57 Paying The Favor Forward

*** Ki's Perspective ***

[ I never thought I would be sitting on top of a tea house spying on a child. ]

" Hey Ren, where do you think the young master is going?" I whispered to the boy next to me.

Ren and I were laying on top of the rooftop in common outside clothes wearing masks and snacking on some breakfast buns. It was really uncomfortable following young master last night. My heart kind of twinged seeing the look on his face hunting this morning.

[ I am going to need a face mask for my eye bags after this mission ]

" No idea, to be honest, probably looking for his dad. Heck, I would" Ren replied.

" Well he has a week off duties, running away doesn't seem like such a bad way to spend it," Ren said after a moment and laughed.

" He probably needs to clear his head a bit, when I was a kid I used to do the same. I'd run from my folks who would leave each other black and blue and head to the local hang out for kids. It was a pile of trash but .. we called it a second home" I said as a reminisced.

" Couldn't imagine you playing in the trash, is that why you became a maid?" Ren replied cheekily.

" Stupid. Of course not! I'm a maid but I am also a mercenary. Being able to serve such a good young master ain't such a bad thing" I replied as I punched Ren.

" Woah, Woah calm down lady, I thought women were supposed to be kind and gentle at least that's what the boys back at the border said," Ren replied acting wounded.

" Kind and gentle ay? Is that your type of girl?" I laughed quietly.

" Nah, I wouldn't know what to do with her. I couldn't deal with the spoiled type either. You seen the way the princess hangs off Yuki?" Ren says and he pretends to put his finger down his throat.

" I must admit the way royalty finds love is something this commoner could never understand" I replied in thought.

The sun was slowly warming up causing a little sweat to form under my mask. I titled my head back to let my hair run down my back so the wind could cool my neck.

" I must admit though, I was really surprised when young master told us he .. had.. different tastes" I mentioned absentmindedly.

" You mean his maiden heart?" Ren replied and looked over at me I could feel his gaze on me, I looked over to meet him and nodded.

" You know, I have been thinking over it all last night and this morning and I can't say it bothers me. The only thing I am worried about is his marriage. Ahhh. Why couldn't he born common." Ren replied as he held his mask.

" Yeah, his marriage...If he was born common we would never have met him" I said after a moment.

" I guess your right" Ren replied.

Meanwhile inside the tea house…

*** Yuki's perspective***

" There is no death wish I am searching for my father," I replied coolly.

[ If I didn't know where we were I wouldn't have asked. What a headache! ]

" Your father a merc or soldier?" Jin said questioningly.

" Something like that... " I replied awkwardly.

" Something like that uh? You hear that a whole group of people went missing on the way there? Apparently, it was some big shot. We live in dangerous times. Especially when on the cusp of the peace treaty" Jin said as he took a sip of tea.

[ Was that big shot, my father?! ]

" Peace treaty? What big shot went missing?" I said out loud.

Jin seemed to be startled for a moment before he laughed.

" Looks like you have been pretty sheltered and you still want to go to the border? Psh! Both the Emperor of Vance and our own Emperor are trying to gain more merits at moment for better bargaining chips for the peace treaty. That's why the border is so dangerous kiddo!" Jin replied as poured some extra tea.

He then pointed to a small town on the Tama map and said " Right if you are heading to the border, this is where we are now."

He then slid his hand again before saying " You have to go up three way for three days, then this way for two."

" We are pretty close just a few days ride but due to the protection of the Akiyo family, we haven't seen much of the fighting here. Just watch your back. The further you get out of town the harder it will be to survive." Jin said as he shook his head.

[ Thanks to my family huh? ]

" Oh and I would get a new cloak your flashy appearance screams please rob me from a mile away," Jin said as he laughed.

I took off my hood and inspected the quality of the fabric. I guess what he said was true... It really was nice looking.

Jin was shocked as he stared at me.

" Red hair, stern eyes and fancy clothing .. you can't be!?" Jin said before covering his mouth.

" Whatever conclusions you have jumped to please keep them to yourself," I replied polietly as I put my disguise back on.

Jin stood up and did a formal military salute.

" I owe your father my life, this tea shop and my beautiful wife. Please reconsider what you are doing!" Jin said with a stern face.

" Please sit down and don't speak so loud," I said in an icy tone.

Lucky we were in a private booth or my cover would have been blown. Jin sat back down and called a waitress inside. I looked at him warily as he whispered to the young lady who nodded and left quickly.

" I am just getting her to buy you a few useful things. If you really wanna go I can't stop you but I can't let you leave in good conscious with a target on your back" Jin said quietly.

" How do you know so much?" I said after a moment of thought.

Jin looked me up and down before he sighed.

" Your father was my commanding officer… during a skirmish on the border, he saved my life. Even paid me from his own pocket after my leg got busted up." Jin said as he lifted up his pant leg a vicious scar ran down his calf like a lightning bolt.

"My tea house employs only ex-military, it's hard to get a paycheck when you can no longer fight," Jin said before we both heard footsteps.

The door opened and the waitress from before came in with peasant clothing and a small bag of coins. She handed it over to Jin before he passed them to me.

" Use these coins if you need them, there is some Vance currency as well as our own coins and this clothes shouldn't give you away," Jin said as he smiled.

" I am not sure what to say.." I replied honestly.

" Nonsense! Consider me replaying the favour your father gave me all those years ago," Jin said as he looked over at the tea.

" Well thank you," I said as I stood and bowed politely. I took off my cloak and stuffed in my backpack before putting the worn one on and trying the money bag around Kibbles.

" That's a cute Kithun you have. Treat him well. Spirit beasts are hard to tame and even harder to say goodbye to. Well. I better let you go the daylight is burning and it looks like you have a lot to do" Jin said as he stood up.

I went to hand him some money for the tea before he laughed.

" Kid… it is on me. Now get outta here!" Jin said as he patted me on the back.

[ I guess he wouldn't take my money after he himself just gave me some ]

" Thanks, Jin, I will be sure to tell my father that I met you" I replied with a smile.

As I left the tea house Jin looked out at my direction and waved. I turned back one last time and waved back.

[ Such a good guy! ]

Now I knew where I wanted to go walked through the streets with certainly making my way towards the exit. I could hire a spirit beast to ride on but I had no certainty I could get it back safely in one peace so I decided against it.

Just as I was about to leave town I felt a set of eyes on me. I looked around but no one was there. I shrugged it off but decided to be wary just in case. Putting my head lower I went to the exit and finally saw the open road in front of me.

" Wait, mister! You got any coins to spare?" I heard a voice from behind and felt a tug on my cloak.

[ Hey Kibbles get me a copper coin in the pouch ]

" Ahh your backs moving all weird," the voice said again and the tug on my cloak disappeared.

I turned around to see a fresh face youngster covered in filth. His clothes seemed pretty worn out but the shocked expression on his freckled face was pretty cute. I laughed a little from under my hood as Kibbles jumped out from under my cloak and dropped it at the boy's feet before I turned around to leave.

" Mister is that a spirit beast? And you are actually giving me money!? Thank the heavens for your kindness! I am closer to getting to the border now!" The kid said behind me.

" The border?" I stopped in my tracks and said.

" Mm my sister is there! Mumma and papa died so I have to find her." The kid replied quickly.

He walked up in front of me still holding the coin like it was a precious heirloom.

[ Ahh what am I thinking…]

I sighed.

" If you're going to the border you can tag along with me. I am heading there myself. No dawdling though and if you try to steal my stuff I will cut your hands off!" I said still hiding my face.

" You are going to the border too?" The child replied. He looked around my age with green hair purple eyes a mole sat tidily under his lip.

" You mean it? " he said after I hadn't replied.

[ I am already regretting my decision ]

" Are you coming or not?" I said as I began walking. From the looks of his attire and skinny frame, I didn't think he had any stuff with him to take from town.

" The name is Sora! Thank you for taking me along benefactor! What should I call you?" Sora said as he danced around me excitedly.

" Yuta" I replied calmly.