Chapter 170 - A Chance

Kazehaya Gin walked the length of the engawa, supposed to be in search of Ryuu and Ara to hand over the puppy before going to his room. However, he didn't really search as his hazel eyes were unseeing of his surroundings. The lips that wore a smile just earlier was now set into a grim line as he shifted the dog in his arm.

He may not be able to see Emi as she cried, but his demigod ears could clearly hear her soft whimpers, and a tight knot formed in his chest, making each step he took heavier than the last. His treads faltered as he walked further until he decided to just stop and sit at the edge of the wooden corridor. 

However, he hadn't sat long when Emi's sobs stopped, as if she had regained her senses and left as well. The grim line of his lips then softened as another sad smile stretched there.

A pair of familiar footsteps coming from Emi's direction towards him echoed in his ears, and he now understood why Emi ceased weeping. He shook his head as he prepared himself to be reprimanded.

"Are you here to give me a scolding?" he asked lightly as soon as Yayoi appeared at the corner of the corridor and walked towards him.

The old Head Housekeeper gave out an exasperated sigh as she shook her head disapprovingly at him, although her face wore a smile – a smile that resembled that of a mother's before she admonished her favorite child.

"Before you do, I already know I'm a stubborn idiot okay? You don't have to tell me that," he grumbled like a brat before turning his attention back to the garden.

Yayoi laughed then as she sat next to him. "Young Master Gin, you don't have to be tensed with me. You already know I can't really discipline you like I did when you and the Young Master were younger," she reminded him, which gave the two of them a sense of nostalgia, making them fall in a comfortable silence as they reminisced about the past in their minds.

"Is…"Gin started, but stopped, hesitating.

"Miss Emi is normally heartbroken, Young Master Gin. But it's only expected, isn't it?" Her pair of dark brown eyes filled with wisdom bored into his, and he sighed heavily.

"What would you have me done then?" he asked. "Would you rather I let her go on thinking I hate her?"

"Child," Yayoi suddenly used the nickname she called him years back as she reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's not about what I want but more on what you honestly want is it?"

Gin was silent for a while, contemplating her words. "But you know I can't really have what I want."

"Because of the curse?" she prompted making him snort.

"Of course it's about the curse," he stated with a dry sarcastic laugh. "I'm already twenty-seven Yayoi. I don't have long before I start deteriorating."

Masters of harpies usually started getting mentally unstable around thirty years of age. That was for normal harpies. But Kazehaya Gin was the master of Aello, one of the three great harpy sisters. The energy and mental power needed by her host would have to at least surpass a normal harpy master's by a hundredfold. Reaching his age, and was still able to function well in society was already a great feat.

But alas, regardless of how well Kazehaya Gin could still control his elemental now, there was no denying that he would suddenly break at some point and cause a catastrophe. Sooner or later he would have to die.

"Ah, there's this kimono shop in Kyoto where I really, really wanted to go and buy something. Sadly, it's closing down soon."

Yayoi suddenly went off-topic that confused Gin at first. But he took note of the elderly's words, and so he became alert.

"Then let's go! I'll take you there," Gin offered in all seriousness. Yayoi was one of his favorite people, so he wanted to give her requests since she didn't make a lot.

However, the elderly shook her head. "There's no need, Young Master Gin. I'm already old and will not be around anymore soon. Even if I go and buy lovely things, I have no use for them as I wouldn't have long to enjoy them."

"Rubbish!" Gin looked indignant as he stood up. "Seventy is not old – and even if you don't have long to enjoy the things you love – so what? As long as it makes you happy let's go get it!"

"Oh? Even if I die today?"

"Most especially if you die today. At least you get to do and get the things that will make you happy even for the last ti –"

Kazehaya Gin froze and turned his shocked expression on the elderly who was now grinning unabashedly at him.

"Y-you…"Gin

He'd been had. This old woman tricked him.

Yayoi let out a peal of laughter making her sound and look younger than her actual age. Gin scowled unhappily at her as he sat back down, hugging Byakuya close. "Little Young Master, your uncle has been bullied!"

It took a while before Yayoi could recover from her laughter. When she did, she gave Gin a knowing look. "I'm returning your own words right back at you Young Master Gin. Your life, regardless of how short it would be is still precious. There are many people who love and care for you. Everyone deserves to be happy."

"But even if she forgives me for everything I said, won't it be cruel of me to pursue her only to leave her?" He inclined his head as another of his worries came to his mind. "Besides, there's no one who can kill me when I reach the point of no return except Ryuu. When I die by his hands, I don't want him to receive ill-feelings even if it's from Emi. Ryuu is my brother. I will always choose to protect him over anything else, even my own happiness."

"Young Master, Emi is a Homura. Since coming to live here at the Cedar Palace, she had always known Ryuu would have to kill you one day to save the world."

Oh…

"Liking you in spite of the ill-treatment she received, liking you in spite knowing you would live a very short life – don't you think that kind of devotion needs to be returned no matter how brief?"

Well…

Kazehaya Gin pursed his lips for a while as if deep in thought. He was reluctant because he was a fool and a coward. But deep inside, Gin knew how much he had longed to be with her as well since that day at the bridge. He wondered if it's really alright for him to grasp this chance at happiness.

"You're right…"