DISCLAIMER: not mine, except the plot!
DEDICATION: Tanu Goel, girl this one is for you! We had a rocky start at this friendship thing but I believe I found a good friend in you!
A/N: I am sooooooooooooo sorry! My cousins did not let me get anywhere near my laptop or novels or phone for that matter! But now I am back and I am ready to type some goodness!
Also this is an unedited chap so plz bear with me!
I got this review from a guest which said that it had been 6 days and I had not updated, I am sorry but trust me your msg left a huge smile on my face, this chap is a little longer just becoz I wanted to please you! So whoever it was I hope you are now happy!
PLZ ENJOY AND REVIEW
Chapter 10: So sick
"So you both have decided to get married at the 20th September, which is a rather odd time for a wedding. Though it is only a month from today!" Sakura quipped.
"I know, you would think so, you had the perfect spring wedding, but we decided that would be the most appropriate time to get married." She replied
They were out shopping again, and Misaki swore that another shopping trip in the same month would kill her as well as her wallet. But now the girls had a legitimate reason for these spa and shopping trips and she really never could deny them anything they ever wanted even before, no matter how much she loathes what she indulges in.
"And why is that?" Harumi was genuinely curious.
"It's Takumi's reasoning basically; I just went along with it. He says that marrying so close to my birthday will give us double reason to celebrate every year and this year we will be on a long vacation as my birthday present, so he thinks it's appropriate."
"It's a honeymoon Misaki, not a vacation. And Usui sure has a nice reason."
"When did you decide all this?"
"Three days back, we went to the beach, and decided all this while walking along the waves. It was fun."
"And this tells me that your senses are impaired. It's not fun Misaki, it's called romantic, poor guy. He took you to the beach, talked about marriage and honeymoon, and you quote all of that as fun! That's outrageous!" Sakura voiced her opinion.
"I second that." Harumi added.
"Me too." Shizuko's quite voice was clear.
"God! What do you people take me for? I am not that heartless."
"Please don't tell me that when he mentioned your birthday present as an extended honeymoon, you kissed him under the moonlight!" Harumi mocked her.
"No, but I am nice to him, and I did thank him, properly."
The last word caught everyone's attention, and they flocked around her like birds around bread.
"How properly?"
"What do you mean?"
"How did you thank him?"
"Gosh I should have known that you three were just leading me. I am not telling you anything, at all!"
"Oh come on don't give me that 'it's private' bullshit. We are the wives of men who are best friends with each other; it's our duty to dig things out for our own advantage in future. Take my advice Misaki, wives should always have the upper hand in the war of husbands vs. wives." Harumi said.
"God, what new business venture of Tora's has made you get into all that business – y talk?" Sakura asked.
"I think it's the one with Kanou." Shizuko said amused.
"You are not taking me seriously, when one day they all are going to discuss the flaws of their wives, we need something to stop it before it even begins, and that is possible if and only if we create a united form to show them that they are never going to surpass us in any way possible, especially the husbands vs. wives battle."
"Okay stop saying that, it starting to sound creepy. And get this shopping spree over with." Misaki requested.
"Really Harumi, that is by far the most disturbing thought I heard from you and what exactly is this husbands vs. wives?" Sakura looked as confused as she sounded.
"No No don't start it with her, I don't think I have the capacity to hear her reasoning at the moment." Shizuko was visibly shaken.
"And just for the record I am pretty sure Takumi will never 'say' anything about me to his friends, he is not going to discuss my 'flaws' with them Harumi, none of our husbands would. I am pretty confident." Misaki said, her voice creating invisible air – quotes at the words say and flaws.
"See Harumi, and this comes from a girl who is not yet married and not even in love – I think." Sakura had a wicked grin on her face.
Misaki had made herself promise that she would not blush over claptrap but what they said and how they said it always left her chagrined. But she decided she will face them head on.
"I know this because I know this. Why do you all expect anything else? I have known that guy my entire life, so yes I know things." She made her way out of the store to curb any further discussions on this topic. Everyone but Harumi followed, she went to a discreet corner to wipe the tears that escaped everyone's notice and only after fixing herself to perfection she joined them.
Misaki did notice the now quiet Harumi and her full concentration on her I – phone, but no one noticed her red rimmed eyes, sexy bangs had many perks for her.
"Harumi, why are you so quiet?"
"Hmmm… Oh nothing. Just texting Tora, he is coming to pick me up soon."
They were in a 7 star restaurant and so damn hungry that finishing up most of the ordered dishes did not take long.
"Is he? Then I will call Kuuga to come pick me up too." Sakura's sentence followed the chime of her phone screen being unlocked.
"Is Kanou with Tora, they might be together. I remember he had a meeting with his company."
"I'll ask."
Ten minutes later it was decided that the girls would be picked up by their respective spouses, except Misaki, because (a) she did not wanna disturb him, he must be in some sort of meeting and (b) she was highly embarrassed over the prospect of his coming there just to give him a ride to her home.
When everyone entered the restaurant, namely Tora, Kanou and Kuuga, they were greeted in unison and to everyone's surprise Tora went straight to Harumi and hugged her, whispering something in her ears to which a nod came as reply. Everyone averted their eyes feeling as if they were interrupting something private.
When they parted and he kissed her forehead, everyone was looking everywhere but not at them.
"So how were your shopping spree girls?" Kuuga asked effectively changing the atmosphere.
"Nice. Brought a lot of stuff."Sakura answered.
"Good, wanna go some place? Let's go to that new art gallery you wanted to go." Tora was saying this to his wife with a face that was probably never before seen by anyone else rather than his wife. Something between soft and love and adoration.
"Yeah, why not? You guys wanna come?" she asked everyone else.
"Yes I want to go there too, and you promised me Shizuko you would come and accompany me, so do that. We all will go." Sakura had revived spirits again.
"I don't think I can, I have a little work to catch up on and moreover I did not bring my car." Misaki explained.
"Oh please, you are coming with us and so is Takumi, call him." Kanou ordered.
"No I ca - -"
"Stop, don't complete that sentence and call him."
She sighed and picked up her phone from her purse. She hit speed dial as everyone looked at her expectedly. Five rings later it went to voice-mail, she did not leave any message.
They asked her to call again, they knew very well that Takumi was not likely to ignore her calls. Right? After four straight voicemails a very funny feeling settled at the bottom of her pit and there was a visible frown on her face. No one uttered another word, in their twenty years of history together; he has never ignored her calls.
"Maybe he is busy…." Sakura's suggestion lacked conviction.
But the thought of his texting her during a business meeting made her doubt the probable truth of this statement. She somehow needed to confirm this for herself, it was still not settling well with her.
"Maybe he is busy. I will ask his assistant about his plans."
She called his assistant, it was the first time she was doing so, and this gave her another set of unnerving feelings, her stomach felt funny, a weird tickle at the bottom on her abdomen.
"Hello, hi Maria this is Ayuzawa Misaki."
"Oh hello Ms. Ayuzawa, how can I help you?"
"Is Takumi there, or in some meeting? I have been calling him but he is not picking my calls."
"Oh! I am sorry ma'am, but sir did not come to the office today. He did not even inform as a matter of fact, that left us quite befuddled. We are even not sure where he is!"
"I see, thank you."
That left her a bit scared, and that funny pull at the bottom of her stomach increased ten folds.
When words left her mouth they were as timid as she felt. "No one knows where he is, not at office and not picking up his phone, and I think I am scared! I feel funny about this. FIND HIM!"
"Calm down, he will be around somewhere, we will find him don't worry!" Kanou was first to say.
"Yeah, let's try his house; he must be there if no one can reach him." Kuuga said.
"You are right, he will be there." Misaki had a sudden bounce and she almost ran towards her car. Everyone followed her and they reached his house within minutes jumping a few lights and luckily none got a ticket.
Misaki left her car unparked and keys in the ignition she ran towards the front door.
When others followed her, Tora and Harumi entering last.
"Is she Okay? Why is she so agitated?" Kuuga finally voiced what was on every boy's mind to his wife. And every girl stared him with such incredulity that left Tora and Kanou happy that they didn't put their foot in their mouth.
"Are you kidding me? How would have you reacted if I went unreachable and astray, huh?" Sakura asked slightly angry.
"Point taken."
Misaki was looking around for someone she was sure would know his whereabouts, these many servants and only a few were useful. She soon spotted Satsuki, the maid who supervised almost everything in the mansion and after Takumi's mother's death she was the closest thing he got for a mother.
"Satsuki. Satsuki, have you seen Takumi? Is he home?" her words were punctuated with pants as she was almost out of breath.
"Oh, I should have called you, I am so sorry Ayuzawa, I completely forgot to mention it to anyone, this reminds me that I did not even inform the office, this means no one knows about his whereabouts - - "
"Satsuki! Stop, and tell me where is he and what happened?"
"Sorry! He is sick."
A silence ensued the room, and everyone except Misaki laughed. She sighed instead.
"Sick? When was the last time he fell sick, it's been so long since he last fell sick." Misaki said
"You are right, the last time he fell sick he was ten."
"Where is he?"
"In his room."
"Did he eat? He doesn't eat when he is aggravated or sick or angry or – whatever, did he eat?"
"No he did not, he has mostly been sleeping all day long, and sneezing for the interval he is awake."
"Oh lord – guys, I think you all should go, I'll stay here and get some food in his system."
"No Misaki we can't really leave you with him and go to a gallery, especially when he is sick." Shizuko reasoned.
"No no you all do not need to feel bad or anything, and I did tell you that I don't want to go, guess this is my escape and moreover I am sure you all clearly remember the five times he had fallen sick before." She chuckled at the memory and everyone had similar amused expressions accompanied with 'yeah' and 'oh yes!'
"Why what happened before? And did he really just fall sick ONLY FIVE TIMES?" Harumi was the latest addition to the group so she clearly had never seen him sick before.
"Yes, this would be sixth. And about before let's say long story super short he becomes a whiny kid and doesn't cooperate." Misaki answered.
"But that was when he was a kid, now he knows how everything works and he would cooperate, I am sure."
"Yeah right." Tora snorted, "that is the exact reason he hadn't eaten anything and I am pretty sure not taken any meds too."
"He has not." Satsuki confirmed.
"See you all go ahead and go to that art gallery, don't hold up on my or his account. Go and get some good wine and gourmet food and I will accompany Mr. Usui on his dinner of porridge and chicken soup."
"I feel bad about you eating porridge, when he is the one who is sick. Can we get you something to eat, something you crave like a hot dog or that ice cream you love. Man I want to eat some right now." Harumi offered.
Misaki laughed, "Thanks but no thanks, he will throw a fit about porridge and chicken soup if I don't eat it with him, I know him , he thinks that if he is sick others need to pretend he is not at all sick. Don't worry I have done all this the last five times, this time won't be any different. I will get him to eat something, slip him some cold meds when he tries to convince me that he never gets sick and leave the moment he falls in a deep slumber. It's a routine I have always followed and it had always worked and tomorrow morning he will call me and thank me for taking care of him. As usual!"
Everyone nodded and left telling her to tell him to 'get well soon'. And Satsuki left to get the chef prepare some chicken soup and porridge.
She tip toed through the halls that led to his room, this mansion can creep the hell out of anyone, when she pushed open the door he was half sitting on the extra large bed and throwing used tissues around the room.
"Takumi." Her voice went to that protective soft mode.
"Misaki?"
She now entered his room and sat at the foot of the bed. "Yeah. Why are you not picking up your phone?"
"Huh? My phone? I don't know where it is." His voice was heavy and felt laden with sickness.
"I was worried, you should have at least informed Maria." She almost scolded him.
"Sorry?"
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, what is wrong with me?"
"Nothing. I was worried so I came here looking for you."
"That is nice of you, and I am really sorry for troubling you." She blushed
"Yeah, and I haven't eaten anything yet, I am sorta hungry. Did you eat?" she knew how to manipulate him, will definitely come handy in future.
"No, not yet."
"Good, then we will eat together, I don't have the energy to go anywhere, can I eat here? With you?"
"Are you kidding me? You don't need to ask this Misaki, of course you can stay here and do whatever you want and soon enough you would be as much a part of this house as me, so no need to ask me or anyone for that matter about anything. You can rule over this palce." This was the sick Takumi speaking.
She chuckled, " I don't want to rule over this place. And it's good that I asked Satsuki to make chicken soup and porridge while I was coming upstairs. You don't mind that right? I wanted to eat porridge so…."
Takumi looked around sheepishly, "Yeah I don't mind at all, I am happy to eat anything with you and for you."
She blushed and Takumi thought that it's only fair that two play at a game.
"Good to know."
As if on cue a maid followed by Satsuki knocked the door and set up their food tray on his bed. Takumi's face while eating the porridge was priceless, but true to his words he ate all of it and even a bowl of chicken soup.
Finishing their meals Misaki cleared the plates away and handed him a glass of water with a white tablet.
"What is that?"
"What do you think it is?"
"I would like to pretend that it is a sedative and you have dirty thoughts and that you want to ravish me in my sleep."
"Keep dreaming idiot. And eat that before I actually hurt you so bad that you would need a sedative."
"Will you ravish me then?" how his voice sounded innocent was beyond Misaki.
"No now eat before I leave."
"You won't stay until I fall asleep?"
Her face softened a bit, "That was the original plan but if you will act this perverted I might leave before that."
"Okay I will behave just don't go yet." And his words were followed by the pill going down his throat.
"Good now pretend that you are sleepy and soon you will sleep." She was about to sit on the huge recliner near the window when he said,
"Sleep with me tonight." His voice matching that of a ten year old.
"Whatttt?"
He pulled back his covers a bit and motioned for her to come on his bed, "Lie with me Misa, that is all I am asking and you say I am a pervert, you have a perverted mind."
"Sorry, I just – I thought – I – I will now shut up and lie down."
This was routine, she always had to comply whatever he asked for when he was sick but before today the requests were not so – personal, it usually consisted of reading to him or stroking his back (that put him to sleep soon) or just speaking (her voice was always a balm for him), so without a protest she went to lie with him with a hammering heart which she was sure he would notice the moment she sits on the bed.
When she lied with him he spooned her, and it was not only her heart that was beating fast enough to pass for a train engine.
"If we are going to be honest with each other in this relation then I must tell you that you are making it hard for me to breath."
"Are you Okay? Why is it hard to breath, is something the matter? How can I help you?"
He laughed so loud that she froze in her half turned position towards him.
"You are going to make it very hard for me to be romantic, won't you?"he was now cupping her face,
"You are so beautiful that it is hard to breath at times." His voice was nothing above a whisper and eyes half lidded due to sleep or otherwise was yet unknown. Her eyes on other hand were round as saucers and face a deep shade of red.
"I – me- I am not….."
"Shhhh. You'll ruin it again." He was almost atop her and they were now millimeters apart. Soon that distance was covered and Misaki sighed at the feel of it, she was somehow relieved at the contact and Takumi moaned. Misaki was so satisfied with the sudden kiss that the moment he pulled away she made a sound of protest and he chuckled.
"I am sorry Misa, but trust me no one wants to continue this more than I do, but if you catch a cold then I will be held responsible, and I sort of really want to experience married life with you before I die." Misaki snorted as a reply.
"If you are going to take care of me like this every time I get sick I might get sick more than usual just to see you like this - all worried and motherly!"
"Are you admitting to being sick?"
"When did I say I was sick? I don't recall – "
"But you just said – "
"If I do admit it, will you always stay with me like this?" this was whispered at her ear while his head rested on her shoulder. She shivered.
"No matter what you say or do Takumi, I am not going anywhere, at least not before I give it an honest try!" she added the last just for the sake of unforeseeable future.
"And you are not allowed to cheat on me!" her voice amused.
"I would never, I swear!" and after a pause he continued.
"I don't like not knowing how things will turn out to be." His face marred by a frown now.
"I know, I feel exactly the same way."
"What if we fall in love with each other?" this was said in a slight uncertain tone which made Misaki doubt the purpose behind the question.
"It is a possibility, and who knows if such a thing is to happen it will only be easier for us."
He snuggled closer to her, his nose now completely buried in her hair. She felt oddly fulfilled about it.
"Will you be happy if you fell in love with me?" it was an odd question and she knew it was because he was almost asleep – the medicines working, she was even doubting he would remember the conversation in the morning.
She took her time to contemplate an answer and whispered it wondering if he was asleep.
"I would never be happier about anything else."
"Hmmm, me too. Me too." His voice was very heavy with sleep and the way he was holding her she knew it was impossible to get out of his iron grip, so she gave up even before trying and fell asleep herself holding his head in place on her shoulder with her own head on top of his. A neck spasm in the morning was inevitable anyhow!
A/N: I know you were expecting a much timely update and I AM REALLY SORRY! But anyhow, I typed and typed and this is the longest by far. I hope you like it, something tells me that my last chapter was unsatisfactory for a few out there! I have an entrance paper tomorrow for which I am not at all prepared! So wish me luck! Just kidding, no luck can help me now. Next update would be much sooner. I promise!
But for that will to write more I need a lot of input on how am I doing, so plz review. I am so looking forward to it.