Chapter 37

37

Turns out, Tokyo is a city of romantics, forgiveness, and graciousness. Since the Women Now! article published, stuffed bears, lanterns, origami, plates of dorayaki, and notes have been placed outside the gates. The guards bring them in by the armload, sifting through to make sure there are no security risks—like a kawaii doll with laser beams for eyes—and bring them to me. It’s mostly from teenage girls. Their notes are in the shape of hearts and express their undying support of my non-relationship with Akio. There are other letters, too, from Japanese born abroad who identify with my story and who want to share their own. The response is overwhelming. I never thought I’d ignite such a flame. I’m committed to writing back to everyone who has left an address. Mr. Fuchigami does not like it. But he has left time in my schedule for me to respond. So, there.

“Oh, this is an invitation to someone’s wedding,” Mariko says, holding up a piece of card stock with elegant writing. I’ve enlisted the aid of my lady-in-waiting to sort through the piles.

“Put it in the miscellaneous stack,” I say.

“What about this one?” Mariko holds up a note tied to a bunch of flowers. “It’s an actual marriage proposal to you.” She flips it open. “He states his income is more than five million yen per year. Oh! He’s left a picture. He’s not completely unfortunate-looking.” She flashes me the photo. He’s twice my age with a lump of dark hair in bad need of a cut.

“Miscellaneous,” I say rubbing my temples. I may have bitten off more than I could chew. Mom offered to stay to help, but I could tell she was anxious to return to the States. All the media surrounding me had given her a serious case of the hermits (i.e., an undeniable urge to stow away in your home, shut all the blinds and drink unfiltered bathwater). Dad is going to visit her soon. I’ll be going with him. The two are giving the term baby steps a new definition. It is beyond.

“Things keep getting stranger and stranger,” Mariko remarks. She’s opened a small box. The remnants of gold wrapping paper cling to it—the imperial guards most likely unwrapped it first.

“What is it?” I keep working on the note I’m writing. “If it’s more dorayaki, it has to be donated. We don’t have room to store it all.”

“It’s a key chain with your name on it.”

Slowly, I raise my head, peering at the item dangling from Mariko’s blunt fingers.

She digs around in the box. “There’s a note.”

I’m out of my chair. “Let me see.” I take the key chain and piece of paper from her. It’s wooden, and a rainbow has been painted on it. My name has been carved into it as well. Clearly homemade. Personal. I’d told Akio about this in Kyoto the night of our walk, our first kiss. What had he said? I wish I could take your sorrows and bury them deep. I turn it around in my hands, then read the note.

Now I understand

It is all so clear to me

Against, wind, rain, sleet

I stopped believing in love

Until I saw the leaves fall

It’s from him. As sure as the earth rotates around the sun, I know Akio’s hands have touched this. My heart beats fast, climbing up in my throat. “When was this delivered?” I don’t wait for her to answer. I’m already walking, slipping on a pair of shoes and leaving out the front door. Reina is there. She accepted my position as my new head guard. She’s been dragging boxes of notes from the gates every hour to me.

She bows to me outside. “Your Highness.”

I don’t stop. Can’t stop. There is fire nipping at my heels. I’m racing to the gates. Reina is behind me. Then she’s beside me. You know, because I’m a slow runner and all.

“Not really dressed for a jog,” she says.

I’m wearing a pair of slacks and a silk blouse. I finally convinced Mariko about the merits of pants, which are pockets, comfort, and the ability to get out of the car like a person. More guards form in my wake. The closer we get to the gate, the more the security presence intensifies. The key chain is in my hand. It’s silly to be racing off like this. I’m sure I’m bound to walk the disappointment plank again. Akio couldn’t possibly be waiting for me. But he might be. The stitches I closed up my heart with are bursting. There’s still room in there for him. There will always be room in there for him.

I slow down when the gates are in sight. It’s nearly evening. The crowd has dispersed. Imperial guards have no choice but to open the gate lest I crash into it.

“No. No. No,” Reina is adamant.

“I’m sorry,” I call back. “Don’t be angry with me. It’s for love!”

All at once, I’m on the sidewalk, and I’m noticed. Momentary surprise keeps the stragglers from growing into a crowd. Imperial guards form a barrier around me. Time stills and slows. I walk along the gate, smile and nod at the people. Pretend this is all part of a plan. I clutch the key chain in my palm, searching for a tall, dark-haired former guard with emotive eyebrows.

“The prince never tried to outrun me. This is a first,” Reina says through her teeth. Poor Reina. I promise to make it up to her.

My eyes scan the sidewalk, the bushes, even the trees. They land on a figure twenty feet away. Tall. Dark. Out of uniform. My heart pounds hard. Akio is there, body framed in shadow, the setting sun behind him. I continue to approach slowly. I might be floating. Who knows. He sees me, too. His eyes are hooded, fond. A murmur of recognition runs through the crowd. A picture is snapped.

“Hi,” I say when I’m close enough for him to hear me.

“Hi.” He bows with a flourish.

I’m a little out of breath. “Did you leave this for me?” I open my hand, show him the key chain.

“I did,” he says. His voice is rich and warm, fills me up.

“Thank you.” It’s the best, most perfect gift I’ve ever received.

“You’re welcome.” We stand and stare at each other dumbly.

“As much as I’m enjoying this reunion, so is everyone else,” Reina pipes in.

Akio rocks back on his heels. His hair is a little longer. He brushes it from his eyes.

“Would you like to come in?” I nod toward the palace. “That is, if you’re not busy.”

“Not busy at all,” he says. “In fact, I’d cleared my next few days. Had to wait outside a palace, planned on taking as long as it needed to see a princess.”

“Well, then…” I smile like a dummy.

Side by side, we walk to the gate. “New guard?” Akio nods to Reina.

Reina is whispering into her earpiece. “Stole her from Yoshi,” I say.

His eyes crinkle with a smile. “Bet he hated that.” He doesn’t know my cousin was responsible for leaking the story. I’ll tell him later. There are more important things to focus on now.

“She knows how to snap someone’s neck using only her own body weight. She’s going to teach me later,” I say.

Akio addresses Reina. “Please don’t show her that.”

“I already told her no,” Reina says, gaze directly ahead.

My hand is so close to his. I could hold it. Instead, I fold mine into a fist. Too many witnesses. We’re nearly to the gate, our progress slow because of the growing crowd. My name is called. Pictures are snapped. But it’s like we’re in our own private bubble, and I am light as air. My limbs tingle. Akio is here. He came for me.

We pass a palace map. There is a red arrow and it says 現在地. Genzaichi. You Are Here. Then the gate is in view. It opens, and we’re through. We keep going up the driveway until the path bends and we’re out of sight. The guards have fallen away, too. Only Reina remains, keeping a respectful distance.

“I saw the magazine article,” says Akio.

“You did? What did you think?” I don’t wait for him to answer. “I’m so sorry, Akio. I never meant for you or your family to be hurt.”

He shakes his head. “I should be apologizing to you. You left Japan because of the Tattler article … because of me.”

“You were fired,” I say.

He grimaces. “I wasn’t fired.”

My thoughts freeze. Time slows and stretches. “Mr. Fuchigami said…” He’s gone. He couldn’t possibly stay, is what Mr. Fuchigami had said. “I thought you’d been fired.”

“What? No. I quit,” Akio says. “As soon as the story broke, I turned in my resignation. It didn’t seem like a big deal. I was going to leave soon anyway.” He says it all so nonchalantly. My brows dart in. He hurries to explain. “I was planning to quit the guard. I was going to tell you at the luncheon, but then we started dancing, and then…” He blushes. Then, we were kissing, he means. Full-on making out.

I feel myself blush, too. “I don’t understand. Your parents, the media…”

He nods. “It was rough at first. Definitely not how I wanted to break the news to my father. But he understands, or at least he’s trying to. It helps that he likes you so much.”

My frown is fierce. “I thought I ruined your life.”

“And I thought I ruined your life,” he says. “That’s why I didn’t come around. I thought you didn’t want to see me. But then I read the article and the reporter intimated you might still have feelings for me.… Was she—is she wrong? Is there any hope for us?” He stops and turns fully toward me. “I know I’m not the man you or your family need me to be. But I’m on my way. I promise if you give me this chance, I’ll spend my lifetime being worthy of you. I’ve enlisted in the Air Self-Defense Force. In a few years, I’ll be an officer and can make a good income. It will be difficult, but—”

I cut him off with my lips on his. No more talking. Just kissing. His hands land on either side of my neck, thumbs stroking my jaw. We pull away from each other. He wipes a tear from under my eye. “Radish,” he says. “Don’t cry.”

“They’re happy tears,” I say. Only happy tears from now on. Orange light filters through the trees. The sun is setting. Reina has turned her back. We kiss again softly and let it linger. “I just never thought I’d belong anywhere,” I whisper.

He strokes my jaw with his thumbs again. “Izumi, you are a world unto yourself. Build your own space. One meant uniquely for you.” My thoughts exactly.

Another kiss, deep and long. Akio’s eyes are melting chocolate with a silver ring, awash in the rising moon. Even though there is no music, we dance, swaying back and forth. I lay my cheek on his chest, probably getting makeup on his white T-shirt. We can’t bear to let go, so we don’t. We stay. Linger. Let the night come.

What happens next? Where do we go from here? Is this happily ever after? I don’t know. What I do know is this moment is pretty damn good. That’s got to be worthy of some sort of pyrotechnic display.

Cue fireworks.