Enid sat across Nobuyuki. She was wearing a black funeral kimono and drinking a glass of wine. They were sitting on his back deck looking out over the South China sea. She was leaned back on the old wooden bench, legs crossed. She spun her glass looking at the blood red fluid. Dawn had come and gone, and Nobuyuki hadn’t slept yet either. Miko had come to the house but had left several hours ago. Enid glanced up at Nobuyuki, trying to judge his mood. While he could be jovial sometimes, he would get that stoic Japanese man thing going. She wasn’t sure what he was thinking, and it was one of the rare times she wished she could read minds like Sextus. He noticed her looking at him and nodded. As if reading her mind.

“Junpei-sempai was an old man. He lived a long life.”

“A lonely life. I spent nine years training under the man and had not realized he lost his family in Hiroshima. I thought he was never married.”

Nobuyuki nodded.

“I remember the war. I was only ten when the Americans bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I did not know of his family either. It sounds like his students were his family. He treated you like family. I appreciated that.”

“He was a good man. They are rare and far between.”

He leaned forward looking Enid in the eyes. She wore glasses now, to help the illusion of aging. He reached out and pushed them up on her head.

“I am sorry for your loss daughter. I have never seen you cry. But I saw tears yesterday. That is how I know you truly cared for him deeply. I cannot imagine the death you have seen in your lifetime; You do not talk about your past but I have a feeling you have seen many people pass from your life.”

Enid felt her eyes growing moist, tears fell on down her cheeks. Nobuyuki reached his thumbs out and dried them from her cheeks.

“I do not know why it is affecting me so deeply.”

“I have watched your frozen heart melt these last few years, watched love grow where there was only coldness. I do not know what made you so hard, but you are like a butterfly now. Reborn. Junpei-Sempai was a large part of that. You will carry him in your heart.”

Enid nodded wiping away more tears.

“I didn’t want to care. It always ends the same.”

“Caring is what makes us human. It is the difference between us and the monsters. Your heart will give you strength in your trials ahead. By the looks over your shoulder lately I see there is something disturbing on the horizon.”

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“You are right. That is why I must leave Japan.”

“Surely we can protect you. The Yakuza is your family. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”

“There is a being of immense power, I fought him once, he cost me my brother and my sister. I thought I had killed him, but he is not dead. Taichi’s agents have been seeing more and more of his followers here. They are searching for me. And my brother is looking for me. I’ve had a few close encounters with his people. I am a danger to everyone if I stay here.”

“I did not know you had a brother.”

“He is not my brother any longer, he is my enemy. He is jealous our father left me his legacy. And wants to kill me to take it back. Or force me to his side so he can claim it through my presence.”

“Why have you not killed him yet?”

“He is protected from me, to kill him I would have to fight an army the likes of which you cannot imagine. So, all I can do is hide. Unfortunately, I stick out here because I’m not Japanese. At home in Scotland I will blend in. Which is why I had already applied to a graduate program for surgery at the University of Edinburgh. This just means I go at the beginning of summer instead of at the end.”

“We will miss you Melanie-chan.”

“I will miss everyone; I’ve grown to care about you and your family a great deal. Your daughters and their children can count on me if they ever need help. I’ll come back next Summer. I will not forget you.”

“When do you leave?”

“My plane flies out tonight, at eleven.”

“That is not much notice.”

“I needed to move quickly. I am glad I was able to see Junpei-sensai off.”

“How did your employers take the news?”

“As well as can be expected.”

He nodded finishing his sake.

“I will go get some sleep so I can see you off at the airport.”

“I am going to go home and finish packing. Miko said she would help.”

Enid stood up and followed Nobuyuki into the house. The drive to her apartment took almost no time. Her Honda Civic was the sensible choice once she was able to drive. She pulled into her spot and walked up to her apartment. Miko was already packing when she went inside.

“Melanie-chan!”

“Hi Miko, thanks for coming to help.”

“Are you really leaving all this furniture behind?”

“It is a lot to get to Scotland. Besides I just need my clothes. I don’t have a place yet. I’ll get a hotel room, find something and get moved in.”

“Do you really have to leave?”

“Yes, I really do. You know I am being hunted and cannot risk them finding you and yours or my family here. This is to keep everyone safe.”

Miko had a flicker of her old cutesy pout she used to have when they were teenagers.

“The boys are going to be so upset.”

“I will be back during Christmas break. I promise.”

“You had better be back.”

“I promise I will come back as often as I can.”

“You should think about settling down. You’re twenty-five. And Hiro has been trying to ask you out for at least three years. I don’t understand why you keep saying no.”

Enid hid her frown. Miko was a traditionalist when it came to marriage and children. Enid had never explained that she’d already loved and lost two men in her life. It was a sore point between the pair. That Miko was bringing up now annoyed her slightly. But she bit back her angry words. This wasn’t the time for those.

“I told you. That is for other people, not me. My life has no room for a husband and children.”

“I’m sorry Melanie. I worry about you. You always seem so alone. Even in a crowded room. You haven’t had any other close friends besides me, and I worry how lonely you’re going to be in Scotland. You don’t know anyone, and you have no family there.”

“I didn’t know anyone in Japan and now I have a family, and you.”

“I didn’t let you keep your distance from me, that is why we are friends. You are a hard person.”

“I will always appreciate your friendship Miko. You and your family mean a great deal to me. Your children are like nieces and nephews to me.”

Miko hugged Enid tightly.

“We will be here for you when you return.”

Enid nodded and folded another piece of clothing and put it in her suitcase. Her eyes wandering to the beautiful view out of her balcony windows. She closed her eyes and listed to the waves for a few moments and then turned to pack more of her clothes.