Now this is where it gets even more harder...and it concerns Okinawa.
Chapter 13: Hardest Decision
Soon enough, Sakamoto and Bao-Yi carried Okinawa outside onto the town where everyone was anxiously waiting for what's about to come pretty soon and what the announcement will be and as they gathered around, Oak Sung joined them to also hear what's going on and Sakamoto asked, "What will the announcement be?"
"They always have a few army soldiers come by and the sargent makes some an announcement that involves anyone that has a new baby or one that almost turns a year old." Oak Sung replied.
Bao-Yi started to get a little nervous about that last part and she hasn't heard the news yet and that made her feel like she wants to just get away from all this with Sakamoto and take them somewhere safe and yet...she felt Sakamoto's hand into hers and she looked at him with a reassuring look on his face to keep her calm and just brace herself for what's gonna happen next.
Just then, the army sargent come out and stands on top of his rickshaw, faces the entire crowd, clears his throat and said, "All right. I'm sure you have waited long enough for this announcement about the safety of your newborns. I wanna make this perfectly clear that this is not the easiest task I've ever had to tell you all, but it's just to make sure that your little ones will not be at risk. The Mongol war is growing worse right now that in every area in China and Japan will make it impossible for the children to deal with this and to be raised in. In short, any newborns or any babies that are almost a year old...you have to give them up."
That sparked an immediate outcry to every parent after that bombshell and it even shocked both Bao-Yi and Sakamoto that they have to give up their own son during this huge ordeal. Protests were going all around and the families were very against the decision as the sargent predicted would happen and he said, "I am sorry, but it is out of my hands. The head sargent enforced this news to make sure that your children wouldn't have to think about their parents be at war or even experience what it is like and get killed too. If I was the head sargent, I would've had a better solution for this...but as I said, it is out of my hands."
"Is there any way for the head sargent to change his mind?" one parent asked.
"Like...take our kids to safety?" another parent added.
"As much as those suggestions sound like a better solution, the head sargent's mind is made and it is final. Turn in your babies early in the morning. We can assure you that they will be all right until the war is over." the sargent replied, before taking off.
A huge amount of protests spurted out of them and Bao-Yi just dropped her head down Sakamoto got down to his knees like a billion bricks tumbled on top of his back really hard and covered his head in ultimate maximum disbelief. Oak Sung couldn't bear to see both parents so upset and saddened on the outside, knowing fully intent that they don't want to give up Okinawa.
Soon after, Sakamoto sat down in the chair, feeling completely upset that this was supposed to happen and that it's a bad dream he hopes that he can wake up to. Oak Sung came to his son and he can see the look on Sakamoto's face and he lets out a deep sigh and sat next to him in hopes of giving him a little bit of comfort.
"How can they do this? It's unfair that they have to do this." Sakamoto said, sadly.
"Saka...I know the head sargent for a long time while I was fighting the exact same war and he always comes with the most decisions that may not seem fair or even comes up with a better solution. But in any event, whatever he says goes." Oak Sung explained.
"Can't you do something, dad?" asked Sakamoto.
"I really wish I can help, son. There is a better way though." Oak replied.
Sakamoto quickly turned to his dad after he heard of a better solution coming from him and he said, "If I recall correctly, most parents are very reluctant or against giving their kids up during the war and the one solution they can do is give their children to one of their closest friends and raise them as their own."
That idea sounds a little better than the original one, but he's still not ready to let go of Okinawa just yet and he looks at his baby in the face staring at him and Sakamoto's eyes were filled with tears as he looked at him and couldn't imagine what it would be like to give him up, but he really wants what's best for his son, no matter what it takes.
Bao-Yi comes downstairs and she still felt upset over the big news and Sakamoto asked, "Rest well?"
"No. I couldn't rest at all." Bao-Yi replied.
Sakamoto sets Okinawa down and he comes over to her and hugs her tightly and they knew that the news about giving up their kid due to the war had a huge effect on them and he said, "I know. This is just all kinds of messed up that they have to do this."
"You two should really think about what is best for Okinawa." Oak replied.
Both of them agreed with what he said, but still found it hard to sink in as they two made their way upstairs to just talk it over and as soon as they got to the room, Bao-Yi sat down on the bed and said, "I hate this."
"So do I. Did you ever have one of those feelings where you wish nothing like this could happen and then it happens and you wanna go against it?" asked Sakamoto.
"Just 2 hours ago." Bao-Yi answered.
Sakamoto sat down on the side of the bed, just putting his hands on top of his head and said, "I felt the same way...but this is our son we're taking about."
"Okinawa's my baby, Saka." Bao-Yi stated.
"He's my baby too. The last thing we wanna do is send him off to some stranger we don't even know for who knows how long." Sakamoto pointed out.
Bao-Yi stayed silent throughout and so did Sakamoto and knowing that they have to give up Okinawa is very frustrating for both of them and Sakamoto said to her, "But at the same time...what would we do if we just went against their wishes? It would mean that Okinawa would be exposed to what's going on during the Mongol war; people talking about it, the drawings of the war, hearing about people dying..."
"Yeah, Okinawa's too young to even know about it." Bao-Yi agreed.
They both knew that this is one of the hardest things they have to face as parents because they've grown quite attached to them for what seems like eternity and Sakamoto said, "We have to do what's best for our son. It would be selfish of us to keep Okinawa if the war's going on."
Even though Sakamoto has a valid point on that, she still wasn't ready to make that decision and she said, "Does your dad have a better solution?"
"He said that those who are very reluctant to give up their newborns during the war is to give them to their closest friends and raise them as their own." Sakamoto answered.
To Bao-Yi, it did sound like a better option than the head sarge's option to give their son up and both of them agreed it's the best idea, but they would deeply miss Okinawa the most and Bao-Yi asked, "Is there anyone that we know?"
Suddenly, the door knocks and before they even had a chance to say come in, Azuko comes in the room and said, "Hey, guys. How ya doing?"
"Not so good, Azuko." Sakamoto replied.
Azuko walked towards the both of them and he sat down on the edge of the bed with them and he turned to them and replied, "I heard about the announcement earlier today. I'm really sorry."
"No, you don't have to apologize. I just don't think it's right for them to take our son away from us during this war." Sakamoto added.
Bao-Yi nodded her head in agreement with that and Azuko puts his hand on Sakamoto's shoulder for support and sympathy and the white wolf said to Sakamoto, "So what are you guys gonna do now?"
"We're out of options. We don't wanna give our Okinawa away." Bao-Yi answered.
"My dad said that the better solution for this situation is to give them to someone we're close friends with." Sakamoto added.
Azuko nodded his head on that idea and Bao-Yi lets out a frustrated groan and said, "How will my parents ever know about this? They love Okinawa so much."
Sakamoto is starting to get a little frustrated about what's gonna happen soon and Azuko felt like he could really help out with them and he looked at the picture of both Sakamoto and Bao-Yi with their son together and deep inside the wolf's mind that he would love to have a son of his own and looked up at both Sakamoto and Bao-Yi and he said, "How about I take him in for you guys?"
Sakamoto looked at Azuko for a second and he got really surprised by what he just said and asked, "You?"
"Yeah. Why not? I've always wanted to know what it's like to be a dad and maybe it'll be a good idea to take Okinawa in." Azuko added.
Bao-Yi wasn't quite sure about that decision and she said, "Are you sure? We wouldn't want to put this on you."
"Look, guys...I can handle it. Saka, you and your family have always treated me like I'm part of yours all those years ago. With the war coming up, I'm moving to a safer place that's outside of Shanghai Secluded Valley, but not too far away from there. Okinawa will be safe here with me." Azuko replied.
It was a hard choice for both Bao-Yi and Sakamoto to make, but they knew they wanted to do what's best for the safety of Okinawa because if they keep him for too long, there's a possible chance that the Mongol war will be the talk of the whole Valley and that Okinawa will be exposed to hearing people talk about it all the time. They looked at each other for a second and Bao-Yi closed her eyes and just silently nods her head for approval and Sakamoto turned to Azuko and asked, "How early can you come tomorrow morning?"
Azuko took this as a yes and he replied, "Before sunrise."
"All right. Zuko...please take good care of our son." Sakamoto said, his voice breaking.
"I promise I'll do all I can to make sure he's safe and loved." Azuko replied, with deep conviction.
Sakamoto nods his head and said, "Thanks."
Azuko pats Sakamoto in the back and he said, "Don't worry. Just hang in there, Saka."
Soon after, Azuko left the room, leaving both pandas alone to have one last night with their son and Bao-Yi burst out crying and Sakamoto held onto her for support and though it seems like he's trying to be strong, Sakamoto released a tear from his eye, thinking that this will be the last time to look at his son.
'I hope you know we will always love you, Okinawa.' Sakamoto thought, tearfully.
It seems like a good idea, but at the same time...Bao-Yi and Sakamoto are not ready to let Okinawa go, but what do you do? Stick around for more!