55 One Week

[ Why did Ren have to say something stupid like that? ]

I sat up on my bed as Kibbles wiped the water flowing down my cheeks with his tail.

" You still think they don't care? " Kibbles said softly as he sat up on my lap and looked at me. His slitted eyes seemed to see straight through me at that moment. Kibbles had always been someone I could trust without question.

I felt safe with him.

" Yuki, you think maybe Ren and Ki are you know... Together?" Kibbles said out of the blue*.

[ Huh? Together? ]

" Well yeah, they seem pretty close nowadays," Kibbles replied cheekily.

I used both my hands to wipe the rest of the salty tears off my face. I imagined what it would be like to see little Ren's and Ki's running around. My heart was very full, Ren would always be going off to the front line and because he was my guard... I could never imagine being more than just friends with him. It would be unfair to treat him like a servant and a lover.

Just being friends with him has been hard.

I continued to think about what Kibbles had said before I smiled.

" I guess it wouldn't be so bad if they were. They suit one another" I said thinking out loud.

" You wouldn't mind? " Kibbles replied.

" Ki and Ren have been by my side for a long time now. I don't think I could be upset at their happiness. I mean.. Who cares!" I replied flustered.

I shook my head so fast I thought my brain was going to scramble.

" Hehe, see you don't hate them!" Kibbles replied.

" Don't you think you should make up with them both.. Before we leave? It's not like you will ever see them again afterwards... Probably." Kibbles said softly.

There was a knock on the door.

" Young Master, Your grandfather is calling for you" Bulter Yoon had said.

I checked my face in the polished bronze mirror to make sure that my eyes were not puffy before I straightened my clothes and asked Yoon to walk in.

" Please follow me to the library," Yoon said quickly.

" Lead the way," I said in the best young master tone I could muster as I stood up.

We had walked for a little while before Yoon with an open palm pointed** me to a big set of rosewood doors.

I knocked once.

" Grandfather, Your grandson is here," I said with a flat voice.

" Come in" I heard grandfather Reo reply. His voice sounded a little older and less cheery then when I had first met him.

Yoon opened the door for me before bowing and leaving.

Reo was sitting down in an ornate seat surrounded by books. I closed my eyes for a moment and could tell what trees and plants each of the books were made from. I could even tell what materials the furniture was built from.

This exercise calmed my heart as I took a step forward.

[ My powers really have improved ]

The seat was smaller, obviously to make anyone who sat across from him feel powerless. My grandfather was smarter then he looked. Especially since his hair was wilder than usual and his face was pale.

I followed his command and sat down.

" There is some tea, pour grandfather and yourself some. I am sure you need it after what has happened today" Grandfather said softly.

I poured some tea for the both of us before I watched the steam rise from each cup. I honestly had no idea what to say. I wanted to yell, scream and cry but I couldn't do any of it. Just looking at the way grandfather was I unable to do any of it.

He looked less a general right now and more like .. my grandfather and a man who was quiet morning his children.

We sat in silence for a little while. Both of us at one point or another had opened our mouths to speak but had stayed silent. Both of us unsure on how to break the ice.

" Grandfather ..I " I said in a stutter.

" No, I am.. " Grandfather replied.

We looked at each other for a moment and laughed bitterly.

It is strange how loss brings people closer together. Mourning doesn't discriminate and the sense of loss people feel .. I guess is universal. For the first time ever I felt like Reo was actually my grandfather.

" Why did you leave the Emperor to tell me?" I said looking at the ground.

" I have been busy organising your new training schedule and looking for your father," Reo replied quickly.

" No matter how busy you are... It wasn't fair to hear it all from unrelated people!" I retorted angrily.

Silence once again filled the room.

" And the marriage? The position? Why?! " I mumbled.

" I know it is hard Yuki, to do what we must. There are thousands of people who see our family as a beacon of hope in troubled times. If our family were to crumble Vance would invade and there would be no one to stop them. We must sacrifice so that others can live... We must... Endure." Grandfather replied.

[ Endure huh? ]

" I see… do you think... Father is alive somewhere?" I said in a quiet voice.

" Of course he is!" Grandfather said as he slammed his fist on the table.

" Me too. When can I see mother?" I replied to Reo.

" Your mother was buried three days ago in our family crypt. You can visit her in a few days time." Grandfather replied sadly.

" Grandfather... There is something I would like to do. You are welcome to punish me afterwards." I said after I looked into grandfathers empty eyes.

[ No one deserves to be alone.. ]

I walked up to Reo's chair and stood behind him. Then I wrapped my arms around him and gave him a tight hug. Grandfather was on high alert until he realised what I was doing and his shoulders suddenly dropped.

" We will be okay, grandfather, I will make sure of it!" I said in his ear gently.

" Hmph! What can a little pipsqueak like you possibly do?" Grandfather retorted. Although his words were harsh, his tone sounded a lot more lively then it was before. I could feel his fighting spirit rising.

[ It must have been hard when grandmother passed away all of those years ago. He must have been very lonely. ]

I sighed and gripped grandfather tightly.

I hugged him for a few moments longer before I sat back down in the small guest seat. Grandfather coughed before he looked me up and down like he was appraising a soldier.

"You are very small, and weak and probably do not know the first thing about war," Reo stated.

I looked at my shoes in embarrassment.

" But you have a big heart and a fine sense of justice. If this old man can't make you into a general I will retire in shame!" Reo said with certainty.

[ Uhh thank you... I guess? ]

Grandfather seemed to be in a slightly better mood as he went over my training schedule for the next six months. It was intensive training on the art of warfare as well as diplomacy. There was also intensive sword fight and magic classes.

" What about my lessons with Riku? " I replied quickly.

" Who is this Riku?" Grandfather replied.

" He is a scholar that my father hired. I would like to keep learning politics from him as well as math and calligraphy." I replied.

" As you wish. I will organise it with butler Yoon" Grandfather replied.

" Since a lot has happened I will give you a week without work to settle anything that you may need to do. Afterwards, prepare to work harder then your mother did to birth you. You have six months until you go to school. Do not fail me, do not fail yourself and do not fail the Akiyo family." Grandfathers words echoed in the library like they had been made into law.

" Yes sir " I replied instinctively and saluted in my chair.

" Go now and prepare how you will spend your week without tasks." Grandfather replied.

I bowed before leaving.

[ Pity I will be leaving this all behind soon. ]