CHAPTER IX

A hot summer's afternoon. In the temple some chanting could be heard on that private room near the gardens. Ayana smiled, before drinking her cup of tea. The nervousness of her new daughter-in-law was truly amusing. Yuri was really surprised when her husband told her, during a meal, that his mother wanted a visit. The rumors about Lady Tezuka were all truth. She was absolutely gorgeous and her movements were full of grace. Her voice was gentle as she greeted the young girl. Yuri felt childish and not worthy at her presence. She drank her tea silently, sip by sip:

- So, Yuri-san, did you receive the letter I sent you and Kunimitsu on your wedding day?

- Yes! – she felt silly for giving such a excited answer. Calming down, her voice was collected and polite again. – Thank you for the gifts as well. We truly wished you were able to be there with us.

- Kuniharu-san came to visit last month and we talked. He is really pleased with you as his daughter-in-law.

- I'm pleased in being a part of the family as well. – she smiled. – Everyone in the Tezuka household is really kind to me.

- Kunimitsu too? – putting her cup down, the dark eyes looked directly at her as a pinkish tone appeared on the girl's cheeks.

- Your son is a gentle husband. He always treats me kindly and is concerned with my well-being.

- You know, Yuri-san, he is my child. Even if we are apart, I know how reserved he can be with someone he doesn't know very well. Do not take it personally if he is quiet around you. Things will change as time passes by. – she put a small plate with a piece of cake in front of the girl.

- I wished we could have more time to get to know each other better. – she looked at the liquid of her cup, a sad tone on her voice. – He started to travel again with Fuji-san for work. I can only see him on his free days. Was it the same with you when you lived at the house?

- Ah, sure. The Tezuka men were always very devoted to work. It's their second wife. – she smiled. – But my situation was very different than yours.

- I'm... so sorry. I didn't mean to…

- Do not worry. I'm totally aware how unusual it is my marital situation. – drinking another cup of tea, she took a little longer before continuing. - Arranged marriages can be cruel for both parts. Please, be patient with my son.

- I will, mother-in-law. Tezuka-san is already very dear to me. I intend to be by his side until my last days. – her grey always showed the sincerity of her words. Ayana smiled gladly.

- Do you think you could be expecting already?

- No… not yet. – her voice left her lips on a ashamed tone. How could she get pregnant if her husband didn't touch her anymore? They were already married for two months. He would wish her goodnight and would always sleep on his separated futon, without saying or doing anything else. She felt so silly as trying to sell such a strong facade on her wedding night just to make him realize how weak she was.

- When it happens, please... – Ayana touched the girl's hand. – ...come to visit me. I want to meet my grandchildren. Kunimitsu was a beautiful and dear baby. I am sure you will have beautiful children as well.

- Tezuka-san…

- And, maybe with a child you two made together, you and my son can get closer.

Yuri was touched by her words. Her father-in-law would mention her name every day, his voice filled with tenderness. Before the wedding, when she asked about Tezuka's family, her mother and sisters gossiped about Ayana-san, calling her a bad wife for leaving her child and husband behind. Tezuka and Fuji only refer to her with caring words and concern. A woman that was able to harbor so much love between those reserved men couldn't be, by any means, an ill-natured person. Yuri smiled, her hands touching her mother-in-law's back, glad she was able to meet and know her for real.

- I will, Tezuka-san. You will meet all of them.

####

Saya got nauseated as drinking the brown liquid. She would never get use to the sour taste. Already putting the small bottle back inside the drawer, Kunimitsu's sleepy voice called her attention:

- Why do you always drink that? – he woke up missing the warthm of her body next to his.

- It's just a precaution. – going back to the futon, he held her as she laid close.

- Precaution?

- Tayuus cannot carry a child. That tea help us with that. – she kissed his naked chest and he sensed he shouldn't ask about it anymore.

Saya wasn't aware of how much she missed him. After some weeks of his absence, while drinking with Katsuya-san on the main saloon, Fuji joked about his cousin being very busy with his new wife. She overheard the conversation and felt a little jealous. When he finally went back to Akai Hana and entered her room, she couldn't find words to greet him.

Tezuka was surprise when she ran at his direction, holding him tight and kissing him so helplessly. He missed her too. And after so much time away, he just simply didn't want to let go. Saya came in his fingers and mouth and with him inside her. They didn't exchange any words during those passionate hours. When they finally satiated their needs from each other, he felt asleep while she brushed his light hair, his entire body numb.

- Its already morning. You should be gone soon.

- I asked Syuusuke to call for me when he is done with Katsuya-san. – he kissed her forehead. – Am I disturbing you?

- Not at all. – he had changed so much on those past days. He was more talkative and comfortable around her. "He is a husband now', she thought. His beautiful naked wife on top of him every day. Her arms held his frame tight, wanting to keep him close for just a little more. – Are you enjoying your married life?

- I just have someone to sleep by my side every day now. It is the only real difference. – he answered sincerely and Saya was surprised on his view at the matter. – If she had become pregnant on the first weeks of marriage, it would be easier. She doesn't let me touch her and my father started to wonder if there is something wrong. I wish we could be done with that already.

- Kunimitsu… - Saya sat by his side, her long chocolate hair hiding her breasts. – She must be afraid. Being intimate with a man is a very stressful situation for an inexperienced woman. You should be patience with her and make her comfortable. Do you even talk to her, away from everyday subjects? Are you nice to her?

- We have nothing to talk about. – he was annoyed but her lecture. – I just need to make a child.

- I thought I was able to teach you more than sex. – she picked her yukata and put in front of her naked body, standing up. – Your wife is not only a duty to fulfill; she is a person, with feelings. You are here with me… - the weight of having his company punched her chest. - … and she is there, all alone, away from her family. You have the obligation of making her happy!

She could feel her heart racing fast as feeling so upset on his disregards for his wife. Collecting his yukata and hakama from the floor, she put it on his hands, the purple eyes serious.

- You should leave. Go to your wife's side.

The silence between them was strange as the heavy atmosphere. Tezuka got dressed while she was sitting on the porch, ignoring him. He stopped, fully dressed and looked at her back as the sun started to rise, wondering how things could turn so badly between them.

####

Fuji went to the archery training area. The sun was starting to set and the sky was red with orange tones. He knew his cousin too well. Since their grandfather died, he would only hold a bow and arrow when truly stressed out. To aline his toughts, in the most true way.

Yuri smiled as seeing him close and stopped her adoring observating on her handsome husband. She was wearing a beautiful dark blue furisode, the colours of the Tezuka family.

- Fuji-san, good afternoon.

- Good afternoon to you, too. – he smiled back, sitting by her side. – Archery isnt really a romantic date, is it? I need to talk to him about it. He should take you to a better place.

- Ah, is not that! – she was so easily teased. – I just wanted to be near him, but without being a bother. – her voice showed genuine concern. - He has been so silent and quiet lately. I wonder if something happened at work.

- You mean more silent and quietly, right? – his comment made her smile a little. – Don't worry. He is like that sometimes, there's nothing wrong.

Syuusuke didn't like to lie. In fact he was always a really sincere person, maybe a little bit cold sometimes. He liked the girl and didn't want to hurt her feelings. Tezuka was in a terrible mood on the past week when Saya put him out of her chambers. Being such a proud person, he understood how that rejection affected his cousin seriously. But instead of sulking, Fuji tought he should just go to his room and burn his frustration on his eager-to-please bride's body instead of holding that bow and shooting arrows for hours.

- Fuji-san, what exactly is your role on Tezuka-san's work if you don't mind me asking?

- Ah, I don't mind at all. I'm your husband's bodyguard.

- Bodyguard?! – she imagined how such short and thin man could be someone's protector.

- Do not see let your eyes fool you. – Tezuka said, entering the conversation and getting close to them. The servant who was acompaning him on practing had already collected the arrows and put away his bow. Part of his torso and fit arm was exposed since one of the sleeves of his yukata was down for the better use of his aim. – He is really skilled with a sword, since we were young. He could kill even a samurai very easily.

- Really?! – she was really surprised.

- Kunimitsu, don't say this kind of thing. Yuri-san will be afraid of me.

- No, I will not! That's so incredible! I never met a katana master before!

He laughed at her sentence and sincere enthusiasm.

- I'm no such thing!

- The sensei at the dojo we used to go was so impressed he wanted Fuji to continue and teach there.

- Why didn't you?!

- Too many rules to obey, I prefer my life as it is.

- He is a genius. – Tezuka put his clothes back on and wiped the sweat on his face with a small towel Yuri handled to him. – He could do anything he wanted to, if he was not so lazy.

- I just prefer to be the owner of myself. It's a privilege for few people and I intend to use it. – he smiled back to his cousin and Tezuka sensed the irony. – Oh, look at the time. Uncle must be waiting for us to dinner already.

- I will bathe. – he offered a hand to his wife. She was very surprised with the gesture as he helped her to stand up. – Yuri-san, you can go ahead with Syuusuke. I will not be long.

- Yes. – she answered shyly and followed him with her eyes, to Syuusuke's amusement. They were really fun to observe.

####

Tezuka's eyes were opened suddenly, as feeling his wife's hands touching his back and her soft body pressed on his.

- Yuri-san?

- Forgive me for my boldness. – she whispered. – But… can I stay like this tonight? I… really miss you.

- Are you trying to seduce me? - he turned around and look at her with narrow eyes.

- I'm not. I know that… I'm just a silly child and… maybe, that's why Tezuka-san does not feel attracted to me, but… I'm your wife. – her small hands touched his face and he noticed the honesty of her feelings on her grey eyes. – My heart is yours. And my body too. Forgive me for my behavior before. I was just…

- Afraid of me? – his voice interrupted her and she averted her eyes, ashamed. It was the first time he noticed how delicate her features were. The long eyelashes and the redness of her mouth, even with just a small lantern illuminating poorly their chambers. She was his wife. She was beautiful and wanted to please him in every way. He should just make peace with his situation. Being infatuated with a tayuu wouldn't get him anywhere. And Yuri was the one choosen to share his entire future with.

His thumb touched her lips slowly, before kissing her. Tezuka pulled her closed by her yukata. He kisses were slow and gentle and Yuri felt how different her husband was. She wanted to touch him and explore his body. As reading her thoughts, he stopped and kneeled in front of her, taking his clothes off, putting a trembling hand over his chest.

- You can touch me too. – her eyes were wide as seeing him completely naked. Putting her inhibitions aside, she got closer and kissed his neck and torso. Small butterfly's kisses on his skin as her fingers touched his flat abdomen. Her warm breath reached Tezuka's hip bone, but before she could touch his hardness, he pulled away, kissing her again and making her sit on his lap.

She held his shoulders as his tongue sucked her pink nipples and one large hand massaged her breast. As feeling a long finger inside her, she let a moan out of her throat for the first time and that sincere sound made Kunimitsu lower part even more alert and painful. That time was not about him. He was going to give her all the pleasure he had denied on the first nights of marriage.

Her back was on the futon again as her eyes were blurred. Her hand touched her husband's chest one more time and she felt his strong heartbeats on her fingertips. She though she would die with the sensation of his mouth between her legs as a second finger entered her body. Yuri's delicated frame arched and she forgot how to breathe. As his tongue touched her flesh she thought she was about to die.

Tezuka was ready to explode. How could she be so tempting? He couldn't wait anymore. Kissing his wife one more time, nibbling her partially open lips, he joined their bodies and held her tight. On an instinctive move her tights embraced his hips and brought him even deeper. She was so tight and hot, her walls constricting him hard. And he clenched his teeth to avoid screaming as he devoured her petit form. His hard breathing was on her neck when he came. And Kunimitsu's hands held Yuri's firmly as his body trembled over hers.