Alinea

Ginza was the most expensive area in Tokyo. Just a square meter of land here was worth over thirty to forty million yen for commercial properties. Established in 1923 just after the Great Kanto Earthquake, it had become Tokyo's best known, most high-end shopping district. Its most famous street called Chuo Dori which was approximately a kilometer long was lined up with massive department stores, boutiques, souvenir stores of both Japanese and international brands.

Many huge buildings here built around the thirties were still thriving, and still as popular. One such building was Ginza Mitsukoshi, a large department store which opened in 1930, offering a modern yet traditional Japanese style hospitality and services. Another traditional Japanese style department store, and best known for its clock tower, which was a symbol of Ginza district was Ginza Wako.

However, if one preferred the more modern ones, there were several nice places to visit and shop. One such place was Tokyu Plaza Ginza, which was boasted as one of the most modern and coolest shopping complex in the city, offering trendy shops, cafes and restaurant and tax free shopping for foreign travelers.

Although Ara had memories of this place, this was the first time she'd come here in person.

"Where do you want to go?" Kou asked as they got off the car.

Ara however failed to answer. She was busy looking around like a kid in candy land, her face comical.

Koutaishidenka on the other hand had been here many times already, since the Kabukiza Theater, the place to watch traditional Japanese plays was in this area.

The Homuras were patrons of the traditional arts, and so, they tried to be present on some events. When the show's really good, Ryuu came to see them instead of a representative.

He had never gone to most of the other buildings however. All his clothes were taken good cared of at home, all custom made, so he never had the need to go shopping himself. To say that this would be his first time going shopping was not wrong.

"Ara," Ryuu called as he pulled her close. She was busy looking everywhere that she nearly bumped into the incoming pedestrian.

"Sorry."

Ara seemed to snap from dreamland, and finally remembered she was not alone. Well, the hand holding hers was too hard to miss. Also, Kou had stepped in front of her, and the crowd miraculously parted like the Red Sea as they walked. The people they met automatically gave them way, as they stared at the two of them.

Who wouldn't? Ara and Ryuu were both tall, raven haired, and sporting different colored eyes. Their beauty already put people in awe alone, much more now that they're walking together, side by side.

Stunning couple – people called them as they watched the two walk. Some even wondered if they were celebrities.

"What do you need?" Kou asked as they stopped in front of a large shopping complex.

"I want to get some outdoor clothes,"Ara answered.

"Outdoor clothes?"

"Yeah. Aki-niisan mostly bought me dresses, so I want to get some jeans and shirts, and clothes you can use for exercise – ones that won't tear or rip when you move too much." She turned to him. "It's for my therapy sessions."

Ara wanted to get clothes for her night strolls actually, but she wouldn't tell Kou that. Normally, she still should have physical therapy, but since she's already ambulant and could move well, the therapist just taught her some exercises she could do alone.

"Alright," Kou said as he pulled her towards a luxury brand boutique.

Shopping together was a breeze. All salespeople catered to them well as soon as they saw the two of them. They just mentioned outdoor clothes, and the items were brought to them immediately. In no time, Ara got everything she needed wrapped in bags.

Ara wanted to pay for herself, but Ryuu refused.

"But it's my stuff."

"You're my wife. I want to buy you stuff."

"We're not married yet,"Ara reminded him sternly, and he looked at her like it wasn't a problem.

"What's the difference?" he countered with a serious look, as he handed his black card to the hyperventilating sales assistants who had been watching them with starry eyes since they started exchanging words.

Ara was not able to do anything but let him get his way. The husky flirt was stubborn, and it's useless to argue about who would pay for long. Besides, he was right. There's no difference between now and in the future, because their marriage, aside from the formalities of the actual registration, had already been signed and sealed as soon as her family accepted the yuino from the Homuras.

There was no turning back.

"How about shoes?" Kou asked after he handed the shopping bags to Koga who had followed them.

"I'll get two pairs of sneakers, I think." It's better to get a spare.

The two of them went to the shoe area, and in the end, Koutaishidenka got Ara seven pairs of shoes instead of two. He insisted it's better to have a different pair for each day because wearing the same shoes was bad.

"Anything else you need?"

Koutaishidenka didn't look like it as he had his usual indifferent expression, however, Ara could feel that this man was having fun buying her stuff – more than she did actually.

Ara frowned. He had gotten her too much stuff, but he hadn't bought anything for him.

"Nothing else. How about you?" she asked, although she already had an idea the answer would be in the negative.

"None," Ryuu answered as expected.

The two of them were now walking hand in hand outside. Koga had gone to the car to bring the shopping bags, leaving them alone.

"What?"Ryuu asked upon noticing the she kept looking at him.

"You bought a lot for me. I want to get something for you," she said, and Ryuu arched his brow at her in interest.

"Really?"

Ara already knew about the yuino, but she had no idea about the details. But for sure it would be expensive. However, she had no idea if her family had given something back to Ryuu already or not.

"Did my family give you anything for the engagement?" she asked, and when Ryuu didn't say anything, she was suddenly horrified.

"Oh my God. I'm sorry about that," she apologized.

Normally when the groom's family sent the yuino and the bride's family accepted, there should be a gift sent to the groom as well. But it seemed her family failed to do that. It was embarrassing!

"It's not important. There's nothing I need,"Ryuu assured her seriously.

Ara knew he already had everything he needed and more, but it was still lacking on her part if she did not give him something. It was not right.

"It's important. I want to get you something even if you don't need it," she insisted with a stubborn look on her face.

She's not as rich as Homura Ryuu, but Suzuki Ara was not a pauper either. Since she was born and was given shares to the Suzuki Raiden, she had never touched her earnings so she had a lot of money in the bank.

Ryuu studied her face for a while before he sighed. He then turned his head to look around and saw something that caught his eye.

"Then, there," he said as he pointed at an elegant building.

When Ara followed the direction of his finger, she was surprised to see a familiar high-end boutique.

It was Suzuki Ara's, the real one's favorite.

Huh? The husky wants jewelry?

"Get me something from there…"