It was Sunday afternoon. His grandchildren were gone now having enjoyed their time with their grandfather and grandmother. Mukong was grateful his grandson and granddaughter took after their mother. His daughter Azumi was always a hard worker at every thing she did. Her husband, Mukong's son-in-law, was somewhat…lazy. However, where Shinto lacked he more than made up for in his love for Azumi and the children. And to Mukong, his daughter's happiness was all that mattered.
Only now that he was alone with his wife Misa he knew she would get on him about tending to the fence that needed mending in her garden. He didn't feel like arguing with her; she usually always won. But he didn't feel like fixing the fence right now. And he was looking for any excuse to get out of it.
As luck would have it, Mukong unexpectedly got his wish. He also got the surprise of his life when a dear friend from long ago came through the front gate. And his friend was holding the hand of a lovely petite woman with a shapely figure as outlined by the red and purple Chinese dress she was wearing.
"Jake, is that really you?" he said, testing to see if his old friend still remembered how to speak Japanese.
"I'm afraid, so Mukong," Jake smiled back.
"I see your Japanese has not improved! You still speak it with an American accent! And you lost all your hair!" he joked, hugging his friend tightly.
"Not quite all of it," Jake laughed rubbing the back of his head.
Mukong was pleased that his friend had not changed. The man could still laugh at himself.
"Please, forgive me," Mukong spoke in English to the lovely lady. "Jake has no manners at times and neither do I…"
"Mukong!" Misa shouted from inside their home.
Mukong cringed.
"Is that Misa?" Jake asked, reverting to English as well.
"Unfortunately," he muttered.
"Mukong…I'm calling y…Jaykie!" she shouted, from behind Mukong. "Jaykie, is that you?"
"I'm afraid so," Jake smiled at her in Japanese.
Mukong rolled his eyes as his wife hurried towards them and pulled Jake down in a big hug. Then she saw the woman with 'Jaykie' and one would have thought it was Christmas by the way she reacted.
"Jaykie, you finally settled down again! I'm so happy for you!" Misa cheerfully said, hugging Jake again.
The woman, who Mukong still didn't know, had no clue as to what Misa was saying as it was apparent she didn't know the language. Jake however…Mukong had to refrain from laughing as Jake's eyes nearly popped out of his head as Misa prattled on about how beautiful his wife was. Mukong knew right away the woman was not Jake's wife but decided to play along with Misa. It had been a long time since he had seen Jake and he did miss how they used to joke with each other.
"What is your wife's name?" Mukong asked.
Jake smiled nervously down at his 'wife.'
"Mukong, Misa…this is Janet. Janet these are two dear friends of mine Mukong and his wife Misa," he answered, in English. "Please…Janet doesn't speak Japanese."
"Oh…I'm sorry my dear," Misa said in English, grabbing Janet by the hand. "Please, come inside. We must have tea and you can tell me everything!"
Like the ocean breeze that comes and goes, Misa disappeared with Janet into the house. Jake was standing there with his mouth open and stunned. Mukong just started laughing at his friend.
"Come my friend, you must tell me how you have been and who that woman really is," Mukong said, patting his friend on the back.
Jake smiled very briefly. His demeanor changed and Mukong realized that this was not a social call.
"Tell me, my friend."
"I need your help," Jake said. "There's some people after me. They kidnapped me and poor Janet, who had the misfortune of being with me at the time. They flew us halfway around the world to Osaka. Where we managed to escape. I took five different taxi-cabs and two public buses just to reach you to make certain that we weren't being followed. And I need your help to get to Okinawa where Janet and I can be safe."
Mukong rubbed his hand beneath his chin, contemplating for a moment.
"Come…inside, Jake...enjoy the hospitality of my home. Then, after dinner we'll talk some more and figure out what I can do to help you."
"Thank you," Jake smiled, very relieved as he shook Mukong's hand.
The afternoon went by quickly. Dinner had come and gone. And during all that time Mukong observed Jake very carefully, taking notice of how he reacted around Janet and how she reacted to him. Neither Mukong nor Jake could dissuade Misa that Janet wasn't really Jake's wife. Misa was a romantic and she saw how Jake looked at Janet too. Misa, like Mukong, would do anything to help a friend.
As darkness fell, Mukong left Janet in Misa's capable hands and found Jake outside in the garden staring into nothingness. Only when Mukong sat down on the bench did Jake react.
"What is troubling you my friend?"
Jake shot him a surprised look.
"Jake, I've known you a long time. You haven't changed much since I last saw you. You still carry the weight of the world on your shoulders when you worry."
Mukong paused.
"Does this have something to do with your lady friend?"
"Partly," Jake sighed. "Truth is Mukong, I'm a danger to those around me. I'm even putting you and Misa in danger by being here. The work I had been doing…I'm still doing…I don't know…I thought I could, you know…live some kind of normal life."
"What's stopping you?"
"I'm a danger…"
"I know what you said. But you can't live your life constantly afraid for those around you. I understand you are involved in Top Secret work for your Government. But I made a choice to help my friend. Janet made a choice too. Now my friend, it is time for you to choose. You can choose to hide your head in the sand or stand with your head high and face your fears."
"It's not so easy…"
"Bullshit! Quit making excuses!" Mukong snapped, seeing that Jake really needed a talking too! "I remember how you were when Allison was alive. The light faded from your eyes when she died. The only things that kept you somewhat alive were Mark and Samantha. My friend…for the first time in so long the light has returned."
Jake blushed slightly, turning his face away.
"I see how you look at Janet. And I know you. You would not have gone through all this trouble if you didn't care for her. To find true love once is a miracle. But to find it again is nearly impossible. Don't waste this opportunity."
"Don't what?" Jake asked with a smirk. "Mukong, your Japanese is worse than mine! Sounded like you said for me to not take a crap!"
Mukong smiled devilishly, "Just seeing if you were paying attention!"
They both laughed heartily at each other. And when the laughter died down, Mukong was serious again.
"I mean it…don't let her go…I think she really likes you."
"Why on Earth would she like me?" Jake asked.
"Let her decide that for herself. You just concentrate on being who you are and the rest will take care of itself. Now, let's talk about who is chasing you and about how we're going to get you and Janet to Okinawa safely."