Chapter 11

Yuki woke up late the next day. She stretched her legs and arms wide and yawned. When she opened her eyes she noticed that the weather didn't improve a single bit. It was still raining and she saw also something white between the drops. Seems like I need to stay her little longer. She sighed and got up from the bed. She vaguely remembered Soujirou's talk about bathroom so she checked the door opposite the bed. She entered a huge space. Her jaw dropped and she gazed blankly on all the luxury around her. She slowly closed her mouth. Well, I should be already used to seeing something like this but it always amaze me.

When she came down to the kitchen she was surprised to see Soujirou in an apron and cooking. He can cook? She was totally shocked. Soujirou turned and Yuki quickly fixed her expression to an akward smile.

„Ehm... Good morning."

Soujirou chuckled. „More like Good afternoon." Yuki looked to the clock on the wall. It was past noon! She scretched the back of her head.

„I guess I was really tired." She went slowly to the table and sat down. Soujirou watched her with satisfied smile on his lips. He studied her appearance and was amused. She was wearing oversized green sweat pants and equally big blue sweatshirt. Her hair, still wet from shower, were outspread all over her back like a black veil. He looked down to her feet and noticed she's barefoot.

„You should put on some socks or at least some slippers. There is a lot of them in the hallway." He pointed to the entrance door.

„Yeah, thanks. I'll do that." Yuki stood up again.

„Do you want me to pour some coffee for you meanwhile?" Yuki looked at him. She didn't know why he was so kind.

„Yes, that would be nice." She replied with caution in her eyes. Perhaps his consience pricks because of yesterday.

„So, what are you cooking? And how come I didn't know you can cook?" She asked when she returned.

„Well, man should keep some things to himself." He answered with pretended dignity, eyes full of laughter.

Yuki laughed. „That's rubbish. Completely."

He made a hurt face and covered his right cheek with hand. „Oh, now you've deadly hurt me." He left out a melodramatic sigh and looked up to the sky.

Yuki couldn't help herself and laughed even more. When she calmed down little bit she asked again.

„So, will you tell me what you're cooking or do I have to guess?"

„Ok, ok, I will reveal the secret of the cook. It's ... fried eggs with ham and cheese." He said like it was the most expensive food from french restaurant.

Yuki just winked several times. „That's all?" Soujirou pouted his lips at this answer.

„How do you mean it ‚that's all'? Can't you appreciate the work of master?"

A master? He's really incorrigible. She thought.

He put the food on two plates and placed it on the table. Yuki offered her help but he refused and did everything alone including the drinks – the coffee and cold water from the fridge.

Yuki looked down to her plate. She studied the content wondering if it's really something edible or poisoned. Of course she couldn't say anything aloud. She carefully lifted her fork and put one taste into her mouth. It wasn't that bad until she bit something hard. Eggshell. She just made a face and swallowed. She immediately picked up the glass and drank a half of the water. She sidelooked at Soujirou sitting next to her. He was munching bravely his own food and swallowing it very quickly. He didn't say a word.

Yuki somehow managed to eat everything on her plate. It wasn't that bad, only tasteless with bit of calcium inside. But he tried his best. Now let's hope we won't get sick..

The room was filled with silence. Yuki didn't know what to say because she wasn't sure if she won't hurt him with her words.

„That..." She cleared her throat. „That wasn't bad." Soujirou lighted up like a candle.

„Really?"

„Next time it's my turn to cook." Uff, nicely done, Yuki. She praised herself silently.

„Ok." Soujirou agreed happily. I'm not sure if I'll be able to eat something like this again. He thought.

They cleaned up the kitchen and with another cup, this time a tea, went to the living room. Soujirou turned on the radio but the reception was bad due to a continuing rainfall so he chose one of many cds and let it play quietly in a background.

He turned and saw Yuki standing in front of the window with cup in her hand. She was looking out, sipping her tea and completely lost in her thoughts. He silently joined her. They stood there, both content with the current situation and also afraid to say anything that would break the moment.

„It seems we won't be able to leave today." Soujirou finally said. Yuki glanced at him from the side. She smiled lightly.

„Yes, it seems so." They got silent again.

„So, what are we going to do now?" This time it was Yuki breaking up the tranquillity of the room.

A very inappropriate thought flashed through Soujirou's mind but he hushed it away. This idea won't work with Yuki. Better not even think about it.

He cleared his throat. „Well, we could watch the TV but I'm afraid the signal is in the same condition as the radio one." He paused. „Or we can play some games, I saw a box of scrabble under the table in one of the rooms. Or there must be a puzzle hidden somewhere in here, Tsukasa loves them." He started to give out possible activities.

„Stop, stop. My head's spinning. Too many ideas." Yuki said. And here I thought it would be boring without going outside.

They spent lovely afternoon despite the terrible weather outside. It was like there wasn't anyone in the world except of them. Neither one said a word about what happened between them and just enjoyed the presence of each other.

When it grew dark outside Yuki cooked a dinner, something definitely more edible than Soujirou's midday's attempt. There were countless possibilities what to make so she decided to make rice with chicken. It was simple dish but delicious. And that's precisely what Soujirou thought when he tasted it.

Even the food is like her. Simple, beautiful... perfect. He watched her and felt something growing up in his chest. What is it? This sweet yet slightly painful feeling? He wasn't ready yet to admit the truth.

They chatted for awhile after the dinner but Yuki noticed that Soujirou wasn't responding to her wholeheartly.

„Soujirou-kun? Soujirou-kun!" She called when he didn't answer to her question.

„What?"

„Are you tired? I just asked you something but you seemed to be far away from here. Is something troubling you?" She was really concerned about him.

He dropped his eyes for a moment and smiled bitterly in a private.

„No, I'm alright. I guess I'm just tired as you said. I think I will go to bed." Yuki nodded and watched him as he left the room.

She sighed. This is bad. She thought. I'm falling deeper and deeper. She turned off the cd player and went to her room as well.

Tsukasa finally came back from his trip. He was tired but happy to be home. He managed to finish the bussiness in just five days instead of ten. He didn't want to leave Tsukushi for longer time than that.

He found his wife in their bedroom laying on the bed and sleeping. He smiled. Since she got pregnant she was sleepy for most of the time. He sat down next to her and caressed her hair and face. She furrowed her eyebrows and slowly opened her eyes. He bent down and kissed her.

When he lifted his head he saw her smiling pleasantly.

„That's a lovely way of waking up." She said withvoice thick from sleep.

„And I'm the only one who's allowed to wake you this way." He said with pretended threat.

Even as a head of international financial group he still remains a spoiled child... Well I love him because of that too. Tsukushi thought as she watched her husband to stand up and getting undressed.

She sat up, stretched her body and rubbed her tummy subconsiously. Just yesterday she felt something similar to having feathers inside. She was so excited she wanted to call Tsukasa immediately. Unfortunately he was at the bussiness meeting at that moment and later that day, when he finally called her, she didn't want him to feel sad. Because he would definitely feel that way knowing he wasn't here at that crucial moment.

„How was your trip? I thought you said you're coming back in 10 days not 5." Tsukushi asked when he sat next to her again, already refreshed from the quick shower.

„Aren't you glad I'm back earlier?" He teased her.

„Of course I am." And she gave him a quick peck on the lips which Tsukasa made into much longer kiss.

When he released her she was little short of breath. Even after more than a year he could still sweep her of the feet. He bent closer to her but she put a finger on his lips and when he looked at her confusinly she smiled apologetically and pointed to her belly.

„I'm afraid we are hungry again, honey." He left out a desperate sign and hung down his head. She patted him and whispered into his ear a silent ‚later' and he was happy again.

Their dinner was ready in no time because Tsukasa order it when he came back. He also asked the butler to make it a small dinner just for him and Tsukushi, of course with lot of food so they were seated in a smaller dining room than usually.

„I don't think I have been in this room before." Tsukushi said when she looked around.

„Neither do I." Tsukasa shrugged his sholders. There were so many rooms in this huge mansion that one could easily get lost in it.

Their food was served by dilligent maids who dissapeared immediately their work was done.

„So how did you spend the time I wasn't here?" Tsukasa asked when they received their drinks after the dinner

„Well, normally. Although I'm a bit worried about Yuki. Last week she came here and didn't look good. Something is definitely troubling her but she didn't want to tell me a word."

„Maybe you should try to push her up the wall to spill out the beans." Tsukushi just sighed at her husband's reaction. It's sooo like him.

„It's not working this way between girls, my darling." Tsukasa blushed when he heard the word ‚darling'.

„Well, I hope that she will get a proper rest on her trip." Tsukasa furrowed his eyebrows.

„A trip?"

„Yes, she asked me for some quiet place so I recommended our mountain cottage." Tsukushi explained.

„Which one?"

„You know, THAT one, our rescue cabin. Well, a former rescue cabin."

„I see." Tsukasa said and then froze. „You mean THAT mountain cottage?"

„I just said it, didn't I?" She looked at him a bit angrily.

„Oou... That might be a problem..." He scretched his face.

„Why?" Tsukushi was getting anxious. „Is something wrong with that place? I called the keeper and he said everything's alrigh!" She wanted an answer, and now!

„No, the house is ok. The problem is..." He feared her reaction. „The problem is that I met Soujirou and told him he can go there." He ducked deeper into his chair awaiting a storm.

„WHAAAAT?" It was here. Tsukushi screamed and popped out her eyes. She couldn't believe.

„Do you know what might happen in there? Oh, my poor friend, alone with a wolf."

„Oy, Tsukushi, don't exaggerate. Soujirou won't do anything to Yuki. They even became friends recently." He pleaded for his friend and tried to reason out the situation.

„That's what I'm afraid of!" She was still angry. She didn't know what to do. I need to save her. Yuki's not save with him.

She got up from her chair and rushed to the door. Tsukasa hold her hand.

„Where are you going?"

„I need to do something. I can't leave her alone with him." She paused. „You don't know how sad she looked like when she was here. Although she didn't say a word I KNOW that Soujirou is the problem." She breathed in. „So how can you expect me to leave my friend when she needs me?"

Tsukasa drew Tsukushi closer and made her sit on his lap.

„Honey, even if you love Yuki, there are things you just can't decide instead of her. She is the one who needs to choose if she wants to be with him or not." He tried to sooth her and caressed her face. Then he left his hand on the bum of her belly. He smiled.

„But I don't want her to be hurt." She pouted her lips.

„That's also up to her. Well, up to them. We can't help them decide what to do, neither of them." He paused. „I like Soujirou as well but I would never intervene his life this way." Tsukushi finally gave up and rested her head on his chest.

„Alright. I won't do anything." She lifted her head. „But if he does something horrible to her I'm not letting his of the hook until he pays for it." Tsukasa shortly laughed. Not just me, even my wife is eager for revenge.

„Ok, if that's the case I will help you with your revenge." And with that he kissed his wife.