Mr. Watanabe you already know my answer. I want to marry you.
WAKE YOUR DREAMS
Mr. Watanabe you already know my answer. I want to marry you.
*.·:·.✧.·:·.*
It has been a week that Zehan returned back from Italy.
He got contracted by an agency to work as their chief architect under them. Zehan had always wanted to work as an independent artist but due to insufficient finance he decided to take up the job for then.
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It was a fine August morning.
Their trip started off like any other hectic summer vacation, full of last minute packing and arguing.
Kiyoko easily got a three day leave from the hospital.
Kiyoko and Zehan were on their way to Fujikawaguchiko, the city closest to the mighty Mt. Fuji.
They were going there on their car which Zehan recently bought. It's their first road trip.
Their car cruised through the highways surrounded by lush greens while soft tunes played on the radio. The sun shone brightly right in the middle of the sky.
"Zehan look we can see the mountain clearly now…!" Kiyoko yelled with excitement. She continued," Its huge…Whoa!"
"That's what you say every night…" Zehan sneered.
"Hey…You pervert!"
"Yea..." Zehan smiled and slowly parked the car towards the side of the road. "Let's take a photo from here."
"Yes…" Kiyoko hastily opened the car door.
The nirvana quiet Mt Fuji looked mesmerizing and majestic. What makes Mt Fuji stand out among other mountain is because of its near perfect conical symmetry.
All the snow on its peak has melted, it's all black.
"We should come take a look during the new-year time. Fuji would have another mesmerizing look, all covered with snow." Kiyoko said.
"Yea… We should do that." Zehan replied.
They parked their car on the Fuji Subaru Line which was at the 5th station. That was the last point where one could reach by a vehicle.
Kiyoko and Zehan decided to stock up on supplies from there as they were at a reasonable price. They bought hiking sticks, snacks and bottles of water. Although they could be available along trail to the summit but the prices increases as one climb higher.
Kiyoko stood outside the shop by the car. Zehan had gone to buy the necessary items.
"Hello!" Two men came towards Kiyoko. They were well-built and taller than average Japanese men.
"Yes…?"
"Can you please tell us where the Komitake Shrine is?"
Kiyoko was about to say something when Zehan came forward and stood before her.
"What do you want from my wife? Huh…I am her husband." Zehan said sternly.
"Sorry…" One of the two men said.
"The shrine is in that way. There is the gate of the shrine." Kiyoko pointed her hand towards her right.
"Oh thank you." The two men went ahead. They were giggling among themselves.
"Zehan…" Kiyoko glared at the blank statue standing in front of her.
"I thought they were messing with you…Shit!" Zehan face palmed.
"It was cute." Kiyoko teased.
"No…"
"I liked it when you said you are my husband. Let's get married. I want to hear you say that to me again."
Zehan hastily turned his face to look at Kiyoko. Kiyoko was smiling.
"You…" He mumbled.
"I am serious." Kiyoko said.
"I had planned to propose to you tomorrow at the hilltop…but you said it first." Zehan sighed. But his face was beaming with joy.
"Huh…Mr. Watanabe is so romantic. Alright propose to me tomorrow. I will be looking forward to it."
"But there will be no surprises…"
"That's no big deal. I am always full of surprises being with you. Just like you did just now…calling me your wife…" Kiyoko chuckled.
Zehan put a light kiss upon Kiyoko's head.
Kiyoko and Zehan visited the Komitake Shrine which provided the unobstructed views of Fujiyoshida City and Lake Yamanaka before taking the Yoshida trail, the path which was taken by the climbers to reach the summit.
As they started climbing the trail, the sun set in the western sky and bathed the surrounding with a warm reddish glow.
As it was during the peak season, there were many tourists and number of rooms available in the hut shelter on the mountain was limited. But the best thing is that so many people from all over the world gather up to climb the mountain. It is truly a wonderful sight.
The night sky was filled with millions of stars. The lights from the shelters as well as the glow of the headlights of climbers gave off a dreamy sequence.
"We should get a room at the next shelter station. It's already half past seven." Zehan said and passed a water bottle towards Kiyoko.
They were ascending the trail for more than two hours.
"Yeah…" Kiyoko huffed and drank the water from the bottle in one go.
"Should I carry you?"
"No. I can do it." Kiyoko said and took a step ahead.
They took a room at the next shelter hut for the night. It was 10 pm. By then, the temperature had dropped considerably. They bought some hot coffee from the hut as well as some extra pullovers and gloves. Kiyoko huddled in Zehan's arms throughout the night.
They started ascending to the summit at 3 am in the midnight. The trail got narrower and steeper and the final ascent was slow and tough.
There was a huge crowd on the summit.
It was exactly 4:15 am.
Out of the pitch black sky, a faint strip of red appeared which revealed the horizon. The red light steadily grew stronger and larger, pushing back the darkness above.
The hikers gave shrieks of excitement; the moment they had been waiting for is finally there.
As the sun slowly creeps up over the horizon, the whole sky lighted up with magnificent bright color.
Warm and light flooded the green earth and the lakes and hills below. The rugged surface of the Fuji glowed with an intense red like a mirror reflecting the burning sun.
"Kiyoko…"
Kiyoko turned to face Zehan. Zehan was on his knees with a ring in his hand. The ring dazzled with a reddish hue.
"Zehan…"
"Do you want to marry me?"
Few people who were near them cheered. Kiyoko blushed and she also fell on her knees. She looked straight at Zehan and smiled.
Zehan smiled back.
"Mr. Watanabe you already know my answer. I want to marry you."
"Thank you Mrs. Watanabe."
Zehan put the ring on her index finger and kissed her forehead.
There was a loud cheering surrounding them.
"She accepted…" There were several cheers all around them.
"Oe…You should learn something." A young lady nudged her boyfriend.
"So romantic… Wish I had a boyfriend!" Another lady exclaimed.
"Congratulations!"
Kiyoko and Zehan chuckled.
Kiyoko and Zehan walked around the circumference of the crater, and then they started the three-hour descent down the Mt. Fuji.
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Kiyoko untied her bathrobe and slowed walked into the hot spring pool.
"Ahhh…" Kiyoko took a deep breath. Satisfaction was written all over her face.
After descending the mountain, they decided to stay over for the night at a nearby resort. Zehan was too tired to drive back to Tokyo.
Kiyoko slowly sat down, the water submerged most part of her body. Her neck was above the water.
Her legs were still twitching and shaking from all that walking.
The bamboo sliding door opened with a soft creek.
Zehan walked inside the room, wearing a towel around his waist. It was their private hot spring.
Zehan threw his towel over his front side and got into the tub.
"What are you gaping at…?" Zehan chuckled.
Kiyoko turned her face away. "Nothing…" She mumbled. Of course she was seeing the dragon between his legs.
Zehan signed with relief and sat down beside Kiyoko. He draped the towel over his forehead and leaned closer towards Kiyoko.
"Hey, where is your hand touching…?" Kiyoko yelped as she felt Zehan's hand near her thigh. "Zehan…"
"Fine I won't mess with you tonight." Zehan kissed on Kiyoko's cheek.
Kiyoko flushed and ducked back into the pool.
The water was too hot and invigoratingly irresistible. It smelled fragrant, like wet tea leaves.
The distant Mt. Fuji and the adjoining hills looked majestic as the moon shone over them. The night was a bit chilly and the cicadas were especially loud.
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END OF CHAPTER 27