They had been sitting outside in the garden for a while now. They had not spoken, just sat and became lost in the maze of their own thoughts. The late afternoon sun painting a sepia finish to the trees, flowers and sparse ornaments. 

"It will become cooler from now on I think." 

Kaoru broke the silence. Her mind raced as it did most days now, trying to figure out what to do with her life. Sara had told her to find something she enjoyed and immerse herself. What did she enjoy? She had also told Kaoru to sequester power over her happiness. To maintain it and not consign it to anyone else. How could she grab hold of a power she was not sure she possessed to begin with? She had many questions, yet life had lost some of its bleakness. For this, she was grateful.

"Kaoru, I must apologize to you." 

Yuki was thinking of Sara's face as she left. Her barely containable rage, the bite of frustration in her words. She might as well have asked if he was a man. Was he? He was ashamed of how completely he had allowed his family to rule his life. Especially in the eyes of a woman who had left home, family and friends to come to a new country. Who made a success of her life on foreign land, birthed and raised a child on her own. Her contempt, though deserved, left a stringently bitter taste in his mouth. 

He had only known her gentleness.

"Yuki..."

"No, Kaoru, I must. Eight years ago, I married you loving another." He laughed sadly. "That is the first time I have ever admitted as much out loud. Perhaps even to myself."

"I know Yuki."

Kaoru felt the need to sooth him. Maybe because she was in need of the same. It would be easy to blame him for everything. Yet, could he truly be blamed for doing what wealthy families all over Japan had been doing for centuries? Men and women being exchanged for wealth, power, favor and pedigree. Like slaves or some especially rare breed of bird. Had not some of them married loving others, wanting something else? Pride, tradition and honor hold in-extractable roots in Japanese culture. It is what makes them great and vulnerable.

"I have been unjust. It mortifies me." They finally looked at each other. "Also regarding our inability to have children. I have allowed you to bear the greatest weight in this. I have allowed my family to treat you dishonorably as my wife. Will you forgive me?"

Kaoru broke his ernest gaze and looked at the bubbling fountain. The water cascaded down into a man made pond where she could just make out the graceful forms of Koi fish swaying about in their small aquatic world. Did they feel happiness or sadness? Did they ever wish to explore the world beyond the constantly shifting surface, the images wagging above their heads? 

"If it helps to ease your pain Yuki, then yes. However, I think what has transpired between us is beyond forgiveness and condemnation. We need to find out who and what we are. I know I must. Sarua-san was very clear on that point."

"Sarua-san?" Yuki was taken by surprise, though he had no doubt of the two women's ability to act appropriately.

"Yes," she looked back at him. "We had an opportunity to talk. She was very kind and she spoke sensible words. I have been avoiding this conversation and you. I have been absorbed in my inability to serve you and your family. I do not have the solutions, but I do not want to be this way anymore."

"I agree. Shall we try together to become as we should be?"

"Yes, I would be very glad of your support."

Yuki hugged his wife.

"And I of yours."

πππππππππππππππ

Sara rang the chime to the Shinohara's home with the note she had just pulled off her door in her hand. She was glad Ward was here to watch Shouda while she was at work. She refused to let him step foot in that school until Umezawa-san apologized and he was no longer enrolled in his old one. So he played around in a school-less limbo for now.

The door opened to the very kind face of Mrs. Shinohara.

"Senpai, I have come to collect my wayward men." she lifted the note her hand. "I am sorry for the intrusion." 

They gave each other an informal bow.

"It is nothing." Mrs. Shinohara held out her hand for her to enter and placed it on her back as Sara passed, guiding her to the scene of Mr. Shinohara, Ward and playing Go. Shouda was trying to coach his uncle. Mr. Shinohara placed a black stone on the playing surface and looked at Ward.

"What? He cheats!" Ward exclaimed in English. Mr. Shinohara blinked.

"No, he doesn't and don't say that please, its rude." Shouda scolded back in English and then translated the conversation for Mr. Shinohara who grinned. Ward accepted his tongue lashing but looked at Mr. Shinohara skeptically.

"Hello Shinohara-san," Sara bowed informally. "Shouda and Ward. Thank you for taking care of my son and younger brother. I hope they were not a burden."

"What did she say?" Ward asked Shouda.

Shinohara lifted his hand and nodded. 

"You will excuse me." Sara turned to her brood. "Come on guys. Lets go home." she ordered in English. As the boys gathered themselves and headed for the door, Mr. Shinohara approached Sara and covered her hand with his own. He look at it then up into her eyes and gave it a pat. Finally, he nodded and retreated with a smile.

Sara watched him go and turned to Mrs. Shinohara with a question.

"Senpai, Shouda told me the night he was born, Shinohara-san was asked to come save me by your son while he sat at the shrine. Is that so?"

Mrs. Shinohara smiled broadly, "Yes, Sarua-san. My husband believes that the spirit of our son lives in you." 

Sara again looked after the aged man and then took her leave.

When Sara entered the house, it was to Shouda's whooping laughter and a distinct ring which meant someone was calling on Facetime. The boys were in Shouda's room, so ran to the computer after shutting the door and dropping her things, accepted the call on the fifth ring. It was probably her mother.

The Facetime window widened and her mother appeared on the screen staring over her glasses. She frowned.

"Baby, now I don't mean to pry, (Percy) but what is this about Shouda being abducted from his school?" she blinked a few times.

"Bod-man!" Sara cringed and let her head drop.

Percy did not like Sara's sagging form in her window.

"Darren, Darren look at this. My baby is looking battle warn."

Sara looked up in just enough time to see her mother vacate the seat in front of the camera and her dad occupy it.

"Hey baby girl." He smiled warmly.

(Darren, you bought those tickets yet?)

"Percy, I got them pulled up on my iPad right now." He looked off to the right.

"Dad?"

"Now, don't you worry. Your mom and I just want to come for a visit. We're worried ‘bout you, that's all."

(Darren, where is the new set of luggage?) Percy passed behind Darren.

"She's on a mission. I guess I can't talk you guys out of comming, can I?" Sara's eyes trailed after her mother until she walked out of view.

"I'm afraid not, baby girl, you know your mother, and I will feel a lot better too once I can hold ya in my arms."

To Sara's great displeasure, this triggered a flow of tears. "Its not that bad dad, really. I..."

(Oh, Lord help me, my baby is crying!)

"Its going to be all right, baby girl." Her father soothed.

Percy's head shared the blurry screen with her husband's.

"Listen to your father now. We will get through this together. Just like we did after Shouda's birth." Percy cooed. "We forced the airline to bump them people off the plane, were there before you knew it and helped you through the complications. You remember?"

All Sara could do was nod her head.

"This is what family is for, baby. Sometimes you can't make it on your own. Ain't no defeat in that." Her face softened and she fought the urge to caress the screen.

"I know mama. I - I think I may be a little overwhelmed." Sara sniffed.

"We'll talk about it when we get there. Darren, you bought tickets on a none stop flight right."

"Of course, Percy. I can't stand them layovers. Hold up in some, airport for four hours listening to that damn FoxNews. I can't understand why all the TVs got to be on that channel anyways."

Sara laughed.

"You pull yourself together for Shouda for right now. That's it. We will be there before you know it."

Sara took a deep breath and wiped her eyes.

"You go call my grand baby and fix yourself up."

"Okay, mama." Sara nodded and walked into the hall to call Shouda. He came barreling out of his room and jumped into the chair in front of the computer. She walked into the bathroom and stood staring at herself in the mirror.

"No one denies you're the woman of the decade sister-C. But I had to tell them." Ward's long body was leaned up against the door.

"I know bod-man." she said weakly. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"You have always done everything you could for me and I love you." He buried his face in her neck and squeezed. This only triggered more tears as she folded her arms around his. They stood there enveloped in familial love for a few minutes. The only penetration was Shouda's occasional laughter.

"I don't know whats come over me. I've turned into a regular Niagara Falls lately." She turned her head and kissed the side of her brothers face.

"Its called pent up sexual aggression. You need to get laid. What about that Israeli?"

Shouda erupted in laughter on cue.

Sara reached around and popped Ward in the back of the head.

πππππππππππππππ

Kaoru bowed low and smiled at Sara. 

"Forgive the intrusion."

"Please come in." Sara lead the way back into her clinic and offered her a seat. Tea came in and was placed on the table.

"I am very grateful for the advice you gave me before." Kaoru said shyly. "I followed it. Yuki and I talked for the first time in years. We have agreed to work together." Kaoru smiled and looked expectantly at Sara. She noticed that Sara had lost weight.

"That is wonderful Kaoru." She smiled brightly and placed a hand on hers. "I'm very happy for you."

"I hope it is not selfish of me. I hope we can become and remain friends."

"Of course."

Kaoru was quiet a moment.

"Does this distress you Sarua-san? You are different."

Kaoru watched a stricken look dawn on Sara's face.

"Distressed? Not at all. I think it is good that you and Yuki are working things out. You have both suffered and deserve happiness."

"What about you? I think you are concentrating on everyone except yourself. It is very admirable of you, but I think it must be hard."

"You are very kind Kaoru. I do want everything to turn out well for Shouda. My distress though, at this moment, may be due to bookkeeping. I've been trying to concentrate on it for days. The truth is, it is my least favorite aspect of the business." She laughed.

"Let me help. I wish to repay your kindness and I like accounting work. I used to head this department at one of my father's enterprises."

Sara watched Kaoru's face become very animated. A rare sight. She smiled.

"Really?"

"Yes, I worked for him until I married Yuki."

"Well, if it is not a burden." Sara stood and walked to a desk strewn with papers, printouts, receipts, invoices, bank statements and a ledger. "It would make me very happy if you could take care of this."

Kaoru immediately sat and started shifting the papers. She asked a few questions about Sara's computer program and hunkered down to business. Literally, within minutes Kaoru had all the papers separated and began cross referencing the hard copies with what Sara had written in her ledger.

"Your very fast Kaoru." Sara laughed. "I wonder how many people, like myself, would be relieved by having a professional come by the office every now and then and preform bookkeeping duties. You should start a business." 

Kaoru barely responded. Sara figured she was lost in her world of numbers. Better Kaoru than herself. It wasn't the type of meticulous work she preferred. Hand embossing strips on sheet after sheet of vellum paper or scoring seating cards, she could handle.  Correlating present and past numbers and using them to predict future income patterns, wasn't.

She walked back over to where she was folding origami in the shape of cranes and picked up another piece of elaborately embellished paper. She had purposely picked colors that contrasted brightly with the soft feel of the portfolio. Siblings had gotten together to commemorate the lives of there grandparents by having a special event in which photos and keepsakes would be displayed. Sara was in charge of the album that would house the love letters sent back and forth during and after the second World War. She had taken the time to read them, they had been heartbreaking. The couple was still alive, though aged and sick.

Her mind wondered as she carefully placed each fold to Kaoru's change in countenance from the last time she visited. She was more at peace. It was good that she and Yuki were going to improve their relationship. At the same time she felt a dull pain and sighed. Bravo to Yuki. Depression began to threaten the frontier of her mental celebration.

"Mom!"

She turned to see Shouda standing at the entrance of her clinic with Ward not to far behind.

"Hi Shouda." She gave him a strong hug.

Shouda pulled back and gazed at his mother.

"What's wrong mommy?"

When did she become so damn weak? She smiled.

"Nothing, I'm just happy to see you." She kissed his forehead. "Tell me, what have you been up to today?"

"We woke up late and played video games, then we took a trip to the sea and now we came to visit you. Guess what? Ward spoke in Japanese." His bright face squished up into a smile and the melodious and always uplifting sound of children's laughter filled the clinic.

"It wasn't so good huh?"

Shouda glanced around.

"I was good." He shook his head ‘no' at the same time. Sara laughed and Ward picked him up.

"Excuse me, President. The Umezawas are here to see you." The poor girl's face was tense. Kaoru stopped clicking away at the computer and Ward and Shouda's eyes grew wide.

Sara kissed her son and stalked out of the clinic. She mentally prepared herself as she walked down the short hall and slid the panel aside. Mr. and Mrs. Umezawa and Yuki stood in the showroom. Yuki was the first to notice her as the Umezawas were inspecting her displays. He smiled and nodded his head. She closed the panel behind her.

"Welcome to Paper Butterfly Wings. How may I assist you?" She bowed lowly as the Umezawas turned around. They both bowed in response and Mrs. Umezawa neared. Sara took a deep breath.

"I have come, Sarua-san, to apologize."

Sara bit the inside of her lip.

"If you will excuse me, Umezawa-san, I will invite Shouda from the back." Just as she was about to turn around, Kaoru slid the panel aside and stepped into the room with Shouda. Ward slid the panel back, but didn't quite close it. He and the assistant peeped in through the slit.

Everyone was surprised to see Kaoru there. Yuki smiled reassuringly at his wife and Mr. Umezawa nodded. Mrs. Umezawa looked startled but recovered for the matter at hand. Make peace her husband had said and make peace she would. That and Yukimoto had stopped accepting her calls and had come back to the house only to inform them that he and Kaoru would be living at his flat from now on.

Shouda came and stood by his mother. She had to admit, he was a good loyal son. She smiled and looked at Sara.

"Saru-san, I am sorry I took Shouda from school and initiated his transfer to the Academy without your permission. It was presumptuous of me. I will respect your decisions Sarua-san, I will not be presumptuous as I have been in the past and I will not do anything regarding my grandson without permission from either you or Yukimoto."

Sara exhaled the breath she was holding and smiled.

"Thank you Umezawa-san. I am happy to accept your apology."

Mrs. Umezawa nodded and turned to Shouda. He grabbed his mother's hand. This pained her. He really did think his grandmother was an ogre.

"Shouda, I apologize for taking you out of school and putting you through that ordeal. You must forgive your hardheaded grandmother. She means no harm. She only wants to love you." She spoke in a soft voice. It sounded somewhat foreign even to her own ears, yet she had not done so on purpose. She wondered if he would believe her.

To her delight, her grandson smiled brightly and let go of his mother's hand to hug her. He stepped back.

"The only other time I have been that scared by love is when mother caught up with me after I wondered from school one day." His face became serious. "Love can make people show many different emotions, I think. I forgive you, besides, mother says it is unkind to hold grudges." 

"Very well said, young master Shouda." Mr. Umezawa came and patted his grandson's shoulder. Shouda gave him a hug and then ran to his father.

"I am glad you have accepted our apologies, Sarua-san. You are very kind."

"Not at all. I am very happy that you have offered them." They all bowed informally.

Mrs. Umezawa's attention shifted.

"I am surprised to see you here Kaoru."

"I am helping Sarua-san with some accounting." Kaoru offered.

"Well, if it is accounting work you need, Sarua-san, we have plenty of excellent accountants at our disposal. You are welcome to use one of those."

"Mother, Sarua-san and Kaoru have come to an arrangement. Kaoru is an excellent accountant. Do not start trouble so soon after making progress." Yuki calmly passed his mother and brought Shouda to Kaoru.

Sara watched Shouda smile up at the two of them as he held Yuki's hand and Kaoru touched his head. For Shouda, she was doing this for Shouda. She repeated it over and over in her head. She tore her eyes away from the loving scene and cleared her throat.

The panel opened and her assistant appeared.

"Perfect timing, would you be so kind as to bring everyone some oolong tea?" The assistant disappeared and Ward stared back at her with concern.

She smiled and looked away.

"Sarua, I think it would be a good idea for you and I to take Shouda to his new school together. What do you think?" Yuki looked from his son to Sara.

"I think that is a very good idea." She smiled at a very excited Shouda.

"I think I should..." Everyone turned to Mrs. Umezawa. "That is, I would like to accompany you as well, if I may."

Sara touched her arm. "You would wish to introduce your grandson to the Director?" Sara looked at Yuki who raised his eyebrows in response. "I would be very happy if you were to honor us by doing so."

"Excellent, then I must call to schedule an interview. I think he should start immediately, for he has missed enough days as it is. I have his uniform at the house. I would be happy to let you or Yukimoto take care of it, but I ask that you please use my taylor. He has been working for the Umezawa family for years and well, it would break tradition. I am sure I can get an appointment for whenever it is convenient for you as he always places himself at my disposal. What do you say?" She looked at Sara and Yuki expectantly.

"Sarua-san?" Yuki deferred to her.

She laughed.

"As you see fit Umezawa-san."

"Good. This worked out rather nicely." She patted her husband's shoulder and he took out his cell phone and handed it to her.

Yuki felt very good indeed about recent events. He had stayed away from home to send a message to his mother. His one visit was to inform them that he would be living in his flat instead of the family home. This, he informed them, was a decision based on his mother's bad behavior and that he had no intentions of letting Shouda visit them without parental supervision until he was comfortable with his grandmother again.

He was very frank in his desires. He and Kaoru were trying to improve their relationship. He would not tolerate any attitude towards her. It was not her fault she could not have children and if they could not be supportive in her endeavors to overcome the situation, then he and his wife would not frequent the house.

He had also spoken with Kaoru about preparing a room for Shouda. He hoped Shouda would participate and her as well. She had assured him she was willing assist in any way possible. 

Being at the flat together had proved awkward in the beginning. He had failed to realize how much they had grown apart, if they had ever been together. Kaoru had her moments when she needed to be alone. She also seemed distant sometimes. He was not sure of what it meant, but he had decided not to push her to reveal anything she was not ready to. 

He would not let Kaoru down as he had done Sara. 

Even as he tried his best to support her decisions and be thoughtful of her now, he felt he was letting her down. This gave him much agitation, especially at night when he tried to sleep.

Could he ever make things up to Sara? He was under the impression that the question could not be answered affirmatively. All he could do was his best. All he could do was try to prove that he was learning from having to say, ‘sorry' and hope the occasions of having to do so would decrease. 

All he could do was try to be the man she had always given him credit for being before he had ruined everything.

He looked at her now as she sipped absentmindedly from her oolong tea. He wondered what she was thinking. Shouda snapped her back to reality and she smiled and ran her fingers through his hair before he ran off again.

After he left she looked troubled again.

Yuki knew it was his fault.