Chapter 8

Takashi was skillfully ignoring his mother in the Norimono as they rode down to the town. Yui had tried to make Hiroshi leave his toy shark up at the castle, but Takashi had stepped in with a smaller pillow specifically for the shark to rest on. He was carefully reading over his opening words, a short speech, but anything was better than trying to defend himself to his mother. Oftentimes the best defense against her was saying nothing at all, that way she couldn't twist the words around at all. That's not to say that he didn't feel her glare attempting to actually pierce his skull. He hoped she'd just forget it, but even if she didn't, he wasn't going to apologize for putting his son first. It wouldn't be the first thing his mother disliked about how he did things. Takashi knew for a fact that Yui hated how Takashi had changed the so-called 'ruling way' that his own father had set in place, where he ruled by fear and other horrible things. He recalled hearing servants whispering when his father had passed that 'Now the Demon's dead... Will his son be the same?' and those whispers just cemented Takashi's desire to not be like his father. The moment he had come into power, he did just that. He did better than his father, treated his people like people, not trash to be burned. The turn around had been so fast. The people were happier, taxes were paid easier, and one of the more important ones to Takashi, the prisons weren't nearly as full as they were. People were feeling safer and happier under his rule. His mother would just have to deal with it, even if she thought that his father would be rolling over in his grave. He shook his head to get out of his thoughts as Hiroshi tugged on his sleeve, "We're here..!!" His son had said. It seemed the town was in great spirits. He could hear people calling out greetings as the litter passed by, hear children laughing and playing games, and smell food being prepared. He couldn't help but smile. It seemed this would be another great festival. When the litter stopped and the door was open, he stepped out, breathing in the scents. Hiroshi stepped out and quickly went to Tanjiro, holding the guard's hand with one hand and holding his shark in the crook of his other arm as his eyes darted around to look at the sights and sounds. Takashi watched this and for a moment, his heart ached. He was glad Hiroshi liked Tanjiro, but had to admit, seeing him rush to Tanjiro's side, holding his hand... It made Takashi regret having been born into the royal life. Maybe if he hadn't been, Hiroshi would be a happier child, they would be closer. Granted, Takashi felt that would be the case as well, if the boy's mother was still alive. He knew he had been distant since Hana's death. He would have to try and fix that. "Sir..?" Giyuu quirked an eyebrow as he looked at the other, "Are you alright?" Takashi blinked and realized he had been standing there for a few moments. Feeling his cheeks flush a bit, he waved his hand, "I'm fine. I was just thinking over my words." By Giyuu's face, he knew that the other did not believe that, "Right, well." Takashi turned away to go walk to the stage, "Let's get this started, officially, hmm?" It was clear to Giyuu that Takashi was just avoiding unpleasant conversation. He stepped onto the stage, going to the podium setting down the paper with his opening words on it. Gods, looking out into the crowd honestly was making him start to sweat. He hated this. Why couldn't Giyuu just give the words and he could sit back and relax or go look at some of the stands that the villagers had set up? ' No... Just get it out of the way...' He thought and raised his hands for silence, admittedly liking that one upside of being a royal; people listened most of the time even when you just raised your hands. He took a breath, and began to speak. "It has been one year since our last Sea festival, and during this year we have lost many, but gained even more. I can't even begin to say how happy I am to see more children here in town. Hopefully, our town will continue this growth and no sickness or war will take it from us." He paused for a moment, his eyes darting down to the podium in front of him quickly reading over what he had written. "As you can probably tell by the smell, the Royal Gift is once again a mass meal, where you all are welcomed and encouraged to partake of food that normally goes to the Castle. Please, take as much as you wish, even if it's bringing it to your home for later, or even eat it here at the tables provided. Now... The sea has given us a bounty that rivals even last years. The Gods have truly blessed us to make sure that we do not go hungry. I can only hope we continue to please them so that this glorious bounty continues. With that said, this year's Sea Festival now officially starts!" He held out his hands as the people before him cheered and started doing the festival activities. He went and sat down at his place, just wanting to sit for a little while before anything else, before talking to villagers, or even to others of his staff. "....." He did notice Hiroshi seeming to want to ask something, so he waved his son over. "Is something wrong, Hiroshi?" Hiroshi shook his head, hugging his shark close to him. "Can Tanjiro take me to play some games..?" He asked. Takashi almost could not hear the boy's soft voice over the general festival noise. Takashi wanted to say no, but maybe this would give Hiroshi the chance to come out of his shell... And Tanjiro would be there, he knew the Kage boy was a grand protector for his son. Sure, he had missed when Hiroshi had snuck away, when Cassidy had appeared, but the young man had made up for it by now, he knew that. Plus, he knew that Hiroshi loved Tanjiro like a brother so.... "Of course. Be back in time for food." Takashi nodded. "Of course sir. Come along, Hiroshi." Tanjiro said as Hiroshi just grabbed his hand again, both of them walking off with Takashi staring after them thinking that they really did seem like siblings... ---- Everything had gone rather smoothly for the festival, Takashi had spent some time talking with some officials, as well as some of the townspeople, discussing things that could be done to help better the village, and now he was just finishing up the meal. He looked over to see how much Hiroshi had eaten, a little over half the plate, but that wasn't the important thing. The child was swaying, his eyes half closed. He then jerked himself back awake, rubbing his eyes with a soft whine. "" "...?? You have Bishop, right here, right?" Takashi asked, meaning the shark toy that was still in Hiroshi's lap. Though he had a feeling who his son was actually meaning. Again, that familiar pang of not being the best parent shot through him."Or do you mean your teacher??" Hiroshi nodded, rubbing his eyes again, yawning. "I want Bishop please..." "Right..." Takashi waved over a servant, "Please go find Bishop and bring her to the norimono." "Right away." The servant nodded and dashed off. Takashi and Tanjiro shepherded the sleepy prince to the norimono so they could wait for Cassidy. She soon arrived as the servant bought her back. The moment Hiroshi saw her, he toddled forward and hugged onto her leg ""he mumbled. Cassidy looked slightly amused before looking at Takashi and Tanjiro. "Hello." Honestly hearing Japanese from her still sent Takashi for a bit of a spin. She had learned so much. "Hello... I am sorry for this, he just kept requesting you-..."He paused as he saw Hiroshi hold up his arms, nonverbally asking Cassidy to hold him. "Hiroshi that is not-" But he stopped dead in the middle of his sentence as Cassidy knelt down and picked up the sleepy prince, letting him bury his face in the crook of her neck. "...." "It's alright, he is a child, after all." Cassidy said, humming softly, "Tanjiro and I can take him back up." "R-right!" Tanjiro nodded, "I'll send the norimono back down when they are both safely in the castle."Both he and Cassidy stood there, a bit awkwardly now as Takashi was just silently staring at Cassidy holding Hiroshi. He only spoke again when Tanjiro coughed. "I.... Right. Tanjiro, keep them safe." "With my life, Sire." Tanjiro nodded and opened the door to the litter for Cassidy to get inside with Hiroshi. As the door shut, Takashi swore he could hear her softly singing to Hiroshi. "....." Takashi just watched the litter get farther and farther away. Something had felt so familiar about that. Just like when Hana would do the same for their son so long ago. But for that matter, his son hadn't gotten this close to hardly anyone else in the castle, even with the concubines who would try to appease him to get on Takashi's good side. Yet there they were; Hiroshi had begged for Cassidy and even wanted to be picked up by her... "Sire...?" Giyuu said after a moment, "Are you alright?" "I.... Yeah. I'm fine. Let's... Let's continue with the festivities."