Haha sorry guys. I've been so busy. You readers are letting me slack off. I told myself I'd write a new chap for every 20 reviews and so when the chap didn't get 20 reviews I would get lazy XD Anyways heres a chapter about Usui and Misaki playing chess. I personally never played chess so hopefully it sounds okay...
Chapter 25: Before the Fireplace
"Cold?" Usui asked. They were sprawled out on a thick carpet before the fireplace. The fire burned, lighting up the room as well as providing warmth. Books and plates of food littered the floor around them.
"Not at all" Misaki told him.
Usui smoothed out the blanket in her lap and Misaki returned to her embroidering loom. She was quite determined to sew something decent. Sakura and Shizuko had already sewn dozens of clothes and quilts for her baby. Each one more beautiful than the last. Misaki watched with envy and wanted her child to wear something she had hand sewn.
"Ouch" she exclaimed, putting her finger in her mouth. Misaki had poked her finger again. Thimbles were hardly any help.
Usui took her hand and looked at it. "What's this new interest?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. When Misaki first married him, she refused to learn how to sew and weave. Honoka tried to force her but Misaki simply looked over at Usui with those beautiful eyes. Usui felt like his hands were tied and told Honoka it was okay. Misaki was free from such tasks.
"I wanted to make a-" There was the sound of ripping. Misaki gasped in horror as her needle yanked a gaping hole in the fabric.
Usui coughed into his hand so he wouldn't burst out laughing. Misaki continued staring at the rip with her mouth wide open.
"I-I..." Misaki stammered. "I give up!" she exclaimed tossing the loom off to the side. She picked up a biscuit and chewed on it in defeat. Usui picked up the abandoned loom and examined the stitching. No two stitches went in the same direction. Usui wasn't even quite sure which was the back and which was the front of the piece.
"You shouldn't give up" he encouraged.
Misaki picked up a knife and piece of wood and startled whittling away. "How can I not? I shall have to start new anyways. The hole is unmendable"
"Surely not" Usui said, fingering the torn fabric. "It can be patched"
"Surely not with my skills"
"Tis quite simple" Usui said showing her. He was no master at sewing but a few years ago he had gone on a long trip. He had only taken Kanou with him and didn't feel the need to buy new clothes. Usui figured how to simply mend ripped fabric. It made the trip much simpler.
Honoka came in and almost dropped her tray. The two were sitting before the fireplace. The Duke was...embroidering? While the Duchess was doing something with a knife. Oh the irony...
"My lord?" Honoka asked quietly.
Usui looked up. "Oh" he said setting down the loom. "Just set that anywhere" he said. Honoka slowly nodded and set it down. She picked up the empty plates but couldn't help but wonder what the Duke was doing. Surely he was not sewing for enjoyment.
"My lord?" Honoka asked.
"Yes?"
"May I inquire what it is you are doing?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound disrespectful.
"Nothing really" Usui said.
Honoka stacked the empty plates neatly. "Were you...embroidering?" she finally asked.
Misaki giggled into her hand. Honoka felt very concerned. The Duchess was not learning how to sew but now Duke was?
"Oh" Usui said laughing. "I'm helping the Duchess mend a hole. Do not fear. I have not developed a liking to needlework"
Honoka nodded. Misaki looked at her hands knowing Honoka was scrutinizing her.
"A women needing help from a man in needlework" Honoka tsked to herself as she took the plates down to the kitchen.
After Honoka left, Usui and Misaki both burst out laughing.
"Never again" Usui vowed, tossing Misaki the loom. "Rumors are going to spread"
Misaki wiped her eyes and resumed her tedious task. "This is too much" she said setting the fabric aside. "I am done for the night"
Usui smiled and stroked her hair. "The night is still young" he told her. "Would you like to hear some music?" he asked. Misaki nodded.
Usui retrieved his violin and began playing. He locked eyes with Misaki as he dragged the bow back and forth. He stopped after one song.
"What's wrong?" Misaki asked.
"I want to play you something" Usui said. "I actually composed this song myself" he admitted.
Misaki smiled. "I would love to hear it," she said.
Usui nodded and played her the song. The song made Misaki think of warm fires and chocolate. The sounds were deep and rich. She however did her best to keep the tears in until after he finished. Usui being always loving simply wiped her tears away and gave her a hug.
"I-I was never much of a crier" Misaki told him. Usui pressed his lips to the top of her head.
"I know" he said. "But its okay to cry sometimes"
Misaki leaned her head against his chest. "It just so embarrassing..."
"You don't ever have to be embarrassed in front of me," Usui reminded her.
Misaki looked up at him. His emerald green eyes looked endless. She stretched up and pressed her lips to his. Usui wrapped his arms around her waist as they rocked side to side. Misaki felt like she was going to faint. Her head was spinning and her fingers became tangled in Usui's hair.
"Don't fall..." Usui cautioned as Misaki stumbled slightly.
Misaki blushed. "I just tripped that's all" she lied.
Usui grinned and nodded. "Of course" he said. He interlaced his fingers with her. "I love you" he said.
Misaki glanced down at her feet. "What's the occasion?" she asked. Usui always choose random moments to express how much he loved her.
"Nothing" Usui told her. "I just felt like reminding you"
Misaki smiled to herself. "Can we go outside?" she asked. The window had caught her eye and the snow poured down onto the earth. The white contrasted with the murky sky and looked mesmerizing.
Usui squeezed her hand. "It's blizzarding"
"So?" Misaki asked. "Doesn't the black and white look beautiful together?" she asked.
"If you want to see black and white together...I have an idea" Usui said.
In their bedchamber, he retrieved a small sack and a large board.
"Come" he said waving her over. Misaki sat on the bed and curiously what Usui was showing her. The board had black and white squares over it. Usui began placing pieces on the squares. One side stood all the shiny black pieces while the other held the smooth white pieces.
"Ever played chess before?" Usui asked.
Misaki shook her head. She had heard of the game before but never played it. Usui diligently explained how each piece moved.
"I'll start" he said, moving a piece.
Misaki tapped her finger on her chin and studied the pieces. She picked a horse piece up and moved it. Usui made another move and then Misaki.
Misaki was intrigued by this game. There were hundreds of moves to make yet she could only make one each turn. Misaki loved anything that required skill and competition.
"Checkmate" Usui said smiling.
Misaki frowned. "Can we play again?" she asked, already thinking of the moves she'd make.
"Of course"
The second round wasn't any better. Usui beat her again causing Misaki to demand for a third round.
"Are you going to move this piece next?" Misaki asked pointing to his knight.
"Possibly" Usui said. Misaki stared at him. Usui had a perfect poker face.
"Checkmate" Usui said after a while.
"Again!" Misaki exclaimed, setting up the pieces.
"Aren't you tired?" Usui asked.
Misaki shook her head. "I will win sooner or later!"
"One cannot become good in one night" Usui gently reminded her.
"I am no ordinary person" Misaki said, making her first move. Usui sighed and moved his piece.
Chess wasn't an easy game. Playing against Usui made the game even harder. Misaki smirked to herself and hid two of Usui's pieces in her sleeve when he wasn't looking. Usui pretended not to notice and continued playing.
"What?" Misaki exclaimed as Usui checkmated her again. Maybe next time she should steal his king...
"Shall we continue?"
"Of course" Misaki said, adjusting to a more comfortable position.
Honoka knocked on the door and came in with steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
"Thank you" Misaki said, taking a mug. She wrapped her hands around it and was instantly warmed.
"Is there anything else I can get for you?" Honoka asked.
"That is all" Usui said. "Thank you"
"Anything" Honoka said curtsying and then leaving.
Misaki blew on her drink and sipped at it. There was nothing more cozy than drinking hot chocolate in a blizzard. Misaki missed Suzana and wondered what she was doing. All this winter fun made her think of home.
"Thinking of your family?" Usui asked.
Misaki looked up. "Pardon?" she asked.
"Thinking of your family?" Usui repeated.
"How did you know?" Misaki asked. Usui seemed to always know what her thoughts were.
"You seemed to be thinking of a memory" Usui explained. "You seem a little sad"
"Tis nothing" Misaki brushed off.
"Hardly...can you tell me about it?" Usui asked. "What did you do all winter?"
"We spent a normal winter" Misaki said. "Spending time with my family late into the night"
Usui nodded. "Must have been wonderful"
Misaki nodded. "Takumi? What did you do?" she asked curiously.
"Me?" Usui asked. He thought about the question. "Nothing really" he said finally. "I would usually read or play violin"
"Were you always alone?"
"So it seems"
Misaki let that sink in. She couldn't imagine being alone for most of her life. The empty silence that would fill a house, especially one as big as the Duke's, was frightening.
"Was it hard?" Misaki asked, softly.
"I didn't know any different back then"
"And now?"
Usui smiled at her. "I can't imagine a life without you"
They clinked mug glasses.
"Toast to our new family!" Misaki announced. "You, me, this baby and all our friends"
Usui laughed. Misaki was truly the light in his life. His eyes had been opened to such deep levels of love and friendship that he could never return to his old lifestyle. He had grown accustomed to having someone wait for him at home and someone to share his most intimate thoughts with.
Misaki sipped at her chocolate and returned to setting up the chess board. She was determined to win a game, even just once. They began playing.
"CHECKMATE!" Misaki yelled. She excitedly swatted Usui's king across the room. It clattered somewhere onto the floor boards. "I am victorious!" she cheered. Misaki couldn't even believe her eyes. She fooled Usui. He had left his king wide open.
"You caught me off guard" Usui said shaking his head.
"Never underestimate me" Misaki told him, happily.
"Yes I've learn my lesson" Usui said. "Must never underestimate you again"
Misaki laughed and then let out a huge yawn. She covered her mouth and realized how tired she was.
"Can we go to sleep now?" Usui asked.
"I suppose...you're quite a bad sport" Misaki chided.
"Yes of course" Usui said. "I dislike being beaten by a beginner..." Usui lied and cleaned up everything. He naturally let Misaki win. If he beat her again, she would have refused to sleep. Misaki had a hard time understanding the word patience. He had played chess since a child and rarely lost. Skills in anything took years of practice. Misaki wasn't even his level but seeing her so happy made Usui enjoy losing.
"Good night" Usui announced, blowing out the candle. He tucked the blanket around Misaki.
"Can we play again tomorrow?" she asked sleepily. Usui gently wrapped his arm around her.
"Anything you want," he promised.