Breaking the Ice

Eto Iguchi has just arrived from his room after a session that turned into a debate. Some politicians were trying to raise the current tax for sin products like alcohol and cigarettes but other politicians were against it. Personally, Eto was in favor, because although he drinks alcohol, it is just very moderate and occasional. He doesn't smoke cigarette, though he did when he was in high school and peer pressure led him to try it. He hated the first stick, and never smoke again.

He looked at the time, it is almost lunch. He took out his phone to look for a picture, it made the crease on his forehead soften. It was the picture of Ivy that he secretly took when she was putting his son to sleep. She has a very warm and soft expression on her face that made his heart skip a beat.

If only I can make her mine....

He leaned back on his chair and closed his eyes, filling his imagination with the image of her gentle face and warm body...

The knock on the door made him open his eyes, and he did not recognize his own angry voice when he said 'come in'. He was just interrupted in his blissful reverie.

His personal assistant, Maki, felt uncomfortable at the obvious glare that his boss gave him, not to mention the angry tone of his voice. Eto Iguchi is seldom angry, but when he does, Maki shivered at the thought.

"Senator, your father is here to visit you. May I let them come in?"

Eto straightened his back on his chair, a corner of his mouth lifted. He has a vague idea why his father came, but he was secretly hoping that it won't be what he thinks it is.

"Yes, please." Eto's expression returned to its normal, calm and calculating.

His father, Eiji Iguchi was also a former member of the diet, and served twice his term. Even though he is retired, his former position could still be seen on how he carries himself with discipline and elegance.

Eto stood from his chair when his father entered the room, he noticed quickly that he was not alone. Just a few steps behind him is a pretty lady, walking, no, more like gliding as she walks. Her movement was very fine and sensual.

Eto looked at his father, and he bowed. Eiji Iguchi nodded his head and acknowledgment and introduced the lady with him.

"This is Yuki Nakamura, she will become your bride."

Eto was not surprised, as he had been expecting his father to resort to this kind of action. From the moment his parents visited him in his house and asked him about his marriage plans, he has been thinking that it will only be a matter of when and who before they introduce a possible wife for him. He cast a glance at the lady, who has lowered her head.

Is she pretending to be shy and ladylike for me? Eto thought with a smirk.

"Why don't you sit down for a while, Father, Miss Nakamura?"

"No, I have to go back. Your mother is on the car waiting for me. We are going to Australia, to your aunt. I will leave Yuki to you for now. She has not have lunch yet."

With those words, Eiji left the two newly introduced people to themselves. Eto was appalled at how his father could be so indifferent with this kind of set-up. It's a marriage after all, not just a date.

He cleared his throat, looking at the lady who is still looking at her shoes.

Well, is her shoes more good-looking than me?

Eto was a bit disappointed. He is not narcissistic but he knows that he is physically attractive to the opposite sex. Women always cast a second glance at him. But this lady..

She's just pretending to get my attention.

"Miss Nakamura, right?"

It was the first time that the lady met his eyes, and she has indeed beautiful eyes, doll-like round eyes.

"That's right, Mr. Iguchi, " she said in a well-modulated tone. He could tell that she is used to giving lectures with her voice, and she could carry a tune.

"It's nice to meet you. How about we get to know each other over a nice meal?" Eto was trying to act civil and friendly, as he would with any other woman.

"Yes, why not, " Yuki Nakamura replied, and she started to walk towards the door.

Eto was frozen for a while, as he was expecting her to wait for him to open the door. After all, women like gentlemen, right?

He walked faster and reached the door before her, and as he opened it, he flashed her with one of his best smiles, knowing that it always worked with countless of women before.

"Thank you, " she replied indifferently without meeting his gaze, and he looked at her, disbelief written all over his face.

He suddenly wiped his face, thinking that there is something there that she might not like looking at. But his face was clean. He shook his head, unable to accept the fact that a lady just seemed so uninterested with him.

There's always a first time, he thought.

At the thought, he again remembered Ivy. Indeed, he could say that Ivy is the first lady that he wanted so much but knew from the very beginning that he could never have her. Although on that particular night, Eto could swear that she saw a flicker of attraction on Ivy's face towards him, but she was so quick to hide it. It only showed how much she loves Hiro Yamamoto. He faithfulness to her husband attracted him the most.

He had a wife once, and he could say it was only out of his stupidity. He has been dating her for a while, as she was also a daughter of an influential partner of his father. They slept for a few times, until she told him that she missed her period. Eto was 22, and he was not the first man she slept with. He had no intention to marry her, as it was too far from his mind.

But he had to be responsible. His mother would not forgive him also if he got a girl pregnant and abandoned her.

They were married in a civil office, because the girl was just 18 years old. She said she does not want everybody to know that she got married, because she still want to go to the university and finish her studies. He consented to her conditions.

They have been married for 1 month when her period came, and admitted to Eto that she just wanted him to marry her that is why she made up the story that she was pregnant. Eto slapped her, and left her that night in their house. After a month, Eto graduated from the university with a degree in Engineering. His father suggested for him to pursue graduate studies abroad.

He talked about it to his wife, but she did not want him to go abroad. She threatened him with her life if he tries to go abroad. Eto could not believe how close-minded his wife was, Akane. He attributed it to her young age.

But since they are already married, Eto decided to stay in Japan, and started working under his father's office in the government. All the while, he was hoping that his wife would really get pregnant. Although Akane was so impulsive, she can be sweet and charming whenever she wants. Every time Eto would go home, she will always attend to his every needs, and he would always give in to her temptation. Eto wondered how could she be such an expert in bed at her age.

Until his job became demanding. Sometimes he would stay overnight at his workplace to finish what was assigned to him. When he called her one time that he cannot go home, she banged the phone so loud that it hurt his ear. Since then, he would just send messages to her, but she would never reply.

On their 1st wedding anniversary, he decided to surprise her. He arrived home early, at 5:00PM, since he spent the night to finish all his work. The house was silent as he went up the stairs, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand and some bags as gift for her. As he was about to knock, he heard moaning inside.

It was the sound of pleasure coming from a man and a woman during intercourse. He opened the door and he found them on their bed, bodies naked and intertwined.

In their matrimonial bed.

Eto was so furious that he immediately used his gun, and fired.

The man was shot at his bare buttocks, and his wife screamed in fear. He then pointed the gun to his wife, who covered herself with the blanket and stared at him crying. The man on the floor kept on shouting in pain.

Eto walked near, and shot the man's member. The man fainted in shock and pain. Akane could not talk as she walked backwards away from Eto, until he calmed himself and spoke with her in his normal calm voice.

He was dangerously calm.

"You get the hell out of here, or I will make sure that no man would ever want to look at you again."

His words penetrated her whole being like lightning, but her shock and fright caused her to lose her consciousness and fell down on the floor. Eto looked indifferently at the two unconscious bodies. He put the bouquet on the bed and call somebody on his phone.

After a while, two people were sent to the hospital, the house was cleaned, and was put on sale the following day. Eto forced Akane to file for the divorce after 2 days, and their agreement stated that she did not want anything from it. Since then, she never tried to cross his path again.

After then, Eto lost interest in marriage. The next semester, he went abroad to take graduate courses, and he finished his doctorate degree after 5 years. He had innumerable girlfriends, but they were only there to warm his bed. He became very careful not to get any of them pregnant. He has been living his life like that until he got Aki, his little bundle of joy.

Only then he started to think about having a mother figure for his adopted son.

Two weeks after having Ivy Yamamoto in their house, he began to notice how she made Aki happier, and then he took time to observe her. Even with painful movements, she tried to cater to Aki by reading bedtime stories for him, combing his hair, or just look at him while he plays.

He wished that he could keep her, until he found out that Hiro Yamamoto is her husband. A difficult rival indeed. He knew then that as long as Hiro Yamamoto is alive, he cannot have a chance with Ivy.

It was a battle lost before it even began, his first unrequited love.

Note* Ivy and Hiro Yamamoto are the MC in FATEFUL ENCOUNTER and FATEFUL DESTINY. If you want to know how they are related to Eto Iguchi, please read the FATEFUL DESTINY. Thanks. -Elria Cortez

Maki drove them to one of the nearest and most private restaurant from the office. Eto usually held meetings here because of the soundproof rooms, and the staff are very mindful of their guests. It is the first time that he came here with a different reason than work.

Well, this is also a kind of business arrangement, he thought to himself, glancing on the mirror to look at the face of the lady that he will marry soon. If this marriage won't work, he will blame his father.

Maki opened the door for him, as well as for Yuki. As Eto was expecting her to put her hand on his arm, he stood there waiting. But she just walked past him, giving him a look that says 'what are you waiting for?'. Eto shook his head and followed her inside, Maki was also with them.

The table that Eto chose was the one on the corner, he does not think that they need a closed room for this simple meal and get-to-know-each-other thing. Maki sat on another table, giving privacy to his boss, but close enough to protect him when the need arises. After all, Maki is not only his assistant but his chief of security as well.

Eto does not want to keep too many staff and pay for them with the people's tax, so when he found Maki, and learned that he has military experience, he hired him. He just trained Maki for the other paper works.

"What would you like to have, Miss Nakamura?" Eto inquired casually as he looked at the menu, as the waiter stood next to their table with a pad and a pen in his hand.

He expected her to say 'I will have what you recommend', as it has always been the most common reply he get when it comes to first meeting or date like this. Ladies would always try to impress him by have him think that they don't eat too much so they are not high maintenance.

To his surprise, Yuki Nakamura read the menu and after some moments that seemed like she was carefully choosing the food, she stated her order.

"Baked chicken in tartar sauce, 6 pieces of dumplings, a bowl of seafood soup, medium bowl of ramen with 3 slices of beef, and 1 medium bowl of brown rice." She smiled warmly to the waiter after reading her order, who was writing on his pad as fast as he could.

Eto suppressed his chuckle.

Interesting!

With one arched eyebrow and eyes never leaving the menu, he said to the waiter, "I will have the same order as she does, "

This time, it looks like his expectations are way too out of the chart.

As the waiter bowed and took the menu, they were left together. Although it is just 10 minutes past 12:00 noon, there are fewer customers than usual. The place was a bit expensive than the common restaurant but their servings here are larger, the atmosphere is private and serene, and you can observe the ever-busy Shibuya crossing. This is Eto's favorite spot, as it always remind him to work when it's really time for work, indicated by the fast steps of the people crossing the road.

"Well, Miss Nakamura, I believe that we can now start to get to know each other a little before our wedding." Eto leaned on his chair, crossed his arms on his wide chest and stared at her openly.

She met his stare with hers, unwavering, until she turned her face away to get the glass of water and drink from it.

"Of course, Mr. Iguchi. I shall start my self-introduction then." She said with a smile plastered on her face. "I am 25 years old, born in June, a nursery school teacher in Miyazaki. I like blue and pink, and I play tennis when I have time. I don't like spicy food." At his bored expression, her face turned serious "I am here to be your wife, and I will try my best to fulfill my role."

Eto nodded. He listened to her words, but found himself comparing her information with Ivy's. Ivy was born in April, now she is 27, she also likes blue and pink, and she is very good in knitting, as he recently noticed. He noticed one time that the flower vase cover in their living room has changed, and when he asked the staff who bought it, he said that Ivy made it herself. It was a flower-shaped pink and blue cover. It looked lovely and homely. Also, Ivy has a very warm and likeable personality.

His wandering expression did not escape Yuki's eyes, and she felt uncomfortable. She feels like his thoughts are not with her at the moment.

"Mr. Iguchi?"

Her well-modulated voice brought him back before he started daydreaming again about another man's wife.

"I see, " Eto nodded, pretending that his attention was with her, "that is nice to know. Since we are both aware that this marriage is arranged by my father, we have no choice but to play our roles as best as we could."

Yuki nodded in agreement. Eto leaned on the table, intently looking at her "aside from fulfilling our roles, shall we set some rules in our marriage, Miss Nakamura?"

This is his second marriage, he would be damned if he let himself be cuckolded again.

At the intensely serious look in Eto's eyes, Yuki nodded seriously as well. Since she is here, it is better to do her task as best as she could.

Eto then motioned for Maki, who was patiently waiting for his cue. He gave them each a piece of paper and a pen. At Yuki's questioning look, Eto said, "We shall write here the most important thing or things that each of us should never ever do in our marriage. This will be legally binding so think carefully."

Only then, a flicker of emotion was seen in her usually unreadable eyes. It escaped Eto as he was already writing on the paper. Yuki also began to write. After a few minutes, Eto finished first, and he carefully read the words that he wrote until Yuki finished.

Without another word, they exchanged the papers and read through it.

In Eto's paper, he wrote, Rule No. 1. If I found out that Yuki Nakamura cuckold me, I will not be responsible if I kill her and her lover.

Rule No. 2. If we divorce on the ground of infidelity, Yuki Nakamura will not get a dime from Eto Iguchi.

Rule No. 3. Yuki Nakamura will have to fulfill all her wifely duties as long as she is married to Eto Iguchi.

In Yuki's paper, she wrote, Yuki Nakamura will follow all the rules set by Senator Eto Iguchi. I have no rules of my own.

Eto has a frown on his face as he looked at Yuki, trying to comprehend if she is serious or not.

Seriously? How could she not have any demands or rules by herself?

He cleared his throat and motioned for Maki to come.

"If you don't want to add anything here, please print your name and stamp your seal on it. I will have it notarized later and will give you a copy."

Eto was silently observing as she opened her small handbag and took out her seal, then stamped it just beside her printed name. She writes very legibly, Eto thought. As expected from a teacher.

Then, it was Eto's turn to put his seal on his name. As he took out his seal, his expression softened as he saw the seal case that was knitted by Ivy for him. He touched it softly before taking out his seal and stamped on the paper.

The change in his expression made Yuki thought about one thing. The person who might have given him the seal case must hold a special place in his heart. She has been observing his facial expression but it's the first time it turned as soft as it just has. She could tell that it was a handmade one, so the person who gave it to him must also feel something for Eto.

An ex-lover? She thought.

Then Maki took the paper from them, and the waiter who has been observing from afar realized his cue and immediately put the food on their table. After saying 'itadakimasu', they both started to eat silently.

Yuki occasionally stole glances at Eto, thinking why did he order the same food with her. From the looks of it, Eto does not have that much appetite. She could even finish his food as well, she thought.

Eto, on the other hand, was thinking about Yuki Nakamura's character. Why would she just agree to everything he wants? It made him think there must be some form of agreement that has been made between his father and Yuki Nakamura. Otherwise, he could not think how obedient she could get. He could tell from her demeanor that she is not a stupid lady, nor is she someone who does not have a mind of herself.

It's either he ask her now or never. After all, he does not want any misunderstandings. He wants everything to be perfectly clear between them, since it will only be 6 months from now before their wedding day.

"Miss Nakamura, I would like to let you know that I have an adopted son. His name is Aki. Please know that Aki is very important to me, so you will have to treat him good. I won't want to have to choose between you two, as you would be the loser." Eto said straight.

Yuki nodded, she dabbed a tissue on her mouth. She felt that the ramen in this restaurant fails in flavor to the ramen in her hometown. Too much artificial flavorings.

"I understand, Mr. Iguchi. Your father told me about Aki. Don't worry, I will not be a monster stepmother for him. As you know, I am a nursery school teacher, I like children. It doesn't matter whose children they are." She firmly said.

It sounded good to Eto, at least he can be sure that Aki will not be mistreated.

"Besides, your father told me that Aki is your sister's son, so he is not an outsider to your family at all." She added.

"I see, " Eto mused, good thinking there, father.

Yuki continued eating, this time, she started with the dumplings.

"Miss Nakamura, " Eto said, barely touching his food, "I would like to know what arrangements did you make with my father for you to be chosen as my wife." He was watching her facial expression, which she kept hidden as her face is slightly lowered due to her continuous eating.

How could she eat like that in front of me? Like she is not mindful at all.

Yuki lifted her face from the food, a portion of it was left on the side of her mouth. Suppressing a chuckle, Eto motioned for it, and it was the first time that Eto saw a rise in color on her cheeks. She quickly dabbed a tissue on her mouth.

So, she can be ashamed, too.

"Sorry, " Yuki murmured, "For the arrangements Mr. Iguchi, can you please clarify your question?"

Eto cleared his throat, "Yes, I would like to know if there is any special agreement or condition that my father and you entered into for you to marry me."

Yuki opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again upon quick thinking. She wants to be as honest to him as possible.

"Aside from the fact that he told me that I must be healthy enough to bear you a child, your father and I have no other condition on this marriage, Mr. Iguchi." She started to put the last dumpling on her mouth when she remembered something.

"Oh, I think I remember that your father told me that he will expect for me to be pregnant with your child within 1 year, if you call that an agreement then that's the only thing we agreed upon."

Eto could not hide the surprise on his face. No other conditions? That is impossible.

He leaned back on his chair and looked closely at the lady who is eating with much appetite. She has started to eat her baked chicken with the brown rice.

"Miss Nakamura, what will you get from this marriage?" He asked straight.

He won't be so dumb as to think that his father just found an educated lady who happens to want to marry him without any reason. They don't even know each other so there is no way Yuki Nakamura has been harboring a romantic feeling for him. Besides, since they met earlier, she has not shown any sign of attraction towards him. She has been treating him just like she would treat any other guys, maybe even colder than the way she treated the waiter before.

Yuki looked up at him again, a strange expression on her face. She then smiled at him.

"I will get to marry you, Mr. Iguchi."

Then it dawned on Eto.

This lady is beyond smart. She is dangerously cunning.

Of course! Being married to him would give her all the privileges due for the legal wife of a senator. What else could she want? As long as she remains faithful to him and bear him a child, she could live in luxurious and protected environment. She won't ever have to work. Very clever indeed.

He did not realize that his fists are clenched under the table.

Eto suddenly lost his appetite to eat. He put his chopsticks on the table and looked at his wristwatch. It was only 12:40PM. He will look so rude if he just go and leave her.

He started to sip his coffee, trying to clear his mind from what he just realized from her answer.

What else did he expect anyway?

Yuki eyed Eto, who seemed suddenly in a bad mood as he sipped his coffee. She noticed that he has not touched his baked chicken and dumplings. She looked at the time, still early to go back to his office.

"Mr. Iguchi, if you won't eat your food, would you mind if I eat them?" she asked nonchalantly.

As Eto looked at her food, he saw that she finished her order. Since he is in a bad mood, he just nodded and slightly pushed the food towards her, indicating that he is giving them to her.

Her face lit up like that of a child's, as she took his food and began eating them. He studied her actions and features closely.

She is not slim nor fat, she has the proper curves befitting of a woman. Her hair was dark brown that ended just below her ears. Taller than a common Japanese, he guessed that she must weigh about 50-55kg. She has a nice bust and her butt is also well rounded that corresponds to her slender waist. The conservative looking one piece dress under a gray suit did not hide her feminine curves at all. It even accentuated it perfectly. Maybe that is where all the food is being deposited, he thought as he cast another glance at her well-endowed chest.

Eto did not realize that Yuki has lifted her face and followed his eyes to her chest. Her cheeks burned as she realized that his attention was caught by her 'size'.

Men are all the same, she thought and gave him a sullen look.

Eto coughed a little and continued sipping his coffee. He reckon that she was almost finished with his food as well. He looked at the time, it's 12:45. They should be going back soon.

Yuki noticed his cue, and looked at the time as well. However, his brown rice was also untouched.

"Mr. Iguchi, I won't mind if you go back to your office first. I will finish your food, as it is such a waste to leave them." She said in her usual monotonous voice.

Eto felt bad at her insinuation. He is a public servant after all. It has not been his habit to waste food, but today, he lost appetite because of her.

He decided to finish the remaining of his food without any words. Yuki secretly smiled when she saw him digging in, almost just swallowing the food in a hurry.

In less than 3 minutes, Eto finished his food. He asked for the bill in a hurry and paid it with his card. Maki was already at the front of the restaurant waiting for them when they got out. Again, Yuki did not wait for Eto to open the door for her as she entered the back door. Eto did not mind it either.

If she does not want to be treated like a lady, then so be it.

They arrived in his office at 1 minute before 1:00PM.

As Eto opened his computer and began to work, he noticed that Yuki was still in his room, standing in front of him. He gave her a questioning look.

She smiled timidly and explained why she was still there.

"My luggage is on the reception's area, Mr. Iguchi. Since I came straight from Miyazaki today, your father told me that I can stay in your house from now on."

Great! Eto sighed deeply.

His father is the most authoritative person he has ever met.

They are not yet married, and not yet even formally engaged but he expected this lady to live together with me. It seems that his father's morale has been modernized along with this generation. Not that he minds, of course.

The best way to get to know her is on my bed, he mused.

As he was about to call Maki to send her to the house, she called for his attention.

"Mr. Iguchi, you don't have to send me back to the house immediately, it will inconvenient your staff. Just please allow me to stay here until you go home. I can be inconspicuous so I won't trouble you while doing your job." She said, still standing in front of his desk.

She has been standing since they arrived, and Eto felt guilty.

"Why don't you sit down on the sofa, Miss Nakamura?"

Yuki walked towards the sofa, and she was a bit rattled when Eto sat on the opposite side of the same sofa. She managed to stay calm.

"Miss Nakamura, since we will start living in the same roof, would it be better if we call each other by our first name? Miss Nakamura is quite long, you know, " Eto was trying one more time to use his masculine charms on her.

He leaned close to her and held her hand, half expecting her to pull it away, but she didn't. He let out a disappointed sneer on his face.

She answered his sneer with a cold look and with a blank expression, she met his gaze, "I am here to give birth to your child, Mr. Iguchi. When my ovulation period is on its peak, I will let you know so we can have sex. But that won't happen before marriage, so please wait until then. You don't have to pretend to be nice to me or try to seduce me with your charms. I know you are handsome and attractive, but you can't get me to bed only with those."

Only then did she pull her hand away and sat on the other sofa. She took one magazine on the center table and began to read, totally ignoring his presence.