A/N: Finally I'm updating this. It bugged me to hell that I left this hanging up to this day. I'm really sorry guys for the very very long delay... I was really really busy (and really really distracted sorry.. it's all in my profile). I really really beg for everyone's forgiveness. Anyway, I wrote this chapter from somewhere else and from scratch too. Can't organize my old drafts because my laptop is so crappy right now. I'll get back to it as soon as I fix the problem with my laptop. So I had to reread the story from where I am (not at home) and wrote this chapter and published it in one go (I'll edit it later). This oddly doesn't have dialogue in it. Oh yeah they're not old here in this fic... they're not in their 40s or 50s yet. I think I forgot to mention that before. Anyway enjoy.
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The little things
Every morning they would wake up beside each other with their hands joined together. They would stare at each other lovingly and one will whisper good morning followed by the other. Their bliss would continue before being interrupted by the need for breakfast. Her stomach would rumble then immediately would be followed by his laughter.
On some days, their foreheads would be pressed together while they held hands as they slept. The other days...those that she treasured the most above all the rest would be when she was in his arms. Whether he did so unconsciously or not, she wouldn't mind in a thousand years. Her own arms would entangle over his and she would see him smile. Again wondering if he was unconscious or not while he did. Maybe he was awake. Maybe he wasn't. He was adorable smiling either way, subconsciously or not.
This morning was one of those moments she cherished. Nodame still couldn't believe that she was married to the handsome... no drop dead gorgeous guy before her. She wondered why he chose her.. she looked so.. plain. If only she'd remember. If only she could go back in time and see everything. Back to where they met and how they fell in love. She would give anything to go back in time and prevent the accident. He now avoids riding in cars if he could avoid it. If not, he is extremely depressed about it.
She wished she remembered everything. Then Shinichi would be so happy. Sometimes she would catch him stare into space for a brief moment then he'd snap out of it and realize she was there. If only could she remember the little things first. Like the colorful sofa they were sitting on right now while they watched TV. Nodame was trying hard not to be too distracted by Shinichi's head resting on her shoulder while she searched her head for memories that didn't come. The program was boring anyway and surely the reason why Shinichi was sound asleep at the moment. Nodame turned off the TV using the remote and rested her head on his.
She couldn't fathom how he managed to stay in this god awful sofa that long that night they came home from the hospital. She wondered why she also found it of all things...cute. It was so confusing being revolted yet bizarrely attached to it at the same time. It was horribly mismatched from the rest of the furniture. Everything was elegant except the sofa. It was white, colorful and childish. It was the only thing white in the whole house. Yet it was odd that she wouldn't dream of tossing or asking Shinichi to toss it out the window. It screamed RARE to her. A collector's item.
She decided to ask Shinichi about it. He said it was Puri Gorota. An anime. That was what he responded when he was a given a blank look/stare of confusion ("Puri what?"). He told her she was the one who insisted that he buy it online and the next day it was shipped to France from Japan. He skipped telling her the part where she begged no... almost beat him up for it when he refused. Again skipping the part where he blushed furiously (yes furiously..like a teenager) when she hugged and kissed him in happiness when it arrived. Also the part that he forgot his anger right after that (the stupid thing was expensive...rather he felt more that it was overpriced and that he was fooled).
To Nodame that explains the abundance of childish items in the house. The DVDs (which she had an eyebrow raised the whole time when he popped that DVD into the player), the action figures, the shower curtain,the mugs, the stuffed toys, pillowcases and the pencil topper. He told her that Puri Gorota was her obsession. He fondly remembers that at first he thought it was ridiculous but the show can really teach you something. Then he goes silent and thoughtful. He said he'll elaborate that lesson some other time and goes to the kitchen. He told her that he thinks the show and her obsession was adorable.
An anime obsession for a married woman? Really? Seriously? That's preposterous. They should be focusing on career, married life and uh...babies. The word slowly swirled in circles in her head making her dizzy..babies. Babies. Babies. Babies. She could feel her cheeks grow hot thinking about it. Smoking hot drop dead gorgeous smexy...ahem. Little Shinichis and Megumis running around...drool. Stop.
A-anyway, so she gave him that pencil topper? She wondered the first time she saw it why was it on top of the stick..no according to Shinichi it was called a baton. Cute. She wondered if he used the baton before in his performances. Before he took a break from the orchestra. He said that he didn't want anything to do with music anymore then hastily adding at least for now when he saw Nodame. She still wants those piano lessons. They wouldn't let him resign so they gave him a vacation instead. They said the time off would clear his mind. That everything would come back in time.
In time huh?
Sometimes when Shinichi takes a shower before going to bed, Nodame would often wander around the house. She would look at old pictures, smile at the wedding picture hanged on the wall, go to the music room filled with neglected musical instruments, look at the lyric sheets filled with notes that she doesn't now understand, lift the cover of the piano and press some keys. She stays there for a long period of time. She would swing a certain pocketwatch in front of her face and will her memories back. Not that was successful though. Maybe she did it wrong. Maybe it wasn't meant to be.
She almost cries but doesn't in fear that she might be seen.
Shinichi never goes to the music room. That room is filled with memories of the past. It reminds him of things that might never return. So Nodame would not expect him to find the videotapes (yeah old school..no time to convert to DVD I guess) she hid there that Mine sent from Japan. Videos of the old Nodame and Chiaki way back before they got married that she watched when he was outside grocery shopping. One was labeled Nodame loves Senpai! Mukya! courtesy of you know who before the reset. No way that she'd expect him to find her asleep on the piano stool when she didn't come back to the bedroom. No way that she'd expect him to have tears in his eyes while he wiped hers.
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A/N: The pocketwatch was not moved to the music room and is always in the bedroom. Btw at the end, he carries her bridal style back to the bedroom.
