The Girl with Golden Eyes

Chapter 3

Utterly exhausted I fell asleep after my night with Kaoru, which had lasted for almost two hours. I heard Hikaru and Kazu's voice sometime after midnight, having raised my head just enough to look at our locked conjoined door. I then snuggled closer to Kaoru a content smile on my face. A happy smile.

He was gone by the early hours of the morning, most likely to help his siblings open the Inn once more. Still, I couldn't help but feel just a little bit sad even if I knew that it was for the best. Still his body heat kept me warm until I finally decided to get out of bed. I knocked on Kazu's door hoping he was already awake. I unlocked my side finding his to be unlocked to.

Stepping into his room I found his bed, which was sloppily made, and not much else. On his nightstand he had an assortment of goods he had bartered and bought from the stalls on the docks. I saw some candied crystals, which was just caramelized sugar with fruit extracts. I shook my head with a laugh exiting his room in hopes to find him.

I wanted to leave within an hour that way we could make it to the capital by noon, as it was only eight in the morning now. It would take just under three hours to get to the capital, we could get a quick lunch and then head for the royal's estate.

I heard their voices before I ever saw them as I walked down the stairs. A smile adorning my face before I could stop it, as I looked unto the bar I saw the triplets talking with Kazu. Kazuki let out a big ole laugh glee written all along his face. The siblings looking just as happy.

"Mira did what? She truly fell off her horse one morning because she was drunk!" Ayaka asked, seemingly delighted at my short comings, a high-pitched laugh coming from her mouth. I rolled my eyes.

"Face flat into the dirt to, dear ole pops had to carry her back to her home!" Kazu took a sip from his drink, ginger ale because that boy knew I would rip him a new one if he was drinking alcohol.

"Do continue the rest of the story though... you trying so hard to be like me pretended to be drunk and stubbed your toe on the table." I walked into the bar settling into a spot next to Kazu spilling his own little misfortunes.

"Kazu's been keeping us entertained for the last half hour Mira." Hikaru spoke his eyes wiggling in amusement, a smiling smirk on his face.

"He sure has told us a lot about your parenting fails to, did you really use fennel seeds instead of peppercorns for a stew?" I sighed my head falling to my hand, my hair falling in front of my face. Of course he had to tell Ayaka, Chef extraordinaire, that little story.

"I was nervous! It was our first bonding moment after I had taken him in!" I was so nervous in fact that I put nearly every incorrect spice you could put in chicken noodle soup. Including, curry powder chili flakes, fennel seeds, and celery root. Turned out to be a pretty vibrant soup, once we added some tomatoes. It was not chicken noodle soup though and we later named it the spice bowl. Where you threw whatever spices, veggies, and broths in that you had on hand.

"Come now Mira, surely you learned at least a few things from our Mum and Pops!" Ayaka retorted looking at me like I had not learned a single thing when I had spent a wonderful winter week here. Learning to cook for big crowds when I was only fifteen.

"How are your parents anyhow?" I hadn't seen them, thankfully their faces didn't fall instead brightening up.

"They are good, traveling a lot nowadays. Mum's been learning from backwater chefs all over Clarines. She says that's where the best cooking is found." Ayaka responded with a smile, though I detected just a sadness behind it.

"Tell us Kazuki, is Mirayuki a pretty good care giver? She didn't mess you up did she?" Hikaru asked a silly smirk lying lazily on his face. I rolled my eyes at the question, although I was intrigued on what Kazu would say.