The team ascended the tower walls using an ayakashi power to make themselves invisible, or that was what Aoi assumed. Ginji stopped as his eyes widened.
Across a lengthy stone wall, was a turret with the morning sun beaming down in. He recognized that lovely auburn hair. Her beautiful amber eyes.
"I-I-Iara...." He was speechless as he ran across the roof, collapsing into the room.
"Ah?! Who goes there?!" The woman backed up to her bed. Her amber eyes widened as well as tears flooded her eyes.
"Ginji?!" She smiled.
"This is where you've been all this time? I thought you were dead or something worse." Ginji pulled her close to him in a tight hug.
"Ginji...." She managed.
"You're trembling." Ginji stated, feeling her practically vibrate in his arms.
"I am fine....It's been close to 4 years since I last saw you." Iara pulled away smiling. The pair nuzzled their foreheads together, laughing in the morning sun.
"Iara, this my employer and good friend from Tenjin-ya, Odanna. And this is his fiancee, also human, Aoi." Ginji gestured to both respectively.
"It is a pleasure to meet another human!" Aoi beamed. Iara laughed and covered her lips with her kimono sleeve.
"Likewise, you look incredibly fresh and young to these old eyes." Iara smiled.
"Wait! How old are you?!" Aoi's eyes widened.
"I am 36 years old. The Hidden Realm has lengthened my lifespan by 20 years so I'm still a bit older than when I was betrothed." Iara stated.
"Seriously?! You look like you are 16 years old, like an adult, but really young!" Aoi looked perplexed.
"Well I was practically raised here since I was ten years old. I was betrothed to Ginji when I was 13. I met him officially when I was sixteen and we dated for a long time. Political issues were going on in court so we could not complete our wedding. I got kidnapped at 32 years old." She explained.
"No way! You've been dating Ginji longer than I've been alive!" Aoi gasped.
"Aoi, it is not polite to call someone old." Odanna scolded.
"It's okay, ogre-god. I'm technically in Hidden Realm years, I'm 16. A really mature 16 year old." Iara beamed.
"Back to things, let's get you out of here!" Ginji grabbed her hand.
"Ginji, this is my mind's form. Consort XiaoTiao put me in a deep sleep. My love, you must bring my body from this tower to save me." Iara smiled.
YOU ARE READING
A Rose that Blooms then Withers {A Ginji Love Story}
FanfictionIara is a lost Princess, another human who could easily travel between the apparent and hidden realms. The mistress of Orio-ya, betrothed Iara to Ginji while she was a blooming girl of 16. It has been 5 years since when she disappeared. Now it seems...
