" So tell me...Do you happened to know my family or something.?"

"Aiyah ...What do you mean?" The Chinese man furrowed his eyebrows at which the girl smirk.

"I'm back mother." (Name) run inside the restaurant, calling out for her dear mother.

"Wait....what?" Yao mouth wide agape.

"Oh welcome back dear. And you brought customer. Well...come in." A middle aged women step out from behind the curtain holding a tray filled with steaming cups of herbal tea.

" Wait you said we ran out of tea. "

" It took you too long to return . So I went out to the garden to pick some herb you grew."

" which.....One?" (Name) shakily asked.
"The one next to the wooden rabbit."

"Those are for people with constipation" (Name) whisper to her mom.

"Oh .......no wonder i kept hearing ...you know....and it came with horrible smell too." Her mother whispered

"Let me handle that mom. Here.. the tea. " (Name) gave her mother a small bag before turning to the other five. " Please make yourselves comfortable" .

(name) was about to leave when Yao stopped her again.

" I did say I would treat you. Where do you think you're going?"

"But"

"Come join him. I can take care of this. Nice to see you again Yao. It's been a while." She said and bowed. Said man did likewise

"I'm (Mother/name). Welcome to the (F/Name) restaurant." She said to the remaining clueless man before retreating back to kitchen

"So you do know my mom."

"Old acquaintance........" Yao sang skipping up ahead

"I don't like that sing song voice."( Name) stared at Yao blankly

********************************************************************
The six of them settled down at the table near the window. Yao and the guard stand near the window, behind Kiku while (Name) and him sit.
"Why don't you come join us?" -The female questioned at the Chinese man.

     "It's ok" - Yao smiled .

       "No it's not ok. come sit."

Yao flashed Kiku a glance who simply nod back.

"Then if you don't mind me."

"Alright then." She then turned to Kiku." So Kiku never been to a market before?"

" Why do you ask?"

" Cause nobody went to the market dress like ...that....You gonna get yourself a heat stroke." She said gesturing to his dark outfit.

"At such a young age, you're quite smart." Kiku smiled, patting her head like one would do to a child. (Name) could feel steam emitting from her ears.
       "Hey I'm not that young ok.......I'm just well...missing a few centimeters..." Yao snickered at that.

"How old are you?" - Kiku curiously raised one of his brows.

"Wow...that's blunt. But I'm 17. Yours?"

"20"

"You know you're not that short. Your height just the same as the emperor when he's your age." Yao laughed but was silent the next moment for Kiku kicked him in the shin.

" Woah...you guys worked in the Pearl castle?" (Name) asked oblivious to Kiku blushes.
      "Yep....cool huh?" Yao smirked to which (Name) snort.
       "Instead I kind of felt sorry for you. The emperor must have made your life a living hell."

" Aiyah who gave you the idea." Yao said glancing at Kiku. The emperor seemed to show no kind of emotion but he was actually heart broken hearing that.

"I heard the man in the village said that the new emperor was still young, immature , cold-hearted, has the eyes that can practically see through your soul and freaking burn it..." (Name) listed out. Kiku could feel himself shake more when ( Name) spoke. 'So after all I'm nothing but trouble' he thought. "Even though I believe the fact that's he's young and can be a bit kinky sometime but the others fact seemed hard to be true.His way of seeing things might be different from us all but I thing whatever he was doing is good intention. He was trying his best to end this war you know. So I think he just need more time to prove himself." Kiku head shot up , meeting the girl gentle smile, he couldn't stop letting out a gentle chuckle as well.

" I see...aru...It's nice to see that someone was still supporting the emperor." Yao smiled.

"You know it's a little bored just sitting , sipping tea and talk like the old ladies. How about we have some quizzes?"

"What's in for the winner." Kiku who seemed to be quiet since the beginning asked curiously.

"Ohhohohohohoho....You're so full of yourself. Let's see...treat the person like royalty for a day." (Name) laughed.

'Wait till she see my true identity. ' " Deal" Kiku smirked.

"Aiyah...I'll just stay out of this." Yao said waving his hands.

"I'll go first then."Rubbing her hands together." I have two apple , my brother ask for one apple. How many apple do I have left?" (Name) said smirking.

"Two you never gave him one" Kiku answered , casually sipping his tea.

"Seem like I underestimated you. Your turn." (Name) raised an eyebrow. Fixing her siting position on the chair, head held high, eyes glinted with mischief. She looked no different than a cat ready to hunt down it prey.

" I'll start then. A young man was walking aimlessly in the rain. He did not bring his umbrella with him so..Why didn't his shirt get wet?" Kiku calmly asked , the whole time watching (name) every movement. The way her lips curved up into a smirk..wait a smirk...

"Because he did not wear any...~"(Name) sang merrily.

"Good...You turn."

"Well...let's see." (Name) grinned.

All the while , Yao, who wisely decided to step out from the start, watched the two amusingly.

If (name) was the wind, joyful, energetic , sharp, Kiku would be a calm , clear but at the same time dangerous river. They shared a bond, a strong one at that. Yao couldn't stop himself from smiling of what to come in the future. Just maybe.....that girl right there would be his master's mistress.

*****************************************************************

"That was fun." ( Name) giggled.

"Hai ,very." Kiku smiled gently . He didn't remember the last time he felt so happy.
"It's your turn (Name)_chan"

"Mine already?...." 'Shimata...I'm out of idea.'

"Are you out of idea already?" Kiku taunted.

'Is he a mind reader......?Damn...stop looking at me like that . Are you planning on burning my soul with those eyes.' (Name) adverted her gaze

"No....wait...listen...um ...."
     "5"
     "What? There's no countdown "
     "There is now. 4"
      "You!!"
      "3"
       "Oh God"
        "2"
         "No wait .What is 13579?" She blurted out

'Huh..'.Kiku thought "I don't know ...tell me."

"Nah uh."

"Please"

"No"

"Please"

"Think it through first."

"Kiku. It's time we head back." Yao said smiling at Kiku hopeless attempt. He surely enjoy watching the show but the emperor had to return to the palace sooner or later.

"I understand.  (Name) we'll put this on hold for awhile cause I'm not giving up on that last question."

"Yeah sure, till we meet again" (Name) smiled, standing up and bowed. Kiku along with the others returned the gesture.

'I'm sure I'm going to see you sooner than you think.' He and his servant then left, leaving (Name) standing , questioning over his last smirk.
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The story belongs to author xYourPokerFaceWriter on Wattpad. If you see my story on any other sites aside from the account Sophielee2000 on deviantart , please kindly report it to me. Thank you.