Watch the shrubbery!

Something about Shrubs.

It had been a while since Mrs. Asakano had actually left the house that we shared together. Due to her condition, moving her around wasn’t too good, but when Natsuki said that she wanted my mom to see her new place, it would take more energy to keep her at home than it would be to just take her there. Since she had been doing well, I figured things wouldn’t be too bad, so long as she didn’t exert herself too much. She was fine with sitting around and sitting up, she just couldn’t walk for an extended period of time due to her anemia and weakness. At the moment, she was sitting on the bed and taking a rest after changing into a sweater dress and a scarf to keep her body warm in these winter months. I stand with my hands behind my neck as I look over as her holding a slight blush on her face. “Are you sure you’re up for this?” I inquire in a sort of concerned manner. She instantly brightens up and offers me a smile and says, “of course. I wouldn’t miss seeing my future daughter’s mansion for anything in the world.” I sigh, “I guess.” She continues to smile, “to think I was worried about you. You seemed to have found someone wonderful to take care of you.” I look to the side, elevating my gaze diagonally upwards to nothing in particular as I mention, “that sounds a little backwards… I should be the one supporting her.” My mother giggles and says, “you’re just going to have to get better roles and pause your training.” I frown, “as if…” So far I hadn’t heard a knock at the door, but I was pretty sure that Natsuki’s people were on the way.

300

The conversation is cut short as the door is answered. Since it was a given that I would get it, I simply look to my mom and say, “I’ll answer it. Don’t strain yourself trying to rush.” With that, my body rolls along the frame of the door and I walk away from the bedroom heading through the living room to the front door. After reaching the front door, I open it to reveal a onee-chan in a suit and tie. For a moment I didn’t know if the visitor was from my uncle or Natsuki. After the greeting a smile comes to my face as I answer, “nice to meet you Lulu-chan. You can call me Seiki if you want, I don’t know if you guys are allowed to. I’m glad you came and not some big ugly guy.” Turning back around towards the living room, I look before turning back to Lulu and assuring, “It’ll be okay. I’ll help her if she needs any help. We’ll be out to the car in a sec…” With that, I leave Lulu at the door for a moment as I head back and check on my mom. We make it back with her resting her arm on my shoulder as if I were a cane or something as she counter greets Lulu with a warm and welcoming smile. She assures her that it was a pleasure to meet her on the way to the car. The door is opened, I allow my mom to get into the back first and then I follow. It was a pretty nice car, but then again, Natsuki probably had a good amount of money around now. I just hoped that she was managing it well; though I was sure that the girl with glasses that always hung around her would probably be good for stuff like that. During the pistol incident my mom gives a closed eye smiling, “my my…” while I simply looked the other way. If this person was around Natsuki, the crazy might have already rubbed off on her and it was too late to save her… or like people could just gravitate to one another.

After the car comes to a stop, I allow my mother to get out before me. I stretch slightly coming out of the car as I look to the house. I wasn’t used to the thought of someone as young as Natsuki living in something like this. Celebrities really were a different type of beast than the rest of us… though I was on my path to being the same. I just had to hang in there until my big break. I move to place my hands in my pocket, but turn to see the assault coming and before I knew it, Natsuki was in my arms. “Hey!” I get out a surprised welcome as I chuckle, “I missed you too?” My mom holds her hand over her mouth as she giggles, “how fun is must be to be young.” She walks over to the driver and places her hand on his or her shoulder asking in a kind manner, “let me borrow your shoulder for now please.”

With Natsuki’s on me, my hands come to her waist as I hug her, though my mom’s comment makes me a little embarrassed. I attempt to pull back a little bit as I tease, “I’m surprised the house is still standing if you’ve already started moving in.”

579 / 879

I look down to the hand that latches onto me before looking back up at Natsuki, content for a moment until the announcement comes. I frown a bit as she makes the comment about my mom; she didn’t really do moving around too well. It was disappointing with the current level of science that there wasn’t a cure that could be found for her yet. With her exclamation, my eyes widen and my cheeks immediately turn read as I contest, “what are you saying in a place like this that loudly!?” It was too late however, the damage was done. Turning towards Natuski and I with stars in her large eyes, my mother squeals, “grand babies!....” I cut my eyes and look to my mom with a blank expression as I murmur, “oy… that’s nothing to get all giddy about.” She swiftly orders, “to your knees and properly propose and make Natsuki an honest lady.” My head tilts to the side as I emit a puff cloud sigh and ask, “is something like that really possible?” Looking up as if thinking, my mother begins thinking out loud about what the children should be named while asking the driver what names he liked. I give a sigh and turn my attention back to Natsuki who was leading the way towards the house. I thought I vaguely heard something about food in there somewhere. My mom would still be talking about the babies’ names with –kun or –chan on the end and how she would watch and play with them for us. I simply walk along before I notice the majesty of the interior of the house. “Pretty nice,” I admire not really used to such a large structure, “and shiny too.”

290 / 1169

My admiration is interrupted by a feeling of great fear. Luckily is passes and we are brought into the dining room. Standing in the large dining room, I look to my girlfriend and give a “mm” of agreement before I watch as Natsuki exits stage right and my mother takes a seat at the table. She looks over the time and smiles, “what a nice table. I’m happy for Natsu-chan to be this fortunate.” She looks up and looks around to admire the room. I look to my mom with a blank face as I wonder what she would think of Natsuki’s music as well as the performances that she put on; my mom was pretty conservative in her overall views. I look back to Natsuki as a box is shoved into my arms. “Eh?... t-thanks babe,” a question mark flickers over my head before I look to Natsuki and swiftly get the message to open it. I open the box and hold it in one arm as I retrieve the contents with the other hand. Seeing the outfit inside my eyes widen with stars in them as I squeal, “it’s so authentic!” I pause and looks straight, “I need to wear this now!...” From there, I calmly set down the box and start to undress, first pulling off my shirt. When my mom receives her box, she smiles and assures, “Natsuki, you shouldn’t have. You’re too good of a daughter for me to have.” Opens the box and sees the jewelry inside. Her free hand comes to cover her mouth as she gasps and gives a happily content smile that seemed to radiate joy. “It’s beautiful,” she approves. She looks up and holds open her arm calling Natsuki, “come here” in order to give her daughter in law a hug. Around this point, I would still be undressing, now starting on my pants.

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