As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"...ugh."

While the three of them were immersed in their own thoughts, a weak sound sounded from the bed. All of them turned their heads only to look at Aunt Shigeko who had opened her eyes.

"Mom! How do you feel?"

Hiro abruptly stood up and ran to the bed. Deep worries were still etched on his face.

"Huh? Did you.... bring me here? Where are those scums?"

Aunt Shigeko forced herself to sit up despite the pain. Hiro cautiously helped her, afraid of touching where it was hurting.

"You're beaten unconscious! Luckily the police arrived right on time, if not, I didn't know what would happen."

"Don't nag at me. Your mother is perfectly fine now. Cough!"

Aunt Shigeko was annoyed with her son who still had so much to say. She swatted Hiro's hands away as she slowly looked around the private ward. Confusion was written on her face.

"Do you have so much money that you're able to let me us this expensive ward? I didn't think..."

Aunt Shigeko's words trailed off the moment her eyes fell on Yuina and Ryuu who were also staring at her.

"No wonder," Despite all the bruises on her face, Aunt Shigeko smiled menacingly, "My arrogant niece finally decided to pay me a filial piety, right?"

Yuina ignored the contemptuous words. One by one, she took a step toward the bed. Ryuu followed by her side, silently guarding her.

"I heard you got beaten because you borowed money," Yuina pointed out the truth.

Aunt Shigeko glared at her son, "You and your loose mouth deserve a beating."

Hiro frowned, "Mom! This is not a trivial matter! How many times have I told you that you should stop associating yourself with that scums? You didn't listen to me!"

Hiro had been frustrated with how his mother always acted without thinking but, aside from saying his piece, he didn't hold much power.

Although his mother appeared weak and cowardice, there were times when she was so stubborn.

"Shut up! Instead of feeling sorry for your mother, you wanna side with her?"

Aunt Shigeko got angrier. She was so upset because even though she had just woken up, her son didn't spare a minute to scold her. 

What made her more mad was the fact that her niece got to see her sorry state!

The long-suppressed resentment she had toward Yuina started to burst out.

A finger pointed at Yuina, Aunt Shigeko began spouting wrathful words.

"You can't blame me! When I, your only biological aunt asked for help, you rejected me! So what if you got me a high-class ward like this? If not for you, I won't get beaten!"

Ryuu frowned. He took a step forward, wanting to confront the ungrateful woman but Yuina quickly stopped him.

"You brought this misfortune to yourself," said Yuina calmly, "Aunt, you only know to blame others for your own wrong actions. How many times you want to repeat the same thing?"

Although Yuina appeared to be unaffected on the surface, she was deeply troubled inside. 

The event that led Aunt Shigeko got detained by the police a few months ago did nothing to stir some conscience into her tiny brain. She didn't even have any intention to repent.

After all this time, Aunt Shigeko was still her same old self.

Yuina's words struck a chord inside the woman.

"Heh, you're talking about yourself, aren't you? You only know to blame me but, it's you who always refuse to help me. You've forgotten that if not for me, you'd die begging on the streets."

Horrified, Hiro shouted, "Mom!"

"Shut up!" Aunt Shigeko screamed back.

Yuina forced herself to not pinch her forehead. 

It was so exhausting to be caught up in this kind of situation over and over again.

"It seems like you're energetic even when you're in this state. I'll take my leave first."

Yuina glanced at Hiro which the latter gave her a troubled look. 

Hiro felt sorry to his sister. If not for him being at a loss, he won't call Yuina to come to the hospital. But, he was thoroughly scared because this was the first time his mother got beaten until she was unconscious.

Ryuu didn't say anything since the beginning. He gently took a hold of Yuina's hand and tugged at her. Both of them turned around, wanting to leave this ward.

"Heh, didn't the news about you two got exposed the other day?"

With a sneer, Aunt Shigeko stared at the back of Yuina's head.

Their steps halted. Yuina looked over her shoulders with a frown.

Aunt Shigeko's gaze was directed to Ryuu next. Her smirk deepened as her eyes glinted with malice.

"Hehe, after so many years, it seems like you can't deceive anyone anymore. I wonder what would your fans say if they know how dirty my ungrateful niece is?"

Yuina flinched. Her face paled in an instant.

"Mom! Stop talking!"

Hiro grabbed Aunt Shigeko's shoulders, pressing her to stop saying whatever she shouldn't.

"I'm just talking the truth! That woman is dirty! So dirty! How could..."

Aunt Shigeko turned more maniacal. The feeble and cowardice image of her collapsed as her hatred intensified. 

Yet, Yuina was still frozen on the spot as she be the receiving end of the painful insults.

"Brother! Take Sister away! Quick!" shouted Hiro.

Ryuu forced Yuina to walk out with him. He could feel his wife's body shivering in fear. She moved stiffly, following each of his steps.

"Yuina, Yuina, breathe. Take a breath."

After leaving the ward for quite a distance, Ryuu stopped in front of the chairs that were placed in the hallway. He pushed Yuina to sit down before he crouched on the floor.

Maybe because it was the floor for VIP patients, the hallway was quiet. He didn't have to worry about accidentally bumping into people here.

"Yuina, my love, she can't harm you," Ryuu spoke again. He softened his voice to another degree.

Yuina slowly lifted up her gaze to look at her husband. Eyes watery, she spoke in a trembling voice, "Ry... Husband, I thought I'd be okay but... but I'm not... When I heard..."

All this time, she boldly saying that she won't be affected even if the world knew her tainted past. 

Yet, by just listening to the mad woman insulting her, she got so terribly scared inside. 

She was just lying to herself.

"You'll be okay, my love. You'll be alright. I'm with you."

Ryuu got up and locked his beloved in his embrace. His heart sank further as he felt how terrified Yuina was by how tightly she hugged him back.

"You're strong, my love. Everything would be fine. I promise."

Ryuu dropped kisses on her head, trying all of his might to comfort Yuina. Gentle and loving words kept flowing out of his mouth yet, his mind was busy thinking of what happened earlier.

A seed of doubt was planted within him as Ryuu found the behavior of Aunt Shigeko as unnatural.

Although the middle-aged woman disliked both of them with all her heart, she didn't dare to threaten them because of what happened years ago.

Yet, why did the timid her become so brave today? What gave her courage?

Did it happen because she had had enough?

But...

Ryuu frowned. He inwardly shook the thoughts away.

Now, he had to focus on comforting his wife. He would think deeply about them later.

At the same time, Hiro was fuming mad with the fight that his mother iniatied toward Yuina. He was so ashamed to face Yuina and Ryuu after this. 

Both of them only came because of him. If not, his sister didn't have to hear his mother lurched insults at her.

"Can't you keep quiet, Mom? You're the one in the wrong! You already know that Dad's friends are all scums yet you still went to borrow money from them!"

Standing with both hands on his hips, Hiro vented out his frustrations.

"Go out if you wanna nag at me! I'm a patient now! Let me be in peace!" Aunt Shigeko didn't heed to her son's advice. She chose to retaliate further.

Hiro gnashed his teeth. 

Why did both of his parents were like this? Why couldn't they be decent human beings?

"Fine! I won't care about you!"

Hiro dashed out of the ward. His whole face was red due to his fury.

Aunt Shigeko spouted more curses after Hiro slammed the door loud. Her chest heaved up and down heavily.

"I gave birth to you! Why don't you side with me? Ah! What sin I committed to have such a son?!"

The more Aunt Shigeko thought of Yuina's words earlier, the fiercer her anger got.

"Hah! Don't think that she can laugh until the end! You're the one who's to blame! Who told you to nput my husband in prison?!"

She had endured her hatred for so many years. There was so little she could do when her niece got a strong support behind.

"Right... I can't stand still.. Where's my phone?"

Aunt Shigeko rummaged inside the tattered bag that was brought by Hiro. Her belongings were all inside. She snickered once she found her phone.

[Why wait longer? I want that wench to fall soon!]

A message was sent to a string of numbers. Aunt Shigeko anxiously waited for the reply.

In a few minutes, it finally came.

[Not the time yet. I'm still planning for the best revenge]

"Damn!"

The old phone was thrown to the floor, resulting in its body to crack.

What was displayed on the screen vanished as the screen blackened.