Toshio moved in the next day, being cheerful and pretending that he just hadn't ruined Hisoka's life. Chizu had an 'errand' to run, and an hour later came back with Hisoka's action figures and the blanket he used to sleep on the floor when they camped out in the TV room. In front of Toshio, Hisoka dumped the action figures in the garbage. He kept the blanket, Mariko had fallen asleep next to him on it a few times.
The next day, Toshio drove Hisoka to school, and watched until he went inside the building. Toshio also promised to pick him up. Once inside, Hisoka waited out of sight of the doorway for Mariko to show up.
Mariko noticed Hisoka as she stepped in. Walking over to him she asked, "What's going on? Lady Chizu said we can't play together any more."
Hisoka save a slight nod. Not looking at her, he said, "Yeah, my new ... Mom's new husband won't let me. He thinks you're a devil or some such crap."
"We can still see each other in school," Mariko said, casting him a hopeful smile.
"Not for long, he's making me change schools too," Hisoka grumbled. "I don't want to go. I want to come over to your house."
"You mean, we'll never be able to see each other again?" Mariko asked wide-eyed.
"Yeah," Hisoka said weakly. Noting the time, he said, "We better get to class. I don't want to get a detention and miss any of my last days with you."
They held hands on the way to class. During class, Hisoka tried to think of a way to get rid of Toshio. He drove, maybe if he was nice and talked Toshio into driving drunk, the police would take him away. If he listened closely to what Toshio said, maybe he'd find out about a crime that he could tell the police about. He racked his brains for something, anything to get rid of Toshio.
At lunch, Hisoka sat next to Mariko, pondering Toshio's fate. Maybe God would be generous and drop a meteor or satellite on him. If there was a devil, Hisoka would sell his soul to get rid of Toshio.
"Hey Hisoka, you've got our phone number right? We can talk on the phone, can't we?" Mariko asked.
"I bet he'd take the phone out if he knew I was talking to you," Hisoka said in a dull tone.
"This sucks! We all have a good time together," Mariko whined.
"Yeah," Hisoka agreed. He then got an idea. A crooked grin came to his face. "Hey Mariko, mom said I can come over one last time. Can I walk you home?"
"Sure!" Mariko said, a smile reappearing on her face.
.
The end of the day came, and outside the school yard was Toshio in his car, waiting for Hisoka. By the gate though, was Mama Nana waiting for Mariko. Hisoka walked next to Mariko on the way out, noting Toshio was watching him with a glare. Instead of going over to the car, he stopped and waved to Nana.
"Hi, Mama Nana," Hisoka said cheerfully.
"How was your day, Hisoka?" Nana asked cheerfully.
"Good, is it all right if I walk Mariko home?" Hisoka asked cheerfully, and loud enough for Toshio to hear.
"That's fine dear," Nana assured him.
"Hisoka!" Toshio yelled as his car door slammed.
Toshio rounded the car headed for him. Hisoka hid behind Nana and yelled, "Who are you?"
Nana grew a confused look. As Toshio strode towards them looking very angry, she said, "Wait, who are you?"
"I'm his father and I'm taking him!" Toshio yelled.
"You're NOT my father!" Hisoka yelled back.
Toshio reached for Hisoka, he then flew back to land up against a phone pole.
"I don't think so," Nana said in a hard tone. "Hisoka says you're not his father. Who are you?"
"Mama Nana, please don't let him take me," Hisoka pleaded.
Flushed in anger, Toshio pointed to Hisoka and said, "That is my son!"
"No, I'M NOT!" Hisoka screamed back at him.
Nana turned and frowned at Hisoka. "Stop that yelling, no one's going to hurt you." Turning back to Toshio, she said, "You, stay right there. Mariko, go find a teacher, tell her we need the police."
"Yes, Mama Nana," Mariko said, and ran back inside.
"Yes, call the police, then I can tell then about you kidnapping my boy," Toshio yelled.
Frowning, Nana replied, "You will stop your yelling and behave. Don't move from that spot." Sensing Hisoka moving away, Nana turned to him and said, "Hisoka, you stay here by me."
Hisoka did, enjoying the utter look of rage on Toshio's fat face. He prayed Toshio would try to grab him again or slap Mama Nana. That would be just too fun to watch. Toshio didn't, he just stood in place and glared at Hisoka. Hisoka glared back at him.
Mariko returned with the vice principal. Nana explained the situation simply. "That man claims to be Hisoka's father and tried to grab him. Hisoka says he's not, and is afraid of him."
The vice Principal looked at Toshio and pulled out a badge. "I am officer Ginzu. Name please."
" Tagawa Toshio. I just married that boy's mother. He's my son now. I want to take him home and get him away from that little aberration," Toshio growled as he glared at Mariko.
Mariko's mouth dropped open as she stared at Toshio.
Nana glared at him. "What did you just call my daughter?" she asked in a warning tone.
Officer Ginzu held a hand up to Nana. "Lady Nana, please, let me take care of this. Mr. Tagawa, come with me. Lady Nana, would you please escort Hisoka home?"
"I'd be happy to. Come on, children," she said, and led them down the street.
Hisoka looked back to see a red faced Toshio walk into the school building with the vice Principal. Ha! He was going to get his!
Clear of the school, Nana took Hisoka's hand and asked, "Tell me the truth. What happened back there?"
"I didn't lie, he's not my father," Hisoka stated.
"Don't play games, Hisoka, this is serious," Nana said sternly. "He also said he married your mother, isn't that right?"
"Hisoka, you're going to be in big trouble," Mariko said forlornly.
Hisoka saw Mariko was on the verge of crying. "I'm sorry, Mariko, but I really want to see you as much as possible. He's going to send me away, and I'm really going to miss you."
Nana tipped her head back with a sigh as she said, "I see. Hisoka, whether you like it or not, he is your father now. You have to do as he says."
"But ... he's so mean!" Hisoka cried. "We saw Mama Yuka and Chika at the fair, and he called Chika a devil child! You heard what he called Mariko. Mariko is nice, and she's cool and my best friend. How can anyone say that about her?"
Nana's jaw clenched. "Some people just don't like us, Hisoka. I am ... very ... very sorry, but what is, is. If he is your father and wants to send you away, there's nothing we can do," she said in a tight voice.
"I'm really going to miss you too, Hisoka," Mariko said as she held his other hand.
Hisoka walked home with Nana and Mariko, holding their hands and savoring every last step he took with them. It felt like he was being walked to his own execution. Once this walk was over, his life would be also. No more of Mariko's smiles, or hers and Kanae's giggling laughs. No more of quietly giggling at Mama Yuka's anger at Papa Kouta, or any of the fun stuff that happened at their house.
By the time they got to his house, the car was there. Hisoka put a hand on the gate to open it, but froze. He did not want to go in there.
"Go on Hisoka, putting it off will only make it harder," Mama Nana said in a gentle tone.
"Good Bye, Hisoka," Mariko said with a sniffle.
Hisoka opened his mouth to say goodbye. Instead, he turned and hugged Mariko and burst out crying. Mariko hugged him back and cried with him. Watching them, Nana couldn't help but to cry too.
Noticing the door open, Nana saw Chizu standing in the doorway. Laying her hands across their shoulders, she told Mariko and Hisoka, "Hey, listen to me. Just because you can't see each other now, doesn't mean you won't in the future. This is not a forever goodbye, OK?"
"Mama Nana, how can you be sure?" Mariko asked in a sob.
"Well, remember Papa talking about how he, Mama Yuka and Mama Lucy were children together? They didn't see each other for a long time, but even after eight years they found each other again, didn't they?" Nana said gently.
"Yeah?" Hisoka asked.
"But, I don't want to wait that long," Mariko said in a whine.
"Sometimes, we must. Now come on. Hisoka, you have to get into the house, and we have to go home," Nana said in her gentle tone.
Hisoka pulled back. He wiped the tears from his eyes and said, "We will see each other again, Mariko, I promise." He held up his pinky finger.
Mariko wrapped her pinky around his. "I promise too," she said with a tearful smile.
Satisfied, Hisoka gave a nod. "Fine, then I'll see you later, Mariko. Tell Kanae I'll see her too."
"I'll see you later, Hisoka," Mariko agreed with a teary half grin.
.
Hisoka walked in the house past his mother, who didn't say anything. Walking into the living room, he saw Toshio was sitting and watching out the window. He turned his glare at Hisoka as he entered. There was a belt on the table.
"Boy, we need to talk," Toshio said in a flat tone.
Hisoka stopped and returned his glare. "Talk, I won't listen. Go ahead, beat me if it makes you feel better, that's what mean people like you do. I don't care. You can follow me around and make me go to another school, but I will see Mariko again."
"Not while you are living in this house, you won't," Toshio stated.
"Then let me know the second I can leave," Hisoka said, and kept walking to his room.
Toshio stood up and yelled, "You WILL stay here until you listen to me!"
Hisoka stopped. "Is it beating time?" he asked.
"Stop it!" Chizu cried. "Hisoka, please just sit down and hear him out."
Hisoka turned to look at his mother. Half afraid he was going to get beaten, he said, "Sorry, mom. I really am. I'll sit if you make me, but I refuse to listen to someone as mean as he is."
Turning his glare to Chizu, Toshio asked, "Is he always this difficult?"
Chizu let out a sarcastic chuckle and said, "You just took his girlfriend and all his friends away from him, what do you expect?"
"And called her nasty names she doesn't deserve," Hisoka added. Looking at Toshio with contempt, he said, "You're nothing but a grown-up bully."
"That's enough!" Toshio yelled, as he stabbed an angry finger at Hisoka. "You'll NOT speak to me like that again!"
"Not another word," Hisoka promised.