She sighed once again, and slumped into the couch. Each day was getting worse and worse. Each day her hopes shrunk. Each day, each job interview went bad after they came to the part, down in the application, the little mark saying single not married or whatever the other choice was there. And then when each interview was going well, each sleazy old man that saw the little mark saying single started hitting on her, and coming on, and the only thing to do was hit them. She hated them. Them. Those stupid people who thought that she and all women in the world needed a man, and these sleazy geezers volunteered to do so. Tsubaki just didn't know what to do anymore. Finding a job seemed to be impossible, she just felt like dressing as man, so that she could be independent. Ever since he died, she was alone, and she never needed another person to replace him. Nobody could replace him. Nobody could ever take his place. He was the only one, and replacing him was a disgrace that she would never do. She wanted to send Tsukushi to that doctor but she didn't know what to do, since finances were so tight they needed something good to happen – and that doctor might give a chance for Tsukushi to speak again. That would be a miracle. And they need another miracle to make it happen.

Tsukasa looked at Tsukushi and at the full pots of food that was turning cold. He didn't know what to do. Now with Tsubaki without a job, their finances were pushing them to the very limit. They needed something new, and soon.

Once again Tsukushi was staring at the nightly sky wondering about what to do – and all they were doing right now is wasting money.

"What am I supposed to do now?" Tsukushi thought "what am I supposed to do?"

She looked up to the sky. It was filled with many stars, and she saw one blinking.

"Is that you mom?" – And she remembered the boy again, and his words about the Lucky Star - "Are you watching over me? Will you help me?"

She opened a crate, with chipped off paint, and broken handles. She didn't know how old it was, but it was her mother's. That's where she kept all of her stuff. She took out one thing after another, looking at each one, treasuring each piece as a piece of rice paper about to fall apart. She came upon a small music box. She remembered how her mother always used to play it, and she would fall asleep to the magic tune, slowly with music swinging her to sleep. As she turned it to play the gentle music took her worries away. She held the box gently in her hands and gently shook it, and something fell. She gently picked it up it was a little piece of paper. She picked it up and looked at it. It was a recipe. It was the recipe. It was her amazing recipe the Okinomiyaki. When her mother was still alive, the Okinomiyaki was her specialty. In her restaurant everybody would love her Okinomiyaki, and say it was the best thing they ever tasted in their life. This was what the miracle she needed! This was it! They could sell this and make enough money! She ran to Tsukasa's room excited with the new idea.

Tsukasa laid in his bed looking at the moldy ceiling lingering over him, pressing down and suffocating, chocking him inside to gasp for the last breath of air. That's how he felt right now. He had what he always wanted – but still worries lingered in his mind. Did Tsukushi really love him, like he loved her? She should she said yes. But another thing kept knocking in his mind. How are they supposed to survive now? How can he give Tsukushi a fabulous wedding, when they don't have any money at all? What are they going to do? If only there was a way to get money, he would do almost anything to do get it. He wanted to make her happy, and money was needed to do almost anything. He wanted to hear her speak again, hear her voice, hear her laugh, hear her cry; hear her yell when she's angry with him. He wanted to hear her voice that was gone for so long, he wanted it back. Then he heard 

footsteps, a door slam, and saw Tsukushi running into his room. He stood up from his bed, and fell back as she jumped on him, her hands circling his shoulders, her face glowing with happiness, as her lips parted making a huge smile. Tsukasa was surprised, and as Tsukushi jumped, he fell with her, his hands around her back trying to hold her up. But his efforts fell short, as they both landed on his bed. He felt her body close to him, her warmth bonding with his, her sweet breath entering his nose, her soft hair tickling his cheeks. His eyes were looking directly into hers. Time stopped, Tsukasa looked into her eyes, and she looked into his. As a little child climbing up the cabinets to reach the forbidden jar of cookies, he slowly inched towards her lips. Hesitantly he moved closer and then moved away, gathering his courage to finally grab the forbidden fruit, he finally kissed her. Tsukushi was a little surprised at the sudden change between them, after all they were engaged now, and they were going to get married. Tsukushi still couldn't believe it. Tsukasa pulled away, as he helped Tsukushi rise up, and asked her:

"What are you so happy about?" Tsukasa asked quietly.

I found it!

"You found what?" Tsukasa now puzzled.

This!

Tsukushi gave him a little piece of paper, he slowly opened it. This is what they needed!

"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

She just nodded her head with even a wider smile. Tsukusa lifted her up, and swung her around in circles, bursting with laughter, as Tsukushi just smiled back at him, unable to laugh, her hands resting upon his shoulders.

"We have to tell sister about this!"

Rui pushed his plate aside, as he wiped his mouth.

"Why do you only order this, and then don't eat it at all?" Umi asked slowly mixing the food with the fork.

"Because this tastes bad" he slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin, and asked for another meal from the waiter.

"You have very high expectations for such a simple dish" Umi complained.

"They are not high."

"For how long I've known you, no Okinomiyaki has ever pleased you" Umi frowned "maybe you just don't like it all."

"Okinomiyaki is delicious!"

"Why don't you eat it then?"

"Because it doesn't taste well!"

"Then what does?" Umi started to get angry "Where ever we ate, nothing has ever pleased you! Even when I cooked it, you didn't like it!"



"You can't cook at all" Rui slowly said, slicing a piece of meat "and others can't cook Okinomiyaki, too."

"You're such a jerk" Umi said, but Rui didn't pay any attention to her at all. Umi felt like screaming but at the same time little voice inside of her calmed her down. Rui was always so cold, and this was no different – she shouldn't pay attention to such little things. She can learn how to cook, and she will make him the best Okinomiyaki he's ever tasted, she'll make sure of it. "So where did you taste that wonderful Okinomiyaki?"

"In a hospital."

"So you like hospital food?"

"No."

"I hope not. It's horrible" Umi continued "did your mother make it for you at the hospital? Or what?"

"I traded my food with a friend; she had Okinomiyaki, while I gave her my food. It was the best thing I've ever tasted."

"Oh really? So where is that friend of yours?" Umi asked angrily she was getting jealous, how come she didn't know that friend.

"I don't know."

Umi calmed down, dismissing her jealousy as nothing to worry about.

"You better eat your food before it gets cold" Rui said, and they remained quiet for the rest of their dinner.

"Your mother made the best Okinomiyaki" Tsubaki said "everyone around the country would say so!"

"It was so delicious!" Tsukasa added "It will sell so well!"

We can start tomorrow!

"Let's go get the supplies" Tsukasa grabbed Tsukushi by her arm and dragged her out.

Tsubaki smiled – the miracle has come.

Tsukasa walked by Tsukushi in the large supermarket, slowly lagging behind her. He really hoped this would pull through, and it should if the food turns out ok, then they would be set. Tsukushi was excited to grab things off the shelves as they were listening on the small piece of paper.

"Do you think this will sell" Tsukasa asked behind her only to see Tsukushi shoulders move up and down as a sign of uncertainty. But as she turned around he saw a big smile across her face and the only thing he could do was smile, too.

The only thing we can do is try!

You're the best! Tsukasa showed her in sign language, sometimes he just felt better not talking either, just pretend like he was mute, too. Sometimes the silence that surrounded them was so comforting because they didn't need words to express what they wanted to say, they could just look into each other's eyes and understand each 

other. And when he wanted to say to Tsukushi alone while in the sea of people, like right now – he hated using words because everybody around was listening. He remembered the first months after she lost her voice, she would try to speak and nothing would come out, she usually would forget that she couldn't speak and every time she remembered it disappointed her. Then the lessons started. Tsukasa and Tsubaki both accompanied Tsukushi lessons in order to help Tsukushi and interpret her to others. More than Tsukushi or anybody else Tsukasa would get so frustrated with the work, he wanted to quit a few times, but when Tsukushi would smile at him, it would melt his heart and he would remember how guilty he felt every time she would help him. After all this was all his fault, and nothing in the world would ever change it.

We better hurry up home. Tsukushi gestured as they were leaving the supermarket.

Tsukasa grabbed her hand and held in his, at first surprised at first Tsukushi tensed. However, as she felt the warmth of his hand, she relaxed and intertwined her hand with his.

"His hands are so warm" Tsukushi thught.

And slowly hand in hand, they walked back in silence, smiling, seeing bright future ahead.

Umi and Rui walked into the lobby, hand in hand. The hotel lobby was lit with expensive chandeliers, the .light reflecting off expensive diamonds, rubies, gold hung upon people dressed in lavish dresses, suits. It was another ball for the company and as an important part of the company Rui must bring a date so everything remains in order and no unnecessary rumors that might damage the company's reputation.

"Are you sure you're not cold" Umi asked Rui again.

"I told you – I'm fine."

"But your hand is so cold."

But Umi never got a reply, for as long as she could remember his hands were always cold. Years ago it was just the same. Ten years ago or so, when they first started dating they used to hold hands but they were always cold. Even if was unusually hot day for London, his hands were still ice cold. Cold as an iceberg floating upon Atlantic Ocean. Rui was just like an iceberg. Cold, hidden, mysterious and dangerous to those who don't see his full power. Just like an iceberg to the world he showed only a small part of him, hiding himself beneath a sheet of darkness, and only few ever saw the full him.

"This is my fiance Umi" Rui introduced her, and she was quite surprised, since alwayse he would just always introduce her by first and last name, never once has he introduced her as his girlfriend or even a friend – she was just a name.

"Very nice to meet you."

"You too."

"So what do you do for living?"

"I'm a journalist."

"Are you planning on continuing your career after marriage."



But Rui interrupted her and answered for her: "It has not been decided yet."

They walked away and Rui coldly said to her:

"Don't say anything else besides small talk, keep it to a minimum."

Umi's smile faded as Rui spoke angrily at her, he continued to introduce her, and she continued to smile, while inside she only wanted to cry.

Thank you so much for reviewing. I work two jobs, and usually I get over 40 hours in both, plus I volunteer in the mornings, and I also have a ton of summer homework plus I'm studying a lot of other stuff. So whenever I have a free minute I reallly don't feel like doing anything, but when you guys review it makes me super happy and gives me inspiration to write because I know that someone actually cares if I continue and not and actually likes it. So thank you thank you thank you! The more your review the faster I will try to upload!