The Queen of Masks [Sakura Haruno Story]

85

"Auntie Saku!" Celia exclaimed as she swung open the door. "You're back!" She tackled Sakura with a hug.

Lihn appeared at the end of the hallway. "Sakura! Come in, dinner's almost done, eat with us!"

Sakura grinned and stepped in, taking her shoes off and following Celia to the kitchen. Wylie, who was setting the table, looked up and grinned. "Hey Auntie," He stepped over and enveloped Sakura in a hug. Sakura noticed that Wylie had to hunch in order to hug her. He had inherited his father's height.

"Hey sis," Rui greeted from the stove. Even though Lihn was the better chef, Rui loved to cook so they often just let him do his own thing, and his creations weren't half bad.

"Hey Rui." Sakura walked over and bumped her hip on his leg. "What's for dinner?"

"Fried chicken, rice, and boiled carrot and peas."

"Sounds good." Sakura hummed as she helped Wylie set the table, before going over to the living room to catch up with Lihn.

As dinner commenced, Sakura enjoyed the friendly banter as she looked for a opening to bring up the topic of Rui's family. And she found her chance as Celia finished her retell of her latest mission and a comfortable silence settled over the family. "So. I was in a village in the outskirts of the land of The Land of Lightning, and you wouldn't believe who I met." Her eyes met Rui's and he stiffened when he seemed to realize something. "Your family is very nice, Rui. And Celia and Wylie have cousins around their age that I'm sure they'd be great friends with."

"You met my family."

"Yes. And they want you to come and visit. They were very friendly, your siblings miss you." Sakura held Rui's gaze. "I think you should go."

"There's no way I'm going back to that hell hole—" He stopped when Lihn reached over and grabbed his hand.

"Come on, honey. I want to meet you family, and I'm sure the children do too. You've been running for long enough." Lihn spoke softly.

Rui sighed, the fight leaving him. "Fine. I guess we can go. We should show the kids where their father grew up. But I'm not seeing my father. I absolutely refuse to."

Sakura couldn't keep the smile off her face as she shared excited looks with the kids. "I'm coming too!"