Six days have passed by, and I am losing my mind.
There are no signs of her, and there are no signs of that man as well. Jodai. She is with him, right? He helped her run away, or she dragged him with her, or she was on her own, and that man just left her behind. Or maybe they are together. She's really fond of him, and he really fancies her, no doubt about that.
Where else could she go?
He said he's from Keithland.
"!!"
I get off from her chair and leave her room.
"Master?"
Jay calls me.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to Keithland."
"Why don't you rest a bit, sir? You haven't slept for six days now."
"I can't sleep...How can I sleep when she's not here... with me."
"Master, at least you eat something or we can go tomorrow."
"No... are you coming with me? If not, just wait here and re–"
"I'm coming with you, Master."
"First, you find Jodai's profile, his family, reputation, and where he used to live."
"Yes, sir."
Keithland
He's a Yamazaki.
Yamazaki, the house of samurai—at least it used to be called that a long time ago. He sure comes from an old family and is well-known. But Yamazakis are crucial but preserved. They are hardcore like the rest of the families and gangs in this land, but the Yamazakis are more in their own bubble and mind their own business.
And why he chose to be the Takaki man. No, he chose to be hers, be Zephyra's man.
"We're here, sir."
Jay tells me from the driver's seat.
"..."
"The House of Yamazaki"
Jay and I follow the security guards who lead us inside the big, massive traditional house, which is far more conventional than Takaki's old house.
We head into the room with the mighty position at the head of the room. Two mat seats lie in front of the man, sitting and waiting for us to walk toward him.
"What a surprise when you called me earlier."
"Good evening, sir."
I greet him.
"Sit. Mr. Kaiza."
He tells me.
"Thank you."
And I do what he says.
"We haven't seen each other for quite some time, but you look drained, Mr. Kaiza."
"..Yes."
"What can I help you with?"
"I would like to know where your son is."
"Hm, my son?"
"Jodai."
"Isn't he with you? He attended your house in summer."
"Yes. Has he come back to visit you?"
"...Is there something I need to know about, Mr. Kaiza?"
So, he didn't come here.
"I have a thought that your son is gone with my fiancé."
"What!?...Ha... that's new."
"..."
"I always know that he really admires her and adores her. I also adore her, to be honest."
"...You met her?"
"At the association, never talk. But no matter how much and deep feelings my son has toward your fiancé. I don't think that he would do something that destroys his honor."
"...I know he won't do anything to her if she doesn't allow him."
"..."
"I trust her but not your son."
"...And what would you like me to do? Spell it out."
"He didn't take her to do something dishonor. I partly believe that, but I want your favor. I want you to track him and search for him. I want to know where they are."
"..."
"Before I decide to do that, I would like to know first... Does she have the consent to go with him?"
"..."
"If yes, I won't be able to do that favor."
"..."
"Is that really the problem in your mind? Mr. Kaiza. About them?"
"..."
He knows that topic isn't the main reason I came here to talk.
"All I can say is that he knows what he's doing even if it seems wrong to other eyes."
"..."
Did he also speak about Zephyra? She might know what she's doing, but I am not on her side right now, so I am not reassured.
"Well, I'll tell you if he comes around."
"...Thank you."
"The least I can do."
Damn it, everything seems not going my way. Is it the punishment that I didn't come to her as a normal person? The strategy, the secret agreement, everything I craved for so long, and I grabbed it without hesitation when I had the chance. Is it the result that I haven't been honest and haven't thought thoroughly of her emotions?
"*Sigh...Zephyra, I'm sorry."
"..."
Jay glances at me from the driver's seat.
The Bamboo House
When I got back, Jay was taking off my shoes for me, and then my grandfather came toward me at the front door.
"Kai..."
My grandfather calls me.
"..."
"Come with me."
He orders me without a smile.
Perhaps my behavior is a bit too far.
He leads me to the Zen room, where he always rests without sleeping or napping, just sitting and watching, embracing silence and calmness.
"Sit."
He sits in his position and tells me to sit at my usual seat.
"..."
"You should rest."
"... It's almost a week...that she's gone."
"And it's also almost a week that you haven't had a proper meal, proper rest."
"..."
"A person who runs away most likely wants some time to think."
"So you also think that she ran away from me?"
"...We never know the actual thoughts inside their minds, Kai."
"...I know she might hate me for what I did, but... it's not her to just run away without telling me things...At least she could yell at me, slap me, or just push me, and then she could run away...I know there's something more than that..."
"Kai, listen, you perceived her in that way because she always pressed her emotion to the side so she could focus on what was needed the most, and she's been doing that for so long. And now she chose to do it another way. I can not speak her mind, but perhaps that child is not ready to face whatever it is."
"..."
"And if you really know her well and have more trust in her.. you'll know what she will do next, back or gone..."
"..."
And then he puts the paper on the tea table.
"Don't tell me.."
Is it from her?
"I received it today after you left. It's rude to read someone else's letter, but you are my grandson, so I allow it."
"!!"
I grab that letter and open it.
Dear grandpa,
I would like to apologize for the mess I left you back in the Bamboo House. I know that after I left, everyone would be worried about me, especially you and Mr. Kaiza. You are one of the most important people in my life, so it wouldn't be nice of me if I just left and let you worry. So I decided to write this letter to you.
I want some time to think until it's due time.
I would like to ask you a favor. Please put him at ease for me.
Sincerely,
Zephyra.
"..."
Put him at ease. That's why he came to talk to me. He didn't try to stop me before, so he did this because of Zephyra.
"Due time?"
I ask softly.
"...Trust in her, Kai, trust in her..."
"..."
"Yes, grandfather."
"Go, rest."
He tells me.
"Yes."
I walk back to my zone and glance at her darkest room. My legs are again leading me to her room, and I slide the balcony door. I step inside and lay down my body on her soft bed. I curl myself inside her blanket, put my head on her pillow, and wrap my arms around another pillow of hers on the side.
"*Sigh...thank god, it still smells like her."
Please, Zephyra, come back to me.
I put my face into her soft pillow. It's soft like her skin, delicate like her, smells like her.
"Please.."