All usual disclaimers apply.
Sakura: Sorry I couldn't reply, but yes. I had no intention of having who he really is be a mystery as I think its quite plain, with maybe a few physical alterations to show change, that he is the same character. But that's not the point of this story, its something entirely different. :)
Chapter 4:
With such a small, close-knit community, the news and heartbreak about the sinking of the Iruka and the deaths of its small crew spread quickly. Before anyone was prepared, a funeral was set at the small cemetery that had seen its fair share of lost sailors at sea.
Hikaru stood in his suit and tie next to Mrs. Musashibo who was silent through the whole ordeal. After she received the news that her husband was dead, she spent the next few hours crying. Hikaru didn't know what to do. He had never been in this situation before. It wasn't as if he didn't feel grief as well. Mr. Musashibo had been harsh with him, but he still allowed him to sleep under his roof and eat his food when Hikaru had nowhere else to go. He was as much as a parental figure to Hikaru as anyone else could be, as far as the town was concerned.
Even Hikaru couldn't grasp the depth of the heartbreak Mrs. Musashibo was experiencing. She had known the man all her life. She grew up with him, fell in love with him, married him, and even went through the pain of knowing they couldn't have children with him. They weren't a hot-and-heavy lovey-dovey couple, but concrete love was there that would last forever.
Yumiko Musashibo knew that fact from the moment Ken Musashibo approached her when they were just entering junior high, holding out a flower he found on the cliffside. He was frowning, embarrassed and had a bandage over the cut on his nose, but he still wanted to give her that flower. Thirty some years later and they were still very much in that state of youthful love.
And now he was gone. She didn't even stand to hear the priest give out the eulogies to the lost crew. She just stared at his picture that was rested over his family's marker. Along with Musashibo's name were the other names of his ancestors along with a small quote carved by his grandfather from Moby-Dick.
"Delight is to him — a far, far upward, and inward delight — who against the proud gods and commodores of this earth, ever stands forth his own inexorable self."
Hikaru stuck by the service, partially astonished at how many people showed to pay their respects and send prayers. The crew members must've been greatly loved. With a sigh he glanced up at the sky. It was overcast. How very appropriate. The cemetery was up on a cliff that visitors could see the sea. Since a few of those who "rested" in this place met their fate by the sea, it seemed an odd rub in the wound, but perhaps it was a waiting place. An area waiting for the souls of those lost to return to shore.
The sea was black as pitch this day.
'And heaved and heaved, still unrestingly heaved the black sea, as if its vast tides were a conscience; and the great mundane soul were in anguish and remorse for the long sin and suffering it had bred.'
There was something loved and hated about the sea. From literature like Moby-Dick to the mindset of fishermen and sailors, these waters was like a monster or being of itself. Like a god sleeping.
Some god. Why would humans pray to any god that was fickle, that could help humans and then turn around and destroy them?
Hikaru blinked from his random thoughts, his head and chest pounding. He felt faint and hung on to Mrs. Musashibo, riding it off. When he felt normal again he gave Mrs. Musashibo an apologetic look, before focusing on the line of people set to give their prayers. He stood beside Mrs. Musashibo when she leaned down on her knees to give her silent prayers. He knew he should pray with her. Pray that Mr. Musashibo was free from pain. In all likelyhood, Mr. Musashibo didn't go pleasantly. Drowning or sinking at sea was a harrowing experience, but Hikaru hoped it was quick so that his suffering wasn't long.
The days following the funeral the Musashibo household was quiet. Mrs. Musashibo was withdrawn when she usually was talkative and tried to get Hikaru out of his shell. Hikaru was worried for her and the obvious question that was on their minds: What would happen to the business?
Mr. Musashibo was the business. Without him, not many people would want to cash in. It was possible they could sell for what little money to one of the more accomplished workers or to another contractor. That said, Mrs. Musashibo wasn't doomed. The insurance on Mr. Musashibo's life was enough to keep her comfortable. Insurance was insurance. It couldn't bring him back. It couldn't warm to cold side of their bed. It couldn't fill that empty seat at the dinner table.
Hikaru desperately tried to be of comfort, but he simply didn't know how. What could he say? He hadn't known them for very long, so what role could he play in holding the grief of the very small family? He was saddened and shocked as well with the death of his benefactor, but he was certain that the grief Mrs. Musashibo had far outweighed anything he possessed.
So the household, or what was left of it, was quiet. Hikaru did his best to maintain the schedule for all of Mr. Musashibo's appointments. That included the Kusanagi shrine. He didn't know what Mr. Musashibo had planned but at the most Hikaru thought to start with the hedges and bushes then move on to the relaying some of the shoddy stonework in front of the shrine. Fixing the leak could wait.
As he drove to the shrine only two days after the funeral, he held a deep concern in his chest. It was Mr. Musashibo's job to contract a few workmen and he had no idea of how to go about that. Hikaru determined that he had to do all the work himself. Which would mean it would take longer, especially coupled with a few other appointments.
He drove up and waited for someone to open the driveway fence, but no one came. Concerned and curious he stepped out of the truck and walked up the stone steps to the Kusanagi house. He was nervous. He had to take the lead and it would seem unprofessional if he had forgotten what all needed to be done. He couldn't hide the panic on his face as he knocked on their door.
He swallowed as Yui Kusanagi opened the door.
"Oh! Hello," she said with a mixture of surprise and concern. It was hard to distinguish if she could see the anguish on his face.
"I-uh. I'm here to start on the hedges and stone work. I just need someone to open the gate," his tone was quieter and softer than he had intended, and the perplexed look she gave didn't help.
"Hikaru," a deeper voice called from inside the house. Mr. Kusanagi had entered the entryway to see who knocked on the door. He at the very least looked shocked to see him, "I'm surprised to see you here."
"Did I come over on the wrong day?"
"No…" Mr. Kusanagi paused with a wary tone. "I just thought with what happened to Mr. Musashibo, that you'd want a little break."
Hikaru probably should've said something, but couldn't, even as the Kusanagis gave him a very apologetic look.
"I'm sorry to hear about what happened," the older man said. "He was a good hard working man."
"Yeah...yeah…he was…"
Yui saw grief and uncertainty in the young man, as he agreed with her father. It was like he was washed up on shore again with nowhere to turn. He hadn't been sleeping well and perhaps been a little more inwardly drawn than when she first met him.
"So I'll go and open the gate for you," Mr. Kusanagi said, walking out with the young man.
Mr. Kusanagi opened the gate and Hikaru didn't say much else but to answer a few of his queries. He went about working as best as he could, but it was tough to say he was concentrating. It was like the past few days were all a dream and no matter how fast or slow Hikaru went about his daily life it wouldn't change anything. Subconsciously he wished he were dreaming. He daydreamed a lot and when he worked on his own that was when he submitted to his wandering mind. But now it was all blank. Just watching the leaves and twigs fall as he sheared them off the hedges, the stones upturn as he pried them off the ground, was all he could muster the mental imagination to accomplish.
Inside, Yui finished sweeping the kendo practice area. Her head was drawn to Hikaru who was working hard and silent. He seemed incredibly lonely. He was awkward with Mr. Musashibo, but at the very least he seemed to be a little more engaged. Now…
Mostly she was surprised he was taking on a large task by himself. To her, although they were probably of a similar age range, he was just a kid. There was no way he could think and coordinate all the work to be done by himself. But what did she know about contracting?
"Uh-oh, what are you staring at baby sister?" Manabu teased, catching her staring at Hikaru. "Could it be that sweating foreigner out there?"
"It's not what you think."
"Sure it is. I'm at least proud," he smiled, taking a small bite of his popsicle. "At least now I know you have hormones. I was beginning to worry you didn't like guys that way."
"Gosh! Go and do your chores!" she growled holding up her broom, threatening to whack him if he didn't shut up. Manabu laughed and covered his head before running past her.
Hikaru didn't get nearly as much done as he wanted. The hedges were trimmed and cut, but he was only halfway through lifting the old stones. He'd have to finish tomorrow and place the new ones in. And that was much more work than trimming a few hedges.
He quickly apologized to Mr. Kusanagi, "Please excuse me. This will all take longer than expected. I can give you a discount from the original quota for all the trouble."
The notion astonished the older man. So what if it would take longer? As long as he did a good job it was fine.
"No don't do that Hikaru. I don't know what your financial situation is but I am not going to take a discount. Take as long as you need."
The young man seemed upset that he had underestimated the time it would take, and stressing him out even further was not something Mr. Kusanagi wanted to do.
"But—"
"No, 'buts'. Trust me it would be easier for all of us."
Hikaru couldn't understand how, but before he could rebut him, Mr. Kusanagi walked away. Silently, Hikaru began putting away his equipment and things. He shoed away two black ravens that were perched on the hood of his truck before climbing in, placing his work gloves in the backseat. He turned to start the engine but stopped as something caught his eye. The newspaper that Mr. Musashibo had checked the weather report with before he left was lying there, untouched since the deceased man threw it in the back of the truck.
Hikaru grabbed the paper, remembering Mr. Musashibo had said that the weather was supposed to be clear. As he flipped through the paper, something didn't seem right. The reports showed that Mr. Musashibo had been correct and then some. There were no storms in the area all week. So how could the ship have encountered bad weather?
It was possible that an unexpected storm just cropped up. Weather forecasts weren't perfect.
His rather troubled thoughts were interrupted as he heard a knock at his window. Mr. Kusanagi waved for him to roll down the window.
"Yes, sir?" Hikaru asked.
"You are having dinner with us."
Hikaru was blown away by the statement, "Sir?"
"Well you won't get back until late anyway so it wouldn't make sense to keep Yumiko waiting. My wife insisted."
He wasn't convinced. He was a worker and a stranger to them. Although they were being polite as any nice family would, going to such lengths as to invite him for a meal was practically unbelievable.
The Kusanagis obviously felt differently. Mr. Kusanagi had known Mr. Musashibo as a good acquaintance and the two on occasion would get drinks together if Musashibo was in town. Plus, it wasn't like Hikaru was totally independent. He was still very young. It was the responsibility of an adult to ensure the safety of a kid. Mr. Kusanagi was waving him out, like he was trying to get a particularly bothersome child out of hiding. All Hikaru wanted to do was go home. Mrs. Musashibo shouldn't be alone.
It was like Mr. Kusanagi could read his thoughts. "I called Yumiko and she's visiting friends right now. No one should be alone at times like this."
Hikaru heaved in a breath and opened the car door, following Mr. Kusanagi inside his home.
It wasn't Mr. Kusanagi's idea to have Hikaru over for dinner. Mrs. Kusanagi heard of the tragedy of the Musashibos and made the suggestion. His daughter also agreed, inciting some teasing from her older brother. Still, it didn't take Mr. Kusanagi a lot of thought to agree with them.
Hikaru was stiff as he entered their home, even after he removed his work boots. He felt particularly tight and out of place. He didn't know exactly where to sit or stand. The youngest Kusanagi son was in the sitting room watching the news and the older son sat at the table with his girlfriend that he invited over for the day. Yui entered the kitchen after just changing into casual clothes.
And here was Hikaru, feeling like the elephant in the room. Here he was wearing his black beanie, his stained and dirty baggy jeans, and sleeveless shirt, where everyone else was wearing nice casual clothes. He was taller and bigger than everyone in the room, and they were all so clean cut, compared to his hidden mane, and scraggly immature whiskers, and sweat-stained arm pits. He felt like a disgusting giant.
He turned to Mrs. Kusanagi and asked, "May I use the washroom?"
"Yes, second door to the left."
Once he was in the bathroom he sucked in a breath, not realizing that he couldn't breathe out in the dining area. He ran the tap of the sink, sprinkling water over his face and under his arms, as if that would help. He at least felt cleaner than before.
He quietly sat down at the dinner table leaning forward against it, feeling restless. He shyly removed his hat acknowledging manners, feeling the eyes fall on him and his mane of blond hair. Immediately he stiffened, not liking the looks. Yes he looked different, that shouldn't be new news.
"That's quite some hair you got there, Hikaru," Mr. Kusanagi mentioned. At least he addressed what they were staring at.
"Yeah," he said distantly, not making eye contact with anyone. "It grows quite fast."
The family began filing in for dinner as Mrs. Kusanagi laid down the dishes. Everyone was getting ready to eat, except Manabu who was still watching TV. Actually, he was playing on his phone, but the television was on showing news footage of the open sea behind the anchors with a tagline that read: Search still ongoing for missing US carrier.
"….authorities have not indicated any progress in the search for the USS Nathaniel Greene. The United States carrier went missing just off shore two days ago after several attempts by the United States Navy and the Coast Guard of Japan to radio them brought back no response. A quick search revealed that the ship was not where the last reported coordinates were. Nor was it anywhere to be seen by GPS or satellites. The Coast Guard claims that it was possible high winds and storms may have caused damage to the ship that couldn't be repaired fast enough…"
Mr. Kusanagi saw that Hikaru was paying close attention to the news broadcast. No doubt the news broadcast about a missing carrier that was related to the demise of Mr. Musashibo upset him. He told his son in the living room, "Manabu, turn that off, and eat your dinner."
Manabu obeyed and sat next to his mother. Hikaru hadn't realized they were all eating already and he had nothing on his plate. His thoughts, though, were on the broadcast.
High winds and storms? On a carrier that size? There was no way it could do that much damage. Carriers were big and could handle high waves brought on by storms. It had to have been a freak storm if it was damaged so much that it just sank out of nowhere. And if it was a freak storm that close to shore, Japan would know it. Tsunami and flood warnings would be everywhere. Something didn't sit right in his gut.
Mrs. Kusanagi noticed that he wasn't eating. He didn't even have anything put on his plate. He just sat, his arms on either side of his place-setting, staring down lost completely in his thoughts.
"Hikaru? You can help yourself…"
He noticed the family eating happily, Mrs. Kusanagi and Yui looking at him with concern. He sucked in a breath and suddenly he couldn't breathe. His mind was frantic and he soon realized he couldn't stay. He had to—
He stood up, putting his hat on, stumbling over his apologies, "I-I'm sorry I can't stay."
He turned to leave but stopped himself and bowed hurriedly, "Erm-uh….thank you for the meal."
"Wait Hikaru!"
He didn't stop as he heard Yui call him. He grabbed his boots and ran out the door, knowing full well that he was being rude.
After he left and moment of silence around the Kusanagi table, Jun commented, "That was weird."
"That kid is weird," Manabu said.
Mr. Kusanagi shook his head, "I told you to turn off that TV."
"And I did, what's the big deal!?"
Mr. Kusanagi was losing his patience, "His guardian was killed in the storm related to the disappearance of that carrier. And you had let that thing run…"
"Okay, okay," Mrs. Kusanagi said softly, trying to calm the two down. Eventually the table was settled and the family could resume eating. Yui on the other hand ate slower than she usually did. When Hikaru left, his face was a ghostly white, and he was clearly upset. Maybe her father was right about the broadcast triggering his nerves. It didn't help that he got odd stares from his brothers and brother's girlfriend. And probably pushing him to have dinner with strangers wasn't a good idea.
As Hikaru drove, he felt his breathing even, but his thoughts were on that carrier. The same carrier Mr. Musashibo was supposed to deliver supplies to. A part of his mind was on the dream the night before he was to set out. The clashing and screaming and the dark skies. Was that an omen? He shook his head. Omens didn't exist and he sure as hell couldn't predict the future. If he did, he was responsible for Mr. Musashibo's death. But something tangible caused his death, and deep, deep in his gut he knew it couldn't be just some storm.
He feared, above all, that it was an attack from some foreign country. Russia, North Korea, China, whomever. At the same time, if that were a possibility, no doubt the US would mobilize to make whoever attacked them pay.
As he drove in the darkness along the cliffs he could see the lights of the coast guard station. Biting his lip, instead of taking the second exit to town, he took the first down to the station.
In town, Mrs. Musashibo was thankfully being comforted by friends. With Hikaru at work, she liked being around friends. It was hard being alone in a quiet house knowing full well that her husband wasn't ever coming through that door.
She sat drinking tea while her friends tried to make idle conversation. That comfort however was interrupted when she received a phone-call. Her two friends could see the concern on her face as she frantically answered, "Yes I will be there."
Quickly she grabbed her jacket and the keys to her car.
"Yumiko, what's wrong?"
"That was the Coast Guard. Hikaru's been arrested." With that she left her house.
Mrs. Musashibo rushed into the Coast Guard station and as soon as she arrived at the front desk the receptionist called over Captain Ryoshiki. The captain being a close friend of hers, was quite calm and understanding as he led her to where Hikaru was being held.
"Yumiko, I'm sorry to have to call you here, but he has no other guardians and it seems he's a minor. I didn't know what else to do."
"What happened?"
The captain shrugged his strong shoulders, "They caught him trespassing. He was in the radio room, which to be honest isn't something people trespass here for. Graffiti is the only major problem with kids his age."
The captain led her to a holding room that looked like an interrogation room with a glass window panel. There was Hikaru, sitting with his head down on the table, handcuffs on his wrists. As he leaned back, she could see a nasty red welt on the bridge of his nose. It looked like he got into a fistfight.
"We apologize. With his size, officers who caught him didn't think he was a kid, and he wasn't exactly forth coming."
Mrs. Musashibo stared on, saddened, enraged, disappointed and relieved. Hikaru looked exhausted and upset. She had an idea of why he was here. And the thought brought on a headache.
"I haven't charged him, so he's just detained. He's got no other kin, but he said to call you since there's no other guardian-"
"I'm his guardian," she said resolutely, without hesitation. She didn't even think twice. Claiming guardianship upon Hikaru made her somewhat responsible for his actions. Realizing that, she bowed in apology, "I'm so sorry for all the trouble, Kishio."
Captain Ryoshiki shook his head, "Don't apologize, Yumiko. I believe you've done enough for him."
There was some spite in his voice. Not a lot, but enough to make Mrs. Musashibo cringe. That and seeing Hikaru with a busted nose and bruising starting to form near his eye, she didn't know who to be more apologetic to.
Opening the holding room door, Captain Ryoshiki approached Hikaru, "Someone's here to pick you up."
He undid his handcuffs and led him out where Hikaru had to face the shamed face of Mrs. Musashibo. He had to have known that she would disapprove, but looking at her distinct expression as if he failed her made his heart sink. He hadn't meant or thought to hurt her, but it was quite plain that she was. As such, he found himself avoiding eye contact with her, even as Captain Ryoshiki spoke, "Don't worry about anything Yumiko. He's free to go."
"Thank you, Kishio. I appreciate it," she bowed again. Captain Ryoshiki forcefully gripped the back of Hikaru's neck, forcing him to look him in the eye. "Now you stay out of trouble, you hear? I don't want to find you causing anymore headaches."
Hikaru paused, his jaw muscle quivering but he nodded, "Yessir."
"Good. Now go on your way," the captain turned to Mrs. Musashibo. "We'll tow the truck over to your place tomorrow morning."
The car ride back home was silent and tense. Hikaru knew Mrs. Musashibo was angry with him and he couldn't blame her. Then he had to ask himself why he did what he did knowing full well it would just cause trouble. Up till now he devoted himself in not being a bother. All that didn't matter when he found something in that radio station.
Ships don't disappear out of nowhere. Radio signals are sent from ships radios all the time, indicating to a coast guard or to another ship where they are located and what they are doing. Especially military ships.
He sifted through the radio files and reports, most of the evidence was else where, but he found a frequency that he knew full fact was a distress signal. The distress signal wasn't from the carrier but from a smaller boat. To Hikaru that had to be Mr. Musashibo's boat. He couldn't gather anything else as the patrol came in and caught him, but regardless the signal when it was issued was cut off.
Something bad happened and it wasn't a storm. And Mrs. Musashibo had a right to know what happened to her husband.
"I know what I did was wrong," Hikaru said after several painful minutes of silence.
"To right it was," Mrs. Musashibo said through her teeth.
"But I found something there. I knew something was off about Mr. Musashibo's boat. There was a distress signal and the coast guard's playing it off as if it never happened-"
"Hikaru," she interrupted probably the most vocal expression Hikaru ever uttered in one go, her eyes never leaving the night road. "At this moment I don't care. I really don't care. Dammit Hikaru! Of all the things—"
She silenced herself not even regarding his face as he gazed at her, his eyes filled with his own disappointment. He hadn't meant to do wrong by her. That was the last thing he wanted. But he was stupid, like Mr. Musashibo said. He turned back to his window, watching the lights of the various pub and hotel signs fly by.
"Is your nose bad?" she asked sternly. He shook his head.
"It could've been worse, but for godssakes I don't ever want to see you near the coast guard station again. I can't very well ground you because of work, but after work, you are to come right home from now on. Do you understand?"
Hikaru could only nod. He understood quite clearly, though what he had found weighed heavily on his mind. And the fact that a family friend was hiding something made it even worse.
A/N: Read and Review if you please. Tell me what you think.