Far Away

The road back to Kyoto was far briefer than the entire journey that it took after leaving the capital. That's because there was no journey at all. Ryoma was able to transport us there in the blink of an eye, which was something he could easily do but didn't resort to often because he enjoyed traveling.

The void fox had decided to stay in the capital to try rekindling his bond with Sana. I was unsure if he would be able to make it up for her, for she was too hurt. But dearly in my heart, I wished that they would slowly be able to see each other as father and daughter again.

I still had a few hours left in the 15th century, as Ryoma was preparing the statue to receive Inari's power again, assisted by Momo.

I hadn't talked to Mina ever since our fight. She had already returned to the imperial palace, while I stayed at the shrine with the others. It was still hard to believe that this would be our demise. 

I was never hopeful about the possibility of a happy ending for us, but I thought we'd at least part ways in amicable terms. Now, it seemed like we wouldn't even say goodbye to each other, and it felt like my heart was shattered on the floor, like an unsolved puzzle.

"Hey, cheer up," Sana sweetly pleaded, looking at me with a sad smile. "You're going back home. You're supposed to be happy!" 

I returned her smile, feeling thankful at her effort to comfort me. "Right now everything feels bittersweet," I admitted, clearing a single tear that insisted on falling. "On one side, I am delighted to return home. It's the place I truly belong... but I'm going to miss all of you so much. You guys truly became my family here."

She sighed and embraced me, gently caressing my back. "Aw... we're all going to miss you too, Nayeon," she said, and from her voice, I could tell that she was also crying.

"Thank you for everything you did for me," I returned, holding tightly onto her. "I would be lost without all of you." 

She pulled away and kindly wiped my tears away, biting her lip before saying, "Are you sure you don't want to talk to Mina before leaving? It just feels wrong for the two of you to say goodbye like this." 

"I don't think she wants to see me, Sana," I sincerely replied, clutching tightly to my heart. "Her life would be a lot easier if I never showed up." 

"You know that's not true!" Sana exclaimed, putting her hands on my shoulder. "I've never seen Mina this happy, and it's all because of you. You made such a difference in her life, Nayeon." 

"Even if that is true, what difference does it make now?" I shot back in frustration. "I'm leaving, Sana. And she's staying here... Momo was right, we should never have gotten so attached... but I couldn't help it, and now we have to pay the price."

"But you two love each other," she sadly responded, seeming dejected. "Maybe she'll change her mind... give her a chance, Nayeon."

Deciding to listen to Sana's advice, I made my way to the palace. I didn't even know what I would say to Mina, but in the end, it didn't matter, because I wasn't able to find her anywhere. 

"I guess it just wasn't meant to be," I mumbled, kicking a few pebbles in the garden. 

"Nayeon!" I suddenly heard a voice and was greeted with someone hugging me from behind. Someone rather short. 

"Nako!" I replied, turning back to look at the young princess who beamed happily at me. 

"Why didn't you come to see me?!" She asked with a sulky expression. "Were you going to leave without saying goodbye to me?"

"I-I'm sorry, Nako," I replied, feeling bad for not even thinking about coming to see her. I was so distracted by everything else that I didn't even think of that, so I gently patted her head. "I… well, I got into an argument with Mina, so she returned to the palace alone." 

"Really?"Nako returned, sounding dejected. "So that's why Mina was acting so weird."

"Yeah, probably," I spoke, biting my lip. "Do you know where she is?" 

"She's not here right now. I think she said something about seeing her father," Nako answered. "But don't worry! I'll smack some sense into her when she returns!" 

"Thank you, Nako," I gratefully replied, hugging the innocent girl.

Unable to meet Mina, I returned to the shrine. Upon walking inside, I could finally see the statue that caused all of this to happen, and I wasn't surprised to find out it was a fox. 

The time to return home was closer than ever, and the feeling was indescribable. I watched Sana and Momo looking at me, and knowing that this was the last time I would see them caused my heart to ache. I rushed to their arms and embraced them.

"I'm going to miss you two!" I cried, trying to transmit how grateful I was by tightly hugging them. 

"All you have to do is destroy that statue again if you ever want to see us," Sana joked, but her eyes were as watery as mine. 

"Sana!" Momo warned, but ended up laughing a bit. 

"I learned my lesson, and will be more careful around holy objects now!" I replied, looking carefully at Ryoma, who waited for me beside the fox statue. 

I hesitantly let go of my friends and walked towards him. "Are you ready to return home?" He asked, a small smile on his solemn face. 

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be," I replied truthfully, my hands slightly trembling.

Ryoma placed his hand on top of my head. I closed my eyes, experiencing a weird sensation as if a current of energy was being removed from me. The kitsune moved his hand away from me and placed it in the statue, making it glow alight with the same brilliant color I grew used to. 

"When you're ready to go, all you have to do is touch the statue," he explained. 

I gazed at Momo and Sana for the last time, smiling and trying to memorize them in my heart. Taking a deep breath, I watched the statue before me. All of this started with it, and now it'll end as well. I extended my hand, ready to touch it. 

"Wait!" Echoed a voice that was already too familiar to me. A voice that sent my heart aflame. 

It was Mina, storming inside the temple with Nako beside her. She panted heavily, and I blinked to make sure this wasn't an illusion. Did she change her mind? Perhaps she wanted to say goodbye to me after all.

"W-Wait," she repeated, bending her body to try catching some air, and then approaching me. "Please don't live, N-Nayeon... I don't think I can live without you anymore."

Nako rushed to my side and clung to my sleeve, saying, "Mina told me everything that happened, Nayeon. She's been such an idiot, but I was able to convince her." 

Mina blushed, and the closer she walked to me, the stronger my heart pounded. 

"I hate to admit it, but her highness is right," Mina said, pleadingly looking into my eyes as she gently cupped my face. "I've been such an idiot, Nayeon. You were right. My happiness is more important. You are more important, you made these months happier than my entire life has been. My father wants me to marry a man I don't love... he doesn't care about me, but you do... and I... I choose you."

I threw myself into her arms, hugging her tightly, and all of my fears were slowly dissipating. It was hard to believe this was happening, but I embraced the idea of a paradise with her. 

"Will you take me back?" She softly whispered, wrapping her arms around me. 

It felt like I was melting, and I quickly answered, "Of course, you idiot... I love you, and I want nothing more than to be with you."

"I hope you're willing to accept me too," Nako suddenly said, and I pulled away from Mina to look at her, clearly confused. 

"What do you mean?" I asked, unsure if I understood what she was implying, I then looked at Mina for reassurance. 

"I... I know it sounds crazy, but I can't just leave Nako behind," Mina began explaining, gauging for my reaction. 

"Please let me go too, Nayeon!" Nako pleaded, her orbs nearly crying out. "I hate it here, I hate being a princess... I hate not having freedom, and I hate the idea of being away from Mina. So I begged her to take me along." 

I couldn't help but smile at the young girl and pushed her towards us is an embrace. "If you two are a combo package, then, of course, I'm willing to take it." 

"What's a combo package?" Nako asked, furrowing her eyebrows in bewilderment.

"You'll learn about it when you go to the 21st century with me!" I replied, laughing at her confusion.

"So I'm going with you?!" Nako excitedly asked, seeming happier than I've ever seen her. 

I nodded, watching as Sana and Momo approached us, and Mina turned around to face them. 

"So you're sure about this, Mina?" Momo asked, gazing at her childhood friend. "I'm gonna miss you, but I want you to be happy, so you have my support." 

Mina suddenly pulled her friend in an embrace, hugging her tightly. "I've never been so sure about anything... I gave this a lot of thought, Momo. And after witnessing my father's indifference towards me, I made my decision," she explained. 

"I'm happy for you then," Momo replied, beaming as she shed a few tears. "If anyone asks, I'll say that I have no idea where the young princess and her retainer disappeared to."

"Surely it'll be chaos," Sana said, giggling in a high pitch and embracing Mina to say goodbye. "I'm proud of you for this, Mina. You should be able to make your own decisions." 

"Thank you, Sana... and thank you, Momo," Mina said gratefully. "We should be going now before they realize Nako is missing." 

Mina held my hand, and with the other one, she grasped Nako's. We bid farewell to our loyal friends, making sure we would never forget about them and all they did for us. 

At last, I touched the statue, ready for what the future would bring. A tingly sensation took over, and everything became enveloped in a radiant light until we were shrouded by darkness. 

The familiar sound of heavy rain hitting a rooftop pierced my ears, and I immediately recognized where I was. It was the same place that prompted my journey to the 15th century, but now, everything had changed. 

And that difference could only be explained by the people that were by my side. In particular, the girl who at first seemed as far away as the ages I traveled, but who stole my heart the closer I got to her.  

I dragged her outside, and she seemed hesitant because of the rain, so she left Nako under shelter. But on the moment she could see my beaming face overflowing joy, her anxious expression transformed into my favorite gummy smile. 

The rainstorm left us drenched, but I couldn't care less. It was this same downpour that allowed me to meet Mina, and as I passionately kissed her underwater, I made a mental note to never buy an umbrella.