Wow! I just re-read chapter 3 so I could start work on 4. I knew I ended it abruptly, but I didn't realize it was that abrupt. Sorry! I'll try to do better from now on. Hope you enjoy this bit!
Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
Chapter 4: Departure
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Misao flopped onto her futon with a heavy sigh. Everything was in place for her journey with Kaoru. All they needed to do was go.
The tickets were purchased, the packing was done and Aoshi had agreed to train Yahiko during Kaoru's absence. The last bit had surprised both women immensely.
Misao had taken some tea out to Aoshi one day, ready to sit silently while he drank, when he spoke to her. "Doesn't Kamiya-san have an apprentice?"
"Yes, Aoshi-sama."
"What will she do about his training?"
"I honestly don't know. She never mentioned it."
Aoshi sat for a moment, seemingly thinking about something. "If she would like, I could train the boy while she's gone. I don't know much about her style, but I could teach him basic defense and some kempo. It would keep him in shape and give him an advantage should the need arise to utilize his techniques."
Misao felt her mouth drop open, but she quickly snapped it shut. "Are you sure? You'd have to stay in Tokyo while we're away."
Aoshi nodded slightly and handed his empty tea cup back to her. Misao gathered the tea things and stood to go. "Well, I'll send Kaoru a message and see what she thinks."
And that was that. Kaoru had been thrilled with the idea and it was settled.
Misao got up to do one last check on her luggage. Tomorrow they would leave for Tokyo and after that, it would be a year before she was in the Aoiya again.
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Kaoru sat on one of her suitcases, trying desperately to close the overloaded case. She finally snapped the latches shut and breathed a sigh of relief. Kenshin stood in the doorway, watching with some amusement. "I finally got it, Kenshin. Misao and the others should be here soon."
Kenshin's smile slipped and he frowned slightly at Kaoru. "Are you sure you have to go?"
Kaoru rolled her eyes. "Baka. For the millionth time, yes I have to go. Misao and I need to do this so would you stop making this harder than it already is?"
Kenshin smiled softly at her. "We'll all miss you, Kaoru-dono."
Kaoru fought to keep her bottom lip from trembling. "Just promise me one thing."
Kenshin remained silent and she continued. "Promise me you'll still be here when we come home?"
Kenshin nodded his agreement and pushed away from the door frame. "I'm going to go start dinner. Let me know if you need any help with the last of your packing."
Kaoru leapt up and grabbed his sleeve. "Don't nod, Kenshin. I want to hear you say it. Say you'll be here when I come back. Please."
Kenshin turned to look at her and saw a great amount of fear in her eyes. "I will be here at the dojo when you return from America, Kaoru-dono. I promise."
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Misao resisted the urge to jump the dojo walls and knocked on the gate. "Himura! Kaoru! It's me, Misao!"
Okina chuckled at his ward. "You don't have any patience, Misao."
Misao was about to knock again, and in the process prove Okina's point, when the gate creaked open and Kaoru welcomed them. "Hi, Misao." She nodded to the other two gentlemen. "Okina. Aoshi. Nice to see you both again." She looked behind them and turned to Misao. "The rest didn't come with you?"
"Someone had to run the Aoiya. We had a little party before we left yesterday so I guess it's fine. I still wish they were here with us." Misao pouted slightly as she lowered her gaze to the ground. "I'm gonna miss everyone. But," she raised a smile to everyone, "it's gotta be done, right?"
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Kenshin had prepared quite a feast that night, with the help of Tae and the rest of the Akabeko staff. Everyone was there for the girls' last dinner in Japan. Dr. Genzai was there with Ayame and Suzume, Megumi was there, Sanosuke, Yahiko, Tae, Tsubame, Kenshin, Misao, Okina, Aoshi, even Saitou made an appearance. A gruff, "Good luck." was all he said, but it's more than they expected. Some of Kaoru's students at other dojos came by wishing them well along with some of the area police officers. It was apparent the girls would be missed by everyone, not just their closest friends.
Sanosuke piped up in the middle of the meal, "So, what 'problems' are taking you girls to America anyway? You can't just settle it here?"
Misao breathed deeply, fishing for an answer that wouldn't give them away. "Um, well, one day we'd like to marry and there don't seem to be any men here willing to even court us." Brilliant answer, Misao. I'm sure he bought that one! She mentally smacked herself, disbelieving how idiotic she was.
Kenshin looked over at Kaoru who seemed close to tears. Misao's answer had hit just a little too close to home for her. "Kaoru-dono, is that true?"
Kaoru tried to keep her emotions even, but it was a losing battle. She finally just let it go. "Of course it's true! Who would want anything to do with women like us? Our hands are rough from training, we're not refined or elegant, we have bad tempers, we yell and scream when we're angry, and we hit people who insult us. I don't know of any one who looks for women with those qualities. Obviously it isn't something that interests Kenshin or Aoshi. Sanosuke, you wouldn't want anything to do with us in the romantic sense, neither would any other man in this room. Megumi was right all those times that she made remarks about my less feminine attributes. She may have been teasing, but it was still true."
Kaoru realized to her horror that she may have unwittingly let on that Kenshin and Aoshi were the problems, so she tried to back track. "That's some of it, but it's not the whole truth. There's just a lot to sort out and it's going to take some time." With a chuckle she added one more thing, "Maybe American men will be more accepting of us. Or we can change so we'll be able to find someone."
The rest of the meal went on in silence, but picked up again once Okina
and Sanosuke decided to have a karaoke contest. "Come on, Kaoru and Misao! Let's hear it from you. You're the guests of honor." A drunken Okina stumbled over to push the two young women onto the makeshift stage.
Kaoru swallowed thickly and looked at Misao, who motioned her over. "Okay, Kaoru. I know of the perfect song. Have you heard this one?"
Everyone heard mumbling and then, "Oh, yeah." along with a few, "mmm-hmm"s.
They turned toward their friends and smiled slightly before they started to sing a sweet and melancholy tune.
Kaoru
I've been searching deep down in my soul
Words that I'm hearing are starting to get old
Feels like I'm starting all over again
The last three years were just pretend
And I say,
Both
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold onto
Misao
I used to get lost in your eyes
And it seems that I can't live a day without you
Closing my eyes and you chase my thoughts away
To a place where I am blinded by the light
But it's not right
Both
And it hurts to want everything and nothing at the same time
I want what's yours and I want what's mine
I want you
But I'm not giving in this time
Goodbye to you
Goodbye to everything I thought I knew
You were the one I loved
The one thing that I tried to hold onto
Everyone sat shocked into silence as the women finished their song. Sanosuke broke the silence with a whoop. "Damn, that was amazing!"
Misao and Kaoru blushed and giggled as everyone clapped loudly, not realizing two men were staring at them quite intently.
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Kenshin, Sanosuke, Yahiko, Okina and Aoshi trudged down the streets toward the docks, each one of them loaded down with suitcases.
Yahiko grumbled. "Do you really need all this junk, busu?"
Kaoru narrowed her eyes at his name-calling, but answered anyway. "Yahiko, I'll be gone for a whole year. I'll need a lot of stuff. And do you think you should be calling me names right now? Won't you miss me?" She pouted at him and he rolled his eyes.
Kaoru giggled at his repulsed expression. "It's okay, Yahiko. You don't have to admit it if you don't want to."
She and Misao led the men to the ship and the crew sent someone to take their bags to their cabin. They turned to their families with a sigh. Kaoru felt her throat tighten, but bravely pushed on. "Well, I guess this is it for a full year. I'll miss you all. Take care of each other." She hugged Yahiko and Sanosuke and then gave Kenshin a hug as well. "Remember your promise, Kenshin."
He gave her a smile. "You have my word, Kaoru-dono."
Misao hugged Okina and Aoshi, who returned the embrace, shocking those who were present. "Be careful, Misao."
She pulled back, regretting having to do so, and nodded. Not trusting her voice to speak, she merely waved and smiled slightly as she backed toward the ramp. Kaoru turned back to Kenshin one last time, finally letting her tears fall. "I'll really miss you guys." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and turned to follow Misao.
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As the ship pulled away, they all waved until they couldn't see each other any more. Kenshin put a hand to his cheek. Everything had changed last night during Kaoru's tirade at dinner and had been mounting up ever since then.
At dinner, he had been stunned to hear about her wanting to marry and thinking she needed to change. She was vibrant and lively and beautiful, nothing wrong with that. Then, her song with Misao about leaving the one she loved. His suspicions had grown much stronger then. And finally when she kissed him on the cheek. It had felt, somehow right that she should be so affectionate with him. Like it was meant to be that way for the two of them.
His eyes began to prick with tears. She loves me. That unbelievably strong and amazing woman loves me. And as he thought another idea came to him, not really shocking him since he had already pondered it anyway. Could it be that I love her, but didn't realize it until it was too late?
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A/N: And there you have it. The girls are on their way. Why is it that I rely so much on music for emotional things?! The song in this is of course, "Goodbye To You" by Michelle Branch. Sorry, but every time I heard that song, I thought about this fic. So, it had to be included, even though I did abbreviate it somewhat. Anyway, hope you enjoyed and please leave a review! Hugs & Kisses!