"You will love these, they are the best ones in all of j.a.pan," he said.

I took one plump grape from the pinkish grey cl.u.s.ter before me and bit it. I noticed that its skin was quite thick. My lips puckered slightly, it wasn't sweet at all.

"This is quite tart," I remarked.

"You drink it with the sake," he said as handed me my share of the cloudy drink. "Koshu grapes have low sugar content."

I took the porcelain cup and downed the nigori in one go. It was sweet and had a decent alcoholic content. "It's fruity, I like it."

"Good, because we have to finish this bottle. Otherwise, it will oxidize and change flavor," he poured me another cup.

After my sixth serving, I was starting to get heavy lidded. I was never big on drinking so I have always been a lightweight. Kaname finished the rest of the rice wine when he noticed that I have reached my limit. He helped me up and into the bath where the maids have prepared a tub full of warm, perfumed water.

~~~

I stretched on the futon and patted the s.p.a.ce beside me. Kaname complied and drew me closer to him. He stroked my back like a mother lulling a child to sleep.

"Eh?" I adjusted my head in the pillow to look at him. "I don't want to sleep yet."

"But you're drunk," he said.

"I am not!" I protested. "I'm only a bit tipsy! The wine isn't enough to get me hammered."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Mmm-hmm!" I nodded my head enthusiastically and immediately regretted it. 'c.r.a.p, that was a bad idea!'

"Liar," he whispered in my ear.

I ignored him and buried my face on his chest. "I love your scent, you smell really nice," I inhaled his calming fragrance.

"You smell nicer," he kissed the top of my head.

"Kaname?"

"Hmm?"

"If… If I get pregnant, what would you like to name our son?"

"You sound so sure that our child will a be male."

"Do you not want the baby to be a boy?"

"A male child is ideal but I don't really care what the gender of my firstborn is," he replied. "As long as my child is healthy, that's all that matters. But to answer your question, I'd like to name him Gou. It means strong and tough. If she comes out as a girl, I'd name her Miyako. It means beautiful night child."

"Miyako sounds beautiful," I agreed. "However, I'd like to name our son Touya."

"Why?"

"Promise me you won't laugh!"

"I promise."

"Okay," I hesitated for a bit but told him anyway. "When I was in high school, I saw this anime on cable. It's a story about a girl named Aya and her twin brother Aki. Her love interest, who later on became her husband, was named Touya. I was so in love with his character I told myself that the man I will spend the rest of my life with had to be as handsome and capable as he was."

"So did I fit the bill?"

"Yes, definitely," I a.s.sured him. "The man whose arms are currently wrapped around me is definitely handsome, his smile is enough to disarm me. And when it comes to capabilities… He is more than capable. He is, after all, the great ruler of this land."

"You're a smooth talker, too," he accused although he sounded very happy.

"What can I say, I learned from the best!"

Kaname all of sudden attacked me with tickles, I squirmed as I tried to avoid his fingers. I laughed so hard I felt like my tipsiness evaporated. We were both silent as we tried to catch our breaths.

"Hina?" came his voice after a while.

"Yes?"

"Will you stay with me forever?"

"I don't even know how I came here, let alone go back."

"What if you were given the opportunity to come back, will you stay or leave me?"

I didn't reply immediately. I thought about it long and hard, I didn't want to give him a careless reply. "I will miss my mother and will worry about her everyday," I started. "But I've lived with her all my life. Were I to suddenly encounter a portal that will bring me back to the future, I will choose to stay with you."

"Promise me. Say you won't ever leave," he held me like his life depended on it.

I pushed him slightly and took his right pinky finger before hooking mine with his. "I promise."

He looked at our entwined fingers and smiled. "Hina…"

I stared into his eyes and saw something I haven't seen before. My heart raised, threatening to jump out of my chest. "Y-yes?"

"My heart is yours," he declared. His words rung in my ears. "My mind is yours as well as my spirit."

I covered my mouth with my hands, not knowing what to say.

"I know you have to share me with others and I know how averse you are to the idea," he continued. "But please know that in my heart, I belong only to you. I wish I can be your sole property the way that you are mine exclusively but this is my reality… As the shogun, I am expected to produce an heir and the harem is essential in ensuring its fulfillment. I may have Mami and Ayaka, but I only treat them as my obligation. I mentioned before that you're the only woman I have chosen for myself, didn't I?"

I nodded.

"I couldn't understand then, it wasn't because you were beautiful and you enchant me. I believe the reason why I made the split second decision of bringing you here was because my soul knew, it knew that you would complete me."

My eyes stung, a few seconds later I felt warm tears roll down my cheeks then to the pillow. "Akai ito," I whispered.

"Yes!" he grabbed my hands and placed it on his chest. "Hahaue used to tell me the story about the matchmaker G.o.d and his red thread of fate. I thought it was just a dumb old story but now I'm absolutely sure that it's not."

"'The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of place, time, or circ.u.mstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break[1],'" I recited the words I memorized by heart. "I have heard of the folklore surrounding the deity Yue Lao. The story about the young boy and girl was beautiful."

"But not as beautiful as ours. Hina, I think the reason why you came into my world is to teach me how to love."

I sniffed. "And for you to help me restart. You mended the wounds that kept my heart from being whole again."

"I know I shouldn't make promises when I'm happy but let's have a formal wedding ceremony. I want to see what you'd look like in your ceremonial gown," he wiped my tearstained face. "Will you marry me, Hinata?"

This has got to be the best birthday gift ever. I can't believe I'll be walking down the aisle soon. "Yes, my love. I'll marry you."

-------------------------------------------------

[1] Sourced from Wikipedia.