Fantasy, Meet Reality

Chapter III: Reunited (Part I)

A breathtaking sunrise greeted Tokiya as the ship he was on finally docked on the harbor.

"I'm finally home," he said. Coming back was not an option he would have chosen for himself, in the beginning. After all, he knew what was waiting for him here.

All of that paled in comparison to the strange feeling of relief he was feeling at the moment. No matter how far he roams, his heart will always long in a way or another for home.

The pitter patter of footsteps from people rushing to get off the ship pulled his mind back to the present.

"Tokiya-sama?" Wait, someone's calling him? As he looked around, he saw one of his father's servants. "Welcome back to Japan."

"Thank you for taking time to come for me." Maybe it's just him, but the driver's words spoke to him that he's finally home.

"It's my outmost pleasure, Tokiya-sama. Shall we go?" he asked?" while motioning for me to step inside the carriage.

"Yes, please" Tokiya answered. His trip had been interesting yet also exhausting. Right this moment, he wanted nothing more but tune out and drop off to sleep.

"Tokiya-sama? We're almost at your father's house." Well, what do you know? He actually fell asleep.

With eyes wide open in excitement and anticipation, he leaned out the window. There... Now he could see the sights along the way clearly.

"So this how much this country has changed," he mulled over in his mind. Whether people like it or not, times are turning.

His home loomed at a distance, not much later. Time, in true irony, has seemed to stood still in that place however.

Some things hadn't escaped the change of time, though. Had their household always been this big?

"Welcome home, Tokiya-sama," his father's servants greeted in unison. Gladness. The best word to describe how he felt about being so warmly welcomed.

"Arigatou, minna (Thank you everyone)," he replied. What's with the weird expressions on their faces? Oh, it must be his accent. Also, he's wearing Western clothing, a suit to be precise.

"Ogenki desuka (How are you?)" he once again tried. Whew! It's a good thing he still knew how to speak in Kyoto dialect.

And bingo. They seemed to warm up at these words.

"Genki desu (We're alright) Tokiya-sama."

"I'm happy to see you again, son." This time, it was his father who greeted him. "It's good to have you back."

So he was also. His father may seem like a strict and overbearing person. Those who know him well would beg to differ.

"Arigatou, otousan (Thank you, father)" he said. He was also ecstatic to lay eyes on his father.

"Go rest for now. We'll talk later," his father mentioned, making his way to his own work room.

Tokiya's body received its much needed rest in the few hours that followed. After some time, his father and him retired to the dining room to partake of the evening meal.

"Those clothes suit you well, Tokiya," his father said. "It's been a while since I saw you wearing them."

The kimono looked good on him alright. He felt uncomfortable, though. One wrong move and he could be exposing something he shouldn't.

"Stop fusing with your clothes, Tokiya" his father warned. Eh? So he was and is still doing so.

His kimono was slipping off his shoulders, exposing bare skin which made some servant girls gawk. A glance from his father made them avert their eyes in another direction.

"My deepest apologies otousan," he answered. Heck. He even had to apologize for something so trivial.

Back in America, it would have been shrugged off easily. That was in America. This was Japan where traditions and customs rule.

"Accepted. Just be more mindful of your actions next time," his father reminded. Saved and what a relief.

There was one thing which continued to bug him. And what better time to find out the answer to it than the present?

"May I ask you a question, father?" he said. "With all due respect, why did you ask me to head over here so soon?"

"Ah, that matter... To start training you as the future head of our family." As expected. "And to find you a suitable bride."

Did he hear his father's words right? He'd have fallen off a chair, if he had been sitting on one in the first place.

"A bride, father? But I'm only twenty." Tokiya slightly protested. What was his father thinking? After four years of arduous studies, now a plunge into marriage?

Tokiya couldn't help but think his father had gone just a bit mad at the instance...

(Hello, everyone! A new chapter of this story coming your way.

Just for your information, the next three to four chapters will focus mostly on Tokiya.

After that, the story will move on to... *Stay tuned 'cause there'll be no spoilers for now* ☺

Happy reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Good morning/afternoon/evening/day wherever you awesome readers may be.

'Til next time! See you soon!)

Next Chapter's Sneak Peek

"Don't look so dumbfounded, Tokiya" his father said. "I'm not marrying you off to just any woman." And that is supposed to be good?

His father's words were the law; he had no choice but to agree. If it was even remotely possible, he wished to marry for love.