The Bride Of The Sacred Forest God
Chapter 32. Restu from the Sky

Reda who had just finished eating, tidied up all her bowls and sat down waiting for the little fox to come.

“What is Ryuunosuke still a long time huh? I can't wait to go to the market. There must be a lot of meat that Nushi-sama likes. I wish I could give her a lot of meat.”

The smile on the lips of the girl looked dazzling. He imagined many things that he wanted to make for the ruler.

“If you have to catch a rabbit in the forest again, it will be difficult. I am also not good at hunting. Indeed it is best to buy.” Reda fell silent. He remembered something important. “I... don't have any coins.”

His face was so sad now. It seems that for Reda at this time, buying something can never be done.

“Looks like I should tell that little fox. I really don't have anything in this place.”

**

Ryuunosuke who walked towards the back door to go to the old hut was approached by Hakuren and Kuroto.

“Ryuunosuke!” Kuroto called out the name of the little fox

The little fox looked up. As soon as the two tengu approached her, the little fox immediately put a smile on her face so as not to be seen crying.

“Ha–Hakuren-sama, Kuroto-sama, good morning.”

Both know what happened. They knelt down and rubbed the little fox's head.

“Ryuunosuke, it's okay. We already know everything. Don't try to force yourself to smile like that.”

Hearing that, Ryuunosuke turned moody again and almost cried.

“Ryuunosuke..do not look sad in front of Reda-sama. Reda-sama must not know what Aragaki-sama said just now. Reda-sama should smile.” said the little fox while tightly grasping his clothes back

Hakuren and Kuroto knew what was the problem for the little fox.

“We understand. We just want Ryuunosuke to know that I and Kuroto will no longer think bad things about Reda-sama.”

“We can't help you much, but at least we will try our best. For now, the one who could cheer the girl up close was Ryuunosuke himself. Fight, Ryuunosuke.”

Hakuren brought something out. Like a bag with a sound in it.

“It..”.

“This coin is for you. We heard Ryuunosuke is going for shopping, right? Use this to buy things you like.” Hakuren whispered, “Buy clothes for Reda-sama as well. Maybe with that, Aragaki-sama will change her mind.”

Hearing that, the little fox became excited. His ears and tail also swayed following his current mood.

“Bby?!”

“Sure. Isn't that right, Kuroto?” Hakuren looked towards his friend

“Tersubject only. We will also keep it a secret from Aragaki-sama so don't worry. Go to the girl's place. He must be waiting for you.”

Ryuunosuke nodded and greeted the two. They saw the little fox leave.

“You sure this will be okay, Hakuren? I think we've defied a lot of Aragaki-sama's orders if it continues like this. I'm sure we'll be punished if the will.”

“Do not worry. It is not you alone who will be punished by Nushi-sama, Kuroto.”

From behind, Ginko walked up to the two tengu together with Nagi.

“Nagi, Ginko.”

“I know maybe Nushi-sama will realize this sooner or later and the girl's life will probably only last less than 3 months. But, if there is a possibility to succeed.I decided to bet on all that.”.

“At the very least, I hope Nushi-sama can come back again like the Nushi-sama that used to be. The feeling of the little fox..I quite understand it.”.

Ginko's words were not responded to by Kuroto who only let out a long sigh.

“I hope..Reda-sama is the right person to melt the heart of Nushi-sama who has been frozen.”he thought Ginko in his heart

The little fox ran with the small bag. A smile and a feeling of pleasure enveloped him. He remembered Hakuren's words just now.

[Buy clothes for Reda-sama as well. Perhaps with that, Aragaki-sama will change his mind]

“Ryuunosuke was unthinkable of such a thing. Right too, Reda-sama is beautiful. If Reda-sama dresses up a little, Aragaki-sama will definitely like it.”

As soon as the fox arrived, he immediately shouted.

“Reda-sama! Let's go shopping!”

“Ah, Ryuunosuke's. Welcome to.”

Showing a small bag of coins, Ryuunosuke smiled cheerfully. His tail could not stop swaying and turning.

“Reda-sama, Ryuunosuke brings a lot of coins for us to shop. We can buy meat and fish. Reda-sama can also buy beautiful clothes to attract Aragaki-sama!”

Reda was confused to see the coin. He just thought that he had no coins to buy groceries at the market later and now, the little fox seemed to be able to read his mind.

“Where are all the coins from, Ryuunosuke?”

“Hakuren-sama and Kuroto-sama gave it to me! He said this can be used to buy Reda-sama clothes as well so that Aragaki-sama likes you!”

Reda blushed in embarrassment hearing that and turned frantic.

“Ja–don't talk like that, Ryuunosuke! Nu–Nushi-sama will not like me!”

“Don't talk like that! Reda-sama does not want to marry Aragaki-sama?”

Blush

“Reda-sama?” Ryuunosuke called out to the girl

Reda just nodded slowly.

“Why silence? Reda-sama has not answered Ryuunosuke.”'s question What a little fox full of curiosity. It stopped and knelt down while hugging him.

“Ryuunosuke..”

“Hmm?”

“I always wish I could talk and see Nushi-sama smiling. I love Nushi-sama, Ryuunosuke. But, this feeling might never be conveyed to him until I die. So, please save and remember well my feelings of love for Nushi-sama yes.”

Hearing that, the little fox cried again.

“Don't talk like that! Ryuunosuke always prays to help me from the sky. Reda-sama do not give up, yes. Ryuunosuke wants Reda-sama and Aragaki-sama.” Ryuunosuke suddenly fell silent.

The little fox remembered the heart-piercing sentence that his master had said a while ago regarding this village girl.

[I'll never admit to that dirty girl. Even if he is the damned human you like, I will never accept him as anything in this place]

[Higashi no Mori doesn't need the dirty blood of the Kamakura people and I don't need the devotion of a despicable human like him]

The little fox's tears grew more and more until it soaked the clothes of the village girl who was hugging him. He continued to pray in his heart.

“Hiks...ibu, please help Ryuunosuke. Reda-sama should not be hated more than this by Aragaki-sama. Please help me fight, mother. Hiks..”

A strong wind blew in the morning. A gust of wind that came out of nowhere, stroked the beautiful hair of the poor village girl and the little fox who cried in her prayer.

**

In his room, Aragaki looked at the little fox and the two youko's ikebana while remembering the sad face of her little fox.

No words came out of his mouth and there was no regret for his thoughts towards the village girl.

For the past three days, ever since he allowed his beloved little fox to be with the village girl again, he felt that the change in feelings he had experienced would not make his relationship with the little fox any worse.

But what happened was very different from reality. Seeing how happy the little fox was with the girl from the village he hated so much made Aragaki so angry.

Not only was it angry, the hatred towards the village girl that he had never thought existed was growing.

“What does Ryuunosuke like about him? Why is he so obsessed with human lies?”

“During this time, no ‘bride’ candidate did his job correctly and many times tried to kill me for their safety.”

“Why has the little fox still not given up on such contrived thoughts?”

“The dirty girl from the village is just like any other. The ruse he made will never work for me."

"They will die sooner or later and I don't mean to forgive everything that happened in the past. Me...”

Suddenly, a strong wind blew outside. The strong gust of wind was enough to make the petals of cherry blossoms on the tree start to scatter. More and more people are flying in the wind.

A sign from those who have gone. As if pointing to a place, the petal looks like it gives an implied message.

A few petals of cherry blossoms entered the open Aragaki room. When there was a smell, Aragaki looked up and walked towards the outside engawa with a surprised face. He saw the cherry blossoms on the tree starting to blow in the wind.

So many cherry petals were scattered that Aragaki again smelled a scent that was so familiar.

“This aroma...is that you, Ryoko?”

**

Reda who hugged Ryuunosuke with tears whispered something.

“Please remember my feelings of love for Nushi-sama, Ryuunosuke. Even if Nushi-sama will not realize it until anytime, someday, there will be a lucky girl who will be his true love.”.

“Until that time comes, I will fight. We will fight together for the coming day when Nushi-sama will smile back.”

The little fox hugged Reda tightly. Suddenly, the wind came delivering the falling petals of cherry blossoms. The sakura petals made the girl surprised and fascinated.

He took off his embrace from the little fox and looked at the cherry blossoms.

“Flower..sakura..”.

Ryuunosuke sniffed the sakura that passed him and was shocked.

“Mother..?” mumbled slowly

The aroma he was so familiar with. Like a new spirit to the struggling little fox, she wiped away her tears and held onto Reda's hand.

“Reda-sama! If Reda-sam loves Aragaki-sama, then Reda-sama should say that to her! Ryuunosuke will support you! Whatever happens, only Reda-sama can be a companion for Aragaki-sama!”

“Ryuunosuke..Ryuunosuke is confident that all will also support. My mother in the sky will also support us! Mother supports Ryuunosuke! I also like Reda-sama!!”

The eyes of the little fox who was full of confidence made Reda moved.

“Ryuunosuke, thank you so much my sweet little fox.”

The little fox smiled and wiped away the tears on Reda's cheeks. After that, they joined hands towards the market.

“Mother, thank you for your support. Ryuunosuke has not given up! Whatever happens, Reda-sama is the right destiny for Aragaki-sama. Mom agrees with me, too, right?”

The two walked out of the Aragaki residence towards the market.

****