S C A N D A L

Chapter Thirty-One

Supper was a repetition of their silent luncheon. Since their altercation, Kurou avoided him and Shiro watched him pick disinterestedly at his food. Though they both tried their best to appear as normal as possible, both elders could tell that something was amiss. Thankfully, his cousin Yoshihiro and Kurou's brother Raiden kept Ojii-chan and Oba-chan entertained. Shiro also couldn't help being reminded of himself and Kurou when he looked at them. They did nothing but banter and trade insults back then too. The only difference was, that Raiden was less mischievous than Kurou and he truly wanted to be friends with his cousin. Possibly more if Yoshihiro would allow it.

Shiro would like to have a frank talk with his husband and clear the air between them. He knew that Kurou had uncommonly good sense. But Shiro also understands that if he would clear the air, he must also tell him the truth. Kurou knew he was lying and this was the primary reason for his anger. After that awkward supper, Kurou rose to leave him and Shiro recognized this as a sign to not approach him if he continued to refuse to tell him the truth.

Sighing, Shiro stepped outside to have a moment to himself. He was on a patio overlooking the ocean, the box was still in his pocket and he pulled it out to stare at it long and hard. The bracelet was beautiful and expensive. Shiro could only imagine the worth, and he must admit to himself that he was tempted to sell the jewels that were given by Kurou and his mother-in-law Azumi to pay for all his father's debts and save the bathhouse. But he changed his mind at the last minute because he knew the reason why they gave those gifts to him, and it wasn't the price of all those diamonds, rubies, or emeralds that were embedded in those gifts. It was the thought of how these people viewed him. To them, he was their treasure and all these pieces of jewelry and accessories were how Kurou and his family viewed his worth. Shiro never truly appreciated being gifted expensive things. But Kurou often told him that this was what he deserved.

Inhaling deeply and exhaling loudly, he kept the box back in his pocket and watched the surroundings. It was late, but the sun was hanging just over the horizon. Winter was fast approaching, and the temperature was starting to feel less warm.

"We can be a little overwhelming, but we are great people."

Shiro was surprised to see Oba-chan standing behind him, and now sitting beside him on the bench to watch the setting. "Gomenasai, Oba-chan...it's just a mild misunderstanding."

Arisu smiled and reached out to pat his hand. "It's fairly normal for married couples to have misunderstandings that could last even for days. Sometimes, you need to stay away from each other for a while to deal with your emotions. Or you could start with openness and a willingness to quickly seek clarification to curb your differences."

Shiro glanced inside and saw that Ojii-chan, Yoshihiro, and Raiden Nii-san seemed to be having a party.

Oba-chan, "Winter solstice is coming. Some people in this village pretty much party until they fall over. They don't normally watch the clock."

"That sounds fun."

"I actually missed it when I was younger and arthritis isn't any of my issues."

"You can always call us," Shiro gazed at her tenderly. "We'll party with you."

"Sounds tempting. What's bothering you, little Shiro?"

Shiro blew an air out of his mouth. "I only wanted to protect him. He went through a lot. People judged him, made fun of him, and slandered his name without knowing him."

"And you think the best way to protect him was to sort out your own problems without bothering him?" the old woman lifted her eyes to meet his. "I never believed those rumors, those scandals...I know Kurou's not talking about it. Nor did he attempt to discredit the news. His parents see him as a rebel while I always think of him as a naughty yet good boy."