Chapter 4: Pool Party

"Don't forget Ruri's pool party is today," Takumi said, setting a tall glass of ice tea on the tub platform.

"Oh right..." Misaki said, propping her elbow on the platform.

Takumi sat on the marble steps. "Is it a block party...?" he asked.

"Yeah," Misaki said, taking a sip of the iced tea. "It's more to show off though," she said with a laugh.

"Are you going to wear that dress from Express?" Takumi asked.

Misaki nodded. "You remembered..." she said.

"Of course..." Takumi said, smoothing her hair.

Misaki was currently sitting in the bathtub with her hair pinned up in a bun. The bubbles in the bath was covering her at the moment. Misaki swore the first perverted joke Takumi made...she was kicking him out of the bathroom.

"I'm getting out now..." Misaki announced.

Takumi held out her bathrobe.

"Don't look," Misaki ordered.

"Why...?"

"I just don't want you too!" Misaki exclaimed.

Takumi picked up her glass of iced tea. "May I remind you that we're married," Takumi said, covering his eyes with one hand.

"Don't look," Misaki warned.

"If I don't admire your body, who else will?" Takumi teased, his hand still over his eyes.

"It's embarrassing!" Misaki argued, pulling her robe on. "You always stare."

"Nothing I haven't seen before..." Takumi reminded her. He set the glass of iced tea on the far counter.

He smirked and swung Misaki up so she was sitting on the counter. "I lied. I looked," he announced.

Misaki blushed. "Takumi, no you didn't!" she exclaimed.

Takumi wrapped his arms around Misaki's neck. "Someone got a wax lately..." he said, winking.

"Why you!" Misaki yelled, chasing Takumi out of the bathroom.

Takumi bolted down the stairs as Misaki tore after him. "Think fast!" Takumi said, throwing a pillow at her.

Misaki caught it and glared at him. "Prepare to meet your maker!" she yelled, hitting him with the pillow

Takumi grabbed another pillow and swung at her too. Misaki ducked behind a couch and peeked around.

"Got you!" Takumi said, grabbing her from behind. He wrapped his arms around her waist and swung her around and around.

"Put me down!" Misaki laughed.

"Surrender first!" Takumi yelled.

"Never!"

"I will make you surrender...to your deepest desires," he said darkly. He gently pulled the hair tie out of her hair and let Misaki's dark hair spill onto her shoulders.

"What are my deepest desires then?" Misaki asked, shaking out her hair.

Takumi pulled her halfway up the stairs. "Me, of course," he said, pulling off his shirt and tossing it on the stairs.

"You practically left a trail of clothes!" Misaki exclaimed, as Takumi pushed her onto the bed.

"Not like we're expecting company today..." he reminded her.

"I guess...the house is a mess right now-"

Takumi cut her off with a kiss.

"Will there be have enough time to get ready..?" Misaki asked. She closed her eyes as Takumi kissed her neck.

"Don't worry..." Takumi said against her neck. "I'll make it fast..."

"Misaki? Takumi?" a voice called from downstairs.

Misaki jerked up in bed. She glanced at the clock. "Crap an hour before Ruri's party!" Misaki exclaimed. "Takumi!" she said, shaking the sleepy person beside her.

"Hello? Anyone home...?"

"It's Sakura!" Misaki said, practically shoving Takumi on his feet.

"What do they want?" Takumi said, yawning.

Misaki stuffed a pair of boxers and shorts in his arms. "I have no idea! Hurry up and go downstairs!"

Takumi pulled on his shorts and walked downstairs.

"You're not wearing a shirt!" Misaki called after him.

"Don't worry, I'm not cold!" Takumi called back, trudging downstairs.

Misaki face palmed. If she cared if he was cold or not... It was the middle of summer anyways!

"Hi Kuuga, hi Sakura," Takumi greeted.

Sakura and Kuuga were looking around the living room and the stairs. Clothes were strewn everywhere and the furniture was messed up.

"I see we came at a bad time..." Kuuga observed.

Takumi chuckled as he uprighted a chair.

Sakura helped put the pillows back on the couch. "So what were you doing...?" she asked.

Kuuga cracked up and placed a hand on top of Sakura's head.

Takumi picked up a pillow. "Uhh...pillow fight...?" he said, holding up a pillow.

Kuuga wrapped his arms around Sakura. "How cute.." he said.

Misaki ran down the stairs in her dress. "I didn't know you were coming," she said to Sakura.

"I just decided to stop by..." Sakura said. "Sorry, we came at such a bad time," Sakura apologized.

"It's okay we were done," Takumi said, messing up Misaki's hair.

"Stop it!" Misaki said, slapping his hand away.

"Come on, you two," Sakura said, pushing Misaki upstairs. "You have to get ready. Sorry for intruding!" Sakura announced, walking into their bedroom.

Sakura sat at Misaki's vanity table. Her fingers hovered over some products and laid some out for Misaki. Misaki dabbed on some red lipstick and outlined her eyes.

"Here's your waterproof mascara," Sakura said handing it to Misaki.

"I thought we weren't swimming..." Misaki said, brushing her hair.

"We aren't but it's probably going to be humid," Sakura told Misaki.

Misaki swooped the mascara wand on her eyelashes and pursed her lips.

"Use this bag," Sakura said, handing Misaki a thin clutch.

"That doesn't hold anything..." Misaki pointed out.

"Clutches are suppose to be small," Sakura said. She put a compact powder in the clutch along with Misaki's cell phone, her lipstick, some IDs, drivers license and tissues. "There you have it," Sakura said.

"Thanks," Misaki said, sliding her feet into her heels.

The girls headed back downstairs. Takumi was dressed in a white V neck t-shirt with a burgundy jacket over it.

"Of course, you two would match," Kuuga said.

"What a coincidence..." Takumi said.

"Let's get going," Misaki said, checking Takumi's watch. "Ruri will kill us if we're late."Misaki picked up the car keys. "Can I drive...?" she asked.

"No," Takumi said, plucking the car keys from Misaki's hand. "You're a bad driver," he called behind his shoulder.

"What?!" Misaki exclaimed. "I am not! I'm a great driver!" Misaki said as she chased after Takumi.

Sakura and Kuuga exchanged a look as they watched the bickering couple head off.

"Let's go," Kuuga said, taking Sakura's hand.

"Honey, can I drive...?" Sakura asked, batting her eyelashes.

Kuuga raised an eyebrow. "Since when did you like driving?" he asked.

Sakura hugged his arm. "Since now,"

Kuuga held out the keys. "As you wish..." he said.

"Misaki! Takumi!" Ruri called. "Welcome to the Igarashi home!"

"Wow..." Misaki said, looking at their new pool. It was full sized with tiny tiles in various shades of blue. There were stair steps in the shallow end and a diving board at the deep end.

"Isn't it gorgeous!" Ruri said, beaming.

"You must have spent a fortune," Takumi observed. He and Misaki walked under the canopy on the patio.

"Worth it if it makes Ruri happy," Tora said, pouring himself a glass of wine. "Red or white?" he asked Takumi and Misaki.

"Red," Takumi said.

"White, please," Misaki said.

Tora poured the drinks and handed them the glass goblets.

There was a long table full of food. The table was made of metal and glass except at the moment is was covered with a silver tablecloth.

Misaki picked up a small cake ball. "This is good," she said, after taking a bite.

"Look," Ruri said pointing to some of the dishes. "We had these at the gym cafe."

Misaki picked up a stuffed mushroom. "Tastes just to same," she told Ruri.

"Wow!" Sakura squealed, when her and Kuuga walked in. "I'm so jealous!" she exclaimed, hugging Ruri. "This pool is beautiful!"

"Cheers," Takumi said, clinking glasses with Misaki.

Misaki smiled and took a tiny sip of her drink.

"Don't worry about anything," Takumi said, patting her cheek. "I'll take care of you. I won't let you drink too much."

Misaki blushed. "I know how much I can have..." she said softly.

"Hey!" Tora yelled. "What are you two whispering about over there?"

Misaki blushed even more. "We're not whispering about anything..." she said, joining the group again.

"Especially not about-ow!" Takumi exclaimed as Misaki stomped on his foot.

"What's wrong, darling...?" she asked, glaring at him.

"Nothing sweetheart," Takumi said. "Everything's just peachy,"

Soon the entire block was at Ruri's place. They all admired the pool and asked Ruri to tell them about the price, designer and so on. Ruri proudly showed everyone the pool. Misaki watched her friend happily describe how she choose the design.

Misaki grabbed a watermelon cube and popped it in her mouth. The fruit was very sweet and so Misaki grabbed another.

"Did you come for the food or the party?" Sakura teased.

Misaki took a bite of a crab cake. "Food is slightly more tempting," she said clinking glasses with Sakura.

"Bottoms up," Sakura said, draining the glass.

"Easy now," Takumi said, patting Misaki's back as she tried to do the same.

Misaki coughed and shook her head. "What do people like about alcohol?" she asked Takumi.

"The rest of us can hold our liquor," Takumi teased, draining his glass to prove it. He held Misaki's hand as they made their way around the groups to make small talk.

"Misaki Walker, as beautiful as always," one of Ruri's neighbors said.

"Thank you," Misaki said, politely.

"You and Takumi make such a cute couple. Cheers," she said, clinking glasses with Misaki. "Bottoms up!"

Misaki forced a smile on her face. Why do people keep saying that?! She slowly drank her glass. Misaki hated that burning feeling down her throat.

Takumi got dragged away to talk business with some other men and so Misaki went to go find Sakura and Ruri.

"Satisfied...?" Misaki asked.

Ruri nodded. "Nothing's sexier than a man who makes good to his word," she joked. "To my wonderful husband," she toasted. The girls clinked glasses and drank.

"No, thank you," Misaki tried refusing as someone tried to pour her some more wine.

"Come on, loosen up," the woman encouraged, pouring Misaki another glass.

Misaki sighed and thanked her. She slowly walked over to Takumi.

"Oh Misa," Takumi said. "This is my lovely wife, Misaki," he introduced.

Misaki shook their hands and smiled.

"To the married life," they all said, clinking glasses.

Misaki took one sip before Takumi took her glass away.

"Alright," he said. "You're done for the night," he said wrapping an arm around her.

"I'm not drunk," Misaki said, matter of factly.

"Let's keep it that way," Takumi said, draining her glass. "I'm done too..." he said. "I still have to drive later." Takumi sat the glasses down on a empty table.

"Tora," he said. "Your pool has had a wonderful grand opening."

"Here here," Tora said. "It was mostly Ruri's work though. I hardly did anything."

"Misaki, you have to try this," Sakura said, handing Misaki a skewer with grilled meat and vegetables on it.

"Oh good," Misaki said. "I'm starving anyways."

"Didn't you eat dinner?" Ruri asked.

Kuuga and Sakura laughed. "They were too busy doing other things," Kuuga whispered.

Misaki blushed. "It's not like that!" she said.

"What was it like then?" Tora asked. "Actually I'd rather not know..." he teased.

"Alright, quit teasing my poor wife," Takumi said, hugging Misaki. "It was all my fault. I don't have any self control around her."

"You should have seen the house," Sakura told Ruri.

"Did you catch them together...?" Ruri asked.

"No they were upstairs,"

"Ruri!" Misaki exclaimed.

"So Misaki is a bed person..." Ruri said, tapping her chin. "Practical and conventional," she decided.

"Where else would you do it...?" Misaki asked. The question came out before Misaki thought it through. She blushed and try to brush off the question.

"Well..." Tora said with a glint in his eye. "You'll have to ask your husband to teach you a little. Play it a little more daring."

"Oh, they'll still newlyweds," Sakura said, waving Tora off. "They're still exploring their options."

"Thanks Sakura..." Misaki muttered.

"The clock strikes midnight," Takumi said, after some more casual conversation. "Time for Cinderella to go home."

Misaki nodded. "See you tomorrow," she said waving to her friends.

"Bye Misaki!"

"Hey Takumi," Tora said, standing up. "Spice it up," he said, smirking.

Before Misaki could process what Tora meant, Takumi ushered her to the car. They drove home and Misaki walked into the kitchen. She kicked off her shoes and dropped her clutch on the kitchen table.

"Hey Takumi," Misaki said, studying her hands. "What did Tora mean?"

"Mean by what?" Takumi asked, hanging his jacket on the back of a chair.

"What's wrong with our love life?" Misaki asked.

Takumi smiled. "Don't worry about it," he said patting her on the head.

"Tell me," Misaki pressed.

Takumi smirked. He hauled Misaki onto the kitchen counter. "Well darling," he said. "Some people find it exciting to make love on...let's say a kitchen counter."

"Do you?"

"Anywheres fine for me," Takumi said, pressing his cheek to Misaki's stomach. "What do you like?"

"I don't know..." Misaki said, looking at the kitchen ceiling.

Takumi stroked her face. "Why don't we find out?" he suggested.