Tokyo Ever After: A Novel (Tokyo Ever After #1)(53)

“Why?” I blurt.

Yoshi speaks, his voice is quiet. “Kyoto is welcoming you. The people line the streets to celebrate births, weddings, and newly found daughters of the crown prince.” He winks, nudging me. “It’s tradition. An honor. Go on. Walk among your people.”

I toy with the edge of my kimono. “I don’t know…” I wait for Akio to argue. Insist the security risk is too high.

“It’s okay,” Akio says. “Imperial guards are in the crowd. The palace is only a short distance. If you’d like to walk the rest of the way, it’s fine.”

Well. Not really a choice then. “I guess I’ll walk.”

Akio is first out of the car. My door is opened in no time. A hush falls over the street. I incline my head, fold my hands in front of myself, and shuffle forward. The crowds part until they fall in parallel lines, their lanterns a steady stream of light. Akio, Reina and Yoshi are steps behind.

A couple of imperial guards appear and take the lead, but I’m alone in the middle. I acknowledge people with smiles and small waves. I see Shirasu. He grins at me. I lose my breath, find it again. I don’t want to break this spell. I’m completely besotted. In love with Kyoto, with Japan. We come to the end, to the palace gates as they open.

At the gate, I turn and bow. Thank you.

Mr. Fuchigami is there, enjoying the lanterns with the rest of the staff. “Your Highness, did you enjoy your dinner?” he asks.

I nod. Can he see how happy I am? How my eyes shine with joy?

He steps toward me. “You’ve won the heart of Kyoto.” The lantern bearers surround me and all at once, they let go. Glowing orbs drift to the sky in a perfect circle of light.

It’s beautiful. Truly beautiful. A golden crown.





22


It’s nearing midnight and I can’t sleep, too drunk on Japanese fine dining, silk kimonos, bodyguards in my debt, and lanterns in the sky. If ever there was question that a girl could fall in love with a city, the answer is yes.

The palace is sleeping. Mariko turned in hours ago, and Reina finally put Yoshi to bed. I creep through the palace corridors, thinking about Mount Shasta and the girl I was there. How there, everything felt wrong sometimes, and how everything feels like it’s coming together here, like things are how they should be.

A light is on in the kitchen. I turn and enter. It’s modern with clean lines, but the windows and wooden beams on the ceiling are original architecture. The island lights are on. A single figure sits underneath them. I stop short. “Akio.”

He turns from his laptop and shoves himself up from his seat, legs squealing against the marble floor. His suit jacket and tie are off. His shirt sleeves are rolled up. “Izumi … I mean, Your Highness.” He reaches for his discarded coat.

I stick out a hand. “No, don’t. It’s okay.”

He hesitates, jacket bunched in his fist. I map the veins in his forearm. Watch them taper down to his wrist. After a moment, he sets the jacket down. “You’re awake.”

I shrug and step into the kitchen. “Couldn’t sleep.”

“In that case, join me, please.” He gestures to the island. “I have snacks.”

Ah, the real three words every girl longs to hear. I cross the room, nodding at the laptop. “Working?”

He scrubs a hand down his face. “Revising the security detail. I’ve had to reorganize the schedule a bit with your cousin’s arrival.”

“Sorry about that.” I settle into a chair beside him.

His eyes rake over me from head to toe. I’m wearing his sweatshirt, the gray one he gave me after the karaoke bar. It’s only half-zipped, and underneath it is a lacy camisole. I jerk up the zipper. “So, snacks…”

Akio turns his head and swallows hard. “Right,” he says, pulling a couple of plates toward us. I recognize the confections: goma dango, small rice flour balls filled with anko, sweet red beans, and dorayaki. He did mention a sweet tooth that night in the car.

Of course, I go for the dorayaki first. I emit a little groan on the first bite. “Oh my God, I want to have this dorayaki’s babies.”

Akio clears his throat and slams his laptop shut. He’s not making eye contact. “So, what kept you up?”

I set the dorayaki down and swing my feet, hooking them on the base of the stool. “Oh, um. I was thinking about Mount Shasta. You know, my pre-princess days.”

His gaze settles on me. I pretend it’s the sugar from the dorayaki making me feel all stirred up. “What is it like, where you’re from?”

I finger the dorayaki. “It’s a pretty hip tourist spot. People like to camp in the forests during the summer and ski on the mountain in the winter. There’s literally one stoplight on Main Street.”

“Sounds nice.” His mouth is one straight, sincere line.

I straighten a bit. “It is, but…”

“Go on,” he urges.

My heart twists in my chest. “I dunno. It’s like … the thing that makes it so wonderful—the same people, the predictability—also makes it kind of awful. Like, there are these boutiques on Main Street, and they sell all sorts of tchotchkes. One in particular had a rack of little rainbow key chains with names on them. Still does to this day.” I glance at Akio. I have his full attention. “When I was eight, I wanted one so badly. It didn’t take me long to figure out my name wasn’t there. There were Carlys and Lindseys and Emilys, but no Izumis. I blamed my mom, railed at her. ‘Why couldn’t you name me Olivia or Ava?’ I hated my name. All this happened in the middle of the store. I can make a scene.” I smile wryly.