Chapter 6: YOSHI
"Mama! Mama! Wek up! Wek up!" A voice shouted, interrupting Tsukushi's sleep. She felt a weight join her on the bed, waking her up with a continuous bouncing on the mattress. As if this wasn't enough, she felt something pounding on her back. Her son's energy was boundless after a good night's sleep.
"Hi, baby", Tsukushi grabbed her son and sat up, nuzzling his neck.
"I not a beby anymore, Mama. I a big boy now," he said proudly, wriggling away from her grasp.
"Yes, you're a big boy", she agreed with him, nodding to put an emphasis on her words, sneaking him a kiss on the cheek.
Yoshi jumped off the bed and ran to the doorway where Mrs. Noogan, his nanny and their housekeeper stood with a tray in her hands.
"Mama, look at! Look at what I maked you!" Yoshi started tugging on Mrs. Noogan's skirt, trying to drag her more quickly into the room. He was still in his pajamas, and he had his teddy bear clutched in one arm. It was this that he used to wake his mother up every morning.
"Wow, it smells yummy, Yoshi! What is it?" Tsukushi asked, rubbing her hands together in anticipation.
"Pancakes! Me and Mrs. Nukan maked it. I mixed it all by myself!" He puffed out his little chest, climbing back onto the bed as Mrs. Noogan laid the tray on the breakfast table.
"Yes, and you did such a good job, too!" Mrs. Noogan praised him, ruffling his hair. Yoshi preened at the praise. Mrs. Noogan left the room after sharing a small smile with Tsukushi.
Tsukushi looked down at the breakfast Yoshi had "made" her. There were three pancakes, each with little bite-sized marks all around it, an apple with one bite taken out of it, orange juice, and a small vase with a daisy which looked worn and crushed – probably from Yoshi's fist. Tsukushi gave a laugh as she saw the breakfast that was laid out in front of her.
"Hmm, looks like someone decided to eat my breakfast before me", she said teasingly in accusation, looking at her son. He had pancake crumbs and maple syrup all over his cheeks.
"Toyo did it, Mama! He was hungry!", he denied, grabbing his teddy bear with two hands and showing him to her.
Tsukushi laughed as she saw that the teddy bear also had crumbs and syrup all over his now matted fur.
*****
Tsukushi and Yoshi were running late. After eating breakfast, taking a shower, and making sure Yoshi was also dressed and presentable, it was already ten o'clock. Yoshi's pre-school entrance test appointment was at ten thirty!
Unfortunately, luck wasn't on their side today. The traffic was horrendous! Finally, with five minutes to spare and two more blocks to get to the school, Tsukushi hurriedly said, "I'll just meet you there, James. We'll get off here. Thanks!"
"But, Madame -", the chauffeur started to say.
Tsukushi grabbed Yoshi and carried him, running the rest of the two blocks to the school.
Five minutes later, she and Yoshi were standing in front of the admissions office. Tsukushi put her hands on Yoshi's shoulders.
"You'll be okay. Just answer the questions they give you and you'll do a great job", she looked him in the eye and gave him a big smile of reassurance.
"Otay, Mama", he looked like he wanted to cry, but he pursed his lips in determination.
"Leave Toyo with me. I'll take good care of him."
"But, but... He's goin' to pweschool too. He needs to take the test, Mama", Yoshi protested loudly, hugging his teddy bear close to him.
"We'll check to see if it's okay, first. Okay?"
Yoshi nodded, sniffling a little.
The admissions officer said it would be okay, which was lucky indeed. Otherwise, who knew what Yoshi would do. He'd never been in this kind of situation before, Tsukushi thought.
They weren't in Eitoku. Regardless of it being her and Rui's alumni, she'd been firm in deciding she did not want her child staying in that kind of superficial environment. She remembered Rui's concession to her decision, "I will bow to your superior maternal instincts Tsukushi-chan." He'd even actually bowed to her with two arms raised in front of him! The memory of it made her laugh.
Oh, Rui... I wish you were with me, Tsukushi thought while waiting for Yoshi's test to be over. I never thought I'd learn to depend on someone that much... Of course, in the end, he helped me stand on my own two feet and to learn to trust my own abilities again; otherwise, I doubt I'll have survived his death. Tsukushi shook her head. Enough of this melancholy attitude. She has to be strong for her son and for herself. The stakes are a lot higher this time around. She knew Rui would always be beside her, and with his strength doubling her own, she can do this.
"Mrs. Hanazawa, the test is over. Would you please come in? We'd like to talk to you about Yoshi's test results", the sudden opening of the door startled Tsukushi out of her musings, as she looked at the kindly woman standing in front of her. She had ash blond hair and brown eyes, and despite being dressed formally, almost primly, in a Peter Pan-collared shirt and skirt, her smile was kind. Even her eyes were smiling.
"All right. Yoshi, will you be okay here?" Tsukushi turned to her son.
"Yes, Mama. I got Toyo". Tsukushi watched to make sure that Yoshi was sitting on the bench before she followed the administrator into her office.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, the woman introduced herself formally to Tsukushi, "Mrs. Hanazawa, my name is Ms. Gertrude Cary Holmes. I'm the admissions officer here at Tokyo International School."
Tsukushi nodded to acknowledge this.
"According to his test results, Yoshi is an extremely intelligent little boy. He has great potential. He was a bit wary with me in the beginning, but what little boy isn't shy with strangers? He warmed up after a couple of minutes and started telling me all about his airplane ride on the way over here. From his answers to my questions, he also exhibited some potential for leadership. Perhaps this can be harnessed if you choose this school for your son.
However, I only have two concerns. Nothing major", she assured. "Yoshi seems to have an attachment to his teddy bear. I allowed it for the testing session to help put him at ease, but I'm afraid he will be teased by the other kids if he brings the bear to school."
Tsukushi said hesitantly, "His Daddy gave him that teddy bear. He's had it since he was a baby. It used to belong to his Daddy when he was young. I'm not sure if Yoshi said anything but his Daddy died recently and it's been hard on him. To someone who knows him well, we could see that he began clinging to his teddy bear and to me even more after... after, what happened."
"Oh, I'm sorry about that, I understand... Perhaps it may not be beneficial to take the bear abruptly, but maybe we can work together to gently ease him away from the bear. Only when he's ready. We will just be alert if any untoward incidents happen here." Ms. Holmes said in understanding.
"Also, I see that he was born in the States. Did you also speak Japanese to him at home?"
"Yes, his Daddy and I made it a point to always speak to him in Japanese. His nanny knew few Japanese words in the beginning but she gradually became more fluent as the years passed. We always intended to bring Yoshi back here. But of course, outside of our home, the language he was most exposed to was English" Tsukushi answered, knowing in advance what the woman was going to say.
"I understand. The reason I'm saying this is because, I'm sure you've noticed, Yoshi tends to mix up some of his English words with Japanese words and vice versa. He thinks it is quite natural, but again, he might be teased by the other students."
Tsukushi almost laughed at this. She had noticed, but always thought it was something he'd outgrow. But then, knowing his origins, is it any wonder he gets words mixed up?
"I am hoping he will outgrow it once he is more exposed to only one language." She murmured to Ms. Holmes.
"Yes. It is always a plus if a child is bilingual. We will just focus on this area so that he can sort out which words are English and which are Japanese in his mind." Ms. Holmes said. "With that said, I'd like to welcome your son into this school, should you choose to enrol him here for the school year."
"Thank you very much. I will let you know what the decision will be." Tsukushi stood up then and shook the woman's hand. She would have bowed but since this woman was a Westerner, taking her leave in a Western way seemed more appropriate.
Tsukushi left the office, and gently closed the door behind her. She looked at the bench where she left Yoshi. He wasn't there! She looked around her.
Don't panic. I'm sure he just wandered and explored by himself, Tsukushi told herself. Nobody knows who he is yet, nothing could have happened. With her heart beating, Tsukushi strode into the hallways. No Yoshi. This school is like a maze, it's so big. I'll need a map to figure out my way around. She thought almost hysterically.
"Yoshi! Yoshi!", she yelled out. "Have you seen a little boy about this high?" She put her hand to the level of her thigh as she asked a janitor who was mopping up the floor. He shook his head and continued mopping the floor.
Where could he have gone? Tsukushi was getting nervous. Yoshi was an adventurous little boy. His curiosity became tempered when Rui died, but if he feels comfortable in his surroundings, he would revert to the bold and fearless little boy he once was.
She stopped in front of a bulletin board which seemed to have a map of the school tacked on it. She tried to orient herself with the hallways and walkways. Suddenly, she saw a spot on the map that she knew Yoshi would have gone. It was a playground, and it was right outside the office where he had his test. If he stood on the bench, he'd have seen it. She decided to go there next.
Please be there. Please be there. She thought to herself. By this time, Tsukushi was sweating.
There he is! She let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. He was on the see saw, playing with a little girl who looked slightly older. Somebody was providing weight on the other side so that both he and the little girl who was with him let out squeals of delight as they went up and down.
"Yoshi! There you are!" Tsukushi called out, stopping at the edge of the playground. There was a sandbox between her and the seesaw where Yoshi was.
"Mama! Mama!" Yoshi waved at her enthusiastically, his left arm clutching the handlebar of the seesaw. His teddy bear forgotten on the ground.
Tsukushi looked at her son, and then saw the bear. Her mouth fell open. Yoshi had not let that bear out of his arms since Rui left them.
"Hello, Tsukushi." A faintly husky voice called out her name.
She looked up and her eyes went wide with shock.
"Tsukasa, what are you doing here?"
*****
A/N: Finally! Tsukushi and Tsukasa meet... Who is the little girl? Is she Tsukasa's daughter? What will Tsukasa say to Tsukushi???
Disclaimer: I haven't said this with the past few chapters but, I do not own HYD, if I did, Tsukasa would not have curly hair ;)
