Fateless

“I can’t believe I slept through most of it,” Ume said softly with her hand resting on her cheek. “I feel so refreshed though.”

“Not me!” Yui yawned. “I’m so tired!”

Tomi managed a strained smile. Surely no one was as tired as she. Her suit was flawless as always, but the woman inside the business attire looked haggard.

The dark shadows under her eyes and droop of her shoulders were a result of the dedication to the many hours she’d spent de-spelling the girls. Running from each of their beds around the clock to administer the regular doses of antidote they needed to fight off the effects of will-o-wisp.

When they’d all finally awoken, they were none the wiser. Their last memories having been falling asleep in their rooms. There was no recollection of them having followed strange glowing lights into the forest.

The last couple of remaining days of the event at the Hirano villa had passed rather quickly.

Akira and ‘Megumi’ had declared they needed to leave early due to ‘family dramas’. Which was a vague reason, but also not really a lie.

Hana was happy to occupy Akira’s vacated room, seeing as her old one currently had a permanent open view of what remained of the garden.

The Hirano lord had once again made himself scarce from the event participants. The remaining girls simply enjoyed lavishly relaxing.

Presently, it was early in the morning, and Hana was standing with the sisters out the front of the Hirano residence; the last participants to be collected by their guardians.

They waited under the shelter of the veranda as snow was lightly falling. A fresh layer of white was once again forming on the surfaces of the residence.

“Do you think you’ll be attending the next Lustum, Hana-san?” Yui asked Hana curiously.

“When is the next one?” Ume asked her sister in a whisper.

“It’s every five years, dummy! That’s what lustrum means.” Yui answered with a roll of her eyes.

Hana tucked some of her short hair casually behind her ear, but was not able to hide her sly grin.

“Oh, I think I’ll be here,” was her reply.

“It will be a pleasure to serve you all again,” Tomi responded in a high-pitched tone through gritted teeth.

With the beep of a horn sounding, everyone’s attention turned to the road.

“Oh, that’s our driver!” Yui proclaimed blissfully.

Hana tried her best to keep a polite smile as she glanced at the long black vehicle. It was a limousine. Of course.

“Bye Hana-san, bye Tomi-san,” Ume giggled.

Both of the sisters gave a quick bow before skipping to the car to dump their preposterous amount of luggage onto their helpless driver.

“Is your mother collecting you soon as well, Hana-san?” Tomi asked her.

Hana slowly retreated her steps back towards the Hirano villa.

“Actually...”

Hana could not hold back a smile as she swiftly approached Lord Hirano.

He was dressed in his usual multiple-layered garb, standing in the villa’s garden. The usually well-snow-trodden grounds had responsibly been sectioned off, but currently, Mizuiro was standing behind the barriers politely dismissing some contractors who would soon begin repairing the damages.

The workmen nodded politely as they passed Hana to exit the premises, leaving Mizuiro startled to see her. His arms reached out as Hana leaped toward him. He clumsily caught her as she collided with him.

“You’ve still not left.” He observed.

Hana smirked coyly as she trailed her fingers along his smooth jawline. The feeling of her skin touching his still left pleasant little tingles wherever contact was made.

“Hana.” Mizuiro addressed her sternly. “Weren’t you going home today?”

“I thought you promised that I wouldn’t disappear?” She shot back wittily.

He let out a laugh. Hana could not deny that it was a sound that warmed her heart.

“You are only going home to pack-”

Hana cut off Mizuiro’s words when she grasped hold of his face and pressed her mouth against his.

His smile twitched and helplessly melted away to contour against Hana’s advances. Any space between them swiftly disappeared as Mizuiro eagerly adjusted to tighten his hold on her.

“You’re not doing a very good job of remaining fateless.” He briefly pulled away to whisper against Hana’s lips.