4: Chances of Good News

The table was low, and it had an hourglass with white sand trickling down. One grain at a time. The little girl's finger traced the Scape forming an eighth, over and over again until it fell horizontally.

“I am Cleoplace Kageyami, and am in charge of the Manor. I am pleased to finally make your acquaintance Piero Kentimer.”

Hic.

Her eyes are really stunning, but…

The guy beside her eyed me. Lavrov leaned forward, “Sanji it is only natural for a man to blush when he sees beauty…”

Am I blushing?

“haha—” Cleoplace laughed, cleaning off a tear from her eyes. 

Her hand gently touched the little girl's hand. Caressing it little by little. She clapped her hand, from the far end of the room an old man wobbling up and down entered in. His frame swayed from side to side. 

Cleoplace stood up holding her hand, “Peng, take her to her room and tell the cooks to have her well fed…”

The old man bowed “Peng goes…”

Lavrov kept his eyes down, even Sanji. But my eyes were all over the place. 

I mean the tatami floors were decorated with black sakura engravings. The glass windows showcasing the green plans outside.

This really does bring back memories.

“Piero?”

I looked up, her face so close we almost grazed our lips. I flinched. Her hands coldly held onto my face.

She said “I need you…”

“What?”

She closed her eyes, “…I need you, to help me out, I am in trouble, and my boss shall not forgive my weakness any longer.”

From the side of my eyes Sanji stared at me furiously.

I looked at her and asked “Sure, but how can I help?”

Her face lit up and she leaned into my ear, soothing was in her voice, and it made me blush more.

“It's enough for me to know, you are available…” 

Her hand rubbed my waistcoat, whispering softly in my ears “a reward awaits the successful”

SMOOCH

What…a kiss, and there also.

Her hair grazed my neck and my cheek was painted in red.

She pulled away… “rest up the details will be given to you first thing tomorrow morning.”

Lavrov and I stood up and bowed as Sanji and Cleoplace walked out of the door, a corridor stretching before them.

Lavrov took me aside to the reception and said “Now listen , I will be away for a while. I have a mission to deal with, but you remain here and attend to your mission…”

“Wait shouldn't we do this together…”

Lavrov sighed “I am a logistic person you know, I will help from the back end…ooh before I forget. Don't let the praises of the Boss lady get to your head…take care.” 

He bumped my chest before jogging away.

I was taken in. The mansion was so big, that to memories any route would take at least one month. 

A guard opened the door. 

“Senpai. Piero senpai”

I turned to see a light blue haired guy with silver strands approaching me.

“Wait you are…”

“Chidori, remember from the dojo when we were in middle school”

My hand went to my head. I looked at him, “You sure have grown…”

Chidori rubbed off his nose, two swords hung at his sides, but my eyes caught a peculiar thing. 

“Where did you get that…scar?”

“This…oh it's a long story…ehehe.”

I shook his shoulder, smiling widely. 

“Do you work here?”

“Yes sure…”

From the corridor, Sanji called for him. Chidori waved at me as he rushed away.

I inhaled deeply.

The room was medium sized with paper, pen stacked on the table. I remained standing till evening. On the table was a new gun with a holster.

I sank on the bed that was arranged for me. My head was a buz of confusion.

Idiot, what exactly is happening, where am I in Japan, and who is Cleoplace and…where am I.

The balcony window was opened, a cool breeze flowed in.

But Lavrov is here, so I suppose it's all right, plus there's Chidori also.

I pumped my fist “yes, I can find Yunusuke Sensei…and that girl…uh Sasami, yes Sasami Kagu—”, 

The night set in and I layed in the balcony floor. The creekers sang under the slavery moon

Think Piero, I just need a chance, this time I will own it.

…

IN FUKUI 

The crickets creed filled the manor, the song netting the remainder of the last hours of the night over the sky of Fukui. Her black hair and porcelain skin contrasting at the nightly green of the artistic bonsai sculptures that framed the path ways.

The servants chatted about life and the economic state of the nation. They saw her. They hushed and bowed. She smiled at them, the first light of sunlight glinting in the sky.

 She wore a pendant as a necklace. The circular vintage round shaped piece.

Every now and then she traced it with her soft fingers. She stopped on a bridge that arched over a pond, her hands growing heavy rested on the wooden railing. 

“What a bore, is this how adulthood is?”

Her eyes closed to weariness, hand cupping the pendant.

What has it been seven years already, uh?

Kurone Sensei, a middle aged woman, with a needle holding her bun, coughed lightly. 

“Madam, shall we go inside”

“No.”

“You remember that your father is hosting a visitor today right?”

“Whatever.”

“You know what will happen if you were to defy him.”

I scoffed hand pumping down, I marched to the main entrance. Kurone coughed slightly again.

“Madam fix your countenance.”

I inhaled and straightened up, the guards opened the doors, a step at a time I entered my chest out, chin up.  

But from afar engines rumbled.

The car drove close, the shades of the window dark. The clouds slowly clouded the skies above blocking the moonlight.

A guard opened the door, and from there Miura Shirome stood out. My father rushed out with his  soldiers. Kurone Sensei placed herself in front of me

The man had long black hair that stood still no matter where the wind was blowing. 

He said “Kagu, you still have to pay your dues you know…”

My father answered “Pay or what, for all the poor you have trampled…”

Miura smiled “They treaded upon the Hachigami Corporation first…the same that fed and cured their children!”

My father frowned, not able to form any words. I looked at their exchange.

Miura said “I shall only acknowledge you if you surrender your nobility title to the Shirome family, just as you did with the Corporation.” 

His smile grew wicked from side to side,

My father replied “And risk to gamble the little bit of autonomy left to us never…!!”

“But what about your young daughter–”

I frowned, what does he know of Asagi?

Miura continued saying "You know I can help you…”

“I don't need your help…” my father said.

Miura sighed “Fine, as you wish Kagu…”

His eyes fell on me. The lines of his lashes stretched in an early purple background looking at me as a prey. A jolt trembled within my spine. Kurone's hand calmed me. 

The cars drove off. 

I approached my father who stood still. 

“Father, about Asagi…”

Our messenger arrived. 

Panting and in his head a missive letter. 

“News from Lavrov-san…”

My mother came out and took the letter. She read through it, My eyes fell on Kurone Sensei tears rolled down my eyes, my hand clenching in my pendant.

Senpai…finally why did it take you so long. 

A chance had arrived.