Chapter 3
Home Sweet Home


After 15 minutes of driving, Tino pulled up into the driveway of a homely little house. He smiled as he jumped out of the car, waiting for his new companion to follow. Once Hanatamago was out and at his feet, he closed the door behind them and the two walked their way up to the house, Tino's smile widening at every step.

"Welcome to your new home! I know it's not much, but it's home!" Tino told his furry companion, pulling out a key from his pants pocket and pausing as he grew closer to the door, "What's this?"

On his porch sat a crate. Hanatamago sniffed it, wagging his tail, finding nothing wrong with it. Tino approached it carefully, picking up a small card that sat upon it and opening it cautiously. As he read its contents, he sighed in relief; it was nothing to worry about.

'Here's your monthly supplies. Hope life's treatin' ya well.
- Owen Lane'

Tino smiled; it was simply the Rohkea Niitä's mysterious guardian angel, Owen. He had never seen or talked to the man personally (except once, briefly), but judging the notes he left monthly, he seemed like a nice guy. For centuries, he had been looking out for him, his family, and his ancestors since they were left on this planet, to be forgotten.

Story had it that this Owen was a deity, since he's been seen on occasion for centuries. Other sources argued a demon, one of the good kind. He healed the injured and the sick; Tino thought he saw him when he was terribly sick six years before, but he only saw his silhouette in the bright light and dismissed it as a dream. At least, until he found that he had been cured the next day from the flu. He was said to live in an old hospital building on the other side of the town, the one part of town Tino had yet to clean out.

"It's awfully nice of that Mr. Lane guy to look out for us, huh Hanatamago?" Tino smiled, opening the door and began moving the crate into the kitchen, "I hope to one day meet him personally and thank him for all he's done, before I die..."

Tino sighed, taking off his boots and began moving toward the wall, feeling for the light switch. After awhile, he found it and flipped it on, light flooding the small kitchen area. Smiling, he set to work while humming 'Put on Your Sunday Clothes'. He pulled out the backpack he carried with him everywhere, pulling out several objects out of it: a lighter, a spork and a Rubix cube. Granted, yes, they were garbage; but to him, they were objects of history.

After placing the items in their proper places on his bookshelf, he turned to his one and only VHS tape, Hello Dolly, and placed it into a VCR he managed to salvage. The movie came to life on a, iPod that he, too, salvaged, placing a large retangluar mangifying glass in front to bring the picture to full view. He smiled, as it coincidentally played the very same song he was humming.

He returned back into the kitchen and proceeded to open the crate. Inside, it was stacked to the very top with dehydrated full-meal packets that simply needed water and, to his immense surprise, dog food. He laughed.

"Apparently Mr. Lane knew you would be living here, too, Hanatamago!" A bark was his answer, "He is thoughful..."

Thankfully, Tino had a secure supply of clean water, to keep him watered and clean, in an underground chamber just below his house. His ancestors prepared it for such occasions. He lifted up a trapdoor leading to his basement and proceeded down the stairs with a pitcher in hand. The trek was 10 minutes to and from the caverns and, by the time he came back, he found himself staring at the one part of the movie where the main characters held hands.

They were singing, not something new, but Tino couldn't help but become absorbed into the movie, listening to the lyrics.

And we'll recall

When time runs out

That it only

took a moment

to be loved

a whole life

long~

Tino sighed, looking at his hands he saw he had them interlocked; it must have been nice to have someone to hold hands with, someone you loved. Then, it occured to Tino on how lonely he was on this planet. Sure Hanatamago and this elusive Owen were nice companions to have and all, but... he wanted a special someone, too. Someone to cuddle with on cold nights, to talk to after a hard day's work,even help him with work, to curl up against when a frightening storm tears across the sky, and to keep the night frights away.

Just like the lead lady in the movie. After dinner, Tino moved to the oustide of his house, looking up as the one part of the dust cleared to show stars twinkling, a rare sight. He sighed.

"Do you think I'll ever find that special someone out there, Hanatamago?" Tino asked, trying to keep the sad tone out of his voice. A whine and a nuzzle to his leg was his answer and he felt like crying, "I didn't think so either..."

His musings were intrupeted as a small siren went off. Tino pulled something out of his pocket to see a flashing red light, warning him of a storm. He quickly looked up, his violet eyes scanning the darkening horizon. His eyes widened at the sight of a fast appoarching dust storm.

"Come on, Hanatamago! Inside, quick!" Tino said as he ushered the small dog inside his house, closing his door and activating the locking mechanisms to keep the dust and dirt out. "Good boy."

After checking that all the mechanisms were in place and working, Tino decided to call it a night and changed into his light blue pajama pants with a white tank top. He clambered into bed, whistling for Hanatamago, who quickly appeared and lept into his bed, stretching and making himself comfortable. The Finnish man smiled.

"You're gonna sleep with me until I can get you a doggy bed," Tino declared and the dog barked in agreement, "Good night. Kauniita unia."

As the storm raged outside, Tino found it hard to sleep that night. Not because of the storm, but of something else entirely.


Translations: Finnish

Rohkea Niitä = Brave Ones

Rohkea = Brave One

Kauniita unia = Sweet Dreams


Woo-hoo! Chapter 3 is up and about! I sadly don't own Hetalia or Pixar.