Alinea

Homura Ryuu had a wide smile plastered on his face. He lounged lazily on the couch at his apartment in Gaienmae, with a phone stuck to his ear. He was acting so shameless, guilt-tripping his clueless fiancée into getting what he wanted, but he didn't care.

He's a deity. Heaven had allowed him to be shameless.

Besides, Ara seemed to have the talent to detect the changes in his mood which was a wonder, since nobody could really ever do so besides Kazehaya Gin. That's why he couldn't help teasing her by pretending to sulk whenever he got the chance. He found it amusing to see how she'd react. Like right now…

The woman thought he wanted to go to Hakone. It was funny.

Ryuu had been to Hakone countless of times. After all, in the five centuries the Homura House had existed in this world, only a hundred and fifty plus years were ever spent in Tokyo. They had originally come to Hakone first, as the portal was situated between Hakone and Japan's capital.

Actually…

Homura Ryuu smiled. Suzuki Ara would find out during the trip that one of the biggest traditional houses in Hakone belonged to them. He had already arranged for her group to see the old Homura House the day before they'd return to Tokyo.

"Can I ask for a favor?"Ara's voice interrupted his thoughts and he arched a brow.

"What is it?" he asked.

He wondered if there was still something he forgot to organize for them. But his line of thought was wrong.

"Midori-chan's class is at the Cedar Palace now. But Koharu's group is there too,"Ara began, and Kou already had an idea what she'd ask.

"I will have them closely guarded," he said before she could even say her request.

There was a bit of a pause on her end, before he heard her soft voice again.

"Thank you," she said.

In reality, Ryuu didn't have to do a lot of things for her. But he felt like doing them anyway. As to why, that's what he still didn't understand until now. He just knew that she and he were connected in their past lives, but he couldn't relate to their relationship from before. He still felt disconnected from his real self. He just knew that Ara was special to him in the past.

He had to admit that he felt good whenever she thanked him though.

"Are you sure you don't want me there?" he teased, attempting to see if she'd give in, but no.

"If you're here, how can I mingle well with my classmates? I am looking forward to taking a bath with them you know?"

Kou frowned. "Why would you want to take a bath with them? You have your own pool."

The purpose of having her own pool was so she could bathe alone. Hot springs required skinny dipping, and Ryuu's not really happy thinking she'd bathe n.a.k.e.d with other people.

"Because I want to."

The frown on his face now turned deeper. "You like bathing n.a.k.e.d with other people?"

The thought was ridiculous. If she wanted to skinny dip with someone, she's welcome to do it with him.

"Of course. We're all girls anyway."

The onsen's separated by gender. The boys had their own bathing area. Still, Ryuu was upset.

"How am I supposed to talk about love and brag about my boyfriend if you won't let me join the other girls huh?"Ara suddenly demanded almost candidly that the frown on Ryuu's face was replaced with disbelief.

"You do that in baths?"

"Of course. Why do you think girls take forever bathing when they're together? Of course we gossip about boys and brag to each other about our boyfriends. Who's more handsome? Who's s.e.xier? Do you want to rob me of that chance?"

Ara sounded a bit indignant. Koutaishidenka of course knew she was just bluffing, but the thought about her actually doing it was funny, he decided to let her off with a small laugh.

"Whatever. Go enjoy your trip. Just don't forget your one week stay with me after," he reminded her.

"What – wait! What do you mean seven days? It was just six earlier,"Ara argued.

"Ah, I think it's nice to go to Hakone right now," was his reply with an evil grin the other couldn't see, but could definitely hear.

"Fine. Seven days then,"Ara conceded, and Koutaishidenka could imagine her pouting right now which added to his amus.e.m.e.nt.

"Brag well,"Ryuu said, reminding her about the bath time activity of the girls before ending the call.

Homura Ryuu stretched on the couch afterwards. He already knew about her temper. For sure she was already spitting mad at his shamelessness. He was unfazed however. Ara was not really someone who'd keep anger for a long time. He wondered though how she looked like at the moment.

With a sigh, he glanced at the table where he had been working on earlier. Since he originally planned to stay at the Cedar Palace, he didn't really have much to do, and he's a bit bored.

Remembering Ara's request, Ryuu contemplated for a while before making a decision. Ichihara and Okada huh?

Ryuu remembered bumping into the Okada woman the other day. He was on his way to the school to wait for Ara at the gates when that woman walked right into his c.h.e.s.t. Well, he'd actually let her. He'd seen her long before that happened – seen how she walked out of the gates of the school with a half-crazed expression that made her unaware of her surroundings.

Ara was right to worry about her friend Ichihara. Okada exuded so much blood thirst – it would be a surprise if she didn't do something soon.

Hmmmnnn…

Ryuu was originally planning on asking someone to check up on the crazy woman, but changed his mind. He was bored anyway. He'd do it himself.

Also, Mavara had been sulking awhile. It would be nice if that crazy wench really did something so he'd offer her to his dragon as a snack. It would maybe cheer his pet up.