Messenger

Chapter 9

 Miki sat a little slack-jawed at the sight before her. First, her brother had disappeared for the night for no apparent reason and now he was standing in the doorway with the flipping princess of this land asking if they had any leftovers from dinner. Sorry, but the audacity of this kid. Fukase looked like he was just about ready to smack the dude upside the head and Miki was very close to letting him. To put in lightly, Piko had some serious explaining to do.

Both of their guests looked like a collective mess. The hem of Piko's pants and Flower's skirt were grass-stained with chunks of mud clinging on there for dear life and their hair was fluffed from the evening wind. It hurt Miki in her soul. Their family wasn't exactly poor, but Miki liked to have everyone seem more put together than their financial state would suggest. It stops many of the downcast stares they would get otherwise.

"I'm serious, do you guys have food? We kind of ran here and are going to have to run back." Piko explained glossing over the whole royalty thing.

Fukase was the first to break through that wall. "Why is she in our house?" He sounded peeved but he hadn't pushed them out the door yet, so that's good.

"Don't get on his case about it. I asked to come with because it's not like I've been able to wander around recently." Princess Flower said defensively.

"So, you put Piko in danger because you wanted out?"

Piko sighed. "It's not her fault. I was going to come here anyway and I don't think I would have made it here without her."

Now that was new. Piko never went as far as Fukase on the topic of the royal family, but he still wasn't exactly a fan either. Essentially, defending the princess was unheard of. "Fukase, just hear them out before jumping to conclusions."

"Fine, but you can hear out Your Royal Highness." He sulked to the backroom with Piko in tow leaving the two girls to their own devices. Ok...how does one talk to someone of that high status without sounding like an idiot or a master speaking of the obvious? Even beat up royalty is more than a little intimidating particularly in her little house of wood and chaos. Miki was really starting to wish that she'd cleaned up unfinished projects before the surprise company.

Flower cleared her throat. "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to put Piko in danger."

"It's ok. I completely believe that Piko would have come here on his own and knowing how he is, he'd probably start freaking out and never get past the first hall." Miki guessed, mostly joking. Flower tensed. "Though, I am curious. Why was he supposed to be there overnight?"

"Now that's completely my fault." Flower admitted. She seemed introspective now than when Fuka was in here; defensive in the way of fire she guessed. "I needed to pick a guard for the visit of a particular guest and Piko happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. I wanted to pick anyone but the people my guardians offered and he happened to be there, so..."

"And your guardians just let you pick a random person?"

"Basically. They wanted me to learn a lesson and Piko got caught in the middle. He was supposed to try being a guard for the night and then decide if he would do the job for the next few weeks." She explained.

"I get the feeling he's not great at it." Miki noted.

Flower shrugged just starting to smile. "Works in my favor."

"Do you know if he'll actually take the job? It sounds like there aren't a lot of qualifications involved." Miki asked.

"I don't think so. He's got a job here from what I've heard and who would want to be glued to my hip for a month? I'm pretty sure guards were celebrating when a random civilian was picked instead of them."