Welcome to Gaia! ::

Airi had moved as quickly as she could towards the manor she had grown so used to visiting. Oddly enough, she couldn't understand why her parents would be there of all places. Especially with an emergency. This was the home of Yorokobi...shouldn't his family call him instead of her? A million things ran through her head as she moved through the familiar halls until she reached a room in which her parents would be with the head of the Hi-Sanada family.

She entered in slowly and was ushered in with her parents, who were speaking so quickly that it confused the poor woman. What was this talk about marriage and it being important to both families?

"I...I don't...please talk slower..." She muttered before they spoke once more. Her face immediately went red at the whole talk that her parents had with Sasuga. Airi would sit there silent for a moment.

She blinked as she slowly made her way over to the older male, sitting down on one of the cushions. If what her parents said was true...no, it can't be. Hearing the door open, the woman turned to see the pink-haired male that she knew so well. In fact, the two often spent time together as kids and more in the Academy. They studied together and spent weekends around one another in this house. But why, of all times, would Sasuga call her here?

He went to light up a pipe as Yorokobi sat down, issuing a look from the male beside her. 'If what my parents were saying is true...I am going to be betrothed to Yorokobi-san...' her pale cheeks would flush as her eyes glanced at Yoro as his uncle spoke to them. As Sasuga explained, he offered tea to the two. Airi nodded slowly, taking a cup and slowly sipping it as she listened. It wasn't until he mentioned her parents giving consent that she swallowed wrongly and began choking on the warm tea.

They had already said it was alright without her talking about it first?!

Her eyes went to the two, who were grinning at her sheepishly. Her father then began speaking.

"Airi, my darling princess....think of what this could mean for us...We would have a nicer place to live. We would be able to have food and a nicer shelter..." the man spoke hoarsely. Her mother just nodded in agreement.

Her brows furrowed before she met Yorokobi's gaze. It was obvious she was thinking long and hard about it. The woman took a breath before speaking softly.

"I know I am not..." She begins, her voice quivering a bit. Clearing her throat, her face went from shock to an eerie calmness. "I accept this request for the sake of my family. While I know Yorokobi-san could have much better than I. Someone who is from nobility....and not a woman from the streets....but if you feel it is best for not only the Hi family....as well as my own...than I accept."

She then looked down at her lap. The little teacup shaking slightly, which was most likely visible for Yorokobi to see as the liquid sloshed about slightly. "I am honored to become part of the family."

Airi sat there silent as Sasuga talked, moving to usher her parents out and leaving the two of them alone. Yorokobi spoke, but the young woman just sat there kind of shocked that her parents would put her in this mess. But she already agreed to it. "I...I am glad this benefits the both of us...I am sorry, however, that you did not get to choose who to marry yourself." She muttered, setting the cup down and just staring at her hands in her lap. "I am bound to you now, so I will do my best to be everything you wish for me to be...Yorokobi-san."

She blushed, looking towards him gently as he spoke. Shaking her head slowly, Airi looked away from him. Her arms moved to hug herself slightly. "But I could be so much more for you, Yorokobi-sama....if I was of nobility..." She muttered before moving to start cleaning things up. "But you are stuck with me.." Airi continued cleaning up. "I know you probably would have wanted to choose your own bride...." the young woman spoke lightly as she cleaned up as best as she could have at the moment. "I will honor Sasuga-sama's wishes...and be the best wife I can be for you."

Airi then gave him a little smile, staring at him again. "I am bound to you, Yorokobi-sama. And I do not mind that since this benefits both of our families."

Airi's eyes would widen as the man kissed her. Her cheeks flared up in a blush, her mind going a million miles a minute. He kissed her, finally after all this time of wanting and longing for him to see her as more than a friend. Her eyes closed as she moved to kiss him back. As he pulled her into his lap, she leaned up against him and laid her head against his shoulder. Airi breathed in his scent slowly, taking it all in. They had changed so much from when they were children who ran through the halls, playing together. But the one thing that stayed the same was Airi's feelings for Yorokobi.

He brought up events that had happened two months prior to this, causing Airi to blush more. Slowly, the woman nodded and smiled lightly. "I...I felt the same...everytime I got severely ill...you were always such a comfort..."

With a chuckle, Airi would look up to him gently. "Remember the man I always talked about? My first love who didn't seem to want me?" She asked lightly, her eyebrow raising a bit as she waited for his reply.

Airi giggled a bit before nodding. "Yes, it was you the entire time...Yorokobi-kun....I have loved you since we were children. You were just too oblivious to see it.." She replied before closing her eyes and shivered as his lips touched the skin of her neck. Giving it some thought, the young woman nodded slowly with a small smile. "The sooner the better...don't you think?"

Airi would smile, moving to stand before watching as Yorokobi fell over, blacking out. "Yorokobi-kun! Oh...Oh no, you used up too much of your energy didn't you...uh...um.." She moved to sit then, pulling the now fainted man to where she was able to lay his head in her lap. Airi would then focus, her hands slowly beginning to glow a pastel blue color. Lightly, she placed her hands on both sides of his face, letting her energy seep into him slowly in order to give him a small boost.

"I hope this works..."