Tsubaki anxiously looked at the wall clock. It's already close to 7 PM but Ren had yet to return home. If it was another day, she wouldn't mind but today was different! He wasn't planning to work overtime, right?

She fiddled with her phone, contemplating on whether to call him or not. He might already be on his way home but got slowed down by the heavy traffic. It wasn't a tough guess considering all the city folks would be on the roads either to go back to their hometowns or their family homes inside the city.

Tsubaki shook her head, trying to contain her worry. She had just took a step toward the stairs as the door was suddenly opened from the outside. Her head spun to the direction, a familiar figure clad in a black trench coat appeared before her eyes.

Tsubaki's lips curled up as she smiled brightly. Before she realized it, her feet had run to him, pouncing over his tall body.

"Darling! You're home!"

Ren laughed heartily as he caught her pet.i.te frame in his arms. He swung her in glee, Tsubaki's hands wrapped tightly around his neck. The husband and wife stayed that way. Ren dipped his head in and nuzzled his nose against hers, his hands supporting her waist and thighs as he slowly lowered down her feet to the floor.

"I'm home," Ren breathed against her lips. "I'm not too late, am I?"

"No!" Tsubaki immediately answered, her husband's laugh was contagious. She too was giggling with clear excitement in her eyes. "You're not late, darling. I'm happy you're home."

"Of course I shouldn't be," Ren stifled a laugh. "After all, today is New Year's Eve."

Tsubaki nodded her head, her excitement was too much to contain.

"I've prepared tos.h.i.+kos.h.i.+ soba for us. The soup is still hot. Oh, dear! You're freezing cold!" Tsubaki had just realized the frosty vibe coming from her husband. She quickly placed her palms on his cheeks, trying to warm him. "Hurry up and take a warm bath first. I'll serve the dishes in the meantime."

Since the beginning of winter, Tsubaki had made sure her husband would dress warmly. Instead of wearing his usual s.h.i.+rts, he changed to thicker sweats.h.i.+rts. Even though he was dressed in layers under his trench coat, his body was still slightly s.h.i.+vering from the cold. The harsh wind of winter could freeze anyone who wandered outside.

"Oh?"

Ren curved up one of the corners of his lips, a glint of mischief flashed in his eyes when he heard her concerned words. He spread his palm wide on her back and he pulled her even closer to him. Before Tsubaki could react, his other hand supported the back of her head as he leaned down to her height.

His icy thin lips met her warm plump ones. Tsubaki gasped by the sudden change in temperature. She could feel her toes curling up. Her hands grabbed the lapels of his coat, following his rhythm.

Before she lost all her breath, he let her go. His eyes narrowed and his smile was crooked. Ren chuckled softly once he saw her flushed face.

"See? I'm warm already," He said in a teasing one. His left hand brushed her bangs aside as he spoke against her lips. "I don't need a warm bath when I have my wife with me."

"Geez!" Tsubaki wanted to push him but there was no way he would let her go. To avoid delaying any longer, she added, "Okay! Okay! Just go and change your clothes. We still need to go to the shrine tonight."

"Are you sure you want to go?" Ren frowned slightly. His dark eyes swept over the much darkened night sky outside the gla.s.s walls. The neon lights flas.h.i.+ng from the city center could blind one's eyes but he could feel the cold the night had to offer. "The weather forecast said it might snow tonight. It'd be too cold for you, sweetheart."

"Of course we have to go!" Tsubaki quickly refuted him. She was almost jumping as she fisted her hands into b.a.l.l.s and looked at him directly into his eyes, trying to convey her determination to brace the cold night. "We have to go! You've promised!"

Ren bent down when suddenly a huge laugh came out from his mouth. Tsubaki was baffled as he rested his forehead on her shoulders, his laughter echoed in the living room. His body shook as he tried to contain his laugh.

"Darling? What's wrong?" Tsubaki placed her hands on his upper arms, he was still laughing. His warm breath blew from his mouth reverberated against her skin.

"You're cute, sweetheart."

"What?" Tsubaki's mouth gaped open. She stared incredulously at her husband who had just lifted his head from her shoulder.

Ren smiled. He leaned down and once again kissed her lips.

Tsubaki swore her lips were still numb when they finally had their dinner half an hour later. The husband and wife sat on the carpet in the living room, the TV was live-broadcasting the vibrant situation at the shrines around the city as more people entered their vicinities. Most of the shrine-goers were adults in warm clothes even though there were still families bringing their children together.

Seeing how interested his wife was when she was watching the live-broadcast, Ren knew he couldn't persuade her to stay at home.

"Sweetheart?"

"Just a moment!"

Ren walked inside the wardrobe. He wore his black turtleneck, a black trench coat was folded on his arm. Tsubaki was adjusting the hem of her white turtleneck over her white knee length pleated skirt. A long beige coat accompanied her outfits.

Tsubaki actually wanted to wear a kimono draped with thick coat but after considering for a few times, she decided to just wear her casual clothes. She would wear the kimono when they were going to the old house tomorrow. Ren had specially bought her a pastel yellow kimono with red camellia flowers pattern on its fabric. He too would wear his new kimono tomorrow.

Tsubaki looked at her reflection on the mirror when Ren suddenly stood behind her with a brown woolen scarf in his right hand.

"Darling?" Tsubaki tilted her head, looking at him in confusion.

"You need to dress more warmly," Ren said casually. He wrapped the scarf around her neck, letting the two ends of the scarf fell over her shoulders to her back. "If the snow would really fall, the temperature would drop further."

"Okay~" Tsubaki nodded obediently. She felt really sweet at her husband's caring gesture.

Before they stepped out of the house, Ren made sure she had her gloves and heat packs on. Tsubaki forced him to wear his scarf too. Both of them didn't want to catch a cold so early in the New Year. Since Grandma said she would visit a shrine far at the north and only return tomorrow, they would spend their New Year's Eve with each other before going to the old house once the sun rose.

"Eh! Darling! Isn't it Hibiki?" Tsubaki excitedly pointed at one direction once they stepped out from the elevator.

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"En?" Ren looked at where the apartment unit for Hibiki was located on the ground floor. His special a.s.sistant was heading out in a hurry, he didn't even realize he was being stared at by his Big Boss and Madam.

"Dear, do you think he's going to celebrate his New Year with Yos.h.i.+e?" Tsubaki's eyes were full of gossip, her voice was quiet and sounded conspiratorial.

Ren tightened his arm around her waist and quickened his steps toward the opposite direction of Hibiki's. One of his hands ruffled her hair as he said, "You're sure love paying attention on someone else. Just let him be if he wanted to go on a date with her."

Tsubaki pouted. "You're no fun. I just want to tease them."

Ren laughed helplessly, sometimes his wife was really unpredictable.

The traffic was quite heavy when Ren's Audi entered the roads leading to one of the shrines in the city. It was a quarter to 10 PM. There were lights coming from everywhere, illuminating the trees and buildings all around them. Tsubaki moved her feet as she was giddy in excitement, her gaze landed on the outside of the car. The lights gleamed in her eyes, her lips would occasionally let out awe when seeing the spectacular views before her.

Ren smiled softly when he saw the happiness reflected clearly on her face.

To save their time, Ren parked his car at one of the buildings owned by Fuse Corporation which was located near the shrine. Both of them alighted the car. The tall stairs leading to the shrine were packed with people. A bright smile bloomed on Tsubaki's face. She jumped in excitement, her hands hugging her husband's arm tightly.

"Let's go! Let's go!"

Ren nodded, his eyes softened. "Alright."

They walked slowly to the direction of the shrine, being mindful of their steps over the icy roads. The stairs had over 30 steps but they didn't stop the visitors from getting to the highest ground.

"I wonder what Satsuki is doing right now?" said Tsubaki suddenly as they ascended the stairs. A cloud of mist formed over her face whenever she spoke.

"Maybe he's doing what a young man like him should," Ren chuckled. "Playing games with his peers or..."

"Or what?" Tsubaki turned her head slightly to look at her husband.

Ren smiled, he shot his brows upward as he answered, "Going out with a girl he likes?"

"Oh!"

Tsubaki's eyes widened, her mouth forming an O shape. It could be a spot on guess! When she asked Satsuki to spend his New Year's Eve with them, he quickly rejected her using an ambiguous excuse.

Seeing her comical looks, Ren couldn't help but laugh. He pinched her nose, earning a glare from Tsubaki.

"What?" Tsubaki squinted her eyes, she knew that her husband was silently calling her silly in his mind.

"I just bribed him with the latest version of movie filming equipment for a beginner like him. He promised he won't disturb us." He looked so casual without any trace of guilt as he confessed the truth.

Once again, Tsubaki was dumbfounded.

He was so... sneaky! No wonder Satsuki rejected her offer.

Tsubaki could only marvel at his sneakiness.

For anyone who makes enemy with my husband, I could only offer you my condolences.

Tsubaki sighed.

When the couple finally step on the shrine ground, there was a long line of visitors in front of the shrine. They wanted to make offerings for New Year. Rows and rows of wooden stalls stood neatly on either sides of the main shrine. Some of the visitors went to get their fortune telling or warmed themselves with the hot beverages and snacks offered by the shrine maidens.

The husband and wife stood close to each other as they joined the long queue. Ren glanced at his wife's brightened face, it seemed like the cold air didn't dampen her excitement to celebrate New Year. But, she really looked cold. The tip of her nose had turned red and her lips quivered.

Ren raised his free hand, pulling the scarf to cover the lower part of her face. Tsubaki averted her gaze from the big bells hung over the offering altar, eyeing her husband. Ren smiled when he saw her questioning gaze.

"You are cold, sweetheart," he said briefly. He took her hand which he was holding and brought it inside his coat pocket.

Tsubaki smiled sweetly. Even though her face was half masked by the scarf, he could tell from the way her eyes curved into beautifully crescent shapes of moons.

"Thank you, hubby." Tsubaki suppressed the urge to pounce on him. Instead, she squeezed his hand in his pocket.

"It's my pleasure, my dear wife."

When it was finally their turn, the clock had struck to 11 PM. The husband and wife made their offerings and said their prayers. They didn't take a long time since a long line was still waiting behind them. After leaving the altar, Ren pulled Tsubaki toward the refreshment stall.

"Do you want amasake?" Ren looked at the lines formed before them. All the visitors were trying to get a warm cup of amasake each to warm their body.

Tsubaki nodded her head. She was indeed craving for a warm drink and having amasake was a must during a visit to the shrine.

After getting their amasake and snacks, the husband and wife searched for a place to sit together. One of the benches under the trees was empty, the spot was overlooking the entire city. They sat and had their warm drinks.

Tsubaki sighed blissfully. She tilted her head, looking up at the dark sky. The neon lights were gleaming, they were like fireflies in summer night as they shone in the black ink sky. Even though it was cold, her heart felt warm.