Sorry, I just realized that my previous chapters lost some spacing and italicized parts. They looked fine when I previewed them. Oh well. Now I know that just going with .doc doesn't work for my system. Hopefully, this chapter comes out right. Enjoy!
Thank you to those who gave me advice on trip durations and routes! It was immensely helpful!
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
Chapter 3: Breaking The News
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Kaoru tried to be her old self on the way back to Tokyo. She argued with Yahiko, lectured Sano on the evils of drinking and gambling, got angry when Megumi flirted with Kenshin and was super-sweet with the rurouni.
Kenshin watched her closely. She seems sincere on the outside, but her ki is unsteady. Something's not right. When they got back to Tokyo and parted ways, Kaoru sighed.
Kenshin caught it and reacted quickly. "What's wrong, Kaoru-dono?"
Her head shot up and she looked startled. "What do you mean? Everything's fine! I'm just a little tired, that's all." She forced a smile and Kenshin let it drop for a while. I'll find out later.
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Kaoru headed toward the gate early the next morning. "I'm running into town to visit Tae and Dr. Genzai. I haven't seen either one in a while. I'll be back by dinner time."
Kenshin stood from his spot on the porch. "Would you like Sessha to accompany you?"
Kaoru shook her head, a bright smile on her face. "That's alright, Kenshin. I'll see you later!" She left and Kenshin sat back down.
He picked up the tea he had been drinking and narrowed his gaze at the gate. "She's up to something. Her ki has been erratic since we left Kyoto."
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Kaoru practically skipped down the street. Though she was nervous about leaving home for a full year, the idea of getting her head straight was an exciting one. She barely noticed that she had already made it to the dock yards. She smiled widely at the man selling tickets.
"How may I help you, miss?"
"I would like to purchase two tickets for America, please."
The man smiled back, visions of lots of money swimming in his head. "Of course! Will those be round-trip or one-way?"
Kaoru began to reach for the pouch Misao gave her. "Round-trip, sir."
The old man added a few figures in his ledger and told Kaoru the price.
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Kaoru walked back towards the clinic at a more leisurely pace. Tickets are expensive! The pouch was close to empty, but they had two tickets to get them away from their problems for a bit.
Kaoru stepped into the clinic and was greeted by two running girls. "Play with us! Play with us!"
Kaoru giggled at the eager children. "I'm sorry, Ayame and Suzume. I can't play right now, but I came by to invite you all to dinner. If you come over, we can play then!"
The two girls clapped and ran off. "Yay! Yay!"
Kaoru stood up when she heard an old man's familiar chuckle. "I suppose we'll be accepting your offer, Kaoru-chan."
Kaoru giggled. "I don't think the girls would allow you to say 'no.' The idea of playing with Kenshin is too much fun to pass up for those two."
Dr. Genzai laughed. "Yes, they certainly adore him."
Kaoru's expression turned thoughtful. A lot of us adore him. He just doesn't realize the way in which some of us do. "Actually Genzai-sensei, I had some news to share. Is Megumi here?"
"No, she went out on a house call. Do you want me to tell her anything?"
"Yes. Would you please ask her to come with you tonight? I'd rather just say what I need to say once."
The old doctor nodded, concern heavy on his face. "Is everything okay, Kaoru-chan?"
Kaoru offered him a smile. "It will be. I'll explain tonight. See you then!" She ran off before he could probe for answers any further.
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"Kaoru!" Kaoru turned and saw Tae waving from the other side of the street.
"Hi, Tae! I was just going to the Akabeko to see you. I guess it's a good thing we ran into each other!" Kaoru finished crossing the street and smiled broadly at her friend. "I needed to ask you something."
Tae's smile grew wicked. "Seduction tips? Recipes for aphrodisiacs?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes. "For heaven's sake, no Tae! I just wanted to see if you and Tsubame could make it over for dinner tonight. I have some news to share with everyone and I only want to say it once."
Tae nodded happily. "Of course we'll be there! Would you like me to bring anything?"
Kaoru shook her head. "No, it'll be fine. Just bring yourselves!"
Tae waved as Kaoru made her way back onto the street.
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Kaoru wandered around town, looking for the pigeon handler. I know I went this way with Misao when she sent word home on her last visit. Where the heck did we go next? She turned a few corners that she had turned already and saw an old woman attending a vegetable cart in front of a large hut. "Excuse me, ma'am. I was looking for a woman named Ayao. Do you know where I may find her?"
The old woman blinked a few times at Kaoru. "Oh! You're the young lady who was with Misao-chan last time I saw her! Ayao is my daughter. She's inside in the back room. You may go on in if you wish."
Kaoru bowed in thanks and made her way into the dark hut. She followed the lamp light to the back and noticed the young woman she had met last time. "Excuse me?"
The young woman looked up from her writing and smiled at Kaoru. "Oh, Kaoru-san! What a nice surprise! What brings you here?"
Kaoru bowed slightly to her. "Actually, I need to send a message to Misao. Could I ask you to send a pigeon to her?"
Ayao giggled. "Misao sent word that you would be here. Here's some paper. Go ahead and write your message."
Kaoru's message was short and to the point. She kept it vague just in case Misao wasn't the one to receive it. 'We made it home. See you when you visit soon!'
She handed the paper back to Ayao and watched as she attached it to a pigeon and sent the bird off toward Kyoto.
"Thank you for your help, Ayao-san!" Kaoru made another bow as she was leaving.
"Anytime, Kaoru-san!"
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Kaoru walked home, heavy-hearted. It wasn't this sad until I saw everyone. I won't be seeing them for a full year. Tae and I have been friends since I was four and Genzai-sensei delivered me! Can I really go through with this?
She stepped through the gate and Kenshin poked his head out from the kitchen. "Welcome home, Kaoru-dono! I was getting ready to make dinner."
Kaoru stepped up into the room. "Um, Kenshin?"
Normally, Kenshin would just make an inquisitive 'hm?' from his spot, but the unease in her voice made him turn fully to face her. "Yes, Kaoru-dono?"
"I invited all our friends over for dinner. So, it will need to be a big meal, tonight. I'm sorry, I should have mentioned it earlier to you so we could prepare, but it was sort of a spur of the moment idea. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Kenshin smiled at her. She was so spontaneous sometimes. It was endearing, but also a little nerve-wracking. Especially when your normal dinner you were getting ready to cook becomes a huge affair. "Well, I guess you could start making some onigiri. That'll be a huge help. I'll
get the rest of it."
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Kaoru sat in her room thinking while she waited for Kenshin to finish dinner and for their friends to arrive. And as she thought, things she hadn't considered flooded her mind.
What will I do about Yahiko's training?
What if something happens to one of our friends?
What if someone gets sick and I'm not here to help?
What will Kenshin and Yahiko do about money while I'm away?
And the one thought that scared her most: What if Kenshin falls in love with someone else?
She knew Megumi wasn't a serious threat. Kenshin had told her as much one day when Megumi's teasing brought Kaoru to tears. And Kaoru wasn't ready to admit her love yet, but if someone came along and seriously tried to steal her rurouni, she wouldn't hesitate to tell him how she truly felt. "I'll have to put Sano on Kenshin watch. No women for him while I'm gone."
Kenshin knocked on her door after a few more minutes. "Kaoru-dono, Genzai-sensei and Megumi-dono are here."
"I'll be right out!"
She stood and straightened her clothes. She heard the sound of small feet running and then giggled as she heard Kenshin.
"Oro-oof!" She heard a loud thud and opened her door to see Kenshin on his back and the two little ones pulling at him.
"Come on! Let's play!"
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Meanwhile in Kyoto… (Sorry couldn't resist. ^__^)
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Misao read the note attached to the pigeon's leg. "I guess Kaoru bought the tickets. Alright. I guess it's time to tell everyone."
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Okina found Aoshi in his room, reading. "Aoshi. I came to tell you that you need to attend dinner with the rest of us tonight. Misao has something she wants to tell all of us at the same time."
Aoshi began to worry. Is she in love with another? Did she forget about me? As his mind began to turn he kept his mask up. "I will be there."
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As they all began to eat dinner that night, Misao grew more nervous as the evening wore on. They all knew she wanted to say something and kept looking at her strangely, wondering what she would say. As the meal wound down and people stopped eating, Misao drew her breath and her courage and began.
"Okay, everyone. You all know I have something I wanted to say tonight and I really don't know how to say it, so I'm just going to come right out with it. In a little less than three weeks, Kaoru and I will be leaving for America."
Everyone started to gasp and ask her questions, but she held up a hand and they grew silent. "We'll be gone for one year and then that will be that. We have some problems we need to sort out and being here makes it difficult. So, we decided to get away from everything and live a new life for a year's time."
Aoshi felt his heart stop. She can't leave me. What will I do without her? He felt eyes on him and saw Misao gazing at him. She quickly averted her eyes and began to blush lightly. And that's when it hit Aoshi. I'm the problem. She needs to get away so she can forget about me and that's why Kaoru-san is going with her. She needs to get away from Battousai. Damn, I can't tell her how I feel right now. I'm still too unbalanced.
As his inner turmoil continued, Okina stood. "You most certainly will not go, Misao. You are too young and I will not permit it."
Misao stood and looked him in the eye, her chin held high. "You cannot stop me, Jiya. I would like to go with your permission, but if you won't give it I'll go anyway. Kaoru has already purchased the tickets and we will leave. Whether you permit it or not."
Okina tried to make her back down with a glare, but she didn't budge. He sighed and ran a hand down his beard. "I don't like the idea and I will try to talk you out of it. However, if you can't be swayed, I will give my
permission."
Misao reached up and hugged him tightly. She whispered to him, "Thank you, Jiya. You know I need to do this, right?"
Okina felt his mouth crinkle into a smile. "I know. And I want to beat some sense into that boy for making you do this."
Misao pulled back and mouthed a sentence to him. "Take care of him for me."
Okina nodded. Misao turned around to face the rest of her family and almost ran into Shiro and Kuro who were flanked by Omasu and Okon. All looked close to tears. Shiro spoke for them. "Are you sure you have to go?"
"This is the only solution I could think of guys. But I'll be home in one year! It's not that long." She gave them all one more smile before she went to bed.
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In Tokyo
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Kaoru told herself she would let everyone know after dinner. But dinner came and went and she said nothing. She told herself after they sat and talked for a while she would bring it up, but still nothing. Finally, Dr. Genzai prompted her.
"Kaoru-chan, you had something you wanted to tell us, didn't you?" He knew Kaoru had a tendency to chicken out of saying things she didn't want to say, so he helped her along.
Kaoru didn't know whether to hug the old man or strangle him. As much as she didn't want to say anything, she knew it had to be done. "Well, I just wanted to let everyone know that Misao and I will be going on a trip in a little less than three weeks. The tickets have been purchased and we will be gone for one year to America. We have reasons we need to do this and once we return I feel we'll be better people."
Sano started to choke on the sake he'd been sipping. "A full year?! Is that really necessary?"
Despite being depressed about the situation, Kaoru started to giggle. "Do
you know how long it takes to get to America? I'm not going to travel for two months just to turn around and come home!"
Kenshin felt upset about her leaving, but was completely oblivious to the reason behind her venture. I'll find out later.
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A/N: Yeah, kind of a screeching halt on this chapter, but I didn't know how to end it. Anyway, please review and I hope you enjoyed! Hugs & Kisses!