As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Then, we'll take our leave now. Thank you for cooperating with us, Ms. Kato."

"Yes, please have a good rest. We'd update you if there's anything else."

"Ah... please do so. I'll help as much as I can."

Inside a private ward of East City Hospital, two police officers had just finished asking Himari questions. They timely arrived at the moment she regained her consciousness. 

Himari cooperated well with the police, answering every question they brought up regarding the kidnapping. Even though her body was so weak after the incident, Himari forced herself to give them her full cooperation.

According to the police, Yuina's whereabout had yet to be found. The police also had asked the principal to allow them to interview the teachers. 

After the two officers left, only Himari and Kazuya were left in the ward.

One of Yuina's bodyguards brought Himari to the hospital while the other rushed to inform Ryuu. The frightened Izumi and Chiharu followed along before Kazuya and Shuichi appeared at the hospital.

Because Kazuya wanted to stay with Himari, Shuichi suggested having the children sleepover at his place. Although the children were reluctant to leave Himari's side, Kazuya coaxed them.

During the time they followed Shuichi, Himari was still unconscious.

Right now, the clock had just struck half-past nine. Only a few hours had passed since the kidnapping occurred but Himari felt as if a few days had passed. 

Himari quietly glanced at one side. She stiffly moved her neck, looking at Kazuya who had his head lowered for most of the time ever since she woke up. 

A pang of guilt struck Himari's heart. 

She didn't know why but, Kazuya acted as if he refused to look her in the eyes. Although he was being attentive to her condition, her husband didn't seem like his usual self.

"...Kazuya?"

The man's eyelashes quivered at the sound of her hoarse voice echoed faintly in the ward. Kazuya rigidly raised up his chin. His bloodshot eyes looked back at Himari.

"Do you feel pain somewhere? Should I call the doctor?"

Kazuya anxiously scanned Himari's face, trying to see if she tried concealing her pain. His wife answered him with a weak shake of her head.

"...no, it's nothing."

Himari suddenly coughed. She clutched her chest. Pain spread out from her abdomen as she was having difficulty steadying herself. 

The examinations done by the doctor showed that she didn't have severe internal injuries. But, to be safe, she had to stay in the hospital for a few days.

Kazuya gently stroked Himari's back. His jaw was taut as his face turned paler. 

"Drink more water."

Kazuya poured a warm glass of water then brought the rim to Himari's lips. His dark eyes were like the night sky without stars, trying to mask every uneasiness from being reflected in them. 

Himari only took a few sips. She waved her hand, "...no more..."

Kazuya put down the glass. He wipe Himari's lips with a towel then carefully helped her to lie down on the bed.

After that, Kazuya went back to his earlier posture. He sat by the bedside with his head lowered, both of his hands were clasping together.

Himari's nose soured to see her husband looking so dejected.

"...Kazuya, I'm sorry."

Kazuya flinched. He blinked his eyes a few times, feeling them getting hotter.

"What are you sorry about?"

When he asked, he heard his voice sneering, mocking himself.

Himari held back her tears. Even though Kazuya still didn't look at her, she insisted to speak.

She had a feeling that he was restraining his anger on her. The oppressiveness in his voice and the way he acted ensured her that her husband was angry.

This was the first time she saw him in this state. 

Himari clumsily spoke, her fingers grabbing the blanket in an attempt to calm herself. 

"I made... the children frightened. I know I shouldn't leave them in the car... alone then..."

Himari trailed off. Fear clawed her heart the moment her mind recalled the incident.

After Yuina left with her car, Himari and the children also did the same. They were happily talking about what should they do tonight when Himari suddenly saw Yuina being dragged out of her car by a masked man.

Despite knowing the situation was a dangerous one, Himari rushed out to help Yuina. Her attempt was proven futile as she was beaten by the man.

At that time, Himari could hear frantic cries coming from the siblings. They kept calling her name.

Izumi and Chiharu might have been traumatized. More so when they had to see her lying unconscious after the incident. They also didn't get the opportunity to see her waking up.

"...sorry, I shouldn't do that... I'm sorry... I understood if you're mad at me... I don't have excuses. I'm really sorry."

Himari had nothing left to say. She repeatedly said sorry, her tears were on the verge to roll down.

The siblings were so precious to her husband. Right now, Himari only thought that Kazuya was being angry with her because she almost put the children in danger.

If the kidnappers did something like using the defenseless children as hostages, what would happen next?

Himari didn't dare to imagine such a possibility. 

"What did you say? You're saying that I'm angry at you because of that?"

Himari was flustered by how cold Kazuya's voice was. 

"I just..."

Kazuya lifted up his eyes. Unlike how gentle his expression was usually was, right now warmth devoid of his face.

"Himari, are you seriously thinking that I'm angry because you left the children alone in the car while you're trying to fight the kidnappers?"

The words shut Himari's lips. An ominous chill ran down her spine.

Kazuya's lips curled up, drawing a smirk, "When you ran to help the teacher, why didn't you think of what would become of you if they injured you? If they have weapons?"

Himari was robbed out of words. She couldn't say anything to him.

Kazuya released a heavy breath. Under Himari's fearful eyes, he reached out a hand. His fingers tenderly caressed her pale face.

"Have you ever thought... what would become of you... of me if... if you won't wake up?"

Himari's eyes widened. A realization dawned on her.

Without waiting for Himari to speak, Kazuya continued. His voice grew smaller.

"What if... you won't ever wake up? Won't that... be as if you're leaving me? Wasn't it?"

At the end of his sentence, Kazuya's voice was so vague, carrying his unspoken fear, doubts and fragility.

Finally, Himari cried. Her hot tears ran down her cheeks, slipping under Kazuya's fingers.

"Sorry... I'm sorry... sorry... sorry, Kazuya... I'm very sorry..."

Himari spoke incoherently, choking up on her sobs. Her weakened body trembled. She lowered her face in a hushed shame.

How could she forget that her husband was still carrying the painful longing to see his dear brother regaining consciousness?

If the kidnapper managed to gravely injured her, wouldn't it be like sentencing Kazuya to death?

He would have to stand in front of two unmoved bodies, lying on hospital beds with desperate pleas for them to wake up.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean it... I'm sorry..."

Kazuya forced himself to smile. He stood up from the chair, moved to sit on the bed then gently cradled his crying wife in his arms. 

"You didn't know how scared I was..." Kazuya tenderly kissed Himari's earlobe, taking in her scent. He unknowingly exerted force on the hand around her waist, "It was like... that day, the morning the doctor declared him... to be comatose."

Kazuya was unwilling to recall what he felt during the time Himari was treated by the doctor and nurses behind closed doors of the emergency room.

After the doctor came out and said that her condition wasn't a life-threatening one, Kazuya still felt she could slip out of his hands at any time.

Even when he himself witnessed Himari opening up her eyes and smiling weakly at him, Kazuya didn't dare to be too happy.

"Himari, my love, my sweetheart... please, I hope this won't happen again."

His dear wife was still crying, guilt and self-blame were reflected in her moistened eyes. Kazuya patiently coaxed her. He brushed his lips on her eyes, conveying his heart to her through the touch.

"No... It won't happen again..." promised Himari, her eyes were blurry.

Kazuya just smiled faintly. He pressed a thumb under her right eye, wiping the tears away.

Himari was thoroughly exhausted after crying her heart out. Seeing her leaning her head on his chest, Kazuya cautiously lowered her to the bed. 

"I hope you'd feel better tomorrow, sweetheart," Kazuya whispered in the silence of the room. He tucked Himari in, ran his fingers across her damp face then smiled faintly, "What happened today is just a nightmare. You're safe."

Kazuya walked to the ensuite washroom. He brought out a towel and a small basin of water. After wringing out the towel, he lightly wiped Himari's damp face with it.

"Everything would be fine," he murmured.

Kazuya knew that the kidnapped teacher was someone's wife. The thought that Himari might be in the female teacher's shoes frightened him. 

Although Kazuya didn't really know the female teacher, he sincerely hoped she would be found.

Her husband must have been earnestly waiting for her to return.

After dimming the lights in the ward, Kazuya headed to the windows. His hands grabbed the curtains, his gaze drifting to the clear night sky of early autumn. 

Unknown to him, multiple headlines kept being pushed to the front of various media platforms.

All of them were related to the kidnapped female teacher.