Markus rode the entire way to his hotel in spaced out silence. It still didn’t seem real that he was actually leaving Japan tomorrow. He’d gotten the confirmation in his email earlier in the day; and was mentally preparing for an extremely early morning tomorrow.
He’d made arrangements to be picked up from Akane’s apartment at two in the morning, and was expecting to have another tear-filled parting. He hated this part of love.
The leaving of a loved one was always especially difficult for him. After Deborah had been murdered by her sack of shit husband, Markus had found it difficult to leave someone he cared for.
His mind cast itself back into his past, the old wounds stretching uncomfortably. Brian had removed himself from life a day after he had left Markus’ house. Markus still didn’t know what had happened in those twenty-four hours to push him that far. Deborah had been killed two days after he left her house for the last time. Even though there wasn’t enough evidence to convict Dale, Markus was certain he had done it. His own father had passed nearly seventeen years ago, coming home from work. Damned drunk drivers. And most recently, he had lost both of his grandfathers within a week of each other.
Even though he had encountered so much heartbreak from saying goodbye, he still clung to hope that one day, he wouldn’t have to say it again. That one day, he would be able to simply greet his partner day after day, until the Reaperman came for them both.
And now, he may well have found it.
Still in a daze, Markus exited the bus after paying the fare. He was staring at the Lawson’s just down the road from his rikyuan, and wandered inside, gazing blankly at the goods there. He gave the clerk a distracted, but friendly, wave and browsed the aisles, stopping in front of a display that held dried squid and other assorted meat snacks.
Grabbing a bag each of dried squid and beef jerky, he walked to the cooler and picked up a mango soda. Smiling at the strangeness of it, he went to the counter and paid.
As he left the store, he heard a familiar voice from beside the door. “Hey. Gaijin. Wanna talk to you.”
Peering into the darkness, he was just able to make out the face of the ganger who assaulted him a couple nights ago.
“You again? Look, man. I’m in no mood to fight. My flight leaves in the morning, and I’d like to just end this night.” Markus sighed wearily.
The man held out his hands in a gesture of peace. “No, gaijin. I’m not here to fight or rob you or anything. I’m here to thank you.”
“Thank me? Whatever for?” Markus’ head tilted to the side.
The young man smiled. “For getting rid of Akira-san. Even though he was effective, the Boss hated him. Kept trying to take things too far. We may be delinquents, but we have our limits!” The man puffed up slightly, then gave Markus a concerned look. ”I heard he stabbed you in the side after you broke his hand and threw him into Omura and Hotaro. Just how strong are you?”
Markus chuffed a laugh. “I’m strong enough to get the job done, man. That’s all.” Lucifer and Amun must have scrambled their memories about the altercation.
The man smiled and bowed respectfully. “I am called Nakamura Kintaro. The Boss would like to speak with you soon.”
Markus stared at the young man. “You may call me Barton-san.” Markus sighed softly. “Nakamura-san, I am leaving in just a few hours. Please tell your boss that I simply cannot meet with him until I return.”
“Understood, Barton-san. I thought it would be as much. When do you think you will return?”
Markus blinked rapidly, his mind working. Could he trust this kid? “Um… It’ll be at least three months. I have orientation with my placement agency, and then I have to get settled into the job. It’s gonna be a while.”
“That’s fine. I’ll tell him. You did us a favor with Akira-san. The Boss simply wants to express his thanks.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, Nakamura-san. I really must get to my room and pack. Please, excuse me.” Markus bowed respectfully, waiting for Nakamura to walk off.
Once he was alone, he counted to ten and walked to his room.
Once inside, he stuffed the treats into his travel bag, and went to the office to inform the keeper that he would be leaving very early in the morning.
“Are you certain you must leave, sir? You’ve been quite nice to have here.” The man’s smile was disarming.
“Business needs must be seen to, sir. I must return home and go through orientation.”
“I understand, sir. Please, think of us should you return to Kyoto.” The innkeeper bowed his head respectfully.
“When I return again to your beautiful country, I will be coming to stay permanently. I have made friends here, and I have found a woman who may well be the love of my life in just a short week.”
“Oh! That is wonderful news! Have you a picture?”
Markus grinned sheepishly. “Yes. I have a photo to show you.” He pulled up a picture of the two of them at the zoo, and turned his phone around to show the innkeeper.
“She’s beautiful, sir. I pray you are correct, and that she will wait for you. I would hate to see you broken-hearted upon your return.”
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
“I have it on good authority that she will wait. Our mutual friends are certain of that.” Markus smiled broadly, his chest fluttering at the thought of returning to Akane.
“Then I shall wish you good fortune, sir. And a good night, as well.”
Markus nodded and returned to his room, waiting for a message from Akane. To occupy his time, he straightened up the room, doing his best to leave it as it was when he arrived. Knowing that he would be leaving in just an hour or two went a long way towards motivating him to straighten up faster.
As he looked around the room, doing his best to remember how it was when he arrived, his cell phone chimed with a message. He nodded and checked it, finding a message from Akane.
I am home, and do not expect visitors. Come to me, Kuma. ૮ ˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶ ა
Smiling, he did a final check of the room, then turned off the lights. He focused on Akane’s apartment, then opened the front door-
-and walked into her apartment. He shucked his shoes at the genkan, then looked around for her.
“Akane?”
“In bed!”
Grinning, he set his bags down by the door and walked into her bedroom, seeing her snuggled up under the sheets. He removed his clothes and climbed into bed with his girlfriend, wrapping her up in his arms.
**********
An hour later, he set an alarm for one AM and snuggled close for his last night in Japan.
*****
As his alarm blared out its tone, he opened his eyes, seeing Akane’s tear-streaked face meeting his.
“Hi. I do not want you to leave, Markus. I know you must, but I do not like it.”
Markus ran his fingers through her thick, silky hair, noticing how she closed her eyes and leaned into his hand.
“It’s only for a short while. I might be able to come visit, but you’re ahead of me by fourteen hours.”
“Maybe. We will have to see when our training is. Eight days before we begin our new jobs.” she interlaced her fingers with his.
Markus smiled. “Eight days before our lives change dramatically. Thirty-eight until we are trained and have free time. Then I truly can come visit. Or you could come to my home. Visit the United States.” He laughed ruefully. “And meet my mother, if she’s still alive. And lucid.”
Akane’s eyes darted between his, and her breath came quickly. “You want me to meet your mother?”
Markus nodded. “Of course. I love you, Akane. I want you to meet my family. I have a couple of cousins and an uncle that still live. My uncle helps take care of my mom, too. Mostly with visits, as she needs the interaction. Yes. I want you to meet my family. I don’t have many friends anymore; not since mom got real sick, so they and you six here are all I have left.”
Akane kissed him softly, her lips trembling. How could a man who had known such loneliness and sorrow in such a short time still love? Ardently, she hoped that he wasn’t just avoiding the issues.
“We must get you clean, my Kuma-kun. It simply won’t do for you to get on a crowded plane smelling of sex.” She winked at him and grinned, prompting a laugh from the big man.
“Yes, dear Usagi-chan. That would be wise.” Markus threw back the covers and sat at the edge of the bed, rubbing his face with a yawn.
They got cleaned up together, and Akane sat with him on the couch, resting her head on his shoulder. Markus dozed off for a while until his phone chimed with a message.
Your taxi is waiting outside
He sent a quick reply and looked deep into Akane’s light brown eyes. “I must go. He’s here.”
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him for all she was worth. “I will miss you, Kuma-kun. My bear.”
Markus held her closely and sniffled. “And I you, Usagi-chan. I will do my best to see you as soon as possible. And we still have our phones. You can call me at any time.”
Akane nodded, her throat too tight to form words as she watched Markus get up from the couch and slip his shoes on. She followed him, wringing her suddenly sweaty hands.
Once his shoes were on, he gently lifted Akane’s chin and kissed her soft lips once more. “I love you, Ikeda Akane. I will return to you. I swear it.”
“I will wait for you, Markus Barton.”
Hefting his bags onto his shoulder, Markus opened the door and stepped outside. This time, however, there was nobody for Akane to cry to.
Markus walked down the stairs and refused to look back, knowing that if he did, he would run back up to her and not leave. He couldn’t do that to the both of them, so he resolutely kept his face as neutral as possible and continued walking to the cab that awaited him on the street.
“Thank you for picking me up, sir. I must get to the airport.”
The driver nodded, and once Markus was settled, he took off, making good time to the airport. Thankfully, the driver chose to remain mostly silent during the trip, occasionally mumbling under his breath about the other drivers.
Markus occupied himself by flipping through the pictures on his phone of his trip. They all started from the picture Atsuki had taken of him that he sent to a then-clueless Akane. A hopeful message that he had sent to a woman he found attractive. A woman whose number he had gotten from his new manager, and trusted that he was being honest in his statement of “She wanted to give it to him.” He smiled and continued to scan the photos, seeing the park he had visited, the aquarium and zoo, pictures of a smiling Akane, watching the foxes in the zoo, pictures of her that she had sent him that would never be seen by another, the pair of them at the arcade, and pictures of the outside of the bar where he had met the Morrigan.
Morrigan. He still couldn’t understand why they had targeted him. He was glad of the deal he had helped broker with it. Three months to get settled into his new job, and then he would be working much longer days. Idly, he wondered what it would be like to do his new job.
His musings were cut short as the cab came to a stop at the airport. “Here you are. Safe travels, sir. That’ll be eighteen thousand.”
Markus nodded and reached into his wallet, pulling out three ten thousand yen notes, and handed them to the driver. “Keep it, friend. You have done me a kindness by letting me gather my thoughts during the trip.”
The driver looked confused for a moment before nodding. “You sure? That’s not a little bit.”
“I’m sure. I know tipping isn’t expected or required, but I am more grateful than you know. Trust me when I say that I can more than afford it. And that you deserve it.”
The driver shrugged and bowed his head. “Thank you, sir. My wife and I could use a night out. Thank you.”
“Good luck, friend!”
Markus gathered his bags and looked up at the airport with a sigh.