V. The Future

Warning: This Chapter interrupts the sequence of the previous chapters. This chapter will take place later on in their lives, but the book will continue it's previous sequence after this chapter. Enjoy. :)

Nanairō

"-And what happened after that Mommy?" I smiled softly. "Well, me and your father ended up playing the rest of the game together." He frowned. "Can't you tell me the rest of the story now?" I shook my head. "Sorry, Satō, but you need to go to school." He groaned but complied. "But I want to know who Daddy is. You never tell me his name." I laughed slightly. "Look on the bright side, today you get to have Baseball practice with Uncle Shunpeī and Uncle Tanba."

Satōshi grinned and nodded. I stood up from my seat and handed him his things. "Be careful on your way to school and remember I'm picking you up after Baseball practice this afternoon, so wait for me there okay?" My little boy nodded with a grin as he left the house and headed for school. My phone rang a few times after he left. I picked up the phone and answered.

"Ah, hello Shunpeī."

"Hey Nanai! How's your little boy doing?"

"He's doing great, he has been asking more and more about his father these days. I feel bad that I can't tell him."

"When will you tell him? Satōshi loves Baseball so I'm sure he would love to know he's an international Baseball star."

"I know... It's just I don't want him to think that Baseball is the reason he doesn't have a father or why his Mother cries when watching the Tokyo team."

"Nanai, you do have a point. But please consider telling him about Miyuki."

I sighed. "Of course, you're right. I just don't know if now is when I should say something. Heck, I haven't even told him his real last name is Miyuki. Kazuya left when I was pregnant with his kid but I never got the chance to tell him. He told me he would return to give me a good life after he made sure he could support me fully. And now it's been his kid's whole life and I'm not sure I'll ever see him again."

"Nanai, don't worry. Miyuki still loves you, I'm sure. I know you can't rely off of anyone in your family at all, but remember me, Ji YÅ«ko and Tanba are going to support you and your kid until Miyuki returns. Everyone else is also behind you. Just be patient, please."

I walked out of the door and locked it. "Alright. Today is Satōshi's Catching day right? I'm proud that he's already Seidō Elementary's star player and Ace, but I know you three want him as a catcher. And honestly, his catching style reminds me of his Father's so much. It's bad enough he already looks like a miniature Kazuya and he's always doing things that make me think that God was uncreative when giving my son behavioral traits."

"Hahaha yeah, that's true. Anyways, I need to go. I have a class to teach soon. Good luck."

"Bye bye~." I closed my phone and started my usual busy day going around town and doing errands.

By the time I finished all of my recruiting duties for Tokyo Central University's Baseball team for the day, it was about 10 minutes past time to pick up Satōshi. "Crap! I took too long!" I took off running towards the Elementary, which was a 5 minute run from there unless I was sprinting.  I got a text from Shunpeī as soon as I arrived at the Elementary gates saying he sent Satōshi to the park to wait for me since he had to go.

I took off my heels and ran for another 10 minutes in a full out sprint until I arrived at the park. I stood with my hands on my knees slightly winded from 10 straight minutes of sprinting. "Satōshi! Satōshi Nakatomi where are you at?!" I was yelling and looking around for my kid until I saw him standing infront of a man who was squatting down to his height.

"-Where are your parents?" That voice sounded familiar. "My Mommy is on her way from Tokyo Central University. She's a Baseball recruiter and she used to play highschool. She was really good. Look! I have a picture that I took from her drawer, it's her with one of her highschool teammates." The man smiled at my son but his expression changed when he saw the picture. "What was your m-" I interrupted. "Satōshi! Oh my God don't scare me like that!" I ran over. My son looked at me and smiled brightly. "Mommy! Uncle Shunpeī sent me here because he had to pick up his daughter from school. I met this nice man who waited with me."

I looked at the man he was referring to and my heart skipped a beat. I turned back around to face my son. "Why did you take the picture of me and my catcher from my nightstand?" He frowned. "Because I think he might be daddy. He's the only one you won't show me pictures of or tell me names. Even Uncle Tanba said you'll never tell me who Daddy is." I sighed and stood, bowing to the familiar stranger.

"I apologize that you had to watch over my son, Satōshi. We need to be going now. We appreciate your kindness sir." I straightened myself and handed him my business card. "If you need anything while you're in town, please feel free to call or show up by Tokyo Central University and request me if you are unable to connect through phone." I grabbed Satōshi gently by the shoulders and led him away from the stranger not noticing he dropped the photo he brought.

Kazuya

I watched the woman and her son's fleeting figures after the strange interaction. Was I really that hard to recognize? I guess my fake mustache and sun glasses were enough to hide my identity. I looked down at the business card the woman provided and my eyes widened when I saw her name. Nanairō Nakatomi? She called her son Satōshi Nakatomi right? So the girl I love had a child and moved on... Maybe I should stir up some mischief, good thing I retired from being an active Baseball player a few days ago, now it's time to come back and take her back. That kid looks like me though... I wonder... No, he isn't mine. He looks too young to be mine. I then noticed the picture the boy showed me. He thought I was his father...? Wait so maybe she lost her husband when he was young. It would make sense.

I looked up to see Nanairō and her son were gone, and she left her high heels. I snickered. "God Nanai, you always did have a knack for being forgetful." I picked up her heels and took off the fake mustache and put on my real glasses so I could see better. I called Tanba and got an immediate answer.

"Hello, Miyuki, did you need something?" I

"Yeah, you didn't tell me Nanai had a son and lives here. Who's the child's father?"

"You should ask Sanada Shunpeī on that one, Miyuki. She tells him everything."

"Ah, you're right. Thanks Tanba."

I hung up and called Shunpeī next.

"Hello?"

"Yes? Did something happen?"

"Who's the father of Nanai's kid?"

He started laughing. "Hahaha, you met Satōshi today didn't you? ...Which means you saw Nanai-san! Did you tell her who you were? Did you finally say: 'Nanai, I've come back for yo-"

"Ah, you're getting off point. I couldn't find the words to tell her who I am. I don't know who her son's father is so tell me, who is the father and how old is he?"

"He's 9. His Birthday is 10-01 and he's your kid."

"He's who's kid!?"

"Yours. Nanairō had him around six months after you left."

Ah that's right, it has been about 10 years since I left. It'll be 10 years exactly in two weeks, and my kid's birthday 6 months later. "Ah thanks, call Nanairō and tell her someone is coming over, I need to make myself look more like the person she knows."

"Gotcha! Good luck meeting your kid!"

"Bye."

•  •  •  •  •

Nanairō

I received a call from Shunpeī earlier saying someone special was coming over to the house and I needed to clean up the house, so I did. I made sure the sink was empty, all clothes were washed, all dishes were clean, there wasn't any wrappers or garbage anywhere, and made sure every was in its place. I did everything until I heard the door bell ring.

I quickly jogged to the door and subconsciously examined my state before opening it . I was a mess but oh well. When I opened the door all logical thinking disappeared. "Hey. I've come back." I stared at him in awe. "Kazuya..." He pulled me into an embrace. "I missed you... Why didn't you tell me I had a son? And why do you still go by Nakatomi? We got married 14 years ago during our freshman year of college I don't-"

I shut him up by shoving my lips against his and kissing him. He kissed back and he made a step inside, struggling to close the door behind him without opening his eyes and disconnecting. He succeeded and shoved me against the door. 10 years of pent up emotions all got voiced through the kiss all at once. He started to unbutton my shirt but I stopped him. "Our kid is in the room next door."

His breath hitched momentarily but he let out a quiet laugh and stopped. As I fixed my shirt he fixed his hair. I turned to look at him. "God you look the same as when we met in our third year of Junior High." He smirked. "Other than your hair cut, your hair used to be longer." I lightly touched his hair. "So, you ready to officially meet Smart-alec junior?" He grinned. "Only if you are." I smacked his shoulder at how close to me he got at that moment. "Wait until tonight for that, Kazuya. Now, I'll go talk to Satōshi, so get ready." He nodded and got serious. Now I see why I married this dork. He even came back after so long. I was worried after 10 years of silence.

I walked in the living room and squatted infront of a sad Satōshi. "What's wrong baby?" He sniffled. "I lost my picture of you and Daddy." I smiled at him and wiped his tears with my sleeve. "Don't be baby, I have something better than a picture of your father." He looked at me and continued to sniffle. "What could be better than a picture of Daddy?" I smiled. "A Father?" His face brightened significantly. At that moment, Kazuya walked in and my son got up and ran over.

They had a beautiful moment hugging each other, but I knew I shouldn't intrude since it's their first time meeting. I smiled and slipped out of the room and up the stairs and into my room to see the sun had already gone down. I slid the door to my balcony open and sat near the edge with my feet hanging off after closing the door again. He finally returned. I can relax a bit now that the man I married finally came back for me. I stared at the wedding ring on my finger. It had a beautiful yet conservative diamond in the middle, a simplistic engraving going around the ring and a simple 'I'll always be there to catch you' engraved on the inside. We still loved each other.

I didn't hear the door open behind me, but I felt a pair of strong, muscular arms create contrast to the cold environment. Kazuya rested his head on my shoulder and I leaned my own against his. "Mm you're warm, Kazuya." I felt him laughing silently. "Where's Satōshi?" I hummed. "He's downstairs setting the table for us to make dinner." I turned and smirked at him. "Oh? You're gonna help?" He smirked. "Only thing I have an appetite for is y-" The clatter of dishes interrupted his pickup line. "Ooh tough luck." He tightened his grasp and kissed my neck but I flicked him on the forehead. "Desert is after dinner." Kazuya pouted as I stood up. I kissed him on the lips briefly. "I'll make dinner tonight, it's your turn tomorrow."

I earned a groan from him as I walked back inside and downstairs to make dinner. "Mommy, Mommy! Auntie Nahī and Grandpa are at the door." My face turned grim. "Go upstairs with Daddy, Baby. You aren't in trouble." He pouted but obeyed. I walked over to the door and opened the door. "Is there a reason you're here? I've told you both you aren't welcome in this house." My sister huffed. "Why not sis~" I scoffed. "He abused me as a child and you let him! You also tried to pit me and Kazuya against each other when we let you live with us for two weeks until you got back on your feet. You just don't know when to stop do you?! You aren't my family! My husband and son are! You never were like family to me! You abused me even!" I started shouting.

I felt someone pull me closer. "What is she doing here? And the same for him." I sighed and leaned into Kazuya's side. "Nanairō Nakatomi you know very well you were to marry the son of the current Prime Minister ten years ago but no! You marry him just because you played on the same baseball team together! You're a disgrace to the Nakatomi family name!"

I growled at the hateful old man known as my father. "No. First off, my name is Nanairō Miyuki. I didn't marry him on a whim just because he played on the same baseball team for years, I married him because I grew to love, respect and cherish him through our daily interactions in Baseball. And if loving him means I'm a disgrace to a hateful old man who doesn't even know his son-in-laws name, then I'm doing something right. I never will become a Onmyōji. Nor will I marry who you want me to." I slammed the door in their faces.

"That feels better." I hugged him. He laughed. "How long did you hold that in for?" I smirked. "Oh~ only 33 years." He kissed my forehead. "Cook my slave! I'm hungry!" I smirked. "What if I don't? Will you starve Master?" He grinned. "No! I'll have to get off my butt and actually cook for myself!" I laughed as I walked to the kitchen. "Oh what a horrible fate you face!" I started cutting vegetables extremely fast while looking at him over the counter. "Won't you cut yourself?" I grinned. "Nope! I used to have a part time job at a high end restaurant. I learned from a professional Chef." I finished chopping the green onions and moved on to potatoes.

"It took 5 years of that to become this great. Just like it took you your whole life to develop great legs from catching, right?" He grinned. "Oho~ my legs are pretty great. You know what's even better than my legs though~" I held the knife towards him. "Hey, there is a child roaming the house. Watch what you say."

I finished cooking dinner after about an hour of Kazuya's endless inappropriate notions and phrases, which made me worried for my kids mental stability... And mine. I served them dinner and then yawned, stretching as I did. "You aren't going to eat, Nana?" I shook my head but smiled. "Ah, I don't have an appetite. I'll just go lay down." Kazuya raised an eyebrow at me as I turned and left.

"Is she really okay?" I heard Kazuya ask Satōshi. "It's okay Daddy, she doesn't usually eat on the days Grandpa and Auntie Nahī show up. She also wouldn't eat when Tokyo's Baseball team played a game even though she always watched the games and loved the team. Mommy got really sad and cry when she saw the interviews with the Catcher but she'd be in a better mood afterwards." I heard a noise of understanding as I made my way upstairs. "Go after her, Daddy." I heard Kazuya laugh slightly. "I'll come back down after a while and put you to bed, sounds good?" I heard my son giggle as I reached the top step on the stairs.

I walked in my room and threw myself on my bed. I sighed into the fabric of my blankets. I felt the bed beside me sink in. I felt Kazuya slide his arm underneath me and pull me into his chest, which I gladly accepted. "You shouldn't skip meals. You'll get sick." I sighed. "I know." He shook his head slightly. "And what's this I hear about you crying while watching my awesome interviews? Am I really that beautiful?" I snorted and laughed. "Totally ruined the mood, Kazuya. That really is your kid, he's just as much of a big mouth as you are." I felt him laughing against my back. "But you love my big mouth. In fact-" I interrupted him.

"Ah, shut up Kazuya." He grinned with mischief. "Oh? I bet you won't be saying that later." I returned the look. "Why later?" He rolled me on my back and got on top. "Agreed."

That night was the best night of my life after 10 years. Satōshi met his father, and I got my husband back. And it was all thanks to baseball.

•  •  •  •  •

I woke up the next morning in my bed. I was clinging to my pillow for dear life. "Huh... What a strange dream... It felt so real..." I checked my watch. "Dangit! I overslept!"

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I modified the story a little bit to improve the syntax :)