Title: Cherry Blossom 8/13

Author: Haruka

Disclaimer: I don't own GW.

Pairing: 1?

Rating: R

Warning: OOC, AU, angst, sap

Note: Thanks to my great beta silver-eyed! Enjoy and please read & gimmy feedback!

( ) means they are speaking in Japanese.

2am. Heero woke up, feeling someone touching his arm, then heard a loud clash of thunder. He opened his eyes to find a frightened Ayako looking down at him. There was another flash of lightening followed closely by loud thunder. The lightening had illuminated a frightened Ayako at the side of his bed.

"Ayako?"

"Husband, can I sleep with you?" she asked, visibly shaken from the storm. Before Heero could reach out to her, she screamed as another thunder and lightning crashed. Heero didn't say anything, he pulled her into his bed and under the covers with him, wrapping his arms around her. Soon she stopped shaking but she still clung to Heero. The fact that he was only wearing boxers made her blush. She could feel the hair on his legs tickle her legs. But he was warm and held her tightly; she felt safe and comfortable. His body heat made her fall asleep quickly. Heero leaned his head over hers and soon fell asleep himself.

---------

Two months later.

"Ayako?" Heero called out as he walked into the house, "Are you ready?"

Ayako started down the stares with two large suitcases. Heero ran up the stairs and took them from her.

"Is this everything?" he asked her and she nodded.

"I still don't understand," she protested.

"Don't worry, love, it's a surprise. Besides we'll get to stay in a five star hotel for a while with spacious rooms and king-sized beds," he told her, wiggling his eyebrows, making her laugh. They left the house and about an hour later, they were in up-town checking into a very pricey hotel.

Ayako looked around in awe. For 3 weeks, Heero and Ayako stayed in the classy hotel. Heero showed her the massage parlor, the pool and Jacuzzi, the dinner and dance hall, the inner shopping area and much more.

Ayako favored the golf courses; at least the golf carts were fun to drive even though she wasn't very good. Heero would laughed when she would try to drive. He had bought her a long white summer skirt and a casual golf and regular shirt. She wore the golf outfit as he tried to teach her how to play. She would get so happy when the ball finally made it into the hole after over a hundred strokes. The other players weren't so happy, but Heero didn't care, especially when she would actually jump up and down and hug him, all because she got the ball in the hole.

They also spent a lot of time at the pool. After much convincing, Heero got Ayako into a one piece black bathing suit with a matching sarong that reached mid thigh. Ayako didn't know how to swim so she mostly stayed in the shallow end of the pool, but she looked so happy anyway. Heero was very happy as well, so much so that he couldn't stop smiling.

"Ayako, would you like something to drink?" Heero asked her as he held her in the pool.

"Ok," she said kissing his lips. Heero smiled at her distracting behavior.

"I'll be right back," he said and walked up the steps and out of the pool. He made his way to the pool side bar and ordered two Sprites. As he waited he turned around to watch Ayako. She was trying to swim around, holding on to the flower-printed white doughnut floater he had bought her. Her long hair was wet and it fanned out around her in the water. There was a smile firmly planted on her face.

She padded around a bit more with it, then pulled it off over her head and sat down on the pool steps to wait for him. As Heero watched, two other hotel guests were near by talking and Heero couldn't help but hear.

"You'd think with all the money Heero Yuy has, he'd buy his girlfriend some breasts," a red headed woman said to the blonde one. "Yeah like mine. I think he'd prefer something bigger, or at least something that was there," the blond said laughing.

"I like her just the way she is, thank you," Heero said with a false cheer in his voice, surprising both women, who turned around to see him standing behind them.

"Mr. Yuy! I'm so sorry, we didn't see you," the red head started.

"We didn't mean anything," the blonde finished a bit lamely.

"Why, I guess I don't really mean it when I say that your breasts are grossly over-sized," Heero replied with some more false cheer. At his remark, the blonde sputtered in shock and outrage. Heero promptly redirected his attention to his wife who was waiting for him and walked passed them with the Sprites in hands. They watched him, the blonde seething as he made his way to Ayako, who greeted him with a smile. After that incident, Heero hadn't heard anything else from anyone. He and Ayako enjoyed their 'vacation' for all that it was worth.

--------

"Checking out, Mr. Yuy?" the desk clerk asked.

"Yes."

"Was everything to your liking?"

"Yes, thank you very much." the clerk looked on as Ayako rested her head on Heero's shoulder. They walked out hand and hand and seemed very much in love in the clerk's eyes.

--------

Once in the car, Heero pulled out a bandana and covered Ayako's eyes with it.

"Okay, you can't peek," he said in mock strictness, causing her to giggle. Soon they were back home, only Ayako didn't know where they were. Heero stepped out of the car first and looked at their house. He smiled. He went around and opened the passenger door to help Ayako out.

"Ok, now you can look," he told her, taking off the blindfold. Ayako opened her eyes and was instantly shocked. The house they were standing in front of was of Japanese architect style. She turned and looked at Heero, the surprise still evident on her face.

"Do you like it?"

"Where are we?" she asked. He went up to her and hugged her.

"My, don't you recognize our home?" he tsked-tsked her, then grinned at the disbelief on her face, "Well, you can't really recognize it, but this is the house, our house. See we are still on the same street."

"What?" Ayako was still confused. He turned her around to face the house.

"I had the house rebuilt in a Japanese Style for you while we were on vacation."

"Husband... " Ayako didn't know what to say, no one had ever done so much just for her.

"There's more," he said and took towards the house.

"M-More?" She now knew it for a fact, no one will ever do this much for her except for Heero.

They stopped in front of the front door. It was a shoji sliding door. Heero motioned for Ayako to open it and she did so. It made her so happy, he made her so happy. As she stepped inside, the whole house had been changed into a traditional Japanese house. The doors had been replaced for Fusuma doors. The main room was of tatami styled floors. A Kakejiku scroll and a Ikebana arrangement.

She continued to the kitchen and found a new gas stove, rice cooker, microwave and refrigerator. She looked into the cabinets but they were all empty. She turned and looked at Heero, wondering what happened to the dishes and what they were going to eat with.

"I wanted you to pick out any kitchen dishes and things," He explained to her. She smiled in understanding.

"There's still more, he said and led her upstairs to the new rooms. "I hope you don't mind us sharing a room. Of course you'll have your own futon," he said quickly and she hugged him tightly.

"Husband... Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet. There's more still."

He opened the door to the bathroom. They walked into the new bathroom; it had been divided in three rooms. The first room was equipped with a spacious sink and vanity. The second room had a shower and a deep bathtub, almost the same size as the previous one. Then in a small closed third room was the toilet.

"So do you like the new house?" he asked. In response Ayako jumped in his arms. "I'll take that as a yes. How about we go shopping for your kitchen things?" he suggested after a moment in her arms.

"Husband, you are too kind," she told him. He smirked, "You sound like this is all going to go to waste." Ayako had no response for that and turned away.

--------

They walked into a large, somewhat dim store that sold household goods. A sales woman walk over to them and greeted them, "Good afternoon, how may I help you?"

"Hi, where is your Japanese kitchen selections?" Heero asked.

"I'm afraid our Japanese section is quite small," she answered.

"We'd like to take a look anyway, please," Heero said. The woman nodded and told them to follow her.

The Japanese section was bigger then what the woman had made them believe it to be. Heero thanked the woman for her help and took a cart.

"Do you see anything you like yet? If you do, get it," he told her. Ayako nodded to this and started to look around, her eyes already marking some items for a closer inspection.

After walking around everything twice, Ayako selected bento boxes, chopstick boxes, tea sets and tea supplies, sushi dishes, sake sets and bottles and cups.

"Those are very nice. Ayako, do you like this?" Heero asked, pointing to a cherry blossom shoji screen. She nodded and he carefully placed it into the cart. He then showed her a bamboo tree lamp, a love birds silk painting, a Shing Huo painting and a black Empress jewel box. As soon as she nodded he placed everything into one of the three carts that they had requested after realizing that they like a lot of the stuff that the store offered.

"Husband, isn't this too much?" she asked, not wanting him to give her so much when she could not give him very much in return.

"Don't worry," he told her. Taking her hand he watched the three helpers from the store push the carts to the check out line. Heero paid in cash again.

--------

Ayako was in the kitchen, making shell fish sushi and sashimi. Heero walked into the kitchen, happy just watching Ayako make dinner.

"Ayako, I know you're busy, but could you come outside with me?" he asked. She nodded, cleaned her hands and followed him outside.

He led her into the small forest of flowers and showed her a new sight. Ayako gasped in glee as Heero showed her a small clear pond with carps swimming around in it; there was a small wooded bridge over it the pond.

Heero pulled her onto the bridge then kneeled down on one knee in front of her. He looked up at her, so beautiful, her light winter kimono printed with small white flowers. The sun shone brightly on her hair and the flowers waved around in the breeze all around them. Her deep emerald green eyes looked down at him...

Heero, taking a deep breath, took her left hand in his and he began, "Ayako, you're the best thing to ever happen to me..." Ayako's eyes started to swim in tears. He was proposing. Everything in her body and mind screamed yes, but her heart reminded her that she was deceiving him... That he would one day hate her... But Ayako wanted to be selfish, she knew she would never meet anyone like Heero Yuy again. And she wanted to make him happy as long as she could...Even if he would hate her later, he'd be happy with her now.

"... Ayako, will you marry me?" he finished. Ayako dropped to her knees and hugged him tightly as tears flew freely.

"Yes," she answered fiercely, planning on making the best of it. Heero returned her hug with an even tighter one. Once Ayako had calmed down enough, and the tears had stopped coming, Heero took her hand again and slipped the ring on her finger. Ayako looked down at it.

The ring itself was platinum with a three carat princess cut diamond mounted on an elaborate leaf design. Ayako hugged him again, wondering if she'd ever get used to his spending fortunes on her.

Slowly they made their way back to the house, hands and arms intertwined.

"When would you like our wedding to be? In the spring?" he asked.

"Yes, in the Spring."

Heero smiled wider and kissed her, "In the spring it is then."

--------

"I'm surprised you called."

"So am I, but Ayako thought it wouldn't be right if I stayed angry with you. You owe her a lot," Heero told Duo, who now sat across the table.

"I know, I still need to apologize to her," Duo said.

"You do," Heero agreed. He no longer trusted Duo, but Ayako had said that they were friends and they should fix things between themselves. The restaurant were they sat was quiet. Heero had a chicken Caesar salad while Duo ate a roast beef sandwich with a mixed fruit salad.

"So? What's new?" Duo asked, wanting to change the heavy mood to light.

"I'm getting married this coming spring. I want you to be my best man."

"Wait a minute. I thought you were already married."

"Not legally. I want it real and her legally my wife."

"I see. Well, I'm honored but are you sure you want me to be your best man?"

"No, I'm not sure. But don't make me regret it."

"So, this is like my chance to show you that I'm your friend?"

"Yes."

"Got it. Anyway, I'm guessing it will be Japanese style?"

"Yes"

"That should be interesting," Duo scratched his head, "I've never seen one. You figure out how to get a hold of her parents?"

"That's where you come in. I know from what Ayako told me, she has a mother and 2 brothers, but none of them speak any English. So I need you to find a translator for while they are here so they can enjoy themselves. I will contact the Cherry Blossom Organization to give me information on where they are so I can fly them here. Also I'd like you to get temporary Visas for them. I don't know how long they will stay, but I want them to have a good time while they are here," Heero told him.

"No problem, I'll get on it now," Duo said standing up to leave, placing some bills on the table for tip.

"Oh and Heero? Thanks."

"Don't thank me, thank Ayako." Duo nodded and left Heero to wonder if he had done the right thing. Inviting Duo meant that his damn wife was going to come too. He wondered if he could invite just Duo and bar Relena from entering. Fat chance.

TBC