Disclaimer: Once again I don't own any of the characters, so no suing…
REPLACEMENT
"So how have you been Tara," Kim asked me with a relaxed smile before she took a sip of the tea that it had taken me hours to prepare. Ever since moving in with Yori I have tried my best to do my part around the house. It had taken me almost a week to find someone that knew enough English to translate the recipe.
"I'm okay Kim, it took a little getting used to but the people at Yamanuchi have been nothing but nice to me," I answer honestly with a very relieved smile as I carefully pour Ron some tea as well, even though I'm sure that he'll act like he likes it but I know that he's only doing it so that he doesn't hurt my feelings. Ever since their wedding, that Yori and I unfortunately had to miss due to Sensei wanting to check and see if we were meant to be, I cried openly when Sensei had given us his blessing and placed his hands on the bottom and top of our hands as he clasped them together. Yori had taken me into her arms and held me tightly until my tears had stopped.
"See KP I told ya, everybody at Yamanuchi's real nice and would treat Tara like family," Ron exclaimed triumphantly with a huge grin and a fist pump into the air. I can't help but giggle at his enthusiasm and am greatly relieved when I see a small smile cross my beloved's lips.
"Ron-san is correct, everyone at Yamanuchi has been very welcoming to Tara-kun, there is no reason for you to worry about her," Yori said softly, finally speaking up after staying silent for awhile, before going silent again as she took a sip of her tea. I wait breathlessly for a few seconds hoping that she likes the tea. The smile and slight nod of her head that comes a few seconds later very nearly brings me to tears again. I only manage to keep the tears from flowing freely again because Kim speaks up in that tone of voice that she used to use back in high school when she thought that Ron had said or done something that she considered out of bounds or odd.
"That's not what I meant Ron, I never doubted that the people here at Yamanuchi would treat Tara well…I was just afraid that Tara would have a hard time adjusting to Yamanuchi," Kim impatiently replied with a slightly stern scowl towards Ron who looked totally confused, before Yori cuts in looking very certain and serious.
"I would not have brought Tara-kun anywhere where she would be in any danger, she means to much to me…as much as Ron means to you," Yori explained with a slight nod of her head before she raised an eyebrow at the odd look of subtle surprise that she was getting from Kim.
"After graduation when everybody went their separate ways I was lonely, you and Ron were off in Europe somewhere so I spent most of my days wandering around the mall…I bumped into Yori there one day and," I try to say in an attempt to help Kim understand our relationship a little better before to my surprise Yori spoke up again.
"I was looking for supplies for my next assignment when I ran into her," Yori went on to say with a very matter of fact tone of voice and look on her face as if she were giving the weather report. I couldn't help but butt in at that point.
"I guess she took pity on me, the only thing that I could think to do was take her to Bueno Nacho," I point out with a slightly guilty smile before I look over to Ron and can't help but blush.
"Ah…Bueno Nacho…Tara, you're a woman after my own heart…er stomach," Ron said to me with that goofy grin of his before Kim surprises everyone.
"Yeah, come to think of it Tara and Ron are a lot alike, kinda scary if you think about it," Kim pointed out with an odd look before she covered it up by taking another sip of her tea.
"Wrong-sick," Yori then asked with that total look of innocence on her face that only she can wear before she stopped, her cup of tea halfway up to her mouth, and looked around at the three of us not sure of what to do next. I can't help but smile as she looks so cute like this, almost good enough to kiss whether it embarrasses Kim and Ron or not.
"It's okay Yori, why don't you tell us how you and Tara fell in love," Kim asked with a slightly to cheery smile as it was clear, even to me, that she was trying to change the subject as quickly as possible.
"Do you really wanna know Kim, I mean it's not that big of a deal…really," I try to say in an attempt to laugh away my sky high nerves at that moment, before as usual Yori's simple touch calms me down instantly as she laid her hand on my arm.
"Do not sell yourself short my beautiful butterfly, the story is one that I hope to tell for years to come," Yori tells me with a very loving and serious look in her eyes as she makes sure that she had my full and undivided attention, her hand still on my arm sending lightning like shivers up my spine and out into my arms and legs.
"Okay…I guess, if you think I should," I manage to stammer out before I lean forward and am rewarded with a kiss from those blissfully soft and gentle lips of hers. When I lean back I catch Ron grinning through a deep blush while Kim looks like she's using all of that legendary will to keep herself from showing her true feelings.
"Tara-kun and I talked for what felt like minutes but was actually hours, I have never known someone that was so easy to talk to," Yori began after a deep breath as she sits back a bit, looking like she's quite comfortable, before Ron cut in.
"Wow…I've never had a conversation with you last more than a couple of minutes," Ron declared with a very surprised gasp of shock as he very nearly dropped his cup of tea.
"She can be quite talkative when she gets going…no really, just serve her enough saki and," I began to say with an all to giddy smirk as like usual with me and my big mouth I admit far to much personal information before Yori does the only surefire thing to snap me out of it, taking my breath away with another kiss.
"Hey Tara, do you have any of those little sweet cookies," Kim asked suddenly with a rushed look to her as she turned and smiled at me, before even without taking a second or two to actually think if we actually had any of the cookies I smiled back and hopped back up to my feet, hurrying off into the kitchen. I honestly try to search for the cookies but I can't help but keep an ear open to their conversation. I have to wring the towel as hard as I could to keep myself from rushing back into the living room and interrupting them. I can only stand there and wait, allowing Yori the time that she needs to tell Kim and Ron our story in full.-THE END
