Chapter Eleven
"Kai! Yo, where are you!?" Gray called as he entered the bar. He had his hat on backwards, soot staining his face from a particular awful morning over the furnace. The bangs dangling between his large eyes had been singed. He swept it up into his cap and rounded the counter to wash his hands. He stopped, though, when he saw Kai sitting on the ground, a book opened in his lap, and a beer cracked open beside him. He seemed very deep in concentration, "Uh, Kai?" His head snapped up suddenly.
"Gray, hey!" He waved, still shocked. He blinked his dry eyes rapidly and stood up, slamming his sweaty beer on the counter.
"Did you really not hear me come in?" Gray asked, cocking an eyebrow up as he rolled his sleeves and began washing his hands. Kai shook his head, "You really need to work on your multitasking, man."
"Yeah, mhm," Kai said absent mindedly as he flipped the page of his book, "Hey, so, what would you think if I got a chicken?"
"What?" Gray looked over his shoulder, gritting his teeth as he scrubbed under his nails.
"A chicken," Kai repeated, turning around. He leaned against the bar, crossing his arms over his chest, "I think the Snack Shack should get even fresher. Well, the only thing really fresh about my food is the produce. The rest comes frozen."
"Really?" Gray grabbed a paper towel, rubbing his hands backs and forth, "Well... uh, it's a good idea, Kai, but where the hell are you gonna keep it? And what will you do when you're gone? Chickens can't leave on a boat."
"All good questions," Kai said, pulling his book back into his hands, "Well, uh, this book doesn't really tell me any of that. Just that they need a proper diet and plenty of sunlight. I think a boat could do it. Imagine, I make her a nest," Kai grinned, drinking more beer. Gray helped himself to a cold one from the fridge, watching as Kai mumbled as he read, "Come on, wouldn't it be cool if we got a chicken."
"We?" Gray narrowed his eyes at him, "I have nothing to do with this. You better not bring a chicken back to the room. Cliff will have a heart attack."
"Gray," Kai began laughing, his cheeks reddening, "I know our room isn't a barn."
"Are you sure? 'Cause you don't look too sure."
"Let's go look at some at Rick's farm," Kai said, "I've never been to it since I've started visiting here."
"I work right across from it," Gray said, drinking his beer as they crossed for the door, "All day I just hear Rick yellin' at his little sister."
"Oh, yeah, what's her name," Kai grabbed a new beer and followed Gray, tossing the bottle cap carelessly on the floor, "Petunia?"
"Popuri," Gray replied, turning his cap forward as the bright sun greeted the two men who were just accustomed to a dimly lit sea side shack. Kai walked through the sand which overflowed his sandals, but he didn't mind. If anything, he liked it, "She's finally not so sickly. Or at least old enough to finally help out," Gray shrugged, "She just had her sixteenth birthday, so now I guess she's a workin' woman."
"Is she anything like Rick?" Kai was nearly worried as they climbed the stairs to the plaza. Sasha, Manna, and Anna were chatting quietly on the benches in the corner. They quieted down as soon as Kai and Gray entered, "Yo, what's up, ladies!" Kai shouted, almost patronizingly at their conservatism. He raised his beer to them and began on his way. Manna immediately began talking to Sasha and Anna, using wide eye rolling gestures. Gray followed Kai without hesitation or care for the snooty women.
"Nothin' like him," Gray finally said once they exited the plaza, "She's not as colorful as him, that's for sure. I don't think I've ever really seen her open her mouth before."
"As long as she can sell me a chicken, I don't care if she has a third eye."
"That I'm not sure of either," Gray said. They came to the opening of their farm. A large pen of chickens were clucking and cooing after each other. Kai immediately went to the fence, leaning over while chugging more of his beer.
"Damn, dude, these are huge," Kai said, motioning for Gray to look, "They're so fluffy!"
"Can I help you?"
The young men swirled around in a blink of an eye, wide eyed. Rick was standing there with a bag of chicken feed over his shoulder. He had an eyebrow cocked up, his thin rimmed glasses stained. He looked sweaty from his long days work outside. He eyed Gray and Kai from head to toe, taking note of their lack of sweat, their bloodshot eyes, the sweaty beers in their hands, and the summer beach bum vibe Kai was radiating. He nodded approvingly at Gray's sooty coveralls.
"Open carry isn't legal here, you know that?" Rick said, hauling the feed bag onto the ground.
"Hasn't stopped me before," Kai grinned, "I shoulda brought you one. A day laborer like yourself oughta enjoy a cold brew."
"I don't drink," Rick stated very matter of factly.
"Is that so?" Kai cocked one bold eyebrow up, "What do you do to unwind?"
"Uh, go to sleep?" Rick's brow furrowed together.
Kai nodded and very slowly said, "Right. Anyway, I'm lookin' to get a chicken to make my ingredients more fresh in my shack."
"You're not going to... to eat it, are you?!" Rick cried.
"Whoa, no, no!" Kai held his hands up immediately, his bottle dangling precariously. Gray smirked, watching the chickens, "No chickens are gonna get boiled, you have my word, Rick. I'm more interested in the eggs. A lot of my dishes use them."
"Hm," Rick crossed his arms over his chest, "Well... alright. But if I find out you lied to me, you're dead," Rick pointed a very sharp finger at him. Kai took a drank of his beer uncaringly, "Well, go ahead and go inside. My mom will ring you up and consultate you."
"Consultate?" Kai echoed.
"Well, yeah!" Rick exploded, making both Kai and Gray flinch, "She'll give you some literature and make sure you know everything. These are living creatures, Kai, that mean quite a bit to us. They're like family... like our foster children. I'll be damned if we just give one away to a neglectful hand."
"Okay, okay," Kai said, "I'll go to my consultation." Gray began to follow him.
"Hey, don't take those beers inside to my mother," Rick grabbed the bottles and recycled them in the bins against the house. Kai sighed and shuffled his feet and then went up the rickety steps into the house. It smelled rather sweet inside. Kai and Gray were taken off guard. They both absorbed their surroundings. Neither of them had ever been there before.
"Hi there," A woman with puffy pink hair greeted, "can I help you?"
"Yeah, I'm gonna buy a chicken. Rick sent me here for a consultation."
"Ah, yes, go ahead and seat yourself," The woman gestured to the couch in front of the fireplace. Despite it being summer, there was a roaring fire in it. The woman was dabbing a cold sweat from her forehead, hunched over her desk, trying to conceal her sniffling, "You'll have to excuse me for a moment," She said, rushing up the stairs.
"She looked pretty sick, dude," Gray muttered.
"Yeah," Kai stared at the stairs for a moment.
There was a silence in the room. Only the cackling fire could be heard. Kai leaned boredly against the arm of the couch, watching the old grandfather clock sway and tick. Minutes passed by. Gray readjusted his cap on his head and slid down in the couch, arms crossed over his chest.
"Well, I think that counts for a consultation," Kai sighed, standing and stretching, "Let's go pick a chicken out!" He began to round the couch but froze immediately. Gray furrowed his brow together and peered around the back of the couch. Coming down the stairs was a slender girl in a short pink summer dress with polka dots. She had tightly curled pink hair swept back in a green headband. She was humming, her slender manicured fingers gliding down the handrailing. Kai's face had flushed a deep red and he remained frozen where he was.
"Oh, hi," The girl stopped, blinking. Her large round eyes nearly matched her hair.
"Hey, Popuri," Gray waved nonchalantly, standing now.
"H... hi," Kai choked out.
"What're you guys doing?" She asked, but then her eyes lit up and she gasped sharply, "Are you buying a chicken?!" Kai could only nod, his mouth stuck open, "Hooray!" She shouted, throwing her arms open. Kai's face turned even redder beneath his tan complexion as he gawked at Popuri's slender body, "I'm so glad you're going to take one of the little gals home!" Popuri batted her thick lashes at him innocently, "Well, my mom is feeling ill... I'll just give you the consultation myself!" Popuri grinned and began gathering all the papers behind a shelf.
Kai sat very close to her on the couch. Gray watched from afar, knowing that look in his friends eyes. Popuri spoke so passionately of taking care of the chickens. Kai made jokes to help ease her stress, since she seemed rather nervous about giving a consultation. He loved her laugh and how she pressed her beautiful fingers to her collar bone. He loved the curve of her tiny wrists, the watermelon red nailpolish on her fingers. He loved her au naturel face, the one curly strand falling just beside her large eyes. He loved her voice, her eyes, her spirit. He clung onto whatever noises tumbled from her small but full lips. He watched her tongue brush the tip of her front teeth. He watched her nose crinkle while she playfully made a wise crack about a chicken. Her watched her cheeks grow rosy. He was enjoying every moment of her.
The door opened. Gray looked over his shoulder to see Rick wiping his sweat off with a towel as he kicked the door shut behind, "Alright, Mom, well Kai should-" He froze when he saw Popuri and Kai in front of the fire, rather close, "What's going on, Popuri? Where's Mom?"
"She doesn't feel well," Popuri set the papers down and leaned over the back of the couch. Kai stood and turned to face Rick now, "So, I was just telling Kai everything he needed to know."
"No!" Rick cried out, marching up to Kai and shoving him away from Popuri.
"Hey!" Kai shouted as he windmilled backwards. Gray balanced him out.
"Rick, what're you doing?!" Popuri gasped, "That's not how we treat our customers! Tell him you're sorry, right now!" She put her fists on her hips, sticking her lower lip out defiantly.
"He's not a customer, he's a pervert!" Rick pointed a finger at Kai.
"Hey," Kai slapped his finger out of his face, "watch who you're callin' a pervert."
"You're just here to get closer to my sister. You don't really want a chicken! I walked over to the Snack Shack to set up the cage for you and there's no yard or area for you to even keep a chicken! This is all one big ploy!"
"No it's not," Kai held his hands up, "I'm really just here for the chicken, man."
"Get out! We're not selling you a chicken!" Rick shoved Kai into Gray.
"Would you quit pushing me!?" Kai shouted, standing up all the way now. He towered a good two to three inches over Rick, "You have no right to refuse me business!"
"You were consuming an alcoholic beverage on our property," Rick said very snottily, "and THAT is illegal, so get out of here." Kai narrowed his eyes at Rick. Popuri covered her hand with her mouth. Kai clenched his hands into fists. Gray grabbed his arm.
"Let's just go," Gray said very passively, his face void of emotions.
After another stiff moment, Kai followed Gray out.
...
That night, Kai sat out on the pier, his sandy bare feet just touching the surface of the salty water. He had a book on fresh ingredients in his laps, a beer beside him. He wasn't looking at the book, however. He was staring up at the starry night with a full moon. He stared longingly into the inky blackness, looking for something yet not knowing what. He listened to the waves lap into the pier, thinking of how the moon pushed the waves back and forth.
"Kai?" Startled, he looked over his shoulders. His eyes nearly bugged out of his head, however. Popuri was standing at the end of the pier. She was wearing pink and white striped pajama pants and an oversized sweater that said Waffle Island on it with a sailboat. Her curly hair was free and cascaded like a fluffy cloud down her back.
"Popuri...!" Kai knocked his beer over standing up, "uh, h... hey! What're you doing here, it's late."
"I know," Popuri's cheeks became rosy, "I went to your room first and woke your roommates up," Kai grinned at this. Popuri saw and weakly smiled back, "I had to wait until Rick went to bed. I just wanted to apologize for his actions. I know you're not a pervert, it was wrong of him to say that about you. He just has such a bad temper, I don't know where he gets it from."
"Me either," Kai shook his head, tightening the knot on his bandana, "You're much too sweet to be related to such an angry man." Popuri giggled weakly, then looked out to the sea. Kai could see the moon and the ocean in her eyes, "Well, hey... thanks for comin' all this way just for your brother."
"I hate when he gets like that," Popuri hugged herself, her sweater bagging heavily, "His anger outbursts get worse every year our father doesn't come back."
"Where is he?" Kai asked. Popuri seated herself on the edge of the dock, not worried if her house slippers touched the ocean. Her legs were much too short, though. Kai sat next to her, watching her in the moonlight, trying to memorize every detail.
"My mom is very sick with something that has the doctors baffled. The only cure is pollen from a rare flower," Popuri said, "My father is certain he can find it. He left nearly eight years ago."
"Does he write?" Kai asked, looking towards the horizon.
"Not anymore," Popuri shook her head, "He said he doesn't have time."
"I'm sorry," Kai said very sincerely. Popuri looked over at him with glossy eyes in the moonlight.
"This is embarassing," She smiled, trying to play off her falling tears, "It's very painful to think of him gone. He's so blinded by trying to heal her he takes for granted the limited time any of us have together on this planet," She let out a cry, using her long sleeves to mop her tears up, "I'm sorry."
"It's okay," Kai pressed a comforting hand to her shoulder, "You don't have to be sorry."
Popuri smiled with large welts of tears in her eyes, "I don't know how Rick could so easily write you off... you're very nice."
"He's just looking out for his little sister," Kai shrugged, leaning back on his hands now, "I guess I was like that with my sister when we were in school."
"You have a sister?" Popuri smiled at this thought.
"Oh, yeah," Kai smiled, "Well, actually three, but two are older. I'm the only boy."
"Oh my goodness," Popuri began laughing now, her eyelashes heavily wet, "Rick has nothing on you. He think I'm a handful!"
"You? A handful!?" Kai threw his head back and laughed, "I guarantee you, you're not."
"Rick wants what's best for me, and I know that," Popuri sighed, as if she hated admitting it. She tucked her hands inbetween her legs, "But sometimes I think he just wants to keep me as a little girl forever. As if he's trying to preserve everything for my father for when he comes home."
"He should give you a chance. Your consultation was great. I learned a lot."
"Really?" Popuri's eyes lit up, "You're the first person I ever educated about chicken care."
"You know your stuff," Kai smiled.
"You're very kind," Popuri's eyes looked back towards the ocean, her face reddening. She suddenly felt very hot in her sweater, despite the cool ocean breeze brushing her hair back. Kai watched her hair float in the wind. Her tight curls drove him mad, "It's very nice here at night."
"This is my favorite part of the day," Kai took a gulp of his beer, "It's so calm. The world can finally rest."
Popuri leaned back on her hands with Kai to watch the stars glitter.
"Right there is the tail of The Lobster constellation," Kai pointed to the left, "Oh!" He turned her attention slightly further to the left, "There's the sword of Gorion, the Hero of Ancient History." Popuri's eyes lit up, her lips parting to reveal her pearly smile, "There's the constellation that looks like a bear. I stayed in a village that thought it looked like a sea horse, they were funny people," Kai's heart melted as he listened to her laugh. She had scooted closer to him now to get a better view of the stars. He inhaled her lovely scent. Like lilac... or even popuri leaves.
"So, you've been everywhere?" She asked. She turned her head, their faces only inches apart.
"Well, not everywhere," Kai shook his head, conscious his breath wreaked of beer. She didn't seem to mind, however, and didn't flinch, "I've seen my fair share."
"I've never been beyond this channel. Only the Forget-Me-Not Coast. That's where I got this sweater, actually," She tugged at the collar, "I've always wanted to go to The City just beyond here... and then past that. What's beyond The City?"
"More cities, smaller towns, even smaller villagers. Different cultures." Kai said, watching the horizon, "Beyond that is the rest of the world."
"Would you take me with you?" She asked, scooting closer to him.
"Oh, uh," Kai's face turned red, "If you were absolutely sure. If you were sure you could leave your mother and Rick."
"I'm sure," She said confidently, but then slowly her smile wavered, "Auh, you're right... It would crush Rick even more if I left, too."
"Well, you can't let others dictate how you live your life," Kai told her, wrapping his arm protectively around her small wiry shoulders, "You always have to do what's best for you. I'd never had left home if I had let some people guilt me out of it."
"Do you ever stop missing home?"
"No, to be honest," Kai shook his head. Popuri was now pressed against him, her eyes gazing up into his, "but the ache dulls and it doesn't hurt as much. I'll go home when I know I'm the best I can be. So I can take something to be proud of home to my mom."
"That's so..." Popuri fell at a loss of words, "You're amazing."
"Hardly," Kai laughed, "I'm just a drunk drifter."
"I think you're amazing," Popuri insisted, clutching his shirt. She leaned up, planting her lips on his. Her lips had an urgency. Kai chose to hold her close. Poupuri's slender fingers grasped his neck. She parted from his face, "From the moment I saw you, I knew you were amazing."
Kai's face had grown very red. He blinked rapidly, savoring the way he held her body, and how it molded to his, "I... I think you're beautiful." He choked out. She buried her face into his chest.
...
I placed the silver thorned ring into a small jewelry box I had. I owned two pairs of stud earrings and a bracelet. I was not very fashionable. The ring had worked, I supposed. It was raining very steadily outside. I watched my pasture become a mud slide.
"It'd be nice to have some pigs," I muttered to myself, closing the curtains. I decided to lie in bed and read a book about harvesting fruits. By the time I had finally settled back under the covers was when my electricity went out. That was just my luck. It was too early in the morning for this crap. I heard the AC putter to a stop and instantaneous staleness sprout in the air. I stumbled into jeans, a white tee, and a black jacket. I would just have to go to the inn for the day.
I screamed as soon as I opened my door at how ice cold the sheets were. It felt almost like a winter storm, but I thought I had seen the calendar marked for June this morning. I jammed my hands into the front of my jacket, ducking my head low. My hair was stuck to my face as I walked down the plaza streets, my shoes squishing. I saw the looming forgery in the darkness despite it being daylight. It seemed to be operating, smoke was billowing from its chimney.
I remembered the night before as Gray told the story of Kai and Popuri. I blinked up into the rain as I thought to the rest of the night.
...
The next morning, Kai awoke with the sun despite only sinking into bed a few hours before. He felt well rested, however. He went to the window and looked out over the sleepy town under the orange morning light. He saw Mary and her parents leaving for their morning hike. The mayor was going for a jog in an embarassingly old suit with small weights. Kai didn't even bother to make a wise crack about it. He had a huge grin on his face as he changed into fresh clothes. He threw on a navy blue T-shirt and white cargo shorts. By this point Gray was rolling out of bed. He was absolutely not a morning person. Groggily and with bloodshot eyes, he ruffled his hair and sat on the edge of his bed, preparing himself for another day. Cliff was stretching and flattening his hair out.
"Good morning," Kai said, making both of the quieter men cringe, "isn't it such a beautiful day?"
"Could you please close the curtains," Gray's voice was husky with sleep still.
"Come on, man, rise and shine!" Kai smiled, "It's another day!"
"What the hell is wrong with you?" Gray looked over his shoulder at him, his red hair a fiery curly mess on top of his head, "Are you already drunk?"
"It's possible," Kai nodded, still grinning as he sunk onto a stool surrounding their communal table, "I just had a really great night, that's all!"
"That's great," Gray stretched, "Alcoholism seems to be treating you well." And with that he went to the bathroom. Cliff was lacing his vest up while he fluffed the furry collar. After that, he staggered into his boots and were out the door. Kai watched longingly out the window as he heard Gray mutter as he shaved on the other side of the wall. The pink morning light was like Popuri's thick curls. He wanted to reach out and touch them again, feel them wrap around his fingers.
Kai didn't wait for Gray to go downstairs for breakfast. He ordered a coffee from Ann and seated himself at the bar next to Cliff, who was drowning his eggs in ketchup.
"You're in a good mood," The red headed woman observed, sliding his cup of joe across the counter, "What makes you so chipper this morning?"
"It's just another beautiful day to be alive," Kai's smile was still ear to tanned ear as he drank his coffee, "I take for granted all the days I get to wake up with air in my lungs and a kitchen to go to." Ann furrowed her brow as she wiped some freshly washed dishes down. She watched Kai with big curious eyes as she watched the world traveller drink his coffee in pure delight.
"Are you in love?" Cliff suddenly asked, not even lifting his shy eyes from his breakfast.
"I think so," Kai laughed, his cheeks growing rosy.
"In love?!" Ann nearly dropped the mug she was working on, "With who?!"
Kai only smiled from behind his coffee. Gray was coming down the stairs now, mashing his cap on and zipping up the rest of his coveralls.
"Gray!" Ann suddenly screamed, making him cringe, "Kai's in love!"
"Congrats," Gray said, very confused, as Ann fetched his breakfast and coffee, "Are you sure it's just not indigestion?"
"It's more than that," Kai replied, watching the swiveling door to the kitchen, "I'm pretty sure I love her, dude."
"Who?"
"Popuri."
"Popuri?" Gray's eyebrows knitted together, "No wonder Rick threw you out."
"She came to me last night," Kai said.
"Dude, how much did you drink?"
"It actually happened," Kai insisted, "She came and sat on the pier with me. And then she kissed me." Gray looked over at Kai, his eyes still bloodshot from his nights sleep, "She's so nice and easy to talk to. I've never clicked so quickly with a girl."
"You do know she's only, like, sixteen years old."
"So? I won't be twenty-one until the end of this year."
Gray shrugged passively, feeling it was too early for a debate about her age. Ann now served his breakfast and continued to eye the content man in the purple bandana for the rest of his time at the bar. He took off before Cliff or Gray could finish their breakfast. He decided to take the long way to the Snack Shack so he would pass the chicken farm.
It was still early. Few people were on the streets, mostly only early workers and those who went to Forget-Me-Not Valley during the day. He looked at the abandoned farm for a fleeting moment as the chicken farm came into view. He could see Rick, to his dismay, who was scattering chicken feed in the fenced areas. The chickens clucked after him, flapping their wings aggressively to get their fair share of feed. However, Kai's heart began pumping harder when he caught a glimpse of pink. Popuri was wearing a pink T-shirt and shorts as she pumped fresh water into a bucket. He watched her beautiful silky skin in the early morning light. Her voluminous hair was tied into a high fluff ball atop her head. Kai felt his feet stopping. He had to watch her slender body. It drove him mad. She picked the bucket up after a moment of straining and began across the farm towards Rick. When she saw Kai, however, she dropped the bucket quickly, some of it spilling over the top.
"Kai, good morning!" She called, waving her arm. Rick stopped his job and looked Kai's direction, immediately narrowing his eyes. Kai waved back, smiling genuinely at her.
"What do you want?" Rick shouted, "Are you here to try to swindle another chicken out from under my nose?"
"Well, I'd still like a chicken, yeah," Kai nodded, leaning over the fence, "but it looks like your mind is made up. I'm just here to say hello to the person who actually took me serious." Popuri's cheeks grew as pink as her hair as she went to the fence, "How are you this morning?" He asked as Rick jumped the chicken fence and grabbed the bucket, dumping the water into their trough himself, his face red.
"Tired," Popuri laughed, "I think I'll take a nap in a little bit."
"You can come over to the Snack Shack for a little something to eat before your nap," Kai wiggled his eyebrows at her, making her face turn even redder, if that was possible, "Maybe we can take a nap together," He laughed at this innocently, and then realized how it must have sounded.
"That sounds nice," Popuri said despite Kai's flustered face after his short lived laugh.
...
Gray sat at his work bench, watching the fire in the furnance come to life. After letting it warm up even more, he'd melt his sediments into ingots. Gray's mind kept going back to Kai this morning. He was so chipper and alive. Did love really make someone feel like that? Gray leaned on his elbow, twirling his multitool in his fingers. Gray had never been in love before. He had no idea how it made someone feel, but he had a feeling it definitely didn't do that much. Surely Kai had to be overreacting.
Gray put his mitts on and his mask as he prepared to melt his ingots. Gray tried to think about love. He thought about it in books and movies, how everything just seemed to fall into place and the people magically understand how to confront their feelings. Gray was embarassed of his feelings. His grandfather had spent years scrutinizing men who displayed emotion. Gray wanted to think he loved Claire, but his whole body ached with a terrible tremble as he thought of her name. He quickly shut those thoughts down. He shook his head, as if to clear away the essence of her. He dropped his mark over his face, and leaned into the fire, a sweat instantly breaking across his brow.
He watched the metal melt into a thick goo. That's all love does to your heart, Gray thought sourly as he watched the fire spurt upwards with extreme energy, it leaves you ripped up and bleeding. He was certain he had loved Claire when he was twelve. His feelings had only been awakening that spring. He was noticing how much he was attracted to her personality, and his budding sexuality made his pants tighter than he would have ever liked to admit. Gray's coveralls felt tight for a moment at the thought of Claire, trying to imagine what she would look like age nineteen, like him.
He pulled the red hot ingots from the fire and began pouring them into the molds his grandfather had set out that morning. The old man was reading a book and drinking tea behind the counter, uncaring of lifting a finger since it was Friday. Whenever he thought of Claire, it didn't particularly make him happy. When Kai thought of Popuri, his heart swelled and he suddenly got drunk off thin air. Gray now felt dread in his stomach while he watched the hot molds set. He had never felt love. Kai had probably felt it a dozen times over. Gray felt emotionless suddenly within his body. He pulled his mask off, his face layered in a thin layer of sweat.
...
I pushed the door open to the inn, the wind almost taking it off the hinge. Rick was right at the door. He helped me pull it shut quickly, pushing a towel over the puddle that had formed beneath me. Nearly half the town was in the inn. I furrowed my brow as I pulled my hoodie back from my wet hair, which had flattened to my head.
"Lose power?" Rick asked, cocking an eyebrow up.
"Uh, yeah," I nodded, "Is this, like, the safe place?"
"It never loses power," Rick nodded. I walked down the open aisle, looking amongst the villagers. Most were eating and drinking, cheery despite the storm forcing them to seek refuge elsewhere. Doug was whistling excitedly behind the bar as he filled two steins with foamy beer from a tap for Saibara and Gotz, who were having an intense conversation at the bar.
I went up the stairs and peeked into Ann's room. I saw Mary and Popuri sitting on the floor with cards, "Hey guys," I said from the doorway, waving, "where's Ann?"
"Helping her dad in the kitchen," Mary said politely over her shoulder.
"Play Ann's card for us until she gets back," Popuri had a huge grin on her face as she gestured to Ann's lonely hand on the ground. I stared at Popuri for a moment. She was wearing a white T-shirt with a black vest and and matching black skirt. I thought of her naive self from a year ago. I could see the same girl within her mesmerizing eyes that were the color of cherry blossoms. I thought of her locking lips with Kai and then I thought to the other night on the beach with Kai. My cheeks turned toasty red as I thought how about how good his lips felt.
"Alright," I agreed, sitting down in the circle. We were playing war. We played a few rounds before Popuri and I flipped matching cards. Getting unruly and excited, Popuri and I both screamed "WAR", making Mary wince. The final card we flipped matched as well, and we screamed again in shrill upbeat voices, scrambling to lay more cards down.
"Ladies, ladies," Our rosy faces turned to the doorway. Gray and Kai were standing there.
"What do you want?" Popuri asked, almost rudely.
"I... I was just seeing what the noise was," Kai said, holding his hands up.
"Hey, guys," I said, despite sensing Popuri's dislike of them standing there, "I think the ring worked."
"That's what I told Gray this morning," Kai laughed. Gray was smiling at me. I told Mary and Popuri I'd see them later and left with Kai and Gray to their room. I sat on the end of Kai's bed, Gray on his, "Man, she was not happy to see me," Kai nearly laughed as he closed the door behind him and sat down at the table.
"It's amazing how long she can hold a grudge," Gray said, lying on his back with his arms tucked under his head.
Kai seemed bothered as he took a glance back towards the inn door.
...
Kai set the last duffel bag onto his boat on the small counter top in the living quarters. He looked around before climbing to the deck, where he double checked his sails, gas levels, and supplies. He hopped off the boat and watched it bounce in the waves. The end of summer was always bittersweet. He was grateful to set out into the ocean and just let the waves take him away, but he would always pine for Mineral Town. The place had become a semblance of home for him. He knew he had a place he belonged there. He went into the Snack Shack and drank another beer to cheer him up.
The door opened. He turned around, expecting Gray, but instead he saw Popuri. Her hair was loose and coming over her shoulder like an out of control cherry blossom tree. She was wearing a light purple tank top and black shorts, tears in her eyes.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Kai took a gulp of his beer before he put it on the bar and crossed to her quickly, wrapping his arms around her now familiar body.
"I want to go with you," Popuri said, grasping his shirt in her fingers, "I can't be without you."
"Popuri," Kai brought his hands up, resting against her cheeks. She was so soft, his body warmed at the sensation of her skin beneath his palm, "we've talked about this. Remember, we agree you shouldn't leave home yet. You have a job and place here."
"You can't leave me here," A river flowed freely from her big eyes. Her lips trembled, her hands in a death grip on him, "I've decided all on my own that this is actually what I want. I'm not making a mistake, I want to be with you on that ship."
"You're sure?" Kai looked deep into her eyes, still holding her in a deep embrace.
"I've never been more sure in my entire life," Popuri told him, "It's time I found out who I really am, Kai." She looked so passionate and determined, despite her eyes being sopping wet with her tears. Her eyelashes weighed heavily on her, but she fought heavily against them, "Come for me in an hour. I'll be ready."
"What about your brother?" Kai asked, grabbing her wrist as she walked away.
"I'll say goodbye to him when you come for me," Popuri replied, pulling her hand gently from his grasp.
...
Kai drank two and a half beers after that in the next hour, completely worried. He knew Rick would not react well to Popuri's sudden announcement to go out into the open world. He knew Rick felt sour about his father doing the same, and knew Popuri's abandonment with Kai would be a slap in the face followed by salt in the eyes. Kai debated rushing to his boat and bailing over the horizon, but he couldn't. He thought of Popuri and he collapsed. He loved her. He knew he did and he was more than happy to take her. He wasn't too sure he was ready for the lifestyle change. He would wait for her, though. He would remain devoted. He had told her this, but she was too determined to prove herself.
Kai jammed his hands into his cargo shorts as he walked in his flip flops to the opening of the chicken farm. He took a deep breath, chomping heavily on his gum. Hopefully he didn't wreak of alcohol. He pushed the bright blue door open and leaned in. Lillia was sitting near the fire, a book in her face. Popuri was sitting on the stairs, staring at the clock. Rick was in the kitchen stirring something in a pot. Kai cleared his throat and completely stepped into the room, gathering the family's attention.
"You're really persistent," Rick said venomously from the archway of the kitchen. He was hard to take seriously in his light blue gingham apron. He crossed his arms over his chest, his chilli stained wooden spoon dripping onto the tile, "You're not getting a chicken. Now get out of here, you have no right to march in right before supper time."
Kai hiccuped and tried to swallow the sound as fast as possible. He couldn't think of anything to rebuttal with, so he looked towards Popuri who was pulling a backpack over her shoulders. It was white with pink polka dots. It had unicorn and rainbow pins on it, and a cat patched sewed on the side.
"Mom, Rick..." She stepped beside Kai with a beaming face of light, "I've decided I'm ready to experience the world and find the real me. And to do that, I've decided I am leaving with Kai today on his boat."
"What?!" Lillia stood up, dropping her book. It thunked to the ground. She pressed a handkerchief to her forehead for a moment, "Popuri, what are you talking about?"
"You son of a bitch!" Rick hurled the spoon to the floor and pulled the apron off, ripping it in the process, "I'm so sick and tired of your bullshit and you trying to brainwash my perfectly innocent sister! She was a good girl before you started putting ideas into her head!" Rick charged, grabbing Kai's shirt. Kai staggered backwards. The two men flew through the door, crashing down the porch steps and into the dirt.
The two began rolling back and forth, trying to get the upper hand on one another. Popuri screeched and came flying down the porch, screaming for them to stop. Kai got on top and hit Rick straight in the face. He heard the crack of his glasses. Blood spurted from his nose. Kai landed another punch on him and then got off of him.
"I haven't done shit," Kai shouted, wanting to kick the man, but he was wringing in pain on the ground, his blood staining the dirt. The chickens clucked aggressively and flapped their wings, fluffing up in self-defense, "Everything Popuri has done is because she has wanted to!"
"I saw you kissing her!" Rick shouted behind his shattered glasses. He held his hand to his face as blood dripped everywhere. He lost his breath and collasped back to the ground, "I saw you taking advantage of her on the pier! Kissing and touching her everywhere!" Rick scrambled to his feet, "Did you force my sister to have sex with you!?" Gray appeared at the mouth of the farm, Saibara peering out from his forgery to see what the commotion was.
"You were spying on us!?" Kai cried increduously, "Who gave you the right to do that?!"
"Did you have sex with my sister?!" Rick sneered again.
"I don't think you want to know the answer to that," Kai whispered with venom in his voice.
Rick's face became beet red, "Popuri! Get inside! You're not going anywhere with this pervert!"
"You're just going to let him make that decision for you?" Kai stepped forward towards a red faced Popuri who was on the verge of tears from embarassment, "I told you not to leave if you weren't ready, don't let this goof try to guilt you otherwise."
"Stop talking to her," Rick pressed a bloody palm to Kai's chest.
"Popuri-"
"Kai, I-" Suddenly tears began falling from Popuri's eyes, "I... I think you should go."
"What?!" Kai cried, "Why!?"
"Look what you did to my brother," Popuri cupped his cheek.
"Fuck this, man," Kai growled. He turned around, shoving Gray out of the way. He stomped all the way back to the beach with Gray on his tail who was trying to get details, "I'm out of here, man. I'll be back next year, but there's no way I'll have anything to do with Popuri and her weird brother, Rick!" Kai stopped at the pier and took a deep breath, his face red with anger. He turned to Gray and gave him a firm handshake, "I'll see you next summer, Gray."