CHAPTER 25: YUKI

Throughout the night, the typhoon had blown a few parts off the roof. Therefore when morning came, both Seita and I had to go to Nishinomiya to get repairing materials. I didn't really have to go, but Obaa-chan insisted that I take a break from doing house chores and take a nice long walk with Seita. As for Setsuko, however, she had developed a fever over night and wouldn't be able to go anywhere for a little while. Before leaving, Seita promised her that he would bring back a treat for her - perhaps even a can of fruit drops! Setsuko happily waved at us from the front door as we walked down the road.

Looking out the train window, I noticed many people standing in the bombed ruins. They seemed to be clearing all the debris away to make way for new buildings. I was happy that people were helping with the rebuilding process so soon. It was a sure sign that things were looking on the bright side. I pointed it out to Seita and he watched in awe as we passed the various groups. He agreed with me completely.

After a while it was time to get off the train. The streets were bustling with people. Seita and I headed north to where a good quality repair shop was located. When we realized that we'd be passing the old shelter along the way, Seita suggested that we take another route. I nodded in agreement. That part of town was full of many painful memories I'd prefer to avoid. We turned off at the very next road we came up to.

The sun shone brightly, and the sky was beautiful. It was hard to believe that there had been a raging typhoon just the night before. We passed by small groups of children playing games on the streets. I could barely remember the last time I had seen a sight like that. Before the war, I had been one of those children, playing her favourite games with friends. I asked Seita whether he'd done that as a child and he said he did once in a blue moon. He had usually been too busy to play because his father made him work.

Suddenly I heard a child's voice that sounded familiar. I looked down an alley in-between two buildings to see another group of children on the next road. One of them was a girl who looked about six years old. She wore a white shirt and light red pants. She looked exactly like my sister Hisako! I suddenly darted through the alley, Seita calling after me. Could it be? Could my mother and sisters really be alive after all this time? I almost tripped while I briskly limped and I cursed my bad leg. Finally I made it to the other road.

Once I was on the pathway I watched the young girl playing with her friends. A few seconds later I got a glimpse of her face. My heart sank. It was definitely not my little sister. A small flame of hope had been lit a minute ago, only to be extinguished abruptly. Seita came up behind me and asked what had gotten into me.

"I'm sorry, Seita." I said. "I thought she was..."

"Tomiko!" a woman's voice called. "Come in and have dinner."

The girl I had mistaken for Hisako turned her head around. "Oh, Mamma! Five more minutes! I'm winning!"

"Tomiko! Dinner time! Now!"

"Okay..." The girl said goodbye to her friends and quickly headed inside one of the houses along the road. I stared after her and sighed sadly. Then I looked back at Seita.

"I thought she was my sister..."

"I know... It happened to me too, only it was a dream..."

Seita and I continued on our way. We finally made it to the repair shop. After spending the money on what we needed, we still had quite a bit left. Obaa-chan had told us we could use any leftover money to buy treats if we liked. Luckily there was a shop down the road that sold just that. Seita grabbed the first tin of fruit drops he saw, while I marvelled at the various things to buy. I couldn't remember the last time I had eaten a piece of candy. It was so hard to decide what to get! Eventually, I bought a fruit drops tin for myself - and so did Seita!

We laughed and joked among ourselves as we made our way back to the train station. But not too far along the way, we passed a large mansion. It was two storeys high and the residents who lived there looked very wealthy. I felt a chill in my body as I realized that the pond by which we had lived for so long was just on the other side of this house. Seita must have sensed it too, for he suddenly looked a little tense. From inside the mansion, we heard various female voices.

"This place hasn't changed a bit!"

"Oh I know! Doesn't it feel good to be home?"

"And the view of the pond is almost the same! It's too bad they have those ugly shelters over there. It almost ruins the view..."

"Yes, you're right. But other than that, Isn't it just lovely?"

"I suppose so. Oh hey! Why don't we play a record? It's been such a long time since I've heard 'Hanyu no Yado'!"

"Yes! Let's!"

At that moment the sound of the phonograph came from inside the house. The first few piano notes of 'Hanyu no Yado' began to play. Then an opera-like singing voice filled the air. The English title of the song was 'Home! Sweet Home!' and it was a song I had sang in school with classmates. Seita must have recognized it too, for he was humming quietly to the tune. The song was being sung in English on the record, but in my head, I sang it in Japanese...

ENGLISH: 'Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam

JAPANESE: Hanyu no yado mo waga yado,

Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.

Tama no yosooi urayamaji

A charm from the skies Seems to hallow us there,

Nodokanariya haru no sora

Which seek thro' the world, is ne'er met with else where.

Hana wa aruji mushi wa tomo

Home, Home, sweet sweet home.

Oh, waga yado yo

There's no place like home, there's no place like home.

Tanositmo tanomosiya

While I sang the song in my head, I remembered many happy memories I shared with my father, mother and sisters. Images of various festivals we attended appeared in my head. Father teaching me how to swim at the beach. Kayoko and I looking after Baby Hisako. Mother preparing supper while I played with friends in the streets. The whole family sitting down to eat in our home, sweet home.

I smiled sadly as I recalled these memories. I knew that as much as I wanted to, I could never go back to those days. They were all dead, and I had to move on. But even so, I would never forget those happy times, even though I didn't have the photograph to remind me. With those thoughts in my head, I walked beside Seita back to our home, sweet home of today. When we got back, Sestuko was delighted when her brother presented her with the tin of fruit drops.

Man that was a bittersweet chapter there, wasn't it... Oh well, we're getting closer and closer to the ending! Good job for those who have gotten this far! LOL! NOTE: I DO NOT OWN the song "Home, Sweet Home!" or its Japanese translation "Hanyu no Yado." And once again, Happy reading! Plus, the Holidays are coming up, so I guess I'll be an early bird and wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, and a Happy Kwanzaa!