Forever With You

“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.

“The floor is yours, Yacchan,” Prince Tsuki whispered to her. “Tell them everything you told us. Leave nothing out. We’ll make sure there are no interruptions.”
“Thank you, your highness.”
“Kai! Yamamoto! Please close the doors,” Kuroo called out to his guards. “What is said within these four walls remains within these four walls. Am I clear, gentlemen, and lady?” Everyone agreed. “Yacchan will speak her piece, and there will be no interruptions.” He glared at Terushima. “No one is on trial here, but I expect everyone to respect Yacchan and let her speak until she is finished.” Everyone agreed again.

Well, everyone except Terushima, who sat fuming in his chair like a petulant child. Unable to look at him, she focused on everyone else, before her eyes finally stopped on Duke Semi. He was standing behind his chair, holding the back, and smiled at her. She took it as encouragement and started to talk, as if she were telling him her story. Just him, and no one else.

She gave a brief history of her childhood, and the struggles she faced being sent away to live with people who were distantly related, but not really family. And then, learning to fend for herself after her mother died and the money she sent for her care stopped. She made it through high school, but had difficulties with her college education. It took her several years longer than usual to make it through, only able to take a few classes at a time per semester, even with a part time job.

Then, during her final year in college, she met a charming exchange student who was kind and attentive, something she’d been lacking for years. She told everyone how she fell in love and thought he felt the same, though he never truly admitted it to her, not even after her confession. She told them how she would have preferred waiting until after marriage to consummate their relationship, but he charmed her more, finally professing his love. Or at least, that’s what she’d thought.

And then, she told them about his rejection, shortly after she told him she was expecting. About how she tried to hide her pregnancy from her caretakers, but was eventually kicked out to fend for herself. About how, with the aid of Takeda-sensei, Prince Kuroo and Prince Tsukishima, she was finally able to start over as a nursery worker first, and now as a nanny.

“May I present my daughter, Aiko,” she said, turning so that everyone could see her sleeping angel. “She’s ten months old, and my ray of sunshine, my comfort, and a source of strength.” She kept her eyes locked with Semi’s. “One of my sources of strength.” There was that shy smile she loved to see, along with a light dusting of pink across his cheekbones.

The room was silent, even Terushima, who hadn’t refuted her even once. Which was a surprise to her. He stewed in his seat, but he also looked wary, like anyone could attack him at any moment. Indeed, a few of those at the table looked like they were waiting for someone to give the word.

“Alright, we’ve heard her side of the story,” King Moniwa spoke up, using his authority as the highest ranking royal present. “By law, we are allowed to ban any individual from our nations as long as the majority is in agreement. Baronet Yuji Terushima of Johzenji has already been banned from Nekoma and the Karasuno Archipelago. However, that decision was made prior to an agreement, so it is suspended… for now.”

Hitoka swayed on her feet, and she was immediately sat down in the nearest chair. Holding Aiko close, she rocked her baby and listened to the rulers discuss what needed to be done. And still, Terushima hadn’t said a word. It annoyed her almost as much as it unnerved her. She knew he wasn’t the type to back off or give up so easily, so why wasn’t he doing anything? Why wasn’t he pushing back?

She looked from side to side, at both Prince Kuroo and Prince Tsukishima, both of whom were still talking with the others. She felt herself calming down, but she found herself searching for another. One who had been seated across the table, but wasn’t there anymore. Where was he? She didn’t see or hear him leaving. Where…?

“Here,” his voice said softly from beside her. He took her hand and placed a glass of water in it. “Drink this. It’ll cool you off a bit.”
“T-thanks,” she whispered, relieved. She raised the glass to her lips and took a sip. Then, she drank a little more. She handed the glass back to him, and he reached to set it on the table.
“How are you holding up?”
“I’d rather be back in my room, to be honest. Or with the children.”
“Not just yet, but soon we can go.”
“We?”
He shrugged and smiled. “It’s getting way too stuffy in here.”
“I heard that,” Prince Kuroo whispered.
“It’s true,” Duke Semi replied unrepentantly.
Prince Kuroo snorted and then smiled at them. “Like he said; not too much longer.”

“So, are we in accord, gentlemen?” King Moniwa asked after discussions seemed to end, his gaze going from each representative to the next as they gave their answers. “We have a majority agreement. Baronet Yuji Terushima is hereby banned from Nekoma and Karasuno Archipelago indefinitely, and all other nations present have unanimously voted to severely limit his visits however they see fit. Effective immediately.”

Terushima rose from his chair and snapped his fingers. His advisors and guards, along with the two servants he’d brought to do his bidding, rushed to stand behind him. He turned and bowed to the men, and ladies, at the table, and then started for the doors, which opened ponderously slow. Hitoka waited; she still didn’t trust that he would simply accept his sentence so easily.

At the door, he stopped, turned slightly, and smirked.

“How do I know the child is really mine?” he said curiously, as if it just occurred to him to ask. “She looks nothing like me…”
“Thank god,” Duke Semi interrupted.
“Small miracles,” Akaashi-san said.
“She’s way cuter, anyway,” Duke Oikawa chimed in.
“She’s yours,” Hitoka ground out. “I said she was.”
“Yes, but all we have is your word. No verifiable proof.”
“That can be easily remedied,” King Moniwa said briskly. “I’ll send for a physician to administer a paternity test.”
“I refuse,” Terushima said. “The child isn’t mine.”

He turned to leave again, but Duke Semi was on his feet and walking steadily around the table to Terushima’s place setting. He made a show of being thoughtful, and then picked up a glass, which held a little liquid leftover from his drink.

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but we don't need blood work for a paternity test, do we?”
“While it’s optimal,” Iwaizumi-san, Duke Oikawa’s consort answered, “it’s not necessary. We can get a DNA sample from that glass, or even a strand of hair.”
“Cool,” Duke Semi said with a lop-sided grin, aimed at Terushima, who was finally looking very uncomfortable, as well as angry.
“I still refuse!” Terushima tried to protest as Duke Semi walked over to his majesty. “I won’t allow you to use that!” Suddenly, he started running toward his grace, and several people cried out in warning.

Calmly, almost as if he was expecting this to happen, Duke Semi placed the glass down on the table, curled his hands into fists, and waited until just the right moment. Then, he turned around quickly, and hit Terushima in the face, dropping the man in one blow. Crouching down to the barely conscious man, he said something low enough that only a few people heard.

“That was for Yachi and her daughter. If you try anything, send anyone, or even breathe anything against her, I will find you and stop you.” He rose and bowed to King Moniwa, and then the rest of those around the table. “My apologies. I lost my temper for a minute there.”
“Quite alright,” Prince Kuroo said, nodding his approval. “You only did what I’m sure everyone here has wanted to do for quite a while.”
“I’m hoping this won’t escalate?”
“Whatever are you talking about, your grace?” King Moniwa asked innocently. “You were defending an innocent young lady and her child. Nothing to worry about.”
“Thank you, your majesty.” He bowed again, and then came around the table to her side. “Let’s get out of here.”
“Yeah,” she replied, taking his hand and rising out of the chair.

No one saw fit to stop them, and they were followed by his advisor and two guards.