As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Right after Ryuu asked her that question, he immediately retracted it and told her to not mind his silly question. Yuina insisted on knowing more but, he just brushed it off by saying he wanted to bring her away from the city by taking a vacation.

Even though Yuina vaguely guessed there was something hidden by Ryuu, she dropped the subject. At that time, her mind and body were tired thus, she planned to ask him later.

Last Saturday, Ryuu contacted Hiro, asking him to rent a motorhome under the latter's name. The younger man arrived with the white motorhome in the evening. Hiro was glad to see the couple made up. He just wished them to have a good vacation together.

On Monday morning, as early as the dawn broke, the husband and wife left the city with their belongings placed inside the motorhome.

"We should enjoy nature before summer break starts. At that time, more people would be in places."

Those were Ryuu's words when Yuina asked him why should they go now.

Yousuke and Riku were dissatisfied when they heard of Ryuu escaping the busy city but, there was nothing they could do to stop him.

Neither Ryuu nor Yuina had any specific destinations to go to. They just drove on the expressways, heading to the countryside where nature wasn't compromised by civilization.

From time to time, they would pull over at the roadside, feasting their eyes over the beautiful places that they unexpectedly found. 

"When you asked me that, what exactly do you mean?"

Yuina repeated her question as Ryuu was still reluctant to answer her.

In the darkness, their surroundings were only brightened up by the moon hanging above their heads and the waves of the campfire. 

She saw his expression darkened as time passed.

"Ryuu, please tell me. I don't want to feel uneasy. I just want everything out in the open now."

After Yuina being truthful with Ryuu for the last few days, all the burden that weighing down her mind dispersed. The suffocating feeling that pierced her heart also lessened, making everything bearable for Yuina.

She didn't want to return to her previous state, always be cautious with everything.

"...okay, I'll tell you." 

As Ryuu saw his wife's unwavering gaze, he finally surrendered.

His intention was to keep his wife's feelings stable that was why he pulled back from asking her the question.

Yet...

It seemed like there was no turning back.

Ryuu glanced at his wristwatch. The time was still early, a quarter before ten at night.

"I think it's better if we talk inside," He gestured toward the motorhome.

Yuina nodded, just following him. She picked up the items that were scattered on the mat then rose up to her feet. 

Behind her, Ryuu folded up the mat before following her inside the motorhome. The campfire was left to continue burning its embers.

Right after they entered the motorhome, Ryuu locked the door. He watched his wife slumping on the long couch that was attached to the body of the motorhome.

"Would you like some tea?" Ryuu asked. He was fidgeting inside.

"Okay." 

Yuina was quiet as she stared at her husband who was busy making tea in the kitchen area.

She didn't want to think about it but, at times, she felt as if she was in a good and nice dream, being together with him without any interruption.

When did the last time they really enjoy such a vacation like this?

She couldn't remember.

A faint smile curled up on her lips, her eyes softened.

It didn't matter. She should just cherish these rare moments.

Soon, Ryuu handed Yuina a cup of hot tea, reminding her to be careful. He sat right beside his wife, their legs entangled together on the couch.

Yuina sipped the tea a little, placed the cup down on the bedside table then focused on her husband.

"Now, tell me." 

Would he just keep delaying it?

Ryuu pressed his lips together. He nodded with a heavy heart.

Seeing that her man's brows lingered with worry and hesitation, Yuina slightly elevated her upper body before she pecked his lips.

"Relax. Just tell me." 

Although there was a vague guess rising in her heart, Yuina didn't openly admit it. She still needed to hear what he wanted to say. 

"The reason why I said that..." Having no choice, Ryuu reluctantly parted his lips. His eyes tinged with concern, "I've always thought of bringing you away from the city, my love. Maybe... settling down in a place that is unfamiliar to us."

Yuina showed no signs of interrupting him. She just let Ryuu speak first.

"I know that the city is important to you; your family home, your parents' burial sites, your job, all of them are there. But..."

A hint of anger suddenly flashed in Ryuu's eyes, directing at an image of someone.

"...that garbage is also here and, he would come out next year."

Yuina unconsciously clenched her hands together, her face stiffened.

What Ryuu was saying was something that aligned with her earlier guess but, she was still affected when it was let out.

It was the beginning of her nightmare years ago.

Ryuu halted from speaking. He reached out both hands, gently pulling Yuina to him and let her lean on him.

His voice was low yet sounded anxious as they fell in her ears.

"I can provide you a security to avoid him coming near you but... I'm still afraid, my love. I know that until now, you still couldn't forget what happened before."

She was unwilling but, it was the truth.

Her nightmare from years ago might continue if she saw him, no longer be restrained by the iron bars.

"So, I've been thinking what if... we move away from here?"

Ryuu had long kept the thoughts to himself. He didn't want to upset Yuina by bringing it up yet, here he was, finally talking about the matter.

Both of them were shrouded by silence as they let their own thoughts sank into their minds. 

After quite a long time, Yuina finally managed to compose herself. She pulled away from Ryuu slightly, just enough for her to see his face.

In those eyes that she loved, there was only concern and care for her.

Her fear dissipated, replaced by new courage.

"I understood, Ryuu. I know that you're thinking of me. Let's say that I could bear to leave the city but, what about you? You couldn't leave."

How could he get away when his dreams were there?

Contrary to what Yuina had expected, his answer surprised her.

"Didn't I say that I only entered the entertainment industry because it's the quickest way to make money using my talents? All this time... I thought I have done good enough but, you got hurt because of me."

He entered the world that he never thought he would because of her.

Yet, he made her felt neglected in the process.

It was an irony and Ryuu loathed himself for that.

"I could leave my career, retire early. I have even thought of canceling the contract with Director Aoyama because..."

"You can't do that!"

Yuina's abrupt rejection startled Ryuu. Dumbfounded, he stared at her with confused eyes.

Yuina was distressed, "Ryuu, I've never asked you to leave the entertainment industry. I just ask if you could avoid being so busy like how you've always done."

It was never Yuina's intention to have Ryuu withdrew himself from his career. Although he said he joined the industry because he wanted to provide the best for her, it was also something that had become a part of him.

Her man was passionate every time he performed a role. It was already deeply ingrained in his bones.

"Ryuu, do you know that?" 

Yuina lifted up her hands. She gently cupped Ryuu's face, the tips of their noses almost brushed together.

From this close distance, she could see the faint trace of his crow's feet, silently charming her as she remembered that this man had been with her since her youth.

"I've been thinking, marriage is never about half of my efforts and half of yours to make it 100%. Because, on certain days, you do more than me while on others, I do more than you. But, in the end, both of us work together to complete each other."

Blindly made sacrifices would just hurt their relationship thus drifting them apart. She did not want that.

"Tell me, does the reason why you tend to accept most of your jobs really because to build your wealth for our family?"

The question sounded foolish but, knowing Ryuu, it was not impossible. Yuina had often guessed it herself by taking his personality into accounts.

In their youth, he was a man who didn't care about getting hurt because he often pushed himself to work over the limits just to be able to gather money. 

Now, he rarely suffered from physical injuries yet, his body was pushed to accept the long and unexpected working hours.

"Only with money, I could offer your security..."

Under his beloved's tender look, Ryuu ashamedly admitted to it.

He thought that since he was still young and be on the top, he should exert all efforts to amass wealth for their later days. 

As Ryuu was born in poverty, he deeply understood the power of money in this world.

The reason sounded superficial but, to him, it was not.

His physical ability alone wasn't enough to shield her.. He needed to use all resources at hand and, with that, he had to rely on wealth.