Sakuno opened her eyes slowly and turned her face. Ryoma was sleeping in front of her. He seemed so tired. Her fingers gently touched his face and the golden eyes opened to her.
"Sakuno?"
"Hello, Ryoma." She smiled gently and her husband hugged her very tight.
"Sakuno, you are awake!" he looked at her, his hands on her face. "You are finally awake!"
"Ryoma, what happened? How did I arrive here?"
"You do not remember?"
"No." she answered sincerely. "The last thing I recall was being at a festival with Ren."
"Sakuno, you killed him." The scarlet eyes were wide in pure shock. "He tried to attack me and you killed him."
Her hands grabbed the cloth of his yukata and her forehead rested against his chest.
"Ryoma… are you mad with me? He was your brother, right?" he noticed her hands were trembling with a genuine fear of his reaction.
"What are you saying?" he kissed her forehead. "You saved my life again. You were willing to stay with him so I could be safe. How could I be mad at you?" he showed her a small smile. "You are so brave, Sakuno."
"I just wanted to see you again." she hugged him. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too." He kissed his wife with all the love he had held inside on those long and scary days without her by his side. The mermaid melted on her husband's embrace like the white foam when finally reaching the sand.
##################
"Sakuno-san is finally awake." Shuichirou said, after he entered his wife's office. She was in the middle of signing some paperwork and did not look at him.
"I see."
"Ryoma asked about you. Aren't you going to see your brother?"
"Not now. I am busy. There are things I need to do while he does not take his seat as the lord."
"Kaori, stop for a while." He came close and touched her hand gently. "You did not leave this desk today. You did not even eat properly. It is dinner time already, come with me, please."
"I am busy!" she finally looked at him with a displeased look at the pink eyes. "Please, leave me be!"
The green eyes were deeply hurt. Kaori realized her wrong behavior and tried to reach her husband's hand but he turned around before she could apologize.
"I am sorry for bothering you. I will not do it again. Goodnight."
Kaori felt horrible for the way she treated her husband. But there was so much to deal in Muramasa, so much to fix from the things Ren had neglected, she just didn't have any spare time. She had to work hard for the state and its people sake. Everything else could wait for a while.
##################
Ryoma and Sakuno were having dinner inside his chambers. Since his wife was still a little weak, he managed to bring her ocean water to her legs. He had a small smile on while watching her eating. She was having seconds already. There was grilled chicken, rice and steamed vegetables.
"What is it, Ryoma?" she asked, after eating a piece of chicken. "You are not eating anymore."
"I am just glad you are not feeling sick anymore. And your appetite is good."
"I prefer your food, but there are moments I feel like dying if I don't eat." She ate two big pieces of vegetables.
"It is a normal thing, since the baby is growing inside of you. It is just a sign she is healthy."
Sakuno smiled and rubbed her belly.
"I hope we can go home soon, so we can swim together again." Her words surprised him and Ryoma got closer.
"Sakuno, do you wish to leave here? Do you want to return to that small house?"
"Of course." Her hand gently touched her face. "That place is our home, right? It is the place I met you. It is the place I want to raise our child."
The young human hugged his wife gently.
"That is right. That is our home." He looked at her with kind golden eyes. "As soon as you are feeling stronger, we will return there, okay? And I will cook you all the food you want."
"Okay!" she grinned happily.