Once Upon an Enemy

By Blueowl

Description: What would you do if you met the person you swore you would kill?
Characters: Jed, Abbey, Todd and his wife and some others
Author's Notes: Told from the eyes of Todd Racey and Jed, so be aware.

-Todd-

Whoever said that the Lord works in mysterious ways, was not joking. I will never forget the weekend that followed the day they requested me to work on the weekend at the White House, and I am sure, neither will those who were with me.

Being a veteran can sometimes be hard, sometimes its not. There is never a time that you'll see the old red white and blue waving in the sky, and not feel yourself stiffen in pride and duty.

I am not as brave as people think, nor as wise…having experience does not make one wise…I am simply a man who does what he needs to do.

When I found out my best friend was one of the many who went down with the USS Arizona, I took this vow: To never take for granted anything in my life. Also, to live in the knowledge that, not only could this day could be my last, but that today may be someone else's last as well.

But that was not my only vow.

If I would ever find any of the people who attacked America and helped kill my friend, I would kill them.

A foolish vow, I know…but a vow all the same.

- - -

-Jed-

Have you ever doubted that everything happens for a reason?

I have…but then something happens and shows me that –nothing– happens for no reason.

Todd Racey is a dear friend of mine; I might even go as far to call him a kind of father.

He is a man so deep, the ocean cannot compare…

A weekend that shall forever be etched in my mind started as a small event, simply a meal between two groups of people representing their nations; a chance to allow two nations to visit, 'strengthen the ties' so to speak.

That day I will never forget.

- - -

-Todd-

On Friday I got a call from the coordinator of some high position that organizes dinners and such for important gatherings at the White House. The lady was very nice, as they always are (knowing of my past and that I was now a friend of the President probably helped).

"Mr. Racey, would it be possible for you to work this weekend at the White House? I am sorry that it is such late notice…"
"Uh, sure…what would I be doing?" I asked, wondering what they could possibly use me for.

"Well, this weekend the President is going to be meeting the Ambassador of Japan, and some other important people from there. We need help in preparing…"

"Alright, when do you need me and for how long?" I asked, knowing Deanne, my wife, would be at bingo with her friends this Saturday, so I would be free until dinner.

"8 am to about noon on Saturday. Thank you again for agreeing to help at such late notice, of course you will be getting overtime pay…"

"Thank you, I suppose I will see you then…"
"Yes, have a good day, sir."
"You too, ma'am." And with that we hung up.

Well, the next day came, I got up, kissed my wife goodbye as she set off to bingo and I set off for the White House.

Because it was during the day time I thought it wise to wear something, well, nicer than what I usually wear for work, and I was right to do so. I only have one pair of dress shoes which are brown. So I wore those and wore a brown and tan vest with a blue dress shirt under that, and some tan dress pants. Being sure to match all parts to present myself properly, should an unplanned visit come my way, being the middle of the day and all.

I met the coordinator at the side entrance, after passing the security point. They nodded me in, and I was ready for work.

The work was nothing hard, never really is. Though it can sometimes be tedious. I met up with a few other people who would also be setting up with me, and we went straight into the work.

Our tasks were check over the grounds, making sure all of the flowers were up and the bushes were trimmed to the White House's 'status- quo'. We then organized some decorations along the halls, making sure the pictures were all straight, (as if they ever move…but they said to check), and then arrived in the State Dining Room to finish the preparations.

We arranged the chairs, set the table and, again, set up yet m o r e decorations. It took us a couple hours to get everything arranged the way that they had instructed us to, but we finished. We were then dismissed and told to go home. It was about 11:30.

We went our separate ways, myself going the way I usually go to leave, the d i s c r e e t way.

Well, this time that didn't work.

I nearly ran smack into Jed.

- - -

-Jed-

I was walking with Leo and CJ and was thinking that soon I would be sitting down with the Ambassador of Japan…

Alright, I have a confession…I don't really like these little 'gatherings'.

Nothing really comes out of them, the other nation never really wants to talk, it's as if they're afraid that what they say will evoke tariffs or something.

All that I get out of it is small chit-chat that I honestly could have lived without.

While in this thought, I turned the corner and nearly ran into Todd. He clearly caught me by surprise, as I did him. What was he doing here during the day… and on a weekend?!? As we both apologized for the near crash, he explained he had been requested to help set up the lunch for the Ambassador.

I then had, what I thought at the time to be, a brilliant idea. Looking back, I probably should have thought deeper into it, but I didn't.

- - -

-Todd-

"Todd!" Jed exclaimed, clasping my shoulder with his hand to stabilize us both. "What are you doing here? I thought you only worked nights?"

It was sort of funny to see all of the people suddenly turn when they heard Jed's happy voice, and then their eyes grow wide at seeing the person he was speaking to.

"Just thought I would get some overtime…Sir." I figured I better not call him by his first name here, for that would cause too much fuss later on if I did.

Jed smiled at the word 'sir'.

"Well, the Ambassador of Japan is due to arrive any minute…" Jed said. Then he paused, getting that look on his face which I have seen a couple of times first hand. The look that occurs occasionally when we talk at nights, and has been displayed a few times on television, and many a-time around Abbey. I think you know which one I am talking about… the one that always has something unexpected following it.

"Want to join us?" Jed asked. His face was almost hopeful, and I knew, almost dreadfully, that he wasn't joking.
"Um, isn't that only in y o u r job description?" I replied, jokingly.
"Oh, come now. There'll be free food, it won't be televised, and there will only be a few people there. You saw the table right?"

Yes, I had seen the table. I had prepared it, but what he defined as 'a few people' was a l o t of people to me. Granted, fourteen chairs around a long dinner table is not defined as 'a large gathering', but still... I am used to only my wife and I, and only on holidays and birthdays do the tables get crammed with about fourteen. But that's my family, not people that are, quite honestly, higher on the 'people of important status scale' than me.

I saw Leo and CJ looking at me from behind Jed's shoulders. They looked as surprised as I felt. I also noticed a few people looking curiously at me waiting for my reply.

"Just lunch right?" I asked, unable to hide my nervousness and uncertainty. Deanne and I had planned to have dinner together this evening, after all.

"Yes, Sir," Jed replied, looking relieved that I had said yes.

I then found myself walking beside Jed and the others, on my way to meet the Ambassador of Japan.

How do I get myself into this kind of stuff?

"Mr. President, I present to you, the Ambassador of Japan, Ryozo Kato," a large Japanese man said, introducing him; we were all standing in the State Dining Room, 'admiring' the decorations as the food was being prepared.

"Ambassador Kato," Jed said, extending his hand.
"Mr. President," Kato took it, bowing forward a bit.

There were nine people in the room: Leo, Jed, myself, Toby, CJ, the Ambassador, his assistant, and two other people with him (one being the large man who introduced him).

Jed introduced us all; the Ambassador then introduced the people who were with him.

"Kyoushuu Rena-do," he said, pointing to his assistant who looked older than me…if this was possible. The Ambassador's voice came across with a noticeable accent.

"Hachimitsu, and Tsuki Yama," Kato said, motioning to the two other people with him.

Hachimitsu was a middle aged woman in a black silk dress. Yama was a young man; however, I think he served more as a body man for Kato. He was a fairly 'large' to any standard, and had that look about him.

We all took our seats, and the food was then swiftly brought out. The four Japanese representatives sat on one side of the table, while we sat on the other. It was arranged like this: Toby, Leo, Jed, myself, and CJ; then on the other side: Hachimitsu, Kato, Kyoushuu, and Yama; Jed and Kato sat directly across from each other.

I quickly learned this was a simple gathering and it had one purpose, to enable two nations to 'get to know' each other. It was not at all what I thought it was going to be, but it also didn't take long for me to figure out why Jed had wanted me along.

Nothing against the Japanese, but it was very boring. Not that –they– were boring, it was just that the whole encounter in general was boring, and I am certain that they were not enjoying it either.

Well, the whole boring thing lasted for over half of the meal, and then Jed, being Jed, included me in the conversation.

I honestly don't know how I had managed to come up in the topic. I wasn't even paying attention. The thick, red, juicy steak was so much more interesting…

"Mr. Racey, you were in the military?" the Ambassador asked me; clearly Jed had said something about me. I suddenly looked up, trying to pretend I had been listening.

"Yes, the Navy…" I replied.
"Ah, Kyoushuu was also in the military." He stated, motioning to his assistant. "What did you do?" he asked me.

"I was one who controlled the machine gun batteries, and then I went onto other things," I answered, catching a glimpse of something in the assistant. Anger? Shock? I couldn't be sure.

I looked at the assistant, and asked, "Which branch of the military did you serve?" At least now the conversation was about something I could grasp.

"Air Force," the assistant answered, his voice sounding older than he looked, and cautious.
"When?" I asked, curious. Everyone still eating.

And this was where the boring feeling went out the window, and transformed into something else.

He looked at me, as if thinking on whether or not he should reply…

"World War 2…"

It hit me like a brick - no - more like a cinder block. And evidently it had hit everyone else in the room too. A few forks clanked against plates, and I could have sworn CJ gulped, nearly choking on her drink.

And then I had to open my mouth; I had to check something - like an idiot (see I said I wasn't that wise).

"Tora?" was the one word I chose, the one word I could –actually– form.

He didn't answer. He didn't need to. I read it on his face, and in his eyes…

- - -

-Jed-

Oh dear G-d…

Do you ever have those times where you could just melt into the floor, and to disappear would be a dream come true?

How small is this world? What are the chances? Why here? Why now?

I can only imagine what went on inside Todd's head, however his face gave me a pretty good idea.

He looked shocked, livid, and then I saw something in that man's eyes I never thought I would see.

Hatred.

I watched this man process everything in less than 2 seconds, and I silently held my breath.

The things that followed that Todd did were things in which, if I were him, I don't think I'd be able to do.

- - -

-Todd-

The feelings that rushed through me were indescribable.

I thought about walking out.

Thought about launching myself across the table at this person.

Who cares if he looks one hundred years old, and I'm eighty three?

But I decided to be good… hold in my wrath; I glanced down at my plate. A cut out cube of meat still on the end of my fork…I promptly put it in my mouth. At least that would stop me from saying anything I would regret…I chewed meticulously as I tried to calm the rage burning inside of me.

He then spoke. The act in itself surprised me…

"You were there?" he asked me, his voice nearly silent.
"Yes, I was there." I stated back, my voice flat.

I was there when you bastards bombed us, I thought, but dared not speak those words aloud.

I squeezed my fork, and tried to focus my eyes on something that I could not use to hurt him, but everything in site had possibilities...

I took a deep breath after swallowing before I opened my own mouth to speak.

"I had a friend…he was on the USS Arizona that day…" I figured I needed to say something; I then looked up. I looked directly at his face… the tension in the room unable to weigh against the tension between our eyes.

- - -

-Jed-

I don't think I have ever felt a room that still, silent or apprehensive.

I could feel Todd radiating the strongest grief, and the deepest anger.

I saw him squeezing his fork to the point of making it start to bend, and his knuckles turning white.

I looked over at the assistant, his feelings just as strong and focused.

Oh, dear G-d, please let this not be a start of a war…how could I have not seen this?

I then watched as the assistant spoke, and what he said was the last, absolute last thing I thought I would hear him say.

- - -

-Todd-

He then said something I was not expecting or prepared for.

"I too, had a friend lost that day," he said this slowly and carefully, not quite sure of the words he was looking for, "…he was shot down by one of the machine gun batteries… from one of the small vessels…"

If the first statement came as a cinder block, then this was a whole freakin' brick house.

Of all the guns that had taken down any of the Japanese planes, only one had been on a ship considered to be a 'small vessel'.

Mine.

I suddenly realized that what I was feeling towards him, he was also feeling towards me…

Funny how things look when you take a step back…

Part of me knew everyone in the room was looking at us, waiting to see if either of us needed to be restrained. But then the other part of me conceived that it was only he and I in the room.

"Who was he?" I asked, might as well…
"Probably the same as your friend…" he answered. Clearly he had realized our similar feelings toward one another.
"A son, a husband, and a father…" I answered.

He glanced down at the table; no one uttered a sound.

"I had once made a promise. One that I can no longer carry out. I think this is the only promise I have ever broken. When I had made this promise it was in a time of anger and of little thought…" he said.

Is he about to say what I think he is about to say? I asked myself.

- - -

-Jed-

Todd's eyes had a hue that was unreadable, and a mixed aura about him.

What was he thinking?

What was this Japanese War Veteran going to say next?

It couldn't be anything good…

- - -

-Todd-

"I had sworn, that if I had ever met the person who had killed my friend, I would kill them," the assistant told me, staring straight at me, ignoring everyone else in the room.

Several of the secret service agents that were in the room stiffened and silently stepped slightly forward, showing they were ready to stop this old man from harming me if need be.

I waited.

"But now, now that I have found you, I can't," he continued, "it is not because we are in the White House, but because I now know vengeance is wrong, and can provide no condolences…and that War is War, just as it was then."

He paused, as if waiting for me or someone to say something.

Well, he didn't need to wait for long, for I spoke.

- - -

-Jed-

I watched in wonder as I looked over to Todd, his eyes on the one man before him, the man's eyes drilling into his own as he opened his mouth, and spoke.

…there is a G-d.

- - -

-Todd-

"I had made the same vow." I stated. No point in holding back anything now.

I then felt all gazes were on me.

We looked each other in the eyes.

Suddenly a strong understanding came between us. No, we were not suddenly friends or anything close to that, but there was now respect and an unspoken tie. We had both lost our friends to an enemy and bear the same pain, though from opposite sides.

"You were once my enemy, and now we are sitting at the same table…" I said, the anger and hatred no longer in my eyes.

"Once upon an enemy…" he whispered, giving me a small smile which I returned, knowing that the same burden that lifted from me had lifted from him as well.

The Burden of Hatred.

The table was quiet and still, I simply sat there, looking at the four people across the table from me who represented the nation that was once my enemy, and the man among them who was.

"Mr. President, would you like the desserts now?" a server came in and asked; quickly realizing this was probably not a good time. Walking into a completely dead silent room has that effect.

- - -

-Jed-

"Yes," I answered, not really turning to see who was talking to me, I was still staring at the four people across the table.

Yes, Once Upon an Enemy…

How time can change so much, and then leave other things untouched, leaving what can only be changed by a certain few.

Todd's face, and the man's across from him had now changed. I don't know how exactly, but they had. Leaving behind the hatred that each had carried for so long, and lifting up something much easier to bear… respect through understanding.

I no longer saw the hate or the anger, no longer felt the strain or the uneasiness, but instead saw in both of their eyes, their new outlook towards each other.

After the meal ended and we ate our apple pie, all of us then stood up and walked out to bid each other good bye.

Now this was a gathering that fulfilled its actual purpose, truly strengthening the ties between us.

- - -

-Todd-

We walked out of the State Dining Room, and out towards the side entrance where the limo was waiting to take the Ambassador, his assistant and his two other companions back to the airport.

The four of them came to a stop before their transportation, and turned towards us.

The assistant, Kyoushuu looked at me.

He stepped up.

I followed suit.

He then Bowed. A low slow bow full of purpose.

When he straightened back up, I knew what my next action would be.

I placed my feet together, toes slightly outward, stood tall, and raised my hand to my forehead, arm straight all the way to my fingertips.

A solid Salute.

The Ambassador and the others then all bowed; not as low, and when they stood back up again they looked us in the eyes, letting us see that they were glad that they had come.

They were once upon an enemy, but now were no longer so…

- - -

The End

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