The next day was a beautiful fall October day. The temperature was cool and crisp in the morning. I got up, albeit slowly and made my way to the dinning room and had breakfast with everyone. After the meal Katsihito had me start cleaning the shrine. He told me to sweep with my left hand so it would loosen up the muscles on that side.
"Just go slow and do not try to finish today." Katsihito said.
I took his advice and worked for about three hours, then he called me to the shrine. As soon as I reached the top he charged at me with his boken. With out even thinking I went on the defensive and dropped into a crouch as he slashed down at me I charged in and grappled him. I held him with my left arm, which made that side hurt like hell, and went with a jab to the solar plexus. I was quite satisfied with the oomph I got out of him. That lasted for about a second when the boken came down on my head. I saw stars and let fly with a blind roundhouse and was surprised to feel it connect with his chest. Looking up he was staggering back as I was falling down. As I hit the ground my vision blurred and I felt the fire in my left side. Touching there I felt the blood seeping though the shirt I was wearing. Through my hazy vision I saw him approach again and tried to stand but didn't make it. As I lay there breathing hard he reached down and helped me up and over to the shrine.
"That was very impressive Joe." he said. "You are the only student to ever hit me twice in all the years I have been teaching."
While he was talking he bandaged my side.
"Well," I rasped out, "It was the only thing I could think of, get inside the weapon and render it useless. Are you OK?" I asked.
"Much better than you. I see how you were able to defeat three armed opponents. Do you feel like you can make it to the house?" he asked.
"Let me get my wind back and rest for a minute." I replied.
As we sat there I asked him a question that was nagging me for a few days.
"Katsihito," I asked quietly, " When did you and Itsuki tell Keiko and her mother about me? and why did you?"
"I told them about you just after your birthday." he replied.
He sat quietly for a few more minutes then he said "Because you need more company than my wife or I could provide. I have known Keiko and mother for a long time now and I figured she and her mother would like the opportunity to experience a different cultural point of view. I have known the Matsari's for many years and unlike a lot of people in the cities they are not prejudice to foreigners and different cultures. If you wish I can tell them not to come around for a while." he said with a slight smile.
"NO... I mean no that's all right, I really don't mind." I blurted out.
"Ahh... I see." replied Katsihito with a sly smile. "Are you ready to go to the house now?"
"Yeah, lets go." I said and stood up with a grimace.
Katsihito helped me down the stairs and to the house where he left me on the porch. It was a nice day and Itsuki brought us lunch outside. While we were eating Itsuki asked me what I thought of Keiko.
"Well she is a very nice girl and pretty too, but I am curious as to where her father is?" I replied.
"He was in Tokyo when he was killed in an explosion." she replied. "He was helping victims from a fire when a gas line exploded."
"How long ago did it happen?" I asked.
"Its been about three years now." Katsihito replied.
"T..thr..three years? Uh what caused the fire?" I asked cautiously fearing the answer.
The look the gave me said everything.
"Do they know it was me?" I asked guiltily.
"No." replied Itsuki.
When she said that my appetite went right out the window. I thanked her for the lunch and got up to go for a walk to think about this new wrinkle in my life.
As I walked I thought about what had happened. It was easy to drop bombs from altitude when you didn't have to see the victims of your actions. It was quite another when you are on the ground and have to accept responsibility for those same actions. I never felt so low in my life. I loved flying, but this wasn't something that happened every day. I meet a nice girl and her mother, save their lives, and find out I am responsible for the loss of a father and husband. As I was walking I found myself by the demon cave. I decided to sit down and try to meditate. I must have sat there for hours. The next thing I knew it was getting dark. As I got up, I must have still been weak from the knife wound. I got light headed and dizzy. I fell back and hit my head.
Have you ever had a dream that was so real, you were almost positive it really happened.
In my dream I saw a beautiful woman. Her eyes were strange, glowing green like fire. Her hair was a light blueish color. Her laugh was pure rage and evil. As I looked around I saw fires and explosions. A city was being devastated, by this one girl. The strange thing was, in the air were ships that looked like they were made of wood, and they were firing on this girl. Her eyes flashed every time she destroyed one. Then a warrior came and attacked the girl with a sword. She formed one out of thin air. The battle that followed was incredible and the warrior managed to drive her away. The dream was strange because the next thing I knew I was looking out into space. I had seen pictures in books and from movies like Flash Gordon and what I was seeing was nothing like that. It was breathtaking. At least it was until I saw flashes of red and white. The explosions were silent and eerie. Then I saw the combatants, it was one of those wooden ships from that city and a strange spiky ball like ship. Both ships were pretty badly damaged. Then the wooden ship fired a blast and the spiky ship was hit hard. the spiked ship then rammed the wooden one and they started down towards a planet, both in flames. The dream shifted again this time to the planets surface. The woman with the green eyes and blueish hair was fighting the warrior. The area around them was devastated and the combat between the two was intense. The warrior managed to get the upper hand and stabbed the girl in the neck. What happened next was unreal. The warriors sword pulsed and it seemed to draw three red gems or marbles from the girl. When it was finished the girl collapsed crying and looked lost, scared and alone. The warrior raised his sword for the death blow but then a strange woman appeared. She was more than beautiful and she seemed to radiate a power. Then she spoke and her voice was melodious.
"Lord Yosho, stay your hand. This girl is not responsible for her actions and should not be killed."
"But my lady she must be punished for her crimes." Yosho responded with hate in his voice.
"And she will. But you will not kill her. She will be imprisoned and when the time comes she will be set free. This is my wish." the lady replied.
"As you wish Lady Tsunami, it will be done." Yosho replied with a defeated sigh.
"Do not let your hatred guide you, Lord Yosho. You have taken a dangerous tool from a madman and when the time is right this man will be destroyed by her and my other champion." Lady Tsunami said softly to him.
The dream shifted to the cave I was at. Lord Yosho took the unconscious girl into the cave. I followed along and watched as he put her into a pool of water and left. At the top he used his sword to seal the wall at the back of the cave then later he built a small shrine and put the sword in it and then left. The warrior Yosho reminded me somewhat of Katsihito. Maybe it was just my mind trying to fit things into a perspective I could understand.
The dream shifted again and I was at the small pool where the girl lay. She looked like she was asleep. As I watched her laying there, I realized I was not alone. Looking to my right I saw the Lady Tsunami standing there.
"She looks peaceful doesn't she?" Lady Tsunami asked.
Moving suddenly I jumped left. Talk about having the bejesus scared out of you. She smiled at my reaction.
"You don't have to be afraid." she said.
"Wh... Whats going on here? Your not real and neither is she. This is just a dream brought on by a legend and my nearness to this cave and the weakened state I'm in." I stammered. I was really starting to question my sanity about then.
"Yes it is a dream but one that is based on fact." she replied.
"Who are you?" I asked.
" I am the goddess Tsunami. I am the protector of this universe." she stated as if that said it all.
"Sure. It all makes sense now. This is a dream so that must make me the guardian of this planet." I replied with a smile. "Since this is my dream I can be anything I want. Why not go big?"
"I understand you skepticism," she said with a light laugh, "but I can assure you that what I say is true."
"How so?" I asked.
"Wait till you wake up then you will see." she replied cryptically.
"OK. I'll wait till then. So why are you here?" I asked figuring to play along.
"Your friend prayed to me and I decided that if one of my children were to pray for your well being I would see what makes you so special." she said.
"Are you talking about Katsihito?" I asked.
"No." she replied with a smile.
"Itsuki?" I asked.
"No." she said again this time with a hint of laughter.
"Well I just ran out of friends, so have you figured out what makes me special?" I asked wondering who would pray for me if not the Masaki's.
"Yes I have, and you have more friends than that." she smiled.
"I'll bet your a wiz at 20 questions aren't you? As for anyone else on the friends list the only others I know are the Matsari's. But when they find out about something I did, well I wouldn't blame them if they turned me over to the military or civil authorities." I replied. Well so much for the nice dream. That thought just sent me another wave of guilt.
"Maybe they will understand and forgive you if you talk to them about it." she said.
"Not after what I did." I said softly.
"Would you like to talk about it?" Tsunami asked.
"I guess. This is a dream after all, so why not." I said with a slight resignation. "Do you know what I am?" I asked.
"Yes. At this point in time you are an American bomber pilot." she stated.
"Right. Your a goddess so you should know these things. Then you know that on my last mission I bombed Tokyo, and as a result a girl and her mother that I just met have no father and husband." I said with remorse.
"If you just met them, why do you feel so guilty? You know people die in wars." she replied.
"Of course I know people die!" I snapped. You think its all fun and games. You think I like killing people?" I yelled at her. Two of my friends died not twenty feet from me on that raid, but they knew what the risks were, and they were soldiers not civilians. We were only supposed to hit military targets. There weren't supposed to civilians there. It's just that...Hell I don't even know what to think any more." I said. "It's just that when I start thinking about what I did to them it hurts and I don't know how to make it stop." I don't remember when I started crying, but suddenly she came over and hugged me. She touched my forehead and I felt a piece of mind, a calm of sorts come over me. I felt sleepy all of a sudden and my eyes started getting heavy. Strange to feel sleepy in a dream, but with this dream, strange stepped in a while back.
"My children were right, you are special." she spoke softly but it was a soothing voice filled with comfort and love, and most of all forgiveness.
"What makes me so special? I'm just a guy that just found out he doesn't like to fight any more. After what I did I think I'd like to trade places with that girl in the pool and forget everything." I replied tiredly.
"That girl in the pool is named Ryoko and she is a lot like you. The only difference was that she was forced to do those things you saw. You had a choice and acted according to your circumstances. What you did was not evil or sadistic. As you said it is a war and in war people die, even civilians. I'm sure if you talked to Kieko and her mother they would not only understand but even forgive you." she said softly.
The more she talked the more peaceful I became.
"Your heart and courage are what make you special, but I also sense something more. In this time of war there will be terrible events and you will be needed by more than just Yo..Katsihito and Itsuki. Kieko and her mother will need you as well." Tsunami spoke so softly.
As I looked up at her things my sight started dimming and I heard her calling my name.
"Joe...Joe wake up." Her voice sounded far away
"Joe please wake up."
"Its all right Tsunami I can still hear you." I replied.
I heard a gasp of surprise and I slowly opened my eyes. I couldn't see to well, my vision was blurry.
"Tsunami whashts wrong wishth my eyes? I can't shee to well." I asked. As I listened to myself I could tell my speech was slurred.
"JOE WAKE UP!!" she yelled.
My vision focused at it wasn't Tsunami calling me it was Kieko.
"Kieko? Whash are you doin in my dreamsh?" I asked.
My eyes closed and I dimly heard Keiko screaming for Katsihito.
The next thing I remember was it was dark out and I was in bed. I got out of bed and went to the kitchen to get a drink. Getting a glass of water I went out to the porch and was amazed by two things. One there was snow covering the ground and two my side didn't hurt at all. Looking at my side I noticed it was completely healed and on top of that there was no scar. I sat on the porch to think about this and started to remember the dream I had. I went back inside and got my cloak then went out for a walk. Looking around I saw a strange sight. It was brown with white markings hopping away down the path. I decided to follow it. As I got closer to it I could see it was a rabbit, but it still looked strange. I followed it some more and it stopped by the cave. I watched for a little while when I saw the girl from the cave. I watched her come toward the rabbit and pick it up and pet it.
"Ryoko" I whispered. To my shocked she looked straight at me. I sat on a rock and continued to watch her. She was just staring at me. Feeling pretty good I decided to try something.
"Hi. You OK?" I asked.
The look on her face was one of surprise and shock. I imagine I looked about the same. This was more than strange, it bordered on the unreal. Then I thought maybe I'm still dreaming.
I was watching Ryoko, when she started walking towards me. I stood up and took a step forward. She stopped. I stepped forward toward her and she backed up. Realizing she might be scared I backed up and sat down. I thought to myself this dream isn't so bad. I beckoned her to come sit by me. She started forward and stopped. I got off the rock and tried a different tact. I moved to one side with her watching me all the while. Standing there facing her, I fell back into the snow and started making a snow angle. When I finished I added the halo, then got back on the rock and waited. She slowly came over and looked at what I had done. She looked up at me and I smiled at her and gave a small wave. She smiled back. I looked at her closely then and realized her eyes were no longer green, they were a gold color with cat like pupils, and her ears were more elongated. This added to her cat like appearance. She looked more relaxed so I tried talking to her.
"Can you hear me?" I asked.
She opened her mouth and spoke but I couldn't her any sound.
Figures my dream would be a one way communication. Oh well at least I had a nice looking companion. Still watching her talking to me, I held up my hand and she stopped talking looking puzzled. I pointed to her and made the hand sign for talking and pointed to my ear and shrugged my shoulders, hoping to get the point across that I couldn't her anything she was saying. She seemed to get it. She looked kinda sad that I couldn't hear her.
"Hey that's all right. I can talk enough for the both of us, how about that?" I asked.
She nodded her head yes.
"Is there any thing I can do for you?" I asked.
She pointed to the cave and started walking toward it. I got up and followed her. Once we got to the gate she tried to open the lock on the gate, but her hand went right through it.
"You want out don't you?" I asked.
She nodded her head yes.
"I'm sorry but I don't know how to do that. I wish I could but... I'm sorry." I replied with a hurt look on my face.
She looked like she was about to cry so I thought about it for a few minutes.
"Hey maybe when I wake up I can ask Katsihito to let you out. How about that?" I asked.
She had a puzzled look on her face so I asked her what was wrong.
She made a sleeping motion and pointed to me.
"Yeah, seems kinda funny don't it. I'm asleep and dreaming this right now. I saw what you did to that city and those ships. I also saw the battle with Yosho. You don't look like you did then, your eyes are gold instead of green and you seem more subdued than then too." I explained.
The look she gave me was one of confusion, anger, sadness and regret.
"Are you OK? I didn't mean to dredge up bad memories... I'm sorry about that." I said.
She looked thoughtful and then gestured to my eyes with a questioning look on her face.
"You want to know how I saw that?" I asked.
She nodded yes.
"Well it's kinda strange actually. I came here yesterday and was thinking about something I had done. I got up and fell back, hit my head and I've been in a dream ever since." I told her. Then I told her about Tsunami and the dreams she showed me.
She looked shocked when I mentioned Tsunami's name.
"You OK?" I asked.
She shook her head no, then I was surprised to see tears in her eyes.
"Is it about the city you attacked?" I asked.
She nodded yes.
"I know how you feel." I replied.
The disbelieving look she gave me said otherwise.
"I really do. I don't know how much you know about the world around you, but right now my country and this country here are at war. I was on a bombing raid on their major city. My plane was shot down and Katsihito found me and nursed me back to health. He and his wife are great. They didn't judge my actions. They didn't turn me over to the authorities. They got to know me and they introduced me to their friend and her daughter. The daughter is about my age and she is a really great girl. Then yesterday I found out that her father was killed in the city I bombed. How do you look at someone who befriended you and then tell them you killed her father?" I asked her. I went kinda quiet for a while just thinking about my life so far.
"Tsunami told me you weren't responsible for your actions, but I was. That's why I was out here yesterday trying to figure out what to do. So I do know how you feel. It hurts. It makes you angry. You feel guilty. You were controlled by someone, but I wasn't. I volunteered for this. I guided the plane. I did all that, because when you are at 1000 feet you can't see the faces of the people you kill. Then something happens and you come face to face with your actions and suddenly it hurts. Those faces that you can't see, suddenly come right in front of you and for me I came to the realization what I did wasn't noble or for a glorious cause, it was just plain killing." I told her.
"Katsihito taught me a lot about the Japanese people and I realized they are just like us. They laugh, they play, they work, they have families they love and then because some people in power say so, they go off to kill for somebody else's ideas that they think are their own." I said sullenly.
"I can understand fighting the Germans cause they started this mess, but the Japanese I don't know why they went against us in this war."
I looked at her and she looked to understand what I said.
She understood all to well the destruction and death I described.
"Well, I have about talked myself to death with my problems. Why don't we talk about something else more pleasant?" I asked.
She nodded her head yes and we talked about, well I talked she listened, to stories about my home and my youth. We went on like this for about an hour, then I started to get that sleepy feeling again and I told her I had to leave. She looked distraught so I promised I would come back and talk so more tomorrow.
I made my way back to the house, strange but when you dream you think you could just fly or just appear back where you need to be, but I guess I needed the dream exercise so I walked. When I got to the house I was surprised to see Keiko and Katsihito with a worried look on their faces.
"I see you have come back. Did you have a nice walk?" Katsihito asked with a slight smile.
"Actually it was a very pleasant walk. I met..." I started to say but was abruptly cut off by a very upset Keiko.
"Where have you been?" she asked with a worried look on her face. "Are you alright? When we went to check on you and you were gone I was so worried."
"I'm fine." I replied. "As a matter of fact I feel pretty good especially considering I hit my head yesterday."
They looked at me with a confused expression.
"Joe what month is it?" Katsihito asked cautiously.
"November." I replied. "Why?"
"Joe it is not November. It is February, you have been unconscious for three months with a concussion." Katsihito said solemnly.
"I'm not dreaming am I?" I asked with a surprised look.
"No you are not. Why would you think that?" asked Katsihito.
"The girls I saw. I mean I thought they were just dream girls." I replied.
"What girls?" asked Keiko with a slight edge to her voice.
"Tsunami and Ryoko." I said.
The sharp intake of breath and the look on Katsihito's face told me something more was going on here.
"Maybe it was just a dream Joe." Katsihito said dismissively.
"From the look on your face I would say not. Why don't you fill me on the details on who Tsunami and Ryoko are?" I asked with determined voice. I was not about to let it go especially with the way Katsihito tried to drop it.
"It is late. We will talk on this tomorrow." Katsihito replied with a heavy sigh. I got the feeling Keiko knew nothing about this so I dropped it and let it go with a look that said we weren't finished. With that he went to bed, leaving Keiko and myself alone.
We sat there in silence for a while, when she finally spoke.
"Are you all right Joe?"
"Not really." I replied without looking at her.
"Would it help if you talked to me about it?" she asked.
I could sense the concern in her voice.
"I've got something to tell you, but I want you to let me finish before you say anything, OK?" I told her quietly.
"Yes Joe." she replied.
"First off let me tell you that I like you. A lot." I started and she smiled at that. "You and your mother accepted me based on what Katsihito and Itsuki told you, and for that I want to thank you. You have been good to me and I just want to let you know I really appreciate it. Do you know what I did in the war?" I asked.
She shook her head no.
"I am an American bomber pilot. I was one of the people that flew on that raid to Tokyo about three years ago." I said with watery eyes.
She still didn't seem to get it.
Looking into her eyes I took her hands in mine.
"I was responsible for the death of your father. I was flying one of the planes that bombed Tokyo when your father was killed. I am so sorry that he died from that. I can't begin to even beg for you or your mothers forgiveness. I can only tell you how sorry I am." I told her with the tears sliding down my cheeks.
With that I let go of her hands and moved to the floor and bowed very deeply, prostrating myself in front of her. "Gomen Nasai" I spoke with all the regret I felt at what I had done.
I heard her start to cry and move from the couch. I heard the door open and close and she was gone.
I sat there for a while trying to figure out what to do. Soon I got up and went to the cupboard and got a bottle of sake out and proceeded to do what any man in my state of affairs would do, I decided to get good and drunk. For those of you who have never drank sake before, let me tell you it is a rice wine that has a hell of a kick. Well since I hate to drink alone, and Katsihito and his wife were asleep, I decided that if I wasn't dreaming, that had to make Ryoko real or at least a ghost. So I figured I would go and have a drink with her since she could at least listen to me and she wanted the company. By the time I got to the cave I was pleasantly buzzed. I didn't see her around but figured she might show up later, so I continued to drink and think about all I had done while here in japan. All I could think about was that door opening and closing though. The more I thought about it the worse it got. I never felt so low in my life.
"Man!! I can't believe this. I hardly know her yet..." I started talking to myself. "Maybe it's better this way. At least she didn't yell or scream at me." I said to myself.
Suddenly I had this feeling I was being watched. Looking around I saw Ryoko standing by the mouth of the cave. Taking another drink I said hi to her. She waved hi back.
"Well I told her what I did to her father, you remember me telling you about Keiko and about me being responsible for her fathers death. I told her how sorry I was and she did what I thought she would. She cried and left. Do you mind if I wait her for the authorities to come get me?" I asked her.
She looked sad and shook her head no.
"Hey don't look like that. It's probably better this way. No more hiding out and enjoying my freedom at the cost of an others life." I said. About that time the tears started flowing, the anger and regret came to the surface. Looking at her I told her if I could I would trade places with her in a heartbeat.
"You know what hurts the most?" I asked her. When she shook her head I said " I think I love her." I sat there in silence for a while when I looked up Ryoko had tears in her eyes.
"Hey come on now, you don't need to cry. Someday when you are free I know you will meet someone just for you and when you do I hope you never have to go through what I am going through now. My mom and dad were like that, they loved each other so much. We never had much, but the love they had for each other more than made up for it. I think it could have been like that with Keiko, but now it can never happen. I hope you never have to go through anything like that." I said softly. "You know I've always been told that true love goes through a lot of troubles in life but they just don't seem to matter when you have that special someone."
"I know you've been through a lot of strife, but you were not responsible and someday the truth will come out. I can see in your heart you are a good and decent person Ryoko and I just know things will work out for you." I said confidently. I saw the smile on her face and the look of happiness. Then I laid back and closed my eyes.
"Things will work out for you Ryoko, I know they will." I mumbled as I passed out.
"Level off at 1000 feet." I told my co-pilot.
"Roger, 1000 feet". came the reply.
"Pilot to crew. You know the drill. This is it boys, we've practiced for the past six months and now this is it. Keep you're voice calm and don't yell into the mic. We're 5 minutes from target. Once we drop our bombs we scatter and follow whatever course for 20 minutes then we head to China. Any questions?"
"2 minutes to target. Bombardier you have the plane." the co-pilot spoke out. "Stations everyone and keep an eye out for fighters." I said
"Sir this is top turret, looks like the lead planes woke them up. Flak is getting thick."
"Copy that Jack." I replied.
"Jesus I hate it when that happens. It always gets the tail first." came the retort from Frank Mathews at the tail gun.
"Calm down Frank, we caught em flat footed and they still have to adjust for the varying altitudes." I replied to him.
"I'll remember that Joe, when I got an extra couple of pounds in metal in my butt." quipped Frank.
The flak was starting to get kinda thick, when a burst caught us.
"Damage check!" I called out.
"Minor damage to the tail fuselage."
"See, see I told you. Tail always gets it first." Frank replied nervously.
"1 minute to target." co-pilot spoke.
"Looks like they got the range, everyone get ready." said Jack from the top turret.
"Stand by, stand by, stand by... BOMBS AWAY, BOMBS AWAY, BOMBS AWAY...!!!!" called out Rich from the bombardier station.
"Frank check damage and call it out." I said.
"Looks like direct hits on the hospital and the residential areas. Secondary explosions now. WOW!!, looks like we hit some gas lines or something. We got a line of explosions leading west for about 1000 feet." called out Frank.
"Any buildings to west go up?" I asked.
"Yeah, looks like 2 small ones and 1 big one." Frank replied.
"All right!!, there is supposed to be a school to the west. I hope it got hit too." I replied.
"Good finally some payback for Pearl." Frank said from the back.
This was followed by a few "yeah damn right's."
"I'm glad you volunteered for the demoralization bombings Joe." said Frank from the back.
"Yeah me too." I replied. For some reason after Pearl was bombed I just felt I had to do my best to strike fear and terror into the hearts of the enemy. I thought to myself.
"FIGHTERS, FIGHTERS, 2 o'clock low." cried out Smitty from right waist. "Jesus Christ were screwed now. Lets climb for the clouds." I cried out. As I started the climb all of us heard that awful ping and pphhhtt of bullets ripping through the air frame. "Jack, can you get a shot at em?" I asked.
"No sir, to low." he replied. More bullets ripped through the plane.
"Call out stations." I said.
"Left waist, Bombardier, Top turret, Co-pilot."
"Frank? Smitty?" I asked.
"They're gone sir." Johnny replied.
Damn, gotta get to the clouds I thought.
"Fire on number 2. Pulling fire extinguisher t-handle." After a moment. "Fires out, but we're streaming fuel."
"Well that's just great. There goes China." cried out Jack. More bullets rip through the plane.
"Christ!! We're on fire, right wing. Looks like this is it." called out Jimmy from the co-pilots seat.
"Sorry fellas time to go. Try to bail out close together and hope for the best. See ya on the ground guys." I told them. "Remember keep the explosives and your guns close and let's try to do as much damage as possible."
As the last of them left the plane, I turned it to Tokyo. As it leveled off and started decent, I bailed out. Pulling the rip cord I watched my plane as flew lower and lower and finally plowed into the city. It made such a nice explosion too.
I landed on the outskirts of the city, checked my ammo and took stock. One tommy gun, three clips of ammo, six grenades, and rations for two days. Hell a set of stockings for the girls and I would be in hog heaven. Time to let them know who they messed with when they bombed Pearl Harbor.
I made my way into the town and came to a square. I waited for a few minutes the cut loose with the tommy. Every time people came, I cut them down. I tossed a few grenades and watched in wonder as the flames grew higher and higher. I watched people burn, men, women, children, it didn't matter. I was there to let them know what happens when you mess with America. I was down to my last clip and down to two grenades when I saw some people trying to put out the fires our raid had started. I didn't care I cut them down even as they pleaded for their lives. I tossed the grenades into the common houses. I pulled out my knife and that's when the Japanese army had responded. I charged them and was surprised when they backed away slightly just before they open fire. I saw the flashes from the guns and felt the bullets rip through my body. I knew I was going to die but I didn't care. I did my duty and made sure they would never forget the American Demoralization shock troops. With a final yell I met my death.
"YYYYYAAAAAAUUUUUGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
"AAAAUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I heard someone scream, only to figure out it was me. Looking around I could see the flames slowly fading into a sunrise. A dream, that's all it was. I was still breathing heavily and looking around in fear. I saw Ryoko watching me intently. I must have had a wild look on my face because she had backed away in fear.
"I... uh I'm sorry Ryoko. I didn't mean to scare you like that. I just had a horrible nightmare." I said shakily. "Are you OK?"
She shook her head yes and gave me a questioning look.
"I'll be OK, I just need to gather my thoughts for a bit." I replied.
I lay there on the ground curled up in a ball just trying to get my breath and calm down. I can't believe I had a nightmare like that. I looked over at Ryoko and she made the talking motion with her hand. "You want to know if I want to talk about it?" I asked. She nodded her head yes. So I proceeded to tell her about my dream. When I finished I had the shakes once again and was breathing hard. Looking over at Ryoko I noticed her eyes were wet.
"Hey come on now, no need for you to cry. It was only a dream." I said softly.
She pointed to herself and I made the connection.
"Sorry.. uh I didn't think about what you did. You gonna be OK?" I asked.
She nodded yes. As I wiped my eyes I smiled and looked at her.
"I wish you were really here, cause it looks like we could both use a hug about now." I laughed out softly.
She smiled at that, which in turn made me feel better.
"Well, now that every one is feeling better, why don't we get some breakfast." Katsihito said in a louder than normal voice.
I jumped and spun around and noticed Ryoko had jumped as well.
"Do you enjoy doing that?" I asked in a rather annoyed voice.
"What?" he asked back with a smile.
"Scaring ten years off my life." I replied slightly miffed.
After giving it some careful thought with his hand on his chin he looked quite pleased with himself.
"Yes." he smiled back.
"I think it is about time for some explanations." I said. "I know who Ryoko is and what happened to her. I know a little about Tsunami and Yosho. So... Katsihito.. Why don't you fill in the blanks."
"Very well." Katsihito replied wearily. "Lets talk over breakfast and when we are finished you can go to the shrine and start your chores and meditations. We will talk later Ryoko."
At breakfast Katsihito began to tell his story.
"Most of what I told you about the legend of the demon is true. Yosho was my ancestor. He was a prince on a planet far from here. He went on the mission to destroy Ryoko and caught up with her on this planet. Since his ship was destroyed, he was stranded here. The tree in the lake is part of his ship. He stayed and established the Masaki shrine. He eventually took a wife and through out the years his descendants have been watching over Ryoko." he explained.
"Tsunami is the goddess of this universe. With the space tree Funaho grounded here, she has a link with this planet. She stopped Yosho from killing Ryoko. She has her reasons and does not talk to people very often, so you should consider yourself blessed that she appeared to you. That is pretty much it. Do you have any questions?" he asked.
"Yes I do, a million of them, but I can only think of a few right now. How is that tree a space ship?" I asked.
"It will help if you think of your plane. The engines of your plane make it go. But with the Jurian space ships, they are actually living ships. The tree is the heart and soul of the ship." he replied.
"Aren't you worried I will tell someone about all this?" I asked.
"Not really. I mean you can if you want but who would believe you?" He smiled back at me. "Besides I think I know you well enough to know that you are an honorable man."
"Thank you Katsihito I really appreciate you telling me this and trusting me with all this information. Just one more question, How is it that I can see Ryoko but I can't hear her? I mean I saw you talk to her and you seemed to hear her as well." I asked.
"As for how I can see and hear her it is part of my blood. As for you you can hear her too, you just need to listen with your heart." he answered cryptically. "Now go to the shrine and start your chores and then when you are done, meditate on the events of the past few months."
As I climbed the shrine steps I contemplated the last few days. I had already alienated Kieko and probably her mother as well. The authorities hadn't shown up which made me begin to wonder if the Matsari's had called them or not. Reaching the shrine I got a broom and started sweeping. You know, the actual act of sweeping is a mind numbing chore, but it allows you time to think. I started thinking about my time with Keiko, we hadn't really said anything about a relationship, but I got the feeling she really liked me. I'll go over to see her and her mother and apologize to both of them and accept their judgment for my actions. I thought about what Katsihito said, about hearing Ryoko by listening with my heart. I thought about how he could do it. He said it was part of his blood, if that was true then what was I? I finished sweeping the shrine and went to Ryoko' cave to meditate. As I got there I saw her sitting at the entrance on the very stone I fell from. She was looking up at the sky, with a peaceful expression on her face. She looked very beautiful like that. She was defiantly going to make some young man very happy some day. I sat a little ways from her and just watched her. Letting my mind relax I started thinking about my own family. My mother and father were gone and so was my aunt who raised me. Thinking more on it I traced my family back for about ten generations. I remember my father talking about how my ancestors just seemed to pop up from nowhere. They had originally hailed from what is now Scotland. My great grandfather and his wife immigrated to America around 1840 or so. The family crest was a tree with a shield at the forefront. The motto "Life through the grace of the gods". Why did I suddenly remember that? Maybe it has some pertinence to my situation.
Looking over I saw Ryoko watching me.
"Hi Ryoko. How are you this morning?" I asked.
She started to talk and made the OK sign.
"That's good." I replied. "You looked like you were enjoying the morning so I decided not to bother you. What were you thinking about when you were looking up at the sky this morning?"
She started talking again and I stopped her.
"Wait a second. I want to try something." I said.
I took a few deep breathes and started my meditation and calmed my mind. closing my eyes I told her to talk to me.
... ust thinking about... I miss... stars... I heard the broken thoughts faintly like an ethereal whisper.
My eyes shot open and I looked at her.
"Did you just say something about the stars?" I asked her with a flush of enthusiasm.
She looked shocked but shook her head yes.
"I heard it... well not all of it but I defiantly heard you." I exclaimed. "Lets try that again."
Closing my eyes and concentrating I could hear her talking in my mind.
"Can you hear me?" she asked.
"Yes." I replied still maintaining my concentration. "It takes some effort to do this, so I'll let you talk for now and until I get used to it I'm going to keep my answers short, OK?"
"Yes!!!" she replied with joy. "You don't know how long I waited to talk to someone, anyone. It's been so lonely here, even though Katsihito can talk to me he doesn't come very often." She then proceeded to make up for seven hundred years of silence. She talked of how she would sit in the sun and dream of eventually being set free. How the darkness of the cave was absolute. How sorry she was about what happened on Jurai. It was nice to sit and just listen to her talk and she sounded so happy. It was nice and life seemed to just relax for a while.
After a while Ryoko started winding down and I was getting tired from the concentrating. I took my leave telling her I would be back later in the afternoon.
I made my way down to the house and had lunch with Itsuki. Katsihito had to tend the shrine and would eat later. After we had finished she started to ask how I was handling all the changes that were happening.
"Well, it is a lot to take in. I just wish Kieko and her mother weren't affected by what I did." I said sadly.
"It's only been a few days give her time to come to terms with it and I'm sure that she will understand that these things happen in a war." she replied with a concerned expression on her face. "I'll be going over there tomorrow. Is there anything you would like me to tell them." she asked.
"I can't say I'm sorry enough. Just tell them I understand that what ever they decide to do I won't hold it against them." I replied woefully. "and thank you Itsuki for understanding."
"It is no problem Joe. I am sure things will work out just fine if given some time." she smiled back. "Now why don't you help my husband at the shrine."