Author's Note: I want to let you all know… I… love you all! (Well, maybe not all of you, but hey.) And reviews help me update faster! (Hint, hint!)

Now, have a nice day! (throws an eggplant at your head)

The Simple Life

-Previous Chapter

"Well…" Makoto started, putting down his fork," I wanted to wait a little longer, but it seems fate didn't want to do the same… You see, it all started when my sister Sakura eloped when I was 11…" And as he told his story, all the men ate their lunches; captivated by the events Makoto had gone through until the lunch break was over.

As for Ito… she's currently trying to get the dirty thoughts out of her head as she continued clipping her husband's clothes onto the laundry line, but to no prevail.

-Chapter 3

Hiro whistled with the breath he was holding while Makoto told his story. "Sounds like you got it tough, buddy," he said, heartily smacking Makoto on the back," Hang in there! Someday, you'll find a life grander than this one!" The 40-year-old waved his arm back and forth to emphasize his statement.

"Yeah," another guy exclaimed," You'll be able to please your wife in any way she wants! And then you don't have to worry about providing for your kids anymore!"

Makoto suddenly choked on the water bottle he was drinking, holding onto the table to regain his composure with Hiro patting him on the back.

"Now, now, Tony," Hiro said to the other man," He's still to young too have kids… Try next week." He said the last part in a whisper but Makoto heard it all the same. He coughed lightly. "I'm kidding, Makoto! Kidding! We won't expect kids from you until you get a better job."

"Which will be next month?" Makoto glared at the man.

"Exactly!" Hiro and the others joked before returning to their workstations.

---

'Argh!' Ito thought angrily, plopping down on the couch and hugging a pillow to her chest,' God! I'm so bored! Why do I have to be the one that has to stay at home and play the housewife! Why can't Makoto do it! He's girly enough!'

With another exasperated sigh, the bored out of her wits woman tossed and turned on the couch, each position more uncomfortable than the last.

Then a long forgotten memory had popped up in Ito's head.

"Fine. I'll go with you, but…" she said, looking away from her partner.

"Ito…" he started, but she interrupted him.

"Just in case, for Plan B!" She said with a blush," You must never give up on your dream! If you do, I'm not going anywhere with you!" She pointed to him.

He caught her hand and pulled her closer. "That's my vow… to never give up." Makoto slid his hand from her cheek to her shoulder in order for him to pull her closer. They kissed, and, at that moment, nothing else mattered.

'Well,' Ito thought, getting up from the couch,' we're already operating on Plan B, but it seems Makoto has given up already. Ever since we came here, I've heard nothing about acting.'

She put on some decent clothing and snatched the extra keys from the counter, shrugging her bag on he shoulder. "He may have given up, but I'm not."

---

Ito sat on the bench, scanning through the Classified Ads section of a newspaper so carelessly dumped on the floor. 'I can get a job while I look for any auditions occurring around here. Mako will never notice! He's always at work anyway. He won't notice a thing.'

But all of them sounded either boring or revolting to Ito… except two. One was a waitress, and the other was… (she shuddered) a model. She preferred the first of the two.

Ito, with her decision made, got up from the bench and began walking to the address stated in there.

---

Makoto walked home, one hand in his pocket and one hand holding the Tupperware that held his lunch.

'I wonder what Ito is doing…' he thought, letting his mind wander. Time seems to fly so fast when you're daydreaming, and Makoto ended up home faster than he had anticipated.

"Ito, tadaima," he called out, expecting the warm welcome he had always received from his wife. But no such thing happened. "Ito…? Where are you?" He noticed all the lights were turned off. There was food prepared and ready on the table.

'Did Ito go out?'

It took Makoto a while to convince himself that Ito was going to come home soon, but he prevailed. He was sitting on the couch; the TV was on though he wasn't watching anything in particular, and the mail that came in today was spread out on the table.

Only one letter was in Makoto's hand and a brief look of shock appeared on his features before going back to a neutral expression. 'Maybe we were too careless…' He carefully hid it under the pile of clothes in their closet, making sure that nothing looked too suspicious. 'Knowing Ito, she'd probably want to get a job to help with this… But I've got to do this on my own… for myself and for her. I've got to hide this.'

With that, Makoto awaited the return of his wife.

----

thundersister: I updated! Even though I'm on writer's block! I forced myself to type! Why?

I have two reasons.

1) School is starting on the 6th! I'm going into 8th grade! Yeah! Go me!

2) My birthday is coming up. It's August 31! And I'm turning 13! Yay! Lucky number! Ah, but I digress. I'll be going to the movies with my friend for my birthday then… we'll be doing all sorts of stuff, which does not include me writing my story!

(My parents watch me like a hawk whenever I'm on the computer! It's a wonder I ever read lemons at all!)

I know, I know. It's short. But what did you expect? It's hard to make a long one when you're on writer's block and you want to treat your reviewers.