Paradise Found

CHAPTER 10

Chapter 10

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"I think that's just about everything." I huffed, placing my hands on my hips and staring victoriously at the neatly packed belongings that had been organized.

"It had better be." Grumbled Machiko, as she shuffled into the living room carrying the box that held my bedding supplies that we were donating to our local orphanage.

I no longer needed it where I was going. Kyohei and I had spent the better part of these last three days getting his little home ready for us to live there together.

"I can't believe you've roped me in to helping you move twice now." She continued dramatically as she dropped the box with the other things she was taking to the orphanage. "What am I to you, a friend or a pack mule?"

I laughed at that one as I double checked that the donation boxes had been securely taped.

All of my personal belongings had once again been packed and consolidated, and I was ready to move.

There had been no ceremony, no special occasions, and no formal proceedings. But I was a married woman now all the same, ceremony or not.

All it took was Tsume's word and I had been elevated to the official status of Kyohei's wife, or mate, rather. They didn't use the terms 'husband' or 'wife', and they conducted no formal ceremonies to mark a union between two people. All we'd had to do was file a change of name form and sign a marriage certificate together at the records office, and that was it. All Tsume had told us was that we

were now bound in spirit, mind, and body, as well as reminding us that it was a serious union – one that was to be treasured and honored.

'The wolf mates for life.' Her words from that evening when we had said our goodbyes still rung in my ears.

But I didn't regret my decision. Even if we were not romantically engaged, I was glad I'd have Kyohei at my side in this life. Even if the marriage was fake, I had somebody I trusted fully, somebody who understood my past and understood me for who I truly was.

And I was content.

It was all quite simple and had happened so fast my head was still spinning from it. Only days ago was the night we had dinner with Tsume and her family, my family now too, and I was already set to move to the compound.

Yamamoto-baa-chan hadn't been happy to lose me as a tenant, but she hadn't argued when Kyohei paid out the rest of my lease in cash. In fact, she hadn't argued at all after seeing him procure the money, in cash, and toss it directly in front of her when we had met with her the week prior to discuss my upcoming move.

But Naruto?

The poor boy had been distraught to learn I was moving to the Inuzuka compound and would no longer be his next-door neighbor. He was still avoiding my gaze, still wallowing. I had assured him that nothing would change between us, but he just wouldn't listen.

I felt certain he was convinced I was leaving him behind now, just as everyone else had. He most likely thought that he would now go back to being all alone again, unloved and cast aside.

What a silly thing to think. Didn't he know he had me wrapped around his little finger?

This was why I had persuaded Kyohei into setting up a bed and night table in the spare room of his small house in the compound. The room was a gift to Naruto,

so that he could come and spend as much time as he pleased with us, or even spend the night if he so chose. Tsume had granted her permission to have him as a guest from time-to-time, and we had decorated his guest room and stocked it with all the cup ramen he could ever want. He couldn't stay over all the time, just for political reasons, but I was hoping it would be enough to cheer him up.