KNY Fanfic: Priceless Smile

Chapter 35: Gift

The photo used is from google again😅

It's very early in the morning and Kazumi's ready to leave again for a mission. She's currently in the dining room for breakfast when Ringo arrived holding a box.

"What's that Ringo-san?" She asked as Ringo sat down in front of her putting the box on the table.

"I don't know but, it seems like it's for you Master." Ringo answered.

As Kazumi opened the box carefully, she sighed closing her eyes before opening them again. She pulled out a broken white and violet colored butterfly hairpin alike of Shinobu's. Ringo's eyes widened and turned into a deep frown.

"Now. Now, Ringo-san. Please calm down, it's just a hairpin!" Kazumi said giving her a closed eye smile.

Ringo inhaled deeply before breathing out and calming herself down. Kazumi put the hairpin back to the box and closed it. Right after that, Mei came in holding a tray of food.

"You seem to have received a gift Kazumi-sama." She said putting the tray down the table.

"Yes, it's just a broken hairpin." Kazumi looked at Ringo.
"Just leave it in my room, and if there are more gifts to come while I'm gone, leave it in my room."

"Yes Master."

Ringo grabbed the box and left the dining room. As she walk closer to Kazumi's room, she can't help but tighten her grip around the small wooden box while biting her lower lip.

As soon as she finished her breakfast, she bid Mei farewell before letting Ringo lead her out. Outside before leaving, she turned her head to the side and looked at Ringo.

"Whatever happens, you and Mei-san already know what to do."

Her voice is still calm and her smile never fading away from her face but, Ringo could feel the inner meaning of her words. She gave Kazumi a nod before watching her Master walk away.

'I'll make sure to protect this estate in your place.'
Ringo thought, her hands forming into fists before starting to sweep.

Just as she walk further, her mind was in deep thoughts but her expression didn't change at all.

'He's really full of tricks.'
She thought, her walk turn into a run.
'For now, I'll mind my missions.'
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Kagaya's sitting on his usual spot inside a living room where the Pillar meetings are usually held. His twin daughters, Hinaki and Nichika, sitting with him. The doors soon opened revealing Kazumi as she walked in and sat down in front of him.

"Good morning Oyakata-sama!" She cheerfully greeted.

"Good morning to you too Kazumi-chan. You're calm but cheerfull as always." Kagaya greeted back.

"Is there something important you would like to tell me?" Kazumi asked.

"Perhaps. I just wanna tell you in advance that I'll be sending you to an escort mission. You do know what it is right?"

"Yes, it means escorting a certain person who sent a letter for help on their way to a certain place."

"I'm just telling this to you in advance for you to get yourself ready. You'll do it after four days from now."

"Understood Oyakata-sama!"

Kagaya just gave her a nod before letting her leave for her current mission.

"Aiko-san.... how I wished you wrote more about her in your previous letters." Kagaya mumbled to himself as he sat there in silence with his daughters.
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Night has fallen, the Frost Estate has turned into a very silent place. The giggles and noises of the children playing in the day were gone for they all had fallen asleep. Despite this silence, several men came in the grounds of the estate, hiding and sneakily walked in.

There were at least three men on the rooftop. Making sure that each step they took won't cause any noise.

"Now then let's get down, hand me the rope." Whispered by one of them reaching his hand out behind.
"Come on!"

He finally turned his head behind him, he's the only one there and his comrades were gone. He looked around but saw no one, not even a single one of his companions.

"Shit!"

He was about to stand up when someone behind him covered his mouth and nose breaking his neck. He fell motionless down the ground.

Two men sneaked in and went to different ways. The other one is inside the kitchen, he opened the cabinets in there and some huge vases. He shook his head until he felt a stinging pain on his nape before falling on the ground. The whites of his eyes are the only ones visible, his pupils, gone.

The other one went inside one of the living rooms, he searched the shelves. He opened every book carefully. As he flip through the pages, someone chopped the back of his neck rendering him unconscious.

The estate were back to normal as if nothing happened. No bodies were visible nor any mounds for them to be buried. Everything were clean.

"How many men do you think will come here next Ringo?" Mei asked as they walk back the estate from the forest.

"Who knows? But maybe they'll just send more if none of this men came back to them." Ringo answered.

"Yeah, you're right. Besides, next time it might be bloody. That'll be such a mess."

The both of them went in their respective rooms. No witnesses and no evidence to be found. They left everything clear. Ringo's still thinking about the gift that was left for Kazumi this morning. She can't help but feel anger rush inside her, gritting her teeth while sitting on her bed.

"I'll kill that bastard once I see him."
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"As expected from Mei-san and Ringo-san." Kazumi said as she gently caress Take's head.

She just received the news about what happened at the estate from Take himself. She's now sitting on a tree branch as she had already done her mission.

"Tomorrow morning, make sure to search for them and come back instantly." She looked down at Take while giving him her usual gentle smile.

"I'll make sure to leave right away tomorrow Master." Take replied as he rest on Kazumi's head while she started to walk.

As she continue to walk away, she remembered about her mission Kagaya mentioned to her this morning. She can't help but wonder who it'll be and how the mission would go. And to add to her thoughts, she's also thinking about the gift that was sent to her this morning before she left.

'Guess I have to find him sooner.'
She thought.