A/N:  This chapter is sponsored by Jessica L.  Thank you.

Yasu now had free time to do what he liked.  So he went to the study on the second floor. The study was divided into two sections.  One section had three desks. One for Soshu, one for Jiro and the last desk was shared between Yasu and Miyoko.  The walls were lined with shelves filled with books.  

By both windows, there was a table with two chairs.  One table was for leisure, while the other table had an unending game of shogi.   

On the other side of the room are two desks reserved for painting.  In the center of the room were seating for four and two instruments.  A shamisen and a koto.    

Although Jiro could play both instruments like a talented noblemen.  Yasu was only mediocre in it. He would rather sew then play the instruments.  

Yasu went to the painting desk and as his personal servant, Rai, began to grind the ink and mix the different colors.  Yasu pulls is sleeve to the side and wets the clean brush in the dark ink. Once he has enough ink on the brush, Yasu begins to paint.  The painting was his mother, Miyoko, standing in front of a blooming cherry tree. She wore an elaborate red kimono with a crane and a gold obi.  Her stance was delicate with a shy yet mysterious smile.  

Yasu had already painted his Fathers.  Soshu was painted in a commanding and intimidating pose.  He wore his General's karuta armor and his two katanas, that hung on his left hip.  As for Jiro, he stood in a noble and scholarly pose, wearing a white and black hakama with his family's crest on his chest.  The blooming cherry tree connected to each painting once they were set next to each other.  

"Young Master."  Rai said once Yasu placed his brush down.  "Your paintings are beautiful."  

Yasu smiled at Rai and nodded.  Rai was a few years older than Yasu and was brought in as Yasu's personal servant when Yasu was 5 years old.  Their brotherly bond could not be broken, for they both saved each other's life more than once.  

"Just wait until I turn these paintings into a silk screen.  My parents would be so surprised at my talents." Yasu told Rai.  

"What are you going on about?  Do you have no shame, complimenting yourself with such bravado."  Soshu said as he came up to look upon Yasu's paintings.  

What Soshu saw caused him to frown yet the corner of his mouth twitched. 

"Hmmm.... you painted your mother and Dad very well.  However, look at me! Look how mean you made me look!"  Soshu complained, however he was very satisfied with the paintings.  The painting of himself was very well drawn, especially his imposing manner.  

"You don't look mean."  Miyoko said as she walked up and looked down at the paintings.  "You look charming. Very heroic."  

"I agree."  Jiro said as he crowded the table.  "We all look wonderful, due to our son's talent."  

"We should hang them up!"  Miyoko suggested.  

"How embarrassing!"  Jiro said as his cheeks flushed red.  "Although the paintings are beautiful, the guests who see the paintings would think that we are narcissistic."  

"Then lets hang them up in the study."  Miyoko tried to compromise.  

"Let's not hang them up."  Yasu interjected. "I'm not done with them, yet."  

"Fine."  Miyoko said as she sighed.  "If that's what you want."  

"What are you going to do with them?"  Soshu asked.  

"You'll all find out later."  Yasu told them. "It's not time for you guys to know yet."  

"Very well."  Miyoko sighed as she came around to her son.  "It's time for bed. We came up to say goodnight."  

"Goodnight."  Yasu told them as he stood up to hug his mother.  

"Goodnight.  Don't stay up too late.  You have early morning training tomorrow."  Miyoko reminded him before kissing him on the cheek.  

"No kissing.  He's a grown boy!"  Jiro said as he cut in between Miyoko and Yasu and gave him a quick hug.  "Go to bed early."  

Soshu waited until both Jiro and Miyoko walked towards the door to hug Yasu goodnight.  

"Don't be late for training or I'll make you regret it!"  Soshu warned him. "Goodnight."  

" 'Night Father."  Yasu said in Soshu's arms.  

Yasu waited until all three of his parents left the room and brought his paintings into his room.  Once inside, Rai helped Yasu change into his sleepwear and lit a lamp by the window.  

Yasu had already begun to embroider the silk screen of Soshu.  With his patience and skill, it would be finished in a month. Without any technology, there was nothing to do, but fill up his time with what he loved to do.  

Yasu sewed into the night and only stopped when he felt his body become tired.  Rai was sitting in the corner of the room, with his head leaned back on the wall, sleeping.  He couldn't go to bed until his Master went to bed.  

Yasu folded his work and placed them to the side.  He shook Rai awake and sent him off to bed while he made his way towards his bed in the darkness.  

Yasu got into bed and wrapped himself tightly inside of his blanket and fell asleep right away.  Although he came into an alternate world, he didn't care to explore it nor make something big of himself.  He just wanted to live a quiet and happy life. Making a name for himself was just asking for death. He had already died once.  He didn't want to die any time soon.  

As the week passed slowly, his days became his usual routine.  He woke up before the sun came up to train with his Father and the guards.  After breakfast, he leaves his Dad and Mom to go to town. While his parents are in a carriage, Yasu rides into town on a horse, with 10 guards.  

Once in town, they send Miyoko to her dress shop, where 6 guards stay to protect her at the dress shop.  Jiro, Yasu and the other 4 guards head towards the clinic. Sometimes the line outside the clinic is long and other times there is no one.  

Yasu would stay in the clinic until noon, having lunch with Jiro and Miyoko in a nearby restaurant, then he leaves with Miyoko to the dress shop.  

When the work day ends, Jiro, Miyoko and Yasu leaves town and goes back home, where Soshu would be waiting for them.  After an hour of rest, they have dinner together, then Yasu and Soshu train with the guards. After a bath, Yasu embroiders the silk screens of his parents, then goes to bed to do the same thing again the next day.  

This routine continued for a month until one morning, a young man stood outside of the clinic.  He had a noble air about him. His dark brown hair shine in the sun, catching Yasu's eyes. The young man had thick eyebrows, a straight nose, and full lips.  His skin was pale, yet he looked healthy.  

The young man wore a white and grey hakama and held a doctor's bag to his side.  He chatted amicably with the patients waiting in line. When Jiro, Yasu and the guards pulled up.  The locals pointed at them and began to explain to them who they were.  

"That young man is Doctor Jiro's son, Young Master Yasu.  Although he didn't attend an academy, everything he's learned about medicine was taught by Doctor Jiro.  Young Master Yasu has been learning about medicine since he was 10 years old and has been treating patients on his own since he was 15 years old.  Doctor Jiro still oversees Young Master Yasu's work to ensure that he didn't make a mistake, but Young Master Yasu has never made a mistake since he began working in the clinic."  

Shiro's eyes stared at the young boy.  He looked to be in his late teens and was very beautiful.  Although his hair was kept short, the thick, dark and glossy hair it still contrasted against his porcelain skin.  He had a mixture of delicate yet masucline features. With a nicely arched eyebrow, large fox shaped eyes, high cheekbones, a straight nose and soft lips.  He looked like a noblemen and yet his shoulders were broad with a nicely toned body with muscles.

Jiro stepped out of the carriage, with a scholar's air about him.  A gentle smile rested on his face as he greeted everyone.  

"Ah!  You must be Doctor Shiro."  Jiro said as he came up to greet the young doctor.  

"Yes, that is correct, Doctor Jiro."  Shiro answered as he bowed back in a greeting.  

"When did you arrive?  I hope you did not stand outside of the clinic the whole night?"  

"No.  No. No."  Shiro told him as he waved his hand from side to side.  "I arrived last night and stayed at the inn in town. I came here after breakfast and have not waited here for a long time."  

"That's good.  That's good." Jiro said as he smiled gently.  "This here is my son. He helps me at the clinic every morning.  Yasu come here."  

Yasu steps forward and bows to the handsome young Doctor.  

"Greetings, Doctor Shiro and welcome.  I hope our humble town is to your liking." 

"Greetings.  Yes. Yes. This town is wonderful.  I am not dissatisfied with my new post.  The land is beautiful, the air is clean and the people are kind.  There is nothing to be dissatisfied with."  

"That's good to hear."  Jiro said as he opened the clinic.  "I'll give you the other set of keys for the clinic and pharmacy.  Every day we arrive here at the same time. If you come here earlier, you can open the clinic instead of standing outside.  With you here, my work would be lessened and it would give me time to do more research. Not only that, but you'll be living in town, so should there be an emergency in town, they can immediately ask you for help instead of traveling for an hour to get me... hahaha..."  

Shiro followed Jiro into Jiro's office and they continued with their conversation.  With the door closed, Yasu began to usher in the patients into the waiting area and washes his hands first before wearing an apron.  Yasu began to call in the patients one by one, treating their ailments and assigning them the medication.  

Rai was in charge of receiving the payments and cleaning up after each patient.  As Yasu went through each patient, Jiro and Shiro spoke for an hour before showing Shiro around the clinic and the locked pharmacy.  Shiro held on to the new keys and looked around with a surprised look.  

He had never seen this kind of clinic before.  A clinic that had a waiting area, different workstations, a personal office, a storage room, and a pharmacy.  

"This clinic..."  Shiro said as he was lost for words. 

"My son's idea."  Jiro said as he smiled at Yasu.  "He said that it would be more efficient to treat the patients if the clinic has everything it needs to treat them.  It would save time and energy for everyone. My son can be lazy and unruly so please excuse him if he makes a mistake.  Since you are eight years older, please help guide him well."  

"Ah... no. No. No.  From what I see, Young Master Yasu is responsible and respected.  The patients have trust in him to treat their ailments. Not only that, I can see that he is very talented.  He learned directly from you, so of course he is talented in medicine."  

"Ah hahaha."  Jiro laughed proudly.  "He knows only the surface of medicine.  Not like you, where you are trained in an academy and have taken first place in the Imperial Doctorate Examination and has vast knowledge." 

"Please, Doctor Jiro, I am not that talented.  Please guide me well and forgive any mistakes I may make."  

"With your meticulous ways, you would never make a mistake, unless it is on purpose."  Jiro said. "Out of the three of us, it would be my son, who would makes a mistake, so please watch over him.  At noon, we meet up with my wife for lunch everyday. Please join us."  

"It would be an honor."  Shiro answered.  

"I have provided a home for your accommodation.  It is not far from the clinic, so you can walk here easily.  I will show you your new home when we close the clinic."  

"Thank you.  Doctor Jiro. Is there anything else I should know?"  

"That is it for now, if there is anything else, I'll tell you.  Should you have any questions, please ask me or my son."  

Jiro and Shiro took an empty station and began treating the ill patients.  By noon, the long line of patients were cleared through and close for lunch.  The whole time Yasu worked hard and did not have time to talk to either Jiro or Shiro.  

Yasu was tired.  He had stayed up late last night to work on the silk screens and woke up early for training.  At the clinic, the stream of patients were constant and he did not have a moment of rest.  

"Young Master Yasu, your skills in treating patients and your knowledge of medicine is wonderful."  Shiro commented as they closed the clinic's doors and locked it.  

"You are flattering me, Doctor Shiro, and please just call me Yasu."  Yasu answered as his horse was brought to him. "As for treating patients, it is all the hard work my Father taught me that I am knowledgeable.  My Father would never let me be near a patient or around medicine if I made a mistake. We treat the ill, holding their lives in our hands and cannot be irresponsible."  

"Your son is quite a reasonable and talented person.  You have raised him well." Shiro told Jiro.  

"Ha. Ha. Ha.  Don't keep on complimenting him, or else his head would get too big to fit through the door."  Jiro laughed heartily. Hearing how talented and wonderful his son was made him happier. He did not raise his son in vain.  "Come, let's pick up my wife and eat lunch."  

Jiro and Shiro climbed into the carriage and they all set off to pick up Miyoko.  By the time they arrived to the dress shop that was closer to the center of the town, Miyoko stood outside of the dress shop waiting for them.  

Miyoko entered the carriage and met Shiro.  The three of them chatted animatedly as five guards rode in front and Yasu with 5 guards rode behind the carriage.  They arrived to a famous restaurant with Soshu standing by the door.  

Jiro had long sent word to Soshu about the arrival of Shiro.  They had planned for Soshu to show up in town to meet the new young Doctor as well.  

However, to everyone's surprise, there was a young man in an all black hakama standing beside Soshu.  His perpetual frown did not take away from his handsomeness. He stood two heads taller than everyone with a brawny physique. His deep set eyes hid his every thought and emotion.

As the carriage door opened, Soshu walks up to help Miyoko get down before standing back to let Jiro and Shiro alight as well.  

"Come.  I have reserved a room for us.  Introductions can be made then."  Soshu told everyone.  

The group was guided into a private room on the second floor.  The Mori family sat on one side, while General Ren Fujino and Doctor Shiro Yada sat on the other side.  Hot tea has already been served and the doors closed for their private conversation. Two guards stand outside the doors, as the other guards are given the room next door to enjoy their meal.  

"Please let me make the first introduction to everyone."  Jiro first began. "My name is Doctor Jiro, this is my Husband, General Soshu, and our wife Miyoko.  She owns The Illuminating Splendor, a clothes and accessory shop. This is our son, Yasu Mori. He is only 17 years old and can be immature.  Please be forgiving of his mistakes and help guide him well in the future."  

The Mori family formally bowed to the two newcomers, while they too bowed back.  

"Then I'll introduce myself first, if you don't mind."  Shiro asked as he turned to look at the dominating man next to him.  

"Please."  Ren said.  

"Hello everyone.  My name is Doctor Shiro Yada.  I have just arrived into town last night from the capitol.  I have been an Imperial Doctor for 4 years and have been granted this privilege to be an apprentice under Doctor Jiro.  Please take care of me." Shiro said before bowing once more to the Mori family.  

"Greetings, everyone.  My name is General Ren Fujino.  Please guide me well in the future."  Ren said as he bowed to the Mori family. His quick and to the point introduction made a great impression to Soshu as he grunted in satisfaction.  

"Good.  Good." Soshu said as he took his tea and drank it.  "Two new talents to enrich our people. Should any of you run into any trouble or need any guidance, please do not hesitate to ask us."  

There was a knock on the door before several servants came inside to serve the dishes.  The table soon became full and they all began to eat once they were alone again.  

Yasu ate and watched the guest when they spoke to his parents.  He hardly spoke and let the adults talk. The two new men were different flavors.  One was noble, kind and quick to smile. While the other one was straight forward, intimidating and quiet.  Doctor Shiro was like the sun. Warm and inviting. General Ren was like the moon. Bright yet cold.  

Yasu caught both Doctor Shiro and General Ren staring at him, when he stopped paying attention to them.  He sat between Miyoko and Jiro, while Soshu sat at the end of the table, next to Jiro. Yasu took the time to serve his parents their favorite food from the dishes and concentrated on eating his food.  He would only join the conversation once in a while.  

"Are you alright, my son?"  Miyoko leaned into Yasu and asked as quietly as she could.  

Yasu turned towards Miyoko and gently smiled.  His dimples emerged on the side of his mouth as he softly spoke to his mother.  

"Just a bit tired.  I stayed up late last night."  

"Why didn't you go to bed earlier?  You will tire yourself out working so late at night." Miyoko nagged.  

"What are you working on so late at night for?"  Ren suddenly asked, cutting into the intimate conversation between mother and son.   

"Ah... it's something that takes a long time to make."  Yasu answered.  

"What can be so important that you work late into the night?"  Soshu asked as he looked over to his son.  

"Secret."  Yasu told him, refusing to tell them what he was working on. 

"Look at this rascal."  Jiro said as he pulled Yasu's ear.  "See how we spoil him that he has secrets from his own family!?!!"  

"As children grow up, they will have one or two secrets from their parents."  Shiro commented. "Whether those secrets are good or bad, is another matter."  

"It isn't anything bad."  Yasu told everyone.  

"Then why can't you work on it in front of us at home?"  

"Because it's a present for you guys so you guys can't see it!"  Yasu growled as he pouted. "Are you guys going to make me confess to you what the secret is?"   

"It's a surprise gift?!?"  Miyoko asked as she clapped her hands in front of her.  "I love surprises."  

"Gifts?"  Jiro asked as he smiled at Yasu.  "My son is so kind."  

Yasu went back to placing food on his parent's bowls as the conversation continued.  After their meals, Soshu and Ren left to drink tea at a tea house. While Jiro and Shiro left to the clinic.  Yasu followed Miyoko to the dress shop and began working in the backroom.