It was her birthday.
Mika even came and give her a present. The girl with blue-yellowish irises smiling and hug her cousin. Kiyomi giggled as Mika gave her a kiss on cheek.
"Happy birthday, Kiyomi! I love you!" Mika claimed.
"Thank you, Mika! I love you too!" Kiyomi replied with cheerful smile.
"Mika, your love surely only as sisterly love, right?" Yasusada asked with sugary-fake smile.
"Of course! My love is for Ichigo! But I also love everyone in Sanjo and other clan!" Mika stated as she puffed her chest.
"Cool!" Kiyomi clapped her hands.
"Oooh! Kiyomi just so adorableee!" Mika squealed as she hugged the younger girl.
'This old grandpa…' Yasusada sighed.
"Can I open the present, Mika?"
"Yes! Open it now!" Mika encouraged.
"Books?"
"I heard you like Yasusada to read it out loud for you. So I think it will be a good present. You can listen to Yasusada's voice while studying foreign words too!" Mika said.
"…Thank you very much…! Mika…!" Kiyomi hugged her cousin.
"Now, now, it's your birthday! Don't cry! Now, let's eat the cake and blow the candles!" Mika said.
Kiyomi's party is not a big one. Izumi and Hori gave one gift. Nagasone also gave one and Mika is the one who make the small party. It only consist a small cake with candle on top of it. Kiyomi beamed.
"Make a wish! No telling anyone the wish or it will not work!" Mika said.
Kiyomi closed her eyes, trying to get her wish through and blow the candle.
"Yaaayy! This means you already eight! Congratulations!" Mika beamed.
Kumiko entering the room.
"Mika, we need to go." Kumiko said.
"Booo! Pooooey! No! Those old ladies can wait until they are having tomb-scent! I hate going there only to be smothered by old ladies! I want Ichigo smothering me better than them!" Mika protested but she makes no action to resist.
"See you next time, Mika!" Kiyomi waved.
"See you Kiyomiiii!" Mika half-yelled as Kumiko dragged her.
As soon Sanjo's leader now out of sight, Yasusada took the candle from the cake.
"Do you want to cut it? It's one of how they celebrate it." Yasusada offered.
"You told me that I am not supposed to come near something sharp."
"Smart girl. But this cake knife is from plastic so come here and try to cut it by yourself." he praised.
Kiyomi beamed as Yasusada handed her the plastic knife. He gently led her hand to cut the cake. She beamed when the cake being split and he helped her to slice it again into bite-sized pieces.
"Yasu! The first cake is for you!"
"Thank you, love." he kissed her forehead.
She smiled.
This is the love she wanted and craved, right?
Kiyomi opened her red eyes. She yawned and remembers that she needs to go to school. As she grew older, she starts to notice that school become more and more oppressive, become an obligation from society. The door being knocked and Kiyomi stared at it until Yasusada opened the door. He smiled.
"Good morning, Kiyomi." he greeted.
"Good morning, Yasusada." she greeted back.
It's only polite to do so. After all, he will be her husband in future, so she must show her respect, at least. He gently stroked her head.
"I will wait in dining room. You only have class today. If you wanted to go out after school, don't forget to inform me first." He reminded her.
She nodded obediently. He left the room and she slowly folds her blanket and her futon before placed it to the sliding drawer on the wall.
After done with morning routine, she walked to dining room. Yasusada is there, drinking his orange juice while reading news. She took a glass of water and drinks it before approaching him and gently kisses his cheek.
"I wanted to go shopping with Mika." She informed.
"I see. Will Kumiko or Ishikiri drive you both?"
"Nope. We will ride bus there and walk." She replied as she moved to her seat.
"Is that so?"
She took the bread knife, dipping it into the jam bottle and spread the peanut butter jam to her toasts. The two are eating in silence, she ate two and decided to grab the third with different jam before she spread the blueberry jam to her toast and eat it. When she finished, she poured the orange juice and drink a glass before refill her glass with water and drink her second glass.
"You look hungrier than usual." he commented quietly.
"I can't help it. Yesterday's activities drained my energy." she replied.
"I know. Please take care of your body, okay?" he asked.
She nodded.
"I am going." She said.
"Be careful." He replied.
She stopped before she left the dining room. She turned back to him.
"Where's my morning kiss?" she asked.
Yasusada smiled. He stands up and approached her before kissing her cheek.
"If you hope for more, you might not go to school." he said mischievously.
"…Yeah." she nodded in agreement before turned to left for school.
School is a place for her to study. That's what she think of school. But as soon she reach school, those girls giggled and laughed at her. She doesn't want to be dragged around into some stupid arguments or gossips. Kiyomi already settled for her position as Mika's cousin and Mika, is the princess of this school. If the girls wanted to bully her, Mika will know and that person's reputation will go down.
Kiyomi didn't really think of her life as bad. Her childhood is bad but she is pretty sure that many other people didn't have luck to get out of their hellish life. Of course, everything is bad for them before they picked up by their new family. She remember when the new year came and for the first time, she meet every guardian brought their spouse-to-be as part of ceremony. She remember that Kumiko's little spouse who around her age.
The poor boy screamed during ritual and his body convulsing quite hard. The ritual must be cancelled for his mental health. There's also Mika, Hori and Nikka who easily pass the ritual and Kiyomi herself is not included in ritual because, the ritual is only for those chosen few. Yasu told her that only those who remember may pass the ritual. That also the reason of Kumiko refused to let his fiancé participate in ritual at first.
The elders of main house pushed Kumiko and pressured Naki to do it only to find it backfired, almost losing Naki's sanity. The poor boy traumatized so bad that Kumiko need to live separately from him. Not only them, even smaller clan not escaping the wary eyes of elders. Aoe need to get Nikka to live with Ishikirimaru as she reaches her birthday this year. Aiko was taken by Rai clan and the problem is that Head of Rai clan officially is Akashi but Hotaru who has her memory of previous life argued to claim Aiko's custody.
Elders still not deciding Rai's custody of Aiko and there's another problem of Kanesada's and Samonji as the two older Samonji refuse to let their youngest engaged to head of Kanesada's. Sayo herself just seven so it still matters of time if she really wanted to go through with engagement of not. Kiyomi blinked. Her life only matter and revolve around her new family.
Her clan, Ikeda clan is one of the young clan that only consist a few clan gather together. Her, Yasusada, Jirou, Mutsu, Masakuni and Otegine. Kiyomi sighed. She dusted a bit of her skirt and stopped when she sees a boy around her age turned to her from his seat—on her right side. The boy got an easy smile, wearing school uniform that somehow matches his black hair and green eyes.
"Heya! Nice to meet you!" he greeted her cheerily with small voice.
She nodded.
'What is this?' she thought.
'Why he wanted to talk to me? Wait, he is the transfer student this morning? Ugh! Why must I get involved with boys? Yasusada will scold me if I talk to boys.' her thoughts run here and there in chaos.
"What is your name?" he asked.
She awkwardly showed her notebook with her name on it.
"Ikeda-san! Can I borrow your book?" he asked.
She wordlessly looked at her book. Yeah, right, transfer students who still don't have the book yet. She nodded and he quickly moves his seats to get closer.
'He is too bold! He is bad for my heart! He is too much!' she mentally screaming inside but outside, she just stared at him awkwardly.
Her hands shivered. She never talk with male outside of her family that much with some exceptions like employee of the stores or any stranger who handed her some pamphlet or just trying to ask her for survey.
The bell rings and she quickly left the class before he can thank her for the book. She purposely left him so he can be swarmed by the classmates.
His name is Sato Okita, same age with her and somehow, sitting beside her. He got green eyes due to his mother while he got black hair from his father. He lived his whole life abroad before his family move to Japan. Luckily, their parents spoke with Japanese mixed with English so he can understand Japanese smoothly.
A week passed and every time Kiyomi went home, her face will turn sour. Yasusada who already know her problem sighed.
"Kiyomi, he is your classmate." he reminded.
"Can't I change class?" she asked.
"No." Yasusada said.
And that's final.
Lazy evening is the only time they both like. Kiyomi likes it better than when he yelled at her due to protectiveness while Yasusada like it because he can stop worrying when she is in his arms. Kiyomi snuggled to Yasusada's chest. She is fifteen and ready to become adult in this family. She gently traced his chest, using her fingers to write her name on his chest.
"I will be sixteen in a few days." she said.
"Yeah." he agreed as he playfully toyed with her hair.
'I can't wait!'
The whole clan always sends birthday gifts during sixteenth birthday. Kiyomi wonders if that because it is a kind of celebration to celebrate the adulthood in this family. Most of the gifts will be opened after the celebration ended so she is not that interested to open the gifts. Somehow, what excites her more is Yasusada's surprise.
Every year, during her birthday, he will give her one day leniency.
'I wonder if it same this year…' she stared at the blue sky outside.
The sixteenth birthday also come with blessing ritual and Kiyomi amazed by the glamorous preparation of food, beverages—mainly sake—and even she was being ushered by Mika to dressing room.
"No time to dilly-dallying! Go and let Jirou do your make up!" Mika commanded.
Kiyomi squealed in surprise before quickly obeyed Mika, running to dressing room where Jirou already waiting. He tied her hair to prevent hair from her face.
"Sit there! Now, close your eyes, Kiyomi-chan!" he demanded with smile.
She quickly sits on the chair and closes her eyes. She can feel that he applied base first. Jirou always take his time with base before start his magic. She can feel that his skilled hands already done with her lips.
'He always do the eye make-up last.' she noted.
"Since you got natural beauty, you don't need too much make-up. That's a relief." Jirou commented as he finished do the final touch. Kiyomi opened her eyes.
"Mm-hm! Good! Now, undress. You need to change to special dress. I will leave you to change but don't ruin the make-up, okay?" Jirou asked.
She nodded.
The door closed and she sighed before gasped. In front of her, a beautiful white dress prepared there. She took a note that attached to the table near there.
"My gosh…" she blushed.
'It's almost like…'
'Wedding? On my birthday no less?!' she blushed at the idea.
There's a knock on the door before it was opened. Mika smiled.
"Heya, birthday girl! Did you changed? Agh!" Mika quickly looking out to the hallway.
"Get honey ginger or lavender tea for us!" she commanded the nearest maid.
"Kiyomi! Are you okay?" Mika asked.
Kiyomi shuddered.
Suddenly, the feeling of excitement dropped to fear. She is trembling.
"I…I am not. I don't want to…to be an adult…" Kiyomi trying to stop her nervousness but it is not stopping.
"The fear kicked in, huh?" Mika sighed.
"This is NOT your wedding. It is just a wedding-like ritual; and technically, you can't get married without consent. This is not like magic wedding where you can get married by eating food or received gift like in the old days." Mika explained.
"I…I need to go…" Kiyomi stand up weakly.
"And go where?" Mika frowned.
Her face turned quite sour while Kiyomi still look confused.
"Somewhere far away! Not here!" Kiyomi stated.
"Let me remind you that you have no 'home' without Yasusada." Mika deadpanned.
"Home…oh…yeah…" Kiyomi's paranoia stopped.
Mika helped her cousin to sit on the chair. The maid entered with lavender tea and left it on the table before let to continue her other work. Mika poured the tea and set it in front of Kiyomi.
"You can tell me everything. We are cousin also, I always think of you as my sister or brother, whichever you prefer." Mika said as she relaxing.
"I…I…can't."
"Can't spit it out?"
"I just…can't tell…" Kiyomi's red eyes avoiding Mika's blue-yellow eyes.
"Hm. Don't worry. I will always listen to you. I can keep secret. Even from my parents." Mika said as she sips her tea.
The birthday girl cried.
OMAKE
Jirou glared at the two girls in front of him. But he quickly breaks into a smile.
"Didn't I said don't ruin your make-up?" he smiled.
Kiyomi gulped while Mikazuki quickly bowed her head in apology.
"We are very sorry." Mika said.
"Good. Never do that again, Mikazuki Munechika." Jirou warned.
"Now, you, Kiyomi." Jirou called.
Kiyomi closed her eyes, heart racing for any impact or slap. But she can feel something is wiping her face. She opened her eyes. Jirou is making serious face while wiping her face.
"I will need to redo the make-up. Lucky, the base I used is waterproof!" he sounds proud of himself.
"Now stay still and DON'T do that again." Jirou commanded.
Kiyomi and Mika made a mental note.
Never ruin make-up if Jirou is the one who did it.
AN : Jirou as make up artist is cool, right? He still the same old Jirou so no worries.