"Wow! This is a really nice place you brought us." Natsumi remarked as
Yukito parked the car.
"It is not just nice Nat, it is THE romantic place in town."
"Interesting Kenshin. How do you know about it?"
"Magazines my friend." He replied, flashing his smile at Natsumi.
"If that is the case, you must also be aware that it is extremely difficult to make a reservation at such a short notice. How did you do it?" Meia questioned.
"Connections." Yukito just answered as he opened the car door. "Let's go, I don't think I should keep them waiting.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ // ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--- In the restaurant---
"So, why did you ask me out Kenshin, with the rest?" Meia queried as the meal progressed.
"It was actually a favour that I am doing for Yukito."
The atmosphere suddenly tensed up, when a waiter came and refill their glasses. When he left, Natsumi spoke first.
"Excuse us for a while. I have something to talk to Yukito." She stood up and walked out of the restaurant with Yukito following her, although he was puzzled with her request.
Meia focused her attention at her food. If she ever made eye contact with Kenshin, she will be like an open book to him, and that was something she cannot afford that to happen. "So, who am I to you?" she questioned him.
"A friend and that's about it." Kenshin lied, and when hearing a sharp gasp from Meia, he asked, "Are you alright?"
Meia bent her head even lower. No way is she going to let him see the hurt in her eyes. "I am alright. Please excuse me, I have to go to the washroom." She fled, but not before Kenshin saw the tears in her eyes.
He did it again. He made someone he cared cried. Although it is the first time he saw Meia cried, he made Aya cried too. On the day before she died.
~ ~ ~ Flashback ~ ~ ~
"Aya, I am going to accept the job offer in Japan." Kenshin broke the news to Aya.
"How long do you intend to stay there?"
"I am intending to stay there permanently."
"Then, do you want a break up?"
"NO! I love you Aya. But I am going to ask something from you." Seeing that he still had her attention, he continued. "Can you go with me?"
"Are you MAD? I cannot leave everyone I know here and go with you. I have my family and friends and will not abandon them as and when you wish."
Kenshin lost his cool. "It's not mad! It is perfectly reasonable. We will be marrying soon. Why can't you go back with me?"
"You know what? You are just being unreasonable."
"No, you are the one unreasonable. It is logical for you to follow me. Why are you so unwilling?"
"Was I? I didn't realize that. However, I am not going to throw away everything I have here and follow you to some unknown country. Do you care enough to consider my feelings?"
"How about you? DID YOU CONSIDER MY FEELINGS. Maybe you don't love me. That's why you don't want to leave with me. You never love me. After all the years we had together." Kenshin spat back bitterly. As soon as the words are out, he wished that heaven would strike him. Aya's eyes watered and before he could react, she ran off.
He just stood there, not wanting to chase her, in case it would make matter worse. He wanted her to cool down before he apologize and try to compromise with her one way or another. After all, he loved her. What he didn't count was that she would be dead the next time he saw her.
--- At the hospital the same day---
"Sorry Mr Himura, Aya Mikage didn't make it." The doctor's words echoed through his mind.
~ ~ ~ End of flashback ~ ~ ~
What a hopeless case he was. He could remember the anguish he experienced for years. Until now, he still felt the pain. As if it was his fault that she died. Even if her family refused to blame him, it was eating him up. Now, he made Meia cry, will she hurt herself in anyway? Nonsense, his common sense told him that Meia would not do anything rash. Then why was he so worried for Meia?
* I know, you care for her or maybe even love her. * The little voice in his head told him.
There was suddenly an inner struggle within him after he realized that. Was he capable to give Meia the love that she demands and need?
He looked at his cup, drinking it's content down, wishing it was brandy instead of chilled water. He needed something to calm himself down before dealing with his emotions that he once buried inside of him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ // ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wow... that was a long wait... sorry for the delay... too caught up with my homework and stuff... :D cheers
"It is not just nice Nat, it is THE romantic place in town."
"Interesting Kenshin. How do you know about it?"
"Magazines my friend." He replied, flashing his smile at Natsumi.
"If that is the case, you must also be aware that it is extremely difficult to make a reservation at such a short notice. How did you do it?" Meia questioned.
"Connections." Yukito just answered as he opened the car door. "Let's go, I don't think I should keep them waiting.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ // ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
--- In the restaurant---
"So, why did you ask me out Kenshin, with the rest?" Meia queried as the meal progressed.
"It was actually a favour that I am doing for Yukito."
The atmosphere suddenly tensed up, when a waiter came and refill their glasses. When he left, Natsumi spoke first.
"Excuse us for a while. I have something to talk to Yukito." She stood up and walked out of the restaurant with Yukito following her, although he was puzzled with her request.
Meia focused her attention at her food. If she ever made eye contact with Kenshin, she will be like an open book to him, and that was something she cannot afford that to happen. "So, who am I to you?" she questioned him.
"A friend and that's about it." Kenshin lied, and when hearing a sharp gasp from Meia, he asked, "Are you alright?"
Meia bent her head even lower. No way is she going to let him see the hurt in her eyes. "I am alright. Please excuse me, I have to go to the washroom." She fled, but not before Kenshin saw the tears in her eyes.
He did it again. He made someone he cared cried. Although it is the first time he saw Meia cried, he made Aya cried too. On the day before she died.
~ ~ ~ Flashback ~ ~ ~
"Aya, I am going to accept the job offer in Japan." Kenshin broke the news to Aya.
"How long do you intend to stay there?"
"I am intending to stay there permanently."
"Then, do you want a break up?"
"NO! I love you Aya. But I am going to ask something from you." Seeing that he still had her attention, he continued. "Can you go with me?"
"Are you MAD? I cannot leave everyone I know here and go with you. I have my family and friends and will not abandon them as and when you wish."
Kenshin lost his cool. "It's not mad! It is perfectly reasonable. We will be marrying soon. Why can't you go back with me?"
"You know what? You are just being unreasonable."
"No, you are the one unreasonable. It is logical for you to follow me. Why are you so unwilling?"
"Was I? I didn't realize that. However, I am not going to throw away everything I have here and follow you to some unknown country. Do you care enough to consider my feelings?"
"How about you? DID YOU CONSIDER MY FEELINGS. Maybe you don't love me. That's why you don't want to leave with me. You never love me. After all the years we had together." Kenshin spat back bitterly. As soon as the words are out, he wished that heaven would strike him. Aya's eyes watered and before he could react, she ran off.
He just stood there, not wanting to chase her, in case it would make matter worse. He wanted her to cool down before he apologize and try to compromise with her one way or another. After all, he loved her. What he didn't count was that she would be dead the next time he saw her.
--- At the hospital the same day---
"Sorry Mr Himura, Aya Mikage didn't make it." The doctor's words echoed through his mind.
~ ~ ~ End of flashback ~ ~ ~
What a hopeless case he was. He could remember the anguish he experienced for years. Until now, he still felt the pain. As if it was his fault that she died. Even if her family refused to blame him, it was eating him up. Now, he made Meia cry, will she hurt herself in anyway? Nonsense, his common sense told him that Meia would not do anything rash. Then why was he so worried for Meia?
* I know, you care for her or maybe even love her. * The little voice in his head told him.
There was suddenly an inner struggle within him after he realized that. Was he capable to give Meia the love that she demands and need?
He looked at his cup, drinking it's content down, wishing it was brandy instead of chilled water. He needed something to calm himself down before dealing with his emotions that he once buried inside of him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ // ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Wow... that was a long wait... sorry for the delay... too caught up with my homework and stuff... :D cheers