Forgotten Sonata

Ryokoluv17

"Tenchi, where were you? Where did you go last night? I woke and you were gone, where did you go?" Ayeka sent an onslaught of questions as he approached the table. Sasami looks to him with a questionable expression, kicking her feet repeatedly under her chair. "Sasami cut that out, that is not ladylike!" Ayeka chastised for a split second.

"I am a kid!" Sasami exclaimed continuing her breakfast.

"Tenchi?" Ayeka reverts her attention back to him.

"Ayeka please, I simply went for a walk and just crashed on the couch when I returned." He closed his eyes sighing gallingly flopping down in the chair. 'Cut me a break…'

"Right, I am sorry." Ayeka retorted sensing the irritable tone in his voice, she peered at him over the rim of the mug. Much more to her dismay, she watched her husband's expression changed into a mask of annoyance. Tenchi began to fidget with the chopsticks, lips pursed and brows furrowed, the growing feeling of irritation rose within him rapidly, he coveted for some peace. He needed to get out of the tense atmosphere. "Come on Sasami, don't want you to be late for school." He muttered wiping the corner of his mouth. Sasami glance skeptically at her brother-in-law's retreating form and to her sisters dejected expression.

"See ya later, Ayeka!" Sasami shouts dropping her spoon into the remnants of her hot cereal.

"Have a good day at school Sasami!" Ayeka feigned in a cheerful voice picking up the bowl.

…

Clad in just a blue striped pajama top and underwear, she scratched the side of her head groggily casting a look to the table already set with breakfast waiting to be eaten. Ryoko scoffed, "Gee, trying to make up for your absence last night?" Ryoko shook her head putting up her hand kindly.

"Now Ryoko, you should be understanding like the good wife you are, you should know that your husband's job is demanding." Emulating her mother in a mock authority. Ryoko tossed the note that was resting on the table mat. "Let's see what is on the menu?" She lifted the food cover, and to her dismay frowned at the sight of the meal. "Better than nothing, I guess." She muttered flopping down in the chair.

…

"Are you and Ayeka fighting again?" Sasami probe looking up at Tenchi.

"Why do you think that?" Tenchi looked down innocently swinging their hands together to and fro. Sasami stopped, her other arm gently tugged on Tenchi's forearm, "For one, we are pretty ahead of schedule…we have at least twenty-five minutes before the gates open. Two, you barely touch your breakfast! You seem a bit…guilty. You are a naughty boy, Tenchi!" Sasami began to giggle behind her hand.

"Sasami quit that," Tenchi whined as he knelt before her. "It is nothing to worry about, I am sure of that!"

"Now I am worried since you say not to worry." Sasami pouted rocking on her heels.

Tenchi smirk and took her hand. "We can walk by the lake to buy us some time. How about it?"

…

Ayeka groaned resting back on the wooden counter. In her mind's eye, she replayed the bothered expression on her spouse's face. Suddenly, the old feeling of sorrow enveloped her, the tightening under her eyes began, to ease the agony she began fanning herself, not permitting to shed a tear. Though, it went away as quickly as it started. Ayeka started to regain her composure bit by bit. She peered over her shoulder at the clock, "Ah, would you look at the time? I have to go or else I will miss the bus!"

Her handbag that was propped tightly on her shoulder now swung against her leg. Just ahead of her, Ryoko was watering the plants and carried on a one-sided conversation in the presence of Luna, the Cyan hair beauty turned her head in time to catch the sight of Ayeka standing meters away with a look of forlornness.

"Good Morning! Head in the clouds there, Masaki?" Ryoko called out from her spot on the patio.

Ayeka paused in mid-step, and glance up. "Ms. Ryoko, I was daydreaming, forgive me. Good Morning to you as well!" Ayeka places her purse back on her shoulder, slowly regaining her optimistic self.

Ryoko brow cocked at her muttering to herself, "Ugh, so uppity."

"I can only speculate, I am a bit tired." Ayeka held her hand above her eyes blocking the intense light of the sun as she approached. "I am actually heading off on a brief errand. Would you like to come with? Kiyone and Mihoshi are on shift today. I can use the company."

"Ah, yeah sure, give me a minute. Have a seat." Ryoko hesitantly spoke motioning the melodramatic woman to the chair.

…

"Snazzy place…" Ryoko jested beside Ayeka. "Too uppity for my liking."

Ayeka grabbed two glasses of wine perched on a nearby table, handing one over to Ryoko. "Could have fooled me, judging that you once lived in a fashion-forward district in Paris. Every year, the hospital staff holds a ball. This year is significant since the Japanese Defense Force is on rest and recuperation."

"Right." Ryoko frowned a bit. "How could I have forgotten." Ayeka's ears perked in curiosity was it a question or a statement, she could not decipher which was the case. But who cares, she had better things to worry about.

Fleeting thoughts began to fill Ryoko's mind as she sipped the wine.

"Ms. Ayeka!" Both women turned to the voice, Ryoko watch as a young woman walked over spreading her arms outward her cerise shirtwaist dress sashay in time with her hip movements the sound of her heels filling the quiet room, she kissed both sides of Ayeka's cheek. "Yoshiko, glad to see you again! Your mother told me she is going to be away for a week! She deserves the break, such a hard worker, she is!"

"Absolutely, she has already informed me you were coming by, and that your measurements should be perfect this time!" Yoshiko for a quick second glanced at Ryoko.

"I can't wait to try it on! Oh, where are my manners? Ryoko, this is Yoshiko she is the daughter of one of the best seamstress here in Tokyo. Yoshiko, Ryoko." Ayeka nudges the woman who was more than engrossed in the wine. Ryoko retorted with a smug grin.

"Charmed, I'm sure." Yoshiko offered her fingers to Ryoko. Ryoko held her hand, and purposely curtsy. Her head lifted grinning at the woman. "I am overwhelmed by your respect. Though you must be a kidder?"

"One of my notable qualities." Ryoko mocked snobbishly grinning wider. Yoshiko let out a nervous giggle, returning her attention to Ayeka.

"Ms. Ayeka." Yoshiko ushered her into the fitting room.

…

"Enough!"

"Just suck it in a little!"

"Stop, I can't even lift my arms!" Ayeka shouted breathing heavily, "Enough! It's too tight! I can not move my upper torso, Yoshiko!" Ayeka pleaded.

"You definitely gained some weight. I am definitely not going to place myself in a predicament, trying to adjust the dress! My mother will have a fit!" Yoshiko places her hands on her hips, looking at Ayeka's reflection.

Ayeka sighed miserably looking at herself. "It will be horrific to scrap such a beautiful dress, I will just wear a kimono instead, but…" Ayeka shuffled around to the woman sitting behind her. "Ryoko?"

"Yeah? What is it?" Peering up from a newspaper.

"Would you like to try this dress on?"

Ryoko sights landed on the dress, it was indeed beautiful, a floor-length off-the-shoulder black gown. Ryoko drew close in awe at the dress, she has seen these faille gowns frequently in Paris, "Ayeka, are you sure about this? I mean…" Ryoko trailed off reaching out to touch the fabric, Ayeka smiled lifting the dress slightly to step off the platform. "Just try it, I am sure it will fit beautifully. Give it a try, Ryoko."

"If you insist."

…

"It is perfect!" Yoshiko exclaimed as she moved Ryoko's loose waves to one side of her shoulder. Ryoko sympathetically smiled turning to Ayeka, "It is beautiful." Ayeka stepped on to the platform fixing the sleeve of the dress.

"Great! think of it as my gift to you. You are welcome!" Ayeka smiled.

"What? Are you serious? It's lovely and all, but I can't accept this!" Ryoko shuffled back to the full-length mirror.

"Hotsuma will be floored when he sees you." Ayeka stood closely beside Ryoko.

Yoshiko interjected excitingly, "You have the perfect body for this dress!" Yoshiko saw the brief expression on Ayeka's face.

"I did not mean it like that, Ms. Ayeka. You have a great body as well."

"It's okay, Yoshiko. Ryoko is indeed beautiful, and the dress fits in all the right places. Oh, look at the time, time is just going by. Yoshiko, please help Ryoko out of the dress. She and I have other places to go."

"We do?" Ryoko questioned as she was hauled back to the changing room.

Once the two made their way onto the street, Ryoko turned to Ayeka. "My husband will have a fit if I were to spend money recklessly."

"Stop worrying, what he does not know won't hurt him" Ayeka interlock her arm with Ryoko's. "Come on!"

…

"Ever ponder where your life is really going?" Ayeka uttered as the two sat in a booth of a coffee shop. "What is your purpose in life?"

"Hmm I do, like what underwear I am going to wear, or how am I going to wear my hair for the day? What of it? Why the theorizing? Why are you being so weird today?" Ryoko bantered back.

"Just thinking…like will I be a good mother? when the time comes? Tenchi and I have tried several times and we haven't succeeded at conceiving. It is placing a significant damper on our marriage" Ayeka pursed her lips resting her face in her hand. "Ryoko, I must be quite frank with you. I don't think I am being a good wife. How do you and your husband do it? How do you work out your problems?"

Ryoko looked on, contemplating on what to say. "Marriages are not meant to be perfect. My mother always says that- and I quote 'Marriages are not designed to be perfect. It is hard labor till 'death do you part.' And to be quite honest, our situations are quite similar. Hotsuma wants to have a family, and I don't know if I want to as of yet." Ryoko bit her bottom lip and looked to Ayeka peering down at her tea like it was the best thing she saw all day. Of course, Ayeka wants to be the center of attention. Ryoko shook her head and in feigned sympathy, alerted the other woman with a light tap on the table."Enough of me, Ayeka you are a good wife, because you care about how your husband feels, it is surely evident. Try speaking with him about it, clear the air, that's what a marriage stems from…communication!" Ryoko reached out to place her hand on Ayeka's own. She felt proud of herself for offering great advice, only if she would practice what she preaches. For over the last year of their marriage, Ryoko cowered at the times of intimacy feigning fatigue to escape from having to open up to Hotsuma about how she truly felt on starting a family, at twenty years old, she still has her whole life ahead of her.

"Your absolutely right." Ayeka gave a genuine smile for the first time for the day, placing her other hand on top of Ryoko's. "Thanks! Thank you for listening!"

…

Waving off Ayeka, Ryoko made her way up the steps sluggishly. Delivering a salutation to Luna, she stared glumly ahead of her removing her shoes in the foyer. An empty table and living room welcomed her once more. She tossed the garment bag over the back of the couch, taking a B-line straight to her room discovering a note lying on her pillow. Ryoko recited the note out loud, one word: "Sorry", trigger a lone tear to fall. Another word: "Promise", elicit another tear to roll down her cheek. Ryoko sighed falling back on her pillow not forgetting to crumble the letter and tossing it to the floor.

…

"I'm home!" Ayeka called out as she walked into the living room. She placed her purse on the chair and headed into the dining room. She was greeted by her little sister and a brief glance from Tenchi. She disguised her dismay by wiping the countertop with a damp towel. She let out an exasperated whimper, with a quick apology she hurried out the room. Tenchi looked to Sasami assuring that Ayeka was okay, and headed to the room.

"Ayeka…" Tenchi began closing the door behind him.

"No, I am alright Tenchi…I am sorry for causing you such discomfort this morning. I just got worried. I hope you understand?" Ayeka dabbed at her cheeks, keeping her back turned from him.

"Ayeka…I do understand but I am responsible for myself." Tenchi growled as Ayeka embraced herself still turned away from him. "Okay, I was being inconsiderate this morning and I am sorry for that. But…" Tenchi trailed off as Ayeka twisted to him, "Please understand I do need my space at times."

"I do and I am so sorry." Ayeka hid her face in his chest wrapping her arms around his waist.

"Don't apologize. Please stop apologizing!" Tenchi held her arms, he soon felt her head move, lips claiming his neckline. "…Ayeka, please not now. I need to help Sasami with her homework."

"'Kay…I am so…going to take a nap. I am going to take a nap." Ayeka separated from him reluctantly. Tenchi eyed her as she removed her slippers and climbed under the covers.

…

Later that night, almost like a ritual Ryoko poured herself a cup of tea and poured another cup proceeding to the patio. She placed the other mug across from her and rested back in her chair, promptly bringing her legs up to her chest. As if the tea summoned the presence, a familiar voice spoke a few meters away.

"Hey…" Tenchi spoke.

"Hey yourself." Ryoko uttered turning her head to him. "I made some tea for you."

"You were expecting me. How thoughtful of you." Tenchi chuckled jogging up the steps and taking the seat across from her. Ryoko watched as he took a sip, she was gracious when he smiled back and continue to sip the tea. Ryoko found comfort in just briefly glancing and smiling at him, he did the same.

"Another beautiful night." He commented turning his body outward resting on the wall of the house, staring at the moon.

"It is…" Ryoko intently looks at him.

"Would you like to take a walk…with some extra company?" Tenchi offered raising his cup at Ryoko. Ryoko nervously laughs and agreed.

…

"I just love the stars," Ryoko commented dreamily hugging the body of the mug. Tenchi eyed her profile as she looked up.

"Perhaps, we can do this more often…if you want?" Tenchi offered nervously. Ryoko peered ahead of her and nodded.

"Sure, sounds like a good idea." She smiled as a breeze passes through making her hug herself. Tenchi took notice and hands his mug over to remove his sweater placing it over her shoulders. "There." He smiled, Ryoko blushed and expressed gratitude after expressing her neglectful mind. His scent wafting to her nostrils.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. It happens to the best of us. You are indeed too young for memory lapses." Tenchi laughed wholeheartedly, making Ryoko blush.

I love the sound of his laughter

The two came to a stopped overlooking the lake.

"It is so peaceful, I guess living here is not so bad."

"Did I hear that correctly?" Tenchi turned to her fully almost affronted. Ryoko side glanced briefly and smiled.

"I did not mean it as an insult, Mr. Masaki." She began to chuckle, "Though, when I first moved in I was not all that impressed."

"Well you were living in a more sophisticated setting, you do have such liberties to say what you feel. What you think I should change? I can bring up the matters to my father." He crossed his arms turning back to the lake.

"I can assure you my matters are not that major." She giggled at him. His brown depths scrutinize her, they were unreadable, and she was mesmerized by the mystery in them.

"It is in my best interest that my occupants are comfortable, so I do encourage a lot of feedback from residents." Ryoko eyes narrowed as she attempted to is the meaning behind his words, perhaps she was reading too much into the situation that was beginning to develop between them.

"So, holiday ball is in a few days." Ryoko changed the subject effortlessly.

"Yes, it is truly not my cup of tea, no pun intended." The two laughed once more.

"How so?"

"Merely the big wigs and their urbane wives, if I am not mistaken, it is more of the wives showing off their lovely dresses off."

"I know what you mean…" Both mugs were now empty and Tenchi offered to hold both of the cups, as Ryoko secured the sweater tightly on her shoulders. "Let's head on back."

"Sure."

…

A very fatigued Hotsuma opens the door, walking into the foyer. The home was quiet and he smiled assuming Ryoko was already asleep. A great way to surprise her or perhaps seducing her, he thought. He stopped short of the threshold to the bedroom to his disappointment the bed was empty, though disheveled. He noticed the crumpled paper lying on the floor, and he bent to pick it up. He came down to the conclusion that Ryoko could be upset with him.

Suddenly he heard the door opened, finding Ryoko holding two mugs, removing her shoes. A pleasant smile surfacing on her lips. He made a mental note of it, he watches as she went through the notions of washing the mugs still unaware of his presence. He rested on the wall with his arms folded, he heard a light hum emanating from the beauty. This was his chance. Hotsuma ceased the moment to embrace her from behind, slightly causing her to jolt.

"You little sneak," Ryoko commented as she placed the mugs to dry.

"Company?" Hotsuma questioned tightening his hold around her petite waistline.

"Yes…Ayeka." Ryoko lied as she twisted around to face him.

"You two are forming a great friendship, I see."

"For the most part." Ryoko felt his embraced tighten around her waist, she hesitantly peered up at him. "So, you are not upset with me?" He commented with a cocked brow as Ryoko shook her head, "Excellent! I have missed every part of you." His tan fingers tickled the skin of her neck down to her collarbone almost to her bosom. Ryoko tilted her head away and lick her lips, as his own claim her neck. She tilts back more as he brought her closer him, bunching the pajama top in his large hands.

"Hotsuma…" Ryoko moaned feeling the intensity building. Ryoko places her hands on both sides of his face prying it from her neck. "You must be very tired, why don't you take a shower and I will make you a little snack."

"Nope, I want you instead." He groaned picking her up hauling her to the bedroom. He laid her down despite her repeated protests and straddled her. Ryoko felt her pajama top giving way, as he unbuttoned the shirt, her hands gripped his preventing him from going any further. "Are you sure? You must've had a long day." It was then she felt him stop and look her in the eyes.

"Damn it Ryoko!" He sat up turning his back on her, burying his hand in his hands. "What the hell is wrong with you?" He asked more to himself.

"I…I am not in the mood." Ryoko started to button her shirt, Hotsuma scoffed digging into his pocket for the crumpled paper he discovered earlier. He tossed the paper in front of her. "You gave that same excuse for the last two years! Give it up! I am at my wits end with this! Why the hell can I not touch my own WIFE?!"

Ryoko peered up nonchalantly, "Do you really want to know?" He stared sternly at her, "Please inform me!"

"I am not ready…to be a mother. I just need some time to get my life in order, Okay? I want to be mentally prepared for such a big step!" She finally confessed.

Hotsuma looked away briefly, as he sought to find the words to relay to her.

"There are so many things, I would like to accomplish and I just want to at least do that." She continued.

"Ryoko…" He began with a sigh.

"I know what you are going to say. I have heard it all before!" She needed to relinquish his power.

"Have you?"

"Of course I have! I have followed you around, watch you reach different levels in your career, worry sick about you when you have to go on those missions, not knowing if you would return to me alive! Now, it is time for me to want you to do the same for me. I want to fulfill my dreams!"

"Fine, such as?"

"I have always wanted to act, sing...become my own version of 'Marilyn Monroe'. Perhaps make it to Hollywood." Ryoko smiled hugging the pillow to her chest.

"Let us be realistic here. Stop being delusional. She is American, you are Japanese. In those Westerners eyes, we are nothing, we are nothing but folly and relentless Japs that attacked Pearl Harbor!" Hotsuma explained, only to stop short seeing Ryoko's dejectedness.

"No shit, Why don't you just rip my heart out now?" Ryoko threw the pillow away from her.

"But you do understand what I am telling you? Fine. I will let you follow your dreams and I won't lay a hand on you until you are ready. However, on the day I have your permission, there won't be any backing out of it. Okay?" He looked at her with a bit of mischief in his blue eyes.

A smile slowly crept across Ryoko's lips, she felt a significant weight lift off her shoulders.

"Deal!" She wrapped her arms around his neck. He laughed as he held her, only to feel a growing arousal by such proximity.

"Maybe we can also refrain from such close contact, it is not helping me physiologically." Ryoko giggled and kiss his cheek.

…

Once he returned home, Tenchi remained on the couch, holding his coat, smiling to himself. He brought the coat to his nose, smelling the faint scent of perfume. At that moment, Ayeka opened the bedroom door, startling him, as usual, she apologized. She then noticed he was still dressed in his outerwear but refrain from asking questions. Tenchi sat silently observing her from his peripheral. Ayeka sauntered to the kitchen, pouring herself some water and heading back to the room hastily. He let out a sigh, grateful for the peace, wanting to savor the moment he had just shared with the Cyan beauty.

…