Chapter 1: ~Prologue~

Chizuru awoke and the morning light was streaming in through the window that faced the sea. Sunlight glinted off the smooth surface of the dark green waves crashing on the shore below and lit up the white foam that had accumulated there as the tide came in to wash the beach clean. It was one of those mornings that made you feel like a child again after waking early. She felt well rested, as if it was the first time in years she was able to sleep.

She stretched her arms above her head and yawned. The soft bed sheets felt surprisingly comfortable, unlike her usual futon in her old house that she shared with her father. Chizuru rolled over to see her husband, a man with dark crimson hair like the color of blood, still in a deep sleep next to her.

His chest rose and fell steadily with each breath he took in and out and Chizuru couldn't help but smile at him. She reached over and traced the shape of his face with her fingers and sighed contently as he stirred in his sleep and wrapped an arm around her waist. He leaned down and kissed her cheek before rolling away from her so he could lie in silence.

Chizuru watched him sleep for another moment before rolling out of bed.

She changed to a green Yukata and a yellow belt.

She stood in front of the mirror and noticed how long her hair had grown. Or maybe she was so used to tying it into a ponytail that it was strange to see it loose. Then Chizuru slid the window open to see the scenery outside.

It was a beautiful hillside full of trees covered in vibrant blue flowers, dotted here and there with small patches of grass. Harada was absolutely correct when he chose this place to be their home. It was paradise.

The two of them had been married for almost three months. Of course, most of this time was spent on them traveling...until they reached their home at last.

Now they can be free to enjoy each other's company as a newlywed.

So Chizuru tipped toed slowly out of the room because she wanted to surprise him with a nice breakfast.

Their home was small but still cozy, the tatami flooring creaking softly beneath Chizuru's feet as she walked across the hall and into the kitchen. First, she washed her face with the water bucket they prepared last night.

She started the kettle to boil, then she searched through the cabinets for the ingredients she desired. Chizuru still remembers how Harada liked his omelet so she started working.

Out of nowhere she felt hands wrap around her waist from behind and heard a sleepy voice say "Good morning."

"Good morning, love," Chizuru replied, turning in his hold to give him a kiss on the cheek. He smiled happily at her and planted a kiss on the tip of her nose. Harada looked really handsome right now, despite his disheveled hair.

"Now this is a sight I would love to wake up to, every morning." He said with a wink." Why don't we have breakfast outside?"

Chizuru didn't need to answer that, she would gladly be out there on the green earth. After all, it was such a beautiful day, perfect weather for making love or for doing both. Harada washed his face and then took a blanket with him outside. While she finished breakfast and then followed him.

He spread the blanket on the ground, right under the window of their bed-chamber, and then she placed the breakfast tray on the ground.

A gentle breeze blew through the trees surrounding them. It rustled the leaves and made them flutter against Chizuru's dress and she smiled.

"What are you thinking about now?"

Harada hummed, "The view," he said simply, kissing her lips before continuing, "How lucky we were that no one ever found us. We can finally leave all the things we did behind and start fresh from here." Chizuru nodded in agreement, not needing words to express what she agreed with.

They had been so busy dealing with their problems they never even stopped to think about what would happen to their future. But now they had a chance to change that, to begin anew. To escape the demons that haunted their memories.

"Sit," The two lay and started to eat.

"I invited Miss Hana to come for a coffee later, I hope that's okay," Chizuru spoke at last.

Harada took a sip from his drink and answered. "Yes, we should know our nearby neighbors." He breathed, and then he noticed the worried look on her pretty face.

"Is there something wrong?" He asked.

With a smile, she replied, "Nothing, it's just…are you sure about us living here?"

Now he understood the reason behind her worry, the subtle crease on her forehead, and the uncertainty in her eyes. She was afraid that he wanted to leave this place they called home, and because of her, he could not do it. They have been living in this house for almost five days now.

His voice, warm and sincere, wrapped around her like a comforting embrace. "Do not worry, my love," he reassured her, his eyes softening with tenderness. "I love it here, in this place that holds our laughter and our dreams. It's where I belong. Besides, I have work to do for our food, so this place fits me well."

A small, gentle chuckle escaped from Chizuru's lips, a delicate melody that danced in the air. For a moment the two just stared into one another. Every detail of his face was etched with want, the lines around his eyes becoming more pronounced as his anticipation grew. The subtle quiver of his lips betrayed a desire that words could never fully capture. His every breath was laden with a yearning that hung in the air.

He leaned over her and as their lips finally met, she sighed in blissful contentment. Her arms came up to encircle his neck, pulling him down into the kiss.

His hands cupped her cheeks, one thumb stroking the skin just above her lip. A gentle nudge of his knee made the space between them widen as he pulled her closer. She responded eagerly by parting her legs and pressing herself even harder against him. He groaned quietly at the sudden friction and shifted his weight, leaning further against the wall.

She pushed back into him again, feeling a thrill of excitement run through her as they moaned together. He lifted a hand from her hip and slowly unclasped the back of her yukata, running his thumb gently across the flesh there, before slipping it underneath. With another tug at her dress, it fell to the blanket and he pulled his own kimono off, tossing it aside.

(...)

A time later…the two got dressed and returned to their home.

Harada got ready to leave, it was his time to hunt for their food. Because of the fact that they live in the middle of nowhere, it's easier to catch their food than to make a trip to a nearby village. This is the work he got for himself. Still, the two of them had a good amount of money they saved up so they could buy supplies in the future. Not to mention he could sell what he hunts for a reasonable price.

He placed his spear behind his back as usual and took a bag that had a canteen and a long rope.

" Miss Chizuru!" Someone spoke outside. A deep husky voice that they knew all too well.

" Miss Hana come in!" Harada cheered, as he peaked from their bed chamber. The front door slid open and a middle-aged woman stepped inside. Her white hair was tied in a ponytail. She had a covered tray in her hand.

" Oh, are you off to work today?" She asked with a smile.

"Yes, will you keep her company for me? I appreciate it." He replied and shook his head. Chizuru came out of the kitchen, hands on hips, " Excuse you, I'm not a kid who needs someone." Her words earned a chuckle from both of them. Hana handed over the trey to Chizuru, who gladly accepted it and beckoned for her to come to their small living room.

"The meal is enough for the both of you for dinner later," Hana said loudly to the man and bowed her head.

"You are a generous woman, Miss Hana, I'll be sure to pay it back someday." He answered as Harada took a cloak from the desk they had in their bed chamber. It was a mottled one that could blend in well in their environment. The perfect tool for hunting.

He could hear the two women chatting with one another. Still, there was no time to slack around, he closed the door behind him and went for the entrance.

" Wait," Before he could leave, he felt Chizuru wrap her arms around his back in a tight hug. " Good luck to you, try to not be late."

Harada faced her with a smile, "I love it when you are worried about me," He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "Save those lips for me, for later. Got it?" He said with a chuckle. Chizuru couldn't help but laugh along with him. " Farewell." She waved goodbye, and she remained there until he was out of her sight.

…..

The wind howled outside, its gusts carrying with it swirls of sand.

Chizuru's heart raced as she pressed her palms against the windowpane, her eyes scanning the foggy horizon. The once vibrant green land now has been hidden.

As the dust storms intensified, Chizuru's mind wandered to Harada. "Where is he? It's getting dark." The moment she said these words, she heard the front door open and the wind roared for a second before it was closed.

She hurried out of their bedroom to welcome him, her heart fluttering with excitement. " Welcome home, my love." She said happily.

Harada stood at the entrance for a second, dusting himself, he looked like he had taken a swim in a paint. "Oh geez, that was fun," He pouted.

Chizuru chuckled, it was cute to see him like this. " Your bath is ready, give that to me." She said and reached for the bag where he tugged his hunt. Harada gladly handed it over to her.

He gingerly slipped off his footwear, no need to trail dust inside the house. He took a step forward and It was as if an invisible force with an inexplicable suddenness came in, Chizuru saw him trip as if the ground beneath him seemed to shift like a rug being pulled out from under his feet.

Time slowed down, her mind struggling to comprehend what was happening, and he slammed into the tatami flooring with a loud thud. He remained there for a second, shaking. "Sano? " Chizuru knelt down before him and held his arm. "Are you okay?" Her voice broke.

He groaned as he lifted himself slightly off the ground. On his face, Chizuru could see a red mark. " I'm fine, I just tripped." He heaved and then pushed himself onto his feet. " I'll go shower and change." Still, Chizuru held his arm and escorted him to the bathroom where the warm water was ready. At last, Harada pulled her hand off of him and smiled. "I'm fine now, I will see you in a moment." Chizuru nodded slowly and went to leave the bag in the kitchen and then returned to the living room and waited for him.

It took Harada five minutes, until he joined her, clean and fresh wearing dark grey clothes.

So Chizuru lifted the piece of clothes off the trey, to show him their dinner.

" Delicious," Thrilled, Harada said as he saw the well-made meal." How did you make this? I thought we didn't have many ingredients."

Chizuru raised an eyebrow at him, confused. " This is Miss Hana's meal she gifted us this morning."

Harada was silent for a moment, then he laughed. " Ah right, I'm just tired right now."

The two started eating in silence, so Chizuru tried to say something. "So, what do you think if we spend the day at the beach tomorrow? Maybe we swim in the ocean later."

" Sure, we could do that." Answered Harada. The room was heavy with tension as the silence settled between them again. The air felt thick, suffocating as if the weight of unspoken words was suffusing the space. Chiozuru bit her lip as her eyes lowered to her hands.

She couldn't understand what was going on. They were fine this morning.
"You see," She tried again,"I think I want to start a flower business, so I can help with our needs. I could go with you to the nearby village someday. Do you think this could work?" Said Chizuru with a smile. Harada was still focused on his plate, he continued eating without even glancing at her.

" I'm not sure, considering the location. Perhaps others already have this job." He replied, and then took a sip of his drink, and then heaved a sigh. "I'm done, let's go my darling." He said and winked.

Sex again? She thought to herself, then took a breath.

They are newlyweds, it is fine to want to enjoy each other anytime they can. A smile grew in her pale face and she followed him to their bed-chamber.

In the middle of the night, as the moon hung low in the dark sky, slowly, her eyes fluttered open, the drowsiness reluctantly yielding to wakefulness.

As she became aware of her surroundings, the silence of the night whispered in her ears, broken only by the rhythmic lullaby of her own breath.

The room was cloaked in darkness, with only the moonlight seeping through the half-closed window.

Her slender arms grabbed the blanket and hugged her chest, desperately seeking solace from the unforgiving cold. Only to realize the other side of the bed is empty. Harada is nowhere to be seen. "Where is he now?" She wondered and started to grab her clothes from the ground and get dressed.

Walking outside, she felt the frigid air freeze her bones. The ground was still wet from the recent storm that went by.

Looking around, the front yard of their house is empty. She rounded right to the back of their house and there, she saw him.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, looking at a half-formed moon. "Sano, what are you doing here?" She asked, her voice cut off by the sound of the tied crashing on the rocks below.

He was standing still like a statue, he didn't even flinch or do anything to acknowledge her presence.

"Sano?" She called out hesitantly, but no response came from the guy. "Sano?" He stood motionless for another moment, then turned his head slightly and met her eyes with what looked like surprise.

"Oh hey, Chizuru. Why are you awake?" He asked.

" I could ask you the same thing," She replied," What are you doing out here in the cold?"

Harada returned his gaze up to the moon and continued. "I just couldn't sleep, and the moon looks nice tonight."

This still didn't feel right, his behavior was cold. She reached over and touched his hand, silently he took his hand away from her. "Do not stay up for my sake." He said with a smile. "I will return to bed soon, I promise." He said. Then he resumed his previous position, facing the moon once again.

No more words to be said, she turned her back to him and returned to the house, tears spilling down her cheeks. They were fine in the entirety of their travels and a couple of days living here. Why? She wondered and as she closed the front door and returned to her bed, her mind started to mess with her even more.

Things like this do happen, maybe the moment he was able to have her the spark started to die out. Maybe he is bored and planning to leave her? She whimpered and covered her face with the blanket. "No, Sano wouldn't do that to me like this." Maybe she should try to talk to him tomorrow, see what is bothering him.

That would be all for now.