Whole

Chapter 44

Masato's POV

"She's still sick? She sounded fine earlier." Sugi's face screwed up in concern as we sat in the living area of the bus.

"Yeah, well, apparently not. I got to go home and see Kat. I can't start this American leg wondering if she's okay or whether she's going to be damn well honest with me. We swore after we decided to not split, we wouldn't keep telling each other that same bullshit lie. However, it seems she's telling me everything is all right when it's damn well not."

Emotions whirled inside me like a storm. I was upset, worried, annoyed she'd been lying to me, anxious and most of all, I missed her and I wanted to be there. She'd gotten sick a week ago now, and after a couple of days, she seemed fine. However, Atsumi had just called inform me, she was still throwing up, despite her attempts to hide it.

"There might be a good reason, Masato." Yoko sighed, "She doesn't want you to worry, because she knows you will. Come on, when she got sick with this flu, you were more than ready to hop on the first flight and cancel the tour."

"Exactly. We were all worried about her so we wouldn't have cared if you did that. However, you know Kat would feel an insane amount of guilt if you did that." Katsuma added, and I sighed, I knew they were right.

"I know, I just wish she didn't feel like she had to hide it from me. Either way, for my peace of mind, I need to go home and see her. I've already called my brother. He's going to bring himself and the kids while we're in Portland overnight rather than me spending a few days in Seattle. And I said I'd pay to change the date on my return ticket so I can see them for a couple of days before we go back. However, we got the video shoot..."

"Don't worry about that; we'll rearrange it, it just means you'll lose one of your days off during the tour." Yoshi, our band manager, spoke up who'd been sat there quietly listening. "There's a flight that leaves for Tokyo a couple of hours after the show; you can get on that one. You'll have to run to the airport immediately after the show, but it will get you to Tokyo on Sunday afternoon. Tokyo time."

"Good, because she's due to leave for her business trip early Wednesday, so as long as I'm home before then." I couldn't deny the aching feeling there was more to all this. It was so unlike her to be ill, let alone for a solid week. I also knew the chances were she'd not seen a doctor. She was never one seek medical opinions on the rare times she was sick. She just took over the counter medicine and let it pass on its own.

"All right, I'll make the arrangements to get you to the airport and book the flight." Yoshi nodded. "Okay, well, either way, the show must go on tonight. Sound checks are in two hours, so please get yourselves fed and ready."

"Sure, thanks, Yoshi." I gave him a small smile. He replied with a single nod of acknowledgment before he made his way off the bus.

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"Ladies and Gentlemen, we are approaching Tokyo. We will be preparing for decent, so please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts. Once we have landed, please exit in an orderly manner from the first, right exit. Thank you for flying with JAL. For those returning home, welcome home, for those here on holiday, we hope you enjoy your trip." A woman's voice announced in Japanese as the fasten seatbelt sign flashed.

As another woman repeated the words in English, people hurried themselves to their seats, preparing for the plane to descend.

The lower the plane got to the ground, the more nerves grappled at me. I'd spoken to Kat twice since Atsumi called, and she gave no indication anything was wrong. She sounded fine, unlike when I'd first called her when she got the flu, but obviously, something was still wrong. People didn't go hurling and looking pale for no reason.

Ryo had decided to come with me, too, he was just as worried. He knew too well it was unlike Kat to get sick.

I was sure Atsumi was right when she spoke to me, maybe it was just the stress and long days, I knew far too well they could take a significant toll on you. She'd been overrun with business trips, meetings, designs, planning. That was all on top of wedding planning too. Even before I left for the tour, she was seeming more tired that normal and I was having to force her to relax. I was having to throw her into a relaxing bubble bath or to put the laptop down and go for a swim. Everything was piling up and maybe now it was catching up to her.

A fair few times, I'd found myself getting sick because I grew tired, wearing myself thin. So, even if my being home for a couple of days meant I could make sure she got some rest before Tokyo, it was worth it. I could make sure she took a relaxing swim, bubble bath, massage her into a state of relaxation, and make sure she slept. Plus, I missed her, and even if she wasn't feeling well, I wanted to see her.

I made my way out of the airport with Ryo as quickly as we could to find the car Yoshi had hired us to get back to Nagoya. It was going to be quicker to drive back than wait for a connecting flight. We'd only brought a carry on with me, so I was thankful for the fact we didn't have to tackle the headache of luggage collection.

Once we found the car, we hopped in and I drove as quickly as I could without breaking a million laws on the way.

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I opened the door carefully, and my heart began to pound against my chest. I knew she was either going to be happy to see me or yell at me for bailing on my brother. Although, knowing Kat, it would be both. "Baby?"

I held my breath in anticipation as I waited for a response.

Seconds later she appeared, dressed in one of my t-shirts and a pair of my boxers. Her hair was disheveled, and her face completely make up free. Her typical lazy Sunday look that I adored.

Her eyes went wide as her jaw dropped, "Masato, what are you doing home?!"

"I needed to see you." I quick-stepped to her and wrapped my arms tightly around her. All my worries melted away as she relaxed against me.

"I missed you."

"I missed you, too, baby." I pressed my lips to her temple before I pulled back a little.

"You're supposed to on your way to America, to see your brother, babe." She sighed, her face saddening. Atsumi was right, her cheeks weren't as pink as they usually were, and she was a shade more pale than usual.

"Yeah, but Atsumi called, she's seen you throw up at work, Kat. You told me everything was okay."

Kat pulled away from me and let out a small growl, "Fucking Atsumi! I am fine, Masato. You didn't need to bail on your fucking family to come back. I told you I was okay, and I am."

"Well, one of you has to be honest with me, and it would seem my damn fiancee isn't going to be the one." Her reaction of annoyance and the way she snapped sparked irritation of my own. It also left me a little bewildered and confused, she was never one to lose her cool, not in an instance.

"I. Am. Fine. Masato." She spoke through a stiff jaw and gritted teeth. "I haven't told you anything for a damn good reason. It's not something I was going to tell you over the freaking phone."

"Well, I'm here now, so what's going on, Kat? Why are you, of all people, suddenly sick as a dog and throwing up? And then lying to me about it?"

"Lying? I haven't been fucking lying, Masato. I knew you'd do exactly this, and I know how much your niece and nephew miss you! I didn't want you to drop everything for me when there's no reason too! I'm not sick, Masato."

"Then what's wrong, Kat, please just tell me because I've been driving myself insane with worry." I sighed, pleading with her, calming my tone. I knew the agitated tone wasn't going to help matters.

However, the two words she spoke next were an option I'd never considered. Two words that ground my heart and world to a halt in the snap of a finger.

"I'm pregnant."