"Ryuu..."
I don't want to wake up. I can't believe it's morning already because I still feel like sleeping for three more hours. We had so much work yesterday, so many things we had to finish no matter what beforeâ
"Love, wake up!" Erik tickles me under my feathers because I ignored him completely the first time.
I unwillingly open my eyes, disoriented for a moment because I don't recognise my surroundings and my back is a bit stiff.
"Didn't you say that you're too anxious to fall asleep during the flight?" Erik teases me. "Your ability to fall asleep anywhere and anytime never ceases to amaze us."
"We're landing in twenty minutes and the maids need some time to make you presentable," Gotrid jokes and he caresses my ruffled bed hair.
"Landing...," I yawn and in that very second my drowsiness finally wears off. "WE'RE HERE ALREADY?!"
I hurry to the window and look outside. We're not above the sea anymore, Japan is stretching below us. I hardly remember my childhood in Japan, but that view still moves me somehow. My homeland.
"Your Majesty, we don't have much time," Ayala and Cien kidnap me for a makeover session because my current robe is crumpled from the long flight.
"How am I supposed to fly in it?" I protest because I see them holding brand-new ceremonial attire.
"Carefully," Cien shrugs and starts to put on me layer after layer. In times like these, I'm really grateful that I don't need to pee anymore.
"At least tie my hair," I plead.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but we won't have any time to change you later," Ayama says apologetically and braids my hair. "The Prime Minister will be waiting for you at the airport to officially welcome you and the biggest Japanese media agencies will be present as well. You have to look gorgeous."
"Doesn't he already?" Gotrid sends me an air kiss while Cien is helping him with dressing up as well.
I see Erik change his shirt and take out a new jacket, but he's done quickly. If anything, human fashion is definitely more practical.
"I hope you slept well because we're not hitting the bed anytime soon," Liana appears in our cubicle, perfectly dressed already. "It's only eleven in the morning here and we're having lunch with the Prime Minister in an hour."
"Ryuuto might be the only person on the plane who actually managed to take a nap," Erik smirks. "Everyone else was too nervous to doze off even for a minute."
"I'm nervous as well," I set the record straight. "It's just... my brain is always so overwhelmed that it happily takes every opportunity to shut down."
"We know, hon, we're just teasing you," Erik winks at me and, because Ayala is done with me, she takes a moment to style Erik's hair.
"So, it will go like this," Liana starts explaining. "The Prime Minister will welcome us at the airport, but we shouldn't spend too much time on it, it's just necessary politeness. We're meeting him properly at lunch. The Japanese Royal Guard will escort us to the estate while Erik rides with Ichikawa."
"Time for some quality bonding," Erik tries to joke, but I can tell he's very nervous about it.
He might be used to politics by now, but he doesn't know proper Japanese manners that well. He did want to spend some time and prepare in advance, but Liana decided it won't be necessary. He's the Royal Consort and thus represents Celestials. And Celestials bow to no one but their Emperor even if it's just symbolic and out of politeness.
"You will do fine," I kiss him. "Just remember that bonding means two very different things, especially in the Japanese context, so better not use that word with Ichikawa or he might misinterpret it."
"Two different... oh!" Erik finally understands and blushes.
"Just be yourself, you're natural at representing," I kiss him again quickly before we're forced to sit down. We're landing.
I realise how tranquil it was up there in the sky when the telepathic pressure intensifies. I'm not feeling just the cabin crew and my subjects anymore because we're low enough for me to feel the city. However, it's not any different from Prague so I calm down.
Landing is smooth and soon we're told that we can get off the plane. I become a bit shaky with anticipation, but Erik and Gotrid are standing by my side and Liana is here as well. And with all the guards we took with us and the Japanese Celestials joining them, there shouldn't be anything to be afraid of. Hopefully, not even my father.
First, the guards get off, when we do. I take a deep breath of Japanese air and look below. There's a huge crowd of Celestials waiting for us, the Japanese delegation with Prime Minister Ichikawa and countless soldiers, mostly trying to keep the journalists behind the barricades. I'm catching so many jarred emotions that I hope I won't develop a migraine on my first day here.
"His Majesty is finally here!"
"Oh, his mana is overwhelming!"
"He's so beautiful!"
The view is both mind-blowing and a bit scary. Japanese Celestials are as fanatical as their European and American counterparts, the media is just as intrusive and Japan is watching my arrival being streamed live. It would actually be funny if I tripped over my hellishly impractical robe.
There's a protective shield all around the plane alreadyâthe Japanese Celestials sure didn't lose any time or took any chancesâand it looks like Minister Ichikawa has to fight for his right to greet me first because the Celestials behind him start pushing.
"Calm down, I'm meeting the Prime Minister first," I say regally and because my voice can't be heard in that commotion, I convey my words to Celestials telepathically.
They have yet to experience my telepathy, so it takes them aback unprepared. They freeze and I can tell that Prime Minister Ichikawa is deeply impressed. From his point of view, I barely let out one sentence not everybody could hear properly, but it disciplined my people completely.
"Your Majesty, on behalf of the Japanese people, I officially welcome you home," the Prime Minister greets me solemnly.
It's clever of him to use the word 'home' as if I'm their citizen and therefore somewhat bound to Japan. He wants to make it sound like it's in my interest to keep Japan safe just because I was born here. It's ironic considering my citizenship was rejected and I was deported to the EU. But I let it go for now. There will be time for making things clear between us later.
"Ichikawa-san," I nod and use an appropriate suffix. I say a few more sentences in Japanese to demonstrate that I speak fluently, but then I switch back to English so that everybody can understand.
I study Ichikawa's expression and intentions and I have to commend him for not averting his eyes. Not many people can withstand a Celestial gaze, our piercing golden eyes unnerve humans and mine especially. I sense that he will probably be a bit pushy with his agenda, but nothing malicious. Ichikawa seems to be an honest man who just wishes to protect his country. My second impression of him is the same as when I first met him at the New York conference which is always a good sign.
"I'm looking forward to our future cooperation, Your Majesty," Ichikawa says politely and he really means it which is rare when it comes to politicians I've met so far.
"Likewise," I say not less honestly.
"My Emperor, everything is prepared for your arrival," Gavreel finally gets to me because he couldn't exactly pull the Prime Minister aside while he was still standing right in front of me.
"Hi, Gavreel, nice to meet you in person," I smile at our Japanese liaison officer.
"Majesty, I humbly ask...," Gavreel bows deeply and doesn't straighten up for some reason. It's as if he's waiting for something.
Oh, sorry about that, Aefener, Liana sends me her thoughts quickly. I...ehm... I promised them that the Royal Guard will get your blessing earlier than the others as part of their new privileges. I forgot to mention it.
I want to roll my eyes ostentatiously, but I can't because the cameras are watching my every move. Besides, I don't feel Liana is lying to me. She forgot about it because she had so many things on her plate.
I resist sighing and stretch my right wing to Gavreel. When our feathers touch, I give him my blessing. I don't feel comfortable about giving it out in public, but the whole world knows about it anyway. Celestials are great at keeping secrets, but there were other races present when I discovered I can do something like this.
Gavreel's expression changes in absolute bliss which makes other Celestials even crazier for their turn. They start to nervously flutter their wings and human delegates have to make more space for them. I touch all of them one by one and try hard to remember their faces. I often forget names, but never telepathic imprints.
Fanatical, Erik comments irritably in his thoughts because my current guards have to make sure that nobody touches me on their own and, gosh, they do want that. But, strangely, I don't mind anymore. If it's about my people, my Emperor nature can pretty much put up with anything. It might not be healthy but that's how I feel about it now.
I know that Erik doesn't like it. He thinks that they are constantly overworking me and won't leave me alone even for a minute if he wasn't by my side. And he's right about that. I love him for stealing me away from them from time to time. He's the sole reason I haven't collapsed yet. But I have responsibilities as the Emperor and this is one of them.
I finally bless the last Celestial from my new reinforced Royal Guard and then look back at the Prime Minister. He's been staring at me the whole time, his expression seemingly unreadable. I'm surprised to discover that he understands. Is it a cultural thing? Maybe giving out blessings isn't weird in a culture with Buddhism and Shintoism as their main religions.
"Your Majesty, please follow us," Gavreel is about to spread his wings, but I'm still holding Erik's hand so he folds them back. "The Royal Consort will be protected by the Japanese government, you have nothing to fear, my Emperor."
I know that, of course, but I'm still afraid to part with him. If my father wanted to hurt me, I have no doubt he would go after Erik.
"I'll be okay, love," Erik himself has to assure me. "Just look at my escort."
He's right, as always. Because he's riding with Ichikawa, he will get all the protection the Japanese can muster. Moreover, I almost forgot that Noage is also riding with him. Noage and Erik are the only non-Celestials in our delegation because Julia insisted that we need a doctor with us. Considering how often I tend to faint, I didn't dare to argue with her. I notice that Noage is getting off quite late and he looks on the verge of puking.
"Your Majesty, let me be personally responsible for your Consort's safety," Ichikawa says resolutely when he sees how hard it is for me to part with Erik.
"It's only half an hour," Erik kisses me and finally gets in the presidential limousine.