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OMAKE 7-2 - Surprises in a Day (Con't)

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- Monday -

The twins had gone off to school early in the morning. Not too long after, Tezuka also headed to the company.

When the sun grew higher on the sky, Fuji woke up with a planned schedule for his day. He was glad that Ayana was home, once again. It meant that she would do the house chores for him. There wasn't much to do anyways, except watering the garden and making meals. Their house was always neat and clean, as if the interior design was a set up for a magazine cover. She'd only need to dust the furniture once a week.

Fuji took a shower and freshened himself for the day. At the other day when it was the twins' birthday, Inui had informed him of a rather popular art magazine press that was hiring a professional photographer with defined quality. At that moment, Fuji knew the job was waiting for him. The only problem was the far distance from home, nevertheless, that didn't relinquish the jittering feeling of excitment inside of him. He was finally getting a job.

His smile brightened as he skipped down the stairs with his professional camera and equipment in their designated bag. As it turned out, he was alone in the house. He was going to tell Ayana of his plan today, but since she wasn't in, Fuji decided he'd call her later to tell her he won't be home in time for lunch.

Fuji grabbed an apple from the kitchen and left the house. He got into his car and pulled out of the drive way.

It took him almost one hour to get to the shop. Fuji was quite surprised to find how small it was compared to his imagination of a large corporation. He parked the car and went in.

"Welcome to Kuju Press Inc. How may I help you?" The young receptionist behind the counter asked with an amiably smile.

Fuji walked up to her. "Hi. I heard you are hiring?"

"Ah, yes we are at the moment." She then looked at Fuji with scrutiny, not strict, but apprehensive. "Aino-sama had turned down all of the applicants who came in before you. Do you think your skill is competent enough for the job?"

"I'm not sure what you mean by being competent enough. It really depends on your Aino-sama's criteria." Fuji answered calmly, not at all affected by what the receptionist just said.

"Alright. Please wait a moment." The receptionist picked up the phone and dialed. "Aino-sama. Do you have a spare time for another interview?" She paused, listening to the other line with a few nods. "Yes. I'll send him in right away." She put the phone down. "Please follow me."

Fuji already started to like this place. He could feel so much freedom and liveliness in this place. Although the receptionist did say some intimidating words, but that was just how he liked it, straightforward and honesty.

"Are there many workers here?" Fuji piqued his curiosity at the lack of noise. He was sure this place was lively.

"Yes, we have up to 50 workers. We all gather here in the morning before they get dispatched on an assignment and in the afternoon to sign out." She led him to a metallic staircase at the end of the corridor. Further behind was a large lounge, filled with tables and chairs. "When we get busy, such as the deadline, most of the workers stay here to compose their reports to be revised and then arranged into the monthly catalogue by Aino-sama. She is our boss."

"This seems like a wonderful place." Fuji commented. He definitely liked this job, and he made sure he will get it.

"It is." She nodded in agreement.

They stopped shortly in front of a glass door with closed blinds hung from the inside. "Here it is. Are you ready?"

Fuji nodded with excitement. He really wondered what kind of person this boss was. She must be great in his mind.

The receptionist opened the door for Fuji to step inside, but before she closed the door, she whispered out to him. "Good Luck!"

The room was bright, but quite messy. Papers and books were strewn all over the tables, chairs, and floor. There was a desk in a corner furthest away from him. He could hear typing noise, but no person. The stacks of papers and books on the desk apparently covered whoever sat behind it.

Fuji waited for a while for the typing to stop and it did. Rustles were heard and a woman about a few years older than Fuji stood up.

Fuji looked at her with surprise. She must be as tall as Tezuka. Her hair was a beautiful shade of emerald that went well with her midnight blue eyes compared to Fuji's aquamarine eyes.

She smiled back at Fuji, looking up at him up and down with amusement in her eyes. The first thing she noticed was the shade of the color of his eye, strong like the tsunami, yet calm like the ocean's serenity.

She stepped out from behind her desk and made her way over to where Fuji stood, bringing out her hands to shake. "Hi. I am Aino Yari, Chief Executive of this company."

Fuji shook her hands as he regained back his smile from the surprised reaction. "Hello, my name is Fuji Syusuke."

"Like Mount Fuji." Aino said with a bit humor as she raveled at the thought of comparing him to the great mountain. "I'm sorry about the state of this room." She pushed the strayed documents from the chairs and table to the floor. "Have a seat."

"Thank you." Fuji placed his bag on the table and sat down on the chair across from Aino's.

"So, Fuji-kun. Do you have any experience with the lens?" Aino asked.

"Yes."

"Hm. The only criterion I'm looking for is your skill on capturing snap shots at the precise moments, since my press specializes in art works." She crossed her legs and sat straight up, looking professional.

"Then I need to show you. Unfortunately, I don't carry any pictures on me right now. Do you mind if we go outside for a moment so I can demonstrate it to you?"

"We have time."

They both stood up and made their way out of the company.

They stood under a maple tree. "Do you see that bird nest right there?" Aino pointed somewhere up on a red Japanese maple at 10 meters distance. "Take the best pictures you can."

"Okay." Fuji took the lens cover off and adjusted his camera functions before aiming at his target. This should be easy. As he focused on the scene, he noticed that there wasn't much to capture if there was no birds occupying the nest. His picture would be customary if he just took a random shot. He frowned and waited some more as he looked through the lens patiently, glad that Aino didn't rush him.

Fuji shifted. Thankfully, the mother bird flew into the nest with breakfast in her beak. He clicked and clicked at each successive movement, and until he got the satisfied shot, he smiled and dropped the camera from his face. "That should do it." He removed the collar strap of his camera from his neck and gave Aino the camera to view the pictures.

"Hm…" Aino flew through the shots, each time with an approval nod. "Very nicely done." She commented before given Fuji back his camera. "Well, Fuji-kun, you're hired. Welcome to the crew." She patted Fuji's head playfully and led him back inside.

"This is Shizune Tsuki, our receptionist." Aino introduced the girl he met earlier. "And this is out new member, Fuji Syusuke."

After the exchange, Aino gave him an assignment right away. "I didn't mention that part of your job is to help me assemble together the reports at the end of each month, but it is part of it."

"That won't be a problem." Fuji replied.

"That's great! Some of the crew members have finished with their first report and I need to revise them before putting them into the folder that will be composed later on. I will guide you before you get the trend and do them on your own. Sounds good?"

"Very!" Fuji beamed.

Aino giggled at Fuji's enthusiasm. "You remind me of my youthful younger brother."

The day went by quick as he was too busy to notice the time flew by. He forgot to give Ayana a call and had turned off his mobile to rid of the distractions.

By the time he left with Aino, it was dark outside. He drove home, thinking if people will yell at him for disappearing for a whole day without telling anyone of his where about. Well, he couldn't do anything to remedy that now. He looked at the clock; it was near 7. Tezuka won't be home until 8.

The kitchen was sizzling with cooking wares. He entered the house quietly and came into the kitchen to see Mitsusuke helping Ayana making dinner.

"Ayana-san." Fuji greeted his mother-in-law. Mitsusuke gave him a hug.

"Ah, Syusuke. You're home." Ayana frowned with a smile. "I was worried. You didn't call and I couldn't call you."

"I'm sorry. My new job is already busy on the first day, and the time slipped my mind." Fuji bit his lips and said apologetically.

"Oh, you got a job, but it's alright, as long as you are fine." Ayana kindly told him.

"Thank you." Fuji smiled gladly and gave her a brief hug. "Thank you sweetie, I'll take it from here. Go do your homework." Mitsusuke handed over the apron and left the kitchen.

Soon, Tezuka was home and dinner was served. Fuji stayed after to clear the dishes by himself while the others went back to their rooms. He didn't really mind because he was happy.

"Syususke." Tezuka said after Fuji closed the door behind him.

Fuji walked toward the bathroom, where Tezuka stood under the door frame, looking fresh from the shower. "Mmm, you are tempting me." He hugged Tezuka's naked chest and sniffed in the scent of sweet peas.

Tezuka chuckled and ruffled Fuji's head before walking away. He went to the closet to find a plain white tee. "I heard mother said you found a job."

"Ah yes, I did." Fuji smiled sheepishly. He stopped short as he felt guilty for not telling Tezuka of this earlier.

"Congratulation. How was it?" Tezuka pulled the shirt over his head.

"I really like it, except the drive is quite long. But it's alright." Fuji walked over to get his pajamas from the same closet.

"I see." Tezuka stopped to look at his lover's form. "You are going to shower?"

"Hm. I'll be quick." Fuji tiptoed to give Tezuka a quick peck on his cheek before dashing into the bathroom.

Morning came and everyone was gone off early like yesterday. Fuji happily groomed himself before dashing down the stairs, but he was stopped short when Kuniharu appeared out of no where around the corner.

"Are you going to work?" Kuniharu said as he frowned at Fuji in a disapproving manner.

Fuji demurely kept his head down and pressed his lips thin before answering. "Yes, I am."

"Does my son not make enough money for you to spend, so you have to go get a job?" Kuniharu's voice was an accusing monosyllabic.

Fuji bit his lips and stiffened when he felt Kuniharu nearing him with an intimidating aura. "Its not that."

"Then what is it?" Kuniharu demanded in a loud voice, scaring him.

Fuji jolted slightly. "I-I just want to go back to being a photographer. I thought it would be better for me to find a job to occupy myself than staying at home doing nothing all day."

"Doing nothing? You are supposed to be doing all of the house chores." Kuniharu retorted strictly. "There are many things you could have done around the house."

For a moment there, Fuji realized that he had forgotten how traditional Tezuka's family was and he was too careless of this information. He didn't know what to say to that, so he stood quietly still under Kuniharu's gaze.

"Well?" Kuniharu inquired with a tint of impatience when Fuji made no sign of responding. "Ayana is getting old, so she won't be able to do most of the house chores anymore. That is why you need to take over her job and care for this family. Don't forget that you came into this family as a bride."

Fuji winced painfully at the title of his position in this household. True, Tezuka was supposed to get a dutiful wife. "I understand." Fuji replied weakly.

"Make arrangement with Ayana." With that, Kuniharu left.

Fuji let out a heavy breath that he didn't realize he was holding under Kuniharu's strict eyes. Old people are indeed difficult. Fuji hesitated to leave the house. He stole a glance at the backyard before making his decision to find Ayana in the backyard.

Ayana was watering the plants serenely with a bright morning smile on her aged face.

"Ayana-san?"

"Syusuke." She spared him a look and stopped watering the plant. "You are going to work."

"Hai. I want to ask you for a favor."

"Go ahead."

"My new job is quite busy, and I don't think I can request for a few hours off from work during mid day to come home to prepare lunch, so could you instead prepare the lunches, and I will take care of dinners when I get home?" Fuji asked with hope in his eyes. Surely Ayana will understand.

Ayana nodded kindly. She didn't really mind cooking. So Haru told you. She recalled that last night after dinner when they retreated back to their bedroom, Kuniharu had responded negatively to Fuji's new job. Ayana told Kuniharu it was not a big deal, but Kuniharu fought on saying it wasn't proper for Fuji to work and that he must stay home to take over Ayana's house chores. He insisted on telling that to Fuji tomorrow, in which he did. "That is fine. Then I will see you for the evening?"

"Hai." Fuji happily thanked her and made his way to work.

His new job was great. He enjoyed reading the reports very much, although he still hadn't had the chance to take on an assignment with a team yet. But it didn't matter, he enjoyed office work in the meanwhile; it was part of his job anyways.

As promised, Fuji got home around 7 every evening, in time to make dinner.

Kuniharu wasn't really faring with the compromise between Fuji and Ayana, but with a long painful persuasion with his wife, he finally settled with the idea for the moment.

As days passed, Fuji seemed to get more tired every time he and Tezuka retreated back to their room after dinner. Fuji would brush his teeth and got to bed early.

Tezuka sighed with disappointment as he looked at his lover's sleeping form on the bed. They could never talk for more than an hour each day anymore. He missed their lone times.

He strode over to Fuji's side of the bed and knelt on the floor. He looked at Fuji's face closely and brought a hand to caress his lover's pale face, almost gaunt, but still attractive. Suddenly, Fuji's eyes fluttered weakly and Tezuka pulled his hand away quickly while berating himself for waking up Fuji.

"Mitsu?" Fuji turned and looked at Tezuka.

"I'm sorry. Go back to sleep." Tezuka quickly amended with a lingering kiss on Fuji's forehead.

"Mhm." Fuji yawned. "Is something wrong?" His hand moved out from under the blanket to find Tezuka's hand and held it.

"No. I should be asking you that." Tezuka paused to scan Fuji's face once more. "You look like you haven't been sleeping well these days. Is work too difficult for you?"

Fuji smiled with tiny amusement. "No, work is not difficult. I feel tired, but I don't know why."

"You should have told me sooner. I could talk to father about your house jobs. We can get a housekeeper." Tezuka's forehead creased with worry line. "I will talk to him about it tomorrow."

Fuji smiled gladly. It wasn't that he couldn't handle dinner and cleaning on the weekends, but he just kept feeling more and more tired each day, so much that he'd doze off a few times while at work. "A housekeeper sounds good, but I don't think your father will approve. It's fine either way." Fuji closed his eyes. "If he doesn't agree, then don't argue with him over me. I can still handle it."

"Hn. I will try to come home early to help you." Tezuka smiled, thinking how a person could be so kind and selfless. "Good night, my love." Tezuka gave Fuji a last kiss before Fuji drifted off to sleep.

Tezuka was in time to catch his father preparing to leave the house the next morning. "Father, I need to speak with you."

"What is it?" Kuniharu looked at Tezuka with comprehension. It must be what he said to Fuji. He knew Fuji was going to tell his son. Nevertheless, Kuniharu didn't feel any regret if Tezuka strongly disagreed.

"I was thinking, since mother is getting older, it is better to find a housekeeper." Tezuka said casually. "What do you think?"

"I don't think it is necessary. There isn't much to do in this house. Syusuke can take care of the housekeeping jobs; and since the twins are grown up now, he will have more time dedicated to cooking and cleaning." Kuniharu said calmly. The tradition mist was occupying within his head.

"But Syusuke has a job now and it will not be fit for him to take care of our household chores as well. It is too tiring for him, Father." Tezuka argued. He understood how much Fuji loved his job and he will give Fuji the freedom to choose and do whatever he wanted. Fuji deserved it and much more. "And also, we can freely afford a housekeeper. It won't be a problem."

Kuniharu suddenly turned to his son and locked his disapproving gaze with Tezuka's. "Of course it won't be a problem. However the thing is, Fuji came in as a bride and he will succumb to his dutiful wife's job with no exception of him being a male. If work is too tiring for him, then tell him to quit and stay home."

Tezuka looked at his Father incredulously. "Father, you can't say that about Syusuke. He gave you and Mother what you both wanted, and there, his job for this household is done. His doing the house chores is on his own free will with no obligation. You should accept the fact that he is not my wife, but my lover, Father."

Kuniharu seethed at his son's revolting behavior. "No matter what you or anyone says, we are not hiring a housekeeper. Go to work." He walked pass Tezuka and left the house through the front door.

Tezuka let out a frustrating sigh and punched the wall, not hard enough to leave a dent. He was too lost in thought to not notice Fuji approached him from behind and had his arms around Tezuka. "Mitsu, I told you not to argue with your Father." Fuji reprimanded lightly. He felt a little bit disappointed, but still glad that Tezuka tried. "If we can't get a housekeeper, then it is okay. I can take care of it." He let go of Tezuka's waist and moved to stand in front of Tezuka, straightened out the light creases on Tezuka's clothes. "Besides, Mitsusuke will be willing to help me out if I get too tired." He smiled up assuringly at Tezuka.

Tezuka sighed and pulled Fuji into his embrace, burying his face within Fuji's hair. "I'm sorry I can't do anything to help you." He pulled apart and cupped Fuji's face. "But if you don't feel well, tell me right away so I can make further arrangement, alright?"

Fuji nodded.

Tezuka smiled and kissed Fuji's cheek. "Then, I'm going to work."

"Take care."

"You too."

Fuji closed the door after Tezuka left. He felt disappointed that there would be no housekeeper, but he still broke out a smile knowing that Tezuka was behind him in all of this. He gathered up his thoughts and prepared to go to work.

Kuniharu didn't bring up any more of the issue about housekeeping as no one spoke about it.

Fuji was able to cope up with this routine, even though it tired him out. Tezuka would massage his numbing legs at night as he slept.

The month was nearing toward the end and work got extremely busy for Fuji. He and his colleagues would skip lunch and eat snack bars while staying on the computer the whole day.

The due date was tomorrow noon and Fuji still didn't finish assembling together a catalogue with Aino yet. The night came near as the other colleagues sauntered out of the company and headed home tiredly. Aino had asked Fuji to stay a little longer to help her out since she won't be able to do it in time.

Fuji didn't mind and thought he'd only stay an hour more. It wouldn't hurt to have a slightly delayed diner. But as he worked on, he forgot the time.

"Its good for today, we will continue the rest tomorrow, Fuji-kun." Aino stood up and flexed. She flipped her wrist around and looked at her watch. "Wow, its almost nine."

Fuji's head snapped up. "Almost nine?" Oh god. I am so dead. "I-I need to go." Fuji packed up quickly. "See you tomorrow, Aino-san."

Aino waved after Fuji's diminishing figure and shook her head in amusement.

Fuji drove home as quickly as he could and entered the house quietly. He could feel the coldest chill running up his spines as he neared the brightly lit kitchen that he knew everyone was in there eating dinner. Fuji bit his lips, panicking from inside out when he heard footsteps coming out from the kitchen.

-o-o-o-o- -TBC- -o-o-o-o-

AN: Long boring chapter. I know, and I apologize.

Can you feel the drama building up? o.0 If not, I will put more spice in the next chapter. -_^ The Drama will be mild in this omake!!! Grab the person with a cotton T-shirt next to you so you can blow your nose, possibly the next chapter. (Or not ^_^)

toraMizu - Right on! Drama and Fluff Combo! Thank you. I hope your scanner will work soon. I'm so excited!

sadari - Torturing Tezuka? Hmmm, I try to figure that out. Thanks for the idea.

Yuujirou - More drama on Fuji's part...I'll do that! Thank you. And I'm sorry with the typos, if you still have any confusion, pls let me know.

Ruuna - Thank you for your likeness (wink)!

Vhii1217 - Lol yeah, just gotta put alcohol in there. Fuji won't be suffering a lot also. So that's a good thing. Fluff! Lots of fluff for this pregnancy.

blackangel - Mild it is! They deserve happiness, but also spices in their lives.

kaeri04 - I decided to make it half and half. Happy at the end.

rebeccasanfujieijilvr - Millllddd ^_^

Also thanks to those who PM me. I'm sorry for the problem, and it there won't be any more problems as of this chapter.

Should Tezuka and Fuji and the twins move out and get their own house?