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The End of Beginning and Beginning of End

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"…that he did not know where he ended and she began."

-Leo Tolstoy

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'You may now read the tale.'

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Week 4

Monday

Sakuno sat on their bed, blindfolded.

When Ryoma came to her that night, with a black cloth in hand, she grew suspicious.

What did he have in mind this time?

It had been probably more than half an hour since he told her to wait on their bed. While she waited, the issue of Kirihara's confession was still pressing.

But a sudden realization hit her.

Bed. Blindfolded.

Is it going that way she thought it was going?

Panic gripped her at the thought of that.

No! She does not want that. Yet.

She simply is not ready.

If he was gonna surprise her with his butt naked, God help her because she's gonna slap it till it turns red.

She chuckled at her train of thoughts.

"Why are you laughing?" Ryoma's ear suddenly came in her ears in a seductive manner.

A chill ran down her spine that made her jump and crash on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Sakuno asked with a hint of annoyance in her voice.

But instead of a reply, she only heard a chuckle.

"Come on now," Ryoma said as he took her hands and intertwined it in his.

"Where are we going?" she asked. Sakuno took a shaky step when she let out a gasp of surprise.

"To where your dreams come true," he simply said as he carried her bridal style.

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When Ryoma took the blindfold off and Sakuno opened her eyes, she saw stars. Literally. She was staring into the infinite sky filled with stars.

She finally let her eyes off the sky and let it roam around and to her surprise, Ryoma had laid down a huge picnic blanket. On it, she saw a basket filled with food and an ice bucket with a bottle of red wine.

She was stunned, evident in the way she just stood there in awe at the display in front of her.

Sakuno did not really take Ryoma for a romantic type of guy, but he does have his moments.

This was one of them.

"You did this… for me?" she asked as she took a step forward towards the blanket.

"Come on," he said to her. However, Sakyno stayed rooted to the ground. What shook her back to reality was an outstretched hand. She smiled before taking his hand.

"What are we doing?"

"Shh," he quieted her as he guided her arms around his neck. Ryoma wrapped his arms around her waist and slowly rocked their bodies.

"What—" Sakuno spoke when a song played.

She would know that song anywhere because it was their wedding song.

She met his eyes, those amber eyes she loved so much. Her eyes misted as she hugged him and buried her face in his neck.

He squeezed her tighter and held his wife till the song was over.

When it was over, they took a seat in the middle of the picnic blanket.

"Thank you." Sakuno smiled, grateful for all his effort. It was only weeks ago when he was cold and mean at her, but now, everything took a 180-degree turn.

When Ryoma looked at her, he saw the most beautiful smile on her face. It softened his features.

He opened the basket, and Sakuno saw that it was filled with chocolate-covered strawberries. He picked one, and Sakuno blushed at the thought that he was going to feed her with it.

But to her disappointment, Ryoma brought it into his mouth.

Ryoma motioned at her to get closer to him which confused her but she did what she was told. In one quick motion, Ryoma held her in place and brought his lips to hers, depositing the strawberry in her mouth as well.

Sakuno's eyes widened as she blushed right up to her ears.

The strawberry was just with the right sweetness, Ryoma thought. It didn't hurt either that he tasted his wife altogether.

When the deed was done, Ryoma took one last suck on her lower lips, earning a soft moan from Sakuno before withdrawing.

He smirked at her.

Sakuno raised an eyebrow in challenge. Taking a strawberry, she brought it to her mouth. She felt Ryoma's eyes never leaving her, trying to figure out what she was going to do.

To his surprise (and enjoyment), Sakuno sat astride on his lap and kissed him, repeating his actions earlier.

When she was done, she was about to get up with Ryoma deepened the kiss. She wanted to break free from his hold, not quite ready to finish their little amusement, but his kisses where the only things in her mind.

He was trying to make her forget everything and that the only thing that mattered was what they were doing at the moment.

Sakuno even thought that after this they were both going to forget their names at how passionate they were kissing each other.

Ryoma stepped up the game when his hands went up her hips in an effort to support her as he tried to stand up. When Sakuno was secured in his arms without breaking the kiss, he started heading inside the house.

There was a struggle as he climbed the stairs up their bedroom. Once inside, he broke free for a moment to allow themselves to catch their breaths. Ryoma noticed how swollen her lips had become and that heated him up.

Finally entering the room, he laid her on the bed while he took his shirt off after which Sakuno immediately pulled him closer to kiss him again.

That night, he did not know where he ended and where she began.*

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Week 4

Tuesday

A phone call interrupted the morning silence that had come to the Echizen's residence.

The couple shifted in their covers and huddled closer to share warmth.

The phone rang a few more times. Twice. Thrice.

Ryoma groaned in annoyance as he shifted beside Sakuno. Who the hell dared to interrupt his sleep with his wife?

Sakuno ended his suffering by answering the phone.

"Hello?" Her voice came in groggy and harsh like she needed to drink water.

Ryoma only snuggled closer to her and came contact with her bare flesh. He remembered the events of last night, and it brought a smile on his lips.

Finally, their marriage seemed real. They were finally a true husband and wife. But something still bothered him at the back of his mind and he knew what it was. It was the validation of their marriage. It was going to expire soon, and he still has not found a solution for it.

"Ryoma!"

That jolted him awake. He slowly sat up and yawned. Rubbing the sleep in his eyes, he turned to look at the most beautiful thing in his world right beside him.

"Good morning," he greeted her for the first time, although a tad bit sleepily.

However, his sense went on full alert as he sensed his wife's distress. He saw her tearing up, and it was like being stabbed in the heart or being kicked in the stomach. It pained him to see her in that state.

She hugged him, although her state of undress distracted him.

"We need to go to the hospital now."


Notes from a Muddy Writer:

I do not own the line~ I read somewhere that it was a euphemism. So, I thought of using it, you know? It felt appropriate since I do not trust myself writing the actual scene yet. Plus, I'm trying to keep it T-rated, guys. XD Haha!

Replies:

teshichan- Awww! Thank you! :D I hope this progress satisfied you. Or was it too much? :O Hehehehe...

ulquihime7980- Waaait, who kissed who? What kiss? Akaya? I don't remember him kissing Sakuno... :3

luna22x- I may have thought of that a while ago but nah. I think this 'route' is better since I do not have to create an OC (which is a pain in the butt for me haha! XD).

Thank you for you three for reviewing. Thank you everyone who has followed, favorite-d, and read this story through everything (slow updates and all). I'm still thinking of the best way to end this one which is why the next chapter may be a bit slow. I do not want to half-ass it. So, until the next chapter then. :D