I am bored. Usagi was working, a sudden work assignment to write for a newspaper. Hidori was in school, taking summer classes. I found out the idiot was a part time student so she could have more time to spy on me. After a very loud discussion I forced her to catch up with summer school.

I had just got off the phone with nii chan. He wanted Usagi and I to have dinner with him. I came up with an excuse about me getting another job. I was afraid he would somehow figure out about the pregnancy. The morning sickness was not as frequent now that I was into the ninth week but my boobs were starting to feel more sensitive. I could not leave bed yesterday morning once Usagi discovered the hardened nipples. Jerk.

Damn June heat. I needed another glass of cold water. And then take a sixth trip to the bathroom. Being pregnant sucks.

The T.V. was on for background noise, the news talking about a cafe being robbed somewhere in Kawagoe. The burglar was caught right away. Now they were talking about some new wedding chapel.

"Coming next, a look at a new chapel, Summer Love, opening next week. It has been sponsored by Usami Corporation." Oh, that's Usagi's family business. I don't really know what exactly is the business (thanks to a certain rabbit). Oh hey, it's Usagi-chichi. "Are you excited for the chapel to be opening? Is it your son, Usami Haruhiko-sama, that will be getting married?" Huh?

"I am very proud for the new development."

Wait, did they say Usagi-ani is getting married? So he will no longer come after me? BANZAI! I don't have to deal with him! Woo-hoo! Someone rang the doorbell. "Coming!"

Who could be here now? I had just unlocked the door when it pushed open, making me fall to the ground. "COUSIN AKIHIKO!"

Ouch, my butt. And my hands sting from catching my fall. I looked up to the ass. It was a girl, a pretty girl, with long black hair. She was wearing a purple kimono and carrying a large suitcase. She looked down and her eyes were cold. "Who are you?"

"Kaoruko? What are yo-MISAKI!" I was picked up from behind. Usagi was looked down. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"What do you want Kaoruko?" He growled to the girl.

She growled back, "we need to talk cousin!" Cousin? Usagi's cousin?

"Here you go." I set down some tea for her. The two sat on opposite couches. I guess Kaoruko was the girl that Usagi-ani was supposed to marry. "They did not ask me about it!"

"How is that my problem?"

"All you have to do is marry me!"

"As if."

"It is not like you have a girlfriend!"

"Says you but I have Misaki!" WHY WOULD HE SAY THAT?

"Ha ha ha, funny joke sensei!' I turned away from her. "Why would you just announce it?"

"This girl?" I looked back at Kaoruko. She was inspecting me. "What is your name?"

"Takahashi Misaki."

"Do you work?"

"I am a student right now."

"What do you do in your spare time?"

What's with the questions. "I like to read manga or cook."

"And you are dating my cousin?"

"...Yes."

"But she is so plain."

PLAIN?

"Say what you want but her ordinary self is what makes her adorable."

"I AM SORRY FOR BEING PLAIN!" I am done with this family. "You need to calm down."

"I am calm!"

"Misaki." Usagi's eyes were so intense. He shifted to my stomach and back up. "Calm." Translated: chill out before you give the child a heart attack. I sighed, heading to the kitchen to get another glass of water. "And you Kaoruko, go home."

"How mean! I won't get married!"

"Why not stay here, at least until this gets sorted out." Damn me and my need to help others. But she looked close to crying.

"No" Usagi answered immediately.

"Look cousin!" Kaoruko pulled out a stuffed bear that I swear was shining. "A limited time stuffed animal made with silk stitching from Nagasaki. Only three in the world!"

"Please make yourself home." You stupid simpleton.

"You need to cut back on the bears." I looked around Usagi's bear room, trying to find a place. Not that I wanted to let go. This bear was so soft! Usagi moved on bear off the shelf to line it up with the others on the floor. He reached for his new bear. Goodbye comfort. I might have to steal it later.

"I will deal with this situation. Leave it my father to set up some stupid marriage arrangement."

Arranged marriages. They sound so ancient. "Um, Usagi, if you and Kaoruko are cousins, isn't that incest if she marries Haruhiko."

He shook his head. "Kaoruko is my cousin on my mother's side. She and Haruhiko are not related by blood." How the hell does that work? Well, Tanaka did say something about Usagi and Haruhiko were half brothers. "Stay out of it."

"Calm down, why would I get in the middle of this?"

"Because it's you."

"Damn Usagi, don't you have any trust in me?"

That question must have shocked him. He froze. 'I do trust you."

"Good, then don't worry about me." I turned to leave but he had pulled me back in his arms to kiss me. "Usagi, your cousin is downstairs."

"It is not just you I am worried about."

"I know."

The next day Usagi went out to get cigarettes. He was going to have to cut down on those once the baby got here. I was bored again so I decided to make cookies. I heard a door close and looked up to see Kaoruko walking over with caution. Her stride was slow and she was looking over the room with a frown. "Where is my cousin?"

"He went to the store, he should be back soon." I put the cookies in the oven. "Would you like something to drink? We have tea, water, or milk."

"Milk please." I poured a glass and handed it to her. "No one cares about what I want to do."

She looked younger when she was pouting. She was supposed to be my age. "I am sure that is not true."

She scoffed. "How would someone as plain as you know?!" Again with the plain! "No one has ever cared about my dreams. I am sure Uncle Usami is pushing this marriage. Arranged marriage? So outdated? What are we, 300 years in the past? And they tricked me! I came rushing home because I was told my father was in a car accident and instead I am told to wed Haruhiko?! That guy has no class! He is so emotionless! I don't want to marry someone like that. But no one wants to hear my opinion!"

Rich people problems. "Well then, what do you want?"

She stopped ranting to look down at the cup of milk. "I...I want to be a pastry chef."

"Pastry chef?"

"DON'T YOU DARE LAUGH!"

"Whoa I wasn't going to! I think it's great. I bake as a hobby, if you want to try one of my sugar cookies. And my and my best friend made this awesome cake two weeks ago. I think I have a picture." I ran to grab my phone. I was rather proud of this cake. It was my first try and it turned out perfect. I was just happy to have taken the picture before Hidori tripped and it fell on Shinobu. I think they still aren't talking.

I held the phone to her when our fingers touch. She jumped away, pulling my phone with her. "Watch it!"

"Sorry."

She looked at the cake. "You made this?"

"Well, my best friend helped but she was more eating."

"Best friend?"

I reached over, careful not to touch her, to switch to another picture Hidori took of us. "Her name is Shiima Hidori. She likes to cook but she cannot boil water to save her life."

"I never had a best friend. My parents were always sending me to different schools and different places to make a friend."

Aw, that is sad. "Well, you cannot pick just anyone to be your friend. Friends are people you can trust and have fun with. I am sure you will find a best friend." The timer went off. "Want a cookie?"

"Uh, yes." She took a bite out of one of the cookies and I actually saw her smile. It was good I must say. The doorbell rang. "Who is that?"

I went over to the monitor. "Hello."

"USAGI-ANI! "One second!" I turned it on mute and turned to Kaoruko. "Haruhiko is here."

"Don't let him know I am here!"

Think, think, what do I do? "Look, if sensei comes back tell him I will be back in three hours." "Misa-" "Three hours." I slipped on my shoes and ran out the door.

So that is how I found myself in a car with Haruhiko. "My father tasked me with finding Kaoruko."

"She can't be far." I could imagine Usagi saying I told you so. It is not like I want to be in these situations. The Usagi family drags me in it!

Haruhiko sighed, "there is nothing to worry about. I have no intention of marrying Kaoruko."

"Really?"

"Yes, why would I marry someone when I am in love with you." Please stop joking. "It was just something my father set up mostly as a stunt for his business. It was all against his wishes."

"Did you tell him you did not want to do it?"

He shook his head, "my father has high expectations for me. The whole family. Working in that company, I always strive to gain approval from everyone. Akihiko was always lucky, as the prodigal child. Everything came so easy for him. It was an uproar when he turned his back on the family business. The burden was then put on me."

Again. Rich people problems. It was such a different world, the difficulties they had to face. Even Haruhiko, bound by his family's life, has to put his own life on hold. That was not fair. Is not that why Usagi left? "What did you want to do?"

Haruhiko looked at me for a moment when the light turned red. "I want to be an architect."

"Architect?"

"I know it is stupid." "No, not at all. You said you worked on that aquarium right? It was so beautiful!"

"I am glad." Huh, holy crap, he's smiling! "I really do love you."

"We are not talking about that."

His phone began to ring. I started to look out the window. We were quite far from home now. "Misaki, I am afraid my father called me into the office."

"That's okay, you can just drop me off here." Last I needed is for him to run into Usagi. He pulled over on one of the streets. "Tell Kaoruko she can return home. I will settle things."

"Okay."

"And also, thank you, I will take your words into account." I waved as he drove off. I guess Haruhiko was not so bad. If he stopped with this whole in love with me thing then maybe we could get along. Great, I did not think to bring any of my stuff with me. No cellphone. No cash. No train pass. Damn me and my lack of thinking before acting. I recognized the area I was in. A good 40 minute walk. Sorry baby, mommy's going to work out now.

"Takakashi?" USAGI-CHICHI!?

He stood with a smile, carrying a large bag. "What a coincidence." Why is he here? Did not Haruhiko get a call from him to go to work?

"Uh yeah, thank you again for the bear statue."

"I am glad you liked it. This is perfect, I snuck out of a meeting to buy some new ornaments I found. I thought you would like one." He pulled out a stuffed bear on a key chain. I held out my hand to take it. "Thank you."

He pulled out another one. "This one is for Akihiko." One more came out. "And this is for Kaoruko." Oh shit. "I know she is staying with you and my son right now."

"Um, Usami-sama…" "And I saw you with my other son right now? Seems you found a way to plant yourself in the middle of this family." Not on purpose! "You seem like a sweet girl Misaki, you would make a cute bride, but you have no standings, no footing in the business world, basically an ordinary girl."

Did he really say that? "Um, why are you telling me this?"

"It is nothing personal Misaki, I do like you, but I am not an idiot. Your presence in Akihiko's life is troubling for my family's business. We lack the ability to move forward. Our world's are different. It would be best if you terminated this relationship you have with my son."

He wanted me to break up with Usagi? "I won't make you decide now but I will need you to make your decision soon. Let's talk about bears next time we meet." He left me standing there, the key chains in my hands. Usagi's father does not accept me. He does not approve of me.

Me and Usagi are wrong for each other? Does that mean, our child is wrong? Usagi. I want Usagi.

I took a huge breath as I made it back to the penthouse. It was a bad idea to run. I walked inside and right into Usagi's arms. "Usagi?!"

"Misaki!" He examined my body. "Why are you sweating? Were you running? You need to lie down."

"What are you doing here?" I mean it was his place but he looked ready to go out.

"Three hours. I waited three hours." Damn, has it been three hours? "I trusted you. So I waited three hours."

Our conversation yesterday popped in my mind, along with what Usagi-chichi told me now. It was bittersweet. Usagi and I have gotten this far, went through a lot already for being together for a year, and now we were being told we do not belong together. It was not the first, Isaka made me aware of it before, but now was different. There was something here that binds us. Unless, Usagi leaves…

"Misaki? What is wrong? What did he do?"

"Nothing! You did great, thank you for trusting me." I cannot let Usagi know what Usagi-chichi said to me. I put on my best smile. "Come on, I am getting hungry."

"Misaki." I did not want him to worry.

"Let's go Usagi." I will not make Usagi worry about me or this child. Everything will be fine.

I hope.


Thank you all who have stuck with me and this story!

To answer your question (Shiranai Atsune), I am following the timeline of the anime but I will deviate from events because obviously Misaki cannot keep the pregnancy a secret forever

Coming up next:

Trip to the Hot Springs


I thought I was done with morning sickness! This sucks! "Do you want water?" Usagi leaned against the counter, smoking his cigarette.

"I want this to end."

"The doctor said they should go away going into your third month."

"I hope." Another wave of nausea had me hugging the toilet.

"That's disgusting." I turned to see Kaoruko walking in. "Food poisoning?"

"Something like that." When I was deemed safe they left so I could brush my teeth. Usagi gave me some water when I entered the living room. "Ok?"

"Yeah." I turned to Kaoruko, only to turn away at her eyes, looking at me with suspicion. Oh I hope she does not figure it out.

She opened her mouth but Usagi beat her to it. "Kaoruko, I just got a call that the engagement is off. Go home."

"How rude! Am I that much of a nuisance?"

"Extremely."

"Why you…" "Calm down you two."

"Just leave."

"I won't leave. I have business with Misaki." Me? She stood up and I was surprised to see a blush on her face as she stood by me. "That cake you made, I want to make it...with you."

"Oh, sure, but it is hard."

"I CAN DO IT!" Ouch, do not need to yell.

"Okay, Hidori wanted to come over but she won't be much help."

Kaoruko growled, folding her arms. "I could care less about anyone else. BUT DO NOT GET COCKY, I JUST WANT TO DO SOMETHING WITH MY BEST FRIEND." She stomped off towards the kitchen.

What did she say? Best friend? "Does she mean me?"

Usagi sighed with frustration, "Exactly what I was afraid of. Kaoruko and I have the same taste in people to spend time with. I was afraid she might hit on you but now its worse if she considers you a best friend."

But, it was kind of flattering. Though she might have to fight Hidori. "It is fine, that means she accepts me." She accepts me. Someone from Usagi's family accepts me.

Usagi surprised me with a kiss on the cheek. "Usagi?!" I turned to see Kaoruko looking in the refrigerator.

"You should only worry about my approval. And you have it already."

I could never prepare myself the times he says such sappiest things. "I know."

"MISAKI! HURRY UP!"

"Hurry, so she can go home." I chuckled, getting up as the doorbell rang. Let the fun begin.