A/N: Ya-hoi! OMGOMGOMG!! It's here the final and LAST CHAPTER!!! I just want to say that this is the FIRST multi-chapter story that I have completed. I started this story on April 26, 2006 and I finished tonight, December 9, 2007. Whew! What a journey!

Seriously, thank you EVERYONE who has stuck by me this whole time! I especially want to thank Computerfreak for encouraging me to continue writing this story. I wanted to delete it, it wasn't going anywhere, but she came out of the blue and told me to keep going...so I did!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Disclaimer: 'Prince of Tennis' is the property of Konomi and VIZ media (Ha-ha!) It does not belong to me. ENJOY!!

xoxoxoxox

(Chapter 10) FINAL

As the two walked to the dance floor they noticed how everyone had formed a ring in the center. Uma gripped Kaidoh's hand tighter and pulled him into the crowd to the middle of the floor where a circle had been formed. There they saw Ritsu, Ibiki and other members of the Ball Room Dancing Club dancing to some Latin track that Ueno had put on.

"Oh, wow," Uma breathed as she watched Ritsu and Ibiki flow across the floor. "They're amazing!" It was true. They moved so gracefully together, it was fluid motion. "Who would have thought Ritsu-chan had this much confidence!" she said. Kaidoh could only nod.

When the song had finished, everyone cheered and shouted for the group in the middle. Ibiki and Ritsu took a bow and quickly got off the dance floor.

"Kaidoh! Let's dance!" Uma insisted. She was pumped! Ueno had started another song. It was a newer song. She tilted her ear. Oh, she had heard this one! "Koda Kumi," she said simply as she grabbed Kaidoh's hand and pulled him to the center. Kaidoh's eye grew wide as Uma began dancing. She just moved. It was mesmerizing as she twisted and turned. Uma laughed and tugged at Kaidoh's hands.

"C'mon, I won't bite and nobody's paying attention anyways," she called out as the music pounded in their ears. Kaidoh shrugged off any inhibitions he might have had and started dancing.

Uma stopped for a second. Was there anything this boy couldn't do!? She stood there on the verge of drooling. Kaidoh was not only a dancer, but he was a GOOD dancer. She just watched as Kaidoh did a few moves that she swore he stole from Gackt and then she jumped in. They danced. The music swirled around them; the lights were flashing and everyone around melted into the background. It was just the two of them in their own little world. Soon, they were matching each other move for move; it was exciting. She was smiling he was smiling; in all honesty, Uma didn't expect it to turn out like this!

Kaidoh watched Uma's face as they danced to Last Angel by Koda Kumi. He wasn't going to admit he had requested this song specifically so he could dance to it. And he definitely wasn't going to admit he memorized the dance steps to this song so he could show off a little bit for Uma. But, when he saw her watch in pure amazement he felt a little more confident. And when she started matching him move for move he was even more doubly impressed with her knack for picking things up quickly.

When the song had finished they both stood there breathing a little heavily. They heard some shouts and turned around. There stood Momo and Eiji hooting and hollering at them. Even Fuji and Inui had watched them danced. They had seen the whole thing. Inui had gotten some good data and Momo declared that he was a much better than Kaidoh. Eiji dared him to prove it. Momo refused insisting that he didn't feel like embarrassing the poor boy in front of his date.

After Momo and Eiji's cheers of approval Uma and Kaidoh started laughing, blushing slightly. Kaidoh wrapped his arms around Uma and buried his head into her shoulder. "Those idiots," he murmured. "I'm going to kill them."

"Not today," Uma replied back lightly. "I don't think we need any more attention."

Kaidoh laughed and looked up. She had the most beautiful eyes.

Uma was about to say something else when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Kaidoh looked over her should and frowned. Uma turned around and was surprised to find Momo and Eiji behind them. They decided to pick on the couple some more. It was just too much fun!

"Uma-chan! You were awesome!" Eiji exclaimed bouncing up and down. Uma laughed.

"Thanks, Eiji-senpai!"

"Will you teach me how to dance?" he asked innocently, his eyes as big as saucers, hands clasped together. Uma laughed.

"Sure!" she replied lightly. "Yay!" Eiji cried and pounced on her. It took both Kaidoh and Momo to pry him off her. Uma staggered backwards; boy he had a strong grip!

"Senpai, I think Oishi-senpai is looking for you," Momo said suddenly as he pointed to the Seigaku table. Eiji immediately forgot about Uma and looked around.

"Ah! Oishi!" he called and took off back through the crowd dragging Momo with him. Uma watched the pair go and laughed.

"Kaidoh, you're so lucky!" she said as she turned back around to face him. Kaidoh raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh?"

"You're so talented at tennis, you're getting better at English, you dance like a demon, and you've got the best teammates ever!" she exclaimed as she hugged his neck in excitement. Kaidoh chuckled.

"I guess I do!" he replied as he wrapped his arms around her waist and spun her around. Another song was playing, a slow song, so he decided to take advantage.

"Hey," Uma murmured after a bit as they slowly moved across the floor. "Recognize this song?"

Kaidoh turned his ears toward the stage. His eyes widened and he glanced down at Uma who had a huge smile on her face. "I do!"

It was that song! The very first song he had heard in English, the song that Uma had been singing when he first talked to her.

"What can I do?" he whispered in her ear as the Corrs played in the background.

"Do what?" she asked back, her eyes closed, letting herself soak in the ambience.

Kaidoh's lips were right next to her ear. He felt her shiver and he smiled. "What I can do to make you…."

"You think you're so great!"

Kaidoh lifted his head pissed. Who the hell was interrupting him this time? Uma opened her eyes and turned around.

"Chiyo! What's wrong?" Uma asked in surprise as Chiyo and her posse stood in front of them.

Chiyo was fuming. She was already angry. That stupid Momoshiro had spilled the beans about her and Atobe's relationship and Atobe had left her standing in the corner while he went out and flirted with the other girls of Seigaku. And now, Kaidoh and Uma were all lovey-dovey on the dance floor. That wouldn't do! So she had located Midori and a couple of her other friends, walked straight to the middle of the dance floor and decided to interrupt their little moment.

"Do you think you're something special!?" Chiyo shouted angrily. "Do you think just because you are 'in' with the tennis team you can act all high and mighty!?"

Everyone in the gymnasium had stopped dancing and was staring at the trio. Uma looked around. Chiyo had lost it! And over what? Some silly schoolgirl crush?

"No, Chiyo," Uma said slowly. She could feel Kaidoh tense up behind her. She knew he really wanted to say something. "I do not think that. I've never thought that. Obviously, you are looking way into something you shouldn't be."

Chiyo growled. "Kaidoh should be mine! You know this! Everyone knows this!" she shrieked. Kaidoh hissed in annoyance, no way in hell was he ever going to be Chiyo's!

"Uh, no, I don't think so," Uma replied as calmly as she could. "Just because you followed him around like a sick puppy during school doesn't make him yours!"

Chiyo's eyes got wide and crazy. Even her friends were starting to get nervous.

"Uh, Chiyo-chan! Maybe you should let this go," Midori started nervously. Chiyo whirled around.

"No way, Midori! You liked him too!"

"Ah, Chiyo-chan is making a bad impression of Ore-sama," Atobe sighed as he slipped past the crowd and up next to Chiyo. He grasped her arm and pulled her away from Uma and Kaidoh. Chiyo tried to pull away.

"Let me go, Keigo!" she shouted. "You told me you'd help me tonight, but you haven't been any help at all!"

Atobe laughed and flicked back a piece of his hair. "Ore-sama doesn't have time for this Chiyo-chan. Come now, it's time for us to leave!" he said as he started for the gym doors.

"No! No! I don't wanna go! I don't wanna! Kaidoh is mine I tell you! Mine!" Chiyo shouted hysterically as she tried to break free from Atobe's strong grasp. Everyone stared in shock as Atobe finally lifted Chiyo up and threw her over his shoulder and walked out the gym, her friends trailing behind her.

"Well," Uma said brightly. "Let's not let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch! Ueno-kun!" she called up to the stage. Ueno gave her a thumb's up and suddenly the gym was hit with loud pounding music. She turned to Kaidoh and laughed.

"I bet you didn't think you were so popular!" she said lightly. Kaidoh scratched his head.

"No, I guess I didn't," he replied. He looked at her. That confrontation with Chiyo had shook her up. She looked a bit lost. That reminded him; he had something he needed to do.

Grabbing her hand he pulled her towards to the doors. "Hey," he said. "Let's get out of here."

Uma tightened her hand in his. "Yeah, let's go."

xoxoxoxox

Uma and Kaidoh walked hand in hand out the gym and out into the school yard. Neither one was really sure where they were going, they just walked. After a while, they came up to a park bench. Kaidoh stopped and pulled Uma around to face him. It was now or never.

"Uma, what's wrong?" he asked. Uma looked at him with a confused look.

"What?"

Kaidoh sat down and pulled her down with him. He held onto her hand. He needed to know what was up. "You've been acting weird lately. Is it something I did?"

Uma's eyes went wide. "No, no, it was nothing you did!" she exclaimed frantically. "Nothing at all Kaidoh!" she insisted. Kaidoh looked unconvinced.

"Then what's wrong?" He asked. His voice cracked, he sounded slightly desperate. "Talk to me! Please?" he begged. Uma felt tears welling up in her eyes. He looked so sad, like her problems were his fault. She sighed. She couldn't keep this back from him any longer. She had to tell him.

"Okay, I'll tell you…I would have to tell you anyways….." she started slowly. Kaidoh looked up and stared into her eyes. Her beautiful brown eyes that had captivated him from the very beginning, that were so full of life and happiness, were now bright with tears and sadness. He felt his own tears forming. She never looked like this before! It must be something really, really bad.

"Kaidoh, the other night, after our date, my mom was up waiting for me. She never waits up for me. Anyways, she had some news about my family…"

Kaidoh was at full attention. He knew Uma had some issues with her family. "Oh? Troubles?" he asked. Uma smiled faintly. He was being so sweet. It was almost too painful.

"Well, kind of…." She said. She took a deep breath. "Kaidoh, we're leaving for America!" she blurted out.

Kaidoh gave her a strange look. She was going on vacation? "You're going on vacation for summer break?" he asked. That didn't seem like much to get worked up over. After all, it was summer break.

Uma shook her head. He wasn't getting it. "Well….no, not exactly…" she stammered.

"What do you mean you 'not exactly'?" he prodded. There was definitely something amiss here.

She sighed. He saw the tears were beginning to fall. "Mom got a phone call," she started as he reached out and wiped away those tears. Why was he being so nice now!?

"It seems my father had a major heart attack during his business trip to America. A bad one; he almost died." She stopped and too in a ragged breath. "Right now, he's in a hospital in San Francisco, where his business trip took place. It was so bad, they said. He's still there. And they wanted my mom to fly over to America to see him. Of course, my brothers are there too; going to school, but Mom's needed over there!" she said nervously. She was rambling, she knew, but she couldn't find the words she needed to say.

Kaidoh nodded. Of course she should go over and visit him! "But…you will be back, won't you?" he asked. Uma stared at him for a long time. How could she answer that?

"I….don't know…." She said finally, staring at the sidewalk.

Kaidoh tightened his grip on her hands. She winced, but he didn't let go. "Uma, what does that mean?" he asked, his voice rising. "Are you moving?"

Uma was getting scared. His grip hurt her hands and the anger laced on his voice was obvious. She shook her head and tried to pull out of his grasp. "I don't know! I don't know!" She cried as a small sob escaped her lips. She hung her head, refusing to look at him. "All I know is that we're going to America for a little while and I don't know for how long!"

"When do you leave?" he asked.

"Monday…." She trailed off.

"Monday?" he repeated dropping her hands. "As in, THIS Monday?"

"Yes…"

Kaidoh shook his head in disbelief. He got right up in her face and forced her to look at him. "You've known you were leaving for this long and you just NOW decide to tell me!?" he asked angrily, his voice dripping with bitterness.

"Kaidoh, that's not fair! I wanted to tell you…but…" he cut her off.

"No! Were you just going to up and leave and not tell me anything!?" he asked as he grabbed her arms and pinned them to her sides.

"Of course I wasn't!" Uma shouted back wrenching free. Now, she was getting angry. He wasn't being reasonable at all. "I was waiting for the right moment!"

"Oh really?" Kaidoh flung his arms out wide. "Were you just going to wait until you were on the plane?" he shot back at her. He knew he shouldn't be doing this, not when she had worked up enough courage to tell him. But, his pride was hurt and his emotional level was raging, he couldn't stop himself. He hissed and turned his back to her.

"Don't do this, Kaidoh, please?" Uma asked weakly. This was not going well at all. "I don't want our last moments together to be like this…"

Kaidoh spun around, "Are you breaking up with me?" he asked quickly.

"What!?" Uma couldn't believe that came out of his mouth. "Do you want to break up?"

"Do you?" he retorted haughtily. "Obviously, that's what you're implying…"

"No it isn't!" Uma wanted to shake some sense into the boy. He was being so stupid. "Kaidoh, I'm going to America to see my sick father! He could be on his deathbed for all I know! And I don't know how long I am going to be away!" she yelled.

Kaidoh put his hands to his ears and turned away. "You're leaving me…" he was muttering. "You're leaving me…aren't you?"
"Kaidoh! Have you heard nothing I've said?" Uma asked in frustration. She was trying to pull him back around to look at her. He kept turning away. "Kaoru, look at me!" she said dangerously.

"No!" he said huffily his eyes squeezed shut.

"LOOK AT ME!" Uma growled. Kaidoh's eyes popped open in surprise. Uma never growled! He turned and looked at her. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes were bloodshot, she looked tired and worn down. She reached for him. He stood there stiffly as she clutched his shirt and buried her head in his chest.
"Kaidoh, please, don't be this way…" she whispered hoarsely, the tears falling freely. "I need you. I need you to understand what's going on." She looked up into his face. It was so hard and cold. Where was the light in his eyes? "Please? Please don't be this way…" she begged. "I need you!" She sobbed, her words coming out in broken fragments. "I need you…to tell me…it'll be okay…because…because I lo—"

"No," Kaidoh pushed himself away from her. "It's not okay, Uma. It's not….." he chewed out slowly. His head was pounding, his eyes were stinging with tears that were about to fall.

"Kaidoh…" Uma uttered his name in complete sorrow.

"I hope you have a good time in America, Uma. I hope your father is alright. I really do. But I can't look at you right now." He said sharply as he turned away from her and started walking away. Uma stared in disbelief. She jumped up and grabbed his arm in attempts to stop him.

"Kaoru…!" she called out as her fingers grasped his jacket. He stopped and jerked his arm out of her grasp. The sudden movement startled her and she stumbled backwards. He turned his back and glared at her. For a moment, she swore he looked sorry, but it was a fleeting look, because he eyes narrowed and he let out an angry irritated his. He quickly straightened his head and took off, running. Uma stood there numb. He left! He really left her!

"No," she whispered frantically. "Not like this…" she trailed off. She called out to him in one last attempt. "Not like this Kaidoh!" she screamed. It was too late. He was gone.

xoxoxoxox

Momo and Eiji were on a mission. They had completely missed Kaidoh and Uma leaving the gym. They wanted spy on them and had been searching for the past half hour. Finally, they had spotted them in the park not far from the school talking. The two of them were far enough away that they couldn't be seen but close enough to catch pieces of the conversation. It had started off pretty good, in Momo's opinion, not enough kissing, but a good start; but then, it had taken a turn for the worse. The boys looked at each other in surprise when Kaidoh yelled angrily at Uma and took off leaving her standing there alone.

"What do we do?" Eiji whispered worriedly. He had never seen Kaidoh treat Uma that way before! He had never seen Uma look that way before either! What was going on?

Momo jumped up and rushed up the lane and towards Uma. He wanted to know what was up!

Uma was still standing there staring off into space when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw Momo and Eiji running towards her. What did they want? She didn't want them to see her in such disarray so she quickly wiped her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Yo, Uma!" Momo called. Uma smiled weakly.

"Momo-chan! Eiji-senpai! What are you guys doing way out here?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"Nya….Uma-chan's sad! We saw it! We saw Kaidoh yell at you!" Eiji blurted as he wrapped his arms around Uma. Uma stiffened. They were spying on her!

"What!" she asked as she tried to push Eiji off her. "You heard!? What is with you guys!?" she shouted angrily. Eiji and Momo took a step back. Uma was scary when she was mad. Uma saw them blanch and sighed.

"I'm sorry, it's just…"

"What did he say to you?" Momo asked gently, placing a hand on her shoulder. Uma sniffed.

"It wasn't him, it was me," she whispered. Momo and Eiji were surprised. "I told him I was leaving. I'm going away and I'm not coming back!"

"You're not coming back?" Eiji repeated slowly. What did that mean? Uma stared at the ground, tears falling from her eyes. Both boys just stood there, unsure of what to do.

"I'm sorry, senpai, I have to go," she finally said as she quickly turned and disappeared down the lane.

It wasn't until Kaidoh found himself by the river's edge that he finally allowed himself to stop and catch his breath and collect his thoughts. He walked down the bank and sat down. 'I'm an idiot!' he thought angrily as he punched the ground beside her. 'I could have handled that better!'

'You can change that,' his inner thoughts prodded. Kaidoh shook his head. It was beyond that, wasn't it? And his pride was getting in the way. 'You can't leave it like this can you?' the voice asked.

Kaidoh hissed; stupid voices. Suddenly, his cell phone went off. He quickly fished it out and opened it eagerly. Maybe it was from Uma! He frowned. No it wasn't. It was from the Idiot:

What did you say to Uma? You better apologize! –Momo

Kaidoh's eyes bugged out of his head. How did he find out!? He hissed angrily and contemplated throwing his phone into the river. He gripped his cell phone tightly and stood up. It was over. He had left her and now he couldn't do anything about it. He had just ruined the best thing that ever happened to him by running away. He was truly an idiot.

Why had this turned out like this!? She thought miserably as she lay face down on her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks into her pillow. After Kaidoh had left her stunned on the bench, and mumbling something to Momo and Eiji, she managed to make her way home through a fog of disbelief and confusion. She really hadn't expected him to take her leaving that badly. True, she had expected him to be angry, but not like….!

She sat up, her phone was buzzing. Somebody was texting her! Quickly she dived for her phone beside her bed and flipped it open. She let out a breath, it wasn't from Kaidoh. It was from Ritsu!

"What does she want?" she asked glumly. Ritsu's message was sweet and short:

I wish I could have seen you leave! I had a good time tonight! Have a happy summer! See you next term!! –Ritsu

"Oh, Ritsu, I'mnot going to see you next term!" she sniffed as a few tears fell down her face.

When she had returned home, her mother had been waiting for her. Ayako told her daughter the final arrangements had been made for her father's rehabilitation in America. They would be there for the rest of the year, if not longer.

Uma rolled over and hugged her phone to her chest. "I'm going to miss you too."

xoxoxoxox

There was a loud disturbance coming from the club house after practice, Inui noticed. The other regulars were still out on the court. The only person missing was Kaidoh and he had stalked off the courts a while back. Quietly he opened the door and saw Kaidoh standing there, his back to the door pounding his fists into the lockers. His face was scrunched up in pain and tears were streaming from his eyes.

Inui rushed inside, "Kaidoh! Kaidoh! What are you doing!?"

Kaidoh looked up and saw his senpai standing there a look of fear and concern plastered on his face. "She's gone, Inui-senpai! She's gone! And after all those things I said her…she's gone!" He shouted as he slammed his fist into the lockers. He let out a frustrated cry of anger. Now that school was out for the summer, there would be no way to see her before she left! He couldn't leave it like this! Not when he had said all those things! Not when he had just left her there! Not when he….

"What are you waiting for?" Inui's question penetrated his thoughts.

Kaidoh pulled away from the lockers. "What?"
"What are you waiting for Kaidoh?" Inui asked again adjusting his glasses. He knew where Kaidoh needed to do. "Why are you still here?"

Kaidoh was confused. What was Inui-senpai getting at?

"Do you love her?" Inui tried again.

"Huh?"

"Do…you…love her?" Inui repeated slowly. Kaidoh gave him a look. He finally understood.

"Yes!" He exclaimed. "I love her!" he confessed. Inui nodded. Good.

Turning towards the door, Inui walked over and opened the club house door and pointed outside. "Then go tell her. You still have time. Go to her. Go tell her. She needs you. She needs to know, it's okay."

Kaidoh couldn't believe what he was hearing. Inui wanted him to go to the airport and find her? "But, her flight it'll be leaving soon."

"There's still time, Kaidoh…"

"But, Inui-senpai…" Kaidoh started desperately. Inui growled angrily. Blast his stubborn kohei!

"Why are you still here, Kaidoh?" He finally shouted angrily. Kaidoh blanched in surprise. Inui stabbed his finger in the air. "Go! Go now! Go get her and tell her you love her!" he commanded. Kaidoh gathered his wit and smiled.

"Right!" he conceded. He quickly dashed out the door and sprinted off the school grounds. "Wait…wait for me, Uma! I'm coming!" he whispered to himself.

Inui watched him run off a smile on his lips. The other regulars walked over to where he stood. Momo scratched his head and laughed.

"So he's finally going for it, huh?" he asked.

"I believe so," Inui turned back to the club house to gather his things. "So, gentlemen, shall we follow?"

xoxoxoxox

"Flight 992 to San Francisco, California is now boarding. Please make your way to gate 145. Flight 992 to San Francisco, California is now boarding. Please make your way to gate 145…"

Uma sighed, it was time. She and her mother gathered their bags and started for the gate. She had half hoped that he would come see her off, but knew that was a fleeting thought.

'This is it,' she thought to herself as tears began to form in her eyes. 'Good-bye…'

Walking along towards the gate, Uma could hear some faint shouting behind her. She didn't bother turning around. It wasn't that important. However, the shouting was getting loud. She paused and cocked her head to the side.

"…-ma! Uma! Ito Uma!"

She whirled around and dropped her bags. She rubbed her eyes. This couldn't be happening! There running towards her was the one she had been waiting for.

"Uma! Uma! Wait! Please!" Kaidoh shouted and he sprinted towards her. He had found her! He barely made it, but he did! It was now or never. Kaidoh rushed up to her and stopped, panting for breath. She reached out and touched his shoulder. It was really him! She wasn't hallucinating! Kaidoh grabbed her hand in his. She looked like she had been crying. Silently, he wiped away the few tears that trickled down her face.

"Is that really you?" She finally asked. Kaidoh smiled. "You're really here!?"

"Am…I…not suppose to be?" he asked as he caught his breath.

"Well, I just thought that after the other night…." She stammered. Kaidoh started laughing.

"Heh…baka…." He laughed as he pinched her nose. She jerked her head back and rubbed her nose with her hand.

"Kaidoh…why….?" she trailed off. She was lost for words, barely comprehending what was happening. The two stared at each other for a moment before he finally pulled her into a hug.

"Uma, haven't you figured it out yet?" he asked as he held her tight. "I…I love you!"

And with those words he kissed her. In public! In the middle of the airport, with people walking around them, he kissed her!

When they pulled away Uma's eyes were glowing. "…Kaoru…" she whispered. She heard someone shouting and she looked up. There was Momo and the others standing there. They were all smiling and waving and Inui was writing in his notebook.

After Kaidoh left the clubhouse, the team followed him to the airport. They had finally caught up when they saw him kiss her. Their jaws dropped. He really did it! In public!

Unable to contain his excitement, Momo jumped up and shouted to the pair, "Yeah, mamushi!" Momo shouted. "Give her a big smacker!" The others shushed him. They didn't want to spoil the moment.

Kaidoh saw this and shook his head. The idiots, couldn't he get any privacy? Turning back to Uma he smiled down on her.

"My whole life revolved around tennis," he started softly, his arms still around her. "I never thought about girls or boys or relationships at all. I didn't have the time and I didn't have the desire to pursue a relationship with anybody, so I closed myself up and locked everything away. I only thought I needed myself and I would be fine. But then…" he paused and took a deep breath. "Then you came along and changed everything. You made me feel important, like I was special. You taught me it was okay to let others inside. It was okay to let people see the real me. You didn't try to change me, you liked me for me. And…that's why I love you." He said wholeheartedly. And he meant every word. Uma was the only one for him. And nothing would change that. Not even thousands of miles and a whole ocean.

"I don't know what to say…" Uma stuttered. Her heart was on the verge of breaking in two. He voice was so gentle and kind and honest. She knew he meant what he said and Kaidoh Kaoru never went back on his words.

"Don't say anything, just go." He said simply. "You'll be home soon and when you return, I'll be waiting."

"I don't really know how long that will be…it could be…" she insisted. "You shouldn't wait for me!"

Kaidoh smiled. "Does it matter? You'll be back. And I'll be here waiting for you,"

"Kaoru….thank you. Thank you for everything…" Uma started. She was quickly interrupted by her mother.

"Uma! The plane!" she shouted waving her arms. She knew this was tough on Uma, but they had to get going. "Let's go!"

Uma pulled herself away from Kaidoh and moved to leave. "Right!" she said firmly. Turning back to Kaidoh one last time she picked up her bags and made to go. "Well, this is it," she said. "…goo—"

"Ja ne?" he supplied.

Uma pondered the thought. Nodding in agreement she started walking, "Yeah, see you later…Kaoru," she called without looking back. Now she could leave. She could leave without any regrets. She smiled to herself. And he'll be there, she thought as she gave her ticket to the stewardess because Kaidoh Kaoru never goes back on his word.

As he watched her go Kaidoh heard a sudden stampede of feet fast approaching. He turned around. There were his teammates, watching him, giving him that invisible support he needed. He nodded to them and turned towards the airport windows. Uma was onboard her plane. There was no turning back now. Momo separated himself from the group, walked up next to Kaidoh and watched as Uma's plane was taxied onto the runway.

"That's it then?" Momo asked. Kaidoh snorted.

"Yeah, I guess so," he replied lightly. Momo flung an arm around his rival and sighed.

"Sorry, man, I thought your girlfriend would have stuck around a little longer,"

Kaidoh shook his head. "Nah, she wasn't just a girlfriend," he corrected.

Momo looked at him, his eyes wide. "Then just what was she?"

Kaidoh turned away from the window and started heading back towards the group. "Couldn't you tell?" he asked; a small smile on his lips. "She was my conversation partner."

THE END