Just Below the Surface
Theme: Little Earthquakes
Shuurei and Kouyuu quietly sipped their afternoon tea. It was their daily ritual. Some days it was filled with laughter and conversation. Today, both Kous were content to simply share the silence.
She cherished these moments. When conversation was thin, she took the opportunity to let her mind wander. A soft smile played on her lips as she gazed on her husband's far away look. Her father had been right. A couple really could grow into love.
With Kouyuu, she never had to put on a brave front. She could laugh heartily in his presence and not worry about how her teeth weren't straight or whether her hair would fall free from the ribbons she tied each morning. She was not embarrassed to show her fear of storms, and even took comfort in his arms as she had with Seiran so many years ago.
Her husband was lost in his own thoughts, and she wondered if he knew that his emotions passed unfiltered in these quiet moments. When his eyes softened, she was certain he was thinking about Huian. Dark looks usually concerned worries about the future, and the nervous finger tapping usually meant he was working on a complicated problem in his head.
Ever since Ran Shuuei re-appeared, however, Kouyuu had acquired a new expression. It was one she interpreted as confusion. She sighed wistfully as his eyes narrowed in concentration yet again. He would eventually tell her what's on his mind. It was only a matter of time.