Chapter 167 - Stubborn Fool

"Is there any news about our invisible friend?"

Kazehaya Gin asked Shiro on the phone and was silent as he listened to the report. Since the Koutaishidenka informed him of the shadow lurker living in Okada Koharu's body like a parasite, he had the Fuuma triplets concentrate on her and the accomplice. After all, all the kids they needed to protect were at the Cedar Palace at the moment so there was no need for both Kuro and Aka to hang out there.

"Alright. Keep an eye out," he said again before ending the call.

"Well?"Homura Ryuu asked.

"No movement from the girl. Fumma said she's locked up in her room since returning from Ginza," Gin informed the other who nodded.

Gin frowned. "Are you sure it's safe to let her be until graduation? At the rate she's already showing signs of mental deterioration, the time for the shadow lurker to transfer will be soon."

Actually, it was not the only thing that's troubling. It was also the fact that when the shadow lurker finished feeding off its host, it multiplied, and three, not one, shadow lurkers would find new hosts.

Basically, it was like a disease that would spread. Therefore it was better to annihilate it while it was still in the first host so it would be stopped easily. If they waited and the shadow lurker transferred, they would have their hands full trying to locate all the hosts and finish them.

Ara had expressed her wish to institutionalize Okada Koharu, but it was totally impossible. She had to die.

"It would be fine," Ryuu told him, and Gin sighed, unable to object.

In any case, before the shadow lurker would leave to find a new host, it would cause the current one to do something very, very violent. It was hard to miss the right time to finally off with Okada Koharu.

"If you say so," the chestnut-haired Young Master continues, before looking hesitant. "Ryuu…"

The Koutaishidenka noticed the change in his tone of voice and so gave his friend his undivided attention. He raised one raven brow as he waited for the other to continue speaking.

"You… and Emi," Gin started, making Ryuu raise his brow higher.

"What about me and Emi?" the Koutaishidenka challenged.

Gin looked hesitant again, turning his head from side to side as he pushed the words to come out. "I mean… you really aren't… you know…"

Homura Ryuu's eyes turned dull as he stared at Gin. "How come they made you my human relationship teacher when you're such an idiot?" he grumbled, making Gin sit up straighter looking indignant, his mouth opening and closing like a fish as he tried to refute Ryuu's words, but in the end, slouched down like he had no bones and rested his head on the table with a pout, unable to do so.

Ryuu was right anyway.

"Right. I'm an idiot," Gin agreed, followed by a burst of self-derisive laughter.

"I already told you, Emi and I were never lovers," Ryuu said finally. "When are you going to completely understand that?"

"Then how come you didn't send her away then?" Gin asked woefully.

"How will you see her then if I sent her away?" Ryuu countered making Gin sit up straight again, staring wide-eyed at him, shocked at this unexpected answer. "I did tell her I'd send her to the Kazehaya House if Ara didn't want her here – though I'm glad my fiancée seems to like her so she'll continue to stay. Knowing you, if I sent her to your house, you would make it a point not to be there because you're a stubborn idiot."

The stubborn idiot opened and closed his mouth like a fish trying to find words to deny Ryuu's words but failed. Again.

Because it was the truth.

If Emi was sent to his house, he would transfer to the Cedar Palace. He wouldn't be able to bear seeing Emi's face – the face of a discarded lover, most especially when she's pining for the Koutaishidenka.

But they were not lovers.

So Emi was a Makura in name only. She was not a mindless seductress addicted to the Master's divine charms. She was not one of them…

But…

"Wait a minute…"

Kazehaya Gin frowned at Ryuu. "Why do you care if Emi and I see each other or not?"

"I don't," Ryuu answered matter-of-factly confusing Gin until he continued. "But you do," he said with a knowing look. "Don't you like her? Since you're a stubborn idiot, I arranged it for you – and no, no need to thank me. You're welcome."

EH?

The wind caster was frozen in place with a stupid look on his face. With his colorful ensemble, he resembled a petrified parrot at the moment.

"I – I…" Gin was at a loss for words but didn't deny the Koutaishidenka's statement.

He couldn't lie to him – at least he wouldn't ever again since that time.

"How long have you known?" he asked in tensed silence.

Gin thought he had hidden his feelings well – and this was Ryuu. If the Koutaishidenka who had a dysfunctional EQ could notice it, it meant he epically failed.

"Since I took over the clan," Ryuu answered him plainly, shocking the other further.

Ryuu was talking about the ceremony when he was thirteen.

"Y-you –"

Gin sighed in defeat.

"Unbelievable," he said in wonder as he palmed his face and curled his hand on his hair. "How?"

Ryuu studied his face for a while, his blue gaze boring to the other pair of hazel ones before answering. "You lied to me."

Huh?

"You never lie to me, but at that time you did. I had to know why," Ryuu continued, and Gin smiled sadly, with guilt all over his face.

This was another thing he had thought he did well. He should have known the Koutaishidenka would know he lied, even if it was only that one time.

"Kazehaya Gin," Ryuu called, and Gin immediately paid attention. "Homura Emi never was and never will be my woman. I was born for Ara, just as she was born for me. In this lifetime, there was never a need to be with anyone else."

The Koutaishidenka's words washed over Gin like a warm ray of sunlight. However, the guilty feeling he had in his chest only intensified. Because of his cursed existence, he had loathed the Makura System. He didn't have to hate Emi personally, but his feelings for her made him so desperate to find a reason to stay away.

It was unreasonable. But Gin already knew he was a fool.

"Ryuu, if you knew I like her, why did you tell me that you want to keep her in case you and Ara didn't have children?"

Since finding out the two were never lovers, this thing had been bugging his mind. When Ryuu told him that when he first suggested getting rid of the Makura, the prince sounded serious as if he didn't want to give Emi up.

His question however brought amusement to Ryuu's eyes, making the ice-blue pair of orbs dance as he smirked. "Chapter twenty-three, page one hundred fifty-seven of the book 'How to Make Your Crush Confess', rule number eight: Make him jealous." 

Ha?

"Isn't that…"Kazehaya Gin's voice trailed off, the light on his hazel eyes dying as he realized what happened. He should have known Homura Ryuu learned it from one of the books he gave him.

"Forget I asked…"