Hana and Kairo came through the crowd from their carriages and I saw they were wearing different clothes not the previous ones.

Now, Hana was wearing a beautiful kimono and above it a long bridal coat. Her hair was tied up with various ornaments while she was dressed with beautiful accessories.

She looked amazing.

Beside her, Kairo had donned in the kuro soldiers attire but it was a bit flashy with golden shoulder blades and golden intricate carvings on his vest. The crests on one side of his chest showed off his higher rank and the knee length cloak behind him fluttered in elegance. He looked like a prince!

My chest puffed with pride as I saw him standing beside Hana, his head held high and he looked much more mature than his age.

The surrounded people whispered, "Is Kairo getting married?"

"Is that Kairo?"

"Oh my! Kairo looks so handsome!"

"Did Kairo have that much higher rank already?"

"Urgh! I wish I was the one beside him in that bridal dress...!"

From children to older, men to women, it seemed they all knew him. While many seemed surprised, many wished they could either get to marry him or make their daughters get to marry him. And I stood there like a proud older sister who's nose was getting bigger with each of their praises.

But I loved how they were all happy for him. There was no bad intentions behind their motives or wishing. It seemed the ruler of the city certainly made a great environment for them.

My eyes glanced at Arashi who was also watching Kairo with a proud smile.

He said, his eyes were on Kairo and his gaze felt like he had entered in nostalgia, "He was very small and weak when we got him. He wouldn't listen to anyone and was a trouble child."

"Yet, look he has worked so hard and got his own family now..." He added and smiled at them.

I asked, "That's why you made him marry Hana?"

He nodded. "Both of them are troubled by their pasts and both needed someone by their sides, someone who would understand them. I believe they would make an amazing couple."

I smiled. They certainly would because Hana might be lost right now, Kairo could understand her better than anyone. Both of them were snatched away from their homes and they both had grown in a different and harsh environments from their pasts.

And suddenly I remembered how we were like. Arashi and I used to belong from two different worlds but we both were lonely. While Arashi had lost his first love, Yukina, I didn't know what was love.

When he had closed off his heart, my heart was already like a stone, devoid of any emotions and expectations.

We certainly filled each other's empty and broken hearts...just by staying with each other's sides. Just by understanding each other. Just by relying on each other.

And eventually, we fell in love.

Both of our broken hearts mended by each other's care. Both of our empty hearts filled with each other's love.

And looking back now, I regret nothing.

The first time we met, he was an ordinary physician and I was just like a maid. He took me with him in his house and we started to live like every other normal day. We ate, chatted, worked, laughed and met with many people.

We got angry at each other and maybe there was some hurt also included but never once we left each other's sides. We always stayed together in every situation.

Just like the time he vowed to me and I vowed to him, we still were following those promises we did to each other.

Before our eyes, Kairo and Hana both took their vows and I remembered how Arashi kissed me with each of his three vows.

My heart started to thump and I looked up at him.

I said, "My—my legs are hurting..."

He looked down and then looked around to find someone so they could give me something to sit. He muttered, "Let me find Hiroshi or Koji."

I said, "But they have went to follow the rituals..."

He looked at where Kairo and Hana were and nodded. Since their rituals needed many people, especially their closed ones, most of them were gone to them.

Arashi said, "Alright. Let me find something."

I said, "No... I got something in my feet. It has been really bugging me."

He looked down to my feel which were covered and he asked, "Is it an insect?"

I shrugged as he knelt down before me and his hands were about to reach my feet.

But before he could do that, my fingers sneakily went under his chin as I tilted his head up so he faced me. His eyes widened but before he could do or say anything, I leant toward him and placed a kiss.

My face was already red and my heart was pumping on my ears because I was just finding an opportunity and this seemed to be the best one since everyone was here yet their eyes weren't on us. And we were standing behind them.

I pulled away from his lips and said with a breathy voice, "There... I—I kissed you in front of everyone...you never said that they had to witness this."

He couldn't say for a while as his eyes only looked at me with surprised.

I looked away shyly and said, "Now, take responsibility and tell me the plan!"

I couldn't just believe at myself that I could do that bold move! I wanted to dig the rocks and hide there at that moment.

When he still didn't say anything, I looked behind and saw, this time, he had a faint blush around his cheeks. He had stood up but he wasn't looking at me.

And I got even more flustered than before.

He coughed and said with his somehow composed voice, "Certainly, I never said that they would have to witness this..."

I nodded and said, "So... Now you have to tell me..."

He nodded and suddenly he chuckled as I hissed, "What! Why are you laughing?"

He looked at me with an amused smile and said, "I have to say, for a second, you even managed to make me blush there..."

I gave a nervous grin somehow but still not looking at him. Suddenly I found his voice near my ears, telling me something and I felt like now my heart would blast as I looked away in shy.

Because he said, "I will have to punish you tonight for making me blush there."

Arashi no baka!

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31st December, 22
1119
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A/n: With this, Vol. 5 has ended!

It seems Arashi's and Bianka's love certainly is blooming and now that she is expecting, Arashi has appointed heavy guards around her. Shin, Yoshi, Hans, Kairo and Hana. Along with Shinohara Haruhito and Uncle Shido.

But why? What is he so afraid of?

With arriving of the next vols, more enemies will appear and it will be more hard to know who is a foe and who is a friend. More mysteries are yet to solve but it seems the troubles aren't going to end here.

Until then, happy new year, 2023. Hope you all will have amazing memories and a happy life with prosperity! ❤️

I will start uploading Vol. 6 on 3rd January since I have two picnics to attend. One is a family picnic and the other one is with my husband. XD

See y'all next year! XP