A Winter's Treasure {Tengen Uzui}

The Storm Inside

Tengen and Makio stood in front of each other in complete silence. The tall man looked down at his wife in a serious frown while she couldn't bring herself to look at him. Makio felt so angry yet so disgusted with herself. Yes, she was in fact very angry with him, but she regrets letting her feelings take over and lead her to storm off like that on him and Nagisa. Although she still felt that Nagisa had that slap coming. Who does she think she is to kiss her husband?? After a few more seconds of silence, Makio cleared her throat and started to talk.

"Lord Tengen.... I..."

"Do you really think that I'm like my brother??" He simply asked.

Makio's eyes widened and she gasped. She finally lifted her face to look at him. "No!! Of course not, Lord Tengen!! I was just.... Really angry, and.... I wasn't thinking my actions through." She spoke out of despair.

"I see. I'm not gonna pretend that your words did not hurt me in any way, but I think we should put that aside for now. After all, there's a huge elephant in the room at the moment." Tengen said, letting out a huge sigh.

Makio pressed her lips together when he said that. "In fact there is."

"First of all, I never meant to hurt you or the girls in any shape or form. When I brought Nagisa into our lives I knew that things would never be the same, but I didn't see it as a bad thing. She was so helpless and fragile that I just couldn't leave her after what happened. And when I saw that you were all getting along with her I saw it as another motive to keep her with us. And seeing her growing and recovering each passing day brought me immense joy." He tried to explain how he felt to her about Nagisa. Hoping to clear any doubts she had.

Makio looked at him as he spoke. Each word of his only made her frown even more. She was just getting even more confused about the whole Nagisa situation with Tengen and her mind felt like a messy puzzle. "Lord Tengen. Do you like her??" She asked.

The Hashira looked at her in surprise. "What??"

"Do you like Nagisa??" She insisted.

"Well, yes. Why would I keep her with us If i didn't??" He said without batting an eye.

"I mean do you have any feelings for her?? Romantically or some sort??"

"Makio.... Where's all of this coming from??"

"Just answer me!! I'm one of your wives and I have the right to know!! If Hina and Suma don't have the courage to ask you upfront I do!! So tell me!!" Makio demanded almost furiously.

"I..... Have to admit that she's a beautiful woman. Just as beautiful as you three. And when I think of her I see her in the same way as I see the three of you. A charming and flamboyant woman who I vow to protect with my life the moment she crosses my path." Tengen spoke in sincerity.

"So, does that mean you love her?? I need a more conclusive answer!!"

"Honestly, I don't know. I'll just say that I've gotten used to having her around and can't see her leaving us."

"You're.... used to her?? What does that even mean?? You only wish to keep her as a pet or a maid or..... some concubine??"

"What?!? No!! Why would you say that, Makio??"

"Well, everytime you describe her you sound too euphemistic as if you were trying to humanize something in the undertones. I'm not stupid, Lord Tengen. You clearly feel something else for her and I think it goes from the beginning. I saw how close you and she got as time passed, and I'm pretty sure that Hinatsuru and Suma know that as well. They just chose to ignore it." She crossed her arms and looked away from him angrily.