It wasn't quite noon when Lady Funaho and Lady Misaki said their goodbyes and boarded their ships for Jurai. Jurain Royalty doesn't visit the Masaki residence often so there was some commotion for a short while after their departure. The most noticeable change was in Sasami's demeanor. She was extremely happy with the presents she received and it showed. She wore her new jewelry and extravagant clothes underneath her apron as she prepared a quick lunch. Kintaro stood at the back of the room and answered Sasami's seemingly endless questions about what has been happening in his life during her absence.
"How do you like Earth?" Sasami asked as she cleaned some vegetables in the sink.
"It's quaint and peaceful." Kintaro noted.
"Do you really think so?" Sasami asked again.
"I've not been here too long, little sister. That is the impression that I have." Kintaro explained.
"I'm sorry." Sasami apologized happily.
"How do you like it here, your highness?" Sasami giggled.
"Please don't call me 'Your Highness.' It really wouldn't sound right if anyone in town heard you say that. Besides, I want you to call me Sasami." Sasami blushed.
"If it makes you happy…Sasami." Kintaro spoke with a little effort.
"Do you like it here, Sasami?" Kintaro restated.
"Yes, I like it a lot. I don't know why I like it so much. Maybe it's because everyone else is so happy…so I'm happy." Sasami admitted as she looked over her shoulder. Sasami turned her attention back to washing vegetables.
"How is your father doing? It's been so long since I've seen him." Sasami asked. Sasami placed a clean radish on the cutting board and was about to reach for a carrot when she noticed Kintaro's silence. She dried her hands with a towel and turned to face Kintaro. Kintaro remained as he was before, only his expression seemed a little harder.
"Kin?" Sasami asked upon noticing his hesitation.
"Excuse me, Sasami. May I borrow your guardian for a short while? I'll have him back to you before lunch." Lord Katsuhito requested as he stepped into the kitchen. Sasami was caught a bit off guard but she felt like there was something wrong that Lord Katsuhito could fix so she agreed.
"Please, Master Sejukira. Will you join me for some tea?" Lord Katsuhito invited the knight.
"Thank you, your highness. That sounds pleasant." Kintaro accepted.
Lord Katsuhito and Master Sejukira made there way to the shrine without saying a word. Only after the two had sat in the main office and Lord Katsuhito served the tea did he finally speak.
"First of all, I wish to offer you my most heartfelt sympathies for the loss of your father. He was the truest of knights and a blessing to Jurai."
"Thank you, your highness. My father held you in the highest regard." Master Sejukira replied with a bow.
"Please forgive the short notice assignment. I'm sure you know that Lady Seto is more a woman of action than a woman of explanation." Lord Katsuhito smiled.
"It was no trouble whatsoever, your highness. It has been a great while since the honor of guardian has been granted to a knight, as you stated earlier. I'm grateful for my assignment." Kintaro finished. Lord Katsuhito observed Master Sejukira for a moment then took a sip of tea.
"I understand your responsibilities and what sacrifices you must make as a Knight of Jurai but for now, I wish for you to speak to me as a normal person. Not royalty." Lord Katsuhito asked. Kintaro looked at Lord Katsuhito.
"Whatever my lord wishes…" Kintaro started.
"I don't think you understand." Lord Katsuhito interrupted. Master Sejukira lowered his gaze.
"You have been serving the royal family since you were young and I know that speaking to you person to person may be outside your experience. What I'm requesting of you isn't your responsibility and you don't have to speak of personal matters if you don't desire to do so. Do you understand?" Lord Katsuhito finished. Master Sejukira looked as though he was seriously contemplating Lord Katsuhito's words then nodded.
"Being a servant of the royal families is all I've ever known. All I have ever desired was to be the best knight that I can be, for myself, for my family and most importantly for Jurai. I'm honored that my lord would want to know more about me as a person and I will answer whatever question that my lord may ask, however I feel that my lord must understand that there is no difference between my duty and my personal life. The knight is the person and the person is the knight." Master Sejukira said and then was silent. He stared at the floor in front of Lord Katsuhito when he spoke and he felt that his words were out of place despite Lord Katsuhito's request. Lord Katsuhito smiled at Kintaro's sincerity.
"Why do think that Lady Seto thought of assigning you as Sasami's guardian?" Lord Katsuhito asked. Master Sejukira thought for a moment.
"I think my lady has pity for me and gave this assignment to me as a sort of 'rest' from my normal duties." Lord Sejukira replied.
"Ha! I think you underestimated your assignment here. It may be a bit more demanding than you assume." Lord Katsuhito laughed.
"Do you think that Lady Seto's soul purpose was a reprieve for you?" Lord Katsuhito asked.
"It is well known that Lady Seto is often able to achieve many objectives through one or few actions. Although I assume that there are other reasons for my assignment here, the only one that I can think of is the one that I've already stated." Master Sejukira said.
"I'll tell you what I think." Lord Katsuhito said as he set down his tea.
"Every male member of your family that has won a position as member of the Royal Bodyguard has been killed in the line of duty. You are the last male and the heir to the line of Sejukira. Lady Seto, myself nor any other member of the royal houses would be able live honorably if we allowed your family to die out. At the same time, Lady Seto wouldn't think of disgracing you by removing you from your position in the royal bodyguard without a very good reason. That left us with a hard situation. Although your service thus far would merit such a position as guardian, it was simply a good idea as well. Not to mention that your new position is a well appreciated birthday present for Sasami and you could tell that she was very happy to receive you as her guardian." Lord Katsuhito pointed out. Master Sejukira nodded.
"My point to all of this is I don't want you to think that this was all some sort of demotion in order to keep you safe. It was a good decision that suited both of our families' needs." Lord Katsuhito concluded.
"I understand." Master Sejukira answered.
"If that isn't good enough for you then, resign yourself to the fact that it was Lady Seto's decision and there is absolutely nothing anyone could do about it." Lord Katsuhito stated with a smile.
"That too, is understandable." Master Sejukira smiled.
"Good. Now on to other matters. In order to more properly blend in with the local populace, you will need new clothes. I believe Washu can help you out with that. Also, you will need to refrain from addressing Ayeka, Sasami, Tenchi and myself as royalty. I know that may be difficult for you but it is necessary to maintain the image that already exists. Just refer to us as family. You can call me grand-pa." Lord Katsuhito joked.
"This may take some getting used to." Master Sejukira admitted.
Tenchi came in from checking on the fields for lunch. He stepped into the kitchen and found Sasami at work preparing lunch. He expected to find her new guardian nearby but he was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is Master Sejukira?" Tenchi asked. Sasami turned from the table.
"Oh. Grand-pa wanted to "borrow" him for a while. I'm sure he'll be back soon." Sasami explained.
"So you've known him for a while?" Tenchi asked.
"Oh yes. I can remember being around Kin as far back as I can remember." Sasami said as she turned her attention to the boiling pot on the stove.
"As a matter of fact, the first time I remember seeing him, he was practicing with mommy." Sasami recalled.
"Does your mother instruct him?" Tenchi guessed. He had heard from his grand father about Lady Misaki's combative prowess.
"He is the only person who could beat my mother with a sword so she likes to practice with him whenever she gets a chance." Sasami added.
"He's that good?" Tenchi asked surprisingly.
"He's never lost but he never says a word about his wins. " Sasami admitted.
"He does seem quiet." Tenchi noted.
"You think so?" Sasami asked. Ayeka's voice could be heard coming nearer the kitchen door.
"..and this is the kitchen." Ayeka said as she showed Kintaro into the kitchen.
"Excuse us. I hope we are not interrupting." Kintaro offered.
"Not at all." Tenchi said while scratching his head.
"There's really no need to be so formal. Please think of this as your home and all of us as family." Ayeka said with a smile.
"I'll try my best." Kintaro said with a fake smile.
"Your pretty hansom…" Washu said as she stepped from behind Kintaro.
"…I guess I should have expected that from a lieutenant of the royal bodyguard." Washu finished. Kintaro became uncomfortable but he didn't let it show.
"Washu!" Ayeka alarmed.
"I would like to examine you later when you have some free time." Washu continued. Sasami stepped between Washu and Kintaro.
"He's my guardian and I don't want you to experiment on him." Sasami said in an unusually stern tone. Washu looked a little surprised.
"It looks like the guardian is being guarded." Washu quipped.
"Are you finding everything alright?" Tenchi said as to change the subject.
"Miss Ayeka was kind enough to give me a tour of your residence. I'm sure I'll be able to find my way around. Thank you for asking." Kintaro said sincerely but with another fake smile.
"Sasami, I can finish up in here. Why don't you show Kintaro around outside?" Ayeka offered.
"Really? Thank you! Come on, Kin. I'll show you around the lake and the carrot fields." Sasami spouted as she grabbed Kintaro by the arm and almost drug him outside.
"He sure is serious." Washu commented.
"Being sociable is something he never had to be before. This must be really hard for him." Ayeka thought out loud.
"Lady Misaki is captain of the royal bodyguard, isn't she?" Tenchi asked.
"Yes. Why do you ask?" Ayeka confirmed.
"She doesn't seem nearly as serious." Tenchi said.
"It's not the job, it's the person. Besides, Lady Misaki is a queen as well." Washu explained.
"I thought the same thing when I first met him. His father was the same way. That's probably where he gets it." Ayeka remembered.
"Was?" Tenchi asked. Ayeka looked to Tenchi.
"Not too long ago, there was an incident on a planet that was in negotiations with the king to become a part of the Jurain Empire. A group against the proposal assassinated the Jurain envoy. During the altercation, three of the four knights that were guarding the Duke were killed. Kintaro's father was one of them. Kintaro was the only knight that survived. I have only just learned that Kintaro witnessed his father's death." Ayeka finished.
"How terrible." Washu commented. Tenchi looked thoughtful for while.
"I can't imagine how he feels." Tenchi admitted.
"None of us can." Washu said.
Sasami still had Kintaro by the arm as she walked with him around the lake but she wasn't pulling on him like she did when they left the house.
"Isn't it pretty?" Sasami sang as she pointed at the lake.
"Very." Kintaro replied. Sasami stopped and looked up at Kintaro. Kintaro stopped as well.
"What's the matter? You don't look very happy." Sasami asked.
"Please forgive me, little sister. I feel a little out of place here. I'm sure I'll get used to it in time." Kintaro said trying to satisfy Sasami. Sasami turned her head and looked to the ground. Kintaro stepped around Sasami to see her face.
"Do you not want to be my guardian?" Sasami said as she looked up at Kintaro with sad eyes. Kintaro looked stricken and felt worse. He immediately dropped to a knee so that Sasami and he were eye level and he placed his hands on Sasami's shoulders.
"What? Don't be silly, little sister. Being your guardian is beyond a dream come true and there is no one else that I feel more compelled to protect." Kintaro explained.
"Then why do you look so sad?" Sasami questioned. Kintaro was at a loss. Lying wasn't in his nature but he sure didn't want to tell Sasami the truth about his father. However, he couldn't think of anything else. Kintaro released Sasami and stood. He then took a seat next to her. Sasami sat as well.
"Much has happened since the last time you and I saw each other." Kintaro started.
"This morning, you asked me about my father." Kintaro said. Sasami nodded.
"Recently, there was an accident and he was…." Kintaro paused. He couldn't think of a delicate way of putting it but what was more was his trouble with suppressing his own emotions.
"…he was uhh….taken away and…I'm not going to see him again…" Kintaro didn't mean to stop there but it was all he had to contain himself and not appear distressed, but Sasami knew better. Her eyes became watery and tears streamed from the corners of her eyes and down her cheeks. Sasami reached for Kintaro and hugged him around his neck. Kintaro was shocked and remained motionless. He wasn't used to being touched in such a manner. Kintaro felt relief for a moment but that was short lived. He instantly felt shame for having to be comforted by Sasami. It was the same shame that he felt when Queen Misaki told him that he was being removed from the bodyguard to be Sasami's guardian. And it was very similar to, but not as bad, as the shame he felt when Duke Amaki and his father were killed. The guilt was almost unbearable. Then Kintaro remembered his current charge. He had to protect Sasami, which meant he had to be strong for both of them. Kintaro was able to control his emotions. He gently pushed Sasami away and looked her in the face.
"A face as pretty as yours shouldn't be stained with tears, little sister. Especially being so close to your birthday." Kintaro said. Sasami was about to dry her eyes with her sleeves but Kintaro intercepted her hands before they reached her face.
"I know your dress is Janextrom but let's not risk it." Kintaro said. He produced a white handkerchief from his right sleeve and wiped Sasami's face.
"There we go. Much better." Kintaro said as he inspected Sasami's face.
"Thank you for the hug. It's just what I needed. I feel much better now." Kintaro smile genuinely.
"Here it is, almost your birthday and I'm the one getting presents." Kintaro joked. Sasami giggled. Kintaro stood then helped Sasami to her feet.
"Let's return the house, shall we. I bet lunch is almost ready." Kintaro offered.
"That's a good idea." Sasami agreed.
"Wait a minute, I haven't given you a present yet." Kintaro said as the two started back towards the house.
"You don't need to give me anything. Just being here is enough of a present for me." Sasami said.
"That's sweet of you, little sister, but I won't have it. I'll tell you what. How about I ponder what I'm going to get you over a melody." Kintaro said as he produced his silver flute from his left sleeve.
"You're going to play me a song?!" Sasami exclaimed.
"Certainly. Do you have any requests?" Kintaro said before playing a few warm up notes. Sasami laughed with delight. She used to love hearing Kintaro's flute and it had been such a long time since she heard it.
"I want to hear "The Laughing Tree!" Sasami almost yelled.
"An excellent suggestion." Kintaro said before playing the opening notes of the song. Sasami couldn't keep from dancing as she heard the old Jurai melody. She danced in a circle around Kintaro as she recited the lyrics.
"In the morn' the sun was born and blessed the sky with light,
it splashed the lands of outstretched hands whose reach is far from sight.
Its place of birth was deep in earth and with love it grew,
it laughs at jests that can't be guessed nor any others knew.
The laughing tree is strong and free, made from our lady's might,
Laugh away all hearts' dismay from dawn through dark of night." Sasami sang as Kintaro played. The two continued the song and all its verses all the way back to the house.
Dala Nuu thought the sound of machinery was soothing. That's why she brought her study materials with her to the laboratory's power plant. For some reason, it was much easier for her to get ahead in her schoolwork when she studied here. She attributed her success to white noise and few distractions. Dala had just made herself a cup of tea and was preparing to start on her engineering homework when an alarm sounded on the main console. She put her tea and touch screen on the ground and stepped briskly to the console. The alarm was triggered by an unauthorized access to the laboratories mainframe.
"Control Room, this is engineering. We have a possible security breach in the central mainframe. Can you confirm?" Dala requested. No reply came.
"Control Room, this is engineering. Respond!" Dala ordered as she noticed the breach widening and files being seized. Dala opened a view screen of the control room but she didn't see anyone there. She became frightened. Dala quickly opened more view screens of halls, studies, workstations and even the break rooms. Not a soul was to be found. Dala quickly tried to open up subspace communications but just as she tried to contact Jurai Intelligence, her view screen went black. Dala ran and tried to get out of the room but the emergency lock-down protocols enabled as soon as the lab files became corrupt. Dala saw a light flash from behind her. She turned and saw the console flicker. She ran to the console and hit a few buttons but nothing happened. Suddenly, a silver fluid started to ooze from the seams on the console. Dala immediately jumped back. She was now terrified. Dala couldn't remember ever seeing anything like this before. The silver liquid streamed from the console and pooled on the floor. The pool on the floor was almost perfectly round. The last drop of silver liquid fell from the console and the room was quiet. Dala thought if she remained still, she would go unnoticed. Dala could hear her heart pounding in her ears and struggled to soften her breathing. The pool slowly started to move in her direction. Dala's mind raced as she tried to remain calm but the horror of the situation was inescapable. Dala shrieked. The pool of silver continued. Dala turned and tried to climb the smooth wall but there was nothing to hold onto. Her fear forced her to try and claw her way through the metal wall but it remained unchanged aside from scratch marks. Dala felt the liquid touch her leg. It burned like hot metal as it moved up her legs. She screamed in agony but the liquid kept her in place. Dala was now in her most primal state of survival. She was unable to fly so she tried to fight. She punched, slapped, and tried to push the burning metal off but her efforts had no effect. Her screams became more frantic and more animalistic. As the silver reached her mouth, the room became silent. A frozen, silver image of Dala remained and then began to melt until nothing remained accept for the pool of silver liquid on the floor. The door to the main reactor room opened and the pool moved though opening.
Everyone was gathering at the table and eagerly awaited Sasami and Ayeka's lunch. Sasami and Ayeka hurried in with the dishes and placed them on the table. Suddenly, Mihoshi's wrist alarm went off.
"Huh? What's this?" Mihoshi asked as she looked at her wrist.
"What is it, Mihoshi?" Tenchi asked.
"It's an emergency. I have to report...but I want to eat." Mihoshi complained.
"I'll save you a plate." Sasami said as she walked back into the kitchen. Mihoshi still looked disappointed as produced her control cube. She changed into uniform then disappeared. The front door could be heard opening and then closing. Noboyuki stepped in through the front door.
"I'm back." Noboyuki said half-heartedly.
"Welcome home. I didn't think you were going to be home until tonight." Tenchi recalled.
"I was going to finish today but I forgot some documents here this morning. I'll sit down for lunch then head back." Noboyuki said. He looked up and saw Kintaro sitting at the table.
"I'm sorry. I didn't know we had company." Noboyuki stated.
"Oh yeah. Dad this is Master Kintaro Sejukira. He was just appointed as Sasami's guardian. He'll be living here." Tenchi explained.
"But when…" Noboyuki started.
"Oh, Lady Misaki and Lady Funaho visited this morning…it must have been shortly after you left." Tenchi surmised.
"Nice to meet you and a pleasure to have you." Noboyuki offered as he approached the table and bowed. Kintaro was already on his feet.
"Thank you for allowing me to stay." Kintaro answered politely as he bowed.
"Speaking of which, where is he staying? We're out of rooms." Noboyuki noted.
"Don't worry about it. I joined his subspace quarters with the back storage room door." Washu explained.
"Well, I guess I'm going to change. Again, nice to meet you Master Sejukira." Noboyuki said.
"Nice to meet you as well." Kintaro replied and Noboyuki left the room. Kintaro took a seat once more.
"He sure is polite today." Ryoko said as she materialized at her seat.
"More than some other people I know." Ayeka said after she placed the last dish on the table and found her seat. Ryoko pretended not to notice. Sasami took her place and everyone except for Noboyuki and Mihoshi was at the table.
"It's so hard for me to stop admiring your presents, Sasami." Ryoko said.
"Thank you." Sasami said with a blush.
"I've never seen real Sidarian Ice and I've only seen real Janextrom twice . Your parents must really love you." Ryoko said.
"And you have your own guardian now. Not only that but he's the best swordsman in the galaxy. That's a lot better than some clumsy ol' logs, don't you think?" Ryoko continued. Ayeka became irritated and tried to hide it.
"Maybe." Sasami said upon noticing her sister's redder skin tone. Ryoko looked out of the corner of her eye and saw that her admiration of Sasami's gifts was having the desired effect.
"I shouldn't be as surprised as I am. I mean, even the greatest of the greatest royal trees chose you as her partner. A lot of people, myself included, have high hopes for you, kiddo." Ryoko finished.
"Well..um thank you, Ryoko. I'll do my best." Sasami managed. Ayeka's first reaction to Ryoko's tirade was to hide her emotions. Now, she was just trying to hold back. Ryoko saw that Ayeka was teetering on the brink and she was determined to push her over the edge. Ryoko faced Ayeka and looked her over without saying a word. Ayeka tried to steel herself to the verbal assault she new was coming.
"I haven't ever seen you wearing Sidarian Ice. Where is it?" Ryoko asked with mock interest. Ayeka didn't reply.
"That dress doesn't look like its made of Janextrom. Is it polyester? That's almost as good and a heck of a lot cheaper, right?" Ryoko said. Ayeka had a death grip on the table with red fingers and white knuckles.
"It's not polyester." Ayeka managed through grit teeth.
"Ryoko?" Tenchi pleaded. Ryoko looked to Tenchi then to Ayeka and finally back to Tenchi. Ryoko sat back in her seat and appeared to drop the conversation. Everyone, including Kintaro, let out a sigh of relief.
"Maybe mommy and daddy love Sasami more." Ryoko remarked. That was all Ayeka could stand. The princess grabbed Tenchi's and her own plate and hurled them in a left-right combo at Ryoko. The first plate smashed edge long into Ryoko's face just an instant before the second plate did the same. Ryoko fell backwards and was knocked out. Ayeka was standing and seething. Sasami looked to Kintaro who appeared unaffected. She laughed nervously.
"This may take some getting used to." Kintaro noted.
Mihoshi finally made it back to her cruiser in orbit around earth. She checked in with her chief.
"Mihoshi, where have you been?" The chief asked.
"I was at lunch." Mihoshi answered.
"Never mind that. There has been an accident at a Jurain Laboratory near your location." The chief stated.
"Oh my gosh. That's terrible. What happened?" Mihoshi asked.
"No one knows. A freighter arrived at the station a little more than three hours ago. When it arrived, there was no one at the station. However, a shuttle that is assigned to the laboratory is missing. Based on its exhaust trail, the shuttle may have been headed in your direction before it jumped to hyperspace." The chief summarized.
"Oh my." Mihoshi responded.
"Listen to me, Mihoshi. Are you listening?" The chief asked.
"Yes." Mihoshi answered.
"Other Galaxy Police cruisers are on their way to investigate. You will patrol your area of responsibility. If you find anything, report it back to headquarters. Is that understood? Simply report it back to headquarters and nothing else. Am I clear?" The chief finished. Mihoshi snapped to attention with a salute.
"Yes. Detective First Class Mihoshi will patrol her area of responsibility." The chief regarded her for a moment before he closed the channel.
"Yukinojo?" Mihoshi called.
"Yes, Mihoshi." Yukinojo answered.
"Let's cruise around and see if we can find anything." Mihoshi offered.
Lunch was done. Ayeka and Ryoko had to clean up afterwards as punishment for their quarrel prior to the meal. Consequently, Sasami was free for the afternoon. Since Noboyuki was headed back to town to finish up work at his office, Ayeka suggested that Sasami show Kintaro around town. Noboyuki dropped the two off on a corner near the shopping district. Sasami knew her way back to Noboyuki's office so they could meet him there for a ride back when they were finished. Sasami had to change back into her normal green and white attire as to avoid unwanted attention. Likewise, Kintaro changed out of his Jurain Knight raiment and into some simple but fitting slacks, shirt and shoes. The two strolled down the sidewalk and Sasami advised Kintaro of where to buy the best food and some places to avoid. They walked for a while until they walked passed a door that seemed to get Kintaro's attention. Sasami noticed.
"Is something the matter, Kin?" Sasami asked.
"That aroma smells so inviting. What is it?" Kintaro asked. Sasami sniffed and then noticed the sign above the door.
"It's a coffee shop." Sasami noticed.
"Is it?" Kintaro said not know what Sasami was talking about.
"Let's go in." Sasami suggested as she almost pulled Kintaro inside. There was a bar with two young women working behind it. A few people were sitting at tables and others were sitting on sofas in the back. Soft music played through hidden speakers and the smell of coffee filled the room.
"I can buy you something if you want?" Sasami offered.
"That won't be necessary. Lord Katsuhito has already given me currency. Besides, it's nearing your birthday anyway." Kintaro explained. The two ladies working behind the counter were whispering as they looked at Kintaro. Kintaro stepped closer to the bar.
"Good Afternoon. My name is Yumi. What can I get for you?" One of the ladies asked.
"That's hard to say. I've never been in an establishment such as this." Kintaro said. Sasami giggled.
"Well, do you like chocolate?" Yumi asked. Kintaro looked at the lady without answering. He then turned to Sasami. Sasami laughed again.
"Yes, he does." Sasami said. Kintaro looked back to Yumi apologetically. Yumi smiled.
"How do you know if I like something that I don't think I've ever had before?" Kintaro whispered.
"It's a good guess." Sasami admitted with a wink.
"How about trying a mocha." Yumi suggested as she poured coffee into a small paper cup and handed it to Kintaro. Kintaro smelled the beverage and found it appealing. He then took a sip. His eyes opened a little wider than normal.
"How do you like it?" Yumi asked.
"It's exquisite." Kintaro responded.
"That good, huh? Do you want me to make you one?" Yumi asked.
"Please do." Kintaro replied. Kintaro looked to Sasami again.
"Would you like to try some, little sister?" Kintaro asked.
"No thank you. I don't like coffee." Sasami said with a sour face. Kintaro looked into the little paper cup as if to make sure Sasami was talking about the same beverage he just sampled.
"How could that be?" Kintaro wondered aloud. Yumi giggled.
"I would like some ice cream though." Sasami requested.
"Sure thing. How many scoops?" The second girl asked.
"I'll take one chocolate, one strawberry and one vanilla." Sasami said.
"Coming right up." The second girl chimed.
"Oh, Kin. A seat just opened up next to the window. I'll go save it for us." Sasami spouted before darting to the table.
"Is that your little sister?" Yumi asked. Kintaro turned his attention to Yumi. He thought for a moment.
"I'm a very close friend of her family but I do think of her as my sister." Kintaro admitted.
"You two seem to get along like brother and sister. I have a younger brother. I would like to think that we act the same way." Yumi said.
"Then you are fortunate. I don't have any brothers or sisters so it's hard for me to imagine." Kintaro said as he looked to the window where Sasami was sitting. She waved at him. Kintaro smiled.
"You can imagine." Yumi accused Kintaro. Kintaro looked at Yumi and smiled.
"Maybe I can." Kintaro said as Yumi handed him the coffee.
"My name is Kintaro Sejukira. It's nice to meet you, Yumi." Kintaro said with a slight bow.
"Yumi Nakada is my name and the pleasure is mine." Yumi said with a smile.
"How much do I owe you?" Kintaro asked.
"It's on the house for the birthday girl." Yumi said.
"Won't you get in trouble?" Kintaro asked with concern.
"My parents own this place. I can handle them." Yumi said with confidence.
"Thank you very much." Kintaro said with a bow.
"Don't worry about it." Yumi said and smiled. Kintaro picked up Sasami's bowl of ice cream and headed towards the window. Kintaro and Sasami sat and talked as for a while. After a while Sasami noticed it was starting to get late and she didn't want to keep Noboyuki waiting. The two were about to leave when Yumi called out to them.
"Take care you two. I hope to see both of you again and soon." Yumi said as her coworker giggled beside her. Yumi nudged her coworker and she settled down to a smile.
"Thank you very much for the coffee and the ice cream. We will come by again." Kintaro said as he opened the door for Sasami. Sasami stepped out followed by Kintaro. The two were about to make there way to Noboyuki's office when a familiar van stopped in the street.
"Well who do we have here?" Noboyuki said as he rolled down his window.
"You weren't looking for us were you?" Sasami asked.
"No. I just thought the two of you might be around here and decided to pick you up rather than have you walk. Do I have good instincts or do I?" Noboyuki boasted. Sasami ran around to the side of the van and Kintaro soon joined her. Noboyuki started on the way home.
"Did you two have a good time?" Noboyuki asked.
"Yes we did, didn't we?" Sasami asked Kintaro.
"It was nice." Kintaro said with a smile.
More to come...