As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

...ticklish.

So ticklish...

Himari's view was still dark with both eyelids closed. Her sleepiness and exhaustion were weighing her down.

She didn't know when did it start happening but, something was clearly bothering her right now.

Himari moved her hand, trying to smack whatever that made her face feel ticklish. A grunt escaped her lips as she was still so lazy to open her eyes.

A soft and warm sensation kept landing on her face. It even left the same feeling on her palm.

What was it?

"...en."

"Hehehe."

A peal of faint and soft laughter gently echoed next to her ears. Himari's senses were alerted because her brain registered the familiar sound but...

From who had she heard it before?

"Sweetheart, I've kissed you many times ah. Why won't you wake up? Wake up, Sleeping Beauty."

"...?!"

Wasn't that...

His voice?

Eyes opened wide, Himari saw the face of who she was dearly missing.

"...Kazuya?"

Voice slightly hoarse, Himari rubbed her eyes a few times. She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Was she actually dreaming?

Kazuya couldn't stop laughing. His lady was being so adorable right now.

"Sweetheart, I'm home," A kiss was dropped on Himari's forehead before Kazuya let their foreheads touch, "Wake up, ah. The Sleeping Beauty only needed a kiss from Prince Charming yet you need more than one?"

"...when did you return?"

Kazuya cupped Himari's face. Instead of answering her question, he kept leaving kisses on her skin.

"...honey! When did you return?" Himari put a palm over Kazuya's mouth, eyes staring at him.

No wonder she felt so ticklish before. This man was kissing her ah.

"Enough for me to cook dinner before waking you up," replied Kazuya softly. He grasped both of Himari's shoulders, "Get up now, sweetheart. It's time for dinner."

"What?!"

Himari abruptly sat up, her head turning to the windows. She was dumbfounded to see that the last ray of sunlight had long gone. 

Nighttime had arrived.

"Ah, I was supposed to cook you dinner..." Himari lamented in rue. 

If Kazuya returned a few hours earlier, it was possible if he cooked for tonight's dinner. He also might have told both Chiharu and Izumi not to wake her up as to how she had asked them to.

Kazuya stifled his laughter. One of his hands played with Himari's bangs.

"Go and wash your face first. Chiharu has been drooling over the foods."

Himari quickly ran to the washroom. She made sure that she looked presentable before she stepped out of the room. Kazuya was sitting on the bed, eyes still locking on her.

Himari lowered her face. She put a strand of hair behind her right ear.

"...I actually thought to wear the new dress that I bought before you returned."

Kazuya just smiled. He got up from the bed, strode to his lady and pulled her in his arms.

Gosh, he really missed the feeling of embracing her.

"Izumi, Chiharu and Aunt Mayu have told me of what you've done these days," said Kazuya with an undisguised pampering in his voice, "Sweetheart, you've done so well."

His words brought a smile to her face.

Himari pushed his chest with a hand. She tilted up her chin, her eyes curved into a pair of crescents. Her man's smiling face was reflected in her eyes.

"Honey, I missed you."

In those clear eyes of hers, the man's smile softened.

"So did I. I missed you too, sweetheart."

Kazuya slowly lowered his head. As she noticed the desire in his gaze, Himari tiptoed. Little by little, their lips got closer and closer and...

BAM!

"Uncle! Chiharu's hungry ah!"

"...!"

On reflex, Himari pushed Kazuya away from her. She almost stumbled on her feet. Kazuya quickly grabbed her arm and waist to stabilize her. His face was ugly as he looked at a certain dumpling who stood at the door.

"Can't you wait downstairs obediently?" Kazuya grumbled in dissatisfaction.

Chiharu ignored her uncle. She blinkingly stared at Himari whose face was so flustered.

"Aunt, do you have a fever? Your face is so red ah."

"...hahaha, it's so hot here. Aunt... I don't have a fever."

Himari fanned her face with one hand while the other was touching her cheek. She could feel heat spreading from her face down to her neck.

To avoid feeling so awkward, Himari quickly carried Chiharu and brought her out from the room. Kazuya could only follow his two ladies, big and small with a helpless smile.

Aye, he should start practicing locking the door whenever he was alone with Himari. If not, a dumpling would come to disrupt their sweet moments.

"You cooked all these?"

Himari gasped right after she looked at the dishes served on the dining table. 

Izumi was still there. He was stroking Chobi's fur. The tabby kept staring at the delicious foods, his cute nostrils twitched.

"I got Aunt Mayu to help me," Kazuya took Chiharu from Himari's arms and placed the dumpling on her seat, "She said you plan to cook these for tonight."

"En, yes."

Although she was unable to cook this feast for her man, Himari's mood actually brightened because of Kazuya's surprise.

After dinner, the couple tended to the dirty plates, bowls and cutleries while the siblings were given the task to clean the dining table. 

Kazuya washed the dishes while Himari wiped them dry.

Both of them didn't talk much but it was undeniable that they felt contented and happy as they enjoyed the comforting silence.

"Are you sure you don't want to rest now?"

Himari asked Kazuya the question as they walked out of the villa, heading to the backyard.

The man gave the siblings their gifts before he shooed them to their rooms. Izumi and Chiharu happily left the couple with the gifts in their hands. Chobi hopped on the stairs, following the siblings.

Kazuya's laughter replied Himari. The sound made her smile softly.

"Let's just sit down together for a moment," Kazuya took a hold of her hand and pulled Himari closer, "I won't go to work yet tomorrow. I take a few days off."

Himari's eyes bent, she said teasingly, "Just say that you wanna be lazy ah~"

Kazuya laughed again.

A howl of the wind billowed the ruffle hem of Himari's cotton nightgown. Kazuya ran a hand over the end of her hair, letting the tips brush against his palm.

"Did everything really end well?" Himari sat down next to Kazuya inside the tent, "Do you need to go for a business trip there again?"

Kazuya smiled guiltily, "En... Everything ended well. I might have to go there again but not in the nearest time."

Kazuya didn't expect that Himari would still ask about his business trip. It seemed like she was really thinking of the 'trouble' that he mentioned before.

"Forget about it. I'd only go to the company when needed. Sweetheart, let's go camping tomorrow?"

Kazuya quickly changed the topic.

"...what? So soon?"

Himari was taken aback.

This man had just returned from his business trip but, he had already invited her to go camping tomorrow? 

Why didn't he just use his vacation days to rest?

Kazuya had indeed been saying both of them should go camping before summer break ended but, they could still go there some other time. 

A warm touch of a coarse palm landed on Himari's cheek.

"En, just us two. Shall we go and see the fireflies?" Kazuya gently stroked her face, "There's a camping area that's close to their habitat. Let's go there even for a day? I can rest after we come back."

It was evident what his lady was thinking but, he still wanted to go with his plan. 

There was something that Kazuya had been anticipating and planning until now.

"What about the children?" asked Himari.

Although she was happy to spend more alone time with him, she would inevitably be reminded of the siblings. 

"Don't worry about them. I'd arrange everything," Kazuya moved closer and nuzzled their noses together, "We'll go there tomorrow morning. The place is quite far from the city."

"Okay," Himari grinned, "I'll pack some clothes."

"Well... because it's out of a sudden, I haven't thought of what else should we do aside from watching the fireflies," admitted Kazuya guiltily, "Do you have any wishes, sweetheart? We can do whatever you want."

"Let's just lazy around in our tent," Himari shook her head. She answered cheekily, "I just wanna nap and nap and nap ah! It must be so comfortable to just lie inside a tent and listen to the cicadas."

Kazuya gently flicked her forehead, smiling helplessly, "Okay, okay, I'll accompany you to be lazy."

Himari laughed happily. 

No matter it was only one night and two days camping or the longer one, either both of them did something simple or not, Himari was already contented with the fact that she would be able to be with him. 

In truth, Himari wanted to use this opportunity to shed light on what happened to her three years ago.

It was the time for Kazuya to know the truth.