Chapter 93 - Boredom

Around midafternoon, Kazehaya Gin was so bored. He was used to working the whole day, and the past few days made him stay up a lot at the company 'til the wee hours of the morning. Suddenly having a lot of free time because of his fever put him at a loss.

Feeling restless, he fumbled on the space next to his head where he remembered Yayoi put his phone, and took it. He immediately placed a call to his butler.

"Come pick me up at the Cedar Palace," he ordered.

There were a few seconds of silence before Fuji answered. "I'm so sorry Young Master, Young Master Ryuu strictly instructed for you to stay there the whole day today. He said that if I come to pick you up, your vacation will be extended to a week."

EEEEEH?

"But I'm not sick anymore."

"I'm sorry Young Master, but it's the Koutaishidenka's order," Fuji said apologetically, and Gin had no choice but to give up.

Even if he insisted, nobody would dare defy Ryuu's order anyway. He wouldn't bother trying to sneak out as well. He was a hundred percent sure he'd get drag back in. Even if he used Aello, someone would just get Ryuu and Mavara, and both master and dragon would beat the crap out of him and Aello before dragging them back in.

"It's fine," he conceded, and he heard an audible sigh on the other end. Fuji seemed to be truly relieved he was going to behave. "But I'm bored. Bring my Rosey here," he instructed.

Rosey was his newly acquired beloved pet.

"Be careful with her terrarium okay? Make sure the travel's not shaky," he added before ending the call.

As soon as he placed the phone back on the tatami, it vibrated again.

Huh?

He wondered who could be calling him. Knowing Ryuu, he would have ordered everyone, including the people in the company to not bother him today. But, upon checking the caller ID, his hazel eyes lit up, and a smile spread on his face.

"Big brother Kaze," a female voice rang in his ears as soon as he answered.

"Princess! It's a surprise. You've never called me before," he said, the last line sounding a bit sulky.

Suzuki Ara laughed at the other end. "Big brother Kaze, you're like a big kid," she chided teasingly.

"I heard from Kou that you caught the flu. Are you feeling better now?"

"No. I feel sick. I think I'm dying soon. You should come and visit big brother ASAP," Kazehaya told her shamelessly.

"You're not dying."

"I am – I – AAAAAH, "Kazehaya groaned kiddingly and Ara's laughter rang in his ears again.

"Big brother, you don't sound sick. You sound like a pervert," she said, before laughing again. "Anyway, I called because we will be going shopping later for souvenirs. Is there anything you want from Hakone?"

Kazehaya Gin contemplated for a moment. He didn't know how to answer Ara since he knew she had no idea that he was originally from there. It was where the Kazehaya House – the main one he destroyed and was rebuilt by his father was.

"Hmmmnnn anything is fine," he answered finally, which he also regretted almost instantly.

"Then I'll get you a dozen black eggs."

Ha?

The black hard-boiled egg was a very popular souvenir from Hakone. The eggs were prepared in the hot spring water. The gas from the volcano caused the eggshells to oxidize, making them turn black naturally. One other thing why it was popular was because it was said a person would increase his lifespan by seven years if he ate an egg.

But Kazehaya Gin disliked that egg. Who would want to eat a black egg?

"Er… Princess, you don't have to trouble yourself, really," he told her.

Ara, however, didn't seem to catch what he meant and continued to insist. "It's no trouble brother. I heard it's really good for the heath, so you should have some. I'll get my brother and Kou some too. You three work so hard you have to have something to sustain you."

"Well...erhm.. okay," he agreed reluctantly.

He didn't have the heart to reject her goodwill.

"By the way Ara, your best friend's been causing us trouble. May I punish her?" he inquired.

Ara had expressed her wish to get her revenge on her own terms. But if that girl was being too much, he really wanted to do something about her.

"If she did something really off, then go ahead and do what you have to do. It's not that I didn't want you to punish her. I just didn't want you to punish her without letting people know why. I want her true colors exposed."

"Got it, "Kazehaya was happy to receive the go signal to do what was necessary to Okada Koharu.

"But don't stress yourself over that girl. Let someone else do it. You just take a good rest and get better soon. I'll bring you the eggs when I get back," she added before saying goodbye.

Kazehaya who never really had someone who fussed over him saved for the servants and Koutaishidenka was touched, at the same time amused. Ara said she would get black eggs for Ryuu as well, he thought with a snigger.

If Kazehaya Gin disliked the eggs, the Koutaishidenka loathed them. He now looked forward to seeing Ryuu eat some. Lately, the prince had been giving it his all in courting his wife. He wondered what he'd do with Ara's souvenir.

He yawned. Well, that had to wait since Ara would not be there until Thursday. She was still in the middle of her school trip to Hakone.

Speaking of which…

Kazehaya Gin was hit with an inspiration. Since he had nothing to do anyway, and he couldn't leave, he'd try and check out the students and the infamous crazy girl who'd been giving the staff headaches.

He stood up and changed into a black kimono but with a pink imperial sakura petal design. Even in traditional clothes, he's still so bright.

"Young Master, where are you going?"

Kazehaya turned to see Yayoi walking towards him from the end of the hall as soon as he reached the wing towards the dojos. He immediately gave her a boyish smile.

"I'm bored so I want to go and take a look at the students," he said, as he noted the anxiousness of the other. "Is there something wrong?"

Yayoi had been the Head Housekeeper for years. She rarely got anxious or upset – or if she did, she never showed it, but this time she was clearly showing her agitation on her old, but still beautiful face.

"That crazy girl had wandered again towards the private quarters. I'm really reaching my limit with that one."

Her voice sounded really cross, and Kazehaya chuckled, as he went over towards her and placed his arm around her shoulder.

"Don't fret too much about this one. Let me take care of this okay?"

"How?"Yayoi was clearly worried and Kazehaya could understand.

It was Ryuu who had invited these people in the Cedar Palace, and the invitation was of course for Ara's sake. If a problem arose between the Homura House and the school, then Yayoi would feel like they hadn't been nice enough to entertain the future lady's people.

"Simple. Just do what you do to trash. You throw them out…"