Author's Notes: Gomen nasai minna-san for the lack of updates! I've been quite busy with my site, and this is the only time I've found to write. I hope you'll like this chapter, and I promise, I'll stick to this format now. I hope to end this story in 6 more chapters or less if possible. By the way, this is almost near the ending. Perhaps you'll get surprised at the sudden turn of events. :D And also, I'd like to remind you that I've revised the whole story. If you haven't reread this from the beginning, I suggest you do, or else you'll have a hard time understanding things.
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A Picture of Summer
by: Venusskies
email: venus_skies@excite.com
Standard disclaimers apply.
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Chapter 8: A New Air
Winter's almost done. I can see the snow begin to melt. The grass's already sprouting, and I believe that at home, the cherry trees are budding. It's been a harsh 2 and a half months, with frequent snowstorms and colds. You don't know how glad I am now that winter's finally over. I can just smell the spring air arriving here in Paris. I opened the shutters of our cozy room in the Victorian Hotel. Chiharu would be mad again. She hates it when I open the shutters in the morning. Says it's too cold here in Paris. I took a peek out and found that there were many birds in the sky. The birds from the south have now come back. Yes. Spring is definitely in the air.
There was a soft knock on the door, and in walked Anita, the housekeeper from the Whitmans' manor. I smiled at her as she walked over to hand me a piece of paper. I frowned a bit.
"It's from Mister Phillip," Anita whispered, careful not to wake up the sleepyhead. She smiled knowingly at me and then left. I stared at the piece of paper for a while, unsure whether or not I should read it. Things haven't been turning out to my liking as the months passed.
Before we left for Paris a month ago, he fulfilled his promise of taking me to the theater and see a play. We saw the grand performance of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at an elegant theater close to St. James's. Chiharu dressed me up for the occasion, and I let her do with me as she pleased. She did a pretty good job, for she tied my hair in a loose bun behind my head, letting a few tendrils frame my powdered face. She added some rouge too, and gave me a few silver trinkets to match my midnight dress.
Phillip was on time as I expected. Five minutes before we were supposed to leave, he was already outside with his coach. Clutching my velvet cloak tight around me I rode the carriage with him to the theater. It turned out he had reserved a private balcony, and the two of us were the only ones in there. I felt slightly uncomfortable around him that I kept the cloak wrapped around me loosely. We talked a bit about the play, and in honest truth I told him that I was enjoying every minute of it. He smiled, something I never thought he would do. He's just like Aoshi.
After the play we had dinner at a fancy restaurant. The food was superb, and I thoroughly enjoyed the talk we had after it. I learned a lot about him, and it was like he unveiled himself in front of me. I discovered a totally different Phillip. He was talkative once you engaged him in an intellectual conversation (which I admit, I had a hard time doing so). He had many thoughts and ideas, some of which were similar to Aoshi's and Kenshin's. I was smiling throughout the whole conversation.
Then, I asked him something. His answer to that question is what makes me so uneasy nowadays whenever I'm around him. So uneasy to the extent that I avoid him, and I know he has noticed it.
"Phillip," I began. "Are you still intent on seeking revenge against your best friend's killer?"
He paused for a moment and looked away. Then he turned to face me, and said in a clear tone, "Six years ago, and even before that, I was. But since we never found out where Battousai was, we decided to return here. I was ready to abandon the search, but Dave was persistent. He searched for a whole year, but still found no clue. So he followed me here. We returned to Japan just a few months before we met on the ship going here, and we still haven't found any clue on Battousai's whereabouts. I have already given up the search."
"Totally?" I asked.
"Yes. Totally."
Now I could breathe easier.
"And besides, what's the use of wasting my time on a killer when there are more people worth spending my time with?" he said, staring deep into my eyes. I knew he was trying to tell me something. I just couldn't break the eye contact. I remember that Kenshin sometimes looked at me that way, and I'd just blink back in confusion. Then, he held my hand. His touch was warm and gentle, and I suddenly felt different.
So ever since then I've been avoiding him. I tried my best to act normal, but I know he's noticed it. I know he's noticed some change, and he'll be wanting to find out why. The note in my hand is giving me the butterflies. I am so anxious to open this.
I breathed in deeply and opened the letter. In neat, legible print, he wrote that he would like to meet me later tonight, 7 pm, at the Café a few blocks away from the hotel and the Arc de Triomphe. I sighed. He sure has the habit of picking the most romantic spots for a meeting. I remembered Chiharu telling me in a breathless voice that if her lover proposed in a cafe near the Arc de Triomphe, she'd answer yes right away.
So I'll meet him. I wonder what he's got to say. I pondered as I walked out of the room, still holding his note in my hand. I didn't bother to close the door even though I knew it was slightly ajar. Chiharu would just have to wake up from the cold like I did. I walked slowly down to the breakfast room. I was getting hungry, and Uncle John & Aunt Mikako were probably there by now. The boys just get up a little later, so I'll have to eat quick or else I'll see Phillip. But when I reached the glass doors of the dining hall, I sighed. Phillip was already there.
I took an egg, some sausages and a loaf of bread from the buffet table. I helped myself to some orange juice and then sat myself with the others. Uncle John on his wheelchair was talking to Aunt Mikako. He recently went through a leg operation, which wasn't through yet. They're supposed to go back to the French Doctor in a month, for the final operation. Until then, we cannot be sure whether he'll walk normally again. They paused to greet me and then resumed their conversation. The table was silent. Phillip was busy with the morning paper while Dave was still eating with me. I quickly finished my breakfast and then rose. Uncle John stopped me for a moment before I could leave.
"Kaoru-chan, could you drop by our room later on? There's something I'm going to have to tell you. Please bring Chiharu with you," he said.
I nodded, and then headed for the stairs.
"What does Father want with us?" Chiharu asked, rubbing her eyes.
"I don't know. He just told me to bring you with me," I replied.
We stopped in front of their room and knocked. Aunt Mikako opened the door. To our surprise, we weren't the only ones there. It seemed like a gathering with everyone sitting in front of the fire. Even Anita was there, although she was dusting some furniture. I frowned a bit. Wasn't the hotel chambermaid supposed to do that?
Uncle John motioned us to sit on the floor near the sofa. We obeyed obligingly. It was no chore for me to do so, but I could see Chiharu's reluctance to sit. Anyways, she just listened as her father began to speak.
"You all know that I'm scheduled for an operation next month, for me to be able to walk again," he began. Aunt Mikako's eyes became downcast, and I braced myself for some bad news. However, I received none. "And the business back at Japan is being neglected. I fear that if left for too long without a supervisor, something wrong might happen. That's why I called you here to tell you that I'll send back the children back to Japan. After all, they know enough to be able to manage the business for a while, until we get back."
Children? You mean...
"You're going to send the 2 boys and girls back to Japan? Unchaperoned?" Ms. Lisa asked, eyes widening.
"Anita will accompany them my dear," Mr. Barry replied, patting her at the back. "John and I have already arranged it."
"Oh... well..."
"And the others have agreed?" Chiharu asked.
Her father nodded in reply.
"Kaoru-chan," he turned to me. "You might want to stay here since, after all, this is your first time here."
"Well, yeah, Kaoru-chan," Chiharu agreed. "You might want to stay with Mother and Father for the meantime to enjoy yourself. I'll just go home with Dave and Phillip..."
"No, it's okay," I interrupted. "I want to go home too. I miss everyone."
She gave me a critical look, as if to see if I were telling the truth, and then nodded.
"When do we leave father?" she asked.
"In two and a half weeks," he replied.
"You'll have to write back home now so that someone will pick you up at the docks," Chiharu advised as she sifted through a thick stack of papers. She raised her reading glasses a bit and said, "Something wrong?"
"I was just thinking," I began. "Whether I should go tonight."
"Go where?"
I took Phillip's note from my pocket and handed it for her to read. She read it in a few seconds, and then said, "What's wrong with going? Unless something's happened between the two of you that you haven't told me."
"Well... He's hinting something," I confessed.
"Hinting what?"
"Hinting that he likes me..."
She raised her eyebrow skeptically. She opened her mouth to speak, but then closed it, and then frowned a bit.
"Is there something wrong with that?" I asked.
"N-nothing. I was just... surprised," she replied softly. "Kaoru-chan I think you should go. The cafe's not far from here anyway. You won't have trouble reaching it. Besides... he might have something important to tell you."
I noticed her change of tone, how she now looked a bit saddened and bothered. It gave me second thoughts on whether or not I should go, but then Chiharu looked up at me.
"Kaoru-chan, I know that look. There's nothing wrong, okay?" she smiled. "I was just thinking about something. Just go. Nothing's wrong with me."
"Are you sure?" I asked doubtfully. I knew there was something indeed wrong with her.
"Yes, yes. I'm fine. Just go. He'll be there in a few minutes now," she urged. "Dress up."
I nodded and glanced at the clock. It read 6:45.
It took me a few minutes to fix myself up. I wrapped myself in my coat and walked slowly towards the cafe. It didn't bother to me to speed up so I won't be late. Knowing Phillip, he'll wait for me. He's used to me being late.
There were lots of thoughts crossing my mind, mostly memories of the times we had spent with one another. I remembered our friendly conversations at the garden in their manor, and how he would tell sarcastic jokes about the people around us. He was very good at that. He could make me laugh with his sarcasm until my stomach hurt.
I remembered how he would tease me about my fighting skills. He knew that I was a kenjutsu instructor back at home. He would tease me that I didn't know how to put up a good fight. He would taunt me that my students would never learn from me. Stupid little me would give in to his teasing and draw one of those fencing swords in the hall. I remembered the time at the manor one winter day when I frightened Anita out of her wits. Phillip and I were having a sword fight, blade to blade, when I had boiled over after he teased me. We were all over the house, and we reached the kitchen. And just as I was going to charge at him, Anita came out carrying a tea tray. She screamed when she saw my blade across her throat. How I laughed after that!
And ever since then he'd joke with me about the incident. And ever since then we've talked and hung around with each other more often. Although the conversations were just for a good ten or fifteen minutes, it was enough. We thoroughly enjoyed each other's company.
Just before we came to Paris, he taught me a little bit of French. He would talk to me in the language, helping me to refine my accent and increase my vocabulary. He was polite enough to correct my grammar put up with my impatience. And now I am able to speak good French, but I am still limited to the conversational French.
Then I remembered the incident during the restaurant back at London where he held my hand...
Good memories. Those are all I have of a good friend like Phillip.
I passed a restaurant on the way. There was a fat lady pointing at her watch and shouting at someone (probably her husband) that they were late, that it was already 7:08. Goodness! I'm late! Phillip will be waiting. I walked briskly to the cafe. I could see it from where I was, and it was just a run away.
Chiharu glanced at the clock on her dresser table.
"Seven eight," she breathed, and closed her eyes. "I won't make it anymore..."
I arrived a little tired at the cafe. I saw Phillip sitting in one of the outside tables, wearing a trench coat and a bowler cap. He stood up upon seeing me, and smiled. I smiled uneasily at him, and then walked towards him. The gentleman pulled the chair for me, and I sat myself, unable to look at him. Once he was seated, I looked at him.
"Thank you for coming," he spoke. "For a minute there I thought you would never come."
I glanced at a clock in the wall of the cafe. It read 7:13.
"I'm sorry I was late," I replied softly. "I lost track of time, and it was fifteen minutes to seven when I remembered I was supposed to meet you."
"It's alright," he said.
"Why did you ask me here?" I asked.
"Can we walk to the park? It's just a walk away," he replied instead. I gave him a queer look for a second, and then nodded.
"The park's a much better place for what we're going to talk about," he said in a soft tone. I had to lean closer for me to catch his words.
"I can't hear you very well," I said. "Could you please speak louder?"
"It's nothing," he just said. I sighed, and looked away. He was sure being apprehensive tonight.
I caught sight of the green grass of the park in the distance.
"We're leaving in two weeks," he said clearly. "Are you anxious to go home?"
"Anxious excited or anxious apprehensive?" I asked.
"Anxious excited," he replied.
"Yes. I am."
"How come? Didn't you enjoy yourself here?"
I shook my head vigorously.
"It's not that," I said. "I really enjoyed myself here. I've had the most wonderful times, especially when you took me to see the play Much Ado About Nothing. It was a real treat for me, to be able to come here. I've learned new things and been to new places. I've met new people too. It's just what I had wanted to do in the first place."
He smiled.
"I'm glad about that," he said.
"Why'd you ask that?" I queried.
"It's got something to do with what I'm going to tell you," he replied in a softer voice.
I felt my heart pound a little faster at that. We were now in front of the park.
"Let's go in," he said.
There were some people still in the park, but it was well lighted, especially in the areas of the park benches. We walked over to one and sat ourselves. My heart pounded even faster when he sat a little closer.
"Kaoru-san, I know it might be a little too soon that I'm asking you this. We've known each other for just five or six months but I'm pretty sure of this," he said.
"Pretty sure of what?" I asked.
"Pretty sure that..." he took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to me. I had a feeling about what was inside, and when I opened it, my assumptions weren't wrong.
Inside the box was a beautiful ring, a whitish silver band with a blue sapphire stone embedded on it. It glimmered brightly under the lamplight, almost blinding me for a second when I had first opened it, and from the label inscribed inside the box, I knew that he had spent a lot of money for this. I looked up at him, my eyes questioning, confused.
"It's an engagement ring," he said. "Will you marry me, Kaoru-san?"
I was shocked. Marriage... How...
Kenshin choked on his miso and coughed hard. Sano gave him a hard pat on the back almost sending his face in his rice bowl, but it made him stop choking.
"Woah Kenshin. Better stop drinking that miso now," Sano said. "Maybe you'd like to give it to me..."
"Cut it out rooster head," Megumi scolded. "Someone just remembered Ken-san, that's why he was choking on his miso."
"Really? Someone remembered him? A Kamiya Kaoru perhaps?" Sano teased.
But Kenshin was serious. There was a nagging feeling inside of him, something he didn't like.
Is something wrong koishii? Has something happened to you? Are you alright?
He looked out the window and saw the moon, and silently prayed that she was alright.
I stared at the ring, thinking. If he had asked me a few months ago, I would have given him a no. I would have told him that I considered him as a mere friend, and not a lover. I would have told him that I love somebody else, somebody who feels he's so stained and unworthy of my love. Somebody else whom I've been through so much with, somebody whom I've followed to a far town in order to see him. Somebody else whom I love terribly and I miss so much.
But now, there was a feeling inside of me that made things different. Now seemed like a totally new thing, as if the air had suddenly changed. I knew the air was the same everywhere, and that it would never change no matter where I go. But it seems like the Parisian air is different. A new air...
"Kaoru-san?"
I continued looking at the ring. And then, I remembered something. I remembered the day when I thought that I would actually become Himura Kaoru, when Kenshin "proposed" to me using a ring so identical to the one I was holding right now. I remembered the catfish and the broken young man who bought the ring for his girlfriend. I was angry with Kenshin at that time, but he apologized at the Akabeko with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I would never forget how he looked at me that night...
I looked up at the moon, and then I knew what I would tell him.
I closed the box and placed it back in his palm and wrapped his fingers around it.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept this," I whispered. "There will be another girl out there, another girl who'll be more worthy of your feelings than I am. She'll be better for you than I will be."
"Kaoru-san..." I forced myself to look into his eyes. Were those tears brimming in them?
"I love... somebody else. I've loved him even before I came here. I've loved him for two years now, and he's back at home waiting for me," I explained. "Before I left, I promised him that I'd come home to him, and that I'd always belong to him. Always."
There was a long pause. And then, he spoke up.
"I understand. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up anyway," he said.
"I'm sorry."
"No. It's no one's fault. It's... alright."
I knew the air was the same everywhere, and that it would never change no matter where I go. But it seems like the Parisian air is different. A new air...
TBC...