M&M's
Chapter Fourteen: Back in the Land of the Rising Sun
Thoughts
The next morning Aoshi woke up with Mako in his arms and smiled broadly. He brushed the hair from her neck, blew on the exposed skin softly before kissing her tenderly.
Mako sighed in contentment, moving her head, exposing more of her neck to Aoshi's luscious lips.
"Morning." He murmured against her skin.
Mako turned to face him, kissing him squarely on the lips, "Morning." Her emerald eyes sparkled in the gentle morning sun.
"God, I love you." Aoshi whispered before kissing her again.
Mako blushed, not used to such verbal admissions of love. She brushed away a lock of hair that fell in his face, "I love you too." She smiled as his smile grew larger. She giggled when his stomach growled, "Come on love, let's make breakfast."
A year and a half later, Mako and Aoshi were going over blue prints for her new restaurant, she was finally going to open her first restaurant at the end of the year in Japan. She had gained critical acclaim after apprenticing in Italy for a year. Aoshi, being the amazing architect that he is, designed her entire restaurant, leaving all the designing up to her. He was also an investor in her place, although he already knew it was going to be a success. Several of his previous clients had also invested in her endeavor, so the funding seemed endless. Anything that her little heart desired she was able to get, her restaurant was already being hailed as the crème de la crème of dinning establishments… and it hadn't even opened yet.
All the pressure was beginning to get to her, "Aoshi, what the hell am I thinking? I'm never going to be able to live up to all of this hype!" She sighed dejectedly as she pushed the blue prints aside and rested her head on the table.
"It's not hype if it's true." He soothingly rubbed her back, "We've gone over these enough for today, let's go home."
Mako looked up at him, "I with I could, but I'm meeting with Kaitlin to go over uniforms and such in an hour." She smiled apologetically at him, "But you go home, I'll be there for dinner." She kissed him as he nodded.
"Alright love, I'll see you later." He kissed her again and left her to go over uniform designs.
"Koto darling! Come here please!" a strong sensual baritone voice rang out as soon as Mako entered their apartment.
She smiled as she tossed her keys on the table, she and Kaitlin had taken an hour to decide on a uniform for the waiters, and she was exhausted, "Aoshi? Where are you?" she called out as she searched for her boyfriend.
"In the bedroom love."
Mako walked down the hall to their bedroom and opened the door, "Oh my!" she gasped.
The floor had been adorned with rose petals, white, red, and every shade of pink in between. Candles had been scattered through out the room giving it a sensually romantic glow. There was a note on the bed telling her to go to the bathroom. She smiled as she complied, wondering what other surprises Aoshi Shinimori had in store for her. She turned on the bathroom light only to find a beautiful pale whisper pink strapless dress hanging with a note attached that read "Wear me" she slipped into it and was awed by her reflection, the dress fit her like it had been made for her. She took her hair down and brushed it till it shone. She grabbed a rose that was sitting on the counter and used it to pull her hair partially up. She touched up her makeup and stepped back out into her bedroom, to see Aoshi standing there in a suit. She blushed furiously as a mixture of love, lust and desire burned in his ice blue eyes. Slowly the two made their way towards each other, where their lips crushed into one another passionately.
"What's the occasion?" she smiled after they separated.
He sat her down on the edge of her bed, "Mako, there's something I need from you." He knelt before her, "I need you in my life, I want you in my life. I didn't think I was capable of falling in love until I met you, and I don't want to live without this feeling ever again." He paused as he reached into his pocket, "I guess what I'm trying to say is, that I love you and I want to know if you'll do me the honor of marrying me?" he opened the tiny box to reveal a three stone diamond ring. The center ring was pink 2 carat princess cut while 2 one carat princess stones sat on each side.
Aoshi looked up at the woman he loved, and smiled at the extremely cute look of shock that was gracing her beautiful face. "Of course!" she lunged off the bed knocking him down as she hugged him, kissing him passionately.
Aoshi's rich laughter filled the room, "I could get used to this." He sat up, pulling Mako into his lap as he slipped the ring on her finger. He kissed her softly, "Come on love, we've got reservations at Le Eiffel."
Two weeks later, Mako stepped off the plane, back in the land of the rising sun. Home she smiled, It's been too long. She had come home only a few times during her four years away. She had just finished her internship in Italy and was getting ready to open her own restaurant here in Tokyo. Aoshi designed andwas buildingthe restaurant just for her, the restaurantwhich was still un-named, she couldn't think of anything that fit perfectly, perhaps the girls could help her.
She had missed home a great deal, and the girls would come to visit her, but when it was time for her to head back, she would always find some way to only have to stay for a day or two. In truth she was afraid, afraid of seeing Mamoru again, but now, she wasn't alone, she had someone who loved her completely.
She hadn't told her friends of her engagement, nor that she was planning on opening a restaurant in Tokyo, she wanted to surprise them all.
"MAKO!" she heard the girls scream and before she even had the chance to look up she was glomped by 4 bodies.
Mako laughed, "I've missed you guys too, but I kind of need to breathe." She gasped for air.
"Yea, I'd like her to live long enough to become my wife, if you don't mind." A voice interrupted the girls reunion.
Four heads turned to the speaker and their jaws dropped, this guy was gorgeous, not to mention a dead ringer for Mamoru. Then they all turned to her, as Mina grabbed her hand looking at the ring.
"You're engaged!?" she exclaimed.
Mako giggled and nodded, "Girls I'd like you to meet Aoshi Shinimori, my fiancé."
Aoshi smiled and bowed playfully, "It's an honor to meet you, Mako speaks very highly of her sisters."
"Mako he's gorgeous!" Mina exclaimed as she checked out Aoshi who blushed softly.
"Don't mind her," Mako went to his side as he wrapped an arm around her lovingly. "This is Rei Kumada," The raven haired miko extended her hand for a shake. "And this is Ami Anderson, Usagi Kou, and Minako Furuhata." Mako introduced her best friends to the man in her life.
"Well Mako, everyone's waiting for you at the Crown." The girls lead Mako and Aoshi through the terminal to the car waiting outside.
"The Crown, isn't that the arcade/café you told me about" Aoshi asked as he got into the car.
"Yea, you remembered." Mako smiled.
"Of course, I remember everything you say." He kissed her quickly.
"Mako he's adorable!" Mina exclaimed again, causing the couple to blush.
"So how did you two meet?" Usa inquired.
"Well, ICI has an end of the year banquet where the top three students cater a major business party." Mako began as she stared dreamily at Aoshi.
"And two years ago my company was lucky enough to have been graced with the culinary talents of this enchanted angel." His smile grew larger as she blushed, "She made anmitsu for desert, and when I saw a little touch of home, I just had to meet the chef who made them."
"He came into the kitchen and stayed there with me for the rest of the night, the rest is history." Mako finished tweaking the story a bit.
Twenty questions later, the group arrived at the Crown, "Come on love," Mako pulled Aoshi in for a tender kiss, "You have to meet my brothers." She giggled when Aoshi paled slightly, "Don't worry, they'll love you."
"How can you be so sure?"
"Cause I do." She smiled as she took his hand in her and lead him inside.
"WELCOME HOME MAKO!" The group of people shouted as the brunette entered the café. Emerald eyes began to water as she looked around at all the people who meant anything to her stood there, welcoming her back. She watched as their eyes all diverted to Aoshi, some taking double glances, to make sure that it wasn't Mamoru.
Each of the outers came up and gave her a hug, as she introduced them to Aoshi, who remembered him fondly. Then came her brothers, "Aoshi, these are my brothers, Mina's husband Motoki Furuhata, Ami's husband, Greg Anderson, Rei's Husband Yuuchiro Kumada, and Usagi's husband Seiya Kou. Guys this is my fiancé Aoshi Shinimori."
"Your what?!" they all exclaimed.
She showed them her ring as Aoshi put his arm around her, kissing the top of her head, "I'm engaged you guys."
"What?!" the outers shouted, completely shocked, "Tell us all about it!" Hotaru grabbed Mako and dragged her away to where the girls had gathered.
"Wow," Greg smiled, "Congrats Aoshi, I'm sure you'll be happy together." He shook hands with Aoshi.
"Ya, you really got yourself a wonderful girl." Yuuchiro added.
"Don't I know it." Aoshi smiled as he shook hands with Yuuchiro.
"But we're warning you now." Seiya glared,"If you hurt her in anyway,"
"We will hurt you." Motoki finished.
Aoshi smiled, "I'm so enamored with her that if I ever do hurt her, I'll hurt myself. She's my everything."
Motoki and Seiya smiled, "That's what we wanted to hear! Welcome to the family!" they exclaimed happily as they gave Aoshi a hearty pat on the back.
"Who's joining the family?" a new voice was heard, causing Aoshi to turn around to meet the new comer. His breath caught as he looked at someone who looked remarkably a lot like him.
In an instant he knew who he was facing, "You must be Mamoru." Aoshi stuck out his hand to shake.
"That would be me," Mamo shook the hand, "I'm sorry have we met before?"
Aoshi shook his head, "No, but I've heard a lot about you," he smiled a small smile at Mamoru's confused expression, "My name is Aoshi Shinimori, and I am Makoto's fiancé."
Just like that Mamoru's world came tumbling down, Mako's engaged? My kirei is engaged? Well what did you expect Mamo-baka? For her to wait for you forever? Mamo shook himself out of his thoughts, "Mamoru Chiba, it's nice to meet you."
Mako approached Aoshi, not noticing Mamo, "Aoshi, Shino my best friend just arrived, you have to meet him." She came up beside him, finally noticing Mamoru standing there. "Ru." The name just slipped from her mouth.
"Hey there Ko, it's been a long time."
Green stared into blue, "Yes it has."
"I just wanted to say welcome home, and I guess now congratulations are in order, so congrats." He hugged her then turned to Aoshi, "You're an extremely lucky man Aoshi, extremely lucky."
Aoshi looked at Mako, "I know, I thank Kami everyday that she chose me."
Mamo watched in heartbreak as the woman of his dreams stood happily in the arms of another. He turned away from the sight and sighed, he was a fool to have let her go, and a moron to think that she would wait for him.
He stood up and tried to leave unnoticed when a hand reached out and grabbed his shoulder, "Leaving so soon?" Mamo turned to face his twin.
"Yea, Mako doesn't need me here."
"That maybe true, but I know that she wants you here." The two men turned to stare at the woman who owned their hearts, one happy and one depressed as she showed off her engagement ring.
Mamo turned back to Aoshi, "Take care of her for me, she deserves nothing but the best." Aoshi nodded in silent agreement, "I have an early morning at the hospital, congratulations again Aoshi, you're the luckiest man alive." With one last look Mamoru left.
Mako looked up just in time to see him leave, not even Aoshi could ignore the look of pain in her eyes. Aoshi took her into his arms, "I don't think we'll ever be the same, I think our friendship is over."
Aoshi kissed her softly, "Nonsense, he has an early morning at the hospital, he told me to tell you bye."
Mako smiled before kissing him again, "I love you."
"And I you."
Mamo drove home, thinking of happier times with Mako, times when she was his. He was so lost in reverie he didn't notice the light had turned red, andnot even his tuxedo mask reflexes could save him now.
As he collided withthe truck, smashingthe red sports carinto a wall like a toy, the only thing on his mind was Mako, I'll always love you.
A few miles away Mako grabbed her chest as an unexplained force tugged painfully at her heart. She turned pale and began gasping for breath, Aoshi caught her as her legs gave way, Mamo.
"Mako! Mako!" he called out as her eyes rolled back and she passed out.
Ami stepped forward and ordered Aoshi to place her down on the counter. Aoshi stood by Mako's side, holding her hand while Ami checked her over.
When Ami was done she smiled reassuringly at Aoshi, "She's fine, just passed out, has she been under a lot of stress lately?"
Aoshi breathed a sigh of relief as he nodded, "Yeah, she was nervous about coming back home and the wedding, and the restaurant opening."
Ami smiled, "That sounds like our Mako, you should take her home and put her to bed, she needs to rest."
Aoshi nodded as he picked her up, and with the assistance of Seiya and Motoki, got her into his car and headed to his Tokyo penthouse.
Mako shot out of bed later that evening, Aoshi immediately sitting up next to her, "Shhh…" he whispered soothingly, collecting her in his arms, pulling her back to bed, "It's ok."
"What happened?" She asked snuggling into Aoshi's warm embrace.
"You fainted, Ami said that your body and mind have been under too much stress and that you need to relax."
Mako nodded as she began to fall back to sleep, before sleep could fully claim her, her eyes shot open, "Mamo!"
Ha ha ha! Everyone thought I was going to kill of Aoshi... but now, I might kill off Mamo, everyone seems to like the whole Aoshi/Mako thing... but then I'd have to change the title... who knows where my muse will lead.
Thanks:
Moongoddess86: Thanks for the sweet review, I feel so honored that you consider me one of your favorites.
Clemen: I haven't thought of putting in a connection between Mamoru and Aoshi, but I'm sorta leaning to changing the story to have her with Aoshi... who knows :)
Cris: Thanks, I'm liking the chemistry between Aoshi and Mako, so much that like I told Clemen, I'm thinking of changing the story around...
Becks: Everyone seems to love Aoshi, so confused as to where to take the fic from here...
Mar-Mar: LOL you thought that I was going to kill off, but what if I kill off Mamo instead? I could go all sci-fi and have him posess Aoshi so he could be with Mako again...
Yassig: Sorry I spelt your name wrong in the last thank you... I sent you an invite to the c2! Glad to have you aboard.
JupiterHime: Thanks! I can't wait for you to update too! Are you ever going to update anything?
LadyDragonGuardian: Who knows where the muse winds will blow, who Mako will choose... Thanks for the love! :)
Reading Recommendation: The Rose Earrings by Yassig, it's such a great story thus far, so go check it out!
One Love,
Athena Kyle