Bloom Shiba

The flight has been booked and the day for my departure arrived in no time.

I clung tightly to my suitcase as I waved a final good bye to my foster parents from the check-in counter. After all the procedures, following a small journey through the terminal, I boarded my flight.

The flight journey was longer than I thought. I watched two movies, listened to more than countable songs and ate whatever snacks I can and had only crossed lunch. I can't imagine how I'm going to while away the rest of the journey.

With no idea on how I fell asleep, I woke up to the announcement on the intercom asking us to change the time since we had crossed time-zones. After few more hours I reached my destination.

With difficulty, I plunged my luggage from the baggage claim and walked out with exhaustion. 

There air seemed strange and the surrounding was new. Unrecognizable accents and very new faces blurred together as one. But my eyes knew what it was searching for. The little guy with blue eyes and blonde hair flashed in my mind, the memory ever so vivid. The way he chases me down the Shiba house corridors and how we got caught after trying to sneak into Lauren's room while she was supposed to be practicing.

The airport got crowded, allowing people to brush past me which allowed me to snap out of my daze. I quickly regain my posture and search for those very blue eyes, and then there he was, scanning the crowd just like I was. All thoughts of anxiety and all kinds of doubts vanished the minute I saw his face. As if pulled in by an invisible force, his face found main too. He gave me a wide grin that made me laugh out in relief. He recognized me!

My heart thumped with joy as I ran towards him and engulfed him in one big hug. His arms engulfed me too and I had never felt more safe in my life.

"Hey," he said, his voice completely unfamiliar to me. I giggled at his strange manly voice and replied, "Hey."

He ruffled my hair, making me push away playfully. "Leave some love for me too," I heard a familiar voice. Ji was standing beside us with a wide grin. I pulled him into a hug too. Pulling away, I said, "you always have my love, Ji."

He nodded curtly with a smile, going back to his composed self. "Where are your luggage, young lady?" He questioned, making me survey my surrounding. "Shit!" I cursed as I ran back to the center of the platform where my bags were left forgotten. As I walked back, I found Jayden and Ji's face trying so hard to stiffle a laugh. I rolled my eyes.

Ji took my bags from me telling, "I'll take the luggage from here. Your brother wants to give you a ride back to the Shiba house and I believe it would be difficult with all the baggage. You guys go ahead and enjoy."

After a small acknowledgement from both of us, Ji left with my luggage in hand. Suddenly, a wave of awkwardness washed over me. It has been ages since I saw Jayden, let alone be alone with him. I practically know nothing about him. 

"Come on," he said, drapping an arm around my shoulder, and I walked along.

Soon reaching the parking lot, we walked towards his bike. He said it was a gift from Ji. Apparently, Ji has been getting him a lot of gifts ever since their victory. 

Stopping at his bike with a helmet in each of our hands, Jayden dived into his pocket and brought out a necklace with a guitar pendant on it. I gasped, because I knew very well on what he was holding. It may look like just a pendant, but in reality, it was a locket. That too not just any locket, a locket that can hold a minimum of five photos. 

Flashback flickered in my brain, a HD clarity video playing right in front of my eyes. 

"Will you buy me that locket if I go to India?" I hear my younger self ask. 

"I will. I promise," I hear Jayden's voice speak to me. After that, I let people pull me out the house to let me start a new beginning. I kept glancing back at Jayden until I was made to mount on a horse.

I was wearing a jacket that—

"Bloom?" I heard a faint voice. 

The jacket—

"Bloom?" Someone shook me. "Bloom Shiba!" And then I snapped back to reality, gulping in the cool air. 

"Still having the episodes I see," Jayden remarked. "I can never really let go of them," I murmur. "I'm cursed with it."

Jayden smiles a sad smile, the locket in hand forgotten for a moment. "Hey! It's okay, I'm fine," I say, trying to stay upbeat. "Now, for the locket." I grin wide. Jayden grins too, handing over the locket to me.

"I can't believe you remembered it," I said in a daze as I wore it around my neck. 

"How could I ever forget it?" He remarks. As soon as I wore the locket, Jayden took his seat on his bike and gestured me to sit. As I held tightly onto his waist, the engine roared to life and soon we were headed through the familiar path amidst the woods. I'm heading home...

The sight of the Shiba house was both nostalgic and gut wrenching. The memories hidden between each and every object here was palpable. A single touch and I'll probably be petrified for hours. Don't touch anything, I tell myself as I carefully make my way through the gates.

Ji had already made his way home by the time we reached. Smiling fondly, he stood at the veranda, his stance ever so formal. Winding stone pavements had combat floors on either side. The practice areas that once used to echo with grunts were now strangely quiet. I can still see that the equipments were still recently used, considering the fact that it really was used merely days back.

"Welcome back to the Shiba House!" Ji exclaimed as I made my way up the steps. A strange feeling knawed at me. The power was surging through each and every object a little too hard. I could feel my mind drifting away, though I try my best to keep it under control. My head pounds with all the efforts. Stay your ground, Bloom!

Standing at the centre of the house my eyes rack the training equipments, the neatly arranged books, the aesthetic samurai decor, the six seats of the rangers and finally lands on the huge samurai crest. I cringe involuntarily as my brain brings up the memory of its blaring sound.

"You don't have to worry about that anymore," Ji said from behind me. "No more attacks, hence, no more alarms."

I nod curtly, acknowledging his sympathy for me. "Your old room is not yet ready," Jayden said from beside me. "We'll do our best to get it ready by tonight."

My heart beat echoed in my chest. My breathing pace increased. "Jay, I don't want my old room," I mumbled. His face puzzled but still, his silent oath to satisfy all my wishes kept his mouth shut. Trying to explain the situation, I said, "Just too much.... memories."

Jayden took in a deep breath, his hands slightly hitting the back of his head. "I'm sure there's another room available," he quickly said, looking expectantly at Ji. "Yes, there's one on this corridor. You can have it."

Grateful for their gesture, I nodded with a smile. "And that room is also ready to occupy, so..."

"Let's go!" I grinned enthusiastically as I rode my trolley down the corridor, Jayden jogging behind me to keep up. 

After a few dusting here and there, we sat with my luggage open and started unpacking. Jayden helped me as I directed him on where to place what. He worked while I was distracted in taking in my surroundings. This room was really big, yet cozy and I loved every inch of it. The giant window at the middle on the farther wall looked over at ji's garden. Beyond it was the twisting woods that brought back, as usual, good and bad memories. 

"So... umm..." Jayden pulled me back from my eye tour. "Tomorrow's a Saturday... so, I was thinking maybe you would like to go shopping. "

"Shopping?" My eyebrows shot up. He nodded curtly, his eyes refusing to meet mine. "I didn't classify you as a guy who liked shopping."

He shrugged his shoulders. "I have been dragged to few." I nodded thoughtfully. 

"I just thought you might need a new set of clothes," he started hesitantly. "Considering..." He pointed vaguely at the now stacked closet. Hmm..., I see his point. These clothes were not suitable for this weather. And also, something tells me that he just wants an excuse to spend more time with me. And I always love to spend time with him.

"Alright," I grinned, "but you better have a stocked wallet."

With a mock salute, he said, "yes mam." I started laughing and he soon joined in.

Within the end of the day, everything was where it was supposed to be, thanks to Jayden's strange sense of being organized. Ji made an heartfelt dinner for all of us and we ate together, sitting at the counter. Ji shared stories about Jayden's team and Jayden intertwined at places he felt was inaccurate. I joined in with my own remarks and teases. And suddenly, it didn't feel like we were meeting after 12 long years. It felt like we were always there together. 

It really is amazing to be home...

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Author's note

Hey to those who took time to read my story. Thank you so much for your reads. It means so much to me. Feel free to comment and maybe give any suggestions. I am always open to constructive criticism. 

This is my first time publishing what I write and I am taking baby steps here. So, once again would like to thank you for the reads. ❤️❤️❤️

Stay tuned for updates 'cuz Bloom is gonna go on some crazy life adventures... 😉