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Kazuko stood silently, listening to Lumine's conversation. The tears gathered at her eyes, making her eyes look glassy, even if they did not spill onto the ceremonial ground. She felt as if she wasn't worthy of calling herself Seijin's daugther, even if she was one by blood, more so in Lumine's prescence.

Finally Michiko joined Lumine's side, patting the celestial's back before joining in on the 'conversation.' "I-... h-hello ... Mother... Sorry I was gone for so... so long..." Michiko looked at Lumine's hat, "I ... met your other daughter... She is very ... Energetic...."

The wolf tugged at her scarf, even in death, she had troubles talking with her mother. "I hope you spent your time well. Lumine tells me you were still a kind woman; I'm glad you fared well. I bet you are happy now, what with being with father again, and your other student, Maemi right?" She looked for Lumine's approval. ".... I... "

At lose of words, she bowed her head, unable to think of what to say. She wanted to yell so many things but she couldn't find her voice. The tengu gave large gulp, taking a deep breath.

"I... love you mom... I really do... I'm sorry... Sorry for everything...-!" Michiko's head remained bowed, but her tears splashed onto her clenched fist tha rest on her lap. Her other hand held to Lumine's shoulder.

Michiko was a bit startled by Lumine, but the wolf soon wrapped her arms around her to try and sooth the celestial in some way, even as her own tears fell soundlessly.

When Lumine pulled away, she quickly begun to wipe at her tears discretely with her hand, and nodded in agreement with the girl by her,"You've worried all your life, Mother, it's time for you to rest." Michiko sat there for a small time,"You really deserve this rest, so take advantage of it, and know that I love you... say hello to Father, and that I love him too.... Please take care..."

After that she sat silently, soundlessly leaking tears into the cementary of the tengu. She wanted to leave so she could stop crying, but she did not say anything. Michiko wanted to be there with Lumine for as long as the celestial wanted. Quiet company beats no company at all.

So for the time being, she would try to calm herself and stop the tears that were escaping her usually rough exterior.

Michiko watched as Lumine walked away from her, not following her yet. It was around Lumine's small frame that she saw the red shrine detailed with extravagant golden inlays. By the time the celestial cleaned out the name plate of its dust, Michiko was glancing over her shoulder. "Ah... So this is your friend...." She muttered ligthly.

When her companion turned to leave, Michiko did as well. Ochiba would not be happy if Lumine came back more depressed than when she left. "Right, have you been to the academy before? Or did you stay away from it?"

The tengu reeled Lumine away and lead the way to the Academy, leaving behind the graves of both their families.

---

The way down the village wasn't particularly unfitting of the tengu, and rather, the Academy was on the east side of the village; it was in the belief that everything startd from the east as said in some folklore. Michiko told Lumine a few facts about the Academy, purposely trying to keep the celestial's mind preoccupied with something other than the grave silence they left behind.

Awhile later, after the walk plagued with the same looks earned earlier, the Academy's building came to sight. From the outside it looked like an large, classical building, featuring the typical Japanese architecture in it's gates and entrance, but past it, a more western building worthy of any higher institution hid behind the various cherry blossoms that where daily trimmed.

The first gate, the one to the front 'lawn' of the academy and its garden was free to public entrance. The second had two guards, their armors and masked-helments far more rich than the guards at the front gate possessed. Knowing this (or hoping it hadn't changed) Michiko boldly ushered Lumine towards the first gate, leading the way to prevent any other roaming guard from questioning what the wayward celestial was doing here of all places. "Come on... We may not be able to enter the academy... legally. Still, I escaped from it's hallways many many times and unless they found out those loopholes, I'll be able to take us inside." She paused and added,"To our benefit, it won't be too long before the sun is past it's peak and the shadows will return..."

Michiko pulled Lumine to the side to have her pretend to look at some of the garden's bonsai trees as the hermit explained the situation. "Well, the bracelet is enough proof to get us past less experienced guards, but the guards on gate duty at the door are far more trained than any guarding outside the village. They can keep whoever at a bay, as well as quickly respond and aid any problems at the Village. Training guards usually pay this as internship
time. "

"The bracelet is a trinket, and perhaps they'll be far more cynical and not let us in. I don't feel like using the secret entrances - Yet anyway- because we may find them of use later. The less we use them the more likely they woll be safe to use when we need to," She glanced sideways at the guards,"But... I may be able to get us inside. I do have more than the simple bracelet."

The Lone Wolf nodded at Lumine to follow her,"Come on, we are going to have to get in the easy way first before anything else. Then we can try more complicated plans."

Michiko walked towards the main gate that closed off the garden from the actual academy. Not liking to waste time, the wolf tengu walked up stopping before the guards,"Please let us inside. Don't waste our time." She rolled her sleeve to show the insignia of the bracelet,"I am a Rouki, so please get out of my way."

"Oh don't worry, I am always told I don't exist," Michiko moved to put her hands at her hips,"And while you two are rights in having a few of these theories, We do not lie to say I am Seijin's daugther. But seeing as how you seem to not be capable of changing your minds, we will work on being daughter of my father, shall we?"

"Seijin Kazuko was married to one of the last Rouki, Raino Rouki, you did find that in your search of an old woman's things right?" Michiko said taking a step ahead of Lumine. "You are also pretty stupid; as of a few years, this girl lived in this village and was friend of one of the Kenkaku family. I hope you wrote that on your school notes, kids."

"But that is aside the point," Michiko said,"I can prove I am a Rouki, and I can tell you I'll be going inside the Academy today. " She had losened her scarf as she spoke, and she unbuttoned the two buttons at the top of her shirt. With a small movement, she showed the guards something, and with Lumine behind her, she quickly rebuttoned her shirt when she thought the guards had registered what they've seen."So will you move now?"

Michiko let an exhalation, she herself was a bit blushed; she was always covered, any sort of exposure was emberrasing. As Lumine went inside ahead of her, the wolf tengu quickly followed,"Much better. Thank you for your cooperation."

Once inside, Michiko busied herself fixing her scarf into it's usual tidy order. "Bah... hadn't had to do that in a while..." Their steps resounded in the empty hallway, "Class should be in session as of now. Let's be quiet, and head towards the history hall."

Michiko nodded down the east alley, patting her skirt into order in a small fret before turning to walk ahead of Lumine. "The nerve those guards have; Insulting Elite families is the worse behavior you can receive from a pair of lower guards. They forget these other people are guards that have lived and died for the cause they too defend..." Their heels continued to resound in the hall. It'd be a littl ways before they reached their destination.

Michiko figured she would be silent, since Lumine was being equally silent. When the lonewolf had enough courage to ask what had taken up Lumine's mind, the celestial spoke up on her own.

"Eeeeh---?" Michiko stopped ears perking as her face blushed again, more than before. " What business do you have with that? Curiousity killed the cat, Lumine-" Michiko muttered, crossing her arms,"And if you didn't get it, that's a no."

"Come on...." The wolf shook her head, trying to get the conversation moving along as well as their feet,"If you think i enjoyed that enough to show you for the fun of it, you are very wrong... Just... Forget about it all together."