Chapter Seventy Eight: Just Christina
Christina's arc: Bend or Break
After school ended, I rendezvoused with Sakura. I surprised her by telling her that we were going to see Antwon today. Skeptical, she followed me to my ride. Yua picked us up from school. Drawing unwanted attention from other students is the cost of being royalty.
I stared out the window, observing seemingly normal people conduct their lives. Tedious, all of them.
"So, where are we going? If we have to leave Yamanashi—"
"We're not leaving Yamanashi," I said.
Sakura's eyes cut sharply, and she looked out of the other window, probably to regain composure.
Yua constantly checked us in the rearview mirror. When Sakura wasn't paying attention, Yua would mouth the words, "build a bridge; win his heart," as if that was all it took to get Antwon to behave with me properly.
I could simply wait for the contract to calcify, and then break him. So, why am I considering her advice…
"Sister-in-law, are you recovering well?"
…
"I'm…fine."
You better fucking not be fine.
"Is that so. I guess you don't need professional aid to expedite your recovery."
Sakura sucked in air.
"Sakura, Nakamura, and Antwon carried you off after our fight. There is nothing wrong with being truthful."
She slowly wrapped herself, holding her sides.
The car hit a small bump.
…
"I'm…sore all over. I haven't been going to baseball practice because of it," she said with a dejected expression.
Now that I've laid the foundation, let's build.
"Well, I'm also sore, too. You may have only hit me once, but it landed cleanly."
"Is that why you stopped smacking me and started beating the hell out of me?"
"Yes, it surprised me."
"Could you have done that without kissing me in front of the whole cafeteria?"
"Are you truly still angry about that? I only did it to shut Antwon up."
…
"If you help me," she said, still gazing out the window, "I'll still come after you to contest the contract."
"Good. Then I will beat you properly without kissing you, and then you will acknowledge my claim and accept your title."
So much for building.
I looked at Yua, who looked at me through the rearview mirror. She raised a brow, and then I remembered that she hadn't heard about the full extent of my altercation.
***
After arriving at what was once Antwon's home, we walked up familiar steps toward Antwon's parents' apartment. Sakura was in front of us, of course. I pulled on Yua's sleeve. After all, she wasn't dressed in armor this time.
"Did you take my father home?" I whispered.
She tried to say something, but a nod would have assured me. If words were required, then she didn't follow my orders without modifications.
"I don't think I need to give you a grand tour or proper introduction since you've both been here before… Hopefully, my family won't be at the end of your blade this time," Sakura said, looking back at Yua.
Yua looked at me as if I should say something back.
"We will see. As long as Antwon doesn't suddenly disappear—"
Yua dragged her hands down her face.
"There should be no reason for that," I said.
We approached the Carter residence, and Sakura produced a key.
The door opened, and Yua clutched the sheath of her blade.
***
We entered the white halls of the apartment. Shoes were placed in the genkan. Then we followed Sakura into the living room, which opened onto the entryway. The smell of something savory was accompanied by a man's gentle humming.
The kitchen was separated by a low bar, making it feel like its own space. On the other side of the bar was a glass table with a vase, holding a single flower. Beyond that was a couch facing toward a television, mounted on the wall. But what I came for was offset to the right, lying on his father's lap next to the patio window. He was asleep, breathing steadily against the afternoon's glow.
Sakura wasted no time sitting by his side. I stood there, watching Mr. Carter's hands meticulously weave his hair into its rope-like appearance while a significant portion remained wild and untamed.
"It's nice to see you again, Mr. Carter," Yua said, bowing before my father-in-law.
He yawned, then nodded, since he was already seated.
"It's a pleasure since I'm not being threatened. It's also nice to see you, your majesty." He started to bow.
"There is no need for ceremony while you are providing such a service," I said, waving my hand and preventing further prostration.
"Father-in-law, how long does this take?"
His eyes widened, his mouth gaped, and he turned to me in dismay.
"Y-you don't have to call me that…your majesty. I'm no one."
I smiled at his lack of understanding of the privilege I had bestowed upon him by claiming his son.
"Of course I do," I said, walking over to him and sitting next to Sakura.
"S-Sakura, get her a chair—"
I shook my head. "There is no need. I'm where I want to be."
"So, how long?" I said.
"A while," Sakura said, half looking at me.
"It varies. While he's sleeping, the process goes quickly. It also gets easier the further from the root I get." He finished, braiding together a rope. "You'll see."
He reached down, pulling hair from the base of Antwon's head. He took a deep breath and started the formation again.
"Ouch, you ass! I told you to wake me up before…Stop!" Antwon shouted.
Was that really worth all of that shouting?
His breaths were heavy as he stared at the ceiling.
"Can I start?" Antwon's father asked with a faint grin.
Sakura reached over, gently taking Antwon by the face, and kissed his forehead.
He reached for her, and they embraced.
I pushed my hair aside. I stayed composed, but something stirred within, something burned within me.
The hug ended, but the smile from it lingered on his face.
"I miss you…Antwon," Sakura cried out between sobs and tears.
Yua coughed, which caught Antwon's attention.
"Who are you?" Antwon said.
She stepped forward, making it easier for Antwon to see her. "I'm Yua Kurogane. I'm a member of Christina Tetsusen's royal guard, and soon to be yours," Yua said in a matter-of-fact kind of way.
"Okay…" Antwon said. He looked around, finding me by his side. I smiled. "Oh, you're here, too… I guess that tracks."
The nerve under my left eye twitched, but I kept my smile.
"Why wouldn't I be here, Antwon?" I said, wondering why he was brought here.
"Ouch! Don't pull, don't pull!"
"I'll stop pulling once you stop being mean to her."
But he wasn't pulling; he simply started a new rope.
…
"F-fine," he said, pouting.
It's cute to see him upset and powerless without a sharp comeback or defiant glare. I want to hold him, but when do I? How do I without…
I found myself staring at the floor; my countenance felt mournful, which means I'd lost my composure. I looked up to find Antwon's father softly glancing at me.
"I think that's enough for now, Antwon—"
"Seriously."
"Well, my hands hurt," he said, wiggling his fingers until they cracked. "You should spend some time with…" he started to wrap his hair in a cloth I've never seen. "Um, what do I call you? Is it always majesty?"
"Just call her your highness or else it's off with your head—Ouch!"
I couldn't look at Yua for advice; I didn't want…I didn't want…
My heart started to race, my mind went blank, and I couldn't find the right angle. They waited for a response that I could not provide.
I swallowed.
"Just call her Christina. If she wants more than that, her head will swell… Don't pull my hair, please."
The world refocused, and Antwon was sitting up. "The food's almost ready, but I don't know if it's good enough for you or your guard," Antwon said.
***
They started to sit around a small circular table in the living room. Antwon's father sat on one side, and Antwon sat opposite him. Which left two seats beside him. But I wasn't here to eat; I was here to pick up my boy and leave.
I walked up behind Antwon.
"Father-in-law, you never told me how long fixing his hair would take," I asked, wanting to touch Antwon. However, the final clause prevents me from any unrequited acts of intimacy.
"It'll take about two days. Stopping is out of the question, so either you bring me back tomorrow, or we stay the night," Antwon said without looking at me.
Antwon's dad and Sakura both stared at me.
"Well, the offer is nice, but Ms. Tetsusen can't stay in Veil territory. Her mother would—"
"I'm staying," I said louder than I had expected.
I looked around the room. Sakura looked at me like I had wronged her again, Antwon's father seemed happy, and Yua was in shock.
Yua stood there gently rocking back and forth. She shook her head and brushed her hair back.
"I-I will call Ms. Tetsusen and notify her of your decision." Yua reached for her phone.
"You will do nothing, Kurogane. You will tell nobody where we are, and where is my father?"
Yua lowered her phone and stepped forward.
"Ms. Tetsusen," She whispered, "Your mother would lose her mind if the heir of the throne stayed in—"
"Friendly territory," I said, staring into Yua's eyes.
I slid the seat out next to Antwon and sat down.
"My mother…my…Subaki picked your father up and took him back, your grace."
I looked at Antwon, and he looked at me, supporting his head with his hand.
"Well, what's for dinner?" I asked.
"Well, well, well. This is an apartment for three. Just where do you think you're going to sleep, Christina?"
Is he serious?
"She'll sleep in your room, Antwon," his dad said.
"Fine, then I'm sleeping in Sakura's room."
Sakura placed her fist to her forehead and shook her head.
Antwon's father sighed. "You'll be sleeping in your room, too, Antwon, because Ms. Yua will be sleeping in the living room…if she's staying."
"You can't put us in the same room. What if we start doing stuff, inappropriate stuff, Dad?"
I turned to Antwon's father. "He won't do anything, and I won't touch him."
…
Antwon stood up, still making eye contact. He walked around me and entered the kitchen. He returned with three plates. He placed one before Sakura, his father, and me. He returned to the kitchen and set two more plates: his own and someone else's.
"Thank you, Antwon." His father said.
Once he had set the food, I-I just looked at it. It was some yellowish round thing, with meat and red and green toppings. Then he added cream to it.
"Um, how do I…eat this?" I poked at the tower of food.
"Antwon," Sakura started, "why didn't you get her something she could recognize?" She said, scolding him.
"It's, um, fine."
"Shut up, Sakura! Listen, Christina. You eat it by opening your mouth and putting it in," Antwon said, brushing shoulders with me.
Sakura reached over and pulled his ear. "Stop being an asshole!"
"Don't be so rough with him," I growled.
"I'm sorry for my son's behavior. This is called sope, Christina," Antwon's father said with a smile. "You eat it by picking it up by the sides—"
"Dad, just show her. Look," Antwon said, "It's like this." He picked up the tower and took a bite out of it. Food spilled over onto his plate.
It looked messy.
"You see?" Antwon said with a smile.
"Yeah…"
The door opened, and I could hear the song of Yua's blade.
"I'm home," someone said, walking through the front door. "You could not imagine the shitty…day." She froze
…
"I…" She scanned the room. "We…um."
"It's fine, Mom. They're just uninvited guests."
I closed my eyes in disbelief that Antwon would say something so stupid.
"You are so freaking stupid, Antwon!" Sakura yelled.
***
Sakura loaned me a pair of her pajamas. It was the lowest point of my life, but I couldn't shake this warm, unfamiliar feeling. I fixed my hair in the bathroom at the Carter residence. Antwon… showered first, even though his parents insisted that I go first as an honorary guest. But he couldn't care less.
I checked my reflection, expecting to see my exhausted reflection after performing so much softness, yet I didn't. But there was a redness in my face…maybe the water was too hot.
I exited the bathroom, walked down the hallway to Antwon's room, and turned off the lights. His room was smaller than I imagined.
Antwon was lying on his bed. I gently sat down next to him. He wasn't awake, but I didn't want to disturb him. I lay down, facing away from him, because I had promised his parents that we wouldn't do anything.
"You seriously want to do something while they're down the hall, Yuriko?"
…
"Come on, Donte. It's Friday. It's our day—"
"Not to mention Yua is sleeping on the sofa."
You've got to be joking.
"Come on, Donte…"
I got out of bed, walked out of Antwon's room, and down the hallway to his parents' room door. I knocked twice.
"Just sleep with him, Donte, so we can all go to sleep."
…
They'll either fuck or shut the fuck up.
I walked back to Antwon's room and lay back down.
Antwon giggled.
"Stop laughing," I said, with a small smile that he couldn't see.
"Come on. That was funny, but if you had closed the room door, it would have muffled most of that conversation."
…
"It's still open, isn't it? If they start doing things, we're going to hear every moan."
I sighed. I got up and closed the door. When I lay back down, Antwon pulled me to face him. We stared at each other, but I didn't touch him because I couldn't. I wouldn't break the contract.
"What do you want?" I whispered.
He yawned.
Impudent.
"Wow, Christina. For a few hours, I forgot that you were royalty," he whispered back.
I closed my eyes and started to turn, but he stopped me.
"No comment?"
"Antwon, I'm tired. If you want to talk, let's do it tomorrow."
I turned, and he didn't stop me this time. I only wish he had a bigger bed. I closed my eyes. I tried to find comfort.
I should just leave. Why did I agree to stay here?
My head spun.
"Christina," Antwon whispered. "Can we… cuddle?"
"Why do you want to cuddle? I thought you didn't want me to touch you?"
…
"It helps me sleep."
"Oh, then cuddle with your sister," I said, feeling something wail inside of me. "I think she would like it, too."
…
"I am royalty, Antwon. I will rule the Iron Fan. I have a legally binding document that binds you to me… I am the monster you see me as."
He pulled on my arm and let him turn me. Even in the dark, his green eyes shimmered when light found them.
"I didn't see a monster today… Maybe this morning, but now I only see a girl." He brushed my hair out of my face, and I felt the warmth of his palm against my cheek. "I think I like you better without the crown."
I closed my eyes to capture one last image of him before I slept. "It was an experience…that I need to think about."
…
I felt his hand brace my lower back before he pulled me in. I forced a frown.
"You liked it."
…
"Come on. Say it."
"Hummm."
I felt his breath against the bridge of my nose. "I won't stop asking you until you say it."
Thunderous footsteps raced down the hall, then someone knocked on Antwon's door.
"For goodness sake! Just say you did, so we can sleep!" Sakura shouted. I opened my eyes, and we both laughed.
I hate this feeling because I don't know what it is, but—
"I think…you liked it more than I did."
"Close enough."
He embraced me, and I him.