When Isuzu began her young vocal artist career, she learned that she had to make compromises and be flexible. Sometimes she had to bend to the rules of the entertainment industry, or she wouldn't even get off the ground to be seen. She got around a lot of them by self-recording and putting her first set of songs from Theldesia on YouTube. That gave her a base of fans to show to the studios.
She worked hard to find just the right kind of manager, who would work with her as a self-starter, but find her a good recording company that would support her travel. It took several tries, since some of them talked a good sales pitch at the beginning, but turned on her to put pressure on her when she pushed back against the recording companies. She didn't give up, though. Eventually she would find that one person who would be her ally.
She found it in a female manager who had been in Isuzu's position when she was young, and had the same fire of anger in her belly at the way the Japanese entertainment industry used up their best and most beautiful artists. They became known as a formidable duo, and remained fast friends even after Isuzu's touring days were done.
Isuzu had been on tour for almost three years when it was getting to about four and a half years back home from Theldesia. Her fan base felt pretty secure, and it was time to write new things to keep their interest. She sat on the train that rocked her as it took her from a gig on the coast to one in Kyoto. Her head was resting on her hand and she was feeling pensive, even perhaps a little sad.
With a sigh, she looked out the window at the scenery passing by. She knew what it was. "Sempai, it's time for the finale of this set. Schedule it for Tokyo, make it big, and give me a handful of tickets. I've got family and friends there I want to invite to it. The set's getting too old and dull for me. I need to sit out and write a new album."
"Sure thing, Kouhai. A fresh new album is just the thing to enliven everyone up again, yes?"
Isuzu nodded, but closed her eyes. She'd demand a vacation, but really, pop stars couldn't afford vacations until the fans forced them out to take one. A year out for an album was the best they could do.
Her heart pondered on the thing she'd been postponing now for perhaps too long. She hoped she wasn't too late, for all he'd said he'd wait regardless. She still hadn't answered William, even on Theldesia. She couldn't.
-:-:-:-:-
William's keys jingled as he pulled them out to unlock his mailbox in the back lobby of his apartment building. It was an old one, only six stories tall. The city had made them install two elevators three years ago, but he'd never minded the walk up the stairs.
The keys jingled again as he locked the mailbox door. The small set of envelopes in his hands were smooth. He opened the door to the stairs and began his walk up them, sorting through the mail as he took the memorized steps without paying attention to them. Bill, advertisement, advertisement, loan offer to ignore, ...what's this? He paused, one foot on the next step up from the landing between the second and third floors.
The envelope was white, formally printed with his name and address on the front, and the return address but no name or company. Usually they were official notices of things to trash, but it felt a little different. William slipped his finger into the flap and slid it down to unseal it. He opened the envelope to see a smaller rectangle, stiffer than paper and an even smaller folded note.
He pulled them both out. The larger rectangle was a ticket to a concert. His heartbeat increased and he hardly dared breathe. He unfolded the paper. "Please come. - Isuzu"
William ran the whole way up the rest of the stairs, hardly knowing how he got his door opened and his things tossed on the table. The ticket went up right away on his small bulletin board where he kept the important things safe. The bill was forgotten for that month, left on the table with the rest of the trash, instead of pinned to the board.
His phone was out next and the calendar app pulled up. He entered the date and time and vowed to let nothing interfere with it. He'd been following Isuzu's career in summary online, one of the "subscribers" to her channel and her web site. The social media account was more drivel than he could follow, so he hadn't bothered. Was it about time?
He was in his seat early for the concert, but not as early as Hahaue was. William was pleased to be able to greet Log Horizon, who had also been invited by Isuzu. He couldn't be surprised Isuzu would invite everyone she cared about and knew would be in Tokyo. He tried to not let it get him down that he hadn't been specifically singled out. She'd not specifically invited him to any of her other concerts. The worry and hopeful excitement warred in him as he waited for the concert to begin.
The Isuzu that took the stage that night took his breath away. She'd become polished over the last three years. Not perfect yet, but that would come. She was also now a beautiful young lady, not the spindly older teen she had been. Her songs thrilled him as they always had, but her own love for the music had always won him more than that.
As William watched Isuzu play, he began to frown. She was mechanical in comparison to what she'd been like performing in Susukino. He stayed polite, but watched her closely. The love for the music, the sparkle was missing. Not gone ...more like buried under exhaustion. He could only nod. It might very well be time.
They reached the end of the concert and the audience called out for the encore. The stage stayed dark, then one spotlight came on and a stage hand carried a chair out. Isuzu followed him out with a guitar in hand.
Her smile was the friendly open smile it always was. "Tonight, in my hometown, I have the great fortune to not only have all you wonderful fans here with me, but my family as well." She settled in the chair and strummed the guitar a little to confirm it was still in tune.
"I'd like to play one for them if you'll have a bit of patience with me." Isuzu grinned and tossed her hair back as the fans were of course quite willing to hear anything else from her. She looked down at her guitar to get her fingering. "In particular, there's one here who I promised I'd sing this song to, and I haven't yet." William's heart skipped a beat, but he stayed still. He couldn't know for sure.
With a strum of a chord, Isuzu's song started fast and her fingers danced over the strings as she sang of life and the joy of moving forward doing things one loved. Her hand came down on the strings to silence them, and then began again, slowly this time and the song moved slowly with it, speaking of thoughts, pondering, and the wonder of things as they passed by.
William relaxed into his chair with a smile. Yes. This was the song she'd promised him those four-plus years ago. The final section of the song had the fast with the slow in a mixture that made up a beautiful dance. She sang it with her eyes closed and a peaceful expression on her face, remembering the time she'd written it, perhaps. It would be too prideful to assume she was remembering their time together in Faldil. He did, though. He couldn't not.
When Isuzu's hand came down to still the strings from the final ringing chord, her eyes opened and she smiled at her audience. "I was talking to my friend, before I wrote that one." She looked down, then smiled again and this time William could see tears in her eyes. "William, I think it's time. What do you think? Shall I come home and write a new album everyone?" Her fist went into the air and the room went wild.
William could only put his hand over his mouth and work very hard not to cry.
-:-:-:-:-
"Will you come celebrate with us, William?" Shiroe asked kindly as they rose to chat after the concert was officially over.
"If it wouldn't be an imposition," William answered politely. "It's been a while since I could visit with friends from Theldesia. Isuzu's been too busy so it would be a rare treat to see her, too. We enjoyed having her play for us in Susukino." He knew he was talking too much. He tried hard to calm down. It was overlooked, however. Everyone was rather excited.
William stayed in the background but stuck to Log Horizon like glue. He didn't want to be left behind at all. When they gathered at the back of the stage to collect Isuzu from her manager and band, apologizing for stealing her away, William watched her. When her eyes looked for him, worried until they saw him, he smiled for her although his heart started running away from him.
She was the center of attention, so it was hard to catch her, but as they entered the restaurant chosen for the evening, he managed to slip in behind her and catch hold of her hand long enough to get her to hang back.
Leaning up from behind her to whisper in her ear, trying to still stay calm while at the same time feeling desperately hopeless, he whispered, "Hey, beautiful. You look tired. Can I offer a massage before bed? I've been practicing."
As wide eyes came around to look at him, he smiled, "Or would you rather throw your tantrum first so you can really sleep well tonight?" That made Isuzu laugh and William could only melt inside. The squeeze she gave his hand kept him by her side. It had been one of desperation, he thought.
Because William had also been a guildmaster, he was given allowances when he forced everyone to let him sit next to Isuzu. He took her left side, knowing already from watching her that she always gestured with her right hand because it was her strumming hand, the hand that told the world what she wanted it to know.
The left hand was the one that told her secrets, and he wanted to keep hold of that hand tonight. More than once it told him she was done with the crowds, done with the noise, done with having to be polite in company. When it did, he would lean in and calmly speak to her to distract her and be the water to the fire that was about to burst out of its proper bounds.
This night he couldn't rescue her. It was her family, her guild, and they weren't an official couple yet. They had to sit through the meal and the fun afterwards until everyone else was ready to leave. He had to let her hand go when they rose from their seats and it was a cold, lonely feeling, but he was still there.
"Isuzu, your room's fixed up for you if you want it tonight," Akatsuki said as they walked back out of the restaurant.
Isuzu shook her head. "No, thanks. I've got a place for tonight. Once I've slept a week, I'll come by and visit. I might even be able to carry on a conversation then." She laughed lightly and the others smiled back.
"Shall I wait with you for your ride, Isuzu?" William asked politely. "I don't live far from here and don't mind."
"Sure, that'd be fine. Then all these hard working adults can get some sort of sleep before they have to work again tomorrow," she teased her guild and shooed them and their worries off. When the last door to the car was closed and it was pulling away from the curb, her left hand came back for him. He took it again, and pulled her closely to him.
He held her head to his shoulder and kissed her forehead. "Will you come with me, and call my home your home?" he whispered.
"I'd love to," she answered. When he turned her to look at her face, tears were running down her cheeks. He brushed at them with his thumb. "I'm sorry I didn't have an answer until now."
"It's okay," he said, resting his forehead on hers after brushing it with his lips again. "I told you I'd be waiting. I'm here. Welcome home."
His tears wanted to join hers as she cried on his chest, her arms wrapped warmly around him. His were tears of joy and relief. He only let his heart cry them. He needed to stand strong for her this night when the world had finally beaten her into the ground enough to make her forget why she loved to sing.
They walked hand in hand to the subway station that would take them to his apartment. They stood with arms around each other in the car, and walked to the apartment, William listening soberly to Isuzu's complaints her heart needed to cry out to a sympathetic ear. He gauged how tired she was and took them to his apartment by elevator. When they entered and he'd locked the door behind them, he let her be and walked to his peg board.
He took down the key hanging on it and turned to Isuzu. He gestured for her hand. When he was holding it palm-up, he placed the key in it. "This is your copy. Even if you're not sure yet, please, use this place as your place to escape to any time, whether I'm here or not." He folded her fingers around the key and looked back into her eyes, not sure.
Isuzu took a deep breath and her somewhat belligerent stance. He waited humbly. "How long has that key waited there?"
"Since I got home from the hospital four years ago." It had been his companion in lieu of his real companion, his reminder that he was still patiently waiting. Being a human again had made that waiting harder, but he'd been practicing anyway.
Her eyes read him, then she let out a little explosive sigh. "Fine. At the risk of sounding too forward, for all you've been this way since then, and really since the beginning, let me spend the night, and I'll take the massage after a long hot shower."
Her eyes narrowed, "And at the risk of sounding too shy and two-faced about it, let me order you to not touch me other than that. I'm going to fall asleep two minutes or less from lying down and not even know you're in the room and I'm not going to wake up until dinner time tomorrow.
"I've got jet lag so bad, on top of the performance and all the stuff I've got to come down off of, I'm going to be a zombie for at least three days. I'd like to just be that zombie."
William's lips turned up on one side. "I think I'd like to talk to your grandparents before we do anything other than that. I've got an extra futon and blankets in the closet for you, and towels. You might have to raid my closet, though, since this isn't Theldesia and you didn't bring a bag."
Isuzu's eyes went wide and she slumped a little. "Right. If it's okay, I'll call my manager, Melissa, tomorrow and have her bring it over. She'll be frantic since she thinks I'm at Log Horizon, if I don't let her know where this place is. I won't tell anyone else until our lunch date with my grandparents. Shall we set it for Saturday? I might be a living human by then."
"Sounds good to me." William firmly turned Isuzu around and pushed her towards the bathroom. "I'll get your bed laid out. You get your shower."
Isuzu nodded, took three steps, and stopped. William, about to move, also paused and waited, an eyebrow raised slightly, wondering what she'd forgotten. She suddenly turned and ran back and flung her arms around him. She shivered in his arms. "I cried for probably five miles when you did that last time," she whispered.
William could only feel compassion, and some relief again. "Well, you came back to Tokyo. You took three steps that time. Shall we practice again? I'm willing to practice for as long as it takes until you believe I will always be here to return to."
She giggled a giggle of the over-tired, and he gently pushed her out of his arms again, turned her, and only lightly touched her back this time. Isuzu took a deep breath and took four courageous steps forward, but then turned and looked over her shoulder at him.
William immediately opened his arms and she was in them again. "Four that time, and you took them on your own. Good job." He pet her head until she calmed down. "Now, you're going to fall asleep before getting your shower if you can't even get there soon. Try again, and this time at least get that much done. I'll still be here when it's over. I promise."
Isuzu gave a nod and he opened his arms. This time he let her go on her own strength. She did have it after all. He smiled after her until he heard the water going, then he felt he might be able to move.
He had her bed rolled out and made, and had prepared to give the promised massage by the time she came out of the shower. He didn't look when she went right from the bathroom to his bedroom and closed the door.
When she came out of there, to put the towels away, he did look. To see her in one of his t-shirts and lounging pants made him feel like he could finally relax a little, like home might be coming to him finally.
Really, for all elves might have a lot of patience, they had a lot of worry when it was a short-lived human who was making them wait. Humans didn't live long enough to waste time, and if they forgot, they could be dead before they remembered. The waiting had been harder than he'd expected.
He opened his arms again for her and this time he did kiss her. "I've missed you," he whispered. "I'll be glad to have you home for a year or whatever it turns out to be."
Isuzu sighed, almost falling asleep in her own relief that made her relax a little too much. "Yeah. Me, too. I think I'm going to gorge on ice cream and Netflix until Marielle scolds me. Then I might be ready to get back to work."
William's brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't think Marielle would ever scold you for doing that. More like she'd join you and have to be dragged off by Naotsugu."
Isuzu laughed. "I know, right?"
William got it and smiled again. "Well, let's start with a good night's sleep, shall we?" He got her moving and over to the futon.
Isuzu lay down on it face down, getting comfortable for the massage. Before he could put his hands on her, she asked sleepily, "But William, what do I do if you're the one walking away from me?"
William paused, then gently put his hands on her back and began to rub away the stresses in the muscles. "Isuzu, I also will always come back. It's true I will have to go to work in the morning, and the next few mornings, but if you get anxious, remember that this is my house. I haven't got anywhere else to go. I will always be looking to see if you're going to come through the door to greet me, and if you must call me, I will come."
He hesitated, then said quietly, not knowing if she was awake to hear it, and not sure he wanted her to hear it just yet, "And when I die before you do, I'll be waiting for you even still. Waiting for you to come to me in that home that will also be your home when your time on Earth is done." Only a soft breath of the sleeping answered him, but it was enough.
He did finish the massage just enough to finish relaxing Isuzu's so-tense-muscles so she could really get a good night's sleep, reluctant to leave her side now that she was really there. It was going to be hard to learn to leave her. He wouldn't ever be able to trust she would still be here when he got back. More often than not here in the early years, she wouldn't be. He could only enjoy the moments they did have together.
When William had no more excuses, he covered her with the blanket and leaned over to kiss her cheek. "I love you, Isuzu," he whispered in her ear. "Thank you for choosing my home to be yours." One last long look and then he had to go to bed. He didn't need to be scolded at work the next day.
-:-:-:-:-
"Son, we need to discuss your marriage."
William's eyes had lifted to his father's face, a bit surprised he was talking about it only three weeks after he'd been released from the hospital. "Are you so panicked from that, you'll push me into something unprepared?" His father had flushed, wanting to be angry, but he'd looked away first. His father was at least good about rethinking before he reacted.
William sat back from his meal. "Father, I've already found a woman to be my wife. She's in the music industry, but just starting, a new up and coming. She needs a few years to get into the industry, get her fan base, make her initial mark. Let me have those years to learn what I need to know to run the business. There isn't a hurry. I'm not going anywhere. I'm sorry I made you worry, but hasty decisions don't always bring good results."
He wasn't sure which of all those statements calmed his father down, but he didn't get asked again after that. He was grateful for the trust. He really didn't like to be pressured, but then his father didn't like to pressure anyone anyway. That trait worked well for someone wanting to be a guildmaster, but at the same time, it was important to be able to motivate people who worked under you. William had learned a lot about how to do that on Theldesia.
When William opened his eyes the morning after Isuzu came for the first time, he remembered that brief conversation. He quietly prepared himself for work.
He paused at the entrance to the living room, barely big enough for the futon and the table pushed up against the wall, the couch pushed into the dining room, which was almost smaller than the bathroom. The kitchen was the entry hallway from the front door, like most apartments in Tokyo.
The place would be too small to have a child in, but they'd make do. With only one it would be possible. What might be more difficult would be if Isuzu needed to work at home. She might need more space.
William gently brushed her hair back from her face with two fingers, only lightly touching her to make sure she was real. He didn't want to wake her up. She wasn't ready to watch him walk out the door yet.
She also would have to overcome her sorrow at walking out of an empty apartment, leaving him without telling him she was going again. It wasn't going to be easy, the next ten years. Still, he'd rather have the moments than the empty waiting of the last four.
William took himself to the kitchen, fixed himself breakfast, and made a slightly larger lunch. He left Isuzu's portion in the fridge with a note on the table to let her know about it, and left his cell phone number, too, so she could call him. One last look back at her and he had to go out the door. He locked it behind him and put his jingling keys into his pocket.
He took the stairs down two at a time. The sooner he could get back, the better. He refused to think about the what ifs. That wouldn't be productive. He chose to think about the practical things that needed to be done next. That was productive, and more optimistic.
William arrived at work to his usual quiet preparation time. First was printing off two copies of the marriage registration form. That went into a blank manila folder on his desk where he'd remember to take it on his way out in the evening. The second copy was for them to keep until the official registered copy was sent to them. They had to do that much, even if Isuzu might want a formal wedding eventually, and there wasn't a reason to hesitate after this Saturday.
Once that was done, he stopped in at the President's office. "Good morning, Father," he bowed from the door.
"Good morning, Son." His father leaned back in his chair at his desk. "Did you have a fun evening?"
"I did, thank you. It was good to see my old friends again. We stayed out too late, I'm sure, but it's hard to leave when we only see each other once a year or so." His father smiled the same smile William was - small, but it lit up the eyes.
Even his father knew what it was like to want to stay with old friends. He had a few he still went out drinking with himself. "May I invite myself and a friend over to your and Mother's house for dinner on Saturday?"
His father raised an eyebrow. "I don't see why not. She's been fussing at me to get you to come anyway. Complaining that she can't see why you would see so much of me at the office and not come see her even once a month."
William's lip curled up. "I always come at least that once a month. Time slips past me, too, you know."
His father nodded, knowingly. He leaned forward to his paperwork again. "There's a shipment coming in today. I left the requisition order on your desk last night."
"I'll see to it," William promised and let his father return to work. They were a small company, as far as companies went, with only eight employees and one manager other than William, and his father, but it did well enough.
His father was much more content since William had been more focused on the business since returning from Theldesia. He and William's mother had both worried over William before, concerned he'd been spending too much time online, on Elder Tales.
They weren't wrong. William had been. He'd thrown himself at it, lived and breathed it. It had been his only excitement in life, his only reason to work hard and exist. Living it for three years, being broken by Theldesia for the first year and a half, had taught him what life was really about.
Life was about caring for other people, finding the small joys and beauties around you, doing what little thing was in your path to help the world go around. Even if he wasn't thrilled with the products of the company, he wanted to care for his father and mother. When he helped the business, he helped them.
When he helped the business, it helped the employees who had nowhere else to go, no other way to earn a living, unless they found one, moved on, and they found someone else willing to help them, wanting or needing what they could give, offering what they had in return. That was life, and there was joy in that, peace and contentment.
Having someone he wanted to treasure helped as well. He wanted to be able to provide a place Isuzu could find joy, peace, and contentment in also. He'd learned as a guildmaster, like Shiroe had and all the other guildmasters, what that meant for each individual was different.
William had learned what Isuzu needed just in the first three days of her first visit to Susukino. It had taken the time she'd been gone until the next time she'd come for William to decide if he could give it to her for as long as they were married. He'd been practicing ever since, and expected to have to continue to practice for a long time to come.
They were very different, but she needed someone like him that she could have these times with. They were important for her being able to continue forward in her own life. When she'd even told him herself that she understood it from watching her own parents, he'd known it was the right thing, the right gift to give her so he could accept the gift that was her.
"You're happy today," the secretary stopped and stepped back to look into William's face more closely. She was one of the few that could see the small changes that would give evidence to such a thing.
"I am," he agreed, "and for the next little while, most likely." When she gave him a curious look, he only smiled and moved on. It wasn't time to tell anyone yet.
He still couldn't really believe it, it had all happened so fast. He was able to savor it through the whole day, though. Isuzu had called for him, answered him on stage, and accepted him without even an argument or a fight. Waiting had been the right way. She wasn't the kind to pressure at all. That was another reason he was good for her.
Midafternoon William leaned back in his chair and breathed out a deep breath. He was going to have to stop thinking about Isuzu or he'd leave his desk earlier than he should. Then he changed his mind. Rising to his feet, he went to his father's office. "Father, the delivery is properly inventoried and ready. May I take off early today and have tomorrow off?"
"Well, I suppose so. You've been working hard. Is it your friends?"
He couldn't really lie to his own father. "Yes. They've been gone so long, I hate to let this opportunity pass."
His father waved his hand. "If things here are sufficiently settled they can wait to see you again, then that's fine."
"Thank you, Father." William bowed in gratitude, and was equally grateful for the smile on his father's lips as he turned to leave the office.
It wasn't like he was always going out with friends, although to his parents that was better than locking himself up in his room. Probably the last time had been when the guild had shown up to drag him out of the office for a drinking party about nine months ago now. They should be about due for that as well.
Hmm...maybe, but I should ask Isuzu first. Besides, he wanted to be selfish for a bit longer. William snatched up the folder off his desk and headed for the subway station.
-:-:-:-:-
Isuzu woke up slowly. She was curled up in a warm comfortable place. It was so comfortable, the fluffy blanket, the futon that was just firm enough, that she didn't want to move for a very long time. The knots in her back were gone, even.
She closed her eyes and just breathed for a bit. Futons were far better than the ground around a campfire with only a sleeping bag. They weren't quite as luxurious as high class hotel beds, but she didn't splurge for those often. They were far better for the body and posture than the standard hotel beds she usually slept in.
After a bit, her body complained at her. She'd woken up for a reason, after all. With a sigh at it, she finally opened her eyes and looked around newly again. She'd been too tired to really take in William's apartment last night.
Isuzu wanted to savor it, so she did. The balcony beyond her feet was the typical small one, with sliding glass door and acrylic hanging slat cover for it. That was pulled open half-way, as if William did go out on it, but was too lazy to open it all the way. She smiled. That would be like him.
So was the birdfeeder on the porch that had two pigeons and three chickadees pecking at it. He wouldn't have pets in the house - that was too much trouble - but he'd want enough of nature around to be willing to spend some of his pay on birdseed.
The wall perpendicular to the patio was enclosed storage space that currently had the low living room table pressed up against it. The table was a simple one, mass manufacture. Likely if it was Theldesia, it would be an old heavy antique. He had money to spare there compared to here.
She was a bit surprised there was an entertainment center over her head against the wall opposite the glass patio door. She was sure William spent more time on the computer than watching a television. Isuzu uncurled and stretched and was just able to catch the front of the lower doors to the cabinet with her fingers. She pulled them open and rolled over onto her stomach, propping her head up on her hands.
She had to smile. Oldies and goodies. Movies, some anime - probably his most favorites so she memorized them, and a small section of home disks that were probably old ones he'd made with friends or his family. Maybe some day he'd share that history with her, and maybe some day she'd watch them when he wasn't home and she was feeling lonely so she could tease him when he walked in the door for leaving her alone all day.
The electronics weren't old, weren't new. He treated what he owned carefully enough for it to last as long as he could make it, but he didn't waste his time on the outdated. She closed the doors and climbed to her feet.
A scroll was displayed on the wall between the entertainment center and the hallway to the bath and bedroom. She frowned slightly, then walked over to it. It was. Is was a gift from Shiroe, a simple character: friend. It made her heart melt and her eyes want to do the same.
Isuzu brushed her hand lightly on the wall as she passed on into the hallway. The bedroom took up all of the enclosed space on the left. She'd been too tired and shy to really look around there last night. She took a brave breath and opened the door.
Really, William was doing well to have his own apartment and with a separate bedroom, in Tokyo. His bed was a modern single, that looked like it might be the one his parents bought for him when he was a kid. That wouldn't be surprising, really.
Here was what she'd expected in the living room. Most of any wall space was taken up with tables, computers, monitors, keyboards, wires all over, headsets (nice ones - he'd splurged on those), bookshelves filled with books that leaned and tried to crawl out of their spaces. Papers and old notes covered what table top wasn't covered by computer equipment.
Isuzu's eyes narrowed and she went through all the books and shelving. When she actually didn't find any printed smut she was rather surprised. She could only shake her head at the rest.
William really had been into Elder Tales. His notes on the dungeons were as thick as Shiroe's probably had been ...and still were. He still referenced them now that he ran that business. William could be called on in a blink of an eye to work for Shiroe, too. Isuzu was suddenly curious as to why he hadn't.
She turned away from the table and faced the last wall. The closet and dresser were there. She went through them again, this time really learning what he owned and where it all was. She still needed to call Melissa, but there was time. She pulled out her sudden new favorites for shirt and pants and carried them with her into the bathroom.
That and the small laundry space were next to each other, but the laundry was open to the hallway. That made her wonder where her clothing from the night before had gotten to. She couldn't even remember being the good guest and picking them up after her shower. She'd been sooo tired, even before the concert was half over.
She hardly remembered how she'd gotten through it. Probably the promise of the ending song, really. That had dragged her through the rest of it. She was quite relieved William had actually come, had heard it, and had understood without asking or having to be told. She'd really needed the rescuing. She'd almost waited too long.
Isuzu didn't bother with the shower today, just did her business, changed, took the night clothes back into the living room to roll it up in the futon and put that away. Then she could slide the table back into the room and the couch - again simple and mass manufacture, but reasonable quality - out of the dining room.
The peg board was on the same wall in the dining room that the balcony door was. Closer to the peg board but between the door and it was one poster - her first publicized concert. Isuzu blushed, wondering if William had gone to it. It wouldn't have been his first. The Theldesian ones were more special, still she appreciated that he wanted to remember her with more than a key waiting for a hand to hold it.
Her blush deepened, remembering him folding her fingers over said key. It was back on the peg board. He didn't want it lost and she'd been far too gone to remember where she'd even put it down. - Likely on his dresser or in the bathroom. At least he'd found it.
Isuzu didn't want it lost either. She'd leave it there until she had a safer place to put it, although it made her nervous to not have it on her person. That's when she remembered he wanted her to be learning to trust him. Her hand reached out and lifted the key from its peg. She held it tightly in her left hand, where she could feel it pressing into her palm.
Turning next to the table she was standing beside, she saw it had four chairs, surprisingly since she would have only expected two. It was a taller modern table and chair set, not the shorter traditional ones. William was rather lanky, though, so it would perhaps be expected that to fold himself up to eat might not be comfortable. He certainly folded nicely in the living room, though.
Isuzu closed her eyes and groaned at herself and the next flush to come over her. That was going to be difficult. Maybe she could get all the blushing out of the way before William got back home. That would be nice. Her fingers brushed against a piece of paper on the table - which was kept clean she'd already noticed, a larger surprise in the house of a bachelor.
Isuzu,
There's lunch, or a snack depending on when you wake up, in the fridge. Feel free to anything you want. If you make a shopping list, we'll go out and shop for more of what you like. I'd like to know what I can fix for you.
I've put your clothes in the washing machine, if you want to rotate them and change back before your manager gets here.
If at all possible...I'd like to find you home tonight when I return. I'm likely to think it was all a dream otherwise.
Love you.
William
His cell phone number and address were next. Isuzu immediately grabbed up her phone off the table and added them to her address book. She then texted the address and her request for her bags to Melissa. I'll be here visiting my friend at least through the weekend. Thanks! She pushed send, then folded the note from William and slipped it between the phone case and the phone, to keep that, too.
Before heading for the refrigerator, she went back to the laundry and moved her clothes to the dryer. His concern had merit. Her manager was already going to scold her for being in a man's apartment. Isuzu was still trying to come up with how to tell Melissa, even from that day in the train, that it had suddenly become time to come home.
A little more soberly Isuzu returned to the kitchen. Fridge, sink, and countertop workspace on one side. Stove, hotpot, microwave on the other. Pots and pans near the stove, eating dishes and cooking tools in the cabinets around the sink. So common, really it wasn't much to speak about. But the ladybug and butterfly hand towels and kitchen extras made her laugh at William.
Had they just been on sale, or had he had to have a little more of nature's beauties and little joys in the house? Likely the latter, honestly. He'd probably paint the ceiling blue and put white puffy clouds on it if the apartment manager would let him.
She searched the cabinets and fridge, finding a random potpourri of foods, then poured up a glass of water. She took the food she'd pulled out and the glass to the table to eat soberly. It was important what she said to her manager, really.
All of the labels frowned on even semi-famous female singers just shacking up with anyone. They weren't too thrilled with marriages either. As long as they appeared single, they were eligible and therefore more attractive to the fans. Girl bands started to die when someone got married.
However, Isuzu had always been hard-headed and just as hard-fisted. Maybe she should start with using Melissa the way she already did - as an ally. She had lived it, knew what burn-out was like, that it wasn't the end, it was just the warning to move to new things, to change things up a little. Her advice, and her advocacy might be enough for Isuzu to get everything she wanted still.
Her cell phone rang the text jingle of her manager and she picked it up, still eating. I'll be there in thirty minutes. I hope there's not a man there.
Isuzu texted back, Not at the moment. Don't bring anyone with you. I need to work out the plan with you.
She got an instant response. What the hell? But I guess it's too late now. I'll slip away and give the excuses. How long?
At least until Monday.
A not very nice emoji came back, but Isuzu knew Melissa would handle it, so she just sent back, Thanks, and put the phone down.
A bit later another text came through. I hope I'm going to get to learn about this 'William'. Everyone here's been breathing down my neck about him. That's what made it hard to break free.
Sorry. I'll tell you the whole story when you get here. Isuzu probably should have thought of that before, but she really had wanted to say it to William properly first, since she'd postponed it that long - too long really - but it was hard to find the time to breathe until she'd had to make the time.
Isuzu carried her bowl to the sink and washed it and the chopsticks. William was a rather decent chef, all considered. But really, she was going to have to think about that more seriously. She'd not properly understood what a busy life really meant when she'd made her early plans on Theldesia.
She walked to the couch and flopped down in it. Trying to keep the blush down yet again, she pulled up a blank text message to William. It took her a while to get the right words.
How do I learn how to recognize it's time to come home ...before the burnout sets in? I've made a few errors for being too far gone to think straight. Not that they're major, just I should have thought better and couldn't. She sent it, set the phone down on the couch next to her, and put her own brain to the question.
-:-:-:-:-
Isuzu had her earbuds in, listening to her competition to get her brain off her own music and to get a creativity fix when there were sudden warm arms around her and a kiss landing on her cheek. She jumped, surprised to not have heard the door being opened. "You do what you just did. Ask."
She turned and looked up into William's eyes from where he was looking down at her, having sat on the back of the couch behind her. She picked up her phone and frowned. "You're home earlier than I thought. Did I miss Melissa for not being able to hear?"
"I don't think so," William shook his head. "No note on the door. Did she text you?"
Isuzu checked, but already knew. She checked the time again. "Oh. I haven't been gone that long. For some reason it felt longer than that. She should be here soon, though." Her eyes went to William again. "I guess you didn't text back because...?"
William nodded. "Because I was already almost here. Dad let me have the rest of the day and tomorrow off."
Isuzu smiled slowly until it was rather large. She could tell William was drinking it up. He always did back then, too. It made his own eyes brighten up to see her smile. "Thanks for the food. It was very good. And for putting my clothes in the wash. Sorry I was too tired to even remember I'd taken them off."
William shrugged. "That's what I'm here for." His hand came warm on her head as he rose from the couch back to head down the hall. "Looks like it might be hit or miss for which comes first - the manager or the clothes."
"I'm in trouble already," Isuzu sighed. "I can get away with not having the clothes, since she's bringing with. I think. But for all she might not wish to have to admit she's seen you here, it might be better you are."
William walked back into the room as serious as ever. Isuzu's eyes followed him as he came around the couch to sit next to her. "We need to battle plan how to deal with the fall out of me needing to come home. Melissa needs to be on our side, and I think she will be, if she can be.
"She's been fighting with me the longest now, and has the same issues I do with the industry, but it isn't them this time, not really. It's just a fact of fan longevity that unmarried's last longer than marrieds do, especially as young as I am still. The longer we can last, the less likely we are to lose fans just because we got married."
Isuzu didn't like the pain that came across William's face, but it was smoothed over rather quickly as he answered. "I know. I'd be willing to just be the place you hang out when you need to let off steam for as long as your career needs it - at least to the outside world."
"Except that an idol and entertainer can't hang out at a guy's house and not get into trouble with the labels."
William nodded again, but didn't say anything for a bit. "You haven't talked to the manager, Melissa, about this yet?" Isuzu shook her head. "Then we'll wait until she comes. It's better to put everything on the table all at once rather than multiple times, rehashing it, and perhaps missing something."
Isuzu relaxed her head back against the couch. William asked for her hand and Isuzu gave him her right hand, since he'd sat on that side of her. "Hmm," he said, looking down at their hands. "Definitely burn out. This hand doesn't want to say anything at all to the world for a while."
She gave him a look for saying something so odd. "That would be a correct assessment."
William asked for her other hand with his free hand. Isuzu passed it over, wondering what he was doing. He held her left hand and closed his eyes. "On the other hand," she smiled at his pun, "this hand wants to be held and pampered and not have to be afraid, or worried anymore. It's going to be hard to play anything at all for a while, as long as you're feeling this way."
When he pulled her into his lap, to make her cuddle with him, she went without protest. He'd not been wrong about that, either. He kissed her cheek. "We'll work something out. Every dungeon has an answer that lets you walk out content, even if it's something a little different than what you went in expecting. You've already done that for yourself getting here."
Isuzu nodded. "It's taken a lot of effort and energy. I'd like to not have thrown it all away, to just have that be the one gasp of effort that didn't really amount to much."
"Of course not. You're only at the mid-level rest. That's not the place to stop. But the levels always get harder the farther you walk the dungeon. It's okay to pull in help now. If you believe Melissa's been a good op, then she'll stay a good op."
Isuzu relaxed a little more. "Yeah. And if not, it's better to kick them out at the mid-level than at the boss door." William chuckled slightly, surprising Isuzu. "Well, you can laugh."
He looked at her in surprise, then touched the tip of her nose with a finger. "Only for you ...and the clown of the guild who's main job in life is to get me to do it and he's been working very hard to learn how over lots of years."
"Oh, good," Isuzu let her teasing grin out. "I get special bonuses."
William's eyes went wide and he had to fight hard to keep in the laugh. He let the slow smile out, though. "Of course."
"William...why me? I still don't even know your Earth name. I don't really know you and you don't really know me."
William hesitated for a bit, then answered, "I'm a guildmaster, Isuzu, one who lived the stressful life of Theldesia. We all learned to know our people even better than we knew them before. It takes a lot of that kind of knowing to be a guildmaster over a long time, and when it gets honed in real situations, it doesn't take long for us to just know things like that.
"We read a lot just watching people, listening to them. I might not know what your favorite color is - except it's yellow - and I might not know what your favorite ice cream is - except it's mochi - but I know what makes you tick, what your heart begs for."
"What my hands say I need," Isuzu teased him, but seriously. He hadn't been wrong about those details either.
He nodded agreement. "I also know what I need in this life to move forward. I've watched so many people - in my guild, in Susukino, even here once we got back. I haven't found your match anywhere.
"I need you. You fill the holes I can't. You make me smile which I need more of. You'll keep teaching me to grow stronger, without pushing me down. We can learn the details over time, but the important things are the important things."
William's eyes were so compelling, as they looked so seriously and honestly into Isuzu's eyes. "I could have had my pick of anyone in Susukino, and practically all of Yamato, it's true, but there wasn't anyone right until you came along. I took my time making sure.
"As a guildmaster, I also plan and make sure before acting, since acting changes other people's lives and I don't want to mess up their lives. We'll plan with Melissa, and if we have to wait longer, we'll wait longer. I need and want you, the best you you want to be, and in the right way and time. It will be enough for now to have received your answer, for all I want more most selfishly."
Isuzu rubbed William's head, wanting to help him relax a little himself. "I want to give you that more, and take it for myself, too, so it's not off the table yet. After all, how can I take off the year to write if I can't be home to relax?"
William's arms were tightly around Isuzu squeezing her. "Thank you, Isuzu. I also want that for you, and for me. Thank you for wanting this to be home for you."
Isuzu put her arms warmly around William. "I'm sorry I took too long, to make you miss me so much." William just shook his head, but she could tell. He'd waited too long already, from his side of things. For all he might be willing to wait, that didn't make it easy.
"So..., how do we let each other know when it's getting too long? How do we learn how to read ourselves, since that's harder? I'd like to not have it go this long next time, or any other time. When the brain becomes that foggy, nothing goes right. It's better to get the healing when you can still attack heavy and hard, than always be relying on the emergency rations."
"I'll work on that issue while we discuss the other. My brain's still too foggy right now," William admitted in a mutter to her shoulder. That was better than him not being willing to admit he also needed it, so she relaxed and let him just hold on to her. She needed to be held and he needed to do it, so it worked out well.