Kai!" Natasha cried shrilly. She knew she had panicked, but after living with Amar for so long, she instantly had his voice speaking in her head, reminding her what he would have done. She immediately went to his side, feeling his forehead. He was a bit warm, but noting serious. He was very sweaty and shivered in his sleep. 

Natasha slowly shifted him to the bedroom beside the study, where he could lie down completely and a bit more comfortably. He was way heavier than his slender personality let on. Just like his father, she thought. She switched off the Air conditioning and covered him up with blankets to reduce the chills. She tried waking him up again, but he didn't budge. She sighed before deciding to go and make something warm for him. She had stocked the kitchen with bare essentials, so a strong coffee was all she could make with the available items.

Natasha got a lot of time to think out the situation as the milk boiled over. She found it hard to even admit it to herself. Her nephew, who had looked so strong, confident and self-assured just had a panic attack. Her young nephew who could have been her son too if the genetics were to be considered, had undergone so much trauma in life that a panic attack so strong that it had laid him unconscious. 

And it had something to do with the house, the realisation startled her. She was just sure of it. The way he was glancing at the study before he fell, there was no denying the theory. Which meant something must have happened in his parents' villa years ago. It was nothing but a charred mess of ash and dust now. 

Natasha phone started beeping. It was a call from Hillary. "Hey hon. How was school?" She asked, trying to sound cheerful. "It was fine." There was a pause. "I thought you'll be home today, after the wedding. You promised you'd take me to buy the swimsuits for the performance..." 

Natasha had completely forgotten about that. "I'm so sorry Hil. Just give me thirty minutes, and maybe we could just-" "The shop closes at seven and I would need some time to choose an outfit... It's all right though, maybe we could just plan it tomorrow or something." Hillary tried sounding nonchalant, but Natasha knew better. "Hillary, I really am- "Seriously, mom! It's all right" she exasperated, but Natasha knew her daughter was upset with her.

 "Anyway, I'll be gone for swimming practice, in case you arrive before me." She informed. "I'm so lucky to have such an understanding daughter like you." She whispered. Hillary just laughed softly at this. "Bye mom." "Bye hon." She said before disconnecting the phone.

The milk was boiling now. Pushing her thoughts aside, Natasha hurriedly prepared coffee and went to the study, glad to find Kai awake was already awake.

******

Kai found himself waking up in unfamiliar surroundings. He sat up immediately, and regretted it immediately. His head felt too heavy on his shoulders. He knew his brain actually floated in the cranial fluid, he had his facts straight, but he had never felt his brain floating until now. It was as though someone had shaken his head so much that his brain was bouncing around like a ping pong ball. For a moment he panicked. He was in an unfamiliar territory, with no idea how he got there. Those were signs of danger, for him especially, until he heard the soft voices coming from the next room. 

"-So sorry Hil. Just give me thirty minutes, and maybe we could just-" she went silent again. Kai's memory slowly seeped back in. He didn't know why he had suddenly lost consciousness. He had been fine minutes ago. He touched his bullet wound, but other than a slight wince, there was nothing. Kai felt confused true, but above everything else, he felt mortified. He had grown completely vulnerable in the presence of a stranger. He hadn't been outwardly insulting, but be hadn't been respectful to her either. And here she was, helping him out.

"Hillary, I really am-" Silence. The name suddenly perked up his interest. Kai thought he had heard the name wrong, that his floating brain was now hearing things. But no, she really did say Hillary. Kai's eyes widened at the realisation. Oh my god, she really is Hillary's mum. And he was getting to know of this now. 

Now he realised why she looked so familiar. He had seen her photo in the hospital lodger book when he had gone to give away the check, and she looked so much like Hillary! Okay, he understands it's the other way round, daughters looks like their mothers. Except for her eyes in Hillary's case. 

For once, he wished he had bothered to get to know her name sooner. Not that he worried about what his friends' parents taught of him, but it would have been courtesy, seeing that she had spent weeks at the hospital and had almost died because someone wanted to get back at him and his friends.

Kai heard approaching footsteps and settled back. He tried schooling his features to appear stoic. He hoped the woman in front of him could not see how stupid he felt. "Oh. Thank goodness you're awake. I was getting worried whether I should have called for some medical help." She said, handing him a hot mug of coffee. He didn't get a chance to refuse!

Kai took a long sip to relax himself. He didn't know how to start a conversation, but thankfully, Mrs Tachinbana bet him to it. "Are you feeling better now?" she asked, her voice laced with genuine concern. Kai wasn't used to that kind of treatment. He just nodded his head. She wasn't done though. "What changes would you like to make to the decor? We could paint the walls a different colour, it would be the simplest way to give this house a different feel. Or we could just redesign the study, it was what triggered you. It could be done in two days and-" 

Kai frowned at this. Why would she want to modify the decor? "It's perfect." Kai found himself say. She stopped at this. "But Kai," she started placatingly. Kai was not unmindful to not realise that she had called him by his given name for the first time, and with the gentleness a mother would show her ailing child. "This place... It reminded you of something. Something unpleasant. It triggered a panic attack off you. It would be unhealthy for you to live in such conditions, what if something worse happens the next time? Something irreversible... Something permanent?

Kai shook his head at her. He couldn't clearly remember what this reminded him of... But an hazy idea was forming in his mind. It was like remembering a scene from a movie one had seen many times, but it was years ago. Whatever the case, he knew he wanted the flat as it was. 

"Your payment." He said instead, reaching for his bag on the nightstand. He decided it was better to changed the topic now, before she got too prying. She didn't look pleased with it. "We could have this conversation another day-" she started getting up, but Kai was having none of it.  "State your sum," he encouraged. "You've done your job far beyond my expectations." He admitted. "Seventy thousand yen," she stated hesitantly. That was way less than what Kai had anticipated, but nonetheless, be took out three bundles of currency, handing it to her after removing five notes.  

Kai got up after that, his legs felt like jelly, but he didn't let it bother him. You should be more careful" she admonished him. "I know your daughter." He found himself impulsively admitting. She looked surprised at this."Hillary?" she questioned. He nodded, "The one and only. She scolds just like you do." He further added teasingly. He didn't know what had gotten into him. He felt equal parts delirious and giddy. Mrs Tachinbana exhaled shakily. She tried for a smile,"I'm sorry I didn't know. I thought she hung out with Tyson." "I'm one of Tyson's friends." He found himself saying. 

He internally shook his head, trying not to read too much into her actions. He knew he was not in the right state of mind. Instead, he extended his hand for a handshake, "Nice meeting you Mrs Tachinbana." He found himself saying, smirked lazily. She shook his hand once before letting it go, as though she was electic-shocked.

 "I'm sure you can show youself out. I'll collect the keys from your office later." He found himself saying, already halfway out, because he needed some space to come in terms with what just happened there, why it happened there. He needed time to recover back to his usual self. Unknowingly though, he had left Mrs Tachinbana in a whirlwind of her own thoughts yet again. 

******

Natasha felt like pulling her hair out in anger and frustration. How could she be so stupid, she found herself thinking all the way home. When she opened the door, she was treated with rich aromas. Amar had returned home last Wednesday and planned to stay with them for a month, unless he was pulled into an emergency before then, which was the case most of the time. 

She tried not to think of it for now, and let herself relax. She made her way to their kitchen, where she found him humming a tune preparing dinner. "Hey darling" he smiled, giving her a half hug, engulfing her in the scent of baked cookies and chocolate. "Hey" she said, "What's for dinner today?" She asked. "Miso soup and Macaroni and Cheese. I also baked some chocolate cookies. Would you like to try some?" He enquired. 

"You spoil me rotten." She complained. "How am I supposed to stay fit if you keep indulging me in special dishes every day?" She asked. He laughed at this. "We could go jogging in the morning if that's what you want." He promised. "Go and freshen up now. We could spend some time together watching the television later." He said, gently guiding her towards their bedroom. Natasha decided to take a shower instead. 

She couldn't let go of the feeling that she was the one responsible for triggering Kai's panic attack. There was no denying that she had designed the place at least. Natasha always felt guilty for not being there for her nephew. She could push it to the back of her head most days, but when she was really upset, it would come back to haunt her. 

Natalie's last wish, and she couldn't keep it. Amar may try to placate her by telling her that they had done their best, that he was still doing his best, but she just couldn't draw peace from that thought because no matter what the circumstance was, Kai was abandoned. By his father, because Elias wanted to seek justice for his brother, by his mother, because Natasha wanted to save her daughter at least, and by them too. 

The water had started cooling by then. Sighing to herself, she turned off the shower and dried herself. Amar had set the couch ready with a bowl of popcorn and freshly baked cookies. An episode of Star Trek was waiting to be played. They had been so busy with their work that they hadn't kept up with their ritual of watching Star Trek together that they now had two seasons to catch up with.

Amar went to refill their popcorn bowl after the first episode. Natasha had really tried enjoying the show, if not for herself, then at least for Amar, but she couldn't fake it anymore. Amar was yet to pick up on her mood. When Amar came back and positioned himself next to her on the couch, she quietly asked "How long have you known that he would been living in Japan?" 

Amar froze at this. He didn't need to be explained whom she was referring to. Kai's name always laid between them like a double-edged knife, damaging to both the wielder and the victim. "And more importantly, that he and Hillary were friends." She stressed on the word .

******

Words : 2045

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A/N: What do you think of Natasha? A small sneak peak into Hillary's parents' life. What do you think of it? What do you think triggered Kai?

Whose pov would you want next? What do you think happened between Mariah and Ray? Why do you think they are not on speaking terms?

Would love to hear your take in the story. Your love for the story is what keeps the it running!