"If you love something, let it
go. If it comes back it's yours. If it doesn't, hunt it down and kill it."
-
Axident
"Ugggh, Ooooh, God, please… No more!" Keitaro groaned.
"Awwww, come on," Liu said, "Just a little more."
"No, please," Keitaro said, "I'm full as it is." He put the plate aside on the table next to him. "Man, that was very good. You're grandmother is an excellent cook, Liu."
"She would love to here that, Keitaro," Liu said.
"Say," Keitaro said, "I never got to ask, but, where am I?"
"Our farm is just a few kilometres outside of Noda City, Keitaro," Liu said. "But don't worry, we haven't had any visitors out here since before the plague."
"Okay," Keitaro said.
"Why don't you just relax and I'll bring you up some coffee."
"Coffee?" Keitaro said, almost in shock. He hadn't had coffee in… well, far too long. "You guys have coffee?"
"Of cause," Liu said with a pleasant smile. "It's expensive to buy now, but people do manage to find coffee to sell, and we do run a farm, so we trade for a lot of things that we don't have."
"Oh," was all Keitaro said. "It's just that, I've been on a bare minimum of luxury goods ever since I left the Hinata Apartments, just trying to survive." He sighed, and lowered his gaze. "I've been on the run for so long, I've forgotten what life was like before the plague."
"Don't feel bad, Keitaro," Liu replied, walking over and putting an arm around his shoulder, half hugging him. "Out here, we are very secluded, and you won't have to worry about people spotting you. You can walk around outside, without fear of discovery," as she said that, she turned Keitaro's head to look out the window. "Although we live a few kilometres outside the city, you'll be safe here. Out here, you can live again, Keitaro."
Out side, it was still grey skies, but the rain was only lightly falling down. "Wow," he muttered, "To live again." He hadn't wanted to think about it, but it was something he'd taken for granted. To be able to blend into the background, to just be another face in the crowd. In the past, he'd had wished he could be anyone but himself, now he wanted that old life back more than ever.
"I'll go get you a coffee now, Keitaro," Liu said, getting up slowly. Her fingers trailed down his arm as she pulled away, attempting to prolong their contact as long as possible. "You just keep resting here, and I'll be back as soon as possible," she said as she backed out of the room and closed her door, peeking through the crack until the door was completely closed.
Outside, she turned around and did a 'Yes,' manoeuvre. Then, giggling to herself, raced down the stairs as fast as she could, making as little sound as possible.
***
"Where the hell is our man!?!"
The soldiers shifted uncomfortably in their wet gear. Even with the rain pontoons on, they were still wet from the enormous downpour, not to mention, cold, and hungry. In front of them, Major Kiska paced back and forth, like a caged animal.
"We tried our best, Major," one of the soldiers said, "But the storm has been hindering our efforts. And with the weather as bad as it is, air traffic control isn't letting one single aircraft up into the skies until things clear down."
"By then, he'll be somewhere else in Japan, or quite possibly in the hands of another country." She gripped her forehead in frustration, and let out a low throaty growl. "God, you people are imbeciles!!!"
"With all due respect, Major," one of the soldiers said, "My troops have been out there nearly 24/7 looking for this guy, and haven't had three square meals per day." She then pointed behind her without taking her eyes of Major Kiska. "Half my platoon out there is starving and freezing wet. I'm more concerned with looking after my troops first, and my orders, second."
Major Kiska just stared at her, almost boring into the back of the soldier's skull with her eyes. "You're out of line, soldier," she said. "I understand the plight of your soldiers, but if you ever take that tone of voice with me again…" She uncrossed her arms, and let one hand purposely rest on her sidearm.
The soldier's eyes flickered form the major, to the gun, and back again. "Understood, Major." Was all she said.
"Excellent," Major Kiska said with a nod. "Dismissed." She saluted them, and they her, and walked off, chattering amongst themselves.
"Finding it hard to control your own troops, Major?" Major Kiska spun around at the sound of the voice.
"Dr Mela?" She said in shock, "What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be in Tokyo?"
"I was," Dr. Mela said with a shrug, "But then, I got this over the wireless." She handed a printed sheet of paper to Major Kiska, who snacked it out of her hands, and scrutinised it closely.
It basically said that because of the fact that Dr. Mela had spent time overseeing Keitaro when he was in a coma, and she was familiar with him, that she was to be assigned to Major Kiska's unit as they looked for him.
"Wonderful," she said tossing it into the nearest trashcan.
"Just for the record, Major," Dr. Mela said as she took a seat, "I can't stand the sight of you ether. So lets just forget everything and concentrate on looking for Keitaro."
"That's great, Dr." Kiska replied, "As usual, you present the most wonderful ideas, and as usual, you present no realistic way of fulfilling them." She began pacing about again. "We've run out of leads on where Keitaro might be."
"Jesse, Major," Dr. Mela said backing of a bit. "No offence, but you really should get another profession before you suffer a hart attack."
"I'm stressed enough as it is, Doctor," Major Kiska said groaning into her hands. "I've got this runaway male to worry about, along with government reps hanging over my shoulder, as well as foreign threats to my mission."
"Huh?"
"Some fishermen – sorry, fisherWOMEN, have been reporting sightings of a submarine of the coast."
"Excuse me?" Dr. Mela said. "A what?"
"A submarine." Major Kiska repeated.
"Any idea who?"
"Well, let's consider this, there are only three countries in the world, that had women serving onboard submarines before the plague hit." She held up three fingers, and counted them off as she went through each country. "Norway, Sweden, and Australia."
"I see," Dr. Mela mussed. "So, due to distance apart from countries, I take it the first two are eliminated from the suspects list?"
"Which then makes me toss and turn at night, wondering what the hell the Australian's are doing all the way up here."
"Keitaro?"
"Well, yes and no," Major Kiska said, with a shrug. "Although we have no proof that their intentions are to steal Keitaro, or any of our other surviving males away from us, we can't rule that out as a possible motive. After all, why the hell would one of their precious few submarines be all the way up here? That's why I'm concerned about this matter." She then waved another hand around in a circular motion. "However, if they aren't here to steal our males, then what are they here to do?"
"There's that damn cold war sneaking up again, Major." Dr. Mela warned with the waving of her index finger. "International races for supremacy lead to nothing but trouble."
"Oh, for the love of God, Doctor," Major Kiska said, slapping her hands to her face, and drawing them down her face in annoyance. "If you're going to be stuck on me like glue, please try to be part of the solution instead of the problem!" She then waved a free hand in the air, trying to change the subject. "How about helping me find some new links to finding Keitaro?"
"What about that Naru…"
"The Naruseawa girl seems to have just dropped of the face of the earth, for all we know," the Major replied, throwing her hands up into the air. "And what's left of her family won't talk, despite our best bribes."
"Well," Dr. Mela said, "He has to be somewhere, nothing can just vanish without a trace. Plus, he's gotta eat something, and it's not like he can just simply walk into the nearest fast food joint and order something to go."
"And your point is?"
"Someone's hiding him."
"Are you sure, Major?" Mela asked.
"The man has absolutely no survival skills what so ever. He couldn't make a camp fire if you gave him a flamethrower and gasoline."
"Okay, you've got that part worked out, so where could he be hiding?"
"His last known whereabouts reported that he was following with the river current he jumped into. So that means, he would've been heading north, north east."
"What's the nearest city to where he disappeared?"
Major Kiska was already unfolding a map, and laying it down on a fold-up table, so both she and the doctor could see. "I already have some troops in that area, Dr." She said, pointing to the blue line on the map. "Keitaro jumped into the Tone Gawa river, here." She pointed to the area circled in red. "Just fifty miles north west of Tokyo. The river flows just north of Tokyo, and empties into the Pacific at the port city of Choshi."
"But it's unlikely that he went that far?"
"Precisely." Major Kiska said. "Which means he must have abandoned the river some where around about here." She stabbed at the map, and her finger landed not far away from a black dot, which represented a city.
"Noda?" Dr. Mela said.
"So it would seem, doctor," The major said. "I'll have some troops check around the area. Something as big as a living male shouldn't be too hard to keep a secret."
***
Keitaro stared wide eyed at the steaming hot cup in his hands. The smell that wafted from it almost made his mouth water. It was coffee. Honest to God coffee. There was a smell he thought he'd never experience again.
"Mmmmmmm," he hummed, as he drew in the smell. "Just the way I like it."
"I'm glad that you like it so, Keitaro," Liu said, as she sat on the bed next to him. "And you can have more, when ever you feel like it."
"Gee, Liu," Keitaro said, after taking his first mouthful after what seemed like an eternity, "You're so kind to me, I wish all the girls had been this kind to me, before the plague hit."
"All the girls?" Liu said, almost in shock.
"Before the plague," Keitaro began, as he put down the cup, and turned to face Liu. "I was the apartment manager of an all girls dormitory, called the Hinata Apartments. However, they were always beating up on me, pulling pranks, and sticking me with bills…"
"Dear, God, why didn't you leave!?!"
"Because I had no where else to go, that's why," Keitaro muttered, "My parents kicked me out of their house, and I was trying to get into Tokyo University. The place belonged to my grandmother, but she went off jet setting…" Keitaro trailed off.
"Something wrong, Keitaro?"
"Granny," Keitaro said softly, "I'd forgotten about her. Gee, I hope she's doing okay." The plague wouldn't have killed her. But she would be stranded somewhere in the world.
"I'm sure she's doing just fine, Keitaro," Liu said, stroking his hair with a free hand. "But if you go running of and trying to find her, you could get yourself killed, or worse."
Haruka had said those very same words to him. Haruka. God, it'd seemed like a century since he'd last seen her. It'd seem even longer since he'd seen the whole gang.
Since he'd seen Naru.
"Keitaro?" He never heard Liu the first time, but when she placed a hand on his, he turned to face her as she spoke again. "Keitaro? Are you okay?"
*What do I do?* Keitaro thought to himself. *Liu has been so kind to me, in fact, I probably wouldn't be alive if not for her. So what should I tell her?*
"Keitaro?"
"Liu," Keitaro said gently. "I…"
That was about as far as he got, before there was a loud rapping noise downstairs. Then, an old female voice called out, "Hey, Liu, the kids clothes are ready!"
"Thanks grandma!" She called out to the door. "Just wait right here, Keitaro," she said, getting of the bed, "I'll be back." Then, she was gone.
"Damn it," Keitaro hissed, slapping the bed sheets, "This is just getting more awkward with every passing second. What the hell do I do? If I don't say something fast, then it's going to be harder to tell her that I have to leave to look for Naru."
Outside, Liu rested one ear against the door. She was listening to every word Keitaro said. Her eyes narrowed, as she heard what he'd just said. Slowly, she moved away, and walked down the stairs, in a cold silence.
As she reached the bottom of the stairs, an elderly woman appeared, carrying a basket of dirty clothes, obviously for the next batch to be washed.
"So, Liu my dear," she said in a sweet voice, "How is he?"
"Still concerned with the other woman, Grandmother," she said in a voice without emotion.
"Pardon my saying this, Liu," her grandmother said, "But wouldn't it be rather nasty to break up a romance just for your own sake?"
"That's easy for you to say, Grandma," Liu sighed, as she sat down in a stuffed chair. "You've lived your life. You've been married. I haven't." She glanced back out the window. "Now, with all the boys dead, my chances of finding the right man just shot up astronomically high."
"That part, I understand, dear, but…"
"But now, I finally have a man of my own, and one the army hasn't collected yet." Liu quickly interrupted. "If I just wanted sex, I'll apply for the re-population program. But I want a relationship, grandmother, and a family all of my own."
"You'll never be able to have a normal family life in our day and age, Liu dear," her grandmother replied after a few moments silence. "I just hope you know what you're getting yourself, and that poor young man, into."
"Trust me, Grandmother," Liu said, "Once he sees what I'm offering compared with the enslavement that the government is offering, he'll never want to take one step off this farm."
"Well," the old lady said, as she paused with a smile, "It would be nice to have a man to help around with looking this old place, and it would be nice to see you finally settle down with someone."
"And once I convince Keitaro to stay, everything will be just fine." Liu said with a smile. "And he'll never have to worry about anything ever again." Her smile turned evil. "Or that other woman."
***
"Are you finished, yet?" Liu asked the door.
"Yep," Keitaro answered, and the door opened, and he walked out. He'd had a shave, a shower, and cleaned himself up, after what had seemed like an eternity. "Man, it feels good to be clean."
"And you look better, too," Liu said, placing a hand against his face. Keitaro blushed violently as her touch. "And your skin is so silky smooth." She began to rub her hand up and down the side of his face.
"Aaaahhhhhhhh!" Keitaro began to get nervous, and a slight trickle of blood ran down his nose.
"Oh," Liu said, taking note of this, "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!" Keitaro said quickly, and turned away, covering his nose.
"Is that blood?" Liu said, looking at some spots on the floor.
"Yes, I mean no! Uhh," Keitaro's arms flailed about as he tried to come up with an explanation. "I don't know what I mean!" He turned away from Liu again and cowered. "I'm sorry, Liu, please don't hurt me!"
"Why would I?" She asked. "You've got a nose bleed, haven't you?"
"Yes," Keitaro said sheepishly.
"Just because you're attracted to me, isn't it?" She moved closer. Uncomfortably close.
"Y-yes! I mean, no. I mean --- ARRGGGGGHHH!" Liu's arms had just circled around his chest, and was hugging him to her.
"It's okay, Keitaro," she whispered softly into his ear, "I don't mind." She then began to lazily trace her fingers across his shirt. "In fact, I was kinda hoping you'd find me attractive."
Keitaro was burning up. His face was redder than a tomato. Liu was breathing down the back of his neck, tickling the light hairs there. He couldn't breath, and his pants were becoming uncomfortably tight.
"I…! I…!" Keitaro stammered.
"Yes?" Liu asked with a smile.
"I REALLY NEED TO USE THE BATHROOM!!!" Keitaro suddenly shouted, surprising both himself, and Liu.
"Oh," she said, with a hint of disappointment in her tone of voice. "Very well, it's the second door on the left, just down the hall." She pointed in the direction.
"T-thanks!" Keitaro said scratching behind his head, then in the blink of an eye, took of like a bullet, down the hall.
"Humph," Liu crossed her arms. "Still playing hard to get, Keitaro? Let's see how long you can keep that up." She then reached up to her top button, and began to undo it.
Keitaro quickly closed the door, locked it, and then turned about to do his business. "Oh God," Keitaro muttered. "That girl reminds me way to much of Kitsune." He looked up and out the window at the outside world. "Gee, Kitsune. I wounder how she's doing? Hell, I wounder how the other guys are doing?"
He stared out the window, just thinking, until he was finished. Finally, he flushed, washed his hands, and left the room.
Liu was still waiting for him where he'd left her. She had her arms crossed, but her face held a cute smile. "Finished?" She asked.
"Uhhh, yes, I a…" He trailed off, as he realised that Liu had undone her three top buttons. As his eyes trailed down her exposed skin, he began to turn even redder than before, as he realised she wore no bra.
"Is something wrong?" She asked, moving purposely towards him that exposed even more of her cleavage.
"…!" Keitaro opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
Liu moved even closer, placing two hands on the back of his head. "Do you have something to say, Keitaro?" She asked. She began to slide her fingers through his hair, "Well, don't be shy, tell me," she then lowered her face mealy inches away from his, and lowered her voice to a whisper. "What is it you want?"
"…!" Keitaro's mind was a complete blank. He couldn't even breathe. His limbs weren't working. He was fighting a deadlock battle with his mind. One half was warning him to stay loyal to Naru, while the other half was screaming at him to stop being a fool and take what was being offered to him.
Suddenly, one hand left the back of his head, and began to trail around to the front. Her hand withdrew a little, so that her fingers trailed softly down his neck, his chest, his stomach…
"Maybe you don't know what to do," Liu cooed to him. "Maybe I should take the initiative," her fingers reached his belt buckle, and paused. "And see weather or not it's what you want."
She then began to undo the buckle.
*Hey* Keitaro heard Naru's voice in his head. *You made me a promise, remember! Idiot!*
"Ahh! I'm sorry!" He suddenly shouted out, surprising Liu, and she let go of him. Keitaro had been putting all his weight into Liu hold, so when she let go of him, he fell backwards, landing on his back with a loud crash.
"Oh, Keitaro," Liu cried out, rushing over to him. "Are you okay?"
"Y-yeah." Keitaro breathed. He was still flushed over what Liu's advances were doing to him.
"Here," Liu said, putting one of his arms around her, as she lifted him off the ground, and helped him to stand up. "Maybe you're still not back to your full health. Come, let's get you back to bed."
*Damn!* She muttered to herself. *Maybe I'm coming onto him too fast, and too soon. If a try to rush things, I may drive him away completely. No, I will have to be patient.*
Liu helped him back, and lay him back down on the bed. "I'm fine, really," Keitaro protested, as she laid him down. "I j-just slipped, that's all."
"Nonsense," she said, as she fluffed up his pillow, and laid his head down. "You've been running around in a storm. You need rest, or you'll catch a cold."
"But I feel… Opffhh!" Keitaro was cut of when Liu pulled out a thermometer from nowhere and stuck it into his mouth.
"We can't be to careful, you know," Liu said in a cheery voice, "After all, all the boys died of the flu, so we have to be sure you aren't coming down with the same thing."
Keitaro tried to tell her if what ever killed all the men affected him, he'd already be dead, but with the thermometer in his mouth, all that came out was an unintelligible mumble of words, before Liu silenced him by placing a warm wash cloth on his forehead.
Where the hell did she get that from anyway, there wasn't even a bucket in the room. She then yanked the thermometer from his mouth, and held it far away from him, as she scrutinised it.
"Ohhh, you're running a low fever, you should stay in bed, Keitaro, before it gets any worse."
"Can I take a look at that?" Keitaro asked, reaching for the thermometer. Liu suddenly gave a flick of her wrist, and the thermometer flew up into the air, and spun around, before falling down behind the bed.
"Oops," she said placing a hand against the side of her face, that reminded Keitaro too much of Mitsune, "Silly me, I dropped it. Oh dear, it went under the bed, in the place were I can't reach."
"Are you sure I'm running a fever?"
"Of cause you are," Liu said sweetly, and leaning over, her face still held that sweet look, as she came within inches of Keitaro's face. "Are you doubting me, Keitaro?"
"Uuhh, No!" He said quickly and added a little laugh at the end.
"Good," she back away. "Now, you just rest until I come back with some chicken soup, good for fighting colds. Heh he!" Then, she was gone.
Keitaro sighed loudly, and lifted up the covers, looking down. "I wonder if she realised she put me into bed with shoes on?" He then carefully lifted out his legs, and took the shoes of, before getting back under the covers. "Man, that girl is weird."
At the bottom of the stairs, Liu saw her grandmother knitting away. Her face was hidden from view because of the woollen sweater she was making.
"Told you so," was all she said.
Liu made a face. "Shut up," She replied, and stormed into the kitchen, ignoring her grandmother's chuckles.
HINATA CITY: Later that Afternoon…
Haruka was busy sweeping some leaves from the front area of the Hinata Apartments. She finished, and taking out a cigarette, lit it, and walked back inside. She sat down on the couch, blew some smoke out of her mouth, and then turned to the pot plant beside the stairs.
"Why don't you come out," she said, "I've known you've been there for quite some time."
The plant rustled, and a woman wearing a black ninja outfit rose. "My, my, Ms. Urashima," she said, folding her arms, "You are good."
"He's not here, if that's what you're looking for."
"We already know that," the lady said. "We'll find the kid, Urashima, you can't stop us."
"But Keitaro can." Haruka replied. "You'll never catch him, so if I were you, I'd stop wasting my time."
"We're not the only ones looking for the kid, Urashima," the ninja said. "Other's are too."
"Really?" Haruka said with a smile. "You expect me to believe that?"
"I'm not expecting you, to believe me, Urashima," the ninja replied. "I'm just telling you what we know. Now, would you rather he be in our hands, or foreign?"
"Neither," Haruka answered, as she got up, and walked over to a cupboard. She opened it up to reveal brooms, rakes, shoves, and Hoe's. She then pushed them aside and began to rummage for something in the very back.
"That option is simply not possible, Urashima," the ninja said, turning away, and looking at a group photo of all the girls, with Keitaro in the middle. "You're nephew is hot property, and more valuable than materials to build an atomic weapon." She then looked up to find Haruka with a huge machine gun in her hands, "Where the hell did you get that?"
"It was a gift from my mother," Haruka replied, struggling with the large weapon. Finally getting a shoulder under it, Haruka took aim at the ninja. "I'm gonna give you till the count of ten."
"You're only making things worse, Haruka," the ninja said, sweating a little. "We will find Keitaro, with or without your help!"
"Ten."
"You can make things easier for the boy buy telling us were he is."
"Nine." Haruka cooked the lever on the gun, locking the first bullet into place.
"Don't be a fool, Urashima!" Haruka then flipped up the aiming sights, and levelled the gun right at the ninja woman.
"Even if I knew where he was, I still wouldn't tell you. Eight."
The ninja woman backed into a dark corner of the room, and disappeared. Haruka kept the gun aimed at the corner for a few more seconds, making sure she was really gone, then lowered the gun, and sighed.
"Keitaro," Haruka whispered softly. Then, gaining back her posture, turned around, and walked over to a secret door. She pushed it open, and walks into a small room.
In the corner, lay a small wooden desk, with a gas lamp, a wooden chair, and a two way radio set. She then placed the machine gun down beside her, and picked up the receiver. She turned the radio on, and began tuning the dial.
"You're going to need help, Nephew," Haruka said. "And I know just who to call."
THE NEXT MORNING…
Keitaro woke, half expecting to see Liu hovering beside the bed. But she wasn't. After getting up, he found out she was down stairs cooking breakfast.
"Morning!" She called out cheerfully to him, as he came around the corner.
"Uhhh, morning, Liu." He said with a small wave.
"Is something wrong, Keitaro?" She asked.
"No, nothing." Keitaro answered. Keitaro just shrugged. Maybe she'd given up trying to come on to him.
"Coffee?" She asked, holding up a kettle.
"Is the Pope a catholic?" Keitaro replied with a smile.
Liu laughed, and set about making coffee. "And how are you this morning… Urashima, isn't it?" Keitaro turned around at the sound of the new voice.
There was a little old lady that reminded Keitaro of his own grandmother. This must be Liu's grandmother.
"Yes, that's right," Keitaro replied. "And you must be Liu's Grandmother. How do you do." He bowed to her.
"Oh, such a charming young man," she said with a smile.
"Breakfast is ready!" Liu called out. They all sat down at a table, and enjoyed some scrambled eggs. Eventually, the kettle began to whistle, and they had some coffee to drink as well.
"Wow, Liu," Keitaro said once the coffee was finished, "You make an excellent breakfast, and a great coffee to match."
"Thank you, Keitaro," Liu said, her face beaming with pride.
"Keitaro," Liu grandmother said, sipping on her tea.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering if you could do me a favour?" Keitaro began to worry. Was it some sort of commitment to Liu?
"Uhh, okay?" He said nervously.
"My granddaughter, Liu, she has a tough time, helping me run this farm. I was wondering if during your stay here, with us, you could help my daughter run our farm? You wouldn't have to worry about being seen. We've had no visitors here since before the plague."
"Of cause I'd be whiling to help around the farm," Keitaro said with relief. "After all, what kind of a guest would I be if I didn't thankyou for your kindness."
Keitaro finished of what was left of his coffee, unaware that Liu's grandmother gave her granddaughter wink, who smiled in return.
Then all that morning Keitaro helped Liu with her chores. It was a small farm, a small holding, just a few acres of fields up the hill beyond the house. She was working the land, just herself and her grandmother. And she was struggling, even Keitaro could see that. It wasn't that there was a lack of land, it was just that by herself and with the cheap, wooden and labor-intensive tools at hand she could barely work what she had. And she couldn't afford to hire help now days.
So Keitaro carted cut and trimmed logs from where they lay along the edges of the tree line where they'd been felled, up the hill past the pasture where cows grazed to where a field of hay was being fenced off. Easier to let the animals roam and enclose the crops. For a couple of hours while the muddy ground steamed and dried and warmed Keitaro went back and forth, carrying the four meter long rounds up the hill and trudging back down for another load. The logs were hard pine, still leaking pine gum that adhered to his skin in a tacky film that smelled absurdly like cheap car air freshener and the coarse bark scraped his shoulder.
Later in the morning Keitaro saw Liu coming back over the hill, headed back from the general direction of the river. She had a couple of rabbit carcasses and a few fish slung over her shoulder. Liu's grandmother gave them a cursory inspection before sending her scurrying back down to the farmhouse. Keitaro couldn't help staring. Food. Was that going to be lunch?
Well, it's not like they could go down to the convenience store and pick up a frozen pizza.
When the last of the wood was delivered, Keitaro drove stakes. Before the time of the plague, fences would have been kilometers of wire stapled to posts, but now, wire wasn't cheap or available anymore. The fence under construction was mostly interlocking rails stacked one atop another, held in place by pairs of stakes driven into the ground. Liu had laid out logs along the path the fence was to take. Keitaro worked his way along those logs, hammering vertical stakes in at the junctions where the rails overlapped.
Meanwhile, Liu was busy splitting the wood Keitaro had carried. Wielding a wooden mallet and awl, she was working her way along the fence line splitting the logs into rails. She'd drive iron wedges into the log in strategic spots and hammer then in until the wood split lengthwise. At least, she was trying to do that. Quite often she was spitting and snarling oaths at fractured and splintered wood.
As the sun climbed the day got hotter and the maul seemed to get heavier. Keitaro mopped his brow, and resisted the urge to take of his shirt, even though it was clinging uncomfortably to him, for fear of what such a gesture might do to Liu. Eventually, Liu asked him to stop, while she went to get some water. Some time later, she returned, and laboured up the hill with a wooden pitcher of water.
"Water?" she offered the bucket to Keitaro.
"Thank you," he said, quite sincerely. She watched as he drank deeply, awkwardly, water dribbling down his chin.
"Your welcome, Keitaro," Liu said. Keitaro handed the water back to Liu, and wiped sweat away again and squinted at the sun. Shadows were short, the sun a white haze too bright to look at. The golden field of the hay meadow stretched down the hill to the little two story house, a faint shimmer of heat rising. Insects, pollen, drifting seeds… tiny specks wafted and danced on the warm breeze that for a moment seemed quite chill, smelling of coal dust.
Looking back, he caught just a quick glimpse of Liu staring at him. He shook his head. He was going to have to address this issue sooner or later. Might as well be now.
Building up enough courage, he turned to face Liu. "Liu," Keitaro said with sigh, "You're attracted to me, aren't you?" Liu nodded shyly.
"Yes, Keitaro, it's true."
"And you've been trying to convince me to stay, haven't you?"
"Yes." Liu said guiltily.
"Liu, look," Keitaro sighed loudly, and licked his lips, thinking of how he was going to explain this. "I understand it was be difficult for you, but there is already a woman out there, whom I love. She was the whole reason I set out from home. Do you think it's fair on her, that you should try to keep us apart?"
Liu didn't answer. Then, said, "Please, Keitaro, understand that I didn't do it for the reason to have sex with you."
"Oh?"
"The new government has been asking for young women to voluntaire to get themselves pregnant, in order to repopulate the country. I'm more than eligible to get into bed with a male who survived the plague, but…" She paused, looking away.
"But?"
"But I want more than sex, Keitaro," she said, "When I found you in our hayloft, I thought it was a dream come true. Even before the plague, I never could find the right boyfriend. I mean, all I seemed to attract were a long list of losers and dead-heads." She hugged herself as she shrank a little.
"Liu," Keitaro said softly, "I…"
"When I saw you, and I realised that you were the male the soldiers were looking for, I realised I had a second chance. One last attempt to live a happy life."
Keitaro herd a low sob, and suddenly felt like a complete idiot. "Liu, please," he said stepping forward, "I'm sorry, I… I didn't know. Please, forgive me." He put her arms around her, trying to comfort her.
"What's the use," she said with a sniff. "You'll be gone in a week or two, and I'll be all alone once more."
"Liu, please," Keitaro said a bit louder this time, gripping her tightly. He then spun her around to face him. "I…" His voice trailed off, as he looked into Liu's eyes. They were puffy from crying, and water welled up. Her face was red, and Keitaro began to wish he hadn't stopped her advances last night.
But only barely.
"I'd love to stay, really, I'd love too, but…" Keitaro trailed off.
"It's easy for you, Keitaro," she said, "You can have any girl you want, now. After all, if I were you, I wouldn't want one girl weighing me down, right?"
"Huh!?!" Keitaro was taken back. "What? No! That's not what I meant! I already have…"
"A girlfriend!?!" Liu finished. "But even you said yourself, you don't know where to find her. The soldiers already found you once, Keitaro, and if you leave the safety of this farm, what's to stop them from finding you again?"
"Well, I…"
"And you don't know where to start looking for this Naru girl. She could be anywhere, maybe she's dead too."
"Hey, now…"
"I'm just stating the facts, Keitaro," Liu said. "I'm offering you happiness, safety, and a chance to live something close to a normal life, something you could never possibly hope to achieve anywhere else!"
Keitaro was silent. He couldn't answer her. Because she was right. He hadn't thought to far ahead about finding Naru. Okay, if he found her, then what? Where would they go? Where could they go? Liu was right, he'd never be able to live a normal existence ever again, and he really had no idea where to start looking for Naru.
In fact, he really couldn't see any possibility for finding Naru. He couldn't go back to the Hinata Apartments, or Naru's house, because the military would be watching to see if he went to ether one.
As much as he hated to admit it, Liu was right.
"Keitaro?" She asked.
Keitaro's options weighed heavily. Naru was the girl he loved, but… he also felt something for Liu as well. She was offering him the one thing he couldn't possibly hope to achieve. A normal life.
"Keitaro?" Liu repeated again.
Keitaro took a deep breath, and then standing up straight and tall, turned to face Liu. "Liu," he said slowly, "I- I've been thinking about everything you've said. And you're right." He sighed loudly, turning away.
"You m-mean…?"
"Liu, I… I…!" Suddenly, his eyes flung wide open, as the image of a younger version of himself playing in a sandpit with another girl suddenly forced its way into his head. A Liddo-Kun the Squirrel doll lay off to one side.
*When we grow up, let's go to Tokyo U together, okay!*
*Promise* The young Keitaro said. Suddenly the girl was shoved aside, as Naru stepped into view, and pointed directly at Keitaro.
*Then what the hell are you doing with that woman, you pervert!*
"I can't! I just can't!" Ketiaro cried out in alarm, stumbling backwards from Liu.
As he stood back, he stood on a lose rock, and he broke away, allowing Keitaro to tumble backwards, and roll down the hill, head over heals.
"Oh no!" Liu cried out. "Keitaro!" She rushed down the hill after him.
***
"Oooooohh!" Keitaro moaned, laying on the couch.
"Dose this hurt." Liu asked.
"No," Keitaro said.
"Dose this hurt?"
"YES!!!"
"Hurt your back, poor young man," Liu's grandmother said from the kitchen. "What were you thinking up on that hill, Keitaro?"
"About, other things," he moaned. Liu just blushed.
"I see." She replied. "Well, I'll go make us some lunch."
"Hey, Liu," Keitaro asked, "Have you got any pain relief?"
"Yes, we do," she said, "In the cupboard in the downstairs bathroom."
"Okay, thanks, I'll just…" Keitaro said as he started to get up from the couch.
"Stay," Liu said sternly before starting to giggle. "You'll just cause your self more pain in your condition. I'll get it for you."
Keitaro laughed back. "Okay. Thanks."
Liu hurried off to the bathroom and the kitchen before returning to Keitaro with some tables and a glass of water. "Here, Keitaro."
Keitaro took the pills and washed them down. "Thanks."
Liu took the glass away and returned to stand behind Liu. She placed her hands on his shoulders, startling him as she began to work her fingertips into his neck muscles.
"Hey. What are you doing?" Keitaro asked as he closed his eyes.
"Trying to make you feel better, my friend." Liu said softly as she kneaded his shoulders and neck. Keitaro grinned, from the pleasant feeling of her fingers.
"That's lovely, Liu." He said.
"Would you mind stretching out on the floor?" Liu asked.
Keitaro got up and dropped to his knees, lowering himself with a groan as his back tightened. He heard Liu move around behind him and felt her knees on either side of his hips as she straddled him. He felt her rest her weight on the back of his thighs as her hands resumed gently massaging his shoulders.
Liu's hands moved lower, slowly working her way down his spine. Her fingers digging into his muscles.
"Hey, you're a great measure, Liu. Where did you learn this?" Keitaro asked.
"From reading books of course," she replied cheerfully.
Keitaro lead out a pleased moan as Liu worked on his lower back. "Damn that feels good. You have strong fingers, Liu."
Liu smiled, happy with Keitaro's satisfaction. "You have a strong back," she said absently as she concentrated on the feeling of his skin beneath her fingers. She slipped her hands under Keitaro's shirt and continued kneading his muscles while enjoying the smoothness of his skin.
Keitaro jumped a little as Liu's hands slipped under his shirt. Her hands felt warm and soft as she continued his massage. Keitaro's mind raced over whether or not he should be letting Liu touch him in that manner. He tried to think of a way to tell her to stop without making her feel she had done something wrong.
"You know, maybe all I need is a nice warm shower," he said as he felt Liu's hands move down his sides, slipping under his arms and around his chest. He could feel her breasts pressing into his back as she laid her head over his shoulder. He realized he was becoming aroused as he felt Liu's body against his and her breath in his ear. His face began to arm up and turn red. "Liu," he said nervously before she cut him off.
"A shower isn't going to make you feel better, Keitaro," she said softly. "Relax. Just relax and let me take care of you."
Keitaro found relaxing impossible at the moment. He felt her weight disappear from his back. Her hands beneath his chest began lifting him as she began to pull away from him, pulling his shoulders back. "Hey," he started to complain as Liu forced his back to arch and he felt like he was going to snap in two.
His spine popped three times before Liu laid him back on his chest. She began massaging his lower back again until she felt his muscles loosen a little more.
"How is that, Keitaro?" Liu asked as she moved to sit on the couch. Keitaro rolled over and sat up.
"Much better," he said, surprised not to feel any pain. He got up and sat beside her. "Thank you."
Liu smiled before leaning close, giving his cheek a quick kiss, before rising and leaving the room.
Keitaro watched her head down the hallway with a joyful spring in her step.
Keitaro laid back on the couch and stared up at the ceiling. He felt completely foolish for acting the way he had up on that hill. But what she had said, really haunted him. She was right, about never being able to live a normal existence ever again. The thought scared him, the more he thought about it.
That is why he was nearly ready to accept her proposal back up on that hill. Before his memories resurfaced.
However, as he thought about her proposal, her antics revisited his thoughts. The way she'd thrown herself at him in such a blatant manor. If he really wanted a girl like that, he would've pursued Kitsune back at the apartments. He rolled onto his side, facing the back of the couch. "What should I do?" he said to himself as he hoped a nap would clear his thoughts.
***
"Liu, dear," Liu's Grandmother asked, as she came around the corner into the kitchen. "What happened between you two up on the hill?"
Liu sighed in frustration. "He was nearly ready to accept my proposal, when he all of a sudden, drew a blank, and started screaming something about that he couldn't."
"Couldn't? Couldn't what?"
Liu shrugged. "He went all quite, like somebody having an outer body experience, and then he suddenly freaked out."
"Really?" The old woman rubbed her chin.
"It's only a matter of time," Liu said with a shrug, "I'm slowly battering down his defences. Very soon, he's going to crack."
"That's if he doesn't find some excuse to leave, my dear," the old lady replied. "If his love for this other woman has been keeping him from you for this long, then something's bond to come up."
Liu crossed her arms in defiance. "Now you're just being paranoid, grandmother," she said. "We've never had any visitor's around here since the time of the plague. Plus, he's not going to leave the farm any time soon for fear of discovery."
"We will see, my dear," the old woman answered. "We will see."
***
A few hours later, Keitaro woke up from his nap, and after having some lunch, went back to work. Although he was strangely quite. He was debating within his mind, on what he should do concerning Liu.
Liu on the other hand was quite herself. She wasn't making any more moves on him, and seemed to be avoiding him as much as possible. Why? Was this some new scheme? Was it a different tactic? Or had she really given up of him?
The way she'd massaged him before confused him. Was she coming on to him then, or was that his old perverted self, just acting up because of the close proximity she was to him.
He gripped his head and growled in frustration. Damn it all! It was so difficult. What was the correct answer? Was there even an answer? Arrgggghhhh!!!
Instead, he picked up his tools, and went back to work, trying to concentrate on anything but Liu, Naru, and his whole messed up situation.
Throughout that hot afternoon Keitaro dug more holes and drove more stakes. It was a pretty mindless job that he just methodically worked his way through. Mainly, it took his mind of other things.
Following the zig-zag of stones that Liu had laid down the field, digging a hole and then driving a post, one after another. It gave Keitaro time to think, to try and figure out just where the hell he was going next. The only problem was, that there was nowhere to go. Even Liu knew that. Keitaro was also realizing that the soldiers who were after him would know that, after all there weren't many other choices. So, Keitaro had to try and formulate some sort of plan. He almost felt disappointed when he drove a stake and found he'd reached the end of the line. But there was still wood to chop; quite a pile of it.
Liu had looked a little uneasy as she unwrapped an axe from an oilcloth. It was obviously a valuable possession, but Keitaro couldn't help wondering if she was concerned for the safety of the tool or by the fact he wasn't clear on what he was going to do. Stay or leave. Whatever, she handed it over. She then showed him the whetstone and then she left him to it, although not without a few glances over her shoulder.
The wood wasn't in convenient rounds neatly trimmed by saw; it was just a pile of logs and branches that'd been picked up, dragged or cut by axe but weren't any size that could be put into a stove or fireplace. Some of them Keitaro was able to break into manageable lengths, others he had to axe. That was frustrating work; Keitaro hadn't done manual work like this in far too long, and had trouble actually splitting the wood. What's more he knew a chainsaw or just a good ripsaw would be able to go through the firewood like butter, but of course there wasn't anything like that available anymore because of the fact that the government had been hording all of Japan's fuel supplies, so he had to do it the hard way.
So he chopped and cut and snapped wood while the day went on. The axe was sharp and effective at splitting the soft woods and the clean pine, but the knottier pieces and hardwoods were tough going. Keitaro kept at it, sweating furiously and knocking water back by the litre. Working away at the daunting pile of raw timber and carting armloads of cut firewood across to the house to stack under the eaves. The dusty ground covered with chips and splinters, the hot air filled with the smells of the wood: pine and oak and cedar.
About five o'clock, by his inexpert judging of the sun. Keitaro was carrying a double armload of wood back to the house and rounded the corner to find a team of horses and a covered wagon resting just in front of the house. He looked past the horses to the wagon they were drawing, and could make out a lone figure sitting up the front.
She was talking to Liu's grandmother.
They'd found him, that was the first thought that hit Keitaro like a bucket of cold water. But quickly realised that this woman who granny was talking to wasn't with the military.
But what about the government.
Quickly, Keitaro stepped back behind the side of the house, put down the woodpile in his hand, and carefully looked back out again. The woman on the cart hadn't noticed him, but was talking rather loudly, and making all sorts of gestures, pointing into her wagon.
Granny kept shaking her head, in a polite manor. Keitaro smiled. Obviously some sort of travelling sales man… err woman.
Suddenly, the saleswoman blurted out loud: "Well, then how the hell am I supposed to make a liv'n then? Huh?"
That voice.
Keitaro was stunned. That voice. He knew that voice too well. He looked around the corner once more, and this time, got a good look at the face of the woman driving the cart.
His eyes widened. NO, it couldn't be. But it was.
"Look" Liu's grandmother said holding up her hand, "For the last time, young lady, I will not…"
"KITSUNE!?!" Keitaro shouted out loud.
"Huh?" Both women looked up, to see Keitaro around the side of the house, pointing widely at Kitsune.
"WHA--!?!?" Kitsune shrieked out loud, and did a double take, nearly falling off the cart. "KEITARO!?!" She stared in disbelief, rubbed her eyes, and stared again. "But---!?! HOW!?! WHY!?!?! WHEN!?!?!" She was now pointing and gibbering.
"You two know each other?" The old lady asked.
"Kitsune!" Keitaro cried out, rushing up to the wagon. "It really is you!"
Kitsune stared opened mouthed as Keitaro came closer. She then reached out a finger, and poked him. When she realised he was soli and real, she screamed out again.
"EEEKKKKK!! You really are Keitaro! But I thought you were dead?"
"But I'm not, Kitsune," he cried out, then jumped up on the wagon and grabbed her in a crushing bear hug. "Oh, God, it's so good to see even you!"
"Well, that's…" Suddenly Kitsune paused, then glared at Keitaro. "Hey, just what the hell did you mean by that 'even you' remark, huh?" She grabbed him around the neck and started throttling him.
"ACK!!!" Keitaro squeaked out. "S-Sam old Kits-sune!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING OLD!?!?!" She then began to pound his head.
"Are you sure she's a friend?" Liu's grandmother asked, her head cocked to one side.
Kitsune quickly stopped assaulting Keitaro, smiling her sweet charming smile. "Oh, Keitaro and I go back a long way. Right sugar?" She squeezed Keitaro into a Headlock.
"R-right!" Keitaro then struggled for air. "C-can't breath! Kitsune, L-let go!"
"In fact, we were lovers, right?"
"WH--!?!" That was about as far as he got, before Kitsune squeezed again, cutting off his protest, and turning his face bright red, as he scrabbled at her arms, trying to break the grip around his neck.
"Will ya just look at him? All chocked up over see'n me again. Well, hows about a kiss, sugar?" She then buried her face into his as she kissed him, causing Keitaro's arms to flap fast than a humming bird.
"What the hell is wr--!" Keitaro shouted, before Kitsune hugged his face into her bosom. He automatically went limp.
"The poor boy, so delirious after being so long without me. Well, thanks for look'n after him for me, we'd best be off now!"
"HEY!!!" Kitsune let go of Keitaro, who fell back of the wagon and landed on his back on the sold earth. "WHO THE HELL ARE YOU!?!?!" Across from the house, a woman, who looked a lot like Kistune was staring back, pointing at her, and her face was bright red. "AND WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING!?!?!"
She then suddenly tore across the grass, and was at Keitaro's side within seconds.
"Wow," Kisune muttered, "I've only seen Naru move that fast before."
"Keitaro," she said softly, "Are you alright?"
"Owwwww!" He moaned.
"What the hell were you doing to him?" She cried, looking up at Kitsune.
"This young lady knows Keitaro, and he her," Liu's grandmother said. "She claims to be his lover."
"What!?!" She shrieked. "That's a lie."
"Says you, sugar," Kitsune replied, "But I've known Keitaro for much longer than you have."
"So, you must've been one of the bimbos who were constantly beating up on him, eh?"
"Who are you calling a bimbo, you tramp!" Kitsune shouted back at her.
"Well then," Liu said with an evil smile. "If you really want to take Keitaro with you, then…" She reached behind her back, and whipped out a super huge samurai sword. "You'll have to fight to the death for him."
"N-Now hold on a second there!" Kitsune said, holding up her hands in defence.
"DIE!!!" Liu shrieked, as she leapt for Kitsune.
***