Note: Hey there all my darling readers. Thank you all so very much for the wonderful reviews and comments you left me. I really do appreciate and I am sorry about the delay of this chapter. I hope you like it, I am trying to put more depth into my writing and to improve for the all of you. Happy reading!

I decided that I wouldn't write a lemon and so if you are expecting one, I'm sorry to disappoint you.

Chapter 14: Parting Paths

When Saitou watched Kaoru sleep that night, he finally fully understood why he was in danger. He had never lost control of himself like that before, nor did he ever rush a woman into bed like he did to Kaoru. What Tokio had said was true; Kaoru was really different and no matter how much he hated to admit it, he was becoming too attached to her. The last thing Saitou wanted was to become dependent on anyone again. He valued his freedom and he did not like commitment or having his normal routine of life being interrupted.

Kaoru was lying in his arms, deeply asleep, her breathing steady and barely audible. The aroma of jasmine still surrounded her and Saitou knew that it was another thing that he had become attached to. Her skin turned out to be as milky as it looked and she was completely inexperienced and innocent, it was only when he took her that he realized that she was a virgin; he shall ask her about that when she wakes up. Why didn't she tell him earlier? Then, he realized that he didn't really give her that much of a chance.

He watched her sleep peacefully and decided that he had to stop this insanity soon. He had to stop seeing her, stop wanting her and stop giving her false hope. He could not give her the wrong idea about what he has to offer. He was not ready to commit and he still wasn't sure if it was love. He did not want to fall in love, let alone get married or have children of his own. He liked life the way it was, just him, his job and his friends. Attachments and love can only cause pain and suffering.

Saitou sighed and concluded that his decision would be the best for him and that he would have to carry it out as soon as possible.

Kaoru woke up to the sun shining over her face and she turned her head to meet Saitou's eyes looking at her. His expression was unreadable and Kaoru noticed that he was already dressed. It made her feel even more self conscious than ever. The memory from last night came back to her and her face flushed an adorable pink. She remembered their intimate touches and kisses and the words Saitou whispered to her in the midst of their passion; Kaoru decided that losing her virginity wasn't was awful as she thought it would be, especially when she was in love with him. Kaoru looked at Saitou again, searching his gaze. Did he notice it?

Saitou smiled at her. "You're finally awake, sleepy head."

Kaoru blushed and said, "Is it okay if I take a shower first?"

Saitou smiled lazily at her again. "Go ahead."

Kaoru flushed a deeper red and she ran to the bathroom with incredible speed that she could hear Saitou's laughter rumbling after her. It didn't matter if he had already seen her naked, she was still not very comfortable about it.

She turned on the water and washed herself, unable to believe what she had done last night. Oddly, she didn't regret it but a part of her heart was still hurt, she still didn't know if Saitou feel the same way as she does.

When she came out from the shower dressed in her change of clothes of casual jeans and t-shirt, Saitou was still sitting at the chair where he was before she entered the shower.

He motioned her to come closer and she did, she went to stand next to him at his chair and his hand grasped hers softly and he looked up at her.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.

"Tell you what?" Kaoru retorted, pretending that she didn't know what he was talking about.

"You know damn well what."

"Actually," Kaoru said, "I forgot about it."

"Kaoru…" he warned.

"Okay," she said, "I didn't tell you because the subject never came up and I didn't know how to say it." She turned her face away.

Saitou remained silent.

"Would you have changed you mind if you knew?" Kaoru asked.

Saitou looked up at her again. "No, I wouldn't. If I knew, I could have been gentler with you."

Kaoru smiled at him and Saitou found himself smiling back.

He coughed uncomfortably. "Shall we have some breakfast?"

Kaoru frowned at his sudden change of attitude but didn't say anything. She followed him into the dining room, watching him closely. His had this poker face on and she couldn't see what he was feeling at all. Why is he so unpredictable?

They sat down around the lovely wooden table and they ate a simple breakfast. Milk, toast, eggs and some bacon. Saitou was silent and Kaoru did not know what to say too. She dared not say a word. The dining room was cozy and the sun was shining peacefully into the room, everything seemed so serene and perfect except fore this awkward silence between she and Saitou.

Kaoru bit at her toast without tasting it at all, she tried not to look at Saitou as much as possible because she was afraid that the fear and the insecurity in her eyes might show. She didn't want to seem weak to him.

They finished their breakfast soon enough and soon, they are walking out of the house and to the car, everything happened so fast and Kaoru was in a daze. She was already beginning to feel a little bit sick in her chest. They were silent most of the time during the ride back to Tokyo and Saitou seemed to be in deep thought and Kaoru kept her face to the window. It was nothing like the peaceful ride that they had two days ago.

When they finally arrived in front of her apartment building, Kaoru decided that she wouldn't say anything if he doesn't. Before she got out of the car, Saitou spoke.

"Kaoru, did you take any precautions against the possible consequences of last night?"

Kaoru opened her mouth and closed it again after a few moments, she could feel the blood rushing to her face. She shook her head dumbly.

She looked at Saitou, he was looking at her levelly and she sensed that her answer irritated him, but his voice was calmly unemotional. "If there should be any consequences, I want you to let me know. Don't try to face it alone. Will you promise to let me know?"

Kaoru was too embarrassed to speak. She nodded and quickly got out of the car. She walked towards her apartment and before she reached the front door to the building, he had already driven away in his car.

Misao was not at home when she entered their apartment. Kaoru carelessly dropped her beg on the floor and sat down on the sofa clumsily. She was tired and restless. Today was Sunday and she still had to work tonight. Kaoru sighed and glanced at the clock which hung above the television on the wall.

If Saitou wanted to reach her, he could always call her. "If there should be any consequences, I want you to let me know." Let me know… The last three words revolved continuously in her brain. Why had he made it sound as if they wouldn't be talking to each other unless she needed to reach him to tell him that she was pregnant?

In a way Kaoru felt like something that had been used and then thrown away. They had spent time together with each other not for very long but somehow, she felt so close to him- surely he felt close to her too. Surely he couldn't intend to just walk away and forget about her.

And what if she was pregnant? Kaoru couldn't bare the thought of that. If she remembered her dates right, her chances of getting pregnant was low. But she had to make sure. She glanced at the clock again.

It was almost three o'clock. She still had time. Kaoru decided that she would cycle to a pharmacy and buy a pregnancy test and after that, she would go to work. She stood up from the sofa and picked up her bag, fishing out her dirty clothes from the weekend and threw them into her laundry bag. She walked to the door bravely and opened it. Off she went to buy that pregnancy test. Ahh…

Monday night at The Iwasaki's

Tae watched Kaoru worked and she knew that there was something 'off' about Kaoru today. She didn't seem to have as much energy and sometimes she make mistakes about the orders and her movements had become clumsy.

She called at Kaoru to come over to her and for the first few times she called her, Kaoru didn't even notice her. There was definitely something wrong.

Kaoru blinked and snapped herself out of her reverie. Work was going at a wrong direction tonight and she was ashamed of herself. She did not put all of her effort today, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to be able to concentrate completely.

Turned out that she didn't buy the pregnancy test on Saturday. She had walked into the pharmacy and wondered forever at the different brands of pregnancy test and in the end, she left the shop without purchasing one. Partly it was because she was afraid and partly it was because she knew that this kind of things make mistakes sometimes. There was no way she could make a mistake, she had to be sure. She had decided that she would go for a check up at a private clinic, somewhere that she could get confirmed answers.

She walked towards Tae in a daze and stopped in front of her, her head bowed.

"I'm sorry Tae," she said, "I will try to pick myself up for the rest of the night."

Tae shook her head and waved her apology away easily. "I'm not worried about that Kaoru! I'm worried about you, is everything okay?"

Kaoru nodded.

"Well, you certainly don't look like it. I know that even when you are tired, you are still alert. However, something seemed to be bothering you tonight. It is only seven thirty and you've made more than three mistakes with the orders. You never make mistakes like that before."

"I'm sorry, it won't happen again."

Tae shook her head again. "No, I told you, I'm not angry. I'm just worried about you, what's wrong? Maybe I can help you."

Kaoru looked at Tae and felt the temptation to tell her everything that had happened but yet something was holding her back. What she was about to tell her was no joke, and if it gets out, imagine what her father will do to her. She couldn't even bare to imagine that. But, she needed to let it out, and Tae was a motherly figure to her.

Kaoru leaned close to Tae and whispered in a very low voice. "You must promise that you won't tell anyone about what I am about to tell you. You must tell no one."

Tae hesitated and then nodded her head firmly. "I will tell no one. I promise."

"Okay."

With that Kaoru pulled Tae to the changing room for waitresses and when she was sure that no one else was in the room, she began talking.

"I may be pregnant." Kaoru said.

Tae's eyes widened and her mouth opened in shock.

"But I am not sure. I have to find out and I don't want to use the pregnancy tests sold outside because those things can be inaccurate."

Kaoru looked at Tae, who was obviously still in shock and waited patiently for her to register what she had told her.

"Who's the asshole who did this to you?" Tae asked, annoyance obvious on her face.

Kaoru shrugged and remained silent.

"All right," Tae said finally, "I understand if you do not want to tell me. But Kaoru, it is very important to have protected sex, and you of all people should know that. I thought you are smart Kaoru!"

Kaoru remained silent still and looked down, her eyes focused on the floor. What Tae said was true. How could she be so stupid?

"I won't lecture you anymore," Tae sighed, "how about this, I will bring you to this gynaecologist that I use go to and we can find out if you are pregnant okay? He is very strict about confidentiality with his patients and so everything is going to be okay."

Kaoru nodded and smiled gratefully at Tae. "Thank you, Tae. When will we go?"

"How about now?" Tae asked, "Just the thought of you may be pregnant drives me nuts. Let's go find out now."

Kaoru nodded, she herself was going crazy at that thought. Just the thought of it make her heart beat at rate that she never knew that was possible.

So they took off their aprons and put their long winter coats over their uniforms. Tae went to the front to tell them that they will be off for a while and then they walked out of the Iwasaki's through the back door.

Kaoru got in beside Tae in the car and through the ride, they were silent. Kaoru was grateful for Tae's quiet understanding. She didn't pester her about what happened and agreed to help her just like that. Kaoru needed all the courage and support she can get now and she almost wished that Misao was here with her as well.

Thankfully, there weren't many people in the clinic that night. And even if there were a few women waiting around, they were people that Kaoru didn't know.

She and Tae sat at the waiting area and they remained silent and Kaoru's hands were shaking harder and harder each time it came closer to her turn. Tae grabbed her hand and smiled reassuringly at her.

"Don't worry," she said gently, "If you want someone to go in with you. I will accompany you."

"Thank you," Kaoru said, her voice barely audible, "please do."

When the nurse finally called her name, she and Tae walked into the doctor's office, Tae's arm linked with hers, supporting her.

Inside the office, a man with glasses sat behind an imposing wooden desk. He looked at both Kaoru and Tae curiously and smiled friendly at them.

"Now, what can I do for you?" he said.

Kaoru spoke up quickly. "I'm here to check if I'm pregnant."

The doctor nodded understandingly and looked at Tae. "Is this young lady your sister?"

Tae shook her head. "No, we are just good friends."

"In that case, is it okay if you would kindly wait outside? I will just do a few tests here on Kamiya-san."

Tae stood up from her chair and looked at Kaoru worriedly before walking out of the office.

The doctor turned his full attention to Kaoru. "Now, now. Why are you two looking so glum? It's going to be okay, Kamiya-san."

When Kaoru came out of the doctor's office, Tae was looking at her expectantly, her eyes as big as saucers.

"Well…are you pregnant?" Tae asked.

Kaoru sat down beside Tae and sighed heavily. "I don't know. The test results haven't come out yet. We'll have to wait."

"For how long?"

"Not too long, I think." Kaoru replied, "The next time the nurse calls me, it will be my test results."

"Ah."

So they sat there in silence again.

After what it seemed like an eternity, the kindly nurse in the pink uniform called at her with a bright smile on her face. Kaoru felt her breath caught up in her throat, she walked towards the reception in a daze and the nurse handed her a piece of paper.

"The results are negative, my dear, you don't have to worry anymore." The nurse told her kindly.

Kaoru breathed in deeply and just the feeling of relief overwhelmed her with such happiness that she couldn't speak for a moment. She took the piece of paper from the nurse wordlessly, a big smile plastered on her face and she walked towards Tae, who was smiling at her with equal happiness.

So, she is not pregnant! If the results are positive, she wouldn't know what to do, especially the man who did this to her seemed not to have any interest in her anymore.

Kaoru and Tae walked out the clinic and for a while, they didn't know what to say to each other. It was already late and they both didn't feel like going back to The Iwasaki's.

"How about let's go to a nearby café for something hot to drink and then go home?" Tae suggested.

Kaoru nodded. "Okay, that sounds like a good idea." This whole episode was too much for her and a relaxing hot drink sound good to her. She will think about her and Saitou's relationship later.

For weeks, Kaoru was in a pathetic state and she couldn't help it. No matter how much she wanted to recover from everything quickly, she couldn't. She wished that she didn't love Saitou and isn't yearning for him the way she is now. She wished that she didn't enjoy that night with him; now, every kiss, every heated sweet-nothing he had whispered into her ear couldn't stop replaying in her head.

She waited for him to call, rushing to pick up the phone every time it rings. But it was never him. He didn't want her anymore and just the thought of it made her cried herself to sleep so many nights.

To Kaoru, the days passed in a blur and the people around her noticed the changes in her. Her smiles no longer reached her eyes and she rarely talk that much anymore. She went to her classes as usual, did every assignment thrown at her, did her work at the Iwasaki's and went back to her apartment and often, straight into her room, closing the door shut behind her. Misao had asked her several times what was wrong but she couldn't bring herself to pour it all out, it was already a miracle that she still had the strength and will-power for her to continue to do the things she need to do everyday. So, she always smiled at Misao, shook her head gently and told her that nothing was wrong.

The only thing that she stopped doing was spending her time after classes at Shougo's art studio at the University, she wanted to put a wall between herself and Saitou and anything associated with him. She called Shougo up and politely told him that she couldn't paint as usual at his studio for a while and that she was going to try working on some of the paintings during her free time at her apartment.

But any free moment that Kaoru spent at home did not include painting or studying for her classes or anything useful for that matter. The time was spent with her lying on her bed in her room and staring onto the ceiling with a blank face. It had reached a point where she ceased to cry.

Finally, one morning Kaoru got up from her sleeping position on her bed and pulled back the curtains, allowing her room to bask in the morning sunshine. She surveyed her room and stacked some of the books back in order, tidying things up here and there.

Then, she walked out of her room and into the bathroom, where she stared into the mirror for a long time at her reflection. Her eyes had a dull look in them and she hated it, she couldn't remember the last time she had a hair cut but thank goodness that her hair still looked okay. There were dark shadows under her eyes and she knew that it was due to her lack of sleep.

Kaoru took a deep breath and decided that she will do something different today, she usually don't wear make up unless to formal occasions and now, she was going to put an end to that. Most of the girls her age wear make up and even she knew that there is huge difference between a made up face and a bare face like hers. With make up on, you can cover so many things that you don't want other people to see, and you can definitely enhance your features.

So today, Kaoru was going to made herself up, hoping that she will feel better. She wanted to get out of this cloudy and heavy mood of hers right now. She needed to start living again and to focus on herself again and thinking about Saitou will just not do.

By the time she was done with her make up and all dressed up, sitting at the dining table sipping at her green tea, she heard Misao's shriek and the sound of her crashing out of the bed, and she chuckled. Misao was always very clumsy in the morning and most of the time she ignored the constant beeping of her alarm clock and continued sleeping.

Misao rushed out of her room and stared at Kaoru in shock. "Kaoru-chan?"

Kaoru smiled at her. "Good morning, Misao-chan."

"Since when do you wake up so early?" Misao exclaimed, already dashing to the bathroom.

Kaoru laughed. "You better hurry, or you'll be late. I'll go first, okay? I'll see you there."

"Okay!" Misao shouted from inside the bathroom, and Kaoru laughed again.

Kaoru looked at herself in the mirror again before opening the front door. She had pulled her hair up in an elegant French twist today, and beautiful ear-rings made of blue crystals dangled at her ears. She wore a frilly white blouse, complete with a clean-cut black trench coat and long shapely black pants. Kaoru smiled into the mirror, deciding that she looked smart and sophisticated, less like a child people think her to be. She picked up her bag and walked out of the door, telling herself that she would concentrate in her classes today and maybe check in with Shougo and apologise for her absence.

Saitou had his reading glasses on and he was staring at a document held in his hand only that, he wasn't really looking at the document actually. The vision of Kaoru's bright, innocent blue eyes kept appearing in his mind and he couldn't seem to be able to shake it off.

Ever since they both parted their ways that Saturday, he had been thinking about her, little things like how she looked at him or the way she bit at her lip when she is nervous kept coming into his mind, and he didn't like it.

In a way, he felt guilty for what he did to Kaoru. What happened on Saturday and the exchange between them was an unofficial 'break-up', he knew very well that he did that even though he didn't say the words. So far, she hadn't contacted him and he hoped that it is because she is really not pregnant, not because she is too afraid to tell him. And it wasn't her fault too. Just like what he said that night, 'We are going to do this together', he had a part in it too, and so he couldn't put the blame completely onto Kaoru.

He had done what he wanted. He had finished everything with her and it was over. He was most likely not going to see her again and she definitely wouldn't want to see him again after what happened. She definitely deserves someone better than him. Someone who would be there for her, someone who wouldn't leave her, someone who was ready to commit himself to her and Saitou knew that he was not that man.

Or at least that was what he thought. His thoughts were all messed up and suddenly, he didn't know what he thinks anymore.

Then, a knock was heard on the door and his secretary came in. "Imumaro-san and his wife are waiting outside for you, sir."

Saitou nodded absently. "I'll be out soon."

His secretary went out and Saitou got up from his seat, dismissing Kaoru from his thoughts. She definitely deserves someone better.

He walked out of his office to see his clients.

So far so good…Kaoru thought as she sat in lecture theatre listening to the professor showing them several slides and explaining everything to them, occasionally calling on students to answer questions. Kaoru noticed that there were less and less students in her classes and she knew that most of them had disappeared off to do their shifts and earn their further points at the hospitals they were assigned to. But since she transferred in from an American university, she had to earn her points from scratch, so it was a while before she can start doing her shifts. She was feeling better together, thought not completely recovered and happy, but happier. That was a start.

She took notes diligently and listened to her professors attentively and tried to interact as much possible with the people in her classes. She found that focusing her mind on somewhere else and talking to people helped and she was determined that she won't be as vulnerable as before.

At the end of the lesson before lunch break, Professor Suzukaze asked her to stay back and so she did. She wondered what he wanted this time round.

"Kamiya-san, I'm informing you that you have earned all the points that you needed to start doing your shifts at hospitals. After going through all your grades and performance with the other professors, we've decided to assign you to your father's hospital." He told her.

Kaoru's eyes widened. Her father's hospital?

"Sir, is it possible if I do my shifts at another possible?" Kaoru asked.

Professor Suzukaze narrowed his eyes at her and spoke firmly, "It is decided and I assure you that it has nothing to do with the fact that your father is the administrator at the hospital. You do know how students are assigned to hospitals, right? Students with good grades and good performance are assigned to good hospitals and students who didn't do well during their school year have to do more work at school but get assigned to less recognized hospitals."

Kaoru nodded to show him that she was following what he was saying.

"Your grades and your performance, I have to admit, are pleasing and you should be glad that you've earned enough good graces to be assigned to your father's hospital. It is one of the best hospitals in Tokyo. So do you want to be reassigned again?"

Kaoru shook her head and let a reluctant smile curve on her lips. Professor Suzukaze actually said that her grades and performance during class are pleasing. And he said it right to her face! Maybe he isn't as bad as I thought…

"You are to start your shifts tomorrow morning, report to the hospital at eight in the morning and the staff will tell you what to do."

"Yes, sir." Kaoru said.

"All right, you can go for your lunch break now." Professor said, dismissing her.

"Thank you, Professor." Kaoru said gratefully and she saw a ghost of a smile on his lips before it disappeared immediately again.

Kaoru walked out of the lecture theatre, thinking about starting her shifts at her father's hospital when someone tapped her hard on the head with a book. She turned around, ready to confront the person when she saw a grinning, bouncing Misao in front of her.

"Kaoru-chan!" Misao screeched, jumping onto her and engulfing her in a bear hug. "You are finally back!"

Kaoru smiled and hugged Misao back. "Yeah, I'm trying to be okay."

Misao let go of her and frowned at her. "I was so worried about you and you were so silent, not saying anything whenever I ask you what is wrong. Are you sure you are okay now?"

Kaoru nodded at her. "I'm trying to be okay, I cannot stay depressed forever, I have a life to live and responsibilities to answer to, and I have to be okay. I am sorry I ignored you, I was not myself and I just found myself unable to speak like I used to."

"It's okay," Misao said, "I understand and I don't blame you. When you are ready to tell me about it, I'll hear you out. How about let's go for lunch now?"

Kaoru smiled gratefully at her and nodded. " Okay, let's go to the Iwasaki's. Oh yeah, what's up with you and Soujiro?"

Misao blushed. "I'll tell you once we get there."

"Okay." Kaoru said.

So they walked towards the Iwasaki's, and it reminded Kaoru very much of the first time they ate lunch at the Iwasaki's and the encounter with Soujiro. Those were sweet memories and all of a sudden, the sun seemed to shining brighter than ever. I am going to be okay…she told herself.

Misao and Kaoru walked into the Iwasaki's and were welcomed by the warm smiles of Tae.

"Hello Tae!" Kaoru said, "Could we please have a table for two?"

"Of course," Tae replied, guiding them to a table beside the window.

"How are you, Kaoru?" Tae asked, searching for any form of emotion on Kaoru's face.

Kaoru smiled. "I'm feeling much better now. I've decided to get out of my depressing mode and focus on life again…or at least try to."

Tae nodded encouragingly at Kaoru. "I'm sure you can."

"Sorry about not being myself the past few weeks." Kaoru apologized.

"It's all right," Tae said, waving Kaoru's apology away, "Now, what would you two ladies like for lunch?"

They both asked for what they wanted and watched Tae walked to the kitchen with their orders.

Kaoru turned her attention back to Misao, she leaned towards the table and asked, "I see that Soujiro doesn't work here anymore, has he gone back to America? Everything okay between the two of you?"

Misao smiled her brightest smile at her and Kaoru settled more comfortably into her chair to hear Misao's tale. Something good must have happened between them or Misao wouldn't be grinning like a Cheshire cat at her.

"Shoot." Kaoru said laughingly.

Soujiro had flown back to America a week ago and Misao had been there at the airport to see him off. Tsubame was there with her and everything was all right. They both knew that continuing their relationship like this would be hard and so they kept their senses and agreed that they wouldn't make any promises to each other.

"He said that we will keep in touch through the internet and the phone, but he said that we will never know what might happen in the future. And I agreed with him. Maybe I might meet someone else and maybe he will too. I am not sad, I think that it is good that it is this way because at least I still have a friend no matter what changed between us. We promised each other that we will keep in touch what happens and that we will keep each other up to date about what is happening between us…"

Kaoru nodded at her understandingly. "That is great. I think this arrangement is good too."

Then, Misao looked sad. "But I still feel sad sometimes when I think about the scene where he kissed me goodbye at the airport. He has to go back to complete his studies, and I have to be here. If only he is studying here…then such arrangements wouldn't be necessary…"

Kaoru reached for Misao's hand and held it comfortingly. "Don't think about it that way, Misao-chan. Just like he said, you never know what is in store for us in the future. Even if he found someone else first, you would too sooner or later. Don't think about it that way…I think that he is respecting you by telling you all that. Plus, you two promised each other to keep in touch right?"

Misao nodded sadly. "Yeah." And then she looked at Kaoru with hesitant eyes. "Is it okay if I ask you about what happened to you the past few weeks?"

Kaoru smiled soberly and sighed, nodding her head. "It's about time that I tell you too."

So she told Misao-chan everything. What happened at the party, who she met there, the scene with Tokio and what happened later at Saitou's beach house. Misao listened to her, her eyes and mouth widening sometimes at what she was hearing but she didn't interrupt. She let Kaoru tell her story without any distraction and by the end of it, Misao was near tears.

Kaoru laughed. "There is no need to cry, Misao-chan. I've cried enough for the both of us."

Misao ignored what Kaoru had said and was still taken aback by everything that had happened to Kaoru. "My gosh, that jerk."

Kaoru laughed again. "Yes, yes, he is a jerk but I can't exactly blame him no matter how much I want to. You can't force another person to feel the same way as you do. Love can't be forced."

Misao looked at Kaoru with serious and eyes as big as saucers and almost screamed, "Are you okay!"

Some of the people around looked at them with curious gazes and others with annoyance. Kaoru smiled at them in apology and turned back to Misao.

"Yes, Misao-chan. I'm trying to be okay now, I've spent too much time moping over him. Let's look on the bright side, at least I am not pregnant!"

The gloomy mood finally lightened and a giggle escaped from Misao. "Yeah, I can't imagine what will happen if you are really pregnant. I just can't imagine it."

Very soon they finished their lunch and paid the bill. Misao waited outside while Kaoru talked to Tae about resigning her position here as a waitress, telling her that she wouldn't be able to work there anymore since she is starting her shifts at the hospital tomorrow.

Then, Kaoru and Misao walked back to the University both with a lighter mood after sharing the things that have been haunting their minds. Kaoru thought about visiting Shougo at the art studio in the afternoon.

I will finish the paintings this time round but that will be it, Kaoru thought, then, I will concentrate on my medical career. She was not going to throw all the knowledge she learnt all those years just to pursue her art, even if medicine wasn't her passion, she wanted at least to be able to save lives. That was what she was going to concentrate on now. No more emotional breakdowns or confusions like the one she had faced so many times before. Now, she was going to think for herself.

Here's the end of the chapter. I hope you like it, please leave reviews to let me know what you think. I apologise for any mistakes or typos. Feedback is most appreciated!