Eternal Melody

YUHI

"Sorry I'm late, I just finished-" Akane paused, seeing the scene before her. She quickly went over to Kanade. "Stop already."

"I'm not doing anything-"

"Kanade." Akane said sharply. "Didn't you ask me to forgive you? I won't believe you if you do something like this."

Huh, these two have an interesting relationship. Yuhi assumed that Nagawa Kanade disliked her sister but perhaps there is something there.

After Akane said those words, Kanade walked away. Akane looked over at Mashima and for a moment Yuhi saw something in her eyes, longing. But that quickly broke when Mashima grabbed Sumire's hand.

"Yuhi-san, are you really okay watching that?" Renna asked.

"Well, it's not like-" Yuhi paused when Mashima leaned down and kissed Sumire's forehead. "-he is doing anything-"

Renna shakes her head. "You really do have the patience of a saint."

"Mimi, we are going to order a large feast and Yu-Yu said he would pay for everything." Kou called out loudly.

Mashima who up till now didn't see them looked over. Seeing him, Mashima dropped his arms around Sumire's waist and moved away.

"It seems you have company beautiful, we can have a lunch date another time."

"Mm. Are you sure you're okay? I can get Lex to come here so you don't have to deal with-"

Toh shakes his head. "I can do this much for the Lord. I'm not exactly any help with the other jobs recently."

Yuhi immediately understood what that meant. Mashima hasn't been seen doing any work for the black alice organisation. Is it because he doesn't want to risk getting a job that will harm someone from Sumire's circle? Mashima whispers something else in Sumire's ear before returning to his companions. Sumire walked back over, rather she rushed over and flung her arms dramatically around his neck.

"I'm back dearest! Did you miss me?"

Yuhi stared at her speechless. She was only gone for ten minutes or was it less, moreover they were still in the same room.

"Because I missed you a lot more." Sumire bent down to kiss his neck.

"Sumire-san, your husband is spending all your money treating us today." Jun said.

Sumire rolled her eyes. "Even if we treat you, you'd never be able to spend our money. I haven't even taken my inheritance out yet."

Indeed, but Yuhi knew Sumire had been meeting with lawyers earlier this year.

'I know you have money my dear, and so do I. I don't need the inheritance, but if we are planning on having that many children. We should plan ahead.'

Planning ahead for their children, for their family huh? Even now he finds it strange. One day he and Sumire will get married and their family will become official. There are days where he wakes up in the middle of the night, startled to see her in his arms and surprised to see the twins that look exactly like Sumire and him.

Is it really okay for him to be this happy? Okay for him to be happy with the woman he loves?

"My dear, you should eat something."

Yuhi glanced over and noticed that the waiter had finished placing dishes on their desk. The others were happily eating away, but the heavy scent of the food made him feel nauseous. Yuhi shakes his head.

"I'm not very hungry, you can eat love."

Sumire tilted her head. "But my dear, you skipped breakfast."

"I'm not very hungry Sumire, I-"

Sumire suddenly took a bite from a piece of chicken and kissed him. It takes him a moment to realize that the girl was feeding him mouth to mouth in the form of a kiss.

Good gods, when did she learn to do something like this? Mashima's face flashed through his mind and Yuhi shakes his head. He needs to stop doing that. It's neither Mashima nor Sumire's fault that there is still lingering feelings between them. Besides, he truly understands Mashima's situation.

'There was a time I tried to get over Sumire too, dating Touko and then Makino even when I knew I didn't love them.' He heard what happened between Nagawa Akane and Mashima. When he heard that he understood that Mashima and him may have a lot more in common.

"My dear," Sumire mumbled, pulling away. "Your really not well. You haven't been eating much. Toh said to me just then that we can set up an appointment any day. So, can you consider it? At least for my sake?"

"You don't think it will be awkward?"

Sumire shakes her head. "Toh can be professional, you don't have to worry. I'm sure he can help you."

Seeing her so determined, Yuhi nodded. "Okay, give me his number."

__________________________

At Medical Research Center

Yuhi set up the meeting with Mashima in two days. He didn't want to waste anytime, he didn't want Sumire worrying about him anymore than he needed to. Yuhi glanced at the large building in front of him. 'So, Mashima is an actual professional. I thought he limited his services to the underworld. But, a place like this?'

He patiently gave his details to the receptionist. The name he gave was a false one of course. It would be bad if someone recognized him.

'I don't need the media to know how bad my mental health is.' As an artist, it is difficult to get any privacy, even for medical reasons. The media are always on a hunt for any gossip. Yuhi expected to be lead to the waiting room but he was personally escorted to Mashima's office.

Mashima was at his desk focusing on something he was typing.

"Sit down, let me just finish typing this up."

Yuhi nodded and took a seat.

Yuhi glanced over and spotted a folder on Mashima's desk with Sumire's name. Mashima caught him looking.

"That's hers. While I've been doing informal counselling with her since I came back to Japan. Recently she finally decided to make it formal."

'I didn't know that. But, that would explain why she was so insistent that I got help too.'

"Do you want to take a look?"

Yuhi hesitated as he glanced at the file. "Is that allowed?"

"You're her family, and she did give her permission."

'Family huh? Even though we have yet to formally register our marriage, everyone around us treat us like we are married already. Of course they would, they are living together and have two children. It's only natural how this will end up.'

Yuhi nodded and while he waited he browsed through Sumire's files. Sumire may have given her permission but Yuhi still felt like he was invading her privacy. So he only looked through the tab when she was in star town.

The more he read, the more pain he felt. 'I knew didn't I? That's why I kept trying to get in touch with her. Why I kept in touch with Mamoru, Masaru and Aki.' Sumire, didn't know about the latter. But, he frequently kept in touch with Aki. It was due to all his pleading that Aki allowed Sumire to rest for awhile. Though the twisted bastard made it seem like a probation.