Alinea

Homura Ryuu and Kazehaya Gin were inspecting the blackened objects on the ground that they found, to verify if they were indeed the giant arachnids they were after.

"What do you think?" the wind caster asked. His eyes were totally fatigued, but he could still discern the shape.

"Yes, they're all gone," Ryuu confirmed the demise of the remaining arachnids they were after, officially ending the chase.

Though burned into a crisp, the spiders had retained their shape. Even if some had crumbled into ashes, the form on the ground was still like that of an arachnid's. There were five of those, plus a totally wrecked car. They wondered if the car was empty or not, and was in the middle of being attacked when the lightning storm started and the owner died with the monsters.

"Find out who owned this, and compensate his family, "Koutaishidenka ordered softly, frowning at the totaled and burned vehicle.

"But we're not sure if it's occupied."

Kazehaya looked at the car. It was destroyed and placed in the middle of the road surrounded by the spiders, but he couldn't see any remains of a person.

"It doesn't matter. If he's alive then replace his car. This one wouldn't have been destroyed if we were able to do our jobs properly. "

If they were able to contain the monsters as soon as they appeared, neither properties nor lives would have been lost as they did tonight. It was a failure on their part as guardians. Also, the reason why the clan had maintained its wealth was for times like this. They had to pay the price and make sure to aid the people who were affected by anything that came out of that portal.

"Alright, "Kazehaya answered.

He raised his hand, about to use his powers to clear the mess when Ryuu stopped him.

"Don't waste your energy. People would come to clean up later," the Prince said.

Gin smiled gratefully at him. "I want to take a bit of rest before we head back. I'm really going to collapse soon," he informed him sheepishly.

All this time they were there, Gin was mostly running on adrenaline since he was scared for Ara's safety. But now that the danger was gone, his initial fatigue came in waves, and he would really get knocked out soon.

"Sure, "Ryuu agreed, as he turned towards the remains of the spiders once more with suspicious eyes. "When we return, have Fuuma investigate this thunderstorm as well."

"Eh? Why?"

"Because it's strange," Ryuu answered.

"Why is it strange? It happens sometimes in Hakone," Gin couldn't understand what got Koutaishidenka so interested.

"In winter? And with that type? I don't think so."

Thunderstorms did occur in winter, but they were rare because the air was more stable during this season. Strong updrafts failed to form because the surface temperatures during the winter were colder.

Gin eyed him curiously. "What do you have in mind?"

"Nothing so far. For now, I just want it investigated," Ryuu answered honestly.

It might be nothing but a coincidence, but he wanted it investigated properly.

"I'll go check up on Ara first. If you want, we can arrange to go back by bullet train," Koutaishidenka suggested, but the CEO shook his head.

"Nah. It's the conference early tomorrow. I need to go back tonight, "Kazehaya explained.

Ryuu frowned but didn't say anything before he left to search for Ara, while Kazehaya found a tree to rest under.

It didn't take long for Koutaishidenka to reach the ryokan where his fiancée was staying. He didn't enter through the front door, however. He didn't want to let her know that he was here. He just wanted to see her, to make sure that she's okay.

The ice-cold fear that he had felt earlier when he learned about the arachnids that were heading this way wouldn't completely disappear until he could see with his own eyes that she was truly unharmed. It was unreasonable since he was sure the insects didn't reach the place. Still…

He walked the perimeter of the ryokan, directly to where he knew Ara was staying. Unbeknownst to his fiancée, this hotel was owned by Homura International, and Ryuu was a frequent visitor. Actually, the room where Ara was staying right now was the room reserved only for him. Nobody else was allowed to use it – until her.

Reaching the place, Ryuu looked up at the high fence made of volcanic rocks. Next to it were huge trees that never lose their leaves in spite of the winter season. With ease, the prince scaled the trunk of one tree and perched on its branch to check if he could see Ara from there.

But when he managed to look beyond the fence, he was dumbstruck.

"Ah…"

He felt awkward, as the heat started creeping on his face, although his face didn't change its expression. His eyes, however, flickered, locking on the lone girl standing in all her n.a.k.e.d glory in the middle of the shallow spring facing him. The light in her room was open, as the shoji was open, while the moonlight also c.a.r.e.s.sed her skin. So, all her beautiful attributes were on display for his eyes to feast upon.

Her hair was tied in a messy bun, with strands falling on her snow-white, delicate shoulders. Her neck was long and elegant as a swan's. Her c.h.e.s.t a pair of bountiful mounds glistened with the beads of water cascading down her smooth skin in between her b.r.e.a.s.ts, down her narrow waist, evading her navel, towards the forbidden V in between her legs 'til they return to the spring.

Like a man deprived of water, his eyes drank the sight of her. He had seen a lot of women in his life, but his future wife far surpassed them all. She was truly beautiful, like a nymph in the myths, and he felt something strange in his c.h.e.s.t.

Was this relief because he was now very sure that she's safe? He had no idea, but maybe. He couldn't find any other reason why he would feel that way otherwise. He continued to watch like a lowly hooligan, but this was his wife, so he didn't think it was wrong to look at her.

She looked like she was debating with herself since she kept mumbling as she walked towards the deeper end of the pool where the waterfall was. He couldn't hear what she was saying so audibly to herself since the cascading water from the falls was noisy. But he could tell that she was troubled about something at first, and then she cheered up again as if she had found a resolution to her dilemma.

He wondered what that was about, but he didn't want to show himself to ask. So, with one last glance at this beautiful nymph, Homura Ryuu left as quietly as he had arrived, like a shadow in the night. As he walked back to search for Kazehaya, Ryuu couldn't help but wish it was already Thursday tomorrow, the day he would bring Ara to the Cedar Palace for the first time.