Kahoko woke the next morning and stretched. When she realized that she wasn't wearing any clothes and had no idea where she was, she had a moment of panic before the memories slowly resurfaced in her half-awake mind. She looked over to the other side of the bed and found it empty.

Right, she thought, he's already on his way to England.

England.

It was such a strange, far-away land. Kahoko had been completely shocked when Yunoki had asked her to accompany him. She was glad that she'd said no, though.

Just imagine, a few weeks with nobody but Yunoki. She shivered.

Kahoko saw a bathrobe draped across the back of a chair and slipped it on. As she tied the sash, she noticed a single red rose in a vase on the bedside table. Lying beside it was a note written in a familiar hand. It read:

My beautiful Kahoko,

I regret not being able to see you wake, but I did not wish to disturb your sleep.

By now I will already be on a plane to England. I will not have access to my phone while I'm there, so I won't be able to contact you until I return. Hopefully it will not be too long.

I have purchased a set of clothes for you to wear when you leave the hotel. Gorgeous as it is, I did not think you would find it prudent to be returning home in the same dress in which you left. The outfit is hanging in the closet. I have also arranged for breakfast to be sent to your room. Call the front desk and let them know when you're ready for it to be prepared and sent up. Check-out time is 12:30, so it would be best if you were ready by then. Call to notify the desk when you are leaving, and my driver will be in the downstairs lobby to take you home.

The rose is for you. Though I regret that you are not accompanying me on this trip, I must thank you for spending the evening with me. It was quite enjoyable, and I think the memory of it will serve me well while I am away.

I shall see you when I return.

Azuma

Kahoko sat back down on the bed, staring at the note. She didn't know how to feel anymore.

Kahoko closed the door silently behind her as she entered her house. She crept toward the staircase and was on the third step before she heard her mother's voice.

"Kahoko. I'd like to speak with you."

She groaned inwardly and headed back down the stairs. Her mother was supposed to be in a meeting at the town library. Instead, Kahoko found her mother seated in the living room, and sat gingerly on the chair beside her. She waited for her mother to speak and looked down at the floor, preferring to avoid eye contact.

"You didn't call me," her mother said.

"I'm sorry mom, I—"

"No, Kahoko. Don't lie to me, please. I know exactly what you were doing."

Kahoko fought to keep the blush out of her cheeks.

"I'm less upset about that than over the fact that I had no idea where you were or who you were with. I remembered the initial that he used to sign that note, but I didn't know if that was his family name or his given name, and that really didn't get me very far. I was scared, Kahoko."

"I'm sorry, Mom. I forgot."

Her mother shook her head. "Kahoko, I need to ask you a question."

Here it comes, Kahoko thought. "Yes, mother?"

"Are you pregnant?"

Kahoko looked up in shock. That wasn't what she'd been expecting at all. "No! Of course not."

"Are you sure?"

Kahoko flushed dark red. "Mom! I don't—"

Her mother held up her hands. "I just need to know." She looked away from her daughter, over to a family picture that was hanging on the wall. "Do you know what I thought when I saw the dress and everything else in that box, Kahoko?"

Kahoko shook her head.

"I thought you were going to run off with him. I thought you were going to get married, to elope and leave me here. I worried that you were pregnant and were jumping into this because you didn't know what else to do." Her mother sighed, "And then I saw his note, and I relaxed slightly. Perhaps it wasn't as bad as I'd feared."

Kahoko was flabbergasted. "Mom, I wouldn't—"

"You didn't come home last night, Kahoko. I know what that means."

Kahoko fought the panic, fought the urge to cry. She couldn't deny it.

"I wish you'd told me, Kahoko. Maybe I wouldn't have been as upset. I could have helped you. I don't want you to make these kind of big decisions without considering the consequences first."

Kahoko looked down at the rose she held in her fingers. If only I could tell you the truth, Mom, she thought. I didn't choose this. He chose for me. I just wasn't strong enough to fight back.

Author's Note:

Some of you may be thinking that Kahoko's mom didn't freak out as much as she should have. My thought is that she's been up most of the night worrying about her daughter. She's tired, and she'd relieved that Kahoko came home at all. At this point, I think Kahoko's mom realizes that a lecture isn't going to get her anywhere. She realizes that what her daughter needs most is her love and support. :)