''Harumi, there's no way he'll be able to make the journey''
''I know''
''He'll have to stay''
''I know''
''He'll be in the best hands he possibly could until we get back.''
''Yeah.''
Mei flickered a brief smile emphasizing the reassuring hand she then placed on Harumi's shoulder. Harumi gave Mei a vacant nod of appreciation but still didn't raise her eyes from the spot of the deck on which two brown paws patiently waited. Mei's hand slipped off Harumi's shoulder as she turned to Takamoto and offered a final handshake. He clasped her slender hand with both his blue-veined ones and shook it earnestly; his eyes offering a wordless farewell. She returned his goodbye with equal warmth and then stepped off her home of three days down onto the cold harbour.
Harumi finally turned her saddened face up to Takamoto's understanding one.
''Where should I meet you if - when, when I get back?''
''You will find me at the port of Okayama twenty-eight days from now, I'll moor as close as possible to a chiya beef restaurant known as Teppan ku-ya. If you scour the east side of the dock you'll find it before long poking out from a cluster of seafood restaurants- by then, your pup should be almost entirely healed.''
''Thank you, Mr Takamoto, thank you for - everything.''
Harumi knelt and taking Shinobu's jowls between her hands she looked into his solemn brown eyes. To her minute relief, his expression reflected understanding and thus he didn't protest at his abandonment. She leant forward, closed her eyes and kissed the soft fur between his ears; his fur tickled her cheek. Steeling herself, she let her hands fall from his soft head and rose slowly back to her unwilling feet. Abruptly, she took Takamoto in a final bear hug of gratitude which he reciprocated gratefully. The second she left his arms she muttered a final thanks and turned quickly on her way, fearing the longer she lingered the less likely she would indeed go through with leaving her treasured hound behind.
She strode purposefully off the boat, a little glad she was leaving behind a world of seasickness and slid down onto the port of Kobe. Mei stepped aside to allow Harumi to mount the last surviving bicycle before promptly settling herself onto the saddlebag frame behind her.
The clean chime of the bike bell announced departure to the snoozing harbour, Shinobu embellished the note with a barking chorus of good fortune grounded by the bass of wooden boats thumping the dock. Takamoto raised his hand in farewell and then that was it, Harumi's supporting foot kicked the ground, the bike lurched forward and the last leg of the journey had begun.
Takamoto watched the two women speed toward the creamy blue of dawn. He wasn't entirely sure if he'd see them again; he hoped he would.
''Come on boy, I don't suspect will hang around Kobe too long.''
Shinobu rose and limped after his new owner.
/
The magnificence of the Seto inland sea winked in the orange of the rising sun as the bike flew down the length of the curving path. White seagulls flitted through the fantasy scene cawing a song of awe and worship to the brilliance of the image spread across the vast coastline. Mei gripped tighter around Harumi's waist as the incline of the coastal hill deepened throwing the rickety bicycle downwards at gut tickling speed.
The cold sea air that had caused Mei an assault of goosebumps upon stepping outside that morning was pleasant enough now, and heating evermore as the sun climbed higher up into the cloudless sky. The bike slit through the warm air hurtling around the last stretch of the blind curve before slowing in its haste with the gradual flattening of the road.
The sudden vertical drop meant Mei now found herself pressed right up against Harumi's back; still administering her vice grip for dear life. The passing thought the two of them must look odd crammed onto the same rusty old bicycle came and went with the wind, however, as Mei allowed herself to loosen her grip and fall into the immersion the refreshing speed of the ride provided. The past three days spent snailing along the inland waters had provided her with the brief respite she so needed but in consequence, filled her with much-unwanted urgency. The restless malady however was now being weathered by the whistling wind as they soared through the outskirts of Kobe.
A trickling of nostalgic euphoria filled Mei as the picturesque world shunting by reminded her of the unexpected freedom she'd experienced on the very first day of the journey. Her rear hurt vaguely from sitting atop the uncomfortable metal tubing of the bike rack, but beyond this minor inconsistency everything was perfect; even the journeys miserable inevitability couldn't rain on the brightness of the moment.
''That was some hill, huh?''
Mei withdrew her muffled ear from where it was pressed up against Harumi's jacket turning her head away from the spectacular view on her left.
''Sorry?''
''The hill! It was pretty steep!''
''Yes, it certainly was! I'd still take it any day over those crazy roller-coasters at the fair though.''
''Well! I didn't know you'd ever been to a fair, thought you were wrapped up inside writing up hall maintenance reports or studying something dire every time Kagoshima's annual rolled up to town!''
''I'm not some kind of tragic shut-in you know! I just spent my youth more productively, whilst you were off doing God knows what!''
''Hey, we both graduated high school - so don't pull the 'you never studied' card on me! I got some pretty decent scores too if I remember right.''
''I never said you weren't smart.''
''Woah, what was that, a compliment? From the esteemed class president? Damn, it's my lucky day, wait till I tell everyone about this.''
''Oh shut up.''
Mei couldn't help the smile in her voice.
She let her head fall back against Harumi's back as yet another hill ushered them gratefully downward. Mei allowed her head to remain resting there as she watched the majestic scene shutter slide by. For a moment, she forgot about the discomfort of the bike rack.
/
Waning afternoon brought the bicycle reluctantly into the city of Kobe. A scented coastal fog rolled through the historic streets, tempting passerby's on its way with the delectable aroma of the city's famous beef. Emerging from this mist, the struggling bike weaved warily between lamp posts and semi-concealed townspeople before slinking miserably into a darkened alley.
Two riders dismounted and stretched their aching limbs; the growl of equally aching stomachs echoed down the narrow passageway. Ignoring this, the lighter haired of the two women knelt to inspect the damaged bicycle in the muddy light of the back alley.
''Is it fixable?''
Harumi knitted her eyebrows together as she drew her hand over the oily bike chain; her fingers probing for the anomaly in the regular links she so suspected to be the cause of the last ten minutes of stiff and strenuous pedalling. Sure enough, a few more inches down the slick chain her forefinger nudged the outlier. She gripped the damaged link between her thumb and forefinger, rolling it slightly to catch the minimal light available to further assess the extent of the damage.
''Well, kind of. That said, I can't do it here without a chain tool, but it might just hold until f - shit!
Under the minimal application of pressure, the fragile link finally gave way entirely thus severing the light chain in Harumi's fumbling fingers. She felt the red heat of furious anger rise up the nape of her neck as she stared blankly at the semi-detached chain swinging in her oil marked hands.
She let the fresh disaster go unworded lest she say something she regret, instead choosing to take heavy breaths of the damp alley air to check her anger.
''No. No, it's not fixable.''
Mei felt the weight of her sagging torso bear down on her jellied legs pushing her body down the grimy wall and into a part crouching, part sitting position. She took in the extent of the problem.
''Without the bike, how long will it take us to get to Yamagata?'' She asked.
''Too long.''
''I thought as much.''
Mei let her head flop down with hunger embossed by the weight of the fresh problem.
Eventually giving up on her attempt to death glare the chain back into action, Harumi hurled the chain back against the frame of the bike with an unsettling clang, falling back on her haunches in defeat. The two women languished in the defeated silence for a time, much to the intrigue of an inquisitive five year old clutching his grandmother's hand as he passed the alley mouth.
''I'm too hungry to deal with this crap right now.''
''So, onigiri or yakisoba bread?'' Mei returned.
''I don't think I've ever heard you tell a joke.''
Harumi lowered her head from where she'd thrown it back to regard the darkening sky above. She peered through the pale darkness to find Mei wore an apparently serious expression as she withdrew a crisp thousand yen bill from her left coat pocket.
''I've still got the change from back at the Matsuyama stall, I had to pay the man remember.''
''Yeah, I know, but we agreed to save that for emergencies.''
''I'd say the danger of remaining stranded in Kobe because we're too hungry to think logically is emergency enough.''
Harumi didn't verbalise her agreement. She knew if she did, the invisible listener named her pride would immediately reprimand her for falling victim to weakness after less than twenty-four hours back on the road. She rose in cooperation nonetheless, her hunger now too intense to abide her emergency stratagem crafted under more prosperous conditions.
Reluctantly, she took the banknote Mei extended to her and in turn offered her free hand to Mei. Mei smiled appreciatively and took her hand, albeit doing her best to contribute most of the effort in dragging her tired body to its feet.
Harumi started, ''I think we pulled in behind a Seven-Eleven so -''
Mei suddenly gripped the hand she still held on to, stopping Harumi before she could start down the alley.
''They'll more than likely have cameras.''
Harumi passed a perplexed look for an elapsing second before understanding dawned on her.
''Yeah, I see you what you mean. You better hang out here, I won't take a minute.''
''I'm sorry... I never expected I'd spend the rest of my life skulking in back alleys. Like I said before, it's not as glamorous as the movies would have you believe.''
Harumi looked properly into Mei's saddened eyes, the hand she still held shivering slightly; her attempt to mask her despair behind a light laugh useless. Harumi opened her mouth to say something inspirational or at least encouraging.
''Yeah.''
Apparently, that was all she could manage.
Harumi let her hand slip from Mei's, gave her a ten a penny smile and continued on her way to the rectangle of illuminated mist at the alley's end. She berated herself with every step, accepting she had just missed the opportunity to return a favour.
Mei looked after her, a slight chill running up her spine as she stood alone in the misty alley. Leaning against the brick wall, she stuffed her hands inside her pockets attempting to retain some warmth. She ignored the sudden disquiet, closed her eyes and waited.
/
Ten minutes prior, as Harumi stood a few yards from the automatic doors of the Seven-Eleven with unexpected cold feet, she found Mei's wariness was apparently infectious enough to worm its way into even her usually easy-going mind. That, and the seven black-eyed cameras overlooking all that transpired in and around the brand new convenience store prompted her eventual decision to turn across the way and try her luck with the run-down establishment she had happened across on her short trek out of the alley.
Now, Harumi scanned the packed shelves of the small family-owned convenience store. She skirted past a section overflowing with a colourful array of plastic packaging housing everything from rice crackers to sweet buns. Bypassing a bony man with thinning hair examining the ingredients of a spicy squid tray, she made her way to the end of the store in search of a more neutral shelf.
Propping two bottles of water under her arm and the couple of onigiri she had selected from the shelf in either hand, Harumi decided against one of the few rusty baskets gracing the doorway and instead made her way warily to the checkout.
She stopped behind the balding man. After a tedious back and forth exchange between himself and the shopkeeper he finally came to the sound conclusion that his spiced squid tray genuinely contained real squid. Ironing the last vestiges of doubt from his brow, he dropped the tray on the counter and produced a plump sock swelling with loose change from his inner pocket. The air emanating from the otherwise friendly shop owner suggested she was less than pleased as the man began to fumble with his makeshift wallet. Nonetheless, she kept the same tight smile plastered to her face as her small eyes followed his unhurried movements with masked vexation.
A small tv buzzed at them from a wall stand overlooking the counter. The weather forecast had just finished up and now the supremely dressed newsreader was indulging in a spot of local news.
Harumi watched the flashing screen absently, concluding that in terms of passing time it was much better to work in your own store as opposed to being an employee staring at the same rack of magazines for hours on end.
After an eternity, the man eventually thumbed the correct coins into his palm and deposited them onto the counter with a rush of fifty small clatters. With a breath, the lady cupped her palm and slid forty-seven into her free hand, missed one and scattered two somewhere behind the register, all the while keeping her engineered smile firmly in place.
Taking his items, the man limped off into the young evening with a whizz of the automatic doors letting in an uncomfortable cold breeze as he went.
Harumi paced steadily up to the near-broken woman and gave her a quick smile before plopping down her items. Despite her confidence, she couldn't help but feel a little uneasy; she feared it showed on her face. The shop owner, however, seemed far too preoccupied with keeping her sanity alive to notice anything, returning Harumi's smile meekly before scanning in the items.
An awkward silence inflated. Noticing this, the kindly middle-aged woman cast her weariness aside and began routine convenience store small talk.
''The temperature's certainly dropped off this evening, don't you think my love?''
''You don't say, autumn's definitely getting into full swing now. ''
She handed the scanned items to Harumi who accepted them with a further smile then knelt to dispense them into her rucksack.
''Shame, the weather was just getting to the right temperature - not too hot or too cold. I was planning to take the grandkids down to the inland sea this weekend, but if things keep up like this, well. Mind you this saves me finding someone to watch the shop anyhow, so all's not to despair over.
''I've always enjoyed the colder months myself,'' Harumi said, rising once more to face the woman, "everything's just that little bit quieter.''
''You have an old heart for such a young' un my dear- right that'd be four hundred and fifty yen.''
Harumi pulled out Mei's crisp thousand yen note to the owner's visible relief as she took it smiling. Opening the register, her smile faded somewhat as she stopped to regard the array of various coins strewn across the previously organised quantity compartments. The lady squinted into the indecipherable mass through thick spectacles.
''Just give me a minute love to find the right change in all of this chaos.''
Harumi nodded casually despite her slight anxiety at the prospect of keeping Mei hanging around too long. She shook the thought from her head, there was no chance someone would just wander down the fog-drenched alley and recognise her anyway.
Time agonised on as the lady clinked away in the drawer, stray coins slipping through her clumsy fingers as she rummaged. Harumi found this mildly amping her distress and chose to shift the attention of her tense mind to some other sound. She settled on the ongoing buzz of the news report behind her.
I don't think that cow appreciated the offer though Takahada. A forced laugh ensued from a male offscreen. Now in other news, a missing couple in their sixties surfaced at a police station in the small port town of Onomichi in the early hours of yesterday evening claiming to be the victims of a merciless kidnap. They claimed two young women, described to be in their twenties, robbed their home five days ago and proceeded to force the couple under the threat of gunpoint to chauffeur them to Matsuyama city. Before the journey was complete, however, the gentlemen in question managed to tackle one of the assailants and apprehend the gun of his kidnapper. He also managed to retrieve his stolen money before he and his wife used it to board a ferry back across the inland sea to safety. Though, as he said and Onomichi general infirmary later confirmed, the couple did not escape unharmed, both having sustained severe damage to the leg and stomach area after an attack by an apparently crazed dog belonging to one of the two women. In an utterly selfless act to save his wife, the man managed to deal severe damage to the beast by administering the gun he had taken from his kidnappers seconds before it was wrenched from his grasp by the animal who then fell into the sea. A body has however not been recovered.
A truly remarkable story from a truly remarkable couple. Hiroshima police have since collected an in-depth description of the assailants and sources believe the incident to be related to the Kagoshima homicide of a few days prior, in which Mei Honda, formerly known as Aihara, ruthlessly murdered her husband in cold blood before fleeing the scene. Mr and Mrs Takagi have also described an accomplice is now working with Mrs Aihara under the name Harumi Taniguchi. Kagoshima police are currently investigating a small bar known as the Blue Dragon Inn owned by the woman in question for further information. Mr Takagi insists they are both armed, dangerous and know no limits. Japan's police force is now acting in unison to apprehend these cold-blooded psychopaths and insist any local sighting of either woman should be reported immediately.
Harumi stared in awe. Her brain still failing to comprehend the sounds that had just passed her vibrating eardrums even as a digital reproduction of her face faded onto the screen adjacent to the serious visage of the woman who waited for her outside. Some sick humour of her distant mind quipped both images were at least in full colour this time.
A clatter of coins triggered Harumi's paralysed mind to recall the shop clerk who had frozen midway through handing Harumi her change. The last hundred yen coin clattered to the counter as Harumi finally wrenched her attention from the onscreen death sentence to regard the terrified eyes of the woman before her. To her increased panic, recognition was stricken through every feature of the now very alert woman's face. She was no longer squinting, the thick lenses now doing a more than stellar job of translating Harumi's now notorious image onto her moist retina.
The shopkeeper's panicked eyes flicked to the glass of the automatic doors and then unconsciously to the switch by her knee that locked those doors.
Even in the heat of unanticipated stress, Harumi identified this minute slip up.
/