[i]Tack......... Tack......... Tack.........[/i]

An echo of a bamboo sharply clacking against a rock reverberated throughout the serene, traditional Japanese garden, as the sōzu (water fountain) repeated its upwards and downwards motions with the filling and emptying of the bamboo fountain piece. The water in the pond stirred, koi fishes of different variety of colors decorated the viridescent waters, from orange to white to black, and even blue. A faint summer breeze blew past the now green cherry blossom tree, lightly rustling its leaves as a few number of them were carried away by the wind, eventually descending upon the ground. The only other sound that broke the tranquil silence was the shrilling of a cicada, which truly marked the beginning of the burning heat season.

A raven haired male was seated in a kneeling position on the wooden floor of a veranda with the scenery of the aforementioned garden. Still as a tree, the male sat down in silence with minimal movement, his blue eyes shut closed and hands firmly placed atop his lap. A wooden sword rested on the floor beside him as if it had recently been used. He was adorned in a kendogi, the appropriate uniform worn when one practiced kendo, which exactly hinted what he had been doing previously. Ren, the said male, was in the middle of his meditation after a strenuous sword practice session. Clearing one's mind of unnecessary thoughts in a relaxing environment was how he favored to take his breaks. How old geezer-like as it may sound, Ren was still a middle schooler but the influence of the people around him caused him to be this way. Being tutored at the comfort of his home without peers from his age group did not make the matters any better.

A set of footsteps from the hallway approached the young heir before it was revealed to be from his old butler. Ren stayed in his initial position with no reaction whatsoever, knowing well enough that it was possibly one of his servants. The old man upon being at a certain distance, deeply bowed as a greeting to his master and gently set a serving of green tea beside the boy before parting his lips to speak.

"[i]Pardon me for my intrusion young master, but Master Kanesada has instructed me to inform you of your compulsory attendance to the summer festival this evening being held at the city.[/i]"

[color=royalblue]"............... Is it truly necessary?"[/color]

"[i]He has mentioned of an [b]heir[/b] being announced tonight for our allied group, Vongola.[/i]"

[color=royalblue]"..... Understood. Make haste preparations."[/color]