Chapter Three: Smoke Sitting on a leather couch in the spacious living room, Hino Takara stared at the phone, silently willing it to ring. She’d been waiting all afternoon for the doctor to call, hoping for good news. So far, he hadn’t. “Is this thing working?” she asked herself aloud, picking up the receiver and holding it to her ear. The clear sound of a dial tone greeted her, meaning that the telephone was in order. So, why hadn’t Dr. Honda called with the results of her test? This waiting was driving her crazy. Quickly hanging up the phone, just in case someone was trying to call, Takara jumped up from the couch and began pacing in front of the fireplace, occasionally glancing over at the telephone. The maid, a matronly older lady who had worked at the manor for over thirty years, entered the living room a few minutes later, surprised to find her mistress so jittery. “Hino-sama, is something wrong?” Yukana Aki asked. “You seem anxious. Perhaps you would like me to prepare a kettle of chamomile tea to calm your nerves.” Takara paused in front of one of the large windows and shook her head. “No, thank you, Yukana-san. I’m fine,” she said, a soft smile on her face as she lightly placed a hand on her flat stomach. “In fact, I’m better than fine. I’m just waiting for Honda-sensei to agree with me.” Mrs. Yukana’s pale blue eyes widened as the meaning behind Takara’s words and motions became clear. “Are you…?” Takara’s smile broadened. “I hope so.” “How wonderful, dear,” the maid exclaimed, giving Takara a hug. Mrs. Yukana had a tendency to act more like an adoring grandmother than a servant at times, but Takara didn’t mind. “My Keitaro-chan will be so pleased. It’s about time this old house was filled with the pitter-patter of little feet. I always thought it was such a shame that the late Hino-sama never married and had children, though he truly did love your husband as if he were his son. I wish you could have known him. He would have loved you.” “I think I should have loved him as well,” Takara said sadly, her eyes resting on the portrait of her husband’s uncle which hung over the fireplace. It wasn’t until Keitaro brought her home to the manor after her stay at the hospital two years ago that she learned exactly why he and his uncle had been so close. She’d often wondered why Keitaro never spoke of his parents, but she didn’t dare to ask him, figuring if he wanted her to know, he would tell her himself. However, her curiosity finally got the best of her one day while she was complying with her doctor-ordered bed rest and she decided to ask Mrs. Yukana about it. The housekeeper had known Keitaro practically his entire life and even now continued to call him her “Keitaro-chan”, despite the fact he had just turned twenty-five years old and was an elected official. It embarrassed him to no end, but Takara thought it was absolutely adorable. From what Mrs. Yukana told her that afternoon, Takara could understand why Keitaro acted the way he did sometimes. He had not had an easy life. Keitaro never knew his mother, who died during childbirth, and his father had supposedly been a very cold man, ignoring his only son who he blamed for his wife’s death. Only his father’s brother showed him any kindness, finally taking Keitaro in after Mr. Hino’s death when he was only six years old. In a way, he really was Keitaro’s father. Even though he was often busy with work, he always made an effort to be there for Keitaro and for that, Takara was grateful. She only hoped that Keitaro would be just as wonderful as a father. Interrupted from her thoughts by the ringing of the telephone, Takara turned toward coffee table where the phone sat, frozen in place. She’d been waiting for the call for hours, but now that it had come, she was scared to hear what the doctor had to say. She wanted this child so badly. It would be devastating to learn she wasn’t pregnant. “I’ll get that, Hino-sama,” Mrs. Yukana said. Takara shook her head and slowly walked over to the phone, picking it up on the tenth ring. She had to do this herself. “Moshi, moshi,” she said, after taking a deep breath. “Hino residence.” “Hino Takara-san? This is Dr. Honda with the results of your pregnancy test.” His deep bass voice did not sound happy. Trying to prepare herself for bad news, Takara sat back down on the couch, nervously twirling the telephone cord around her pointer finger while Mrs. Yukana looked on anxiously. “What did the test say, Honda-sensei?” “You are indeed pregnant, Hino-san,” he finally said, bringing a bright smile to the expectant mother’s face. Takara could feel the tension from the last few hours melt away at the wonderful news. “Thank you, doctor.” Dr. Honda sighed. “But, as I told you this morning, I have reservations about you continuing this pregnancy given your medical history. There are very serious risks involved and I still stand by my professional opinion that the pregnancy should be terminated in order to avoid life-threatening complications. Of course, the decision ultimately rests with you and your husband, but I suggest you consider the option.” “We will,” Takara replied, though she really had no intention of doing so. She knew what she wanted and she wanted this child, no matter what the risks might be. “Thank you again, Honda-sensei. I’ll see you at my next appointment. Goodbye.” Hanging up the phone, Takara fell back on the couch and sighed blissfully, hugging a small pink pillow to her chest. She was going to have a baby, and she couldn’t be happier. ***** When Keitaro arrived home from the office a couple of hours later, he was surprised to find that Takara was not waiting for him at the front door like she usually did to welcome him home. That was strange. He took off his coat and slipped on his favorite pair of slippers, then entered the living room, looking for his wife. “Takara? I‘m home.” The only person in the living room was his maid and former nanny, Mrs. Yukana, who was dusting some crystal while humming softly to herself. He recognized the tune as an old lullaby she used to sing to him before he went to bed, though he had long forgotten the words. “Yukana-san?” The petite woman quickly turned around, seemingly shocked to see her boss standing behind the couch. However, Mrs. Yukana quickly regained her bearings, greeting him with a smile. “Konnichiwa, my Keitaro-chan. You’re home early today.” “Yes, my last meeting with the governor was canceled this evening, so I decided to leave and finish the rest of my work at home,” he explained as he glanced toward the entry way of the living room, expecting his wife to join them when she heard the two of them talking. Keitaro frowned, somewhat worried when she didn‘t. “Where is Takara? In our room? She didn’t have another attack today, did she?” The maid shook her head, smiling mysteriously. “Hino-sama is fine. She asked me to inform you to join her in the dining room when you arrived home.” “The dining room?” “Yes, Hino-sama has a surprise for you,” Mrs. Yukana said, shooing him toward the hall. “Now go before I end up spilling the beans. I probably shouldn’t have even said that much. Go, go, go!” “Okay, I’m going, I‘m going,” the young politician said with a chuckle. She always was somewhat of a kook, even when he was a little boy. Walking toward the dining room at the end of the hall, Keitaro wondered what the surprise could be. He really didn’t have a clue. It wasn’t his birthday or anything, so why was Takara giving him something? As he neared the closed door, the faint sound of a stereo could be heard, playing one of his favorite violin concertos. The beautiful music only served to confuse him more. What was going on in there? Keitaro tried to open the door to find out, but found it was locked. “Takara, are you in there?” he asked, knocking lightly on the door. “It’s me, Keitaro. Yukana-san told me I could find you here.” “I’ll be there in a second,” her sweet voice called out. “I just have to do one more thing, and then you can come in.” A few moments later, the door slowly opened and Takara stepped out, wearing a rather low cut black cocktail dress that was a far cry from her normally demure apparel. Her long black hair was pulled into a bun at the nape of her neck and she wore the beautiful pearl stud earrings he had given her for her birthday last year. Keitaro drew in a sharp breath. “Takara?” he breathed. The violet-eyed woman blushed faintly, wrapping her slender arms around his neck and lightly brushing her lips against his. Keitaro, still surprised, pulled away from her embrace. She’d never acted like this before. Takara lowered her eyes. “Gomen nasai, Keitaro. You don‘t like my dress, do you?” “No, you look beautiful, Takara,” he assured her, bringing a small smile back to her face. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. Besides, we really shouldn‘t be doing this out here. Let‘s go in the dining room.” Taking her hand, Keitaro led his wife into the room, stopping in his tracks as he took in the scene around him. The lights were turned off, but the room was illuminated with the soft glow of about two dozen candles placed randomly around the room, giving him just enough visibility to see the small table already set for dinner. The scent of freshly made food tickled his nose and Keitaro could feel his mouth water, despite the fact that he had just gone out for a late lunch three hours ago. A bouquet of red roses placed in a crystal vase sat in the center of the beautifully decorated table and complimented the romantic atmosphere. “What’s this?” he asked. “It isn’t our anniversary or anything like that, is it?” Takara, coming up behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder. “I wanted to do something nice for you, Keitaro,” she whispered in his ear. “This is going to be a special night. Do you like it?” “Yes, it’s a wonderful surprise, Takara,” he answered, smiling as he turned his head to kiss her on the cheek. “Arigatou.” “This isn’t the real surprise.” “It isn’t? Then, what is it?” “I’ll give it to you later,” she teased. “First, let’s eat.” Takara let go of her grip around Keitaro and led him toward the table, where they each took a seat across from one another and began eating. The dinner consisted of some of his favorites: steak, corn, and rice covered with teriyaki sauce. Thankfully, though, he recognized Mrs. Yukana’s delicious cooking. As much as he loved his wife, Takara was no genius in the kitchen. Taking a drink of his wine, Keitaro noticed for the first time that Takara was drinking green tea. While there was nothing obviously unusual about that, considering Takara was not a big drinker, she did occasionally like to drink a glass of wine during special occasions. He wondered why she wasn’t having one tonight. “Takara, are you sure you don’t want some wine?” he asked, pouring himself another glass. “It’s a very good year. At least have a sip.” His wife’s face flushed red as she lowered her amethyst eyes and concentrated on cutting her steak into tiny square pieces. “Arigatou, but the tea is fine for me tonight,” she insisted. Before he could ask anymore questions, Takara decided to change the subject. “You came home early today, Keitaro. I thought you were suppose to have an important meeting with Governor Negishi-sama today.” “It was canceled because Negishi-sama wasn’t feeling very well. He has a bad case of the flu and his doctors want him to get some rest.” “Oh, that’s too bad. We should send him flowers tomorrow to cheer him up.” Keitaro sighed. “I’m worried about him. He’s not as healthy as he used to be. Negishi-sama told me that he doesn’t even plan to run for reelection next year. He wants me to run instead, if I can get the LDP‘s nomination.” “Are you going to run? It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you, Keitaro.” He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m not sure yet,” he answered. “I wanted to hear your opinion before I made a final decision on the matter. You do know that if I were to win the election, it would mean I would have to spend even more time away from you. We barely see each other as it is, and I’m only a member of the Assembly. I wouldn’t want what happened between Negishi-sama and his first wife to happen to us if I were to become the governor of Tokyo.” “Keitaro, I want you to run,” Takara insisted without pause, just as he knew she would. She was always his biggest supporter. “I know it will be difficult, but I also know that is what you always wanted. I can’t stand in the way of your dreams. We’ll survive, I promise.” Looking into her eyes, Keitaro could almost believe what she said was true. He really was lucky to have found someone who was so understanding of his career. However, he couldn’t shake the guilt he felt in his heart every time he thought about how this decision might affect Takara. It wasn’t very fair to her. She tried to be supportive, but he knew she didn‘t like the long hours he worked. And if he were to win the election… “Let’s not talk about this tonight,” he said, setting his fork down on his empty plate. There was no need to ruin such a nice evening with talk about politics. “We’ll discuss it some other time. How about you give me that surprise you were talking about earlier?” “Umm…okay,” Takara replied, though she didn’t get up from her chair. Instead, she took a deep breath before she reached across the table to take his hands. Her face was serious, but her eyes sparkled in the candlelight with excitement. “Keitaro, there’s something I need to tell you, but before I do, I just want you to know that this is something I have wanted for a very long time, and I hope you want it too. Yes, there are some risks involved. I am well aware of that, but they are risks I’m willing to take. Do you understand?” “Risks?” Keitaro looked at his wife in concern. He did not like where this was heading. “What risks? What is it, Takara?” Her face broke into a huge smile. “I’m expecting, Keitaro,” she finally said after a short pause. “We’re having a baby! Isn’t that wonderful news?” A baby? At first, Keitaro thought he misheard her words. There had to be some sort of mistake. How could she be pregnant? They were always so careful, knowing that pregnancy could put a huge strain on her already weak heart. How could this have happened? “Keitaro, say something,” Takara pleaded, when he still hadn’t reacted to the news. Keitaro pulled his hands away from hers. “What do you want me to say, Takara?” he asked sadly, the slightest touch of anger in his voice. “You can’t honestly expect me to be happy about this. Your doctors warned us that a pregnancy could be dangerous. How could you have let this happen? I thought you were on the Pill.” Tears filled her lovely violet eyes as Takara looked away in shame. “I stopped about four months ago,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she struggled not to cry. “I know I should have told you, but I knew you wouldn’t agree.” “You mean to tell me you intentionally got pregnant?” His wife slowly nodded as Keitaro tried desperately to control his temper. He couldn’t believe it. Not only was Takara pregnant, putting her life in danger, she had actually planned the entire thing without telling him. If he had known, he never would allowed her to go through with it. What was she thinking? Feeling the sudden urge for something a bit stronger than the half-drunk glass of wine still sitting on the table, Keitaro jumped from his seat, intending to leave. He couldn’t talk to her right now, not when he was still so angry. However, Takara grabbed his arm before he left the table, looking up at him with tears running down her face. For a moment, his eyes softened, though they became as cold as stone in a blink of an eye. “Keitaro, try to understand,” she begged. “I want this child, more than anything in the world. Can’t you see that?” “All I see is you risking your life for a child conceived in deception,” Keitaro said coolly, yanking his arm away from her grasp and walking toward the door. “I’m going out. Don’t bother waiting up for me.” “Keitaro…” Takara started to go after him, but the look he gave her stopped her in her tracks. Instead, she just watched as he walked out, slamming the door behind him. ***** Miyuki stood from the couch, stretching as she stifled a yawn. Her favorite television program had just gone off the air, so she turned the TV off with the remote, glancing at the clock. It was just a little after nine. Maybe I’ll go to bed early tonight, she thought to herself. It had been a very tiring day of classes and she could use the rest. Luckily, tomorrow was Saturday and she didn‘t have any classes or homework, so she could sleep in if she wanted. The thought brought a small smile to her face. Turning off the lamp by the couch, Miyuki headed up the stairs to her bedroom, for once grateful she decided to attend Tokyo University and live at home, rather than go to Osaka and live at one of those noisy dormitories. The house was completely quiet. Her parents had gone out to dinner to celebrate their wedding anniversary and she didn’t expect them to return for at least another hour or two, so she had the place to herself. Halfway up the stairs, the phone in the living room started to ring. Miyuki groaned. She was tempted not to answer it, thinking it was probably just the ten-year-old boy down the street who had a habit of calling the house right before she went to bed with a prank call. However, she remembered her parents said they might call if they thought they would be later than expected, so she stumbled back down the stairs in the darkness, fumbling to find the light switch by the staircase. “I’m coming, I’m coming,” she mumbled to the impatient telephone, hoping, for his sake, it wasn’t that little joker. Nice Miyuki was not in the mood for it tonight, not when the fluffy bed upstairs was calling her name. She finally picked up the phone on the sixth or seventh ring. “Moshi moshi. Asaka residence.” “Miyuki?” a familiar female voice answered, sounding as if she was struggling to hold back tears. “I’m so glad you’re home. It’s me.” The blonde sat back down on the couch, forgetting all about how tired she was. Her sleepiness disappeared and was replaced with concern for her best friend. “Takara, what’s wrong?” she asked. “Are you crying? Did something happen?” “Keitaro…I don’t know where…He’s so angry…” Takara’s broken sentences made little sense to Miyuki. By now, it was obvious she was crying. What had happened? Miyuki tried to calm her down. “It’s going to be okay,” she assured Takara, speaking in a soft, soothing voice. “Take a deep breath and relax. You’re going to have an attack if you don’t calm down.” On the other end, Miyuki heard Takara comply with her orders, breathing in and out until she was able to speak again. “Arigatou, Miyuki. I’m okay.” “Good,” Miyuki said, relieved. “Now, tell me what happened between you and Keitaro. Did you have a fight? What was it about?” “I told him we were having a baby.” “A baby?” the blonde repeated, a small smile dancing on her lips at the news. “Takara, that’s wonderful. Congratulations!” “Keitaro doesn’t think so,” the mother-to-be said sadly. “I don’t think he wants the baby. When I told him, he got upset and left the house. I don’t know where he is and he hasn’t come back yet. I‘m getting worried…” Miyuki could hear Takara start to cry again, making her want to find Keitaro himself and strangle him for what he was doing to his own wife. How could he be so cruel to the woman who was carrying his child? This wasn’t like him at all. But she fought against her homicidal thoughts, knowing it wouldn’t help, and tried to comfort her best friend. “Takara, I’m sure Keitaro-san’s fine,” she assured Takara. “He’ll probably come home soon, once he realizes what a baka he’s being. Meanwhile, you should try to get some rest. You and the baby need sleep.” “Yes, okaa-san,” Takara teased. Even though she couldn’t see Takara, Miyuki imagined her friend was smiling through her tears, probably rolling her violet eyes for good measure. “I’ll try, but I don‘t think I‘ll be able to sleep much tonight until Keitaro comes home.” “He’ll come home soon. I‘m sure he will.” “I hope so.” There was a short pause on the other end, as if Takara were debating something in her mind. “Miyuki, will you do me a favor?” she finally asked. “Of course I will. What is it?” “Will you tell otou-san about the baby?” The blonde was surprised by her friend’s request. While it was true that Kondo Saburo cut all ties with his daughter after learning of her marriage to Keitaro, Miyuki felt that the priest should learn the news he was going to be grandfather from his own daughter. A baby might be just the thing to end the bitterness between them. “Are you sure you want me to tell him, Takara? Maybe this is something he should hear from you.” “No, it’s better you tell him,” the former miko insisted. “I can’t. It would just be too hard to see him after all these years.” “I understand. I’ll visit Hikawa tomorrow and tell him the news,” Miyuki promised. “Now try to get some sleep. I’m sure Keitaro-san will come back soon. Oyasumi and take care of yourself, okay?” “I will. Oyasumi, Miyuki. Arigatou.” Setting the receiver back in its cradle, Miyuki sighed. She hated this. She wished Takara and Keitaro didn’t live so far away from her house. When they were younger, Miyuki could just walk to Hikawa whenever Takara needed her, but since she married and moved away, that wasn’t possible anymore. She missed that. But perhaps there was something she could do. Grabbing her little black book off the table, Miyuki turned to the “U” page and picked up the phone. She paused for a moment, however, unsure if she wanted to call him. Knowing Uchizawa Minoru, he probably would misinterpret her plea for help as yet another chance to prove his undying “love” for her. The two of them had gone on a few dates about a year ago, thanks to Takara‘s well-intentioned efforts to play matchmaker, and even though Miyuki could only feel nothing but deep friendship toward the flirtatious playboy, she knew Minoru still harbored the same schoolboy crush on her he developed the day he first visited Hikawa. It was rather pathetic, in a sweet, romantic kind of way… Miyuki smiled, dialing his number. ***** Reaching into his pocket, Minoru suavely pulled out the keys to his apartment and attempted to unlock his door, never taking his eyes off the pretty blonde beside him. They had just gotten back after a wonderful dinner at Umi’s, and he hoped that if he played his cards right, the date wouldn’t have to end so soon. Apparently, though, he wasn’t coordinated enough to do the task without looking. His date giggled as he missed the keyhole and dropped the keys on the floor, provoking him to curse under his breath. “I’ll get that, sweetie,” Koneko said, using a deep, seductive voice. She bent down to retrieve the slippery keys and unlocked the door for him, managing to give him a soft kiss on the lips while doing so. She then turned the doorknob, opening the apartment. Minoru tumbled backwards inside, forgetting he’d been leaning against the door, but Koneko managed to grab his arm just before he lost his balance and pulled him back in the hallway, giggling once again. “Somebody’s a little clumsy tonight,” the blonde teased, wrapping her arms around his neck. She playfully kissed his nose, leaving a faint mark of blood red lipstick right on the very tip. “It’s very adorable, you know.” Minoru grinned, pulling her closer so he could whisper in her ear. “Come inside and I’ll show you just how ‘clumsy’ I can be.” “Oh, Minoru-chan, you are just too cute!” Taking her hand, he lead her inside the apartment, where Koneko immediately pushed him down on the couch and got on top of him, much like a lioness attacking her prey. While Minoru wasn’t accustomed to his dates being so forceful, he had to admit he didn’t exactly mind as Koneko began kissing his ready lips. Soon, they were entangled in each others arms, oblivious to everything around them until they were interrupted by the unwelcome ring of the telephone. “Are you going to get that?” Koneko asked breathlessly, taking a break from their passion play. “Nah, I’ll let the machine get it,” he answered, anxious to get back to the task at hand. “It’s probably just some telemarketer wanting to sell me something. Nothing important.” Minoru pulled her closer and began trailing butterfly kisses down Koneko’s neck, only vaguely listening as he heard the answering machine pick up and play his pre-recorded message. However, he immediately stopped what he was doing when a familiar voice began leaving a message after the beep. Koneko started to protest, but he silenced her by bringing a finger to her lips, wanting to hear. “Minoru-san, it’s me, Miyuki. If you’re there, will you please pick up the phone? This is important. I need your help…” Koneko raised an eyebrow, looking none too happy to hear a female voice coming from the machine. “Miyuki-san? Who is she? Another girlfriend?” “Ah, she’s nobody important…” Minoru replied nervously, sitting up to reach for the telephone on the table behind the couch. Talk about bad timing. “Then don’t answer it,” she purred, licking his ear as she seductively placed her hand on his knee. “Let’s keep playing, Minoru-chan…” “This will only take a minute, sweetie.” Koneko’s lips curled into a tiny pout, but he ignored it as he brought the receiver to his ear, wondering why Asaka Miyuki, of all people, would be calling him so late at night. “Hey, Miyuki-san, what‘s up?” he asked, running a hand through his messy red hair. “I hope this is important. I’m kind of in the middle of something at the moment.” “I’m sure she won’t mind if I steal you away for a while,” Miyuki said, knowing him all too well. Minoru rolled his eyes. “I don’t know about that. Koneko-san and I were just about to…uh, have some fun.” “Koneko-san?” his former girlfriend, and still only love, snorted. “As in a ‘kitten’? What kind of name is that?” “A very lovely name. Now, if all you plan to do is lecture me about my love life once again, then I am going to say good night. I‘ll talk to you later, Miyuki-san.” “No, don’t hang up, Minoru-san,” she pleaded, her voice heard even as he started to put down the receiver. “I really do need your help.” Despite Koneko’s adorable puppy dog face, urging him to do just that, Minoru brought the phone back to his ear, sighing. He didn’t know what it was, but he never could say “no” to the beautiful blonde who had captured his heart two years ago, even if she still refused to give him the light of day. It was like she had some kind of spell over him. “Okay, what is it?” “Takara just called me a few minutes ago, upset because Keitaro-san apparently got mad and stormed out of the house. He didn’t tell her where he was going, and he hasn’t come back yet either. Takara’s really worried.” “Keitaro just left?” Minoru asked, furrowing his brow. “That doesn’t sound like him. What happened?” “Takara told him she was having a baby.” “But that’s wonderful news! I don’t see why Keitaro would be upset about that.” “I don’t know either,” Miyuki replied. “All I know is that your best friend is being a major bakayaro, while Takara is crying her poor little heart out at the manor.” “Well, what do you need me to do?” he asked, failing to see where this was leading. “Keitaro’s not at my apartment, if that’s what you want to ask. I haven’t seen him since we went out to lunch.” “Um…I, uh, really hate to ask you this…but…” There was a moment of silence on the other end, as if Miyuki was debating asking him or not. “What is it, Miyuki-san?” he prodded. Minoru already knew whatever it was she wanted him to do, he would, so there was no use dragging it out. “Just tell me.” “Well, I was hoping that maybe you could go search for Keitaro-san and talk some sense into him,” she finally said. “Gomen. I know it’s a bad time, with you and Koneko-san about to…uh, have fun, but you know Keitaro-san better than anybody. Please find him and tell him to go home to Takara. She needs him.” Minoru glanced over at Koneko, who was busy nibbling at his other ear while undoing his tie. He really hated having to cut their date short, but he knew what he had to do. Keitaro was his best friend, and thus, it was his unofficial duty to tell Keitaro when he was being, as Miyuki so elegantly stated, a bakayaro. “Okay, I’ll go look for him,” Minoru said, letting out a sigh. “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll try my best.” “Arigatou, Minoru-san.” The two of them said goodbye, then Minoru placed the phone back in its cradle, wondering how he was going to explain the situation to Koneko. The sexy blonde was already busy unbuttoning the buttons of his dress shirt, ready to resume where they’d left off before Miyuki’s call. If she kept it up, Minoru feared he would never be able to leave. Eventually, though, he managed to pull her nimble fingers away from his buttons and chastely kiss the back of her hand. A look of confusion passed across Koneko’s pretty face. “Don’t you want to?” she asked, lightly caressing his cheek. “Of course I do,” he answered, briefly losing his focus as Koneko kissed him again. Why did this have to be so difficult? Remembering what he needed to do, Minoru reluctantly pulled away from her embrace and started buttoning his shirt. “But we can’t, not tonight. Something’s come up and I have to leave.” Huffing, she crossed her arms over her bountiful chest. “You’re going to see *her*, aren’t you?” she accused. “I can’t believe you, Minoru-chan! I thought you really liked me.” “I do, I do,” he assured her. “You got it all wrong. Miyuki-san and I are just friends, nothing more.” “Really?” Unfortunately, yes, he thought to himself. “Of course, sweetie. Miyuki-san called me because one of our friends might be in trouble and I need to go find him. You understand, right?” Koneko sighed, her face softening. “I suppose so,” she finally said. “But it really is a shame we have to cut the evening short. We were just getting to the good part.” She didn’t have to remind him. “Gomen nasai,” Minoru apologized, standing up and showing her to the door. “Perhaps some other time. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” “I’ll look forward to it.” Kissing him on the cheek, Koneko left, the sweet smell of her floral perfume lingering in the air. Minoru moaned, green eyes following her curvaceous body until the blonde entered the elevator. He was going to kill Miyuki and Keitaro for ruining his evening. ***** The nighttime breeze was cool, and Keitaro shivered, pulling his thin blazer tightly around his body in an attempt to keep warm. He glanced down at his expensive Rolex watch, wondering how long he’d been walking aimlessly along the seldom used country roads, trying to sort out his feelings. According to his watch, two hours had passed, though to him, it seemed as if an eternity had gone by since Takara told him the news. Keitaro briefly considered turning around and heading back to the manor, knowing she was probably worried about him, but yet, he continued on, not quite ready to go home. When he first left the house, it had been Keitaro’s intention to find an open bar and kick back a few beers, wanting to drown his worries away, at least for a little while. He gave up on that idea, though, remembering the nearest tavern was about twenty miles away, on the outskirts of downtown Tokyo. Besides, he knew getting drunk would only be a temporary distraction from his problems, so instead, he walked, not really caring where he ended up. He just needed to be alone for a while. As he continued to walk down the side of the road, Keitaro’s thoughts wondered back to a memory from two years ago, one of the darkest periods in his life. He never liked to think about what happened the night of his and Takara’s elopement and the subsequent days of worrying whether she would live or die, wishing it had been just some horrible, horrible nightmare, but still, he couldn’t push the memory away… Opening the door to Takara’s private room, Keitaro paused in the doorway, alarmed to see his bride so pale and fragile. She was sleeping comfortably -- at least as comfortable as she could when she was hooked up to so many machines -- in her hospital bed, violet eyes closed and her long, black hair tied back into a no-nonsense braid. Beside her, the heart monitor beeped regularly in time with her heartbeat, a green zigzag line running across the middle of the screen and she was hooked up to an IV. It reminded him so much of his uncle’s last days in the hospital… Pushing back the memory, Keitaro entered the room, placing a vase of freshly-cut red roses on the table beside Takara’s bed. This was nothing like the day Uncle Wataru died. He’d spoken to her cardiologist before he came in and Dr. Sakamoto assured him Takara would most likely be fine. Though she remained weak, the worst was over. Quietly pulling a chair up next to her bed, Keitaro took Takara’s slender hand in his own. “I should have known something was wrong,” he whispered after a few minutes of staring at the woman in the bed, hooked up to so many machines. He hated seeing her like this. “Why didn’t you tell me, Takara? Why did I have to find out like this?” His voice, though soft as a feather, woke the beautiful miko from her slumber. Takara slowly opened her amethyst eyes, managing a small smile on her lips as she turned toward her husband. “Keitaro…” she managed to say weakly. “Takara…” She glanced around the room, somewhat confused by her surroundings, especially when she noticed the IV sticking out of her arm and the heart monitor beeping beside her. “Where am I? In the hospital?” “It’s okay. You’re fine now, but you had a heart attack,” Keitaro explained, squeezing her hand lightly. “At the church.” “Church…” She repeated the word to herself, her eyes suddenly brightening as she struggled to hold up her hand, admiring the simple ring on her left hand. “We married, didn‘t we?” He nodded, unable to share in her enthusiasm. Unlike her, since the attack, Keitaro had had plenty of time to think about their hasty decision to get married and he had come to conclusion it had been a mistake. Not that he didn’t love her, -- if it was possible, he loved her more, now than ever -- but they had been impulsive in their actions. It was only a few months ago they met. They barely knew each other. Takara’s secret heart problems were proof of that. Who knew what else she was hiding? And for that matter, what he was hiding? There was so much they didn’t know about each other. To make matters worse, Takara’s father blamed him for the attack. Kondo Saburo had made that perfectly clear the second the priest laid eyes on him, waiting in the hospital waiting room for news on her condition, and Keitaro wasn‘t about to argue with him. This never would have happened if he and Takara weren’t in such a rush to get married without thinking the decision through properly. Maybe it would be best to get an annulment, as Saburo had strongly suggested to him this morning… “Keitaro, is something wrong?” Takara asked, her smile fading when she noticed him staring at her ring, the symbol of the commitment they made to each other. He began twirling the band around her finger, refusing to meet her questioning gaze, and sighed. “Do you regret what we did?” Keitaro finally managed to ask. “The whole thing was rather crazy. You were upset about the news of your arranged marriage to Mizuki-san and I was afraid I would lose you…” “You will never lose me, Keitaro,” she promised. “I love you and I want to be your wife. Forever.” “Are you sure?” he asked again, glancing up. Takara nodded, just as the door to her room opened and her cardiologist stepped inside, apologizing for the interruption. Keitaro released her hand and sat back in his chair while the doctor checked her vitals. “Glad to see you’re awake, Hino-san,” Dr. Sakamoto said, writing something down on his chart. “How are you feeling?” It took Takara a few seconds before she realized the “Hino-san” to who he was referring was her, but when she did, she smiled that smile that always reminded Keitaro of an angel. “A little tired, but otherwise fine,” she answered, struggling unsuccessfully to sit up in her bed. “When can I go on my honeymoon, Sakamoto-sensei?” The doctor chuckled. “Ah, yes, I heard the news,” he said. “Congratulations on your marriage. Unfortunately, I’m afraid you will have to put honeymoon plans on hold for a bit.” Dr. Sakamoto’s face suddenly became serious. “While your cardiac arrest was quite mild compared to what it could have been, I want you to take it easy for the next few weeks. We’ll keep you here a few more days for observation, but when you are released, I recommend complete bed rest. Also…how should I put this delicately? I would strongly advise against consummating your union until further notice. Two, three weeks at the most.” “That’s fine, doctor,” Keitaro said when he saw his blushing bride begin to live up to her title. Apparently, he wasn’t the only one who failed to think *that* far ahead when they agreed to marry. “We’re willing to wait.” “I know it will be difficult. You’re both young, in love, and recently married, but with these kinds of attacks, there’s always the risk of a repeat performance. Her heart needs rest to properly recover.” Placing the chart back on its hook at the foot of the bed, Dr. Sakamoto pulled up a chair next to Keitaro. “Actually, I think this is a good time to discuss in depth your wife’s condition and some of the repercussions it may have in the future.” “Repercussions?” The doctor leaned forward in his chair, his manner serious yet still casual. “Hino-san, I have been treating your wife since she was just a little baby. I do not know how much she has told you, but she was born with a weak heart, evident since infancy. Most patients with this condition do not live past adolescence without a transplant, but with the proper medications and care, we have managed to avoid that drastic measure so far in this case. However, that doesn’t mean a transplant won’t be an option in the future, especially after the damage suffered in this attack, which has left the heart muscle significantly weakened.” Dr. Sakamoto paused for a moment to let the information register before continuing. “Because of this, I would advise against any unnecessary stress on the heart, such as in the case of pregnancy or -” “I can’t get pregnant?” Takara, who for most of his lecture on her condition had been admiring her roses, came to life at the news, interrupting the doctor’s sentence. The doctor nodded, his face apologetic. “Gomen nasai, Hino-san, but it is my professional opinion that a pregnancy in your condition would be the same as signing your own death sentence.” Dr. Sakamoto’s last words echoed in his mind as the vision faded back into his memory. Her death sentence. “Why would she do something like this?” Keitaro asked aloud, abruptly stopping in the middle of the street and digging his cold hands into his pockets. “Why?” Nobody answered, as he expected. Sighing, the young politician resumed his brisk walk, his heart heavy with fear. ***** Turning on the radio to his favorite station, Minoru started humming along to the music while he tapped his steering wheel in time to the beat. He had been looking for Keitaro for the past hour, with little luck, and the boredom was starting to get to him. There wasn’t much around to keep his interest along the rarely traveled roads except for trees, grass, and the occasional house or two, including his old childhood home which he passed about fifteen minutes ago. It was no wonder why he couldn’t wait to move to the city proper. “Come on, Keitaro, where are you?” the redhead mumbled, stifling a yawn. “Geez, this is like looking for a needle in a haystack.” Coming to an intersection, Minoru arbitrarily decided to turn left, his headlights momentarily passing over the figure of a man leaning against a tree. Looking up, the man shielded his eyes from the bright light and Minoru suddenly braked, recognizing his face. He put the car in Park and opened his door, not believing his good luck. “Keitaro!” he shouted, grabbing a flashlight and jumping out of the car. At first, the man didn’t seem to recognize him, though he took a few steps forward at the sound of his name. Minoru turned on the flashlight and held it under his face so the other man could see who he was. The man’s gray eyes widened. “Minoru? What are you doing here?” Keitaro asked. “I think I should be asking you the same thing,” Minoru said, walking over to join his friend by the tree. “Miyuki-san sent me to search for you. She said you and Takara-san had a fight about the baby.” “You know?” Minoru nodded, resting a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Why are you so upset about this, Keitaro?” he asked. “Your wife just told you she’s having a baby. This should be one of the happiest days of your life.” Shrugging Minoru’s hand away, Keitaro leaned back against the tree trunk and sighed. “I don’t want to talk about this, Minoru.” “Why not? I don’t understand. Why don’t you want this baby?” “I said I don’t want to talk about it,” Keitaro repeated roughly, banging his clenched fist against the bark. He then turned his face away, looking toward the full moon in the sky. “Gomen, Minoru. I didn’t mean to sound so rude. Just leave me alone, okay? I’ll be fine. Go home. I‘m sure you have better things to than keep me company.” Minoru, never one to abandon his friend when it was obvious something was bothering him, walked over to the other side of Keitaro, shining the flashlight directly in his face. Keitaro tried to turn away once again, but it was too late. What Minoru saw surprised him. In the light, Keitaro’s face was pale and drawn, and if Minoru did not know his friend so well, he would say that Keitaro looked close to tears. “What wrong, Keitaro?” he asked. “And don’t you dare try to tell me it’s nothing. Tell me what’s going on.” “I’m afraid, okay?” Keitaro finally admitted after a few moments of defiant silence. “Are you happy now?” “Afraid of what? Of being a bad father?” “Of losing Takara. Her doctors warned her that a pregnancy could be life threatening, but she didn‘t listen. She got pregnant anyway, and now I don‘t know what to do or think or feel. I can‘t lose her, Minoru.” Minoru’s mouth formed into a small “o” shape, finally understanding. Suddenly, everything made sense. Keitaro had almost lost Takara once before on the night of their wedding, and it was one of the worse nights he’d ever experienced. Minoru could still remember his friend’s haunted eyes as he and Miyuki stayed with Keitaro in the hospital, waiting for word on Takara’s condition. It was understandable that Keitaro didn’t want to go through that nightmare once again, but Takara was a strong woman. Minoru knew she would make it through this pregnancy. “You’re not going to lose her,” the redhead assured him. “Takara-san will make it through this, Keitaro.” Keitaro shook his head. “You don’t know that.” “And you don’t know she’ll die,” Minoru immediately shot back in response. The two men stared at each other, neither saying a word. That was one of the major differences between them. While Minoru always saw the proverbial glass as being half-full, Keitaro’s was always half-empty. Even when they were little kids, Keitaro was always the pessimist and he, the optimist. Apparently, some things never changed. Finally, Minoru sighed, giving up their staring contest. He ran a hand through his wind blown hair and looked down at his watch. Though it was dark, he could just barely make out the time. It was nearing midnight. “Look, Keitaro, let me drive you back to the manor,” he offered. “It’s getting late, and Takara-san is probably worried about you.” Reluctantly, the young politician silently agreed, following Minoru to his red convertible. They got in and Minoru pulled out his keys, placing them in the ignition. However, before Minoru started the car, he glanced over at Keitaro, finding him looking blankly out the passenger side window with the same haunted look in his eyes he remembered from the hospital. It broke his heart. “Everything’s going to be okay, Keitaro,” he insisted. “You can’t keep living your life in fear of losing the ones you love. If you do, you will miss out on some of life’s most wonderful experiences. Think about that, okay?” Keitaro nodded as Minoru revved the engine and put the car in drive. ***** Takara pulled back the heavy velvet drapes, looking down from the second floor bedroom at the driveway for what must have been the hundredth time that evening. Each time, she prayed she would see Keitaro’s shadowed figure walking up to the house, and each time, she was disappointed. This time was no exception. Pulling her robe closer around her body, the raven-haired woman bit her lip, growing more worried with every minute that passed by. He’d been gone for so long. What if something had happened to him? What if he’d been mugged or hit by one of those reckless teenage drivers who often liked to speed down the country roads late at night? Or what if…? Takara shook her head, forcing herself not to think such morbid thoughts. Playing the “what if” game never helped anything. She was sure Keitaro was okay. But why wouldn’t he come home? Or at least call so she would know where he was? “Keitaro, where are you?” she whispered to herself. Mrs. Yukana entered the room a few minutes later, carrying a small silver tray of cookies and a glass of warm milk. The maid set the midnight snack down on the nightstand, then walked over to the window where her mistress stood, placing her wrinkled hands on Takara’s slender shoulders. “Hino-sama, I brought you some warm milk to help you sleep,” Mrs. Yukana said softly. “You should go back to bed. It’s late, and you need your rest.” “Arigatou, Yukana-san,” Takara thanked her. “But I can’t sleep, knowing Keitaro still hasn’t come home. He hasn’t called yet, has he?” “I’m afraid not.” Takara sighed. She didn’t think so. Mrs. Yukana handed her the glass of milk, urging her to drink the warm liquid. Takara took a few sips, not wanting to seem ungrateful, and ate one of the chewy cookies the maid offered. She then allowed the elderly woman to help her out of her robe and tuck her in bed, though she doubted she would get much sleep. The kindly maid brushed back a strand of hair back from Takara’s face, smiling sadly. “My Keitaro-chan will come home soon, Hino-sama,” Mrs. Yukana assured her. “He just has a lot on his mind. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually and learn to love this baby as much as he loves you.” “I hope so, Yukana-san.” Saying goodnight, Mrs. Yukana took the tray and quietly slipped out of the bedroom, turning off the light switch before closing the door behind her. Darkness fell over the room, but no matter what Takara did, she couldn’t force herself to go to sleep. She rolled over on her side, staring at the calming moonlight pouring in through a crack between the drapes. The moon was so beautiful tonight. “Keitaro…” she whispered, tasting the saltiness of her tears on her lips. “I need you.” Pulling the quilt closer to her body, Takara closed her eyes, eventually falling into a very light sleep. If she used her imagination hard enough, she could almost feel his body next to hers, his loving arms wrapped around her waist and his warm breath on her neck. It seemed so real, as if Keitaro was right there… “Takara.” Violet eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the very little light illuminating the room. She drew in a sharp breath, searching through the darkness in front of her for his shadow. That was Keitaro’s voice, she was sure of it. But Takara couldn’t see anyone there. Had it been a figment of her imagination? Disappointed, she prepared to go back to sleep, flipping over on her other side. Only then did she realize that someone’s arm was wrapped around her, holding her close. Takara opened her mouth to speak, but the man brought a finger to her lips, silently shushing her before she said a word. “I’m sorry, Takara,” the man said softly. “I’m sorry I wasn’t happier about the baby, and I’m sorry I ran off without telling you where I was going, and most of all, I’m sorry I hurt you. I acted like a complete jerk.” Takara shook her head, brushing back a strand of blond hair from his face. “No, I’m the one who should be sorry, Keitaro. I should have talked to you first before deciding to stop taking the Pill. It should have been our decision, instead of just mine. I didn’t think about how you would feel. I thought you would want a child…” “I do.” Keitaro lightly kissed her forehead, his hand traveling to her stomach. “If you want this baby, then I want it too.” “I want it more than anything,” Takara answered, placing her own hand over his. “But that doesn’t make what I did right. I mean, even if we had decided to have a baby, this is a bad time, with you starting the campaign for the governor’s seat and all.” “I’ve decided not to run, Takara.” Stunned by his announcement, Takara sat up in bed, her eyes large as she stared at her husband. She couldn’t believe what her ears were hearing. Becoming the governor of Tokyo had been Keitaro’s dream job. How could he pass up this opportunity? “What?” she asked. Keitaro gave her a half-smile, though even in the darkness, she could sense the sadness in his eyes. “It’s okay, Takara. Really. I’m still young. There’s plenty of time for me to run. Right now, I’m needed here, with you.” “But you might not have this kind of opportunity next time. Negishi-sama is vacating his seat and has personally selected you to succeed him, Keitaro. You’re practically guaranteed to win the election. It would be idiotic not to run. Isn’t this what you always wanted?” He sighed, caressing her cheek. “What I want is for you to have a healthy pregnancy. Your doctors said this is a high-risk condition, and I don’t want to put you under any unnecessary stress. I want to be here for you.” “I’ll be fine, Keitaro,” she insisted. “I want you to run. Don’t worry about me. I’m sure Yukana-san and Miyuki will do enough of that for the both of us.” Takara let out a soft laugh, imagining what the next seven months were going to be like under the watchful eyes of her housekeeper and her best friend. She wasn’t going to be able to do anything fun at all, but in the end, she supposed it would be worth it. “Are you sure?” Keitaro asked. “Positive,” she answered, playfully poking the tip of his nose. “All our dreams will come true. Just wait and see.” Takara yawned, feeling the sleep catching up with her. She snuggled under the blanket and leaned her tired head against Keitaro’s shoulder, enjoying being in his arms. Everything was going to be alright, she knew it. She felt her husband kiss the top of her head, holding her close as he stole some of the blanket for himself. “Takara?” “Hmmm…” “Are you scared?” he asked. Takara shook her head, her eyelids growing heavy. “No, not at all,” she mumbled. “Are you?” She was asleep before Keitaro could answer her question. ***** The next day, the priest of the Hikawa Shrine began sweeping the courtyard after his usual morning meditation, somewhat disturbed by something he read in the sacred fire. Saburo didn’t know exactly what the gods were trying to tell him, but in his heart, he felt this overwhelming conflicting sense of hope and dread. Even the crows seemed a little spooked. They’d been cawing loudly ever since he walked outside, ignoring the corn he threw on the ground for them to eat. Two, especially, seemed very excited, flapping their majestic wings as they perched themselves on the bare branches of the sakura tree. “The astrological sign of Mars, disappearing into the flames…” he murmured, clearly remembering what he saw in the blaze. “I don’t understand. What can it mean?” Interrupted from his thoughts by the presence of a patron, the priest turned around, surprised to see Asaka Miyuki walking through the torii located at the front of Hikawa. The pretty blonde still occasionally came to visit and help out around the shrine, but somehow, Saburo sensed that was not her purpose today. He wondered why she was here. “Ohayo. It’s good to see you again, Miyuki-chan,” he said, walking over to greet her. The young woman bowed politely. “Ohayo, Kondo-sama. Do you need any help today?” Shaking his head, Saburo resumed his sweeping. “No, thank you. I can handle everything by myself today, but I appreciate the offer,” he replied. “Things have been rather slow here as of late. The shrine doesn‘t get as much business as it used to…” “Is Hikawa in financial trouble?” Miyuki asked, bending down to gather a handful of corn to feed to some of the crows still excitedly flying around. Instead of answering the question, the old man decided to change the subject. Miyuki didn’t need to know how tight money was around the shrine since the Mizukis stopped giving their generous donations after his former daughter’s and Mizuki Hisoka’s broken engagement. The last thing he needed was for the blonde to feel even more pity for him. “How’s school?” Saburo asked. “Are you still making good marks?” “Fine,” she said distractedly, feeding one of the crows. He had a feeling she wasn’t really paying attention to their conversation. Normally, she was much more talkative, but it seemed as if she had something important to tell him and didn’t know how to approach the subject. And if his suspicions were correct, he knew exactly who Miyuki wanted to talk about. “Takara sent you, didn‘t she?” Chocolate brown eyes looked up in surprise, but Miyuki didn’t deny it. She tossed the rest of the corn back on the ground and leaned against the nearby tree. “She and Keitaro-san are expecting a baby,” she informed him. Saburo wasn’t surprised by Miyuki’s announcement. It was only a matter of time before Takara and her Catholic husband began a family. “Good for them,” he replied, his voice emotionless. “That’s all you have to say? Good for them?” Miyuki asked. “You’re going to be a grandfather and that’s how you react to the news?” “How do you expect me to react, Miyuki-chan? Takara and I haven‘t spoken to each other since the day she refused to sign the annulment papers. I told her that if she insisted on staying married to Hino-san, then she was no longer my daughter, and that‘s how I intend to keep things. She made her decision and I made mine. End of story.” “But, Kondo-sama…” “End of story,” he repeated. “Thank you for coming over and telling me, but I will not go back on my word. Now, if you will excuse me, I have a lot of work to do. Sayonara.” Defeated, Miyuki said goodbye and left the shrine, leaving the old priest alone with his thoughts. He hadn’t meant to sound so harsh toward the girl. After all, she was only trying to help, but he was afraid that nothing short of a miracle would repair his and Takara’s broken relationship. Saburo reached into the pocket of his robe, pulling out a heart-shaped ruby necklace. It was the pendant Noriko gave their daughter right before her death. When he awoke the morning after Takara ran away, he had found the necklace, along with her letter, laying beside his pillow. Now, it was one of the few thing he had left to remember her by. Smiling sadly, Saburo held the necklace up and let the morning sunlight hit the dark red stone, causing the ruby to shimmer. He missed her. Saburo couldn’t even begin to count the number of times he’d gone to the bus station with the sole purpose of visiting the Hino manor. His pride always held him back, however, and he could only watch as another bus drove on without him with tears in his eyes. There wasn’t a day that went by that Saburo didn’t regret his decision to cut Takara out of his life. His words had been spoken out of anger and disappointment, made worse by the fact he blamed Hino Keitaro for the heart attack that almost claimed Takara’s young life after the ceremony. They never should have eloped that night, not when Takara was so emotional. It had been a hasty decision that put too much stress on her weak heart. Of course, now the priest realized he was as much to blame as Keitaro was, maybe even more. If only he hadn’t insisted Takara marry Hisoka, she never would have run into the politician’s arms. It was a classic case of teenage rebellion: girl doesn’t like the suitor her father chose, so she runs off with the man he didn’t want her to marry and breaks her father‘s heart. Maybe if he’d let the relationship run its course, Takara would have eventually realized that she and Keitaro were just too different and it would be better to settle down with a nice Shinto boy and stay at Hikawa. If only he could turn back time… Placing the necklace back in his pocket, Saburo walked over to the stand where the charms were sold and reached over the counter for a fortune. He read the short message written on the slip of paper, his hand shaking at the ominous reading. It was the same feeling he had when he saw the sign in the sacred fire. Something was about to happen. He could feel it. “Takara…” he whispered, as he tied the fortune around the branch of the nearby sakura tree, praying to the kami that it wouldn’t come true. “Be careful.” DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon is the property of Takeuchi Naoko.