“Really?” Florian had stammered, not quite believing how readily Kade had agreed. “Even if it’s like... two weeks?”
“If that’s what you want to do,” Kade said, nodding. “I think a break from everything would be nice.”
Once he heard Kade echo what August had suggested, Florian’s mind was made up. Within a few days, he’d researched everything that he could for their trip and copied out an itinerary based on what he’d found on travel blogs and video tours. Part of him balked at the cost of hotels and airfare, but he had more money now than he’d ever dreamed of having. Once he had finished and showed his work to Kade and his uncle, August asked him why he hadn’t just hired a travel agent to book everything—blinking owlishly, Florian admitted that he hadn’t even considered such a thing. That too seemed an extravagant expense, but what else was he doing with the money Jerah had left him?
Telling Nadia he was leaving again had been the worst part.
“Japan!” she exclaimed, when he told her about their upcoming trip. “Florian! That’s amazing!”
He grinned sheepishly. “Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
“I can’t believe you’re going to Japan instead of going on that road trip we talked about,” she teased, pinching his arm playfully. He laughed, but a stab of guilt pierced his chest when she said it. Those plans felt so long ago. Once everything was done, they would take their road trip—he only wished he could tell her when that would be.
“We’ll still do a road trip,” he promised.
“I see how it is,” she continued. “You like your new boyfriend better than me.”
He laughed, looking away as she nudged him teasingly. But she still seemed to sense his guilt, and after a moment, she looped their arms together affectionately.
“I’m really not mad, Flor,” she said softly. “I just missed you. I know we’ll still do our road trip.”
“We will,” he repeated. “I promise.”
The guilt still lingered as they arrived at the airport the next day, on and off through their flight, and even when they finally arrived in Kyoto, where they would spend the first week of their trip. But after that, he had been too busy to think of much else, between visiting shrines and taking long hikes with stunning views.
Then they moved on to Tokyo, exploring its busy streets and eating so much good food that Florian wondered how he could ever go back. He still hadn’t been sleeping well, but now it was jet lag keeping him awake—instead of worry and guilt and dread.
But last night he had slept perfectly. It was their final morning in Tokyo: soon they would be checking out and heading to Okinawa, where, according to Jerah’s map, the curtain to the dragon kingdom could be found.
Despite being in the middle of the city, their hotel was high up enough that the noise of the streets below was completely imperceptible. When they weren’t out sightseeing, the room was relaxing in a way that Florian couldn’t remember experiencing last. Everything had been so intense in the past months—his life had completely changed so quickly, and this was the first real opportunity he had to take some time and process it all.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” Kade said softly, watching Florian as he straightened back up, looking out the window again.
“I’m wishing we could stay longer,” he chuckled, shaking his head.
“We could.”
For a long while Florian was silent, staring out at the city skyline. They could, if they really wanted to. Money was no problem anymore, at least not for a long while. If they really wanted to, they could stay here forever. They could stay on Earth forever, and never go back to the Veil, and avoid all the stress and fear and danger.
But everyone who remained in the Veil was relying on him, even if they didn’t know it. His father brought him there to save them. He couldn’t let Jerah’s death be in vain—his heart squeezed painfully at the very thought.
“No,” Florian finally answered. “No, we should go. The longer we’re here, the harder it will be to go back. It’ll be better to just get it over with quickly, like a Band-Aid.”
Kade blinked. “A what?”
Florian laughed and fell back into bed beside him, wrapping his arms around Kade’s waist.
“Nevermind,” he said, burying his face against Kade’s strong shoulder. “Let’s just cuddle until we have to leave.”
Kade hugged him tightly, making a soft noise of agreement. “Sounds good.”
With their things packed and souvenirs sent off to August and Nadia in Coral Shores, Florian and Kade flew from Tokyo to Okinawa. Florian’s nerves returned as they boarded the flight—they had only a vague idea of where to go in Okinawa to find the curtain, based on a short note jotted on the map:Mount Ishikawa Loop. North from the peak. Spring 1/4 mi, look for Ryuuga guard.
Florian had been able to find the hiking trail when he searched the name Mount Ishikawa Loop: it was a moderate trail with some steeper climbs. Considering they had walked for days through the Blight, Florian wasn’t too concerned about making the hike; but climbing the mountain sounded harder, and he worried about being able to find the actual curtain with so little to go off of.
“It’ll be fine,” Kade said softly, placing his hand on Florian’s knee. He hadn’t realized his leg had been shaking. “Don’t be anxious. We’ll figure it out.”
Florian smiled weakly up at him. Already, their blissful morning felt like a distant dream. “I know. I’ll try.”
