Old Promises and New Beginnings

Old Promises and New Beginnings
Chapter Two: Bon Voyage


Disclaimer: I don’t own YYH or SM


cillaxox: This would have been posted sooner, but I made some last minute changes. Pikacheese being the sweetie that his is said no problem and rechecked the chapter for me. So thank you pikacheese!

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A week had passed since Makoto had been unexpectedly reunited with Kuwabara. During those seven days she secured her train ticket and made arrangements with Ami to look after her apartment while she was gone. Currently she was finishing some last minute packing, because her train left later in the afternoon at 4pm. Her friends Usagi and Ami were keeping her company while she prepared to go.

She looked on her dresser and picked up the black and white strip of photos she took with Kuwabara long ago. Two of the photos were damaged, but otherwise the rest were in good shape. She tucked them into the inside pocket of her suitcase for safekeeping.

“Do you really have to go?” a young woman with long blonde pigtails whined. She sat on the floor worrying her bottom lip back and forth between her teeth. It was obvious she was about to work herself up into a crying fit.

“Yes, Usagi,” Makoto answered patiently for the tenth time.

“But I’ll miss you!”

“Cheer up, I’m only going to be gone three weeks. I’m just spending the rest of my summer vacation there.”

“I can’t believe you and Minako are both leaving,” Usagi wailed, “I want you guys to stay here!”

Luna, Usagi’s talking feline guardian, scratched the back of her hand. “Stop being selfish!”

Ami tried to comfort the distraught girl, “Don’t worry you still have Rei and me.”

Usagi cried harder at the mention of Rei’s name. Over the years the psychic’s sharp tongue had not been dulled.

Makoto tuned out her friend’s crying. She would be leaving in less than three hours and was starting to have doubts. Part of her thought going to another city just because some guy she met eight years ago had suddenly reappeared in her life was a huge mistake. It was crazy and kind of creepy.

The other, less reasonable, part of her saw it as an adventure. It was summer vacation and what better way to spend it than taking a little trip. And if by chance on her journey she ended up having Kuwabara fall for her then where was the harm in that?

The brunette leaned down on her suitcase and forced the zipper closed. She sat on her bed and looked at her friends. She saw the concern on their faces and once again found herself questioning what she was about to do.

“Should I go?”

“If you don’t, you’ll regret it,” Ami said.

“What if I’m making the wrong decision?”

Usagi put aside her selfish reasons for wanting her friend to stay. “So what if it is? Go anyways! You don’t want to spend the rest of the summer wondering what would have happened if you went. You’re only young once, Makoto. Now is the time to do crazy stuff. You don’t want be serious all the time like Ami!”

The blue haired genius was about to nod her head in agreement but she realized what was said. “That’s not true! I can act wild.”

“Then prove it,” Usagi dared.

“I will, this summer you’ll see a whole new side of me!”

Makoto smiled when she heard Ami’s declaration. “I hate that I won’t be here to see that.”

“Then you’re going?” Ami asked.

“I’m going and I’ll give it my best shot. If Kuwabara doesn’t fall for me then it’s his loss.”

Usagi’s bottom lip began to tremble. “I don’t want you to go!”

Makoto finally lost her cool. “You just told me to!”

The princess’s eyes welled up with tears. “I take it back!”

The brunette threw her hands up in surrender. “I give up!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Minako was also packing. Unlike Makoto she didn’t need to be reassured that she was doing the right thing. She was going to follow Kuwabara. She needed to find the answers she had spent years trying to uncover.

“This is stupid, Minako,” Rei said as she helped her friend fold clothes. “You hardly know this guy. For all you know he could be a total psycho.”

“He’s not a psycho.”

“How can you be so sure? The last time you saw him he was eleven years old. A lot can change in eight years.”

Minako gazed at her left index finger. “Yet some things never change.”

“I think you and Makoto should just stay here and forget about this Kuwabara guy.”

“I can’t do that, Rei. If I don’t do this it will haunt me for the rest of my life.”

The psychic let out a frustrated sigh. “Don’t you think you’re being just a little over dramatic?”

“No I don’t,” Minako looked at her friend and pleaded with her, “I know you think this is stupid and maybe it is, but I still need to do it. You may not understand them, but I do have my reasons.” Tears welled up in the blonde’s eyes. “Please Rei, you’re my friend can’t you support me?”

Rei walked over to her friend and gave her a hug. She hushed the sobbing girl and stroked the back of her head. “You’re right I don’t understand, but that doesn’t mean I can’t support you. If you say you have to do this then you better do it. I don’t want to be the one to stand between you and your dream.”

“Thanks, you don’t know how much I needed to hear that.” Minako pulled away from Rei and laughed softly. “Now if only Usagi could be so understanding.”

“What are you going to do with Artemis while you’re gone?”

The previously sleeping cat awoke at the mention of his name. He waited to see what the girls were talking about. When he realized that Minako had planned on leaving him behind he became upset. “I thought I was going with you!”

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea.” The blonde tried to explain herself, “I don’t want to drag you away from Luna. It’s not fair for me to expect you to come with me.”

“I want to go, Minako. We’re partners and no matter what we stick together. Luna understands that and so should you.”

The girl scratched Artemis behind his ears. “Are you sure?”

“Of course I am, besides somebody has to make sure you two don’t get into trouble.”

“Then it’s settled you’re coming with me.”

Rei was relieved. Although she was fond of Artemis, the thought of having the chatterbox around for a long period of time bothered her. “You need to hurry up and finish packing, Minako.”

The blonde looked at the pile of items that still needed to be packed then looked at the clock. She would have to shift gears into overdrive if she wanted to make it to the train station on time.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


The five friends arrived at the train station around the same time. They chatted for a while and tried not to mention that Makoto and Minako would be leaving soon.

Artemis was inside Minako’s black shoulder bag. Luna placed her front paws on the outside of the bag and raised her head closer to the other feline. The white cat nuzzled the black one affectionately. “Don’t go chasing after other cats while I’m gone.”

Luna told him, “Only if you promise not to fall for some fancy new feline.”

“Don’t worry I won’t.”

“Look after Minako and Makoto.”

“I will,” he promised.

Makoto and Minako hugged their three friends. The tall brunette said, “Well I guess this is good-bye.”

“It’s not forever,” Rei told the departing girls.

“It just feels like it is,” Minako whispered as she wiped an unshed tear from her eye. “This will be the longest that we’ve ever been apart.”

The train pulled into the depot and came to a halt. The doors hissed as they were opened. Usagi jumped in the entrance, blocking it with her arms and legs. “I won’t let you go! You have to stay, this will probably be our last summer together!”

Makoto walked over to the girl and gripped her under her arms then lifted her out of the entrance. Before she set the girl down she hugged her tightly. “I’m going to miss you, Usagi.”

“Then don’t go. There are plenty of guys here.”

“I just want to find out if he’s still the kind hearted boy I once knew.”

“You can call him on the phone and ask.”

The brunette laughed at the girl’s childish logic. “But I don’t know his phone number.”

“We can ask the operator.” When Makoto tried to set her down Usagi placed her arms around her friend’s neck and held on tight. “Don’t go.”

“What about me?” Minako asked, sounding hurt, “I’m leaving too!”

“Minako!” Usagi let go of Makoto’s neck and ran over to the other blonde. She threw herself around the girl and caught her in a bear hug. “You have to stay too! I’ll never forgive you if you leave.”

A station attendant, who had been watching the scene, approached the group. “The train will be leaving soon, if you wish to board it you must do so now.”

Ami and Rei pulled Usagi off of Minako. They held the distraught princess at bay while the other two boarded the train. Once on board Makoto and Minako quickly found their seats then opened the window. They leaned out of the opening and said their final good-byes.

“If you stop crying I’ll send you a present, Usagi,” Makoto tempted.

The tears quickly dissipated. “Do you promise?”

“I promise.”

“I’ll also get you something,” Minako added.

“We want presents too,” Ami and Rei chimed.

The two girls on the train laughed then said they would send their other friends gifts also. The train lurched forward as it began to pull away from the depot. Ami, Rei, Usagi and Luna ran along side the train and made promises to keep in touch. They only stopped running when they ran out of platform. They sat down on the edge and watched as the train disappeared into the horizon.

“I feel sorry for Makoto and Minako,” Ami said in a sullen voice.

Luna’s tone was equally morose, “I know what you mean.”

“Why do you feel sorry for them?” Usagi questioned. “They get to spend their summer vacation exploring another city and chasing after a guy.”

Rei hollered, “Usagi, you idiot! Didn’t realize they’re after the same guy?”

“No, not really,” the absentminded blonde confessed.

“Honestly Usagi you need to start paying attention,” Ami chided.

The three girls exchanged worried glances. Rei, in an attempt to ease her friends’ concerns, said, “Maybe nothing will happen.”

Neither Ami nor Usagi looked very convinced. They were both picturing Makoto and Minako fighting over Kuwabara.

“Perhaps you’re right, Rei,” Ami said. “For both their sakes I hope you are.”

Usagi asked, “But what if they both fall in love with him?”

Rei looked after the train even though it was long gone. “Then one of them is going to get their heart broken.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Are you nervous, Makoto?”

The brunette turned her eyes away from the passing scenery and focused them on her friend. “No, not really.”

“I wish I had your nerves. I’m so nervous I can barely sit still.”

“I guess that’s why you’re tapping your foot.”

Minako looked down at her twitching foot and smiled. “It happens when I’m tense.”

Makoto reached over to the other seat and squeezed the blonde’s shoulder. “Relax, we don’t have anything to worry about.”

“Yes we do.”

“What’s that?”

“We both can’t have Kuwabara.”

Makoto tapped her temple as she concentrated. “I don’t recall saying I wanted him.”

“Let’s be realistic. There’s a chance that we can both develop feelings for him.”

The brunette laughed at the suggestion. “In three weeks time, now who’s not being realistic?”

“This is serious Makoto! I want us to promise that no matter what we won’t let Kuwabara come between our friendship.”

The brunette held up her right hand. “I swear that I won’t let Kuwabara come between us.”

“I swear I won’t let him come between us either.” Minako finally looked satisfied. “That’s a relief.”

“How about we go get a snack? We have a two hour trip.”

“Yeah let’s go. Artemis you stay in the bag and I’ll bring you back a treat.”

The white cat sank back into his makeshift carrier and settled himself among the other contents of the bag. “I always have to stay behind.”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~


Makoto and Minako hopped off the train two hours later. It was around 6pm, but the summer sun showed no sign of fading just yet.

“Now that I think about it,” Makoto admitted, “I have no idea where Kuwabara lives.”

Minako stared at the thin red string leading away from her fingertip. “Leave that to me.”

Artemis poked his head out of Minako’s shoulder bag. “I’m glad to be off that train.” He climbed off the bag and leapt to the sidewalk. “I need to stretch my legs.”

“Remember not to talk in front of Kuwabara, Artemis, we don’t want to freak him out.”

The cat looked annoyed as he told the blonde, “I’m not stupid. I don’t need to be reminded not to speak.”

As they walked the two girls didn’t mention Kuwabara once. They each kept their concerns hidden from one another. Even though they had both vowed not to let him break up their friendship they each had their doubts about how long they would be able to keep such a promise.

Eventually Minako’s red leash led her to a large apartment complex.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Makoto questioned with a hint of skepticism.

“I’m positive.”

“How do you know?”

Minako smiled at her friend. “It’s a secret.”

The tall brunette rolled her eyes. “I hope your secret can pinpoint the right apartment.”

“It can.” Minako scooped up Artemis. “It’s back in the bag for you.”

Inside the building, Minako stood in front of the elevator. She looked at the semicircle of numbers above the giant metal doors. She straighten her left index finger and asked it, ‘Which floor is he on?’ Her finger was pulled towards the number three. She looked back at Makoto and said, “He’s on the third floor.”

“Great all we need now is the apartment number.”

“I’m working on it.”

The finger led them to apartment 3F. “Well this is it Makoto, there’s no turning back now,” Minako said. “If you want to turn away then now is the time.” She patted the brunette’s shoulder. “There’s no shame in leaving.”

Makoto looked down and saw Minako’s twitching foot. She knew she would have to take the initiative. She made a fist and rapped her fingers against the door, calling out ‘Hello’ as she knocked.

Minako felt her heart beat faster each time the brunette’s knuckles landed on the door. She was nervous, but at the same time exhilarated. She had been waiting for this moment for years and it was finally here.

The door creaked as it was opened from the inside. Kuwabara barely had the door open all the way before he noticed who was standing in the hallway. He groaned internally as he saw the two girls he met in Tokyo.

Makoto beamed at the young man and gave him a wink. “Surprise!”

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cillaxox: I had already completed the chapter when I realized I forgot all about Artemis and Luna, so I had to go back and rewrite a few scenes. That’s why they appeared briefly here and there.