Ch. 5

(A/N):

Ch. 5

Naoki looked up a new mature Kotoko. Not only was her hair shoulder length with a little wave to it, but she seemed a little stronger, and it seemed she had filled out after having two kids. All her girly features were replaced with woman's more serious mother approach and the eyes that once looked at him with longing was gone. Her eyes now not only held anger, but had a bit of sadness and other emotions she all wanted to let out.

Naoki gathered himself off the floor and rubbed his sore face, "I deserved that." He didn't dare make a move as he saw tears form in the woman's eyes.

"Once again you are right," said Kotoko with anger and sadness in her voice. "Do you know how much I cried over you, and especially after I found I was pregnant with your baby. Why did you sleep with me if you still were going to be with Sahoko?"

"It's like I said, I wanted to know what…" Naoki started to say before he was once interrupted by Kotoko.

"You don't have to remind me of what you said, I remember all of it," Kotoko said, with the last part almost in a whisper, but Naoki still heard her.

"I remember too," he said looking at floor. "Can we still talk? I, I want to tell you my part of the story," said Naoki. He had wanted to see her after all these years and explain himself why everything happened the way things did, even the part that he truly still had feelings for; but he knew telling her even how he felt was impossible, for now.

Kotoko thought about it for a moment then turned around and sat on the couch. Naoki slowly walked over and opt for sitting in the chair. "That night after Sahoko's grandfather left the two of us went for a walk. During that moment she started to talk about our engagement."

As Naoki and Sahoko were walking down the street Sahoko stopped for a moment. "Naoki I've been thinking."

"About what?" asked Naoki, little hopping that she was about to cancel their engagement. For a while now he had been feeling a little regret about accepting the marriage arrangement, especially when he found out that Kotoko and Kinnosuke were apparently going out. He had finally realized his feelings for the baka, but he knew what he was doing was for the good of the company; at least that's what he thought at first.

His hopes were soon dashed when Sahoko answered his question. "Even though we are going to wait for your father to be more in good health before we plan the wedding day, I think we should go ahead with the engagement ceremony."

Naoki even though he was disappointed, he gave her a fake smile. "If that is what you want, than we can have it after tomorrow."

"Are you sure?" asked Sahoko asked with hope in her eyes.

'No,' thought Naoki. "Yes, I will let my family know tomorrow."

After they got back and Sahoko left Naoki walked inside and went to get some rest. Once he told his mother and father about the engagement ceremony, he wasn't going to get any peace, for a long time.

Just before he started walking up the stairs Kotoko just walked in the hall. Everything she told him about Sahoko, even if she tried to be happy for him, she still sounded sad. Before she could go any further from his reach he grabbed a hold of her. 'I want to be with her just once,' thought Naoki, before looking into the young woman's eyes.

As they lay in bed to together Naoki brushed his hand through Kotoko's long hair. 'Even if after this night you hate me, I will always remember this night,' thought Naoki.

"I love you, Naoki," Kotoko mumbled in her sleep, with a smile on her lips.

Naoki smiled and kissed her lips for the last time, "I love, Kotoko."

That morning Naoki woke up and got ready for one of the longest days of his life. "Good morning son," said his father as he walked into the kitchen for breakfast. His father and brother were sitting at the kitchen table while his mother served breakfast.

"Good morning," said Naoki trying to prepare himself for what was about to tell his family. "Mother you might want to sit down, I have something important to tell all of you." Both his parents looked at each other and his mother took a seat. "Sahoko and I talked last night about our engagement, and plan to have the ceremony tomorrow."

"WHAT?" shouted his whole family, even Yuki.

"Naoki you can't be serious, and what about Kotoko?" said his mother fuming mad at what her son just said.

"I told you Kotoko is okay with this, she even told me that she is happy for me," said Naoki not showing how he really felt.

"Naoki was this your idea or was it Sahoko's?" asked Mr. Irie. He remembered talking last night with Mr. Oizumi about their upcoming engagement, but he wondered how long he could wait for the official ceremony. He almost said something last night when he was being rude to the young woman he conspired a daughter.

"Not really but I agreed with her. We will still wait until you are in better health to get married. It's just we are wanting to make it official.

"I can't believe you plan to have the ceremony…" his mother started to say.

"Kotoko," said Mr. Irie noticing the young woman standing at the entrances of the kitchen.

"Kotoko?" said Mrs. Irie with sadness in her voice, hoping that she did not hear what Naoki just said.

Kotoko just walked up to him and slapped him surprising everyone. Later that day Kotoko and her father moved out.

"After you left my father told me I was fired and told me continue to study to be a doctor, and… Yuki is now the heir to my father's company."

It was silent for what seemed like forever. "That changes nothing Naoki, but it seemed liked you were forced into having an early engagement ceremony," said Kotoko. Listing to his side still did not change how she felt, but she did not think that Sahoko would force Naoki to do something. Her grandfather on the other hand probably said something to her, and arranged something only in a day.

"Kotoko, I just want you to know that even though that after that night I made you leave, I never regretted a moment we had together," said Naoki. 'And I still love you,' he thought in the back of his mind.

"What's done is done I guess, but I don't regret that night either. After all I had a beautiful boy who I love very much," said Kotoko smiling. The first time she looked at her son she had tears of joy. Her baby boy had brought light back into her life, and brought her closer to the man she married.

"Did you ever tell him about me?" asked Naoki a little nervous.

"Yes," said Kotoko as she told him about her son figured out that he and Yuki looked alike. "He's smart just like you." For the first time since they reunited Kotoko smiled at him.

Naoki took his chance while she seemed a little happy and asked her an important question. "Can I meet him?