Accountability

Chapter Fourteen

-Tour Begins-

"Do you really have to go?" Natsumi frowned, watching Akito as he moved around the room and packed his suitcase for New York. It was early in the afternoon on December 30th, the day Akito was leaving with his band to the other side of the country. She was now thirty eight weeks, only seventeen days short of her due date. "What if I go into labor?" she frowned, brushing some of her pink bangs from her face.

She was laying on her bed in their brand new bedroom. They'd finally moved into the beautiful house that they'd bought together and had been living in for a month now. Hayate's room was ready to house an adorable baby boy, and they'd spent almost every spare moment shopping for things to buy for their new abode, earning their picture in the papers nearly every time they were out.

"If you go into labor, call me, and I promise, no matter what I am doing, I'm on the next flight out of New York to get here. Don't forget that I have a private jet on standby. It'll get me here a lot faster than a plane." He said, shutting his suitcase and zipping it. Then he walked over and kissed her on the forehead. "Don't worry Natsumi, I'm leaving as soon as we're done, which is a day before the guys are. I'll be here for our son's birth."

"Not if my water breaks and you're doing something." She said, still being stubborn. "And then you'll have to drive through New York traffic, wait for the jet and then fly back. I could die in childbirth and you wouldn't even know." She pointed out, huffing up.

He held in a sigh. "Natsumi, please. Even if you call when I'm in an interview, I will leave. Besides, I've gone to those doctor visits with you, and you're in the best of health. It's highly unlikely that you will die in childbirth."

She only glared at him. "But I could. You never know."

"But you won't." he said, moving to take his suitcase off the bed.

"Humph." She crossed her arms, looking off.

He left the room then, taking his suitcase downstairs and putting it by the front door. He had to leave soon, and he was dreading it a little. Natsumi wasn't riding to the airport with him, because of her condition, so he would have to say goodbye to her here. He went back into the bedroom and sat next to her on the bed. "Don't stress yourself out worrying about it honey." He said, reaching over and patting her thigh, what he could reach of it at least. "It's not good for you, or Hayate."

"Don't try and sway me." Natsumi stuck her tongue out at him. "Hayate doesn't want you to leave either."

"I know." He sighed, moving his hand up and rubbing her stomach, feeling his son move beneath his hand. "But this is the last big thing we'll be doing for a while." He looked up at her. "I'll bring you back a souvenir." He sang, trying to calm her down a bit.

"I don't want anything." She pouted.

"Not even one of those t-shirts that says I heart NY?" he asked. "Everybody needs one of those."

She shifted her glare to him then. "I do not heart New York."

"But New York hearts you." He sang once more, nudging her slightly.

She took his arm and bit down on his hand. "Don't you taunt me!"

"Ow!" he snatched his hand away, shaking it a bit. "That hurt woman!"

"Good!" she hissed.

He pouted. "Will you kiss me and make it better?" he asked, sounding like a child.

"No." she said, not budging on the matter. "Not unless you stay home."

"Even if it will make me think of you every second I'm gone?" he asked, leaning closer to her.

She sighed. "Fine." She took his hand back and kissed it chastely before dropping his hand on the bed. "There."

"Well it's better than nothing." He said, reaching into his pocket and pulling something out that he kept hidden behind his back, so that Natsumi wouldn't see it. He sat up, resituating himself so that he was looking into her beautiful jade depths. "Hey Natsumi, I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. And there's something I just have to know."

The pink haired woman looked up at him, still appearing upset at the whole matter. Until, she saw his expression and sobered up. "What is it?"

He brought the small black box out from behind his back and opened it, revealing an exquisite diamond ring that any woman would be happy to receive. "Will you marry me?" he asked softly, watching her face to gauge her reaction.

Natsumi's eyes widened and her heart stopped for a moment. She felt something hollow out her stomach and she couldn't tell if it were a good thing or a bad one. She had to admit, she'd thought of the prospect, but she never expected this. She could no longer grasp a coherent word. Yes, she wanted Akito to be in her son's life and she did want to be with him. But marriage was a huge step, and she didn't know if she were ready for that. If they did they would be forever tied to one another and not just with a child, because in this status, he could still leave her and have another woman. If she said yes, was she confident he wouldn't regret it? "I…uh…are you sure? I mean…I don't know, that's a big step…" she trailed off, her eyes watering with the broken look she now saw on his face.

"Well it makes sense." He said, closing himself off to her as his face turned neutral. All he had to do was act the way she was about it, and he wouldn't be as hurt. He refused to show her how she was affecting him. "Since we have Hayate and all."

She frowned then. "I don't want to get married just because we have a baby Akito…I want it to be something more than that." She reached forward and took his hand hesitantly. "Go to New York and have a wonderful time, and I will think on it, I promise. I just need some time, to assess. This is all happening so fast. I'll miss you while you're gone, and I promise I'll take care of myself and Hayate. I'm sure he'll wait until you come home." She tried to smile, but he wouldn't face her to see.

"Alright." he said. It was a few seconds before he got up from the bed, setting the closed ring bow down on the nightstand. "I'll be back in three days." He told her, walking back over to the door so that he could leave.

Natsumi frowned, watching him. "Be careful…I um…" she almost said it but then he left before she could finish. She lowered her gaze and tried not to cry. "Oh Akito…"

Akito sped down the highway as he headed to the airport. How could she be like that? After everything he'd done for her. He'd cooked, cleaned, catered to her every need, gone to her appointments, done Lamaze, gone to a therapist, basically put his own life and career on hold to help her through this pregnancy. And you know what, it was all her fault she was pregnant anyways. Sure, he could have worn a condom, pulled out, whatever. But she was the one who had come on to him. The entire night had been her idea, so she had no room to talk. But of course the innocent man was the one everybody got mad at.

He hated her. She was just using him. How could she not accept his proposal? He was nicer to her than he was to anybody else in his life, even Toshiro, his best friend. God she was such a bitch.

He pulled into the valet parking at the airport, a scowl on his face. Grabbing his bags, he walked inside, going over to where his band-mates were waiting for him. "Let's go." He said, just wanting to get out of this wretched place that Natsumi inhabited.

Toshiro blinked, walking after his friend, sensing something was wrong. "You okay Akito?" he asked, situating his bag. Assuming what it was, he smiled and placed a hand on the dark haired man's shoulder. "Don't worry. I'm sure Natsumi and Hayate will be just fine."

"Oh I'm sure they will." Akito said, continuing to walk towards the baggage check.

"Just relax. I'm sure you could use a break from the domestic life." The redhead smiled. "Just let loose and have some fun this trip. You deserve it." he nodded.

Akito paused, giving his friend a devious smile. "You're right Toshiro, I do deserve to have some fun."

And that's exactly what he'd do. He would have fun as if he wasn't about to be a father, nor had someone waiting for him.