[ DISCONTINUED ] Reborn: Runaway Bride

Chapter 19: Family Reunion

The voice from the door came to an abrupt halt as Ai and Hayama looked up with varying reactions, one being dread and the other being bewilderment.

No matter how one looked at it, this current situation was not good. Ai's outer robe was halfway down her shoulders while Hayama's hands were clutching it tightly.

...What's with this caught-in-the-act-101 scenario?! That Hayama and his itchy hands!... Ai felt the dreadful sense of foreshadowing as she stared at her brother silently.

Saito Shizuka stood frozen at the doorway as his expression drastically changed from happiness and excitement to unbridled anger. Like a looming volcano about to erupt, Saito's nostrils flared as he bellowed loudly: "You!!!" while pointing an accusing finger at Hayama.

Seeing that kind of batshit-crazy-anger directed at him out of nowhere, Hayama paled. He only wanted to heal Ai and yet the familiar Shinto official, who he now found out as Ai's brother, had barged into the room and yelled at him? What did he do wrong?!...

But looking at her brother who looked like he was ready to put Hayama's head onto a spike, he suddenly felt fearful. Without thinking too much, he immediately leapt up to hide behind his stronghold of protection: the unwavering and unbreakable shield Ai Shizuka.

...Talk about being a dignified crown prince... Ai thought solemnly as she pulled on her robe slightly, ready to explain to her overprotective brother.

"Big brother..." Ai began.

But Saito wasn't having it. Seeing the prince comfortably nestled up behind his baby sister, his anger shot up multitude higher as he roared: "Let go of my baby sister!", while unsheathing his famous word, Thousand Blades of Ultimate Brotherly Devotion.

Seeing that familiar multi-bladed weapon with an unusually long name, Ai sighed tiredly. She had always known that her brother liked to pamper her and was truly indulgent towards her but really? Thousand blades of ultimate brotherly devotion?... That would make anyone choke with tears of uneasiness.

Yet her brother wielded the sword with a great deal of confidence like a naked blind man walking down the street, not at all bothered about how ridiculous he appeared to others.

Before things got out of control, Ai decided to open her mouth again to stop her brother, but she was cut off immediately when a voice behind her yelped: Brother-in-law! Calm down!

If Saito was angry before, Hayama's words were the exact trigger that unleashed the hellfire from the very depth of hell.

The veins on Saito's face popped up dramatically as he ground his teeth in rage.

...Brother-in-law?! Brother-in-law your mother! Who gave you permission to call me that?! Crown prince or not, I will whoop your ass today!...

Visibly angered that someone dared to "defile" his precious sister and even thick-skinned enough to call him brother-in-law, Saito shot forwards, holding his blade horizontally with the profound intention of slicing up Hayama into sashimi.

But luckily enough, Hayama was truly gifted at being a slippery bastard. He easily manoeuvred out of the way as he ran out the door, yelling: Help!!!

Yet his luck had run out when he was caught by Hakura, who just joined due to the noises.

"What's all this ruckus about?" Lord Shizuka asked annoyedly as he frowned slightly. He just came back, being tired from his travel and what's with all the running?

But missing his dear daughter, Hakura looked towards Ai's direction with happiness evident in his eyes. But the sight that greeted him caused his happy expression to instantly freeze in the air.