This is Forever
A/N: Oh yeah baby, I'm not done with these two awkward lovebirds yet. If you followed me here from my first story, thank you for your dedication! I hope you enjoy this continuation and as always continue to review (I know, shameless plug).
So, they've weathered high school together. But now everyone is doing their own thing, away from the mansion. Can their relationships stretch the distance and responsibilities or will growing up be the end to the fairytale?
This year was also my first in University and away from home, all the way across the continent for that matter. I've certainly changed from who I was and grown (I hope) from the experiences I've had. Unfortunately, no significant other yet...actually, not a single date but who cares? I'm too busy trying to finish my readings and write in my spare time :) Let me just offer a piece of advice: unless you want the potential headache of moving THREE freakin times in one year, live in residence for your first year. Trust me, I know from personal agony, it's much simpler that way.
It's sunny out again, Sunako thought to herself. She sat perched on the long cushion of the breakfast nook her aunt had insisted on building in the attic bedroom. Since the attic room faced the front of the mansion, Auntie said it was perfect for a floor to ceiling window. Last year, Auntie followed through with her threat and hired the architects while Sunako was at cram school getting ready for University entrance exams. Even though she wasn't deathly allergic to sunlight anymore, it still took a lot of operant conditioning for Sunako to get used to waking up to an open sky every day. But here she was, two years past, finally living life to its fullest. She had Noi and some new girlfriends from her psychology classes, they went out to clubs sometimes and she even subjected herself to shopping excursions. Sunako would never be a social butterfly, but she was no longer agoraphobic. She still craved the nights and days spent alone with her growing horror collection, with nothing but her own thoughts.
The university had just let out for summer break and the boys were finally coming home. Sunako shook her head; they weren't really boys anymore, if they could ever have been called such. Sometimes, she thought her four former roommates where born fully grown, oozing charm and sexuality. Okay, enough. She needed to start on the food prep or there would be nothing for tonight's dinner. Sunako had to remind herself earlier to buy enough to feed an army, because he alone was a bottomless pit and there would be nothing at her table if she shopped for the normal amounts.
The morning had been dedicated to the marketplace, selecting the best meats and seafood and haggling over the fresh vegetables. Sunako bought extra shrimp, remembering how he loved her ebi tempura. After coming home and storing her purchases, her afternoon was spent cleaning the mansion in a flurry of duster mops and vacuum noise. It'd been so long since the rooms had been in use that Sunako had to air everything out and retrieve the bed sheets and blankets from the cupboards. It felt like that first day in grade ten all over again, only this time, she was anticipating their arrival. She admitted to herself that she missed them all; the last time everyone had been together was last summer. Takenaga had took Noi to Hawaii last Christmas, before University semester started and Ranmaru had been on a round the world cruise with his fiancé, Tamao. It had only been the three of them and Auntie then, and that was fine. But now, everyone was finally coming home to her.
God, she sounded like someone's hundred year-old grandmother on her death bed. Sunako mentally slapped herself from the melancholy thoughts as she made her way down to the kitchen. Oba-san wouldn't be here this time as she was on another one of her husband searches, this time in Saudi Arabia. Sunako didn't think her aunt needed any more money, but an oil baron in the family would definitely help with her fuel costs. Sunako took out the vegetables and started chopping and dicing them to the appropriate dimensions needed for her dishes. She hummed to herself absentmindedly, wondering what time Noi was going to arrive. Last night, on the phone, Noi had said she'd get here in time to get with the prep. But it was four already and no dazzling brunette in sight. Maybe Takenaga caught an early flight and went over there first. Sunako smirked at the thought, she would definitely be checking for hickeys tonight when they got ready for bed. Noi was currently living in the university dorms because she said her parents were getting to smothering. Sunako had offered a room in her home but Noi wanted the social life only residence could provide. If it had been anyone else, Sunako would've suspected the girl wanted to find a boy toy. But this was Kasahara Noi in question here, and she'd be dead before she cheated on her "perfect guy" Oda Takenaga. If anyone could've made distance relationships work, it was those two.
Yuuki at least was still in the city limits, going to the Tokyo Institute of Technology and enrolled in computer graphics and design. Takenaga chose to follow his family traditions and had spent the year after graduation travelling Japan apprenticing with various famous flower arrangers. It had been a bit dicey at first when Noi got wind of the beauties in the industry; luckily she was easily placated by nightly phone calls. Ranmaru and Kyohei were both in the Osaka region. The playboy had chosen to study international relations at Osaka U while Kyohei was in Keio's Osaka campus, taking business courses. He'd chosen the Osaka campus because it gave him the biggest funding with the martial arts scholarship. Sunako hadn't wanted him to stay in Tokyo just for the sake of closeness. Thinking back on their high school career, Sunako really couldn't have imagined the paths they chose to walk today. It was too different, but it suited.
Ding Ling DONG! The chime-like doorbell echoed through the halls, drawing Sunako away from the meat cutlets she'd been arranging for the hot pot platter. As she poked her head around the open kitchen wall, Sunako was unsurprised to see two hazy figures standing behind the frosted front door window. Obviously her guess had been correct and Takenaga arrived home early enough to have a little rendezvous.
"It's open, come in!" Sunako projected her voice, assured that her friends would get the message. When had she ever needed to lock the door? There was ample security set up on the grounds and even if an intruder managed to get in, they soon enough wished they hadn't.
After hearing the unmistakable sound of the door opening and shutting, she went back to finish off slicing seafood and sashimi, happy that everything was finally coming together. Sunako might not like to be around people much, but she was the consummate hostess and loved to cook for others. These holidays were the few times she could relax and entertain.
"We brought wine Suna-chaan!" Noi's chirpy voice grew as she neared the kitchen.
Sunako put down her knife and rushed to the sink to wash her hands, turning just in time to be enveloped in a bear hug from her best girl friend. It didn't matter that she saw Noi almost every day, the other woman was always enthusiastic with her greetings. Sunako wheezed slightly from the impact and shifted to look over Noi's head at the tall, dark haired man standing behind.
"Noi, let go. Can't breathe." Sunako gently pried the brunette off her. Takenaga come forward with the same effortless elegance that Sunako always found awe-inspiring and leaned in to kiss her cheek. There was no helping it, even after all that exposure and training, Sunako could never stop the reflexive flushing whenever a good-looking male came so close. At least, she didn't bleed or faint anymore. Usually.
"Welcome home." Sunako bowed slightly to the man.
"Good to be home." Takenaga raised one hand, which held three square bags. They had either bought some gifts or that was a hell lot of wine.
She waved to the island in the middle of the kitchen. "Put the wine down and tell me about your travels. Noi, I can't believe you ditched me for a man."
Sunako shot her friend an evil smile, promising much interrogation, "Now come help me arrange the sashimi you two. I'm almost done here." She wouldn't start cooking most of the hot dishes until everyone arrived, although the nabe stock had been simmering all afternoon.
They worked in a calm assembly line, Sunako cut and sliced, handed it off to Takenaga who arranged it on the black china platters before giving it to Noi to put with the other dishes of sushi. After that was done, they took up spots in the living room with cups of tea. It wasn't long before the front door banged open again and footsteps were heard pounding down the hall. Excited chatter interrupted Takenaga's latest recounting of his run-ins with female proprietresses. And before Sunako could so much as get up, a heavy, distinctly male body collided with hers, pushing her into the armchair.
"Sunako-chan!" Toyama Yukinojo was not nicknamed the energizer bunny for no reason. Given enough sugar, he would keep going and going and going. "I've missed you!" Given that it was Yuki, Sunako counted to ten before doing anything.
"Okay, personal space Yuki-kun. Remember?" Sunako patted his back awkwardly and pushed slightly at his shoulder. Yuki got the message and eased off, taking a cross-legged position looking up at her from the carpet. The guys all knew, instinctively by now, how far they could push her so she was no longer so twitchy.
"How have you been Suna-chan? Did you miss me? Sorry I couldn't come visit more often, the design classes have killer deadlines." Yuuki would've continued his monologue if another presence hadn't cut in.
"Sunako, darling, did you miss me this Christmas? I thought of you the whole time I was cruising." Oh, he was smooth, both in his actions and tone. Ranmaru had taken the distraction and perched his butt on the arm of Sunako's chair, draping himself across the back.
The raven-haired girl turned her head around and stared straight in Ranmaru's golden eyes. "You were probably too busy making use of the mistletoe, and I don't suppose you did a lot of thinking with your head. How many wives did you catch?" His face was inches away so she brought up a hand and pushed it away. Meanwhile, Takenaga had gotten caught up in Yuki's description of his painting classes. And they fell into the easy chatter of long time friends.
Sunako looked at the clock, it was past six already. Where was he? She needed to start cooking soon or the vegetables would wilt.
"He told me to tell you can start cooking whenever," Ranmaru informed her, as if reading her thought, "Said he'd be here in time."
Yuki caught Maru's words and piped up, "I'm hungry, I won't last if we have to wait for him."
Those puppy eyes could make her jump off the Tokyo Tower. Sunako rose from her spot and looked down at her clothes. "Oh well, I guess it's kinda late to change to something nice. Why don't you guys start with the miso soup and sashimi I have ready while I finish the other dishes."
Now that she actually looked at the group, Sunako realized everyone was wearing nice clothes while she was still in the skinny jeans and baggy man's shirt she'd worn while cleaning. It couldn't be helped; fashion was just not high on her priority list. Noi should be thankful she only dressed in her old gothic gowns a couple of times a week now.
Everyone obediently got up and filed into the kitchen, each taking a platter or bowls for the table. Sunako had done the place settings in advance so the utensils and glasses were already there. Ranmaru peering into the bags Takenaga had brought and pulled out a bottle of white wine.
"Sunako-chan, do you want a glass while you're cooking or should we save you one?" He had a bottle opener in one hand and was already pulling out the cork.
"Nah, I'll pass on this bottle, Takenaga brought too much anyways." Sunako shooed the coffee haired man into the adjoining dining room and leaned over the large window that separated the two spaces. "Try not to stuff yourselves yet, I've got tempura and stir-fries coming up and there's nabe after that." A unanimous cheer resonated from her audience as they tucked in to her appetizers.
Sunako returned to the stove and quickly fired up her wok. Within the next few minutes the vegetables and noodles were done, the rice had cooked through and Sunako had brought most of the dishes to the table. She glanced at the clock again, slightly worried now. Six thirty-seven. Where was he? She couldn't start the tempura until he was home but she also couldn't drag it out much longer. And—
"Getting hungry waiting for me?" The smooth baritone voice she had been missing brushed across her nape. Sunako involuntarily shivered, she had pinned her hair up in a loose knot while she was cooking and that had left her neck bare. Finally. He was back. Kyohei was home.
Strong arms came around her waist and brought her back flush against a lean, well-muscled body. It was a different kind of flustered that Sunako now felt. Butterfly wings sprouted from her stomach and a tingling sensation spread from her hip where his fingers pressed. Sunako relaxed her spine and let the man move them to side of the kitchen, away from the view of the others. This was something she didn't think she would ever get over in her lifetime. He was something she would never get over.
"O-kaeri nasai." She whispered.
"Tadaima."
A/N: Can anyone tell me why the editing thing is so screwed up? I kept losing parts and getting random passages italicized!!! Help!!!
PS: REVIEW! Suggestions or wicked ideas are always welcome, and don't hesitate to point out anomalies or errors :)