Chapter 20: Spring Ride
The months passed and the snow melted. Flowers were starting to bloom and animals were coming out of hibernation. Ame was walking around seeing the animals coming out of their slumber and eating their fill that they burned off in the winter. He was wondering were Valero was and why he felt something fading quicker than before. He decided to run by the house to see if he was ok. He looked for him outside but there was no one. The jeep was gone, so Ame thought that Hana and Yuki were gone for a moment, so he went to see inside the house. There was no sound, no steps, only nature, so he went to the room. He saw a mound and a head that looked like Valero, and it was. He was shocked to see how his progress was getting worse. Wear in his eyes, loss of muscle tone and raspy breathing. Ame wished he could help, but how? And why was this happening to a man who helped bridge him to rest of the world and life?
"Hey, came to see a dying friend?" Valero asked Ame. He was shocked that he knew he was there. How did he hear him come in? "I just know kid, part wolf, remember?" Ame then did. He came into the room and sat next to Joaquin. Joaquin smiled at him then started a conversation.
"So how was hibernation?" Joaquin asked Ame.
"Don't know, slept through it." Ame said jokingly. Both laughed then Joaquin coughed. Ame assisted him but Joaquin waved away assuring him that he was alright.
"Don't worry kid, happens often its normal." Joaquin said. Ame was reassured, then decided to ask.
"Valero san, why did you come here in the first place? It's not that you're not welcome here, but why did you come?" Ame asked. Joaquin thought about it and came up with the only answer he could think of.
"Fate, maybe I came here because of fate. I sensed a troubled place and wanted to see if I could lend a helping hand. When I met your mother, she smiled at the hard things, yet it was more than she could bear. When I met Yuki, she was stuck with a choice that society made for her; I wanted to show her that in the end, the decision is hers and that she can chose more than one path. And you Ame, you chose a noble path and yet you had to sacrifice the want to be with your family. You don't have to be separated from them you know, even after the fight all those years ago, people forgive and forget. Yuki already forgot about it and believed that she started it, and she regrets it. They love you Ame and want you back, but that is a choice you will have to make by yourself." Ame was stunned, his coming here was more than just coincidence, and he was here to fix the family. It all made sense now, even if the both of them didn't believe it at first.
"Valero san, thank you, for all that you have done." Ame said to Joaquin.
"All I've done was just give advice, you all chose to follow it." Joaquin responded.
"But it was what we needed to hear. To know in the end, we make the choice that doesn't have to be just one, but both. In the end, we chose to be us. Not wolf or human, but us." Ame said to Joaquin. He smiled at the boy and Ame saw that he was getting weary. He laid down next to him to provide comfort.
"Thanks kid, that's actually quite comfortable." Joaquin said to Ame.
"Well you do make a good pillow." Ame said. Both laughed and fell asleep.
A few hours passed, Hana and Yuki came home from the store. They got the groceries out of the jeep and went into the house to put away the groceries.
"Hey Yuki, go check on Valero san." Hana asked Yuki. She responded with a nod and went to the room. She peeked inside and saw Joaquin and her brother in wolf form providing comfort to a dying man. She was surprised to see him here, and next to a man who helped him see things through a different light. She smiled with great joy and quietly called over Hana. She came over to the door and saw Joaquin and Ame sharing the room. Hana clasped her hand over her mouth with tears coming down.
"My boy, my angel, oh god he's back." Hana said with joy. She walked in the room slowly and went next to Ame to lay down. She put her arm around Ame's furred neck and embraced it. Ame woke up and saw Hana. He smiled at her and fell back to sleep. Yuki left the room silently knowing that a good thing happened. She went outside, looked up and thanked god for this man, even if it is for a little while.
As night time came around, Ame snuck out the room and left to the forest. Hana woke up and saw that Ame was gone. She looked around and saw that he left through the door and went back. Joaquin was awaken by the movement of Hana. He looked around too and knew he wasn't ready to come back.
"He's a good boy. You raised him well; I can see why he chose to be a guardian. You taught him that even the meekest of people can be the strongest of leaders." Joaquin said to Hana. She looked at him and smiled. He then leaped towards him and hugged him greatly. She thanked him for bringing back Ame, even it was momentarily.
A week passed since that day. Yuki was still staying with Hana. She went to school to tell the dean that a family emergency occurred and she had to stay with mom. They agreed and agreed to excuse her for a couple of weeks. They would mail her notes and homework and allowed her to make up the tests on different days. Joaquin was feeling a little better, but still felt that death was getting closer.
"Yuki, go get Valero san, he needs to take his medication." Hana told Yuki. She went to the room and saw that Joaquin was gone. She looked all over the house and couldn't find him.
"Mom! I can't find him! He's not here!" Yuki yelled. Hana was shocked, she ran outside to see if he was out there. He wasn't. Then she heard the humming of a motorcycle and saw him coming down from the road with a sign of relief on him. She got angry at him for leaving the house without letting her know.
"Where were you?! You're in no condition to go out joy riding like that!" Hana yelled. Yuki went outside and was relieved to see him alright.
"Sorry Hana, just wanted to be back on the road again." Joaquin responded. Hana then sighed and walked towards him.
"Did you take your medicine?" She asked him.
"Yes ma'm."
"Ok good. Now let's go back inside."
"OK, after one more trip around."
"What?! No, no way! Shut it off and come on!"
"Please Hana? I haven't ridin' her all this time, she needs to be on the road or she loses her spirit."
"I'm sure 'it' can go on a little longer." She kept insisting, but Joaquin was determined and had a new idea.
"Hey Yuki, climb on, we'll go for a ride." Joaquin said to Yuki. Hana was even more surprised that Joaquin would ask that. Yuki smiled and got on.
"What?! No Yuki come on! Don't encourage him!" Hana demanded Yuki.
"Don't worry mom! We'll only be gone for a little while!" Yuki said while driving off. Hana couldn't help but smile at his spirit and resilience.
The wind was blowing in both of their faces. Yuki loved the speed and the humming of the motor. Seeing the forest at such speed, she felt like it was flying through it. Every turn was a lean towards the ground but not touching it. They went to a viewpoint where they could see the whole forest. Both got off the bike and looked out into the yonder. The mist of the forest was enthralling for them and the cool breeze gave life. Joaquin went wolf form and so did Yuki. In unison, they howled to a rebirth. Yuki looked at Joaquin realizing that she for the first time felt like he was a father to her.
"Valero san?" Yuki called Joaquin.
"Yes?" Joaquin responded.
"Thank you." He looked at her with a smile. She then hugged him and he embraced her. They went back on the bike, but Joaquin put her to the front. Yuki was confused on what was going on.
"Uh Valero san? What are you doing?" Yuki asked Joaquin.
"I'm giving you the driver's edge. You're driving us home." Joaquin answered.
"But I don't know how to drive, let alone motorcycle."
"Its like a bicycle, but without peddles. Here I'll show you." He showed Yuki the clutch and the peddle to start the bike. She gave it a kick and it started. She then turned the knob and off they went. She loved the feel of the ride and the control. They arrived home with Hana seeing Yuki at the helm of the bike and excitement in her eyes. She stopped the bike and both hopped off.
"Thanks for letting me drive Valero san." Yuki said to Joaquin
"Any time kiddo." Joaquin responded. She ran to Hana and told about the her first drive. Hana looked at Joaquin and smiled, as did he. He then began to grab his chest in pain and walked back inside to sit down. Hana walked over to him to make sure he was alright.
"Valero san, how are you?" Hana asked Joaquin.
"Just dandy Hana, just dandy." Joaquin responded. The day went to night and Joaquin was feeling very tired. He skipped dinner and went straight to bed. Hana and Yuki came to check up on him.
"Valero san, are you feeling well?" Hana asked Joaquin.
"Just my usual self." Joaquin responded.
"Sick and cancerous?" Yuki said.
"Yuki!" Hana said to her.
"Yea pretty much." Joaquin said humorously.
"You shouldn't joke like that the both of you." Hana said to both of them. The said their good nights and left the room. As Joaquin was falling asleep, he felt a presence in the room, not the girls, not even Ame. He then saw a man in a stretched out long sleeved shirt came to him. Joaquin recognized him.
"Hey, you're the man from the license." Joaquin said to him. He smiled at the dying man with great gratitude.
"How are you doing soldier?" Ookami asked.
"Just fine sir." Joaquin responded. "Sorry if I was trouble to your family."
"Trouble? Valero san you helped my family and brought them back together. You're coming here was more than fate; it's what I needed you to do. To give Yuki and Ame something, a third choice, something I never had and you chose. As for Hana, you gave her back the children, through you they came back." Ookami said to him. Joaquin then felt that his chest was clear, but he also knew what this meant.
"So this is it? My fading to the divide?" Joaquin asked Ookami.
"Something like that. All I know is that your friends, and family are waiting for you." Ookami responded.
"Care to help up a soldier?"
"Gladly." He put Joaquin's arm around the back of his neck and lifted him up. The then walked outside to the family and friends of Joaquin. Joaquin then began singing a farewell song in Navajo.