Chapter Three: The Messenger
"Panda, Green Thumb…and Muscles," Reina and Nori exploded into a fit of giggles after they sang our nicknames. I had a feeling they were giggling at the "muscles" part.
Kana stepped in front of me and his biceps flexed a bit. His menacing gesture only caused the two girls to laugh even more hysterically than the first time. I wanted to protect him from the terrible teenagers that stood in front of me.
"Leave us alone," I spoke first despite the fact that Kana was standing in front of me. Ying remained silent.
"Oh, baby can't handle our nickity names?"
"You leave her alone," Kana said menacingly.
"Oh-ho-ho," started Reina, but Nori finished for her "Fine then, we'll just leave and you won't hear the news."
"News?" Ying whispered excitedly.
"Never mind, you don't want to hear it," said Nori while shaking out her long mane of glossy hair.
"Quit goofing around. Just tell us what's going on."
"All right. But only because you begged-" Kana interrupted her quickly.
"Begged? All I said was to quit acting like babies and tell us what the news is."
Reina smiled at Nori before talking. "The news is that there is some news in Konohana."
"I knew they were lying." I said, turning to Kana.
"If you really wanted to talk to Kana, you could have come up with something better than that," Ying stated simply before blushing like crazy and hiding her face in her hands. Both Nori and Reina looked surprised and offended.
"No, I think they're telling the truth," Kana said, turning around to look at Ying and I. That earned Kana two "you're crazy" looks from us.
"Well, we are. Dirk is in town, and boy, does he look cuter than ever. Looks like Muscles might have some competition." More giggles.
"You two disgust me." I sneered at them.
"Well all that dirt in your crotch sickens us." Nori sneered as she made fun of my farming lifestyle.
"Get outta here!" Kana got so close to Nori and Reina they took a step back. But they both quickly regained their cool.
"Kay, that's fine pretty boy."
"But keep in mind Dirk is more our type," Nori added before the two skittered away through the trees.
"Why can't any conversation with those two turn out good?" I asked my protective friend.
"Because they are immature." Kana answered.
"Hear, hear," Ying added and we all laughed.
"I'm really sorry to ask this, because I have lived here all my life, but who is Dirk?" I was still entirely confused about the whole "news in Konohana" crap Nori and Reina had given us.
"Dirk is the town's messenger. He brings letters to us from Bluebell and all different cities very far away," Ying paused and looked up at me. She was so short. "It's okay that you don't really know of him, it's normally pretty hush-hush whenever Dirk is here. The only reason I know of him is because he brought a letter to my grandma once."
"What was the letter?"
"The letter was just the mayor of Lakeside asking my grandma if she would open a tea shop in the city."
"Why didn't Yun do it?"
"Konohana is special. I thought everyone that lived here knew that," Ying said finally.
"I do," chimed Kana.
"Me too, it just seemed like such a good opportunity for her," I replied.
"It would have been, but I am glad we're still here." Ying grasped her panda in a hug, letting us know that "we're" included Ying, Yun, and Moo.
"You two want to come back to my place for lunch?" Kana asked.
"Are you cooking? Not a chance!" We all laughed as we remembered Pierre coughing up Kana's salad yesterday. Kana's face got red.
"I will cook for you," I added so I wouldn't hurt Kana's feelings.
"Sorry you two, I can't come. I'd love to, but Grandma has me cleaning the house today."
"It's okay. I won't be lonely as long as I have Kenz with me…"
"Of course I will come. But I will have to leave at one to do my midday crop watering."
"That's fine. We will still have plenty of time to eat."
"I will stop by my house first to get some edible ingredients, and then I will meet you at your place."
"Sounds good."
After I gathered up the things needed to make miso soup and homemade bread, I shut the cottage door behind me and headed on my way. When I knocked on Kana's door, there was no response. This was definitely a first. I knocked again, this time yelling his name. Again no response.
I set the food ingredients on the front porch and walked around the back of his house out to his barn. The horses were all out grazing in the pasture, calm and content as they munched on the sweet green grass. I pushed open the door to the stable, and was surprised when I didn't see Kana there. I took a walk through the aisle, peeking in all the stalls. Nothing. Each perfectly clean stall was empty except for a pile of hay in the corner. Hmmm. I wondered where Kana could be. I tried to think of a time where Kana didn't come running right when I arrived at his house. Plus he already knew I was coming, so he should have been waiting for me with bated breath.
My mind was whirling as I jogged back around his house, back towards the town. I tried to think of anywhere Kana could be. The Smithy was closed on weekends, so Kana couldn't be purchasing shoes for his horses. And he couldn't grow a crop, so he wouldn't be at Gombe's seed shop. Not like he would go to Nori's house anyway. Nori lived with her grandfather Gombe, who sold seeds at the one of the two buildings Kana would never go. (The other building being Reina's house, of course).
That left the tea shop. Actually, it really was a pretty likely place for Kana to be, considering our friend Ying lived there. When I realized it was certain that's where Kana was, I started jogging towards the southern part of Konohana. My farmer's boots picked up a familiar clunking sound every time they hit the earth. I kicked up a lot of brown dust too. I ran into a few villagers on the way down there, including the medic Dr. Ayame and Reina's uncle Mako. I quickly asked them both if they had seen Kana. When I received the "no" I was worried about, I continued on my way to the tea shop.
I ignored the cheerful tinkling of the bell on Yun's door when I entered the tea shop. I saw Yun at the counter, and without wasting time on "hellos" and "how are ya's?" I began to talk to her in a way-too-excited tone. "Have you seen Kana?"
"Honey, you look worried. Won't you please sit down and have a cup of tea?" And that is precisely what bothered me so much about Yun. I love her and all, but she is such an old lady. Whenever a real emergency shows up, she wants me to sit down, have a cup of tea and forget about it. That day I simply wouldn't have it.
"No, Yun. Kana's gone, and I am really worried. It was about a half hour sense I saw him last, and I was supposed to meet him at his house. He wasn't there, like he always is, and I am worried."
"No, dear I am so sorry. I do not know where your friend is."
"He's not here? I thought for sure…"
"Kenz, he's a teenage boy. In fact, he is more of an adult than he is a teenage boy. Kana can take care of himself. I am sure some emergency came up, and he couldn't tell you in the time before he had to leave. Just give him a while and he'll be back."
I didn't want to give up. "But he always tells me when he leaves, before he leaves. I'm still worried Yun."
"Don't be dear."
I sighed in defeat and slumped into a nearby chair. My fingers absently stroked the plush purple surface. "I guess I will just go home and wait for him to come and find me."
"I think that is a good idea. You want something hot to drink before you go?"
"No, I'm okay. Thanks though."
Just then Ying, holding a feather duster came through from the back room. "Hi, Kenz. Wait, aren't you supposed to be with Kana?"
"I cannot find him."
"Well that's unusual. Normally you cannot get away from him."
I didn't laugh. "That's what worries me."
"I know he invited you over and everything, but he probably needs some time away from you. You both spend all of your lives together."
"Yeah…"
"Hey, Kenz, look at me. Don't worry about Kana. Seriously. Don't. He can handle himself like he handled Reina and Nori earlier today." Ying's face was serious, and I wanted to believe her almost more than I wanted to believe Yun.
"Nori and Reina back to their old games?" Ying's grandmother wormed her way into our conversation. Just then Ying and I jumped because we both realized Yun was listening to everything we had said.
"Not like they ever stopped playing."
"Boy, I wish those girls would just behave."
"It's really a shame they represent Konohana when they act so poorly," Yun said disapprovingly.
"I agree. But they never will stop."
"You guys are responding maturely to them, aren't you?" Yun asked mother-like.
"Of course. Kana always tries to stand up for us, but we never say anything rude back."
"That's my girls," Yun said, beaming proudly up at us. Her wrinkled and withered face was almost a foot under mine, and she was shorter than Ying too. I grinned back at her, loving to pretend I really was her daughter. I mean, I did call her old lady-ish, but she's so much better to be around than Ina. I always felt like I could really be myself whenever I was around Yun, just like if she was my own mother.
"Well, I've got to go." I shot out of the chair and put my hand on the door handle.
"Goodbye Kenz," said Ying.
"Bye, love," said Yun.
The affectionate sound of their voices rang in my head as I walked northward to my house. Unlike on the way down there, I listened carefully to the breeze stirring the wind chimes, causing them to tinkle prettily. I saw the waving foxtail grasses shimmering purple in the sparkly sunlight. I took in the scent of the honeysuckle and richness of the soil. Even here, in the busiest part of the village, I could sense the crops just like at my ranch. I enjoyed the walk back to my house, or at least part of it.
My eyes scanned the old mine tunnel when I walked past on the way to my farm. That was when I heard it. Deep, manly shouting. Not cries of pain or hurt, but stabbing blows meant to hurt someone's feelings. And the voice was so familiar it caused my heart to beat faster. The voice was so familiar I knew it better than my own. The voice was Kana's.
Against my better judgment, I walked closer to the sound, closer to the chilly darkness of the small mineshaft. I saw the sparkle of forgotten ore in the last bit of the light shining through the tunnel. My hand met the rough surface of a cold rock, and I leaned against it to keep me from falling down. I knew exactly what was happening. Kana was yelling at Bluebell through the rocks that blocked the path. Kana was making fun of people through the barrier an avalanche had caused. Kana was shouting at another tribe through the obstruction which was meant to keep Konohana and Bluebell separated.
My breathing got louder, and I covered my mouth with my spare hand. I heard the other village say something back to Kana. The rude words made my heart crack. They were so untrue. But my heart broke in two when I heard what Kana said back to them. The syllables he uttered tore my mangled heart into two broken pieces. Yet it was still able to beat harder than ever.
"So where are your girlfriends, Konohana?" This voice was female, and it spoke to Kana as if he represented Konohana. As if he was the prime example of what our town stood for. It sickened me, because the words he was saying now did not represent Konohana. Kana's disgusting words did not set an example for our wonderful village which was home to bountiful crops blowing in the cool summer's breeze.
"They aren't here." He said it so simply that a bit of hope began to stitch up my broken heart.
"Too sissy to come?"
"No, they couldn't make it. They were too busy thinking of better insults to come. And trust me, these ones will surely make you run crying all the way home to your mommies.
Bluebell's response was more profanity. And that's when I realized the reason why Bluebell thinks Konohana is so worthless and inferior. All they hear is the rude voice on the other side of the wall, so that's what they understand. They understand that Kana's deep voice is the heart of Konohana. That Konohana stands for lame retorts and mean insults. That is certainly what I think of Bluebell. If I ever had thought anything bad about Bluebell, it is because all I really knew about them is that they had nasty words to say through the wall.
Then I heard Kana's familiar footsteps making their way towards me. Something Bluebell had said on the other side made him ready to leave. I ducked behind the huge rock I was leaning on, and held my breath as I watched my friend go by. A few minutes later, Kana had long passed and I was still squatting behind the giant stone, thinking about everything I had just heard.
And it wasn't the cussing that bothered me most. It was the fact that Kana had told me he wasn't ever going to go back to the mine. He told me yesterday that he never again would insult the village on the other side. My best friend had lied to me.
I finally forced myself to crawl out from behind the boulder and make my way out of the mine. I felt like I might get lost on my way out, even though I knew the tunnel was a straight line to back to Konohana. The little bit of sunshine that shined through and caused the crystals before me to shimmer reassured me. It looked beautiful, and helped me remember better days, where best friends didn't lie and cooking festivals were the most worrisome thing.
My head hung down slightly as I drug my feet back to my house. Then I heard his voice calling my name. "Kenz! Hey, I've been looking for you!"
My eyes met his. Those bright, traitor eyes.
"Oh, man. What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I lied.
"You sure it's nothing? Where have you been?"
"Looking for you. Apparently we just didn't seem to meet up." I lied again.
"Yeah. That's too bad. You ready to eat?"
"Sure. But I have to make the food. It'll take a while."
"That's fine with me. But didn't you say you have to take care of your crops?"
"Aw, dang. That's right."
"How bout you put the food in the oven and I will help you water the crops?" I looked into his sheep-like eyes and remembered why he's always been my friend. Kana was sweet.
"Sure, thanks,"
We walked to his house. I immediately started boiling the water and chopping up the vegetables. Kana kneaded the dough for me and put the bread on the stove. We put the lid on the pot and turned the heat down. Then we headed out to the ranch to do my midday chores. With the sun on our backs and our shoulders brushing together, I could almost imagine the scene in the mine never happened.
Kana carried a bucket full of water while I used the hose. After I reminded him to be careful not to get any water on the leaves, he spoke to me.
"You seem so out of it, Kenz."
"Just…thinking."
"About what? I don't mean to pry or anything, but…" Kana let his sentence trail off.
"Ina came to visit me last night!" The words gushed out of my mouth as one.
"What? Ina? Why?"
"Well first she told me congrats for my dish in the festival, but then she brought up the fight between Bluebell and Konohana."
"She did? That is really weird because she is the one who starts all the fights."
"Well, she doesn't start all of them," I said, hinting at the fact that he had just finished assaulting the Bluebell villagers through the caved-in rocks. "But yeah, I thought it was weird too because she always insults Rutger at the cooking festivals."
"Rutger?" Kana was grinning wildly. "That's his name?!"
I giggled in response, in spite of myself.
"So what else did she say?"
"She said that I am the only villager who truly respects Bluebell."
"It's kind of true…So how did you respond to that?"
"I told her that I treat Bluebell differently than everyone else does because I realize they haven't done anything personally bad to me. I reminded Ina that's how I treat everyone."
"You are too good for me." Kana smiled, and I knew it was true. We continued watering the crops, and Kana refilled his bucket several times. When we got done we headed back to his house, talking all the way.
I added the miso to the vegetable and water soup and took the bread out of the oven when we got back. We hadn't been gone long enough for it to burn. "Smells good," Kana told me as he got silverware and plates ready.
"Should taste good too."
We munched for a while, not making eye contact, just enjoying the tasty food. It wasn't awkward though, just quiet.
Finally Kana broke the silence. "I am kind of worried about my business. No one has rented a horse in over a week."
"Don't worry, Kana," I reassured him, "It will be fine soon."
"I just don't think I am doing as good of a job running the place as Dad did." I could tell this was really bothering him. I wondered for how long this had been eating him up.
"Kana, your dad would be so proud of you if he saw you right now. You are eighteen. You are successfully working your own business, taking care of the horses, and keeping all of your friendships at the same time. In fact, I bet your daddy is in Heaven right now, looking down at you. I bet he's smiling right this second."
"You really think that?"
"I do Kana."
"Kenz, you always know how to make me feel so much better." And then Kana did something I will never, never in all my years forget. He reached his hand over the table, and took mine. His warm fingers intertwined with mine, and his big mocha brown eyes locked with mine. All I could do was stare.
Boy was I a confused mess. Of course I was mad at Kana for lying to me about yelling at the Bluebell kids. I was disappointed and hurt. I knew his feelings were a stormy mess, what with him thinking about his dad. But on the other hand I forgave him. I knew nothing would ever stop me from being Kana's friend. I knew that I would always love him, no matter what happens. And his hand warmed mine. It sent sparks up my arm. The sparks were little needle pricks that finished sewing up my broken heart.
Even though Kana and I were just friends, the choice he made to grab my hand that night took away my doubts. It helped me realize that I shouldn't dwell on the past. It reminded me to focus on the future. It told me that I could figure out what Kana's problem today was some other time. His choice changed my entire method of thinking. And just then, I was sure that I was changed for the better.
I was looking into his tilted eyes, absorbing their rich warm color. There was hope there. I saw love, friendship, and promise in his eyes. And I loved it. I loved for every second the feeling that his hand gave me. It made me never want to let go. But of course, I let go eventually.
He walked me home after lunch. Kana had chores to do as often as I did, and he needed to be left alone to focus on his work. Even though I still kept in mind the hand-holding part of the afternoon, we kept talking like normal. It was like today was just a normal, average-Joe day for us best friends. He left me alone, left me to think.
I didn't dwell on any one part of the day. I didn't continue thinking about the time that I spent being mad at my friend for what he did in the mine. I didn't spend my hours remembering how it felt when he grasped my hand. And I didn't muse over the fact that our friendship went back to normal right when I let go of Kana's hand.
After my evening chores were completed, I sat in my room, reading a novel I had read one too many times already. That's when I heard the knock on the door. At first I thought it might be Kana, coming to admit his love for me. But I dismissed that idea quickly, knowing that it was silly. Then I thought it might be Ying, telling me I forgot something at her house. That idea was thrown out too, as I realized that I never forgot anything. I went to the door, kind of thinking that it would be Ina waiting, ready to do some motherly venting to me.
But when I opened the door, it was someone I had never seen before. A dorkishly cute boy stood on my mat, a lopsided smile on his still-boyish face. His brown hair fell in his eyes a little, and he wore a purple hat with a feather on the top. He spoke almost immediately when I opened the door. "My name is Dirk. We haven't met before, but I am the messenger. Actually, I came, not only to introduce myself, but to share something with you. I have a letter for you."
And to my major disbelief, the green eyed teenager held out an envelope to me.
