Tokyo Ever After: A Novel (Tokyo Ever After #1)(65)

My ears are ringing. It’s hard to think. I might throw up. This looks so bad. What damage have I done? God, I’m mad at myself, but not as furious as others may be with me. “Then, my father? I’d like to speak to him.”

Mr. Fuchigami says, “The Crown Prince is with His Majesty the Emperor. The events from yesterday exhausted your grandfather. I’m afraid they cannot be disturbed from official imperial business. However, your father has been apprised of the events and will see you for dinner this evening.”

My stomach contracts. I’ve never been kicked in the gut, but I’m pretty this is what it would feel like. I don’t want to look at Mr. Fuchigami. I cannot imagine the consequences in the papers. As a member of the imperial family, we’re expected to be beyond reproach, my father had said after the prime minister’s wedding.

“Okay.” My voice cracks. Words are hard to form. Why even bother? I pivot and force myself from the room.

Conversations start up again behind me. I don’t slow down. I find one thread of hope and hang from it. In my closet, I open drawers, pull out leggings and a T-shirt, and slip them on. Mariko appears, blocking me from leaving. “Where are you going?” she asks carefully.

“I need to see Akio.”

“Izumi-sama,” she says, full of pity.

“Let me by.” My legs feel watery. I want to collapse. Curl up in bed until it all goes away. Get it together.

“You can’t go see him.”

“Please call the driver,” I say unsteadily.

Mariko says, “This isn’t wise.”

I swipe under my nose. Tears flow unchecked. “You don’t understand. I need to see him.”

Mariko places a hand on each of my shoulders and squeezes. “If you go to his parents’ house, you will only make it worse. The place is surrounded by paparazzi. The best thing you can do for yourself and for Akio is to let this die down.”

I stand, numb. Mariko makes sense. No reason to add gasoline to the fire. But I don’t want him to think I’ve abandoned him, either. I know what to do. “Will you take him something from me then?” A letter. I’ll write him a letter.

Mariko’s nostrils flare. “Mr. Fuchigami is still here. He has prohibited anyone from entering or leaving the palace.” She twiddles her thumbs in thought. “But I happen to know your cousin Yoshi is in residence and doesn’t have such restrictions. Perhaps you’d like to take a bath? With the window open? There is a lovely breeze right now. Of course, I’ll alert security to clear the area.”

I want to kiss her cheeks. I find a smile instead. It’s bittersweet. “A bath does sound good. Would you mind getting my running shoes and some paper? You know how I usually like to bathe with those items.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Mariko says, ever so wisely. “Might I also suggest a sweatshirt with a hood? Something dark that blends well with the trees on the properties? I think I know the perfect one. Very trendy for spring and secret romps through the forest.”





28


Akio,

Please do not strike me

from your memory, from the

perfect shape of your

heart. Please let us carry on

as we were, against the world



I’m so sorry for everything. Meet me by the highway 40 sign at 1 p.m. just outside of the imperial property?



Izumi

Hood pulled up, I sprint across the property. I’m winded when I reach Yoshi’s home. The architecture is very similar to Tōgū palace—modern with clean lines, but a touch smaller, not nearly as grand.

A crunch of gravel behind me, the sound of a gun cocking. “Kōgūkeisatsu no meirei de, te o agete kudasai.” I never considered learning Japanese might save my life. Good thing I understand enough to do as ordered. Hands up.

I spin, hands in the air, letter clutched between two fingers. It’s Reina, and her firearm is pointed right at the center of my chest. “Your Highness.” Reina reholsters her weapon and bows deeply. “Forgive me. I mistook you for one of Yoshi’s fangirls.”

“Issokay,” I say, hands still pointed to the sky.

Reina’s gaze is hard. “You can put your hands down.”

I lower them slowly. “Yoshi’s home?” It’s more of a statement than a question; where Yoshi goes, Reina follows. My pulse is still racing. I breathe in and out, brushing off the near-death experience.

She nods to the house. “He’s in there and didn’t get back until three in the morning. Might not even be awake yet. He probably has a bad headache. Talk loudly if you can. In fact, ring the bell, he hates that.”

Wow, Reina, tell me how you really feel. “I’m not supposed to be here,” I say, eyeing the earpiece in Reina’s ear.

She shrugs. “You forget I pulled a gun on you, I forget you were here.”

“Deal.” We bow to each other. Reina melts back into the landscape. I knock on the door, then just for Reina, I ring the bell three times in rapid succession. Wake up. Wake up. WAKE UP.

After a few minutes, Yoshi answers. His hair is disheveled, standing up at odd angles. His V-neck T-shirt is white, and his velour track pants have a sequined gold stripe running up each side. He groans, loud, long, and pained. “I told Reina no visitors,” he shouts to the trees. I’m not positive, but I’m pretty sure wherever Reina is, she’s holding up a middle finger. “Oh, it’s you.” Yoshi focuses on me, eyes concerned. “How are you, darling? Holding in there? Is that the phrase? It doesn’t sound right.”