Removed – Chapter 30

When I arrive at Izakaya Tanaka, all dressed up in my dark green yukata, I’m nervous. A lot of people are in attendance. I should have known. Miko is so damned popular, and Sakai clan is so big. It makes sense they had to shut down the entire restaurant for this party.

But I’m more nervous that I haven’t told either of my best friends about my life-changing experience yesterday. I don’t want to steal the show from Miko at her own engagement party, so I’ll have to be discreet.

The person right inside the door past Sakai’s security staff is Helena, of course. Just like New Year’s Eve she has captured the attention of some interested men who love tall blondes wearing yukata. This always happens to her.

She turns when the door opens and her face goes straight from elated to utter confusion.

“Good gods, Sanaa, is that a sword strapped to your back?”

Jiro laughs, clasps me on the shoulder and says, “Good luck,” before walking off towards Sakai on the other side of the restaurant.

Helena grabs me by my arm and starts to move me away from the door and Usagi, but Usagi follows, and she glances over her shoulder twice before turning to me.

“Who’s the guy?” She leans in closer to me. “He’s cute. Is he available?”

This is ridiculous.

I press my lips together tightly and close my eyes. Don’t laugh, Sanaa.

“Usagi?” I turn to him and put on my most diplomatic smile. “Could you give us another two meters, please?”

“Yes, miss.” Usagi is dressed like the rest of the Sakai clan men in black kimono with the Sakai family crest and black hakama pants, and I suppose he is handsome. Maybe Helena likes bald men? Bald men in black?

“Do you drink?”

“I do.”

“Well, might I suggest you sit right there at the bar and have one? Sono will take care of you. I’m sure I’m fine here.”

A hint of a smile brightens his eyes but leaves his mouth serious. “Yes, miss.” He makes his way to the first available bar seat closest to us.

“Tell me what’s going on. This is strange,” Helena says.

“My entire life has been turned upside down in the course of the last twenty-four hours.” I throw my hands up and nearly smack Miko in the face who was sneaking up behind me. “Miko! Shit, you scared me.”

“Sanaa, are you all right? What’s going on?”

Both my best friends are directly in front of me and everyone else is busy in the back of the restaurant. I have a captive audience and probably not for long, but I shouldn’t dump this on Miko right now.

“Uh, no. No, it’s nothing. It can wait.”

“Sanaa, you are the worst liar on the planet. Sit down and spill it,” Miko says, gesturing to the empty table next to us.

Sighing in defeat, I wave to Helena and the bar. “Get us some saké, and I’ll tell you everything.”

She does, and I do. I even confess all the details about my name, my parents, the sword, the imperial lineage, the sex, and how within a day later, Jiro and I are now living together.

“Are you insane? You barely know the boy, and you’ve moved in together?”

“Miko.” I shake my head and put my face in my hands. “I actually think Jiro is the least of my worries right now.”

“How could you do that after going out on two dates with him? You’ve only talked to him, what? A total of ten hours?” Miko’s voice rises.

“Uhhh, no, actually.” I twist my hands in my lap. “I left out the fact I’ve seen Jiro every single day for the last six weeks. It only got… physical recently. I know him really well, I think.”

At least I hope I do. My impulsivity is starting to seem crazy.

I have never seen Helena stunned into silence before. I’m tempted to reach over and push her chin up to close her mouth it’s been open in shock for so long. Miko’s eyes are so wide I’m afraid they’ll pop out of her head.

“I’m going to kill him,” she says. “He came in here, every night, and asked about you, and I had no idea he was seeing you on the side. And you!” She points right at me, and I shrink. “I can’t believe you kept this from us.”

“Please understand,” I say, bringing my hands up, palms together. “I was under strict orders not to say anything, and it was eating me up. You know I’m a terrible liar. That’s why I stayed away.”

I’m a horrible person for all the secrets I kept from my friends, and I’ve dreaded this conversation for so long.

“And now you’re an empress, you have your own sword, and Jiro, and security…” Helena looks over at Usagi again who is watching us. “He’s really your bodyguard?”

“Yeah, really. He and Jiro and some other people, too.” I turn my face from them to the window. I don’t want to be forlorn, weary, and upset. I want to be strong and not let any of this bother me. An impossible task. “It’s like a whole different life in the course of a day. How the hell am I supposed to do all of this?”

“Well, Sanaa… can I still call you that?”

“Of course you can! Helena!” When I realize she’s joking, I stop from crying and laugh instead. Miko leans back in her chair.

“I don’t think you have much of a choice. If you want to continue living a happy life, you’ve got to accept it and make the best of it. Isn’t that what you’ve told me the past few years?”

All those years Helena’s parents ignored her, and she wanted them to change and give her a life she dreamt about, I would sit and tell her to make her own life. I cheered her through her fast-track therapy school and pushed her to move out. Then she pushed me to flirt with Jiro and make the move on him before he slipped away. And it worked, for both of us.

“Whatever you have to do, we’re here for you. Just be yourself. You can’t be anyone else. They’ll have to take you for who you are and deal with it, but I don’t think they’ll be disappointed, Sanaa. You’re pretty wonderful as you are.”

“She’s right. Just be yourself.” Miko gets up from the table and smiles weakly at me. “I have to go. Engagement party and all that.”

“I’m so sorry.”

I watch her walk away and frown at my awful timing.

“Don’t worry about her, Sanaa. She just really missed you these last few weeks.”

Hearing this, my eyes tear up. “I’ve missed you both so much.”

She grabs my hand and gives it a long squeeze before tugging on my arm. “I wasn’t kidding about Usagi, although that’s a really silly name. Seriously. He’s hot. Will you introduce me?”

Oh my gods.

Laughing and crying is not a good look for me, so Helena hands me a napkin, and I smooth myself out again. Making the introductions, Usagi actually smiles and offers Helena his chair, and for a moment, I’m not the center of attention. In the back, I spot Koichi, Sakai, and Jiro near one of the private rooms; Beni and Risa; all the restaurant staff on and off shift; a few of the girls who work in the shops nearby; some of the people who grew up with us in Ku 5; Miko’s extended family whom I’ve seen at some of her holiday parties. I’m guessing a lot of the other people are Sakai’s family, and I’ll meet most of them eventually.

I also realize my aunts aren’t here yet, but we were right on time, and despite my long tale of woe to Helena and Miko, it is still early, and they tend to always be late. I’m glad I have a good view of the door.

Oyama leans out of the kitchen and passes a plate of appetizers to Sono who passes them to me with a confused look.

“Don’t ask.” I shake my head, take the plate, and make my way back to Jiro.

Though Jiro is probably talking business with Sakai and Koichi, I tap on his shoulder and interrupt them.

“You come bearing gifts,” he says with a smile.

“Yes, saké and food from Oyama. Will you sit and eat with me?”

Sakai interrupts us. “Let’s all sit together.”

The staff arranged a long line of tables instead of the smaller ones they usually use, and we move over to sit at the end. Jiro takes the saké and food and places them on the table for me. I’m about to sit with him, Sakai, and Koichi, when the door opens again and Aunt Kimie and Lomo enter.

“Jiro, they’re here.”

He puts his hand on my back and gives me a little push. “Go get them.”

I walk as fast as possible to the front through all of the people and tackle Aunt Kimie with a hug.

“I’m so glad you’re here. I was worried for a moment.”

“I’m sorry we’re late, Sanaa. We’ve been moving back to Ku 5 all day.” She pulls away from me, rearranging my hair that has flown everywhere in our hug. I let her go and hug Aunt Lomo, too.

“Already? Wow, Mark is fast.”

“More of his staff showed up last night after you left and started packing. It’s the fastest move we’ve ever had, though we’re keeping the storage area in Ku 9. I don’t want to move all those boxes again. It can stay there until our ship leaves.”

I grab one of Aunt Kimie’s and one of Aunt Lomo’s hands in each of mine. “Come. Everyone wants to see you.”

I lead them to the table and Sakai hugs them both, my stomach unclenching and settling at the sight. I wiggle my shoulders out of my ears. They were so relaxed after the massage but tension has them in knots again. Koichi hugs Aunt Kimie and gives Aunt Lomo a kiss on the cheek. All of them together again lifts a smile to my worried face.

“Kimie, you remember my youngest son, Jiro. He was just a boy when you last saw him.” This must be slightly awkward for Jiro, but his smile is gracious and warm.

Aunt Kimie steps up to him and places her hands on his face. “It’s been a long, long time, Jiro. I see a lot of your mother in you.” She gives him a kiss on the cheek and he closes his eyes for a moment, his shoulders sinking in relief. “He’s a handsome one, Sanaa. A good choice.” I direct my eyes at my feet because the blush on my face is too intense to let anyone else see. “Where is Mariko?”

Koichi nods at the private room. “I’ll go get them now.”

He slides open the door, and the shadows on the rice paper screens dance as everyone inside gets up.

Jiro comes to my side and laces his fingers with mine. He leans over and whispers in my ear. “That went well. I think they approve?”

“Yes. Let’s hope they’re okay with us living together already.”

He pulls me into a hug in front of everyone, and I let him, resting my head on his chest. Jiro rests his chin on my head, and I rub my cheek along the front of his kimono.

Our families together. His family, my family, our family. I couldn’t be happier.