"Hmm..." Misao peered at the display board featuring different photographs of students and sports teams.
The cafeteria was crowded with tables lined up at ninety degree angles, featuring university and college representatives from all over the country. So far, she had picked up brochures from Honolulu Community College and University of the Pacific. She and Aoshi had been at the cafeteria for nearly half an hour. And she knew that Aoshi was slightly disappointed that she had only picked up two brochures.
"Hi!" the representative spoke up.
"Hello," Misao responded politely, trying not to stare at the obvious capped teeth. Next table...
Aoshi stood patiently beside her, waiting as she examined the brochures and display boards of every college and university.
The next table contained a red and gray color scheme. Catchy. Misao scanned the exhibit to read the name-
"Stanford," Aoshi murmured. "Excellent school."
"Hookay, we're moving..." Misao grabbed Aoshi's elbow and pulled him to the next table.
"Misao, I was going to ask-"
"It's Stanford. High tuition, plus out-of-state student fees," Misao pointed out.
"But it's coming out of the bank account your grandfather set up for you. A full education at Stanford is barely half of what's in there," he whispered.
Misao's jaw dropped. Her grandfather had put THAT much money away? Quick, Misao! Think! "Oh, um...a senior in my Japanese class is applying to Stanford. She said that any student who applies to their school can't apply to any other university."
He arched a brow. "And how would they know if the student did or not?"
Darn it! This is what I get for having a spy as a guardian. "I don't know. Stanford network or something. Her sister applied to Princeton and they found out, so Stanford didn't accept her."
At first, it didn't look like Aoshi believed her, but he didn't push the issue.
"Misao, I don't think you're being serious about your education here," Aoshi said quietly. "Your life after high school is very important. I found out at my high school reunion that several people were still going to school. They had fooled around for several years after high school. So they were attending school and having part-time jobs at fast food restaurants."
"You didn't even GO to your high school reunion," Misao pointed out.
Pause.
"True. But I did receive an email from one of my high school friends. He told me everything."
Oh, please. I'm gonna be sick... Then she caught sight of one of her classmates picking up several brochures at a nearby table. "Hi, Chris!" she waved.
He looked up and waved back as she and Aoshi made their way towards him. "Hi, Misao. Find any good schools?"
"So-so."
"I didn't know this, but Brigham Young pays a full tuition and board for students who come from Tahiti or New Zealand if they volunteer at the Polynesian Cultural Center..."
"That's a lot of money!"
"Talk about a free ride..." He glanced up at Aoshi nervously before sticking his hand out. "I'm Chris."
Aoshi shook his hand and said nothing. Misao coughed.
"Um, this is my guardian, father, whatever...Aoshi," she said.
"Nice to meet you, sir," Chris spoke up. Then he apparently caught sight of someone over Misao's shoulder. "Hey, I gotta get going...my brother's waving at me...but...I'll see you in English. Bye, Misao!"
And he left. Misao found Aoshi staring after him for several moments before turning to her.
"He likes you."
Misao shook her head. "Whatever. Even if he did...it's not like you'd let me go out on dates, anyway..."
"That's not true," Aoshi replied.
"Right."
"I would allow you to date," Aoshi said. Then he added, "The boy in question would just have to deposit fifty dollars and sign a contract stating he would bring you home on time and that he would not take advantage of you."
"That's funny."
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
Misao looked at him. He looks serious. She shook her head. "Okay...what else would the contract say?"
"It would ask all his personal information, including his parents and how to reach them..." he paused in thought. "If he had any previous relationships...and where he would least like to be shot."
"WHAT?!"
Several heads turned to look at them. Misao clamped a hand over her mouth in embarrassment. Of all the...'where he would least like to be shot'?! What kind of contract is that? Oh, it's over. My love life is ruined before it even started, she lamented. She removed her hand and hissed, "You have some serious issues, Aoshi..."
"I'm only looking out for your best interests," Aoshi pointed out.
"I really, really need to find you a girlfriend..."
"This issue again..." he sighed.
"You're looking out for my interests, then so am I," Misao declared emphatically. "And being single until I turn forty isn't what I want..."
"Believe me, Misao, when I say that relationships are not all they seem to be. You young people will exclusively date the first person who likes you..."
Misao turned to stare at him, pity in her eyes. At least she hoped she looked like she was pitying him. "Aoshi Shinomori, you are a bitter, old man. Turning thirty-two in less than two months and you act like you're fifty."
"Just because I'm practical, I'm old?" Aoshi shook his head.
Misao glanced at her watch. "What time are we supposed to meet everybody?"
"They can wait. Finish here," he instructed.
"I'm done."
"That's it?" Aoshi gestured to the two brochures in her hands.
"Yeah. I'm done. Let's go before you humiliate me more..."
"Misao, I really think you should talk to more representatives about-"
"About what? Come on, let's go..."
But her guardian was firm. He insisted on staying for just a little longer. And he proceeded to interview every single representative that came from what he considered to be a good school. It would be another half hour before she left.
"It was awful! Aoshi had to interview practically everybody!" Misao exclaimed at dinner.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Aoshi replied. Why was Misao so upset? He was only trying to help.
He and Misao had been ten minutes late meeting their friends for dinner. They were in downtown Honolulu, by the waterfront, at the outdoor patio of a seafood restaurant. Short centerpiece candles flickered with tiny flames as the disappearing sun cast streaks of orange and red across the sky of Oahu.
"Didn't I say this already?" Misao wheedled. "I want to go to Honolulu Community College."
"There's nothing for you there," Aoshi cut in.
"But-"
"There isn't," he said firmly. If the Himuras had an opinion, they said nothing. Good. He could debate for hours, especially if it came to his ward.
"I disagree." Aoshi glanced at the owner of the voice. He had avoided looking at Megumi since dinner started. Not because he wanted to...but he had been trying to convince Misao since they left her school what would work best for her.
Kaoru and Kenshin glanced at him first before turning to Megumi.
"And why is that?" he finally spoke up.
"You think the community college is good, right?" Misao asked.
He watched as a smile crossed her lips while she turned to his ward. "I think the community college here is an excellent way to start your education. Its professors actually teach at campuses all over the island." Then her eyes turned to Aoshi, cooling slightly. "I actually started my education at Honolulu Community College before I transferred to University of Hawaii. And I did fine. Plenty of my classmates who had different majors did fine as well."
Aoshi set his jaw. She was deliberately trying to goad him. Of course he knew her background. He also knew that she graduated within the top twenty percent of her graduating class, and the top ten percent of medical school.
"See?" Misao pointed out.
"Misao-"
"Besides, you're not even paying for it!" Misao argued.
He couldn't argue to that. What else he could say? "I see that this is going nowhere..."
Apparently, Misao was satisfied, so she went back to eating.
"Misao," Kenshin spoke up gently. "I know you want to do what you want, but Aoshi is only trying to help you. You're very lucky to have a guardian who wishes to be a great part of your life. Most children these days don't even have parents like that. Their parents are so caught up in their own problems that they forget about their children..."
Misao sighed. "Okay...okay..."
"Oh, I wanted to thank you two for helping me with buying those speakers earlier," Megumi spoke to Kenshin and Kaoru after a few minutes. "I have no idea what to do when it comes to those things..."
"It's no trouble," Kenshin assured her. "We'll help you install them this weekend."
She smiled at them. "All right. And I'll cook lunch or dinner for you both..."
"That's great," Kaoru interjected. "Then you can teach me how to make that baked salmon that's so good..."
Megumi bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "I'll try, Kaoru...but with your cooking skills, my recipes can only go so far..."
"Megumi!" Kaoru chided, then smiled as the older woman laughed.
Aoshi lowered his gaze to his food, concentrating on eating. When he looked up, he saw that Misao was writing down a list of teachers at Honolulu Community College that Megumi was recommending as general education professors. A lot of them apparently were her former teachers or former classmates. This woman was funny, warm, and compassionate to friends and his ward. None of them ever had to worry about a complete change in attitude from her. But with him, she was a mystery. How could she be kind one minute, cold the next? What would it take to see this Dr. Takani on a regular basis?
Just after dessert, Kenshin set his silverware down. "Aoshi, I'm sorry, but Kaoru and I have to leave early," Kenshin spoke up. "She has a class to teach..."
"Of course."
"Thank you for dinner," Kenshin said.
"Yes, thank you, Aoshi." Kaoru echoed as they stood up.
As they left, Misao hopped up. "I'm going to the bathroom. Be right back."
Which left him alone with the doctor. She slowly consumed her ice cream, looking this way and that, away from him. What had made her so distant from him in the first place? He thought back, recalling their conversations. With Misao gone for the moment, maybe it was a good time to break the ice.
"I've...said inappropriate things to you," he spoke up out of the blue.
"That's putting it lightly," she retorted.
"What I said the last time we saw each other...I didn't realize its implication," he explained. "I just meant that a woman with your-"
"Stop, Commander. You're just digging yourself in a ditch," she replied.
"Clearly we're not on the same wavelength. You're not even going to let me explain."
"Clearly," she echoed.
Aoshi narrowed his eyes. Then he sat back, deciding to try a different tactic. "When you were with Sagara, what type of activities did you do? When you were on dates? Dinner? Movies?"
"Well...I was always working...but there were times when I did have a free day. Sano's an outdoor type of guy. We've gone hiking...biking...parasailing...jet-skiing..." Her eyes widened. "Oh. I see what you mean. Dinner and dancing isn't all that special to someone who's more of a risk taker on dates. But it seems a relief for someone who's exposed to a lot of adventure and danger. Maybe...one day you can take me surfing."
"You've never tried it?"
"Not since high school. It's been years."
"Maybe I will take you one day..." he mused. It seemed like a good idea...
"You're good at sports, you possess keen intellect as well as fighting skills. I've never met someone with so many talents. It's very stimulating," she said frankly.
He cleared his throat, feeling his cheeks flush slightly. He appreciated the dim lighting outside. Whether she meant it suggestively or not, something about this woman always caught him off-guard. But maybe it wasn't a bad thing.
"Is it time to go yet?" Misao asked as she settled in her seat, glancing between them.
"Do you have homework?" Aoshi asked, grateful for the distraction.
"Well, just a little math-"
"Check please," Aoshi spoke to the server passing by.
Misao's mouth dropped. "Aoshi!"
"What?"
"I didn't even finish talking," Misao grumbled.
Within seconds, the server arrived with the bill. Aoshi quickly glanced at it before dropping down a credit card. He caught Megumi looking in his direction, a small, mysterious, yet playful smile tilting her lips. His mouth curved in response before turning away.
They had finally reached an understanding.
***
Misao critically examined her makeup in her bathroom mirror. It was here. The night of the father/daughter dinner dance. She frowned as she reached up to unroll a sponge roller from her hair. The dress she had selected when she had shopped with Kaoru and Megumi was a midnight blue with a scooped neckline, knee-length hem, and sheer, fluttering sleeves. Megumi had given her a quick lesson on how to apply make-up. Her eyes were outlined in navy blue, accented at the corners with dark eyeshadow, and a touch of shimmering shadow on her browbone. She could barely recognize herself. She looked and felt so grownup.
"Misao?" A knock accompanied Aoshi's voice.
"Almost ready!" she called out.
She untangled her curls, quickly running a pick through it. Then she grabbed her purse and headed to the living room where Aoshi was waiting. He stood in the center, holding a plastic box that contained the corsage and boutonniere. He wore charcoal gray slacks and sports jacket, silver collared shirt, with a black and gray patterned tie. He glanced over his shoulder to see her standing just several feet away from him.
Turning slightly to face her, he could hardly believe his eyes. This was his Misao? This was the girl who used funny stories to make him smile, who had squealed at the sight of puppies and kittens, who twirled around the room whenever something made her happy at age five? He felt his throat go dry, feeling his chest expand with emotion so strong, it was overwhelming.
Where had all the years gone? She was going to be what? Seventeen in a few weeks? Was she that old now? He swallowed fiercely. She was growing up. She wasn't a little girl anymore. She had grown into a young lady and he hadn't even seen it coming.
She looked at him expectantly, apparently waiting.
"You look pretty," he said softly, hearing his own fatherly pride. He had done a good job in raising her.
She smiled in response. "Thanks..."
As if needing something to do, he handed her the box to open. Misao's eyes lit up once she moved the tissue back to reveal a wrist corsage of white roses and carnations.
"Wow..." she breathed in awe.
"Here..." Aoshi took the corsage out and placed it around her thin wrist.
Misao took the matching boutonniere out and tried to pin it on him. He was so tall, she had to reach up to complete her task. She looked as innocent and young as the day she tried braiding his bangs out of curiosity. Yet she was a young lady who was ready to experience what life had to offer. And she was a combination of both. The idea that one side was so familiar, the other was not, struck him. He swallowed again.
Then she smoothed his lapel and stepped away. "That should-"
RRRRRRRRRIIIIINNNNGGGGGGG!
Aoshi looked up, glancing at Misao, who shrugged. Then she walked over to pick it up.
"Hello?" Pause. She frowned. "Who's this?" Her eyes widened. "Just a minute..." She turned to Aoshi, pressed the mute button, holding out the receiver. "Commander Hajime Saitou...wants to speak with you."
Aoshi frowned and took the phone, pressing the mute button again. "Hello?"
"Lt. Commander Shinomori."
"Yes," he responded automatically.
"NIS headquarters in twenty minutes. I've already taken the liberty of calling your team as well."
"It's Saturday."
"I'm aware of that," came the cool response. "But unfortunately, this country...and its enemies...do not sleep on Saturdays. Be on time." Click.
Aoshi sighed, hanging up the phone. Then he glanced at Misao's wide-eyed expression. "Misao...I...I have to go to NIS."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"How...How long?" she asked in a trembling voice.
He turned away to place the phone back on its hook. "I...I don't know." When he looked back, Misao's shoulders had sagged and her head tilted low in a saddened gesture. He hated to see her like that. "I'll be back as soon as I can," he promised.
Then she nodded. "The dance is five hours...I'm sure you won't be gone that long..."
"Me, too..."
When Aoshi came into Saitou's office seventeen minutes later, he saw that his team members were already waiting for him. And Cmdr. Saitou sat in his chair, a Cuban cigar stuck between his teeth. Unlit, of course, since smoking was not allowed in buildings.
"Let's make this quick, sir," Aoshi said formally. "I have a young lady at home waiting to attend her school's father/daughter dinner dance..."
Cmdr. Saitou's amber eyes narrowed. If it was possible at all, for his eyes were already narrow to begin with. "Then tell that weasel-looking daughter of yours that this is going to take a while." He pushed the phone on his desk towards him.
Aoshi set his jaw and sat in the chair next to Williams. Everyone had come in khaki uniform, himself included. He must have broken records pulling his uniform on.
"What do you know about Cal Laboratories?" Cmdr. Saitou asked the team.
There was a split second of silence until Aoshi answered. "They're a recurring government contractor, conducting research in thermodynamics. The founder, James Callahan, was a physicist who helped design spacecraft for NASA prior to forming the company."
Saitou nodded approvingly. "Recently, Cal Lab has developed technology for detecting missile fire from any point on the surface of the Earth. However...their lead scientist was reported missing from work two days ago. And he contains all the data on this new technology. If you were to check Cal Lab right now you'd never know they had that capability. They're clean." He took the cigar out of his mouth. "A week ago, Naval Intelligence in Washington intercepted a phone call from a foreign embassy to Cal Lab. Apparently, this new technology is being sold. The lead scientist...using a credit card...purchased a ticket to Kona and reserved a room at the Royal Kona Resort. We believe that he'll be meeting his buyer there," Saitou pushed a file folder in their directions. "His flight is scheduled to arrive in Kona tomorrow, eighteen hundred hours. You five are going to stop that transaction, find out who was interested in buying the technology, and return the data to Cal Lab. You will leave right away so you can familiarize yourself with the hotel surroundings. Go home, bring whatever you need, and come back here. I've arranged for a Black Hawk to take you to the island and you can check in at the hotel."
Aoshi sighed.
"Now I know I don't normally assign work in your division at NIS," Saitou continued. "But I've already spoken to your CO and XO. I felt that you were the best people for this job, and they agreed."
"I need a few minutes to think about this," Aoshi spoke up.
"You don't have-"
"When I joined NIS I knew that I'd have to serve my country when the need arrived," Aoshi cut in. "But...I wasn't a father back then."
Saitou shook his head. "Fine." He got up and exited the office.
Aoshi rose to his feet and moved to the office window, seeing the dim lights of Pearl Harbor. "Gentlemen, if you could step outside for a few minutes..." He needed to talk to Williams.
His other team members complied in silence. Apparently, they were trying to digest the information. Imagine a single country having the power to detect missile fire from any point on the Earth.
"Sir?" Williams prompted once they were alone.
"When Misao came into my care several years ago, I stopped touring the world...I only took missions that involved discrepencies, disputes, and reconaissance...because I was good at it," Aoshi spoke quietly. "I don't want to disappoint her. Tonight is very important. And yet..."
"If you don't take this mission, not only will it possibly cost you your next promotion, but you'll regret it. Because you'd have to live with yourself knowing that you could have done something," she finished.
His lieutenant knew him well. He never noticed, but she had picked up a lot easier on his moods and thoughts than the others. She still acted formally, but that didn't matter. Amazing how a few months could get two colleagues acquainted. "Exactly."
"Sir, this is different than the Liberty," she said quietly. "Back then you could not do anything...It was all out of your hands."
"You weren't there," he replied stiffly.
She nodded once. "You're right. I wasn't." Then she stood up. "Permission to speak."
He frowned slightly. "You don't always have to be formal, Theresa."
She cleared her throat. "When my father was in Naval Intelligence...I didn't exactly understand what he was doing. He missed a lot of birthdays...a lot of important events in my life. Your daughter may be angry at you for doing this...but she'll get over it. It took me a while to accept what my father did. And when I finally did, I respected him more. Because he's one of the reasons why I can go outside and not worry about getting shot, or running into a suicide bomber. I know this country's far from perfect, but I still believe it's worth fighting for."
He sighed. "So it comes down to choosing between duty to my country...or...my daughter's happiness..."
"Who's to say they're separate, sir?"
Aoshi got home three hours later. It was going to be a long night. First, he had to take care of Misao. Her door was closed, but he could hear music coming from her stereo.
"Misao?" he called out, knocking on her door.
And the volume went up so high he could barely hear himself talk, let alone think. She was mad. Not that he blamed her.
It only took him several minutes to pack his belongings. He tried again.
"Misao?"
He knew her door was locked, and he didn't want to pick it, knowing he could get through in a few minutes. That'd only anger her more. And she wasn't willing to listen right now. So all he could do was leave her a note.
In the kitchen, he wrote on the white dry erase board: 'Misao, I had to leave for work, it's an emergency. I'm sorry. -Aoshi'
As he exited the house, he looked over his shoulder one last time before getting into his car. Just when he and Misao were communicating again, this happened. He'd make it up to her somehow.
