A five-star Rave

The Ryokan they went to was nothing short of a first-class experience steeped in Japanese tradition. The architecture, preserved all the way from the Meiji Period, showed signs of meticulous care and repeated use, spick and span yet with clear signs of old wear and tear. The gates opened to reveal polite staff dressed in immaculate kimonos, kindly taking your luggage and guiding you to the reception.

The entire building smelt of sterile cold air, characteristic of an air-conditioned environment, yet held the distinct fragrance of lavender. Elwur noticed the gelled scents to the side.

The exterior was just as antiquated and comely as the interior, all bearing the hallmark characteristics of Japanese hospitality: Zen colours with tasteful, artful harmony, sand gardens with bamboo and bonsai trees manicured with an expert hand, water fountains whose bamboo gavels tap the rock every quarter-minute. The staff, dressed in kimonos or samues, bow to you with the same deference as one treated a Samurai noble.

You meet a single matronly woman by the counter, her hair a distinct basil green and her eyes a striking vermillion red. Her flat face and small nose - typical Japanese facial features - regard you with a mask of politeness cultivated from years of experience, her lips fixed in a small smile.

"Irrashaimasse," She bowed, "I am Kunieda Isono, Proprietress of the Hanazono (花園) Ryokan, and I bid you esteemed customers welcome. How may I help you?"

"Konnichiwa, we booked a room for two and for an entire week," Yutsuko greeted.

"Understood," Isono smiled, "And how will you be making payment?"

Yutsuko fished out the two golden tickets from her purse, shining like the holy grail of eternal bliss. Isono's eyes widened just a fraction, before she mastered herself and punched a hole in the two coupons.

"Thank you for the coupons, and we wish you a pleasant stay," Isono smiled, "Though if I may say, not everyone gets these tickets."

"I just happened to get them as a reward for my long service at my company," Yutsuko answered smilingly, "Best gift I ever received in a decade, I daresay."

"Ah, I see," Isono smiled in understanding, then handed them the keys to their respective room, "Once again, I wish you a pleasant stay in the Hanazono."

The couple bowed to the proprietress and followed a staff member serving as their guide.

As they walked away, however, Elwur snuck a glance at Isono, and he frowned slightly. If Isono knew or took notice, she did not show it, and merely returned to face the next group of customers.

They reached a huge, spacious room fit for a king and queen, outfitted with all the modern amenities one could ask for in a five-star hotel: A 4k UHD TV screen, a high-end refrigerator with crushed ice and water dispensers, a small pantry for making instant coffee and tea, and a polished stained table with two floor-chairs, the floor made of high-quality tatami.

Yutsuko stared at the room with tears of joy, her face beatific.

"Ah... To think a corporate wage **** like me gets to enjoy such luxury, it's such a great view for staring at the sunset."

Elwur hugged her, kissing her cheek, and she blushed like a tomato.

After giving their thanks to the staff member who left to guide other customers, Elwur and Yutsuko unpacked their luggage and went to take a shower, eager to get changed after a long journey by car. The kimonos loaned to them by the hotel were simple yet immaculate, tailored from high-quality cotton, and they felt supple on the skin.

Yutsuko immediately went for a beer can from the fridge, only for Elwur's hand to clamp down on hers as he fixed a pointed glare.

"No daytime drinking," He sternly ordered.

"What? But it's our trip! I want an ice-cold beer to celebrate! Do you know how hard it is to be able to get plastered with how much overtime we did!?" Yutusko whined like a petulant little brat, as if complaining about her lack of allowance for ice-cream.

"No," Elwur firmly denied.

"Please?" Yutsuko pleaded, flashing the cutest puppy dog eyes Elwur had ever seen.

"No. 10pm earliest," Elwur stated.

"How about nine?" Asked Yutsuko.

"9.30, final time," Elwur flatly said.

Yutsuko was extremely put out, but against the implacable wall of stony, gritty professionalism, Yutsuko relents and settles for what she is offered.

"Okay..." Yutsuko whined, pouty but understanding, "Still really thirsty though."

"Water, or other drinks, no ****," Said Elwur.

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," Yutsuko said, "Well, it's about two hours before dinner time, so how about we watch a movie in the meantime?"

Elwur inclines his head in a small nod, and together they on Netflix to play an old movie, this time a Samurai flick focused on the Showa Era with a healthy dose of drama, action and romance - three of Yutsuko's favourite tags.

Back in her own office, the woman named Kunieda Isono collapsed to her knees, hands clamped over her mouth to stifle sobs as tears fell freely from her eyes. Mercifully, her office is isolated from outside by soundproofing, and only she and her secretary had the keys, so no one could intrude on her moment of vulnerability.

"My son... he's here. Alive and well..."

She clasped her hands in prayer and offered many thanks, breathing heavily while sorting out the multitude of feelings welling in her chest: Relief, Hope, Fear and Uncertainty.

"After so many years of being seperated, I finally found you..." She muttered, voice wracked with sobs.

Having cried her heart out, she wiped the tears from her eyes and went to the sink, washing it clean. Then she waved a hand, and the glamour spell was dispelled to reveal a Dark Elf woman, comely and matronly, a woman who had seen too many years of grief, sorrow and suffering, thick bags under her striking crimson eyes, her silver hair falling freely.

She took a deep breath, exhaling all her hesitation out like some toxic smoke.

"Alright, you're going to organize a meet with him, and then you're going to tell him the truth, about his heritage, his bloodline, everything. And then... then you wait and see what his answer is."