Kazuo chuckled at the stunned expression on Akikira's face, and headed towards the stairs. "Come on. I'll show you your room." He said.
Akikira blinked at him, still stunned. Following him up the stairs, she turned right into a small, chilly bedroom. A single bed, night stand and dresser greeted her, the cold hard wood floor creaking ever so slightly. Kazuo opened the dresser, and pulled out some matches and blankets. Lighting a lamp, he placed it on the nightstand and put the blankets on the bed. Smiling at her, he began to unfold the blankets.
Akikira froze. "I don't understand." She said finally, after watching him for a moment. "What am I supposed to do?"
The boy laughed softly and showed her how to make up her bed. He also helped her put away her clothes, and escorted her around the house. His room, it seemed, was right across the hallway from her. There was a giant room at the end of the hall for bathing.
Moving on, the two continued the tour. Kazuo pointed out the forge, (An exit on the right side of the kitchen) The Shop, (an exit on the left side of the kitchen) and the cellar. They made their way down the hallway and towards the living area, in the back of the house. A large stone fireplace greeted them on the back wall, as they peered in to see Tin Tin filing down some metal object, and his wife sitting in a chair reading a book. The boy pointed out the two adult figures.
Malorie Dunroth, the blacksmith's wife, barely even glanced up from her book. She nodded once- a sign that she had noticed the brief introductions. Kazuo smiled reassuringly at Akikira, who had clenched her hands behind her back. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, they'll be more lively in the morning." Waving farewell to the couple, Kazuo led Akikira back to the bedrooms.
"So when I get up in the morning, I will swing by and wake you up. We can grab breakfast downstairs- Malorie will leave it out for us." The boy opened the door for her, leaning on the door frame as Akikira wandered into the room.
She looked at him, confusion clear on her face. "What are we doing tomorrow?" Other questions welled up behind her eyes, as she sat down on her bed. She was exhausted, and fought the urge to fall over.
The cheery Kazuo winked at her. "You'll see tomorrow. Then you will get the grand tour. Goodnight!" He closed her door, and from the sound outside her own, his door as well.
Left alone in complete darkness, Akikira went to her bag of clothes, rummaging around in it. Inside, she found a nightgown, which she quickly changed into, before diving under the covers of the blankets for warmth. She shivered and tucked the blanket up to her chin, falling asleep almost instantly.
~
A pounding on the door jolted Akikira awake- and onto the cold wooden floor. Breathing heavily, she took a moment to take in her surroundings and remind herself why she wasn't waking up on a chilly forest floor. The banging stopped.
"Good morning! You've got a couple minutes to get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs when you're done." A pause. "You should probably use the washroom and get ready or something." Footsteps echoed down the staircase as Kazuo headed off.
Akikira ran her fingers through her hair, having them catch on knots. Letting out a deep breath, she got off the floor and went to go look through her clothes. From her clothes from the night before- left in a heap on the floor- she pulled out a small chain necklace, with a red pendant on it. The multifaceted crystal appeared as though molten silver held it to the frail looking chain. Clutching it tightly, Akikira put it around her neck, tucking the rock beneath her shirt.
It took her but a moment to leave the room, and sneak down the hallway to the bathroom. Hastily brushing her hair and teeth, she glanced in the mirror. It had only been a day, but the transformation was vast. Her hair -no longer tangled and filthy- gleamed a deep red, falling around her face with a straight edge. Her eyes were more noticeable now that the dirt that had caked her skin was gone. She bit her lip, pleased that she no longer looked so unbecoming.
