Chapter 5: Making Plans
Yuki just got done with the classes of the day. She went back to her dorm to do some of her studying. She couldn't wait for the break to come, especially to see her mom and be away from all the books for a week. The thought of it rolled in her head a lot. Even after Ame left for the forest, she hoped for the past two years that he would come back to the home as a human, but he made his choice, and so did Yuki. She looked at the calendar and realized that the break starts tomorrow. She planned to surprise her mom when she came back, the happiness swept her away. A knock on her door came, Yuki opened the door and it was Shino.
"Shino! What's up? I thought you had class." She asked with curiosity.
"Oh, the class ended early today for me at least. I've been in my room packing to go back home. You excited to go back?" She asked.
"Yea pretty much." She said with a smile and a mixture of doubt. The memory of Ame still haunted her. After he left, the visits to mom have been sad. Hana felt lonelier each time the visits with Yuki ended. She wished she could stay with her mother, but she needs to build a life for herself as well. She asks herself "Ame, when are coming home? Are you even coming home? Why did you choose the forest over your own family?" These thoughts kept bothering her from the day she found out he was gone.
"Are you ok? You don't look to eager." Shino said.
Yuki looked at her with a smile. "Yea I'm ok. Just thinking about how it will go."
"Your mom will love to see you. What mother wouldn't?" She told her.
"Yea, good point Shino." Yuki said with relief and a laugh.
"Besides, we'll be outta here tomorrow evening. You and Souhei can have some time alone back home." She said with a giggle. Yuki turned red with embarrassment. To add more embarrassment, Souhei was arriving when Shino said that, his face turned red of awkwardness. Shino looked to her left and saw the opportunity to mess with both.
"Oh well speak of the devil, right on time." She smirked. Souhei appeared from the corner of the door. Yuki blushed even more to the point of passing out. Shino waved goodbye with sarcastic voice and calling them lovebirds. Yuki looked at her with a growl. Souhei interrupted quickly.
"Oh Yuki, you ready to go home tomorrow?" Souhei asked.
"Yea almost, I have to pack first." She said turning her head away. She grabbed a suitcase and started packing really fast in hopes of making the situation go away. Souhei was dumbstruck on how fast she was going.
"Uh Yuki, you do know that we don't leave until tomorrow, right?" Souhei asked awkwardly.
"Yes! Yes I do…um, LUNCH! I'M HUNGRY, LET'S GO!" Yuki yelled as she grabbed Souhei and started running to the cafeteria. Souhei was feeling like his arm was going to rip off of his socket. He kept forgetting that Yuki still had abnormal strength due to the wolf side. Half way there, Souhei yelled.
"Yuki slow down, I can barely keep up! Geez!" Souhei was on the verge of tripping. Yuki just kept pulling him.
"Why?! I'm hungry so let's eat!" She demanded. Souhei just went along with it. When they got the cafeteria, they got their food and sat down. Yuki was eating quickly without saying a word. Souhei was just taking his time with the food.
"Yuki, are you ok?" He asked with concern. Yuki didn't respond, she was too embarrassed about the comment Shino made. Souhei had an idea on how to get her mind off the embarrassing moment.
"Hey Yuki, I got that book you needed for the subject on the Meiji Restoration, it's supposed to be a prize winner or something." Souhei said in hopes of changing the subject, and it did. Yuki took the book with relief that the infamous Shino remark has passed. She was glad it was passed and they could plan out the break.
"Thanks Souhei, this will come in handy for me. Especially with that essay we've been assigned. I tell ya, it's like boot camp for the brain in this school." Yuki sighed.
"Heh, at least we're not doing pushups and getting yelled at." Souhei said jokingly.
"Point noted." Yuki responded.
"How do they do it? Like they don't have to worry about the work and continue to have a good time and build memoires?" Yuki asked with concern.
"Beats me, I guess you just make it up as you go along." Souhei responded.
'By the way, are you going to the festival during the break back home? Its supposed to be fun this year, they even got a couple of rides there even, first time in years." Souhei explained. Yuki, after hearing that, was more excited to go back home. This festival could uplift her mom and at the same time spend time with Souhei. This break was going to be fun she thought. After lunch, they went back to their dorms to continue packing. Yuki was eager to go that she wanted to go get out early, but she still had work to do back at the school. So it would have to wait until tomorrow.
The tow truck came to the house after a long trip. The trip would last from an hour to an hour and a half. Hana was waiting outside of the house. She walked up to the repair man getting out. Mr. Ouyui ran a repair shop for years with his family. He was short yet lean man with a uniform and hat.
"Hey Ouyui san!" Hana said.
"Hey Hana san! How's life been treating ya?" Mr. Ouyui asked.
"Oh I can't complain, the crops are growing, my children are healthy, and I have no trouble to deal with." Hana answered.
"Well, no trouble except the jeep. So where's the damage?" Ouyui asked.
"Oh it's not my jeep, here I'll show you." Hana took Ouyui to Joaquin's bike. There were scorch marks on parts of the motor. Hana didn't let Joaquin near the bike after the small fire, and Joaquin didn't want to risk offending her, so he went along with her demands.
"Oh Hana, I didn't know you became a biker, quite surprising actually." Mr. Ouyui remarked.
"This isn't my bike, it's my guest's." Hana responded.
"That would be me." Joaquin said while getting out of the house with a new pair of jeans. He threw the burned one out. He walked over to Mr. Ouyui to introduce himself.
"Joaquin Valero, nice to meet you. Thanks for coming." Joaquin said. Mr. Ouyui introduced himself and was happy to help a visitor of Hana. A friend of Hana was a friend to anyone and everyone in the town. Joaquin explained what happened, and then Ouyui took a look. He hardly saw American vehicles, but reading magazines on them. He took a look at the motor, he quickly spotted the problem.
"Yep, here's the culprit, an overheated radiator. A spark must have set it off and started a chain reaction with the other parts of the motor. You're lucky Hana got the flames out quick, otherwise I'd be talking to a burned up corpse after an explosion." Mr. Ouyui explained.
"Wow, looks like I owe you my life Hana san." Joaquin said to Hana, she laughed and went inside to get drinks.
"So Mr. Ouyui, how much will it be to fix it up?" Joaquin asked.
"Well Valero san here's where it gets complicated, I need the part to the motorcycle, and this is one from decades ago, so these parts aren't made anymore. I'll make some calls to friends back in the U.S. to keep an eye out. I'm sure it's there but there's also the point of getting it across the ocean, and with security beefed up in the system, it'll take time." Ouyui said.
"How much time?' Joaquin asked.
"Honestly sir, about 2 to 3 months." Mr. Ouyui responded.
"You're kidding me, that long?" Joaquin said in distress.
"Yea, I'm sorry, like I said it's more on the whole war on terrorism kind of thing. Bombs can use car parts you know." Ouyui explained. Joaquin didn't think Hana would let him stay that long in her house. He wanted to; she helped him out and felt like he could help out around the place until the bike was fixed. This didn't seem possible.
"Ok then, how much when the part arrives?" Joaquin asked.
"Well to give you an estimate, 500,000 yen." Mr. Ouyui said.
"Ok, can I pay it forward?" Joaquin asked. Mr. Ouyui said yes and wondered where he got the money. Joaquin explained he was in the military and got a good sum from the G.I. program that helped him. Joaquin paid him and Mr. Ouyui took off with the assurance that he will call as soon as it came in. Joaquin went back inside to explain to Hana.
"Well I got some good news and some bad news." Joaquin explained.
"Well, what's the news on both sides?" Hana asked.
"The good news is that the bike can be fixed and a part will be on the way soon." Joaquin said.
"Ok that's good, but what's the bad news?" Hana asked.
"The bad news is that it's going to take 2 to 3 months to get here." Joaquin answered.
"Oh my, that's a bit of a dire strait right there." Hana remarked.
"So you know I'll find a hotel or something. Thanks for everything once again." Joaquin said walking back to the room to get his stuff. Hana came to him with an offer.
"Jacky san, I have a little offer, if want, you can help out around the house and garden, and you can stay here until your bike is repaired. Plus I would like to introduce you to the children if you don't mind. Sound good?" Joaquin was stunned that Hana offered him a place to stay for small labor. This was a good thing for him he thought, plus really good meals and a place to stay for a little while.
"Lady, when do we start?" Joaquin asked with a lively smile. Hana smiled at him and his eager attitude.
"Well then we get started tomorrow. You can use the room until then, so get settled in, you're in for one long stay." Hana said.
"Looks like I am ma'm." Joaquin said. Then he started coughing hard, it continued for a little while. Hana saw this and made sure he was ok.
"Jacky san! Are you ok?" Hana said worryingly.
"I'm fine, I'm fine." He said. He secretly wiped his blood off on a hankerchief and threw it out. Hana looked at him and knew something was wrong, but he didn't want to push the subject.
"Come on, I made lunch." She said calmly. Joaquin smiled and went with Hana to the dining room.