Chapter 10

• I had no collection when I had fallen asleep. It was when a cold voice called my name very gently, my eyes snapped open.
• "Bianka." Arashi called.
• I tilted my head to Arashi and my breath caught in my throat. His face was inches away and from this close, he looked mesmerizing. His smooth pale skin glowed as his long eyelashes stayed like bird's fathers.
• A little gasp left from my mouth as I realized our faces were very close. I could feel his warm breaths on my skin and I immediately yanked myself back as I said, "Y-yes?"
• "We have arrived at the entrance of the village." He said, "The carriage won't go further. We have to walk from here."
• I nodded frantically as my heart pumped in my ears.
• "But, it is still far. Are you sure you can walk a bit more?" He asked with a straight face.
• "Y-yes, I can. I-I can walk." I nodded again trying to calm my heart.
• "Well then," he nodded and hopped out of the carriage and took out our luggages with him. I neared the carriage door when he spread out his hand to help me.
• I took his hand and stepped on the carriage's stairs as my kimono slid under my foot and I slipped.
• I was about to fall flat on my face but Arashi held my waist with his hands and now I almost hung in his strong arms against his chest. Butterflies flattered in my belly and I went still as our faces, once again, were close. He pulled me from my doom and my feet found balance.
• "Watch your steps," he said with an irritated voice killing the butterflies in my belly.
• I nodded slightly, hanging my face as he went to the chauffeur and paid him. The chauffeur bowed and left as Arashi came and took the luggages.
• "It is the village I live in," he said as he advanced. I looked around and saw a vast amount of green fields surrounding the whole vicinity and mountains surrounding the whole area as if hiding the village from an unknown threat. Clouds flicked here and there as if balls of tattered cottons while sun rays sneaking out of them. Lambs and cows grazed further with their owners as they blissfully chewed on the grass. The vicinity was so peaceful, serene and was so beautiful that I forgot to follow Arashi.
• The freshness of the wind lingered in my nostrils as a smile crept on my lips.
• Living always inside the four walls made me think the world was so ugly. If it weren't for Arashi, I would have never seen the beauty of it.
• I didn't know if Arashi was a curse or a blessing in my life but as he had taken me in, I would forever follow him.
• We reached the village and some people who were busy with their work. As soon as their eyes fell on Arashi, they nodded. Arashi returned the gestures as we went further. Most of them were glancing at us. They either nodded at him or gave him smiles. It seemed they knew him well.
• And I could not help but imagine his childhood in this village with the people. I smiled to myself.
• There was something about the people which gave me warmth spreading inside me. Was it because they weren't giving me distasteful looks? Or, were they treating me the same way they treated Arashi?
• An elder was passing by and when his eyes fell on him he greeted, "Good day, Mr Yuan."
• "Good day to you too, Mr Kojiro."
• The man nodded and with a smile he departed.
• We were passing a few houses and from one of them, a man was making clay pots as he looked up and nodded. "Good day, Mr Yuan. Did you go somewhere out of town?"
• Arashi nodded back as he said, "Yes, Mr Hiro. I was away and good day to you too."
• Mr Hiro said, "I was looking for you since my elder son may have broken his leg, yesterday."
• Arashi halted and went to the house as I trailed behind him.
• "How did it happen and where is he?"
• "He is still inside and my wife has been spraying cold water on his swell to lessen the pain." The man stood up as he wiped his dirt in a cloth and opened the door as he shouted, "Mr Yuan has come!"
• His wife came running immediately as she wiped her sweat in her cloth and said with a crying face, "Mr Yuan, he is saying he can't feel his leg."
• "Don't worry, let me take a look at it, first. If he really had broken his leg then I will take him to my house for treatment." He gave the poor lady assurance as the lady finally smiled and somehow all of her worries had gone.
• He looked at me and said, "Stay here."
• I nodded as he went inside. I heard a weeping and as Arashi entered the boy cried.
• Both of his mother and father went inside as I stood there, looking at the beautiful carved pots. Small to large, they were very pretty. Then I heard the boy weeping loudly as his parents scolded him to hold his breath as Arashi was about to treat him.
• As another cry came out, I was worried if he really broke his leg. It must be very painful.
• After a while, Arashi came out as well as the lady and her husband. From their faces, I assumed they were scared to hear what Arashi would say.
• "He didn't break his bones, you don't have to worry," Arashi added, "It's just that his muscles got sprained. He must be trying to pull something that was heavier than his weight."
• "But why the swell then?" The mother asked.
• "Sometimes it happens with our waist too but I have given a small medicine to him. The pain will subside for a few hours till then don't pour cold water, use hot water instead and Mr Hiro, " he looked at the small man standing beside him, "I have an ointment in my house. When you are free, please come to my house. I will give it along with some pain relievers."
• He nodded. "How many days will it take for him to recover?"
• "One week or two."
• The mother came with a silver coin and was about to give him when Arashi retorted, "Oh, no! Please. I can't take money from you."
• The man said holding Arashi's hands, "Please at least take this for helping out so many times."
• Arashi shook his head as he gave it back. "I can't. Please buy him the books with it."
• Both of them looked defeated but it seemed the man wasn't going to back down as he pointed at a beautiful clay pot with flower carving and said, "How about taking it instead?"
• This time, Arashi gave in and nodded with a smile.
• They gave him the pot as he said, "Mr Hiro and Mrs Hiro, meet my wife Bianka."
• I was surprised as I looked between them and Arashi with a flustered face. Did he introduce me as his wife?
• "Oh, my! That was why you left for a few days?" The woman clasped her hands and looked at me with the stars in her eyes. "What a beautiful wife you got yourself!"
• My face heated as they called me his wife but my belly filled with flattering butterflies.
• "We need to go back as we have been traveling since yesterday. Please, excuse us." Arashi looked at the man once again while we departed and said, "Please drop by my house."
• The man nodded at him and when Arashi wasn't watching, the couple most probably winked at me and pointed out their thumbs in the air. I pursed my lips together to stop myself from laughing.
• I looked behind Arashi and the sides of my lips curled up.