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If Sanemi had to be honest, he'd say he slept like a rock.

And rocks don't sleep.

Sanemi sat at the table, tired as hell. He could barely eat correctly, almost choking twice. Masachika had a concerned face on as he watched his best friend grumble angry slurs to himself. "Sanemi, are you okay?" he asked. "100%," Sanemi replied dryly.

"How about you sleep~" Masachika started, but he was cut off. "I have to help Kanae set up the room for Koto" Sanemi said sleepily, gesturing to the little child in a baby chair, being fed by a maid. "If you insist." Masachika mumbled, turning. 

With him gone, he tried to sleep, but Kanae kept him awake. Kocho, the woman who killed him mom, and ironically was so perfect. A hardworking beauty, he sighed to himself.

He shot up and yelled, red as a tomato, embarrassed by his thoughts.

Koto giggled with glee

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Kanae shifted her position, walking about in a land so beautiful that it was not an understatement to call it perfect. As she laid down in the angelic pink flowers, she felt a tap on her shoulder. She shifted to see Sanemi, smiling down at her.

 He moved his hand from her shoulder to her face, lightly touching her porcelain skin. "Nemi-San," she asked, gaping at him. He hugged her to his chest, still smiling. She gasped, blushing madly. 

"Who's 'Nemi-San'?" A sharp, cold voice asked. Kanae bolted up from her dream, the flowers and Sanemi shattered. "Oh, Uh- A friend of mine who was in my dream," she answered quickly, embarrassed someone heard her. Takahashi sneered," Doesn't sound like a friend, what was he doing to you?!" he demanded, seeing red. Kanae stiffened. She wasn't about to tell her fiancé that she was dreaming about someone else.

"It's a girl, Nemi is a nickname for Salanemi, " she lied, "And she made me pancakes that were delicious!" she said, fake giggling. Takahashi eyed her for a second, then sighed. "Love, you have really strange dreams, " he said smiling. Kanae flinches at the name 'Love' If he called her that again, she might consider murder over marriage. 

Kanae almost fell of the bed when she remembered, "I HAVE TO GO HELP SANEMI-KUN, " she yelled, throwing herself off the bed. Takahashi looked up, confused, "Who-" he started, then remembered the white-haired freak who Kanae had debt to. He sighed and grabbed Kanae's hand tightly. Kanae turned, and screamed, "Let me go, you perv!" Takahashi laughed and pinned her to the wall.

"Darling, just know if you ever get tired of that man, I can make him disappear for you. All I need is your word, and Sanemi Shinazugawa will never be heard from again" he smirked, pinning Kanae down with his weight. Kanae looked at him, terrified, his face inches away from her's. 

Kanae knew she would have to play the innocent and loyal wife to not make his suspicious . He would kill Sanemi if she took one wrong step, "Yes, Of course" she said, smiling calmly. Takahashi took himself off her. Kanae placed her delicate hands on his face and kissed his forehead.

He would not be as suspicious as before, she thought to herself, bringing herself back down to her normal height. She looked up and smiled her dazzling smile, "I must change and help Sanemi, see you till them," she winked as she walked away. 

"Bye!" Takahashi said, blushing and waving like an idiot as he closed the door. As soon as Kanae saw him close the door, she felt like puking.  She quickly ran over to her closet and opened it. She threw on a purple kimono, lined with green stitching. 

She put on a dark purple obi with pink flower decorating it. She put on purple sandals to complete the outfit. She turned and out of the corner of her eye, caught sight of her diary. Not knowing if Takahashi was or wasn't pervy enough to come into her room and find it, she stuffed it under her obi and ran out the door. 

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"I'm Here!" Kanae yelled in the hallway, panting and sweating like crazy. Sanemi and Masachika looked up, scared. "Oh, Hi Kanae! Come, sit down and have some tea before you start work," Masachika said calmly, smiling. Kanae walked over quickly and sat next to Sanemi.

 Sanemi turned away, blushing. Kanae assumed he didn't want to look at her, so she looked at Masachika instead. "Well, How are you?" She asked, looking at Masachika, eyes flirty. 'Maybe I can make him jealous' she thought to herself. Masachika looked at her confused.

"So.. You gonna tell me, or..? She said slyly, letting Sanemi and Masachika's imagination fill in the blank she left.  She saw Sanemi's vein popping, almost jealous. As she was about to say something else, but Sanemi bolted up. "Kanae-chan, we should start on Koto's room, for he sleeps worse than me!" Sanemi sighed to himself, rage contorting his face.

Kanae smiled, victorious, "Of course, Nemi-San, you lead the way!" Masachika watched them go, blinking confused. Then, he realized. He sighed, relived that Kanae was after Sanemi instead of him.

Sanemi took her hand quickly and stormed out. Kanae blushed at his hand squeezing her's. Like two puzzles pieces that fit together perfectly. He continued to walk up, now cursing himself for doing that hot-headed action. 

He just felt terrible seeing Kanae all over Masachika like that. If Masachika and Kanae became a thing, he would silently accept, but he wouldn't let it happen willingly. They made it to the vacant room for Koto.

Sanemi let go of Kanae's hand and opened the door. Kanae caressed the hand Sanemi had held. She missed the feeling already. 

As she saw the empty room, she smiled. She would have alone time with him. They took up the cleaning supplies and went to work. After about ten minutes, Kanae broke the silence. "So, Sanemi, How are you?" She asked, flushed red. Sanemi thought about it for a second, before sighing.

"I'm not doing very well, but nevermind that, How are you?" Sanemi replied. Kanae looked down, wanting to know more. "Can I make you feel better?" she asked, quietly gripping the mop. "Well, not really," he said, sighing. "How's your family?" He questioned, obviously trying to change the subject. 

Kanae just went with the flow, "My Dad's a doctor, he treats humans of all ages," she said. She saw Sanemi flinch as she spoke about her Father. Kanae couldn't hold back her curiosity, "What about your father?" She asked. 

The room went dead silent, Sanemi not responding. Kanae then knew she made a mistake. "I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have- " she started, but was cut off by him. "It's fine," he said, swallowing, "My father was strong and muscular, but an absolute dickhead, he hit me and my siblings every day," he explained. 

Kanae looked at him, eyes wide with empathy. "My mom was like an angel, " he continued, "She saved us from him and took all the beatings she could handle without dying, and acted like we were the best people around. My dad eventually died, and we all silently celebrated,"   

He smiled sadly, remembering the times with her. Kanae shriveled down, shaking. She looked up and spoke before he could continue, "Sanemi, I'm sorry. You've had life so roughly. I've never even needed to pick up a pencil, " she apologized.

 "I'm so sorry for taking your mother from you,"  She cried, "I'm so selfish, I'm sorry," She said again, looking down shamefully. She felt  strong arms wrap around her. Kanae gasped as Sanemi hugged her tight.

"It's okay, We learned to be strong. When you die and go to heaven, she'll be the first person who hugs you, thankful you took the time to care. I know she will, because my mom is like that," he said, smiling. "Are you two gonna have babies? Because I wanna be a sister- No wait, It's aunt, right?" a childish voice said. 

Kanae and Sanemi whipped back to see Sumi standing in the doorway. "Sumi- How long have you been there?!" Sanemi asked, blushing madly. "Awhile" She replied lazily, before repeating the question. "Am I gonna be an aunt or what?" She asked. Kanae covered her face, and Sanemi looked down, "Sumi-chan, It's not like that-" he said quietly.

Sumi left the pair, who worked in flushed silence for the rest of the time. Sanemi was still blushing, Kanae rubbed it off though. Kanae saw him still blushing and asked teasingly, "What? Thinking about a crush?" she asked. She didn't expect him to reply, "Yea," Kanae felt her heart shatter.

Who? Her new friend, Mitsuri? Her best friend, Tsutako? Her sister, Shinobu? She freaked out on the inside, but kept her composure outside. "Who?" She asked, curious. Sanemi smiled," if I tole you, you would freak out," he said. "Oh, Okay," Kanae said, heartbroken. 

Kanae realized they were both finished. Everything was squeaky clean. Kanae frowned. As much as she didn't want to talk to Sanemi at the moment, she didn't want to go to Takahashi. "Sanemi-san, need help with anything else?" she asked silently. "No-Not really" he squeaked.

"Well, You must have something, " she insisted. Sanemi looked at her, "Is something wrong? Do you not want to go home?" He asked, eyeing her. Kanae hesitated, before sighing. "I'm forced into an arranged marriage with a man named Kitsune Takahashi. He's cold and evil, but hides it well," she whispered quietly. 

Sanemi's eyes narrowed sympathetically. "Oh, Kanae, I'm so sorry-" he started, but was interrupted. Someone slammed the door open. A boy who she saw working as a butler, with green eyes and mid-length black hair fading to blue, who was holding ...  AOI?! 

Kanae gasped in shock. Aoi was the girl Takahashi had called, 'his promise-bound slave' "Aoi said Master Takahashi needs you to come home!" The girl-like man yelled. "Meet me in the mountain," Kanae heard Sanemi whisper. Kanae's eyes widened with excitement. He would help her! And she could go adventure like she always wanted to!! Kanae nodded.

 "But, what happened?" she asked, turning to the boy. "Well, Takabaschi guy told Aoi to get you and then she said she didn't know where you were so he slapped her. While she was on the way, she made it here. I asked her what she was doing and then she told me and then collapsed!" He said angrily. 

Kanae gasped and walked over to him. "Thank you...?" she said, expecting him to finish her sentence. "Inosuke Hashibira! Or Fuyuyoshi! Whatever!" he said, trying to remember his last name.

Kanae thanked him as a woman who looked like him ran over, and bowed deeply, "Inosuke-San! Don't barge in on people!" She scolded lightly. "Yes, Mother" Inosuke sighed. The woman turned, "Sorry! I'm Kotoha! I'm so sorry-" Kanae cut her off.

"It's fine, just keep Aoi until she wakes, " Kanae soothed calmly. Kotoha nodded. Kanae turned to Sanemi. "I have to go, see you there! "  she said, running off. "Bye ... " he said, walking off to Koto's room.

He left he light off as he walked in. As he looked around, he noticed a black book. He picked it up, and opened it. It was a diary. He knew it was bad to look, but he did. He noticed elegant handwriting, but not signed. Soon he made it to the last entry, which was recent. 

Sanemi was there for at least an hour, re-reading Kanae's words about him and Takahashi, over and over again. He couldn't stop blushing at her words. He'd confess to her the second they got to the mountain. 

W/C: 1951  || New record for most words! Hope you liked my chapter :3

Love,

--Flower-Pillar--