Chapter Three: A Tour

As soon as dawn broke in her room, Mirai sprang up from her bed. Her white nightgown brushed the top of her feet as she opened the blinds. The manor grounds were covered in clouds of fogs and the faint calls of the birds were heard. She was so captured by this that she almost did not heard the knock on her door. Opening the door, she found her facing Yuto. He turned his eyes down and Mirai realized it was because she wore only her nightgown.

“Um…the Master wants to know if you will need a maid to help with your dressing as it is improper for us men to do so” said Yuto all while looking at the floor.

“I guess I do, but only if she is willing to be my friend and is treated rightly” answered Mirai. “I can dress myself till Uncle finds one.”

Yuto nodded and walked off. Mirai closed her door and walked to her wardrobe. She frowned at the amount of lace and frills on some of the dresses and chose a dark blue one short sleeves and a skirt that brushed her ankles. She liked having her legs free and had no care what others thought. She pulled her hair back, tugged on some shoes, made the bed and headed downstairs.

After breakfast had ended and the younger boys were ushered in a room for their lessons, Yuto approached her with Ryosuke in tow.

“Ryosuke will be joining us today in the tour of the garden” said Yuto cheerfully. Ryosuke rolled his eyes.

“I just want to check that my rose garden is healthy and growing. Harvest season in coming soon” replied Ryosuke.

“Of course it is. Come along Mirai. We have thirty minutes till Ryosuke and I must report to the workshop.”

Yuto offered his arm and Mirai accepted it as Ryosuke took his place behind them.

“To the garden we head.”

As Yuto and Mirai made small talk in front of him, Ryosuke studied the girl. She seemed rather cheerful for a girl who lost her family but he decided that she was masking her sadness with happiness.

The Master and her do look a bit alike. They have the same smile. Still, I wonder what creature decided to attack her family? She does not look like she would have much. I doubt she evens knows what hard work looks like. Such a waste.

The garden had exceeded what Mirai expected. It took up nearly the entire backyard. Rows of vegetables and fruit trees and even a well. Along the perimeter were rose bushes in every color. It was bright and cheery and Mirai found herself skipping along the stone path and even stopping to touch some of the roses.

“Careful! Those blue roses took me nearly a year to create” snapped Ryosuke when Mirai brushed a finger on one.

“Sorry..I did not know” apologized Mirai. Ryosuke scoffed and bend closer to the rose to make sure that the petals were not damaged.

“Ryosuke, she did not mean to. Please do not be harsh” said Yuto.

“While she may have seduced you, may I remind you that your duty is to the Master?” hissed Ryosuke.

“Are you taking me for one who sleeps around?” asked Mirai feeling her anger rise.

“Hardly. A man must truly be down on his luck to even be caught with you” answered back Ryosuke.

“Go rot in hell” snapped back Mirai. Her face was bright red. She turned her back and ran for the manor trying her hardest to hold back the stinging tears.

Yuto turned to Ryosuke.

“What in God’s hell was that?” he all but yelled. “She hardly touched the rose yet you nearly bite her head off. Have you forgotten what she had gone through?”

“She is nothing special” spat back Ryosuke.

“Get yourself together. We need to report to the shop” Yuto finally said in much more quiet tone. He then turned and walked off.

Ryosuke groaned and headed on after him. Maybe burying himself with work in the shop would clear his head off. As he headed off, a bell chimed in the distance.

Mirai stormed through the manor, tears now falling freely. She had no idea where she was going. She noticed an open door up ahead and flew into the room before curling up on a chair and crying.

What have I done to make Ryosuke hate me? I barely even know who he is. He has no right to make such…such…rude remarks.

As Mirai continued to sob into her arms, a hand touch her head and her head snapped up.

“Mirai? What happened? Why are you crying?” asked Keito. Mirai never felt so relived to see a boy.

“Just…Ryosuke” said Mirai. Keito nodded.

“He has anger problems. I am sorry for anything he has said. Pay no mind” soothed Keito.

“Are you not teaching right now?” asked Mirai.

“The boys are doing some self studying time. Would like to see them?”

Mirai nodded and allowed herself to be brought to a room near the front of the manor. In this room, six boys sat in desks with books opened in front of them. Keito quietly pointed out who was who and Mirai took note.

The First Row

Marius- The tallest of the class as well the smartest. Part German and spoke German as well.

Raiya- Always cheerful and the best in the class at horseback riding.

Yuta- A bit of a slacker but quite nice to be around.

The Second Row

Reia- Quiet but hardworking. A peacemaker.

Fu- A gentle person who worked well with animals.

Kaito- The sneaky but sweet person. Kept everyone’s hopes up.

“They all wonderful students. I adore each of them” said Keito proudly.

“They remind me of my younger sister. She loved to read and write. Had she lived…” Mirai trailed off as she felt tears slip out. She sighed, tired and sick of crying. Keito’s hand rose up and gently wiped the tears off.

“I am truly sorry for your lost, but please remember, we here are your family now. You have us to relay and cry on. Please do not keep such emotions to yourself. It is unhealthy.”

Mirai gave Keito a smile.

At least I have found a wonderful friend.

The workshop was lively with workers, steam, and the smell of oil. Many of the ones working were oiling parts while others prepared to fit the pieces together.

“Please remind me who this piece is for?” asked Yuto as he rubbed a cloth over the mirror he held.

“It is gift for one of his closest friends. He did not say which one” answered back NakaKen. He was setting out the pieces needed for another project.

“The clockwork pieces seem to be quite popular” noted Jesse with a nod to the table behind him where about twenty clock work pieces sat.

“A wonderful gift for the house or a friend” said Yugo as he finished stitching up a doll.

“Is there any news from the town?” asked Yuri as he stared at a gear in his hand.

“Umika of the Kawashima family is now engaged to that doctor” said Taiga with a frown as he melted down some wax.

“Doctor in training” corrected Yugo. “Although, he seems kind of shady or rather his family is shady.”

“Maybe I should look into this family” said Yuri. Yuto rolled his eyes. He had the feeling that Yuri had a bit of a thing for Umika even though he only saw her a couple of times.

Ryosuke was in the corner working with glass. A dangerous job but he was well skilled with the sharp edges.

“The Master’s niece, Mirai…what do you think of her?” asked Yuto to the room at large.

“She seems kind of quiet but likable” said Jesse. Most of the room agreed. Ryosuke rolled his eyes.

“There is a full moon coming soon. Do you think we should be worried?” asked Yugo.

“Whatever attacked Mirai’s family must belong to the Underworld. No other attacks have happened since then…and it was a full moon, but still, it may not be related” said Ryosuke.

“We should still check the town out in case” insisted Yuto.

The room then became noisier as the other workers piled into the room. Many held supplies from town as well as mail from family and people wanting a piece of work from the house.

Later that afternoon, Mirai took some time to write down the names and ages of who lived and or worked in the manor.

Okamoto Keito- 21
Kyomoto Taiga- 21
Kochi Yugo- 21
Nakajima Yuto- 20
Nakajima Kento-20
Sato Shori- 20
Kikuchi Fuma- 20
Yamada Ryosuke- 19
Chinen Yuri- 19
Jesse- 19
Kishi Yuta- 19
Iwahashi Genki- 18
Jinguji Yuta- 17
Abe Aran-17
Matsushima Sou- 17
Tanaka Juri- 17
Yasui Kentaro- 17
Takahashi Fu- 15
Miyachika Kaito- 15
Yo Marius- 15
Nakamura Reia-15
Nakajima Raiya- 10
Hayashi Ren- 6
Okamoto Kauan- 4
Kuramoto Kaoru- 3

There is so many of them. How does my Uncle remember their names? Thought Mirai as she closed her book and rolled her shoulders. The afternoon light was flooding her room in natural light. She was feeling slightly restless. As she stood up, a knock on her door sounded and she opened it to find her Uncle with three young boys next to him.

“I hope I am not bothering you, but could you watch Ren, Kauan, and Kaoru for me? Most of the time the others will watch them, but orders are piling in and we need all hands on deck” explained Takki.

“Of course not. We’ll go to the gardens” said Mirai. She smiled down at the three boys who all looked at her with wide eyes. Once Takki left, she lifted Kaoru up and took Kauan’s hand. Ren grabbed onto her skirt and they made their way into the garden. Mirai always loved children.

A/N

Hello! I hope everyone is enjoying this new story. I am pouring my heart and soul into this story and have no idea how long it will be. Don’t worry too much about all the names. Most of them will be mentioned but will not have a big part. I changed the ages quite a bit to suit the story. This is kind of an Alternate Victorian Era/Steampunk AU. The romance will be a slow burn and a few other characters will soon come. Thank you for reading!