The 12th Street Apartment
Sorry everyone... updates will be slow....
I'm still loaded with work! (>
To top that off I've been REALLY sick. This chapter is going to be a bad piece... ack!
+Review Responses+
Nigihayami Haruko: You're really excited aren't you? DING DING DING! Gina's back! Thanks for reading! ^^
MissBehavin: Well... no more waiting! Here's the next chapter! Thanks for reveiwing! ^^
msamandah: Thanks for reading! ^^
Cricket-chan: I love weddings too! Thanks for reviewing! ^^
+++++++++
==========================
'Tis the most tender part of love, each other to forgive.
--John Sheffield
Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.
--Peter Ustinov (1921 - 2004)
==========================
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Well well well... if it isn't Miss Gina Saitou. Back again I see?"
Gina regarded the woman in front of her, "Jin. It's so nice to see you. You look... wanted..." The thin lips curled into a smirk as she pointed to a poster in the alley.
"Ready for showdown round two?" Jin spat.
"I really don't think so." Gina folded her arms and leaned against the wall.
"Why not... chicken?" Jin taunted.
Gina grinned, "For one thing... lock up is looking pretty good for you now..."
"Wha-"
The click of a gun loading startled Jin as she spun around to meet the barrel of it.
Saitou Hajime's golden eyes glared from behind it, "Put your hands above your head."
Jin did as she was told as another officer cuffed and searched her, "Clear."
Hajime shoved the woman inside the car. He slammed the door with such force that the car shook from it.
Gina watched silently as the car drove away. She let out a sigh. "I'm glad that's over."
***
Aoshi pleaded with her at the airport, "The wedding is today!"
Gina tilted her head sidelong, "I know... but I can't face everyone."
"Not even Kenshin?" Aoshi barked, "He's OUR brother! Getting married."
Gina turned slowly, "Family use to be a big thing... until we grew up."
"It's always been... and still is. Don't you even care?"
Gina glared back, "Frankly, I could care less." She snapped. She grabbed her bag and stomped to the terminal.
Aoshi stood there gapping like a fish on land.
"Sir?"
"Sir!" The voice implored. Aoshi blinked slightly. The woman at the counter looked at him, "Please move so the plane can take off."
Aoshi sidestepped.
A tapping came from behind him. He spun around to see his sister.
She frowned, "Let's go... wedding is in an hour."
Aoshi followed his sister wordlessly, watching the white plane take off into the distance.
***
"It was so nice of you to come just to the wedding." Kaoru grinned.
Gina nodded calmly. "Aren't you guys leaving?"
Kenshin checked his watch, "Right... let's go Mrs. Saitou."
Misao turned all starry eyed, "Ah... Kaoru Saitou... perfect..."
Yumi snickered, "Misao Saitou sound any better?"
Megumi slyly shot her tall impassive cousin a look. He scowled at them.
After the wedding couple departed, the guests began to leave. Gina stayed behind to help clean up. Unbeknowest to her, someone was watching.
She cheerfully walked back home; no more Jin to worry about.
"Looking for me?" Came a voice from the shadow of a building.
Gina spun around. "Okita?"
"Gina." Okita replied curtly.
An akward silence fell between them. Gina shrugged it off and continued home.
A hand fell on her shoulder. Gina sighed as she turned, "Okita...."
"Nope... guess again."
A flash a pain errupted from Gina's face. She stumbled back a few paces before glance up. Her face twisted into a look of malice, "Jin."
"I made bail sweet pea... and I'm back for round three." Jin smirked.
"What difference does it make... you're going to jail."
"You're going to be six feet under when I'm through with you, child." Jin spat.
"Bring it." retorted Gina. "By the way... I do have a restraining order on you."
Jin ignored the comment, flying at the other woman.
Gina meerly sidestepped. She was in for the fight. She fished for her cell phone and pushed down a speed dail, directing to the police station. Her attendtion was on the phone, not noticing Jin land a blow by her neck.
Gina landed on the ground as Jin's boot dug into her stomach. She could feel a trail of blood from her lip. Gina coughed, "Why..."
Jin's looked saddened. It was no longer angry, but depressed. Her eyes turned stormy grey. "I loved your brother and with ONE mistake, he was gone. I never got another chance... I gave him so many... missing or forgetting our dates... constantly. I always let him back, but he never gave me that. Not a chance to explain, nothing. I don't think you were ugly..."
"So it's not me you hate... it's yourself." Gina sat up, propping herself on her elbows.
Gina rolled quickly to avoid Jin's foot. "I hate you. Period."
Gina rolled again as the other foot stomped down, "You hate yourself more... you just vent and blame me for your failure."
"I spent my LIFE pining for your brother... and I got him... and LOST him... to his younger SISTER! Since that day in first grade I met him I loved him. I had poems, shines... all for him."
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what? That I gave my heart away? before you were even walking?"
"No... sorry you can't get over him. I'm sorry for you..."
Jin looked at the young woman sitting on the sidewalk. Gina only watched the sky.
Jin turned around and walked away. "Where are you going?" Gina called.
"To turn myself in..." Jin replied calmly. It was as if she had accepted her fate. "I do have a heart..."
Gina leaned against the brick wall. Jin turned back before she rounded the block, "I saw him..."
"Who?" Gina asked.
"That cop... who was talking to you..."
"So?" Gina was now confused.
"It's not too late... Besides you've got my job... " Jin winked before turning the corner.
***
Misao and Chou 'broke up' after a calm agreement between the two in Yumi's Cafe. They made sure Aoshi was watching.
Chou left, winking at Misao before he passed.
Aoshi slid into Misao's seat as soon as Chou walked out the door. "I... um...."
"Aoshi?" Misao pretended to looked shocked, "Um... is there something?"
"Willyougooutwithme?" Aoshi blurted out. "Imeanliketothemovieorsomething..." He mentally smacked himself. Great... now she thought that he was a fool.
"Uh... I mean... I just broke up with Chou...."
"I understand..." Aoshi started from the chair.
Yumi glared at Misao and implored with her eyes. Megumi flipped her hair in Aoshi's direction.
Misao grabbed Aoshi's arm, "A movie would be great." She flashed a smile.
Aoshi nodded, "My car is outside."
Misao grinned as she hooked arms with him, "Let's go!"
***
Chou watched as an animimated Misao chatted with the stone cold Aoshi Saitou.
"She's got her man." A woman's voice said from behind. "And I got mine back."
Chou smiled as he hugged the woman, "I've alway been yours Tae."
Tae giggled, "You going to take me to the movies too?"
"I can do better." Chou smirked, "I'll take YOU out for dinner and a movie."
"I'm so glad I hired the babysitter tonight."
***
Shishio was back, sitting in his usually seat by the window. Yumi watched him. It was late now, there were no other guest but him.
Yumi hurried to the sound system. She needed to tell him... she needed to...
The song began to play.
I know you think that I shouldn't still love you
I'll tell you that
But if I didn't say it
Well, I'd still have felt it
Where's the sense in that?
I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I know I left too much mess
And destruction to come back again
And I caused but nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "It's over"
Then I'm sure that that makes sense
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
And when we meet
As I'm sure we will
All that was then
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
Shishio glanced at Yumi, "Wny do you always play that song when I'm here?"
Yumi bit her lip, "I..."
"You trying to tell me something?"
"I um...guess..."
Shishio sighed and closed his eyes again, "You only guess.."
Yumi let a tear trickle from her eyes, "I mean..." She slammed her fist on the counter, causing Shishio to jump slightly, "D***! Shishio... what is WRONG with you... can't you see I LOVE you?"
"Yumi..."
"I don't care how you look... I fell for Shishio... the heart of a man."
"Yumi... you want to um... go out to dinner sometime this week? Like... Tuesday night?"
Yumi glanced up at him, "Okay... I'll meet you here."
He nodded as he walked out the door, "It's a date."
***
"I'm just so tired..." Gina flopped on her bed. Aoshi was sitting straightbacked in the computer chair as the sibling's parents streched on the floor.
"So..." Tokio glanced at her daughter, "You taking Jin's job?"
"I don't know." Gina glanced at her bedspread, suddenly finding it interesting, "I mean... I haven't even been in the United States a year..."
"But family is important!" Tokio pleaded
Gina looked at her mother, "I don't know Ma..."
Tokio sighed and yawned, "I'm dead. 'Night."
"Good night." came three replies.
Gina turned to her father, "Any advice?"
He looked up, "Family." He got up and left, cracking his ankle on the way out.
"Old man." Gina muttered.
Aoshi tried to hide the sound of his own cracking wrist. Gina sent him a glance. He got up to leave too. "Don't end up like Kaoru... she was only lucky she had a happy ending."
***
"You kiddin' right?" Came the deep voice from the room.
"I wouldn't kid about this!" A sharped retort came.
"Meg..."
"Sano... Face the facts!"
"I can't believe it Meg... what are we going to do?"
"How am I suppose to know! This is the first time I'm having a baby!"
There was a loud gasp and a thump from the kitchen area.
Sano and Megumi carefully opened thier door and peered out, "Mom?"
***
"She'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Oh..."
"You sure you want to let her go again Okita?"
Okita glanced at his twin, "If she goes, she goes."
"Will you?"
There was no reply. Soujirou went back to his room, gazing at the stars. One seemed to wink brightly at him, "She won't go."
***
From his place at the balcony, Okita saw a star wink, "I'll go... and if I lose... I lose."
***
Gina hugged her pillow close to her, watching a star sparkle at her. She let a tear fall from her eyes, sliding across her face, "Good bye." She whispered.
***
Aoshi flicked off his light and glanced out the window, seeing one star outshine the rest, "Misao..."
***
Misao was glueing the movie ticket stub into her scrapbook. She smiled up at the bright star, "Aoshi..."
***
Kenshin and Kaoru watched the stars through the skylight of the hotel room, "To us."
***
Megumi and Sano cheered to that beautiful star, "To a new life."
***
Aya bit her lip to keep from crying, "For every child's dream..."
***
Yumi giggled at the star, "New hope..."
***
Shishio rolled his eyes at the star, "A new day..."
***
Enishi saw the star from the plane, "To a new beginning..."
***
Mrs. Tamba prayed to the star, "For honor... duty.... and a love that could never be."
***
"Look Hajime... a star... what a family..."
He looked to where her finger directed, "In good faith little star... love..."
***
Hiko snorted, "Just a burning mass of gas lightyears away....."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Err... DustyFall is VERY sick... >.
The end was really weird... sorry...
Updates very slow... sorry.
Sorry everyone... updates will be slow....
I'm still loaded with work! (>
To top that off I've been REALLY sick. This chapter is going to be a bad piece... ack!
+Review Responses+
Nigihayami Haruko: You're really excited aren't you? DING DING DING! Gina's back! Thanks for reading! ^^
MissBehavin: Well... no more waiting! Here's the next chapter! Thanks for reveiwing! ^^
msamandah: Thanks for reading! ^^
Cricket-chan: I love weddings too! Thanks for reviewing! ^^
+++++++++
==========================
'Tis the most tender part of love, each other to forgive.
--John Sheffield
Love is an act of endless forgiveness, a tender look which becomes a habit.
--Peter Ustinov (1921 - 2004)
==========================
"Well well well... if it isn't Miss Gina Saitou. Back again I see?"
Gina regarded the woman in front of her, "Jin. It's so nice to see you. You look... wanted..." The thin lips curled into a smirk as she pointed to a poster in the alley.
"Ready for showdown round two?" Jin spat.
"I really don't think so." Gina folded her arms and leaned against the wall.
"Why not... chicken?" Jin taunted.
Gina grinned, "For one thing... lock up is looking pretty good for you now..."
"Wha-"
The click of a gun loading startled Jin as she spun around to meet the barrel of it.
Saitou Hajime's golden eyes glared from behind it, "Put your hands above your head."
Jin did as she was told as another officer cuffed and searched her, "Clear."
Hajime shoved the woman inside the car. He slammed the door with such force that the car shook from it.
Gina watched silently as the car drove away. She let out a sigh. "I'm glad that's over."
***
Aoshi pleaded with her at the airport, "The wedding is today!"
Gina tilted her head sidelong, "I know... but I can't face everyone."
"Not even Kenshin?" Aoshi barked, "He's OUR brother! Getting married."
Gina turned slowly, "Family use to be a big thing... until we grew up."
"It's always been... and still is. Don't you even care?"
Gina glared back, "Frankly, I could care less." She snapped. She grabbed her bag and stomped to the terminal.
Aoshi stood there gapping like a fish on land.
"Sir?"
"Sir!" The voice implored. Aoshi blinked slightly. The woman at the counter looked at him, "Please move so the plane can take off."
Aoshi sidestepped.
A tapping came from behind him. He spun around to see his sister.
She frowned, "Let's go... wedding is in an hour."
Aoshi followed his sister wordlessly, watching the white plane take off into the distance.
***
"It was so nice of you to come just to the wedding." Kaoru grinned.
Gina nodded calmly. "Aren't you guys leaving?"
Kenshin checked his watch, "Right... let's go Mrs. Saitou."
Misao turned all starry eyed, "Ah... Kaoru Saitou... perfect..."
Yumi snickered, "Misao Saitou sound any better?"
Megumi slyly shot her tall impassive cousin a look. He scowled at them.
After the wedding couple departed, the guests began to leave. Gina stayed behind to help clean up. Unbeknowest to her, someone was watching.
She cheerfully walked back home; no more Jin to worry about.
"Looking for me?" Came a voice from the shadow of a building.
Gina spun around. "Okita?"
"Gina." Okita replied curtly.
An akward silence fell between them. Gina shrugged it off and continued home.
A hand fell on her shoulder. Gina sighed as she turned, "Okita...."
"Nope... guess again."
A flash a pain errupted from Gina's face. She stumbled back a few paces before glance up. Her face twisted into a look of malice, "Jin."
"I made bail sweet pea... and I'm back for round three." Jin smirked.
"What difference does it make... you're going to jail."
"You're going to be six feet under when I'm through with you, child." Jin spat.
"Bring it." retorted Gina. "By the way... I do have a restraining order on you."
Jin ignored the comment, flying at the other woman.
Gina meerly sidestepped. She was in for the fight. She fished for her cell phone and pushed down a speed dail, directing to the police station. Her attendtion was on the phone, not noticing Jin land a blow by her neck.
Gina landed on the ground as Jin's boot dug into her stomach. She could feel a trail of blood from her lip. Gina coughed, "Why..."
Jin's looked saddened. It was no longer angry, but depressed. Her eyes turned stormy grey. "I loved your brother and with ONE mistake, he was gone. I never got another chance... I gave him so many... missing or forgetting our dates... constantly. I always let him back, but he never gave me that. Not a chance to explain, nothing. I don't think you were ugly..."
"So it's not me you hate... it's yourself." Gina sat up, propping herself on her elbows.
Gina rolled quickly to avoid Jin's foot. "I hate you. Period."
Gina rolled again as the other foot stomped down, "You hate yourself more... you just vent and blame me for your failure."
"I spent my LIFE pining for your brother... and I got him... and LOST him... to his younger SISTER! Since that day in first grade I met him I loved him. I had poems, shines... all for him."
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what? That I gave my heart away? before you were even walking?"
"No... sorry you can't get over him. I'm sorry for you..."
Jin looked at the young woman sitting on the sidewalk. Gina only watched the sky.
Jin turned around and walked away. "Where are you going?" Gina called.
"To turn myself in..." Jin replied calmly. It was as if she had accepted her fate. "I do have a heart..."
Gina leaned against the brick wall. Jin turned back before she rounded the block, "I saw him..."
"Who?" Gina asked.
"That cop... who was talking to you..."
"So?" Gina was now confused.
"It's not too late... Besides you've got my job... " Jin winked before turning the corner.
***
Misao and Chou 'broke up' after a calm agreement between the two in Yumi's Cafe. They made sure Aoshi was watching.
Chou left, winking at Misao before he passed.
Aoshi slid into Misao's seat as soon as Chou walked out the door. "I... um...."
"Aoshi?" Misao pretended to looked shocked, "Um... is there something?"
"Willyougooutwithme?" Aoshi blurted out. "Imeanliketothemovieorsomething..." He mentally smacked himself. Great... now she thought that he was a fool.
"Uh... I mean... I just broke up with Chou...."
"I understand..." Aoshi started from the chair.
Yumi glared at Misao and implored with her eyes. Megumi flipped her hair in Aoshi's direction.
Misao grabbed Aoshi's arm, "A movie would be great." She flashed a smile.
Aoshi nodded, "My car is outside."
Misao grinned as she hooked arms with him, "Let's go!"
***
Chou watched as an animimated Misao chatted with the stone cold Aoshi Saitou.
"She's got her man." A woman's voice said from behind. "And I got mine back."
Chou smiled as he hugged the woman, "I've alway been yours Tae."
Tae giggled, "You going to take me to the movies too?"
"I can do better." Chou smirked, "I'll take YOU out for dinner and a movie."
"I'm so glad I hired the babysitter tonight."
***
Shishio was back, sitting in his usually seat by the window. Yumi watched him. It was late now, there were no other guest but him.
Yumi hurried to the sound system. She needed to tell him... she needed to...
The song began to play.
I know you think that I shouldn't still love you
I'll tell you that
But if I didn't say it
Well, I'd still have felt it
Where's the sense in that?
I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I know I left too much mess
And destruction to come back again
And I caused but nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "It's over"
Then I'm sure that that makes sense
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
And when we meet
As I'm sure we will
All that was then
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be
Shishio glanced at Yumi, "Wny do you always play that song when I'm here?"
Yumi bit her lip, "I..."
"You trying to tell me something?"
"I um...guess..."
Shishio sighed and closed his eyes again, "You only guess.."
Yumi let a tear trickle from her eyes, "I mean..." She slammed her fist on the counter, causing Shishio to jump slightly, "D***! Shishio... what is WRONG with you... can't you see I LOVE you?"
"Yumi..."
"I don't care how you look... I fell for Shishio... the heart of a man."
"Yumi... you want to um... go out to dinner sometime this week? Like... Tuesday night?"
Yumi glanced up at him, "Okay... I'll meet you here."
He nodded as he walked out the door, "It's a date."
***
"I'm just so tired..." Gina flopped on her bed. Aoshi was sitting straightbacked in the computer chair as the sibling's parents streched on the floor.
"So..." Tokio glanced at her daughter, "You taking Jin's job?"
"I don't know." Gina glanced at her bedspread, suddenly finding it interesting, "I mean... I haven't even been in the United States a year..."
"But family is important!" Tokio pleaded
Gina looked at her mother, "I don't know Ma..."
Tokio sighed and yawned, "I'm dead. 'Night."
"Good night." came three replies.
Gina turned to her father, "Any advice?"
He looked up, "Family." He got up and left, cracking his ankle on the way out.
"Old man." Gina muttered.
Aoshi tried to hide the sound of his own cracking wrist. Gina sent him a glance. He got up to leave too. "Don't end up like Kaoru... she was only lucky she had a happy ending."
***
"You kiddin' right?" Came the deep voice from the room.
"I wouldn't kid about this!" A sharped retort came.
"Meg..."
"Sano... Face the facts!"
"I can't believe it Meg... what are we going to do?"
"How am I suppose to know! This is the first time I'm having a baby!"
There was a loud gasp and a thump from the kitchen area.
Sano and Megumi carefully opened thier door and peered out, "Mom?"
***
"She'll be leaving tomorrow."
"Oh..."
"You sure you want to let her go again Okita?"
Okita glanced at his twin, "If she goes, she goes."
"Will you?"
There was no reply. Soujirou went back to his room, gazing at the stars. One seemed to wink brightly at him, "She won't go."
***
From his place at the balcony, Okita saw a star wink, "I'll go... and if I lose... I lose."
***
Gina hugged her pillow close to her, watching a star sparkle at her. She let a tear fall from her eyes, sliding across her face, "Good bye." She whispered.
***
Aoshi flicked off his light and glanced out the window, seeing one star outshine the rest, "Misao..."
***
Misao was glueing the movie ticket stub into her scrapbook. She smiled up at the bright star, "Aoshi..."
***
Kenshin and Kaoru watched the stars through the skylight of the hotel room, "To us."
***
Megumi and Sano cheered to that beautiful star, "To a new life."
***
Aya bit her lip to keep from crying, "For every child's dream..."
***
Yumi giggled at the star, "New hope..."
***
Shishio rolled his eyes at the star, "A new day..."
***
Enishi saw the star from the plane, "To a new beginning..."
***
Mrs. Tamba prayed to the star, "For honor... duty.... and a love that could never be."
***
"Look Hajime... a star... what a family..."
He looked to where her finger directed, "In good faith little star... love..."
***
Hiko snorted, "Just a burning mass of gas lightyears away....."
Err... DustyFall is VERY sick... >.
The end was really weird... sorry...
Updates very slow... sorry.