“We’ll only be ten minutes!” Haruka’s voice shut down the poor nurse quickly. “Jeez.” The door opened all the way, and Haruka, Kaori, and their two friends from the Halloween party filed in, surrounding Reina’s bed as if it were her wake.
They didn’t have much to talk about besides the usual pleasantries and asking about Reina’s condition. After all, there wasn’t much to talk about between a forty-two-year-old woman and her friends in their mid-twenties. But it was nice seeing them, even if she could barely remember the pretty friends from the Halloween party. The only point of amusement was when Reina started coughing and Kaori called for mizu, the sweet nectar of life. The blond girl poked her head up and kept saying, “Eh? What?” since that was her nickname. After this moment of 1950s comedy, someone finally got Reina some water.
Three of them left shortly thereafter, leaving Haruka behind as she said she would catch up in a few minutes.
“Hey,” Reina said, feeling more like her old self. “My girlfriend was in here earlier and flashed me her tits. I mean…” Her eyes went straight to Haruka’s chest.
She knew it was coming. Even so, she welcomed the irritated slap to her shoulder and enjoyed the look of despair on Haruka’s heart-shaped face. “You can’t go two minutes without saying something inappropriate.”
“Sorry.”
Reina thought that the frown on Haruka’s face was from feeling slighted, but then her bottom lip trembled and she began to cry. “You get better, okay?” she said, wiping the tears away. “Who’s gonna piss me off at parties if you go?”
“I’m – not – dying.” Reina needed to rent an airplane to carry the message for her. “And, hey, don’t cry.” She softened her voice, although Haruka wasn’t her girlfriend so she didn’t feel compelled to soothe her with gentle touches like she did with Jun. “When I get out of here, we’ll go on a date and I’ll show you how not dead I am.”
That made Haruka smile, and she kissed Reina on the cheek before darting out.
Alone again, Reina leaned her head against her pillow. Why did so many people have to exhaust her with their fickle emotions?
“Because they love you.”
That’s what Aiko said Friday afternoon as she took Reina for a spin in a wheelchair. Reina could walk now, but only short distances, and the doctor told her to get some fresh air since it was a sunny day. So Aiko pushed her up and down a hallway full of sunlight, looking for a place where they could be alone. Reina used that time to whine about so many visitors. She makes it sound like it’s a crime to be loved.
“I could use a little less love right now.” Reina sat up straight. She was supposed to go home the next day, and stay on antibiotics for another week before coming back for more tests, but the doctor was confident that Reina could get back to her normal life. Aiko would welcome it with open arms.
“Don’t say that.” She stopped them in the hallway and sat in a chair next to her spouse. “You love them too, in your own way.” More than one woman came out of that room crying tears of relief. At first Aiko was surprised, but by the time Haruka rushed out rubbing her eyes it became apparent what it really meant for Reina to have so many friends. She took her spouse’s hand and squeezed it.
“It took me twenty years to say I loved you,” Reina reminded her. Thanks. “I can’t go around telling people I love them now.”
“Sure you can. It gets easier the more you say it, doesn’t it?”
By the time they went home together the next day, nurse Yuka had told Reina how impressed she was that so many friends came and went. Aiko waited to hear her spouse flirt with the nurse, but no pleasantries came as Yuka rolled Reina out of the hospital and took her down to the main entrance. Aiko followed behind, carrying her spouse’s things in shopping bags.
They took a taxi home since Reina wasn’t strong enough to walk all the way to the train station. The only reason she was able to get upstairs to her bedroom was because Yuri came by. Aiko helped her spouse change into pajamas before putting her to bed and accepting the fact she had an invalid on her hands for a few days.
It was not a glamorous part of her job as wife and lover, but she did it with pride, glad to take care of Reina if it meant the house was no longer empty and she didn’t have to sleep alone. Reina was strong enough to hold her during the night, making Aiko the happiest woman in the universe as she curled up in Reina’s arm and snoozed against her chest.
By Sunday Reina was able to walk around normally for a few minutes at a time, which meant she could go to the bathroom without assistance and even go downstairs for the afternoon. Aiko propped up a futon against the wall so her spouse had something comfortable to lean against as she watched TV and drank tea.
Reina was due back at work on Wednesday. By Tuesday evening, she was able to go for a walk with Aiko to the supermarket without wanting to fall over exhausted. Even then, Aiko went with her spouse all the way to her office building Wednesday morning to make sure she was all right. She couldn’t go inside with Reina, but she waved her off, blowing her a kiss as Reina disappeared into the building like she always did.
Aiko went home to an empty house. But it was not without Reina’s presence.
The first few days back at work were not kind to Reina’s tired body, but she was glad to get back to normalcy. Mr. Arai took some pity on her and never asked her to leave her desk, when normally he would have her run errands in want of having a real secretary. Reina was used to it now.
It was her home life that became utterly exhausting to deal with. Every night when she went home, there was a guest waiting to see her. At first it was just Yuri coming to help Aiko around the house, but then Haruka and Kaori came to have dinner one night and even Mayumi showed up with get well shit.
The worst part was that dinnertime was when Reina had to take her strongest antibiotic, and it tended to upset her stomach and make her ornery toward her guests. Yuri laughed uncomfortably, Kaori looked hurt, and Haruka flat out told her to “shut the fuck up, you ungrateful ass.” But the cake was baked when late Friday evening Takeshi showed up at the door as if he were invited.
God damnit, he was.
He sat across from Reina and congratulated her on her recovery. Small talk, but what else were they supposed to talk about? Reina was still dressed in her work clothes, leaning against the futon propped by the wall. She had one cup of tea half drank already while Aiko finished cooking dinner in the kitchen. Once the antibiotics were in her, all bets were off.
Why is he here? He was Aiko’s “friend” or whatever they were. She saw the way her wife looked at him and giggled. Aiko claimed that they came to a final understanding that basically said they were “close friends with no sex,” but Reina still didn’t want to see it. She wouldn’t forbid her wife from having friends, and it wasn’t that she didn’t trust her wife… on the contrary, it was him Reina didn’t trust, and never would.
So when Reina popped her antibiotics after dinner, she wasn’t in the mood for their bullshit as they talked about work at the dinner table.
“Jya,” she said, leaning against the table with her feet kicking beneath it, “I hear my wife touched your dick. How did that work out for you, eh?”
Chopsticks clattered to the table as Aiko gazed at her spouse, horrified. Takeshi turned paler than the milk in their glasses and looked like he was going to pass out from a heart attack.
Reina relaxed against the wall behind her and stretched her arms above her head. It made her incision scar tense, but she bore it well. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“Reina!” Aiko hissed between her teeth. “What are you doing?”
She shrugged. “Just trying to have some conversation.”
“It’s fine.” Takeshi laughed uneasily like Yuri had a while ago, but Reina could tell he was beyond out of his element. He said nothing else after that.
He was also quick to leave, even though Aiko had planned a Friday night dessert for them to share. But once he w
as gone, she turned to her spouse in the living area and said, “Good to see you’re back to your old self.” She was not smiling.
“Was I wrong in what I heard though?”
Aiko cleaned up some of the dishes but did not regard her spouse with another look. “I love you, and I’m glad you’re feeling better, but damnit.”
Reina drank her tea with a smirk on her face. Indeed, she was feeling much better.
She felt even better by the time the movie launch party came around. Getting there was busy enough: Reina had both her makeup appointment with Dr. Katou, and an appointment at the hospital to make sure her health was improving. Thank God it was. The doctor took her off the strong, gut-wrenching antibiotics, which both she and Aiko celebrated.
Then it was time for the party. Reina always loved a good party, especially when it had been a while and the topic was sex. What she didn’t count on, however, was being the center of attention like she was at the book launch party.
Not only was Reina infamous for being a part of the production crew, but the rumor that she wasn’t dead hadn’t quite spread yet. Some party-goers were shocked to see her come strolling in with Aiko, looking dapper in a dinner jacket and black trousers. She was due for a haircut, but Aiko helped her style the mass she had on her head so it looked good.
“I heard you died of an aneurism!” one girl cried out. She latched onto Reina’s free arm and sobbed into her jacket. “I was so depressed to hear it!”
“That’s why I heard nothing about a funeral,” another woman said. “I would’ve gone!”
After fending off more well-wishers, some of whom Reina didn’t even know, she was grateful to reach the back of the room where Mayumi, Ami, Pen and the others waited to talk about their project.
Reina didn’t say anything. Why should she, when she didn’t actually do anything other than tell these bozos what was monstrously unattractive? Definitely not her. Ami winked at Reina more than once, and the fire of desire burned wildly inside her for the first time since before she fell ill.
What was there for anyone to say about a porn project? Oh, excuse her. Erotic film project. Mayumi spilled something about bringing some good to the community through healthy sexuality. Man, she was full of shit. Reina tried not to laugh, and so did half of the audience. They were there to have an excuse to talk like pervs and get drunk on complimentary drinks, thanks to the mysterious investor who was supposed to make an appearance that night.
She was late. And Reina should’ve seen her coming from a mile away.
“Fuck, no!” She nearly bounded behind her chair when Mayumi called up the investor and a wide-brimmed white hat started traveling through the audience. “No, no, no.” Aiko, who until now stood along the far wall with Haruka, also went pale at the sight of Mrs. Sakamoto waltzing up to the raised dais to give a speech about it being her pleasure to fund such a project.
Of course, she quickly saw Reina and smiled at her like a loon. The moment the speeches were over, Reina leaped out of her seat and tried to hide behind somebody – anybody.
Instead she had the bright idea to take her wife into the empty VIP room and hide.
“Mou, Reina, you need to be an adult.” Aiko said the moment the door closed. “She’s not going to hurt you.”
“Maybe not, but she’s a relentless shit.” Reina reminded her wife of what happened the last time she saw Mrs. Sakamoto – unfortunately with Jun, who also happened to know the rich lesbian. Mrs. Sakamoto thought she was going to get the threesome of the century. She didn’t.
Aiko sat on the couch. “Do you want to go home?”
“Maybe.” Reina joined her wife and kissed her on the shoulder. “If it means we get to catch up on what we’ve missed out on these past couple of weeks.”
The look she received was not what she had in mind. “The doctor told you to wait three weeks before having vigorous sex.”
“So we won’t be vigorous!”
“Asking you to not do it vigorously is like asking the Americans to get over Pearl Harbor.”
“Over what?”
“Damnit, Reina.”
Whatever Aiko was going on about, Reina didn’t give a shit. She leaned her head on her wife’s shoulder. “I’m glad to be alive and all, but we’re at a party about sex and I haven’t had sex in over two weeks. Unlike you.”
“Eh?”
“Please, I know you were boinking your friend while I was out of it.”
Aiko did not deny it. Nor did she admit it, because she knew her spouse would only whine more. “I can’t anyway,” Aiko finally said. “I promised Mayumi-san I would help out.”
“Oh, fuck her!”
“I’d rather not tonight.”
Just as Reina was about to open her testy mouth, the door cracked open and two playful girls spilled in, slammed the door and made out against the wall. Reina turned to her wife with the biggest smile on her face.
“Ahem,” Aiko said. “That doesn’t look like doing your job, Kaori-san.”
Haruka and Kaori fell apart like a stack of cards at the sound of Aiko’s voice. They gaped at her, initially embarrassed until they realized who was with them. Haruka grinned before turning away, and Kaori slumped against the wall, caught not working.
“I have an idea,” Aiko whispered into her spouse’s ear. “But nothing vigorous, okay?”
“Whatever you say.”
Aiko stood up and went to speak with Haruka and Kaori. Whatever she told them, she and Kaori went back into the party and Haruka was left behind with Reina.
“As you can see, I got better.”
Haruka joined her on the couch, albeit on the far end. “So I see. Congratulations.”
“Now I can flirt with you again.” Reina assumed that was the plan. Aiko was quite the conspirator, and Kaori was slowly learning.
“You don’t need to flirt with me.” The couch creaked as Haruka leaned back. Her arms went above her head, and the moment Reina saw her breasts poke through her blouse, she was done. Sakamoto who? “I’m still pissed at you from the last time.”
“But in the hospital you said…”
Haruka slapped the back of her hand against Reina’s chest. “Shut up and show me how undead you are.”
Reina had no idea what Haruka and Kaori’s relationship terms were really like. They seemed monogamous, but had no problem with the former having the occasional private date with Reina when the mood struck them. I have no idea what Kaori does in her spare time. She didn’t run across Reina much, and she certainly wasn’t fooling around with Aiko under the guise of some long-term wife swap. Though I am not opposed. Aiko needed more lovers. Reina would make sure of that someday.
But right now she was supposed to have some fun with one of her favorites. Reina pretended that Aiko and Kaori were off shirking more responsibilities as she tackled Haruka and tried not to be “too vigorous.”
Impossible. Especially with how eager the young tomboy was in her arms.
For as much as Haruka feigned annoyance when Reina flirted with her, she sure put on a show when she really wanted. And she knew exactly what kind of show Reina liked, as she popped open the top of her blouse and invited her lover’s hands inside.
Don’t be vigorous now. Kinda hard when Haruka was hot in her hands and panting like mad. She tugged on Reina’s jacket, determined to foist it off. Then she laughed at her own eagerness before kissing her lover on the throat and whispering into her ear, “It was my idea to come fool around in here.”
Reina pushed her down onto the couch and overtook her. Damn, two weeks was too long to go without loving on a woman like this. It didn’t help that being sick for most of that time made it seem even longer.
“You devilishly horny woman,” Reina growled into her ear. Haruka whimpered the way she always did when giving herself over to Reina’s charms. “Thank your girlfriend for me later for being so understanding.”
Reina was just getting started. Her libido was
the most alive it had been since before she got sick, and Haruka’s clothes were popping open again as Reina felt up both of her breasts.
Then the door opened.
“Really?” Mayumi closed it again right away. Reina jerked up as Haruka shot out from beneath her, scrambling to button up her blouse. “Can’t stay away from nookie for two minutes without screwin’ around? Get your ass in here and talk to our investor.”
Reina reined in a smirk as she straightened out her clothing and approached the hot-headed woman by the door. “My pleasure.” She gritted her teeth and went out. All she could really say was that she was glad things had gone back to normal.
A drizzle dripped against the kitchen window in Yuri’s house while Aiko visited late Monday afternoon. She had only meant to stay for lunch a couple of hours before, but got roped into an endless chat as Yuri cleaned her kitchen and mended her daughter’s clothing. Thanks to their hot lunch, the kitchen was the warmest part of the house on that frigid day.
“It’s good to see Reina-san back to her old self,” Yuri said, her needle weaving in and out of gym shorts. “This morning, she winked at me on her way to work. Did you two have a good weekend?” That mischievous smile on Yuri’s face said too much.
“Only the party from Saturday night. Not much else.” By the time they got home Reina was too exhausted for sex – something she didn’t want to admit as she half-assedly pawed at her wife’s clothes. Aiko humored her with a simple striptease, but Reina fell asleep halfway through it. Sunday wasn’t much better as Reina spent all morning in bed and most of the afternoon curled up on the living area floor watching movies on TV. She was too vigorous. Living was vigorous for Reina. “But yes, she’s much better now, thank you.”
“I know how worried you were, so I’m glad for you too.”
“Yes.” Aiko stared into her cup of tea and shook the jitters off her skin. Every so often, she would stare at the walls of her house and imagine what it would be like without Reina’s energy coursing through it. Pointless. Seventeen years ago they founded a home together. The thought of Reina no longer being a part of it was too depressing to bear.
Ikigai Page 26
