Disclaimer: Nothing below belong to me blah blah blah
Kaoru scowled, looking at all the things that had been dumped in the garage and had been collecting dust ever since then. It was all very nice and easy to say that she has to leave, but what is she going to do with all these possessions? Besides, where will she go?
Kaoru sat down in defeat and thought again, she doesn't have any relatives, at least not in this country. About her only living relative is her cousin, who is currently at China, and she can't join him there. And the question came at once: Why not? He's still single as far as she knows, living alone in his mansion. He'll be glad of the company, and they have always been close. Besides, what better way to avoid her pursuers? They'll never guess that she'll run to China, and since her cousin is a Chinese (her mother's sister married a Chinese man and the family moved to China when Kaoru was ten), she has learnt to speak Mandarin as fluently as a native speaker, a skill she acquired secretly, such that not even her parents were aware of it. Although she is loathe to leave all her friends and her dojo behind, she knows that she has no other choice. Besides, since most of her close friends have already left to join Kenshin in his wandering, all she would need to inform would be Tae and Tsubame, who could not and would not leave the Akabeko, and the oniwabanshu. Lastly, she admitted to herself, it's time for her to give up waiting for them to return. She has been resolving to put it all behind her, but could never bring herself to actually give up the hope that Kenshin might return one day, even though deep down in her heart she knows that it would never be…
Once the decision was made, she
started looking around the garage once more purposefully, picking only the
things that she will need to bring to China, which isn't much: only her
personal belongings since she's certain her cousin's house is fully furnished,
even though she has never been there. That means that the things in the garage
will have to be disposed of, together with the entire house, come to think of
it. Which was a pity. While she knows that she can sell her land for a good
price, considering its location, it would be a waste to demolish a fully
furnished house that comes with a dojo. Besides, most of the things here are of
sentimental value to her. But what else can she do with it?
All through dinner (at Akabeko
since she thought it would be a waste of time to cook just for 1 person, and
because privately she can't stand eating her own cooking) she pondered on the
question. And on the question on how to let the others know that she'll be
leaving without telling them the real reason and real destination in case her
enemies might target her friends. She was halfway done with her meal when Tae
came over, with an apologetic expression.
"I'm so sorry, Kaoru-chan, I was
so certain that your feelings were reciprocated too, which was why I, uh,
while, kind of hinted to him to marry you…" Tae apologized, looking as if she
was close to tears.
Kaoru smiled sadly, "No, it wasn't your fault Tae. Besides, it was better this way. At least I know now how I stand with him, rather than much later…" Kaoru's whisper trailed off as a sob threatened to escape.
Tae sighed, then wistfully
remarked "But he looks so happy and contented staying with you at the dojo you
know…"
Kaoru smiled ruefully "Staying at
my dojo, yes. Not staying with me at the dojo. There's a difference you
know." And then blinked as the idea strike her. Of course! She could always
transfer the ownership of the dojo to Kenshin! Then he wouldn't have to wander
anymore and the others can come home too! Besides, it was the only way she can
thank him for saving her countless times. Why didn't she think of that
immediately? Because you can't bear the thought of everyone staying here
happily like before without her. It hurts too much, knowing how little she mean
to everyone….
"Are you alright?" Tae asked
worriedly, seeing how Kaoru has just dazed off looking so forlorn right in the
middle of the conversation.
Kaoru snapped out of her daze and
forced a bright smile "Yah, I'm fine. Don't worry about me"
"Well, if you are sure, then I'd
better go back to work" Tae replied, relieved that Kaoru appears fine.
"I'm sure, go ahead, I'll be done
in a moment or two and then I'll be heading back." Kaoru insisted.
Tae nodded and left ad true to her
word, Kaoru finished her dinner quickly and left with a murmur of thanks.
Once back home, Kaoru quickly set
to work, packing up the things she need, which wasn't all that much, and
preparing the documents to effect transfer of the land and house to Kenshin. It
was well past midnight by the time she finished, but for the first time since
Kenshin left, Kaoru went to bed feeling, well not exactly cheerful, but a
strange detached kind of calm. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she has done
everything that needs to be done. Even her farewells have been said in 3
separate letters to Tae, Misao and Kenshin. She has decided to send the 3
letters out tomorrow from Yokohama (where she'll be catching the ship to China)
so that she'll be well gone by the time they received the letters. Of course not knowing where Kenshin was was
a bit of a problem, but she had solved the problem by sending the letter to
Kenshin with the letter to Misao and asking Misao to hunt Kenshin down for her.
The transfer documents are enclosed in the letters as well, and her only
explanation in all 3 letters was that she'll be leaving Tokyo for good to look
after a fictitious grandmother. She did not disclose her whereabouts in the
letters as she feared that it might cause a confrontation between them and her
enemies. With everything done, all that is left is her departure, which somehow
seems to signify an end to "Kamiya Kaoru"…..