Hi!  This is Richard Lawson, writing from my brand-new email address. 
This address is temporary until Sprynet gets their email problems fixed. 
Currently, messages I send out can be received up to two days later, if
ever.  Ditto messages sent to me.

There may be another copy of this fanfic sent under my
"sterman@sprynet.com" address.  If so, I apologize.

If you choose to reply to me personally, rather than the FFML, please
respond to "sterman@sprynet.com".  Messages will eventually get to me; it
just may take a few days.

This story takes place in the "Thy Inward Love" universe.  It's something
that's been rolling around in my head, and one night I just threw this on
my hard disk.

One important note:  there are some very sexist attitudes in this story. 
Please note that these are the attitudes of the characters, not of me. 
Anyone who knows me also knows that I despise these kind of attitudes.

Anyway, let me know.

-Richard Lawson
sterman@sprynet.com

--

Genma and Nodoka : A Love Story

By Richard Lawson

Comments and Criticism Welcome!
sterman@sprynet.com



His face was impassive.  He was good at impassive.  Having lived 
the life he'd led, there was very little left in the world that 
could surprise him.  Right now, however, he had the impassive face 
on, not because he was trying to show everyone how strong he was, 
but because he was so worried that if allowed any of his feelings 
to show, he'd collapse to the ground this instant.

Six hours it had been.  This good not be good.  Six hours and ten 
minutes.  He had felt the passing of each second like a hammer 
steadily wearing away at his sanity.  He didn't know how much more 
he could take.  He sat up in the uncomfortable chair and stared 
straight ahead.  He would endure.  He always had.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone approach.  Someone 
familiar, the only person whose presence he would tolerate right 
now.  Still, he didn't look over.  He didn't want to appear weak 
by admitting how glad he was for the other's company.

The person standing over him coughed gently.  "Hiya, Pop."

He nodded once.  "Son."

The boy sat next to him.  The man, actually.  He would still 
sometimes see the energetic child who had caused him so much 
trouble and given him so much joy while growing up.  Now, however, 
the man that was his son lived with the woman he had married.  
They had their own source of frustration and love to raise.  His 
son was all grown up, and he still wondered, sometimes, how it had 
all worked out so well.

He continued to stare at the clock.  "I thought you were in 
Kyoto."

"I came back as soon as I heard.  You think I wouldn't?"

"I thought you might have been held up."

"Well, I was able to get away.  Nothing was going to stop me, not 
even... well, you know." His son squirmed once.  "How is she?"

He shook his head.  "I don't know.  They haven't told me."

His son looked up at the clock.  "It's got to have been at least 
five hours."

"Six hours and fourteen minutes."

"Oh." An uncomfortable silence.  His son leaned back in his chair 
and fidgeted.  "I hate waiting."

He smiled inside, where no one could see.  It felt good, somehow, 
to see that some things had not changed in his son, despite the 
years.

His son bounced to his feet and circled the room.  He sat down 
again.  "She'll be all right, Pop.  Don't worry."

He nodded without responding, wondering where his son's certainty 
came from.  More likely, his son was trying to comfort himself.

Another silence before his son spoke again.  "What was it like the 
first time?" 

He grimaced at the memory.  "Unpleasant."

His son sounded surprised.  "Really? Why?"

He finally looked over at the boy.  The man.  The man who had 
grown up never realizing he had two parents.  "I never told you 
much about her."

His son looked at him evenly.  "No."

He grimaced.  "I apologize." He examined his son's face, seeing so 
much of her face in it.  "It begins on a mountain, outside a 
cave."

* * *

Genma stood with his back to the rock, breathing heavily.  It was 
done.  At last it was done.  He was free.

He looked over to his friend and smiled.  "Well, that wasn't so 
bad, was it Tendo?"

Soun looked back at him like he'd turned into something strange.

Genma ignored that and grabbed his arm.  "Let's get out of here.  
Half of the countryside must be looking for us.  It's time we 
returned to Tokyo."

Soun nodded.  They ran back to the campsite and quickly packed 
their stuff.  They ran along the hillsides, avoiding the roads.

They were silent throughout the journey.  They had suffered much 
during the past few years and even more so during the past few 
months.  Their master, never a stable fellow to begin with, had 
turned increasingly neurotic and had sent them out to steal food 
and wine, justifying it all by calling it 'training'.  They had at 
last dealt with him in a manner befitting the inhuman monster he'd 
become.  Now however, Genma felt a need to put it all behind him 
and start again.  Soun must feel the same.

Genma reconsidered that when they at last approached Tokyo.  Soun 
did not want to start over; he wanted to pick up where he had left 
off.  Genma broke the three-day-old silence.  "I suppose you'll 
want to go see her right away, won't you?"

As Genma had expected, Soun began blushing.  "I, uh, need to make 
sure the house is in good shape first.  And, uh, clean it up 
and... and...."

"And see what other excuses you can come up with to avoid seeing 
her." Genma grinned.  "Face it, Tendo, that girl is not going to 
rest until you two are married.  The sooner you realize that your 
marriage is inevitable, the happier you will be."

Soun's face would have substituted quite nicely for a stop light.  
"I... she... that is...."

Genma smiled as his friend continued to stammer.  Soun was every 
bit in love with the woman who had dated him since high school.  
The few quiet moments Genma and Soun had spent together during 
their training trip would inevitably end with Soun talking about 
her, staring into the campfire or off into the distance as he 
grinned widely and listed her virtues.  

This inevitably ended with Genma throwing something at him.  
Usually his fist.  Genma shared their master's belief: that while 
women might be a source of occasional pleasure, they would drain 
your energy and make you lose your focus if you stayed with one 
too long.  Genma was working towards perfecting the Art, and could 
afford no such distractions.

Still, he couldn't deny that Soun seemed very happy.  He'd 
probably do okay settling down and raising a family.  He just 
would never be the martial artist Genma was.

They arrived at the Tendo home.  Soun was fairly well off; not 
exactly rich, but he had inherited a nice piece of real estate and 
a decent amount of money.  Soun dug into his baggage for the key, 
unlocked the main gate, and stepped inside.  Genma followed him.

It was a mess.  The yard was a jungle of weeds.  The house looked 
tired and worn.  He followed Soun through the remains of the front 
door and into the house.  It was extremely dirty, and cold, and 
smelled awful.  Genma covered his mouth and nose; camping was 
better than this.

Soun drew a deep breath.  "Ah, it's good to be home."

Genma looked at him in shock.  "You must be kidding, Tendo."

"Not at all." Soun stepped forward to brush some dust off the 
banister of the stairway leading to the second floor.  "Just needs 
to be cleaned up a little.  How about it, Saotome? We'll get this 
place in shape in no time."

Genma grunted.  "You do that.  I have not had a hot bath in a 
week." He walked down the hall, hoping to find the bathroom.

"You won't get one here, Saotome.  The utilities still need to be 
turned back on."

"Wonderful." Genma dropped his backpack, opened a flap, and took 
out what passed for his liquid assets.  Which amounted to about 
4500 yen in coins.  "I am going to the bathhouse." He probably 
shouldn't, as little money as he had, but he didn't really care.  
Soun had money; he could borrow some from him if the need arose.

Soun frowned at him, then shrugged.  "Please yourself, Genma."

Genma shot him a dark look.  That sounded suspiciously like a 
judgement.  Soun merely began to clean off more of the banister, 
ignoring him.  Genma frowned, then walked stiffly past him.

Only after reaching the roadway did he realize that he had no idea 
where a bathhouse might be.  He wandered down the street, 
frowning, looking at the buildings around him.

Someone barreled past him.  "Excuse me, sir!"  Whoever it was 
turned quickly around the corner.

Genma blinked, then smiled.  He jumped up onto a nearby roof, made 
his way quickly along the rooftops, then jumped to the ground 
directly in front of the running figure.  "You should be more 
careful when you go charging around like this."

The figure screeched and jumped back.  Now that he had time to 
examine the figure, it turned out to be a girl.  Not an altogether 
unattractive girl, perhaps three or four years younger than he 
was.  Certainly still in high school.  

He shook his head; right now, getting a bath was all that mattered 
to him.  "Can you tell me where the bathhouse is?"

The girl stared back at him, her eyes wide.  "It's rude to jump in 
front of people like that."

Genma shrugged.  "It's rude to run past them, too.  Let's just say 
that honor is satisfied, and move on, okay?"

The girl frowned, then smiled.  "Okay.  The heavens must bless you 
today; I am on my way to my job at a bathhouse." She ran around 
him and down the street.  "Follow me!"

Genma chuckled and ran after her.  He stayed a few feet behind 
her, admiring her figure.  Perhaps he could find a way to get her 
into bed.  It had been a while, and she seemed like someone who 
could please him greatly.

She stopped suddenly and whirled to face him.  "The entrance is 
around the corner.  500 yen." She ran down an alley, opened a 
door, shot a glance at him, then hurried inside.

Genma smiled.  This would be easy.  The battle was halfway won 
already.  His body was wide and strong.  He wasn't tall, but he 
wasn't short, either, and he had hard muscles.  He might curse his 
former master a thousand times, but it was because of his training 
that Genma had the body he had now.  And women found this body 
pleasing.

He stood for a couple of minutes, imagining himself in bed with 
her.  He ran through the several scripts he had for getting women 
into bed.  They almost always ended with success, and he'd found 
no reason to depart from then.  He selected one that stood the 
best change of success with a high school girl.  Then he began 
strolling down the street, taking his time, playing out the script 
in his mind.  Whistling idly, he turned the corner and froze.

She was perfect, from her lovely, iridescent hair to her tiny 
feet.  She moved with grace and dignity.  Her kimono was of fine 
cloth and elegant taste.  She walked with her eyes downcast, 
someone who could only be her servant trailing behind her.  To 
Genma's delight, she entered the bathhouse.

Genma stood still, letting his heart race for a moment, before 
hurrying to the bathhouse entrance himself.  He just had time to 
see her and her servant go through the women's entrance.

He cursed silently.  He ran up to the counter, where the girl he 
had followed here was operating the cash register.  "Miss, do you 
know who that woman is?"

He saw something akin to disappointment flit across her face.  
That was okay; losing her meant nothing if he could gain the other 
woman.  "I don't know her name, only that she comes here every 
day."

"Is she married?"

"I... do not think so."

Genma looked towards the women's entrance again.  Beautiful, and 
obviously rich.  At least middle class, which was rich enough for 
Genma.  She was certainly a conquest worth undertaking.  If he 
could gain access to her body and her money, he would have all he 
could want.

"500 yen."

Genma started, and turned to look at the girl behind the counter.  
Her expression was now steely and dispassionate.  "500 yen, 
please."

He dug out his money and paid her.  He quickly went to the men's 
side and washed himself off.  He spent a little time in the bath, 
but not much.  He wanted to relax and spend hours there, but 
suddenly other things were more important right now.

He dried himself off and put on clothes that were cleaner only in 
the sense that he had worn them one time less than he had his 
other set of clothes.  He looked at himself in the mirror and 
brushed his hair with his fingers.  It wasn't particularly neat, 
but he knew that women liked the roguish look that complemented 
his hard body.  

Still, he was uncharacteristically nervous.  He didn't know why, 
exactly.

He turned and made his way quickly out of the bathhouse.  He 
looked around to make sure no one was looking, then scampered up a 
telephone pole.  He sat cross-legged atop it and waited.

Genma would have appreciated knowing that she was going to take as 
long as she did; he could have enjoyed himself in the bath.  After 
he'd spent an hour on top of the pole, she emerged with her 
servant.

He climbed down the pole and followed her.  She made her way 
through the streets of Nerima until she turned into an apartment 
complex.  Genma frowned at it as he walked slowly up to it.  He'd 
been expecting a house at least equal to Soun's.  Still, why would 
she use a bathhouse if she had such a place?  The apartment 
complex was relatively posh; she still had to have money to afford 
this place.

Genma thought hard as he made his way back to Soun's place.  He 
needed to come up with a good plan.  This had to be done 
delicately.

He entered the house and blinked.  The foyer had been scrubbed 
clean.  The banister and stairs were now free of dirt.

The hallway was swept clean only as far as the stairway landing.  
Genma walked down the hall, peering through the gloom.

A door that evidently led to the yard was slid open, and Soun, 
carrying a bucket of water, scowled at him.  "What kind of manners 
were you taught, Saotome?  Take off your shoes when entering a 
house!"

Genma gaped at him.  "Tendo, the whole house is a mess.  I could 
grow crops where I'm standing right now."

"It will continue to be a mess if you track dirt into it."  Soun 
thrust the bucket into Genma's hands.  A towel floated on top of 
it.  "Here.  Clean up after yourself.  And take off your shoes."

Genma was sorely tempted to dump the water on Soun and tell him 
where he was going to put his shoes.  However, he needed Soun's 
help, so he decided to humor him.  With the deep sigh of a saint 
who has to deal with the insane, he turned, walked back to the 
foyer, slipped off his shoes, and began clean the hallway.

After a couple of hours it became too dark to work.  Genma joined 
Soun on the back porch, emptying out his bucket.  He regretted 
having taken his bath before doing this work.  He felt quite dirty 
now.

He gazed out into the bramble-infested back yard.  He didn't feel 
much like clearing out a space to sleep there, and Soun was 
insisting that they not sleep indoors until it was entirely 
cleaned.  That left one option.  He picked up his backpack and 
jumped onto the roof.  Soun joined him, and they were soon lying 
on their mats, staring at the stars.

"Ah, it feels good to be home."  Soun sounded excited.  "After 
I've got the house and yard in shape, I think I'll build a dojo.  
Right there."  He indicated an area of the back yard.

Genma grunted.  "And then you'll ask her to marry you?"

Soun's voice was strangely subdued.  "If I can make this a good 
place to raise a family.  And if she'll have me."  He continued in 
a brighter tone.  "After all, we have to have someone to inherit 
the teachings of the Tendo School of Indiscriminate Grappling."

Silence for a minute.  When Genma was sure he had his voice under 
control, he spoke silently.  "You mean the Saotome School of 
Indiscriminate Grappling."

More silence.  "It will be on Tendo land.  It will be the Tendo 
School."

"No offspring of yours, Tendo, would ever be able to compete with 
an offspring of mine.  I'm the better martial artist and we both 
know it.  The school will be Saotome."

Soun looked over at him.  "Tendo School."

Genma looked back.  "Saotome School."

"Tendo."

"Saotome."

"Tendo!"

"Saotome!"

Without a conscious decision on his part, Genma found himself on 
his feet engaged in battle.  It raged over the rooftop, neither 
participant willing to back down.  Genma, however, knew that he 
was the better, and Soun began to wither under his attacks.  
Finally, Soun left himself open, and Genma connected with a 
vicious jab to his ribs.  Soun collapsed to his knees on the 
rooftop, holding his side.

Genma grinned and went to finish him off.

Tendo looked up at him, his face furious.  "It will be Tendo!"

Suddenly a frightening figure appeared before Genma.  It had a 
huge, monstrous face, with a snake's tongue and evil, glaring 
eyes.  It loomed over him, and Genma shouted inarticulately and 
fell backwards, covering his face with his arms.

He lay there for a minute, trembling, before realizing that the 
face had looked familiar.  He slowly looked up to see Soun, still 
on his knees, his face a mix of pain and satisfaction.

Genma's jaw dropped open.  "How did you learn to do that?"

Soun smiled.  "Our master taught us many things, Saotome."

Genma was impressed.  He'd seen his master do that trick a couple 
of times.  He had no idea that Soun had learned it, too.  "I 
didn't know you had it in you, Tendo."

"There is much about me that even you don't know, old friend."

Genma helped Soun over to the sleeping mat and bound his ribcage.  
Soun stoically lay back on his mat.  Genma knew that he had to be 
hurting, but they had both taken far worse punishment during their 
training.

Genma lay back on his mat, sighing.  "What are we to do, Tendo?"

"I have an idea.  If we two cannot decide on a common School, let 
our children do it for us."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's unite the Schools by pledging that our children will wed.  
They'll inherit the dojo that I'll build, and name it however they 
please.  They'll carry on the Art for us, and the School will be 
stronger for it."

Genma thought about it, and decided that it sounded like a good 
bargain.  His child would have access to the Tendo fortune � such 
as it was � and be able to support him.  "It's a contract.  One of 
my children will marry one of your children, and inherit the 
dojo."  

They sat up and clasped each other's forearms.  Genma smiled; now 
if only he had a son, and Soun had nothing but girls, life would 
be perfect.

That reminded him.  "You already have someone you're going to 
marry.  I, on the other hand, am bereft of female companionship at 
the moment."

"That you are, Saotome.  What do you want me to do about it?"

Genma grinned.  "Funny you should ask."

* * *

Genma stood in the alley, waiting.  The street was not a well-used 
one, which is why he had chosen it.  No police, no witnesses; 
perfect.

He saw her turn a corner and his heart began to beat.  The woman 
was positively delightful to behold.  She had such grace in her 
simple, elegant movements.  Her skin glowed with serene beauty.  
He had to have her.

Genma gathered himself.

>From the alley across from his, a cloaked figure emerged.  It 
spread its arms wide and loomed over the woman, shouting in anger.  
The woman screamed and jumped back.

Genma ran from the alley.  "I will save you from this scum, 
Ma'am!"  He ran towards the cloaked figure.

Neither he nor the cloaked figure had paid any attention to the 
servant who had been following the woman.  It jumped around the 
woman and drew a bokken.  It hacked at the cloaked figure.  The 
cloaked figure took a good shot to the ribs that caused it to gasp 
and fall to its knees.

Genma arrived, picked up the cloaked figure, and slapped it upside 
the head several times in rapid succession.  "Vile miscreant!  To 
attack defenseless women so!"  He turned and threw the figure over 
his shoulder.  It flew a considerable distance before landing hard 
on the pavement.  It slowly got to its feet, then fled.

Genma nodded, satisfied, before turning to face the woman.  He was 
instead confronted by her servant, which turned out to be an 
elderly woman with eyes that seemed to penetrate his skin.  She 
held the bokken comfortably, and looked ready to beat him 
senseless.  Genma stared at her, unsure what to do.

"It's all right."  The woman's voice was dulcet, and sent chills 
up his spine.  She gently moved her reluctant servant aside.  She 
bowed.  "Thank you, sir, for coming to my aide."

Genma flushed and bowed back.  "It was my honor to do so, madam."

"Would you do the honor of accompanying me home?  I am afraid, 
with such evil creatures on the loose."

Genma smiled, feeling more confident now that his plan was 
working.  "Again, it would be my honor."

He fell into step next to her, trying to ignore the skeptical 
glare of the servant.

The woman spoke in a quiet tone, her voice formal and polite.  "I 
have not seen you before.  Are you new to this neighborhood?"

"I have been on a training trip for many years."

"Ah so?  And for what do you train?"

"I train to be the best martial artist in the world."  He puffed 
out his chest a little.  It was an exaggeration, but not much of 
one.

"No wonder you were able to defeat that villain so easily.  I am 
impressed."

"Thank you, madam."  He tried to blush, but failed.

"I wish I had one such as you to protect me.  Naru here is very 
capable, but I fear she would not have been able to defeat that 
beast."

Genma looked back at the servant � Naru.  She stared back at him, 
raising an eyebrow, offering her own opinion about her abilities.

Genma faced forward and pounced on the subtle invitation given.  
"As it happens, I believe I use the same bathhouse that you do.  
If you would like, I could escort you there each day."

Silence for a while.  They approached her apartment complex.  She 
stopped at the front entrance, and turned to consider him.  "I 
will think on your kind offer, sir."  She bowed to him.

He bowed back, not straightening until he heard her open the door 
to the complex.  Naru walked past him, sniffing.  They went 
inside.

Genma smiled.  That plan had gone off almost perfectly.  She 
hadn't yet agreed to the escort, but he had the feeling she would.

He whistled on his way to the bathhouse.  Now that his exertion 
was over, it was time for him to relax.

Just before he reached the bathhouse, a cloak was thrown over his 
head.  Someone began beating on him mercilessly.  Genma shouted 
and leapt blindly, succeeding only in smashing into a wall.  He 
fell to the ground, dazed.

He heard someone walk up to stand over him.  "The next time you 
want me to participate in one of your master plans, Saotome, make 
sure that you are the one to be on the receiving end of the 
blows."

Genma whipped the cloak off his head.  "Tendo, how was I to know 
she had a madwoman for a servant?"

"You were no less gentle."  Soun helped him to his feet.  Together 
they staggered to the bathhouse.

They stood waiting in line at the counter, each recovering.  Soun 
drew a breath, and turned to look at Genma.  "How did it go?"

Genma smiled.  "Good, I think."

"I did not get a good look at her, but she didn't seem like your 
type."

Genma looked at him in surprise.  "What do you mean?"

Soun seemed to be struggling.  "Well, I had always thought that 
the woman you married would be more... athletic.  This woman was 
attractive enough, but did you see her tone?  She does not keep 
herself fit.  I always thought that you would want someone who 
would be able to keep up with you."

Genma frowned.  "She is still full of grace and elegance.  She 
moves with precision and style.  Did you see how perfectly her 
kimono was arranged?  She would make a fine wife and mother."

Soun shrugged.  "Well, as I said, she didn't seem to be your type.  
But love isn't very particular, I guess.  It sometimes makes us 
fall for entirely the wrong people."

"1000 yen."

They turned and looked at the girl behind the counter.  She looked 
coldly back at them.  Genma realized that he and Soun had been 
ignoring everything else while they talked, and had probably kept 
her waiting.

Genma smiled an apology to her, and dug into his pocket.  "Allow 
me, Tendo.  It's the least I can do."

He paid the girl, and resumed talking to Soun about why the woman 
in the kimono was ideal for him.

* * *

Genma waited nervously outside the apartment.  Naru had delivered 
a message to him, that his services as escort would be 
appreciated.  Genma exulted in the success of his schemes, and 
smiled in anticipation of their inevitable conclusion.

The door opened and he beamed.  "Madam."

She bowed formally to him.  He mentally cursed himself for his 
too-familiar greeting.  He bowed back, and they began their 
journey to the bathhouse, Naru trailing behind them.

"Thank you for accompanying me."

"My honor and my pleasure."  That sounded right, formal with a 
personal touch.

"Have you been practicing more of your martial arts?"

"A true martial artist never stops trying to obtain perfection."  
Genma paused, wondering if that sounded too boastful.  He decided 
to ask about her; women always liked to talk about themselves.  
"Do you participate in any exercise?"

"Heavens, no."  Her voice, while still serene, contained a hint of 
disapproval.  "Such is not correct for a proper lady.  I confine 
myself to cerebral arts, such as poetry."

Genma kept himself from cringing.  "Poetry?"

"Yes.  A perfect evening is one where I spend hours reading on the 
classics and contemplating their meaning.  It sharpens my mind, 
and brings me peace.  I know that when I have children, they will 
benefit from such experiences as well."

"They will?"

"They will if they are proper children.  I also study the tea 
ceremony.  I have two or three ceremonies a week, and they are 
favorably received."

Genma remembered the few ceremonies he had participated in.  The 
long, drawn-out rituals, the struggle to remember what to do and 
when.  The sheer boredom.  "I... rejoice that you have found 
something that you do so well."

"Much like your martial arts."  The woman turned to regard him.  
"You must be a very disciplined person to have achieved such 
status in your Art.  That is good.  Discipline is important; each 
day of hard work is rewarded by the knowledge that one is a step 
closer to perfection.  As you well know."

"Of course."

They approached the bathhouse.  He followed the woman and her 
servant as they went up to the counter and paid.  She turned and 
bowed to him.  "I thank you for your company.  It was pleasant.  I 
look forward to our journey back, and to our future journeys 
together."  She straightened, stared at him a second, then turned 
to enter the women's side.

"500 yen, please."

Genma stood in front of the counter, gaping at the door that led 
to the women's side, ignoring the girl behind the counter and 
everything else, his mind a whirl.

Someone clasped him on the shoulder.  "Good news, Saotome.  This 
will be the last day we have to use the bathhouse.  I've had the 
utilities turned on.  By tomorrow we should have hot running 
water."

Genma spun and grabbed Soun's shirt.  "I'm leaving."

Soun blinked.  "But you haven't taken your bath yet."

"No, I mean I'm leaving Tokyo.  I have got to get out of here 
before she sinks her claws into me.  She'll trap me forever, and I 
won't have that."

Soun stared at him in shock.  "But Saotome, you haven't even 
recovered from our last training trip, and now you want to go 
wandering again?"

Genma nodded grimly.  "Trust me, if I stay here I'll suffer a fate 
worse than death."

Soun sighed.  "Wait for me to finish my bath, and I'll come with 
you."

Genma shook his head.  "There's no need, Tendo.  You've got a good 
life for you here.  A house, a woman, a purpose.  Stay here, 
settle down, build that dojo and that family.  I'll be back.  I 
promise."

They looked at each other for a long time.  They had spent so much 
time together, suffering under the abuses of their master, their 
friendship growing stronger because of it.  Genma had gotten so 
used to being with each Soun that the thought of being apart from 
him terrified him a little.  But he needed to go, this needed to 
be done.

Finally, Soun reached into his pocket and pulled out a key.  
"Here.  This unlocks the front door, I've fixed it.  Leave the key 
in the hallway when you've taken your stuff and leave the door 
unlocked; there's nothing to steal yet."

Genma nodded.  He took the key from Soun, then they clasped each 
other's shoulders, looked deeply into each other's eyes.  Finally, 
Genma turned away.  He walked to the front door and composed 
himself before leaving, trying to figure out why his eyes would be 
burning so.  Behind him, he heard Soun ask for some service at the 
front counter.  The sound of Soun's voice was just a little too 
painful right now, and Genma quickly left and ran back to the 
Tendo home.

He grabbed his stuff out of the house.  He looked around one more 
time, impressed with all of the work Soun had done.  It was truly 
shaping up to be a home.  Genma smiled, imagining it filled with 
the sounds of Soun's family.  It would be good, Soun would have a 
good life here.

Enough.  Genma walked to the foyer and placed the key in the 
middle of the floor.  He opened the door and shot through it as 
quickly as possible, nearly running over the girl outside.

He caught her before she fell.  She looked up at him and blushed.  
She separated herself and took a step back before bowing formally 
to him.  "I apologize for disturbing you, sir."

Genma frowned, trying to place her.  The girl was dressed in a 
kimono, hastily put on by the looks of it.  She had clearly been 
running, although she wasn't breathing hard; she appeared to be in 
good shape.  She straightened and looked at him evenly, the blush 
deepening.

With a start he recognized her.  The girl who had nearly run over 
him that first day, the girl who worked in the bathhouse.  He 
bowed back at her.  "I apologize for running into you, miss."

He straightened, wondering what was going to happen.  For the 
first time in his life, he had no script to follow when he was 
alone with a woman.

Strangely, it actually felt pretty good.

The girl shifted her feet a little.  "I... understand that you're 
leaving on a training trip."

Genma blinked.  How had she known that?  Then he remembered where 
he and Soun had said their goodbyes.  And who else had likely been 
there.  "Indeed.  I will be gone for a long time."

"And you'll be by yourself."

"Yes."

The girl looked down, biting her lip.  She suddenly reached inside 
her kimono and pulled out a handkerchief.  "Here."

Genma took it, puzzled.  It was elaborately embroidered, obviously 
hand-stitched.  In one corner, his name had been carefully sewn 
into the cloth.

He looked up at her, startled.

She blushed.  "I th-thought that maybe you m-might need something 
like this.  I mean, if you're going to be by yourself.  I 
mean...."  She trailed off, floundering.

Genma smiled.  He knew what she was trying to say.  "Thank you, 
miss.  I will keep this safe and clean and dry, and take it out 
when I am lonely, and think of you."

Her face was now as red as Soun's had ever been.  "Th-thank you."  
She bowed at him.

He bowed back.  He folder the handkerchief and carefully placed it 
in his backpack before shouldering it.  He walked to the front 
gate, then turned to regard her.  "You somehow know my name, but I 
do not know yours."

Her eyes lit up.  "Nodoka."

He bowed again.  "I look forward to seeing again one day, Nodoka."

"And I, you, Genma."  She bowed back, her smile as wide as her 
face was red.

Genma smiled, turned, and walked out the front gate.  He had been 
considering never returning to Nerima, of living the life of a 
wandering ronin and finding adventure wherever he went.  Now, all 
of a sudden, he found that there was a part of him that knew he 
would be coming back.  While wandering was fun, there was perhaps 
something else in life worth discovering.

And her name was Nodoka.

~*~

To be continued....