The cold wind gently stroked the body of a 5’3″ tall woman. Small and delicate body, covered with white satin clothes, which reflected her image. The winter was coming and she stood by the gate of her house, accompanied by her parents.
“Hanaki, are you okay?”
“I’m okay, Mother.”
“Tell me if you need anything now.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Hanaki, are you okay?”
“I’m okay, Mother.”
“Tell me if you need anything now.”
“Yes, Father.”
Once an orphan, I was adopted by my current parents for 14 years. Due to financial issues in my Father’s company, Nishiyama Gorup, I was ‘sold’ to the Fujisawa family as their daughter-in-law. It seems that Father and the head of Fujisawa family were friends. I am Nishiyama Hanaki, aged 22.
Suddenly, there were 2 cars stopping by the gate, and several men came out of them. One of them approached Hanaki and her parents.
“Greetings, Ladies and Master.”Said that man who came out of the first car as he bowed.
“I’m here to fetch Young Lady Hanaki to Fujisawa house.”Hanaki looked at her parents with teary eyes. She then walked to the first car while her luggages were taken care by the people from the second car. Hanaki stepped into the car hesitatingly, and kept on looking at her parents, till the car sped off and they were out of sight.
Father, Mother.. Goodbye…
“We have arrived, Young Lady.”As Hanaki stepped out of the car, for a second, she admired the Fujisawa family’s posh house. Then she was welcomed by servants and a butler.
“I have always been looking forward to your arrival, Young Lady Hanaki. Let me introduce myself. Matsuoka Keiji. I’m the only butler in this house. You can come to me if you need anything.”
“U.. Uh…”
“Now.. Let me escort you to the Master and Lady. They are at the living room.”
Matsuoka escorted Hanaki to the biggest room in the house. Then he knocked the door.
“Come in.”
Hanaki’s heart skipped a beat as Matsuoka opened the door, and there were three people sitting on the european-style sofas.
“Master, Lady, Young Master Kaze, I have brought Young Lady Hanaki here. Now, I excuse myself.”
After Matsuoka went away, Hanaki sat down as she was told to by her mother-in-law.
“Don’t be too nervous, Hanaki. We are family, aren’t we? Call me Mother from now on.”Said Fujisawa Yuri, the mother of the house.
“I’m Kaze, your brother-in-law. Nice to meet you.”
“Hanaki. Answer me, honestly.”Said the patriarch of the house, Fujisawa Takechi.
“Y.. Yes?”
“Do you regret coming to this house? You still have time to reconsider until tomorrow morning, when you’ll register your marriage.”
“Takechi! What are you saying?!”Screamed Yuri.
“Yuri, Kazuya and Hanaki’s marriage is arranged. I’m not saying that Hanaki doesn’t like this, but you know Kazuya that stubborn child. Although he doesn’t complain, doesn’t mean that he has accepted this marriage.”
“Takechi! Would you stop scaring Hanaki already?”
“I’m telling the truth. I don’t want Hanaki to suffer in this house.”
“You’re making her suffer right now.”
“Oh come on both of you. You’re making ehm.. Sister-in-law in a bad position! She has come, that means she has accepted this marriage! The same goes for brother! He has never complained.”Said Kaze suddenly.
“Sorry Hanaki, to have you been in this situation. You’ll be a good wife, I can see through that. Kazuya, your husband is ill-tempered and very stubborn. Communicating properly with him is hard for those who just know him, so.. You can bear with it, can’t you?”Asked Yuri suddenly.
“O.. Okay.. Mother.”
“And.. You know right? That Kazuya doesn’t want any wedding ceremony to be held. He just hates parties very much.”
“Yes, Mother. It’s okay.”
“Now Kaze, send Hanaki to her room. She needs rest.”
“Yes, Father.”Kaze rose, and nodded to Hanaki, signaling her to follow him. The two of them vanished behind the doors and went up to the second floor. They remained silent until Kaze spoke up.
“So… Can I call you Hanaki?”
“Oh.. Yes, of course.”
“My brother won’t be home till 7p.m. later. You can sleep first, but make sure you tidy up the bed later. Don’t get anything out of place, or stain anything. He’s a clean and neat freak.”
“Uh.. Yes. Thank you.”
Clean and neat freak. I have to do things very carefully.
“Now.. I excuse myself.”
After Kaze went away, Hanaki carefully laid on the bed, and soon, she fell asleep.
“Greetings, Ladies and Master.”Said that man who came out of the first car as he bowed.
“I’m here to fetch Young Lady Hanaki to Fujisawa house.”Hanaki looked at her parents with teary eyes. She then walked to the first car while her luggages were taken care by the people from the second car. Hanaki stepped into the car hesitatingly, and kept on looking at her parents, till the car sped off and they were out of sight.
Father, Mother.. Goodbye…
“We have arrived, Young Lady.”As Hanaki stepped out of the car, for a second, she admired the Fujisawa family’s posh house. Then she was welcomed by servants and a butler.
“I have always been looking forward to your arrival, Young Lady Hanaki. Let me introduce myself. Matsuoka Keiji. I’m the only butler in this house. You can come to me if you need anything.”
“U.. Uh…”
“Now.. Let me escort you to the Master and Lady. They are at the living room.”
Matsuoka escorted Hanaki to the biggest room in the house. Then he knocked the door.
“Come in.”
Hanaki’s heart skipped a beat as Matsuoka opened the door, and there were three people sitting on the european-style sofas.
“Master, Lady, Young Master Kaze, I have brought Young Lady Hanaki here. Now, I excuse myself.”
After Matsuoka went away, Hanaki sat down as she was told to by her mother-in-law.
“Don’t be too nervous, Hanaki. We are family, aren’t we? Call me Mother from now on.”Said Fujisawa Yuri, the mother of the house.
“I’m Kaze, your brother-in-law. Nice to meet you.”
“Hanaki. Answer me, honestly.”Said the patriarch of the house, Fujisawa Takechi.
“Y.. Yes?”
“Do you regret coming to this house? You still have time to reconsider until tomorrow morning, when you’ll register your marriage.”
“Takechi! What are you saying?!”Screamed Yuri.
“Yuri, Kazuya and Hanaki’s marriage is arranged. I’m not saying that Hanaki doesn’t like this, but you know Kazuya that stubborn child. Although he doesn’t complain, doesn’t mean that he has accepted this marriage.”
“Takechi! Would you stop scaring Hanaki already?”
“I’m telling the truth. I don’t want Hanaki to suffer in this house.”
“You’re making her suffer right now.”
“Oh come on both of you. You’re making ehm.. Sister-in-law in a bad position! She has come, that means she has accepted this marriage! The same goes for brother! He has never complained.”Said Kaze suddenly.
“Sorry Hanaki, to have you been in this situation. You’ll be a good wife, I can see through that. Kazuya, your husband is ill-tempered and very stubborn. Communicating properly with him is hard for those who just know him, so.. You can bear with it, can’t you?”Asked Yuri suddenly.
“O.. Okay.. Mother.”
“And.. You know right? That Kazuya doesn’t want any wedding ceremony to be held. He just hates parties very much.”
“Yes, Mother. It’s okay.”
“Now Kaze, send Hanaki to her room. She needs rest.”
“Yes, Father.”Kaze rose, and nodded to Hanaki, signaling her to follow him. The two of them vanished behind the doors and went up to the second floor. They remained silent until Kaze spoke up.
“So… Can I call you Hanaki?”
“Oh.. Yes, of course.”
“My brother won’t be home till 7p.m. later. You can sleep first, but make sure you tidy up the bed later. Don’t get anything out of place, or stain anything. He’s a clean and neat freak.”
“Uh.. Yes. Thank you.”
Clean and neat freak. I have to do things very carefully.
“Now.. I excuse myself.”
After Kaze went away, Hanaki carefully laid on the bed, and soon, she fell asleep.
Where am I? It’s so dark. I’m scared. Mother? Father? Help me.. Please… Light.. I see light… There.. Is a person? Wait! Wait for me wait! Waaaait!
“Wait!”Hanaki shouted. She soon realized that it was just a dream. She closed her eyes, trying to recover from the dizziness after a nightmare.
“Have you slept enough?”Said a sound suddenly. Hanaki was shocked, and caught a glimpse of somebody arising from sofa.
“E.. Err.. I.. Yeah. Maybe.”Answered Hanaki.
“With me, Maybe isn’t a satisfying answer, let me tell you.”That person turned around, and Hanaki recognized him as Kazuya.
“A.. Ah..”Hanaki immediately got out of the bed, and tidied it up.
“How dare you sleep on my bed, you filthy creature!”Shouted Kazuya as he approached Hanaki. Hanaki’s heart beated 10 times faster.
“I.. Because I was too tired.. So..”Hanaki almost whispered.
“Let me explain myself. I hate you for ruining the rest of my life. I would have married someone else if not for you, and you better pay for it. I don’t want you to sleep on my bed. I’ll do whatever I want to you and you better obey me, or I’ll have you suffer.”
“Have you slept enough?”Said a sound suddenly. Hanaki was shocked, and caught a glimpse of somebody arising from sofa.
“E.. Err.. I.. Yeah. Maybe.”Answered Hanaki.
“With me, Maybe isn’t a satisfying answer, let me tell you.”That person turned around, and Hanaki recognized him as Kazuya.
“A.. Ah..”Hanaki immediately got out of the bed, and tidied it up.
“How dare you sleep on my bed, you filthy creature!”Shouted Kazuya as he approached Hanaki. Hanaki’s heart beated 10 times faster.
“I.. Because I was too tired.. So..”Hanaki almost whispered.
“Let me explain myself. I hate you for ruining the rest of my life. I would have married someone else if not for you, and you better pay for it. I don’t want you to sleep on my bed. I’ll do whatever I want to you and you better obey me, or I’ll have you suffer.”
He… He is scary. Mother… Father… I’m very scared. I want to go home…
Kazuya shoved Hanaki onto the bed roughly, and positioned himself to be on top of her.
”W.. What… This..”
“What? Satisfy me, that’s your sole purpose of being my ‘wife’.”Said Kazuya as he smirked. He kissed Hanaki roughly, while she was still in shock. While moaning, Hanaki tried to resist, but Kazuya’s grabs were too tight.
”W.. What… This..”
“What? Satisfy me, that’s your sole purpose of being my ‘wife’.”Said Kazuya as he smirked. He kissed Hanaki roughly, while she was still in shock. While moaning, Hanaki tried to resist, but Kazuya’s grabs were too tight.
No.. I.. Don’t like this! It.. Grosses!
They kissed for quite sometime, till knocking sound were heard from the door.
“Brother? It’s me, Kaze.”Kazuya got up immediately, followed by Hanaki who was still panicking. She tidied up her white dress.
“What’s the matter?”Asked Kazuya when he opened the door.
“Father asked you and Hanaki to have dinner now, downstairs.”Kazuya immediately went down without waiting for Hanaki. Left alone, Kaze waited for Hanaki, unwillingly.
“Sorry for troubling you.”Said Hanaki as she bowed.
“No.. It’s okay.”Then the both of them went down together. The whole family had dinner quietly and chatted about the newlywed couple afterwards. When Hanaki and Kazuya were alone in their room again..
Kazuya sat on the sofa, and turned on the television while Hanaki stood at the door, like a scared kitten.
“What are you doing there? Go and prepare the bath!”Ordered Kazuya rashly. Hanaki immediately entered the bathroom and fell down due to the slipperiness. Hearing the thuds, Kazuya went inside, and saw Hanaki touching her elbow.
“Can’t you do things properly?! Don’t think that I’ll pity you. Never! Now hurry up!”
“Brother? It’s me, Kaze.”Kazuya got up immediately, followed by Hanaki who was still panicking. She tidied up her white dress.
“What’s the matter?”Asked Kazuya when he opened the door.
“Father asked you and Hanaki to have dinner now, downstairs.”Kazuya immediately went down without waiting for Hanaki. Left alone, Kaze waited for Hanaki, unwillingly.
“Sorry for troubling you.”Said Hanaki as she bowed.
“No.. It’s okay.”Then the both of them went down together. The whole family had dinner quietly and chatted about the newlywed couple afterwards. When Hanaki and Kazuya were alone in their room again..
Kazuya sat on the sofa, and turned on the television while Hanaki stood at the door, like a scared kitten.
“What are you doing there? Go and prepare the bath!”Ordered Kazuya rashly. Hanaki immediately entered the bathroom and fell down due to the slipperiness. Hearing the thuds, Kazuya went inside, and saw Hanaki touching her elbow.
“Can’t you do things properly?! Don’t think that I’ll pity you. Never! Now hurry up!”
Father.. Mother.. I want to go home… But I know I can’t.
Hanaki wept bitterly. That night ended with Hanaki sleeping on the sofa, and Kazuya on the bed. Tomorrow, Hanaki woke up at 5 in the morning and took a bath before Kazuya. She dressed simply: a soft pink knee-low dress with long sleeves, white slippers, and she braided her hair. She looked sweet, but unfortunately, Kazuya didn’t even glance at her. They pretended to be in a good relationship before the others during breakfast though Kazuya left without saying goodbye to Hanaki. During the day, Hanaki took a walk at the backyard, accompanied by falling leaves. Before lunch time came, she went to the kitchen, preparing onigiri and served them to Yuri, who was home.
“M.. Mother. I prepared some onigiri with tuna as the filling. I hope you’d like to eat them.”
“Oh. You don’t have to wear yourself out. We have chefs, haven’t we? I could just ask them to cook.”
“But.. As a daughter-in-law, I should at least cook even just once to my parents-in-law.”Said Hanaki politely. Yuri smiled, and took one onigiri.
“Takechi was right. You really are a good woman. Hmm.. This onigiri is very good! I should let my friends taste it during tea-party later. Could you make some more?”
“Yes!”
Hanaki smiled happily. She went to make more onigiri, placed them on the coffee table in the living room, right where Kazuya saw her.
“What are you doing?”Asked Kazuya.
“M.. Mother. I prepared some onigiri with tuna as the filling. I hope you’d like to eat them.”
“Oh. You don’t have to wear yourself out. We have chefs, haven’t we? I could just ask them to cook.”
“But.. As a daughter-in-law, I should at least cook even just once to my parents-in-law.”Said Hanaki politely. Yuri smiled, and took one onigiri.
“Takechi was right. You really are a good woman. Hmm.. This onigiri is very good! I should let my friends taste it during tea-party later. Could you make some more?”
“Yes!”
Hanaki smiled happily. She went to make more onigiri, placed them on the coffee table in the living room, right where Kazuya saw her.
“What are you doing?”Asked Kazuya.
W.. What?
“Ah.. I.. I was making some onigiri for mother.. And they are done so… I’m putting them here.”
“Why are you doing that? Are you looking down on our house’s selected chefs?”
“N.. No! I… Wh.. Why are you… Home by this time? Is there something wrong?”
Kazuya looked Hanaki in despise, and answered, “I always have my meals at home. Do you even call yourself a wife? How could you not know your husband’s every details?”
“I…”Even before Hanaki could finish her words, Kazuya walked away to the dining room. Hanaki, knowing her position as a wife, followed him.
“Why are you standing there? Sit down! I don’t want to be misunderstood for bullying you.”Hanaki slowly sat down in front of Kazuya.
“Sit further away you disgusting creature!”Then, Hanaki moved to the other edge of the table. Then a chef came out, serving Kazuya his lunch.
“Young Lady, would you like to have a meal as well?”Asked the chef.
“Uh.. No, no need. I’m not hungry.”The chef looked at Hanaki in confusion, and walked away. Kazuya finished his lunch and went away, leaving Hanaki behind. Hanaki got up, and walked up to her room. Having nothing to do, she took a photo album and viewed it. There were Kazuya’s and Kaze’s childhood photos. They looked alike, though Kazuya seemed to always be wearing a piercing glare on his face. Soon, time passed, and it was already 3. Hanaki immediately went downstairs, and looked for Yuri. After handing Yuri the box of onigiri, Hanaki helped the servants with houseworks. But she was prevented from doing so by Matsuoka.
“Young Lady shouldn’t be doing this. If you were seen so, we all would be scolded by Master and Lady.”
“But..”
“Lady, you can just sit down and relax. I can set up everything for you for tea-time. A relaxing music, refreshing tea and several cakes in the backyard.”
“Um.. It’s okay. I’ll just go back to my room.”Said Hanaki in disappointment.
“Why are you doing that? Are you looking down on our house’s selected chefs?”
“N.. No! I… Wh.. Why are you… Home by this time? Is there something wrong?”
Kazuya looked Hanaki in despise, and answered, “I always have my meals at home. Do you even call yourself a wife? How could you not know your husband’s every details?”
“I…”Even before Hanaki could finish her words, Kazuya walked away to the dining room. Hanaki, knowing her position as a wife, followed him.
“Why are you standing there? Sit down! I don’t want to be misunderstood for bullying you.”Hanaki slowly sat down in front of Kazuya.
“Sit further away you disgusting creature!”Then, Hanaki moved to the other edge of the table. Then a chef came out, serving Kazuya his lunch.
“Young Lady, would you like to have a meal as well?”Asked the chef.
“Uh.. No, no need. I’m not hungry.”The chef looked at Hanaki in confusion, and walked away. Kazuya finished his lunch and went away, leaving Hanaki behind. Hanaki got up, and walked up to her room. Having nothing to do, she took a photo album and viewed it. There were Kazuya’s and Kaze’s childhood photos. They looked alike, though Kazuya seemed to always be wearing a piercing glare on his face. Soon, time passed, and it was already 3. Hanaki immediately went downstairs, and looked for Yuri. After handing Yuri the box of onigiri, Hanaki helped the servants with houseworks. But she was prevented from doing so by Matsuoka.
“Young Lady shouldn’t be doing this. If you were seen so, we all would be scolded by Master and Lady.”
“But..”
“Lady, you can just sit down and relax. I can set up everything for you for tea-time. A relaxing music, refreshing tea and several cakes in the backyard.”
“Um.. It’s okay. I’ll just go back to my room.”Said Hanaki in disappointment.
Wait.. Since winter is coming. I can knit sweater! I.. Maybe I’ll knit it for Kazu..ya..
Hanaki observed all of Kazuya’s outfits, and went down immediately, looking for Matsuoka.
“Young Lady, if you want to knit, we the servants can help you. What if you injure or wear yourself out? It’s not good.”
“I..”
“Uncle. Just let her be.”
“Young Master Kaze.. But..”
“You’ll actually stress her out for doing nothing. Knitting is a good activity as well, as a wife. Now… Get o.. No, get two sets of knitting-kit for us.”
“Us?”Hanaki asked in confusion.
“I think knitting is an interesting activity. You can teach me as well right?”Kaze smiled. Soon later, they were already sitting at the backyard, knitting.
“Say, Hanaki. What are you making?”
Hanaki smiled, “Sweater. Winter is coming isn’t it? How about you?”
“Shawl. I think it’s the easiest, in terms of shape.”
“Then let’s start. Firstly, do this…”
Hours passed, they called it a day though they had only done a little.
“I don’t know that knitting could be this tiring.”Said Kaze while rubbing his sore shoulders.
“Do you need me to help you?”Asked Hanaki kindly.
“Huh? With what?”The next second, Hanaki was already massaging Kaze’s shoulders.
“I usually did this to my father when I was a girl. Now it brings back memories.”Hanaki smiled. Kaze remained silent. Gentle breeze caused more leaves to fall, showering both of them.
“Uh… I.. That… You..”Hanaki raised her voice.
“Kaze. Just call me Kaze.”
“I think we should go inside now. The sky is turning dark, and the air is getting colder.”
“Oh yes. Let me help you with these things.”Said Kaze as he picked all the knitting-tools up, put them inside Hanaki’s room, except for his own set.
“If you have a hard time to do it by yourself, you can come to me. Or do you need an instruction-book?”Asked Hanaki.
“No, it’s okay. I don’t think those kind of books are helpful. A direct coaching will be best.”Kaze smiled, a very gentle smile which might have never appeared on Kazuya’s face. Hanaki smiled back. Kaze noticed a leaf stucked on Hanaki’s hair, and reached for it. Suddenly, Kazuya opened the door.
“Kaze? What are you doing?”
Continuing taking down the leaf, Kaze said, “There was a leaf stucked on Hanaki’s hair.”
“You’ve been here all the time?”
“No. I just came.”Said Kaze. Then he headed for the door. “I’m going. Bye Brother. Bye, Hanaki. It was a great time.”
When Kaze closed the door, right away, Kazuya showered Hanaki with questions.
“It was a great time? Do you mind explaining that?”
“I.. We were knitting.”
“Knitting? Just knitting? ”
“Yes.”
“And the way you address each other, it is inappropriate. It’ll cause misunderstandings among the servants.”
“But… We are just..!”
“I don’t care. You are my wife. I don’t want my reputation to be stained by wife’s adultery. Keep that in mind. Prepare my bath. Now!”
“Ye.. Yes!”
“Young Lady, if you want to knit, we the servants can help you. What if you injure or wear yourself out? It’s not good.”
“I..”
“Uncle. Just let her be.”
“Young Master Kaze.. But..”
“You’ll actually stress her out for doing nothing. Knitting is a good activity as well, as a wife. Now… Get o.. No, get two sets of knitting-kit for us.”
“Us?”Hanaki asked in confusion.
“I think knitting is an interesting activity. You can teach me as well right?”Kaze smiled. Soon later, they were already sitting at the backyard, knitting.
“Say, Hanaki. What are you making?”
Hanaki smiled, “Sweater. Winter is coming isn’t it? How about you?”
“Shawl. I think it’s the easiest, in terms of shape.”
“Then let’s start. Firstly, do this…”
Hours passed, they called it a day though they had only done a little.
“I don’t know that knitting could be this tiring.”Said Kaze while rubbing his sore shoulders.
“Do you need me to help you?”Asked Hanaki kindly.
“Huh? With what?”The next second, Hanaki was already massaging Kaze’s shoulders.
“I usually did this to my father when I was a girl. Now it brings back memories.”Hanaki smiled. Kaze remained silent. Gentle breeze caused more leaves to fall, showering both of them.
“Uh… I.. That… You..”Hanaki raised her voice.
“Kaze. Just call me Kaze.”
“I think we should go inside now. The sky is turning dark, and the air is getting colder.”
“Oh yes. Let me help you with these things.”Said Kaze as he picked all the knitting-tools up, put them inside Hanaki’s room, except for his own set.
“If you have a hard time to do it by yourself, you can come to me. Or do you need an instruction-book?”Asked Hanaki.
“No, it’s okay. I don’t think those kind of books are helpful. A direct coaching will be best.”Kaze smiled, a very gentle smile which might have never appeared on Kazuya’s face. Hanaki smiled back. Kaze noticed a leaf stucked on Hanaki’s hair, and reached for it. Suddenly, Kazuya opened the door.
“Kaze? What are you doing?”
Continuing taking down the leaf, Kaze said, “There was a leaf stucked on Hanaki’s hair.”
“You’ve been here all the time?”
“No. I just came.”Said Kaze. Then he headed for the door. “I’m going. Bye Brother. Bye, Hanaki. It was a great time.”
When Kaze closed the door, right away, Kazuya showered Hanaki with questions.
“It was a great time? Do you mind explaining that?”
“I.. We were knitting.”
“Knitting? Just knitting? ”
“Yes.”
“And the way you address each other, it is inappropriate. It’ll cause misunderstandings among the servants.”
“But… We are just..!”
“I don’t care. You are my wife. I don’t want my reputation to be stained by wife’s adultery. Keep that in mind. Prepare my bath. Now!”
“Ye.. Yes!”
To be continued…
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