Who I Am Now

Chapter 2

Torou P.O.V

We began to walk up the path before reaching the gates, Yuki begins to talk to the guys who were guarding the gate. She's changed. You can see it in her eyes, feel it in her touch, and hear it in her tone. She's not the same, and she's never coming back.

As for her looks that had changed drastically, but i think more of that had to do with time than anything. She had a more womanly figure, with hair down to her waist, but the thing that had changed the most to me was her eyes. She had always had a fire in her eyes but over time it grew, like it was uncontrollable.

Shirayuki P.O.V

"Excuse me, I'm looking for Mukaze is he here?" I ask a man who had now turned his attention to me.

"He is, but who are you Miss?" he's ask looking at me unsure, well who could blame him I'm a random women, who is wearing a black cloak that hides my face, and has a friend standing behind her looking as suspicious as I do.

"I'm Shirayuki. His daughter I have been here before but it was quite a while ago." I say taking down my cloak hood so he can see my face and hair.

"Oh my, he will be so excited to see you sorry for being suspicious of you it just....." he seemed a hesitant to finish his sentence so I'll finish it for him.

"It's completely understandable, don't worry I would have been the exact same way. Going back to the topic of my father, could you point me in his direction?" I asked politely, and pulled the most polite smile I could.

"Oh no need for that, I'll have someone show you to him. I would do it myself but I can't leave the gate especially today." he says looking around for the other guard, I was going to question what that meant but he had already started talking to the other guard and I didn't want to disrupt him. I would just ask someone else later on.

"Miss, he will be taking you to your father since I'm unable to. Have a good day." the man says, his fellow guard gave a slight head nod to me in hello and I gave one in return. The man waves goodbye before going back to his post.

"Are you and your friend ready Miss?" The man asks, I turn to Torou to check in with her before agreeing.

"Yes we're ready, thank you Sir." Torou speaks for us, he gives a nod in recognition. He waves us along as he begins to walk. All of us made small talk as we walked along the path, I begin to hear murmurs around us. I felt eyes on us, I pulled my hood up but my face was still somewhat visible.

Thankfully we arrived at my father's house, it was a pretty secluded area and there was no people in sight but you could hear the sound of faint chatter. My hood got blew off by the wind and fell on my shoulders along with Torou's.

"Here we are Miss, you're father will be very happy to see you, along with Kazuki. I must get back to my post now, it was very nice to meet you both, I hope you have a great stay here." He says with a warm smile, we both say our thanks to him and return the smile. He waves goodbye and begins his walk back to the gate.

"You ready?" Torou ask, I look up at the house again. I take a few deep breaths before deciding to answer her.

"As I'll ever be." I respond in a slight joking tone but mostly meant what I said, I walk up the stairs. I give three solid knocks on the door before doing down the steps to join Torou again.

The door swings open to reveal my dad who was scowling but it didn't last long when his eyes finally fell on me. A wide smile fell onto his face as he quickly made it down the steps wrapping his arms around me in a tight hug which I easily return.

"I've been so worried about you. All I got was a letter from the castle one day saying you disappeared." He says loosening his hold on me but not quite letting go yet.

"I'm sorry I didn't visit sooner I was trying to figure things out for myself, but as for my disappearance...it's a long story and what I've been doing these past few years is even longer. I also don't want to bring down the mood so for now let's say it a story for a later date." I respond, he finally lets go of me allowing me to take in a full breath.

"Anyways this is my friend Torou, she allowed me to stick around with her until I figured out what I wanted to do but I ended up staying with her instead." I say gesturing to Torou who had been silently standing there so we could have our moment.

My dad takes a few steps forward towards and reaching out to shake Torou's hand..or at least that's what I thought was happening till he pulled her in for a hug. Which obviously shocked Torou as she stood as stiff as a board but relaxed seconds later and even returned the hug.

It took me awhile to get Torou to be more open around me, but over time she gradually relaxed and we became great friends. Torou was fine with physical contact.. mostly but I think it surprised her when my dad suddenly hugged her like he had known her forever even though she was a total stranger.

"Thank you for watching out for my daughter...it couldn't have been easy knowing the trouble she gets into." My dad spoke finally letting go of Torou who caught her breath fast.

"Oh it wasn't easy but it was worth it." She looking up at my dad who was now staring into her eyes. A few seconds went by and they still hadn't broken eye contact. I eyed them up and down, my mouth dropping open slightly at what was unfolding in front of me.

I cleared my throat not once, not twice, but three times, it took three times to get them to break eye contact. I stifled a laugh at how red their faces had become, I whistle lowly looking in the other direction giving them a second to recollect themselves.

"Uh um- Itoya and Kazuki are getting back today, why don't we go meet them?" he says awkwardly scratching the back of his neck. I hum in agreement but eye them up and down, Torou glares daggers at me, oh boy if looks could kill.

"Could you give us a second?" Torou asks my dad with a smile but then drops it not wanting to give me any more to make fun of her with.

"Of course! I'll just be waiting over there by that...Tree!" he says quickly, as he begins walking down the path he trips over a branch. I let out a quiet laugh which Torou immediately glares at me for.

"Are you okay?" She calls out and as soon as she does he bounces right back up.

"Yup!" he calls out back, walking the rest of the way to the tree. He then leans against it trying to act cool as if he didn't just fall a moment ago.

Torou turns back to me, "Okay, get it over with." She says her hands raised up at her sides as if she was surrendering.

"Get what over with?" I fake innocently raising my eyebrows up trying to sell it, which I knew it wasn't going to work but it was worth a try right?

"The teasing, don't pull any of the innocent acts with me. It isn't going to work." She glares her hands now on her hips.

"No teasing." I say shaking my head.

"Uh huh." she says turning around to walking to my dad. When she makes it halfway between the two of us-

"So, if you marry my dad does that mean I have to call you mom?" I call out, her head whipped around so fast. I had a feeling about what she was going to say next so I answered before she could.

"What? I said no teasing, and I didn't. That was a genuine question." I say, she huffs out a breath before turning back around to walk to my dad. This time I followed.

I never quite did get the answer to my question..I mean at least not yet.