"Woah! Chris, you sure are energetic," He smiled and tugged me into a tighter hug. "Maybe I should come home early more often," He suggested as he kissed the top of my head.
"Yeah! You stupid husband! You would get more greetings like this," I said, kissing his face multiple times, stopping on his lips. He grinned. "Yeah, I like this-" He said in a deeper tone. I pulled away just as he went to kiss me harder.
"I'm in the middle of making ramen, babe," I said grinning from ear to ear. It's like all my worries vanished when he entered the apartment. I quickly pecked him on the nose and pulled out of the embrace. I grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen.
"While I finish making ramen why don't you shower?" I told him, with a light but commanding tone. He laid his head on my shoulder. I could feel his weariness seep into my body. I leaned up against the counter.
"I just want to be with you...I feel like I never see you these days, I-I know it's my fault and I-" He stopped. My shoulder felt wet. He choked.
"Oh, Kinnosuke… my love…" I rubbed his back with my hands. He cried for quietly for a bit and then choked out a sob. This in turn made me cry.
"Kin-Kinnosuke-You know I love you? I lo-love you s-so much…" I choked out through sobs. He pulled me into an embrace, wrapping his whole body around me, almost tight enough to restrict my breathing.
"I love you-that's why-that's why I'm gonna-" He choked again. I rubbed his back, trying to tell him through my hands 'it's okay'.
After Kinnosuke had stopped crying I pushed him into the bathroom, with tears still in my eyes, to take a shower. I had told him I'd take care of everything, getting him a towel, making ramen and fixing the dining/living room for dinner. I headed back to the kitchen and turned on the pot of water, yet again, and started chopping veggies and meat to place in it.
Since I'd started dating Kinnosuke I really got handy with a knife. I chopped through the green onions with ease, slicing them into centimeter length pieces. I'd never really been handy in a kitchen at all growing up. Everything was done for me, I was never even asked to help with chores. That's kind of the reason I jump at the chance to do things like making dinner and setting tables now. Although I've got some helpers now.
The water came to a boil and I placed the noodles in with rest of the ingredients, adding the spices last. Kinnosuke had just come into the kitchen, towelling his hair, as I set the pot on the table.
"Oh-Kinnosuke! The ramen's hot, come get some," I patted the ground next to me. He smiled at me. It didn't reach his eyes. My heart constricted at the sight. But I bit my tongue.
"It smells wonderful Chris. Are you feeling better? I'm surprised you can eat with this flu that you have," He said, sitting beside me. I picked up a pair of chopsticks.
"I'm ravenous actually. I didn't feel hungry until a minute ago but now I feel like I could eat a horse!" I exclaimed.
"Do people in britain eat horses?" He asked and served himself a bowl of ramen.
"Oh, no, It's an expression-it means that I'm so hungry that I could eat the equivalent of a horse," I explained, patting his leg.
"Oh, that makes more sense," He said, stuffing ramen noodles into his mouth.
I grinned at him, forgetting my troubles for a bit.
When we'd finished eating he opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something then decided against. Instead he just smiled and pulled me into a comfortable embrace. We watched TV for a bit after that and headed to bed. Kinnosuke had asked if I'd felt nauseous I said I didn't feel sick and he shouldn't worry. Then the clock turned to 4:42 AM and my nausea woke me up, forcing me to run to the bathroom. Kinnosuke woke up immediately afterward, he then followed me to the bathroom and rubbed my lower back as I threw up the spicy ramen.
"When is your doctor's appointment? I hope soon, this bug doesn't seem to be letting up, honey," I went to reply to him but more puke came out instead of words.
I heaved a couple more times before managing to say "It's on Wednesday," breathlessly.
"What time?" He said, not stopping rubbing my back.
"Ten. It's okay if you can't-" I started.
"I'll take you. It's really important to me that I come," He said gently.
"Okay, but don't make any promises. I know it's the day that inventory needs to be taken, so I understand if something happens," I said looking up at him.
"I won't make any promises, but know I'll try alright? You're more important than anything to me," He said and patted my hair.
I got up from the toilet and turned on the sink tap.
"I feel the same way about you," I said quietly. I splashed my face with water and rinsed out my mouth. When I reached for my toothbrush he began to talk.
"I want to quit at Mr. Aihara's-before you say anything let me explain," I'd given him an alarmed look. "He just hired a part timer. He hired him to train. To take my place. He's easing me away from him. I know he wants me to start a restaurant of my own. Although we haven't really talked about it extensively he knows that's what I want…" He drifted off before a determined expression settled on his face. "I think I'll talk to Aihara about it tomorrow. Money will be tight for awhile but we can do it. As long as you support me I think we can do anything,"
I felt inspired. I'd never heard him be so eloquent with his words. I wonder if Naoki knew he sounded like this. When he's determined he's somehow smarter. It's hard to explain. More focused maybe? There haven't been a lot of times in my life where I've seen him this way, but they all have stuck vividly in my mind.
"I'll support you. I'm here for you and my family has lots of money so-" I started to say.
"No. We need to do this on our own strength, that was the deal. Otherwise I'm not fit to be your husband, and I agree," His expression was unwavering and cool.
It almost felt like the humid summer air had frozen. 'He's serious,' I thought to myself. I felt astounded. I'd never expected to see this side of him. My father told me how he'd stood his ground when he asked for my hand, but I was still surprised.
After that I finished brushing my teeth and went to bed with a mildly queasy stomach and a heart full of love.
"Chris, baby, wake up,"
I felt a tickle in my ear and rolled over onto my stomach. I knew it was Kinnosuke. He gently prodded my upper back with his fingers. I opened my eyes, catching the time on the bedside clock. It read 6 AM.
"I don't wanna get up. It's not even light out yet, and besides we both know I'm not going into work today," I grumbled.
"Can't you at least give me a kiss?" He whined.
"Uuuughhh, fine," I rolled over and let him kiss my face several times, which eaked a small smile out of me. I ruffled his already messy hair a bit after he stopped.
"Can't you stay a bit longer?" I pouted.
"I wish I could, but no. I'm going to talk to Aihara first thing. I'll be jobless by the end of the week most likely so I better get a move on,"
He made breakfast, like the wonderful husband he is. It was kimchi and omurice. Nothing special, but when he made it, it tasted better than the best gourmet cuisine. Maybe it's because I'm lovestruck by him, maybe he's just a good cook, I can't really say. I'm a bit biased. After we ate he kissed my forehead and told me to rest and not doing anything too straining on my body. I brushed him off but I knew he was right. He then dressed in his cook's uniform and left to meet his soon to be ex-boss.
He came back that evening grinning from ear to ear.
"Aihara said that he wants me to train the new kid until I've got all my business plans sorted out. I suppose I was rushing into things a bit anyway." He chuckled to himself. "But I do have an idea. I want you to call your Father's secretary tomorrow. I have a business proposal for him. I know he's in Tokyo right now so it shouldn't be hard to get an appointment. What do you think?" He looked up at me with his obsidian gaze with questioning.
"Oh...ah I think this is wonderful. It's just kind of surprising you know? Little surreal…" I trailed off. His face turned to one of embarrassment and concern.
"Oh, well if you don't think it's a good idea-" He started before I cut him off.
"No! No, I think it's wonderful. I'm just not registering it very well? I'm just a bit tired. But yes I'll call father in the morning and see what I can do-" I smiled.
"I want you to call his secretary, not him. This is real business. Not a favor. I don't want handouts from a businessman just because he's my father-in-law. That's bad business dontcha think?" His eyes twinkled with excitement. I grinned at him. He pulled me into a hug exclaiming: "This is going to be the best thing that ever happened to us Chrissy! The best thing in the ever!"He attempted to swing me around our very small apartment but ultimately failed and we landed on the couch, me on top of him. I giggled. He rested his chin on my head and said.
"But this is gonna be tough. It's gonna be financially and emotionally difficult. You've gotta promise to stick with me through every second okay? I can't do this without you, you know that," He sighed. "You're the key in all of this. I'm doing it for you. I woulda been happy with Mr. Aihara but I want to give you a better life, one where we don't have to scrounge for every penny, like how my mom had to," I looked him in the eyes.
"I don't care about money as long as I'm with you. I could live in a ditch and if you were there I'd be happy,"