Emily was tired, but she knew she had to go. She'd promised her father she would go to this stupid meeting, after he'd gone out of his way to schedule it so far into the future. Her father had made the plans exactly sixteen months ago. Emily had been too tired, too emotional to argue with her father. She remembered the day very clearly now, and she still thought of it as a day she would remember forever. No matter how painful it was, she decided she would survive. Kazu had left for college already, and had gone quite far away. At first he called frequently, but then... she'd yelled at him about something stupid. Later on she had been consoled by Yayoi that she wasn't really to blame, her raging hormones had made her argue with everyone who talked to her for a little while. Then he had stopped calling. But she was too busy to call him, too caught up in her own life. She hadn't even known she was waiting for him to call her until her father had suggested the omiai a year and a half ago. But she thought for sure Kazu would return or call her at least once before now as that was the deal. She had agreed, after all and Emily had always been a girl that kept her word and now that she was a woman it was no different.

She sighed, sitting in front of the mirror and make up desk she had gotten as a gift for her birthday this year. She thought at first that it was a little insulting, but then became even more enraged when she realized what they expected her to use it for. It was useful now to stare at her reflection and realize just how tired she looked. She needed to shape up! After all, she'd been the one to agree and she was just going to the meeting. She'd had her picture and information in the omiai all this time and only one man was willing to meet her. She had a pretty good idea who it was, too. She'd sensed his presence the moment her father had suggested the meeting and he'd been there on that important day. He had even come in to see her. Well, he had come to see only her when he found out she was in the hospital but in the end it hadn't been a visit with her at all.

Without too much trouble, she managed to fix her hair up into a traditional loose bun with some beautiful trinkets that had come with her vanity set. Yes, well planned presents indeed. Either way, she hadn't been feeling too pretty lately and it had made her take back her feminine side by force. Yayoi was always telling her these things were normal, and had also told her that the omiai was for the best. Yayoi had reminded her that she had to think about the feelings and needs of others for once despite her never ending feelings for Kazu. He wasn't coming back, after all. He didn't come back for the breaks either. She looked in the mirror, pleased with what she had conjured up. She was sure he wouldn't care of course if he'd been waiting this long for the meeting.

Once she had assembled herself into her traditional pink kimono with cherry blossoms, she walked out of her room to see her parents eagerly awaiting. They were happy with her appearance, and happy she'd decided to go even though she was tired. She hadn't slept much lately and she worked part time in the shop thanks to her parent's understanding. Yes, it was time to think about other people than herself. Her mother stayed behind, though she wished to go and see this mysterious candidate who dared to show up alone.

Kazumi Mikura stepped off the bus with a proud expression. Would he wait until tomorrow to go see her? Ikki and the others were likely to want to see him as well. Though Kazu wasn't really a shy person, he found it hard to express things clearly when the others were around. Onigiri in particular tended to ruin serious trains of thought with an ease that frightened the blond. No, he decided he would go see her first. Before the others had a chance to ruin his carefully laid out plans. He'd heard that Emily had started working in her family's shop and hadn't gone to college after all, but he wondered why she'd made that decision after he had left. Perhaps she was taking time off. She hadn't called him since the time she'd yelled at him four months after he'd left. He'd been confused and angry as well, but didn't really regret hanging up the phone. It was the first time he'd ever talked to Emily that way, and it had taken him a long time to realize there was no one else who could yell at him like that and make him lose his temper. Besides Ikki. But Ikki was talented that way. He hailed a taxi, deciding the visit to his parents could wait. He hadn't seen her in so long- not since two years ago when she'd come to see him off. A lot of things could happen to a person in two years but he knew Emily would still be there. She was the strongest person he'd ever met, and he never worried about her the way he had worried about Ikki and Kogarasumaru. He'd given up worrying about her in the air battle with Om.

Emily entered the hotel entrance with her father by her side, walking as gracefully as she could in these ridiculous robes. Her mother had said that pink was a maiden's colour and so she needed to wear it to remind her suitor that she was a young woman still. Either way, she knew it wouldn't matter to him even if she showed up in a track suit. He'd always been with her, had endured every time she had yelled at him. She had even hit him once, with no little amount of strength and he had let her. He wasn't even angry. He never really smiled either, but he had simply told her he would wait until she had calmed down to return to visit her again. When had these visits started? Two years ago, she supposed. She'd seen Kazu off, with high hopes. And the next thing she knew he had integrated himself into her family. Though her family were ill at ease with him, he made them nervous. It was only on the day of the proposed omiai that they had begun to accept him. She wondered if she could accept him. Not just as a visitor, but as a husband. Emily was tired. But she was tired of waiting, too. If she could love him, perhaps it would be for the best. They approached the table where he was waiting patiently. Emily knew her father was still surprised by his frightening eyes, but they could not get through to her. There had been a single moment in time when she had seen a different expression on his face, even before Kazu had left and she would not forget it. He'd praised her as she had been protecting those that mattered to her, even if it was against him. She sat at the table, and let her eyes fall on the scar across his face.

Kazu arrived at Adachi Emily's family shop, without flowers or anything he thought might make her not attempt to beat him into a bloody pulp when he showed up to see her two years after he'd gone. But the shop was empty and quiet.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" He called out. He heard noises in the back, and wondered if someone had fallen or broken something. He heard quiet foot steps and prepared himself to be hit by Adachi. She was strong. And he might have deserved it. He took a breath in preparation, wondering if there was anything he could say to make the beating less painful. Only to be greeted by a small and giggling child. The child was laughing at him, and it was almost annoying. But he was wondering where in the world the small thing had come from. His face was still plump a bit like a baby and the way he walked gave Kazu the idea that he hadn't been walking for very long. The blue jumper he wore had its hood over his head and was adorned with two bear ears. He thought of Emily's parents having another child and wondered if that was why she had started working in the shop. He had Emily's brown eyes, and was still laughing at Kazu. Just when Kazu was about to get mad, the almost toddler shook his hands up towards him and Kazu stared at the child in confusion. What did that mean exactly? The child continued to stretch his arms up towards Kazu's tall figure for a few moments as if he was hugging a ghost. Very cautiously, he picked up the child by its mid section with both hands after it dawned on him what the request had been.

"Kenji! Where are you? As soon as I catch you!". Kazu looked between the child and the voice that was calling and getting closer. The child nuzzled in closer to him, and he could see the look of a kid who was trying to avoid getting in trouble. He wondered what he was supposed to do now. That was definitely Adachi's mother calling, and he wasn't even sure that Kenji was the name of the small thing he was holding. He'd only picked it up because he was afraid it was going to start crying. Finally, Adachi's mother found him. He was still unsure of what to do with the child, as it seemd like it wasn't going to let go of him. Yes, this was definitely Kenji. And then Adachi's mother stared at him like he was a ghost.

"H-hi, uhm, is Emily here?" He asked, nervously wondering why she was staring at him like that. He was going to start babbling out of nervousness. "Ah... Kenji is his name, huh? He's really cute - I'm kind of surprised you and your husband would want another child at this age." She finally reacted, shaking her head to herself as if he'd just said something stupid.

"Emily is out right now, can I take a message?" She said, not bothering to remove Kenji. Kenji knew he was in trouble and was going to stick to the blond stranger until it was deemed safe again. Kazu wasn't sure what to say for a message. He never really got the chance to though. The phone rang and the woman asked him to wait there for a moment and watch Kenji.

"You see him every time you come to visit, why do I need to drag him out here too. He's supposed to be having a bath right now anyway," Emily said, stirring her straw in the water glass. Her father was highly embarrassed by her casual responses at such a serious meeting but Gabishi didn't seem to care much. She was acting more like herself now anyway. She'd been moping for too long, it wasn't like her.

"It would make things more official. Besides, he has a say in this decision too," He said coolly. Emily sighed, the matchmaker was not impressed with either of them but had decided after the first ten minutes that their personalities were very good together. Even if there were no feelings between the two individuals themselves, it seemed like the best match that Adachi was going to get with all things considered.

"Alright. But it's not like he can speak enough to agree to anything. What is it you like about him so much anyway?" She asked, smiling to herself. A parent's pride was one thing she couldn't hold in.

"Your eyes. He has your eyes, and it reminds me of that time. Besides, he doesn't have a father anyway," He said. He hadn't meant it to be cruel, but she felt a bit of pain in her chest and made it quickly pass. Gabishi, of course, was right. She hadn't told him so it was the same as him not existing. But now was the time to stop being selfish. It wasn't just Emily anymore. She had to think about Kenji's needs as well. Gabishi was surprisingly good with Kenji, but it was more likely the effect of having been around since he was born. Sixteen months and Gabishi still wanted to marry her. Not really for her, more for Kenji. But perhaps a little bit for her as well. Emily was tired of waiting for someone who might turn around the moment they saw Kenji. She turned to her father.

"Father, please call mama and ask her to bring Kenji. He can stay in his pajamas as well, I don't want him to think he doesn't have to go to bed tonight," She said, and her father stood to leave. She turned back to Gabishi, taking a sip of water before she continued. "You really love him, don't you?"

"Not just him, Emily," Gabishi responded distantly. He didn't have to say the words, because she could hear them. She blushed, unable to keep eye contact. It had been a long time since someone had said that to her. Well, not said technically. She wasn't going to wait anymore, she reminded herself.

"Let's go wait in the lobby for him."

(A/N)

Okay. One comment to make here. Oh my God! There are next to no non-yaoi Kazu stories! I just wanted to read one! Is that such a terrible thing? So... here I am again, writing a story when I should be finishing off my other ones as planned. And for all waiting on the current focus don't worry! I'm still working on it! I'm just finishing up the last chapter of this one now. I'm a little nervous, the end is going to be really action focused and I'm no good with writing that sort of stuff. I can pull a heart string but when it comes to Air Trek just watch me go flying into a wall. But it had to be done- even if the last chapter doesn't come out right it's better than the nothing I've been finding when I just want to read an Emily and Kazu story. I'm actually not done the manga but I'm almost there. I'm on chapter... 160-170. I meant this story to be a one shot then decided that after the 2000 words limit I'd better turn it into a chaptered story.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or story of Air Gear. I just write.