Yuuka was now trying to convince his angry wife, who had locked herself away in a room.
"Hello, I am coming in."
"GO away."
Kriska was sitting on the bed in a rolled-up position and was holding a pillow.
"No need to get so angry; it was fun."
"It was not."
The two of them have gotten into a familiar argument about silly things. Yuuka just continued to argue with her with a purpose.
"Come on, I don't cause you many problems. Do I."
"You do? Do you know how many problems I have? You never come home; don't take care of your health; you don't come home on my birthday, not even yours. -"
Kriska ranted, spouting out all the complaints in her heart. Yuuka knew that being alone for so long made her feel clogged up.
"I am so worried about your well-being, but you don't seem to care."
While Kriska did her rant, Yukka sat beside her on the bed and held her hand. He knew she wanted to throw out and eliminate the feelings that worried or annoyed her.
"I don't want to see this war, and I don't want to risk your or your father's life for some piece of land. Why can't we stay the way we are?" Tears were now coming out of Kriska's eyes as she threw her feelings out and didn't say a word after this.
Yuuka had proper answers for each of her questions but didn't answer one; he just listened to her, and after she stopped, he hugged her to calm her down.
"Don't worry, everything will be okay," he said as she slipped a ring onto her finger.
"Huh!" Kriska said as her expression changed.
"Remember, I said that I bought something for both of you. Well, this gift is yours."
It was a ring with a beautiful design and colour composition.
"It is beautiful!" Kriska had enjoyed getting such a beautiful gift.
"The happiness you have is something I want every person in this nation to have, so that's why I have to fight." Even after returning home, this soldier was never off duty; he never let people who worked for and with him down.
Kriska had no answer to give to Yuuka, so she went quiet. It was always like this from the day they were married.
She was terrified to marry Yuuka then; thoughts as if he could be killed any day had been on more than ever since he became more active in the military.
She sometimes thought, Would her life be happier if she were never to marry him?
"Well, I have only half an hour left; I think we should have a meal together." Yuuka quickly changed the topic and made a small request.
"Guess we can; I will go wash my face. You get the table ready." Yuuka's plan worked in his mind. It wasn't his wits, but Kriska's heart, which couldn't stop loving the person in front of her.
The time she had with him was when we were the happiest; it was a dilemma, but her happiness was in the world where her daughter and husband were. The ring on her hand was another reminder of this.
They walked out of the room. Kriska went to wash her mouth while Yuuka went to the kitchen to set the food.
"Ohhh, we have crabs for lunch today." Yuuka was amused by the food his wife cooked. It was his favourite shellfish, carbs. The sweet aroma filled his nose, and water filled his mouth.
Yuuka had eaten in foreign nations with different chiefs around his country, but none matched the food his wife made; he once offered her the position of head chef in the military canteen, which she refused.
"Arata, come to the living room, from where we are going to eat together." Yuuta gave a call to his daughter.
Yuuta picked up the pot, plates, and other utensils and headed for the living room. There sat his wife and daughter.
The family had a meal together, talking and enjoying their time together.
Arata talked about her school and friends, while Kriska talked about the ladies in their neighbourhood, confirming her father's health, etc.
They lived it to the fullest for the short time they shared.
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Very soon, their time was up, and it was time for the commander to leave for his duty.
A family is sad to see the soldier leave for his duty. They might never come back.
The three of them arrived near the car.
"I shall be going now," said Yuuka to his family while leaving, but Kriska clutched his wrist and went for a hug.
Yuuka embraced her in his arms, and both of them felt each other's warmth. The value of the touch of the person you love and care about is something people never realise.
"Take care." She said those words and probably wanted to say much more but didn't.
"I will." Hearing this, Kriska released her hug, and Yuuta gave Arata a head pat.
"Bye, papa, bring me a new toy next time."
Arata was never worried about her father; she believed or knew that he would return. So she just asked for new toys and gifts each time, like Yuuka was leaving on tour.
"I will surely bring you the best one there is." The commander made a promise to her daughter.
Then he sat in his car and waved goodbye to his family.
They also waved goodbye, and he started his car and left his family behind. Knowing they will be safe and okay.
On the way from his city, on the outskirts. He saw a familiar person who smiled at him.
The commander also nodded at him and kept moving; he saw a lot of familiar figures in the city. Many were familiar with Yuuka and had a deeper purpose for their presence.
The city was 10 kilometres in radius and had a population of only 1200 people. However, 400 were spies, and secret police were placed precisely to protect two people. It was a barrier no assassin could ever pass.
Yuuka never let her family be in danger; as a soldier, he swore to sacrifice everything for the nation and was ready to give everything but his family.
He had once lost his family to the bloodshed of war; he would never let that happen again. He never wanted to lose his family ever again, and he just wanted to smile with them.
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