♦⊱ Chapter 30 - Modern Life ⊰♦

Kijima pov:

"If you don't get your lazy butt out of bed now, I'm going to pour a whole bucket of water on you!"

I snapped my eyes open, my body tense from the loud hollering I had just heard. I had involuntarily reached for the hilt of my katana. His Majesty woke up with a start too but grunted in pain when he had sat up, clutching his wounded side in pain.

"Your Majesty!" I held his shoulder and watched as he took several breaths to ease out the pain. When he felt better we looked at Her Highness, Ruka sama who stood next to her brother, looking down at him with a frown. She was the one who had woken us with her loud yelling.

"Jeez Onee chan, you're really annoying in the mornings!" her brother groaned but sat up.

Her Highness only laughed, "That's good. It makes sure that you're not late for morning class. Now go get ready!"

Suppressing a yawn, the boy got up, ruffling his already messed up hair. He disappeared through a door and Ruka looked to the side when her father called for her.

"Sweetie, can you help me in the kitchen, please? Check on the eggs, will you?"

"I'm on it!" she responded and hurried to the kitchen.

I narrowed my eyes and soon noticed His Majesty watching her with a narrow gaze as well. More than me, I'm sure His Majesty was not pleased by how casual these people were being with Her Highness. They might be her family but she was married to His Majesty now, she was the empress! No one, not even her own family could be so casual with her. She had to be given utmost respect.

His Majesty's possessiveness over her, the only person to have every thought of him as important and human and to have loved him, was growing with every minute that passed and increasing his anger as well. I was concerned that it wouldn't be long before he lost his temper and did something violent.

"Breakfast is ready!" Her Highness walked out of the kitchen, balancing three plates of food in her hands. She placed it on the small dining table and her parents gathered to eat in a hurry. Her Highness went back to the kitchen and returned with three glasses – one had an orange colored juice in it while the other two had black liquids in them.

"Onee chan, can you iron my shirt please?! I forgot I had special class today and I'm running late!" her brother hollered, his hair wet and his upper body bare. Her Highness rolled her eyes and caught a cloth that he threw to her.

"See? That's why I tell you to wake up early!" she scolded.

"Alright, alright! Jeez! You're being just like mom!" he yelled back and began to wolf down his food.

While Her Highness went to her room, I looked back at Kichiro sama and then at that b****** Tomoki who was also awake and watching Her Highness the entire time. That irked His Majesty even more and I noticed him glance at my katana. If it wasn't for Her Highness' request to not use our katanas here, I'm sure His Majesty would have killed that b****** a long time ago.

Her Highness returned, breaking our intense glaring at Tomoki. The shirt in her hands was neatly pressed and she handed it to her brother who put it on in a hurry. However, it seemed his whining was not done yet. He held out a long, red cloth to her and said, "Onee chan, my tie, please!"

"Yes, yes, I know," she responded with a laugh and took the cloth from him. His Majesty tensed and snarled under his breath when she wrapped her arms around her brother's neck.

"What does she think she's doing?!" His Majesty hollered to me.

Thankfully, before I had to answer to His Majesty's anger, we noticed that she was merely tying the cloth around her brother's neck...in a very unique way. She frowned while she worked and said, "Honestly, Kojiro, you're going to be in high school next year. You should know how to tie a tie!"

"I'll learn! But no time now!" he passed her off. He stuffed his mouth with his food, gulped down his juice and hurried to the front door. "I'm off! By, Onee chan, Mum, Dad!"

"Have a good day, Kojiro. Be nice to your friends and teachers!" Her Highness called back before he disappeared.

"Ruka, are you sure you'll be alright on your own?" Her Highness' mother asked while getting ready to leave as well.

"I will, so stop worrying!" she answered with a cheery smile. "It's a good thing I got two days off from work but you should head out so you're not late."

"Okay, take care!"

With a wave, both Her Highness' mother and father left. She then sighed deeply before coming to sit on the floor a little away from us. "Goodness, what a rush mornings are..."

"Ruka? Are things like this for you every morning?" Tomoki asked.

Her Highness met his gaze when she answered, "For the most part. It's even more rushed when I have to leave for work too."

She looked between all of us with a smile but there was noticeable hurt in her eyes when His Majesty glared at her in return. I was unsure of what to think of her, especially after she had kissed His Majesty and said that she loved him when he was asleep last night. She was unaware that I was awake and aware of what she was doing – perhaps she wasn't lying to us when she said that we were in a time 400 years in the future of our time.

"Well, I hope you guys are hungry! I've made egg rolls, rice and fish fry," she said.

She set up the table again and we sat together to eat in silence. I could tell that Her Highness was feeling mildly bothered by how tense the atmosphere was but no words were spoken by anyone. Or perhaps, I spoke too soon.

"This is delicious, Ruka! You've become a good cook!" said Tomoki.

"Thank you, Tomoki. I've learnt how to cook well from my mother, fine tuning what I already knew."

"Ruka," spoke His Majesty, his eyes narrow on Her Highness. She tensed and her smile fell. She fisted her free hand that was on the table. "I don't have time for such nonsense and fooling around with the enemy. I have an empire to run and I have to return."

"You're darn right that you're my enemy!" Tomoki hissed in response.

What happened next was so quick that I barely saw it happen. But my reflexes were quick and I blocked Tomoki's katana just before he brought it down on His Majesty.

Ruka pov:

I suppressed a shriek when Tomoki lunged at Kichiro sama. I hadn't even noticed when he had reached for his katana but Kijima san was quick to react and block him before he hurt Kichiro sama. Tomoki was shoved back roughly and he gasped, falling to the floor while holding his side in pain. That didn't stop him from glaring harshly at Kichiro sama and Kijima san.

He reached for his katana again but I reacted this time, getting between him and Kijima san. "Stop it, Tomoki!" I scolded. "I told you that you cannot fight here! But if you insist on trying to hurt Kichiro sama, you're going to have to kill me first!"

I wasn't very surprised to see Tomoki moving already – his wound wasn't as deep or severe as Kichiro sama's and I knew that the slightest roughness in movement would open the wounds of the latter. I didn't want Kichiro sama to feel any more pain, physically or mentally – he had gone through enough, he was hated enough, and I wasn't going to let him be treated this way in my presence.

"Ruka! Why are you still supporting him?! He killed Lady Kana and kidnapped you! He's killed so many people! He's just a merciless monster, a killing machine! Nothing more than-"

"That's enough, Tomoki!" I yelled, silencing and surprising him by the commanding tone my voice had. "I know him far better than you do and I don't want to hear your opinions about him. Whatever happened in the past cannot be changed, even though I feel sad about it too, and whether you like it or not, I love Kichiro sama and I'm married to him – I'm his wife and nothing is going to change that fact or my feelings for him!"

Tomoki's eyes had gone wide in surprise. Kijima san too looked surprised but Kichiro sama's gaze was still narrow and scrutinizing.

"But, Ruka, how could you-"

"I'm sorry, Kichiro sama," I spoke with a small smile, interrupting Tomoki. "I know that you need to go back to your empire but, unfortunately, I don't know how you got here and how you can go back. There is one person I've heard of though, who might be able to help us. If you feel well enough to walk, we could go and see him after you're all done with breakfast."

He narrowed his eyes but nodded in agreement. "We will go to see him."

"Okay. Why don't you all finish eating first? I'll get ready and the three of you can freshen up a bit too before we head out. You'll have to wear different clothes – my father's will fit so you can wear them for the time being."

Breakfast and freshening up was quick. When everyone was dressed in modern clothes we headed out. I couldn't help but glance at Kichiro sama every now and then – he looked really good in modern clothes, his hair tied up in a ponytail. He wasn't very comfortable in the clothes though, as were the other two, but I was glad that they were cooperating.

We walked at a slow pace so Kichiro sama and Tomoki were not uncomfortable in any way. Kichiro sama had a slight limp but Tomoki seemed fine for the most part. They were, however, blown off their feet when we came to the main street. They were amazed and a little apprehensive at the sights they saw, the vehicles that passed by, and the numerous people who went about their daily lives.

After answering some curious questions, I sighed deeply and looked ahead. I was taking these three to a man who was a well-known fortune teller in this part of the city. I didn't really believe in fortune telling, I suppose, but it was worth giving him a try because we didn't have any other option. It would be great if he could find a way to send these three back to the past but...there was one thing that was bothering me.

If these three went back, I'd never be able to see them again. I'd never see Kichiro sama again. I didn't want that.

I loved his so much. I loved him more than anything in the world and I couldn't bear to imagine being separated from him again. I had believed that I had hallucinated what I thought had happened in the two years I was in the past. I had thought that my memory of what had really happened had been replaced by vivid imagination because I had bumped my head really hard on something. But when they turned up here, I was sure that everything I had experienced in the two years wasn't a dream.

The Edo Period was real, the kidnapping was real, my confession was real, Kichiro sama's kisses were real. Everything was real.

I was finally reunited with Kichiro sama but he hated me now. Well, even if he didn't hate me, he had to return to his time, right? He was an emperor with responsibilities to take care of. He had to go back – then, what about me? What about my love for him? I couldn't just pretend that nothing had happened and fall in love with someone else. My conscience wouldn't allow that! I loved Kichiro sama, married him, and had made a promise to myself to be with him forever. I couldn't just throw that all away just because we were from different time periods and give up and...

I glanced at Kichiro sama again as he walked a few feet from me. My eyes prickled – I didn't know what to do. I wanted to be with him, he hated me, and there was barely any chance of me being able to go back with him. What was I going to do when they left? How would I move on?

"Ruka!" I snapped out of my thoughts and nearly jumped out of my skin when someone glomped me from behind. Everyone's attention was on me immediately and I turned to look at Yuri who was giving me a beaming smile while still holding me around the shoulders.

"Yuri! Goodness, you startled me! What are you doing here?" I asked smiling. "Shouldn't you be at the university?"

"I'm playing hooky today to go on a date with my boyfriend!" she squealed, her grin widening. "He's just so cute and adorable! I honestly can't get enough of him!"

"Well, sweet worries for you," I said with a laugh.

"Like you're any lesser!" she teased, looking between Kichiro sama and Tomoki. "I can see you're hanging out with some hotties yourself!"

"So, who's the lucky guy, Yuri? Do I know him?" I quickly diverted her attention.

She blushed but looked to the side with a fond smile. She had mentioned that she was dating but I could tell from her expression now that she was serious about this relationship. I could tell that she really loved her boyfriend – it wasn't a simple crush and I sincerely hoped that she would be happy with him in the future.

"We work at the same part-time job. He asked me out first and I think that our frequencies really match. Being with him has made me realize that one shouldn't let go when one finds the right person. If they do, they'll really regret it."

"Regret letting them go?" I asked, my smile falling and my voice hushed. I glanced back at Kichiro sama for a moment. He was watching me with narrow eyes, not entirely suspicious though. I'm sure he or Kijima san or Tomoki couldn't hear our conversation and I was glad for that.

"Ruka?" Yuri called, shifting my attention back to her. She placed a hand on my shoulder with a warm smile, "You love him, don't you? The one with the long, black hair?"

"How did you-"

"You're quite obvious," she said with a short laugh. "Don't let him go no matter what, alright?"

"No matter what?" I repeated warily.

Yuri nodded, "I never told you but I believed what you told me about traveling to the past. I was shocked but I believed you. I've known you for a very long time, Ruka, long enough to know that a silly lightning bolt can't hurt you and make you hallucinate. At least not about something as crazy as going to the Edo Period and falling in love with the emperor there."

"Yuri," I mumbled, my eyes going a little wide.

"If he's the man you are in love with, I think you should chase after him. He looks a little scary but the way he looks at you is just so tender. I can tell that he longs for you too, even though he might not show it. You should follow your heart even if it means going back to the Edo Period with him." She gave my shoulder an affectionate pat and began to take steps backwards, "Anyway, let me know your decision, okay? I should be going now – I don't want to make my sweetheart wait too long!"

She gave me a flying kiss before she sprinted away. I was left stunned by her words, looking after her without moving or blinking.

Could I really go to the Edo Period with Kichiro sama? I loved him and wanted to be with him but what about my family? What about Mother and Papa and Kojiro? Would they support me? Would going to the Edo Period be alright?

"Ruka? Who was that?" Tomoki's question snapped me out of my daze. I met his eyes but glanced at Kichiro sama who was still several feet from me. My chest constricted but I took several deep inhales to regain composure.

I was in a dilemma – this wasn't a decision I could make easily. Whether it was family or Kichiro sama, I was talking about permanent separation from one of them. Choosing between the two was difficult, very much so.

But I suppose talking to the fortune teller was the first priority. Depending on what he said, whether there was a way to send these three back immediately or not, I would worry about my decision. I shook my head to push away the distracting thoughts for now and smiled at Tomoki.

"She's one of my best friends – we've been friends since we were four years old. She was on her way to meet her fiancé. Anyway, we should get going too, c'mon."

Giving one last glance in the direction she had gone, I followed the trio to the fortune teller's.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

*drum roll*

Ruka is closing in on her crossroads of destiny. She's going to have to make a really tough decision soon and she's anxious about it. Goodness, the pressure she's under must be nerve wreaking...welp, good luck to her!

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