Miyabi

So Yanagi's evaluation was correct: Wise's dream of Miyabi had not been steamy. She should be relieved to learn that, shouldn't she? Only undesirable men advertised their steamy dreams to people who were not their partners: Yanagi had as much as said so this morning.

But- Wise and her were boyfriend and girlfriend now, right? As of this afternoon. So… shouldn't that change things?

It was illogical to expect Wise to have a different dream than he had, but Miyabi couldn't help feeling a tiny bit of disappointment. They'd seen that beautiful tree and its blossoms, they'd shared honest truths about what they each wanted in life, and they'd skirted around the idea of children and their making…

If there was any moment to confess a steamy dream, was that not it!?

…Maybe she should lie and confess a steamy dream herself? …No. That didn't seem a good idea. Lying to Wise was not what she should do. What would that achieve? Come to think of it: what did any of-

"Whoa," said Wise suddenly. "That's your house, Miyabi?"

Ahead of them, the gravel garden path met with the circular end of the driveway where the Victoria Housekeeping sedan was parked quietly on the loop. Beyond the out-of-place car, behind a screening of finely manicured evergreen trees, loomed the structure that the Hoshimi Clan referred to as the "Summer Cottage."

Arched, tiled roofs sat pagoda-like along long beams of natural wood. Cozy light glowed from walls that seemed almost entirely made of glass. For a moment, an interior of gleaming polished woodgrains was visible, but upon Miyabi and Wise's approach, the windows of the entire structure went opaque and misty grey, giving it the general look of some ancient, small castle.

The house's security system had activated the evening privacy tinting, cutting off the interior of the home from exterior viewing. Though, anyone inside the house could still see out. It was a very expensive feature that was standard to all Hoshimi Clan structures these days.

"Wow.." Wise said appreciatively. "That's awesome!"

Miyabi regarded Wise's genuine admiration for the house with some mild amusement. She'd come to think of this place as…, not exactly a prison, but certainly a place she had to stay for lack of other options. When Miyabi looked at the imposing structure, she didn't see her own home. She could only ever see it as her father's house.

Miyabi's home had burned down during Hollowfall, and Mother had burned up with it.

The driveway centered on a carved stairwell of natural stone, atop which was the front entrance to the Summer Cottage. Lycaon appeared suddenly at the top of those stairs, bowing his head deferentially, a teapot and two cups on a tray in his furry hands.

"Welcome home, Lady Hoshimi. Master Wise. Can I offer you a cup of hot tea? The air is growing slightly brisk."

"Hey, Lycaon," called out Wise with ready pleasure. "Yeah, that sounds great!"

Wise clambered up the stairs ahead of Miyabi, and she was mildly impressed by the friendly ease he had with the imposing wolf thiren. Did Wise know what sort of things Lycaon was capable of? He must, if he did proxy work for Victoria Housekeeping. But had Wise ever considered what it would be like if Victoria Housekeeping was working against him? Like if perhaps Father hired Lycaon to…?

Miyabi's ear twitched. No, Father would not stoop to something like that, regardless of the true state of his disapproval of Wise. And Lycaon would not accept such a task, regardless of pay.

Miyabi realized she was inventing scenarios for herself where she would need to defend Wise with violence. What a strange and sudden mental leap…

"Tea? Lady Hoshimi?" said Lycaon deferentially as Miyabi, too, reached the top of the stone steps.

The old stone of the landing ended abruptly at a tiny, finely trimmed lawn. The sliding front door to the home loomed before them, the faux rice-paper glowing cozily golden through the gaps in the slatted wood. The evening sky was slowly purpling. It was going to be a beautiful evening.

"Yes," said Miyabi, accepting a cup from Lycaon's tray. The steam off the cup smelled strongly of jasmine.

Lycaon bowed slightly and moved to withdraw along the length of the house, probably to the side entrance to the kitchens that Miyabi knew was halfway down the structure and hidden between some bushes. Miyabi wondered if he was still attempting to obey her command to stay away from her. She felt impelled to normalize their current understanding.

"Has Father contracted you overnight, Lycaon?" asked Miyabi conversationally.

"Yes, Lady Hoshimi," said Lycaon. His shoulders relaxed slightly. He seemed to have immediately understood her intent.

"Did he say why?" said Miyabi.

"Not directly," said Lycaon, his eye shifting to Wise a moment before looking back at Miyabi. "Your house staff was directed to prepare the garden house for a guest."

A guest room?! Father was suddenly treating Wise like he did his business and political allies. After doing everything short of directly insulting Wise to his face, Father was rolling out all the stops on hospitality? Was it because of her own firm stance on Wise's value? Did he respect her defense of Wise?

…Or was it Wise's revelation that he was a particularly famous proxy? Meaning Wise was a networking opportunity. One that Father could leverage as an ally in his political games?

Miyabi's instinct was that it was likely more the latter than the former. She felt a twinge of anger. Did Father not really believe in her interest in Wise? Or did he think that her esteem for Wise wasn't actually that serious? Maybe she needed to give father a lesson! But how?

But! And!? Had Father even asked Wise his preferences? No! Of course not! Did Wise even want to stay over? Could he? He was a business owner and a proxy. Wise might have things he needed to do, too!

"Wise?" said Miyabi.

Wise grunted amicably as he sipped at his tea.

Miyabi thought she then said: "Would you like to sleep over with us tonight?"

Wise's eyes shot open and his head jerked back in surprise, spilling hot tea over his lips. He hissed softly in pain and his blue, wincing eyes then turned upon her in shock.

"Huh?!"

Miyabi was surprised by his reaction. She felt her own ear twitch. Was hers such an unexpected question?

"Ah, ah-heh," said Lycaon with a dignified little cough. "Master Wise, I believe Lady Hoshimi means staying overnight here at the estate. Lord Hoshimi often offers overnight rooms to his esteemed dinner guests. Is that not so, Lady Hoshimi?"

"Yes, quite," said Miyabi, still off balance from Wise's drastic reaction. Perhaps he'd never been invited to stay overnight at a big house before? His own room in Random Play was quite small, after all. She'd seen it once and wondered how someone could manage, but both Wise and Belle did.

"Oh. Oh!," said Wise, laughing awkwardly and rubbing the back of his head. His cheeks seemed slightly flushed. "Yeah, all right! I'll tell Belle that I won't be home, so she won't be worried."

But Wise continued to look furtively at Miyabi, and she wasn't sure what was happening. Lycaon offered again his little, polite huffing cough- breaking the suddenly awkward silence

"If you wish, Lady Miyabi, should I show Master Wise to his guest room and properly fit his yukata before dinner?"

"Yes," said Miyabi, thinking that it was a fine suggestion. She had things to do, as well. If Wise was staying over at the estate, then she needed to open one of Yanagi's advice envelopes! Usually there were lots of tasks inside.

"Please do, Lycaon. Wise? Is it alright if I leave you for a while to get ready in my room?"

"Yeah, of course, Miyabi," said Wise, apparently comfortable again.

They replaced their tea cups on Lycaon's tray. Then, holding the tray perfectly still, Lycaon's beefy free arm reached out and slid open the large door of the estate. Two fox thiren maids of the estate's staff were waiting in the genkan room. They bowed simultaneously.

"Welcome home, Lady Hoshimi!" said the maids. "Welcome honored guest!"

"Whoa," said Wise with a beaming smile. "Hello! Thank you for your kind welcome, you two."

The two maids looked at each other and stifled smiles. Father's guests ignored the greetings of the maids, as was expected of high society folk. Wise's innocent faux pas had obviously amused them- but Miyabi wondered if Wise's instinctive response was not the proper way of doing things, in the end. Should not greetings be returned?

"May I take your shoes, sir?" said one of the maids, moving quickly to help Wise.

"May I fetch you a refreshment, sir?" said the other maid.

"Wow," said Wise with a charming smile. "Such great service! Thank you."

Both young women's vulpine ears were twitching. They were blushing slightly. Their eyes sparkled as they looked at Wise.

Miyabi suddenly deeply hated them both. "Mr. Lycaon needs to guide Mr. Wise to his room, ladies. Please make way for them. Immediately."

Two sets of ears and eyes snapped to Miyabi. The maids bowed their heads deferentially, suddenly cautious. "Yes, Lady Hoshimi."

Lycaon stepped into the genkan next, his tall, broad frame looming over those gathered. The maids blushed deeper and their ears twitched again. They bowed slightly, though not as much as for Wise and Miyabi- Lycaon was closer to their rank, after all.

"Welcome back, Mr. Lycaon," said one maid.

"Welcome back, Master Lycaon," said the other. Who, after a half second, blushed furiously and looked deeply embarrassed. Her companion maid had difficulty holding back her laughter at her blushing partner.

"Thank you, ladies," said Lycaon smoothly, pretending not to notice the obvious break in decorum by the Hoshimi female staffers.

Miyabi was actually slightly mollified. If these maids blushed more for Lycaon than for Wise, they seemed less problematic. These maids couldn't see all of the value that hid below the surface of man. Just silly girls, is all.

But silly girls or no, the maids knew their work. In quick and efficient movements, they stored the outdoor shoes of all arrivals and selected appropriately sized indoor slippers. Miyabi, Wise, and Lycaon were soon standing at the first intersection of the house, a T-branch in the halls which led to the lounge and central gardens in one direction, the stairs upwards and the central collections in the other. Miyabi's room was up the stairs beyond the collection rooms, which meant she was headed in the opposite direction to Wise.

"I will go to my room now," said Miybai doubtfully, suddenly uncertain. Was it really okay to leave Wise alone in her house? Was that the hospitable thing to do? Lycaon was with him, but Lycaon wasn't Hoshimi family. "Wise, will you be okay here? For a while?"

"Don't worry about me, Miyabi," said Wise. "I'm fine. Lycaon will show me the ropes. Don't worry."

Still doubtful, Miyabi gazed upon Wise's confident, soft smile with some trepidation. "All right.. When is dinner, Lycaon?"

"In just under two and a half hours, Lady Hoshimi," said Lycaon.

"I'll see you before then, Wise," said Miyabi.

"Okay, sure," said Wise with a happy smile.

Miyabi turned and left them, trying to ignore her own sudden nervousness. What would Wise think of her house? Was he impressed? Or did he think it was too much? Was he disappointed that she wasn't with him?

She sighed as she climbed the stairs to the upper level of the house. Her rooms were on one side of the upper floors and father's were on the other. Miyabi wondered again at Wise's strange reaction to Miyabi's invitation for him to stay at the estate tonight.

A sudden fear caused her to stop her tracks, her ears twitching as she stood alone amongst the polished wood of the estate. Had she said what she'd meant to say? Sometimes she said things she didn't mean to. Had that happened just then? What could she have possibly said?

Miyabi sighed, rubbing a finger gingerly at her own temple. She was giving herself a stress headache. This was foolish. She was worried over nothing she could be sure o-f and surely nothing she could change! Just focus on what she needed to do: Get ready for dinner with Wise and Father. She entered her own bedroom.

A stunning new red yukata was laid out on her bed. Miyabi frowned at it. It was a new gift from Father, to be sure. She walked over to examine the robe, her fingers reaching out to touch the fabric.

Pure silk. Astoundingly expensive, of course. But… it would be an utter delight on her skin. And the deep, rich red of the yukata was stitched extravagantly with the shapes of softly red plumeria flowers. This thing was more a work of art than a semi-formal, around-the-house robe.

Miyabi wrinkled her nose at the gift. She knew why it was here: because it was red. And Father had overheard her tell Lycaon to dress Wise in blue.

Did Father really think she was that blind to his little games? Clashing colors? Really? How basic.

She folded the yukata carefully and put it away in her closet with reverence. It was still an astonishing example of craftsmanship which deserved respect and care. It wasn't the yukata's fault that Father had decided to use it as a weapon- a booby trap between her and Wise!

Miyabi sighed as she closed that part of her closet, and instead opened up the other. In here were the more mundane options of her yukata wardrobe. These were generally made of cotton, and Miyabi knew exactly which one she wanted to wear tonight. She pulled it out and laid it out on her bed instead.

But donning the evening robe was the last step of the entire process of getting ready for dinner. She needed to bathe and manage her hair, which was an entire operation in itself due to its length. But a maid would be able to help with that.

Yet there was something to do before Miyabi could call in outside help: she needed to check Yanagi's advice box!

Miyabi quick-stepped over to her bedroom desk and opened a pink box. Inside were several pink envelopes that Yanagi had made for her shortly after Section 6 had formed. Inside each envelope was Yanagi's advice to MIyabi for certain situations, and Miyabi wasn't supposed to open them up before the conditions were met.

There were only four of them left now, and two of them were somewhat morbid:

The first was: Open me if your father dies.

The second: Open me if I die.

The third: Open me if Soukaku and I suddenly disappear.

The fourth: Open me if you invite a man to stay the night with you.

Wise was staying the night tonight in the guest house! It was time to open the fourth envelope!

Miyabi snatched it out of the box with slightly trembling fingers. Yanagi's flowery scent was still faint on the envelope when it opened, giving Miyabi a sense of confidence and gratitude. What advice did she have for Miyabi in this situation?

Miyabi unfolded the paper to find a list. She blinked. The list of items continued further, forcing her to unfold the paper yet again. Well! This was rather long and detailed! She really ought to do all of these things if Wise was sleeping in the guest room in the downstairs garden hut?

Why was there so much shaving to be done? And in so many different places? It didn't make any sense.

But, well, Miyabi only had Yanagi to trust in these matters, and Miyabi trusted her own life to the woman on a regular basis. If Yanagi said all these things should be done, then Miyabi would do them. She looked at the clock on the wall, then back at the list. Dinner was in two hours?

Did she have enough time?