As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

That night, the quietness of a unit in Sakuya Residence was broken by a series of shoutings that came from a man. The man's face was twisted in repressed anger and annoyance, scolding the person who was sitting listlessly on the couch. 

"You've put me into so much trouble ah! Our big boss scolded me, asking why couldn't I handle a single star like you! But, yeah, he forgot that you're a big star so it's difficult to rein you oh! My ears bled when he nagged!"

Yousuke and Riku came knocking on the door after Ryuu refused to answer any single call from them. The top management was infuriated the moment they heard Ryuu returned to the country earlier than scheduled. 

Although this was the first time Ryuu did such a thing, they could care less about it.

"Ha! The editor and director were so disappointed ah I tell you! Do you think it's easy to appease them? They've been looking down on us Asians from the start! Now, your sudden rejection would make it more difficult for us to collaborate with them!"

Throughout the time Yousuke unleashed his wrath, Ryuu just kept his silence. He didn't even bother to make excuses or reply in the same haughty way he did when he insisted to cancel everything and return earlier.

"Well, Brother Ryuu... Brother Yousuke is just thinking of you. Really, why did you do that? You've never done it before."

On one side, Riku was nervously clasping her hands together. Her eyes darted from Yousuke's gloomy face to Ryuu's sullen expression.

There were no precedents in the past. Brother Ryuu was someone who was committed to the job, no matter how arduous it was. He didn't even use his high status to make things hard on the people he worked with, either the fellow actors or the crew of any production.

What was the reason that made him changed?

Ryuu just disregarded Yousuke's words but, what came out of Riku's mouth made him laughed in self-ridicule.

Yes, he had never done such a thing before but, it was because he sacrificed his own wife's happiness.

He often persuaded her whenever he had an important job that required most of his time, saying what he was doing right now was for their future.

As always, Yuina would just smile at him and say she understood. Never did she force him to take a step back, asking him to forgo his career.

But...

What would become of their future if they got drifted apart in the present?

Ryuu lifted up his eyes from the carpeted floor, looking directly into Yousuke's eyes.

"...I'd contact the boss myself, telling him that I won't take any job for the time being."

Ryuu finally spoke after being lectured by his manager for a long time but, what he said had certainly shocked both Yousuke and Riku.

"Wait... what did you say?" 

Yousuke really hoped his ears were just playing tricks on him.

Riku swallowed her saliva. She didn't know how should she react.

Ryuu pushed himself to stand. Turning his back to his manager and assistant, he walked past the coffee table, heading to the stairs. The stack of parenting books was still left on the surface.

Each of his steps felt so heavy as if his ankles were chained with iron balls.

When Ryuu spoke again, his quiet voice drifted past his shoulders. 

"I'd take a break for a while. About the film of Director Aoyama, I'll ask him to push back my scenes as long as he could." 

He was supposed to meet the director right after he returned to the country but, Ryuu texted the older man, saying that he had an emergency at home. The director was being so understanding and allowed him to reschedule their meeting later.

As Ryuu thought of the filming, he considered canceling the contract but it wasn't so easy to do it. He had to plan out his next moves wisely instead of abruptly doing such things or the aftereffects could be a catastrophe to the entire production.

Ha...

Once again he laughed in self-mockery.

Even until now, he was still thinking of his career.

"Ryuu! What the hell do you mean?! Stop! Don't move!"

"Brother Ryuu, are you serious? Why do you want to take a break now at all times?"

Both Yousuke and Riku's voices raised to another octave, drowning the duplex with their shouting. They were furious and anxious as they watched Ryuu walking upstairs without even looking back at them. 

In the end, he entered the bedroom and closed the door shut, isolating himself from their voices.

Ryuu's gaze wandered to every inch of the room, looking at the traces that were left behind by Yuina.

The particular pillow that she liked, the swan-shaped bedside lamp that she bought during one of their rare trips together, the romance books that she tended to read before bedtime...

All of them were hers.

Her sweet scent still lingered in the air, reminding him that she was always here for him until last night came.

Ryuu harshly rubbed his face. The wedding ring felt cool to his skin. Its band gleamed under the lights, shining weakly.

Even when he was away from her, he kept the wedding ring close with him.

Although he couldn't wear it often to avoid being seen by other people, early mornings and late nights never gone by without him feeling it wrapped around his finger even for a moment.

"Should I go and see her now? But... what if she refused to see me?"

Ryuu was thoroughly anxious as time passed by. 

Yuina had just left their home in no less than twenty-four hours but, he couldn't bear the waiting any longer.

Ryuu wanted to solve this problem as soon as possible before the thorn that pierced his wife's heart grew bigger yet...

She insisted to have some time apart from him.

"Really... What should I do?"

Over time, Ryuu no longer heard anything downstairs. Both Yousuke and Riku might have left already. Certainly, they left this place while fuming with dissatisfaction because nothing going their way.

This was fine enough as Ryuu thought in relief.

Let them be angry all they wanted as long as he wasn't disturbed by them.

Then, Ryuu sat quietly on the bed.

It was vast yet so cold.

He didn't switch on the lamps, only letting the interior of the bedroom be illuminated by the flashing lights coming from the outside. 

The neon lights were bright yet, he felt so detached from the world right now.

While sitting in silence, innumerable memories began to swirl inside his mind, starting from last night when she vented out all the grievances that he didn't notice she had.

He was reluctant to admit it but, he had been so ignorant all this time. 

He blinded himself by thinking everything was fine in their relationship. No matter how far apart they were, their hearts were still one but...

The reality was harsh.

"...can I make you happy again?"

Ryuu gripped both of his knees, the veins bulged at the back of his hands.

The memories went on and on, remembering the times they were together until the images of the young Yuina overlapped with the current her.

During his youth, the cold and darkest time of his life, he met her.

She was so frail with a timid expression that would mostly occupy her face yet he never found her annoying.

It was only after they got closer did she often bubble with cheery laughter, a soft glow radiated from her eyes.

Since then, he only thought of making her happy, moreover after the incident happened. 

He just wanted to shield her from the dangers that lurked around them but, in the end, he was the one who caused her harm.

"All along, I was mistaken..."

Ryuu threw himself on the bed. The mattress swayed under the sudden weight. Lying on one side, he reached out for Yuina's favorite pillow.

His eyes slid open in a fraction, looking blankly at whatever lying in front of him.

All these nights, she slept alone, only having the blanket to embrace her.

And...

Did she get bad morning sicknesses?

Ryuu's knowledge about pregnancy was just a drop in the ocean yet, he couldn't help but wonder if there were days when Yuina suffered because of her pregnancy?

He hadn't counted the days she had to nurse herself after the miscarriage.

"So foolish of me."

Ryuu abruptly sat up. He didn't want to just lie here waiting for her to come to him.

Even though Yuina wanted them to be apart for this moment, he still had to work on getting their relationship on the right track. There was so much he had been missing already.

Ryuu jumped on his feet, dashing to the ensuite wardrobe when his personal phone rang a chime. He halted, his head turned to the direction of the phone.

It was a ringtone that was only used for Yuina's number.

Ryuu didn't realize how nervous he was as he walked to the table where he put the phone. Both of his hands were shaking. He unlocked the phone, tapped on the unread message and read its contents.

[Yuina: 6 AM tomorrow. At the hydrangea bed]