A/N: I'm sorry I didn't update for so long. For a reason I don't understand, right after the last chapter, I couldn't write this story anymore. Every week I opened this chapter to write it, but each time I got a block. I was stuck on my chair, unable to continue it. Now, I'm happy that that writer's block un-blocked. I'm sorry again for the waiting.
Hopely, you will forgive me with this chapter.
Seiyou Academy 78. Appearance
Ryoma leaned on the bench, watching the sky, and sighed.
'It has been two years now,' she thought.
Yes, it had been two years. Yet, Ryoma felt like it had been twenty years. It had been two years that she didn't see Syuusuke.
After graduation Seiyou Academy, Syuusuke moved to Great Britain to study at Cambridge University. It was a tradition in the Fuji family to have the heir studying abroad, either in Europe or in America, and Syuusuke chose Great Britain. Atobe Keigo too went to Cambridge with him. During these two years, Syuusuke and Ryoma communicated through exchanging letters and not by telephone or by cellphone. Ryoma hated telephone and cellphone because they forced her to talk when she hate speaking. Besides, when Syuusuke was at the end of the other line, he mostly chuckled and listened and didn't talk much. Thus, talking in a telephone or a cellphone for a long conversation was impossible for them. Of course chatting existed, but Ryoma also hate that mode of 'live conversation', so no chatting either. Then, there was email but Ryoma was always lazy to check her mail box. She could let her mails piled up for months without reading one message. The only communication way left was writing letters. Though it was tedious to compose and to write a letter, Ryoma preferred this way. Through letter, Ryoma could talk without having to open her mouth. Syuusuke always responded to all of her letters with the same amount of length and more she send him. And through the letters, Ryoma discovered another sweet and caring side of Syuusuke she didn't know he had.
During these last two years, Ryoma had lunch with Syuusuke's parents, Sennosuke and Seri every Sunday, and have Sunday after noon tea with Syuusuke's grandmother. She was also asked to call Sennosuke and Seri 'otou-sama' and 'okaa-sama' as well as calling Syuusuke's grandmother 'obaa-sama'. Of course, Touga and Sora would always come up with the best reasons (excuses) - and the weirdest as well - to go to their grandparents' house whenever Ryoma was there.
Sennosuke and Seri wanted to know what was the latest news their son send to Ryoma because Syuusuke's letters content to them differed greatly from Ryoma's. One day, Ryoma showed them some of her letters from Syuusuke. After reading them, Seri smiled and said:
"Anata, Syuusuke has a writing talent like you."
Seri remembered that she first fall in love with her husband through his writing. Many years ago, when Sennosuke was courting her, he send her everyday a letter to read. Seri had preciously keep all of Sennosuke's letters. And apparently, today, Syuusuke was courting Ryoma in the same way Sennosuke did to her.
"Oh. Maybe I should suggest him to write a book one of these days and have him to give it to you, Ryoma," Sennosuke said, chuckling.
"Huh? Why would I want a book? I don't read book," Ryoma said, dumbfound. Seri and Sennosuke only chuckled. They remembered when Sennosuke made his marriage proposal to Seri. He had give her the first and only book he ever wrote in his life and Seri had him waiting for her answer for seven days so she could read the book.
"But don't you think that he write wonderfully? Don't you enjoy reading his letters, Ryoma?" Seri mysteriously asked. Ryoma blushed.
"Er, yes I do…" Ryoma mumbled. Seri's smile grew wider.
'How did she know?' Ryoma wondered. How did Seri knew that Ryoma always re-read over again and again Syuusuke's letters every night before going to sleep? It was supposed to be a secret and Ryoma doubted that Karupin, Mii or even Kurin would tell anyone her secret.
But for some reasons, Syuusuke had stopped sending Ryoma his letters the last three months. Ryoma became wary about it and wanted to know why. Though she acted that she didn't care about it, she still felt worried. Finally today, Ryoma had decided to ask Seri and Sennosuke if they had any idea about that.
"Hum… Otou-sama, okaa-sama, there is something I wanted to ask you about," Ryoma said. Seri put down her cup of tea and Sennosuke looked at her.
"Yes, what is it, Ryoma?" Seri asked.
"Well, it's about Syuusuke's letters…" Ryoma started. "For the last three months… I… I… hmn…" Ryoma squirmed in her chair, biting her lips. Her last letter from Syuusuke was the day of her graduation at Seiyou Academy. After that day, nothing. Ryoma bite her lips and looked down at the hands in her laps. Seri softly eyed the young girl.
"Ryoma, when are you going to start university again?" Seri asked.
Taken by surprise by the strange question, Ryoma looked up at Seri. Seri already knew when Ryoma would start university and there was not a chance on Earth that Seri would forget about anything! So why Seri was asking her that obvious question? Nonetheless, Ryoma answered.
"In two weeks," Ryoma said. And she became sad. She looked away outside the the window of the restaurant they were eating at. She had wished that Syuusuke would write her something to give her his encouragements. Unknown to her, Seri and Sennosuke exchanged a secret smile. They knew something about Syuususke's missing letters.
Dring dring dring.
Rinko picked up the phone.
"Moshi moshi," Rinko said. Rinko heard a chuckle at the other line.
"Huhuhu! Rinko-san, it's me. Ryoma finally spoke," Seri said.
"Ah! About time!" Rinko exclaimed, also chuckling. "I was wondering how long she could stand it. She was so tensed lately."
"I wish I could tell her about it just to make her feel better, but Syuusuke had insisted so much to keep it secret," Seri said.
"Poor Ryoma. She would have to endure it two weeks more. It's already very hard for her. And Nanjirou here isn't helping either. He kept sulking around the house and I always fear that Ryoma might become suspicious. Maybe we shouldn't have tell him about it," Rinko said.
"It can't be help. He is Ryoma's father after all."
"Ha…" Rinko sighed. Seri continued.
"I have been thinking about something," Seri said. "Touga and Sora will to an onsen with Yumiko and Kouki and I think Ryoma should go with them. Changing air her would certainly make her feel better. Touga and Sora have been complaining that they didn't often see her lately because we didn't want them to stress Ryoma more than she was already."
Rinko smiled.
"That's very thoughtful, Seri. Thank you," Rinko said. Seri chuckled.
"Plus, this will make it easier for us to do the last preparations," Seri said.
"Hahaha! Indeed," Rinko agreed.
Two weeks later. Echizen household.
Today was a Monday morning like every Monday mornings at the Echizen house. Nanjirou was reading the newspapers. Rinko was cooking meals and Nanako was packing bento boxes for Ryoma and for herself. Miyabi and Ryoga, who stopped by the house during the week-end, were also there. Miyabi was helping Nanako to make Ryoma's bento. Miyabi wanted to learn to cook Japanese foods and she asked Rinko and Nanako to teach her, which Rinko and Nanako happily did. Miyabi had started from the basic and was now helping Nanako to make Ryoma's bento box. Lately, Miyabi came up with a new whim. She wanted to make Ryoma gradually appreciate French cuisine 'to expend Ryoma's horizons to other cuisines', as she said. Rinko and Nanako thought it was a good (and funny) idea so they agreed to let Miyabi sneaking French food in Ryoma's bento box.
At first, Ryoma was wary of the weird thingy which doesn't look at all like a Japanese food in her bento. She thought that maybe her sister made some mistakes in the recipe because the thingy didn't look any where near Japanese food to her. But since the weird thingy was small compare to the proportion of recognizable Japanese foods, Ryoma didn't mind eating it. After all, Miyabi woke up very early to make it for her. Ryoma didn't want to disappoint Miyabi. Though why there was always a weird thingy in her box was beyond Ryoma's comprehension. Miyabi was a smart girl. There was no way she would make mistake every time!
On the other hand, Miyabi, Rinko and Nanako had a lot of funs sneaking new kind of French food in Ryoma's bento box. Every times, Miyabi changed for a new recipe so Ryoma would have a taste of various French cuisine food. And this morning, Miyabi enjoyed more than ever making Ryoma's bento. Yesterday, Ryoma had admitted that she liked Miyabi's cooking. That was when Miyabi revealed that it was French food, making Ryoma gawking in horror. Her sister had her eating French food. And with the complicity of her mother and her cousin! What an abomination to the world! And she had told Miyabi that she liked it. Yet, what Ryoma said after made Miyabi feel happier.
Flashback.
Yesterday night.
"Well, if it's you who cook, then I don't mind eating French food," Ryoma shyly mumbled, her face red. Miyabi happily smiled.
"Awww! That was so cute, Ryoma-chan!" Nanako cooed while Rinko chuckled.
"Arigatou, Ryoma," Miyabi said, smiling.
End flashback
Miyabi chuckled again at the memory.
'That was so adorable from her,' she thought.
Two people walked down from the first floor. It was Ryoga and Ryoma.
"Come on, Chibisuke. Today is your first day at the university and you were still over sleeping. I knew I should have been here this morning! Now hurry to eat your breakfast. You don't want to be late," Ryoga said as he dragged a sleepy head Ryoma down the stair. Mii and Kurin rushed between their legs toward the milk plate Nanako was putting down for them. Karupin took his time to climb down the stair with his mistress.
"Hmnm…" Ryoma groaned. Rinko chuckled.
"Ohayou, Ryoma," Rinko said.
"Ohayou, Ryoma-chan," Miyabi and Nanako added.
"Ohayou," Ryoma responded, yawning loudly as she sat down at the family table. Nanjirou fold his newspapers and spoke.
"Bishoujo, you are a student university starting today and it was Ryoga who woke you up again this morning. When will you ever grow up?" Nanjirou said.
"I will grow up when you will decide to grow up yourself," Ryoma retorted.
"Nani? !" Nanjirou bellowed and threw her dead glares, but Ryoma ignored him and took her rice bowl. Nanako and Miyabi chuckled as Ryoga ignored them and poured himself a cup of black coffee. At the stove, Rinko secretly smiled. As childish as Nanjirou might be, he stirred Ryoma's old self back.
'He too must have notice that Ryoma wasn't well lately,' Rinko fondly thought. Then she remembered today's date. 'He must be on his way back by now.'
As if it was a cue, the door bell rang.
Ding dong.
"Huh? Who could it be so soon in the morning?" Ryoga wondered.
"Ryoma, can you open the door please?" Rinko asked.
"Hai."
Ryoma put her chop sticks down and stood up to open the door.
"Yes? What is-…?" Ryoma shut when she saw who was standing in front of her, gawking. It was him.
Hearing nothing from the front door, the family became curious. They stopped what they were doing and gathered at the entrance to see what was happening. They all gasped when they saw who was at the door. It was him.
Meanwhile, Ryoma still didn't say anything to greet the guest. It was him. Him and not him at the same time. He was still taller than her. His hair were still brunette. He still had his eternal smile on his lips. And his eyes were still permanently close. Yet, he had grew few more inches, much to Ryoma's disarray. His shoulder were broad now and his demeanour was imposing. He was no longer a mature boy he was before. He was… Ryoma looked at him, completely drawn by his aura.
'He is a man now,' Ryoma thought.
"S-S-Syuu-…" Ryoma stuttered, unable to finish his name.
Syuusuke gracefully smiled. Slowly, he opened his eyes to look down at the petite woman standing in front of him.
"Ryoma," Syuusuke softly said her name.
Ryoma had changed too. She looked less childish than the last time he saw her. She had let her hair grow to her shoulder length - it was Miyabi's doing. She wasn't huffing her torso like a boy anymore. She looked more… feminine than before. Again, it was thanks to Miyabi's influence.
"Ryoma," Syuusuke repeated again, lacing tenderness in her name. How he missed to see her. How he missed to have her so near to him. All he had to do was extended his arms and he could touch her.
Ryoma bite her lips, feeling tears forming in her eyes. On the verge of letting her sadness and her anger escaped, Ryoma shut her eyes close. It has been months that she didn't have any news of him. It had been months that he didn't answer to any of her letters. She even resolved herself to send email, but he didn't respond either. And now, he was there, standing in front of her, smiling as if nothing wrong had ever happened.
BAAAAAAAAAAAM!
Ryoma slammed the door in Syuusuke's face, startling the whole family. The family was expecting to see interesting development between Syuusuke and Ryoma, but they didn't expect this. Ryoma ran inside to grabbed her satchel and her bento box, put her shoes, opened again the door and ran pass Syuusuke as if he wasn't there.
"Ah! Ryoma!" Syuusuke called, but she didn't turn back. Soon, she disappeared at the corner of the street. "Ryoma…"
Rinko walked to him.
"Let her be for a while, Syuusuke. She is still shocked," Rinko said. "And I didn't expect to see you so soon in the morning."
Syuusuke closed his eyes.
"I knew appearing in front of her this morning would turn out bad, but I couldn't wait anymore," Syuusuke said. "It has been so long."
Rinko smiled, understanding.
"Come inside and let's talk," Rinko invited him in.
"Hai. Thank you," Syuusuke said and followed Rinko in the house.
Update on Monday August 31, 2010. Unbeta-ed.
A/N: Quick note. In Japanese, "miyabi" means "refinement" and "elegance". I thought it would be interesting to share this with you.