Chapter 15: Falling
The couple of months passed by sooner than Joaquin expected. He kept thinking about that night with the drinks. Maybe this would make a great home for him, among Hana and her wolf children. He however also thought that after that night would things now be awkward. He and Hana pretty much kissed, but she saw him as someone else. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to think about staying. The mail came today and Hana went to go check on it. There was a package from the United States with the tag of a repair shop on a stamp and issued for Joaquin Valero. Hana knew what this package meant, the leaving of a friend. She thought about hiding the package, but Valero would catch on if months past. She brought the mail back while Joaquin was working on the garden. He grew accustomed to the life on the country already. Being in the military taught him to be adaptable. He came inside and saw the package, opened it and it was the part for his bike. The new fuselage needed to go.
"Alright! It came!" Joaquin said. Hana heard his voice while doing the dishes. Her heart sank a bit. She thought about the loneliness again and how her children will lose a guide to life. At the same time, he is a man with his own path and has to accept that. Joaquin came in the kitchen to give Hana the news.
"Hey Hana guess what." Joaquin said to Hana. There was a moment of silence. Joaquin could tell something was upsetting Hana.
"Hey are ok?" Joaquin asked Hana.
"Huh? Oh yea I'm fine, did you get the package?"
"Yea I did. The part came and I'm going to work it in."
"Oh I see, already going to work on the bike? Eager to get away huh?"
"Oh Hana, its not like that, you did so much for me-"
"I'm just messing with you Jacky san." Both had a laugh and Joaquin went outside to the bike. He began work, removing the old fuselage and putting in the new fuselage. After he was done, he got on the bike, put the key in the ignition, turned the key and the bike gave the sound of the engine running in a better tune made Joaquin happy. At last, his old bike was fixed, Lauren was finally operable. Hana heard the engine and was happy for Joaquin yet sad he was leaving. She went outside to see the bike running, and it looked like he was ready to go. He took the bike for a quick ride back and forth from the house and it seemed to be smooth now. He got off and was relieved to be back in business. He then saw Hana with a smile yet sad eyes.
"Well, it's fixed." He said to Hana.
"Yea I see."
"Hana, I just wanna say, thank you for everything."
"Oh please I just took a poor soul in and besides, you helped me more than I helped you in more ways than you know. So I kinda owe you." She smiled at the notion. Joaquin and her went inside to talk about what happens next.
"I'm guessing you're going to pack up for the journey your on." Hana said to Joaquin.
"Yea I'm going to head out tomorrow."
"Why so fast?"
"I'd just assume that you want me out of your hair."
"Oh no you're not bothersome, in fact you're a blessing."
"Blessing?"
"You helped me so much around the house, you spoke to Ame, gave Yuki a vision on being more than human, and you gave me company. I say that's a lot you done and enough to call you a blessing." Joaquin was astounded and honored by what Hana said. He thought about the past months that pasted by and smiled at the memories. The arrival to the house, the confrontation and resolving with Yuki, the talks with Ame and the help and even the kiss with Hana made his heart leap. He wanted to talk about staying here with her and the children, but thought it would be out of the question, so he abandoned the thought, because he had another appointment to keep to himself.
"Hey how about I help you pack?" Hana asked Joaquin.
"Yea that would be good, if you don't mind."
"It's your stuff so I should ask you that."
'Ok yea." So they left to the room and started packing. The job was done quickly since Joaquin liked to travel light. They then went to the dinning room to discuss how they were going to break the news to the kids. Joaquin would go to Ame to say his goodbyes and Hana would call Yuki to tell her. Joaquin left to the forest to find Ame. Hana went to the phone to call Yuki's school. Yuki was in her class when she got called to the dean's office for a phone call from home. She thought it was important so she left. She arrived, took the phone and answered.
"Mom?" Yuki answered.
"Yes sweetie it's me" Hana answered.
"Hey how are you?"
"Oh I'm fine dear."
"Whats going on?"
"I wanted to let you know that Valero-san's bike is fixed and he's leaving tomorrow." Yuki felt hurt when she heard. Sure that they had their differences, but she overall grown to like him actually. He made mother happy, gave her advice on how a wolf isn't bad at all and actually got to talk to Ame, maybe even convinced him to go home. He brought the family together in a way.
"Really?" Yuki asked Hana.
"Yea. The part came and he fixed it. The bike runs smoothly now and he's all packed up. I'll tell him you said goodbye."
"I wish I was there, to say it to him."
"I'll tell him, don't worry. Go back to class and I'll see you in the winter."
"Ok, goodbye mom." She hung up and went back to class. As she got back, she saw Souhei and he noticed that she had a sad look on her.
"Hey Yuki, you ok?" He asked Yuki.
"Huh, oh yea I'm ok."
"Come on Yuki, I know when something is bothering you."
"Well, you know Valero-san right?"
"The green beret, yea he's awesome. The moves he taught me and the way to survive out in the wilderness, he's a cool guy."
"Yea well he's going home back to the states."
"What? Why?"
"His bike is fixed and he's all packed."
"Wow, just leaving like that? That's sad."
"Yea well he has his life to live."
"You want him to stay with your mother, don't you?" Yuki heard that and thought the notion of him staying, maybe even marrying Hana. She threw away the idea.
"Are you crazy Souhei?! How could my mother marry someone else?!" She yelled at Souhei.
"Calm down, I didn't say marry, I just meant stay maybe for you."
"For me?"
"Your father died when you were little and you see your father in him, at least from what I can tell."
"THERE'S NOTHING THAT MAKES HIM ANYTHING LIKE MY FATHER!" Yuki walked away angrily. Souhei felt bad, but felt like he was in the ball park.
Joaquin went to the tree where Ame usually was. Ame wasn't present. He looked around and decided to wait. It wasn't long before Ame showed up, he felt like Ame already know.
"I take it the bike is fixed." Ame said to Joaquin.
"Yea it is."
"And you came to say goodbye."
"Yea kiddo."
"I'm honestly sad. You kept my mother happy; I was hoping maybe you could prolong that."
"You mean stay permanently?"
"If that's how you see it."
"I think that's impossible."
"Why?"
"Ame, I'm a stranger, plus you know my condition. Do you think your mother can handle another passing of a loved one?" Ame thought about what he said. Father died and mother was devastated. This felt different though.
"Valero-san, you need to stay." Ame ordered Joaquin.
"Giving out orders already?"
"This isn't a joke. You need to stay for her."
"Ame, I want to, I really do, but I can't."
"Why?"
"I got to face my destiny on my own."
"What do you mean?"
"I'm going down that road one last time and going home."
"You mean back to the states."
"No, somewhere else."
"Where is that 'somewhere else'?"
"That's for me to know."
"If you leave, you may be leaving peace."
"Ame, one must make his or her own peace. I'm going, but I'll always remember you, Yuki and Hana. I will never forget this place."
"You don't have to leave, you can stay, maybe even find a cure at the doctor. Give them a chance."
"I've given many people chances to cure me. Doctors, specialists, even medicine men, none helped and I'm just gonna get worst. Ame, please."
"Fine! Go then!" Ame said angrily and ran off. Joaquin wanted to chase him, but felt there was no chance of catching him, he went back home to the house. Joaquin felt sad about Ame and the talk. Hana was making a last dinner for him and her. There was silence then a word.
"Valero-san?" Hana asked Joaquin.
"Yes?"
"Do you want to leave?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I mean you're happy here, and you changed this family for the good."
"I just gave the truth and how I felt."
"Yea, but because of that, I feel that this family grew closer. So I ask you, do you want to leave?" Valero thought about his answer, no he didn't, he wanted to stay and live out the rest of his days here. Then he thought about his condition and Hana's memories.
"Hana, it's not that I want to leave, it's that I have something to do, alone."
"What do you mean?"
"Personal, sorry."
"I understand then. And when you're done, will you come back?"
"Hana, I may not be coming back."
"Going back home?"
"You could say that."
"I see then. I'm just happy I was able to help you."
"I'm glad I was able to help." There was sadness in her eyes and Valero could see that. Then the other question came.
"Valero-san, the night we had the sake, did I do anything to upset you?" Hana asked Joaquin.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, I wasn't myself and I'm afraid I did something not ok." Joaquin though about the night of the kiss and the crying. He didn't want to upset her and it didn't upset him.
"No you didn't. You passed out and I carried you back to bed." Joaquin said to Hana.
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure." Hana decided it was ok and after dinner took a bath and went to bed. The next day came around and Joaquin wasn't out of bed yet. She decided to get breakfast started and Joaquin still wasn't up. She went to go wake him up but then heard footsteps slowly coming. She went to investigate and stepped in a small puddle of crimson red. Blood. She immediately thought it was bad, so she ran to the footsteps.
"Valero-san?!" Hana yelled, she then heard the coughing. She ran to the voice in the living room. Joaquin was standing in the bathroom, still in his pajamas.
"Valero-san, are you ok?" Hana asked, no answer. He turned around and Hana saw blood dripping down his jaw. He was pale, and eyes were red. He passed out on the floor. Hana immediately ran to his aid.
"Valero-san! Whats wrong?! Are sick?! Valero-san!" Hana asked. Joaquin tried to get an answer out but he couldn't, his windpipe and lungs clogging with only a little bit of air going in made it impossible. She then called for help on the phone. The ambulance came and took him to the ER. Hana waited outside the OR for a result. Three hours of medicine, draining and waiting passed and each felt like an eternity for Hana. The doctor then came out to tell the news.
"Hana, I'm Dr. Taka and we got done with Valero-san." She said to Hana.
"How is he? Is he ok?"
"I think we should talk privately." They went to her office and closed the door.
"Hana, has Valero-san took any chemotherapy, or take any anti-cancerous medication?" Dr. Taka asked Hana.
"No not that I know of. Wait, what do you mean cancerous?"
"Well, after we got him stable, we took some x-rays, and took some samples, so far from we can tell, he may have a form of internal cancer not known."
"Cancer?"
"Yes, and its advanced. He may only have a little bit of time left." Hana couldn't believe what she heard, cancer, Jacky-san. Why didn't he say anything? Why would he hide and better yet not go get treated? Or did he and the cancer was just too powerful?
"How badly advanced is it?" Hana asked Dr. Taka.
"I'm not going to lie; it's the worst case I've seen. The fact that he's walking around and alive is beyond me, nothing short of a miracle."
"Huh?"
"He should be dead already."
"But now we can cure him, right?"
"Hana, with what I've seen, even if we started the medication, his time is already cut short and it isn't going to help. My advice, once he gets out, make his last days as comfortable as you can. He may last months, but his time is coming." Hana felt hurt. She grown attached to him and so have the children, now he is dying. Has been dying and they never realized it.