>>konbini
Hahahaha~
Thank you for commenting~ (^^)
And you are right, I never get tired of RenAirin either xD
>>JuriBait
Thank you~
And to be honest, I think I'm relating Rena with melonpan too much in my fics~
Whether it was my OSs or this fic...
Hahaha... I hope you guys don't mind f(^^;)
>>Minami-chan
RenAirin is forever loved by my fellow readers xD
And don't worry, Rena's back is already starting to recover.
Bruises pain only lasts for a while.
Airin isn't going to have an excuse to touch Rena's back. Yet.
Oh, oops, did I say something? xDDD
>>karomuwi
Bwahahaha~
Don't worry, karo-chan (is it okay for me to call you that?), you didn't miss too much.
Haven't been updating much lately anyway.
I shall be waiting for karo-chan's edited comment~
Or you could always just comment again xDDD
Either way works fine for me~ Bwahahaha~
>>Kamen Knight
(・・?)
Hmm? What do you mean?
I'm lost (・・")
>>Everyone
Next update for TPB~
This was suppose to be done and posted yesterday,
but... as I said before, I'm a very moody person...
Was in a really bad and depressing mood yesterday, so didn't get much done on it.
Better now today though, so here's the update xD
Slightly long, gomenne~
But yeah, it would've been longer,
however,
I cut a little bit off the end and decided to stack it into the next chapter xD
Anyway, enjoy!
_________________________
The rain had already stopped when Jurina left the palace, escorted by the female captain who made sure Jurina got home safely for reasons that were only known to the captain herself. The captain dropped the sack just outside the door that Jurina stopped in front of. “This is where you live?” Sakiko asked as she looked at the house in front of them. The house wasn’t big, it was in fact, quite small. From the outside, the house looks like it’s only just enough to have one person living there. Anymore than one seems slightly too crowded.
“Yeah, I live here with my mother and my friend,” Jurina nodded as she picked up the sack of rice the captain had placed next to the door. Seeing the look the captain had on her face as she looked at the house, Jurina just smiled, “We have a huge storage room further in the back. It’s larger than it looks.” The captain sure was not the first person to look at their house like that. Many regular patients that drops by the shop that her mother now runs, says that as well.
Sakiko nodded. She was just about to leave when her heart suddenly had this urge to say something to the girl that she knew she should not be saying, “Jurina?”
Jurina was just about to open the door when the captain called for her by her first name. Curious, Jurina turned around and looked at the captain who had a somewhat concerned face, “Hai?”
“You’re still young, Jurina. There are many things that happens in this world that you still don’t know about or never thought would happen,” Sakiko paused, letting the girl absorb her words before continuing, “Don’t make any stupid decisions. Think over the job that Togasaki offered you thoroughly. This decision can and will affect your future. It will affect your entire life.” Confused at the captain’s words, Jurina opened her mouth to ask the captain what she meant only to have the captain turn her back on her. “Just be careful, Jurina. Be careful of everything that happens around you. Be careful of the people around you. Nothing and no one are what they seem like on the surface.” With that, Sakiko walked away, leaving Jurina behind, pondering over the captain’s confusing word and most of all, at the fact that the female captain mentioned the emperor by his name. That was considered disrespectful amongst the guards, everyone knew that, especially someone with such a high position too.
Still lost with what the captain was trying to tell her, Jurina turned back around and reached out to open her door. Just as she was about to push it open, it was pulled open from the inside. “Jurina? Thank god! Jurina! You’re finally back! You were gone for so long I was starting to get worried! Where have you been! Do you have any idea how long you were gone for!? I was just about to go look for you!” Airi shouted at the girl standing in front of the door, angry at her for not noticing the time but relieved that nothing happened to the girl. ’Guess that weird feeling from before was just my imagination~ Doesn’t seem like anything bad happened to her.’
“Woah, woah, slow down, Airin. Here, hold the rice first. Story telling can wait,” Jurina said as she gave the sack of rice to Airi who’s eyes widened at the sudden weight of the sack on her. Before she could protest about anything, she saw Jurina pull out some kind of bottle and started making her way to her mother’s room, “I got to tend to my mother first.”
Airi’s curiosity about the origin of the large sack of rice was surpassed by her curiosity about what Jurina had in her hand just then. Carefully, she placed the sack of rice next to the table, carefully making sure not to spill any one grain of rice, and followed after Jurina.
“Jurina... What.... is that?” Airi watched as Jurina uncapped the small silver bottle and poured some golden yellow syrup-looking liquid into her mother’s mouth.
“According to the captain, it’s a potion made from the emperor’s dragon fruit. She said it can usually heal any sickness. Haven’t you heard of it before?” Jurina asked as she placed the now empty bottle on the bedside table and wiped away the excess on the corner of her mother’s lips. After pulling the blankets over her mother’s shoulder and making sure she is warm, she went outside to hang up her wet hood.
Airi shook her head and went over to Jurina’s mother’s side and felt her forehead. Already, the woman’s heat was cooling down. Surprised at the speed the remedy worked at, Airi picked up the bottle from the side, turned it around her palm, inspecting it. Then she turned to Jurina who was hanging up her hood outside her mother’s room and asked, “Where did you get this, Jurina?”
“Get what?” Jurina asked from where she was, not knowing what Airi was talking about.
Airi quietly slipped outside the room and softly shut the door before putting down the bottle on the table, “This.”
Jurina turned around and saw what Airi was pointing at, “Oh, that. Long story.”
“I’ve got time. You have some explaining to do. And, oh dear kami....” Airi’s eyes widened as she walked over to Jurina and hovered her fingers over the red blotch on her shoulder, “Is.... I-I-Is that blood!?” When Jurina nodded, Airi immediately went to get some herbs and a bowl in the kitchen. When she saw Jurina make her way towards the front door, Airi panicked again, “Where are you going, Jurina? Your arm is hurt.” Jurina just shrugged and pointed her finger upward and disappeared out of the house. “That idiot... When is she going to understand that people are supposed to rest when they’re hurt...” Airi mumbled to herself as she took the bowl of herbs with her and followed after Jurina, climbing up towards the roof of their house.
Although the appearance of their house is not the best, the structure of their house is much more stronger than many of the houses in this area of the city. The rooftop was always a place where Jurina goes to whenever she didn’t want to be trapped indoor but didn’t want to leave the house either. It was also a place where Jurina always goes to when she was in a bad mood or wanted time alone. Airi remembered a few years ago, when Jurina had another nightmare, she ended up spending her entire night on the rooftop. It wasn’t until Airi woke up in the middle of the night did she realize that Jurina was gone and that she had fallen asleep on the top of the house.
It was more than difficult to try climb up the boxes beside the wall of their house to get up to the roof top. Having to carry a bowl that had things inside made it almost impossible. When Airi finally reached the top, she drop dead on the side, and stretched her sore arms before sitting back up and moving next to Jurina who was lying down and was staring at the grey sky. “So... what happened?” Airi asked as she started to grind up the herb that was in the bowl.
“I had fun, that’s what happened,” Jurina grinned as she recall that excitement she felt when fighting the guards and when the emperor had his katana right up against her throat.
Airi looked at Jurina in disbelief, “You had fun? After going for so long, you come home with a bleeding shoulder and tell me that you had fun? Did you get into a fight with those kids again? You do realized their parents don’t like it when we hurt them right?”
Jurina laughed, “The kids from the high lords’ families are wimps. I mean we only beat them up once and they never showed their face out in the city again.” Seeing the serious unlaughing face on Airi, Jurina’s laugh trailed off and she frowned at the girl, “Serious, Airin. You gotta loosen up. Stop being so serious all the time!”
Angry at hearing how Jurina’s tone of voice sounded, completely not worried about her own condition, Airi picked up some grinded up herbs and smudged them onto Jurina’s wounded shoulder. Jurina hissed in pain and glared at the girl for not warning her first before putting the stinging herbs on her cut. “Don’t look at me like that, young lady. Did you know that a cut as deep as yours could’ve gotten infected!? Especially with the rain pouring down! Did you know how worry I was about you! You were gone for so long I thought something happened to you! And now you’re acting so normally, as if nothing happened at all!” Airi yelled at the girl beside her who looked up at her completely shocked.
“I-I-I-I’m sorry, Airin. I... I didn’t make you worry like that...” Jurina stammered at the sudden outburst of Airi, suddenly felt like a small child being scowled at by their parents. This was the first time she have seen Airi this angry. Jurina always knew Airi gets worried when she’s out by herself, since Airi treated her like a little sister. She never thought Airi would be this worried. But then it was understandable in a way, since this was also the first time Jurina went home with a bleeding shoulder.
Airi’s eyes softened at the girl’s apology and gave her a small smile, “Just don’t do it again, okay? Don’t make me worry like that, Jurina.” Jurina nodded, keeping her eyes up at the sky, refusing to look at the older girl in the eyes. Softly this time, Airi put more herbs onto Jurina’s shoulder and frowned when she saw the way Jurina had shut her eyes, her lips pursed into a straight line, holding in the pain. “It stings that much? Jurina nodded, eyes still kept shut. Airi leaned over and blew onto the wound. She smiled when she saw Jurina’s face started to relax slightly.
All of a sudden, Jurina sat up and said, “Story telling time. Where you want me to start?”
“Right from the beginning,” Airi answered.
Jurina nodded and started explaining everything. Starting from when she found out the herbal shop was closed, to her stealing from the emperor’s garden, fighting off the guards, seeing the emperor and then coming back home. The only thing she missed out was the extra little conversation the female captain had with her just outside her house before.
Airi listened silently the whole time while applying the remaining herbs onto Jurina, occasionally blowing softly onto the wound when she sees Jurina wince. “You know, I always thought Emperor Togasaki was an honest man. I always thought that the emperor won all those battles purely because we are stronger and have better tactics. That’s what the soldiers always say anyway. Who knew the emperor was actually hiring assassins... I wonder if his men knows what their emperor is doing behind the scene,” Airi said.
“So... what should I do, Airin? I don’t know what to do. I want to accept the job, since our family needs money. I mean, the prices of the herbs are flying sky high, just counting on the income from mother’s shop won’t cut it you know. Not to mention we are even willingly helping some of the citizens with our own money sometimes!” Jurina asked as she sat up and looked at Airi, waiting for her answer and secretly hoping that Airi will tell her to take the job.
Airi thought for a while then answered, “I don’t know, Jurina. This... killing people for a living... I don’t think I would be able to live with that. Of course, unless there was a reason behind it. Like there did something really bad or something like that. I don’t know.”
Jurina sighed, seeing this conversation wasn’t going anywhere. She really didn’t want to miss this opportunity. So much experience could be able to gain from this job. “It’s not like we’re going to be killing a lot of people. We’ll make ourselves a rule, only doing a certain amount per month or something. Earning just enough for us to survive and nothing more. Would that be okay, Airin?” Jurina asked.
“As I said before, Jurina. I don’t know if this would be a good idea. Just keep in mind, Jurina, that this is another person’s life. Are you absolutely sure that you are willing to take another’s life in order to survive?” Airi answered Jurina back with a question of her own. Somewhere, in the back of Airi’s mind, she already knew that Jurina wanted to go. The reason the girl gave her for taking the job might all be about the money, but Airi knew better. Ever since Jurina got herself involved into a fight for the first time, Airi knew straight away, from the way the girl’s eyes shone, that Jurina enjoyed it.
Airi always found it slightly scary whenever they are up for a fight against some of the other kids in the city. Airi, being the “bigger sister” figure, is always much more careful with what she does and always tries to talk their way out of a fight. Jurina, on the other hand, never rejects a fight offer. Airi knew the girl would never start a fight, but the girl would never reject a fight either if someone stirs one up. In fact, the girl was always eager to accept the fight and her eyes would always shine.
Airi knew Jurina enjoys hurting others, physically. Either for enjoyment or just plain self-defense. However, emotionally, Jurina tries not to hurt anyone. But what Jurina doesn’t realize is that fighting somebody is different to actually killing a person and taking their life away. Airi doesn’t know what it feels like to take a person’s life away, but she know how horrible it felt when someone died under her hands when she couldn’t help them in time. She couldn’t imagine how it would actually feel if someone actually died by her own hands.
Jurina laid back down on the roof and in a serious tone of voice said, “People die everyday don’t they? It’s a cruel world afterall right? People kill others in order to survive. That was why my father died right? He told me to look after mother, he told me to learn to fight and protect mother. And this is the only way I can think of to do so. If I work for the emperor, Airi, and if I do my job good, the emperor will treat our family better. We would never have to worry about ourselves getting sick or not having enough food like last summer. If anything happens, we can ask for protection from the emperor. Isn’t that a good thing, Airin? Taking someone’s life in return for all of this? Don’t you think it’s about time we start making our lives better?”
Airi stayed quiet for awhile, thinking over what Jurina had said and feeling slightly annoyed at how true Jurina’s statement sounded and how easily she could be persuaded into changing her mind by words from the girl. Deep inside, Airi knew Jurina was right in a way. If they could get on the emperor’s good side, then their lives would be much easier. They would not have to worry about anything. But the danger that could be brought upon Jurina is so high. One mistake and it could cost Jurina her life. ’Can I really bare to let Jurina take on such a dangerous job? She would be out there all by herself, no one would be able to look after her...’
Seeing that Airi was deep in thought, Jurina poked her softly on the cheeks, “Airin... What are you thinking about?”
Dragging her focus back onto the girl next to her, Airi stopped the poking on her cheeks and placed the girl’s arm back by her side. “Jurina, this job is going to be really dangerous. You could lose your life if you made even just one small mistake. And who knows what kind of torture you would go through if someone catches you? I don’t want you to go because I don’t want to have to sit at home with your mother, worrying about you every single minute. Do you know what I’m saying, Jurina?” Airi said in a small voice, unable to contain the fear that she had of the possibility of losing Jurina.
“I knew you would say that, Airin,” Jurina grinned.
“Huh?”
“That’s why, I wanted to ask if you wanted to come with me,” Jurina’s grin stretched across her entire face.
Airi blinked. “Huh?” Airi repeated, thinking that she misheard Jurina’s idea.
Jurina sighed and went for a deeper explanation into what idea she had in her mind, “If Airin came with me, so that we’re both doing the same job, wouldn’t that make it easier and less dangerous? I would watch your back and you would watch mine. If anything happened to me, you can help me and if anything happened to you, I can help you. And say, if one of us do get caught, the other one could come back and get help perhaps? Or something like that. We’ll just answer a few request per month, as I said before, just enough for our family to survive. If you came with me, Airin, you wouldn’t have to worry about me back at home.”
Airi chuckled at the last sentence, “No, of course not, but I’ll be worrying about you on the field, seeing that you’re always doing things in a reckless manner.” Jurina laughed and later, Airi joined in. “Well, I guess... It can’t be that bad... perhaps. Just one or two per month. At least I can watching over you so your mother wouldn’t be worried. But what are you going to tell your mother?” Airi asked.
“Don’t know. I don’t think she would let me go if I tell her what the job actually is so...” Jurina paused and thought for awhile. “I will probably just tell her I’m working as a messenger for the emperor? And does that mean you’re going to come with me?” Jurina smiled in such a way that Airi honestly thought her smile would split her face in half.
Airi thought again, making sure that she, herself, was making the right decision, then slowly, the girl nodded. Seeing this, Jurina jumped up and gave Airi a large hug and danced around like it was her birthday. “Woah, Jurina. You’re on the ro-“ Airin almost screamed when she saw Jurina’s foot stepped into the empty air on the side of the roof and faster than she had ever moved in her entire life, she bounded forward and grabbed onto Jurina’s arm just before the girl’s entire body fell down onto the ground below. “What am I going to do with you!? You’re not even on the field yet, you’re at home, and still you can make such a mistake that could’ve cost you your life if I didn’t catch you in time!?’ Airi frowned.
Jurina just grinned, not even caring about the fact that she nearly fell to her death seconds ago and allowed Airi to pull her back up, “That’s why Airin is with me, isn’t it? I wouldn’t have to worry about falling if Airin is here right?” Jurina laughed as she threw herself onto Airi and locked the girl into a hug, refusing to let go.
Airi gasped at the sudden weight but quickly recovered and strengthened her own foothold as this isn’t the first time Jurina does this to her. “Get off, Jurina, we’re on the rooftop, not the ground,” Airi said as she tried to move away from the edge of the roof so that she wouldn’t fall like Jurina nearly did just then. “Jurina, stop acting like a kid!” Airi tried to throw Jurina off her back, but the girl’s hold on her was too strong. All Airi got for a reply from her words were the laugh of Jurina and the tightening of the arms around her. Finally giving up, Airi just sighed and picked up the bowl and gave it to the girl that was still on her back, “Hold this then, we’re going back down before we both fall off.” Slowly and carefully, Airi made her way down, with Jurina still attached to her back.
***
“This is so wrong, Jurina. Why aren’t we using the front door!? What if someone catches us?” Airi nervously whispered to the girl as they jumped over the wall and sneaked into the closest room, hiding themselves from the incoming patrol.
Jurina giggled, “Where would the fun be then?” Almost immediately after the patrol past, Jurina slipped out of the door.
“Jurina!” Airi called in a hissed whisper. Seeing the girl wasn’t answering her, Airi facepalmed herself and after checking both ways for any sign of extra patrols, she sneaked out after Jurina.
When Jurina finally stopped, Airi caught up and turned Jurina around, “Jurina, can you PLEASE stop being so... so.... argh... what if the guards inside treated you like an intruder!? They would kill you!”
Jurina just chuckled at the excessive amount of concern Airi had on her face, “Relax, Airin. The guards can’t get to me.”
“Right...” Airi rolled her eyes, “Says the person who were caught hiding in a wardrobe.”
“Hey! That didn’t count! I got scared okay!? There was a mouse! I wasn’t thinking when I ran!” Jurina defended herself.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say,” Airi grinned at the girl who just turned around and pretended Airi didn’t say anything.
“C’mon, Airin. Let’s go, the guards have their backs turned,” Jurina tapped Airi’s arm and sneaked behind one of the guards and brought her elbow down hard on the back of the guard’s neck, knocking him down onto the floor with a loud thump. Right before the other guard could react, Airi sneaked behind him and knocked him unconscious before slowly lowering the guard onto the floor without a single noise. Jurina looked at Airin and saw the girl looking at her with a grin. “Psssh, just because you were quieter,” Jurina frowned and turned away to slide the door open. Airin quickly bounded away from the guard and joined Jurina.
Just before Jurina’s hand touched the door, the door slid open and pointing at Jurina’s head was a spear. Airi gasped and Jurina just stood there, staring at the tip of the spear. Slowly, without fear, Jurina, with two fingers, pushed the spear tips away and looked at the man sitting at the back of the room.
“Ah, it’s Jurina! My girl! Back away, all of you. Let the girl through,” Togasaki’s surprised voice spoke.
The guards immediately stepped back and moved back to their original position. Airi looked at Jurina who just grinned at her and walked into the room. Airi peered inside from where she was standing. There wasn’t a lot of people in there, just a man in the back of the room with two guards standing behind him, two more guards standing next to the door on the inside and a slim figure standing in the middle of the room. Sensing not much threat coming from inside the room, Airi walked in, following Jurina who found her place next to the slim figure.
Togasaki waved his arm at the guards who without any objections, existed the room and closed the door behind them. The figure next to Jurina turned her head and greeted the girl with a small nod before stepping to the side of the room. Airi watched the exchange between the emperor and his men and the exchange between Jurina and the guard who remained behind. And was slightly fascinated by the way Jurina acts towards the guard that remained behind who Airi could now see, is a female with her hair tied up into a high ponytail. Jurina greeting the guard with a nod seemed out of her usual self, as the girl hardly ever greeted anyone except for her mother and Airi. A deep voice dragged Airi’s attention towards the man sitting in the front.
“I must say, Jurina. You gave me quite a shock, coming here so early in the morning,” Togasaki said.
Jurina chuckled, “I wanted to give you a surprise. Though it kind of failed.”
Togasaki laughed, “Well, I heard a loud thump outside the door so I knew I would be expecting someone. Just didn’t expect it to be you, my child.” The emperor stood up and clapped his hands together, “Anyway, I assume you are here to give me an answer?” Jurina nodded. “And what is your answer to my offer?” Togasaki asked.
“We’ll take the job,” Jurina said. Just as the emperor was about to speak, Jurina cut him off. “But,” Jurina held up three fingers, “under three conditions.”
Though slightly annoyed at being cut off, Togasaki was amused by the bravery Jurina had in her to cut him off when he was about to speak. Putting a smile on his face, Togasaki waved his hand, “Name them.”
Jurina nodded and held up one finger, “Firstly, I have a limit. I will stop working that month once I earn enough money to survive for that month. So don’t expect me to be kil- to be doing this job everytime you ask me to.”
The emperor frowned slightly at the first statement but nodded and waved his hand again, telling her to continued.
Jurina held up her second finger, “Second, my friend will be with me. We will be taking the job together. If you don’t let her in, then we have no deal because she wouldn’t let me go alone.”
Togasaki’s frown dropped slightly lower. Having one more person know about this will prove to be ten times easier for someone to get caught. But, needing to have someone to take this job, Togasaki nodded again and asked for Jurina to continue.
Jurina held up her third finger and said, “Lastly, I want to have perfect guarantee that nothing will happen to my mother while we are away. I hope you can have someone to look after her.”
Togasaki sat back down and thought for awhile before answer Jurina’s three conditions. “Putting a limit, that’s okay. There won’t be too much requests, so that’s out of the way. The second condition... having one more person...” Togasaki looked at Airi then back at Jurina, “Is that your friend?” Jurina nodded. The emperor inspected Airi from where he was sitting. Seeing that the girl is in a good flexible shape, he shrugged and nodded, “I assume that is okay. She... looks okay enough.”
Airi frowned at the way the emperor looked at her. Those eyes the emperor looked at her with, made Airi felt like she was a product on a stand being inspected. And Airi didn’t like that feeling. Ever since she stepped a foot into this room, she already wanted to step out again. There was just something in this room that didn’t feel right. There is this mysterious feel radiating off the emperor and the female guard standing by the side. It was as if, the two was hiding something from her and Jurina. But then, Airi decided that she was just thinking too much. Jurina had always said she was slightly too over cautious about everything. ’But it’s better to be careful than to be sorry right?’ Airi thought to herself as she eyed the emperor.
“As in for the third one,” Togasaki paused and thought for awhile, then suddenly, a larger smile formed on his face as he said, “Will be taken care of. I will make sure someone is there to look after her.” Airi could’ve sworn she saw a cold grin on the emperor’s face before he smiled. But the action was so quick, Airi wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination or not.
“Then we have a deal,” Jurina smiled, completely unaware of Airi’s constant silence and doubting look.
Togasaki stood up and clapped twice. The door behind Airi slid open silently and someone walked inside with a tray towards the emperor. Togasaki picked up the bottle no top of the tray and walked towards Jurina, holding out the bottle for the girl to take.
Jurina took it without doubt but held it up slightly and gave a questioning look to the emperor, “This is...”
“A special potion,” Togasaki answered. “This will keep any sort of sickness away from your mother for around a week. My men can only offer physical protection. This,” he pointed to the bottle in Jurina’s hand, “offers internal protection. Strengthens your mother in a way, you could say.” Jurina thanked the emperor and listened closely as he explained how the potion is to be taken.
Sakiko, standing by the side, widened her eyes when she saw what was in Jurina’s hand, ’That potion... no....’ The captain’s hands clenched into tight fists by her side. ’Why this girl, Togasaki? Why!? WHY!? I need to tell Jurina... But...’ The captain gave a silent sigh and relaxed her fists. There wasn’t anything she can do. If she said something, the emperor would not be very happy, and right now, after so long, Sakiko couldn’t afford to have herself put onto the emperor’s bad list. The captain watched helplessly as Jurina took the bottle and held onto it as if it was her life.
Airi eyed the bottle suspiciously. Perhaps she was overreacting again, but something definitely doesn’t feel right about the dark green liquid swirling inside the clear bottle. No matter how the emperor describes it as something good and healthy, it was just a feeling that Airi couldn’t brush off her shoulder, the feeling that the potion is more than what it seems like.
Finally noticing the strange silence Airi has been in ever since they came into the room, Jurina turned to the girl and asked, “Airin? You okay?”
Airi immediately snapped out of her thoughts and nodded, “Yes, I’m fine. Just... nervous about something.”
Togasaki laughed, “Are you nervous about what tasks I’m going to give you two already? Why, you sound like as if you’re eager to take on the job. Don’t worry, the first is always the easiest.” He made his way to his table, leaving Jurina behind, looking at her friend with slight concern in her face. When Airi is quiet, Jurina know the girl is thinking. And right now, Jurina is curious about what Airi was thinking about.
“Here, this is your first one. Something small. This man is... causing some trouble for me, in one of the neighboring cities. He’s already starting to stir up some kind of rebellion amongst the civilians, he needs to be taken care off before more civilians listens to him and hurts themselves doing something they’re not supposed to do,” Togasaki said and gave Jurina a piece of paper. Airi peered over and saw a portrait of a man on the piece of paper with a name written underneath it. “Go find him, take care of him, come back and you’ll get your reward of five hundred silvers and whatever you took from him,” the emperor said. “Good luck,” Togasaki added before returning to his seat and started reading some of the scroll that was placed by his side.
Jurina and Airi’s eyes both widened at the said amount of silver. Five hundred silvers! That is more than what they usually earn in a week. Jurina’s grin returned to her face. If it was five hundred silvers each time, then minimum, all they need to do is take on about three to four jobs per month and the silvers they earn should be enough to restock on the supply of her mother’s shop as well as buy food and perhaps even save up some to buy new clothes. “Airin, let’s go,” Jurina nudged the girl’s arm. Airi nodded and quietly made their way out of the room.
***
“How... How long... will you be gone for?” A weak voice spoke from inside the room.
Jurina’s hand gave her mother’s hand a small squeeze, “It won’t be long, mother. Just a few days, it won’t take that long. We’re just delivering messages for the emperor, that’s all.”
“You... You have to be careful... of the emperor.... he.... he...” Jurina’s mother coughed, unable to get the words across.
Not liking seeing her mother like this, Jurina leaned her mother back into the bed and pulled the blankets above her shoulders. “Rest, mother. I’ll be back before you know it. Don’t worry about me, just take your time and rest okay?” Jurina said.
“There is nothing to be worried about, auntie,” Airi stepped into the room, holding a bowl of ramen in her hand. She carefully placed it on the bedside table next to Jurina’s mother, “I will be there to look after her. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her.”
Jurina’s mother relaxed slightly and whispered a word of thanks. “Just be careful, both of you. This is Jurina’s first time out of the city, please take care of my child, Airi.”
Airi smiled, “Of course, auntie. Jurina is like my little sister, I would protect her even if you hadn’t asked me too. Don’t worry about anything, auntie. Just rest for now. When you’re hungry, there’s more ramen in the pot in the kitchen.” Jurina’s mother nodded before closing her eyes and drifted off to sleep. “Let’s go, Jurina. Let’s get this over quickly and come back before your mother starts worrying about you again,” Airi said as she grabbed her hood and the short sword that once belonged to her father. Jurina followed after Airi, grabbing her own hood as well as her own two daggers, something that was given to her by her mother that used to belong to her father.
________________________
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Bwahahaha~
Please comment if you like it!
Or you can just thank the post~
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Anyway, next update should be this weekend~
Or maybe during the week, depends...
Just a remainder to all my lovely readers (not sure if I'm allowed to do this though)
BUT,
ELECTIONS IN TWO DAYS! (Or, is tomorrow, if you count it from time of where I am since it's just past midnight xDDD)
AND!
It's going to be streamed live from Gugutasu (Google+)!
All you need is a Google+ account.
(I'm not breaking any rules by talking other websites right? Cuz I know some forums don't allow that...)
Anyway,
UWAH! I can't wait to see Jurina and Rena and Airin and Kuumin and all the SKE girls + the SKE KKS being awarded for their hard work!
And then there's Yuihan and Tomo~mi~ Hope they rank high this year too~
About time Tomo~mi makes a come back~
Chiyuu deserves higher than the 16 she got last year~
Anyway, me blabbering too much~
See you on the next update! (^^)/