Chapter 102 - Just A Glance

"Go to your managers to get your pay and get out of here – you're all fired!"

All three servants were surprised. It was the first time they ever heard Kazehaya Gin raise his voice in anger. He was always the carefree and smiling prince of the Homura House – the kind and gentle Young Master.

Homura Emi, on the other hand, was not astounded. She had always known Kazehaya Gin had this kind of side to him – the fierce, protective side of him.

A wave of sadness engulfed her heart. Even if the Young Master Gin had come like a dashing knight in shining armor, Emi was aware that it wasn't because he wanted to help her. He was angry because the idiots badmouthed Ryuu even if not directly.

"Young Master, we didn't do anything – it was this woman who didn't do her task and we just confronted her about it."

Kazehaya Gin didn't even acknowledge their excuses. His hazel orbs glittered dangerously as soft wind enveloped his body. "Get your pay and get the hell out," he snarled, and the three got so terrified remembering the harpy that they scrammed.

Alone, at last, Emi didn't thank him. It was useless anyway as he didn't come to her aid. She just turned to the man to give him a respectful bow before turning to leave. But he stopped her.

"What are you doing?"

"This servant was going to take a walk in the garden before she had to help with the preparations at the dojo for the Kabuki," she answered truthfully as she raised her head, and her heart constricted in sadness upon seeing those pair of hazel eyes that reflected her image filled with disdain.

"I'm not talking about that – I'm asking what you are still doing here. Didn't the Koutaishidenka tell you to leave already?"

Emi pursed her lips, as her heart hurt further. The way Kazehaya spoke of her was as if she was some kind of trash that had been discarded.

"If the Young Master is asking about the Makura, then rest assured that this servant is no longer one and that the title no longer exists… I am now simply a mere servant of this household."

Emi had no idea how she was able to speak so calmly in spite of the throbbing ache in her chest.

Hearing her answer, Kazehaya Gin was quiet for a while as he studied her, and then his face broke into a mocking smile as he gave out a burst of dry laughter.

"Well, aren't you being clever? You were stripped of your position and yet you're still clinging here at the Cedar Palace like a ghost. Do you think that by staying here you can still try your chance at getting Ryuu's attention?"Kazehaya asked incredulously.

"Young Master, this servant doesn't harbor any such thoughts," Emi denied, her voice imploring the other to believe her.

But of course, her words had fallen into deaf ears. It was a sad thing, but only those who had open minds and hearts could really perceive the truth. Kazehaya Gin's thoughts and heart were both clouded by his past. He would never be able to see past through her title as the Makura even if she was no longer one.

"Of course you don't," Kazehaya agreed, although both his expression and his voice said otherwise. "Like all your predecessors don't."

Most marriages in the Kazehaya and Homura Households started well, but ended up being broken as the Makuras who were let to stay were able to crawl their way back into the masters' beds. They were raised to please the masters in the first place, and so they knew all the tricks in the book to make them happy – and lustful towards them. The Makuras, since they were designed for the master, were crazy in love with the men they were born to serve, thus they would cling to them.

It was a good thing that for the Homura House, the only other master who had a fated one was able to impregnate his wife before he went to his mistress, and so Ryuu's bloodline was saved; whereas the Kazehayas were not so lucky.

A long time ago, the Kazehayas had the same standing as the Homuras. But because of a stupid ancestor who preferred to bed his Makura who had seduced him, over his wife, their bloodline started to deteriorate. With that same bloodline, Gin who was cursed with a harpy was born.

Because of that cursed existence, Kazehaya Gin was known to hate all the Makuras. Since Emi was the Makura, it was only natural that he hated her too – even if in the beginning, when he still didn't know who she was, he had once smiled at her.

Emi attempted to make him understand one more time. "This servant is here to serve the household which raised her. I have no other wish than to repay the Koutaishidenka's kindness for allowing this servant to stay here!"

In her desperation, she had spoken rashly, which she normally didn't do when speaking to the masters. She was able to endure all the hurtful things other people had told her, but these harsh words coming from Kazehaya Gin wounded her so deeply. She had no way to protect herself.

Kazehaya, of course, didn't believe her. He grabbed her by the wrists, ready to give her more piercing words, but his eyes got distracted by the abrasions in her hands and he visibly faltered as he stared at them.

Emi thought he was horrified by how ugly her hands were, and so she pulled them back with all her might and hid them both behind her. She was embarrassed.

Kazehaya cleared his throat, his scowl returning on his handsome face. "Homura Emi, I don't know what tricks you're planning. But I suggest you forget them."

His eyes glittered dangerously at her once more. "I don't believe that you're staying here just so you can serve the man you love. We all know people like you can't be satisfied with just a look."

With those words, Emi inhaled sharply and Kazehaya's anger returned. "I don't care if Ryuu let you stay here. I will be watching you. If I see you trying to do something funny, I will kill you personally," he warned her before turning to leave.

As Emi watched Kazehaya Gin's retreating back, tears welled up in her eyes. All the pain in her chest broke the dam of melancholy in her soul. For the first time, she cried about her twisted fate.

"Can't I be just that? Can't I be simply someone who's just happy to see the one she loves even from afar? Just a glance – just a glance is all I wish for," she cried as Gin disappeared from her sight.

She never had any intention to chase after the man she loved – never planned on even saying a word about it. She only planned to live peacefully from now on, serving the Homura House with absolute loyalty. But why did she still have to be condemned like a lowly criminal?

"Kazehaya Gin, you fool. You asked me why I stayed. I stayed because of you … only for you…"