Chapter 127 - Agreement

"Let's do it! This weekend, let's register!"

At Ara's announcement, Ryuu's eyes registered surprise. He searched her face as if trying to figure out if she was serious or just humoring him.

"Are you serious?" he prompted, giving her a chance to back out and say she was just teasing him, but she nodded and smiled.

"You won't regret it?" he asked again to make sure.

Ara laughed this time. "Why are you asking me these questions? Do you want me to back out?"

"Of course not. I just want to make sure. I don't want you blaming me later for forcing you to marry me immediately," he said, but he also smiled.

"I won't okay?"Ara assured him. "I was just surprised earlier. Also…"

"Also?"

"If there's something I'm a bit regretful about it's the plans I have to change."

Ryuu raised a brow. "What plans?"

"Well…"Ara sighed. There were really tons of things she wanted to do first before getting married, but one couldn't really have everything in life. She had good fortune already compared to normal people, and so changing her plans was a small sacrifice.

"I was planning to go to take up art at T University, then try my luck at being a mangaka."

If she got married, as the lady of the Homura House, she was aware that she would have to study running the household and doing other activities that were required of her. It was basically like what she had to do if she became a queen back in her other world. 

"Oh," Ryuu commented as he removed her hands on his face and held them, letting go of the puppy. "You can still go and attend University and do your comic."

Ara was surprised.

"I can?"

"Of course," Ryuu told her confidently. "You are free to do whatever you want my wife. I will never clip your wings just as long as you stay married to me. As I promised your brother, you can even still stay at Denenchofu whenever you want."

"But what about the running of the household and other duties?"Ara was elated about her freedom, but she was worried about the important stuff too. She couldn't be too selfish, could she?

Ryuu then smiled fondly at her and tweaked her nose. "Running of the household? You do have to learn but you don't have to be really hands-on if you don't want to, at least for now. You have Yayoi for that, and in the future, Emi, if that idiot Gin-nii still didn't do anything to take her."

At the mention of the other couple, Ara laughed. "Well, you better kick that friend of yours. Why isn't he doing anything by the way? Emi's not the Makura anymore, right?"

"How would I know how idiots think? He can give good advice and provide great reading materials, but he can't apply them to himself," Ryuu deadpanned, and Ara laughed. "As for other duties, you don't have to worry too much about them. I'm a known recluse. Of course, there are instances when I need to make an appearance. As my wife, of course, you have to be there with me. But it's not as often as it should be. Gin-nii does all the public appearances needed for the Homura House."

Ara nodded, remembering what Aki had told her before. Kazehaya Gin was Homura International's face. "The bling-bling mascot."

Ryuu laughed. "Don't let him hear you say that. He's so proud of his colorful outfit."

"So, basically we'll be married but nothing will change?"

"Uhum…" was his noncommittal answer.

A secretive smile formed on Ryuu's lips and Ara became suspicious she scowled at him, urging him to speak. "It's not like totally nothing will change. Of course, there will be changes although small ones. We'll be married after all. Even if you can go ahead and stay at Denechofu, you, of course, have to stay here with me as well. It would be a sad married life if not."

"That's true."

"But, since it's going to be like that, the Cedar Palace would, of course, be open to your friends and family. They can come to visit you here from time to time and stay – but they have to put up with the place's security of course. With all the national treasures we have in this place, we needed to be strict with safety."

Ara nodded. This too was a very logical reason. She had no problems with it. Also, aside from Midori, Rin, Miharu, and Chiaki, her brother's secretary, she didn't have any other friends she would invite over. As for family…

She only had her brother.

Suzuki Ara and Suzuki Aki both got estranged from their remaining relatives because of the fight over the company and the custody over her except for one person. They still had a grandfather living, the one who took Aki's side during the battle. He was the only one that was very good towards them, but they hadn't seen the elderly for months. Aki said he didn't tell the old man about her accident because it might aggravate their grandfather's heart condition.

"What are you thinking about?"

Ara sighed. "I'm thinking about my grandpa. I haven't seen him since his birthday last year. For sure he's worried about us."

Ryuu looked disappointed. "And I thought you were thinking about our future cute children," he said with a pout.

"What children are you talking about? It's still too early for kids – oh wait."

Ara picked up the puppy and pushed it towards Ryuu.

"What?"Ryuu asked as he took the puppy again.

"Our cute child."

"The dog?"

"The only cute child we'll have for now," she informed him sweetly. "Take care of our son," she added as she wiggled her brows at him.

"Silly," Ryuu gave a hand chop on her head, but it was soft, before standing up, preparing to leave. "Tomorrow's the last day of the conference so there will be a dinner party at the end. Both of our older brothers will possibly be home later than usual so we'll register on Saturday instead around late morning," he informed her.

"Okay," she answered, then paused upon remembering something very important.

"Kou?" she called, and he paused by the door to turn to her. "Isn't the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building closed on weekends?"

Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building was the municipal government office in Tokyo, and the only place they could register their marriage in the city. It's only open on weekdays and had varying operating hours on Mondays.

Homura Ryuu gave her an enigmatic smile. "It will be open," he said with confidence. "Go take a rest," he added as he turned to leave again, but again, Ara stopped him.

"What?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?"Ara asked as she pointed at the wiggling puppy in Ryuu's arm. "That little cutie pie is staying with mama."

With her words, Ryuu's face split into a mischievous smile. "I don't think so. You should marry his cutie pie papa first," he told her matter-of-factly before finally leaving to go to his room just across the hall.

"Y-you bad papa husky!"