29 ????

The maids and butlers had been rushing around all day and for some reason instead of my normal lesson with Riku he had decided to take me in to town. Apparently he had cleared it with mother and father weeks ago.

We spoke about the weather, politics and my studies on the ride over. The sun was beating down as I watched all the sights and the sounds around me. I had no idea what was going on but any time spent with Riku was time well spent in my books.

He told me about his family and what his little brother was like as a kid, he would also point out various flowers on the side of the road and tell me a little a bit about them. Today father had lent us his best horses for the journey.

Well I say they are horses but they are more like pure black horses with red eyes and six legs. They have two horns that come down near their ears and one massive horn in the middle. Not to mention their tail has fire particles on it.

I haven't gotten use to the magical beasts as most of them look like they could kill you in one hit, but Ren had explained before Riku and I had left that these mounts were only rank 2 and they should be perfectly safe.

We were at the halfway point when Riku had told me to dismount. We were at a place I could only describe as a paddock near the road.

We entered a small gate on the side. There was lush grasses and flowers growing everywhere. After about an incense stick of time and passing strange live stock we came to a rather small house that was surrounded by farmland.

There was a little cobblestone walkway as well as some tall trees and a picket fence. There was a child a little bit older than me picking vegetables in a garden patch to the side of the house. He was covered in dirt so I couldn't make out any other features besides his brown hair tied in a bun.

" Setsu! Tidy up we have a guest! " Riku had shouted startling me.

" BROTHER!! " The teenager called Setsu seemed to shout.

Setsu ran over to Riku with a broad grin on his face before giving me a once over.

He looked down at the ground before running inside the house seemly embarrassed.

" hehe, He is a bit of a scatter brain but he is a good kid! " Riku said grinning.

I took another look at the house before Riku and I tied up our mounts near some grass and headed inside.

[ Wow Riku's house is really nice! ]

" I am sorry Yuki, there isn't much here but as you have guessed this is my home. I thought we would stop for lunch here, I hope you don't mind! " Riku said grinning.

All of a sudden a smell had wafted into my nose. It was the equivalent to a roasted meat smell from back on earth.

My stomach grumbled.

" Mother! My student is here! " Riku said as he led me through to the kitchen.

The house over all felt very lived in and warm.

" Oh my what a cute child! " A kind women's voice said.

I looked up to see a female version of Riku standing above me holding a wooden spoon.

" Mother this is Yuki, I am teaching him at the generals estate! " Riku said.

" Oh dear, should I bow? I am sorry we don't have esteemed guests come to visit often " She said slight embarrassed.

" No! Please don't Mrs Fujiwara.. I don't think I could handle it " I flustered.

Rikus mother gave me a small pat on the head before we all sat down.

" Oh mom is that lunch?! " a bright males voice said.

I looked over from my chair to see a miniature version of Riku staring at me.

[ I really want to pinch his cheeks! ]

Setsu had put some plates down before sitting at the table with Riku and eye. Suddenly a roast spirit beast was set out on the table by Rikus mother.

It was to say the least one of the most delicious things that I had seen since I got here. There was buttered bread, oven baked vegetables and even gravy. Everyone had suddenly put their heads down, without moving for a bite.

[ Are they praying? ]

" Oh glorious one, thank you for the fine meal that we can have today, thanks to Riku's teachings and Setsu's farming skills. May you bless young Yuki here so that he can have joy and happiness in his life." Rikus mother said smiling.

[ I wonder if Cupid is laughing right now! ]

We spent the rest of the meal talking and laughing. I found out a lot about what Riku was like as a kid and it made my heart warm. By the end of the meal I felt so full that I thought my stomach might explode.

We then continued to sit at the table after it was cleared. I was given some tea to settle my stomach but the stories kept coming. All the stress from knowing the future had seemed to melt away. This place felt so safe and warm…

I was truly happy.

[ I don't think I can make it into town, can I just live here? ]

Riku looked out the window and started to panic.

" Oh dear, It seems we have spent a little too much time here. " Riku said looking over at the setting sun.

" I am sorry Yuki seems as If I have to get you home now" Riku said shaking his head.

" Does he have to go? " Setsu said depressed.

" mm run along! Oh wait Setsu go up stairs and grab that thing that Riku had mentioned yesterday" Rikus mother said.

" Thanks mother, I seem to have forgotten " Riku said smiling.

[ Thing? ]

Setsu bolted out of the kitchen before returning some time later with something wrapped in a brown cloth before handing it to me.

" What is it? " I said puzzled.

" You will see" Riku said smiling

Setsu then pulled my hand and took me into a room. It was lined with so many books that they looked like wallpaper.

" Okay you can open it now" Setsu said grinning.

I opened the cloth to see a hand stitched black Kimono with brown trim. There was a Kithun etched into the back that seemed to come alive. My heart wavered.

" Is… this.. For me? " I choked.

" Mm everyone here wanted to say thank you for looking after Riku. Did you know your father pays us enough to not only live comfortably but to pay for moms medicine? We are very grateful! Plus Riku is always talking about you!! Hurry get dressed! We wanna see it on you!" Setsu said excited.

I tired on the clothing and it fit like a charm. I could see how each bit was hand sewn to impeccable levels. No one had ever made clothes for me, I felt like ever taking them off.

Riku walked in a little while later with a male's hair pin and sat me down. He looked me up and down and nodded.

" Mm it looks very good on you " He said smiling.

He grabbed a brush and started doing my hair.

My face started to turn a shade of red.

"All done!" Riku said after a few minutes. We made our way back to where his mother was. She looked me up and down and clapped her hands.

" This Yukata I made for you fits like a charm! You look very handsome with your hair done like that! Now you tarry off home okay and if you ever need anything.. We may not have much but we are here for you! " Riku's mother had mentioned.

Setsu and Riku's mother had said their final goodbyes while I tried my best to stop tears flowing.

My heart and stomach were both very full.

" Sorry for surprising you like this, my mother and brother were very excited to meet you" Riku said as he helped me mout my steed.

" You have a very nice family… Think I could come again?" I said as I grinned.

Riku seemed to flush red before nodding.

[ Ahh so cute!! ]

We made our way back to my house.

The sun had finally set as we arrived there, I looked around to see that lanterns where lining the buildings as well as some streamers.

"Riku is there something important happening? " I said bewildered as I dismounted my horse.

" You will see ' Riku said.

He took my arm like a gentlemen and led me into the north building.

The colours of a festival seemed to line the walls and there was flower petals lining the floor.

We went to the main north entrance way, which was littered with carriages and one of our butlers shouted at the door. " Now entering Aikyo Yuki and his teacher Fujiwara Riku! "

The sounds from before had turned into silence.

Riku had then urged me forward. The place that we entered looked like a fine hall. There was plates of food lining the side and many people I recognised. The royal family, my cousins and even Ki and Ren all dressed up in their finest garments.

Mother and father had walked up to me elegantly before crouching down and saying loudly " Welcome to your 11th birthday party Yuki!"

" Happy birthday Yuki! " Said the people I knew and didn't know before clapping.

My face went bright red and I stood there in shock.

[ one more year until high school huh? ]