No marriage is perfect but hey love conquers all :)

Chapter 20: The Talk

"We have to talk," Misaki said, sitting down on the couch.

Takumi adjusted his glasses. "Yeah…" he agreed.

Misaki ran her hand through her hair and licked her lips. Takumi didn't say anything and watched her fidget.

"I still want to work," she finally said.

Takumi let out a breath. "I really don't want you to," he told her. "You'll get hurt-"

"Takumi," Misaki said. "I'm not a child. My decisions aren't always the best but you have to let me make them."

"So I'm suppose to stand by and watch as you overwork yourself?"

"I want you to support me," Misaki corrected. "Its not right for me to recklessly spend your money."

"Its not my money… it's our's," Takumi reminded her. "Your work at home is worth just as much as mine."

Misaki sighed. "If we were a regular couple then maybe but I don't work at home either. On a good day maybe I'll fold some laundry or wash a few dishes."

"I could get you a job at my company," Takumi told her.

Misaki shook her head. "Its not the same. Working as Misaki Walker will never be the same-"

"But you are Misaki Walker," Takumi said. "Why do you hide our relationship? I'm proud to be married to you but you always hide our marriage…" Takumi sounded hurt.

"Thats because people treat me differently when I'm Misaki Walker and most barely even acknowledge me when I'm Misaki Ayuzawa."

"But you're not Misaki Ayuzawa anymore," Takumi said. "You're my wife. I am your husband. That shouldn't change depending where you are."

Misaki bit her lip. She never knew how much that bothered Takumi. It was just a name… or at least that was what Misaki had thought… She never thought of it as hiding their relationship but it actually was… She hadn't wanted people to know she was married to Takumi and that hurt him more than Misaki would have ever known.

"You never told me…" Misaki whispered.

Takumi shrugged. "I usually just told myself it wasn't a big deal and it doesn't matter but it does matter to me. I don't care what the world thinks of me," Takumi stated. "But I do care how you think of me. Are you ashamed to be my wife?"

"No!" Misaki exclaimed. "I love you, Takumi. I…" Misaki's voice shook a little. "I'm just afraid of how the world looks at me. I don't want to be that gold digger. I don't want to that trophy wife-"

"Its just an appearance," Takumi told her. "The world has a billion pairs of eyes. We can't base our marriage, our love around what other people think."

"But we can't base our marriage around what you think is best either," Misaki argued. "We're equals, Takumi. You have to treat me like you'd treat yourself. You can't shield me away from everything bad in the world. It doesn't work that way. We're suppose to face it together and lately you've just been charging ahead and trying to clear a path for me. I don't need a perfectly smooth path to walk on. I just want to walk with you!" Misaki exclaimed.

Takumi took Misaki's hand. "Seems like we both have some mistakes to work on," he observed. "I guess I tried too hard to create you the perfect life without even listening to you."

Misaki nodded. "We both need to change," she agreed. "I promise to be open about my marriage with the world and-"

"I'll to let you make your decisions," Takumi finished.

They sat there in awkward silence for a while. Misaki looked up at Takumi and burst out laughing. Takumi laughed with her and hugged her closely. Misaki wanted to cry and laugh at the same time without knowing why for either.

"I hate it when we fight…" he murmured.

"Same," Misaki said. "I really want this to work out."

"It will," Takumi promised. "I love you. You love me. Now we just need to fix a few kinks in our marriage and we'll be perfect."

"Perfect huh?" Misaki asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Well… perfect when we have a family of six…"

"TAKUMI!" Misaki exclaimed. "We're NOT having six children!"

Takumi chuckled and kissed her brow. "I just want to be with you," he whispered.

Misaki blushed. "I guess I could tolerate you…"

"Thanks sweetheart…"

"Do I still have to lie down?" Misaki asked. "I'm sick of lying down."

"You can lie down on the couch," Takumi suggested. "We can watch a movie?"

"Okay," Misaki said, grabbing her pillow.

Miraculously, Misaki was permitted to walk to their movie room on her own two legs. Takumi looked like he expected her to fall over any second as she walked downstairs.

"No horror movies," Misaki said, snuggling down onto the couch.

Takumi nodded and popped in some action movie.

"Takumi?"

"Yes, love?"

"Are you going to sit next to me?"

Takumi smiled. "That would make the most sense," he agreed.

He sat down next to her and rested his arm on the top of the couch. Misaki want to scoot really close to him but she was afraid Takumi was still mad at her on the inside. Technically, they made up...

"Come here," he said, after a few moments.

Misaki scooted over like an inch. Takumi chuckled and pulled her so close to him that she was practically on his lap.

"What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Are you still mad?"

"Do I look mad?" Takumi asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought we already had our talk and everything."

Misaki picked at a loose string on the edge of a pillow.

"Well, you don't show any emotions on your face so I'm never sure," Misaki said, studying the pillow in her lap. "I know you're not just going to let this slide but you've been awful nice to me so that means you're going to do something and I'm not going to like it."

"Wow..." Takumi said. "I'm only nice to you so I can be awful to you later?"

Misaki blushed. "That's not what I meant..."

"But you did get one thing right," Takumi decided. "Your manager is going to regret it-"

"You don't have any evidence. Don't go abusing your power," Misaki scolded.

Takumi snorted. "Don't worry, honey," he said. "I got a private investigator. He interviewed past employees and current ones. I could sue the company if I want to-"

"Takumi!" Misaki exclaimed. "I knew you would do this!"

"Protect you?"

"Y-Yes!" Misaki stammered. "You'd make a big deal about this-"

"You don't think this was a big deal?" Takumi asked.

He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Why can't you love yourself half as much as I love you?"

"What are you talking about-" Misaki was cut off as Takumi silenced her with a kiss.

"I'm sick!" she mumbled, trying to push him away but Takumi was stronger. His lips were hot against her's.

"I don't care," Takumi said. "You're my everything."

He kissed her again and Misaki didn't have the strength... or willpower to fight him. His scent… his touch… Her lips parted and Takumi deepened the kiss. Misaki's fingers ran through his blonde hair, the silky texture felt soft against her palms.

Takumi wanted a kiss but Misaki wanted more.

"For someone who's sick, you seem really into this," Takumi teased, pushing her onto her back.

Misaki blushed. "I just missed you," she admitted.

"I missed you too," Takumi agreed, kissing her again.

Misaki patted around for the remote and turned off the movie. Takumi pulled her up and they attempted to head to their bedroom...

They never even made it to the stairs.

"Misaki are you alright?" Sakura asked.

They were on the phone for a conference call.

"How mad was Takumi?" Ruri asked.

"He was mad alright," Misaki said, sitting down in the living room, her phone on speakers. "But we made up."

"That was fast..." Sakura observed.

"Was it in bed?" Ruri asked.

"No!" Misaki said, blushing. "We talked it out and everything…"

"Don't lie to me, Misaki Walker..." Ruri reminded her. "I can feel the aurora of sappiness through the phone. That must have been some good love making session."

Misaki couldn't help but smile to herself. It had been a good evening yesterday. Takumi even went back to work this morning in a better mood though he warned that he was having a meeting with the CEO of the law firm. Misaki sighed… Takumi promised to stop hovering but he said this was absolutely necessary. No one bullied his wife.

"Ew, stop sending the pheromones over the phone," Ruri teased.

Misaki paled. "Can you actually feel them?!"

Ruri and Sakura laughed.

"Ruri's just pullin your leg," Sakura told Misaki. "We can't actually tell what your feeling. Ruri's just good at thinking like you..."

"Oh," Misaki said, hugging her pillow.

"But it was quite obvious that the long pause was you thinking about your mind blowing evening," Ruri added. "Care to share?"

"No!" Misaki exclaimed. "There's nothing to share about!"

"How'd you two end up in bed?" Sakura prompted.

Misaki didn't know how to answer that.

"What were you doing beforehand?" Ruri rephrased.

"Watching a movie...?" Misaki told them.

Ruri snickered. "You didn't even make it upstairs did you?"

Misaki felt her cheeks burn. "Not immediately..." she squeaked out.

"Someone can't keep his hands off you," Sakura giggled.

"Yeah... But it was more me-" Misaki said, flatly. "Stop teasing me!" she exclaimed, when Ruri and Sakura dramatically gasped. "I bet you two do the exact same thing!"

"All the time!" Ruri announced, proudly.

"Yup," Sakura agreed. "We're all best friends anyways... Nothing we can't share with each other!"

"Sakura..." Misaki sighed. "There is such thing as privacy..."

"Not between us there isn't!"

Misaki face palmed. "Whatever…" she muttered.

"But on a more serious note," Ruri said. "How did you guys resolve this? Is Takumi going to let you work again? He was PISSED at the hospital. Tora tried to calm him down but he looked like he was going to smash a wall."

Misaki briefly explained to them about their talk. "We have have to fix our issues," she explained.

"You should flaunt it," Sakura said. "I'm always cheering for Kuuga the loudest at his concerts. Ain't no one going to outcheer his wife."

"I agree," Ruri added. "Takumi beams when you introduce yourself as Misaki Walker."

"I never noticed," Misaki admitted. "But I'm going to be aware of it now."

"We'll help you!" Sakura promised. "I don't know how but.. we're best friends. It will work out."

"Thanks… I'll talk to you guys soon," Misaki said.

"How about over dinner?" Ruri suggested. "My place?"

"Oh yes!" Sakura said. "Misaki, are you feeling better?"

"I felt better the second day," Misaki told them. "Takumi just worries too much."

"It's set then!" Ruri said. "See you tonight!"

"Fre," Mr. Gee said, pointing to the seat in front of him. "I need to speak to you."

Fre nonchalantly sat down. "What is it?" he asked.

Mr. Gee folded his hands. "A problem has been brought to me," he said. "I've received complaints from numerous people about your lack of work effort but this time you've crossed the line. Were you aware that your actions put Miss Ayuzawa in the hospital...?"

"That has nothing to do with me!" Fre argued. "I was going to ask you to fire her anyways."

"Fre!" Mr. Gee snapped. "I know full well what happened to all those lawyers that worked under you but I've always let it slide- which was a huge mistake on my part!"

"I am a manager!" Fre snapped back. "I am also have a brother on the Board as well as countless connections! So what if I let some newbie lawyer do my work?!"

Mr. Gee shook his head. "You don't understand!" he said, shaking his finger at Fre. "You've really done it this time!"

"I'd like to see who would dare try to do anything to me-"

Mr. Gee banged his hand on the table. "You've insulted Mr. Walker of Walker Corps!" he yelled. "Mr. Walker personally had a meeting with me today to fully investigate the case of Miss Ayuzawa!"

"W-What?!" Fre spluttered. "That girl has a good connection with the most powerful CEO in all of Japan and Europe?! You're lying."

Mr. Gee let out an exasperated breath and shook his finger again. "Miss Ayuzawa wasn't really Miss Ayuzawa!" he exclaimed. "That woman was Misaki Walker- HIS WIFE!"

Mr. Gee slapped down an old magazine. "Walker heir ties the knot!" was the headline with a photo of Misaki and Takumi together.

"What did you say...?" Fre asked, staring at the magazine cover. His face paled as the seriousness of the situation dawned on him.

"YOU PUT THE WIFE OF TAKUMI WALKER IN THE HOSPITAL!" Mr. Gee shrieked. "MR. WALKER FLEW BACK FROM ENGLAND EARLY WHEN HE HEARD OF THIS ATROCITY!"

Fre had to sit down. "I didn't know!" he said, in defense of himself.

Mr. Gee had to sit down too. He wiped his forehead with his handkerchief. "Mr. Walker wanted an explanation of how his wife ended up passing out in our firm and you know what?!" Mr. Gee demanded. "I had no explanation for him."

"No one told me that woman was Misaki Walker!" Fre said.

"You shouldn't treat anyone like that!" Mr. Gee reminded him. "You can't stay with the firm," he concluded. "Many other employees have testified against you too. I can not have have you destroy the firm I have worked to hard to maintain...Mr. Walker could sue! I'm going to have to fire you..."

Fre was shocked beyond words. "B-b-but…"

"You also must apologize!" Mr. Gee added. "I still need to explain myself and the company to Mr. Walker! What do I tell him?! So what if you're brother is on the Board?! If Mr. Walker wants payback for what happened to his wife, we could be run into the ground! Mr. Goodman… you sure chose a good enemy," he said, sarcastically.

Fre loosened his tie. "What will he do to me?" he asked.

"I have no idea!" Mr. Gee exclaimed. "But he said you better come to wits. For his wife, he won't ruin your life. Losing your job is the worst that will happen."

Fre nodded and quickly left.

Mr. Gee had to mop his forehead of sweat. He knew Miss Ayuzawa had looked familiar. Her photos were in Mr. Walker's office but he hadn't been able to put his finger on where he saw that face before.

He couldn't let rules be broken and then let it slide. If his company accidently put… let say Mrs. Walker's relative in the hospital. Mr. Walker wouldn't be so merciful the second time it happened.

"Never again…" he promised to himself.