Chapter 9

Disclaimer: Why do we have to keep doing this? For Pete's sake, I'm nearing the end of the story...

All of a sudden, his place felt so empty. Saitou was there to watch as Corinne slowly packed whatever little belongings she had. His gift was the last to go. She sat in the middle of the room he gave up for her, just holding the dress and staring out the window. Down below, a servant waited outside the front doors. Impatient whinnies floated up through the second floor storey window, and finally, she folded up the dress.

He tried to maintain his characteristic stoic expression, but it was difficult when his little housemate dragged her feet, obviously loathing to go. And neither did he want her to go. Then the screen door shut and they were both alone at the top of the stairwell. Saitou knew she was near tears when she ducked into a bow and just stood frozen. Automatically, his hand went to the top of her head. Corinne fell against him, burying her face in his coat.

It was probably the last time he would see her again. Slowly, Saitou pulled out the puzzle box in his pocket. He had kept it for so long he wasn't sure she still remembered it. He pressed it into her hands, anyway. When she drew back in surprise, he motioned for her to put down her things, and sat on the top step. She followed suit, huddling between him and the wooden banister.

The toy was not unlike the ones he saw the Aizu children play with during his Shinsen days, and he unlocked it after only one try, much to Corinne's amusement. Then, snapping it shut, he passed it to her, watching the inexperience fingers fumble with the pieces. At length, she gave up, and both sat in companionable silence. Saitou knew he was mission work, but he didn't mind. If for another moment he could make himself believe that she was there to stay, he would willingly give up the next million years of his life.

It surprised him to know that he was capable, to some degree, of human affection, never imagining the day when the touch of another warm being would excite anything but guarded tension. Instead, her being there, pressed against his sword arm, only made him want the queer, homey feeling to last.

He knew then that she had to go. He could not afford to get into a tussle over the rights to keep her. Gently, he squeezed her shoulder and stood, easily gathering up her meagre possessions. Understanding, Corinne followed him down the stairs.

The footman was there to load her things into the carriage, and soon enough, it was time for the inevitable goodbye. Although he heard the whispered farewell, Saitou was a little disappointed that she didn't really look at him. But as the carriage drove away, he decided it was better that way. He wouldn't have known whether to smile as she so liked to see him do, or to keep his deadpan look, as he felt more like doing at the moment.

He lit a cigarette, something he had not done since finding out that Corinne was sick. Watching the foreign, horse-drawn contraption wind its way towards the seaside embassy, he took the first drag, and then put it out. It just wasn't the same anymore.

***

Much of the week after homecoming was spent alone. Corinne had managed to get Clara's punishment retracted, so while her friend was busy with rehearsals, she moped in solitude.

"I don't see why Madame has to make you all rehearse so much. If you haven't gotten everything perfect by now, you probably never will," Corinne snapped one night after a particularly idle day. Across the room, Clara glanced up from her stitching and asked how her day went.

Sighing, Corinne flung herself back down onto the bed. She liked to share a room with Clara because then, they could stay up to talk, which was exactly what they were doing.

"Sorry," she mumbled. "I've just been having a terribly lonely time."

Her friend grinned knowingly. "That's not it. You are only acting spoiled, so that Madame would be persuaded to let you out of the house."

"Touché." Rolling over onto her back, Corinne stared up at the frescoed ceiling. From her corner, the other girl wondered what M Fujita was doing, which earned her a puzzled look. "Why did you suddenly want to know?"

"I don't. But I know you are."

Corinne wriggled more comfortably under the down duvet. "He is probably doing the night rounds – "

"Ensuring the safety of the populace?"

"Most probably."

"I wonder why he does not make his rounds near here."

"Now there's a thought." Both girls knew that French guards patrolled the embassy. A local policeman would have only aroused suspicion. All the same, Corinne wished Monsieur would stop by.

When the clock in the hallway struck twelve, Clara finally put down her mending. "Anything you'd like before I blow out the candles?"

"I'd like Madame to allow me outside tomorrow," Corinne replied surly, scooting over to make room for her.

"That's unlikely. She did say you might watch the premiere, though."

"That doesn't count."

Sliding into bed, Clara snuffed out the light. Tomorrow, she had a very important errand to run.

***

Saitou was surprised to see somebody near his house. He would have thought the girl was waiting for a neighbour, but her jumping right up at the sight of him was enough to extinguish all doubt. Moving closer, he saw that it was Clara. Their last encounter had left him believing that she was in trouble; on the other hand, she might have gotten the slip, or else worked around it. He liked to think Corinne might have intervened on her behalf, and brought about the former.

"Can I talk to you about Mademoiselle?" she immediately asked when he was within earshot. Grunting an affirmative, he unlocked the door, holding it open as she ducked under his outstretched arm.

'What did you want to say?" It was one of the most awkward of situations, standing there at the entrance, neither attempting to enter the house proper.

"The premiere is tomorrow."

He was well aware of that – earlier that day, the police chief had just narrowly missed selecting him as one of the Royal Family's entourage – and waited for her to continue.

"If Fujita-san does not have plans, I was wondering if he would be willing to stop by the embassy tomorrow evening."

"What would I be doing there?"

She went on hurriedly. "Fujita-san is really all Ms. Corinne talks about, so I thought maybe she missed having you around..."

Saito blinked. The wily girl had struck home.

"...Maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't mind escorting her to the premiere?"

His superior would definitely find out about his hiding the girl... "No; I wouldn't mind at all."

When the big smile spread across Clara's face, he knew he had said exactly what she wanted him to. Even then, knowing that didn't annoy him one bit.

"Thank you!" she gasped, scrambling into a grateful bow, the smile firmly plastered on her face. "The carriage will be here by seven tomorrow night."

"Wonderful," he said flatly, but the tone didn't put her off. Just before she ran out the door, Clara stuck her head back in to remind him that it was all a secret. Saito just nodded, knowing for certain that the big "secret" between him and the foreign girl would be the next top gossip of the friendly neighbourhood women.

Strangely enough, he couldn't make himself care.

***

"What are you still doing here?" Corinne demanded, aghast, at her friend's madly grinning reflection on the dressing table mirror.

"Madame let me stay a while. I'm not needed until the second act, anyway."

"But I can take care of myself," she protested, delicately looping the final bow on the dress Monsieur had given to her. Her favourite now and forever, as Corinne had decided long ago.

"Then hurry." Clara was still smiling.

"What's so funny?" the other suspiciously asked. "It's not my hair, is it?"

"Oh, no."

"Then what –"

Finally, Clara couldn't take it anymore. "The carriage is waiting," she explained carelessly, rushing in to drag her friend from the room.

"There is no need to hurry. Jacques will wait. He always does."

"Somebody else will be impatient."

Corinne was too busy stumbling down the stairs behind Clara, and struggling to keep from tripping on the hem of her clothes to notice the visitor at the foyer. When she finally did, though, her eyes grew wide with disbelief.

"Monsieur!"

He smiled at her shock; and then, to her greater surprise, held out a hand to help her down the stairs. Wordlessly, Corinne let him. The next instant, all three of them – Monsieur, Clara, and she – were headed towards the theatre. Corinne felt like Cinderella, except that instead of evil stepsisters, all she had were fairy godmothers. Then Clara ran off towards the rear of the building, and it was just her and Monsieur, like before.

The biggest surprise was waiting at the front of the theatre, where all the rest of her friends were waiting. M Himura, Mlle Kamiya and Megumi, Yahiko, M Sagara, Dr. Gensai, and the little girls. Even an usher was there to take the little group to one of the reserved balconies.

"Have a good evening," he murmured, withdrawing discreetly when all were settled. Corinne smiled a him. In the end, Madame had contrived with Clara to pull the whole stunt off. As she sat back to wait for the curtain to open, she brushed against Monsieur's sleeve. He gave her one of his rare smiles.

Everything was just perfect.

***

A week after the royalty-graced opening night, Saitou found himself at the docks. He had lied to his superior, spouting a lot of nonsense about a fight downtown, so that he could watch the ship sail for France while his subordinates sniffed out the fabricated ramble. So far, the only thing that happened was the Stevedore Parade up and down the plank, heavy trunks on their shoulders. The lady passengers were just arriving, while their men supervised the cargo loading.

When a string of carriages halted by the pier, Saito knew that what he had come for had arrived. From behind a pile of crates and loose rope, he watched as Corinne stepped down, her teacher hovering nearby. Warm in her long cape, she looked – and felt – farther from him than ever. Saitou did not approach, even though she was clearly looking for him. It was his last chance to say good-bye... Clenching his jaw, he stood his ground.

The boarding call reverberated in the unusually bright autumn morning. Passengers trailed up the plank, then crowded around on the deck, waving to those left on the port. She remained until the final call, still hoping to see him. Then a loud cranking cut through the goodbyes. The vessel turned around slowly, anchor rising from the murky depths. Saitou could see her on the deck, leaning dangerously far out. Wanting to see him, he knew.

Finally, he stood in full view.

Throwing the port a last, wistful glance, she retreated at the urging of a companion, disappearing into the cabins below. Saito felt just the teeniest bit of regret. She did not see him.

A/N: THIS IS NOT THE END!!! (But you must have gathered that by now, dear readers...) There's still an epilogue, so please, please review. (or you'll never know what ultimately happened! Mwahahaha!) Really now. Thank you for reading ( as again). I will keep this author's note short, because right now, I can't really think of anything to say, which is a real miracle for a chatterer like me...

Please, again, review. One review per visitor's not asking too much, right? Right??

Love,

Tibbits.