From: Ardith Last part! ^_^ I finally finished!!! Ardith A New Era: Part 12 -- Full Circle "Tsubame. Can I talk to you." Tae motioned to the young woman, pulling her to the side. "What is it, Tae-san?" After five years of working with her, Tsubame didn't even see a wrinkle to Tae's face. She smiled and served, all the while plotting to do things on her own. She was the best kind of girlfriend. One that would help you when you needed. She was the best kind of sister. The kind you could tell any secret to. The kind that would help you solve your problems. "I just want to let you know, my sister is coming to Tokyo soon." "Sae-san? Really? How wonderful. She hasn't visited in years." "She just sent word. You know how she married that business man, Yoshimura Hiro? It's very sudden, but...they are going to America." "They are?" "Yes. To California. Los Angeles. I know that you are interested in languages.... You studied a little English, right?" She thought she knew what Tae was going to ask her and she loved her for it. "America," she said with awe in her voice. Tae looked at her young charge and knew this was what she wanted in her heart, what she needed. "You'd stay with them and work and go to school there. If you want to, that is." "Tae-san." She felt like crying. She was giving her the opportunity to see the world, to learn. "Do you want to?" Tae worried the dishrag in her hand. She wanted Tsubame to have be able to learn all she wanted to. This was the best gift that she could think of. "You could come back after you finish school there. I mean, everyone would be waiting." She knew that they were young, but it had to be said. "Yahiko will still be here." She knew what Tsubame felt for him. She had told her in so many ways. "Yahiko.... I- you think he will wait?" "I think he will, Tsubame. But you have to make a decision." It was hard. She debated whether it was a good idea or not. She wanted to see the world outside of Japan. The world was new and changing. But, then, so was Japan. She did not want to leave everything she knew. It was a frightening concept. She left her family to work for Tae, but that was different. She knew that it was easy to go and visit some time. America was thousands of miles away. But she had learned over the years that if you let the world walk all over you, you gained nothing and felt like nothing. She was not that nine year old girl, new to the city. She knew other women who were strong, who made decisions that changed lives. She learned that she could be strong, too. For the next few weeks, she thought and thought. It was her decision. Others might have accused her of being stubborn, selfish. Traditionalist would have thought that a young girl should stay, get married and take care of the family. To just settle was like that little girl she used to be. She wanted more. She just wanted to find the best path for her. The night before Sae was expected in Tokyo, she made her decision. The Himuras, Sagaras and Yahiko were at the resturant to visit with Sae. It was the first time Tsubame saw them all together for so many days. "You all know that Sae-san is going to start the Aoibeko in California. There is a large population of Japanese in Los Angeles." With that announcement, the room was filled with voices. She stifled a laugh when she heard Sanosuke warn Sae about the gaijins not paying up. She waited until they got a little calmer before she dropped her next bombshell. She looked at Yahiko, silently pleading with him to understand. "I decided to go with her." ***** Tsubame... He had to get away, to think. He went instinctively to the river side. He looked around at the flowing water, at the tree, remembering the ten year old boy who would practice his little heart out here so many years ago. The years passed so quickly, so quietly. He didn't even think of them growing up. But he was sixteen, going on seventeen. Times had changed. Why do you have to go? "Yahiko. I... I wanted to tell you. I should have told you." But I wanted to be sure myself... "You're leaving?" He could feel a hole in his heart that was bleeding. What do you know? You're not even seventeen. You don't know that this is forever. But he did. It hurt to think that she was going to leave him. "I..." She could see the pain in his eyes when he looked at her. Don't you understand? I thought you would understand! "It's the best way to learn. I need to learn." "What about everything here?" What about me? She was leaving him. America was a world away. It was nothing like Tokyo, like Japan. "I'll come back. I promise." Yahiko turned away from the pleading look in her eyes. "You'll fall in love with some gaijin," he muttered. You'll leave me forever... "I wouldn't do that," she said fiercely. "Never." "You wouldn't?" "No, you idiot. I love you." "You...you do?" He quickly turned back to her. "I...I love you, too. But you're only 15. How do you know it's forever?" She pulled him to her and kissed him quickly on the lips. "Yahiko. It's always been you, stupid. It's been you since you were ten and I was nine. Since I first laid eyes on you. I know that there could never be anyone else." He smiled at the tone in her voice. She usually reserved it for scolding the children. Maybe he was acting like a child, but the future was not as stable as he had envisioned it. She wanted to leave, to go with Sae and be in America. In California of all places. The word felt foreign on his tung She would be so far away. "Tsubame. I want you to be happy." He looked into her eyes and leaned forward, kissing her softly. Tsubame slowly pulled back, sighing softly. "Oh, Yahiko. You make me happy. But I have to go. If I don't, I'll regret it the rest of my life. The thought of going makes me happy, too. And sad. And scared. America is so far away. But I need to do this." "I understand," he whispered, pushing her bangs away from her face. He prayed she wouldn't forget him. He knew that he wasn't so special. She could find someone better, more likable and sweet. If he loved her as he should, he should let her go and wish her the best. But he was selfish. He didn't want to lose her forever. "I don't want anyone but you," she whimpered, as if she heard his thoughts. "But..." "No one. I love you. Just remember that." "Tsubame," he whispered. His sixteen year old heart was breaking, he loved her so much. "I love you, too. I'll be here. Waiting." "Good. If you didn't, I'd come back and hunt you down," she grinned up at him. "Now hold me for a bit. I want to remember everything." They held each other as the sun went down. It was hard to let go, but Yahiko did. It was a new era, after all. ____________________________________________________________________________ _________ Five Years Later The rain was beating down hard at the train station. Rain made for delays sometimes, but that knowledge just made the anticipation sharper. He adjusted his collar and the fit of his coat again. Western clothing was everywhere. Everyone wore some sometime. Even Kaoru had a dress or two. He wore them to remind him of Tsubame. His Tsubame was coming back. They had written to each other so often. It took weeks to get to Japan, sometimes even months, California was so far away. But he wrote every chance he got. He loved her. He didn't want to lose her. The years had passed slowly and quickly at times. Sometimes he felt like the world was standing still. And other times, he felt like chaos was pending. Being with Ryo, Minoru, and Mikako everyday helped him forget sometimes. They, along with Shinnosuke, Seinosuke, and Keiko drove him crazy with their antics. They were notorious in the neighborhood for their antics as soon as they learned that working together, they could sometimes get what they wanted. Yahiko started training them in kendo to get their little, brilliant minds off planning. If it also made him happy to be with them, it was a little bonus. But the kids were all at the dojo, getting ready for the party. Most of them didn't remember Tsubame very well, but knew that she was very close to the family. And that she was coming back from mysterious America. She was coming home for good... Yahiko sighed and shook out his umbrella nervously. The rain reminded him of their first kiss. And their last one.... The day she had left with Sae and her husband, the rain fell lightly. At the port, she kissed on the lips in front of everyone. "There. Everyone remember that Yahiko is mine. If he even thinks of straying, tell him that I'm coming back." Everyone laughed and teased, but the light in Tsubame's eyes was serious. "I will be back, Yahiko. I promise." He was so deep into his thoughts that he almost jumped when the train came in. The screeching noise of metal on metal and water made him want to cover his ears. He restrained himself and waited until it stopped, waited for his heart to beat normally. The passengers began to disembark. There were men and women in kimono and western clothes. He looked frantically for her face. So many people. How many people were on this train? He felt a tap on his shoulder and heard a woman clear her throat. "Yahiko-kun?" She was dressed in a western travel dress that hung to her ankels, her hair pinned away from her face. She looked beautiful. Tsubame, yet not Tsubame. "Tsubame." She nodded, grinned and kissed him on the lips. She laughed softly. "I wasn't sure it was you. I should have asked for a picture. You took me by surprise. You look like a man. I mean, all grown up and adult." She leaned closer to study his face. "You even shave, huh?" "Yep. But I was doing all of those manly things before you left," he said cockily. "Tsubame," he smiled softly. "I missed you." He searced her face for some sign, anything to reassure him. She smiled sweetly up at him and winked. "That's good, because I missed you, too. Now, help me with this stuff and take me home." ***** "You aren't sorry?" Yahiko asked nervously. They wandered the halls of the dojo. The others were sitting around the stoop, talking and watching the rain fall. They decided to leave the younger pair alone while they worked out their lives. The children were wandering about. Probably planning to attack them at any minute. Yahiko scanned the halls, watching for their first move. Tsubame felt a little sad to have missed the children growing up, but Yahiko had kept her informed of all the trouble they got into. And of all their brilliance and extraordinary abilities. She couldn't wait to get to know them better. "Sorry that I came back? Or sorry I left?" "Sorry you came back. It must seem so quiet here. So not like America." "No, I'm glad I came back. It was time. I want to stay here and teach other girls. Help them learn." "So you are going to teach at the girls' school?" "That's what I plan to do." "That's good. You can teach Mikako and Keiko. And they will turn your hair gray," he said, making a face. "But the kids are really smart. It's scary." She laughed. "I look forward to it. I can't wait." He waited for her to say more. She didn't. Yahiko swallowed hard. Might as well get it over with. If she rejects you, then you can go on with your life. "You know of course that I love you." "That's good." She turned around to face him. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him forward for a kiss. "I've been waiting to do that for five years." "You have?" He couldn't breath, his heart was beating so fast. "You are still an idiot, Yahiko. I told you in the letters. I'm not going to forget. Not now, not ever." He moved forward and kissed her again. "I'm an idiot, but you are here again. For good. You're going to marry me." It was a statement, not a question. She laughed and kissed him softly. "Of course." "You think they are gonna kiss again?" Shinnosuke asked from behind the sliding paper door. His brother and sister were behind him, as were Ryo, Minoru and Mikako. Grinning like bandits. "Tsubame-neechan? Does it hurt when he sticks his tongue in your mouth like that? Is he trying to taste your dinner? You haven't eaten dinner yet, though..." Mikako asked guilelessly. "As if you don't know, you little monster! You're mother is pregnant again!" Kaoru was six months along and Kenshin was hovering again. "Tsubame-neechan...are you going to have Yahiko-niichan's baby now, like Auntie Kaoru?" asked Keiko, just as guilelessly as her best friend. "Kissing causes babies. Sou-chan said so." Ryo stated blandly. All the children nodded. They found out this summer when Sou came to visit from Kyoto with his parents. Sou said his parents kissed all the time and now they were going to have a baby. "Misao and Aoshi's oldest kid. You would believe him. He's a monster, too." "Well are you going to have a baby now?" Minoru wanted to know. "We should tell kachan and touchan, then. So everyone knows why Tsubame-neechan gets extra helpings." Seinosuke pointed out. Ryo and Minoru nodded in agreement. Ryo went up to Tsubame and patted her on her stomach gently. "The baby will be safe there, huh. I hope that he don't look like Yahiko-niichan. You're so much more pretty than 'im." Tsubame was trying not to laugh as the children explained that she should be resting and not on her feet, as they often heard said to Kaoru and Misao. She was sad that she missed watching the group of them get into trouble. "I'm not pregnant, but if you promise to keep a secret, I'll tell you all something." They looked at each other and nodded earnestly. "We promise!" "Yahiko and I are getting married. Maybe later on we will have a baby, but not today. Promise you won't say anything yet. We want it to be a surprise. You guys are the first to know." The children looked just about to burst with excitement. Yahiko was going to get married. And they knew it and the adults didn't. Of course they weren't going to say anything. Seinosuke pulled on Yahiko's sleeve. "Does that mean your finally finally super happy, Niichan?" Yahiko looked at Tsubame and grinned the grin of the totally besotted. "Yep. Looks like I have reached ultimate happiness." He took her and and kissed the back of it, as he had seen men do in those new fangled movies they showed in town. She blushed and smiled up at him. God he loved her. "So, what do you say we make an announcement?" "I say, let's go." The young couple, surrounded by an enterage of children, left to find the adults that changed their lives and gave them love. It was time for them to start their own path, together. ____________________________________ ardith@ucla.edu http://www.webslacker.com/ardith/ --------------------------- ONElist Sponsor ---------------------------- GRAB THE GATOR! FREE SOFTWARE DOES ALL THE TYPING FOR YOU! Tired of filling out forms and remembering passwords? Gator fills in forms and passwords with just one click! Comes with $50 in free coupons! Click Here ------------------------------------------------------------------------