The song "Childhood's End?" is by Marillion.
Mutsumi knows - Part 11. Misplaced Childhood
The sun rises over the sea, like a beautiful watercolour of a calm mill-pond. A contrast with just a couple of hours earlier, when the waves had reminded me of another watercolour, a famous Japanese one, and the wailing wind had fortunately drowned out most of what Naru had shouted about her opinion of the weather. Now I think of a song ...
"And it was morning, and I found myself mourning for a childhood that I thought had disappeared .."
Why can't he see? I daren't tell him - but maybe if I give him a clue, then he will see.
"... I'm not alone, I turned to the mirror,
I saw you, the child that once loved.
The child before they broke his heart,
Our heart, the heart that I believed was lost.
So I see, it's me, I can do anything
I'm still the child,
'Cause the only thing misplaced was direction
And I found direction.
There is no Childhood's End.
There is no Childhood's End.
'Cause you are my childhood friend.
You are my childhood friend.
Oh, lead me on."
"What's that you're singing, Mutsumi?" Keitaro asks.
"Oh, it's just a song by a band called Marillion. They're one of my favourite gaijin bands. Sometimes I hear one of their songs, and I can imagine it's all about me, that they wrote it specially for me."
"Yes, it sure is a good song, and you sing it very well Mutsumi."
"I listen to western music a lot, because English is such a big part of the entrance exams. Revision is so important in my life, I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't make at least part of it into an enjoyable, fun experience. I hope we can do Karaoke together sometime."
"Sure, why not? I enjoy Karaoke, but I've never thought of that sort of thing as revision before. You really have thought a lot about your exams, haven't you, Mutsumi? I know that with you helping us we're sure to pass next time."
"Don't forget all the help you get from Naru too."
"Oh, I know she tries very hard to tutor me, and I feel guilty because I suspect that's why she didn't pass last time. She spent so much time getting me up to scratch that she neglected her own revision. But I always feel inadequate when she's tutoring me. I'm always an 'incorrigible idiot'."
"Give her time, Keitaro, and never forget that she is trying hard, and at great cost to her own chances. You owe it to her to learn something from her efforts, so make sure you do. I'm sure things will get easier, and that you're right, this time we'll all pass together.
"Yes we will". Keitaro replies, with firm confidence that I am glad to hear in his voice. "While we're talking about Naru, though, she was acting a bit strange yesterday, after she went off with you to get some new clothes. Do you know why?"
"I'm not sure. Did she say anything about your promise girl this morning?"
"No - why should she do that? She did ask me if I knew anything about her father though."
"What did you tell her?"
"I just said no, I don't know her father. I've only known Naru for less than a year, and she hasn't said much about her family in that time. I suspect she has problems with them, like I have problems with mine, and that's why she stays at Hinata-sou, but that's just a guess. You didn't answer my question though - why should Naru say anything about my promise girl?"
"Oh, it's just something we were talking about yesterday. And we did talk about her father as well."
"Oh. did she tell you about how I even thought that she might be the promise girl? It's a bit embarassing to think about it now, because she could only have been two and a half at the time, but for a while I really had myself fooled!"
"Ara, you shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the idea, keitaro. Consider, there might have been two promise girls, Naru and another girl, maybe just a bit older than you, who could have taught Naru to join in the promise. You might have made the promise to both of them."
"Wow, that's quite an imagination you have there, Mutsumi!"
We finally approach Okinawa, and Tama-chan gives an excited "myuh!" as she heads ashore. I'm reminded of how she was responsible for Kei-kun and Na-chan being here on this boat. I think once again of my favourite fairy story. It was a turtle who delivered the hero Taro Urashima to the princess Otohime's beautiful kingdom. And I think, thank you, Tama-chan. Thank you!
At Okinawa, all the family are there to meet us. Mother comes forward first, to offer a welcome.
"Welcome home dear! Nice to see you've brought some friends with you! Hello, I'm Mutsumi's mommy, and my name is ... ara, what is my name?"
"Momma, it's Natsumi. Na-tsu-mi. Remember?"
"Oh yes, Natsuni. That's it. And you must be ..."
"This is Naru and Keitaro, mother. and it's Natsumi."
"Really? I thought you were Mutsumi. Welcome to our island, Naru, Keitaro. Natsumi has told me all about you!"
"I'm Mutsumi, mother!"
"Please make your mind up, Na, er, Mutsumi. You're getting me all confused!"
Ara!
While Naru and Keitaro are unloading their meagre luggage, mother takes me aside. "Did you get Naru to agree to cancel the promise you made to her about Keitaro?"
"Ara, no, I was able to talk with her about everything else, but I never got the chance..."
"Should I do it for you?"
"No, mom, I will do it, I promise."
"OK, but in the meantime you have to be true to your word, the way I brought you up. 'Na-chan gets to marry Kei-kun', that was the promise, wasn't it? And you have to 'give up on him completely'?"
It's hard, being reminded like that, but mom is right. So, for a while, we try to get Kei-kun and Na-chan together. We're not terribly successful - maybe it would be different if we were doing this a year from now. Or if my heart was in it. But I'm determined to put a brave face on, so Naru and Keitaro will never know that my heart isn't in it.
Then mother says "Naru, Keitaro, we've got the guest house ready for you - the one with the big double bed."
I take her aside. "Mother, I know we're playing matchmaker, but isn't that going a bit far? Besides, they've been here before, they know that we've got two guest rooms".
"Oh, didn't I tell you, Mu-chan? We have another visitor coming. I wasn't expecting you back quite so soon, so I said it would be great if he could stay."
Oh dear. Well, I suppose it can't be helped.
We return to Naru and Keitaro.
"So, Naru-san," says mother, "you sure have grown up since last I saw you."
"Er, have we met before?"
"Fu fu fu, you don't remember? I used to work at Hinata-sou. Your father would take you there, because of your health, and you would play with Mutsumi and Keitaro. How ironic it is, that three friends who met at Hinata house should be reunited years later at the same place!"
"Er, actually, mother, I never got to meet them at Hinata-sou. Not this year, I mean. Fifteen years ago, yes."
Naru is more or less prepared for all these revelations, I think, but Keitaro's jaw has hit the floor. I can tell that all sorts of thoughts are running through his head. It will get tricky later, when he wants explanations.
Mom goes off with Naru to chat about old times at Hinata-sou. I'm left with my father and Keitaro.
"Why didn't you tell me, Mutsumi?" Keitaro asks.
"Ara, I was going to. There were so many other things happening, I suppose it slipped my mind."
"Hello Mutsumi!" father says, "I know you've been home for a while, but this is the first chance I've had to welcome you properly. And hello Keitaro, long time no see!"
"Er, what? We've met before too? Was that at Hinata sou?"
"Oh, you probably don't remember, Keitaro, but you've been here before. It was while Natsumi was working at Hinata-sou. She had just inherited this place, but it was a ruin then, totally uninhabitable. Your father helped me to refurbish it, and when we had made a couple of the rooms habitable we invited Granny Hina here for a break, because she'd done so much for us at Hinata-sou. We invited your mother too, but she was too busy, with the family sweet shop to look after. Anyway, Granny Hina came with you, and with your young aunt Haruka, and with Mutsumi too of course".
"How old was I then?"
"Oh, only four or so. And you only stayed for a few days, so don't worry if you can't remember."
Ara, I can see this is a surprise to Kei-kun. But it's a surprise to me too! All this time I've been talking about the past with Mom, it never occured to me that dad might have so much to tell me that I didn't know.
"We had some great times with your family. And I know my Mutsumi has enjoyed her time with you recently. I wouldn't mind having Urashimas as in-laws. If you ever want Otohimes as in-laws..."
"Dad!"
I try to look annoyed at dad, but really I couldn't be happier, and I'm sure he knows. Thoughts and memories are flooding into my mind, things that I had completely forgotten. I had thought that I had a good grasp of my childhood memories, but now I realise, there was so much that preceded the promise at Hinata-sou! I remember, especially, the climbing-tree that once played such a big part in our lives. But Kei-kun's words interrupt my reverie.
Hr "Wow, Mutsumi, I never realised that your family knew mine. And Naru's too! That's quite a coincidence isn't it?"
I fall down in a cloud of dust, with my arms flailing in the air.
Later, Kei-kun has gone off with some of my brothers and sisters to help them hunt for bugs. The hay-cart is available, so I offer Na-chan a leisurely trip around the island. As we cross the low rise which is the road's highest point there's a marvellous view all around; the 'mountain' (really just a steep wooded hill), the shrines with their special atmosphere, which draw people from far and wide. The picturesque farms and harbour, the other islands, mist shrouded in the distance. I hope Na-chan finds it all as beautiful as I do, and that kei-kun will too.
"Say, mutsumi, isn't that a road bridge?"
"Ara, yes, it is. It only opened recently."
"Oh, when did it open?"
"N..."
"I didn't catch that, Mutsumi. Why are you whispering?"
"Was I whispering, Naru-san? I think it must have been the wind making it difficult for you to hear what I said. The bridge opened in nineteen-ninety-seven. But it doesn't connect our island to the main island, only to another small island."
"There seem to be quite a few cars around here, considering that this is just a tiny island. I notice there's a nice car in your family's drive."
"Yes, we quite often use it to visit the main town on the next-door island. There's some good shops there. There's not so much here on this island, though there is a marvellous shop that sells pickled squid with seasoned sea-urchin eggs."
"Sounds delicious!"
Just as we complete our tour of the island by arriving back home, a car pulls up in the drive and a man steps out.
"Mutsumi-san! Nice to see you again. I thought you'd be somewhere near Tokyo, studying. Oh, I hope your being here doesn't mean that your health is still bad!"
"No, although it isn't perfect ... ara ... it's nice to see you, Takahashi-san. Er ... I wasn't expecting to see you, Captain. This is my friend Naru. Naru, this is Captain Takahashi, a friend of the family. He captains one of the big ferries. And now we'd better go, there's so many other things to show you. Captain, I think you'll find my mother is just in the house. See you later!"
"Don't go just yet, Mutsumi-san. Why, we've hardly met! And your friend, Naru-san. I've been looking forward to meeting her and Keitaro-san ever since you told me about them."
"Mutsumi has told you about us?" Naru asks, wide-eyed.
"Why yes, and I know that you must be very special to her. It was when you were all on the ferry ..."
"Ara, don't just hang around outside, go on in and meet mother, Takahashi-san! I'm sure she'll be surprised to meet you."
"Oh, she knows I'm coming. I phoned from Naha to let her know that the ferry would be in port for longer than usual, for an overhaul, so I'd be renting a car and driving over, and staying here overnight."
"You drove over from Naha?" asks Naru, getting more astonished by the minute..
"Oh yes."
"But doesn't the road bridge on the other side of this island just connect it to another small island?"
"Yes, but that other island is connected to the main island of Okinawa by another road bridge. It's all part of a big scheme to revitalise the economy of these small offshore islands. You know, when I was little, this island was famous for its watermelons and other vegetables. It supplied all the American bases, and much of Japan too; but now so many watermelons are imported from Taiwan, and so many of the farmers have left. Hopefully, with the new bridges, people will start to come back. And we can rely on our unofficial watermelon ambassador here to persuade every greengrocer she meets, and even the chefs on my ferry, that they should be stocking genuine Okinawan produce. Did you know, the passengers just love the pickled squid that she suggested we should have in the onboard restaurant."
"It's the least I can do for my friends who live on this island", I say, glad that the subject is drifting away from bridges.
"Yes, but ..." Naru says. "Captain, you say that the other island is connected ..."
"Ara," I say, "I was going to talk about that but it completely slipped my memory. Sorry! Come with me and I'll tell you all about it now."
And I drag Naru away from a bemused-looking captain, before things can get any more complicated.
"Never mind about the road bridge," Naru says, "I think I get the picture there. Right now I want to know about our childhood - your mother tells me that she knew me when she was at Hinata-sou, fifteen years ago. I never realised that I had been to Hinata back then. So that's where we met?"
"Yes. We used to play a lot at the sand-pit near Hinata-sou, the two of us and Keitaro. And that's where we made the promise, and where we buried the time capsule. Your father brought you to Hinata-sou because he hoped the hot springs there would improve your health."
"I still don't understand, though, why you're trying to be a matchmaker for me and Keitaro. Surely you want him too?"
"Yes, I love him very much. But ... things just happened the way they did, and ... in the end I decided to cheer you both on from the sidelines."
Then one of my brothers arrives.
"Sissy, come quick! Keitaro has found something interesting!"
"You took your time!"
"How did you get like that?" Naru shouts.
Kei-kun is hanging upside down from our old climbing-tree, with one of my little sisters in each of his hands, suspended over a sheer drop..
"Isn't it obvious we slipped?"
This is so dangerous! My heart feels like it is in my mouth, and beating hard. But Naru is able to haul me up into the branches with a rope, and I take hold of my two sisters. Now I just need to be lowered.
I go down, rather faster than intended, but still safely. Naru, being on the other end of the rope, is hauled up into the tree, a lot faster than is wise. Keitaro is still up there. Cue extremely embarassing collision.
The next few minutes are so complicated I can't begin to explain without drawing pictures. Dangerous, because it involves a lot of hanging precariously from the end of a rope, so that my heart still feels like it is beating in my throat; but it's one long source of embarassment too, especially for Naru. And funny, really funny. I wish I could describe it, but I can't!
When she is finally extricated fron the tree and from the ropes she and Keitaro have been tangled up in, Naru is so exasperated that she leaves me and Kei-kun stuck up in the tree, as a "punishment". But, doesn't she understand? I could accept this "punishment" in preference to practically any reward, any time. Just me and Kei-kun, together, and in our old climbing-tree too, where we had so many escapades as children. Surely, the tree must have evoked some memory in Kei-kun, which led him inexorably to this moment. Now, will he remember the promise that we first made when we were stuck in these branches?
Back then, Haruka would rescue us when we got stuck. Right now, though, I'm glad that Haruka isn't here. Just for once, I don't want to be rescued.
I turn to Kei-kun, and gaze into his eyes. I am hopelessly lost in them. Now, surely, is the time to tell him that he has two promise girls. But then, even as one of the promise girls, I'd have to continue cheering from the sidelines. And he wouldn't understand, he'd just think that I was being cold, that I'd gone off him. Ara, why does everything have to be so complicated?
I wish I could kiss Kei-kun, without having to worry about the consequences. I wish I wasn't burdened with this huge mountain of knowledge, courtesy of fate and of my protectress, that only makes every decision harder to take. If only I could forget it all! I just want to be free! Please!
Suddenly I feel different. I've lost the thread of my thoughts. What was I thinking about? Oh yes, I've gone and got myself and Kei-kun stuck in the tree again! I know his aunty will save us eventually, like she always does, but then she's bound to get annoyed, and we'll get chewed out, and we'll end up in tears, like we always do.
Kei-kun must be so frightened. I'm always climbing trees, but I'm sure Kei wouldn't do it if I didn't keep dragging him. I want to make up to him for putting him in all this trouble, so I give him a kiss. "Ara, I did it again, didn't I?" I say.
Just then a beautiful lady that I don't know arrives at the foot of the tree. Who can she be? And where is Kei-kun's aunty Haruka? I'm about to ask, but then I slip and fall from the branch. Ara!
Now something very strange happens. I find myself in a place of swirling colours, where I see another lady, even more beautiful than the one who was at the bottom of the tree. She is glowing with light, and I know she must be something very special. But I've never seen anything like her.
"Who are you?" I ask, "and who was that other lady? And where is Kei-kun's aunty?"
She smiles, and it is the most beautiful smile I can imagine. She says "I'm someone who wants to be your friend, Mu-chan. The other lady is a little girl who you will meet soon. She will play with you and Keitaro."
"Keita- ... Keitawo?"
"You call him Kei-kun."
"Oh goody, it'll be nice for me and Kei-kun to have someone new to play with. But she didn't look like a little girl!"
"She will, when you see her later. There's something else you need to know about her, though. Not as a grown up lady, but as a little girl, she is very sick. I try to look after her, but I can't make her better. There will be medicines to help her, but not until she is grown up. And if she isn't helped, then she will die before she can grow up."
"Oh, I know a magic charm that can make anything better!"
"Yes, Mu-chan, that's what I want you to use. That's why I am here. But I have to be sure that you understand. Magic isn't like medicine. If we could just wish all illness away, there would be no illness. That will happen one day, but not yet. For now there is a cosmic balance..."
"A what?"
"It just means that if you make her better, you will be ill yourself."
"Will I die then?"
"Not if you are careful. If you look after yourself you can live until the doctors have a cure,"
"I see. Of course I will make her better then!"
"You aren't worried about being ill for years?"
"No. My mommy and daddy teach me to always help, whenever I can. I like to help!"
"Thank you Mu-chan. When you are ill, you won't be on your own. I will be there with you, whenever you need me. I will see you soon! But now I'm afraid this next bit will hurt, though only slightly."
And once again I am falling through the air with the tree branch above me. I wish that Kei-kun could save me, but he is on the branch still, far out of reach. Then my head collides with something hard.
Thanks again for the reviews.
AntarcticTiger, thanks for the kind words, I have a very good idea now of how I want this story to end, and how to get there, so it should be finished reasonably soon, and without too much trouble (but if anyone has any suggestions they're still welcome, though I might not be able to act on them if they don't fit in with the plans). A lot of pieces should fall into place in the next chapter, so if anyone is unhappy that it's taking so long to pair up Mutsumi and Keitaro properly ... all I can say is it will be soon.
Trent, I didn't get so much of Keitaro in this chapter, because Mutsumi wants to be reconciled with Naru before she opens her heart to him, but I think there'll be a bit more of him in the next chapter. Maybe I could have made more of the tree-and-rope incident, but it has been done before in fanfiction, and I don't think I could have come up with a new twist on it. I'd just be reinventing the wheel.
Anyone else, especially if you haven't reviewed yet or if you think I might be going wrong in any way ... please let me know what you think Thanks.