-SPIRAL DESTINY-

Their eyes remained locked onto one another's, but they exchanged no words. As Hiyono stood there speechless, Ayumu continued to stare at her in defiance.

Hiyono cleared her throat, lowering her head to bow. "I'm sorry. That was inconsiderate of me, wasn't it? I shouldn't have expected so much from Narumi-san." She felt her face flush. How did she assume so quickly that he would let her stay with him like that? It's been almost three years since they decided to separate from one another. Of course he wouldn't approve of her company. How could she have thought so selfishly?

I really am a horrid woman…She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling ashamed and embarrassed.

"Really, I thought you would know by now." Ayumu looked away, eyes narrowed. His voice was now less angry, but there was still bitterness in it.

"I guess… I was only thinking of myself." She forced a smile on to her face.

"You're right. You were only thinking of yourself." He glanced back at her coldly. Her stiff smile sunk into a frown.

"I know I'm selfish." Her voice shook. "But is it wrong for me to want to be with you? I haven't seen you for so long… " She felt the tears starting form. "I've missed you… "

"And how do you think I have felt these past few years?" Ayumu suddenly raised his voice. "Do you really believe that you're the only one whose been suffering this whole time?"

Hiyono's eyes widened, shocked at his reaction. "Narumi-san… I…"

"Just now you told me you were going to 'pretend' to be by my side…" He lowered his voice. "What do you expect me to do after you decide to leave again?"

He then stared straight into her eyes, raising his voice more than usual. "What am I supposed to do when you're gone? I could hardly bear these last few years without you. And now you return all of a sudden, only to tell me you'll be staying with me and then leaving me. How do you expect me to deal with that?"

The tears began to spill over her cheeks as she held one hand over her mouth.

"Narumi-san… You know I would never want you to go through that." Hiyono spoke softly as she made her way over to him.

She lifted up one of his hands and placed it on the side of her face. He could feel the soft sensation of her skin. "I want to stay by your side… more than anything." She then gently rested her head onto his chest. "If only…"

"If only I was really Hiyono Yuizaki." Another tear slid town her cheek and onto Ayumu's shirt. "Maybe then this wouldn't be so complicated."

"'Hiyono Yuizaki' or not, my feelings still haven't changed." Ayumu spoke more sincerely, running his fingers through her long silky hair. He remembered how she used to fix her hair into braids back then. She seemed so childish at that time, always smiling and talking loudly. He longed for those happy times he spent with her when she was always around.

"Narumi-san..." Hiyono pulled away from him slightly to look up at him. "Can I stay with you forever?"

He took a moment to push a few stray strands of hair away from her face. "Only if you can keep that a promise."

Hiyono bit down on her lower lip. "But as much as I want to be with you…"

"It's just that job of yours, isn't it?" He finished her sentence, slipping his hands away from her long hair.

She gave a slight nod, smiling weakly.

"I'm sorry." Hiyono said softly, almost in a whisper. "If I leave again, the only promise I can make to you is for me to come back..."

"I'll always come back for you, Narumi-san."

Ayumu stared at the white apartment walls with stone-like eyes. No light reflected into them. For a while, his lips remained pursed together.

Finally, he broke the silence. "If that's the case…Then I guess you'll have to be my pretend wife for now."

Hiyono's eyes lit up. "Narumi-san!" She cried, happily.

"In return for your promise," He looked into her eyes with still a serious face, "I will promise to make this into a reality later."

His hand reached over to her left hand, pulling her close to him once more. His fingers gently touched hers, his thumb tracing over her ring finger. He then leaned in to whisper into her ear. "I promise to make you officially mine. My real wife."

She felt her face flush into a shade of pink. "Y…yes."

He released her hand to bring her chin up, making her face directly toward his face. They were so close now, with only a few inches between them. It was the first time Hiyono even felt so close to his face. Flustered, the blush on her cheeks had deepened. She then decided to close her eyes, pressing her lips out very slightly.

It was only until she heard quiet laughter that she opened her eyes again.

"Were you expecting something just now?" Ayumu smirked.

Hiyono's face turned hot that second. "That's unfair, Narumi-san!" She tore away from him, crossing her arms together.

"What's unfair?" Ayumu couldn't help but keep smirking.

"You know what I'm talking about." She pouted, cheeks puffed out. "Narumi-san is such a meanie!"

"I think you're the one who is being unfair." Ayumu placed his hands on the counter behind Hiyono, thus, cornering her. His arms were at either side of her. "You're my 'wife' and you're still calling me 'Narumi-san'."

"But I always call you 'Narumi-san'." She was forced to stare at him again, still as flustered as ever. Her eyebrows pulled down in a slant.

"But technically, you're 'Narumi-san' too, so you can't call me that anymore."

"You never call me by my name."Hiyono said curtly.

He frowned. "That's because I don't know you're real name."

"You know what I mean! Ugh!" She pounded one of her fists lightly against his chest. Exhausted, she rested her head against him in defeat and muttered something.

"What did you say?" Ayumu lifted an eyebrow, staring at the girl leaning on him.

She raised her head, looking up at him with soft yet serious eyes. "Ayumu-kun."

Ayumu felt his heart jump. He didn't expect it to have that much of an impact on him. He started to feel heat rise to his cheeks.

"Huh. It doesn't suit you after all." Ayumu said trying to hide the fact he was still a bit embarrassed. He wished the red color would fade from his face already.

Instead of teasing him, as Ayumu would have expected, Hiyono began to close her eyes. "Ayumu…"

This time, he drew his face closer to hers. Just when their lips were about to touch, Hiyono started to fall backwards.

Quickly, Ayumu swung his arms behind her back to support her from falling over. "Hey! What are..."

Then he realized what was going on.

She's… sleeping?

He felt his eye twitch as he sighed. Of course she's tired. She probably hasn't slept for over a day.

Ayumu carried her over to his bedroom and placed her on the bed carefully. "You can be a real handful sometimes."

She was lying there peacefully, breathing in deeply. He brushed his fingers lightly against her sleeping face.

He then leaned over to place his lips against her forehead.

"Welcome home… Hiyono."

TO BE CONTINUED...