Whispers of Water and Wind

Chapter 21 Flower's For Giyuu

A few days later, Sanemi was standing at Giyuu's doorstep, holding a bouquet of flowers in his hand. His heart raced as he knocked on the door, feeling strangely nervous despite all the times he'd come to see her before. But this time, something felt different. He had chosen the flowers carefully.

Inside the house, Giyuu heard the knock and immediately knew who it was. Her heart fluttered unexpectedly, a feeling she hadn't allowed herself to acknowledge before. She stood up quickly, almost too quickly, making her way to the door as if she had been waiting for him.

So much had changed for her in these past few weeks. Sanemi had been relentless, always chasing her, always showing up, and never giving up on her. At first, she found it bothersome, maybe even irritating, but slowly, his persistence started to break down the walls she had built around her heart. She began to see that his determination wasn't just stubbornness—it was genuine care. It made her realize that Sanemi's affection wasn't fleeting, he truly loved her.

As Giyuu opened the door, her breath caught in her throat when she saw Sanemi standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers. Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she was pulled back into a memory she hadn't thought of in years.

Memory......

Giyuu stood in the kitchen, the soft glow of the setting sun casting warm shadows across the room. She was humming lightly to herself when Sabito quietly walked in, holding a small bouquet of lilies. The sight of him startled her out of her thoughts, and she couldn't help but smile as she recognized the flowers—dark blue petals that grew by the lake they had visited months ago.

"Sabito," Giyuu said, her voice light with joy. "You went back to the lake?"

Sabito smiled, but there was something distant in his eyes. "Yeah, I had a mission near there, so I thought I'd bring them for you."

Giyuu took the flowers from his hands, brushing her fingers gently over the delicate petals. "They're beautiful. Thank you."

She turned to put them in a vase, but as she arranged them, she noticed Sabito was unusually quiet. When she looked back at him, he seemed lost in thought, staring at the flowers with a look of sadness she rarely saw on his face.

"What's wrong?" Giyuu asked softly, her smile fading as she approached him.

Sabito took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving the flowers. "When I reached that lake today, something felt... off. It reminded me of a conversation we had once."

Giyuu's heart tightened at his tone. "What conversation?"

He hesitated, his eyes finally meeting hers, filled with a mixture of love and fear. "Giyuu, if I ever die... I want you to get married again. I want you to keep living your life."

Giyuu froze, her mind struggling to process his words. "What... what are you talking about?" she asked, her voice trembling. "That's ridiculous. I love you, Sabito. If something happened to you, I'd live with your memory."

Sabito's expression softened, but the sadness didn't leave his eyes. He stepped closer to her, gently cupping her face with his hand. "And that's what would hurt me the most, Giyuu," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't want you to suffer. I don't want you clinging to my memory and forgetting to live your own life. If I saw you trapped in grief, not living the way you and your sister would have wanted, it would break my heart."

Giyuu's eyes welled up with tears, her chest tightening at his words. "Stop saying that," she whispered, her voice cracking. "You're not going anywhere. I need you here with me. I... I can't imagine life without you."