And back we are in good old, more often than not, rainy Germany. Hope you guys liked the little vacation, but it's time to get back on track, eh?

Chapter 76

"Alright everybody, today's lesson is concluded." Joachim called out to his students. Everyone, Hitomi included, stood and bowed firmly while a simultaneous "Osu!" echoed through the dojo. She rubbed the sweat from her brow and leaned against the wall as she watched the students leave the room.

"I see the vacation did you good." Joachim said, joining his daughter against the wall.

"Yeah, I really needed that even if I only realized it when we were there. And Leifang did too."

"But something's on your mind, isn't it?"

"That obvious, huh?" she asked and looked down at her feet, drawing a circle with her left one.

"Well, you pick something up if you raise someone for eighteen years." he shrugged. "Wanna talk about it?"

Hitomi thought about it. She really could use a third opinion right now and since Viktor could relate way too much with Leifang to give an unbiased opinion on the topic...

Besides, she hadn't spent time with her father in a while.

"Yeah, that'll be nice. But not here. How about we go to the mall since I have to pick up something from there later anyway?" she asked him.

"What's fine with you is fine with me. But first we're gonna have to clean up, come on."

The two of them joined the rest of the instructors in cleaning up the place from the day's training session, then Hitomi went take a quick shower and get changed. Her father was already waiting for her at the entrance while everyone else was leaving.

"Ready?" he asked.

She ran a hand through her still damp hair, letting it hang loose for today, and nodded. They left the dojo and walked for a moment when Hitomi smiled all of a sudden. "Papa?"

"Hmm?"

"You forgot to lock the door again."

She laughed a little as Joachim groaned and walked back to lock the door. Some things, it seemed, would never change. They entered Joachim's car and Hitomi went for the radio as soon as he started the engine, tuning in on a radio with some, in her opinion anyway, decent music making her father roll his eyes.

"What?" she asked him but didn't get an answer.

They drove in relative silence, the music and Hitomi's occasional humming being the only noises. The ride didn't take long, and after fifteen minutes Joachim halted the car in the parking lot.

"So what's next, sweetheart?"

"Let's go eat something. I know a place where they make great noddles." she told him.

He shrugged. "Fine by me."

A few minutes later they were sitting in the restaurant across from each other, waiting for their order. Joachim looked at his daughter who seemed too deep in thought, looking down onto the menu. "Penny for your thoughts?"

Hitomi looked up into her father's eyes. "Hmm? Oh sorry."

She sat up straight and though about how she should breach the subject. Joachim, seeing this, figured that maybe they might talk about something else first. "So you said you had to pick something up, mind if I ask what?"

The young Karateka gave her father a small smile, glad that they could talk about something else first before breaching the topic of Leifang and her family drama. "It's a present for Leifang."

"Oh?" The waitress walked up to them to place their drinks on the table and father and daughter thanked her. He took a small sip from his. "What's the occasion?"

"Our anniversary. Tomorrow we're together for a year now."

"Already? How time flies by."

"Yeah."

"And what are you getting her?"

"It's a necklace. It's gonna be custom made. Not exactly the most cheap gift, but I saved up some money especially for this." Hitomi explained and looked at her glass, feeling embarrassed to talk about this. She had explicitly said that she didn't want to spend too much money ever since that escapade last year, but here she was, spending a lot of money on her girlfriend.

At least, she thought. I saved this up from the money I earned over the year.

"Sounds like a nice present. And I think the first anniversary is always important. I still remember how I nearly spent my entire salary on your mother when we had our first." Joachim chuckled. "Glad to see that it runs in the family."

"What? The spending money or the liking asian women thing?" she grinned cheekily, making him laugh for real now and nearly spilling his drink while he was at it.

"I guess a little bit of both." he said.

"Hehe."

"But you being lost in thought didn't have to do with that, right?" Joachin put an elbow on the table, giving her a kind look. "So what is it? Did you two get into a fight?"

"What? No!" she shook her head. "No no. We didn't fight. Of course since we're living together we sometimes get into little squabbles but mostly over silly things. Sure there are things that drive me absolutely crazy sometimes, like how she has to sort every piece of her clothes by color all the time," that made Joachim raise an eyebrow slightly. Leave it to his daughter to be aggravated by something like that. "No, what's bothering me..."

She sighed. "Remember when I told you about what happened between Leifang and her father?"

Joachim's face became grim. Yeah, he remembered that particular talk. Poor girl. "Yes, I do."

"It's still eating away at her, I know it. She might say she's fine, but sometimes I see her looking off into the distance with sad eyes." she shook her head and sighed a second time. "I just don't know how to help her. I wish I could just snap my fingers," she did so demonstratively. "and make it all go away. But I can't."

"You love her a lot, hmm?"

"God, yes."

"I've known her for four years now and even though this love is only so recent I can't imagine a time without it. It's silly I know, but that's how I feel."

"I don't think it's silly. It just shows how much you treasure her." Joachim said.

"Was it with you and Mama the same?" she asked him and noticed his lips turning into a small smile.

"Yeah." he said. "And I'm sure she would be happy to hear that you found someone you love so much."

Hitomi kept her gaze focused on her father, not saying anything and just looking. Her father that had always been there to teach her, to support her. Her dear Papa. And only now did she realize how lonely he must sometimes feel with her long since having moved out.

"Papa...it's been so long now. Maybe you should go out and look for someone new, I'm sure Mama wouldn't have wanted you to be lonely all the time too."

Now it was Joachim's turn to look down, focusing on his hands. "As nice as that sounds, I think I'm a little bit too old for that now sweetheart. I'm not too far from fifty now."

"So? Age doesn't have anything to do with that if you ask me." she leaned forward to pat him on the shoulder. "I bet the ladies would just line up before your door if they knew you were available."

"Heh, as nice as that sounds I think you're exaggerating a little bit there."

"I can introduce you to a girl from my football team, I know for a fact that she likes silver foxes." she joked.

Father and daughter shared a good laugh. As their laughter subsided Hitomi patted him on the shoulder once more with a soft smile. "Hey, promise me you will go out more often and try to meet someone, okay?"

"I promise, but it's been quite a while since I 'met someone'" he told her.

"Don't worry, I can teach you if you want."

"I thought I was Sensei here."

"Even a Sensei needs a little push in the right direction sometimes..." she trailed off and looked out of the window as her mind started to wander. "A little push..."

"Sweetheart?"

"I...I think I got it!" she looked back at Joachim. "I think I know what to do."

She got off her chair and gathered her father in a bear hug. "Thanks, Papa!"

"Uhm, you're welcome?" He had no idea what he had done, but if it helped Hitomi it was all good he supposed. The young woman let go of her father and sat back down, all smiles, and not a minute afterward their food arrived.

Father and daughter ate in comfortable silence, paid for their meal and left the restaurant together, heading to the next location in Hitomi's list: the jewelry.

"So how's Leifang? Obvious problems aside." Joachim asked his daughter.

"Practicing, practicing and practicing almost every free hour she got." Hitomi told him with a smile. "She's really taking this Open House Day seriously. So much that the first thing she did when she got back was to buy a cheap keyboard and headphones so that she could prepare better. And if she doesn't do that she's sitting in front of the computer to research stuff."

"Sounds like she's really busy."

"You can say that again."

As they walked there they passed a woman that was collecting donations for the local animal shelter and came to a halt in front of her to put a bit of change into the box, nodding as the woman thanked them, and continued on their way.

"If I wasn't there she'd be doing it all day. Had to drag her to the park the other day just so she could take a break. Oh well," she shrugged. "It's only going to be a little while longer. At least she's not neglecting her daily training."

"Hmm." Joachim crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Maybe you two should arrange yourselves a little. You said she wants to become a composer so you two will have to do that eventually."

"I never thought about that you know..."

"Of course you didn't. You two are young and in love, and while you're studying it's not that much of a big deal since you're also living together, but it can't hurt to think about what comes after that."

"I think I'll do that. Thanks Papa." she got on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on her father's cheek, giggling when he turned a little red.

"Don't mention it, after all that's what I'm there for."

They entered the rather small jewelry and were greeted by a man in a suit standing behind the counter, giving off the air of a professional. Hitomi approached him, her father deciding to stay back, and also greeted him with a friendly smile. "Hello, I'm here to pick up an order of mine. The name's Hitomi Buchfink and it's already been paid in advance."

The man told her to wait for a second and checked on his computer. "Ah yes, the pendant. Just a moment."

With those words he left the brunette and she looked back to her father, who was curiously looking at some of the rings inside one of the vitrines and shaking his head in amazement, muttering something about "Prizes having gone through the roof for this stuff."

Hitomi was about to make a joke when the man in the suit came back with a small, elegant looking box.

"Here it is," he opened the box to reveal a thin silver necklace that was sturdier than it looked though. Adorning it was what had been really expensive. It had small round pendant which was also made of silver, but engraved on the front was a small golden phoenix. "925 Sterling silver and an 18-carat engraving. A very fine piece indeed."

"It's perfect." Hitomi said and the man closed the box again with a smile.

"A phoenix?" the voice of her father asked over her shoulder.

"It's one of her favorites." she told him.

"Would you like to have it wrapped up?"

Hitomi shook her head. "No that's okay. I'll take it like this."

"Very well." still he put the box into a small bag so that she might carry it better, his professional smile never once leaving his face, and handed it to her. "I wish you a nice day, miss."

"Thanks and likewise to you." she took the bag with a smile of her own and with a goodbye left the store with her father, heading to the parking lot with him.

"So how much did it actually cost?" he asked her. She turned her head in his direction and threw him a look that told him 'Don't ask'. He coughed. "Well then, should I drive you home?"

"Yeah, that'd be great."

After having said goodbye to her father and agreeing to visit him this weekend for lunch together with Leifang, Hitomi entered their apartment, taking off her shoes and then proceeded to hide the present inside her DVD collection. Not the most perfect place, but it would do until tomorrow.

Now to the next part The German headed into the bedroom, where she found her girlfriend deeply engrossed in her practice, ears covered by the headphones that she had plugged into the keyboard. Still she turned around as she felt that the door had opened.

"Hey sweetie." Hitomi greeted her and gave her a peck on the lips.

"Hi." Leifang said and placed the headphones around her neck. "Where-" she stifled a yawn. "-were you?"

"I was out eating with my father, sorry I didn't call you."

"It's alright."

"Do you want me to make you something?"

"Well I'm a little hungry, but you don't have to if you don't want to."

"Pfft, hogwash. I'm gonna conjure you up a little something. But first," she pointed her finger at the Chinese. "You're going to lie down a little, take a small nap. And I don't take no for an answer."

"Jeez, why don't you just chain me to the bed?" Leifang asked with a small grin on her pretty lips.

"Ooh, someone has ideas I see."

Leifang sighed. "Fine. You win." Pressing the off button on her keyboard she put the headphones aside, getting up from the chair and walking over to their bed. With another yawn the older girl lied down, turning around a little. "But wake me up in an hour."

"Will do." Hitomi said. But before she would go into the kitchen there was one more thing she needed to do. Starting up her PC she searched for the website of a certain restaurant and, looking over her shoulder to make sure that Leifang wasn't looking, proceeded to write an e-mail, praying that someone over there did understand English.

With a deep breath she clicked the send button and shut off her PC once again, leaving Leifang to sleep a little and going into the kitchen.

Please let this work.

The rest of the day had passed rather quickly. Hitomi even managed to convince Leifang to only practice for nothing more than an hour so that they could take a little walk through the park together.

But that was yesterday and now it was late afternoon as she found herself shopping for ingredients to make Leifang something special later, so it suited her just fine that her girlfriend was keeping herself busy.

The downside was, of course, that Leifang most likely forgot that today was their anniversary, but while it stung Hitomi a little bit she knew that Leifang had that practice and a lot of other worries on her mind...

So it was on her to take her mind off everything and remind her how long they were together now. Make her forget all those worries, even if only for today.

And to mark the occasion I'm gonna make her favorite today she thought to herself and picked up the soy milk and put it next to the other ingredients. She counted off everything she had bought from her mental note and nodded once. Alrighty, got everything.

Paying for it she left the store, got onto her bike and rode back home, wasting no time to get back, putting her bike into the cellar and heading up the stairs taking two steps at a time.

"I'm back." she called and heard a muffled "Welcome home." from out of their bedroom. Taking off her shoes she headed right into the kitchen, unpacked the ingredients and went to work. Making it was pretty easy and mixing everything together didn't take more than five minutes. Making sure she got everything exactly right from the recipe she had gotten from the web, she dispensed everything into two bowls and put them into the fridge. Now came the real time consuming part since they had to cool for a few hours.

So she spent the next hour preparing a light dinner for the two of them, nothing too fancy, just a simple German evening dinner with a nice salad as a side dish. Once done she walked into the bedroom to see Leifang sitting at the computer, and as she closed in on her she could see that the Chinese was watching some videos on Youtube of people playing a song.

"Hey sweetie," she threw her arms gently around her shoulder and crossed them under her neck, leaning her head against Leifang's. "What are you doing?"

"Just a little research." Leifang told her with a small smile on her lips. Hitomi frowned a little and placed her right hand on Leifang's, which was holding the mouse and guided it so that the cursor was over the X.

"Come on, take a break will you? I made us dinner." she said and pressed down on Leifang's index finger so that it would hit the left mouse button.

"That was the last video anyway," Leifang said and shut down the computer with a small grin. "Gotta have to let me go so that I can get up though."

Hitomi pulled her arms away to let her stand up, then placed them around her waist again as soon as she turned around, planting a kiss on her lips and pulling her closer at the same time.

"Mhm." Leifang let out as they broke the kiss. "I think someone's in the mood."

"I think you're right. Now come on, let's go eat." she guided Leifang by the hand and they sat down on her couch, turning on the TV so that they had something to watch while eating.

"How's your practice coming along?" The Karateka asked her girlfriend.

"Pretty good. I should have it down soon." she took a forkful of salad, placed it into her mouth and smiled as the taste hit all the right taste buds. "From then on I will only have to practice an hour a day, tops."

"Good. Maybe you won't be holed up all day in our bedroom then."

"I-" she hesitated for a moment. "Sorry if I made you worry, I didn't mean to. It's just-" she halted when Hitomi placed a finger on her lips.

"It's alright, I'm not mad or anything, it's a rather difficult piece after all. It's just good that you can take it a little more easy now. So turn that frown upside down, after all today's a special day." Hitomi said grinning brightly. She purposefully didn't mention a certain other topic. It took her by surprise when Leifang returned it with a knowing smile.

"Yep, it's our anniversary. Hah! You really thought I would forget!" she added when she saw the look on Hitomi's face. She instantly sprung up from the couch and jogged into the bedroom. "I even got you a present!"

Now that took her really by surprise. Leifang came back shortly with a small flat box that she handed to Hitomi. "Happy anniversary, love."

Hitomi took the box and stared at it for a moment, then at Leifang's smiling face, and back to the box. Slowly she opened it, revealing a silver bracelet.

"When I got my job I started to save up some money on the side for this." Leifang sat down beside Hitomi and placed both of her hands on her shoulders. "There, look. It has an eagle engraved in it. When I first saw it I immediately had to think of you."

Hitomi traced her fingers along the small engraving. No wonder that she thought of her when she saw it, after all she wore a lot of tank tops that had an eagle emblem on them. So fitting yet at the same time so ironic considering her own present.

"Put it on." Leifang encouraged her and Hitomi pulled it carefully out of the box, as if the smallest mistake could cause it to shatter into pieces, and placed it around her right wrist. She fumbled a little with the clasp until a small click signaled that it was in place.

Perfect fit.

"So, what do you think?"

She couldn't take her eyes off it. "It's perfect. Thank you."

"No thank you. For being with me even though I can be a hard person sometimes and well," she made a small wave with her hand. "Just thank you, for everything."

Hitomi smiled. "Well, my turn now." she said and got up from the couch, walking toward the box where she stored her DVD collection, pulling out the present that she had gotten Leifang and sat back down. "Happy anniversary."

Like herself Leifang could only stare at the small box for a moment and she saw her eyes go wide when she opened it. "I-oh my god Hitomi that-" she closed the box, then opened it again and closed it. She repeated that for a few more times as if to make sure that it was really there and pulled out the necklace that Hitomi had ordered. "You really shouldn't have. It must've been expensive."

She scratched the back of her head in a bout of embarrassment. "Well I'm good at saving money, and I really wanted to give you something special."

"You certainly succeeded."

"Well, your turn to put it on."

She watched as Leifang put the necklace around her neck with much more ease than Hitomi did with her bracelet and examined the pendant again. "A phoenix, huh?"

"Yeah," she held her new bracelet close to it. "Eagle and phoenix. That's us, two birds. One a little bit more radiant than the other I guess." she added as a small joke. Leifang only looked at her, smiling brightly.

"I love you." hearing that Hitomi turned her eyes to meet Leifang's brown orbs, placed an arm around her and pulled her closer...

"I love you too."

...And kissed her deeply.

Ah, anniversaries can be such a sweet thing, don't you think?
Hmm and what could Hitomi be up to I wonder...

Well you'll find out!