To make Jono feel better after learning about his concern for his health. Jack asked his sisters about his days back in viking village before coming here. They spoke of how he was one of the trusted warriors that taught the young, or translated for the viking chieftain on diplomatic missions. This led to Jack being spoken to by Jono's sword and round shield in storage by Bara.

"Brother, hung everything up to care for us when mother grew ill," Yuri looked at her brother's shield, "He only picks his blade to fight those demonic creatures or spar with Kyuu."

"They looked well cared after," Jack looked over the shield and sword, "As if never touched by time."

"We try to keep them from rusting." Asagao proudly spoke.

He then became quiet when he was reminded of the katana gifted to him, and who was repairing Hideyoshi's katana. Which came to him in the form of Asagao, when she spoke about going out. When she packed a 3 Tier, lacquer bento box. She was carefully wrapped in a scarf and would have picked up. If Jack hadn't offered to carry the cooked meal and come with her as an escort. She happily agreed to take him despite Bara reminding her of being a pest. Had her being ignored when out they ended up leaving with Jack not saying a word. Since they would take a long walk to a part of town that looks more like a gated compound.

What caught Jack's attention was who came out to greet them as an annoyed young man. He was around Kyuu's height and dressed like he was standard workmen to a blacksmith. Who stopped a few feet away from them with his eyes only on Asagao. Not noticing Jack at all when he crossed his arms and got ready to speak.

"I thought I told your brother," The person addressed her, "Repairs aren't done yet and who is that?"

"A friend of the family," She answered, "He is helping me deliver today's meal."

"What kind of friend?" He asked.

"He's the one brother had the special katana made for and brother talks about." She reminds this person.

This only made this person annoyed before he whistled for someone to come fetch the bento box. Jack kept his face from being noticed since his curiosity got the better of him. He wanted to see that this place was beyond the fence that blocked his line of sight.

"Is he always like this?" Jack asked Asagao.

"Hai," Asagao sighed, "He's the son of the founder and has been in debate with brother over a marriage."

"Why hasn't he agreed?" Jack asked not seeing the problem.

"He's always calling it off." She replied.

"I would have said yes and enjoyed my newlywed life." Jack liked her idea.

Asagao ended up hugging Jack out of his comment while saying how lucky her brother was. Jack accepted her hug not knowing they were being watched. The person ended up breaking the stick of his charcoal pencil. Somehow bothered by familiarity the two shared when they left. Had him in an angry state all the way to the office area of his family's ironworks. Shoving the bond paperwork he was going over on a nearby desk. Knocking over a framed drawing of Asagao from the desk. He rushed over to pick up and put back onto the desk. He pauses to peer at when the image of her and Jack re- surfaced in his mind.

8*8

Jono shared a strange drink in the form of a pureed fruit drink packed with vitamin supplements. Kiku insisted that Hideyoshi try taking one sip when presented in a single class. He didn't like how Asagao and Momo snickering when he refused to even touch his lips cup's edge.

"What helped me," Jono shared, "Between my mending process and being cared for by my sisters."

"Brother, most drink one a day," Sumire was cleaning their Suribachi, "Keeps us busy."

"Now come on." Kiku lays the glass on the table.

Jack ended up taking a seat with his eyes on a strange glass object filled with such a colorful looking liquid with a fruity scent. Which had him quite interested since Hideyoshi was refusing to even touch the glass' surface.

"May I?" Jack requested.

"You highness," Hideyoshi warned him, "Please."

He was too late when Jack came to the glass from Kiku without hesitating and the first few sips had him with wide eyes. Looking at Jono with surprise in his eyes like he discovered a whole new treat.

"Why is this?" Jack asked.

"A recipe from a place called Brazil," Jono informed him, "My sisters made for me during times I was recovering."

"Interesting." Jack brought the drink to his lips.

Hideyoshi watched Jack down the whole drink in just a few gulps feeling like a fool for not

trying it. Knowing Bara is just going to call him a coward or a fool for trying

something her sister's cooking.

"I would like to try one?" Hideyoshi mumbled.

"Here," Jono offered him, "Get ahead of myself in wanting a second one."

Hideyoshi stared at him when the cup was held right in front of him by Jono for him to take hold without being handed it. Jack's empty glass was taken up by Asagao as Momo had somewhere to be. She hugged herself goodbye since she could oyl stay for a short time with her family. Not wanting to leave Kyuu alone for too long since he was still getting a hang of his new job.

"I held from a swallow," Jono held up a note, "Someone visited a certain blacksmith with her new friend?"

"I knew I forgot to clear that manner up." Asagao guessed Jack had been seen

as her new boyfriend.

Jono started laughing at the way his sister told her part of her story

when he shared the letter. Jack ended looking the contains over

himself with blush forming. He knew he only went there to help

Asagao out, not be shown off.

"Jack?" Jono's voice had him looking up, "You ok?"

"Just an idea forming," Jack handed him the letter, "How are you feeling?"

"Better." Jono wasn't understanding.

Jack then got up from his seat stating he had plans he needed this day and didn't want to be late. Bowing before he left them, making sure to take two items he came for with him. Like always the two newly assigned bodyguards followed him down a familiar path. He took when he was with Asagao to visit someone had secretly looked into. Finding out that person and his family were blacksmiths by trade. That forged everyday items and special weapons for a fee interested Jack. To the point he ended up showing up on their doorstep with an odd request.

"Is this enough for your services?" Jack asked about payment.

"Rumors about the prince taking Jonomas his lover were true." This person couldn't believe it.

"I have heard these rumors," Jack was not impressed, "I wish to not discuss my private or romantic life with a stranger."

The person knew he couldn't drag this out as he took his guests to his family's office. Wanting to look over what Jack wanted repurposed for battle without someone finding out. What he got to look over was just iron work that came from Viking's forge.

8*8

A crutch for Hideyoshi was needed when he was well enough to get around on his own after a doctor visit. He just wasn't stormed to start using an actual katana which he didn't have in his possession. While he would have complained about it Kyuu didn't give him one of his old wooden ones. Wishing him luck in going through sword drills with someone like Jono and Jack when he left.

"Leave so soon?" Jono saw Kyuu.

"Yea," Kyuu bowed to him, "Can't stay for the usual visit since Tentōchū has been busy."

Aside from that, Jono stepped with a Kyuu walk pass as a promise was made about visiting a little longer when thighs weren't busy. Which somehow changed into when Jono was going to get a niece or nephew from them. Kyuu blushed at the thought since Momo was still trying to plan their Shinzen kekkon. The mood set when Kyuu made his way out and left Jono in a good mood.

"Must you joke about that?" Hideyoshi asked Jono.

"You do know you have no legal grounds to be Bara's first born." Jono reminds Hideyoshi.

"What makes you think we've gotten that far?" Hideyoshi asked, rather angry.

"Way she dresses and acts around you." Jono pointed out.

Two would have gone on in their pointless argument if Bara hadn't slammed a trey down on a nearby table. Quite angry her brother was asking what she does with Hideyoshi and the topic of children. She knew what she did with Jack was to help carry on his legacy despite how hesitant he was at first.

"Tea is ready." She announced.

"No Yuri today?" Jono asked.

Trying to come up with an answer on why her sister wanted to go out suddenly while trading errand running for her chores. Had Bara sighing as she removed the tea cups from their place on the trey.

"She went off somewhere after I allowed her to run errands for me." Bara answered.

"Most of us went to see HIM." Jono sighed.

He then took a puff of his Bent Dublin tobacco pipe that lay on top of the tobacco box. Smoke he released this time around didn't make Hideyoshi cough like it used to. Since he was also exposed to the herbal mixture that Jono smoked and burned. That now helped Hideyoshi with his own pain management when burned.

"You alright?" Jono asked Hideyoshi.

"Thinking," Hideyoshi tooka seat with the wooden sword in his lap, "About my future since I've been …."

"Would you like to return to your family?" Bara asked him.

He opens his mouth as Bara had to run off to answer the door when someone was at their side door. What she found was one of the craftsmen that worked for the Imperial family. She didn't have to say much when they handed her a wooden replicas. They looked just like her brother's sword and shield down to the physical details. She asks what this is about if the person didn't say this was a private gift ps from Kido- Omi. She ended up thanking the person before he left and she locked the door.

"Aniki!" She shouted while carrying everything.

Jono and Hideyoshi were surprised with what she brought back to them when they were found drinking tea. Something Hideyoshi wouldn't do with her family in the past.

"These came for you," She hands the note to Jono, "Hand writing is Jack's."

The note was looked over by Jono as he smiled half way through before putting it down. Hideyoshi picked up the notes when he lay his crutch to free up both his hands. What he learned was Jack's way of helping him completely recover and Jono to not feel old.

"I always forget how his highness is selfish man," Bara looked to the items, "You're going to love sparring with my brother."

"Why am I getting a strange feeling?" Hideyoshi asked them.