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Author's Chapter Notes:

I noticed that this story is being spotlighted this month. I am very thankful for the request. Whomever you may be, thank you very much!

There are no terms that need to be explained. I probably should read through it again, but I wanted to get it up so please excuse my errors.

:)




Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.


 

It had to be the biggest bouquet of roses she had ever seen. Roses in every warm shade of red imaginable. They winked and danced at her encircled by a layer of watermarked wax paper and then crepe tissue paper. Above the outstretched bouquet was the adorably contrite face of Kamir Dubashi. He lifted his eyebrows and sucked on his bottom lip. Sara laughed and took them from him.

"You see, I felt bad because I wasn't very helpful to you yesterday and I wanted to apologize. I realize that this business is your life and who in their right mind would compromise on something that would affect their life so adversely? So I am deeply sorry. He took off his coat. I am fully prepared to help in anyway I can. I'll go and reason with the company, I'll find another one and drive the truck of paper here to you. I'll help you get the work done. Anything." His arms open encompassing anything.

Sara motioned for him to follow her out from the show room, from in front of her assistant and curious customers to her clinic. When she stepped in, she went for a vase and added some stones from an idea gone wrong that she kept behind other things, then filled it with water. Carefully opening the paper, she took out each flower and wedged the stalk in the stones. She picked up the vase and took it to a little table she kept by the mirror.

"Thank you Kamir, these are stunningly beautiful."

"I'm glad you like them. Please, tell me what I can do to help." His voice sounded sincere. She turned to him.

"Well, you see, yesterday the paper ended up being delivered." She pointed to the stacks of boxes behind him.

Kamir turned around noticing for the first time the organized mess of the clinic. "Wow, how did that happen?"

Sara took a deep breath. "Yuki went to Motoyama and somehow got them to make good on the order. They arrived yesterday evening. Then he came over and we worked together until midnight. I am on schedule." She watched Kamir look around and finger different piles. They stood in silence for a few seconds more. "Kamir, I very much appreciate your apology and offer to help. Thank you. There is still quite a bit of work to be done, so I might just take you up on it...if its still on the table."

He finally looked up at her. "Of course it is."

"You look so serious, this isn't like you Kamir." Sara felt bad for some reason.

"No, I don't suppose it is." He glanced at his offered roses.

"I feel like its my fault. I'm sorry Kamir. I guess I'm not as fast and fun as you originally thought I might be. I thought I might be as well, but I'm not. I feel like I'm dragging you down into territory you aren't familiar with. I have a son and a business. If you had caught me nine or ten years ago I was different. I went everywhere, did everything, I had few responsibilities and my life was less complicated."

"You're still full of plenty of life Sara."

She sighed.

"I admire many things about you Kamir. You're fun and spontaneous, open and honest, you like to laugh and you aren't afraid. I don't want to take that away from you. I don't want to frustrate you and that's what I feel like I'm doing." She looked down.

"Are you breaking up with me?" He teased.

"Where we dating?" She laughed. "That doesn't seem to be your style."

Kamir began to walk towards her. "Do you want to date?"

This caused her to head to jack up in surprise. "Kamir I..." He silenced her by arresting her lips with his own. His arm wound around her body and pulled her in close. His other hand cupped her face, held it in place so she could not move. It was nice and warm and...not what she wanted. She grabbed his upper arms to pull them down.

"Sarua, I brought lun...ch."

She and Kamir quickly separated and she looked at Yuki. 

"I am sorry to intrude. I can leave this here and come back some other time." Yuki made quick to place the bags on the accounting desk. This time they were of brown paper and she found her mouth watering at what might be inside.

"Yuki wait." It came out of her mouth before she even realized it was how she felt. 

"Yes, Yuki, you aren't interrupting anything." Kamir placed his hand on a hip.

"Kamir?" Sara glanced at him before walking to Yuki. "Yuki."

Yuki shook his head, "You do not need to explain anything to me Sarua. It was rude to come unannounced."

"It was not rude Yuki. I am thankful to you for bringing lunch." She touched his arm.

"I have told you, I do not seek your gratitude Sarua."

"Perhaps it is her that you want." Kamir challenged from behind her. Sara whirled around. What the hell was going on?

 

Yuki glared at Kamir. His jaw clinched and his hands grew restless. Kamir glared back into his eyes defiantly.

"Kamir, what are you saying? Yuki is a married man. He would not do anything to hurt his relationship with Kaoru. Neither would I." Yuki was aware Sara was there standing up for him, he lifted his chest and his brows lowered as he continued to stare at his adversary.

"Kaoru, she doesn't want to be with you and you know it. Thats why you are always popping up in the life of Sara." Yuki flinched at is words.

"Kamir."

"She says you are boring and that she wants to be free." He continued.

"Kamir."

"She prefers being with me. Did you know that? We go for drinks and she talks about you. Did you know?"

"Kamir!"

All of a sudden it dawned on him.

"It was you that she slept with, yes?" Yuki asked calmly. Sara whirled around to face him and then back to Kamir.

"What?"

For a moment Kamir was silent. His eye lowered slightly then he faced Yuki again.

"She did not tell me who he was, only that she did."

"Kaoru decided for herself." Kamir finally said.

Of all the people in Japan, why did it have to be him. Sara like him, they were just showing one another affection. Well, he didn't like it, but what will Sara think? How will she feel? How could he do this to her? Yuki's shoulders sagged. He was not qualified to judge Kamir. All of a sudden Sara started laughing.

Both men turned to her.

 

The more Sara's brain raced around in circles the more she started to laugh. The more she started to laugh the more uncontrollable it became. She looked at all her paper stacked here and there and pointed to it laughing. She looked up at Kamir, at the strange look on his face and adjusted her finger in his direction and bent over laughing. The accounting desk caught her attention and it was all she could do to catch a deep breath. She stumbled a bit and Yuki caught her in his arms and righted her. She looked at him and waved her hand back and forth in front of her face as if trying to break up an apparition.

She looked at her roses and leaned against her chair holding her aching stomach. The secretion from her eyes leaked down her cheeks and she belched out bits of laughter like an old truck in its last stages of death. She stared at the beautiful roses the color of blood and sin and anger, and leaned forward over her chair. Her left hand planted in the seat. Her hair framed the photo she now peered at of her hand in the cushion of her lab chair, fingers spread wide, slender, perfectly manicured. She tilted her head slightly. She had to keep them that way for her customers. The thought beat a lonely trail across the empty expanse of her lightless mind.

It was so dark, it was depressing. She saw it coming, flying straight at her like a June bug beetle, careening through space, target locked, right for her face. She closed her eyes against the impact, but let the idea float out of her mouth.

"I am a fool."

She stood and covered her face with her hands. She heard a man say her name, whether it was Kamir or Yuki she wasn't sure. She walked forward, bumped into her table and turned a little and walked forward again.

"Sara." It was Kamir's voice. She also felt his hand touch her arm and before she could stop herself, slapped it away. Her arm poised in the air, her other hand covering her mouth. Her eyes focused on nothing at all. Everything was quiet and still. She suddenly clasped her hands together and turned to her two ring masters with as much dignity as she could feeling more like one of those poor humiliated bears in a pink tutu.

"But you know what? Us fools have to make a living too. So, if you gentlemen do not mind, I have work to do." She walked over and after grabbing Kamir's coat, threw it in his chest then ushered him and Yuki out of her clinic. At the sliding panel she shooed them further. "If anymore relatively wealthy, lively men with a good sense of humor - since that seems to be my MO - come looking for a fool, just have them fill out an application and I'll get back to them as quick as I can."

Sara watched her assistant's eyes widen then left the showroom.

 

She completely immersed herself in work. Her stomach growled every time her nose smelled the food Yuki brought, but she had no desire to eat. All she wanted to do was work. Work, work, work, escape. She mentally slapped the thought our of her head. She wanted to finish up the baby album as soon as possible. She added the folder inserts and checked the small white pompoms she attached to the front. Once it was filled it would be very cute, but they would have to watch the pompoms. She would be sure to tell them. 

Next she met with one of her new paper supplier. She called the two other companies she liked and arranged for meetings. They had both happily brought their samples and she had decided she liked them both, but for different items. They talked about regular orders of this and that and signed a contract for a year. 

She had a meeting with some new clients, which always took time. A couple decided to keep looking while another, a mother, decided Sara should make the catalog for her daughter. She would have to make it durable and unique as this was a means used to ‘sell' her daughter to potential husbands. The catalogs were passed out to eligible families with a nice photo and biography inside. Another woman ordered two sets of customized stationary for her twin nieces and a German couple wanted announcements and invitations made for their wedding.

Salesmen from an ink company came around and made a pitch for their inks and dyes. They had two demonstrations and left her with samples to experiment with. Her technical engineer came by to clean and calibrate her machinery. A very jolly young man. He always did a very professional job and didn't make a mess like the last one she had. The old one was good too, but she always had to clean up after him. 

Even though she didn't need to sit and watch him anymore she liked to anyway. He always approached her machines with genteelness. He whispered to then very lowly so she could not hear and meticulously cleaned and lubricated them. He touched them kindly and ran his cleaning rag over them with admiration and love.

At least thats the way it seemed.

"Do you have many machines to service?" She asked out of the blue. He blinked a few times then answered.

"Yes, I have many but these are my favorites." He looked at the two in her clinic.

"Why are they your favorite? If you do not mind my asking."

"Because they are good solid machines. They are well made and built to last and work hard. They are not like the digitalized machines of our day. Lots of bells and whistle but no power or desire to work. No, these are better."

"Than I made very good choices." So, she could make some good decisions.

"Hai! That and you keep them in good shape. It is a joy to come and see that you care about them. I am sure they are appreciative as well." He replaced his rags and tools and after looking around to make sure he left things clean, he departed.

It was so much easier to make choices about machine than it was about people. How in the world had she gotten in the middle of all this, she allowed herself to wonder. Yuki, Kaoru and Kamir. How was it that she was so blind to people's true nature? It would never occur to her that Kaoru would cheat on Yuki and more so that Kamir, who was burning up her phone and taking all of her lunch time, would be the one she cheated with! She brought them together. She had opened herself up to sleeping with Kamir. That night, if Shinohara hadn't put that bug of worry in her ear... Her hand clasped over her mouth before rubbing her face.

She needed to stop thinking about it.

Sara worked until it was time to pick up Shouda and tidied up her clinic. She left her assistant to close the store down and walked through the mall dazed. Stepping out into the late afternoon light she saw a figure rise. As she came closer it called to her.

"Sarua."

"Yuki?" She squinted and shielded her eyes from the setting sun.

"Sarua, you are going to get Shouda? Allow me to give you a ride. Please." She could see him clearly now. Worry and concern etched in his face and his hand outstretched to her. She thought about it and realized she didn't really have the energy to walk, so she started towards his car.

"Thank you."

 

Yuki opened the door for her and when she was safely tucked inside, rounded the car and took his seat behind the wheel. After peeling away from the curb he took a few guarded glances at Sara before silently concentrating on the traffic. He was desperate to know what she was thinking, how she was feeling, but was unsure if he should ask. If she wanted to talk about it, she would. That was how she always had been. Yuki figured that if he spent enough time in her presence she might open up.

"Yuki, you should be at work, is that not so? Why are you here?" Sara broke the silence. Yuki kept his eyes on the road as if doing so would obscure the implication of his words.

"I could not get my mind to focus on work so I came and waited for you. It will be a pleasant surprise for Shouda to see us both waiting for him, do you not agree?"

There was a pause. "Yes, he will be very happy."

The least he felt he could do was apologize for his part in the revelation.

"Sarua, I wish to apologize. I am sorry for being indelicate in the way I..."

"Told the truth?" He remained silent at her words. She sighed, "I guess I do not understand men at all."

"There are many books published on the subject so you should not feel alone." This garnered a brief laugh from her. "I too, often do not understand myself."

Her laughs petered out and then there was silence. They were almost to the school and soon she would put on her mask for Shouda. She would escape into being a mother and Yuki would be none the wiser as to her feelings. His grip tightened on the steering wheel in silent frustration.

"I would have never thought them capable of such a thing Yuki." His grip eased. "I never noticed any preference for either on the part of the other." She turned to him. "People do not just trip into bed together.  For how long had they noticed each other? When exactly does ones feeling suddenly transfer to another?"

"Sarua do not become trapped in such thoughts."

"What should I think then?" Yuki could feel her eyes burrow into him. "Perhaps I was a diversion for them both."

"Sarua." He did not like what she was saying. It was unlike her.

"I know, it is not true. I am being unreasonable and very selfish making myself the victim." 

"Not necessarily, it must have been a great shock to you."

She was quiet a moment. "I feel a fool, no, worse than a fool because it was I who brought them together. I am sorry Yuki." She rubbed her forehead and let out a grunt.

"It is not your fault Sarua."

"How can you be so calm Yuki? Your wife has slept with another man."

"I am not in a position to judge Kaoru, Sarua. It is not as if I have fulfilled my part as the perfect husband." He glanced at the disbelief in her face.

"You did not cheat on her...did you?"

"No." He said in surprise. "I did not have an affair while we were married, but you will recall our relationship while she and I were engaged." He paused. He made to look at her again and found her looking down at the seat upholstery. "You must know as well, that our marriage has not been a satisfactory one."

"Kaoru indicated that you were trying to work things out."

"Yes, and we have made much progress, but I will not condemn her for her actions. Nor will I blame you for what has transpired." They pulled into the Academy parking lot and silently vacated the car. He watched her as they walked towards the entrance. "I only wish it had not been with someone to whom you were attached."

He watched Sara open her mouth but the bell cut her short and she turned as children began filing out of the doors. A smile spread across her face and Yuki turned to see Shouda barrel down the steps, eyes wide with delight.

"Mother! Father!" Shouda ran to his mother first giving her a hug and a hurried kiss then lunged for his father who swung him around in the air. He was set down and immediately started rifling through his bag. "Mother, look, I have a project."

Sara kneeled down as he pulled out a paper. "Is that so?"

"It is a poster about the roving Japanese capital. It was moved many times depending on Shogun." She grabbed his hand and stood as she read over the instructions. The three began to walk to the parking lot. "I want it to be done well. Can you help me?"

"I can help you Shouda." Yuki put his hand on his son's head.

"Mother is very good at crafty things. Are you as good as she is?" He looked doubtful. Sara snickered quietly so Shouda would not hear. Yuki, of course, had seen it.

"I can do anything I put my mind to."

"No doubt." She piped in supportively, though her face was anything but. 

"You think that I cannot do as good a job as you?" He quirked a brow.

She looked shocked, "I did not say that Yuki."

"You are a very clever woman Sarua. You are successful at conveying your feelings through more than one avenue." He wore that same arrogant grin of long ago.

"That is true mother." Shouda piped in.

"What?" She could only laugh as one looked at her triumphantly and the other knowingly.

Shouda suddenly stopped and the two, who had been caught up in their own non-verbal battle, now turned to see what was the matter. Shouda was looking at his roaming classmates then drew closer to them.

"There is a boy that gets teased a lot over there. He is not good at sports and he is very shy. I feel sorry for him. Can we invite him for ice cream?" He indicated a rather awkward looking boy with glasses. Everything about him was just a little too something. His head was a little too large, his hair a little too straight, his pants a little too short as well as the sleeves of his uniform jacket. Most disturbing, he seemed a little to solemn for an eight year old.

"What of his parents?" Sara asked looking at the poor creature.

"His family sends a car for him. He told me he is often alone after school."

Yuki raised his brows at Sara who twisted her lips. She shrugged slightly and he nodded his approval. 

"Ice cream is a good idea Shouda." Yuki took his bag as she hurried over to the boy. The boy watched Shouda unmoved as he talked then glued his eyes to the ground as Shouda pulled him over to his parents.

"Mother, father, this is Amami Takebe. Takebe, my mother Sara Richards and my father Umezawa Yukimoto."

"Yes, Amami, your family is in Media and Entertainment." Yuki gave him a smile. He did not respond.

"We are happy you can come with us for ice cream." Sara tried, but again no response. The elderly driver, however, had followed them over and was holding his hat with an eager smile. Sara nodded to him and he returned it. "Where shall we go Yuki?"

Yuki, who had been regarding the boy with interest, now turned toward the car. "I know just the place."

 






Chapter End Notes:

In addition to your thoughts on this chapter I would like to get opinions on 2 things:

1. should Kaoru and Kamir be together do you think?

2. how do you think Yuki should announce his feelings to Sara?

Thanks!







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Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.