Day 1 – Dining Tutoring

Su entered the huge dining hall to see a long, varnished table covered with crockery, glasses, wines and all sorts of dining room furniture. Standing along-side the wall were three women dressed in maid outfits who bowed as Su walked into the room. The first women began to speak.
"I am Mahoshi, your tutor for the day. These other two women will also be helping you with your studies today. My job is to help you with your posture at the dinner table and the way you eat, these two ladies here are cooks and will also help me along the way." She pointed at the table and Su walked over. "Now if you'd like to take a seat m'lady we'll start with your posture." Su walked over unsurely and sat on the seat, she sat her elbows on the table and just slumped over the empty bowl. "So where do we start then? I can eat, we know that much!" Laughed Su. Mahoshi didn't share her happiness and just stared at her, Su soon stopped laughing.
"To start with we will just give you a normal bowl of soup and observe how you would normally eat so we know how much work is to be done. Afterwards we will help you to be able to eat your soup like a proper lady." The cook walked through with a pot full of soup and poured some into the bowl and walked out again. Su quickly got tucked in the soup as fast as she usually did, and the maids watched in disgust and Su made a whole range of noises and slouched over her food. She was quickly finished and looked up at the maids who didn't seem pleased.
"That, m'lady was the worst I've ever seen anyone eat there soup in my life! You made more noises than a pig does when it eats! There's going to be a lot of work needing done here." She nodded and looked at the maids. "Please collect me a book and get the maid to bring another bowl of soup...I have an idea!" she said excitedly as she walked towards Su. "Firstly, you need to make sure you sit up straight," she said pulling Su's shoulders against the back of the chair. "Secondly, you can't slump over the table, you must keep your head straight. And thirdly you mustn't make so many noises!"
"Sorry but that's the way I eat...its going to be so hard to break the habit because I'm so used to eating quickly." She said as the other maid walked back into the room with a bowl of soup and a book. Su looked at Mahoshi worried and confused. "You are now going to have yet another bowl of soup, except this time you will balance this book on your head at the same time!" smiled Mahoshi as Su frowned and grabbed the book from her.
"Are you kidding me? There's no way will I be able to do this...bet you can't!" yelled Su. After a couple of seconds she wished she hadn't asked as she snatched the books from her hand, collected another bowl of soup and sat down. She placed the book on her head and began to eat her soup. She sat up straight as though she were the one trying to be queen, she made no noises what so ever...and the book was balancing on her head!!!
"Huh, well.....mumble...mumble...RIGHT OKAY YOU'VE PROOVED YOUR POINT!" screamed Su. The maid got up on her feet and removed the book from her head. "I'd advise you to think before you speak next time before you mock me again!" said the maid quickly and sharply. She walked over to Su pushed onto the seat, and placed the book on her head. "Right m'lady, let's see how well you can do it. If your so smart." she said sternly. Su took a deep breathe picked up her spoon and dipped it slowly into the bowl as she could feel the book wobbling on her head. She froze, until it stopped moving, sat up straight and brought the spoon towards her and took a spoonful. She smiled with glee as the book was still on her head, although she made the mistake of trying to show off.
"It's easy. I'll try standing up!" the maid grinned. "Well of course" Su continued balancing the book on her head as she stood up. She then leaned over to the soup, which caused an accident. "SPLASH" the book fell flat into the bowl causing soup to go everywhere, all over Su's dress which caused her to scream, fall back onto the chair which tilted backwards, she then grabbed the table cloth which caused her to fall back...and spill everything which was on the table!! * OWE * the maids ran over in shock.
"Aaaahhhhhh!" Cried su as she bubbled and fell to the floor. She started thumping her feet up and down in a temper tantrum. "Now stop that m'lady. It serves you right for showing off, you have to learn the basics first." She smiled, and lifted Su to her feet. "We'll keep trying until you get it right no matter what!"

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* 8 Hours Later * "I can do it!!! FINALLY!" shouted Su with glee as she finished the bowl of soup with 2 books now balanced on her head. She stood up, threw the books away and started dancing. The maids laughed as they watched her run around the room. She stopped suddenly and froze. "Oh, what's the time!?" "Its twenty five minutes past five m'lady." She smiled. "Oh, I need to get ready, I promised to go and meet Magoichi at six o'clock at the palace gates." She ran out the room quickly and ran into her room. She threw the wardrobe open that she had been given, and throwing dresses out the wardrobe until she found the perfect one. It was mainly beige, from far away it just looked like a plain clothe hung over her shoulders, but it was a dress that used to belong to her mother and she had always treasured it. She pulled the bobble out of her hair and brushed it quickly, tied a bow into it and ran out the room. She wasn't sure what Malerna would say about Magoichi as he was a guard and it is against the rules. She ran across the palace grounds as gracefully as she could and then paused. As she approached the gates, she saw him. He was standing by the gates looking up at the stars and holding a beautiful red rose. She walked toward shim and he turned to see her.
"Hi." Smiled Magoichi as he gave her the rose and blushed. "Thank you very much. Usuki told me this morning that you had wanted to see me?"
"Yeah, I em...well...wanted to know if you would...well only if your not busy...like to out for lunch or even dinner one time?" he looked at her shyly and blushed. "Em...well."
"Oh of course...your already seeing someone isn't you? How stupid of me...its okay, just pretend I never said anything to you." he said disappointingly and walked away. "No wait!" said Su grabbing his wrist. He turned to look at her sadly.
"I'm not seeing anyone, I'd love to come out with you. Would you count it as...a date?" she said smiling. "Well...yes"
"I'll be there" she took his hand and held it softly. He kissed her softly on the cheek and walked away. "I'll see you tomorrow at lunch?"
"Of course, at the palace gates." She smiled and walked towards the palace once more.

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