Beyond the Sound | Yuzuru Hanyu

81.

They arrived in Japan after the long flight and you could see how the girls were visibly exhausted.

Maya didn't flinch as he asked her to put a mask on her face, it was a good call given that she didn't want anyone recognizing her.

With Kaiya, they could have easily ignored it, but the girl didn't seem to mind and wanted to the the same her parents did.

A few people from Yuzu's team met them at the airport. Maya barely remembered how everyone used to treat him and it was even weirder now to see people being so formal around them.

"Hanyu-san, we have a security team set and ready both in Sendai and to follow you on the trip. We monitored everything and no one seems to be watching you at the moment."

"We still have to be careful. You all know what's at stake, yes?"

"Of course!"

"Very well, how are we going to Sendai?"

"Car, Hanyu-san. It takes longer but it's easier to control safety."

"Very well. Lead the way."

He said he would trust his team and this was the start of what promised to be a long journey.

As they started the trip by car, it was easy to notice just how tired the girls were. Even as Maya tried to keep awake and alert, you could see her eyes slowly closing. Kaiya fell asleep right when the car started and was leaning into the window.

"Maya." he whispered, trying not to wake up his daughter.

"Hum?"

You could note from her lack of enthusiasm in the answer just how tired she was.

"Get some rest."

"I should stay awake... just in case."

"Shh, come here."

He made her cuddle into the warmth of his chest and her head was instantly on his shoulder.

"Yuzu, this only makes me more sleepy."

"That's the idea. Get some rest. My team is watching us and I'll stay awake too. I'll protect you both, I swear."

"Aren't you sleepy too?"

"No, I slept on the plane... I'm used to time Zones."

"Of course you are... I often forget you're this skating superstar or something"

Even in her sleepy state, Maya tried to be sarcastic about the whole situation.

Still, it was no wonder when sleep won over her and she finally allowed her body to relax and rest.

A trip that could take less than 2 hours by train took double the time by car, but when it came to their safety, none of them was willing to risk anything.

Yuzuru was fine with the time of the travel, he had plenty of emails to answer and even if he got tired of working, he could just stare at his girls.

That was something that he would gladly do for hours.

Just a reminder of what he didn't have a month prior.

Time actually went by so fast that only when he recognized the buildings of the area he lived in, did he realize that they were already home.

"The condo, right, Hanyu-san?"

"Yes, yes."

"Should we tell Yumi-san you're home?"

"No. Don't tell anything to my mother. I will call her when I feel like it's best."

"Of course, sir."

When they finally arrived, Yuzuru allowed the girls to sleep in the car a while longer as he got the debrief from the team and they carried the bags into the condo. It was already night and Yuzu had to admit that he was feeling a bit tired now.

"Do you need anything else, Hanyu-san?"

"Just make sure no one is watching us and start planning the next days. I need a detailed overview of the plan as soon as possible."

Yuzuru knew that he could now focus on them.

He woke up Maya with a gentle kiss on her cheek and some whispered words.

"We're home, beautiful."

"Hum..."

"I'll carry Kaiya upstairs, alright? You don't need any help, do you?"

"No, I'm alright."

She saw him gently pick up the small girl and a smile was instantly on her face. Yuzu managed to be so gentle that Kaiya barely moved.

"The door is open, you can go ahead."

"Okay."

Maya held the door as he entered the Condo and she instantly noted how everything still looked exactly the same. It felt almost weird to be so familiar with a place that wasn't her home but she had spent quite a few days in this place when she visited him.

"She's sleeping in the guest room?"

"Yeah... if that's alright with you. I couldn't make it her room yet but we can change the decor and paint it if you want."

"Yuzu..." she muttered, he was so silly. "It's a bedroom, it has a bed. It's all that matters."

"I want to spoil her."

"You will have time for all of that. Just... we can discuss it when I'm not this sleepy." he joked.

"Alright."

He tucked her in the bed and Maya just sat on the couch, not really knowing if it was ok to just pretend like everything was back to how it used to be between them.

The thing was that she wasn't sure if he expected her to share a bedroom with him or stay with Kaiya.

Waiting for him to be done, there was no doubt that she was nervous about approaching the matter.

Thankfully, she didn't have to wait too long.

"Maya? I figured you would go straight to bed."

"Huh...I wasn't sure... well...I wasn't sure which room to sleep in."

Yuzuru noted her doubts from miles away and wanted to eradicate them one by one.

He kissed her forehead and massaged her shoulders gently.

"Stop being silly... come to bed."

"With you?"

Yuzu chuckled and kissed her cheek this time.

"I was hoping you would join me, yes. Not just today but for every day of our lives."