Chapter 12
The rain finally stopped during the night and the Sunday's morning was cloudy but with the sun occasionally shining through.
Yuki and Soujirou met in the kitchen again. This time it was Yuki preparing a breakfast and Soujirou was in charge of coffee. They worked together on perfect accord, like they were an old married couple.
Soujirou noticed it and wondered if Yuki also did. He watched her as she was moving along the kitchen board, fully focused on what she was doing at that moment. He smiled tenderly. I would get used to this. Seeing her making a meal for me. His face saddened and he quietly sighed.
„Soujirou-kun, could you bring me the miso paste that's lying over there?" Yuki turned and saw him standing by the table. For a moment she thought she saw longing in his eyes but it disappeared so quickly she wasn't sure if it wasn't just her imagination.
„Yes, of course." He gave her such warm smile that it almost stopped her heart. She blushed and took the miso paste from him. She turned to the board again but still felt him standing behind. Her hand holding the knife was slightly shaking. She sighed in relief when he finally went back to the table. She took a secret look over her shoulder. He looked different today. She could feel an unusual sadness in him and it disturbed her own already unsettled feelings. She bowed down and went back to cooking. She made a traditional japanese breakfast with rice and miso soup this time.
They sat down and ate silently.
„Do you like it?" She asked Soujirou who was quietly eating and didn't say much even before the meal.
„Yes, it's really delicious." He paused. „And definitely better than my cooking." Yuki just smiled and continued eating.
When they finished with breakfast Yuki started to clean up the place. As she was washing the dishes she spoke again.
„The weather is finally better so we could go for a walk." She looked at him.
„Yes. I should also check the road. It rained a lot so it might be a problem later when we go back."
Yuki schretched her chin. „Ne, Soujirou-kun, I forgot to ask you before but how did you get here? I didn't see any car on my way. Did you, perhaps, travel by public transport?" She curiously expected his answer.
He laughed softly. „Well, fortunately no. I came by car. It's parked behind the keeper's house."
„Oh, I see. So that's why I didn't see it." She agreed.
„Well then, get yourself ready for a walk. We'll meet in the halway in fifteen minutes." He said and they both went to change their clothes.
Once outside they breathed in the fresh cold air. Soujirou smiled when he saw Yuki enjoying the sun with spread arms and closed eyes. She turned her head and looked at him, smiling.
„I love sun." She said apologetically when she saw his amused countenance. She turned her face to the sky again and his own face beamed into a gorgeous smile. He watched her with tremendous tenderness. And I love you. His whole body stiffened with this unexpected revelation and suddenly he was short of breath. He turned away from Yuki and touched his chest to calm down his beating heart. Searching inside his mind and soul he slowly realized it. It's true. I love Yuki. He started to laugh. Now it all makes sense.
„Soujirou-kun? Are you ok?" Yuki touched his shoulder.
„Hm?" He turned to her still smiling like crazy. Yuki stiffened. His face was full with so much joy that her heart ached.
„No. I mean, yes. Yes, I am. Completely fine." He replied with that heavenly smile lingering on his lips.
Yuki didn't quite believe him but decided to let it be.
„So, shall we go and explore a bit of the nature here?" She winked at him coquetly.
„You're right. Let's go!"
They went down the road and Soujirou checked the state of it.
„It seems like it's ok. I didn't see any trace of possible landslide along the way. And also the road will dry up little bit with the help of the sun till tomorrow." He turned to Yuki who was standing on the side.
„By the way, Yuki, aren't you supposed to be at work tomorrow?"
„No, I'm free until Tuesday. Because this place is so far away from Tokyo I asked Mr. Ogata for two days of leave of absence. Friday and Monday." She answered.
„Ok, I'm done here. Where do you want to go now?" Soujirou walked up to her.
„I'm not sure." She shrugged. „Let's go explore the surroundings of the cottage. I'm afraid that if we go further away we'll get lost." She added.
„Oy, Yuki, where is your sense of adventure?" He asked teasingly.
„Happily resting at home in my room." She bounced back.
He just laughed and followed her. At one moment Yuki tripped and Soujirou caught her quickly before she could fall. They stood for a minute surprised by the sudden contact. Yuki's legs started to tremble as she was unable to move away from her rescuer.
Soujirou hold her in his arms and didn't want to let go. He watched her bowed head and tried to find out what's Yuki thinking.
Finally he loosened up his hold. They stood next to each other akwardly, uncertain of what to say.
„Thank you." Yuki mumbled avoiding his eyes.
„That's ok." Then she tripped again and he reflexively caught her hand.
„It might be better if I hold your hand." He said and grasped her palm firmly with his. She watched their connected hands. His was warm and hers fitted in perfectly.
„I'm sorry, I don't know why I'm so clumsy today." He smiled at her as he guided her down the forest path.
„Are you sure it's just today?"
„Hey! Are you picking up on me?" He laughed and sticked out his tongue at her. She couldn't help it and laughed as well. She let him hold her hand and followed him.
On their way they talked about various things like her work, his work, about her paintings in which Soujirou was really interested in and she asked him what he likes about the tea ceremony. They just walked and talked. They were still holding hands even after they left the small path and entered wider and saver one.
They made a circle walking around the cottage and came back just right for the lunch.
Yuki was kind of sad when Soujirou had to let go of her hand to open the door. The sudden coldness was almost unbearable.
They changed into comfortable clothes and Yuki made them sandwiches which they enjoyed on a terrace accessible from Soujirou's room. They took out two chairs and small table and looked down to the valley beneath them.
„It's really nice here. I understand why Tsukasa wanted to buy it." Soujirou commented the view.
„It used to be a rescue cabin. The one where Tsukushi and Tsukasa spent the night in which Tsukasa remembered everything." Yuki tried to explain.
„Yes, Tsukasa told me about it. Beside that it's also a perfect place for relaxation." Yuki silently agreed.
They stayed there a bit longer and then Yuki excused herself. Soujirou watched her as she left for her room and then started to clean up the terrace from all the stuff they brought there.
Once inside her room, Yuki leaned against the door and closed her eyes. She was at her wit's end. How can I spend another evening with him without telling him... without telling him... She coudn't even finish her thought. She moved slowly to the bed and laid down. She put her arm across her eyes and sighed. It was useless. Completely useless. She was just trying to fool herself all this time. Why did I even try to flatter myself? It was clear right from the start. A tear escaped from the corner of her eye. I still love him. I don't know how he did it but he managed to open that door again. She smiled bitterly. I guess I left him the key.
She rose from the bed and went to the bathroom. She washed her face and stared into the mirror.
„Nice work, Yuki." She said ironically. „Here you are, helplessly in love with Nishikado Soujirou once again." She heard a knocking on the door so she quickly dried her face and opened.
„Are you ok, Yuki?" Soujirou looked at her with a concerned eyes.
She smiled akwardly. „Yes, I am." She paused. „Ehm, Soujirou-kun, would you mind if I lay down for a moment? It seems I'm kind of tired after our walk." She bit her lower lip and looked at him pleadingly.
„Of course I wouldn't mind. Take a proper rest, ok?" He assured her and smiled at her lovely.
She thanked him and closed the door.
They both spent the afternoon in deep thinking, trying to deal with their newly found emotions. None of them was very successfull, they tried to find out a solution only to walk in circles again again. Why? Because there is no way out of love with just thinking.
When it grew dark Yuki finally realized that it's no use hiding in her room and went out. She met Soujirou immediately after she opened the door because he left his room at the same moment. They stared at each other for a second.
„Ehm, I thought it's almost time for dinner so I wanted to go to prepare it." Yuki started to explain akwardly.
„Well, that was my intension as well... Do you want me to help you?" Soujirou offered his help.
Yuki hesitated for a moment. „Yes, of course."
They both went down and somehow settled themselves in the same pattern as in the previous day and morning.
This time Soujirou decided that they need something better than just coffee so he explored Tsukasa's wine cellar and accidentally found the wine they drank on their first dinner. He smiled contently and headed back to the kitchen. There he found Yuki already finishing with steaks that they decided to have for their last dinner here.
He opened the wine to be ready when they start to eat and then decorated the table so in the end it looked like one cut out right from a restaurant specilized on romantic dinners for people in love.
Yuki didn't notice any of his activities because she was fully concentrated on preparing the meal. She was more experienced in japanese food than in the western ones so she had a hard time deciding what type of spices she should use on the meat. She didn't want to ask Soujirou for she wasn't sure he would be of any help so she tried to check up all of the spices on the shelf but gave up in the middle. Too many of them. Let's use the basic ones - salt, pepper and oil. She made a marinade from her chosen ingrediences and dipped the meat in. She left it there soaking and prepared everything needed for the side-dish – potatoes with rosemary and grilled vegetables.
When she finished she wipped off the imaginary sweat from her forehead. Success! She smiled at her final creation.
She turned around and almost dropped the plates. The room looked absolutely astonishing. He even put candles on the table. Before she could recover from her shock he appeared around the corner.
„S-Soujirou-kun, what's with all of this?" She managed to ask still standing at the same spot.
„Don't you like it?" His face saddened.
„No, no, that's not what I meant!" She finally put the plates on the table. „I just don't understand why..." Her voice traced off.
„Well, I thought it would be nice to have our last dinner in a pleasant enviroment." Yuki felt a twinge of pain in her heart. Last dinner... That's right, we're leaving tomorrow and I said I don't want to be his friend anymore. She forced herself to smile.
„You're right. It's really nice, thank you." If he could he would kill himself the moment the words left his mouth. Of course he didn't mean ‚last dinner' as ‚forever last' but it was too late to try explaining it.
He hold the chair for her to sit down and then went to his seat. He poured them the wine and they started to eat silently.
He took one bite and closed his eyes pleasantly.
„Yuki, this is divine. It's the best steak I've ever had." He praised her. Yuki blushed. She tried to cover it with taking the glass of wine and drinking. She tasted it and furrowed her eyesbrows. It seemed familiar to her.
„Soujirou-kun, what's the name of this wine?" She asked.
„Does it remind you something?" He smiled.
„Yes but I don't remember where I drank it." He looked at her mischiefly.
„Would it help if I tell you it's a ‚red wine'? He grinned.
„Ah, I remember! It's the wine from our first dinner!" She laughed pleasantly surprised. He watched her and almost stood up to kiss her delighted face.
„This time you could finally tell me the name of it." She looked at him and waited for his answer. He took his own glass and tasted the liquor.
„Well, it's-" Yuki cut him midsentence. „And don't you dare tell me it's red wine or..." She gave him a warning look.
„Ok, ok. It's Argentinian wine, Tapiz Malbec 2004. Happy, now?" Yuki smiled at him coquetly.
„Pretty much." He just shook his head and they turned to the meal again.
When they finished eating they decided to take another bottle of wine to the living room. Soujirou turned on the cd player and sat down on the sofa next to Yuki. He tried to avoid touching her but it turned out to be very hard, his hands were itching to do so and it also didn't help they were both getting drunk. Just when he managed to hold down his desires Yuki suddenly moved closer and rested her head on his left shoulder. He froze and looked at her, absolutely overhelmed by her unexpected action. He didn't dare to move. Slowly he started to breath normally again and the tension partly left his body but not completely.
„Yuki?" He asked quietly.
She answered with her eyes closed. „Just let me rest like this for a moment." She made herself more comfortable as she placed her head right under his chin.
Still amazed by the course of her doing he thought for a second before he placed his arm around her and hold her even closer. He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent. There wasn't a sweeter fragrance then this.
He was contented just with holding her but his body had a slightly different opinion. He couldn't surpress his feelings dwelling up in his chest anymore. He touched Yuki's face lightly and lifted her chin so she could look in to his eyes.
„Yuki?" She opened her eyes reluctantly. She smiled at him so tenderly that it took all of his willpower to stop his urge to eat her right there.
He bowed down slowly giving her time to shy away but she didn't. When their lips touched it was like a small electric shock ran through their bodies. He nibbled her lips before he finally deepened the kiss. And she let him and even answered to his kiss instantly. Because this was something she imagined and desired for the last five years. Somewhere in the hazy shade of her brain appeared a little warning sign but it disappeared immediately.
They shared plenty of kisses, one sweeter than the other, until it was too much for Soujirou to bear. He pulled away from Yuki's sweet lips and stood up stretching his arm to her.
She looked at him confusedly while still sitting on the sofa. In her misty consciousness she understood that he's giving her a chance to refuse. But did she want to? She watched his hand and smiled. The answer is clear since five years ago.
She looked into his eyes and accepted his hand. He helped her to stand up and they left the living room hand in hand.
