Chapter 148 - Provoke

Homura Ryuu was having his own afternoon tea while watching news about the IBEC on the television. His ice-blue orbs serious as his long sinewy hand reached for a piece of delicate sweets from the table and popped in it his mouth. It was one of the snacks Ara had brought back for him from Hakone, and he was pleased that the servants served it for his snack today.

"Japan celebrates its promising future as the International Business and Economic Conference ends successfully today…"

The news anchor continued on with the report while the camera panned towards the huge hall where the participants of the IBEC were having their hors d'oeuvre. People could see different huge business personalities there, and it was not surprising to spot Kazehaya Gin and Suzuki Aki among them.

The news reporter was talking about the local stars of the IBEC which were the CEOs of the Homura International and Suzuki Raiden Group, but Ryuu was not able to focus on the words as he stared at the screen unhappily. Since it was the last day of the conference, the participants were allowed to bring one person with them, and as always the men brought their daughters for possible connections on a personal level. After all, the stars of the IBEC were both very eligible men in the eyes of the people. Who wouldn't let this chance to introduce their daughters to them?

The Koutaishidenka's eyes narrowed at the women flocked around Kazehaya Gin, and he shook his head in disapproval. This mischievous big brother needed a smacking on the head. He didn't know where he went wrong with his older cousin.

He had read somewhere that to make a person's true feelings come out, they sometimes needed constant provocation until they exploded. But Ryuu had been provoking Gin since the latter mentioned the Makura to him. He even said he'd want to keep Emi in case he and Ara couldn't have children. He had thought Gin would confess his feelings for her then, but he didn't.

Oh well…

He didn't know since when it started, but he was getting more and more sensitive to what people felt around him. Maybe it was because of his wish to understand Ara better that his EQ had drastically improved.

A memory of his fiancée telling him it was okay to be petty, and selfish since it was human nature flashed in his mind and he let out a chuckle. "Human…"He wondered if he truly had become humanlike.

Then again Ara also said that those attributes were extreme in deities. So, maybe not.

A movement at the far side of the room caught his eye and he put the television on mute.

"What is it?" he asked.

Ryuu was alert as he waited for a Fuuma to speak. The shadow shifted as a young man with short, white hair and black ninja clothes emerged from the corner and stepped into the room with a bow.

"Young Master, the Okada girl, and her accomplice are on the move."

"On the move?"

"It's nothing urgent Young Master. They seem to be going to Ginza to do some shopping."

Shopping?

Homura Ryuu looked at his subordinate in disbelief. The subordinate in question gulped, his handsome face blanched in fear.

"Young Master told me to report to him when there's an opportunity for provocation so I thought –"

"Good," Ryuu interrupted the report, much to the other's relief. "You did well."

"T-thank you, Young Master." The white-haired ninja bowed again. He had thought the Young Master would scold him, but in the end, he didn't and even praised him.

"Which one are you?" the Koutaishidenka then asked as he stared at the young man, but then waved his hand as if to say 'don't bother' upon seeing his white hair. "Never mind. You are Shiro, right?"

The white-haired man grinned. "Yes, Young Master."

The reason why Ryuu didn't bother letting the man answer his question earlier because he already realized who he was. In the Fuuma, the most promising young vassals were the triplets Shiro, Kuro, and Aka. Their mother was the laziest but most brilliant and simplistic in naming her children.

Shiro meant white in Japanese, and so she named her white-haired child such. Of course, it was logical that the one named Aka had red hair, as the word aka meant red. Kuro, on the other hand, meant black, and so the man had black hair.

"I have a task for you and your brothers," Ryuu said and the young man's face quickly brightened up.

For the Fuuma, it was always an honor to be given special tasks by either the Young Master Gin or the Koutaishidenka.

"Ara has friends who are in possible danger at the moment. I want you three to surreptitiously follow Rin, Miharu, Sonoda, and Ichihara. But continue to monitor that girl and her accomplice too."

"How about Miss Ara, Young Master?"

Homura Ryuu was thoughtful for a while. "She will be staying here so I will take care of her personally. When she's at school, Koga will be waiting for her."

"Yes, Young Master!"

The white-haired young man bowed as he withdrew from the room, and soon he vanished like he was never there. Ryuu then put the sound back on the television. By now, another news report that was still about the IBEC played.

"Idiot," he muttered upon seeing Kazehaya's flirting on the screen once more, just as a set of footsteps sounded outside by the engawa, and Ara's head popped around the corner.

"Busy?"

Homura Ryuu looked up at her and smiled. He raised his hand to beckon her in, and Ara didn't hesitate to go and sit next to him. Her eyes caught sight of what he's watching and her eyes rolled.

"The chipmunk sure is having fun," Ara commented audibly, making Ryuu laugh.

"Chipmunk?"

Ara smiled sheepishly after getting caught calling Gin names. "Because he's a chatterbox. Why is he flirting on national TV by the way?"

"He's not flirting. He's socializing."

"What's the difference?"Ara looked unhappy. "I hope Emi's not watching this," she continued uneasily.

"Why?"

Ara turned to her fiancé. "Because it's painful."

Ryuu's brows knit as if he didn't understand, and Ara explained. "If I like someone, I think it's painful to see that person flirting with others."

"Oh, so if you see me like that you will be sad too?"Ryuu asked hopeful that he'd get a loving answer from his fiancée. He was wrong though.

"Sad? I'd be livid you'd pray I won't end your entire clan."

Homura Ryuu swallowed. Scary. Ara looked scary at the moment. He quickly placed his arms around her and rested his head on her shoulder. "I won't."

"Good," Ara patted his cheek, and then remembered why she was looking for him earlier.

"Ryuu, can I go shopping with Rin and the others?"

The Koutaishidenka lifted his head to stare at her. "Sure. I'll go with you. I need to pick up something from Ginza anyway."

"Pick up?"

He grinned. "Our wedding rings. I had Cartier make them," he told her which made Ara's breath hitch and she smiled.

Tomorrow, they would be man and wife.

"Can my friends come here and maybe have a meal with us after we register tomorrow?"

Homura Ryuu, of course, agreed. He was actually happy that Ara deemed their registration important enough to have the people close to her be there to attend. With his spirits raised, he stood up and pulled her up on her feet as well.

"Because they are your special friends and our special guests, they can buy everything they want today."

"Ha?"

Her surprised expression must be totally funny that he laughed. "I said I'll pay for everything today. Tell your friends they can buy clothes as well."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. It's our special day," Ryuu answered as he guided her out of the door.

But before they did, he stopped her, and she looked at him questioningly as his eyes turned to slits. "Ara, that girl is at Ginza now with the man who had your car sabotaged. Another reason we're going is to poke the beast into showing its fangs. Knowing that, will you still go?"

He watched as Ara's mouth formed a big O, before they turned up again into a mischievous grin before speaking. "Then we totally should make sure to put up a great show no?"