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
Two days’ time has once more passed. I arrived home a little after midday from my work and am looking to pass the time. I decide to pick up the book Draco has gotten me and begin to read where I left off. When I hear noise, I am jerked out of my sleep. I had closed my eyes for but a moment after finishing this emotional tale. I get up from my kang and discover that my father is in the kitchen making dinner. I had slept through him coming in from work. As I watch him heat up the fish and rice I think about Draco’s book. I feel like there was another message for me there in the story. I just cannot quite put my finger on it. When my father takes his seat, I slide the book across the table to him. Even though I wish to read it again I will wait until he has finished. I know it will be in no time at all that I will receive it back. He reads so much faster than I. As we eat our meal, we hear another knock at the door. My father looks at me in silent question if I am receiving him,
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
Today will be a lonely day. I will not get to see Draco. On a normal day father and I go to the fields together. Today is the day however I know he must go into the other village to replenish other supplies. As I ready for a day of work, I can hear him through the wall preparing for his journey also. When I exit my room he is gathering the bags he takes to the village. They make bringing back goods so much easier. “Do you have enough for everything on the list father” I ask him. “I will make sure Io. I always do” he says. He kisses me on my head, and we go in our opposite directions. Along my walk my mind wanders to thoughts of Draco. Yesterday with Him was amazing. I am glad I decided to give him a chance to explain. The anger I felt somehow seems silly now that I think about it. However, his way of apology left little to be desired. The kiss this time was different. The way my body nearly curled around his as he kissed me makes me blush even now. It seems such a t
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
As I stand before the tailor I try to keep still. He is the best tailor in the village but at is ripe age he often misses with his needles. My ba sits in a chair out of reach as he watches me. He has been staring at me like that all day. He has not said much today besides his usual niceties, and I do not know what to make of his demeanor. I hope that over the next three days we can find a common ground since my ma cannot be here for this part. Per custom it is meant to be a time of bonding for father and son. The fabric that has been chosen is the whitest I have ever seen. My ba has chosen the design and I am not to see it until the week of the wedding. I really hope it will not be I wear to wed Shee. Her letter is meant to arrive tomorrow. I will then need to send another gift to her. I hope she was able to sway her parents so far. One of us needs to have some luck and soon. By my count there are only twenty-five days left. The tailor begins to remove the fabric from my
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
He surrounds me and as we sway in harmony I hum. The song I hum is a song I have heard many others sing as they work in the fields. It is a song about finally finding love and being at peace with another. It is very fitting of the moment. He wraps his arms tighter around my waist at the tune and sways to its melody. I settle into the warmth of him at my back and lay my arms across his. It feels almost as if our bodies dance even though we barely move. I close my eyes to savor the feeling. When my eyes open a short time later I look out the mouth of the cave and know that soon it will be dark. We will have to leave our solitude and part once more. The thought has my eyes mist a little at leaving this perfect moment in time. However, I do not want to anger my father, so I tap Draco’s hand that lays underneath mine. “Hmm” he says as if he is resting. I sigh happy that he feels the same peace that I find. “It will be getting dark soon” I inform him. “I wish we coul