Mizuki looked out from the windows, waiting patiently for Sano's car to arrive. His plane had arrived an hour or so earlier, but the team was having a meeting of some sort. He had called her once during his time gone, and it had been to tell her how poorly the team was doing. She had tried her best to cheer him up, but to no avail. So today, she had spent all afternoon preparing a huge pot of oden for him. The smell filled the house. That would have to be good for Sano.
She sat on the sill by their front window, watching cars pass by and the sun set. It was here she would stay until his car pulled up, and Sano emerged. There were butterflies in her stomach. She didn't know if he would return in a good mood or bad. There was only hope, and the warm smell of oden.
Another twenty minutes passed, and Mizuki got up to turn down the pot. She didn't want to burn the bottom, and she didn't know how much longer until he returned. As she turned the dial downward, she heard the door crack open, and Yuujiro scurry to the entryway. His warm voice filled the house, and Mizuki called out in return.
"Welcome home Sano!" She rushed through the hall way, and stood in front of him. He smiled wearily at her, and set down his bag on top of his running shoes. Yuujiro ran between the two of them excitedly. Unsure of what to do, Mizuki grabbed Sano's hand and pulled him toward the kitchen. He grumbled slightly, feeling the pull in his shoulder uncomfortably, but not wanting to stop it.
He could smell the oden. A lovely Japanese style dinner table was resting on floor in the center of the room. Mizuki had spent the afternoon preparing that as well. She set the pot down in the center of the table, dipping the serving spoon inside, and sat down in perfect Japanese style. Sano wasn't completely comfortable sitting down for dinner yet, but he did so anyway. She picked up his bowl and filled it with the broth and vegetables, setting it down beside a full bowl of rice. A spoon rested beside his chopsticks, and Mizuki waited for him to begin.
But there was no hunger yet, he had eaten at the meeting. For Mizuki he ate his meager portion, and felt like his stomach was going to explode. Mizuki inhaled her first portion, and then her second. She asked many questions about the competition, and mentioned very little about her week.
Over the days in Germany, Kagurazaka had injured his ankle, preventing him from jumping, their runners had barely landed in the top 10, and it wasn't even worth mentioning their javelin or shot put performance. Sano felt like he was riding a sinking ship, soaring on the prow. Mizuki encouraged him as she listened, but not to very much avail. He was beyond kind words at the moment, and Mizuki knew as much as she tried, he would stay a shade of grey.
Eventually, after silence had fallen on the table and Sano thought it best not to ask about her week, he excused himself from the table to change. Mizuki nodded and began tiding up the table, putting the oden in the refrigerator, and finishing the last of the rice. Yuujiro was nowhere to be found for leftovers, far too busy following Sano around at the moment. As such, Mizuki set everything else in the composter, and sat down on the couch.
Her knees and ankles were sore from sitting so long, but the technique Nakatsu had taught her helped immensely. The television was playing a game show about moving walls and a pit of water. Mizuki did not pay much attention to it, other than to laugh meekly when someone smashed into the barricade. Sano came back down the stairs after taking a shower and sat beside her, flipping through the channels until he found news. His hair was still wet and Mizuki messed with a bit until he dodged and glared at her.
"Sorry Sano…" She sang to him, and then laid her head in his lap. He glared down at her that moment as well, but she was unwilling to move. He returned his eyes to the television, and Mizuki stared at the wall. In truth her neck wasn't very comfortable.
They sat together for another half an hour while Sano finished the news and Mizuki felt a crick in her neck forming. Eventually, Sano made it clear he wanted to stand, and Mizuki sat up. A commercial drew her attention for a second. As she gazed at the television Sano rolled his eyes and disappeared upstairs. It ended and Mizuki glanced around, finding herself alone.
A hint of victory swept over her. A whole evening had passed since Sano returned without an argument, and she had successfully avoided the conversation about the past few days. She did a small dance, and skipped her way up the stairs. Sano had already climbed into bed. Yuujiro lay at the foot, knowing the two that occupied the bed were together again.
She changed for bed herself, and crawled in beside Sano. He was reading the last few pages of a book, and barely noticed the shift in weight. Mizuki was quiet, deciding it best to fall asleep. She leaned over to give him a kiss, and curled up underneath the blanket. Sano glanced over at her. Something in him wanted to hold a conversation, but he let it pass by. Eventually he rolled over and closed his eyes.
They lay awake together, backs turned, and mouths closed. Every so often Mizuki would shift slightly, open her mouth, and then swiftly close it, even if she wanted to say something, the words didn't come. And so they lay together silently, until both were asleep.
It was around 10 when Mizuki woke up. Sano's side of the bed was neatly made, and Yuujiro was nowhere in sight. She sat up and looked around blearily. The curtains were open, but very little sun was shining through. A spring storm was coming through. The rain smelled fresh, and Mizuki smiled as she rolled out of bed. The bathroom still had steam on the mirror, and Sano's towel was wet. She doodled on the mirror and brushed her teeth, smiling in the clearing she had made.
Coming down the stairs, Mizuki glanced around, looking for a shadow of Sano. But neither he, nor Yuujiro were anywhere to be found. She walked into the kitchen and started their rice cooker. On the refrigerator was a box of cereal, which she poured into a bowl. An easy breakfast. She grazed on the cereal and a moment later Sano emerged from the outside, Yuujiro just behind. His hair was still wet and smoothed back; a familiar look which made Mizuki smile again.
The face he returned was without expression. Steadily he walked into the kitchen a small white envelope in hand. In one smooth movement he set the envelope in front of her, and tapped it lightly. The seal was not broken, but Mizuki knew what it was. The decorative stamp beside the address was from the last place she had stopped a few days earlier. They had her resume and business card, of course they'd send her something. Of all the places, only them. "Mizuki… why are you receiving a letter from the Inagawa-kai?" His voice was hollow and he sat stiffly across from her.
Mizuki grinned sheepishly, swallowing her bite of cereal. "Well, it's kind of a funny story actually…" Sano didn't look like he would be amused in the slightest. "So a few days ago, I went to find a job. I spent all day filling out applications and giving places my resume. But nothing seemed to be going very well. I got to my last destination, and there was a wooden sign outside with that symbol on it. I just thought it was a really old company. Every inside was wearing really bright colors and they were all really brash. I didn't know what to make of it. This big guy took me for an interview with the manager. Then I saw the tattoo under 'the bosses' shirt I realized what it was. But I'd already given them my card and resume. I ran out of their office in like two seconds flat." She paused more than a few times during her explanation, trying to find the best words.
Sano had not moved an inch since she began speaking. His eyes were the same flat expression. Slowly, they closed and opened again, letting his mind process her story. A few times he tried to open his mouth to speak, but no words would come. He stood up and paced around, before leaving the room entirely. Mizuki watched his every movement and felt a familiar sinking feeling.
She slid her finger inside the envelope and pulled out a hand written letter from the man she had briefly met. Glancing over the rough hand writing, Mizuki gathered that they wanted to hire her based on her resume. She was a blank slate to be molded as necessary, and they could provide her with residence paper work. She somehow doubted it would be 'legal.'
Sano shook his head as he paced around his office. On one hand, she was trying to find a job; on the other, she had given all her information to the Yakuza. The latter of the two seemed a hell of a lot more important. Mizuki peered into the room. Sano immediately noticed her, but pretend not to. He didn't have the patience to deal with this problem, and he knew if she pushed it, there would be yelling. Eventually Mizuki stepped into the room, and leaned against the wall.
"Okay, Ashiya. I need to make myself clear. I am going out for the day. We are not going to talk about this today, tomorrow, or the day after. It may be a week before I talk to you about this. Do not mention it; do not tell me about any job offers." Sano did not look at her once during his small speech. Mizuki kept her mouth shut, and looked at the floor. She wanted to defend herself, but the truth was, she didn't know what to say, and she didn't want to tempt Sano any further into anger. He started towards the door, pausing briefly to look at her. "You know Mizuki, I love you, but when did you become so…?" He didn't finish the sentence.
Mizuki felt the air drain out of her lungs. Her eyes blurred, but she didn't cry. There were a hundred things she could plug in as the last word. Why did Sano have to make her feel like such an idiot? She knew how stupid her decisions had been. Her own guilt should be enough. He disappeared, and the door closed in the distance. Mizuki slid down the wall and buried her head in her arms.
