[Fanfic] We'll Always Have Paris - Chapter Thirty - Six: A Father's Love
Four days since the last update, I'm improving! XD Who wants some Papa Crown Prince? Haha. You'll love him (or love him even more XD) in this chapter.
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors and mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :)
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are purely fictional.
Words: 2,038
Chapter Thirty - Six: A Father’s Love
Her father is looking at her with such delicate expression as awkward silence creeps inside the hospital room. She just couldn’t find the words to justify her decision to get married, not after seeing her father’s reaction. It’s as if he doesn’t know if he’ll react positively and be happy for her or to just be true to himself about what he really feel when he realize that his twenty -one-year-old daughter is thinking of marriage just to get out of the situation that he puts her through.
“But Yumi…” He sighed. His voice is hoarse and dry. “You’re still very young…” He leaned forward, raising her chin up to look at him. “What about law school?”
“I’m not abandoning law school. I’d start attending next spring just as planned.” She answered certainly. “Our marriage will not affect my studies, Father. I’d finish law school just as I promised you and Mother.”
“But what if you get pregnant? Being a law student and a wife is hard enough what more if you become a mother?”
Sayumi smiled. The thought of having Sho’s children is a reality she’s been waiting to have but they may have to wait for a few years more. “We decided not to have kids until I finish law school. Like you, Sho also wishes for me to finish my studies.”
Her father still looks uncertain. He can’t help but think that his daughter is only doing this for one thing.
“If you’re doing this just to prevent ascending to the throne-”
“That may be a part of the reason…” Yumi cuts him off. She doesn’t want him to think that she’s getting married solely for the purpose of avoiding her fate as a future Empress. “That may have sparked us to do it earlier than what we planned but Sho and I have been talking about marriage since we were in Paris. Even before he found out that I’m a Princess... He even proposed in front of the Eiffer Tower.” She smiled softly at the vivid memory.
She found her father’s hands and squeezed it gently with an assuring smile. “It may happen quite fast, I even thought that it’s ridiculous to love someone that easily but no matter what my brain tells me to, my heart says otherwise. We love each other, way more than we ever loved anyone in the past. He just consumes me since the first time I laid eyes on him and no matter how I much I search for a reason not to continue feeling what I feel, I just always find myself going back to him.”
She is closed to tears, desperately trying to assure her father that her decision is what she really wants, not because she needed to but because she know that she have already found the one she’s looking for.
“I may be young and it may be too early to talk about forever, but right now that’s exactly what I feel. I want to spend forever with him.” A single tear fell from her eyes, seeing that her father might not be convinced yet. She can see it in his face.
He still doesn’t want his daughter to go and live her own life as someone else’s wife, because for him she’s still his little girl. He cannot handle the thought of him spending his remaining life living alone in a huge palace. He already gave away his first daughter to another man and he just lost the woman he thought he’ll spend forever with. And now his Yumi…
He pulled her closer and pats her damp cheek with his hand. She smiled at him but the tears are threatening inside her eyes. It’s not what he wanted for her, she just knew from the way he talks to her using his eyes and she hated disappointing him.
The tears quickly fell as she drops into his shoulders, crying. “I’m sorry.” She whispered quietly as she felt his hand stroking her back.
“Why are you crying?” He asked with a soft laugh, maybe it can hide the sadness he feels inside.
“I wanted this father.” She murmured desperately. “You’re the only person I can get strength from, the only one I’m sure of to give me his one hundred percent support. I was hoping you’d understand because you always did since I was young…” Her voice stammered with the uncontrollable tears.
He cradled her lovingly in his arms, tightly as if he never wanted to let go.
He doesn’t want her go, she has spent half her life away from him and the loss of her mother, his wife, brought them back together for good, he thought. But it turns out to be temporary.
“He makes you happy and I can see how much you love him.” He told her, not letting go of their hug. “If that’s what you wanted, Yumi, I will support you one hundred percent.”
But for twenty-one years, he has always trusted Sayumi with her decisions. Even if he knows that it’s going to be hard, even if he doesn’t agree, if it’s way too ambitious and even if she’ll live a thousand miles away him, he always gave his support because he know that she is always capable of that choice.
He may be the Crown Prince of Japan but he’s also a father. He only wishes for his children’s happiness, especially Sayumi because she lived a life short of it. A tough childhood and years of living alone in a faraway place, he knew that Sayumi longs for a life opposite of what she had and now that she have Sakurai Sho in her life, she’s close to having the life she wanted.
Sayumi will always be his daughter. Before she becomes Sakurai Sho’s wife and before she becomes the mother of Sho’s children, she is his daughter first and it will always stay that way.
----------
Hearing from Sayumi that they got her father’s blessing eases up Sho a notch higher. That leaves them his parents and her grandfather left to convince.
He will eventually have to talk to his parents and that should be as soon as possible before it reaches the prying ears of the media. He doesn’t want his mother barging in again to his apartment, she might erupt this time around.
“What did he say? How did he react?” Sho asked her as they walk on the corridor to her father’s room.
“He’s against it at first.” Sayumi answered. “Although he didn’t actually say that he’s against it, I can see it in his eyes. But even if he thinks I’m too young to be married, my father only wanted one thing for me… to be happy.” She said meaningfully.
“When I was young, there’s not a day where I wouldn’t cry and no one can stop me, only him. I remember him picking up to his arms and he would lay down with me my bed, I would crawl up to his chest and I would stop crying as he gently stroke my back…”
Her hand is trembling on his as she stopped her tracks and wipes away invisible tears on her eyes.
“He would always tell me the same thing every night…” She smiled at him as he caresses her cheeks softly.
“He would softly whisper in my ears as he lets me fall asleep in his chest, ‘One day, when you grow up, you will be strong and tough and no one will ever make you cry. One day, Yumi. One day… you will be happy.”
She breaks down in tears as Sho pulled her into his arms. “He always wanted me to be happy ever since I was young. Even if it saddens him, as long as I’m happy.”
She’s always been grateful for having such understanding parents, the only thing she’s thankful for in this life of royalty. If they are not her parents, she could have given up on this life a long time ago.
“I have a request, Sho…” She pulled back from his hold to look at him. “I’m going to take care of him until he fully recovered. The law wouldn’t be enacted in a year or two, we’ll get married after I know that my father is well and recovered. It’s the only thing I can do for him after all the things he has done for me. Is that okay?”
“Of course.” Sho assured her, stroking her arm. “We’ll take care of him together if you want.”
She smiled, hearing him offering his support makes her feel at ease that he’s okay with the slight change of their marriage plans.
When they reached her father’s suite, Sho quickly gave his greetings and he instantly thanked him for agreeing with their decision. Sho couldn’t hide his happiness, after such negativity and problems the past few days, he is glad for the good news he’s been receiving today.
Five minutes didn’t pass by since Sho and Sayumi arrived when the Crown Prince requested to talk to Sho alone. Kiyomizu and Sayumi quickly obeyed without questions and headed out of the room. She gave Sho an assuring smile before she closes the door.
Silence filled the room after the door closes. Sho sits nervously on the chair beside the Crown Prince’s bed, waiting for him to speak up.
“I’m not asking you to take care of Yumi because I know that you will.” The Crown Prince started, he’s rather relaxed and Sho’s nerves slowly died down. “I don’t know you that much, Sakurai-san, I only met you once, afterall but my granddaughter has this excessive liking towards you even Satsuki say that you’re a good man. Those two have spent more time with you while I was asleep so I think I will take their word for it. Truth is, I instantly liked you since Yumi brought you here to introduce to me.”
A stiff laugh comes out from Sho, he’s not really good with praises and this one comes from Sayumi’s father, the Crown Prince, so he doesn’t know how to react with that.
“If you were to ask me, of course I would not allow my daughter to marry yet. She’s still young and I think already know that she got accept at Tokyo University. But if you were to ask any father out there, I think regardless of their daughter’s age, if it were their choice, they will never allow their daughters to marry.” He laughed and Sho laughed along. “A father’s bias opinion.”
“But you know, the final decision will always be daughter’s decision. Yumi always decides and me and wife’s job is to give our support, we always got her back no matter what it is. It is our own take on raising children.”
The Crown Prince continued. “I never made my own decisions when I was young and it always frustrates me that when I reached the age of twenty, I bravely told my parents that it’s now time for me to decide on my own. The same goes for my wife, that’s why when we had our children, we decided to give them freedom, to do whatever they want.”
He paused and Sho still didn’t know what to say or how to respond to him.
“Do you know why I’m telling this to you, Sakurai-san?”
He gave an awkward smile as he clenched his hands together. “I know that you don’t want her to marry yet and I understand. But like you, I only want what’s best for Yumi and I wanted her to be completely happy.”
The Crown Prince nods his head and smiled. “I’m glad that we have one thing common, Sakurai-san. Yumi deserves that and I know that you will make her happy, even happier than she’s ever been in the past.”
“You may think that I’m taking your daughter away from you but I promise that I will never do that, that’s not my intention. She’s still your little girl she once been… she will always be your little girl.”
The Crown Prince taps him on the shoulder and smiled. "I know." He utter meaningfully.
As always, this is unbeta-ed so tell me if there are any errors and mistakes. Comments, suggestions, reactions and criticisms are gladly welcomed. Happy reading! :)
Disclaimer: I am no way related to Arashi, Johnny's Entertainment or the Japanese Imperial Family. All names and events pertaining to any member of the Imperial family are purely fictional.
Words: 2,038
Chapter Thirty - Six: A Father’s Love
Her father is looking at her with such delicate expression as awkward silence creeps inside the hospital room. She just couldn’t find the words to justify her decision to get married, not after seeing her father’s reaction. It’s as if he doesn’t know if he’ll react positively and be happy for her or to just be true to himself about what he really feel when he realize that his twenty -one-year-old daughter is thinking of marriage just to get out of the situation that he puts her through.
“But Yumi…” He sighed. His voice is hoarse and dry. “You’re still very young…” He leaned forward, raising her chin up to look at him. “What about law school?”
“I’m not abandoning law school. I’d start attending next spring just as planned.” She answered certainly. “Our marriage will not affect my studies, Father. I’d finish law school just as I promised you and Mother.”
“But what if you get pregnant? Being a law student and a wife is hard enough what more if you become a mother?”
Sayumi smiled. The thought of having Sho’s children is a reality she’s been waiting to have but they may have to wait for a few years more. “We decided not to have kids until I finish law school. Like you, Sho also wishes for me to finish my studies.”
Her father still looks uncertain. He can’t help but think that his daughter is only doing this for one thing.
“If you’re doing this just to prevent ascending to the throne-”
“That may be a part of the reason…” Yumi cuts him off. She doesn’t want him to think that she’s getting married solely for the purpose of avoiding her fate as a future Empress. “That may have sparked us to do it earlier than what we planned but Sho and I have been talking about marriage since we were in Paris. Even before he found out that I’m a Princess... He even proposed in front of the Eiffer Tower.” She smiled softly at the vivid memory.
She found her father’s hands and squeezed it gently with an assuring smile. “It may happen quite fast, I even thought that it’s ridiculous to love someone that easily but no matter what my brain tells me to, my heart says otherwise. We love each other, way more than we ever loved anyone in the past. He just consumes me since the first time I laid eyes on him and no matter how I much I search for a reason not to continue feeling what I feel, I just always find myself going back to him.”
She is closed to tears, desperately trying to assure her father that her decision is what she really wants, not because she needed to but because she know that she have already found the one she’s looking for.
“I may be young and it may be too early to talk about forever, but right now that’s exactly what I feel. I want to spend forever with him.” A single tear fell from her eyes, seeing that her father might not be convinced yet. She can see it in his face.
He still doesn’t want his daughter to go and live her own life as someone else’s wife, because for him she’s still his little girl. He cannot handle the thought of him spending his remaining life living alone in a huge palace. He already gave away his first daughter to another man and he just lost the woman he thought he’ll spend forever with. And now his Yumi…
He pulled her closer and pats her damp cheek with his hand. She smiled at him but the tears are threatening inside her eyes. It’s not what he wanted for her, she just knew from the way he talks to her using his eyes and she hated disappointing him.
The tears quickly fell as she drops into his shoulders, crying. “I’m sorry.” She whispered quietly as she felt his hand stroking her back.
“Why are you crying?” He asked with a soft laugh, maybe it can hide the sadness he feels inside.
“I wanted this father.” She murmured desperately. “You’re the only person I can get strength from, the only one I’m sure of to give me his one hundred percent support. I was hoping you’d understand because you always did since I was young…” Her voice stammered with the uncontrollable tears.
He cradled her lovingly in his arms, tightly as if he never wanted to let go.
He doesn’t want her go, she has spent half her life away from him and the loss of her mother, his wife, brought them back together for good, he thought. But it turns out to be temporary.
“He makes you happy and I can see how much you love him.” He told her, not letting go of their hug. “If that’s what you wanted, Yumi, I will support you one hundred percent.”
But for twenty-one years, he has always trusted Sayumi with her decisions. Even if he knows that it’s going to be hard, even if he doesn’t agree, if it’s way too ambitious and even if she’ll live a thousand miles away him, he always gave his support because he know that she is always capable of that choice.
He may be the Crown Prince of Japan but he’s also a father. He only wishes for his children’s happiness, especially Sayumi because she lived a life short of it. A tough childhood and years of living alone in a faraway place, he knew that Sayumi longs for a life opposite of what she had and now that she have Sakurai Sho in her life, she’s close to having the life she wanted.
Sayumi will always be his daughter. Before she becomes Sakurai Sho’s wife and before she becomes the mother of Sho’s children, she is his daughter first and it will always stay that way.
----------
Hearing from Sayumi that they got her father’s blessing eases up Sho a notch higher. That leaves them his parents and her grandfather left to convince.
He will eventually have to talk to his parents and that should be as soon as possible before it reaches the prying ears of the media. He doesn’t want his mother barging in again to his apartment, she might erupt this time around.
“What did he say? How did he react?” Sho asked her as they walk on the corridor to her father’s room.
“He’s against it at first.” Sayumi answered. “Although he didn’t actually say that he’s against it, I can see it in his eyes. But even if he thinks I’m too young to be married, my father only wanted one thing for me… to be happy.” She said meaningfully.
“When I was young, there’s not a day where I wouldn’t cry and no one can stop me, only him. I remember him picking up to his arms and he would lay down with me my bed, I would crawl up to his chest and I would stop crying as he gently stroke my back…”
Her hand is trembling on his as she stopped her tracks and wipes away invisible tears on her eyes.
“He would always tell me the same thing every night…” She smiled at him as he caresses her cheeks softly.
“He would softly whisper in my ears as he lets me fall asleep in his chest, ‘One day, when you grow up, you will be strong and tough and no one will ever make you cry. One day, Yumi. One day… you will be happy.”
She breaks down in tears as Sho pulled her into his arms. “He always wanted me to be happy ever since I was young. Even if it saddens him, as long as I’m happy.”
She’s always been grateful for having such understanding parents, the only thing she’s thankful for in this life of royalty. If they are not her parents, she could have given up on this life a long time ago.
“I have a request, Sho…” She pulled back from his hold to look at him. “I’m going to take care of him until he fully recovered. The law wouldn’t be enacted in a year or two, we’ll get married after I know that my father is well and recovered. It’s the only thing I can do for him after all the things he has done for me. Is that okay?”
“Of course.” Sho assured her, stroking her arm. “We’ll take care of him together if you want.”
She smiled, hearing him offering his support makes her feel at ease that he’s okay with the slight change of their marriage plans.
When they reached her father’s suite, Sho quickly gave his greetings and he instantly thanked him for agreeing with their decision. Sho couldn’t hide his happiness, after such negativity and problems the past few days, he is glad for the good news he’s been receiving today.
Five minutes didn’t pass by since Sho and Sayumi arrived when the Crown Prince requested to talk to Sho alone. Kiyomizu and Sayumi quickly obeyed without questions and headed out of the room. She gave Sho an assuring smile before she closes the door.
Silence filled the room after the door closes. Sho sits nervously on the chair beside the Crown Prince’s bed, waiting for him to speak up.
“I’m not asking you to take care of Yumi because I know that you will.” The Crown Prince started, he’s rather relaxed and Sho’s nerves slowly died down. “I don’t know you that much, Sakurai-san, I only met you once, afterall but my granddaughter has this excessive liking towards you even Satsuki say that you’re a good man. Those two have spent more time with you while I was asleep so I think I will take their word for it. Truth is, I instantly liked you since Yumi brought you here to introduce to me.”
A stiff laugh comes out from Sho, he’s not really good with praises and this one comes from Sayumi’s father, the Crown Prince, so he doesn’t know how to react with that.
“If you were to ask me, of course I would not allow my daughter to marry yet. She’s still young and I think already know that she got accept at Tokyo University. But if you were to ask any father out there, I think regardless of their daughter’s age, if it were their choice, they will never allow their daughters to marry.” He laughed and Sho laughed along. “A father’s bias opinion.”
“But you know, the final decision will always be daughter’s decision. Yumi always decides and me and wife’s job is to give our support, we always got her back no matter what it is. It is our own take on raising children.”
The Crown Prince continued. “I never made my own decisions when I was young and it always frustrates me that when I reached the age of twenty, I bravely told my parents that it’s now time for me to decide on my own. The same goes for my wife, that’s why when we had our children, we decided to give them freedom, to do whatever they want.”
He paused and Sho still didn’t know what to say or how to respond to him.
“Do you know why I’m telling this to you, Sakurai-san?”
He gave an awkward smile as he clenched his hands together. “I know that you don’t want her to marry yet and I understand. But like you, I only want what’s best for Yumi and I wanted her to be completely happy.”
The Crown Prince nods his head and smiled. “I’m glad that we have one thing common, Sakurai-san. Yumi deserves that and I know that you will make her happy, even happier than she’s ever been in the past.”
“You may think that I’m taking your daughter away from you but I promise that I will never do that, that’s not my intention. She’s still your little girl she once been… she will always be your little girl.”
The Crown Prince taps him on the shoulder and smiled. "I know." He utter meaningfully.