Disclaimer – I do not own Samurai 7
Okay everyone I'm really sorry that Heihachi's entrance takes so long, but I have to introduce some of the Orphans. Thoughts on Tomo, I going for a what-ever-happens- happens attitude with her hope youre seeing that. enjoy
The weather was getting colder and the nights longer, winter was on the way. Haruko was freaking out about how they were going to get by. Tomo wasn't used to this and had to get Rin to explain. She told Tomo that if the winter was bad they could not get extra food, and although the Snack shop did bring in income it wasn't enough for a new broiler, or hire a mechanic to fix the one they had. As a result they would be walking around the Orphanage wrapped blankets starving. To make sure that her new home did not go with out, Tomo and two brothers, Jin (age10) and Sai (age8), started hunting through the city and Country side. They picked off pigeons, and rabbits mostly, but they take down a dog just for good measure. In a week they had enough dried meat to last through the harsher end of winter.
Tomo had to bribe the brothers not to tell the other children what they were eating. As a reward for keeping they mouth shut, they wanted a bow just like hers. They had even decided that they wanted to be Hunters when they grew up. When Tomo gave them, their small Arsenal the two blue haired boys would stride through the streets fearless, until they heard loud machines, it reminded them of the Nobuserei. All the children were like that, so many of them had wandered to the town from burned out villages. Jin and Sai quickly learned to skin and process the meat, so Tomo could go back to working in the kitchen, and Haruko was glad the customers had started complaining.
One morning Jin and Sai, woke Rin up, and asked her to come with them. It was very early in the morning, it made Rin suspicious, she thought something bad had happened. "Rin – Chan, we want to ask you a favor "Jin began.
"What is it boys?" she looked at them questioningly.
"You know we've being hunting with Tomo right "Jin continued
"Yes and we are all very proud of you…"
Sai cut her off "Jin, you take too long. Look we kept of all hides off the bunnies and feathers from them birds, can you sell them for us. To Help Haru-san"
Rin could only simile. They were so listless when they first came, now they are so concerned with helping, how can I say no?
"Sure just tell Haruko – San that I'm going to the market this morning."
Sai ran back to the house, and Jin gave Rin two bundles and they headed towards town. Haruko could not open the Shop until Rin came and when she and Jin returned, they had a pleasant surprise.
"Jin, Sai, Rin, How did you get this money," Haruko croaked count the coins.
"Rin – Chan Sold the Fur and feathers we keep," Jin piped
Tomo walked with a baby in each arm, and rushed up to Rin "Here, I don't do diapers"
Rin laughed and took the babies. Tomo looked over at Jin and Sai. At first they though she would be mad that they did not asked for her help. But She knew perfectly well why they asked Rin. Rin was from the merchant class and if anyone there was going to go well at the market it would be her. Tomo shocked them with a smile and hug. "You still can go hunting with out me."
Rin took the babies to be changed. Jin and Sai rejoined thier friends. Aya, Tomo and Haruko opened the Shop for lunch, and things couldn't better. Or so Haruko thought.
Later that same evening as Aya, Haruko and Tomo were getting ready to close up shop; Aya came running into the kitchen "Haru-san, Haru-san….. Ho-HO is here Ho-ho is here …..I am going to tell the others." And she ran in to the large building behind the shop. Haruko turned to Tomo a grin on her face. "Be a dear and fix up some rice, vegetables and tea. Make that, lots of rice", and went into the dinning area.
Tomo did as she was told, but before she was finished, half of the children from the home came rushing through the shop. The wood floor seemed too sagged under the sudden pressure; each child carried a toy that was broken in some way or another. Tomo peeped through the current to see what all the commotion was about. She could see Haruko sitting with her back to her, Aya was sitting in something in someone's lap and all the other children were spread out everywhere else. When she turned back to her pots Rin was standing at the back door, out of breath and flushed. "Is …is he really here? "
Tomo had begun spooning food in to a bento box, with two rice bowls. "Aya is sitting with someone."
"Is that for him, I'll take it", Rin was exhaling puffs of fog in the cold evening air. She was stepping into the doorway reaching for the tray.
Tomo gave it to her, a questioning look. What is going on who is this person? I've never seen Rin so excited. Maybe I ought to smooth myself over or something. But she handed over the bento box with question and followed Rin out. Some of the children were happily playing with their mended toys.
"Rin- Chan! Tomo –Chan what took you so long, come and say hello", Aya still preached on the guest's lap.
One of the boys was awaiting the completion of a model plane when they came up. Rin's cheeks had reddened slightly, "Welcome back Heihachi –dono."
As Tomo go closer, she recognized the squinting, smiling face, passing off the plane, no way all of this for an awkward samurai.
"Rin- chan, nice to see you again, is your record player holding up?" He asked.
"Yes. It is thank you." She sat the tray on the table.
"Wow all of this for me. Haruko, Rin you're too good to me." And her started scarffing down his meal/
"Ho-HO!" Aya shouted impatiently.
Heihachi paused in mid-rice ball, with one eye on Aya, "HUH?"
"Say hello to Tomo Chan, it's the least you can do for the one who cooked all that rice", the little girl gave him a pouting face. Tomo was trying to stay out of sight.
"Who? "He said a torn expression on his face, the rice was calling him.
Haruko spoke up, "how rude of me, Tomo this is an old friend Heihachi Hiyashida."
Tomo Sighed inwardly. I want to get some sleep, not play socialite. And we still have to put the kids to bed.
But she moved forward and bowed anyway. "Good evening, Hiyashida-dono. I hope you enjoy your meal."
"Miss Kanna, so this is where you ran off to."
Haruko gave a questioning eye "You two know each other?"
Tomo shook her head, but Heihachi had to sing praises about the rice she had given him months earlier. "It was back in the Fall I was coming over the pass, with two delicious rice ball, and suddenly I bumped into something. And my lunch, crashed and burned, but this lovely vision gave me, her Rice which was ten times better than what I had. I could never forget such generosity." He turned to Tomo "and if she hadn't run off I would have sent her to you Haruko –san"-
"Oh, Really?" Haruko, simply nodded her head
This guy is totally rice obsessed, Can we go in now? And will Rin please to gushing it embarrassing.Tomo couldn't take anymore, "it was really no big deal. But, it is getting late, maybe we should start taking the children in," nudging Rin
Rin snapped out of her trance.
"Alright children, time to go inside, before you catch cold", Rin said and started to roundup the children, who all pouted or sighed.
"Don't worry I'll make sure I fix everything before I go, okay?", Heihachi called after the troop, which perked up and raced to house leaving a jumble of toys on the side porch of the orphanage.
When Haruko and Heihachi were alone, the samurai looked up from his meal. "It must be some thing very big if Haruko-san is feeding me first. Could it be that boiler of your's is on the blink?"
Haruko just smiled. "You finish eating, while I close up." Yeah!! We can have the boiler fixed, and keep the money for other necessities. Ho-ho you couldn't have shown up at a better time.
I hope this is vast improvement to the first posting more to come. Did I spell Heihachi's last name right? Oh well. Pls r&R. Flames also welcomed