Kaoru thought she might feel intense guilt or shame this morning, but she did not. Not intense anyway. She felt rather calm and aware of her feelings and mind. She tucked her wet hair behind her ear as she pushed her foot into her shoes. She felt Kamir staring at her as he leaned against the table in his room. Neither of them said much this morning. They went about washing and cleaning as if they had been living together for years. There was no awkward silence or nervous tango as they entered and exited the bathroom.

She stood up. "Thank you for your hospitality Kamir." Finally, she looked him in the eyes. He pushed off the table and smiled.

"You are welcome." Again unaffected as if he had not just screwed the life out of her last night while aiming for Sara. She did not harbor resentment though. Perhaps she had done so for so long regarding Yuki and her condition that the feeling had been rendered impotent. She walked toward the door and he followed. She turned around.

"I will not tell Sarua about this. You may do as you wish." She watched his eyebrows raise in surprise. "Did you think I would cling to you because we had sex?"

"It did cross my mind."

"You may call me when you have time. I left my new business card on your bed table. If you want to." Again Kamir looked surprised. Kaoru simple laughed and let herself out. He had no idea why she did what she did. He had no idea the affect, the way it put wheels in motion.

There was one thing she knew however, believed with all her heart. He was not for a kind soul like Sara. She said she would not tell and she would not. She hoped Sara would not get too attached to him.

The sky seemed brighter than she had ever seen it before, a clear day over Ōsaka. She wondered what Yuki would say to her not coming home. 

Kamir stared at his hotel room in a bit of a daze. If anyone had told him that the demure woman he met at the Umezawa's and subsequently at Sara's clinic would end up the dream one night stand, he would not have believed it. She flirted, fucked and fled. Well, not really fled but left amicably without strings and with an open to continue anytime he wanted. Very unexpected. Its always the quiet ones. He rubbed the back of his head. That was the night he wanted to have with Sara, but with more cuddling and a warmer goodbye.

Kaoru, though, was not bad. Not bad at all. He turned and walked to his closet to pick out his suite for the day. He briefly wondered if he should call Sara for lunch but then had the decency to feel humbly guilty and thought better of it. Maybe that wasn't such a good idea. 

***

Sara awoke much to her immediate surprise in a different habitat. The events of the night before quickly flooded her conscious state and she smiled. Somehow she felt free. She stretched slowly and gazed without attention around Shouda's room. Bumping and giggles from the other side of her door slowly pulled her to an upright position and she threw the covers off and slipped on her pants from the day before. Checking her hair in Shouda's short mirror, she decided it was a hopeless mess and gave it very little attention before opening the door.

Turning into the kitchen, she found Shouda in half his school uniform putting breakfast on the table. He look up just as she peeked around the wall.

"Look mom, tamagoyaki! Dad made it." He held up the plate of rolled omelets for her to see. Yuki turned around in surprise at the mention of her presence.

"Wow. It looks very tasty. Good morning Shouda."

"Good morning mother."

She looked at Yuki finally, "Good morning."

He nodded, "Good morning."

"Come and eat mom." Shouda patted the seat next to him.

"Oh, let me go and freshen up." How she wasn't exactly sure. This was an impromptu sleepover and she had nothing with her.

"There is a basket for you in the bathroom." Yuki kept his eyes on his task. Sara silently left and found a basket with a sealed toothbrush and paste, face wash, toner and cream - the brand she used we they were together and still did, a brush, hair clips, floss, cotton scrubs, a face towel, hand towel and the honey based lipgloss she preferred.

It was all she could do to keep from laughing. Did he remember all this or did Shouda tell him? Even though she told herself it didn't really matter, in the depths of her heart it did. She ignored it and cleaned up.

During breakfast Shouda reviewed facts from his Japanese History class, he had a test. Yuki gave adequate praise and a few techniques on how to remember a few names. Sara felt no need to interrupt, to the contrary, she was happy someone else was burdened with the task. Without thinking she began clearing the table and washing the dishes. She felt happy. The sounds of Shouda and Yuki's voice behind her was very relaxing.

"Good morning Kaoru." Shouda's voice belied that it was perfectly normal for his father's wife to come home to find his ex-lover washing breakfast dishes. Sara calmly rinsed the plate and sat it in the drying rack before wiping her hands on a towel. She turned around to a rosy Kaoru and quirked a brow.

"Good morning Shouda, Yuki. Ah, Sara." She came to her and grabbed her hands. "Did you spend the night too?"

"Yes, in Shouda's room."

"I had no idea you were going to come over last night."

"Me neither really."

Kaoru leaned in and whispered, "Please do not worry." She smiled and stepped away. "I'm sorry I have a meeting this morning. I must prepare. You will excuse me?"

"Of course." Sara was still contemplating what she meant by ‘not worrying.' As Kaoru disappeared into her room Sara looked at Yuki who was looking at the retreating form of his wife. "Shouda, please finish getting ready. We have to leave soon."

"Okay." He replied as he jumped out of his chair and trudged to his room.

"I will take him to school. Surely you must go home to prepare for work."

"It will not make me late. Thank you for your hospitality Yuki. I enjoyed the evening, I slept well and I feel refreshed this morning." She smiled and tugged on the bottom of his T-shirt. "Oh, I need to give this back."

"I am in no hurry for it." They stared at each other until Shouda came hurrying into the room.

"Ready!"

"Oh, okay. I will get my purse."

Yuki closed the door behind them and waited in the kitchen. Kaoru came bustling out a few minutes later.

"Have they left already?"

"Yes, would you like some breakfast. There is miso left and I can make and omelette very quickly."

"No thank you Yuki, I..." Kaoru gazed at him a moment and he wondered what she was thinking.

"Kaoru?"

"Yuki, are you not going to ask me where I was last night?" She looked down.

"I was hoping to ask over breakfast."

"Always so calm, so reserved." She smiled. "You are a good man Yuki." He felt embarrassed. "You are still in love with Sara, are you not?"

His head shot up.

"Kaoru..."

"I slept with an acquaintance last night." He notice she kept a steady gaze. He was feeling anything but steady.

"Kaoru? What? You, you slept with another man?"

"I did."

"W... Perhaps that would be a stupid question."

She rested her elbows on the table and cradled her chin on the back of her linked fingers. "It is not your fault. It is not his either. I need, no, I desire more than anything else a change Yuki. Do you understand?"

"I am not sure."

"I think you are. Yuki," she slipped out of her chair and walked up to him, "I have come to have an affection for you I never thought possible. But, that affection is not the kind of love that should be felt between a man and woman." Yuki looked into her eyes. "It is more that of a brother or very close friend."

Yuki sighed. What more could he do? If he were honest with himself he had no desire to remained married to Kaoru. It was not that he had no love or affection for her, it was more that he want for something with someone else was greater. No, maybe that was not the way to say it. His love for Kaoru was never like the love he had for Sara. Never in all these years. 

"Let us be honest Yuki. Our opportunity has passed. That is, if we ever had one to begin with."

"Yes, let us be honest. Kaoru, the fact that you slept with another man does not fill me with either rage or jealousy. I am shocked but not angry. I feel that I have failed you in so many ways but I am relieved that you found some happiness. Does that sound horrible?"

"No, it sounds honest. We have been working quite a bit on honesty and are reaping the rewards." She laughed, Yuki did not. "I wish to have a divorce. It is my intension to start the procedure. I want to be free and I want you to be also."

"If that is what you wish." He took her head in his hands and kissed her forehead.

"Please do not say anything about it for now." She said from below his chin. 

Yuki only nodded in response.

πππππππππππππππ

Sara paused as she meticulously wrapped the embroidered silk fabric around a picture frame mold and secured it with cement and small staples on the back side. Her mind wondered from the lotus patterned fabric that would adorn the brides dress to the fact that Kamir had been sporadic in calling her over the past few days.

It was strange, but not unwelcome. She was eager to make progress on her massive order. She was not excessively ambitious nor did she care for notoriety; the challenge was what she enjoyed the most. Surpassing her own expectations as well as others. Delivering a superior product and seeing the look of complete satisfaction on the face of her clients, that is what she lived for.

Returning to Kamir, however, he lacked some of the usual push and when they did see each other for lunch, he seemed distracted or at the very least, not like his normal self. She wondered if work had become more demanding or if he was homesick. He had yet to renew his invitation to spend an evening together. She did not seem to be too bothered by it either. She let the staple gun rest on the clinic table, maybe she should take more initiative.

Before her lay a stack of covered frame molds that would eventually be placed as gifts from the bride and groom in each place setting at the reception. She had yet to make the vibrant stamped cutouts that she would adhere to the material before sending them to be encased in glass. They were to include the family name of the couple in Kenji and a very becoming picture of the two together.

Deciding to reconfirm shipment of card stock paper, she shifted to the phone and dialed the company's number. After a brief conversation she was switched to her managing agent who put her on hold a moment. The moment lasted an unusually long period of time and Sara found herself drumming the pads of her fingers against the lab table surface. A few minutes more and she began to exhibit signs of nervousness. Finally, the line was picked up, but not by her agent.

"Hello Richards-san," the crisp voice of a younger gentleman greeted her. 

"Yes."

"We are very glad that you have called. You order regularly from us. Thank you. By us I am now referring to Motoyama Industries. I am happy to inform you that your previous paper company has been picked up by Motoyama and we will be happy to continue to fulfill any of your paper needs."

"Oh, I had no idea." Sara frowned into the phone.

"Yes, the take over is finally in its last stages."

"I see, and my order?"

"Yes, as to your order. There are many details to attend to in a situation such as this. I am sure you understand. Sometimes there are small details that are moved around to make way for weightier matters. I am happy to offer you a premium selection of D card stock in place of A at the negotiated price. A card stock has been reevaluated and the price upgraded."

"I do not care for D card stock." Sara felt sure his words could not mean what she thought they meant, but the little voice in the back of her mind knew better. "What is more I succeeded in placing my order for A before any mention of cost adjustments. The order is to arrive this afternoon. I would like to confirm that is on a truck and will be in route shortly."

"Perhaps you are unaware of the legal procedures involving a take over such as this. All negotiations underway during the take over are subject to the policies and procedures of the acquiring company. Your order was placed within the last month. The take over commenced a month and a half ago. Therefore, we are more than welcome to send a shipment of D card stock immediately to your shop."

She was being swept to the side as if her business meant nothing. She had a very pleasant working relationship with the swallowed company. Now she was being forced into a new situation. She felt the need to exert herself. "This is unacceptable. I cannot possibly present my work on D."

"Then allow me to present to you the new cost of your order."

As she listened in disbelief to this impudent young man click away at his computer or whatever, her heart pounded loudly in her ears. When he quoted his price, she launched off her stool, it was almost double.

"You cannot be serious. That cost is astronomical."

"To be honest Richards-san, we are inundated with orders from larger companies such as S__, and W__. If you want A by this afternoon, we would have to open another press and engage employees at a higher cost. If you can wait another three and a half weeks, it is possible that we may be able to fill your oder at a reduced rate."

How is it possible that it could be her fault that they took over a company without first counting the cost of the needs of its clients? And why should she have to make allowances for their chinks when she was not benefited in any way by the take over? What is more, she would be forced into paying higher prices for the goods she preferred to use? "Is there a supervisor I may speak with?"

***

Kaoru watched Sara repeatedly pace the length of her clinic floor. She had stopped by to maintain the books and make records for the account she had created for Paper Butterfly Wings. Sara had attempted to explain the situation to her, but seemed too angry to continue. She had stepped out to make a quick call and upon returning saw that Kamir had shown up for lunch and looked enthralled as he watched Sara pace gushing out parts of the events at intervals of faux calm.

"I spoke to the supervisor and another and they all said the same thing: buy D stock or pay double and maybe get the A stock in a little less than a month."

"It is true what they said about take over procedures, though I am pretty sure that is an extreme case interpretation and rarely happens."

"I cannot believe it. I asked to speak to my old agent and was told he would no longer represent me." Sara concentrated on nothing in particular with her eyes as if she were locked in her own brain rapidly trying to come up with her next move.

"Is the hike in price that bad? Wouldn't it be simpler to pay it?"

"What?" her eyes locked on Kamir. "No, I am not going to pay twice as much for the stock."

"Well," he shifted on his feet, "where you able to find another manufacturer?"

Sara shook her head, "Not for the amount I need and the fact that I need it by tomorrow at the latest."

"How much time before you need to have the order ready?"

"Two and a half months." She looked at him inquisitively.

"There you have time. Take their offer." He dismissively leaned against her desk.

"No, it is not enough time. I have a schedule I have to keep with this commission and the additional ones that come in regularly. I will not be able to do it all in a month and a half." She glared at Kamir as if he were insane.

"Look," he reached out to her, "I know it does not sit well with you, but there are times when its better to accept a situation. You will only waste time and energy if you fight. These Japanese conglomerates are hard to get around Sara."

"It is the principle of the matter Kamir. If I let them railroad me now, it will start an unending chain of being cast aside and taken advantage of."

"Sara..."

"It is true Kamir. You think I am ignorant of Japanese business practices? You think I do not know what is going on? It is my rivals for this contract. He specifically mention their names in his condescending interchange. They are trying to push me out by causing my failure."

"You will not fail Sara, you will still provide the product." He crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"Failure either in not being able to fulfill my promise or not being able to offer a superior product is still failure. I'm not handing over a half ass job Kamir." The last sentence she said in English.

"I think she may be right Kamir." Kaoru found herself baffled by his advice as well. "They know that with this presentation of her work, she will be a serious contender."

"With this?" Kamir spread his arms to encompass her semi-humble clinic. "How is that possible?"

Kaoru smiled and shook her head "For all your knowledge of Japanese business, it is obvious that you still do not understand Japanese business."

Kamir blinked a few times.

Sara found herself offended by his attitude. It reeked of passive acceptance and general disinterest. It was not that she felt he was uninterested, more like he did not try to understand. His quick assessment and solution lacked honor and preservation of her dignity as a professional merchant. Worse, it showed a total disregard for her feelings on the matter. 

He had no idea the hard work she had put into her shop all these years. The sacrifices and hardships. He had no idea that with this one seemingly insignificant spot. Her whole career could be sullied. Perhaps not to her ruin, but sufficiently to her pride and own work ethic. She believed her base of existing clients as well as those potential ones would feel the same. 

Kamir did not seem to care.

A heavy silence filled the room as Sara started to spiral. What could she do? Personally visit the company? Call again? Maybe she could finish the work in a month and a half. She could ask her assistant to work overtime. She liked the card stock of two other companies. If she could wait a month for Motoyama, she could wait for one of them and pay less. She would probably have to work the nights through. Shouda could stay with his father.

The phone rang interrupting her thoughts.

"Sarua, are you about to leave for lunch?" Yuki's calm voice soothed her aching head and she slumped down onto her stool.

"Yuki."

"Sarua, what is the matter?"

"I do not know what to do. I cannot think." She rested her weight on her elbows and cradled her forehead in her free hand.

The change from strength and defiance to insecurity was not lost on Kaoru. Her friend was in a serious dilemma and Kamir was not very helpful. The last thing Sara needed was his laissez-faire way of handling business. Sara was a woman of action not compliance. The minute she heard Yuki on the other end she all but collapsed. Perhaps it had been a good idea to give him a quick call a few minutes earlier.

She decided to leave them alone.

"Kamir, I am sure Yuki will know what is best to be done. They will likely talk for a while so, should we leave?"

Kamir was obviously torn as to what to do. He, no doubt, recognized that his suggestions did not suit Sara, though she was convinced he had not a clue why, and that his presence was now all but forgotten. 

Kaoru wondered what he was thinking. He manner was always so unaffected about things. She would guess that he was not happy. He had not contacted her since they parted in his hotel room. Not that she had expected him too, but she also sensed that there was a change in the way he and Sara interacted. 

Had he told her?

She had not acted in any way different towards her when Kaoru walked into the clinic. However, she did not think Sara was the type of woman to act in such a vulgar manner. Either way, staying was not going to do Sara or Kamir any good. Finally, he responded with a head nod before moving closer to Sara.

"I am going to leave with Kaoru." 

Sara looked up and back and forth between the two before an apologetic distressed looked donned her face and she nodded.

Kaoru waved and Kamir followed her out the clinic. Outside of the shop he finally spoke.

"That guy is always popping up when I do not want him to." He ran a hand through his hair.

"Yuki knows Sarua very well and can best help her in this situation I think."

"You think I do not know her?" Kamir stopped.

"Honestly? I know you do not know her well enough." She faced him squarely.

"When did you become so self-assured?" He looked at her in irritation.

Kaoru looked off to the left in thought. "I think it has been starting ever since I met Sarua, but the night we spent together had a big impact."

At the vocalization of their one-night-stand Kamir took her by the arm and hurried her away from the front of Paper Butterfly Wings. Kaoru only laughed.

"What are you afraid of?" She questioned as he hastily pulled her away.

"I'm not afraid on anything." 

She simply stared at his determined face and enjoyed the warmth of his hand on her arm.