Golden Era (Book 2)

70. Who Do You Love

Against Io's advice, Ayuna took the afternoon flight out of Aomori. Before leaving, she advised Fuji to stay for a few more days until things in Kyoto settled. She couldn't gauge how Sachi might react.

Though sickened by the prospect of backlash, knowing she had to handle affairs with the imperial family her way, Fuji didn't oppose. When they parted at the airport, he told her to call him every day, be it good or bad news. 

Ayuna arrived at Kyoto station as evening fell. She met Noa in the arrival lobby and they drove back to the Yozei estate in silence. At the front porch, Noa told Ayuna that Sachi was home. She hadn't leaked a word about her coming back, figuring it was best to not have a messenger under the current circumstances.

Ayuna nodded. She hugged her friend once before hobbling into the annex.

"What happened to your foot?"

"I sprained it."

Brows furrowed, Noa remarked, "It doesn't look right."

"Don't worry about me," said Ayuna, trying not to falter. "Bring me to Sachi first."

Noa led Ayuna towards the library den. She knocked a few times and was immediately called in. Easing the door open, Noa ushered Ayuna in but made no move to enter, "I have someone who wants to see you."

Sachi had been reading an armchair. Hearing Noa's voice, he set down his book and looked up. Meeting his gaze was Ayuna's opal eyes. Dusts of snow fell from her hair as she moved into the room, closer to him.

Noa took this as her cue to leave and closed the door.

Sachi stood up. Left alone, there were no sounds except for the occasional gust of wind whistling past the back garden. He made no move forward and neither did Ayuna. She wore a silver trench coat and a navy scarf, her cheeks rosy from the cold. Lips slightly upturned, she gave him a tiny smile, delicate and ephemeral like a mirage coming to life.

"It's been a while," she whispered. 

"Two months," answered Sachi. To him, it felt like a lifetime. He couldn't help but wonder if it was the same for her.

"Is the empress okay?"

He reassured her that the empress was making steady progress after the first round of therapy. Although he still needed to visit Tokyo regularly, she'd become stable enough for him to resume regular schedules in Kyoto.

"You should rest," said Ayuna. "I can tell you lost weight."

Sachi appraised her. "Looks like I'm not the only one. With taking over Hikari, running the fundraiser and the recent assault, you took a bigger hit." Closing their distance, he remarked, "It's just like years ago, isn't it? You can take care of a Mizuno on your own."

Ayuna looked up. "I'm sorry for the delayed notice."

"From the way that things were handled, I don't think any notice was necessary. Isn't that why you went away without a word?"

There was a bellicose undertone to his words that made her pause. "Sachi, I think we both know why I was gone for the last few days."

"So you're aware of how much I know."

"I know you had your sources and likely investigated their claims. That's why you're angry."

His expressions darkened instantly. "Yet you went behind my back anyway. You knew I was keeping an eye on the happenings in Kyoto, but you didn't even care."

"I didn't want to keep anything from you, Sachi," said Ayuna earnestly. "I planned on telling you everything from the start if it wasn't for the empress' diagnosis and your being away in Tokyo—"