What happened over the last three years and what is happening now.

THREE YEARS LATER

KAIGO

"Is that all?So ,what?Just are happy and nothing else happens?No big fight,no cheating,no breaking up for years.That's it?"

I laugh as I sit against the tree,the little boy is truly perplexed and I truly admire how forward he is.
He reminds me of myself before I made my life so much worse.

"None of that but the story is far from over."

"What about Oiha?What happened to her?She seemed so sad..."
"Super hot!I mean I have only seen them that size only on TV...What?I saw her on tv singing with Kaoru and I just was in heaven..."

That girl is so close to punching him out and as a older brother I am tempted to let her but as a teacher now and an adult while he is nine years old,obviously not grossed out by girls I stop them.

"She is happier than ever!My baby sister-"

I look at the boy in the orange hoodie hard top get that point across,he sinks behind some of his buddies in the circle with us while the sun warms up the slightly cool early spring day.

"Is now a singer with Kaoru,she is starting to rise on the charts and even is working on a clothing line with Kaoru with a young idol that she is collaborating with on two ballads."

"I love that song....'Even in my misery,you are like a dream that somehow came to be,for me and I do not need a why just you here forever,now.'Who is it about?"

How do I answer that?
My sister lives a public life now,happy finally and so am I.So how do I answer this?

"Who does it sound like it is about?"

The girl in the red shirt and pigtails is very clever how she looks at me.

"The only person she could ever love it sounds like...But he is not around,is he?"

Is he?
Arata....

He ,I believe once he really looked at her,thought about from new eyes his feelings on Yukihana,knew what happened and what was really being felt.

Both of them though.

Arata and Oiha knew that years of yearning for another that had hearts set on others does not fade so quickly or easily.

I have no idea what that feeling is like and I never want too,I have seen too much and all I care about is Oiha being safe and happy, learning to help others not become me which Yukihana and I have been working on for the last two and a half years to a bigger and more broader scale.

"She and the young man the song is about are on good terms but have not really got to know each other,really got to know each other enough to be together in a healthy way.The misunderstandings between them has put any hopes on hold.She is learning who she is and so is he while becoming a master chef abroad."

I check my watch and the parents of my group are nearing us to take them home,I am helping the children pack up while still talking to them,trying to answer every question as best I can.

"Why did Sokako just disappear and appears and disappear again sensei?What was the issue with her?"
"None,she was happy when Oiha made a new life for herself.Works at the same restaurant that Arata worked at and is one of there best cooks,She even is going to be a bridesmaid very soon."
"Maid of honor?Ooh I am so excited to see it on TV later today!My mom said I could watch it live and even send a congratulations note too if I did really good all semester and I have gotten all better than ever grades!"

The excitement about the wedding today is like a wave,I am smiling as much as they are about it and I am going to be late if I do not hurry and get there soo-

"Sensei is busy,Help him pack and get more details another day Orange Blossom..."

That voice,she sounds so lovely.
I look up from laughing as the kids are running off with their families and I see as Hana tries to pack my satchel and listen for more details I am not allowed to give.

"Forgive her Sensei,she is a wild one but good as they come in this world on my honor..."

When I turn to look at her I am struck by her.

She is tall,thin and has eyes that are very unique,Like there is a light blue color to her eyes that is mesmerizing.
She speaks softly like a breeze while her lips move like a woman practiced in the art of smiling enough to make a man weak and to make him invincible,strong.

Are you her?

I ask myself,I am not really one for knowing how to speak to a woman in that way,I am a sort that decided long ago I would not bother with such feelings.I have too much to atone for and no reason for me to have these feelings because I am no good for a woman and I know it.

'I would only hurt someone'that I have always told myself.

Even so..

I can't take my eyes from her and she seems to be feeling equally on the same line of thought as I am and I take more than a quick notice she has no ring and that Hana has never mentioned a father.

How are you thinking all of this so quickly!?

I shake my head.
She deserves better so enough...

"What is your name?"

That voice,my ears pick up on it so fast it is embarrassing.

"Ichiki Kaigo."

Can one look really seal a whole rest of my life to someone?

I have questioned it my whole life,I truly believed it when I saw Yukihana and Kenshin together,he told me after we learned how to be friends,that it was just a look and her laugh and he was sold to her for life.

Can such a thing really be so simple?
What I saw my parents and my step...no what I saw those ...people,do.Was so awful.

How can I bring myself to fall into that trap or whatever this is?

But that smile....

My heart is pounding and images, I have never the once entertained, are playing in my mind like a movie that I am re-watching over and over in this short few minutes of interaction.

I watch her take Hana's hand,walking slowly towards the car and artfully avoiding all the small puddles then rushing into them then jumping merrily in them.

"Can you let her drive away?"

I ask myself.
Over and over....

"What is your name?!"

I did not mean to yell but I could not stop myself.

I need to know.

She turns like she is on natures runway and I can not stop simply marveling at this tall woman with reddish curly hair and wearing a blue t-shirt with skirt to match and sneakers.
Eyes that melt my coldness and warm my heart...

Boil it in the best way to be honest.

"Tell me..Please?'
"Unmei...."

Destiny...
My destiny.

I smile at her and ask her if she has any plans.

 That maybe she would like to join me for a wedding.