Chapter 10

Hiroshi made a face as he sat down by his toy chest. "Tanjiro, I don't wanna go on the hunting trip... It'll be boringggg." He let out the whine as he decided to lay down on the ground to show his immediate displeasure at the fact he was going to be dragged on this hunting trip as well. He didn't care about hunting. Maybe if he was able to bring a fishing rod on this trip and fish at the river, he'd be happy. But he was supposed to practice with his bow.. Tanjiro chuckled a bit at the Prince's antics, "Sorry, Hiroshi. It's what is needed. You know that." He tapped his cheek. "You can always ask your father if Cassidy can come. She would at least be able to play with you when I can't?" He suggested, knowing that since he was supposed to help guard in the hunting trip, he wouldn't be able to play with Hiroshi like he normally would." I mean, I am supposed to be on guard duty for like half the trip. I won't be able to be with you the whole time." Hiroshi pouted again at the fact his big brother figure wasn't going to be there. But that was a good point... If Cassidy was there, he wouldn't have to deal with the weirdness of having a different guard hanging out around him. She was teaching him fun games to play anyway. So, he sat up. "Yeah. Let's get Bishop on the trip with us!!" And he scurried off to find his father, Tanjiro following behind. Hiroshi pushed open the door to the library and smiled seeing Takashi sitting at a desk, reading over a book. "Father!" Hiroshi scurried over. "Can Bishop come hunting with us??" He asked, hardly giving his father time to even say 'hello'. Takashi blinked, and looked at Tanjiro who smiled a bit nervously, "It would be a good idea. You and I won't be able to be around him for the whole week trip. So this way, he at least has someone he's used to with him, right?" Tanjiro said, hoping that the other would agree that way Tanjiro wouldn't have to worry about the kid and he knew Hiroshi would be less likely to have a meltdown. Takashi was silent for a few moments before he nodded. "Well. Alright. She can come on the hunting trip as well." He said, "Can I rely on you to tell that to Bishop and Miyajima?" He asked, looking over at Tanjiro as Hiroshi bounced in place. "Of course Sire." Tanjiro nodded, and he gave a polite bow and before he could start ushering Hiroshi out of the library so they could go tell them, Hiroshi had hugged his father. "Thank you father!!" He chirped out. Takashi seemed a bit taken aback, and it made Hiroshi remember himself. That wasn't proper. He tried to stand, about to apologize when Takashi hugged him back. "You're welcome, Hiroshi." He said, his voice soft. Hiroshi was even happier. His father hadn't hugged him like this in such a long time! Maybe his dream from after the Sea festival was true and his mama had come to help Takashi find his voice again! He pulled away from the hug, a big smile on his face as he looked up at his father. "Thank you, father..!!!" He said again before rushing out of the library with Tanjiro close behind so he could go tell Cassidy that she was going on the trip with him. The two quickly found Cassidy and Nao coming from the kitchens with a snack each. Hiroshi hugged onto Cassidy's leg, "You're gonna come on the hunting trip!!" He said happily. He noticed both Cassidy and Nao give a look towards Tanjiro, who quickly explained. They both gave a slight smile, "" Cassidy nodded, patting his head, "" "Yeah!!!" Hiroshi said, admittedly still excited about the fact his father agreed, but also had given him a hug! This was going to be amazing, whatever happened! ---- Takashi was in the library, picking some books to read. He found a few that he had read before and one that was in English, bought from traders. He hesitated before adding it to the small stack of books he had. "I might as well, try...?" He said to himself as he looked at the cover, trying to make sense of what it said. "What in the world is this...? Maybe.. A play..? That is definitely a name... Ah.. I'll try and read it more later.." He went over by the table near one of the windows and sat down with his books and began to read. He relished time alone, and he was gonna use it how he wanted. And right now, he just wanted to read. He cracked open a book about some Japanese poets and their works, and began to read. He barely even realized it when his son and Tanjiro came in. He looked up, about to say 'hello' when his son spouted off his request. "Can Bishop come hunting with us??" Hiroshi had asked, looking up at Takashi. Takashi blinked. That wasn't something he expected. He had been ready to tell the teachers, probably right before leaving, they would have the week off. And yet... He looked over at Tanjiro, the young man smiling nervously. "It would be a good idea. You and I won't be able to be around him for the whole week trip. So this way, he at least has someone he's used to with him, right?" The guard said with a shrug. Takashi nodded a bit, thinking over the request. It was true that he and Tanjiro wouldn't be able to be around Hiroshi the whole trip. Tanjiro was scheduled to guard a group of hunters, and Takashi, well. He wouldn't be able to give his son fully undivided attention." Well. Alright then.She can come on the hunting trip as well." He said, "Can I rely on you to tell that to Bishop and Miyajima?" He asked, looking over at Tanjiro as Hiroshi bounced in place. "Of course, Sire." Tanjiro gave him a polite bow and was about to start ushering Hiroshi out when the boy did something that surprised them both. Hiroshi hugged his father. "Thank you father!!!" Takashi froze. He hadn't expected this. He paused and before his son could pull away, he hugged Hiroshi back. "You're welcome, Hiroshi." He said, his voice soft. He took note that his son seemed even more excited that Takashi had hugged him back. He watched as his son pulled away from the hug, still smiling so brightly as he said ,"Thank you father!" again before rushing out, probably to try and Cassidy and Nao. Tanjiro hurried after him , giving a quick bow to Takashi who watched them leave with a soft look. "....Slow and steady wins the race, I suppose." he said, his voice soft still as he tried to go back to his book, but now his mind was in another place. He collected his books and went to his room. He needed to write some things down in his journals.