vulnerable.
“Why can’t I? It’s my duty to inform them of something this big. Actually, it’s Uncle’s duty once you tell him.” His expression changed to a knowing one. “Unless you’ve decided not to tell him. That’s also an option. If this little secret stays between us, I see no reason to tell the family.”
“You… you said you want your body back.”
“And I’ll get it, but I’m patient. I’ve already laid low for six months. I can be convinced to wait a little longer.” He loosened his grip on her towel and then tugged at it.
Lulu tightened her hold, keeping him from pulling it open. “You’re not serious?”
“Oh, yes I am. You were better than I ever imagined, and there’s so much more fun we can have in the water. I’m willing to put off getting my body back to explore all the possibilities of my power.”
“Fuck you, you bastard. I hate you. You tried to kill me.” She clutched the shoulder where Masato had shot her. “Even if I didn’t hate you, I still wouldn’t do it.”
“You were fucking up my life, you little bitch. How did you think I would react? I got desperate and used the options open to me at the time. Failing wasn’t one of them. The family doesn’t forgive. I would have been as good as dead if I had let you free Uncle.”
“You were the head of the family.”
“A puppet king in a cardboard kingdom. Every Mizuno knows the real power belongs to my brother, not me. Atsuji is in Japan while I’m exiled to the US. He’s supposed to be my second, but he’s really the power behind the throne. I had to beg him to send that priest that fucked me over. If I didn’t know any better, I would think Atsuji did this shit on purpose to get rid of me.”
“And you think he’ll put you back in your body and Hotsuma in his prison if you tell him you’re awake.” She shook her head in a pitying gesture. “If anyone shouldn’t want people to know the truth, it’s you.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, sweetheart. If putting me back in my body forces Uncle out, they’ll do it in a heartbeat. The family is desperate. I’ve heard the talk Uncle refuses to acknowledge. Hotsuma is mortal. The same issue that plagued us before is back again. If he dies, his powers die with him.” He gestured to her. “Unless you pop out a kid that turns out to be an ageman . But I’m betting that won’t be possible since you’re a nullifier.”
She hadn’t thought of that. Why hadn’t she thought of that? History was bound to repeat itself now that Hotsuma inhabited a mortal form once more.
“And that’s assuming he can even get you pregnant. He may be in my body, but I’m thinking the spell that switched us might have fucked up the plumbing because you two have been going at it multiple times a day sans condoms for the last four months with no results.”
Her hand went from her shoulder to her belly. She hated hearing Masato voice a worry she’d had hours before. It upset and angered her at the same time.
“How long do you think the family will wait before they start tossing spiritually powerful Japanese women in Uncle’s direction so he can try to impregnate them? Sure, it didn’t work before, but times change. It might actually take this time. And Uncle is very duty bound. He’ll feel obligated to fuck each one of those beauties -- I’m sure there will be many, and they will be gorgeous since no one wants an ugly kid -- just to satisfy the family so they don’t lash out at you.”
Lulu wanted to cover her ears. She wanted to block out Masato’s words but the truth wouldn’t be denied. The family didn’t like her. They made no secret of that. If she didn’t get pregnant, or if that child wasn’t an ageman , they might try to imprison Hotsuma again or worse.
Masato said, “If one of those women does what you can’t, a divorce will follow soon after. You won’t get a cent. And then, of course, there’s what’ll happen to Voda.”
“What about Voda?