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"You're a liar, Ken Ayase."
His hands firmly at ten and two, the bespectacled driver couldn't do much other than playfully scoff at the sudden accusation, "Care to provide evidence to back up that charge?"
Her crimson hinted stare burrowing a tunnel into the side of her husband's thick skull, Momo clicked her tongue as she waved a finger wildly," You know exactly what I'm talking about, squid for brains, don't you dare play coy."
Letting out a long sigh, Ken brought a hand up to rub at the back of his neck. "But whatever do you mean, my love?"
Momo's glare only narrowed in response, her gaze scanning the side of his face for any tell she could find. "Because of you, I had to listen to Aira brag on and on about how they are the better couple, you ass! You cost us the game!"
A long acknowledging hum escaped Ken's throat as he nodded slowly, eyes never leaving the headlight painted rural road before them, "Ah yes. Our devastating loss to Clan Kinta. Entirely my doing."
"We lost by one point on an absolute gimme!"
Doing all he could to stifle a chuckle, going even as far as taking a moment to bite his bottom lip, Ken gently shrugged," To be fair, you were the one who got it wrong technically. The question was, 'What is your partner's favorite smell?' and you answered wrong for me."
"That's because YOU floundered it! We both know you love the smell of a fresh curry and yet when I answered with that, you said it wasn't right and then refused to say what the real answer was! You got all blushy and just said next question!"
Though an aura of playfulness sat heavy in their van as it puttered along the dusty roads winding their way back to the shrine, Ken could feel the hint of hurt that hid just behind her words. "You weren't wrong, it is one my favorite smells but it isn't my absolute favorite."
Her volume dropping quickly, Momo fiddled with a strip of hair that had fallen into her vision during her finger waving bout, "Then why wouldn't you at least tell me what it was…?"
A low sigh slipping out, Ken's smiled softly as a blush took hold of his face, neck, and ears, "Because the answer wasn't entirely appropriate for a group setting like that, Momo."
Her worry quickly giving way to curiosity, Momo did her best to hide her own blush, turning away so she could quietly speak into the glass of the passenger window, "Keep talking, eel breath…"
Unable to stop the low chuckle that slipped forth from his throat, Ken took a second to ponder over his thoughts as he considered the best way to explain, "It's not so much a singular scent, it is…. A moment more than anything."
Turning back to face her husband just enough, Momo delivered a level of side eye that would have sent a weaker man skittering away in fear.
"Sometimes when we are planning on going somewhere, you will run off ahead to take a shower whilst I'm finishing up some chores around the shrine, right?""
"Right."
"It's that moment. That moment is my favorite smell. Just before I get to the bathroom."
"Your favorite smell is when you are all sweaty from chores and I'm not there? Seriously?" Momo, now fully facing her husband once more, pondered the consequences of her actions if she decided to strangle him there and now.
"No! It's that span of time as I get closer and closer to the door. That peach body lotion you use in the air, carried by the residual steam of your shower. I get a hint of it at the bottom of the stairs and with each step, it grows. Fills my lungs and floods my soul… and in that moment I know you're just on the other side of the door, looking divine. And if I'm lucky, wearing very little…" Clearing his throat softly, Ken adjusted his glasses as he wondered if his blatantly lecherous comment would get a rise out of her or not. After a few moments of her stunned silence, he thought it best to continue, "That moment has proceeded some of the most incredible things that have ever happened to me… Whether it was immediately after or throughout the same evening. It is a moment only I get to experience and I don't want to ever share it with anyone else but you, Momo. I find myself enjoying it more and more each time it happens, like a exciting crescendo that I hope never diminishes…"
All Momo could muster was a soft grumble in response, her cheeks a shade of red that seemed to be a perfect color match for her eyes.
Finally breaking away from the road for just a moment, Ken let his vision dart towards her for just a fleeting second, "So, uh, does that lessen the sting of the loss any? Am I forgiven, my love?"
Unwilling to push his luck any farther, Ken let quiet descend upon their conversation as Momo seemed to ponder his answer, minutes passing by before he finally heard a soft murmur from the passenger seat, her words barely audible. Unable to hear, Ken called out ever so gently, "Hmm?"
"Just say peach lotion next time!"
Laughing warmly, Ken resisted every urge to look back towards her and forever etch the sight of her flustered expression into his brain, "So there will be a next time? Planning to challenge Miko and Kei next, are you?"
"Gods no, those two can read each other's minds with how long they've known each other."
Ken's soft chuckles only lasted a few seconds before once more, silence gathered between the two as they neared the shrine; Momo giving her blush time to soften and Ken wondering if his choice to be somewhat cryptic would backfire in the end. Their relationship having spanned nearly a decade now, both still somehow allowed those infuriatingly awkward moments into being, dragging them back to the time of fidgeting fingers reaching out to tentatively grasp at the other's hand.
Minutes later, Ken parked the van just inside the torii gates before stepping out into the cool air of the night, making his way around the vehicle to open the door for his auburn haired spouse. Stepping out, she gave him a playful shove before hooking one arm around his, pulling him close for warmth as the two made their short walk towards the door.
Just steps away from crossing the threshold of their front door, Momo gave his arm a gentle squeeze before bringing them both to a stop. "You still surprise me sometimes, you know that? It's nice to know there are still little things to learn about you after so long."
Turning to face her, Ken gently pulled his arm from her grasp, moving it instead so he could cup her cheek and run his thumb along the rose tinted skin, "I pray, to whichever gods will listen, that I will have the privilege of spending the rest of my life learning all the little things there are to know about you, Momo Ayase."
Her words stuck in her throat for just a quick moment, Momo's eyes couldn't resist the urge to jump back and forth between the low lit inviting softness of his lips and the ever deepening coffee pools behind his glasses. With a gentle gulp, Momo slowly reached up to lay her hand upon his, "So… fancy a shower before bed, Mr. Ayase?"
A blush taking hold of every inch of skin upon his face, Ken slowly leaned in to place a tender kiss upon her lips, "I wont lie… I was so hoping you'd ask."