Friend
The market was extremely busy as Hana followed his mother into the crowd. He hated going with her there, but after the incident with James, she seemed determined to never leave him home alone. As he watched the other shoppers hurriedly picking through merchandise a sudden chill overwhelmed his body. He was suddenly uncomfortable being there and had no idea why. Anna noticed he was lagging behind and turned to him with a frown.
"Come on, Hana. We need to get back before your father."
"Can I talk to you about something?" he asked as he increased his pace.
"What is it?"
"Um..." He hesitated and bit his bottom lip. "I want to know about my uncle...what he was like and what he did and—"
"We need rice," she said abruptly.
"Was he close to Papa? Did they get along?"
"Probably more fish."
Hana realized she was intentionally ignoring him, and the anger violently rushed to his brain. She increased her pace and he struggled to stay with her.
"Mama," he sighed, "will you listen to me please?"
She turned again and roughly grabbed his arm. He didn't struggle but widened his eyes as if he had been hit.
"We're not having this conversation," she whispered angrily, "and you won't bring it up again. Do you understand me?"
"But—"
"Don't talk back to me, Hana. This discussion is over."
Hana viewed his shoes for a moment, and his shoulders slumped forward in defeat. He hoped she would give him something since his father wasn't around, but he was greatly disappointed in her reaction.
"Go and find the fish," she said with irritated sternness. "And don't wander off."
He stared aimlessly at the foods that were on display as he sauntered from one stand to the next. His mother's pace was too fast and she left him behind while he searched.
"I don't even like fish," he mumbled.
When he came across a man who was selling cabbage, he stopped abruptly as something caught his eye. There was a flash of orange appearing for moments in the corner of his eye. He blinked a few times as if there was something blocking his sight. After brief hesitation, he turned his head toward the woods for some urge he felt in his body. He realized quickly the sudden burst of color he saw wasn't an optical malfunction at all. There was a woman leaning against a tree several feet away from the market with her arms folded over her chest. The orange hair was the first thing he noticed; although it was pulled back with a black band, the color was enough to capture his attention. She wore a white tank top with a pair of black shorts that barely covered the top of her thighs. Black rubber boots and a strange black necklace completed her outfit. Hana was suddenly nervous when he noticed she was staring at him.
She lingered for a few moments then disappeared in the woods. Hana looked both ways for his mother who disappeared in the crowd and then darted for the trees. When he cleared the first row he was greatly disappointed when he couldn't find her. As he walked further through the mass of surrounding wood fear consumed his senses. He wondered if he should be wandering around in the first place.
"Do you always follow people out here?"
Her voice scared him. He tripped over a rock and fell hard into the dirt. She emerged from behind a nearby tree and approached him slowly while holding out her hand.
"I never thought you would be a clumsy boy," she said with a small giggle.
Hana allowed her to help him return to his feet, but he then backed away and stared at the ground.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers," he said with slight embarrassment.
"Well, you're not breaking the rules. We're not exactly...strangers."
He lifted his head to look into her eyes, but her gaze was too intimidating. "I don't know you."
"Well I know you," she said softly. "You're Asakura Hana."
"How did you know my name?" He buried his hands in the pockets of his khaki pants.
"I've known you since you were a baby."
"Who are you?" he whispered.
"My name is Matilda Matisse. Does that make you feel better?"
He closed his eyes briefly, trying to register the name in his head, but he couldn't come up with a match anywhere in his memory. His teeth clenched slightly and mumbled something under his breath, but she interrupted him.
"You wouldn't remember me. You were very small the last time I saw you."
Something about the woman was deeply uncomfortable. Hana suddenly wanted to be away from her.
"I have to get back to the market," he sighed. "It was nice meeting you, Matilda."
He began walking back, but she only allowed him to move away a few feet.
"They won't tell you about Hao, will they?"
Hana stopped in his tracks quickly and stared at the ground.
"Your parents?"
"You knew my uncle?" He turned around and stared at her.
"Let's just say we're very good friends," she said with a smile, "and have been for a long time."
"If you were friends at all," he said angrily, "you would know he's dead."
"So, that's what they told you?"
"What?"
"Hao's not dead," she said with a laugh. "Far from it."
Hana gawked at her his mouth open and couldn't speak. The shock flooding his senses was quickly replaced with anger. He glared at her with wrathful eyes.
"Are you trying to play with me?"
"Why would I lie about Hao?" she asked. "He desperately wants to meet you."
"You..." He hesitated as the irritation shifted into uneasiness. "...want to take me to him?"
She smiled at him again. "I want that more than anything in the world."
"Right now?"
"Yes."
"I can't. Mama will kill me."
"I have a feeling if you do this, she won't object."
"I have to go to school tomorrow. I can't just leave the house."
"So meet me here tomorrow. After dark." She was undeterred by his objection.
"I've never sneaked out of the house," he said fearfully. "I don't even know how."
"I'll come and get you 12:30. Bring a small bag."
"But, I'll be in bed," he whined.
"Do you want to meet him or not?" she sighed.
"Yes."
"Good. It's settled then. I'll get you out of the house Don't worry."
"Cool." He smiled and then awkwardly pointed his thumb over his shoulder. "I have to get back."
"See you tomorrow, Hana," she said.
"Okay, um, Melinda?" he replied, embarrassed that he couldn't seem to remember her name.
"It's Matilda."
"Okay."
When he disappeared beyond the clearing her smile quickly faded and she glared angrily into the dark thicket.
"You won't stop me this time, Anna."
