Additional Disclaimer for material added on October 31, 2015: this chapter contains lyrics from "Style" by Taylor Swift. Used without permission. But hopefully, she won't sue me.
So anyway, it's a sunny day back at the cooking school, and…
Mina Hongo caught up with Shiho Kazami and Hayao Ichimonji in the hall outside the changing room. "Shiho?" she said. "Have you seen Kyohei?"
"You just missed him," Shiho said. "He said he was going to meet Sei."
"What?" Hongo stammered. "Damn it! After all this…I guess some people have to learn the hard way…" She mumbled to herself as she headed down the hall.
Hayao said, "Miss H. has a point, Shiho. I mean, he ends up in the hospital without even knowing why and he's going back to her? Jeez."
Shiho smiled. "You really haven't been paying attention, have you, Hayao?"
"To what?"
"Never mind. I'm just glad things are getting back to normal around here."
8
8
"Sei?" Kyo called.
Standing by the new motor scooter in the parking lot by Tokyo Tower, Sei turned to see Kyo coming up behind her. She smiled. "Ah, Kyo." She hugged him lightly. "Thanks for coming." They disengaged. "You're looking-" Then she saw the bandage on his left wrist and panicked. "What happened?"
"I tried punching Dad's punching bag for some reason. Almost broke it. Funny. I thought I knew how to throw a mean punch."
"Well…I'm sure you could learn if you had to."
"I guess." Kyo looked at the bike. "New wheels…again?"
"Yes, Kyo. It's the least I could do. And…I owe you something else."
"What?"
"An apology."
"For what?"
"For the stunt I pulled after you quit, calling you from across the street. I was being too cute for my own good. I didn't want you to get the wrong impression. You can leave my service any time you want, Kyo, even right now. After what you've been through, I'd completely understand."
"Are you saying you don't want me back, Sei?"
"I'm saying I'm done with getting what I want at your expense. It's up to you. I've already made certain there's nothing in cyberspace linking you to us. And I'll respect your decision." She somehow held her face impassive.
Kyo put his hands in his jacket pockets and pondered. "Well, I suppose it would be nice to have a regular job. That first night at the Opera House was great."
Sei nodded.
"But I could see myself getting bored with that," Kyo went on. "I quit a dozen other jobs before you because they weren't challenging enough. You're certainly a challenge. And you have no idea how to feed yourselves. I'd feel bad if something happened because Meg's blood sugar crashed."
"Sooo…" Sei failed to not sound hopeful.
Kyo smiled in spite of himself. "I think I can tough it out with you guys for a while longer."
"Welcome back. And from now on, if you have any problems or issues – if anything is bothering you at all – I want you to bring them to my attention."
"All right."
"When can we expect you back, Kyo? I want you to be sure you're rested."
"Actually, Sei, I was thinking of stopping by the trailer now; check the fridge, see what had to be restocked."
"Oh? In that case, could I trouble you for a lift? Leo has the car. He's supposed to give it just an oil change and a tune-up but…you know Leo…"
"You have to talk him out of making it into a transforming robot."
"He said he doesn't have the parts for that, but he can make it into a submarine. I've told him 'no' three times today already."
Kyo chuckled. "Sure, if you don't mind being seen riding with me."
"I could care less what people think."
"I was thinking the same thing."
Sei had just got on the bike behind Kyo when her phone rang. She checked the caller ID, smiled, and put in on speaker. "Hey, Amy."
"Has Kyo agreed to come back yet?" Amy demanded.
Kyo chuckled. "Yeah."
"We're heading over there now," Sei said.
"Good, because I'M STARVING!" Amy started to plead: "Kyo, you have to come back to us before it's too late. Think of me, a tender flower on the brink of puberty, slowly wasting away-"
Meg cut in: "Knock it off." Then she turned melodramatic. "It's all right, Kyo. Do whatever's best for you. Don't spare us a second thought. We'll manage somehow if-"
"Meg, give the guy a break," Jo interrupted. "Kyo. Glad you're coming back. Running low on hot sauce."
Sei's face fell. "We'll see what we can do." She hung up.
Kyo rolled his eyes. "So I guess supermarket first?"
"Yup," Sei said. "Regret it yet?"
"Of course." But he still smiled over his shoulder at her as he started the bike. "Hang on."
Sei didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around his waist.
8
8
Standing at a window in Tokyo Tower's observation desk, Don Laoban watched as the bike bearing Kyo and Sei left the parking lot and merged with traffic. He smiled to himself and said softly, "Only the best for the princess of Bailan."
"And when we go crashing down, we come back every time
'Cause we never go out of style"
-"Style" by Taylor Swift
THE END
And that's a wrap! I'd like to thank the people who got e-mail alerts on this story while I was posting it; knowing you wanted more gave me the incentive to finish it. And to you who have read it since, I hope you enjoyed the ride.
"MikeJaffa," May 3, 2014
Chapter edited October 31, 2015