(Waves white flag around the corner)  I'm sorry!  I'm sorry!  Life got in the way.  All you authors out there know how that goes.  But, I'm here again and hopefully life can be nice and give me breaks so I can write now and then.  Anyway, hope you enjoy! 

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

Chapter 8: Settling In

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Misao tapped her feet on the ground when they got off the ship.  "It's good to be on solid ground!  I don't think ninjas are supposed to be at sea."  She stretched her muscles this way and that and took a deep breath of the air.  "Alright, now I'm ready to go!"

Kaoru rolled her eyes good-naturedly at Misao.  "Don't you think we should wait for Isabella?"

A cheery voice came from behind them.  "Why?  I'm already here."

Both women spun around in surprise.  Kaoru put a hand to her chest.  "Don't do that to me!  It seems like every time I see you, you've snuck up behind me."

Isabella giggled and shook her head at her two friends.  "Come on, ladies.  I just got done purchasing our train tickets."

Misao's eyes grew round.  "We're still not there?!"

"I'm afraid not.  We still have about a week to go on the train.  But after that, it's all over!"  Isabella smiled and motioned for the two women to follow her. 

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A few days later in Tokyo

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Kenshin sighed as yet another report was placed on his desk.  He figured he'd have his hands full, but most of these reports seemed like he was mediating between children on a playground. 

'So and so took my thing and he won't give it back.'

'Hey, he's not doing that right!'

'Why does he get to use resources that way and we can't?'

He slowly opened the file, afraid of what he would encounter.  He peeked over the edge of the folder and groaned.  "These men are in charge of keeping the streets safe?"

It was a very disturbing thought.  He closed the folder and set it aside with the other reports that didn't seem overly important.  "I wonder if Sano is fairing any better."

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Sano's sour expression kept all passersby far away from him and the whiny official he was guarding.  He kept behind the man at a leisurely pace, every now and then seeing if he could catch the ill-fitting coat on fire with a mere glare from his eyes.  When the chubby man demanded Sano cancel all plans to guard him at a play tonight, the tall fighter wanted nothing more than to Futae No Kiwami the idiot, but he held his temper in check by thinking about how much Kaoru would love the surprises. 

Jou-chan's done a lot for me.  I guess I could repay her by dealing with these scum for a few more months.

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Aoshi watched as Yahiko went through the basic forms of kempo.  "Less bending in the knees Yahiko."

"I thought keeping my knees bent was supposed to make me more 'like water'."  The boy snorted and narrowed his eyes at Aoshi.

The okashira walked up to Yahiko and casually stuck his foot behind the little one's knee.  Yahiko crumpled to the ground and Aoshi looked at him sternly.

"I said to be 'like water' yes.  But if you tip the glass too far, the water spills."

Yahiko picked himself up and got into stance again.  "Okay, let's try again."  He hated to admit it, but the once baffling Zen speak of Shinomori was starting to make sense to him.

As he kicked and punched his way through the stances, he took a glance over at his temporary master and saw a hint of a smile light the man's face.  Guess I'm not doing too badly after all.  I bet Kaoru will be really proud of me when she gets back.  I'm gonna show her a thing or two!  And

with his new motivation in place, he followed his lessons with new resolve. 

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In America

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Misao looked at Isabella questioningly as they departed the train.  Isabella grinned slightly at the impatient young woman.  "Now we're here."

Misao jumped in happiness and Kaoru sighed in relief.  Being on a boat with Misao wasn't too bad, but the whining for a week on the train was almost driving her bananas.  "So, Isabella where do we go from here?"

Isabella glanced guiltily at the two young women.  "Actually, I can't help you find a place to live.  I made it back just in time to get to work."

Misao cocked her head.  "Work?  Already?"

Isabella nodded.  "I sing for a few night clubs in the area.  I was scheduled to do a few shows tonight and honestly thought we would have gotten here earlier.  I'm sorry girls.  But here's my address."  She handed a slip of paper to Kaoru.  "Once you get settled in, come by and see me and we'll get you ready to whoo your men."   She winked slyly at the two and scurried off on her way.

Misao groaned unhappily.  "What do we do now?"

Kaoru squared her shoulders.  "We do what we would have done if we didn't know anyone here.  Let's go find a place to live!"

The two young women wove down populated streets and alleyways, looking for an inn or a place to stay for a while.  Suddenly, Misao stopped and began digging through one of her smaller packages.  "Wait!  I remember the Anderson brothers gave me the name of a woman who lives here."  After a few more minutes of searching, she popped up.  "Here we go!  Kasumi Jones and it has the name of the inn she runs with her husband right here."

Kaoru's eyes lit up with relief.  "Great!  Let's ask around and see if we can find it."

She spotted a friendly looking gentleman resting against the side of a building.  "Excuse me, sir?"

The man lifted the brim of his hat and smiled slightly at them.  Foreigners.

Great.  "How may I help you, ladies?"

Misao grinned at him.  "Actually, we were looking for this place here and were wondering if you could help us."

He read the name and handed the slip back to Misao.  "Sure, I know where it is.  Follow me."

Kaoru smiled widely.  "Thank you so much for your help."

"No need to thank me, ladies.  Just doing what any nice guy would do."

He led them down a few more streets and suddenly turned down a narrow alleyway.  Misao grew a little apprehensive.  "Where are we going?"

He answered easily over his shoulder.  "The place you're looking for is on the other side of town.  Going through these alleyways makes the trip shorter."

Further down, away from the commotion of the city streets, his true intentions were revealed.  He spun around, glaring menacingly at the girls.  "Give me your money and valuables.  Or I might get angry."  He pulled a small dagger from his pocket and Misao turned to run.  He grabbed her braid and Misao winced. 

Going on the defensive, Misao automatically reached for the kunai she kept in her obi.  She spun around, hand full of kunai, ready to fight.  She felt a slight resistance and then nothing.  Kaoru's and the attacker's eyes grew wide as they looked at what she had just done.  The man turned and ran, scared of the 'crazy women foreigners.' 

Kaoru stepped up behind her friend, one hand over her mouth in shock.  "Misao?"

Misao finally relaxed and looked down, her eyes going round as she realized what the resistance had been.  The man had grabbed her braid and she had swung around with her razor sharp kunai, slicing her hair in one swift motion.  The majority of her braid lay on the ground, motionless, like the severed tail of an animal. 

She let out a small whimper and bent down to pick up her hair.  "Oh no."

Kaoru bent down and rubbed her friend's back soothingly.  "It's alright.  It'll grow back."

Misao shook her head.  "You don't understand.  I've been growing my

hair since I was eight.  It was sort of a rebellion thing.  I told Jiya I wouldn't cut it until Aoshi-sama returned.  And even though physically he's back, he's still emotionally gone.  I couldn't bring myself to cut it yet.  It still wasn't time."

Kaoru nodded in understanding.  "Still Misao.  This trip is about growing up and moving on.  Don't you think cutting your hair was a good first step?"

Misao looked up, reading the hope in Kaoru's eyes.  She's trying so hard to cheer me up.  Maybe she's right though.  Time to grow up and move on.

"I guess you're right."  She managed a small smile.  "Let's go find this place.  I just want to take a hot bath and eat something.  A long nap would be welcome too."

Kaoru nodded.  "I agree."  She led Misao to the end of the alley and looked left and right.  "I can see the harbor that way, so let's head inland and maybe we'll see it."

They walked a few more minutes and finally saw the sign they were looking for.  'Kasumi's Bed and Breakfast.'

Misao's eyes lit up.  "This must be it."  She swiped at the tears that still threatened to flow and sniffled as they made their way inside. 

An older woman with gray hair swept into a bun and young eyes regarded them as they entered.  "Welcome ladies!  How may I---"  Her words died off and she made her way around the counter as she looked at Misao's puffy face.  "Dears, what happened?  Come.  Come, sit on the couch and tell Kasumi all about it."  She wrapped a friendly arm around Misao and guided her to the overstuffed seats.  She reached for the handkerchief in her sleeve and handed it to the distraught young female.

Misao let out a whimper, remembering what had happened and Kaoru told the older woman all about it.

"So, when he ran away, Misao realized what she had done and it upset her greatly.  She's been growing her hair for years."

Kasumi rubbed at Misao's back, effectively soothing her rattled nerves.  "Oh, I understand it can be upsetting.  But these things happen.  It's something you can't fix, so it's best to just let it go and move on.  I had to cut my hair when I was about your age.  I had climbed a tree to get a kitten down.  I had only put my hair into a ponytail that day and the wind was fierce.  It blew my hair so much that it got tangled around a tree branch and had to be cut so I could get down.  And you must understand, in Japan

back then, women had to have long hair.  Imagine my shame when my hair only hit shoulder length.  Luckily, my family moved soon afterwards to America."

Kaoru and Misao looked at each other, both realizing for the first time who they were speaking to.  Misao grabbed Kasumi's hand in glee. 

"We were looking for you!  It didn't register until just now.  You said your name was Kasumi right?"

The old woman nodded slightly, a little confused.  Kaoru tried to explain.  "You see, we traveled here from Japan.  Misao knows two gentlemen from America, Thomas and Daniel Anderson.  They told us to come and look for you once we got here.  That maybe you could help us get settled in or something.  So, here we are!"

Kasumi was still a little confused, but the Anderson name she recognized.  "Those are two very sweet boys.  How are they doing?"

Misao smiled.  "They're great.  They opened a restaurant in Kyoto.  They still don't have a staff, but it doesn't seem to bother them too much."

Kasumi nodded with a small smile.  "Let me help you up to a room and you can get settled.  Tonight, why don't you come and have dinner with my husband and me?  You can tell me all about why you're here."

Kaoru began to decline.  "Oh, we don't want to be a bother."

Kasumi waved her off.  "Nonsense.  I'm guessing you didn't bring tools to cook your own food and I wouldn't hear of it anyway.  You've had a hard day and deserve a little pampering.  Take a nice hot bath and then by the time you two have rested a little it should be dinner time.  I'll send my husband to get you when it's ready." 

She let them into a small, but comfortable apartment.  "It's not anything fancy, but it's shelter and the beds are very nice and we keep the sheets clean."

Misao smiled.  "It's wonderful.  Thank you."

Kasumi smiled warmly at them.  "Now, your bathroom is just around this corner in the room.  Get cleaned up and take a nap.  My husband, Richard, will come by for you shortly."

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Misao woke up to light tapping on their door.  "Kaoru, get up.  Someone's here."

Still wary from the day's earlier events, Kaoru grabbed a bokken and stood behind Misao.  The ninja cracked open the door to see a plump older man smiling at her.  "Hello there, young 'un.  You must be Misao and Kaoru!  My wife, Kasumi sent me to get you for dinner.  Name's Richard."

Kaoru and Misao relaxed and opened the door wider for the kindly old man.  "Sorry about that, but after our trouble earlier, we're still a bit apprehensive."  Kaoru fingered her bokken nervously. 

Richard chuckled.  "No use apologizing.  I can completely understand.  Just know this, not all people are bad here.  Most of us are good.  You just had the misfortune of running into some scum early on."

He led them upstairs to another apartment, a wonderful smell emanating from the room.  "Here we are!"  He pushed open the door and ushered the girls inside.

Kasumi stood over a pot, stirring its contents.  "Hello, dears!  Just a few more minutes and it should be ready!"

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Through dinner, Kaoru and Misao related their stories and told the Jones's all about the different people in their lives.  They got the stories about Kenshin and Aoshi out of the way first, and then told short quirky stories about their other friends. 

They laughed and joked and showed sympathy when hearing about the girls' troubles in love.  Richard declared, "If those two lugs don't show you the affection you two lovelies deserve, I know a lot of young men here who would be more than willing to court you."

Finally, once dinner wound down, Kasumi noticed Misao nervously twirling a lock of hair.  "Dear, your hair is chopped pretty badly.  Would you like me to even it out for you?"

Misao lit up.  "Would you really?"

Kasumi motioned to a small chair.  "Sit here while I go get my scissors."

Once she was finished, Misao's hair barely reached the middle of her back.  She frowned as she looked in the mirror.  "It's so short."

Kaoru smiled at her.  "But, it's so pretty!  It's so thick and healthy and wavy!  I would give anything to have wavy hair!   Mine just hangs there, straight and limp."

Misao brightened up.  "I guess you're right.  I should be thankful for what I have."

Kasumi made plans with them as they left for the night.  "Now you two get plenty of rest.  Tomorrow, we'll go see the town.  You'll love it."

And with that, the girls made their way back to their own place, happy with the way the day turned out.

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A/N:  There's an update.  Now that they're in America, the real stuff can begin.  Hope you liked and please leave a review!   Hugs & Kisses!