MARRIED TO A KITSUNE

CHAPTER XVI

They step off at the mansion's lobby.

It was Kenta who is standing before them that Honoree first saw when she opened her eyes. On his side are Minori and Toshi.

"Welcome back Ojou-sama!" Kenta greeted. "For a moment, I thought you would stay longer than you intended." He turns to Yuuji and opened his mouth to speak but closed it before he can say a word.

"What?" Yuuji demanded.

Kenta opened his mouth again and stop himself midway. Toshi seems to know that he can't bring himself to say it so he steps forward and put a hand on Yuuji's shoulder.

"What?" he repeated.

Toshi took a deep breathe. "Brace yourself brother." His lips curled in a knowing smile. "It's Mother actually, she---"

"Yuuji-sama!" It's a girl's voice coming from the hallway upstairs. "Is that Yuuji-sama?"

They all looked up and saw a beautiful girl with raven black hair and eyes. Her skin's so fair its hard to look at her from that view without squinting. The excitement and longing to see Yuuji makes her eyes teary when she saw him. She runs downstairs, without taking his eyes away from Yuuji.

Honoree's jaw fell opened when the girl came closer to them. She'd never seen a goddess before but she's thinking that finally, she do now. The girl threw her slender arms at Yuuji and hugs him tight.

"Katsumi!" Yuuji gasped and embraces her with the same longing, slightly lifting her feet from the ground.

Honoree watched them with eyes wide, torn between admiring how they complement each other and looking away. But she thinks they really look good together. Yuuji with his silver hair and Katsumi with her dark hair, its like heaven and earth scene.

"I'm so sorry Yuuji-sama. I got carried away by my emotions, I'm expecting that wedding for five hundred years and... and... but when I heard from Hiro that you're doing your best, I came here. Queen Aki said---" Katsumi blurt the words out like she rehearse an explanation beforehand but forgotten the words eventually. Her eyes shifted to Honoree. "Is this the human girl who's wearing your pearl of life now? Oh! No one told me she's cute." She grabbed Honoree's hands and gently hugs her. Honoree half expected that she'll threw an angry fit, she was shocked that Katsumi was glad to see her. Her voice soothing to ears and not a bit of annoyance can be heard in it. "What's your name sweetheart?"

Honoree blinks rapidly, snapping her sanity back. She's asking for your name, dummy. "I am Honoree... Honoree Ishirama, Katsumi-san."

Katsumi smiled at her, showing her perfect white teeth. Her eyes seem twinkling under the light. "Honoree? What a beautiful name! Can I call you Hono-chan?"

As if Honoree could refuse such sweet question. "Of course."

"Great, we're friends now!" she exclaimed and turns her attention back to Yuuji. Katsumi slid an arm on him and start to lead him to the dining hall. "Come Yuuji-sama, I've heard you accompany Hono-chan back on her world. You must be tired. I cooked your favorite dishes. I'm sure you'll love them."

Yuuji chuckles. "You don't know how hungry I am Katsumi-san."

Honoree stood there, paralyze. She just heard Yuuji chuckled, he never even smiled at her. He didn't even bother to glance back. They disappear at the hallway, leaving Honoree alone with the others.

"Wow! That two, they're certainly..." Minori uttered.

"Sshhh! Shut your mouth brother!" Toshi punched him on the shoulder. He steps forward and shook Honoree from her dreaming state. "Hono-chan? Hey, Hono-chan?"

Honoree, having heard Toshi calling her and Kenta pushing her bag down, shifts her attention to them. She blushed, embarrassed that she spaced out. She remembered the candies stuff on her bag. Honoree smiled at last and tried to make up for the lost moments. "I brought something for you guys!" She put her bag down and reached for the candy bag, handing it all to Kenta.

"Oh, it's so adorable of you Ojou-sama."

"Don't eat too much Kenta-kun. Your teeth will hurt if you do." Kenta put two candies on his mouth at once. Toshi and Minori took each for them too.

"We have something for you too, Ojou-sama. Its on your bedroom."

They all climbed upstairs and showed Honoree an exquisite handmade yellow kimono. Honoree ran a hand on the fabric and looked at Toshi, her eyes asking for explanation.

"We have it made for you Hono-san. Hina-san made it herself. She's the most renowned kimono maker in the kingdom." Minori said.

"Did you like it?" Toshi asked.

"I don't like it, I love it." Honoree answered. "But why? Is there a party or anything?"

"Since a month had passed, I guess we have to do a little recount of the events here." Toshi began, he put an arm around Honoree's shoulder and made her sit at the edge of the bed. "First, our parents went off for a honeymoon. They do that every year and they said that they will be back at the end of the next month. Second, the fireworks festivals will be at the end of this month. Third, it's also Yuuji's birthday."

"We have you made a kimono to wear for Yuuji-sama's birthday party." Kenta concluded, still munching on the candies.

"And fourth, Katsumi-san will be here for the meantime Hono-chan. My Mother decided that in order for our families to reconcile with one another, Katsumi should stay with Yuuji. She would feel more assured of her position in the kingdom if she continues to be Yuuji's princess."

Honoree noticed that they all turn sullen when Toshi said those words. She stood up and laughs with her arms on her waist, shrugging the uneasiness away from herself. "What's with that faces guys? We must enjoy things as they are, while it last? Right?"

Kenta avoided her gaze. "But do you think you can stand watching them?"

"It doesn't matter, does it? You're all making it difficult than it is. Besides, nothing will change in me even if Katsumi-san is here. And you said it yourself, she's Yuuji-san's... She's Yuuji-san's---" Honoree discovered that she can't say the words. She lifts up a hand instead. "By the way, just tell me if I can be of any help for the party and the fireworks festival. I'm kinda good in anything!"

----

It's true that during that moment, when Yuuji saw Katsumi running down the stairs, he momentarily forgot everything about Honoree. All he could think of is that Katsumi is here. She will stay by his side for the meantime. He's been trying to talk to her regarding what happened on their wedding day. He visits her house every single day, but her parents keep saying that she's too upset to talk about it. And now she's here, as if nothing happened.

They spent the whole day catching up with each other. There are times when he's tempted to ask her if she's still angry but decided that it doesn't matter anymore. Katsumi is the sweetest girl out there and she can be cunning and demanding at times, but nobody can tell her she's not fitted to be a queen and just by staring at her smiling face, Yuuji's worries fade away.

"I will never leave your side again Yuuji-san." she promises.

Yuuji lifted his face, not knowing what to say, he just smiles.