My heart squeezes again, and once again that rage burgeons, that this is all the time I have.
I meet Nariel’s gaze as I say to Letty, “Oh, I’ll do more than that.”
I hang up.
Nariel says only, “Japan?”
He knew that much already; it’s on his plane ticket. He’s inviting me to tell him more.
It’s my turn to dodge his questions about logistics, because this is the last thing I want to talk to him about.
“Japan,” I confirm nonchalantly. “Kyoto first, but it’s not where we end.”
And then, my heart clenching, I float a new cap onto his head.
Nariel grins, and it’s like the sun coming up and burning a hole in my chest.
Chapter 10
Atrip to Japan from the Americas is long. Long enough that I could make my plan and also get some sleep.
Nariel, demonstrating his ability to read a room, doesn’t question me about the plan any further, which oddly makes it harder than dodging questions. Given what’s at stake for him, that degree of trust squeezes my heart.
I wake up once again with my head on his shoulder.
This time one of his arms is wrapped around me too, holding me close.
Thatsqueezes my heart even harder.
But unlike last time, I don’t rush to move.
Probably I should, given what I’m planning. But given what I’m planning, I’m going to hold onto the moments like this I have left.
Nariel still doesn’t say anything, and he also doesn’t move, and I try not to wish that I could wake up like this every day. Try not to think that this may be the last hug I ever get. I wouldn’t have thought that was something that mattered to me, but I never thought before that I might run out of chances.
And I never knew Nariel, before.
This is a terrible time to have caught feelings, and whatever it is I feel for him I’m not going to act on it. Too much is at stake for that. But in the space of my own head, I can acknowledge they exist, and they’re strong—and it doesn’t matter.
We stay just like that, me snuggled up against his side, quietly breathing together, until the flight attendants bring us breakfast and break the spell.
It was one perfect, heartrending interlude.
Now, back to work.
When we arrive in Kyoto, my first order of business is to get us a hotel for the night. This is mainly so I can use a shower.
If I were on a backpacking trip, I wouldn’t care particularly. Since I am planning to meet a woman who dresses to slay and I need to convince her to take me seriously, this is not optional.
Also if somehow the chance to hang out in close quarters with Nariel comes up again, I would prefer not to smell. Now that I think about it,hedoesn’t smell, which is probably dark magic.
Oddly, I don’t know any personal cleaning spells, just illusions in case the grand magus took me with him to talk to someone important while I was still covered in blood. I could figure one out—
—but it’s not the best use of the time still available to me.
I go for a ryokan. Limited space due to the late notice and the season, so they only have one room available, but again, I’m really there for the bathing facilities. And I do have money to spend.
If I’m in Japan and I only get one last bath, I’m going to an onsen.
