As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Much to Himari's relief, no incident or drama happened until the end of the celebration, not that she was aware of.

At twelve, the cruise ship returned to the shore, allowing the passengers to disembark. Even though it was already midnight, the liveliness of the celebration had yet to dissipate.

Himari, Kazuya and the two sleepy children were brought back to the hotel by the same chauffeur. Tomorrow, all four of them would meet Nanako, Ryota, Yuki and the two children at the jetty.

"We have to make full use of our time here!"

Those were Ryota's fiery exclamation when Himari and Kazuya felt bad for continuing to barge into their private time.

At the hotel, the sleepy Izumi simply changed his clothes, washed his face and brushed his teeth before he lay motionless on the bed. Kazuya helped Chiharu to change out of her dress as he shooed Himari to the bathroom.

When Himari stepped out of the dimly lit living room, she saw the figure of her man on the balcony..

Kazuya was soaking his feet into the pool. Because he didn't switch on the lights, the surrounding area was quite dim.

With his head lowered, it seemed as if he was thinking about something.

Well... 

She did feel something was off with her man after he came back to get the drinks and tarts but, Kazuya called her silly when she asked him about it. 

Himari quietly approached him. She kneeled on the floor behind Kazuya then snaked her arms around his waist.

His soft laughter floated into her ears because of her sudden action.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" Himari nuzzled her face against his back.

"I should ask you the same thing," Kazuya put both hands on her wrists then gently unclasped them, "Come sit next to me."

Himari obediently followed him. She submerged her feet into the water, up to below her knees.

"Your feet are small," Kazuya nudged his left foot to Himari's right feet, "What if you stumble because of this small foot?"

Himari made a face. She pushed Kazuya's left foot away, "If I stumble, you have to catch me ah."

The answer to her cheeky reply was a peal of laughter from Kazuya.

The couple tilted up their heads, throwing their gaze to the moonlit night sky. Occasionally, they heard the sound of the waves kissing the shore.

Kazuya took one of Himari's hands into his own. His gaze fell on her vacant fingers.

"I have given you a necklace," Kazuya muttered in a low voice, "Should I give you a ring next?" 

Flustered, Himari stared at Kazuya with confused eyes. Her reaction gained a faint smile from him.

"An engagement ring," He whispered, the warmth of his breath brushed on her skin, carrying his scent, "Or, should I straightforward give you a wedding ring?"

"Why you... suddenly...!"

Himari was unable to finish her words.

Kazuya swiftly pressed the back of her head with one hand while the other held her upper arm. His lips molded into hers, nibbling her lower lip before he deepened the kiss.

Himari didn't know why did she feel a sense of urgency from Kazuya's behavior but she just savored the passionate kisses given by him. 

"...Kazuya?"

The man laid her down on the floor of the balcony, the bright moonlight backlighting his figure. Water splashed on the poolside, slightly wetting the floor. 

His expression was obscured by shadows. Yet, Himari vaguely sensed that a thin layer of confidence was stripped off of this man.

"Honey, why..."

Once again, her words were swallowed by him.

Himari suppressed her curiosity. She lifted up both of her arms and wrapped them around his neck, pulling him even closer to her.

It's okay.

The questions could wait.

"...sweetheart."

Both of them were breathless once Kazuya parted away from her lips.

The tip of his nose grazed on hers. In this close distance between them, she was enraptured by the suppressed desire in his eyes.

"...yes, honey?"

Himari cupped his face. Kazuya leaned forward and nibbled on her lower lip.

"...nothing. I think we should go to bed now. It's late," He whispered, still slightly panting.

"...okay."

Himari was ashamed to feel so weak on her knees. She heard her man's teasing laughter as he carried her from the floor.

"Can I sleep with you?"

He asked as they entered the suite.

Himari asked him back teasingly, "Do you want Chiharu to be mad at you again?"

"Hey, she's the one stealing you from me," replied Kazuya.

Himari helplessly shook her head.

"You should be grateful that the air conditioner blows really cold air ah. If not, I won't let you stick with me in summer."

The man's soft laughter echoed by her ears. 

When they entered the room, they almost laughed looking at how messy Chiharu's sleeping posture was.

"This girl... She really couldn't sleep properly," Kazuya heaved out a sigh.

He carefully picked Chiharu and put the back of her head on the soft pillow. The dumpling smacked her lips a few times as if she was dreaming of delicious food.

Himari grinned.

Seeing Kazuya nagged at Chiharu but still treating her gently tickled her heart.

He really had the potential to be the best father.

Himari blushed at her own thinking.

In the end, the three of them ended up sleeping on the same bed.

Himari just let Kazuya rest his head at the small of her back.

The arms around her waist felt studier than ever. She was curious about what made him seem anxious like this but her sense told her that she should leave him alone for now.

It's okay.

Tomorrow would still come.

Due to their exhaustion, Himari, Chiharu and Izumi didn't wake up even after the sun rose above the horizon. All three of them didn't realize that a certain someone sneaked out of the hotel suite as early as seven.

Kazuya headed to the beach for a morning run. He needed an outlet to vent out the feelings that weighing him down since last night.

It didn't escape Kazuya's notice that Himari had already realized them but, he wasn't ready to share them with her yet.

He needed time to think to avoid saying things that would upset her.

Last night, when he saw how empty her fingers were, a sudden urge to put on a ring overcame him.

Kazuya was ashamed of his own thoughts.

He felt like a predator eyeing his prey; wanting to possess her, wanting to fully own her and wanting to nail her down only to remain by his side.

The sick and twisted desire made him scared of himself.

Afraid of binding her to him against her will.

And...

It was because of that man and his unpleasant words.

Kazuya vehemently shook his head, trying to chase them far away.

He didn't want to think about them. But, they clung to him and stabbed him to the sore spot of his heart.

With a helpless sigh, Kazuya returned to the hotel.

At ten o'clock, all four of them headed to the appointed place. It was the same jetty as the one last night.

Himari and Chiharu wore a new swimsuit each. The dumpling was energetic after long hours of sleep.

"Big Sister Chiharu~ Hina's here!"

A smaller dumpling waved her short and chubby hands as she was carried by Ryota. Yuuya ran to Izumi. Both of them were already eager to play something new together.

"What do we play today?" asked Himari as she glanced at the jetty.

Two yachts floated on the seawater, one was slightly smaller than the other yet both of them seemed luxurious in her eyes.

"Hehehe~" Nanako grinned mischievously, "I'll take all four children with me. You and Mr. Hayashi should go on a yacht  date."

"Ah, what?"

Surprised, Himari's eyes widened.

This wasn't what she had expected!

"Let's meet on that island for lunch," Ryota reaffirmed Nanako's words as he pointed to a small island at distance from the shore, "I've asked the chef to prepare lunch for all of us."

"Eh, but..."

Kazuya held Himari's hand, he interlocked their fingers together.

"It's true," He smiled at his silly lady, "I've rented the small one for us. Let's go now."

"Yeah, just go ah," Nanako waved her hand with a big smile plastered on her face, "Go and have fun, Himari. It's not like you'd always experience going on a romantic sail."

"It is really okay?" Himari looked at Kazuya then at the Hayashi siblings.

Could they just leave them to Nanako and Ryota? The couple was supposed to spend their time together as they had just gotten engaged yesterday.

"Just go," Nanako stepped forward and gave a push on Himari's shoulder. She smiled at Kazuya, "Mr. Hayashi, please give my friend a really good time, okay?"

Nanako's words incited laughter from Kazuya.

"Thank you."

He was really grateful to both Nanako and Ryota.

Then, Himari was led by Kazuya to the smaller yacht. The others watched the couple aboard the yacht 

As the captain drove the yacht  away from the jetty, Nanako glanced at the four children.

"Well, let's have fun together, okay? We'll let your uncle woo your aunt-to-be more ah!"

"Okay~" Chiharu jumped happily

The four children got onto the other yacht. All of them brimmed with joy at the thought of playing together again.

"Mr. Hayashi insisted to rent one instead of you lending him a yacht  ?" 

Nanako threw a question to Ryota as they followed the children from behind.

"Yes."

"Why, ah?"

Nanako didn't understand.

She knew that her fiance wasn't a stingy man. That was why Ryota readily agreed to everything that she arranged for Himari and the Hayashi family from the hotel suite, chauffeur and meals.

"Well," Ryota tilted up his chin, staring at the azure sky, "A man has his own worries too."

"Huh?"

At the sight of his fiancee's confused face, Ryota pinched Nanako's cheeks. His laughter drifted in the air.

"Let them be. We should just focus on ourselves ah."

He finally had a fiancee!

His hierarchy in the family should soar up, right?