Shikicchi Rewrite

I don't know how it happened. How I could have ended up with her. When we first met Shiki was fresh out of high school and ready to tackle the world. She even put off further studies to travel and work on a book of all things and she'd managed to get an agent and a publisher to believe in her vision. I was attached to her project by the publisher and from there we hit it off.

 

I heard all about how she was inspired by her grandfather to explore the world and experience what it had to offer. Shiki even wanted me to accompany her on her journey and we covered a lot of ground over the years. Together we traversed India, China, Vietnam and Japan in search of her spiritual roots and we both changed but more importantly we grew closer. That time together had paid off, her book was a surprise hit and it was published in eight languages and lead to global television and internet coverage. Even better we found each other.

 

From there she had endeared herself with both the cultural, philosophical and spiritual elite and been invited into their world and it formed how she continued down her path in the future. You would think her works would have become more exclusive but if anything she desired to be related to by the public at large and transform peoples lives. It lead to a fruitful career as the biggest daytime television personality in the world and a series of hit books and a massive franchise.

 

She was a cultural phenomenon and her friends and clients included novelists, restaurateurs, mangaka, the corporate elite, government officials, children's entertainers and world champions. She even has pictures next to world leaders, the pope and her favourite the Dalai Lama. I think she even asked to have that one signed but the two came to a shocking revelation over what a signature actually meant that was lost on me. It's a little strange being introduced as her husband when I'm so plain in comparison. Still she's managed to not let fame get to her head and is surprisingly down to earth.

 

It had been the perfect marriage up until recently. She'd gotten secretive about something and she'd buried herself so deep in her work that I hadn't been able to find out what. Shiki just got home from a trip and also had another trip pop up at the last minute, another stop to promote the new book she just finished. I thought that maybe I could get some time with her before she left. I watched her pack her on board luggage and got lost in thought.

 

'Wake up sleepyhead.' Shiki teased. She stuck her tongue out at me and giggled at me wiping my tired eyes 'Are you missing me already?'

 

'A little' I grinned back 'We only got a few days together this time.'

 

'We had fun though right? We always get to work off our pent up energy.' She blushed. 'It wasn't like last month but it's hard to keep up with that.'

 

Shiki was right. It was lonely when she was gone but the moment she got home the entire house was turned over due to our frolicking. Last month was also incredibly fun. I don't think we left our bed for close to two weeks and I felt sorry for whoever cleaned our bedding. It must have stunk from all the depraved things we did to each other. I swear each time we were left alone it was like two horny teenagers let loose on the world.

 

'I'm missing that too.' I joked.

 

Shiki called my little bluff and hiked up her skirt. I saw her milky pale thighs and was filled by the urge to sink my fingers into them. 'You want one more round before I leave?'

 

I shake my head and snap back to reality 'We don't have that much time.'

 

'Oh well, too bad!' Shiki wriggled her hips and her skirt slipped back down. Her expression changed 'I know you hate me leaving all the time but it's something I have to do. I'd take you with me but it's only a short trip and I won't even have time for myself let alone both of us so it'll be easier if I do this on my own. It's going to be worth it, I promise.'

 

'You'll be back before I know it then?' I faked a smile. She was doing two different cities and would be gone for a week at least. The trip wasn't as short as I would have hoped.

 

Shiki sensed my unease and did her best to lift my spirits 'You bet!' She ruffled my hair and kissed me.

 

Perhaps I was too harsh on Shiki. We'd always been together and our passion for each other hadn't faded away. I'd never had a reason to be suspicious or possessive until now. It just seemed so weird that she was doing all this travelling now that was supposed to months from now and it's all due to that book. I also saw letters from her doctor. 'Shiki, I thought you still had a lot of time to work on your book. Why are you doing all of this now?'

 

Shiki perked up and scratched the back of her neck 'I guess you caught me' she smirked 'I just wanted to get this out of the way. There's a lot of interviews and then there's filming and photo shoots I want to get done while I still have my figure.' Shiki wiggled her hips and pet her tummy for show 'and I mean I am gonna be pretty busy in the coming months, maybe even years. It'll all be part of the next book though!'

 

Her figure? Years? I was overwhelmed by this flood of new information 'Shiki, what are you talking about? What's going to keep you busy for years?'

 

'Um' Shiki gave a nervous smirk 'Motherhood?'

 

I pounced forward and took her hands in mine and looked deep into her eyes 'Wait? You're pregnant? Since when?'

 

'I found out a few weeks ago. I was going to let you know when I got back.' Shiki turned away from me 'I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I was just so focused on getting things out of the way. I should have told you about it and I should have let you know about a big decision like this. You must have been worried by how weird I've been acting.'

 

'You should have told me.' I brushed Shiki's hair 'We never even talked about kids.'

 

'I know it's sudden but I thought we agreed we'd just love each other and let something like this happen.' Shiki gave me the puppy eyes 'But now this has happened I want us to be a fam-'

 

I cut her off. I pulled her in and wrapped my arms around Shiki and held her close with her head buried in my chest. 'You'd make a good mother.'

 

'You think so?' She nestled into my chest, relieved to have that weight off of her shoulders. I felt her fingers cling to me and she looped her arms around me to squeeze me back. I excitedly swayed her back and forth and kissed her cheeks and lips until she had to pull herself away from me 'I'll miss the flight if we stay here all day.'

 

'Oh you're right.' I let her go. Our cuddling would have to wait 'But are you sure you should be working so hard and travelling with, you know?' I knelt down and put my head to Shiki's tummy.

 

'Huh?' Shiki laughed and ran her fingers through my hair 'It's still real early on, the baby's not coming for ages, relax you old fuddy-duddy!' Suddenly she started jumping on the spot like a nervous child 'Oh my days! I forgot to get a press release ready! Like, don't answer any questions, I mean rumors, about me being pregnant until I'm ready to talk about it, kay?'

 

'Don't get too excited!' I scooped Shiki up into a princess carry and lifted her off 'I better get you to the car.'

 

'Geez, you'd think I was an endangered species or something.' Shiki hooked her arms around my neck and humoured my anxious parenting style.  

 

I followed her as far as I could through the airport and whispered all kinds of questions about the baby I had, to which Shiki hushed for me to keep it down. We walked with a small posse that was there to get her to her flight. It attracted a lot of attention from travellers and it seemed some photographers were tipped off about her travel plans. As she hit the security gate I had to part ways 'Come back safe and sound, can't wait to tell everyone the big the news.'

 

'We can talk about the baby later-' Shiki caught herself and cupped her mouth 'Oops!' The photographers that followed us started barking questions but Shiki didn't respond 'I guess I just ruined my agents day...' She smiled away her awkwardness and carried herself with the dignity of a royal as she got through the checkpoint and headed to the exclusive lounge.

 

It was an arduous wait for her to come back home but it was worth it because I had her again and before I knew it a bundle of joy.