Sweet Vows

\"Oh Yuki, my most beloved brother,\" Ayame announced himself at the door. No response. Hm. Could the two lovers be... doing what lovers do? The thought enthralled him, and he tiptoed up the stairs to spy. Not in a perverted way, he assured himself, but he did want to make sure his little brother\'s marriage was \"happy.\" To his dismay, the two were not doing the deed. In fact, Yuki was nowhere to be found and his little wife was huddled on the floor, crying.

Tohru looked up, hearing the floor creaking, hoping Yuki had come back. she was surprised but somehowcheered to see Yuki\'s flamboyant brother, Ayame. She could use some advice. What had she done wrong?

Ayame gently rubbed her back and stroked her hair, soothing her as she told him what had happened.

\"Ah, my dear, Yuki is probably just feeling as though you don\'t love him as a husband, but only as a friend. And that you only married him because it was convenient. Shigure was telling me a long time ago how Yuki regretted asking you the way he did, because now he would never know exactly why you really married him. But, at the time, he didn\'t see a better way to ask you.\" Ayame explained. Yuki had asked Tohru to enter a marriage of convenience with him, yet, he had been desperately in love with her at the same time.

\"How can I fix it?\" Tohru asked, in despair.

\"You need to show him that you truly do love him.\"

At that moment, Tohru had a fantaastic idea for Yuki\'s anniversary gift. She quickly told her idea to Ayame, who agreed.

\"How can I plan it without Yuki finding out?\" she asked the older and wiser hebi.

He grinned. \"I know! You can tell him you are helping me work at my store because it\'s the busy season. Then I can help you plan, too!\" He was filled with excitement. His younger brother was going to have the best anniversary ever.

Even though it was only 10 oclock, Tohru felt completely exhausted, and allowed Ayame to tuck her into bed. She kissed him on the cheek and thanked him for all his help, and he left her, sleeping soundly.

Meanwhile, Yuki was sitting at his base, his mind going over what happened. His memory kept flashing to the tears on her cheeks as she left, and he realized she must be feeling like the worst wife ever. He got up and headed back to the house to cheer her. When he got to his room, he found her sound asleep, but he didn\'t miss the tear stains or puffy eyes. He leaned down and kissed her cheek. she stirred gently and instinctively rolled closer to his warm body. He sighed. Even if she didn\'t love him the way he loved her, he still enjoyed their closeness. He closed his eyes and drifted off into an uneasy sleep.

Tohru woke up to the feel of Yuki\'s arousal pressed against her thighs, as he slept. She rolled over, and Yuki\'s eyes fluttered open. He moaned softly as she kissed him, and he hoped that she would do something about his sexual longing. Instead, she jumped up, \"Oh no, I should have had your breakfast done, so long ago!\" And she raced downstairs. He sighed. their sex life was rather.. monotonous. Right before bed, and in the missionary position, everytime. Not that he didn\'t like it, but he would like for it to be... more... adventurous. Spontaneous. Something.

Tohru was turning red at the thought of how hard he was as she fixed his tea. Should she have done something? She felt so stupid about these things. She decided once and for all that she would ask Ayame. He would have to know.

Yuki entered the kitchen, dressed impeccably, and sat down as she put breakfast on the table and knelt on the other side.
\"Yuki? Please don\'t be mad.. but I\'ve decided to take a part time job.\"

\"Really?\" Yuki said, completely surprised. Tohru had always seemed happy to play the housewife.

\"I promise it won\'t detract from my duties as your wife, and I\'ll still cook and clean but.. I get lonely here all by myself all day, nnot knowing when you\'ll be able to come have lunch with me.\"

\"I think it\'s an excellent idea, Tohru,\" he said, standing up and leaning over to kiss her forehead tenderly. \"And don\'t worry about the house. You know I am willing to help out. So where is your job?\"

Tohru ducked her head. \"This is the part I was afraid you might not like,\" she said softly. \"Ayame said his store is really busy and called and asked for my help.\"

Yuki sighed. He had managed to find a sort of understanding companionship with his brother. He decided that this was the perfect time to try to prove to Tohru that he loved her, but that he wasn\'t holding her back. He took a deep breath.
\"Whatever makes you happy, Tohru. It\'s fine with me. \"

Tohru smiled and squeezed his hand. Yuki wondered what could be so exciting about Ayame\'s store to light her eyes up like that.