"Tch."
Shinjuro click his tongue in annoyance as he continued to glare at the couple. He knows he couldn't argue with his son, and most of all, he doesn't really give a damn about the bootless rivalry that he found utterly foolish. Though, he needs to confirm something.
He then looked at straight towards Fuyuko, and the girl stared back at him with emotionless eyes.
"You..." Shinjuro remarked while pointing his finger at Fuyuko. "You're that's bastard's daughter, aren't you?"
"If you are referring to Kazahana Yuretsu," she replied. "Yes."
Shinjuro then scoffed as he shifted his position to looked at the garden, turning his back to the couple once again while grabbing another bottle of alcohol beside him.
Their was a moment of uncomfortable silence, none of them spoke a word, until Kyojuro's father finally uttered his decision.
"Do whatever you want." He grumble after a gulping a mouthful of alcohol. "I don't give a damn care."
With his reply, the couple exited the room and was met with Senjuro, he overheard everything and was worried.
"That didn't go well..." The boy commented, anxious.
Kyojuro then placed his hand in Senjuro's head and gently ruffled his unruly bright hair.
"Don't worry about it." Kyojuro reassured the worried boy with a smile.
Senjuro felt relieved and smiled back to his brother. After feeling consoled, he then excused himself because he still have chores to do.
"I'm sorry, it didn't go well." Kyojuro apologized. "You must have been uncomfortable."
He spoke softly with a hint of worry in his voice. His head is slightly bowed down as he continued to stare at the wooden floor.
Even though his eyes are still as lively as ever, Fuyuko didn't fail to notice the glimpse of sadness that pooled in Kyojuro's red irises like a grey gem, shrouded by the optimism of his spirited gaze.
Their was a moment of silence as Fuyuko contemplated of what should she do. She is not really the comforting type - she haven't comforted anyone in her life nor did she even think about comforting someone.
Now here she is thinking of ways to try and comfort her husband. It's not like she doesn't care, she just don't now how. And she never thought about it until now.
Based on her observation, Kyojuro ruffled Senjuro's hair to reassure him, but considering their height difference, where Kyojuro is taller than her, that would be pretty much awkward.
Imagining it only made Fuyuko uncomfortable, so she immediately discarded the idea. Instead, she settled on something that she hoped to go well.
Moving in front of Kyojuro, she gently place her fingers underneath his chin and raised his head. She then looked at straight in his mesmerizing red eyes as she cupped his cheek.
"Don't apologize on something you can't control." She stated. "Raise your head and smile like you always do, Kyojuro."
At this point, the flame pillar then smiled brightly, her words of encouragement made his day. He could feel his heart flutter in his chest knowing that she cared for him.
In return, Kyojuro held his wife's hand that cupped his cheek, holding it firmly in his while still gazing at her features that he found attractive.
"Thank you... Fuyuko." He leaned closer and swiftly planted a kiss on Fuyuko's forehead.
A small blush once again creeped in Fuyuko's cheeks, dusting her pale face pink like blooming cherry blossoms in fresh spring.
"Let me show you around the house," Kyojuro said as he gently tugged Fuyuko's hand that is still entwined in his.
"I'll lead you to our bedroom." He enthusiastically added.
Fuyuko didn't protest, she enjoyed Kyojuro's company. Even though she doesn't show it often, she is aware of the warm fuzzy emotions in her heart.
The couple spend the day together, walking around the estate. They fixed their bedroom, strolled the garden, eat together with Senjuro, and have a chat. Though, it was mostly Kyojuro who did the talking while Fuyuko just listened while briefly replying to some of Kyojuro's questions.
Then nightfall came...
"I'll be back before dawn." Kyojuro said with a smile towards his wife and younger brother.
The sun is sinking in the sea of tangerine clouds as the world became dimmer, uprising the shadow that lurks in the hidden void of day.
"Be careful, brother." Senjuro bid his farewell.
"I will." Kyojuro nodded as he patted his brother's shoulder.
He then looked at Fuyuko, her white hair reflecting the glow of merigold as the sun continued to bask her with thousands of light. Her pair of azure eyes are staring straight at him with hidden emotion.
"Take care." She spoke softly.
A gentle smile found its way into Kyojuro's lips as he closed the gap between her and hugged her tightly like their is no tomorrow.
He nuzzled into the crown of her head and inhaled her fragrance of fresh winter and sweet jasmine. Before planting a quick kiss in her forehead and letting her go.
"I'll be off."
With that, Kyojuro turned his back and left.
Time then flies like leaves being blown by the wind. And after everything that has happened, a week pass by like a blissful summer dream.
Everyday was a new page to be filled with their married life and Fuyuko felt happiness in Kyojuro's arms as their bond rekindled and their love grew like a blossoming flower.
However, every night Kyojuro must leave to do his duty as a Hashira and Fuyuko was left in the household with Senjuro, since her nichirin sword is still being repaired.
At the beginning, Fuyuko would wait for Kyojuro until he comes back, but Kyojuro became worried of her health for not resting even though she needed it.
Fuyuko dislike it when someone is worried about her, so to grant her husband's request and to reassure him, she would sleep in the the night and wake up in the morning to find Kyojuro sleeping beside her with his arms wrapped around her.
Fuyuko would be lying if she said she doesn't like the sight of him snuggled close to her.
Every morning is her favorite moment, the moment she would wake up to see Kyojuro safe in her embrace.
A train...
A red train pass by in front of Fuyuko in the dead of the night, its heavy noise clashing in her ears like the beat of a broken drum.
The train was a sight to see with scarlet blood dripping all over its form, and chunks of flesh sprouting in every corner of its form.
It was an abomination...
Something that is created by a monster.
Fuyuko couldn't take her eyes of it - she was in a state of trance as she stared with cold dead eyes. The train seems to go on for hours and when it was about to reach its end, Fuyuko suddenly woke up.
Fuyuko's eyes slowly opened as she notice the dim light of fire that chase away the shadows of her bedroom.
She remembered turning off the lamp before she went to bed so she was confused of why was her room lit up.
Still a little bit drowsy she sat up in bed to try and find the source of light when she caught sight of Kyojuro entering the room with lamp on hand.
"Oh, you're awake." Kyojuro gently stated. "Did I wake you up?"
He was in his red kimono robe that Fuyuko often see him wear at home. He have a towel hunched in his shoulder and the red tips of his golden hair still have water dripping down.
With very obvious clues, Fuyuko immediately knew he just finished taking a bath.
"It's alright." Fuyuko replied. "Come here."
Kyojuro then smiled and put the lamp on a table before approaching Fuyuko, he sat beside her and Fuyuko swiftly took the towel from his shoulder.
"Your hair is still wet." She stated.
Fuyuko then placed the towel in Kyojuro's head and started to gently press the soft fabric against his unruly bright hair to dry it off.
Meanwhile, Kyojuro couldn't help but stare at his wife as she proceeded to dry off his hair.
It didn't take long for Fuyuko to notice him staring and she stopped as she met his golden red eyes.
Kyojuro didn't turn away and continued to gaze at her face with a smile.
"What?" Fuyuko soft voice were laced with confusion.
"Nothing." Kyojuro replied, his smile never faltering.
After a minute of rubbing the towel against the strands of golden red hues, Kyojuro's hair finally dried off. Fuyuko was about to put the towel aside when she notice a wound in her husband's neck.
It was a clean medium size cut that is located in the lower side of Kyojuro's neck, it doesn't need any serious medication but Fuyuko couldn't help but graze her slender fingers on the said wound.
"Does it hurt?" Fuyuko asked with a hint of worry.
"Don't worry, it's just a scratch." Kyojuro responded.
Fuyuko then cupped Kyojuro's face with her pale hands and gently lowered his head into hers until their foreheads touch and their noses brushed at each other as she closed her eyes to felt his warmth.
A faint blush dusted Kyojuro's cheeks as his heart beats rapidly like a drum. Fuyuko doesn't always show her affection towards him because it is usually him who made her feel love. But when she does it always leave Kyojuro stunned.
They know that they love each other, not because they are husband and wife - because it is truly how they feel from the very bottom of their tied hearts.
After his heartbeat finally calmed down, Kyojuro also closed his eyes and relaxed in her touch as he felt her love flowed through his heart like a bursting flame.
"Be more careful." She gently said.
"I will."
Confession isn't required and love doesn't need to be spoken, their actions are louder than words that flourished their love - the love that fate entwined...
And fate shall decide...