The Calm before the Storm

(Kotoko POV)

When I woke up on the Friday morning I was alone in the bed. I took the alarm clock in my hand. It was 8:30 am! "Oh no! I overslept." I yelped. Irie-kun must have left to work. I checked the phone and found 2 missed calls from Hana and Mio each. I immediately called Hana to inform that I was fine. I didn't rush as I was already late. I took my time to get ready and left for work.

I was nervous to meet Dr. Ayano. I wasn't sure if he was still angry at me. But Dr. Ayano seemed busy as I didn't see him much until lunch. After the lunch, all the doctors of Neuroshia team had a meeting. We were informed later that they have decided to recruit a very capable paediatric doctor for the team as we were short of one. We didn't know about the details of the doctor as this wasn't official yet.

In the afternoon Dr. Ayano gave all the nurses a small briefing on the meeting they just had. A few changes are in order of my treatment process. They had prepare the new treatment plan with me staying over the hospital for minimum one week during my therapy session. That can increase depending on my response to the medicine. The plan just made sure I have to spill out everything to my family. Hence for the millionth times I set my mind in doing that- tonight.

Having set my mind I returned home early that day only to discover me in an empty house. "Where is everyone?" I wondered aloud. I went near the dinner table seeing a vase containing beautiful fresh flowers and found a note pressed under that oka-san had left.

Naoki and Kotoko,

Naoki papa and I are going over to Aihara-san's restaurant for the dinner. Yuki and Konomi will join us there later. I cooked dinner for you both. We will be late so don't wait up for us. Have fun!

Oka-san.

I sighed. Oka-san must have planned this to give us some alone time. She was being so considerate while I was being a jerk to them. I went to kitchen to check the food. Knowing oka-san, she must have prepared something special.

"Why am I not surprised?" I wondered aloud again with a grin. Each and every container was filled with yummy foods which were our favourites.

I went upstairs to get changed. I thought for a moment what to wear. Then I decided to keep it casual and choose normal attire. I went back to the kitchen and started heating up the foods. Then I prepared the table and served dinner to the table. I sat on a chair and started to wait for him. But he was late!

...

(Naoki POV)

It was a long day for me. I left for work in the morning leaving Kotoko deep in sleep. I was an intern at the Tonan. So I had to apply for an official permission so that I could join the Neuroshia team in Hope. It was granted immediately.

Apparently my professor has referred about that to Tonan's director who agreed upon it. I made a call to Dr. Ayano and informed him about it. He then had a meeting with his team members and finalised it. I requested him not to disclose my identity to his team members right now. I was yet to inform Kotoko about this. Besides, Dr. Ayano also didn't know that my wife is a nurse and works under his wings.

An emergency case arrived in the late afternoon which resulted extending my working hour for the day. By the time I reached home it was well past dinner time.

I opened the door to a quiet house. "I'm home." I muttered in an audible tone but nobody answered.

I entered the sitting area and found Kotoko curled up on a couch fast asleep. My eyes fell over the dinner table and saw dinner was served. She must have fallen asleep while waiting for me. I kneeled on the ground in front of her. Using the index I traced the lock of hairs that fell over her eyes and tucked them under her ears. I cupped the side of her face with my right hand and used the thumb to caress her cheek until she stirred and woke up. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at me.

"I'm home." I told her softly.

She looked confused for a second but then tilted her face on my hand and closed her eyes for a moment and sighed.

"Welcome home." She replied softly and started to move down from the couch. I stood up to give her space and she stood up next to me.

"Am I missing something?" I pointed over the dinner table with my head.

"Trust me, you are not the only one wondering this." She replied. I raised a brow.

"When I returned home everyone was already out for dinner at the Aihara. Oka-san left the food for us." She explained.

I nodded. That would explain the exaggeration of the dinner.

"I will come down after changing." I told her and went upstairs.

Kotoko was already sitting down on a chair when I returned. I occupied a chair to her right. The smell of the food was mouth-watering. Although without expressing that, I started eating.

We were both eating in silence. I wanted to ask her how she was doing at work, or more precisely I wanted to ask her who dropped her home yesterday. I was too tired and annoyed to do that yesterday but the question bugged me the entire day. It was obvious he was either a colleague or a friend but someone who I never heard off. It didn't surprise me honestly as this is not the only thing I don't know about her these days. I controlled the urge to sigh.

"How was your day?" Kotoko started the conversation after a while.

"It was hectic. The afternoon emergency drained all the energy out." I tilted my head to the right and rubbed my left shoulder with my left hand.

"You look so tired." She said sympathetically.

"How was your day?" I repeated the same question to her.

"Oh... It was... as usual." She paused to think. "A new doctor is joining our team, a paediatrician. But, it's not confirmed yet."

I nearly choked on the food and stopped eating for a while. "Oh..." I only mumbled. I need to tell her but I was confused if she will like it or not. I didn't want her to feel bad.

...

(General POV)

While Naoki was lost in thought about how to tell Kotoko that he is the paediatrician she was talking about, Kotoko was also wondering how to bring up the topic of Neuroshia to him. Lost in their own thoughts they finished their dinner. Naoki helped Kotoko to clean up the table, then went to the sitting area and dropped on a couch. He closed his eyes. He was so tired. On the other hand, Kotoko cleaned up the kitchen as fast as she could. She was thinking about all the ways in which she could approach. She started imagining in her head.

How about a casual way with a smile on the face?

Hey Irie-kun. I have been trying to tell you something for a while. You know the Neuroshia patent I always talk to you about? Well to tell you the truth, she is not who you think she is! Actually I have it. I am the patient of Neuroshia.

Kotoko shook her head.

Nope. Not good. In fact this is the worst possible idea. Irie-kun will be really shocked. Screw you Kotoko! You should dig up a hole, throw yourself in it and just stay there forever! Kotoko mentally cursed herself in frustration.

I need to act normal so that he doesn't get too shocked. Kotoko determined that mentally and moved closer to where Naoki was resting.

What if I go and sit on his lap and hug him tightly. Then I could whisper it to him and I wouldn't have to look in his eyes. But I wouldn't be ignoring him either. Kotoko who was imagining the strategy staring straight at Naoki didn't realise that he was talking to her and was now wondering what she was thinking being out of this world.

"Oi Kotoko, What are you thinking?" He asked again.

"Umm... that if I could sit on your lap..." She trailed off. She was thinking what he would do if she suddenly sit on him. Then she realised what she blurted out.

"I did not just speak that out loud! Did I?" She asked incredulously.

Naoki was stunned. His lips slowly curved into a mischievous smirk.

"As a matter of fact, you just did." He was looking straight into her eyes.

Kotoko blushed. She opened her lips to say something but nothing came out. She tried to move away from Naoki but he was faster than her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap. Kotoko blushed harder seeing the intense stare he was giving her. Naoki's heart flattered seeing her blushing so much. She tried to get up but he pulled her down and held her tight by her waist.

"Stay." He whispered near her ears sending shivers down her entire body. She stilled.

Naoki moved up his right hand and used it to trace Kotoko's eyes, nose, and lips while his other hand remained on her waist. Kotoko started to feel butterflies in her stomach and closed her eyes to the sensation. Naoki pulled her closer and she opened her eyes to meet his gaze. Naoki was staring at her with longing eyes. Kotoko put her both hands on his hairs and moved closer to him closing her eyes once again. Naoki sealed her with a kiss.

It was slow and gentle at the beginning. Then it turned into a more deeper and passionate kiss. Naoki used his tongue to trace her lower lip. Kotoko shook violently and a soft moan skipped her lips as she parted them. Naoki plunged his tongue inside her mouth and starts to explore it. She tasted so good. Kotoko arched backwards as she moaned again.

After a while Naoki pulled his tongue out of her mouth for air. Kotoko was panting. She hugged him tight. They both missed this feeling. They both longed for it. Naoki dipped his face on her hair above the shoulder and inhaled her scent. Then he started to kiss and lick on her neck leaving her breathless.

Kotoko couldn't think straight anymore. She pulled him into another mind blowing kiss. This times Naoki kissed her with a little force, harder and faster. It was the kind of kiss that defined how much he craved her. Kotoko also held him tight and kissed back being equally passionate.

When he entered her mouth again, Kotoko also reciprocated. It was Naoki's turn to moan in Kotoko's mouth when her tongue traced the inside of his mouth. They played with their tongues fighting for dominance. Naoki's one hand was moving up and down her back slowly relaxing her and other one was on her neck while Kotoko's one hand was tracing through his hairs and the other one on his chest.

They both separated when their lungs were out of air. Kotoko pulled Naoki's head towards her and rested his forehead on hers. Naoki's hands were still caressing on her back and arms.

"Kotoko..." He tried to speak but his voice was too much hoarse.

"Kotoko..." He tried again after a while. Their foreheads were still attached together. "You have fever."

"Hm?" Kotoko's mind couldn't register what he said.

"You're coming down with a fever." He said again.

"Oh?" Kotoko understood and pulled away to look at him. Naoki was looking at her with concern.

"Why do you keep falling ill Kotoko?" He asked.

"I... I do, don't I?" Kotoko smiled slightly and looked away. Naoki just stared at her. Kotoko touched her neck and forehead to check her temperature which was mild.

"I'll take some medicine." She delivered her usual speech and got up from his lap. "I wonder where everyone is." She stated looking at the clock. It was nearly 11 pm. Kotoko could feel his gaze still on her so she didn't look at him as she didn't want to meet his eyes. "See you upstairs." She told him and went upstairs to eat her medicines. She still couldn't bring herself to tell him. Especially not after the passionate moment they just shared. She couldn't break his heart… not tonight.

Naoki sat still on the couch for a while. Kotoko did not disagree with him about her being continuously ill like other times. That's a first. But he didn't like the vibe. He would rather have Kotoko disagree with him. He couldn't explain what he was feeling. He was uneasy. After a moment he figured out that he felt scared! But why?

Naoki decided to remain downstairs and wait for his family.

A/N: Surprise surprise.. ^_^ I hope it was surprising.. Well I thought we need some comfort before the storm. But as I'm writing for the first time, I'm not sure if i justified the romantic moment. I hope it's good enough.

I have to confess.. the confrontation moment is really hard to pen down. I'm trying my best but i might be late in updating the next chapter than I usually do. Please don't don't be disappointed and let me know if you enjoyed this chapter.. :)