A Little Celebration

Wei had not particularly enjoyed this day. She never really did. It comes once every year and for what? To torture her? To serve as a reminder of all the disappointing celebrations before? Her parents often made it a big deal, big enough to where the majority of Chikarians, or at least those who sought out the affairs of royals, had the date marked down on their calendars. It was something she loathed so immensely that she usually made an effort to isolate herself on the day of her birth.

But lately it has been a bit different, the traveling made it that way. So, while she was far away from the capitol, the castle and just about the entirety of the Chikarian population, she was still stuck with one individual: Tuketu. Unless one counted her horse, then it was more than one traveling companion, but her horse did not make it a priority to remember her birthday.

Tuketu, on the other hand, did.

But, as always, he would tread carefully around her. Like a hawk with a watchful eye, he always seemed to take notice of the little things. The first year of their searching for Wei, he immediately took notice of her rather foul mood on that particular day. She had deliberately dodged just about every question he asked concerning the date. He eventually gave up and stopped asking them, and the day passed.

This year was different, Wei could see it. He had this look in his eye, the same look that hunting dogs often held when they had finally caught their bird. She didn't like it, not one bit, and the feeling of the dread of some humiliating surprise settled in her stomach. She didn't want to think about it. The last thing she wanted to ponder on was the possibility he had gotten her some ridiculous gift, or the thought that he had made her something reminiscent of a birthday treat. She did not want to think of it, no. Even if it was from him...

The day's events were relatively quiet, which put her mind at ease the longer time ticked. They wandered for some time as usual, with Tuketu in his lion form, leading her and her horse, Blossom, down a trail not often ridden. Once dusk settled upon the land, he shifted back and began to set up their little camp. She went to tie her horse to a nearby tree as she heard the samurai wander into the woods to retrieve wood for the fire. The princess was content to settle close by, seated on her knees as she waited for her body guard's return.

He returned, of course... but she had not expected him to return with company.

"Tuketu, who is this?" Her curiosity was peaked, to say the very least. Tuketu didn't often let many get close to her, just because she was a liability. She knew and had mentioned many times that she was not strong, nor trained in any sort of defense combat, so the samurai was often doing his job in being not only her defense but her shield as well. If Tuketu was letting something get this close without so much as a glance, then this strange man must be someone Tuketu trusted.

With his arms cradling a hefty pile of wood, Tuketu peered over his shoulder to her, that knowing, almost mischievous look flashing across those deep red eyes of his. A smile tugged at his lips. "Oh, he's just a friend of mine. Do not worry, he doesn't mean any harm. Isn't that right, Ogima?" The samurai immediately looked to their present company, who seemed to immediately take a step back as if cowering before the man before him.

"Ah, yes, my lord." The man stated with a slight bow, blazing orange eyes moving to the samurai to the lady in their presence, and Wei could only stiffen a little at the sight of this stranger.

"I've told you before, you don't need to keep calling me that. I'm far from Yahasaki and I was stripped of that title." There was a slight pain in the back of Tuketu's voice that had Wei's heart aching. He had told her of what had happened, his decision and the decision of his clan. It still hurt him, to know his own family would banish and abandon him just because he wanted a choice in the matter of his own life, and that only hurt her, too. Because to her, he didn't deserve that. He didn't deserve it at all.

"Sorry, Tuketu."

"That's better... and you don't have to be so shy," Tuketu huffed as he threw the logs onto the ground, beginning to throw a few extra leaves and small sticks upon the pile. "I thought you always liked the company of a woman."

Those words immediately had Ogima flashing the two a broad smile. "Haha, well, yes. But I do like women I know and I do not know your friend. I don't even know her name."

"My name is Wei." The princess chimed, soon bowing her head low. "It is nice to meet you, Mister Ogima."

He immediately bowed back. "It is an honor to meet you, too, Miss Wei."

Miss Wei... Normally people called her 'princess' or 'your highness'. She had been half expecting it, but it appeared that Tuketu had kept her identity a secret. It was something she always found to be a refreshing surprise.

And thankfully, Wei was a relatively common name.

"So why are you here, Mister Ogima?" Wei begged cordially.

He just smiled at her and ultimately sat down, leaning against a nearby tree as he placed the large bag he had had on his back nearby. "Tuketu called upon me. He bought a few goods from me and then offered me a little dinner so I followed him back here. A traveling merchant doesn't get many home-cooked meals so I couldn't really resist all that much. I do hope that is alright with you, too, Miss Wei. He did not mention he had anyone else with him."

"Oh, he didn't, did he?" She begged, a hinting tone in her voice as her own red gaze slid toward the man near the now lively fire. Seemed he caught the hint, for he turned to look at her, only to smirk and wink at her.

It immediately had her gaze narrowing before she shook her head. What a nut. "It's more than fine, Mister Ogima, really."

"That's good." He gave a dramatic sigh of relief, producing a small laugh from her.

The remainder of the evening was rather nice, really. It was honestly a breath of fresh air to have someone other than Tuketu to talk to, not that she didn't like talking to him. It was just sometimes he was either too focused to speak or just plain annoying. Ogima was pleasant, and once he opened up a little she couldn't help but find him comical. He was over-dramatic in ways that made her laugh, and he seemed to like to crack jokes. He spoke of the places he had been and the people he had seen... and all the trouble he often got into. She also learned he was a recovering impulsive liar. He had hiccupped a little bit during a previous conversation and yet he was quick to catch his mistake and ask for forgiveness. It was something she had not expected, but nevertheless respected.

By the time dinner was served, the two were on a very extensive topic: tea.

"...And that's why I put blueberries in my ginseng tea." Ogima stated with a firm nod.

"Fascinating!" Wei exclaimed. "I will definitely have to try that combination."

"Alright, alright, enough about tea. Food's done." Tuketu was quick to interject, soon shoving a bowl into each of their laps. Whatever it was, it smelled heavenly, and she could just see out of the corner of her eye that Ogima looked about ready to drool over the stew that sat on his lap.

Tuketu ultimately settled down near the two and Wei couldn't help but smile. "Thank you, Tuketu."

He just huffed, soon bowing his head a little before taking his bowl in his hands.

They ate in relative silence... save for the sounds that Ogima made. He obviously was enjoying his food, although a little too loudly for her taste. Her gaze slid to the guard close by, and she couldn't help but huff in amusement at the look he gave her. Seemed she wasn't the only one annoyed.

"Oh!" Ogima suddenly perked from his food and Wei couldn't help but look to him with a risen brow. What had caught his attention? Immediately he leaned over his bag and began to rummage around in it, soon pulling out a couple small packages. They appeared to be haphazardly wrapped. Without so much as a warning, Ogima thrust them over toward the princess before resuming his eating. Though, thankfully, he paused just a moment, with food still in his mouth, and pointed to the packages. "Thosf are fer you."

"Me?" Wei begged incredulously. "What for?"

"For your birthday." Tuketu replied, flashing her a small smile.

Immediately she felt that familiar stone of embarrassment enter her stomach. Suddenly her stomach felt much heavier than it had just moments before.

"Tuketu, you didn't--"

"Ah! None of that."

"You can't talk to me that way." She didn't like doing it often, but sometimes she felt like she had to remind him just who was the princess here.

"And why not?" A cheeky grin spread across his face at that point, and that only had her temper flaring. Why not? Why not?! You know why, you monkey! That was what she wanted to say... but her gaze flickered back to their currently occupied company with a frown. Ogima... The very man she had been curious about and content to speak about tea with just moments ago now made her angry just looking at him. He of all people was the very thing Tuketu was using to keep her from revealing her true identity to use against her own guard!

And he knew what he was doing, she knew it. Oohh, cheeky monkey indeed. And as if to rub it in he just seemed to lean closer, that grin of his growing wider.

"Exactly. Now, open your gifts. I'm sure you'll enjoy them."

She made sure he heard the grumble in her voice, a protest against not only his behavior but that stupidly dumb look on his face before placing her bowl off to the side. With a slight hesitation, the woman ultimately reached forward to grab hold of the closest gift. No one bothered to put a name on it, oddly enough. So she didn't know who it was from.

The wrapping was crude at best, barely covering the small gift in a thin, yet colorful cloth tied with a small string. This one felt decently heavy, but she could just catch the smell of it. It smelled... sweet. A frown graced her face before she glanced toward Tuketu once more, as if glancing at him would make him change his mind and forget about the gifts entirely. She would've begged and pleaded with him to just forget about it, but she knew better. Sometimes he could be stubborn, too, but he was being crafty now. There wasn't much she could do besides open the gifts. The look he gave her was one of a risen brow before he looked to the gift, then back to her, silently urging her to open it. A sigh escaped her before begrudgingly lifting her hand to the string, fingers pinching the small thread and pulling it slightly.

The fabric easily pooled around the gift and over her fingers, and soon she was greeted with... the sweet smell and equally tantalizing sight of moon cakes. Moon cakes! Her favorite dessert!

"Where did you find these?" She begged softly, as if speaking too loud would cause the cakes in her hands to disappear. She heard Tuketu laugh.

"I got them from Ogima."

"Where did Ogima get them?"

"I got them from Kamihito." The merchant interjected eagerly, his eyes now crinkled and a happy smile on his face.

"Kamihito? But that's so far away. How are they still in such good condition? They look fresh!" Wei couldn't understand.

"I have my ways, Miss Wei. Hehe~" Obviously he was pleased with himself. Not many merchants could travel this far with moon cakes and not have them, at the very least, moldy.

"I suppose you do..." Though now she was skeptical.

"Open your next gift!"

She wouldn't admit she was mildly encouraged by the first gift to open the second. Who knew? Maybe they were more moon cakes. She placed the cakes nearby before taking the next gift and more quickly pulling the string. This time it appeared to be a small stone figure of a lioness. It was weighty, but smooth and polished and the color of jade.

"A small lion?" Wei begged, pulling the paper only to look to Ogima, who only grinned more sheepishly in her direction.

"Ah-ha, yes. Tuketu told me it was your birthday, so I wanted to give you something, too, since it was just him getting you something. I didn't know what to give you... Tuketu told me a little about you and so I thought you might like that little thing. I hope it's alright."

"Wow... Thank you, Ogima. That's very kind of you." Even though it was a rather light and strange little gift... he had put thought behind it.

"You are most welcome, Miss Wei. Happy birthday to you."

"Yes," Tuketu added, "happy birthday, Miss Wei."

---

She never anticipated her birthday and disliked almost everything about it... but something as small as this? With people who actually thought about her? This was a birthday she found she actually enjoyed.