[Author's note:- Sorry about the delay, though I still sent it before Friday. So I guess I kept up my promise.]
Zane POV
I felt my mind clearing up.
I remember....saving that crazy woman, getting hit by that car. But...why am I not in pain?
My eyes fluttered open as I see a vast orange and blue sky, the type that appears just before sunset. It was beautiful.
I sat up as I was greeted with another wonderful view. I was in between a meadow of flowers. There were various kinds. I even recognized some that were not even supposed to bloom in this season.
"Beautiful isn't it."
A calming voice reached my ears, I was so in engrossed that I didn't even turn back and just replied in an equally calm voice, "Yeah"
"Good to know, I still retain my beauty after the curse."
At that point I was already out of my trance, I looked back, as I got to see the third wonder.
"Woah!"
A beautiful woman in a pristine white dress with wavy blonde hair, golden eyes and a face that can enchant any being was sitting there with her hands on her knees,
Seeing my reaction she laughed out loud. I didn't realize but infected by her bell like voice,I too started laughing a little.
"Well wasn't that funny? What's your name by the way?" She asked smiling at me.
"Hm? It's Fujiwara Zane." I replied back.
I wanted to know where I was but I figured since I couldn't see anyone else here, I should just ask the lady for information after getting to know her.
Since it would be quite rude to outright demand answers from her when she has been treating me well from start.
"Fujiwara? Now that's a name I have never heard around here." She said.
"No you misunderstood, from where I come from, the family name comes before the given one. So my given name is Zane and family name Fujiwara." I corrected her.
"Zane! Now that names sounds way better. But you must be from far away since I am quite sure no one around here has such practices." She says as she looks at me.
"Um...can you tell me where exactly is here? And if it isn't too much to ask, what was that about the curse you mentioned?" I asked looking straight at her, as her words from earlier gave me a bad feeling.
She smirked, "Heh, and here I thought you forgot all about that matter. As for where you are, you are in a different realm, not in your physical for but with your soul."
"Different realm? Wait.....before that, what do you mean by soul? Am.....am I dead?" I look at her with a tense expression.
I believed her right away because, many in my situation might think of this as an empty dream but everything here seemed so vivid and real that I can't help but believe what she said is the truth.
"Hahaha, no need to be that serious. You aren't dead. You entered here accidentally, when your soul was wandering through the borders of the Mortal and divine." She said laughingly.
"Border what now? How can I go back home?" I asked confused.
"You don't need to worry about that, it isn't time for you find these out. As for your way home" She waved her hand as a golden door appeared, "Pass through, then you will wake up in your own body."
I nodded gratefully, "You never told me about the curse? Though if I had to say I don't think the curse has done anything to your appearance."
She tsked, "And here I thought you finally gave in. The curse isn't something you should worry about at the moment, you aren't strong enough. As for my appearance, it isn't mine, this was the appearance of a girl I was once fond of."
I was baffled, "Eh? Then you are?"
"The realm itself, I am the consciousness of this realm, now hurry and go." She said, shooing me away with her hands.
I sighed as I walked towards the door, just as I was infront of it. I suddenly had a feeling in my heart, I turned my head back.
"Now what?" She asked annoyed.
"You never gave your name." I asked.
That was the moment, I saw her give the most beautiful smile as she said,
"My name? It's Tír na nÓg."
I gave a light smile and nodded my head as I walked into the door leaving behind my word.
"Let's meet again, Tír na nÓg."
3rd POV
IN THE PHYSICAL WORLD
"So you are telling me, a kid about 14 years old, gets hit by an SUV, in the back, gets flown from one end of road to another, is unscathed... Are you fucking kidding me right now!!! I am paying as much as you want so do your damn job properly!!" An enraged voice bellows across the VIP Ward of one of Japan's best hospital.
"Madam, we have no reason to lie to you, if what you said is indeed true, then it can come across only as a miracle as of how the child was without any injury."
The doctor although unaccustomed to such a case, has previously experienced the panic of his patients' family, so he answered professionally without getting intimidated.
"Why is he unconscious then?" The woman asks, raising her eyebrows.
"Although the reason is not clear, we have even checked if he got a head injury, but none found after numerous scans. The only conclusion we can make is that he passed out due to severe shock. To be exact he should be waking up any moment now." The doctor answered.
"Um, Nobi sensei, the patient has gained consciousness." A nurse came in as she informed.
"Let's go together. I want to thank him." The woman said as she followed after the doctor.
They reached the room, as they saw the handsome young man facing the window feeling the breeze as he turned to look at them.
Both of them were in a daze for a moment including the nurse that came right after them. The doctor had to admit, he had never seen a more handsome patient in his entire life.
The woman out of her daze, rushed forward asking in a worried smile, "Are you alright? Do you feel any discomfort? Pain in the back?"
Zane gave a bitter smile as he shook his head, "No, I am alright. I feel refreshed as if I just had a 8 hour sleep." He said stretching his hands.
"Because you did, Fujiwara kun" the doctor said with a light smile.
Zane looks at the doctor's face and then at the woman, he chuckles lightly. "That was a good one. I almost believed you."
"Um....he isn't lying about it, you really did sleep for 8 hours."
Zane's eyes widened as he rushed to get out of bed, "Fuck, this time mom will definitely eat me alive."
"Hey perhaps you should rest, I will help you explain it to your parents." The woman said hurriedly, sideying the doctor.
But perhaps because of old age or because he was taking out his frustration of dealing with her anger, he said, "Fujiwara kun, is healthy and is free to get discharged from the hospital."
"Yeah, thanks a lot doc." But before he could rush out with his things, thinking if he should take a cab.
"I will drive you home." The lady said as she walked out with him.
Zane nodded gratefully.
In the car,
There was an awkward atmosphere in the car,
Seeing as their first meeting was when he saved her from committing suicide.
"By the way, you never introduced yourself. My name is Fujiwara Zane." Zane asked breaking the ice. He didn't want to ask about the matter earlier, since he had a feeling, he wouldn't get an answer for that.
"Cara O'Brian, thanks for saving me earlier." She replies with a smile.
"Where are you from Cara san?" Zane asked curiously, since although he has seen foreigners in Tokyo before, none seemed as classy as her. And the way she talks, reminds him of how his father, who even after all his years in Japan still slips into a strange accent midway.
"Ireland."
'Ireland? If my memory serves me correct, then the dream about that woman calling herself realm named Tír na nÓg. Aren't they from the mythical stories mom talked about when I was young?' Zane contemplated.
Seeing his expression as if in deep thought, she asks, "Are you curious about Ireland?"
Zane was shook out of his thoughts as he replied back with a silly smile, "No, it's just I thought your Japanese accent was similar to that of my dad. I am half Japanese, so my father is the one who came from outside to settle in Japan."
"Now that I think Fujiwara kun, where is your father from? To tell you the truth, You seem more Irish to me." She asked curious.
"Um...actually I never bothered asking, there was one time I did ask but I think it brought back sad memories. So I really didn't want to know more about it. Now that you mention it, I am definitely gonna get in trouble for being so late" Zane panicked as he thought of his mom's expression.
"Hahaha, despite how you maturely handled me, Now you really seem like a kid your age" She laughed heartily.
"Stop laughing about it Cara san. My mom will chew me alive, I have to think of a plan"
"It's alright, I have your back. No need to worry I will explain everything." She said patting his shoulder.
Zane's eyes shone, "Thank you Cara san."
After about half an hour they reached Zane's home.
'Have I seen this place before, It seems familiar.' Cara thinks to herself.
To be exact, although she knew her ex fiance and his wife were in Japan and had a son she didn't get the details and just heard it from her subordinates, Even in the photos she has seen, there were only pictures of Asuka and Kenji infront of their house.
Zane nervously enters through the gate as Cara follows him, he rings the bell at the front door.
*Ding Dong*
"Who is it?" came Asuka's trembling voice from behind the door.
"Mom it's me." Zane replied.
The door gets bashed open, as Asuka came out. Before, he could say anything he felt his mom tackle him as she hugged him and broke down into tears.
"How could you be so irresponsible? You didn't even pick up the call? Do you know how worried I was? I....I.... thought my baby...."
She spoke as she poured out her tears.
"I am sorry mom, I was just in an accident." Zane patted her back as he says apologizes.
"Accident? Did you get injured? Where?" Asuka panics as she checks his body.
"It was nothing serious, I was just unconscious. This lady took me to the hospital." Zane turned as he saw Cara shocked, looking at his mother.
His mother too looks at her and goes wide eyes. "Y...you"
"Darling, is Zane back?" Kenji's voice was heard as he too rushed out only to see Asuka hugging Zane as she looked shocked at something.
When he too looked at where she was looking, a word left his mouth.
"Fuck!"