I don't own any characters, except my own. Book of Life belongs to Jorge Gutierrez. Kubo and the Two Strings belong to Laika.

Thank you King of 2211 for your review.


Age 9

On a bright sunny morning, 9 year old Kubo heard the sound of somebody playing a guitar.

It's coming from Tio Manolo and Tia Maria's room!

Kubo realized.

At once, he hurried over towards Manolo and Maria's room to discover Manolo practicing on his guitar.

Upon seeing the boy was like a combination of nephew and son, Manolo stopped playing and said "Kubo, I'm sorry I didn't mean to bother you."

"No, you didn't bother me Tio Manolo, I like it when you play music." Kubo replied as he sat himself down next to Manolo.

"My mother likes it too." Kubo added. "She says it's just as good as the music back in Japan." He added.

"Would you like me to teach you some songs?" Manolo offered.

"Sure, what song were you playing?" Kubo asked.

"It's called 'Hungry eyes' and I'm playing to sing it to Maria during our night out." Manolo explained

"When's your night out?" Kubo wondered. Before he remembered "Oh, right. It's Tonight."

Manolo laughed in acknowledgement before he began to play the song.

"I've been meaning to tell you. I've got this feeling that won't subside." Manolo sang as he strummed his guitar. Kubo grinned as he started to play along on his Shamsei, behind two prices of paper folded themselves into people and started to dance with each other as Manolo continued to sing "I look at you and I fantasize...you're mine tonight. Now I've got you in my sights...with these…"

"Hungry eyes." Kubo joined in. "One look at you and I can't disguise. I got Hungry eyes."

Then Graciela suddenly arrived and interjected with "I feel the magic between you and I."

"Oh! Graciela!" Both Kubo and Manolo cried I'm surprise.

"I see you're practicing a song for Mama again." The 9 year old girl stated as she looked at both Kubo and her father with amusement.

"How are you Mija?" Manolo asked with a smile.

"I'm fine, Papa…" Graciela started to say, but Fermina's voice suddenly interrupted from downstairs with "Papa! When are you going to teach Graciela and me, how to bull-fight?"

Manolo laughed before he replied with "You'll see."

"But we're nine Papa!" Fermina protested as her voice started to sound closer to the doorway. "That's when you started learning the art of bull-fighting." She added as the first born twin reached the doorway.

Manolo smiled as he replied "Clever girl, but don't forget, bull-fighting wasn't the right path for me and I won't make any of you learn it unless you want to."

"I want to Papa." Fermina insisted.


Sometime later, Manolo, Fermina, Graciela, Kubo and five year old Miguel were standing in the bull fighting pit.

"Oh! Gracias Papa! Gracias!" Fermina cried with joy.

Manolo smiled as he replied "De Nada. But don't thank me yet. This isn't going to be as easy as you think it is."

Fermina smiled as she stated "No problem, I like a challenge."

"That's the spirit." Manolo phrased as Graciela, Kubo and Miguel cheered from the sidelines.

Soon Manolo handed Fermina a red cape. Then sometime later, the two of engaged in several hours of practice bull-fighting.

Graciela, Kubo and Miguel continued to cheer Fermina on Manolo, pretending to be a bull charged at her red cape. However, Fermina kept pulling her cape out of her father's reach.

"Very good, Mija." Manolo phrased before he added "But next time, we'll be using animals."

Upon seeing the frightened looks upon Graciela, Kubo and Miguel's faces, Manolo hastily added "Don't worry, I won't have Fermina harm them."


Sometime later, the four of them were heading home.

"You were awesome!" Kubo phrased.

"Gracias." Fermina replied as the group reached their home.

"Mama, we're Home!" Miguel called out as Chuy rushed over to greet them.

As the children played with their pet, Maria's voice called out "Hi! How was your day?"

"It was wonderful Mi amor." Manolo replied.

As he and the children looked up, Maria entered the room with a smile.

As she walked towards her husband and wrapped her arms around him, she said "Ready for our romantic night together?"

"What romantic night?" Miguel wondered.

"Don't you remember? Mama and Papa are going out while Tio Joaquin, Tia Elena, Reneta and Ulises come over to our house to watch us and Tia Sariatu." Fermina explained.

"Why can't Tia Sariatu watch us? She's a grown up too." Miguel questioned.

At once, the whole room became quiet.

Maria walked over to her youngest son, knelt down to his level and said "Mijo, Do you remember that talk we had about Tia Sariatu?"

"That she goes to sleep with her eyes open and can only wake up during nighttime?" Miguel questioned.

"Yes and that same illness leaves her having trouble remembering things." Kubo added with eyes of sorrow.

"So, she can't take care of us." Graciela explained as she averted her eyes.

"Will she get better?" Miguel wondered.

At once, Manolo, Maria, Fermina, Graciela, Kubo and even Chuy looked at each other with sadness. Before Maria looked back at her youngest son and said "I don't know Mijo. We took her to the doctor so many times and they can't tell us what's wrong with her."

"I hope she gets better." Miguel said as he gestured for Kubo to come over to him.

"Yes?" Kubo asked as he came over.

At once, Miguel pulled Kubo into a gentle hug. Soon the rest of Sanchez family joined in.


Sometime later, Joaquin, Elena, Reneta and Ulesis arrived just Manolo and Maria were ready to leave.

As the adults talked among themselves, Kubo looked at the Mondargon twins and said "What to come upstairs to my mother's room with me, Fermina, Graciela and Miguel? She tells the best stories."

"But we don't speak Japanese." Reneta repiled.

"We can translate." Graciela replied.

"You kids have fun." Manolo stated as the children hurried upstairs to spend the evening listening to Sariatu's stories.


English to Spanish:

De Nada: You're welcome.

Gracias: Thank you.

Mija: Daughter

Mijo: Son

Tia: Aunt

Tio: Uncle


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