Title: 11. My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?

Pairing/Character/s: Yuki/Machi

Word Count: 543 words

Summary: Yuki attempts to stage a romantic dinner for Machi.

A/N: The Chicken Incident was the last chapter. Surely you guys haven't forgotten? :) Let me know if the ending was predictable. (Ch. 8 was updated.)

Music: "Sonata # 5 - Spring" by Beethoven as played in Nodame Cantabile, an amazing manga about classical music. You must listen to this piece on youtube.

Upstairs a violin is playing a piece he vaguely recognizes from childhood lessons as Beethoven's Sonata: Spring. The notes are softened by the floorboards. He is walking to the bedroom when a piano joins in and slowly harmonizes. His phone rings and he lies back on the bed before answering. "Hello?"

"Yuki, I'm sorry, I can't make it."

He starts tapping his foot to the music, a smile on his face. "It's alright, Machi. I know you were busy this week."

"I'm sorry," her earnest voice continues, "This was your day off from school. I wish I could make it to your apartment instead of going home alone."

"I miss you, Machi."

"I want to see you too." His heart skips a beat and aches at the same time. Someone is longing to see him, of all people, but he's still here alone.

A sigh escapes him. "Some other time then. Are you still studying?"

"No, I'm almost home. Yuki, I'll make this up to you when vacation starts."

"I'll hold you to it." He wants to laugh, to tell her that she doesn't have to. "Good night. Be safe."

"Good night, Yuki."

When he pulls the phone away, he turns his head to the right where a small dinner is sitting on the living room table. The chicken had been from a restaurant they discovered after The Chicken Incident. Four white candles cast spots of light on two glasses of ice water. The rest of the apartment is dark.

It was going to be the first time he saw Machi in a month. Or two months. Something always happened, and one of them would cancel. He decided that it was going to take something more.

He turns away from the dinner, staring at the ceiling overhead. The music is still playing, reminding him of the pure joy of spring. He closes his eyes. He imagines that she is here, lying beside him because this moment is perfect, is simple and beautiful.

It is in this kind of haze that he hears the door open.

She is standing in the doorway, lit up with shock and light from the hallway. Her gaze sweeps over the candlelit dinner to the bedroom. Without closing the door or dropping her bag she is running to the bedroom, shoes stomping on the wooden boards. The next thing he knows, she is lying beside him. She is here.

"I thought you were at your apartment."

"Surprise, Machi," he whispers.

She nods, turning onto her side. "I can't believe you're here."

"I know. It's been too long." He gently kisses her, finding that he at least remembers what her lip balm taste like.

When he pulls away, the light catches her eyes. "I said I would make it up to you."

"I remember that."

He's holding back a chuckle as she awkwardly climbs on top of him, using her elbows to prop herself up. Her cheeks turn red. "I don't think I can do this. Maybe we should eat first." He does laugh this time, and pulls her down for a kiss. She falls, slamming her chin into his nose.

Upstairs music is playing. Downstairs two people are holding ice to their faces and talking until they fall asleep.

A/N: Response to Konekoko:

I'm sorry for the late response! If you still have a question, could you try to get an account? I respond a lot faster when I can just PM you instead of writing a chapter. (Updating is apparently too hard for me)

I'm sorry about the Haru/Rin request. I decided not to do it, because it felt like an invasion of privacy for them to tell Yuki's secret. It's possible I may do a drabble where Haru and Rin interrogate Machi, though I don't know what they would ask.

As for your question about whether Yuki would transform... Wow, I did not think that one through. Haha, when I think of an alternate ending I will change it! Or maybe I'll be lazy and leave it...

Thanks for reading. I hope you're doing well, Have a good weekend! ~Sandra