thank you very much for your continuous support minna-san! :)

here's chapter 7.. this MIGHT BE the second to the last chapter.. yes, the next chapter will PROBABLY be the ending.. :'(

anyways, enjoy!


Chapter 7:Goodbye

"So it has been a routine for the past nine days, huh" Tomoka asked and then she sipped from the straw of her mango juice.

"Yes. The bento is the easiest thing, but to be in front of his house at a certain time—especially during weekends when I supposed to be, I don't know, relaxing at my room, studying or hanging out with you 'til (looks at her watch) 9 PM— that definitely sucks. I only agreed so that I won't be an opponent of his during his solo-flight tennis practice. I don't know what would happen if I became a victim of his Twist serve", Sakuno said, shuddering from the thought.

"Maybe you'll always need to wear dark glasses to hide your black eye that was hit by the incoming ball; or maybe you'll even need hospitalization, I can visit you or even stay with you there", Tomoka offered sarcastically.

"Ha-ha, very funny. But, I can say those are only some of the many reasons why I don't want to be his opponent. It's strange that he did not want me to prepare any bento for this day, and it's pretty weird that he did not ask for me either. I thought I'll be a dog following him for the straight ten days", Sakuno responded as she mixed her strawberry shake with her straw.

"Well, aren't you happy? I mean, you've been whining and complaining to me over the phone every single night ever since you started your agreement."

"I have to admit it's not something I would wish to be doing, but it's not that bad either," the braided girl responded suddenly becoming thoughtful.

"Aha! I knew it!" exclaimed the ever-so-loud friend of hers.

"What?"

"You're starting to like him!"

"Huh? No!"

"I know you are," Tomoka accused.

"No I'm not! What made you think that anyway?"

"Well, whenever you whine to me every night, your complaints are getting lesser and lesser. It's as if you're beginning to like—or should I say enjoy what you're doing."

"Wha-, no, no! I mean, the things that he commands me to do gets harder and harder making me feel wasted at the end of the day so I don't even have the energy to whine about it", Sakuno explained.

"Sister, that's a very long explanation, and to top it all, it's very unbelievable."

"Come on, Tomoka. I can't explain such complicated things with, I don't know, three words or less."

"Well I can", Tomoka lifted her left hand with her three fingers straightened. "You-love-him", Tomoka pointed at her three fingers one by one as she uttered the three words.

"What? No way! Tomoka, seriously, he has done more hateful things to me than loveable ones—not even likable ones!"

"But even so, you still fall for him."

"I did not!" After that, Sakuno's phone rang making her jump from her seat.

"Speaking of your beloved, answer it, I'll be fine", Tomoka said as she peeked to see who's calling Sakuno so late at night.

"He's not my beloved", Sakuno said as she stood up and answered her phone.


(Sakuno and Ryoma's conversation)

Sakuno: Hello?

Ryoma: It's me.

Sakuno: I know, what's up, what made you call so late at night?

Ryoma: Meet me where I took you the last time.

Sakuno: The riverbank?

Ryoma: Yes

Sakuno: What time?

Ryoma: 4PM.

Sakuno: Why?

Ryoma: Hey, I still own you, no more questions.

Sakuno: O-kay. I'll see you tomorrow.

Ryoma: Yeah

And he hung up.


"What did he say?" Tomoka asked as Sakuno returned to her seat.

"Well, the usual. He wants us to meet."

"Maybe he has a parting gift, or maybe he will finally confess his love for you."

"Dream on, I don't think that will ever happen."

"I will never lose hope. If that doesn't happen tomorrow, I'm sure it will happen some other time."

"Like I said—dream on."


It was a wonderful afternoon when Sakuno reached the riverbank. She came earlier than what was planned but, he still managed to be there earlier than her.

"Ryoma, you're early, I thought we'll meet at four?" Sakuno asked as she walked towards him.

"But you're early, too" he replied.

Sakuno sighed. "Whatever." She said while rolling her eyes. "So, what do you want?"

"Remember when we debated about how long will be my ownership of you?"

"Yes, we should've stayed with just one week, you now." Sakuno said, crossing her arms and placing it on top of her stomach.

"Hn. Well, I guess you made a right decision disagreeing with me", said the boy with cat-like eyes as he turned his back to her as he walked closer to the river.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm saying that it's a good thing that you did not agreed to be mine for two weeks, or else, I would've taken you with me", Ryoma said while looking at the flowing river, still his back facing her.

Sakuno was confused. She definitely has no idea what he was talking about. "Take me where?"

"America. I'm going there", he is now looking at the setting sun.

Sakuno was speechless. She definitely and absolutely did not see that coming.

"Hey did you here me? I said I'm going to America", Ryoma said while looking at her through his left shoulder.

"I-I heard it the first time. But, why is it so sudden?"

"It's not really that sudden, I've been waiting for this for so long. It just so happen that it will be tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? How can you even fly to America without the proper papers?"

"Well, I'm technically an American citizen, so, there's not much of any problem."

"Oh, right." Sakuno remembered that it was the peak of the fame of Samurai Nanjiroh in America when Ryoma was born.

"And besides, if there is any problem, I have taken care of those yesterday."

'Yesterday? Is that why he did not ask for me?' Sakuno thought. "Anou, why did you say that you would've taken me with you?"

"Because I want to", Ryoma replied as he looked back at the setting sun.

"You want to what? You want to tell me or—"

"I want to take you with me"

Sakuno is yet again speechless. It's not that she has nothing to say—she has lots—but she doesn't know which one to say. Her mind went back to her conversation with Tomoka last night.


(flashback)

"Maybe he has a parting gift, or maybe he will finally confess his love for you."

"Dream on, I don't think that will ever happen."

"I will never lose hope. If that doesn't happen tomorrow, I'm sure it will happen some other time."

"Like I said—dream on."

(end of flashback)


"So", Sakuno was brought back to the present when Ryoma started to talk again. "Will you come with me?"

"What?" Sakuno said in a small voice that Ryoma heard anyway.

"Will you come with me, or if not, can you or will you wait for me?"

Sakuno did not say anything; she just looked down and started walking towards Ryoma.

Ryoma, waited in silence, and then finally, Sakuno is just a foot away from him. She lifted her head and looked into the eyes of the emerald-haired boy.

"That is so many options", she said in an accusing tone then she pouted.

Ryoma was surprised to hear her answer. But before he could react any further, thin arms were suddenly wrapped around him. He answered by wrapping his arms around her.

Sakuno buried her face onto his chest. They stayed like that for quite a while. "I can't leave oba-san", she whispered, finally.

With that, Ryoma knows her answer. She can't. He tightened his arms around her hinting Sakuno that he got it.

"I want to be with you, but Oba-san would be alone if I leave. I can't come with you but I promise that I'll wait for you, no matter how long."

Ryoma pulled back from the hug and looked at the now-teary-eyed Sakuno. He swept away the tears that are forming at the corner of her eyes with his thumb as he caressed her face. "Hey, don't cry. I know that there is little chance that you will come with me. And I'm ready for any of your answer. It just breaks my heart to say goodbye to you at such little time."

"You should've told me about it yesterday."

Ryoma hugged her again. "I intentionally distanced myself from you yesterday because I was afraid that when I see you, I might drag you into the immigration office so you would come with me, and that is because I still own you, you know." He laughed at himself then he continued. "That's why I called you so late at night as to be sure that the immigration office is already closed at that time and there is no way that I can force you into anything."

Silence followed after that, Sakuno broke it first.

"How long will you be gone?" Sakuno asked regretting it when he did not answer. It could only mean one thing: He'll be gone for a long time that even he doesn't want to realize it.

"I did say that I'll wait no matter how long, right?" Sakuno said in a forced cheerful voice.

"Yes." Sakuno pulled back to looked into Ryoma's eyes, and he did the same.

"That is my promise. Will you promise me one thing in return?" Sakuno said, eyes expectant.

"Anything", Ryoma replied.

"Don't call me" Sakuno said the words slowly as if waiting for impact.

"What? Sakuno—"

"Please, Ryoma. Hearing your voice will not help me cope with our situation. I just don't want to break whenever we have to say goodbye over the phone."

"Can I at least send you letters?"

"Of course"


Ryoma walked Sakuno home. It was already dark but one can still see the moisture in Sakuno's eyes. They now reached her house and the hardest part is drawing near.

"I—I might not be able to come here before I leave. My flight is at 4am, you might still be asleep drooling all over your pillow." Ryoma tried to lighten up the mood, but it seems that it did not work.

"It's fine", Sakuno paused looking down. When she finally looked up she said "and for the record, I do not drool."

"Yeah, I was just, you know, trying to lighten the mood", Ryoma explained while scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah, I figured that out", Sakuno smiled. Silence followed. The night is so peaceful that the silence between the two seemed awkward.

"You can go now", Sakuno said finally.

"Yeah, I should go", Ryoma said but did not even show any signs of leaving.

"Hey, your flight's early. You should take a good night sleep and that won't happen if you're still here."

"You're right. So, this is good bye."

"Yeah"

Ryoma pulled her into one final hug. "I love you", he whispered into her ears.

"Me too, I love you too." She broke the hug and looked into his eyes. "Good bye, Ryoma." Sakuno went into her house and smiled at him as she closed the door.

Ryoma stared at the door blankly for like a minute before he finally leaves. Sakuno on the other hand stayed there, her back leaning on the door as the tears she was holding back find their way down her rosy cheeks.


Will you look at that.. *deep breath* the end is near, thank you minna-san for staying with me and reading my fanfic.. please support my other fics and the ones that is still yet to come..

Arigatou ne? :)

_torishia-chan_