to her twins. Outside the window, in the garden, he saw Hyo and Arashi stretching and practicing side rolls, and Razu and Ren appeared out of nowhere, sitting next to their blonde-haired mother. The only thing missing was a small, hellishly dangerous fox with two fiery ponies on top of its head. The memory of the events in the Arena chilled his blood every time, especially since he had heard the story of how the girl's extraordinary ability had awakened. Neither was in any way appropriate for such a small child, but life had its theories about it.

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<graphic: Shinogi Kureha; https://yourheroserene.tumblr.com/post/631358504378187776>