Chapter 197 - What's Your Name?

"What do you think?"

Suzuki-Homura Ara asked her new husband as soon as Kazehaya Gin and Emi went away.

"What do I think about what?"

Amused, Ryuu squinted at his wife.

"Do you think they're okay?"

Worry rang in her voice, making the Koutaishidenka chuckle as he flicked his wife's nose, and then set his face with a stern expression as he pretended to be offended.

"Woman, stop worrying about other people's love lives on your wedding day."

The playful rebuke made Ara look sheepishly at her spouse. She had been so elated at Gin's and Emi's development, and so she was very excitedly she almost forgot she just got married herself – not that she forgot about Ryuu of course. She was just too happy.

She liked Emi and Gin and she felt it's a pity if those two wouldn't end up together.

"Sorry. I'm just too happy for them," Ara apologized, and totally forgetting where they were and who were they with, she tiptoed and placed a quick kiss on Ryuu's lips.

The Koutaishidenka's pretend sulking ended as he happily hooked his arm around his wife's waist and pulled her close. Sensing the very private moment between the newlyweds, the people around them tactfully left one by one to go to the other side of the room to give them privacy. 

"Did you already eat?"Ryuu asked although Ara was aware that he knew she had.

Her husband, although he talked to many different guests and other people always had his eyes trained on her. How did she know? She was doing the same of course. She talked to her friends and her brother but she was always conscious of him, checking him out from across the room as frequently as he did her.

She answered him anyway.

"Hmmmnn. I had a lot," she said, indicating the hors d'oeuvre served on the far table.

There were also some buffet tables where people could eat a variety of dishes. But Ara munched on the appetizers more than the dishes as it was easier to eat while talking with others.

This must be the reason why Ryuu was confirming with her if she ate because she only nibbled on the snacks and not the main dishes. She was right.

"Is that enough? Aren't you still hungry?"

Ara shook her head. "I'm full. How about you?"

"I'm okay," he answered softly.

Just like Ara, the Koutaishidenka ate some appetizers as he talked with people earlier. But he also didn't touch any of the main dishes on the buffet table as it was hard to eat while entertaining the waves of well-wishers.

"Are you sure? You ate less than I did," Ara said, making her husband smile.

She had just indirectly told him that she had been watching him, thus she knew how much he had eaten the entire time they were at the party.

"I'm sure," Ryuu assured her, and so she was satisfied. "Done talking to your friends?"

Ara leaned her head against his shoulder and anchored her hands on his arm. "Hmmmnnn…" she murmured her assent.

Ryuu shifted on his feet as he removed her hands from his arm so he could place it around her shoulders. Ara then leaned against his chest comfortably, the sight of them so close to each other spreading smiles across the room.

"Tired?" he asked softly, his voice a whisper caressing her ear.

"Not really," she answered as she looked up at him with a grin. 

"Let's go?"Ryuu asked, returning her smile.

"Where to?"

"Just taking a walk outside?"

Ara remembered their walk and conversation under the moonlight the night before and nodded. Her husband was leaving for Hakone later, and it would be wonderful to spend more time just with him before he had to go.

"Okay…"

With this, Ryuu turned to the guests and waved. As if he had spoken to them about it before, they waved back and nodded, understanding what he meant before he guided Ara out of the hall. The two of them walked slowly with his arm still over her shoulders like that. The time they had before their temporary separation was short, and they wanted to spend it together.

Soon, they crossed the gardens. It was more beautiful and lively with the birds fluttering from tree to tree. The flowers and the plants were a picturesque splash of color against the thin snow that had partially covered them. In spite of the cold weather, the huge koi fishes in the clear pond were equally active.

Ryuu shifted on his feet again and Ara felt him fix the coat on her, making sure she's covered properly to avoid the cold. The small gesture warmed her more than the clothes did, and it went straight to her heart.

When she first heard she was engaged to Ryuu, she never really thought about it just as she didn't care about her betrothal to Ivan. But now…

She'd never been happier being engaged to or being a wife to someone that she was now. She looked up at Ryuu who had finished fixing her clothes and once again took her hand and they started to move towards the gazebo where they spoke last night.

Reaching their destination, Ara nearly stumbled because she was not looking where she was going. Ryuu caught her swiftly and helped her regain balance.

"I honestly like you looking at me, but you have to watch where you're going woman," he teased, and Ara blushed.

"Isn't it your fault for being so handsome?" she countered, trying to return the embarrassment.

But instead of being embarrassed, the Koutaishidenka gave her a smug look. "Of course I'm handsome – but it's not my fault right?"

This…

Ara's face suddenly looked bland as she looked at her spouse. Since when did this guy become so shameless? She wanted to know.

She didn't have time to ponder on that however as they reached their destination. Ryuu had guided her towards the side where they could lean against the barrier and talk. But before Ara could do so, Ryuu lifted her up and made her sit on the railing itself and he placed his arms on each side of her as he leaned over, almost kissing her.

He was that close.

Ara was again mesmerized as she stared at his face. But,  before her thoughts even began to wander, he spoke.

"So, tell me, what's your name?"

Ha?

Ara was dumbfounded, and wondered if this was some kind of a joke – that was until she remembered her new name.

"Er… Homura Ara?" she answered, making her husband chuckle. "What?"

She wondered if her answer was wrong.

"Well, you are that. But I'm talking about your other name," he explained confusing her more until he continued. "Are you not from this world?"

Ara froze. "What…do you mean?"

"Before you came into Suzuki Ara's body... What's your name?"