As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The weather of the morning on the next day was sunnily bright yet the temperature wasn't as high as before. Soft summer wind blew in the yard, letting the vividly colorful petals dance in its wake. White and fluffy clouds stretched across the clear blue sky.

It was a perfect day for a special occasion.

"In a few hours, you'll finally be my wife."

Kazuya muttered the statement with an undisguised joyful smile on his handsome face. He couldn't stop smooching on Himari's cheeks after they woke up from sleep.

"En, then, in a few hours, I'd be entitled to half of Mr. Hayashi Kazuya's assets ah."

Her remarks made him laugh out loud.

Himari laughed funnily as she felt ticklish by the continuous kisses.

The couple decided to go to the municipal government office after picking Himari's mother up at the train station. Himari cleaned the guest room for her mother while Aunt Mayu went all out to decorate the villa with everything she could have her hands on them. 

Himari didn't forget to inform her only dearest friend Nanako about her getting married tomorrow, sans a wedding ceremony.

"What?! How could you? I've just gotten engaged yet you would already get married?! Do you get knocked up?"

Nanako was so shocked by the news. She didn't even see it coming.

Himari felt so guilty but there was nothing she could do aside from listening to Nanako's continuous questionings done in a loud voice.

Geez, her ears almost got deaf.

Kazuya had to go to the office that morning to sort out a few tasks. He would straight away go to the train station to pick Akemi before returning to the villa. She was estimated to arrive at twelve o'clock.

Only after that would the couple go to register their marriage.

"Aunt, Aunt, be a bride today? Hehehe~"

A bubbly little dumpling couldn't stop smiling and laughing whenever she saw Himari.

"En, you can say that~"

She was still a bride to her silly man even though they didn't have a wedding ceremony today.

The aunt and niece shared a hug, inciting a helpless smile from Izumi who was holding Chobi in his arms.

Himari really thought she was dreaming. She never expected that she would finally marry the man in her heart.

When spring this year ushered out the frosty winter, the thought of getting married had yet to cross her mind. She had already anticipated going through this year's four seasons as how she always did since three years ago; alone.

Now, summer had yet to pass but her single status would change to married in just a few hours.

This was crazy!

"Now, now, let your aunt go and prepare herself," Aunt Mayu came out from the kitchen, smiling at the three who sat in the living room, "A future bride has lots to do before getting married."

Himari blushed then she shyly smiled at Aunt Mayu.

Although it was just registering their marriage, Himari still wanted to look the best today.

As Aunt Mayu looked after the children, she went upstairs to get ready.

Himari washed her hair with her favorite shampoo, massaged her skin with essential oils, took a long soak inside the bathtub filled with pleasantly scented bubbles, rinsed and applied scented body cream all over her body.

She had always loved to be clean and smell nice yet, today she went ahead of everything.

When Himari finally came out of the bathroom, she saw a message from Kazuya.

[Kazuya: I have picked up my mother-in-law]

[Kazuya: Can't wait to bring my wife-to-be to the municipal office]

[Kazuya: MoonBoyKiss.png]

Himari smiled. She sent him a reply.

[Himari: Your wife-to-be would look so gorgeous today~]

She quickly went to get her outfit. 

For the occasion, Himari chose a white lace dress that she had yet to wear before.

The inner lining of the half-sleeved dress was only from her chest down to the thighs. The luxurious lace was assembled to create a scalloped V neck for the dress. The hem of the lace fell on Himari's knees with a little slit at the back of the skirt. A solid white ribbon was tied around the waist, forming a neat bow knot. 

Himari put on a fresh makeup look. A peach red lipstick was applied on her lips, slightly vibrant than her usual go-to lipstick.

Her long hair was let loose as usual, cascading behind her back. Himari put on tiny pearl hairpins on her hair, creating an illusion of white pearls scattered on her silky black hair. She also put simple pearl earrings on her earlobes.

"Sweetheart."

Shoulders shook, Himari quickly looked at the door of the bedroom.

"Ah, you've returned?" asked Himari dumbly.

Why did she not hear the sound of his car engine?

Kazuya suppressed a grin seeing her' silly expression. Eyes staring at Himari from head to toe, his smile softened.

"You look so beautiful today, sweetheart," praised Kazuya wholeheartedly.

A pink blush tinged her cheeks. When she smiled, it was more radiant than the sun in his eyes.

"Where's my mom?" asked Himari while taking out a pair of white high heels from the wardrobe. She also put the strap of a white handbag over her right shoulder.

"Do you mean our mom?" Kazuya asked her teasingly.

Himari's glare was answered by a peal of laughter by Kazuya.

The man came even closer, obviously with a bad intention. She quickly pushed him away on the chest, eyes glaring at the man.

"You," One finger pointed out at him, Himari warned, "Don't sneak a kiss, okay? I don't want to retouch my lipstick."

Thus, the wolf tail wagging behind Kazuya drooped.

Himari didn't even show him pity as she quickly walked through the door, heading downstairs to meet her mother.

There were voices coming from the living room, one of them belonged to her mother. Quickening her steps, Himari almost ran down the stairs.

Akemi was sitting there with Aunt Mayu and the two siblings. She didn't even look awkward even though this was her first time coming here.

"Mom! You're here!"

Himari pounced on Akemi at the couch, knees kneeling on the carpet.

"Hahaha~ My sweet girl is here~"

Akemi returned her daughter's embrace.

Both of them hugged for a moment before Akemi loosened her arms. She carefully peered at her only daughter's appearance.

Indeed, the look in her dear child's eyes was one of being loved and in love.

Akemi smiled, one of her hands gently brushing Himari's face.

"You're finally going to be someone's wife."

A sense of melancholy tinged her voice as the images of a baby, toddler and child Himari suddenly flashed in her mind.

"But, I'm forever your daughter," said Himari, eyes prickly.

Soon, Kazuya joined them. Akemi stood up from the couch. Her smile showed her satisfaction to this very soon-to-be son-in-law.

"Kazuya," Akemi focused on the young man.

Kazuya straightened his back, voice softening, "Yes, Mother."

Himari stood in between them. Her heart felt both joy and sadness at the same time.

Aunt Mayu and the two siblings were just quiet as they watched from the sidelines. 

Akemi reached for Himari's left hand and Kazuya's right hand before she enclasped them together. Eyes looking at Kazuya and Himari, she opened her mouth.

"Himari is my only sweet child. From now, I entrust you with her life; her happiness and sorrow. My only hope is that you'd treat her as to how one should to his wife and... if there's ever a time you no longer want her by your side, please return her to me with respect. Don't just cruelly discard her."

Throat bobbing up and down, Kazuya firmly nodded, "I will, Mother. You can entrust Himari to me."

He understood the fear behind his mother-in-law's joy to see her daughter getting married.

Marriage could be a torturous shackle to a woman if she had ever married a good-for-nothing man. It wasn't easy for a woman to take a step out of such a gilded cage.

Himari sniffled, trying hard to not cry yet, tears continued welling up in her eyes. 

Akemi smiled at her silly daughter, "Mom just hoping for your happiness, Himari. Hush, don't cry. You'd just ruin your makeup."

"Mom!"

Kazuya just smiled in helplessness when Himari let go of his hand just to be able to hug her mother. He watched the mother and daughter embrace in a warm hug.

Soon, the couple left the villa under the smiling eyes of the ones standing at the entryway.

In less than fifteen minutes, they arrived at the municipal government office. The car was parked under a tree. The low-hanging branches cast shadows on the car.

"If we enter the office with you still crying, I bet the officers would think that I'm forcing you to marry me," said Kazuya, his voice was imbued in laughter while he helped to dab on Himari's slightly damp eyes.

"I'm not crying anymore..." answered Himari meekly.

Kazuya laughed again, pure joy flickered in his eyes.

Soon, their status changed once they received their marriage certificate.

The name of the husband was Hayashi Kazuya while the name of the wife was Kato Himari.

The process of registering their marriage didn't take a long time yet, both Kazuya and Himari thought many hours had passed. 

"My wife, you're my wife now!"

Kazuya couldn't contain his excitement. He swiftly hugged Himari, almost dancing in circles with her.

The people who walked in the hallway of the office smiled looking at them.

"En... yes, yes," Embarrassed, Himari's face flushed red, "You're my husband now."

They didn't linger around at the office after getting the certificate. Right after they entered the car, Himari was once again being swept into Kazuya's arms. There was no time to speak as the man molded their lips together.

At first, the kiss was gentle like a dragonfly skimming water then, the man began to greedily devour her lips. 

"...can't... I can't breathe..."

Himari weakly pushed Kazuya away. Her legs felt so weak under his intense kiss.

Mischief glinted in his eyes. Kazuya lightly licked the corner of her swollen lips. He whispered languidly, "I'm just helping my wife to clean her lipstick. En, I think you don't need to reapply any. Your lips are already red, sweetheart."

When she glared at him in embarrassment, he only laughed out loud.

Really, he never thought his life would change today.