Chapter 333 - A Warm & Gentle Breeze

"What happened?" Homura Emi asked as soon as Kazehaya Gin entered their room.

Emi sat on the futon, reading a book. She looked ready to sleep and was only waiting for him to return.

Since that time she had accepted him as her life partner, Emi had been sharing sleeping quarters with Gin. The latter had arranged for them to stay at a bigger place than the one Gin used to stay at. This had been their chamber and would be their room from that time onwards.

Technically, as a traditional clan, it would be frowned upon for a couple to share sleeping quarters before marriage. But Stribog, the deity himself had declared Emi as his wife, and it's already as good as that. The registration of their marriage at the Civil Office was just a formality since they were still in Japan.  It was why everybody had already started referring to Emi as Gin's wife for a while.

"I got kicked out," Gin reported with a pout as he crossed the room and unceremoniously lay down on the bed, using Emi's thɨġhs as a pillow. "I wanted to speak more with my brother but I got dragged out to sleep."

Kazehaya Gin totally knew he was acting like a spoiled brat, but he didn't care. Despite taking care of almost everybody – ȧssisting his brother, taking care of his niece, ȧssisting Kresnik, Stribog was, in reality, someone who loved to be spoiled. But because of circumstances, he had to step up and be the caregiver. Only now with Emi, he could dare to be this rotten.

Emi chuckled as she started massaging Gin's scalp, making him relax. Gin focused his pair of golden eyes on her as he lifted a finger to poke her nose.

"What's so funny?" He poked her nose consecutively, making her laugh as she swatted his hand away.

"You," Emi answered readily, and Gin's pout returned.

"Why?"

"Because you still chose to be clueless when you already know why you got kicked out," Emi told him matter-of-factly.

Gin froze as he stared at Emi's face for a while with his golden orbs wide – and then he smiled.

"Why are you so smart, woman?" he asked before letting out a sigh.

True enough, Gin already knew why he was suddenly asked to go to sleep. It totally had nothing to do with his wedding tomorrow, but it was so that Ara and Perun could have some time alone. He knew it. He understood. But he was still hesitant to leave his brother's side. He knew he would succumb to his guilt and would try and apologize again to his daughter that Gin was worried. Ara already told them not to dwell in the past. But he knew that Perun didn't have the heart to forget his sins.

It was not that easy. His twin's anguish had gone on for thousands of years. It was not something that could be discarded so easily by simple words – not even if the one who told them to forget was Alencica herself.

Forgiveness, it might come easy for some, but the will to forget was an entirely different matter.

"You are worrying about nothing. They are a father and child. They have their ways to talk about things properly. In fact, they need time alone to get things off their ċhėst. It's the only way they could come to terms with what happened. It's how they can finally heal and move forward," Emi suddenly told him, surprising him again. "They will be fine. You don't have to fuss over them."

"Hey wife, have you become an expert in reading my mind?" He was not complaining though. He was in fact pleased.

Emi shook her head as she smiled. "It's because you are naturally kind," she answered softly as she ċȧrėssed his temples with her fingers.

"What are you talking about? Wasn't I mean to you?"

"But that was because you were loyal to the Young Master Ryuu," she replied. "You thought we had a relationship and since you didn't want to betray him, you went tsundere on me."

Gin sat up, perplexed as he faced his wife. "Y-you…"

"What?" Emi lifted her chin and welcomed his challenging gaze. "You weren't a tsundere?"

"I'm absolutely…"Gin started, ready to deny it, but realized that she was right. "Yes…"

Emi covered her mouth with a hand as she chuckled. "You don't have to hide things from me anymore. I will always understand," she told him softly with a fond smile.

Her huge pair of chocolate eyes were bright – shining like the moon outside. Gin couldn't help but stare at her, totally enamored by this petite human whom he used to bore so much hatred.

"Do you really think that I am kind?" he asked.

He was always in awe of the fact that this woman could still love him so unconditionally in spite of how he had treated her in the past. Even after being together, before he remembered who he was, she had gladly accepted everything of him even if it would have been short-lived as they first thought his life would be.  

"Of course," she answered readily. "You are kind."

"How?"

"Because whenever I'm with you, I could feel a very warm and gentle breeze," she told him softly, her eyes shining with everything she felt.

Right at this moment, Emi wore her heart on her sleeve, and Gin breathed in, his own ċhėst filling with an infallible feeling that he was truly blessed for coming across this soul. In his entire existence, he had never felt anything like this. Only with her that he could feel that he was truly loved.

A warm and gentle breeze? 

Kazehaya Gin – no, Stribog smiled gently at the woman who would be legally his wife tomorrow and reached out to frame her face with his hands. He leaned forward until their foreheads touched.

"Then I vow to you that I will do my utmost to be your warm and gentle breeze for all eternity…"