Page 567 of Rage

“Whenever is there not with the women we’ve chosen?” I ask, reminding him none too gently about his own recent circumstances.

“Hai,” the motherfucker has the nerve to chuckle, not at all bothered. “Shall we?” He bows, and I return the salutation.

We clash in a stinging blow. Neither the katana nor the kanabo are blunted, so when he glances my shoulder with a particular devious move, I wince as the sharp spikes rip my skin.

“For her sympathy, old man.” Akchiro winks in a particularly mischievous way.

Dropping low, I swirl in a rapid circle, taking one leg beneath him. He flips, using the kanabo as a counterbalance.

I grunt in approval. My cousin’s moves have always been superlative.

Still, the rage purging through my veins gives me the advantage. Attack after relentless attack finally leaves a nick opening at the base of his throat. In a move that, if I held any real intention behind it, would have separated his head from his body, I slice into the divot right beside his jugular.

“Enough,” he grounds out, acquiescing to my win with a bow. Nodding grudgingly because I could’ve gone a couple more rounds.

“Good session.” I say, taking my sword to clean before retiring it to its place on the wall.

“So what is all this about?” Ripping off a square of muslin to stanch his wound, he eyes me shrewdly.

“Krie’s pregnant.” I tell him, not bothering to meet his gaze as I perform my cool-down routine. The sparring session has done nothing to relieve the tension in my body.

“I assume congratulations are not in order,” he murmurs, eyes steady but holding no judgement.

“We’d agreed to wait.” Sighing, I move into another position.

“I too thought Flower and I were aligned on the issue of more children.” He tells me, going through his own exercises. “Quite the opposite of what you seem to be going through, though. I wanted more kids, and she wanted to wait — indefinitely.”

I don’t miss the frown that attests to one of the core reasons he almost lost his wife a year ago.

“I’m in that same space. For many of the same reasons, probably.” I tell him, using none of the tatemae we are known for, no. I’m laying it out, plainly for him. Full honne. “Insanity runs deep in this family. Who knows what kind of monster we are going to bring into the world?”

“You mentioned monster brother?” The low drawl of amusement has me meeting the clear gaze of my brother.

Stopping the cringe before it registers, I face my brother, Hisashi, as he moves into the room dressed for exercise with asmooth, casualness that would mislead some to think he’s not the ruthless killer that he is. He did what I could never bring myself to do, and for that, he’s my hero.

“Brother, I misspoke.” Bowing to him in apology is wasted. He’s already waving it away like it doesn’t matter.

“I am who I am.” He comes to stand opposite me alongside Akchiro. “I assume congratulations are in order?” He pauses, taking me in. “Or rather, lamentations?” Chuckling, he shakes his head. “I felt the same until my little wife assured me. That when we are ready — which I can assure you would be any day if she were to have her way. Diluting the bloodline with fresh stock will probably offset some of the madness that we’ve been plagued with. Also, Kiyoshi,” he muses, his eyes flashing with the momentarily with the other entity that lies within. “Your brother was nurtured to become what we are. Your father did his best, but Hisashi nursed at the breast of a viper. You did as well.” The cold chill of my brother’s Monster-Guardian doesn’t negate the truth of his words.

“Your children will have you and Krie to safeguard them.” Akchiro agrees, giving me a sliver of hope.

“Now who’d like to spar with us?” Hisashi asks, pulling a spear down. Never to be called a coward, my cousin and I both pull down new weapons, knowing it will take both our prowess to tame my brother and the monster who lives in his mind.

Krie

Kiyoshi is angry with me, and I can’t even blame him. Hell, I’m mad at myself. It was never my intention to get pregnant, just asmy restaurant is taking back off after the fire destroyed it a little over a year ago. Now is not the time to be a new mom.

Still, I want this baby. As much as I know I wasn’t ready last time. I know with everything in my being I am now.

I look up to the slide of the door as Kiyoshi enters. Very much like the last time we were here when his mother feigned her illness, he’s incensed. Color is riding high on his cheekbones, and I don’t for one moment delude myself into thinking it is because he’s just finished working out. Which is evident by the way the linen of this keikogi is clinging to him.

His gaze is like ice as he looks at me like I’ve betrayed him. Lost as to what to do, I simply look at him, not sure if I should start talking double-time or remain silent because there is nothing I can say at this point to get him to believe me.

I was the one to insist on taking charge of contraception once the mishap on the plane occurred, and I had to take the Plan B as a result. We only found out later what his mother had done, slipping herbs into my food so that I’d miscarry anyway.

The discomfort of the IUD became all too much, and in a fit of frustration, I had Mimi take it out while he was away. I got the birth control pills she gave me, and I really didn’t think about anything other than the relief I felt from not being in excruciating pain every month when I got my period.

His nostrils flare, then exhaling, his gaze slides to the side, then back at us, spearing me with an intensity that should have me fleeing.

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