Hi there,
Happy Thanksgiving! I had been caught in the trap of higher education and had yet to post. I had originally planned to publish this new chapter of this fanfic on Halloween since it had the theme of death, but something else got the best of me and now I decided to post it now to show that I am alive and something to read over the break. So here it is. You will note there are blank spots, but I plan to connect it all through the other chapters. So here is part 2. Enjoy.
hopefulmuse617
disclaimer- I do not own Bakugan or any of its canon material, OC's are mine.
Review, question, PM at your will.
The funeral came and went like a blur. Shun had a chance to meet with various old friends of his grandfather who gave their regards. Some of his friends and their relatives came to give their support of the young man as the service continues. The girl, Hoang was there however she came and went like the wind. Shun knew she was nearby, but did not choose to directly engage with anyone other then that woman he met at the hospital who he learns her name is Yuriko. In fact, she was always nearby the woman throughout the entire event. After the services came to an end his friends said their goodbyes and he got the chance to talk to Yuriko with Hoang in attendance.
They stopped by a local cafe to chat over drinks. Hoang remained quiet throughout their entire conversation, distracting herself with her smoothie.
"How long has the girl stayed with my grandfather?" Shun asked.
"She has a name and it's Hoang. She's been with your grandfather for about two years." Yuriko retorted.
"So the kid is related to a friend of his."
"Yes. She's Tadashi Nguyen's adoptive granddaughter."
"Adoptive?"
"Yes." she says after taking a sip of her coffee.
"How are you connected-?"
"I'm a friend of her grandfather and used to be her babysitter. Her grandfather worked as was a licensed apothecary. He often helped out the locals in his neighborhood and in the city so sometimes he had me to keep an eye on her while he works."
"How old is she?" Jaakor asked after being quiet for so long.
"Ask her."
"Hoang?"
Stops playing with her smoothie and looks in the direction of jaakor's voice. She tilts her head slightly like an amused cat and blinks.
"How old are you?"
Hoang raise her hands out all fingers spread out and makes a quick grasping motion with all of them.
"Ten. You're ten years old?"
Hoang nodded slowly.
Yuriko sighs then ruffles Hoang's hair. "You are a piece of work you know."
She flinched at her actions and tried to get her hand out of her hair.
"Are you hungry? You want to eat anything?" The woman asked in a motherly tone.
Hoang shook her head.
"Did you even eat breakfast?"
Hoang nodded. She mimed holding a spherical object in her left hand bringing it closer to her mouth and taking a bite out of it.
"I am glad you make healthy choices, but you cannot seriously be full with just...an apple?"
Hoang shook her head and mimed squishing something using both of her hands.
"A peach?"
Hoang nodded.
"Is this how she-?" Shun began to ask after witnessing the two's familial interaction.
"No, she can talk, it's just today she chose to be silent." the woman stated.
"You seem in sync with her." Jaakor observed.
"Yeah, you could say that. I've had to handle all her mischief and quirkiness since she was five." She said this with a little pride.
Hoang taps Yuriko pointing in a direction. She mimes with the same hand walking with her two forefingers and writes in the air 'bathroom'.
"Okay."
She gets out of her chair and walks in the intended direction. Yuriko watches until she is out of sight. She turns her attention back to Shun with a look although she is a disapproving mother. Shun was not surprised. He knew deep down the woman held some form of resentment toward him. He was unsure what that resentment may be.
"What do you plan to do with her?" Yuriko asked or rather demanded with a fierce predatory glare.
"Meaning?" He responded calmly.
"Are you going to put her in foster care? Because if you do-" While gritting her teeth.
"I do not know yet, at the very least I will not do that." he said with distaste.
"That kid, that girl has been through enough, if I hear any word about you harming a hair on her I will not hesitate to take it to court, brawler or not, ninja or not!" She rose up leering at the ninja.
"Ms Yuriko, Shun is not like that believe me. The child will not come to harm." Jaakor interjected calmly.
"But for me to be her long term guardian may not be best for her. If you care so much for her then why don't you be her-" Shun reasoned no longer hiding his feelings.
"It would not be any better than you." She said grimly.
"Why is that?"
She sighs. "I have a terminal illness."
An awkward silence loomed over the the two.
"Does the-Hoang know?" Shun engaged.
"Not that I know of. I never told her, but she is not blind to notice the signs. Your grandpa knew as well." She says returning to her seat.
"Is there anyone-?"
"Not that I know of. Her grandfather, Tadashi Nguyen had a daughter, but they have been out of contact for a long time. I had tried to reach her even the affirm dealing with his 'will' had tried. No luck."
"I see."
"Hoang seems to be taking her time." Jaakor observed seeing how the girl had yet to return
"I better check on her. You better not leave." She said pointing her forefinger at him in a threatening manner.
"I won't." He stated
Yuriko gets up and heads in the direction of the bathroom.
"What do you think?" Jaakor asked.
"I think my grandfather is asking the impossible." he sighs running his hand through his hair.
"It is not impossible. What about looking after the girl seems 'impossible'?" Jaakor explains.
"I have not taken on the role of caregiver before. Not to mention she was with my grandfather when I wasn't there. Who knows what could have happened with those two? Also the last thing he said to me was to watch out for her, not to leave her alone."
"You are wondering how you will do all of that."
"Yes."
"And how will you?"
"I don't know. For now I guess I'll look after her, but after that I do not know."
"Neither do I."
Shun began to stare out the window of the cafe.