54 Stupid Ren

*** Rens perspective ***

[ I am so tired ]

Today had had more twists and turns that I could have imagined. I was so happy to see Yuki alive and well. Especially when they had said that his heart was better I knew things were going to be okay.

I remember when Ki and I were made to kneel before Reo Aikyo, Yuki's grandfather. I had never felt so distant from the man who basically raised me. I owe him a lot. I couldn't understand at the time why he had looked sterner than usual until he told us what happened to Yuki's parents. I may not know what it is like to have parents but the older should never have to bury the younger.

He seemed more tired than usual as he gave us our orders, his hair seemed a little more tangled and his eyes just a little more worn than usual. Instead of a general, all I could see was a man who was grieving for his son and country.

The movement from the carriage had distracted me from my thoughts as I looked over at Ki who was silently watching the movement of the spirit beasts who drove us to Yuki's temporary home.

" Why was master so adamant on sending us to train this week? Did he know this would all happen?" Ki whispered under her breath.

She clenched her fists into balls, the cuffs of her black attire were threatening to split under the force of her muscles.

All I could do was shake my head. It was not our place to question our lord's orders.

We finally pulled up into the estate that Reo Aikyo owned. I stepped off the carriage in unison with Ki. We had been training secretly training together since Tama forest as ordered by Master Tenma and had become pretty in sync.

" Young Master Aikyo has come! " Shouted a guard.

Maids and butlers all with secret training bowed in unison from the front gate. I was surprised to see that Reo was nowhere to be found.

Ki had sealed her emotions on the trip back and turned her fighting aura off. No one, not even me would be able to tell she was Yuki's personal guard when she was like this.

We turned and looked at the carriage.

Yuki had yet to step out.

[ Will he come? ]

Suddenly the carriage door opened and Ki walked over and presented her hand. Yuki had taken it swiftly and with perfect elegance stepped off the carriage.

His hair was immaculately tied, his clothing was worn to an impeccable degree and the small Kithun on his shoulder was standing proudly. Anyone who had not known Yuki, as well as Ki and myself, would see a perfectly refined young master of the Tama kingdom.

[ It seems leaving a spare set of clothes was useful ]

Yuki had flashed a big grin on his face as he strode forward to meet the people at the entrance. I felt like everything that had happened had just been an illusion. The burst of magic on the way here, Yuki's mother, everything.

" Has a room been prepared for me? " Yuki said with a small smile.

" Of course young master," said one of the maids assigned here.

" Maid, Bodyguard take care of my luggage," Yuki said promptly as he pointed at Ki and me.

[ Maid and Bodyguard huh.. ]

As much as it hurt to hear those words I was relieved. It would have been worse if he was to pretend as if nothing had happened. Even if he distances himself from us with anger… it is better than him shutting himself down.

Ki must have had the same thoughts because she turned her back and smiled briefly before accepting the task she was given.

" Your name? " Yuki said to the head butler

" Just call me head butler Yoon" Yoon had responded.

" Please take me to my room, I wish to rest" Yuki replied.

" Right away sir" The head butler responded.

I watched as Yuki's back had left Ki and I behind. Feelings were muddled in my chest.

The maids and butlers followed behind Yuki in perfect rows until it was just a few guards at attention in the entrance, Ki and myself.

" Do you think he will be okay? " I said quietly.

"Young Master Yuki has been through a lot, I am not sure" Ki replied in a melancholic tone.

" Do you think we should have warned him?" I replied as I took some luggage.

" No, I am sure there was a reason why it had to be done this way. Do you think his father is really missing? I have yet to actually see Madam's corpse either. I think this is a conspiracy" Ki said quietly.

[ A conspiracy? For what purpose? ]

" Just do not work without orders and we shall see," Ki said as she took the last box.

" Come, these won't lift themselves," Ki said as she walked towards the entrance. The number of boxes and pieces of luggage she carried was amazing. They towered high above her face to at least double her size.

I followed behind her quickly until we entered the front door.

" Master Reo requests an audience with you both. Finish your tasks and head to the library." The head butler said.

He took a look at Ki and then myself then shook his head.

Ignoring that son of a monkey, Ki followed me to Yuki's room. I knew this place like the back of my hand so it wasn't a problem. I had never liked butler Yoon, he had always rubbed me the wrong way.

We knocked quickly when we arrived and heard Yuki's voice telling us to enter.

I swallowed some saliva and walked into the room.

" Ren and I are here with your luggage where would you like them, young master" Ki had said gently.

" Anywhere you see fit." Yuki said.

He was laying on his bed. The small Kithun was laying on his stomach.

[ It wasn't my imagination! ]

I thought I noticed something weird before but it had only just stood out now. Yuki's pet had a green stripe running down it's back that hadn't been there before.Its eyes looked fiercer and fur sharper.

[ When did the Kithun grade up to rank two?! Was that the burst of magic from earlier? Does that mean Yuki ranked up like a spirit beast earlier?! No way! ]

I looked over at Yuki who was clearly ignoring Ki and I as we placed down the luggage.

[ He has too many secrets ]

I thought back to what he said on the way here and my mind became foggy.

[ Does he really have the heart of a maiden? * ]

For some reason, I felt uncomfortable. If it really were the case his happiness would never be guaranteed if he was to marry the princess. I thought back to the day that he had told me he didn't like her.

[ Was he trying to tell me something about it then? ]

I worked absentmindedly and Ki and I finally got everything in order.

" Our work is done young master if there is nothing else we shall leave you," Ki said snapping me out of my troubles.

" Leave" Yuki responded as he patted Kibble's fur. He felt so far away from me right now. I felt.. Lonely. Was this what it was like to have a friend hate you?

I looked at my fist and thought about everything that Yuki and I had been through as I turned to leave I said " I was mistaken, I should not have kept things from you. Please rest well young master and I will protect you no matter what."

I didn't see Yuki's reaction as I left the room.

I couldn't bear to.

Ki closed the door quietly behind us.

She looked around warily and then punched me in the arm.

" What was that for? " I whispered as we headed to master's room.

" Stupid. You made him cry. " Ki said smiling.