Fic Writer's Appreciation- January 2018 Writing Challenge
January (2018) Day 26 Hawaii
Keahi: Sequel to Hawaiian Souvenir Links given at the end for that story and the interim one Ke Aloha Nei
This story starts of 25 years after Hawaiian Souvenir and while it mentions Natsu and Lucy it's focus is on their son and his journey.
~~~xx~~~
The Dragneel's were so proud of their son Keahi when he graduated from UH Manoa with a Master's degree in GeoScience. His father was especially honored by his son's choice of volcanology since it was the field he had once hoped to work in.
It had been a difficult road that took a lot of hard work, but the young man had finally made it. But the best part came when he was granted an internship at the one place he has dreamed of working since the age of 10; Hawaii Volcanoes National Park's USGS office.
There are other places around the world where volcanic activity is found, but nowhere in his opinion was more interesting than on the Island of Hawaii. In the middle of the Ring of Fire, this hotspot holds one of the the longest, continuous lava flows in modern history, still going for over 34 years with no signs of stopping.
Of course, his own personal history with Kilauea volcano and its resident deity, did play a role in this decision as evidenced by the souvenir around his neck. His mother had the volcanic glass mounted as a pendant so that he could wear it all the time, and he rarely took the thing off. When people asked about it he simply responded it was a good luck charm.
Even his sister couldn't escape the lure of the Aloha State. After graduating with a degree in Astronomy from UH Hilo, an internship at Subaru's Mitaka office in Japan, she had transferred back to their NAOJ office on the Island of Hawaii and now works at their telescope. Married to her college sweetheart, Arashi Fullbuster, they are happily awaiting their first child.
Now with both of their kids living there, and their first grandchild on the way, it was a no brainer for Natsu and Lucy to buy a home on the island. They decided on the East side and find the perfect one nestled just outside of Hilo in the Panaewa Rainforest. That way, Keahi's commute to work won't be very far with him living there until his internship hopefully becomes a permanent position.
One Saturday night, Keahi is hanging out at Coqui's Hideaway Sports Bar with a couple of friends when a pretty, local hapa girl catches his eye. Long, semi-wavy brown hair past her waist, sun-kissed skin, average height, maybe 5' 7" tall with Asian eyes but not body. Curves to her hips giving an hourglass figure not common for a pure Asian girl; she was of mixed heritage he was sure which is very common in the islands.
Being the daring guy, that alcohol can bring out of some people, he wanders over to introduce himself.
"Hey there pretty wahine, what's your name?"
"Wahine?" she giggles, "How does a ha'ole boy like you know that word?"
"I may not have been born here, madam, but I was conceived on the island," he grins back, "Name's Keahi." Leaning on the bar, "So now that you know my name, how 'bout telling me yours?"
She looks the young man up and down, golden blonde, short spiky-haired, with hazel green eyes, though more on the emerald side, toned and a nicely built physique. At first glance he looked completely Caucasian, but the almond shape to his eyes hint of something else, 'Maybe hapa too?' "Well, Keahi, I'm Hi'iaka."
"Spirit of dance," he takes her hand and kisses it, "I'm sure those hips could soothe the gods."
"Oh, brother…" she rolls her eyes, "Is that supposed to be cute?"
"On the contrary, you're named for one of Pele's favorite sisters, and one whose dance could calm the fiery goddess," tipping his head up, "therefore, it is a completely, benign statement."
'Cocky much?' Not wanting to stroke his ego, "Not bad, did you learn that from a book?"
He grins, "You'd be surprised why I know such things."
"Even your name, how'd you end up with a Hawaiian one if you're not from here?"
"Now that is a story I would tell you, after getting to know you better."
She laughs, "There's an actual story behind it?"
"According to my mother yes, she swears by it."
"Hmm," the young woman relaxes, "Well, I must admit you are an interesting guy, different from the ones that usually flirt with me."
"Interesting enough to get a second date out of you?"
"Second?" she tilts her head confused, "Was there a first one I didn't know about?"
"I think this counts… So, next week, same time, same place?" he holds out his hand, "Give me your cell."
"Why?"
"Duh, so I can program my number into it, that way if the answer is yes you can text me, if not well then, I won't have your number and can't bother you anymore; fair?"
"That sounds fair," she hands over the iPhone to him, "You better give me your real number and not a fake one."
He punches his info into her address book and hands it back to her, "Oh, don't worry, I'm gonna pray to Pele as soon as I walk away that you'll call me."
She laughs again, "You really are strange."
With the grin he has inherited from his father, "Have a good evening, Hi'iaka," he kisses her hand and walks away.
But before he can make it back to his friends, his phone pings, 'Friday, 7pm E Komo Mai, they've got a good band playing, kinda local, country type :) ' - Hiiaka
'Lighthouse band, can't wait :)Sweet dreams' - Keahi
By the end of their second date, Hi'iaka gives him her phone number and they make plans to meet for dinner the following evening. Keahi picks her up from her apartment and takes her to Hilo Bay Café, a local fusion restaurant he's come to enjoy.
After their meal, it's such a beautiful night, they decide to walk along the sidewalk fronting Liliuokalani Gardens and relax on one of the benches. He puts his arm along it's backing with his fingers lightly draping over her shoulder, subtle, but not too overwhelming, in case she felt he was moving too quickly. But she surprises the young man by leaning against him.
"So, tell me more about you Keahi, starting with how you got your name; I assume it's your real one and not a nickname."
"It is," he chuckles, "Keahi Ryuu Dragneel. My parents tell anyone who'll listen that I was conceived during their 7-year wedding anniversary trip to this beautiful island. But according to my mother, on their last night here in Waikoloa, they had picked up and old woman in white walking along the highway…"
"Are you serious, you're talking about Pele, aren't you?"
"Yup, they said the woman told my mom she was pregnant with a boy and to name him Keahi, then 5 months later, low and behold, the doctors confirmed she was having a boy. It creeped them out, but they still gave me the name."
"I've heard of similar stories happening, but it was always, you know a friend's, cousins, uncles, whatever, just never first hand… Wow…" she sinks further against him. "That's kinda fascinating."
"Oh, and that's not all, we came back here when I was, I think 10 to visit and she appeared to me and gave me this," he lifts-up the pendant from his neck, so she can see it easier, "but I still have a hard time believing it all. Anyways, that's the story behind my name."
"I believe it," Hi'iaka looks up at him, "Growing up with the stories… I think it could happen."
"Oh great, well you and my mother will get along fine then." Growing braver, his arm drifts to wrap around her shoulder. "Enough about me, it's your turn, tell me something about you like, um, what are your nationalities?"
"I'm half Japanese, a quarter Hawaiian, the rest Chinese and Portuguese."
He pinches her hip, "Now I know where you get these curves…"
Giggling, "Yeah, the ones you couldn't keep your hands off last night…" she teases back, "so what's your background?"
"Half Japanese, Half English, I think my father's great-grandparents came to America from Japan in the late 1800's and my mom's grandparents immigrated from England right after the world wars."
"What do they do for a living?"
"Well my mom's a fiction writer and my dad run's the family company."
"Which is?"
"Err, it's um, Heartfillia Corporation."
"Whoa! That's a huge company!"
"I take it you've heard of it?"
"Do they live here or still in California?"
"They bought a house here when I got the intern position I told you about, and my mom loves it in Hawaii so, she's decided to stay for a while, plus my sisters gonna have her kid soon so she wants to be around for that."
"And your dad commutes?"
"When he needs to, he can run a lot of things from here."
Hi'iaka looks down and fidgets with the fingers in her lap, "I feel a little weird now, I've never known anyone from such higher standings…"
"Hey," he tips her chin up and softens his tone, "My folks are not the typical, stuck up rich people, you're thinking about, they're really down to Earth."
"But still, I'm sure they'd prefer you date, I don't know a girl who's from that world…"
"Trust me, my mom would love you. They just want their kids to be happy, like they were when they got married."
"How do you know for sure?"
He sighs, is this really such a big issue? "My dad comes from a working-class family, and even though my grandfather started Heartfillia Corp, my mom never acted like a rich girl, I mean she fell for my dad even though he didn't come from money. And look at my sister's husband, his family is middle class too; Hi'iaka, they don't care about social standings."
"I guess…"
Clasping her hands and squeezing, "Why don't you see for yourself? My dad will be back in a couple of days and I could take you to meet them…"
Six months later, Keahi gets an opportunity to put his new skills to the test. Over the years, random lava flows have burned structures in the sparsely habited district of Puna, and the last town to be destroyed was Kalapana, but now for the first time in 24 years Kilauea volcano threatens another one.
Pahoa is still a rural city by most standards but one that was slowly growing, and this flow was heading straight for it; literally. If it stays on its present course, it will cut straight through the town. Luckily for the residents, it was a slow-moving flow, but it was still all hands-on deck for the volcanologists of the USGS.
National Guard troops were brought in to support but it was up to the scientists to monitor it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any new fissures or an unknown lava tube opening-up at any moment could prove devastating.
One evening, after a double shift of monitoring the seismographs, Keahi finally heads home to get some much-needed sleep. It's only about a 30-minute drive at that late hour but when you're dead tired, the fog can make seeing difficult.
He turns up the radio, hoping that the loud noise will help to keep his mind active, even singing along. But no coffee in the world could make a difference. 10 minutes into the drive, the car begins to slowly veer as his brain shuts down and his eyes flutter closed…
"Wake up!"
A loud voice screams at him.
"Get up Keahi!"
"Huh?" The young man sits up straight in his seat and veers back into his own lane. Looking around him, "Did I hear that for real?" When he glances at his rearview mirror, to his shock, sits a beautiful young Hawaiian woman in white. His starts to beat rapidly, "How'd you get in my car!"
"That's doesn't matter, ke keiki'ōpio, and do not worry so much about Pahoa, it will not be harmed."
"What? How would you know that?"
His eyes widen in a panic as the woman's orbits glow red, "It is my will…" and she fades away in the blink of an eye, leaving it a dark and empty backseat again.
Needless to say, Keahi stays wide awake for the rest of the drive but tells no one of his spirit visitor. The scientist in him tells that people will just think he is crazy but a small part of him, the child inside calms the young man, 'just believe her…'
He was grateful no doubt, for if she hadn't appeared it was more than likely he would have crashed, but still what did this woman, this goddess want from him anyways? There was nothing special about the boy from California to warrant such divine intervention.
And what about the flow ending, from all their calculations, the magma chamber fueling it showed no signs of running out anytime soon. Was the volcano goddess trying to tell the people something? Maybe remind them of how easily she could take back the land she helps to create? 'Just believe her…' the child within reminds the man…
Her words come to fruition.
While the flow did reach the towns border after 7 months of slow progress, covering a small cemetery, and part of the refuse center, the town itself was left unscathed. Within a month, the citizens could breathe a sigh of relief when the all clear was officially made and the guardsmen could finally pull out of their sleepy little town.
'Maybe I do just need to believe…'
For his efforts, Keahi was rewarded with a full-time position at the USGS and to celebrate, he takes his girlfriend to Jaggar Museum and the rim overlooking Halema'uma'u Crater to show her the latest lava lake forming.
"I can't wait to see some fountains," he smiles and squeezes her hand, "but so far I haven't been that lucky."
"I'm sure it's just a matter of time," Hi'iaka smiles back.
He lets her hand go so she can lean against the railing but takes up the spot behind her, arms wrapped around her midsection. She smiles and stares out over the expanse, "You were right… It is beautiful here at sunset.
Leaning his head against hers, whispering, "I can think of something else much more beautiful to look at during sunset…" The warmth of his breath, travelling over and teasing her skin, she closes her eyes to let the moment take her away.
"Is that so…" voice wispy, matching his timber
A nibble on her ear, "from sunset…" another nibble, "…to sunrise…" her body shudders, "…and every second in between…"
The young woman feels a stirring in the depths of her soul, his words, both oral and unspoken reverberate through her very core; never has any man made her feel so alive with such a simple token!
She turns to face him and weaves her hands around his neck, to pull him into a kiss…
Her lithe form molding against his solid frame the tighter his embrace becomes as their torrid bodies rival the heat rising from the caldera behind them.
…her fingers tangle themselves through his golden spikes while he grips to her waist, hips, caressing, exploring more amorous in nature… He sighs against her plush, sweet lips…
There is something he's been meaning to ask her, but every time the moment is perfect… he chokes. In fact, Keahi had brought her to the spot with those exact intentions, hoping that in a calming place for him, it would help; but so far, no luck.
So, just as he was about to give up, it feels like a warm blanket is swathed over his shoulders, pushing away the cold sting of anxiety. He didn't need to look up to know, someone was guiding him…
Prying his lips away, he leans his forehead against Hi'iaka's,Exhale, and just blurts it out, before he might stop himself again, "I want you to move in with me."
She pulls back to study Keahi's face; is this man serious? Evident by the twitching and slightly trembling fingers still clutched around her waist, his anxiety was mounting the longer it takes her to respond. But, to move in with him is such a huge step, is she ready for it?
There was no doubt in her mind, that there was that everlasting spark you dream about finding some day between them. They had been dating for just over a year and she liked him, a lot, even dare she say it, maybe love?
'Take a leap of faith…' Hi'iaka stiffens, "Did you hear that?"
Keahi tilts his head in confusion, "Hear what?"
"A woman's voice…" 'This one is special Hi'iaka…'
"I don't hear anything," he tilts her head up, softening his tone, "Is it your conscious… or," with a goofy grin, "please don't tell me you're going crazy."
"Omph!" she slaps his chest, "I am not going crazy!"
"Okay, okay, I believe you," He chuckles and kisses her forehead, "so, what did this woman's voice tell you?"
"It's not in important," sighing, "I'll move in with you Keahi."
"Really!" He picks her up and swings her around in a circle. "You're not messing with me, right?"
"No," she smiles, "I'll give you a chance…"
Fast forward another year…
Keahi calls Hi'iaka early one evening, with such excitement in his voice he can't get his words out fast enough, "Babe you've gotta come up here!"
"Why?"
"It's happening, I finally get to see it!"
"See what?! Keahi you're confusing me…"
"Just hurry before it dies down, I'll call the guards to let you through…" She hears him cover the receiver, "I-I've gotta get back to work, just meet me at the overlook. Bye babe see you soon!" Click
Hi'iaka's not exactly thrilled about driving to volcano tonight. She, Keahi's mother and sister Nashi had spent the whole day doing what Lucy called a day out for just the girls, shopping for birthday party necessities and other household goods, then ending in a relaxing spa treatment at Spa Vive.
It had been really nice for the young woman that Lucy and the rest of Keahi's family had indeed opened their hearts to her and once she moved in, their relationship had only grown because of it. And she was excited to be helping Nashi plan her daughter's first birthday party. With no nieces or nephews of her own yet, this child was in essence going to be her first.
About 30 minutes later, Hi'iaka pulls into the parking lot of Jaggar Museum and immediately the reason for her boyfriend's excitement becomes clear. "Fountains!" She walks to the railing in awe, even though she was born and raised in Hilo, she had never seen it for herself.
"My god, it really is…"
"Beautiful."
She whips around to the sound of the female voice and chills run down her spine. 'Pele!'
The woman in white grins, "Come to see Keahi? Or my beautiful show?"
"B-both…" Hi'iaka stammers. "C-could I ask you a question?"
"Hele i mua, what do you seek?"
"Why…"
"Keahi?" Pele answers before Hi'iaka can even finish, "I sensed strength in his soul, ancient like the kahunas of old." Turning to her caldera, "His father loved my fire and he instilled that in his son," she looks over her shoulder with a smirk, "with a little help from me. E mālama iā Keahi, he is a great man, be good to him…"
As Hi'iaka watches the woman fade away she leans against the railing again trying to still her racing pulse. To be visited by Pele, to converse with her… She had been afraid and yet now, it was almost comforting to know how much the goddess cares for her boyfriend. 'Special…Yeah that's an understatement,' she chuckles in her head.
Keahi steps out of the building and sees his beautiful girl leaning against the rail. 'How'd I get so lucky…' A slight breeze wafting up from the ridge is gently blowing her hair back, the angle of her relaxed frame is catching hints of the glowing magma dancing before her…
He pulls the box out of his pocket just as he is about to reach her. "Hi'iaka?"
"Keahi…" she hugs him, "You were right, these fountains are amazing! Thank you for sharing this with me."
Smiling and kissing her, he takes her left hand, "So, did you have fun with my mom and sister today?"
"Uh-huh, we found most of the stuff for the favors and decorations for Sora's birthday party. I think your mom wanted to start putting them together next weekend."
"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." He smiles, "I'm sorry I kept you waiting out here, there was a spike in the sensors at this end of the caldera, nothing major, weird actually, but it lasted about 10 minutes."
"It's okay, I wasn't waiting long. But you said it lasted 10 minutes?" 'That's about how long I was talking to her…' "Was that about 20 minutes ago?"
"Yeah," he tips his head, "How'd you figure that, did you see something, was there a lot of fountains or something?"
"Or something," she murmurs, but when he looks at her more inquisitively she shakes her head, "just a couple of big fountains," squeezing his hand, "Are you happy now that you got to see the lava fountains?"
A large grin takes over his face, "Very! But you know what's even better?"
"What's that?"
Keahi drops to one knee, "Proposing to the girl I love in front of them…"
Her free hand flies up to cover her mouth, "Oh my goodness…" as he holds out the ring to her. The light from the caldera catches in the moisture developing in her eyes, making them sparkle even more.
"Hi'iaka, Will you marry me?"
"Y-Yes!" she cries, tears have broken through and begin trickling down her face. With the ring securely on her finger she tackles him in a hug before he can fully stand; thank goodness for the railing.
"E mālama pono kekahi i kekahi…" a voice whispers in their ears as they share a long-held kiss…
Mouthing the words, "I love you…" while he cradles her face, wiping away the few tear stains along her cheeks, "I think Pele approves…" sniffling through her words, eyes trailing over to the peaks of fire almost cresting the walls that hold them.
"I'm sure she does," smiling, kissing her again, "considering she put all this into motion 27 years ago…"
~~~~~xx~~~~~
Translations/Definitions:
Hawaiian words:
Keahi- (fire) *note Hawaiian words with the letter "I" are pronounced with more of a "e" sound.
Hi'iaka- (spirit of dance) Is also the name of one of Pele's sisters.
Pelehonumea- Goddess of fire and volcanoes in Polynesian culture. She is seen as a young or old woman in red or white or as a white dog
Hapa- generally means a person of mixed ethnic heritage. I included this because not only am I mixed (the ratio given for Hi'iaka's character is actually my own), but many in Hawaii are of mixed decent and proud of it!
Wahine- (woman or female) *note Hawaiian words with the letter "W" are pronounced with more of a "v" sound. And just for additional info, Kane is the word for man or male
Ha'ole- means 'no breath', generally means someone foreign. Some use it in a derogatory manner especially to address Caucasians, but the reason it had come to mean a foreigner is because the Hawaiian's would greet each other by sharing each other's breath, and someone not from here, who didn't know the custom was a ha'ole or foreigner. I included this word even though some do not like it or consider it PC but frankly oh well, it's meaning is what it is and if stupid people misconstrue that I can't help it.
Kahuna- (priest)
Ke keiki'ōpio (young one)
Hele i mua (go ahead)
E mālama iā Keahi (take care of Keahi)
E mālama pono kekahi i kekahi (take care of each other)
Ryuu- means dragon in Japanese
Arashi- means storm in Japanese
Sora- means sky in Japanaese
Places/Other Info:
Aloha State- One nickname for the State of Hawaii wiki/Aloha
Ring of Fire- wiki/Ring_of_Fire
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park- .
Jaggar Museum is located in the park
USGS (United States Geological Society)
Kilauea Volcano- wiki/K%C4%ABlauea
NAOJ- . /en/ & / it's a nice facility
UH Manoa (island of Oahu) & UH Hilo (island of Hawaii)- Two state universities in Hawaii
Coqui's Hideaway Sports Bar- /
E Komo Mai Lounge- A popular bar that hosts many outdoor concerts.
Lighthouse Band- While there is a Canadian group by this name, there is also a small group with this name here in Hilo, the lead singer is a friend of mine and I love when he sings Tennessee Whiskey. While Hawaii has it's own style of music, Country is quite popular here, most likely due to its rich history of Paniolo's (Cowboy's) and ranching.
Hilo Bay Café- /
Liliuokalani Gardens- wiki/Liliuokalani_Park_and_Gardens
District of Puna on the Big Island, where the towns of Kalapana and Pahoa are located. The events used in the this story involving a lava flow threatening these areas, have and do occur, the last one that almost destroyed Pahoa was in 2014.
Halema'uma'u Crater- wiki/Halemaumau_Crater
Spa Vive- the woman that owns this spa is really nice.
Some of the things mentioned in this story are based on real local lore, stories of Pele appearing to people have been told for years, including within my own family.
Hawaiian Souvenir:
/works/10425108/chapters/27848913
Ke Aloha Nei:
/works/11213685/chapters/30875235