Chapter 185 - Omen

"Homura Ara, I love you…"

Huh?

It took a while before Ara finally absorbed what was told to her. Heat blazed in her chest, spreading through her system, making her show a telltale sign of embarrassment on her cheek.

However, she was more pleased than embarrassed. When she had told Ryuu that she liked him, her husband didn't reply, and so she was a bit unhappy with him earlier. But now…

"Y-you…love me?"

It was a lovely surprise. She'd never thought he'd say something so straightforward to her. But then again, Ryuu had always been blunt and honest even if it meant she would be annoyed with him.

"What's with that look? You don't believe me?" Ryuu inquired with a smug expression making Ara finally chuckle. He just asked her the very same questions she did earlier when she told him she liked him.

This smart husky.

"How do you think I would believe that?" she countered sassily which made Ryuu raise both brows as he looked at her mischievously.

"Oho, so how do you want me to convince you then?"

This question made Ara remember what they did earlier – remembering the smoldering kisses and the trails of fire his hands made on her body. She also remembered that electrifying pleasure when Ryuu's hand went to that forbidden area in front and brushed against her most sensitive button and she nearly squealed. A high note nearly escaped her lips but she quickly concealed it with a fake cough. She waved her hands at him.

"No need. No need to convince me. I totally believe you," she said hurriedly as she patted his arm.

Ara had no protest about getting kissed so thoroughly, but if she did get intimate with him like earlier once more, there was no promising she could hold back and behave if he stopped for a second time. She would definitely push him down and have her wicked way with him.

Ha!

Remembering being left in the air earlier made her want to glare at him, but she stopped herself. It's not Ryuu's fault that she would feel this way since he's a virgin and had no idea what she's going through after he touched her like that.

But he should behave too.

"I love you," Ryuu repeated and Ara turned to look at him to study his face.

Ryuu had on a relaxed look, but his eyes…

His eyes told her the same things his words did, and it made her warm all over again inside.

What was this feeling? Ara couldn't understand but she felt like she needed to say something.

"I…"

Ryuu shook his head. He placed a finger against her lips as if to stop her from speaking. It was as if he was aware of the dilemma in her mind and he prevented her from saying careless things.

"You already said you like me," he told her softly as he removed his finger and used it to flick her nose. "It will be enough for now. No need to force yourself to say something because I told you I love you."

Ara was glad. For her, Ryuu, at the moment was indeed very important. She liked him. She's attracted to him. Nobody could send electrifying pleasure all over her senses except him. But she still yet to discover if she loved him.

"Okay," she answered breathily followed by a small smile.

Homura Ryuu then nodded, looking satisfied with her response. He gave her hand a squeeze, and he leaned over for another round of quick kisses as the car entered the Cedar Palace Gates and pulled over in front of the residential area. 

"We're here," Ara announced breathily again.

Ryuu snorted in amusement as he placed one last peck on her lips and straightened up. "Yes, we're here."

Soon, the partition in the car opened and Ara finally remembered what they did earlier and wondered if they did make some weird sounds. She was totally red as she looked at Koga and the driver, but the two looked like they had no idea what transpired in the confines of the car earlier.

"Relax, they didn't know," Ryuu whispered in her ear, making her feel relieved.

The door to the Koutaishidenka's side opened and Ryuu got out first. Ara watched as her husband rushed to go to her side of the car. Although it was Koga who opened the door, Ryuu was there to take her hand and guide her out.

As soon as the couple stood together, a loud cheer echoed in the whole courtyard as everyone in the house came out to welcome the newly wedded couple with congratulations. Some of the servants even prepared flower confetti for them, and so, when they finally came into the house, there were petals – red ones and white ones flying all over.

"Congratulations!"

Everyone clapped and showered them with well-wishes as they passed by, walking down the corridor towards the huge hall prepared for their luncheon.

Ara who was a bit overwhelmed by all the people braved each and every wave of friends and members of the Homura House – some she'd never even seen before with a huge smile plastered on her face.

"Thank you, Thank you," she told them as she waved, and smiled at Ryuu's side, until her pair of silver-grey eyes caught sight of another pair of eyes in the same color set in an all too familiar face, and she stopped, whipping her head so fast to search for the woman amongst the throng, but failed to find her again.

"What's wrong?"Ryuu asked in her ear, and she turned to him with a sheepish smile.

She had no idea what just happened. Maybe she was just tired. After all, it's not very common to suddenly meet with your doppelganger on your wedding day. However, the uneasiness she felt when she saw herself looking at her with those pair of mischievous eyes sent shivers down her spine.

That couldn't have been a bad omen, right? Or was it?