When the boat docked the next day, people flooded out and into the train station that would take them into the city. Karei went to buy tickets while Chijin and Amai sat on a stone bench waiting for her. Amai looked around for the boys from the previous night, but couldn't see them anywhere. She shrugged and saw Karei bring their tickets back.
"Train should be here soon. Here we go." She handed them both a ticket and sat next to them.
"I was thinking, maybe we could open a restaurant. I could find us a nice house with a shop on the bottom floor. How does that sound girls?" Chijin said, watching the crowd in the station.
They both smiled and nodded. They could both cook well now, thanks to Chijin and her training. It would be great fun starting a business together, especially when it was only the three of them.
"Maybe we could make that herbed garden soup of Chijin's our signature dish."
"Oh nonsense. It isn't that good." Chijin blushed.
"Oh yes it is!" Amai and Karei chimed together. The train ground to a halt in front of them, and they boarded with the bustling crowd. Beyond the first city wall was farmlands, and another wall. It was confusing to have so many walls, but it must've served a purpose. Beyond the second wall were small houses, and yet another wall. The train stopped at the station inside the second wall, and once everyone had climbed off, it went back to the station outside the first wall. They stood inside the station, looking at the crowd dissipating into the city. But Karei, Amai and Chijin had no where to go. They didn't have friends or relatives to stay with for the night, and not much money.
"We will have to find the cheapest guesthouse that there is." Chijin said, taking out their money and counting it. They exited the station, and wondered down the street looking for notices or flyers for hotels.
"Oh look, there's one!" Amai shouted, pointing to a small guesthouse that was barely noticeable.
"Well spotted, Amai. Let's hear what their rates are." Chijin smiled, and headed towards the entrance. The guesthouse wasn't much, but at least it was clean and neat. Amai and Karei stood outside, waiting for Chijin to speak to the owner.
"So what do you think? New city, new life, no more noblewoman worries. How does it feel?" Karei asked of Amai.
"Well so far, it feels good. We'll just have to find a place to open the restaurant." Amai sighed and saw Chijin leave the counter where the owner stood.
"The owner said that we are welcome to stay as long as we want, and he'll charge us once we have our own place and enough money." Chijin smiled, and showed Karei and Amai to their room. It wasn't big, three beds and a bathroom, but it was enough for the time being. Amai and Karei dropped their stuff on their beds, and made to leave again.
"Wait girls, aren't you going to clean up first?" Chijin asked.
"No, we're going to find a place to open our restaurant, we'll clean up later." Amai said, and they left the guesthouse to venture down their street. They walked around for about half and hour before finding a shop that had a notice on it. It was close to the third wall, and a huge gate that let nobles in and out.
"TO LET. Shop and house for very low rates. Enquire inside for details." Karei read the notice aloud and went inside, followed by Amai. The shop was empty, with no customers in sight. There was banging somewhere at the back when Karei called for anyone. A grey old man stuck his head out of a doorway and scurried to them.
"Are you here to enquire about the shop to let?" He asked quickly.
"Yes sir. May we ask what the rates are?"
"Oh oh, here." He quickly gave them a piece of paper with all the rates and details of the shop and house. Karei read them through, it sounded like a good deal, and she wondered why the owner was letting it out.
"Sir, may I ask why you are letting this shop out; it seems like a good location, and close to the third wall gate. Are you not getting enough customers?" She asked, sounding worried that they might have to find a shop closer to the second wall.
"No my dear, on the contrary. We bought a house and shop inside the third wall, and we wanted to let this one out for extra income. The shop goes open the day after tomorrow and we're busy painting at the moment. So are you interested?" the old man asked, and suddenly the banging near the back of the shop stopped. Karei and Amai looked at each other. It was a good shop, and with the coat of paint the old man was talking about it would look brand new. They couldn't let an opportunity like this pass them up.
"We'll take it." Amai said quickly, leaving Karei's mouth hanging open.
"Excellent, excellent. Come by tomorrow and we can sign a contract." The old man smiled, and showed Karei and Amai out.