Mr. Paints
Episode 8

Minami was sure something was wrong in her life. He has suffered too much and now why when everything will change for the better, he was thrown in the era of war?

In addition, there was something more disturbing him. It turns out it's winter. The snow fell so heavily and the air could still infiltrate through every little vent.

If this was the best building quality for the nobles of his era, then? How are things with the poor? There must have been a lot of deaths in extreme weather.

As a reminder of the forgotten history of the past, Minami is now seated, facing a small window where woven bamboo has been lowered to ward off snowflakes.

At her side, the man-to-be muttered, staring at some snowy grains, carried away by the wind and mingling with his breath.

"You'll be ready at the wedding altar in an hour. Princess Kaguya, I will wait for you with the clan elders to prepare everything," Yamashita said holding out a golden bridal dress at each end of the arms to the legs.

Minami nodded, wiping the silk kimono in astonishment. He never touched such a fine cloth. The price was definitely not comparable to all his clothes in Tokyo.

The man circulated his gaze, ascertaining something before speaking.

"Listen to what the leaders say. I promise that while I'm married to you, there will be no coercion between us. You just have to nod. That way the entire agreement at marriage, can be said to be valid. Understand right?"the whisper pulled Minami's arm to the corner of the window.

The girl nodded nervously, staring at the line of Yamashita's face that was staring straight at her.

Minami felt stupid for ignoring the fact that the man in front of her was a grown man. His jaw is formed so firmly with a thin sideburn around the chin. Perhaps, his age has passed the number 20 because his height is too proportional for the size of teenagers.

It's just that Yamashita looks dirty even though it's their wedding day.

"Hand, soon the servants will come to help you put on the bond of the obi and the bridal bun. Don't forget my words. Just nod when all the elders tell you and say 'yes' to every question. It'll all end badly when you don't obey me."

Yamashita will step out when Minami's voice stops her steps at the door mouth.

"Are you going to take a shower, too, Prince? I mean, you've looked dirty ever since we first met."

Minami did not believe her own words, but she had already heard them.

Now the long-haired man turned around, slipping his hand between Hakama's.

There was something strange then, somehow a blank stare from Yamashita, making Minami's heart rustle a little.

The prince sighed, "Let's calm down, Princess. I didn't touch the water for a reason. As soon as the wedding vows are spoken, I'll take a shower, clean myself up and meet you on the bridal bed."

Bridal bed? Minami felt stupid upon hearing that sentence. In fact, he forgets the fact that everyone who has a bond, will definitely do it.

But not with them. Yamashita knew very well, which girl wanted such a thing and who was nervous about being innocent. Minami is not both, but she is quite sure if indeed the soul of princess Kaguya is in Minami, the girl will reject him completely.

"As I said, there will be no coercion or unpleasantness during our marriage. Take it easy, I won't touch you. We do not marry because we love each other, when this curse ends, we will separate, live each other's lives. But even so I've promised to protect you-a lifetime."

Minami can't say anything anymore. His brown eyes flickered, staring at Yamashita's departure.

The sliding door that was filled with snowy wind, swept the man's long hair backwards. Shortly after, his shadow disappeared as the door closed again.

Minami was silent for a few minutes, putting the wedding dress she had been holding onto the table.

Shortly after Minami came out of the hot spring, several kimono servants who intended to help her decorate, began to arrive. Like the makeup artists of the modern century, one of them carries a bag full of makeup tools.

Minami sat down, staring at the reflection of her face from an opaque mirror placed on top of the tatami. Either the mirror is broken or Minami forgets her own face.

The woman in the mirror, looked very mature and beautiful. Minami was too confused to move her hand to make sure it was her true image.

"Daughter, I'm sorry, can you stop moving? My work will be done soon." Extraordinarily subtle reprimands that actually make Minami wrong behavior. Hurriedly he improved his attitude, bending his entire fingers in a grasp.

Twenty minutes later, Minami was ready with a fairly tall bun with gold ornaments on each side.

"Princess Kaguya, the flavor servant of Prince Yamashita can really raise you from the sacred tomb. My painting tools always managed to bring out the aura of every woman before the wedding. It was an honor for me when the beauty of the moon goddess emanated because of my talent."The fairy bowed in amazement and then followed the others.

Minami did not reply, she was no less surprised when she saw how beautiful she was now.

He stood up to touch his nose and face. Right, it was him. Not anyone else.

"Daughter, call for you from the elders. Please get to the wedding altar."

Someone shouted from behind the door.

"Say that the princess will be here soon. You can go." The makeup artist chimed in, smiled and then lowered his head back to Minami.

It feels too fast. He had just met a stealth cat and within days, they had already decided to get married. A bond based on personal gain will inevitably end in something out of balance. But it's too late to back off. Minami has to pay for protection during her life with her life as well.

Stepping carefully, Minami came out while rolling up the ends of her dress. The kimono felt heavy and tiring on the shoulders, making its movement very limited.

On the path that had been cleared from the snow pile, Minami felt that

the atmosphere of the past, like another world. Stranger and gloomy.

With his eyes, he saw how ancient and artistic the entire small part of the building was on the edge of the garden. The beautiful ornaments and sculptures throw Minami's memories at the history lesson about Musashi.

Snow was still falling and Minami kept trying to keep her attitude. He continued walking with striking makeup regardless of the astonished gazes from everyone.

However, Kaguya's daughter's reincarnation steps came to a halt as she entered the main altar. The tip of his kimono slipped from his hand, as soon as he saw Yamashita's figure in a traditional groom's dress. Instead of being fascinated, the unexpected happens.

Something's wrong with him. Minami felt strange as her head suddenly throbbed in pain, as if another memory was forcing its way into the mind.

In his shadow, that figure-Prince Yamashita, was seen standing on the same altar but in a much different era. Then suddenly, another memory again ruined the atmosphere.

Minami saw a cat, though,

sitting on the edge of the lake with shamisen sound. I don't know what it was because shortly afterwards he was faced with the figure of Yamashita running fast towards the edge of the lake where the cat was sitting.

It didn't take long, Minami screamed. Yamashita was intent on dying. He witnessed a hallucination in his brain that described how the man who would marry him today threw his body into a lake that - miraculously - froze. Inevitably when Yamashita dove, an ice as sharp as a blade immediately welcomed to stab him.

A bitter, sad and aching scream came out choking on Minami Muruka's chest. He was confused by his own vision. Why is there a cat staring vengeance at him at the last moment he saw Yamashita's corpse.

"Daughter, are you okay?" the sound of the makeup artist, did not make Minami's sense of consciousness return just like that. He stopped to shake his trembling knee. Minami was so shocked that her lips did not stop shaking and her tears kept flowing.

"Daughter, you've been waiting for. Come in before the good time for the wedding is up."