Alinea

"So how was it?"

"How was what?"

Homura Ryuu didn't bother looking at the other as he poured what was left of the bottle of Cheval Blanc 1947 St-Emilion into two wine glasses. After drinking yesterday evening, it only had a little bit more than a quarter left.

They were at Koutaishidenka's apartment at Gaienmae where Ryuu chose to stay temporarily for Ara. The Homura heir was worried she'd be overwhelmed if he suddenly took her to the main house.

"You already know what I mean," Kazehaya Gin retorted sulkily as he gave his best friend a side-eye.

"And what is this sudden nice treatment?" he added suspiciously as he looked at the glass of wine the other handed to him.

He recognized that scandalously expensive bottle which contained three liters of rare red wine. Koutaishidenka normally wouldn't ever let anyone touch his valuable collection.

The Homura prince smiled. "It's for your hard work Kaze-nii,"he said too nicely, using the newly preferred nickname of his friend.

"Who are you and what did you do to Ryuu?"Kazehaya deadpanned.

"What? You don't want your drink?"Ryuu retorted as he extended his hand to snatch the glass, but Kazehaya quickly turned to keep it far away from his reach.

"No, no, no, no – of course I want it!"Kazehaya quickly took a sip, his expression a complete bliss as he savored the taste of the exceptional wine in his mouth.

"But seriously what happened to you?"Koutaishidenka wouldn't serve any bottle from his rare collection even if the emperor was here.

"Ara."

"Oh? You offered her some wine?"

"No. She helped herself while I was in the bath," Ryuu answered expressionlessly as he also took a sip.

There was at least three seconds of silence as Kazehaya absorbed his words, before he collapsed in laughter. It was so funny how a mere girl was able to touch Ryuu's precious wine collection when nobody else dared to.

"Well, thanks Ara-chan then." Gin did a toast before drinking more. Because of her, he was able to have some extraordinary red wine.

"So, it's good between you two?"Kazehaya asked after, and Ryuu shrugged.

"So far, no problem," the heir answered. "She's even surprisingly level headed even when drunk."

Homura Ryuu recalled how Ara concurred with his checking up on her from time to time without a fight. It was clear that she understood well and considered his circ.u.mstance, and how his status affected her life.

She was even considerate, telling him she'd rather take the bus or a taxi to school this morning. If he didn't tell her he'd be going somewhere nearby, she would have gotten her way.

Although she was outspoken and bold, she was a far cry from the spoilt rich heiress image the previous reports said.

"Oh?" Kazehaya was impressed. For Ryuu, it's somewhat a compliment, and it's not bestowed to anyone so easily. It meant Ara was really a nice girl.

"When are you planning to formally bring her to the Homura House?"

Ryuu contemplated for a while. "When she's more comfortable with me," he answered.

"But wouldn't it be weird since we arranged for her school to have their educational trip there?"

Kazehaya Gin had offered an opportunity for the graduating students to tour the Homura House, and even spend the night there. They would even be using two of the dojos as the students' sleeping place.

"A tour as a simple student is different from suddenly being presented as the head lady. At least she would have an idea what the place looks like for now without feeling the pressure."

Kazehaya nodded, thoughtful for a while, and then he frowned. "What are your plans about your pillow?"

"Pillow?" Homura Ryuu asked in confusion, but when the other arched his c.h.e.s.tnut brow, his eyes glinted in understanding.

Kazehaya Gin was talking about his "Makura" which translated into "pillow" in English. However, in his clan, the makura was the female who was raised to be the "woman" of the family head. In case the son of the Homura House was born without a prophesied fated partner, the makura would automatically be the lady of the house, bearing the head's children.

In the event that a fated one was prophesied, the makura would just become a concubine or a spare wife in case something happened to the destined partner. But the loss of the fated partner was something to be avoided at all cost, for it would mean disaster to their clan's future.

"What about her?" Ryuu asked back, totally not getting her relevance in their previous topic, which made Kazehaya sigh in frustration.

The prince's EQ's not working properly today.

"Koutaishidenka, I don't think it's wise for you to keep her if you're really planning to be with Ara-chan."

"I don't understand. Shouldn't she be kept in case Ara and I failed to have children?"

Kazehaya wanted to weep. This prince could be obtuse about these matters sometimes.

"If you keep her and Ara finds out, believe me, you will never have children."

To be able to have offspring with the fated partner, the other should be willing, and had no ill-feeling towards the husband. Because if not, the hatred or dislike would become a curse and no children would be born between them.

However, in Ara's case, based on her personality, there's a big possibility that she would crack the prince's balls and make him infertile if she found out that Ryuu's keeping a mistress.

Also, in case Koutaishidenka still didn't believe him…

"Do not forget the reason for the downfall of the Kazehaya clan. Do not forget why I will never get married and have children of my own," Gin reminded him sternly, a tone he rarely ever used towards his best friend, and Ryuu's face became taut, his eyes conflicted.

Five hundred years ago, there were two demigods who transmigrated into Japan along with their soldiers. They were the first Kazehaya and Homura heads. The two clans co-existed in equal footing ever since, both guarding the portal, until three generations ago.

Kazehaya Gin's great grandfather who was born with a fated partner failed in his marriage right before the wedding. The reason? The man preferred his Makura over his wife. The latter, feeling a great resentment from being less favored never bore him any children.

The result was catastrophic. The Kazehayas who were born between his great grandfather and the Makura were either too weak in power or too weak in body. It was fated that their celestial bloodline would die out. It was the reason why the clan merged with the Homuras, and became mere vassals, albeit still next to them in power.

However, there were still irregulars like Gin in the family who was born with a great control of the Wind God's divine inheritance. However, his power was unbalanced and fatal if unable to restrain. He could never use his full potential or risk his elemental taking over his sanity – and there's a possibility he would pass this madness to the next generation.

"Get rid of the Makura, Koutaishidenka. Before Ara finds out…"