Who: Clara Mackey, Masakazu Hironobu What: Moving in. When: February 17, 2009 Where: Masakazu's condo Rating: PG Status: Complete
Masa wasn't exactly sure why his wife was in his apartment, or why she was moving her things in. He rubbed his eye tiredly, then sighed as he plodded into the living room, his baggy pajamas swishing as he did. "Maki," he said, frowning. "What are you do here?" He was tired. It was like one in the afternoon.
Clara ignored his question, instead directing the movers on where to put the boxes that were being carried into the apartment. The last thing she wanted to do was spend her one day off dealing with moving, but that was exactly what she was doing. "That goes in the first bedroom down the hallway."
Masa huffed and crossed his arms. "Clara!" he said, his accent thick. "What! Are! You! Do! Here?!" Was she moving her things in? She hadn't even consulted him!
"Moving in," Clara answered as she pinched the bridge of her nose with her hand, she really didn't have the energy to argue with him. "Don't raise your voice. From now on, I will live here."
"Why?" Masa demanded, sticking his lower lip out slightly. "You were fine at house." He liked his space. She'd probably throw away more of his sweets, too!
"This condo is closer to the hospital, I will save money living here," Clara explained as she moved from where she was standing to one of the padded chairs in the living room. "You have a maid and a butler. I am very busy at the hospital, I can use the help."
"Don't touch my things! Masa snapped, following her. "You should tell me first!" He sighed, then turned around and headed to the kitchen in a huff.
Clara closed her eyes and counted to ten, choosing not to follow after him. Legally his things belonged to her, so it didn't matter if he liked it or not. He could have his tantrum. She waited until he was in earshot before she pointed out blankly. "I am your wife."
Masa had returned with a bottle of tomato juice. He flopped down on the couch. "You didn't tell me," he said, pouting. "Why now? I wake up, and there odd people in my house." He was kind of cranky from being woken up.
"I told your manager," Clara corrected, with a wave of her hand, "it is not my fault if you didn't listen to him. Now because I only have today off, and this would have to happen eventually."
Masa sighed, then took a big drink of his juice. "You frustrate me." He set the bottle down, then stretched out. "Jeez."
"You annoy me," Clara countered, sinking into the cushions of the chair as she propped her legs up on the armrest. She hated that she felt so tired so early in the day. Like dealing with him on a more constant basis, she would have to learn to get used to it. "That was the last of it, the movers will be gone soon."
"Fine," Masa said, grabbing the remote and turning the television on. He had a very fancy setup that got him a lot of Japanese channels, and he settled on a channel with cartoons. Again. The kind of cartoons a twelve-year-old boy might watch.
Ten minutes later, Clara moved over to the couch and grabbed the remote. She didn't bother changing the channel, but she did turn the volume down considerably. "Please."
Masa sighed, then turned the volume back up - But not as high as it was. "Leave it alone." He was focused on it. "I like."
"The rest of the building doesn't need to hear every explosion. It's a kids' show," Clara sighed and curled up on the opposite side of the couch. Any other day and she would have teased him mercilessly about it, but she let it go.
He made a quiet sort of grunt and then stretched a bit. He was practically ignoring her now, just taking time to sulk. Bah! She had her own place.
She watched the show in silence, possibly even nodding off in boredom for a few minutes. It would have been an acceptable stalemate if her body didn't seem compelled to reject the lunch she had eaten prior to her arrival. She barely made it to the bathroom, her dash impeded by the boxes she had allowed to be placed in the hallway. Morning sickness was such a misnomer.
Masa sat up in surprise. What the hell was she doing? He stood, then debated for a moment going after her. Maybe she really had to pee? But if she was sick, he was almost obligated to help her. He waited for a few moments, then went to the bathroom and gently knocked on the door.
She didn't answer when he knocked on the door. There wasn't anything he could do to stop the heaving, and she personally didn't want him watching.
Once finsihed she stopped at the sink to rinse her mouth and splash cold water on her face. Assured she wasn't going to be hit by another wave of nausea, she opened the door and stepped out. "What?"
"Are you all right?" Masa asked, tilting his head to one side. She didn't look good at all. "Are you sick...?"
Clara leaned on the doorframe, wishing he'd move out of the way so she could go lay down, "I'm fine. I've been dealing with this the past couple of days, it's no big deal."
"Then you are sick!" Masa said, moving aside. "Go to bed!" he practically ordered, pointing. She'd be totally insufferable if she got really sick!
"I'm pregnant," Clara explained as she stepped into the hallway and made her way to the kitchen. "This is normal."
"What?!" Masa said, following her into the kitchen. "Since when?!"
"Since the last time we had sex," Clara answered cooly as she filled a carafe of water to make tea. "I was planning on waiting until after the first trimester to tell you."
"Why?" Masa leaned against the fridge, then tilted his head. "No, move. I make for you. Go lay down." Pregnant women... Well, they were fragile, weren't they? And he liked Clara well enough.
"With my job, I'm high risk," Clara shrugged him off when he tried to hijack the tea making. "You were a pain in the ass when you didn't know, don't treat me any different."
Masa scoffed, then got a pot down and a bag of rice. He put the rice and the water in the pot, but left it to sit to on the counter. "Put ginger in," he said, pointing at her tea. "I'm going to go get dressed."
"Understood," Clara left the tea alone to finish preparing the rice that he had abandoned. "Go. Get dressed."
"No! Don't touch!" Masa pointed at her. "You will ruin. Don't touch it."
"I can make rice," Clara shook her head, he really could act like a child when he set his mind to it. "Go. Clothe yourself."
"Not rice. Okay." Masa waved his finger at her. "Leave it!" Then, he trotted off to his bedroom.
"Fine, leaving." Clara grinned and went to locate the fresh ginger that was stored somewhere in his pantry.
Tea in hand, she wandered back into the living room and settled on the couch. She took advantage of him not being in the room to change the channel to one of the many sports channels the man was probably unaware he had.
A half an hour later, Masa came out in a towel put the pot on the stove and went back into his room. Another half hour after that, and he came out fully dressed and looking ready for the day. His clothes were covered in grammatically incorrect english, and he ignored Clara and the sports channel to head to the kitchen. He returned a little while later with a bowl full of mushy rice porridge, with an umeboshi on top. "Here," he said, offering it to her.
In the first half hour she had sipped her tea as she watched the last half of a rather anti-climatic basketball game. The second half hour was more of a nap, so she wasn't completely awake when the bowl of porridge was offered in front of her face.
She sat up and took the bowl from his hand, yawning as she nodded at him, "thanks."
"You're welcome," Masa said, looking pleased with himself. He hopped over the back of the couch and flopped onto it, then picked up the remote and began to flip through it. He stopped on a music channel, then laughed and pointed at the video playing. "Look! It's me!"
"Oh, I can see you, you're sitting next to me," Clara teased as she spooned some of the porridge, "Not so sure about the woman on the TV, she kind of looks like you."
"Pfft!" Masa rolled his eyes and threw his hands in the air. "Look at that manly physique! That's totally me. I'm glad people still play my stuff over there."
"Pfft." she mimicked him, "My physique is manlier than that! If that's you, you need to work out more."
She looked over at him and grinned. "I'm not surprise they still play your music. You're a pain, but you have talent."
"I am skinny," Masa conceded, lifting his shirt up and poking at his own stomach. "And you're right, you do look pretty butch." He grinned.
"Thanks," he said, in english. "But I'm a criminal, remember? Not to mention..."
"Eat more," Clara reached over and clapped her hand over his bare stomach. "One of us should look like a man."
Clara shrugged faintly. "You are not a criminal here."
Masa winced and curled up, but he laughed loudly at that. You know, she really wasn't so bad...
"You do already," he said, then stretched out, looking a bit like a cat. "I am there, though. And I had some other problems right before, so all in all I didn't think I had that many fans there."
Clara laughed and shook her head, "that'll change in a few weeks." She hovered a hand a few inches over her abdomen, estimating about how wide she'd get.
"What sort of problems? Tabloid scandal?"
"Fatty." Masa sat up, then yawned. "Yeah. Aki Tanaka. Have you heard of her?"
"Not fat, that will be all baby," she argued and reached over to ruffle his hair in retaliation. "Aki Tanaka? An actress?"
Masa leaned into her touch. He kind of liked when people touched his hair. "Fat baby, then," he said, then nodded. "Yeah. We date? Sort of. Mostly fuck for a while. Then people find out and its 'Johnni-san is liar, he is bad, he goes through women like tissue.'" He snorted. "I did, but she was worse, and a liar."
"Don't hate the player, hate the game, right?" Clara asked, playing with his hair since he didn't seem to complain. "Fuck around long enough, it will come back to bite you."
He sighed almost happily, nodding. "But people knew I had a lot of girl. They just suddenly upset when it was her. She was cute and everyone liked? But she's a slut. I wasn't the only one."
"Double standard," she shrugged, "the public knew her as cute and innocent, so that is what they saw be 'spoiled' by you. She probably used you for the publicity. Does it matter?"
"Yeah." Masa rolled his eyes. "Not really. I thought she was an okay girl, but I guess not." He shifted a bit in his spot. "I like it when you play my hair."
"I should stop right now," Clara stilled her hand and looked at him with a smirk, "but you made me porridge so I guess I owe you." She brushed his bangs to the side and lightly tugged at the ends.
"Rude. Why would you do stop?" He looked up at her, then sighed when she brushed his bangs aside.
"You're cute when you're upset," she grinned, not to far from the schoolyard bully she was when she was younger. The harder she hit, the more likely she liked you. "And it is so easy."
"You're a bad wife," he said, letting his head sink to the arm of the couch. He closed his eyes, frowning slightly.
"I am a terrible wife," Clara agreed, not even in jest because in her mind it was the truth. "I shouldn't be one."
"I shouldn't be a husband. So we're even." Masa smiled a bit. "Please."
"A well-matched bad match," Clara even managed to smile at that, and brushed her fingers through his hair. "Like it or not, we'll be parents."
"A girl or a boy?" He asked suddenly. "Do you know?"
"Too soon to tell, I won't be able to tell for another month," Clara arched a brow. "Why? Do you want to know?"
"I do," Masa said. He wasn't sure. Maybe he wouldn't mind being there a little.
"You can come to the sonogram if you want," Clara said before adding, "but you have to behave or I'll make you leave." She wasn't about to hold her breath that his interest was anything more than a passing fancy, but the sentiment was a nice one. While it lasted.
"Okay. I will." He would check that out, and then make his determination. Clara was on the ball, she'd be able to take care of the kid regardless of whether he helped or not. He wasn't exactly the best role model, and barely an adult himself despite his age, and he realized it. He hadn't even wanted the kid... But maybe. Maybe.
"I mean it," Clara warned, her head on his shoulder only because it was closer to lean against than the other armrest on the couch. "Don't make me regret inviting you."
"I won't," he said, frowning. He wouldn't! So long as there weren't any shots, right? He yawned a bit. "We should making a room, huh?"
"Huh? We should be making a room," Clara repeated to try an clarify what the man meant, "for..."
"The baby." He frowned, searching for the right word. "Nursery."
"If you want to make one, go on ahead, I won't stop you," Clara shrugged faintly, "does that mean you're thinking about sharing custody after the baby is born?"
"Maybe." Masa was being obtuse on purpose - Not because he wanted to be difficult, but because he wasn't sure after all.
"I'm not planning on it, " she pointed out plainly, "but it'd help. I'd have to go back to work eventually." It wasn't the ideal situation, but she wasn't so sure what the ideal would be.
Masa took a breath, and after a moment of thought, nodded. "We see. If not, I help pay at least. Okay?"
"I can handle it," Clara said with a sigh, "but thanks. Set up a trust fund, pay for school. That's not too hard."
"Okay." That was the least he could do. "And a nanny if you need it, I can pay for that."
"Start looking around for one, I'll need a live-in. I'd prefer to have one who speaks Japanese," Clara said and hugged an arm around her waist, "our kid will be bilingual at least."
Masa smiled. "That's good," he said. "Maybe she should learn to play music." Music was such a part of his life, he couldn't imagine living without it... But after a moment, he added, "Only if she want to."
"If she wants," Clara agreed, "Or he. If you're around it'd be impossible not to be exposed to music."
"Yes," Masa agreed, nodding. "But I don't want her to be famous." He had a thoughtful look. "Not good for kids."
"Not good on anyone," Clara retorted, "the money is nice, but all that goes with it just doesn't seem worth the trouble. I don't want her to be a doctor either, unless she really wants to."
Masa nodded slowly. "I like, but... Here, nobody knows me. They're not mad at me or think I did wrong things. They just think I'm weird." He grinned. "And I can live with."
"You are weird," Clara returned the grin, and twisted his hair around one of her fingers. "You're lucky you can sit around and live off your royalties. I've got to work for a living."
"Not if you don't want," Masa said, looking at her. "I'll support you until the baby comes, and after, if you need." He could be grumpy and cruel and spoiled, but he was pretty generous.
"I want to work, as long as there are no problems I'm working until the baby is born," Clara replied curtly, "I don't need anyone to support me, I'll take the required leave and then I'm back to work. It isn't just that I want to, but there are so little qualified OBs right now. I don't have much of a choice."
He nodded thoughtfully. "No need for baby doctor without babies, huh?" He rubbed his neck, then sighed, sitting up. "Do what you liking. That's the most important."
"Right," Clara sat up when he moved, "it is important. And I like it. You'll see what I do for a living soon enough."
"What do you mean?" Masa said, looking at her. He tilted his head to one side curiously.
"You'll be going to at least one of the sonograms, so you'll probably get to see me at work. Unless you try to visit me at work," Clara answered with a shrug, "which you could."
"I could if you want." Heh. That might cause a stir. But he probably couldn't be assed to get up that early. "You should come see me too."
"I don't care, as long as you stay out of the way. I'll make sure to leave coloring books in my office," she teased and lightly jabbed his arm with her elbow. "Go to one of your shows? Maybe."
"You suck," Masa said, grinning. "Okay. Please come." He put his hands together and gave her his best pleading face, then stuck his tongue out.
"Okay, okay. Only because you said please," Clara laughed, "and I better get a VIP pass."
"Of course," he said, standing up. "Maki gets the best seats." He stretched a bit. "We should eat the pizza for dinner."
Clara didn't stand, but stretched out on the spot he previously filled and watched him with her eyes. "Pizza? I haven't had pizza in years."
"Okay." He smiled widely, then got up and went to the phone. He usually got Ichi to do things like this for him, but if he was going to be a father, he had to learn a bit of self-reliance.
"Get one with pineapple, green pepper, and mushrooms," Clara called after him, even though normally she would find the combination disgusting, the thought seemed perfectly alluring.
"Okay," Masa said. He wanted corn on his, and pepperoni and sausage. He placed the order with minimal difficulty, then hung up. "What do you want for drink?"
She almost said whatever he was having, but reminding herself that he was probably getting a beer she should rethink it, "more tea. The ginger helps."
He nodded, then went to fix it for her. His gentle and caring streak was probably going to be gone by tomorrow, but for today he didn't mind too much. He returned with a teapot and the cup, so she could have more if she wanted, and then left again and returned with a beer.
"Thank you," Clara smiled, taking his uncharacteristic considerate behavior a fluke brought about by the news she dropped on him and shifting hormones. "So you can act like an adult sometimes."
"I always act like adult," he said seriously, taking a sip of his beer. He gave her a wink and a grin, then, and set the can down on the table.
"You act like a man-child," Clara corrected just as seriously, "at least I can tolerate you." She winked at him and put down her cup.
"That doesn't make sense." Masa picked up the remote control and turned the television on, switching through different channels. "Ohh... Hm." He pouted slightly as he flipped through different Japanese music channels. "Aww, I miss him. And him. Fuck him."
"Fuck him?" Clara asked as she nudged him, her interest peaked, "what happened? Dish."
"He's just a dick," Masa said, rolling his eyes. "Think he's better than everyone, but he's not. He's a fuck."
"He's a fuck, huh," Clara grinned at him, she couldn't help teasing him a little, "and you're not?"
"No, I'm not." Masa stuck his tongue out. "I'm awesome."
"You're not awesome," Clara countered and reached over to pinch his nose, "I'm awesome. But you're close. Sometimes."
"All the times," he said, then winced and shook his head. "Don't pinch my nose...!"
"Aww, but you have a cute nose," she cooed at him and lightly patted her hand against his cheek, "I couldn't help it."
"If you're going to touching me, play with my hair again," he said, pouting slightly.
"When you pout like that you look like a kid," Clara teased and moved her hand from his cheek to his hair. "At least I know the baby will be cute."
Masa sighed happily when she began to play with his hair, and then he grinned a bit. "Yeah, it will be cute."
"Not cute like in your drawing," she teased as she feathered his bangs with her fingers. "No yin-yang, stripes, or polka dots. Just a regular baby."
"Still cute though," he said, yawning. He was not unlike a cat when someone played with his hair, and he let his eyes close slowly, leaning into her touch.
"How can you be tired?" Clara lightly tugged at his hair, "you slept all day."
"I sleep all day," he said, nodding. "But I'm awake all night. So I'm tired."
"I'm awake days and nights, you're just lazy," Clara teased with a soft laugh. "Very lazy."
"You work too much." Masa stuck his tongue out. "I'm not workt hat much."
"I'm in high demand, I'm just that good," she bragged and stuck her tongue out at him, "I'd rather work hard than not work at all."
Masa nodded slowly. Well, that made sense, didn't it? She was a good worker. "I see," said, falling silent as her fingers played in his hair. That was really all he wanted. Less conversation, more hair playing.