Return

After they ate they continued their conversation as they cleaned up to settle for the night.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask. Shiratori and Kota san, who are you guys." Juji asked, Suki looked at Mirai who nodded.

"Swordsmen." Mirai replied simply.

"Yes we had the opportunity to witness your skill in action" Naoki complimented.

"Uh thanks I guess." Mirai replied uncomfortably.

"Well then why is Kota san traveling with you then?" Juji asked.

"I am Yuki's friend, of course I have to be with him." Suki answered quickly. Juji is impressed by Suki's dedication and patted her on the back which caused her to flash her eyes at him with anger.

"Both of you seem quite young to travel out here alone. Does your parents know you are out here?" Juji continued to pesture with questions. This question let both of them to remember dark memories. The silence and the tense atmosphere was carefully noted down by Naoki who looked at Mirai to see the sadness in her eyes.

Finally Suki spoke for the both of them. "Both of my parents died, same for Yuki." She said simply and looked down.

Juji gasped as he realized that he shouldn't have asked, their conversation ended there.

That night the two groups arranged to sleep on opposite sides with each of them taking turn to stand guard. Mirai was given the time after midnight which coincidentally collides with the time she is woken up by her memories. As usual she gets up and practices her sword skill until dawn. Naoki wakes up early since he is used to this and is surprised to see someone practicing so early. He is amazed by MIrai's sword skill as she slashed and pierced.

They were able to arrive in Yamashiki country by noon where Mirai and Suki bid their farewell saying that they need to go. Kazuki agreed on the terms that they will meet again and gives them a sack of enough money for them to live peacefully. Mirai didn't want the money so Suki took it in her stead. Together they traveled off towards main street. Mirai smiled as they walked down the familiar street. They stopped in front of a clothing shop and they walked in, the manager smiled when he saw the two familiar sellers.

"Ah. If this isn't my favorite pair of sellers." He said with a smile.

"Good morning, we came for the same business." Suki said and flashed a bright smile. She took out the pouch strapped around her waist and pulled out the handkerchiefs.

The manager separated each handkerchief and studied each of them carefully, looking at each seam through his spectacles. He smiled to show he is satisfied with the works, like their previous trips the handkerchiefs have beautiful images of different flowers or scenery. The handkerchiefs that they sell are very popular in the town, a lot of noble ladies and sometimes even visiting princesses would come buy these.

"Like before twenty beautifully sown handkerchiefs and here is the payment." He took out a brown sack of money and Mirai made sure the amount is correct.

"Is there anything else you would like?" He asked as he quickly set the handkerchiefs on the display shelf.

"There is, about this." Mirai opened her sack and took out two fans with beautiful drawings on it, there are also lines of poetry written on it.

"Oh my. Look what we have here." He murmured softly as he admired the work.

During this period fans are used by both male and female to show royalty or intelligence, with the male and females ones clearly different. Having fans are important to show a person's wealth and status.

"We want to sell these fans." Mirai offered.

"Why of course I will buy these, to create such beautiful art you must be very talented." He remarked as he closed the fans.

"Uh no. Like the handkerchiefs these were made by my sister." Mirai lied.

"What a talented sister you have. If your sister isn't married yet I have a son I would like to introduce to your sister." The manager said as he took out another bag of silver.

Mirai coughed and said. "My younger sister is humble and does not like to meet new people. She also already has someone she likes."

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. If only I had introduced my son earlier." The manager jokingly said.

"Well then we should leave." Mirai hastily said and walked towards the door.

"Of course, I await for the next batch soon." The manager bowed as they left the shop.

Naoki and the rest continued on their way as they rode to the palace. Naoki has an identity that the two do not know, he is the son of the emperor ruling this country, the crown prince. Juji and Kazuki are his right hand man and his most trusted friends. All three of them like to travel so when they do they would say that they are traveling merchants to not raise suspicion and unwanted attention.

"Your majesty!" An eunuch reported as he came running into the room.

"Speak." He said.

"The crown prince, Prince Naoki, has returned." He reported.

"Naoki onii sama is back!" A girl wearing a green kimono said as she squealed and demanded the eunuch to bring her to him at once. The emperor chuckled as his wife, the empress, smiled at the little girl's reaction.

"It seems that Princess Sakura is quite fond of our son." She remarked.

"Yes the problem will be if Naoki likes her." His wife said as he stood and walked towards the gardens. Both of them stayed silent as they walked through the numerous aisles of different flowers. Both knew that their son will not go near the opposite sex with the intentions of love. Their son is like an ice boulder against love, stubborn and cold. When he was young they would tease him with this but now that he is older and at the age of marriage they fear for his future and that he may never find a partner.

"Naoki onii-sama!" Princess Sakura cried as she ran towards Naoki. Then just as planned Princess Sakura purposely tripped on her kimono right in front of Naoki so he can catch her. She smiled when a pair of strong hand caught her right before she fell to the ground as she turned around and said, "Arigatou Nao-" She stopped in the middle of the sentence since the one that caught her was not Naoki but Juji.

"Disappointed little princess." Juji said as he placed her feet on the ground and ran after Naoki who was half a corridor down already.