Chapter 204 - Promises

"I will. I'll come running home as soon as I'm done with work…"

Homura Ryuu's promise, even if it was something she really didn't want as she preferred for him not to leave at all, warmed her heart.

"I will miss you," Suzuki Ara murmured, and her husband placed a kiss on her forehead.

"I will miss you too."

Since they married, she was happy that he had become unabashed when telling her about these sweet nothings. When she had first met him, she hadn't expected him to be such a sweet, sweet guy.

"Is it possible for you to call me?"

Ara was worried that the thing he needed to settle in Hakone would take too much of his time and energy, and so she quickly added.

"But if you're totally busy and exhausted after, you don't have to force yourself okay?"

Even if she wanted to at least hear his voice every day when they're apart, she didn't want to obligate him when he's already very tired.

She didn't want to sound cheesy or act like a very needy child, but today, she couldn't help it. She didn't know why but since waking up, Ara realized that aside from the subtle changes in the way she thought, her personality had undergone a transformation as well.

She was never one to be attached to anything. She loved – like she loved her brother and her friends back in Ritz, but she was always the cool-headed and understanding one. But lately…

Lately, Ara realized that she had developed some unsavory characteristics – being unable to come out clean for instance. If she had been open and honest to Ryuu from the beginning then they would have had more time to discuss her circumstance and his story.

But no.

She had danced around the truth for as long as she could, depriving the two of them more time to get to know each other as their real selves – not as the Suzuki Ara and Homura Ryuu that the public knew but as Alinea, the demigod, and Kresnik, the Flame Emperor of Heaven.

Then, she had this newly developed pettiness and clinginess. She used to be someone who didn't keep grudges although she had the ability to feel hatred for a short while at least. She also used to be someone who would be alright even when left alone. But now, it was as if she developed intolerance to being by herself.

Ryuu was still here, but thinking that he would be leaving soon already made her feel depressed.

Why?

She wondered why she's being like this when she used to be able to understand so easily.    

Then again, after what they just discovered, Ara was not sure anymore about her personality. After all, wasn't she someone with a false memory?  

What if her disposition wasn't what she thought she had? What if she was really someone who was evil at heart? What if…

What if everything she knew was a lie?

For all she knew, all the memories she had now were all not real – a kaleidoscope of lies the shadow lurker had weaved for her to believe while it feasted on her. Just remembering that she had almost become its host, she shuddered in horror.

Because if the shadow lurker had not left, Ara would not hesitate to kill herself…

Unsure or not about her memories, there was always one thing that she was certain of. She would never, ever let herself be a catalyst for any catastrophe. Harboring a shadow lurker – a parasite that multiplied so fast within her was a calamity waiting to happen. She would end her life before it proliferated and infect more people.

"What are you talking about, silly?" Ryuu retorted, bring her back to the present as he flicked her nose. "Like any work can exhaust me," he added with a mischievous grin. "I'm the Flame Emperor, remember?"

Hearing that was equivalent to saying that he would call her, and so she grinned back – or at least tried to. "Yes, yes, my husband is the best," she agreed readily as she threw herself at him.

As soon as she felt his arms around her once more, all the negative thoughts vanished, clearing Ara's mind as bliss caressed her heart. This was another certain thing in her life now. She loved Kou, and he could always appease her turbulent mind and emotions.

Ryuu caught her and lifted her up, making her squeal. Like children playing, he even turned around and jokingly threatened to throw her in the pond, making her protest while laughing.

"Put me down!"

"Okay," Ryuu readily agreed, but not before flipping her into the air, and grinning as Ara's eyes widened.

Her husband's really strong.

She was totally convinced as she was tossed up into the air like she weighed nothing. It was even done more effortlessly than when Horgall tried to toss her up. Kou didn't even grunt.

"You really are a deity," Ara told him as soon as he caught her. "You're so physically strong."

Ryuu chuckled. "Well, aren't you pretty physically strong yourself? Even Sonoda got beaten up," he countered, and she smiled sheepishly.

"Well, I can easily throw a small car," she roughly explained her strength, making her husband smile.

"That, I'd love to see one day. Or let me test your strength some other way in the bedroom," he suggested softly, sounding totally amused and lecherous that Ara flared up like a ripe tomato again.  

That was a sexual innuendo there! The flirty prince's skill in being a pervert had definitely increased. Ara laughed helplessly as she shook her head. She didn't chastise him though as she had similar thoughts about him for a while now.

"Let's go back?"

Ara's heart sank at his invitation to return, but she wasn't as sad as she had been earlier. He held out his hand, and she took it without hesitation. Ryuu closed his hand firmly on hers and his thumb caressed the back of her hand.

"After this, I will make sure we won't ever part again…"

Ara tilted her head to look at her husband with warm eyes, a soft smile plastered on her face. "You promise?"

Ryuu laughed. "Of course. You will see, I always keep my word…"