I rise from the bed when the sun streams in. I rub my eyes and yawn so big my jaw cracks. I slept terribly. I am ready to just get this day over. I quickly dress and leave the room I have been assigned. The house is still. I believe I am the first one to wake. I take quiet steps down the stairs and head toward the exit I took with Shee last evening. Once outside I take a deep breath of the morning air. There are a few servants moving about. Today feels odd. I had awoken so happy the last few days because I knew that I would see her soon. I dread today. Yesterday’s confusion will have our parents pushing us together. On one side I will be forced to spend time with her as if we are courting. On the other hand, we could use the time to strategically plan what we can do about our impending nuptials. How can I be happy with either of my choices today when I know Io will just be waiting for me. I wonder how long she will wait until she realizes I will not show. There is a throat cl

When we return home after our journey. The evening is quiet. There are just a few rays of sun left in the sky. I turn toward them knowing they will lead me to Io. I know I must see her to explain. After I have taken my first step my father once again ruins it all. “You will not be taking your leave this late in the day. We will be eating supper together and then heading off to bed. Into the home Draco.” He commands. I place my head down in defeat and do what the general says. Apologizing to Io will have to wait until tomorrow. I head through the grounds and up to my room. I change into normal robes and go join my parents in the dining room. Since father is home, he will sit at one end with my mother. While I sit all the way at the other by myself. When he claps his hands for our food to be set in front of us, I stare at my plate as it is placed before me. Today is fish and rice. This is mostly what Io eats I think to myself. I hope she is enjoying her food. As I lift a bite t

My studies have just ended. Today was more arithmetic. It is a wonder how much math one must know to survive when owning something. I do not know how my ba could look at so many numbers. As I think I walk to the center of the village. I am heading to the shop of the seamstress to buy the next gift for Io. I hope that she likes the book I got her. It is my favorite out of all that I have read. When I read that book, I am reminded that the mind moves. One must not only put stock in material things because once they are gone, they are left with only loss and decline. If they learn to put stock in the experiences with family and friends, then one will only know enlightenment. I chose it as a way to show Io that I am more than just the station I hold because of my father’s gain. To show her that I hold more stock in such things as us. I hope she gets the message. When I reach the shop, I pause in the entry. Qunzi is tending to another woman from the village. I silently wait b

I wish I were able to bring Io a gift every day. It seems that waiting the two days to be near her is even too much for me. It has been almost eight days since I have seen her face. It has been much too long. If I have my way and she accept me, we will never spend this long apart again. Her last gift is one I made myself. I have watched my mother many of times as she mixes her potions of healing. Sometimes what she made was not a potion but a scent to wear upon the skin. I have heard my father be enticed by such a thing. For the times I have spent with Io she has always smelled lightly of cherry blossoms. It took me not being around her to finally place the scent. I made a guess that it was something she would put in her bath, so I decided to make her a scent from them. It has taken me days to get it exactly right. We have none of the trees on the property and as it is the last days of the Hanami season, I had to pick all the flowers myself. I chose to pick them from the

When I walk out of room the next morning father already sits at the table. I kiss his cheek and take a seat. He does this when he wants to talk before going to work. “Everyone has been assigned to work a half day today as there will be a celebration for a new announcement of marriage. The couple wishes to celebrate their courting and get the villages approval.” He informs me wasting no time. “Oh wonderful. Who will it be to marry soon” I ask him curiously? “One of the daughters of a paddy field worker. Her name escapes me at the moment. I wanted to tell you just in case you had already made plans with Draco” he says. “Oh well I don’t know what he has planned today but I’m sure he wouldn’t mind attending the celebration with me. Is it alright that I bring him” I ask. “That is fine. He must see how we do things here for our celebrations at some point too.” He offers. “Let us begin our walk dear we are off to a late start today. As we hurry to the field