Disclaimer: See Part I for the usual cautionary statement
Author's note: Please let me know how you like it.
Memory Ronin
Chapter VII
By Callisto
Jarod's Family home
Franconia, NH
By the end of the week, with the extras Jarod had installed, the apartment he had offered to Miss Parker was extremely comfortable and well fitted-up. They had spent the last few days amicably in each other's company reminding both of the closeness they once shared as children. Working on putting a shelf in one of the kitchen cabinets under the countertop, Jarod had Miss Parker hold the shelf steadily in place while he fitted a bracket in place using an electric drill. Many times during the week they had worked this closely and the attraction they shared continued to intensify. Today Jarod was so intent on getting the last screw properly placed that he hadn't noticed how close his helper was to him. When at last he had the bracket secured he relaxed his tired arms and heard a small grunt as part of his body weight came to rest on her arm. Realizing his mistake, Jarod withdrew his head from the cramped cabinet space and turned to make sure he hadn't hurt her. He found himself staring directly into her eyes, their noses only a few centimeters apart. Succumbing to his attraction he leaned forward almost kissing her when the sound of his father calling out interrupted him. Uttering a small oath under his breath, Jarod stood hastily and turned to watch his father enter the room.
Sensing he had interrupted something, Major Charles looked at his son quizzically, "I guess I caught you in the middle of something. Jarod, there's something we need to discuss as soon as you're finished here." The Major's gaze shifted from the chagrined look on Jarod's face to the amused expression on Miss Parker's face.
"I'm just finishing up now. I need to clean up this mess then I'll be right with you," Jarod replied.
"Excellent, I'll be in the house with Trent. He found something I think you should have a look at." As the Major retreated to the house, his suspicions about Jarod's attraction to the unusual woman whose life they saved were solidifying. Instead of being alarmed the Major felt a sense of relief; the sooner Jarod put his childhood fascination with Miss Parker behind him, the better off he would be and perhaps this would clear the way for his son to establish a lasting relationship with someone that could possibly end in the creation of a family.
After the Major left, Jarod heaved a large unconscious sigh. That was the second time he had tried to kiss Miss Parker and had been interrupted. Looking down at the drill in his hand, Jarod quickly drew the long cord into a tight coil and unplugged it from the wall before replacing it in a large tool bucket he brought with him. Miss Parker had gathered the rest of the tools they had used in the project and had her hand on a broom before Jarod could get to it.
"Go ahead. I'll finish up here, I think your father was a little eager to talk with you," she said evenly. All the prior amusement was cleared from her face. The capriciousness of fate seemed to be conspired against them becoming any closer than they were already.
Nodding distractedly, Jarod stared at her absorbed in his own thoughts. Without warning, he stepped directly in her way and gently, if not hurriedly kissed her. He caught her completely off guard enabling him to engulf her in his arms. The kiss continued for a while as their intensity and desire grew. When their breath finally ran out, they parted and stared mutely at each other, surprised by the other's reaction. Jarod was the first to speak.
"I think it would be best for me to leave right now."
Parker remained silent as she watched Jarod leave. When he turned to look at her as he crossed the threshold, he caught her staring at him with a vulnerable expression on her face. When he was gone, she leaned her hip against the countertop as she paused to gather her scattered thoughts.
Jarod had time to compose himself while he stowed his tools in the shed downstairs from Miss Parker's apartment. He was thrilled by her reaction and hoped she wouldn't retreat into her defensive shell the next time he saw her. The shocked look on her face amused him even though he shared the feeling. He could scarcely believe she had reacted the way she had and with a passion that equaled his own. This warranted further investigation and he was determined to give this new development considerable thought.
As he entered the large home his family had purchased shortly after being reunited, he heard the sounds of laughter and conversation and instantly felt warmed. This is what he had wanted all his life, finally all the people who were supposed to have an important role in his life were together and a part of him just as it was meant to be.
Otsu Compound –late autumn 1973
Mie-ken Prefecture,, Japan
For the past few weeks she had trained as she had never trained in her life. Sensei was putting her through a grueling regimen of physical exercises and began teaching her a new, more challenging kata she was expected to practice diligently and perform flawlessly. Parker rose to the challenge and many nights fell into a dreamless exhausted slumber, barely remembering what she ate or said to Mrs. Oishi.
In the early morning hours at the start of the weekend Parker had just finished flubbing up a portion of the kata and becoming frustrated and angry with herself. She was about to begin again when Mrs. Oishi interrupted her.
"Flower, it is time you take a break from your studies. We are going shopping in Kyoto for the day. Perhaps a complete change of scenery will help you refocus your mind." A gentle smile graced the woman's face as the look of utter astonishment graced the girl's features.
They spent the first couple hours wandering from store to store, mostly window-shopping. When they stopped for some lunch and enjoyed a picnic in one of the scenic parks in Kyoto City, Mrs. Oishi looked at her young charge with a great deal of curiosity.
"Flower, you surprise me. I have often heard stories that Americans love to shop, yet we have been to numerous stores and you have not expressed an interest in any of the clothing. Is there something troubling you?"
"I don't know what would look good on me. All I know is that I'm tired of the clothes my Daddy always insists I wear. I want something different, different than what everyone expects from me," the child said with an air of defeated determination.
"I understand. Do you like the more modern look? Or perhaps something more prim and proper?" Mrs. Oishi asked knowing the answer already.
"I want something unexpected but classy and sexy at the same time," the girl replied eagerly.
"I believe I know just the thing. I will show you what looks good on you and the style and cut of clothing that compliment your figure. I have a feeling you're going to be very tall but shapely so we will choose your clothing accordingly," Mrs. Oishi said pensively as she met the teenager's gaze frankly. The girl had already grown several inches in the few months she had been living at Sensei Otsu's home. When she first arrived, Parker was still shorter than Mrs. Oishi, now she was already the same height with no signs of slowing down.
As the two shoppers happily walked in the direction of the train platform loaded down with a plethora of shopping bags filled with a newly purchased wardrobe they chatted companionably. Once on the train, Mrs. Oishi returned to the conversation they started earlier when the woman noticed the girl had attracted the amorous attentions of a couple of teenaged boys.
"Flower, you were telling me about this boy. Is he the only one who has attracted your attention or were there others?" Mrs. Oishi probed.
"Jarod and I were just friends. He lives at the Centre and Daddy became angry when he found out I still hung out with him."
"So, you never entertained any romantic thoughts about this Jarod? The way you speak of him, I find that a little hard to believe," Mrs. Oishi said gently. The closed look on the girl's face worried her. "I am not your parent, so you don't have to worry about me judging you. I will pass on to you something my mother told me a long time ago. 'When you find the man fate has assigned you, there will be no question, you will know him and he will know you.' Personally, I always thought that was nothing but a load of hogwash, however from what you tell me of this Jarod, he may be the one fate has assigned you."
"We're just friends. I mean, I think I might…um. Well I do like him and he's very cute and a genius but I don't think he feels that way towards me," Parker said with a small defeated shrug. "Anyway, Daddy would have a fit if I tried to make Jarod my boyfriend."
"Oh, it's like that. Well, you will know the right time to find out if Jarod will ever feel about you the way you feel about him. In the meantime, I will burden you with more advice. You are already a beautiful woman and time will only enhance your looks, so here is my warning. Many men will want you, instead of being their pawn take control of your sexuality in the same manner you take control of a fight. Choose 2 or 3 men with whom you feel reasonably comfortable and limit yourself with them. There will come a time you will realize that you have certain needs, until you come to terms with the love you feel for Jarod and the weight your feelings for him have tied around your heart, use this formula."
"Won't people think I'm easy if they see me with different boys all the time?"
"Let them think what they will. You will know that you have only 2 or 3 men with whom you are intimate. Come to an understanding with them; let them know of the other's existence but never how many. If you are careful, then your needs will be met and no one's feelings will be hurt while you search for the right man for you."
"What about Jarod? What should I do about my feelings for him?"
"I thought you said you were only 'friends'," Mrs. Oishi replied with a knowing smile.
"We are, I was hoping that someday he would start to like me as much as I do him. Daddy didn't give me a chance to say good-bye to him. He said when I was older I would understand about people like Jarod. I'm not sure if I like the sound of that."
"It might be best to keep your feelings for Jarod to yourself. Remain watchful and vigilant and you will know when it is the right time to tell him how you feel. Unfortunately, with your father being opposed, you may have to prepare yourself for never having the opportunity of sharing your feelings with him," Mrs. Oishi said with quiet sympathy.
After several minutes of watching the scenery whisk by in silence, Parker turned to Mrs. Oishi solemnly and said, "I think you're right."
Jarod's family home
Franconia, NH
Jarod sat back from the monitor in silence, digesting the information Trent's computer had supplied him a few minutes before.
"You said it was too easy. It looks like you were right, son. They have always had your genetic material stored at another facility. The trick now is finding the real location," the Major said grimly.
"Well, at least we're reasonably sure this information is genuine. The encryption sequence is first rate, if it weren't for your source inside the Centre we would never have broken it down so quickly," Trent said with satisfaction.
"The only problem now is finding out where they are storing my sperm and destroying it before they create a child," Jarod said pensively.
"Perhaps Miss Parker will know. She did used to work for them, it's kind of hard to believe she wouldn't know especially since they sent her after you on the decoy," Trent replied tentatively.
"I doubt they would share that sort of information with her. From what Sydney said, she didn't hide her disapproval at what they had done to you. What Raines did to her own mother was enough to insure her lack of support."
"Do you think they were going to do the same thing to my sister that they did to my mother?" Ethan asked. When everyone in the room turned to look at him, he continued, "I mean, impregnate her using your sperm Jarod."
"Anything with that place is possible. Her father was a monster and using his own family to further his career wasn't beneath him or anything new," Jarod said angrily.
"All this speculation isn't getting us any where. What we need is a way to figure out the real location of you're genetic material and the rest of mine. That's the only way to stop them from using us and hopefully from using anyone else," the Major said forcefully.