As I wait for Io to dress I take a seat in the chair and look around the hut. It seems small for two people, but it is neat. The wooden table is clean and looks worn. I am guessing they have it with the matching chairs for a while. In the middle of the table is a bowl filled with herbs. In the corner I see a stand that looks to be filled with pieces of parchment. From my seat I can see the cooking room. On the counter sits clean dishes and a bucket. On the other side of the room, I see the fireplace. On its shelf there is a line of pots they must use for cooking. There is a neat pile of wood for a fire and a worn brown rug which covers the floor. I can see a short hall but only one room. Io went the other way, so I believe this door to be Homura’s place. As I continue to wait I hear a door close and the sound of water splashing. I got restless of sitting and decide to take a look at the pile of parchments. I pace as I read the titles. I have read many of these as they have to

As I wait for Draco to arrive I am full of anticipation. I know it has only been two days since we last saw each other, but I have really missed him. I cannot wait to see what he has planned for our day together. I wonder what he has done with his time instead is study. We have not talked about his friends since that day at Hanami when he introduced me. I wonder if he still spends time with them. While I ponder that question there is a knock on the door. I rush to open it. As soon as I see it is him I wrap my arms around his waist and hug him. He chuckles. “Well, hello my Io. I have missed you too” he says. As I look up to see his face he closes the distance and kisses me. Our tongues have barely had the chance to tangle before he is pulling away. My stomach gets a bad feeling. “Is everything alright” I ask. “With you things are always perfect Io. We just need to talk, and I am not sure how you will feel once we do. We also tend to get carried away when we touch, an

The second day with my father went much like the first. I followed him around the village as he met with others I knew. During his meetings with the shop owners, I notice that he is different. He asks about their families and how things are running. When he finds that everything is well then he moves onto business. He knows the names of the people and their spouses. He even knows some of their children. Either he pays attention to detail or he actual cares about the people of this village. “Do you remember how to ride a horse, Draco” he asks me in a pause in conversation with a shop keeper. I nod my head and he goes back to his conversation. When we exit the shop there are two horses waiting. They have already been saddled. He mounts the brown horse with a gesture for me to mount the black. “Where are we going?” I ask as we start to ride. “To visit some who live just outside the village who are in need of care” he answers. The journey is brief and only tak

Today Io will receive the drawing that is a snapshot in time. I try to picture what her facial expression will be like when she sees what it is. As I sit on this bench waiting for Huli I imagine that it would be shocked at first but turn into extreme joy. I wish I could be there to see it. “Hello Draco” Huli greets as he takes a seat next to me. “Hello Huli, how are you today?” I ask politely. “I am well. Thanks, but I can see from the tapping of your fingers you are anxious to hear about the girl” he says with a smirk. I blush and rub my hands on my robe. “It is okay brother; your courted woman is doing well. She looks much like the day I met her and is in good health. She is always excited to receive her gifts. I did leave the last without talking to her first. My father was insistent that I come home right after studies” he admits. I have never met either of his parents. He does not mention them much. I smile at the news of how Io is. “I am very appreciative

It is early in the morning. As I blink my sleepy eyes I wonder what it is that has awaken me before the sun. I shake my head and begin to lay back down thinking that I was mistaken. There it is again. It sounds kind of like scraping. I peel back the curtain over my window slightly and peeler around the yard. I see no one but I still here the sound. I rise from my bed and tiptoe to the window in the sitting room. The sound is much louder here. Outside the window I see a robes figure digging in our yard. There is not much light out but the whole looks a bit deep. They have been doing this for a while. I slip on my geta and head for the door. I slowly open it, so I will not catch the figures attention. I leave the door open and slowly creep forward. I want to get closer but not so close to where I will not have the distance to run to my father who is in the hut sleeping. Right in ear shot where they should be able to hear my yell I see something on the floor wrapped in fabr