The Garden

I humbly apologize for the length between updates. Aside from December being an exceedingly busy month, I got a sudden case of embarrassment about writing sex scenes. Once the embarrassment set in I forgot *how* to write them and it all got so jumbled in my head that I had to back away until the awkwardness went away. *blushes* I hope such a phase never finds me again!
The chapter is very long so I'm going to split it into two posts.
Thank you so much to those of you who have returned, and welcome to those who are new to The Garden. I hope you enjoy!

~ Ocean


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Gina offered an appreciative laugh when Emi revealed the troubles she had endured in the preparation of the small cocktail sandwiches she had brought for the church luncheon. A hand flew to her head to keep her summer’s hat from floating with the breeze, its wide brim catching the gust of wind that skipped over the picnic table and through the large common yard. The sun glistened on the humble gathering that had attended the monthly social, and the newly-acquainted friends reveled in the opportunity to get to know each other in an informal setting.

“How are you and Nobu settling in?” Gina asked, pouring her friend a cup of tea. “And how’s your niece getting along? Does she like her classes?”

Emi thanked Gina for the tea and took a sip, stirring her spoon thoughtfully in the amber liquid. “Yes, she’s getting along quite well! Thank you for helping us get her into some of your sons’ favorite classes. The other students are treating her with such kindness.” She paused in her answer when a loud, masculine shriek of astonishment pierced the air, waiting for it to pass. “Nobu’s very happy. Domino is such a peaceful community – it’s exactly what we were looking for.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” Gina took a bite of her sandwich. She was forced to stop in mid-chew and raise an eyebrow in interest when she saw her youngest son, wearing only his knee-length swimsuit, run full force in the direction of the church as he threw a large cup to his side, her eldest son in close pursuit. Considering that Atemu was wearing a t-shirt and cargo shorts, Gina was confident in assuming that he had not been a willing participant in the large water stain that was forming on his shoulders and chest, his hair falling heavily down his neck. She could hear boisterous laughter and couldn’t help the chuckle that released itself from her pink lips.

Emi was confused, but the grin on Gina’s face was contagious. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice revealing her growing humor.

“It would appear,” Gina said, forcing a sip of tea down her throat in order to calm her amusement, “that Yuugi has just completed a successful ambush on his brother.”

“I take it this happens often?” Emi asked.

Gina looked at the other woman curiously. “Why would you say that?”

“Well, the speed at which Yuugi is running and,” Emi pointed at the duo emerging from behind the church, “the speed at which Atemu found those water balloons. He looks like he was prepared.”

“So that’s what was taking him so long,” Gina muttered into her tea. It had taken her a full fifteen minutes to get her eldest son to come out of the bathroom that morning, the intermittent sounds of the faucet running causing her motherly concern for her son’s health. She should have known better than to worry. Atemu was always secretive when plotting against his younger sibling. Yuugi, in contrast, took great pride in alerting his friends, mother and grandfather to his grand schemes to, in his words, “Show my brother I’m boss,” to which Atemu would scoff. As far as Gina could tell neither side was winning the war, but it was obvious that her twins were not growing weary of the battles.

Emi saw parental pride flourish on Gina’s face while she thought about her sons, smiling herself when she let her eyes follow the antics of the two young men. She laughed softly when Atemu scored a direct hit with one of his water balloons on Yuugi’s shoulder, to which Yuugi promised immediate revenge and went off in search of his next weapon. Atemu appeared unconcerned with the threat, handing the remaining balloons to a few of the younger children and returning to his seat beside the inflatable pool.

“They’re very close, aren’t they?” Emi questioned.

Gina, embarrassed that she had allowed her attention to wander from her friend for so long, was eager to answer. “Oh yes! Thick as thieves. Always have been. Even when they fought as children they’d more often than not make up that night and be best friends again come morning.”

“Do they ever grow tired of each other?”

“Sometimes,” Gina conceded. “But not usually. I think ‘baffled’ is a better word for it. As close as they are, there are just some things they don’t understand about each other.”

“Really?” Emi pushed her hair out of her eyes only to have the wind blind her again. The gust blew a rogue pair of leaves over the table and onto her sandwiches and both women quickly reached forward to save the food. “I would think them being twins would make them know everything about each other.”

“They may be twins, but they’re still their own people.” Gina tossed one of the leaves onto the ground and reclaimed her teacup. “Yuugi is stubbornly persistent at times, and Atemu… well, he obstinately refuses to answer questions sometimes. We don’t know why. It must have been something he learned from his father. Anyway, you can imagine some of the conversations they try to have!” She laughed.

“Goodness,” Emi agreed. “If that’s true, then it’s amazing they communicate at all.”

“It leads to some interesting arguments, I can tell you that much,” Gina said, unsuccessfully trying to hide her enjoyment of her sons’ attempts to understand each other behind polite conversation.

“All children fight, right? It’s what I’ve heard from my friends who have kids. It scares me a little. I’m not good with confrontations.” Emi reached for a sandwich and held it to her lips, nibbling on the crust. She knew it was her duty to have children now that she was married; it was God’s will that she and her husband procreate. And she dearly wanted children. But sometimes she found her faith wavering in her capability to raise them well. Nobu’s insistence that they start a family immediately didn’t help her self-esteem.

Gina leaned around the table and placed her hand reassuringly on Emi’s knee. She thought she recognized the worry pulling on the other woman’s features. “What’s wrong, dear?”

Emi sighed. “How do you do it?” Gaining confidence with Gina’s encouraging nod she continued, “How do you raise them right?”

Gina settled back into her seat. “You mean how did I raise them as good little Christian boys?”

“Yes,” Emi said. She sighed, aggravated by her own nerves. “It’s not like there’s a handbook for me to follow.” Gina narrowed her eyes in question and Emi blushed, realizing how her words must have sounded. “No, wait! That’s not what I meant!”

Gina chuckled. “You’re among friends here. I know what you meant. Besides, we all know that the Bible can be a little… ambiguous at times. That’s one of the reasons we come to church, to discuss and learn.”

Emi was surprised and she let it show. “Goodness, Gina. I… well, I must admit I never thought you would have been one to question God’s words.”

“Mm,” Gina said after taking a sip of her tea. “It’s Yuugi.”

“Really? Your youngest?” Emi turned reflexively to catch a glimpse of the young man in question. Her eyes found him behind a tree that, she noticed, once taking in the whole scene, provided him perfect cover while allowing him to line up his next attack against his brother. “You allow - I mean, does Yuugi not believe?”

Gina smirked into her teacup, used to such reactions about her sons. “You misinterpret him. Yuugi believes in God as much as you or I do. He just has his own way of showing it.”

“Such as?” Emi was fascinated. Such liberal acceptance was an unusual notion for her. Both she and her husband had been raised in strict families. Freedom to explore her preference of practice was something that would never have been allowed, even if she had had the notion to try a different path of expression.

“Yuugi likes to question. He always has. He was on the debate team you know, before he graduated. He’s a thinker, and thinkers ask questions. He just can’t help himself. He doesn’t believe anything at face value.” Gina gestured to the side towards her sons. “Most of it’s just attention seeking action, really, directed at Atemu. Yuugi adores his brother and is a little greedy when it comes to wanting to be the center of his attention.”

“Is that true?” Emi was taken aback that Gina would accuse her son of greed.

“Oh sure,” Gina said easily, not reacting when Atemu shouted in indignation when Yuugi unleashed his assault with his newly acquired water gun. “If you hadn’t noticed, Atemu does have the tendency to be withdrawn. He doesn’t mean anything by it. It’s just who he is – very laid back and passive. He’s just like his uncle in that regard.” She nodded to herself. “It can be quite frustrating sometimes. I understand Yuugi’s actions completely.”

Amazed, Emi too was able to ignore the raucous laughter of the other children as Atemu was provided with his own water gun by a loyal friend and the twins launched absurd taunts, recruiting allies against the other sibling. “Is it okay for Yuugi to ask so many questions? Oh! I don’t mean to be rude, it’s just-”

“It’s alright Emi,” Gina said. “I admit I was a little uneasy at first with Yuugi’s unique viewpoints. I mean, Atemu took to the teachings so well that I just assumed Yuugi would too, or at the very least follow Atemu into the church. But once I realized that Yuugi was asking our priest his questions simply for clarification, not to discredit anything, it didn’t bother me anymore.”

“I think I see.” Emi pushed her dishes to the side and folded her arms on the table. “I’m obviously not ready to have children,” she groaned.

“No one ever is until they’re forced to be, and even then it’s a shot in the dark,” Gina grinned.

“What’s it like having twins?” Emi asked in an attempt to lift her spirits. “Twice the fun or twice the trouble?”

“Emi, there aren’t enough hours in the day to answer that question. Not with my sons.” Both women laughed heartily. “Seriously, though, I can’t imagine life without either of them. When my husband passed away it was very difficult for me. My boys stepped in and did everything for me. Yuugi made the funeral arrangements and notified friends and family while Atemu took care of the house – you know, paying bills and doing the chores, looking after me and dad, stuff like that.”

“Wow,” Emi breathed.

“Yeah,” Gina said, her eyes downcast with the memories. She shook herself lightly and offered Emi a small smile. “I knew I wanted children, but I never understood how much I would love them. You’ll find that one day too.”

“I hope so,” Emi said.

“You will.”

“Not fair Atemu!”

Gina and Emi turned at the sudden outburst. Apparently Atemu had not been satisfied with the volume of water that his gun provided and had abandoned the weapon in favor of a most convenient garden hose. Once again, Gina’s laughter was infectious and Emi joined in the good humor. Tears formed in both pairs of eyes while Yuugi was thoroughly drenched by the frigid hose water, having been knocked off his feet in surprise. Atemu stood above him, smirking triumphantly and waving the hose lazily as though he were watering a flower bed instead of soaking his brother. Eventually Yuugi surrendered and was freed from the teeth-chattering water spray, rising from the ground and stomping off in search of a towel. Atemu waved cheerfully at his mother when he noticed her watching him.

“H-how often does that happen?” Emi asked once she caught her breath, her sides aching from laughter.

“What?” Gina raised her hand to her face and pressed her knuckle beneath her eye in an effort to keep the tears from falling.

“Yuugi starting a fight and Atemu winning?”

“More often than Yuugi can stand.”

“My goodness.” Having regained some control Emi straightened her dress before taking hold of the teapot and refilling Gina’s cup. “It’s a good thing those two aren’t seriously trying to get into trouble. I think they’d be too good at it.”

“Not to worry,” Gina said after thanking Emi. She raised her nose and her cup into the air and, in as haughty a voice as she was able to muster, said, “I’ve raised proper, God-fearing Christian boys.”

“So I’ve seen. Another sandwich?”

“Please!”

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