Author's Note: Finally, chapter two! I think it's as good as the first one. What do you guys think? Be free to give me any ideas and some constructional criticism in your reviews so the story will be more enjoyable! Please also leave questions in your reviews if you have any. Your questions might be ones that other people had thought of. I will be happy to answer them. :D
"Kiku, it's time to get changed!" the Japanese boy's mom called.
"Yes, mother. I'm sorry that I got a little dirty from practicing kendo."
"It's okay," she smiled. "Come on, we'll be having our feast soon. You have to look clean and neat for your aunts, uncles, and grandparents."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Yao, the food's ready!" his mom announced. "You can deliver it now!"
She made sure that the food was going to be delivered safely by transferring them into large wooden bowls with clear wrap all over them and putting them into two sturdy paper bags. That way, the food wouldn't fall easily and would stay in one piece despite any obstacles on the delivery route.
"Alright, mom! I'm ready to deliver the food!" he appeared wearing a red outfit with oversized sleeves and weaved conical hat. "See you later!"
"Be careful on the road!"
He placed the food in the basket at the back of his bike. The stuffed panda that was already there looked like it was protecting the food. He read the directions at the back of the slip that the Japanese boy had read from.
"So he lives in Yokohama…" he said to himself. "That's good! His home shouldn't be that far, aru!"
He started pedaling while looking over the directions.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Ah, it's nice having a little peace and quiet before having a party…" Kiku commented, sinking himself more in his warm bath water. It was a common Japanese tradition for people to cleanse in bathhouses known as sentōs.
"Kiku, it's time to get out! Your relatives are on their way now!" his mom called.
"I guess I'm wrong," he muttered disappointedly.
He got out of his bath and enveloped himself in a fine silky robe.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Wow," Yao gasped, "so this is his home? His family's really rich, aru!"
Kiku's home was as wide as a city block and four stories high. It was bordered by a tall dark brown fence that also had a doorway to a grand garden. His home was painted in a dark orange color. Yao transverses the main entrance's stony path and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" a man's voice responded to the sound.
"I'm the delivery boy from Hungry Panda! I came here to give you your food!"
The door quickly opened.
"Thank you so much," he said when he saw the food Yao was carrying. He noticed that he was struggling. "Oh, is that really heavy for you to handle?"
"Yeah," Yao grunted.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of it," he offered. "Wait a minute, you can speak Japanese fluently even though you're Chinese?"
"Yes, sir. My mom taught me your language at a young age since we live in Japan."
"Did you have a hard time learning it?"
"Not that much. It's easier than my native language, aru."
"I bet that you're a very quick learner," the man grinned. "By the way, what is your name, young man?"
"I'm Wang Yao, sir. You must be that boy's father, right? I'm talking about the one who came to my restaurant earlier, aru."
"Wang… that surname sounds familiar…"
"Really, aru? Where have you heard it?"
"Someone I know from long ago. Anyway, yes, I am Honda Kiku's father."
"Ah, so that's his name, aru! It's very nice! Does it have an actual meaning, aru?"
"Kiku means chrysanthemum, the flower of the Japanese emperor."
"Cool, aru! It was nice meeting you, Mr. Honda! I hope to see you when you're craving Chinese food again, aru!"
He lightly chuckled. "You have a nice day now, Yao!"
"Thank you, aru! You too!" And he started pedaling back to his home on a safe path.