Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've been so busy. Anyways, I never know where to end these fanfics...they could like go on for FOREVER. But this one might end soon...ahhh don't kill me... But don't worry there will be more fanfics
Chapter 31: Family
"Darling, must you pace?" Usui asked, setting his hands on her shoulders. The Countess and Suzana were to arrive today and Misaki was much too excited to sit still.
"I just can't wait to see them" Misaki told Usui. Usui smiled and kissed her forehead.
"I'm glad you're happy" he said.
"How long may they stay?" Misaki asked.
"As long as you want" Usui promised.
Misaki smiled. "Thank you" she said.
"Your family is my family" Usui reminded her.
"My lord" Honoka said coming into the room. "The Countess has arrived" she announced.
Misaki's face broke out into a smile. "Can we go get them?" she asked.
"It would be more proper if you waited here and they came to you" Honoka told her. "You are high ranked now"
"It's fine" Usui said. "Go on if you can't bear the wait"
Misaki frowned. "I can wait a few more moments I suppose..."
Usui smiled and patted her hand. Misaki anxiously waited until the doors of the study swung open. The Countess and Suzana came into the room. Suzana looked so much older now. Her emerald silk cloak made her eyes look striking.
"All hail Duke Usui" they said dropping into a deep curtsy. "All hail Duchess Usui"
"Rise my family" Usui said warmly. "Misaki and I welcome you to our home.
"Thank you, my lord" they said softly. They rose. Misaki rushed over and threw her arms around her family. They embraced in a right hug.
"I've missed you" Misaki admitted. Minako wiped her eyes.
"You look so grown up now" she cried.
Misaki laughed. "Mother, don't cry..."
Minako sniffed and nodded. Misaki smoothed Suzana's hair. "How have you been? Has anyone given you any trouble?"
Minako shook her head. "It was you who had me worried. I heard about the kingdom almost breaking out in war" she said. "I heard you went in labor early"
Misaki sighed. "Hardly" she lied. "It wasn't so painful"
Minako slowly nodded, not quite believing it.
"Of course" Suzana chirped in. "Nothing stands in Misaki's way. Not even childbirth"
Usui stifled a laugh. Misaki did not have such a easy time. He could have sworn Misaki kept saying she was going to die. Misaki elbowed Usui and glared at him.
Usui chuckled and wrapped an arm around her waist. "Sit sit" he said gesturing to the elegant cushioned chairs. He and Misaki sat down and then Minako and Suzana sat.
"Was your trip smooth?" Misaki asked.
"Very" Minako assured them. "How are Sakura and Shizuko? Are they helping out?"
"Of course" Misaki said. "They will be bringing Hiro and Harumi later"
A smile lit up Minako's face. "My grandchildren..." she said, tearing up again.
"Send for Subaru" Usui said waving to a servant.
"Your daughter is beyond amazing" Usui said. "Bearing two children at once...I can not even fathom"
Misaki blushed. "Takumi..." she hissed.
Minako nodded. "I am glad Misaki is a good wife though I do know she does have her faults" Minako sighed.
Suzana laughed. "Have you learned to sew yet?"
"Misaki doesn't need to" Usui said waving it off. "Her talents are enough"
Minako smiled. "My lord is very generous" she said. "But Misaki is quite capable"
"Mother..." Misaki complained.
Luckily the doors swung open. Shizuko and Sakura with came in with a baby in each of their arms.
"Oh!" Minako gasped. "Are these my grandchildren?!" Shizuko and Sakura beamed as they lowered the bundles so the Countess could see.
"Oh my!" Minako said. "They look just like you as a baby" Minako said. "Hiro..." she murmured as she rocked her grandson. She held each in turn. Misaki smiled at her mother's loving gaze.
Sakura handed Misaki Hiro. Misaki gently cradled her baby in her arms as they chatted in hushed whispers.
"I wish I could have helped during your pregnancy" Minako said regretfully. "It must have been hard. I know you probably took seclusion very badly"
Misaki grinned. "I had Takumi" she said patting Usui. "He kept me entertained"
"Thank you to the Duke then" Minako said nodding.
"I enjoy Misaki's company" Usui said. "And because this birth is such a blessing. There will be a grand celebration"
"Of course" Minako agreed. "The Duke's new heir is not a light matter"
They continued the pleasant conversation through dinner and sat at the large table for hours.
"Shall I show mother and Suzana to their rooms?" Misaki suggested. "I believe they are exhausted and need some rest"
"Of course" Usui said getting up. "It's been a pleasure. I bid the both of you a good night"
"Thank you my lord" came the reply. Misaki showed them upstairs to the guest rooms.
"Oh..." Suzana breathed as she stepped into the luxurious room. "Is your bedchamber even grander?"
"I suppose" Misaki admitted.
"Misaki" Minako said patting her eldest daughter's hand. "You seem to have adjusted quite fine"
"I have" Misaki agreed. "I don't regret wedding the Duke. He is a fine man"
"Of course" Suzana cut in. "Mother, did you see how the Duke always gazes at Misaki so?"
"He does not!" Misaki exclaimed.
"Indeed he does" Minako agreed. "He must treat you very well."
Misaki simply nodded.
"But you must not be blinded by it" Minako explained. "You must remain poised as an obedient wife, a wise duchess and a loving mother now"
Misaki sighed. Obedient...her least favorite word.
"I shall go fetch the bags" Suzana said skipping out the door.
"Misaki" Minako said. "I have some things to ask you"
"Proceed" Misaki said sitting down in a chair.
"How are things in the bedchamber?"
Misaki face flushed. "Mother!" she exclaimed. The last thing Misaki wanted was to discuss things like this with her own mother.
"I just want to help" Minako said gently. "You did never read any of those books for a married woman"
"Everything's fine" Misaki assured her.
"Is he kind to you?"
Misaki felt her face grow redder. "Yes he's a gentleman- Good night mother. I'll see you for breakfast!"
Misaki darted from the room. She could not bring herself to talk about the marriage bed with her mother. It was much too embarrassing.
"Why so flustered?" Usui asked when Misaki quickly closed the door behind her.
"What?"
"You're blushing"
"It's just a little warm" Misaki said pressing her hands to her cheeks. She quickly began pulling the pins out of her hair and shaking it out. Usui stood behind her. She felt his hands drift to her back, undoing the buttons of her dress.
"Did the motherly talk not go well?" Usui mused.
"It went...fine" Misaki said stepping behind the screen. She quickly stepped out of her dress and petticoats and slipped into a cool nightgown.
"What did she say?"
"Just wondering how my marriage was" Misaki said. She finished changing and crawled into bed. Usui scooted over and hugged Misaki close.
"What did you say?"
"I said everything was well. You and I got along well"
Usui chuckled. "Just well...?"
"Well..." Misaki said. "She wouldn't believe me if I said I was madly in love-"
"You're madly in love?" Usui asked grinning. "With me?"
Misaki blinked a few times. "What- no I didn't mean-"
Usui silenced her with a kiss. "It's alright" he said. "I'm madly in love with you too"
Misaki blushed and rolled over with her back to him. "No ones madly in love with you..." she muttered.
"Still in denial" Usui teased. "Perhaps I can fix that..." he rolled Misaki over and pinned her wrists above her head.
"T-Takumi" Misaki stammered. "Stop it" she said trying to break his iron grip.
Usui casually swung a leg over her. "Admit it" Usui said, with a glint in his eye. "You are madly in love with me"
Misaki squirmed. "Takumi you fool! Get off me!"
"If you tell me...I'll let you off"
"I refuse!"
"Then I have no other choice..." Usui said pressing his lips to her neck. Misaki gasped and tried to move away.
"And I said you were a gentleman" Misaki muttered. "You play dirty!"
"Only you bring out my darkest side" Usui said lightly. "Say it now or else I'll have my way with you..."
Misaki blushed. "You fool!" she screamed. "Oh, you mean old man!"
"Old man...?" Usui laughed. "You don't even know how old I am"
"You don't know how old I am either!"
"You, my lady are a young age of sixteen" Usui retorted.
Misaki didn't reply. Usui smirked. "I love you" he said.
Misaki woke up with her cheek pressed to Usui's chest. Usui's hand was lightly tracing patterns on Misaki's thigh.
"Gah!" Misaki exclaimed bolting up. "What are you doing?!"
Usui propped himself up on his elbow. "Nothing really" he said smiling.
"Are my mother and Suzana up yet?" Misaki asked.
"I don't think so" Usui said. "Honoka will see to all their needs though"
Misaki nodded and picked up her nightgown off the floor. The front of it was ripped in half. Misaki stared at the tattered thing in her hands.
"My apologies" Usui said wrapping a robe around her shoulders. "I got a little rough with you last night"
Misaki blushed. "It alright..." she whispered. "I have others"
Usui hugged her. Misaki snuggled up next to him.
Honoka knocked on the door. "The Countess and Lady Suzana are up" she called through the door.
"We'll be down shortly" Usui called back, climbing out of bed. He picked up a shirt and pulled it on. Misaki quickly threw on her petticoats and opened her wardrobe. Her fingers flipped through the dresses.
Honoka came in with warm basins of water. "My lord" she greeted.
Usui and Misaki washed up and Honoka retrieved Misaki's gown. Today's was a burgundy red.
"Wait" Usui said taking out a chest. "I have a present for you"
Misaki paused. "What for?"
"Because I love you so much" Usui said nonchalantly.
Misaki blushed. Usui chuckled and handed her the chest.
"It was imported from Asia" Usui told her.
"Asia?" Misaki asked. She opened the chest and her eyes widened. It was a bird made of delicate gold plates.
"Its a phoenix" Usui explained. "A mythic yet beautiful bird that symbolizes royalty"
Misaki carefully took it out. The piece was about the size of her hand. A ruby dangled from the phoenix's mouth.
"You wear it in your hair" Usui said taking it from her. He gently pinned it to the top of Misaki's head. Misaki looked at her reflection.
"Do people in Asia wear such grand jewelry?" Misaki asked. The ruby swung everytime Misaki moved her head.
"Only the wealthy" Usui told her. "The royals and noble women there dress their hair very elaborately. Nothing compared to our's."
"Really?" Misaki said. "And I already thought ours was too fancy..."
Usui laughed. "If you'd like...I'll buy you dozens of these"
Misaki shook her head. "I'm fine with keeping my hair simple" she said.
"Very well" Usui said. He held out his arm. "Shall we head down to breakfast?"
Misaki nodded as they went downstairs. The Countess and Suzana were already there.
"Good morning" Misaki greeted. Her mother and Suzana got up and curtsied.
"Mother!" Misaki complained. "No need to be so formal. We're family"
Minako smiled. "Very well" she said.
"Oh Misaki!" Suzana exclaimed. "Your hairpiece..."
"Its from Asia" Misaki told her sister. "Would you like to have it?" she asked.
Suzana quickly shook her head. "I couldn't"
Usui smiled. "I'll have one for you too" he promised.
"Thank you, my lord"
Usui squeezed Misaki's hand as they sat down. Misaki felt the warmth of his hand that made her heart flutter.