"I now pronounce you, man and wife!"
Hikaru sat in the front row as he watched his mother marry for the second time. Although he was only seven years old, there was something about the man that he didn't like. She had explained to him over and over that he just missed his own father and that it was natural for any child to dislike another man being with his mom at the beginning. She said he would get used to it and that soon they would be a happy family, but he didn't know.
"Grandpa?"
"Shh Hikaru, the ceremony is almost over!"
"Will I see you again?"
Heihachi Shindo looked down at his grandson with a deep gaze before ruffling his hair, "You can come to my place whenever you want!"
Hikaru flashed a gateful smile. With grandpa around he would always be happy. Everytime something went wrong he could go to him. When his father died, he stayed with Hikaru and was able to fill the hole that was left by his father's early passing. They had forged a unique relationship that was borne out of love and hardship. Although his mother never knew it, it was because of his grandfather's advice that Hikaru decided to accept the marriage.
Wiggling around in his seat, Hikaru thought about all the great things he was going to do with his grandpa when the voice of Yoshikawa Seiji snapped him out of his reverie, "Ready to go sport?"
"Sport?" he thought.
"But I was going to go to granpa's house and --"
"No you are coming with us. You can't be bouncing between two houses all the time. I am your new dad now so there will be some new rules, come on Hikaru."
Seiji grabbed Hikaru's arm and began walking, as he reached out towards his grandfather, "Grandpa! Grandpa! GRANDPA!"
-
3 Years Later:
SLAM!
"I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU I DIDN'T WANT LEFTOVERS AGAIN!"
"Seiji! You are drunk again, please don't be upset. This is your favorite, you said you could eat it every day!"
Hikaru could hear his mother pleading with Seiji again. The yelling was his cue to turn off his light, run and hide under his desk. Hikaru trembled as he shut his eyes, but the yelling continued.
"Why you ungrateful little.." CRASH!! "I work all day, spend my money so you and your little freeloader can eat and this is how you repay me?" CRASH!! "Where is he? Where is the brat?"
"Seiji NO! If you are upset it is because of me. Please, he is just a child, he has done nothing!" cried his mother.
Hikaru could hear tears in her voice and it caused a lump to form in his throat. Suddenly he heard a "WUMP" and the voice of his mother was suddenly silent. He strained his ears and could hear the slow methodical steps of his step-father coming up the stairs. When they stopped, it was right outside of his door. With a bang the door to his room flew open.
"I know you are in here Hikaru. You were bad again weren't you?"
Tears began to stream from Hikaru's eyes as he shook like a leaf.
"Come out from under the desk and take your punishment." Standing in the doorway the hallway light reflected off his glasses and smiling teeth making them the only features visible. He looked like a giant shadow with a monstrous skeletal grin as he entered the room and closed the door behind him. Now everything was dark...
After his step-father tired and left, Hikaru lay on the bed weeping. His body ached from the beating, or "punishment" as his step-father like to call it. His eyes fell on a wrapped box next to his bed with a letter resting on top of it. Reaching down he pulled it next to him and hugged it tightly. He couldn't remember how many times he had done this, it was a ritual by now, but it made him feel better. Carefully opening the letter he read its contents, that he already knew by memory
"Statement:
To my grandson I bequeath my most valuable posession. It may not be claimed by any other immediate family, nor may it be sold by Hikaru himself. It must remain in his possession for the entirety of his life as a memorial to our everlasting bond."
Testator's Note to Beneficiary:
My dearest Hikaru,
Although this final gift may seem small, and inconsequential you will realize one day that I could give you no greater prize or pass on no greater legacy. Just remember Hikaru that it will guide you when you least expect it. My only regret is that I was not able to pass this on to you in person. I know that you will grow into a fine man, and will always love your mother.
Love Grandpa"
Tears of sadness fell from Hikaru's eyes, "Why did you leave us grandpa? You could have saved us!"
Hikaru fell asleep in that position, tired and exhausted, grasping the precious gift his grandfather had left him as if holding on for dear life.
Sunlight peaked through the window and played on Hikaru's eyelid. Rolling to the side he stared at the ceiling listening to the birds chirping carefree outside his window.
"How I wish I could be like them" he thought, "I could just fly way at any sign of trouble..."
He sighed and set his grandfather's gift on the ground. Even though it was given to him over 2 years ago he still hadn't opened it. He felt like it would violate the sacredness of his grandfather's memory, and so he had decided to wait for a sign before he would open it. He wasn't sure what the sign was supposed to be, but he knew that he would recognize it the second it appeared.
Slowly getting out of bed his body was still sore. He was glad it was the weekend, since it would be hard to explain the bruises to his classmates. Not like any of them would notice him anyways, and generally the ones that did notice him were only slightly more gentle than his step-father.
Quietly making his way downstairs he saw his mother on her knees cleaning up broken dishes on the floor. Her hair was dischevelled and it looked like she had a black eye.
"Mom, are you okay?"
"Oh, Hikaru I am doing great!" she said with forced happiness. She got up and embraced her son planting a kiss on the top of his head.
"But mom, your face..."
"Oh dear, its nothing to worry about. I just fell last night while I was fixing dinner."
Hikaru didn't say anything, but he hated it when she made up excuses for Seiji's abuse. She never admitted that he abused her, and somehow she still loved the man. Even if she tried to do something about it, a separation would most likely leave her and Hikaru in an even worse state. She had been a housewife ever since Hikaru was born and she had no work skills at all.
Hikaru's anger smoldered when he thought about how his mother was treated. Seiji would be gone for days at a time and then suddenly show up drunk and beat them both up. Then the family would return to a sense of "normality" for sometimes as long as a month before the cycle would repeat itself again, starting with one of his absences. Lately his absences, and beatings, had been more frequent.
"Can I go out an play mom?"
"Sure honey, but stay close."
Kissing his mother Hikaru left the house and went into the backyard. He quickly snuck away and made his way towards the Buddhist temple. Whenever he felt sad or lonely he liked to go there, because it was inside of a beautiful garden and it was generally filled with older people paying their respects. The garden gave him a sense of escaping from the harsh world that he lived in. In the middle of the busiest and most crowded city on earth he could walk into Eden and experience peace and quiet. The elders that congregated at the temple reminded him of his grandfather and made him fill nostalgic for his company. Many times he would strike up a conversation just to hear them talk, and pretend like he was with his grandpa again.
Because of this place, Hikaru had been able to maintain his sanity and composure in the midst of a crisis that would have warped someone else.
Making his way to the temple Hikaru noticed that the cherry trees were laden with blossoms. This was by far his most favorite time of the year. Everything was new again, life was beginning. The fragrance of the flowers on the trees was intoxicating and gave him an invigorating sense of life.
Today Hikaru wanted to pay respects to his Grandpa and to pray for guidance. Entering the temple he approached the alter and grabbed some joss sticks. He lit them and set them in the cannister and knelt before the giant image of Buddha hands clasped. Bowing to the floor succressively three times he payed respects to his Grandfather. He stood up and repeated the ritual a second time so that his prayers would be heard. When he finished with the second prostration he sat with his knees folded under him with his hands gently resting on top of them. He stared up at the Buddha and contemplated his life.
"I see you are with us again."
Hikaru started in surprise noticing a bald monk sitting to his immediate right. He had been so intent in his worship that he did not notice the man approach.
Sensing his confusion the monk continued, "It is not often one so young comes to us so often."
"Well," Hikaru shyly said, "this place gives me peace I guess."
"A lesson many more could benefit from."
"Yea, well I was hoping all my problems could be taken away too" sighed Hikaru.
The monk merely smiled as he looked down compassionately at Hikaru. "Have you ever heard of self-salvation?"
"What is that?"
"If you were to fall into a deep pool, what would you do?"
"Well, duh I'd swim to the edge and get out."
"What if you could not swim?"
Hikaru balked at the question, "I...guess...I would scream for help and hope someone heard me."
"Aha" said the monk. "You see that in both your answers you provided the path to self-salvation. If we liken this to our life today, some people would question where the pool came from, and why it had to jump in their way. As they drowned they would pray for a miracle, or become bitter that it did not happen to others. Meanwhile salvation lay within their grasp and yet their great sin was in failing to act, not in that the fell into the pool. The essence of life is change. If you can remember that then you can look forward to the next change in life."
The monk stood up and patted Hikaru on the head saying, "The answers to your problems are not so far out of your reach as you think."
As Hikaru watched the kind monk walk away he scratched his head in confusion. "What exactly was he talking about?" He had never been good in school and he felt like he had just endured one of his Math teacher's famous lectures. Sadness slowly filled him as he left the temple grounds. Walking down the great stairs he realized his problems were still there, and that as soon as he left the temple garden they would be as real as they were last night.
Tears began to fill his eyes as he reached the rows of Cherry trees. He stopped to look at them once more before he left. As the first tear fell a strong breeze began to blow. It seemed as if the trees sighed in unison as they released their hold on the blossoms and a pink blizzard enveloped Hikaru. He was overwhelmed by such an awe inspiring event and he felt as if he was in a dream. The words of the monk came unbidden to his mind
The answers to your problems are not so far out of your reach...
Then his grandfather's note sang out , Just remember Hikaru that it will guide you when you least expect it
At that moment Hikaru knew -- It was time to open the present.