Chapter 251 - Breakfast

"Father…"

Kazehaya Gin eyed the old man warily, although his face didn't show any emotion. Since that time when he had seen him cry over the woman's dead body as he cradled her in his arms while disregarding the son who was fighting for his life just a few feet away, he'd never really talked to him.

For Kazehaya Gin, the fact that his father still lived was just… a fact. It's similar to the knowledge that the sun rose in the morning and the rainbows sometimes appeared after it rained. But it had long since lost its significance. It didn't matter to him whether his father was there or not as he never felt he had one from the beginning.

However, this time, Gin couldn't help but noticed how much Kazehaya Kirio had aged over the years. The once proud, strong man he had looked up to was gone. He now looked like someone's grandfather and no longer the father he remembered. It seemed that this man really took his beloved wife's death to heart.

The wife that Kazehaya Gin had killed…

"You look…energetic," the old man commented softly, as his old pair of eyes scanned his son's colorful ensemble.

Gin who had no idea what this man was thinking – not that he cared decided to just deal with him the same way he did strangers. He acted like they had no history and moved like the clown he vowed he would remain to be until his death.

"Oh, you like my clothes? I can ask Fuji to bring you some," he offered nonchalantly.

He was expecting the other to be mad or to rebuke him for his brainless words. Instead, Gin got the shock of his life when the old man laughed and shook his head.

"No, thank you, son. I'm too old for your style," Kazehaya Kirio said with amusement dancing in his weathered eyes before clearing his throat, his face becoming serious.

"Have you had breakfast yet? I haven't eaten too so maybe you'd like to eat together," the man invited, and Kazehaya Gin didn't know how to respond.

Normally, he wouldn't have any qualms telling the other that he would never dare eat or drink anything from this house. But the unusual demeanor that his father had shown him made him hesitate to be blunt. His reluctance probably showed on his face, and the old man realized what he just asked.

"Oh… of course," the older Kazehaya stated with a smile. "I'm so sorry I forgot," he added, finally remembering Gin's eating habit since that time he nearly died by his mother's hands.

Kazehaya Gin never ate anything that wasn't checked by Fuji, except when he's at the Cedar Palace. The latter was the only place in which chefs and servants he trusted, as well as the ones in his house in Tokyo. The rest of the time, Fuji would try them out first before Gin would eat them – even the hors d'oeuvre at business functions.

It was even famous in the business circle that Gin would bring his own wine and would only drink that except when he's with the Koutaishidenka. Only the presence of the Homura Prince could make Gin be brave enough to partake in food without anyone trying it first.

It was not because Gin was afraid to die. It was because Aello would unleash her wrath when something happened to him like the last time.

And the Kazehaya House was the last place he felt safe to eat from…

"There's no need to apologize," Gin said after a while.

He didn't know why, but something about today made him want to be brave enough to do something out of the norm.

"I'll have breakfast with you then," he suddenly said, surprising his old man, and Fuji who just entered the door to fetch his master.

"O-okay…" Kazehaya Kirio suddenly said and he quickly signaled the servants of the house to prepare the table.

"Young Master, are you sure?" Fuji asked as the two of them watched the household turn upside down with the servants and the old master hurrying everyone to set up the breakfast table.

Gin was totally amused. He had no idea what was going on, but he doubted his father would try to kill him. After all, with his strength now, only the Koutaishidenka could overpower him. Besides, even if he had no happy memories about this parent of his, there wasn't an instance wherein he was cruel to him. His only fault was that he never stood by Gin as a parent and had let that vile woman who was his mother call the shots in the old house.

"Why not? Our appointment with the seer was late morning, isn't it?"

Gin knew Fuji was asking about whether he was sure about eating breakfast in this house and not about being late, but the latter remained quiet and just nodded at his question. Well, if the Young Master was confident about this, who was he to argue?

Nevertheless, Gin saw Fuji take out his phone and sent a message to someone. The wind caster was sure he had sent a message to the Koutaishidenka just in case.

He almost laughed at his pitiful state. Where else could you see a son who was in danger to eat at his own home?

Not that the old Kazehaya House had been a good home to him. To be honest, the Cedar Palace was more his home than this had been.

Soon, father and son sat by the table, partaking a traditional Japanese breakfast consisting of soup, steamed rice, grilled fish, pickled vegetables, and seasoned dried seaweed. It was delicious of course but seemed weird for the Kazehaya House totally looked like a western mansion than a traditional Japanese house like the Homura's.

But Kazehaya Kirio loved Japanese food more than western ones, the same way Gin did. If there was something they had in common as parent and child, it would be that.  

"So, how's the Cedar Palace?" the older Kazehaya asked, mid-meal.

Gin shrugged. "He got married yesterday," he answered, making the older man smile.

"Ah yes, I heard he wanted to register earlier than planned."

Normally, all of the clan would be gathered to attend the Young Master's wedding. But since it was just a registration, it was alright that no one else aside from the people at the Cedar Palace was there.

"How about you? When are you getting married? You're getting old," the old man teased. But Gin was more than ready to bully him back.

"Oh, maybe this Friday," he answered back surprising the elderly.

"Really?" Kazehaya Kirio looked genuinely happy. "To who?"

"Homura Emi," Gin answered plainly, and it was safe to say that he had watched the happiness vanish from his father's face, replaced with worry.

"The Makura?"