Yuki and Saki could only manage shock at hearing that Chiharu was the granddaughter of this elderly man. “Granddaughter?!” they said together.

  Chiharu was visibly bothered by the attention as well as the reas. “Grandfather! This is none of their business!”

  “Don’t be rude, Chiharu! They’re uests.”

  The stunned rea for Yuki was quickly passed by his own realization of a fact that he found too amazing to ignore. “So this house is yours, Chiharu? That’s so cool!” Saki was quick to snap out of her paralysis when she heard Yuki ag like his usual self. She stepped in and elbowed him again to get him to be quiet. “Saki!?”

  The elderly man smiled and ughed, finding the se to be enjoyable. “My, you have some lively friends, Chiharu.”

  “They aren’t my friends! I would never associate with that weakling!”

  Chiharu’s grandfather tio smile and turo look down at the young students. “Well let’s begin this properly. I’m Masahiko en.”

  Chapter 42 – Straill

  Yuki snapped back to reality seeing that there was a need for introdus. He stood up o Saki looking straight forward to the old man. “I’m Yuki Hayashi, sir!”

  “Saki Furukawa…”

  They looked over at the still silent boy putting all of the attention on him hoping that the pressure would make him speak. However, the efforts didn’t seem to be necessary as he willingly gave his name, finally. “Haruo Yoneda…”

  ‘Haruo, huh?’ Yuki thought as he was gd to finally have a o his face.

  Saki turned her head back towards the front taking it in. ‘Haruo Yoneda… He’s got our school uniform, but I don’t reize the name. I guess we do have a rge school though…’ She had hoped hearing a name would have sparked something in her mind to know who the boy was, but he remained a mystery to her even now.

  Masahiko nodded as he heard the names and smiled babsp; He gave them a warm voice keeping with the kind grandfather appearahat he projected. “All fine names. Well then. As I’ve said you’re uests for the evening. I would like to apologize for the manner in which you had to be brought here, but our family is well known ahy making us the target of many enemies. sidering how you met my granddaughter, we had to be cautious, but any suspis have been dropped. So as repense for your troubles I wele you to my home and have a fine dinner prepared for you.”

  “Dinner?!” Yuki said with his eyes growing wide and immediately being drawn in by the idea of having a ba feast in a fancy mansion.

  Saki sighed knowing that it would be his rea to the idea of food. He had already fotten or fivehing that happened. “That’s such a gracious offer, but—“

  “You don’t have to worry, Miss. We already tacted all of your families letting them know of what has happened. I spoke to them personally to assure them of your safety and that you’ll be uests for the night. You’re wele to call your families as well.”

  It had seemed that the old man had pnned out everything in advanbsp; Saki stepped back, feeling her footing being taken out from underh her. The way that it was being preseo them it didn't seem like he was going to take no for an answer.

  “What’s wrong, Saki? He said he already talked to our families. So there’s nothing wrong with rexing. It’s Saturday so we don’t have to worry about school either!” He was almost too excited to tain himself, but he could see that Saki was still having a difficult time with everything. This was a much more exg time than they could be having somewhere else. “e on, Saki!”

  The whole heavy handed manner didn’t sit with her very well even with the nice grandfather look that he had. Saki couldn’t get rid of the uling feeling that she had about the house and the en bsp; “Fine…” Yuki jumped over and hugged Saki.

  They were escorted out of the chambers by Chiharu. She led them back to their room where they would wait. Only Masahiko remained, but out of the shadows of the wall behind Masahiko ehe aged man. Masahiko didn’t turn, but seemed to already know that he resent behind him. “So Tamotsu, what are your impressions of uests?” The kile expression faded away as more wrinkles seemed to develop in a stern look.

  “They’re quite…eic…”

  “And the Hayashi boy?”

  “He seems normal, but…”

  “Yes, I couldn’t tell anything from looking at him. Either he’s a good actor or he’s a simple high school student. However, something about it reads too perfebsp; Everything that you expect to be there is, like it’s guiding you. At a g looks normal, but I sehere’s something more to his story.”

  “You think he’s from another ?”

  “Unclear, what I’m sensing as training could just be a normal child. For now it’s only a groundless gut feeling, no sense overreag yet…”

  “I’ll monitor him from a distance, sir.” Tamotsu disappeared into the shadows of the chamber leaving Masahiko alone once more with a now pensive fabsp; He raised his thin fio his face trying to uand his dilemma better.

  When the dinner was ready for them they were called out with escort by Chiharu, still very much bothered by the whole affair. It was very traditional with them all sitting on the floor along a long dark oak table covered in a wide assortment of traditional Japanese food. The dinner went as expected with Yuki at the table. It was shared with Masahiko and Chiharu, but the others that they had seen were not present.

  Yuki returned pleased from the dinner dropping os with his stomach filled. He leaned his head back to look over across the floor at Haruo. “So you’re Haruo, huh? What css you in?” It hadn’t taken Yuki very long the uniform, but the boy remained unapproachable the eime that starting a versation proved to be difficult. The difficulty tinued with Haruo remaining quiet in the er. “Hmm…”

  “Let him be, Yuki. ” Saki sat down at the table with very little to do. However, that quickly ged as the door slid open with the aged man, Tamotsu, at the entrance looking in at them. Saki was the first to stand and approach him, needing to do something. “Yes?”

  “Mr. en would like to inform you that the baths have been prepared for you. You will find clothes present in the rooms after you’re done. Please leave your uniforms to be ed.”

  The dan to close as Tamotsu was leaving when Yuki jumped up no longer looking fatigued from the meal. “Who’s going first?!” He looked around the room cheg the reas, but he seemed to be the only ohusiastic.

  Tamotsu returned back to the entrance, briefly hearing Yuki. “I should let you know it is divided by gender and rge enough for all of you.” He departed the room’s threshold disappearing into the halls.

  “Well e on! Let’s go then. It’s no surprise that a pce like this would have a huge bath.” Yuki grabbed up Haruo and dragged along Saki both protesting (one more loudly thaher). Their escort at the door showed them the way to the bath.

  As they had been told it was divided with a clearly marked sign on both doors. Yuki waved to Saki as she entered, leaving the two of them to go on by themselves. Saki couldn't help the weird feeling that she was getting as she undressed. There was a modest yukata left on the ter that she noticed. ‘What’s going on? This seems to be a little much for an apology. Though Yuki would probably say that he is just a really nian that wants to be generous. He’s lost in the excitement…’

  She grabbed a towel holding it close to herself feeling like she was at a public bath. However, wheepped out into what she thought was going to be a bath she found that she was outside instead. She checked around suddenly feeling a little exposed, but saw the tall bamboo fehat gave the entire area privabsp; In front of her was what looked like something she would find in a hot spring rather than a bath. Saki stepped forward feeling cautious and nervous knowing that this was someone else’s house.

  “Who’s there?!” a young voice said, disturbing the water as they turned upon hearing Saki approach.

  Saki jumped back, almost droppiowel. She felt put on the spot being expected to give an ao her intrusion to the girl that she could not see. “Umm…I was told that the baths were prepared for us and…”

  “Oh it’s you,” Chiharu said, ing out of the shadows. She entered into the middle of the pool of water staring at Saki.

  “Chiharu, I-I…” Saki froze on the spot, feeling the gring look from Chiharu. She normally wouldn't have had a problem with Chiharu staring at her, but she felt more vulnerable at the moment. It didn't help that the gre felt like she was cheg her out.

  “You going to e in? You’ll catch a cold standing out in the night air…”

  “Oh! Right!” Saki nodded aered the water feeling the heat ing off of the surface as her legs got the immediate taste. She eased herself in still feeling like she was an uninvited guest from the stares. “Umm…this is an impressive bath.” Saki tried to smile and ge the mood that left a thick tension in the air.

  Chiharu settled down into the water resting at the edge of the bath. “Grandfather had it put in wanting to imitate an open air hot spring that he visited.”

  “Oh I see!” Saki couldn't help but feel some of the impressive awe that Yuki showed by how wealthy her family had to be. “Your family must be very wealthy. What do they do?”

  It was as though a taboo had been spoken. Chiharu’s look narrowed and tightened up, turning away from Saki. She sealed her lips not saying a single word. After that it didn't take a hint. She choked on her words trying to find something that would be safe to talk about. “Umm…You’re pretty strong, Chiharu…”

  “So? What’s your point?”

  Saki tried to smile, being unfortable and embarrassed with the flow of their chat. She couldn't remember how long it had been since she had this much trouble talking to someone. ‘If it was Yuki he’d just start saying whatever and ma out a response…’ She focused back to Chiharu. “Who trained you?”

  “Grandfather.”

  “Yrandfather? He must be really strong!”

  “Yeah…but I’ll beat him one day. I promise you!”

  Saki could see a slight glow in Chiharu’s eyes as she talked. She had found something that was easy to talk about. “What’ll you do when you beat him?”

  “I’ll look for someoronger!”

  ‘Sounds like a typical response.’ Saki couldn't help but grin a little at hearing the simplistiswer from Chiharu. She had her drive, Saki couldn’t deny that.

  Chiharu shifted ier and threw her hand up dismissively. “Well I guess I’ll take over as head of the , too.”

  “Head of the bsp; That sounds like a lot to p you…”

  “I’m the only heir to the bsp; It’s my chosen duty…”

  Saki felt a little fused and sorry for Chiharu. She didn't realize that she had such a weight that ced o such a young age. However, there was something that still bothered her. “But what about your family? Your father and mother? ’t they lead the ?”

  “They’re both dead.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…”

  “I don’t care. It happened a long time ago.” Chiharu’s voice was so cold ay when she spoke about her parents. It almost seemed unnatural leaving a jarring aura through the bath. There was n in her voice, but Saki held her words for a minute as she stared.

  Holding her words, Saki saw the maze ahead of her. The young girl held more mysteries and triggers. “You’re very strong, Chiharu. I don’t know if I could ever be the same…” Saki’s voice trailed off as her mind suddenly fshed to Yuki making her choke up. She closed her eyes regretting where her thoughts traveled.

  “I’ve been traio not have emotions. So it’s not a big deal. Besides, I hardly remember them.”

  It sounded like some cliché from an aovie when Saki heard Chiharu say it. She couldn't really believe that it was true. The fact that Chiharu had some difficulties with people was clear, but not to allow emotions. ‘What sort of training is that?’ She stood up part way. “You ’t just get rid of them like they’re a possession! Emotions are necessary!”

  “I don’t hem! They just make you weak!”

  “They make you human!”

  Chiharu narrowed her eyes at Saki. Uainty rose up through the tension as they held eye tabsp; She then broke it off and stood up from the water. “I’ve had enough of the bath for tonight…” The door of the bath slid open and closed quickly leaving Saki alone ier to her thoughts.

  The night passed on in solitude as Saki returned back to their room. Yuki and Haruo were already back waiting for her. They had been given sleeping arras and provided Saki with another room o them for privabsp; Yuki read his manga and Haruo remained his usual quiet self. Saki was left quiet, weighing her versation with Chiharu on her mind. It made it difficult for her to sleep into the te hours as she stared at the ceiling.

  ‘There’s a lot that I’m missing about this family. That feeling still hasn’t gone away…’ Saki was finally getting sleepy and ready to close her eyes when there was a disturbahat brought her to her feet. She heard several people running by the room. Curiosity brought her to open the door of her room. ‘The guards are gone…’ She looked over to see that the noise had gotten Yuki up as well as he opehe door staring at her.

  Suddenly Chiharu came running through the hall with an unmistakable look of sho her fabsp; Saki and Yuki agreed to themselves and followed behind her. They didn’t reize most of the pce, but eventually they came to a room that was stained with blood on the doors. Yuki and Saki had beore than aced to the sight that it barely fazed them until they looked in the room.

  “Grandfather!!” Chiharu ran to Masahiko’s bedside where blood ooling out from his lifeless body.