Life Never Ending (Part 7)
Posted on Thu Jul 14th, 2022 @ 2:54pm by Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson & Kyle Cragen [Reece]
Mission:
MISSION 0 - History Speaks
Location: St Petersburg, Russia
Timeline: 1637 AD
1629 words - 3.3 OF Standard Post Measure
*** St Petersburg, Fifty years later***
Snow, and more snow. Natsuko looked out the window of the mansion she and Kyle had purchased several months before. They had set up their base of operations swiftly and had brought only a few family retainers from their home in Japan. She thought that the snow in St Petersburg was not as pretty as the snow back home.
Kyle entered the large living room and paused briefly to gaze lovingly at the vision of beauty that was Natsuko. Moving deeper into the room, he stepped up behind her, gently wrapping his arms around her growing belly. "Do you know how absolutely beautiful you are?"
"You tell me all the time." She replied as she leaned back against him. Their first child grew beneath his hands and she was very happy about that. "How was your meeting with the head of trade here?"
Kyle gently kissed the right side of Natsuko's head then replied. "It looks like we can do business with him. He was very interested in the jade and silk samples I showed him."
"That's good. It will help our people back home" Natsuko said softly. "I saw a doctor today. He says in 3 months you will have an heir." She smiled up at him. "Not sure how he has determined the gender though."
Kyle quietly chuckled, his broad chest vibrating against Natsuko's back. "These humans are so closed minded. Whether our child is a girl or boy, they will be our heir. They will inherit not just a single kingdom, but the entire world!"
Natsuko turned her head and kissed his cheek. "He has ordered me to stay indoors, something about being safer for the child if I do not go out."
Kyle nodded his head. "On this point, I will agree with him. Between the heavy winter and the bandits that seem to move through the city like a spring breeze through the cherry blossoms, I would feel much more comfortable, if you stayed inside. Just when I am unable to be here with you. Would you do this for me?"
Nat sighed "Yes I will."
He smiled softly and pulled her in for another kiss. When they stopped, he asked, "Would you like to go out now? The nearby park is nearly empty. Our bodyguards would have no problem keeping us safe."
"Hmm sounds like an idea. Seeing I will be unable to attend any evening entertainment from now on."
Kyle thought about that for a few beats, then smiled warmly. "Then the evening entertainments will need to come here, so you can still enjoy them."
She tilted her head back and looked up at him. "Is that worth the risk to us?" she asked softly.
He looked down and smiled as he gazed into those dark, beautiful eyes that he could so easily lose himself in. "For now, yes. As the Russians seem to be a bit more outgoing, though, we will need to go into our hiding sooner than back home. These people do not look at legends and magic the same way as they do, back in Japan."
"We should plan for it then. Italy? Spain? Greece?" Natsuko suggested.
Kyle pursed his lips slightly as he thought about it. "Perhaps...Greece. Afterall, it is the seat of the Human's idea of civilization."
"Hmm sounds nice, warm weather," Nat said with a smile.
He smiled at her. "Well, anything that makes you smile like that." He leaned in and kissed her softly.
Suddenly, the dinner gong sounded.
Natsuko sighed. "Well there is the sound to get ready for dinner." turning she brushed her lips across his. "Come My Lord, time to play the game."
He purred softly at her closeness, returning her kiss. "Very well, my Lady. After all, you are more of a marvel to them than I am. I look like I grew up here. While you, my beautiful cherry blossom, are practically tropical to them." He smiled softly, as he turned and offered her his left elbow.
She smiled up at him. "They will grow accustomed to me eventually."
"And if they don't, I could just kill them all?" He said jokingly.
"Now now, without them, there is no one to trade with." She slid her hand down his face. "My love, we have a few months left, then our child will be here. And you and I will be able to build him a life."
"Fine, fine," he said with a humorous exasperation. "They can live. But I get to kill..." Then he stopped when his brain caught up with what she just said. A grin started to fill his features. "Him?"
"Or Her. The doctor is sure it's a boy. I am not so sure" Natsuko said with a smile. "He might be correct."
"What would you prefer, my love?"
"Our Child to be born, so I can hold them in my arms" She said with a smile.
He smiled and nodded. "That is a perfect thought, my love."
They went and ate the dinner, played the game and then they retired to their rooms above stairs. Once they were alone, Natsuko sat on the chaise in their sitting room and picked up her quill and book.
After their maids got the bed ready for them, Kyle dismissed them for the night and closed their bedroom door, locking it as he did so. He then moved to sit in his chair, which was positioned across from hers facing one another. "May I ask what your are writing, my love?" He took a sip of his vodka after he asked. For a human spirit, it was okay. He still didn't see why the Russians were so enamored with it. It seemed a bit weak, for his tastes.
"Making notes about this place. It's my diary. I write in my native tongue so it is harder for people here to read."
He nodded. "Very smart. Of course, if you wrote in our actual native language, no one on this planet would be able to decipher it, aside from you and I."
"I know, and sometimes I do." She smiled. "But for day to day, I write in the language I have known since birth."
He nodded and smiled. "I hope I am characterized kindly in your writing, my love," he teased with a wink and a soft smirk.
She smirked "Oh maybe" She replied and finished her writing. "Of course you are darling."
He smiled warmly, his eyes twinkling a bit with mischief. "Thank you, my Lady."
She put the diary down and the quill and shifted on the chair. "Three months, I cannot wait for it to be done with."
He nodded, a soft smile on his face. "But how you are glowing right now, Natsuko. It takes my breath away sometimes."
She glanced at her diary. "I have a question Kyle... my Rasstala is growing close... how will that affect the child?"
He considered the question, trying to remember the health lessons his mother had given him when he was a boy. "If I remember correctly...your rasstala will be postponed, biologically speaking, until our child is weaned from your breast."
Natsuko nodded "okay" She said softly, "So it could be over a year before I go back in."
He nodded. "I remember my mother teaching me that, during this time, a woman would sleep normally, but her healing abilities would be lessened. As your body is doing everything it can to both bond with and protect our child. Also, after your next Rasstala, you would not be able to become pregnant for at least two more years."
"Well that is a good thing in a way" Natsuko said softly "I am not looking forward to giving birth."
He looked over at his beautiful wife. "I regret that we must rely on the primitive medical knowledge of this world for our child's birth, my love. I will support you in any way that I can."
"I know you will. If they allow you to" Nat smiled.
Kyle growled protectively. "Let them try to stop me. You ate my wife and we are the Master and Mistress here, not them."
"And men are not culturally allowed in the birthing room darling." she shifted on the couch.
He shifted in his chair and stood, moving over to kneel next to Natsuko. After placing his left hand on her enlarged belly, he looked into her dark eyes. "Beloved, no-one would be able to keep me away from your side when our child enters this world, provided that you wanted me by your side?"
"Of Course I want you there, Kyle" Natsuko assured him. "We both will want you there."
A happy grin started to fill Kyle's face. His eyes sparkled full of love for this woman as he leaned in and gently kissed her lips. "I love you, Natsuko Cragen!"
Natsuko leaned against him and let her body relax. "I love you Kyle" She whispered.
Kyle sighed softly, contently and happily. "Come," he said as he stood and offered his wide his hand. "Let's go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day. My love."
"Hmm yes and then we should plan to attend the Tsars' revels this coming weekend." She let him haul her to her feet. "One should make the effort"
"Agreed," he replied as he carefully led Natsuko to their large, comfortable bed. After they changed into their bed clothes, they climbed in and snuggled closer, the heated bed pans helping to keep out the cold of the harsh Russian winter. "Sleep well, my love," Kyle stated softly and gently ran his fingers through her long, black hair.
Natsuko mumbled softly and drifted off to sleep in his arms, content.
By Captain Samuel Woolheater on Sat Jul 16th, 2022 @ 11:43am
Well...(pauses)...it'll do well on the late, late, late, late show or on Movies for a Rained Out Afternoon or anytime on the Lifetime and Hallmark channels. Lots of talking, writing and feelings.
(*) Bed pans? Or bed warmers? If it's the former that's a really different kind of story and a lot of sheet washing. If it's the latter then...couldn't Kyle and Nat find some other activity to keep the bed nice and warm?