20 The Ice-Blocks (2/2)

Tamaki slightly pouted before pushing out one of his arms, which was in an arm cast, right in her face. ”I'm injured you know...”

Ai wasn't sure how to take it. Ah, so what he was injured? She is not a doctor, what does he want her to do?...

Seeing Ai's clueless face and a dumb expression, Tamaki stomped, before saying, ”I was injured by that guard of yours!”

Ai widened her eyes in apprehension. So he was injured by Kit so was he asking for compensation? Or was he declaring animosity towards her house? Ai immediately stiffened. Sure she might be a bit paranoid in thinking of the worst but with what she had gone through, she could never be too careful.

With an expression as if having bitten a sour plum, Ai replied, ”I'm deeply sorry for your injury, how may the house Shizuka compensate for your loss?”

Tamaki wanted to huff, the whole morning he had been patiently waiting for her here, hoping to see the woman that put so many emotions in his heart. After that stupid guard dog kicked him and the other loser out of Shizuka house, he went home, wrapped his perfectly functioning arm in a bandage, pretending to be injured, all for the sake of being cared for by Ai Shizuka.

Yet in actuality, the woman didn't even call him by his first name much less being cared. She only gave him a mechanical reply as if like they were such strangers. Tamaki pushed down the huge feeling of being wronged. ”Fine, if that's how you want to play, I will entertain, let's not be strangers and come work for my place”, Tamaki thought sardonically.

”How about you come work for me, Ai? Recently, I received this new supplies called ”Gunpowder”, in the west, they were often used to make explosives, I could use your expertise with the weapons to develop those further...”, Tamaki said, putting his thoughts into action immediately.

It was actually a good plan. For one, he would get to see Ai every day and two, her skills could be really useful in building his empire, killing two birds with one stone.

Ai was slightly shocked. ”Gunpowder?”, she had briefly heard of it but it was actually very rare and expensive, they only came in small quantities and the western continent has full control over gunpowder manufacturing. But if they could develop their own here, it was not actually a bad idea. But dealing with new substance, she would first need some substantial quantity to research on it.

Ai was about to agree, when suddenly she remembered, the contract with Shion. When the young master Hozaka made this business proposal, he had one specific term that he asked for: Ai was not allowed to use her crafting skills in collaboration with any other houses, other than Hozaka. In other words, Shion was basically trademarking and monopolising her skills to his house alone, effectively wiping out the possible competitions. How smart that young master is... she wondered.

At that time, Ai didn't think too much, she was just overjoyed that someone took an interest in her favourite hobby and decided to promote it. Now that she thought about it, the very few words that Shion said, had always been sly and careful. But it was understandable since Shion was the very centre of Shinto's business hub itself and the man always needed to be vigilant and calculating.

Speak of the Devil, a baritone voice suddenly called out her name. ”Miss Shizuka, you are here, I was just about to look for you...”

”Young master Hozaka, my apology for disappearing a few days, I wasn't quite well.”, Ai replied, thinking of the past few days that she went MIA*.

”It's fine, your first batch of weapons are ready and I had set up the booth to test the public's interest. Do you want to come?” Shion said as he stretched out his hand towards Ai.

Ai was very happy, her babies were hatched! She couldn't wait to see! She was about to rush forwards and take Shion's outstretched hand when she was suddenly held back. It wasn't visible to people in front of her but Tamaki had grabbed the back of her robe, and stubbornly refused to let go. She glared sideways at him, asking him silently what the hell was wrong with him.

As their eyes connected, for a second, Ai thought she saw a flash of pain flitted through his peach blossom eyes. Tamaki immediately turned away, directing his gaze back to Shion.

”She can't go”, Tamaki told Shion resolutely.

Shion's thin lips curled upwards, ”Who are you to tell her what she can and can't do, Tamaki?”

Ai suddenly felt like she was caught in the middle of the crossfire and she didn't even know what was wrong. Initially, she had thought Shion and Tamaki were good friends but it seemed that things were not as simple as they appeared on the outside.

”Young master Yunes, I have to go”, Ai told him softly, turning around to open his balled fist slightly. Tamaki looked torn before he huffed and released his hold on her.

”Don't forget what I asked of you, Ai”, Tamaki said before he walked out of Hozaka.

Afterwards, Ai immediately took Shion's outstretched hands and they walked towards her very first ”weapon fair”.

______

A little extra on Hayama at the moment:

Hayama on the streets asked a passerby: Have you seen my wife?

Passerby: Who the hell is your wife?

Hayama: Silver hair, this height (point to his shoulder), ice-block face and looks very hard to get along with.

Passerby: Ahhh, Miss Shizuka? She went that way. (point to random direction)

Hayama looking grateful: Thank you, peasant! (Happily walked off)