One month after marriage.
"Yoizumi? We're leaving," Shinobu's call came from outside. Yoizumi responded, gently set down the photo frame in his hand, took one last look at the picture, unconsciously smiled, then turned and pushed the door open, departing.
The sunlight streaming through the window flickered on the swaying gauze curtains, constantly blown by the wind, causing the photo on the frame to alternately brighten and dim.
Finally, the wind stopped, the gauze curtains became still, and the sunlight focused on the smiling faces of Yoizumi and Shinobu in their wedding attire, looking at the camera.
Walking through the long corridor, Yoizumi came to Shinobu's side. Today, Shinobu said she wanted to take him back to her original home.
It was the home where Shinobu grew up... Yoizumi really wanted to see it.
While Yoizumi was still thinking, a shadow suddenly fell over him, and Shinobu's unique pleasant scent was right at his nose.
Shinobu stood on her tiptoes, raising her hands high to wrap the red scarf around Yoizumi's nape, then gave a slight pull, making Yoizumi lower his head.
Silently watching Shinobu put on his scarf, Yoizumi's sapphire eyes were full of tenderness. He couldn't help but raise a hand and gently caress Shinobu's cheek.
"What's wrong?" Shinobu carefully tied Yoizumi's scarf, then slightly raised her gaze, tilted her head, and asked softly.
"I just wanted to touch Shinobu."
Yoizumi shook his head, his neck wrapped in the soft scarf, half his face buried in it, feeling warm.
Thinking of something, Shinobu felt her earlobes flush, and a faint blush spread across her fair face. She quickly wrapped herself in her scarf, only her eyes showing, and at the same time, with a puzzled look from Yoizumi, she punched him in the waist.
"Huh?"
Yoizumi, not understanding why Shinobu suddenly punched him, widened his eyes slightly and looked at Shinobu. Seeing her turn her head away from him, Yoizumi wondered... did he upset Shinobu somehow?
Or was it that even touching wasn't allowed?
Alright... He reached out and tugged Shinobu's scarf, adjusting it for her, then stopped moving, simply tilting his head and earnestly watching his wife with his clear blue eyes.
After a long time, not getting a sound or movement from Yoizumi, Shinobu sighed in resignation, reached out and took Yoizumi's hand, then looked up at this clueless person with a hint of exasperation.
"Why are you so sensible now?"
"Clearly..."
Shinobu pulled her scarf further up her face with one hand, pressing her face into the soft fabric, not wanting Yoizumi to see her flushed cheeks.
He had already made a move, yet he used such innocent eyes and spoke in such a calm tone.
Is it not allowed...? Shinobu sighed softly, looking at Yoizumi, who was smiling because she held his hand. She sighed in her heart.
She truly had no way to deal with him... "Let's go," Shinobu said softly.
"Okay," Yoizumi held Shinobu's hand tightly, so tightly that she wouldn't feel the cold. The two walked side-by-side on the snow-covered ground. Yoizumi held a paper umbrella steadily in his other hand, its surface tilted towards Shinobu.
Footprints, one deep and one shallow, appeared side by side in the snow, then gradually became covered by the white snow, disappearing from sight... Shinobu could look up and see the white snow clinging to Yoizumi's beautiful golden hair, but he seemed completely unconcerned.
Shinobu thought... indeed... snow and Yoizumi really suited each other... "We've arrived..." Shinobu looked at the courtyard before her, feeling a surge of bitterness in her heart, a familiar yet strange feeling lingering in her mind.
She was clearly familiar with everything here, yet stepping into her former home now, she felt a sense of unreality... A hand gently stroked her head, the movement so careful, Yoizumi's voice tinged with worry.
"Are you alright, Shinobu?"
Shinobu glanced at Yoizumi, then surveyed her surroundings. She raised a hand and pointed to a spot, her gentle voice filled with nostalgia.
"Yoizumi, do you know?"
"My favorite thing to do was to stay in the medicinal field my father planted."
Yoizumi silently walked beside Shinobu, listening intently.
"When I was little, I casually picked a few medicinal herbs whose names I hadn't even fully memorized, and unexpectedly, I actually managed to make medicine..."
"Yoizumi, aren't I amazing?" Shinobu tilted her head slightly, her hands behind her back, appearing very lively and full of youthful spirit.
Yoizumi's sapphire eyes reflected Shinobu's image—Shinobu, like a resilient flower in the snow. He raised a hand to tuck in Shinobu's scarf, preventing the cold wind from entering. His voice was very soft, yet it couldn't be concealed by the falling snow.
"Yes... Shinobu is amazing."
Shinobu smiled, her beautiful eyes curving, and pulled Yoizumi to walk inside the house.
"I've asked someone to regularly clean and maintain the house, so we can stay here tonight."
Shinobu led Yoizumi on a tour of the house's layout, talking as they walked.
"Okay," he responded softly. Yoizumi constantly paid attention to Shinobu's emotions. He understood... how sad it was to return to one's former home only to find that everything had changed... Yet... Shinobu was even stronger than Yoizumi had imagined.
At least for now... Shinobu hadn't shown any negative emotions.
But Yoizumi thought.
Perhaps Shinobu had already gotten used to it... become numb... accepted it... Thinking of this, Yoizumi felt a difficult emotion welling up in his chest. He knew... this was the feeling of heartache.
Shinobu... if only she knew how to comfort herself more.
Yoizumi tightened his grip on Shinobu's hand and stopped. Shinobu also stopped, turning back to look at Yoizumi, a hint of confusion flashing in her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
She received no answer, but instead, a tender embrace. Shinobu leaned against Yoizumi's chest in a daze, unable to react to his actions.
"Shinobu, you've worked hard."
"I... mm... will always be with you."
Her expression slowly darkened. Shinobu buried her face deep in her lover's chest, clutching Yoizumi's clothes tightly with both hands. Her slender body trembled slightly, then gradually calmed down.
"Mm," her eyes slightly moistened. Shinobu looked up at Yoizumi, the tears at the corners of her eyes unable to fall, because someone had already wiped them away for her.
Late Night
Yoizumi turned to look at his wife's sleeping face, his sapphire eyes watching her intently. He gently brushed a strand of Shinobu's hair behind her ear, then leaned in and placed a kiss on Shinobu's forehead.
"Goodnight, Shinobu."
Gently embracing Shinobu, Yoizumi also closed his eyes... He frowned, something urging him to open his eyes in the dark. As his vision slowly cleared, Yoizumi's eyes widened slightly once he saw his surroundings.
Here... Shinobu's home?
Wasn't he sleeping?
How did he end up outside?
Was he dreaming?
His gaze fell on the familiar sword at his waist. Yoizumi gripped the hilt, the cold touch telling him.
This dream was so real.
Yoizumi hadn't figured out the situation yet...
"Ah!"
A scream pierced the night sky. The moment Yoizumi recognized it coming from inside the house, he instinctively rushed towards it!
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