It didn’t take him long to dress in his courtly attire, even though the get-up was far more complicated than the simple clothing he wore around the tower. As he pulled on the vestments of his rank, Akihato’s demeanor slowly changed to match. The boyish scholar gave way to the noble Zosara, a mask he had donned long ago to impress his colleagues and gain prestige. Both of which were highly important within the secretive Conclave of Zozatai.
Building contacts and forging alliances was a necessary aspect of the hierarchy, one Akihato personally had no taste for but that many of his other peers embraced wholly. In spite of his feelings on the matter, however, he played the game. He let everyone see the side of him born to nobility, the courtly, stoic part of him that did not suffer fools. As such, he had earned the title ‘Wintertide’ among his colleagues, of which there were few who dared to test his temper or power. He also had no true friends. Allies, certainly, but he made no mistake that allies and friends were two very different concepts.
When he was finished getting dressed, Akihato swept through the door, heading for the dining room. He would eat a quick meal, speak briefly with Hanamei, and then be on his way. The idea of leaving Hanamei on her own for too long didn’t sit right with him, so he was determined to make this excursion a short one. That meant leaving sooner rather than later and then returning the moment he’d learned what he needed to from Master Okan.
He was rather pleased to find Hanamei seated at the dining table waiting patiently for him or for breakfast; he wasn’t sure. The sight of him brought an expression of pleased surprise to her face. It was quite possible that she hadn’t been expecting to see him all dressed up. By the way her gaze inspected his impressive formal tunic, it seemed she was expecting an exhausted, rumpled version of him instead.
“My Lord,” she started to rise, but Akihato quickly stopped her.
“No need for that.” He flashed her a brief smile, letting her see he was still the same man, even if a much more fancy version of him. “Have you eaten?”
She shook her head. “We were waiting for you.”
“My apologies, then.” He took a seat beside her. No sooner did his rump hit the chair than Ren swept out of the kitchen, two plates steaming with food. The water spirit bowed to Akihato as she placed his in front of him, then she turned and laid Hanamei’s down as well.
Naturally, it’s slathered in fresh syrup... he groaned inwardly. The messiest breakfast imaginable while he was wearing his finest clothes.
Hanamei must have been thinking the same thing, for he caught her trying to stifle a grin. It was good to see her smiling; she had been so sedate and stoic the few times he had interacted with her. When she wasn’t pensive or sorrowful, she was distant, as though she existed elsewhere while her body remained behind.
She has a lot to mull over, he reminded himself. Being careful not to drip syrup all over the place, he whittled away at the flat cakes and fruit before him. Going much slower than he would have liked but sacrificing speed for cleanliness. When he’d consumed about half, he finally pushed the plate back, signaling he was finished.
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Somehow Ren always knew. She promptly entered from the kitchen again and moved to take the plate. Seeing that he hadn’t finished, she cocked an eyebrow. “Was it not satisfactory, Master?”
“It was excellent, Ren, thank you,” he assured her. “It was also quite filling.”
The gwazemi stared at him for a long moment, considering his words before she shrugged and carried the dish back to the kitchen.
Akihato waited patiently for Hanamei to finish, though she didn’t make it much further than he had. Once her plate had been retrieved, he finally prompted her, “Jin said you wished to speak with me?”
She nodded, nervously straightening her clothes. “Yes, my Lord.” She bit at her lower lip.
“I’m listening,” he insisted when she didn’t continue.
That seemed to be what she needed to hear. She took a deep breath and started speaking again, though she remained rather tentative. “I am very appreciative of your hospitality, my Lord, but I must confess while your home offers many amenities and comforts, I find myself with little to do...” She stopped, studying his face intently as though she expected him to take offense and start yelling at her.
Akihato was truthfully relieved. This was not what he’d thought she wanted to discuss with him, and so he offered an easy smile both to express that relief and to calm her nerves. “Of course, what is it you would like to do? If I don’t have the supplies on hand, I can easily obtain them, I’m sure.”
Hanamei quickly shook her head. “I don’t want to take advantage—“
“Nonsense,” Akihato quickly interrupted that direction of thought. “Speak with Ren. If you wish to earn your keep and whatever supplies you need, then she will give you chores to complete.”
They heard a sneeze from the kitchen, and then Ren popped her head into the dining room, her expression suspicious. “Do you need anything, Master?”
Akihato rose from the table, nodding. “Hanamei wishes to help with the chores in exchange for...” He paused, glancing to the young woman. “What is it that you need?”
“M-maybe paper... and paint...” Her voice was barely audible. Her timidness made Akihato uneasy; he did not like seeing her so fearful of him. Of anyone, really, but especially him.
“We have limited supplies of both, Master,” Ren informed them. There was something strange in her expression, making him wonder if having Hanamei help the spirit with her work had somehow insulted her.
Akihato didn’t have time to deal with it right now, but he made a note to speak with Ren when he got a chance. She was very accustomed to being the caretaker of the house, and he could understand why she might feel threatened by the presence of another woman. “It should be enough to get her started. Perhaps the two of you can work out an amicable exchange. Hanamei can help with the chores, and you can help Hanamei with her art. Acquire whatever she needs we don’t already have.”
Ren’s mouth shifted into a hard line, but she nodded affirmation. “Of course, Master.”
“Hanamei.” He bowed his head in her direction. “I am leaving for a few days to speak with a colleague of mine.” Her sudden expression of fear caused him to swiftly add. “Ren and Jin will take good care of you in my absence.”
Even though she nodded, the biting of her bottom lip told him, like Ren, she was mildly dissatisfied as well.
Wonderful, I’ve managed to make a mess of things. Hopefully, the two of them will get it sorted out on their own. If not... Then I suppose I’ll deal with it when I return. Rather hoping they would manage without him, Akihato took his leave of the two women. He had much bigger concerns to occupy himself with. The pair of them were simply going to have to make do.