Chapter Two

"I'm sorry, Ryouka-san…

… I'm still in love with Maika…

…I'm sorry…"

Ryouka jolted awake again. The words "I'm sorry" kept echoing in the back of her mind like a broken record. Itsuki was haunting her dreams again. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't push him out of her mind. How could she rid of those thoughts of him? She just didn't know. It was impossible. She loved him too much.

As the first streak of sunlight pierced through the blinds, Ryouka got out of bed to open them. The sun was just rising behind a few buildings in the far distance. It was a beautiful yellow and orange colour. Absolutely beautiful. She was always the first person in the house to see the sunrise since the kids would be getting up around this time and Itsuki would be showering and getting ready for work.

Oh no. Why did she have to think about Itsuki again? No, no, no… That was a big mistake. She felt even more depressed now. There was a dull ache in her chest as she recalled Itsuki admitting those words to her: "I'm still in love with Maika…I'm sorry". She knew that in reality, Itsuki had never said that to her. It was only in her dreams that he confessed to being in love with Maika. Regardless, it hurt.

That day when Itsuki returned from the Kamiya mansion, he bore a sad and almost regretful expression on his face. Though he had assured her that he was able to come back because of her, Ryouka knew that deep down, Itsuki still loved Maika. There was no way that she could ever replace Maika in his heart.

It took her all night to come to a final conclusion: she would leave her husband. It was more painful to pretend to be oblivious to Itsuki's continuous love for Maika. It was too agonizing to stay with a man whose heart still belonged to another woman's. Leaving was the best choice.

It was better for him and especially for her.

0-0-0-0-0

"I hope Okasan's back," Kusame sighed as he and Haine walked home together after school activities were over.

"I sure hope so too," Haine agreed. "I know it's only been three days but Itsuki-san's been looking really lonely."

"No kidding. I can tell by the way he's been spacing out."

"Did you ever call Ryouka-san to see when she can come home?"

Kusame sighed again as he turned the corner with Haine. "I did but it keeps going straight to voice mail."

"Hmm. Maybe she's just too busy looking after her friend?" Haine suggested.

"Well, I just hope that she comes home soon. I really miss her bentos. The ones prepared by Itsuki-san are horrific. We should really ban him from cooking."

"Kusame!" Haine cried in shock. "You should be flattered that Itsuki-san even puts in his time and effort in preparing those bentos for us!"

"You seriously like his cooking?"

Haine hesitated for a split second before replying, "Yes!"

"Get your taste buds checked."

Haine stuck out her tongue at Kusame and he laughed as he walked ahead of her.

0-0-0-0-0

"…I know that in truth, you still love Maika-sama very much…

…Itsuki-san…forgive me…I can't give you the happiness that you desire."

For the past few days, Itsuki had been wandering aimlessly around the house, periodically whipping out his cell phone to stare at the text message left by his wife. What did Ryouka mean by that message? He was happy! He felt content with her. Wasn't that enough?

Itsuki was usually a calm and collected person. This time, however, he felt very anxious as if he was anticipating something bad to come. Not good…

'Okay, THINK, Itsuki!' as the man stopped his pacing around the living room. 'You need to find Ryouka-san and clear things up. Where could she be though?'

'Maybe she went to her parents?' he suggested.

'No wait,' he rebutted. 'Her parents are now deceased… How could you have forgotten?' he chastised.

'What about her friends?' he suggested with a surge of hope. 'Oh wait. Who are her friends again?'

Itsuki groaned inwardly. He didn't have a single clue. There was no way he was going to find her. What kind of a husband was he? No wonder his wife left him. He barely understood her. He felt like a total jackass.

He turned to their wedding portrait hanging on the far wall. Ryouka was wearing a simple wedding gown that followed every contour of her slim body. Her hair was donned on one side in long, gentle waves. Her eyes were big and round. She was smiling ever so sweetly at the camera. She was absolutely beautiful.

Itsuki swallowed hard as he stared intently at the portrait. He finally cast his gaze away from Ryouka, only to face the emptiness of his house again. Like his house, he felt so empty deep inside and so disturbingly alone.

Other small photos aligned the wall as he paced around the living room again. There were photos of Haine, of Kusame, of him and Ryouka, of him and Ryouka and the kids on vacation, of him and Ryouka and his business associates, of him and Ryouka and…

0-0-0-0-0

"Itsuki-san! We're home!" Haine hollered as she and Kusame kicked off their shoes and stepped into the house.

"Okasan? Are you home?" Kusame called right after.

They were both welcomed by silence.

"Itsuki-san?" Haine called again.

"Didn't he take the day off today?" Kusame frowned.

"That's what he told us this morning."

"Maybe he finally came to his senses and realized how bad his cooking has been so he's going out to get us some REAL food!" Kusame suggested happily.

"Will you quit trashing Itsuki-san's cooking?" Haine rolled her eyes in annoyance.

Kusame laughed as he stepped into the kitchen. "Hey, there's a note on the table."

"What does it say?"

"Went to pick-up Ryouka-san. Will be late for dinner. Don't forget to heat up the leftovers in the fridge," Kusame read out to Haine.

"Ryouka-san's finally coming home?" she cried happily.

"You don't know how glad I am to hear that."

"Well, let's go heat up our dinner then!" Haine practically sang.

"No way. I'd rather go without eating."

"Kusame!"

He laughed. "Okay, okay. At least wait for Okasan to come home and fix something for us all?"

"Un!" Haine agreed. "It's not the same if the four of us don't eat dinner together!"

Kusame couldn't agree more.

0-0-0-0-0

Ryouka held the medium-sized, yellow-brown envelope against her chest as she climbed the steps to her apartment on the third floor. It had been a long, tiring day for her. All she wanted to do was take a hot shower and then go straight to bed. However, she thought it would be better to fill out those forms first.

Her cell phone rang just as she reached into her pocket for the apartment key. She froze. It continued to ring persistently. It was time to cancel this number and replace it with a new one. Then, she would have to give the kids her new number and then explain everything to them. Everything that stands between her and Itsuki. She wasn't prepared for it but knew that she would have to face it sooner or later.

Ryouka took out her cell phone, fearing who the caller could be. With a sigh of relief, it was only her friend Noriko on the call display.

"Hello, Noriko?"

"Ryouka, I'm sorry!"

"Sorry?" she asked confusedly. "Why? What happened?"

"It's your husband…"

"My husband?" she asked as the thought of him made her heart pound wildly against her chest.

"He's coming," she answered hurriedly. "In fact, he might even be here already!"

"What?"

"I'm sorry!" she repeated. "I can explain!"

Blood drained out of her face immediately. Fear tickled her spine. Oh no, this was really bad! She didn't want to see him! Not now!

"I'll call you later!" Ryouka cried as she hung up and fumbled for that key in her pocket. She whipped it out and began to unlock her apartment door.

Her hand wasn't listening. She couldn't get the key completely into the lock. No, no, no! 'Come on! Work, damn it, work!'

Unfortunately, a large, warm hand prevented her from achieving her goal. She felt own hand shake at the sudden contact.

Ryouka sighed submissively. "Why are you here?"

"To take you back," the man replied.

She shook her head, refusing to look at him.

"The kids are beginning to worry. So I fabricated a story to them. That you were caring for a sick friend."

Was that all to it? Was there no other reason? Ryouka felt her eyes sting and her lips tremble. But she refused to cry in front of him again.

"Don't worry, I will tell them everything soon."

"What do you plan to tell them?" he demanded, his grip tightening on her small wrist.

Ryouka recoiled slightly. She had never heard him raise his voice like that or even sound angry. Nevertheless, she held her ground. "I will tell them that we will be separating and we will remain good friends."

"We are not having a divorce," he stated. There was a sharpness to his voice.

"The forms are here," Ryouka nodded at the yellow-brown envelope tucked against her chest. "Your copy is in there too."

"I'm not going to sign it."

"Why can't you understand?" she sighed with frustration. "The woman you love isn't me. It is Maika-sama!"

Itsuki turned Ryouka to face him. "That was in the past."

"No," she shook her head dejectedly. "I can see it in your eyes. Your love for her still lingers. The pain for losing her also lingers. Your eyes give them away, Itsuki-san."

Silence filled the gap between them.

Ryouka smiled sadly. She reached up and placed her free hand on the side of his face, bringing his attention to her. "Can you really look me in the eyes and tell me that your love for Maika-sama is in the past? Can you really look me in the eyes and say that I'm the one you love now?"

Silence filled the air again.

She knew it. Ryouka lowered her hand slowly and turned away from him. She wanted to cry. "Go back," she said with surprising calmness. "It's getting late now. The kids will start worrying about you." She attempted to unlock her apartment door again. "The forms," she stated as she managed to get the door open. "I'll have them mailed to you."

Before Ryouka could even step inside, she felt his arm encircle her waist.

"What – ?"

The next thing she knew, she was tossed effortlessly over Itsuki's right shoulder like a sack of rice.

"What are you doing?" she cried as she pounded his broad back with her fist. "Put me down!"

"Sorry."

"Somebody help me!" she cried but immediately lowered her voice. If a security guard was around, he would probably think that Itsuki was abducting her or something. Well, technically, he was. The security guard would probably notify the police if he saw them. Fearing for Itsuki's safety, she kept her mouth shut.

Itsuki couldn't help but chuckle as he took the stairs down to the parking lot.

Ryouka gritted her teeth. This was the first time where she felt seriously angry.

By the time they reached the parking lot, Itsuki placed her inside his car on the passenger's side and buckled her in. He leaned in, his face a mere few inches away from hers.

"I'll pretend you never got these," he held out the divorce papers in front of them.

Ryouka watched impassively as Itsuki ripped up the documents in front of her. She clenched her fists on her lap. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair at all! Why did she have to submit to his ways?

Itsuki leaned in again but this time, he brought her lips to his and kissed her. She was unresponsive but that didn't stop him from deepening the kiss.

When he pulled away, he whispered, "I'm taking you back now. And I will prove you wrong."

Ryouka blinked confusedly. What did he mean by that?

With a gentle smile, Itsuki closed the door on the passenger's side and got in from the driver's side. He started the car and began heading towards home.

Itsuki knew that it would probably take some time before Ryouka would start trusting him again. He was a patient man. He could wait. He was confident that he could win her heart all over again.