Chapter Text
Kingdom of Science (Ishigami Village)
“Senkuu!”
Oh. That was Chrome’s voice. “Here.”
Chrome immediately came over, like he was on a mission. “What do you think you are doing?”
“Unassembling another part of a time machine that’ll never work,” Senkuu said. “Gotta strip it for parts.”
“Not that,” Chrome complained. “Luna. Did you really say at some party last night that you wanted to have Luna’s kids?”
Ah. Word got around fast. “Yeah, I did.”
“Luna. The odd woman that essentially was supposed to point to kill you, and ended up saving you if you’d be her boyfriend?” Chrome asked. “Why?”
“She wants a kid.” Senkuu grabbed a wrench. “I think having a kid is a good idea for me too. The compatible timing works.”
“And it had nothing to do with the fact Dr. Xenos also recommended it for himself?”
Wow, Chrome was full of knowledge today. “If you get everything, then why ask?”
“What about . . . I don’t know, Kohaku?”
Kohaku? He watched as Kohaku also came into the room. Busy day. “Are you wanting a kid too?”
“What? No!” She sounded offended.
Well, that was the end of that conversation. Senkuu went back over with the wrench.
“Senkuu, trust me. Pull yourself away from that decision. Just, let Xenos have her,” Chrome said. “Xenos didn’t even say in vitro in front of everyone, he was talking about a real relationship.”
“Which isn’t what she needs,” Senkuu said. “I can’t tell you more, but what Xenos wants isn’t good for her. My idea works.”
“Senkuu, this is incredibly stupid!” Kohaku was really hot under the collar. “You can’t just. You don’t just promise yourself to someone else like that for a future kid! I mean, why her? Why pick someone like her to start a family with?”
“It’s convenient.” He already said that. “It’s mutually beneficial.”
“Having a kid to raise is hard work, not mutually beneficial,” Chrome disagreed. “If you want kids, you should be looking for someone-”
“Someone that doesn’t leave,” Kohaku said. “Someone you’ve always trusted. But not like, you don’t just walk up and be like ‘baby please’ to her.”
“Yeah, I get it. That method didn’t work as well last night,” Senkuu agreed. “More subtle.”
“That’s not what I meant.” Kohaku folded her arms. “Children are the very last step. Before that is marriage, and even that isn’t right away. You have to get to know each other. Go on outings. Spend years knowing each other.”
“Well, science devised a cheat so I can skip all that.” He put the wrench down and picked up another one. That one? Not that one.
“Luna wanted a boyfriend, Senkuu. You get involved with her through a kid, and she is going to try and pull you down,” Chrome said. “I know she isn’t an evil person, but having a baby means she is going to want to get closer to you.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be boyfriend again.” Senkuu picked up another wrench. Not that one either. Did it fall?
“It’s not the same. Last time, it was for a reason, to get Corn City on our side,” Chrome pointed out. “You didn’t even have to do anything.”
“You do this stupid move, and it won’t be fake, she’ll expect stuff!” Kohaku yelled.
Man, Kohaku was extra mad. Senkuu was looking for the right wrench. There it was, it did fall.
“Unless you plan on doing kissing and hugging and other stuff, you need to knock off this deal, Senkuu!” Kohaku demanded. “Walk right up to her in her cozy little family mansion place, and tell her to shove it!”
Senkuu picked up the wrench. “I’m the one who made the deal, so what would she be shoving exactly?” Her anger was extreme. Her fighting spirit was usually angry, but she was way more angry today.
“Why her?” Kohaku asked.
He already answered that.
“Is it because she’s super smart? She’s okay in the smarts, but she’s not a genius,” Kohaku said.
“I’ve never run any test on her,” Senkuu answered. “I never bothered running tests on myself either.”
“You’re a super genius, Senkuu. You don’t need a test,” she answered.
“It’s more than just some genius gene anyhow, it’s about learning. Look how far the Kingdom of Science came with all it’s endeavors. We’ve built up a long way since Senkuu Cola.” More than just him.
“Oh. That’s true.” Kohaku smiled. “We have built up a lot.”
“Her family is full of geniuses that made things that changed the history of production,” Chrome said. “Your chances are much higher with her to have a smart kid than with just one random smart woman.”
“That doesn’t matter much though, does it?” Kohaku asked.
“Scientifically speaking, it’s why Xenos had designs on her,” Senkuu admitted. “Smart people that keep smart family lines typically create higher than above average children.” It wasn’t why he chose her though.
Maybe he should have said the ‘it wasn’t why he chose her’ part out loud as he heard Kohaku furiously leave out the doors. Better late than never. “It’s not why I chose her, Chrome. That’s why Xenos chose her.”
“But you piggybacked off of him,” Chrome pointed out. “Why?”
Damn. “I can’t tell you why exactly. Just that Luna Wright isn’t what everyone expects.”
“Sennnnnkuuuuu!”
Taiju. Of course. Who else barreled into a place like that. “Yeah?”
“Are you having a baby?!”
“Not yet. I haven’t gotten her to accept the proposal yet.”
“You proposed too?!”
“Not that kind of proposal, Big Oaf.”
“But I didn’t even know you were still dating!”
“We aren’t.”
“But you are going to have a baby?”
“He’s going to have a baby scientifically,” Chrome told Taiju. “No touching.”
“Uh? Why?” Taiju scratched his head. “I don’t get it.”
“Senkuu wants to be a dad,” Chrome said to him. “She wants a kid. He thinks it’s a good match.”
“But if you do have a baby, your basically in a relationship. Aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I become boyfriend again.”
“Nothing’s in writing,” Chrome said to Senkuu. “You should really think about this, Senkuu. You spent years with Kohaku right next to you.”
What? "Why do you keep saying that?" Senkuu's question was avoided.
“Kohaku was loyal. Always ready to fight for the kingdom. Luna was . . . what?”
“Friday noodles,” Senkuu said. If Chrome wasn't going to explain, he'd figure it out later. Until then, his decision stood. “I am the last Ishigami. Luna Wright wants a baby. I want to move on with something new, and dismantle this already.” He wanted to start using different parts for different experiments. Different things. Different possibilities. “The past can’t come back. I’m looking toward the future.” And since he was metaphorically getting beaten up, he would take a small break.
To advanced his chances for that future.
It was nice having her family back in her life after the petrification. Seeing her mom and dad after all those years? It was great. But.
That meant her mad scientist sister was back too. She loved her sister. But-
Someone knocked on the door.
“Wait and check the camera.”
“I don’t have a camera,” Luna said.
“Stupid. Get a camera system, who knows who is sneaking onto your property.” Her sister went to the door and looked out. “You know a guy with spiky, freaky green and white hair?”
Senkuu. “Yes.” Luna answered her door, not surprised at the guest, but what he had. “Senkuu?” With noodles. “Its not Friday.” She smiled and took the bowl. “More options now.” But. He kept them the same. Stone World noodles.
“Its been more than 15 minutes,” Senkuu told her.
Clever man. “Its been hours since last night. Did you have any trouble finding my place?”
“It wasn't hard. Xenos dug up a lot on you. Starting with key words. I don't think he knew everything about you during Corn City,” Senkuu told her. “I wouldn't be surprised if he was already making plans when that guy Lenny was playing lets share all the secrets and then get my ass beat.”
Then, her sister came to the door. “Senkuu?”
“Yeah,” he greeted her. “You must be-”
“You’re the one who wants in vitro, what’s your deal, everyone wants fucking sex. Men are all about sex! Are you asexual or something?”
Oh, god! Luna winced on instinct from that.
“Uuh, hello to you too?”
“Or are you up to something to hit that?” Her sister said. “I can’t tell. Luna isn’t the brightest in the family line, so if you are trying to take advantage of her dumbness by pretending to be all noble? You are going to find something highly interesting happening to you from your everyday accessories you would never dream of checking.”
Ugh! “That is Senkuu, he’s one of the scientists that saved us from the Stone World!”
“Basic mechanics once you figure out the nitric acid.” Her sister wasn’t impressed. “He’s not dumb I guess to do that.” She leered at him.
Senkuu took a step back. “You must be Yukari Wright.”
She brushed right past him and left.
Senkuu had a weird expression on his face. “That just happened.”
“She’s . . . sticky,” Luna apologized. She picked her noodles back up. “These are really good. Something about the original ones, the other ones just can’t replace.”
“All natural ingredients,” he said. “Earliest recipe. Used it the first time before the Kingdom of Science was established.”
Oh, but speaking of which. Dr. Xenos was coming toward her place too. Thank goodness Yukari was gone now. “Hello.”
“Hello, Luna.” Dr. Xeno looked toward Senkuu. “Senkuu.”
“Xenos,” Senkuu said to him.
Neither of them were fighting. Nice and proper. Brilliant men were so her type.
Senkuu. First perfect boyfriend. He wasn’t going to make her confront anything. He was fine with in vitro.
Doctor Xenos. Someone she had known for some time. Xenos was interested in her because he wanted children before he got too old to teach them. Xenos wanted a relationship though.
Both wanted to raise her children. She hated challenges over her, but both of them were being . . . so polite! Just at the door. Calm. Composed. Not biting at each other with words at all. “Carlos and Max don't like the ideas.”
“Luna, the elegant decision is yours and yours alone,” Dr. Xenos said.
“Carlos and Max should each fall in a wood chipper.” Senkuu’s reaction was much less refined.
She couldn't blame him. He knew their flaws. What happened. What she was using them for now. Senkuu knew her secrets. He really was . . . perfect, but she didn’t know about how he got along with Carlos and Max! And she needed them! Especially with Yukari back. “Carlos and Max go with me to most places.”
“I don't mind who you want to accompany you,” Dr. Xeno said politely.
She looked toward Senkuu.
“One problem at a time. We can iron out the small things as time goes by. A bigger one is, will you move closer to the Kingdom of Science again?”
“Oh of course, good point,” Doctor Xenos said. “That would be a more elegant decision. I would see you and the children more often if you came closer to the new NASA. If you agreed, I could find you a hospital to relocate to, if you wished. Or help you with relocating homes if you wish not to continue working. All your choice.”
Still so sweet. They were both going to be great. Except? That she did have to more intimate. But. She still needed to practice that. Therapy was good for her. She had even maintained a boyfriend for a little while with hugging and kissing. She was getting really good at that.
The challenge part was the more part. If she was able to start working with Max. “Can I have more time, like six months maybe?”
“Of course,” Xenos said.
“No.” Senkuu said firmly. “Ten billion percent no. No Max, Luna Wright.”
Damn! She moved to set her noodles down. Senkuu knew. He knew everything. “I need time. You should leave.”
“As you wish.” Dr. Xeno nodded. “Please don't be a stranger.”
Dr. Xeno was leaving.
Senkuu didn't move. “You’re still eating your noodles.”
“I am not hungry right now.”
“Don't do it. If I think you tried it, I will spill your secret, Luna.”
What? “You wouldn't!”
“I would,” he disagreed. “I'll play dirty if it keeps you from hurting yourself. Making out. Kissing. Hugging. Even groping, its harmless. Max will not be.”
“Max can be gentle.”
“Not what I meant. You want to know if you pick me, what happens to Carlos and Max.”
He couldn’t say much in front of Dr. Xenos. “What happens?”
“Max stays bodyguard. Carlos stays driver. If I know you are screwing around on your boyfriend, which is me again, then I will have to do something about them.”
Boyfriend?
“I told you before at NASA. I make split second decisions all the time. It doesn't mean I break them. When I say I am going to do something, only certain laws of physics can stop me. So, I'll say it again, and I will add something that I couldn’t say in my speech. I want to have a baby, with you, via in vitro. And. I am replacing Carlos.”
He couldn't mean that. “His driving.”
“I promised to be your boyfriend. I don't recall ever breaking up with you.”
Oh, he couldn't play that card. “You never came over for noodles again.”
“I was busy. Live far away. I came over today.”
“Kohaku said the pretending was done.”
“Kohaku isn't me.”
“You are just looking for an excuse, Senkuu. I am not that dumb.” Then?
Senkuu took her hand. He was holding her hand?! He never held her hand. He was actually looking her in the eyes, his whole focus on her.
. . . And then he spoke. “Alright fine, I am terrible at romance, Luna, you know I have the better deal, you can’t handle Xenos, you can't handle Max, and I will deal with issues when they come up.”
She would give him some credit. In that whole mess, he still never tried to steal a touch under false pretenses. Still never tried to undress her with his eyes.
He was still her boyfriend, Senkuu. Complete with noodles, and he just wanted a baby so his family went on.
“Will you come back to the Kingdom of Science with me? I will share more noodles?”
“Are you okay, Luna?” Max had just realized who she was talking to at the door. But, he had checked a little too late.
Luna was gone with only a note, scrawled in handwriting that wasn't hers.
Kingdom of Science.