The Red String of Fate: New Generation

Marry Me Again - Mizuka

Mizuka returned from the hospital late in the evening. Opening the door, she expected to hear the noises of her two boys and husband, playing loudly in the living room. Instead, it was eerily quiet in the house.

"Hello? Kakashi?"

She walked through the foyer and into the kitchen, where she found her husband sitting quietly at the table. He smiled at her as she entered.

"Hey Beautiful."

"Hey Baby, where are the boys?"

I asked Hinata and Naruto if they would watch them for the night. I was hoping that we could have some alone time."

"What do you have in mind, Kakashi-kun?"

He stood up.

"I was hoping I could take you out on a date tonight. I've had a lot on my mind recently, and I want to talk about it."

Oh shit.

"I-Is it bad?"

He shook his head.

***

The only place open that late was one of the bars in the village. It was a dark dive, full of the usual nighttime drunks and people getting off of late shifts. They hid themselves in a small corner booth, ordering sake and clinking glasses.

"Kakashi, do you think things will ever be the same between us?"

He was staring off into his sake cup. He finally spoke quietly.

"I don't want things to be the same."

Mizuka felt like he just punched her in the gut.

"W-What?"

"What happened last month was a mistake. Even though we agreed, I should've never, ever gone through with it. I've felt like my skin has been crawling since then."

"Kakashi...I...."

He held up a hand, stopping her.

And I've been curious as to why I would even accept such an offer. And what I've come up with is that... things have changed. The dynamics of our relationship are no longer the same. So much of our relationship has been physical for so long that the boys joining our family and me becoming the Hokage has altered the way we express our love."

Mizuka could feel the tears forming in her eyes. He was right.

"Do you remember right after we got married and I came back for my first visit to Tenchi as your husband? We were making love and you asked me if you thought we could make it in this marriage, and I told you I knew we would because I loved you so much? I still love you more than anything in the universe. It's just that, now, you're not the only one. Now, I also feel that way about our two little boys as well."

She could hear his voice cracking with emotion. He tipped back his sake cup and continued.

"It took this experience to make me realize that our love language needs to evolve. For 13 years, my love for you has been extremely tangible: our lovemaking has been everything. But, now, we don't have that luxury. We're busier than we've ever been. You've got your hands full with the kids and healing and I'm the Hokage.  And I know the unspoken reason you wanted Sakura to sleep with me: you don't like when I'm not getting laid.  But you are far more important to me than making sure my cock gets wet.  It doesn't matter unless its you."  

He wiped his face with his hand. She couldn't see his face in the dark, but he was crying. She scooted next to him in the booth and wrapped him in a hug. She understood how he was feeling.

"I-I just don't have the right words, Z. And this isn't the place I wanted to do this. You deserve better than this. You really deserve better than all of this. Than me. But that's always been the case."

Do what?

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box, opening it. It contained a beautiful silver ring with tiny emeralds imbedded in the band. Her jaw dropped.

"Mizuka Hatake, will you marry me again? Will you take new vows with me?"

Her voice cracked.

"Yes...."

That was all she could manage before she burst into tears as she buried her face into his chest. Luckily, it was dark in the bar, because she could feel his chest heave with emotion as well.

"I just want everyone to know how much I love you. The first time we were married, it was hurried and no one outside of Tenchi even knew. It was our secret. But things that worked when we were 23 no longer work. I want to give you the wedding that you deserved then. Please, let me make it up to you."

Mizuka leaned forward and kissed him in that shitty dive bar, feeling closer to him than she had in almost a year.