I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or any characters. No copyright infringement intended.
Notes: Short obligatory lesson: A traditional Hawaiian saying tells us that ʻaumakua are "ʻAno lani; ʻano honua." This means an ʻaumakua is a being of both a heavenly and an earthly nature. An ʻaumakua is an ancestor that has died and has come back in a different form. An ʻaumakua usually communicates with, helps, inspires, and guides members of the family. More here: "coffeetimes dot com 'back slash' aumakua dot htm." Add the "www" in front, then a real 'dot' and remove the spaces to find the right link.
It's obvious what Makoa's ʻaumakua is, and for this story, I selected a pretty bird for Kono's ʻaumaku. It's called a Honeycreeper or I'iwer in Hawaiian and signifies "Magnificence".
Manō = shark; Noah = typical surfer slang for a shark. Paddlepuss = Someone who stays and plays in the whitewater close to the beach; Stick = a slang name for surfboard.
H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O*
"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It's not something you learn in school.
But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."
― Muhammad Ali
Chapter Twenty-Six: No Kau a Kau ~ For Eternity
Kono couldn't remember ever being so happy. At least, within the last few weeks when it seemed that she'd been transported to a different planet. A sick universe where she was stuck playing victim. She kicked hard, sending her board out from the shallows and then relied solely on her arms to attack the breakers so she'd get back into the lineup for the next set. She was indeed happy, but there was a small niggle of unease; small enough to cope with, but also big enough to keep her nerves tingling.
"Stupid," she whispered, then coughed heavily as a strong spray of water flew directly into her nose and mouth. "There's no reason," she spat out, rubbing her lips across the top of one hand in a useless attempt to wipe away the saltiness. She was already getting tired and her face showed a glimmer of self-disgust as her arms began to burn and she lost her rhythm. She was out of shape, but also not wisely pacing herself so poor stamina was a limited excuse. She was panting nearly halfway to her goal and if she cared to consider it, she already couldn't recall how many waves she'd caught in the time they'd been at the beach.
She was being reckless with a firm determination channeled off-kilter, and she refused to stop. She forced herself to inhale and then exhale, duck diving almost angrily into wave after wave until she didn't have to manage punching a hole through cascading water. But Kono frowned as she came up high through her final wave and spied Danny still sitting quietly next to Steve. She came down paddling hard to reach them, part of her mind racing to worry about reasons why he hadn't moved. Another side refused to worry, knowing that Danny would do something as soon as he was ready. Especially because Steve was there.
"Think about what you're doing, lolo," Kono chided herself as she lost her rhythm again and paused her strokes. She coughed and her throat burned with a salty raspiness. "Calm down. Just ... stop." Her shoulders kicked in to scream their deep ache along with her upper arms. Fisting her hands on the top of her board, she closed her eyes as she rested her forehead there and focused on catching her breath. She dwelled on listening only to the water and how the distant thud of waves hitting the shore reached her ears. Overhead, sea birds squawked more loudly and yet, she could hear in the background, the jumbled sounds of indiscernible human shouts and excited laughter. It took a few minutes of doing nothing to find something of a center. Laying there peacefully, Kono allowed the current to take her as if nothing more than driftwood for a few feet before she slowly re-engaged her body.
She looked up to see where she'd drifted to and began a more logical intelligent paddle in both direction and cadence. She knew that Danny had been mildly uncomfortable about his determined o'hana being in his corner on his first day back on the water. Deep down though, Kono also knew that he was actually pleased. And even though he hadn't quite committed to taking a wave just yet, maybe things weren't all that buried after all. He wasn't upset or put off. His general quietude proved that Steve's presence was doing more than hers alone. At least he hadn't taken up on her self-destructive tangent.
Alone with just herself, he would have easily picked up on her own nerves and anything might have gone wrong. Even now she fought to look over her shoulder to see who might be watching her on the beach when in fact only Chin would be there.
"No one cares," she murmured under her breath as she set her eyes on where Danny and Steve were dipping up and down in the lineup. "No one's there. Just Chin."
The few times her eyes fell directly on her cousin, she felt an unavoidable surge of relief which conversely also made her feel foolish. On top of feeling ridiculous, she was already making stupid mistakes in the water. She had no doubt that without their o'hana there that day, she and Danny would've fed off each other's tension to dangerous distraction. Kono knew that she would've felt obligated to cater to Danny's needs instead of doing precisely what she needed to do upon sinking one bare toe into the sand: surf her brains out to totally forget and purge her soul of Topher Reid. She needed to do that because helping Devon and Makoa try to heal their wounds simply wasn't yet enough. Unfortunately for her, the sport of surfing had become an unwanted trigger. But that wasn't even entirely fair since she felt uneasy simply being in the vicinity of any beach.
So besides Danny, she needed both of them there, too. Both Chin and Steve. All four together as one trusted unit holding no expectations of the other. And though she hadn't put much thought into it, she had a strong inkling of a suspicion that Danny had recognized that early on.
"Kono!" She heard Makoa's voice from behind her before she knew he'd even arrived. She'd been completely lost in her thoughts and more unaware of her surroundings even though she was obsessively focused on that very thing.
"Hayashi-san!" Kono called back, quickly abandoning her paddle and turning one hundred and eighty degrees to face the older man as he closed the distance between them. She sat straight up and held her arms wide as his longboard came parallel to her smaller one. Her exuberant greeting made him smile as he wiped streams of water from his face with his damaged left hand. "I didn't know you'd be coming today. Danny will be happy to see you!"
"Happy?" After growling out the word, he chuffed a gruff sound deep in his throat that bordered on sardonic. Kono rolled her eyes in humor as Makoa shook his head at the unlikely sentiment used in relation to himself. His thickly bushed eyebrows were drenched in water, completely shielding his eyes as if they were a ruined clump of white fur. She could barely see the glint of his pupils or read the amusement he held back and she had to laugh out loud.
"Yes, happy," she declared, smiling widely in response to his rude shrug because he certainly appreciated the compliment. "He's been excited for days to try out the new board and I know he'll be very happy when he sees you. How's Devon doing?"
"He has a decent one bedroom that he's renting," Makoa offered after a long pause, followed by an offhand shrug. Refusing to meet her eyes, he delivered the news about his son blandly, but Kono could tell he was distinctly pleased about what he could share. "Maybe a new job on the docks; and he hasn't missed an appointment with his parole officer."
"That's good news," Kono said, smiling at the brief optimism of the exchange. "He's trying, Makoa. He's working hard to put this all behind him ... and you."
She waited for him to say something more, yet wasn't surprised when he continued to look vaguely into the distance. The road which the remaining male Hayashi pair would now take, was going to be long and arduous. Yet she couldn't ask for more because father and son were at least talking.
Lifting one of his dense white eyebrows, Makoa grunted loudly again, still looking past her before pointing towards a wave. "He's not half bad, though he's over-riding the board and trying too hard. I hope he can swim?"
"Swim? Why?" Kono pushed her incredulous questions back at the old native. She saw his eyes twinkle devilishly as she followed his hand. Danny had finally taken his first wave of the day and she beamed as he timed it perfectly. But she immediately saw what Makoa had innately sensed and grimaced, her eyes widening as Danny smoothly bounced to his feet and then made every mistake in the book. He was trying too hard and wound up manhandling the board which was much faster to react to his shifting weight than he was used to.
"Hayashi-san," Kono scolded him softly, but winced as she watched Danny take a tumble off his first wave of the day only one second after Makoa had spoken. Makoa had the gall to give out with a raspy chuckle and she pursed her lips at him in annoyance, but he merely shrugged again as he resumed his own paddle out further into the lineup.
"Take care of your haole student, wahine," Makoa cackled over his shoulder as he left her floundering for words. "Or, I will before he ruins another board."
This time, Kono felt her ire rise at Makoa's harsh brand of teasing and she set her jaw in stubborn defense for Danny's sake. From his use of the derogatory term of haole to the implication that Danny had dared ruin any board at all, prompted an instant surge of anger. Her eyes tracked almost unconsciously towards Steve after Danny's head popped up within a slurry of bubbling whitewater.
Steve had immediately followed on the next set as if it were the most natural thing in the world. As he was setting up for a nice ride, Danny was wading towards shore to retrieve his board which proved he was fine except for a slight sting to his pride. Based on the timing, Steve would be there in time to accompany him back out and so Kono yanked her board back around to point it towards the lineup. Newly energized, she had no intention that morning of leaving Danny to the likes of Makoa Hayashi.
H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O* H5O*
"Good," Makoa folded his arms across his broad chest, his feet swirled idly to and fro under his board. He saw Kono's intense expression and approved the change, though most of her anger was aimed directly at him. His face twisted briefly into a rendition of an ugly sneer, his eyes disappearing beneath his brows once more as he glared back in kind. "You lost touch with your ʻaumakua; you haven't been listening or paying attention."
"My ʻaumakua?" Kono bit back instantly, ready to use his own words against him. She'd had no idea that he'd studied her so closely or possibly guessed her compulsion to surf without care that day. But she saw it now, the disapproval in his eyes and how he measured her growing fatigue. He guessed her recklessness and made assumptions in the blink of an eye. Assumptions that said she hadn't quite gotten over Topher Reid. An affair that he knew very little about but yet just enough to believe that she didn't entirely feel safe. Or worse yet, trust herself.
"You young people forget to listen," Makoa repeated with a bit of rancor. "Your ʻaumakua is always watching over you. If you'd only just listen. But your eyes and ears are closed."
"What about you?" Kono hissed, uncomfortable with the strange turn of conversation. Her own spirit animal was a I'iwer, a small brilliantly colored finch-like bird. He was completely right that she'd not paid attention in too long a time, but a discussion on such a topic was very personal. She was insulted that he'd used her emotional distress against her with such skill. Her verbal attack was uncharacteristically defensive in kind and she glared at the arrogant man who now stared back at her without expression. Her words were biting but as soon as she voiced them, she knew that he'd traditionally already done more than she. "What have you done Hayashi-san about your family's manō? Are you listening to what he's been saying?"
Makoa nodded in consideration because Kono was partly correct. Everyone knew that manō, the shark, was his family's special totem. After all, how could it not be? He had also forgotten how to listen at times; something he had done in the past with careless abandon and manō had seen fit to remind him in the most extreme of ways. The remnants of his hand and pitted leg were proof of that. But in reminding him, manō had also brought him Iris. More recently, he'd wondered though if he'd angered his ʻaumakua so very much that the spirit had also taken Iris away from him.
For a moment, his face softened and he forgot to look at Kono as Iris and then Devon came to mind. He needed to fix many things in his life, and he would, no matter how long it might take. But fighting his natural tendencies to be so brutally unyielding within his too high standards, all compounded by a severely sharp temperament, were difficult tasks to overcome. Hence, the razor-edged jagged teeth of his manō to remind him of such failures and he was now ardently ready to listen, as well as act.
"I always listen; it's the action I fail," Makoa growled the truth almost privately to himself. Where he might lapse in tradition, he felt the young simply forgot and he felt obligated to remind Kono a bit more strongly. He appreciated the angry spark in her eye as he tapped his temple and his words struck a chord. "What are you afraid of when your I'iwer is always by your side, keiki?"
Kono had no answer for the man, but she certainly had a great deal left to ponder as she sat on her surfboard. She didn't quite want to admit that he could be right. At least in the traditional sense. The experience with Reid had been terrifying and yet, what had really happened? Her o'hana had focused their attention on finding her and again, she'd been brought safely home. So what was she doing out on the water blaming not only the waves, but also herself for something she'd already overcome?
The two were still silent by the time both Danny and Steve returned; the general mood an odd mixture of annoyance and a tense discomfort with neither Kono nor Makoa looking at the other.
"Makoa," Danny glanced worriedly from Kono, eyeing her strange expression. Her arms were folded resentfully over her chest and for the first time that morning, she didn't seem inclined to bounce away into the next wave. "Everything okay? I didn't think you'd show up today, but I'm glad you did. It's good to see you. How's Devon?" His rapid series of questions expressed Danny's uncertainty and near embarrassment as he wondered if the man had seen his impromptu wipe-out on such an average wave.
Kono cracked a wry smile before cocking her head towards the elder Hayashi and she noticed the flicker of acknowledgment before he replied.
"Devon's good, Danny. He may have a new job on the docks," Makoa nodded once towards Steve as well in welcome, relaxing imperceptibly as their arrival eased some of the tension. But then he was unable to mind too much of his manners, though he thought he did a fairly decent job as he gestured towards Danny's surfboard. "You bullied your stick; what did I tell you?"
"I know," Danny grimaced as he rapped the top of the board with his knuckles. He had suspected that Makoa had seen him and he had limited excuses. "It handles differently and I rushed things. I lost my balance. First the board was there, and then it was gone."
"Let's try again. You and I ... alone," Kono spoke quickly, refusing to look at Makoa as she drifted away from the small group, waving Danny along to follow in her wake. Her tone was final and broached no patience for argument as she blatantly interrupted what Makoa might have offered next. She adored the older man and respected him greatly; however she didn't want him hemming in anymore than he might to potentially make Danny more nervous. While Danny certainly got along with Makoa very well, and she would never be sorry for introducing them, today was not the day for the native's abrasive mannerisms. Without a doubt, everyone's moods might be ruined if he couldn't mind his ways.
"Let's go, Danny, there's a nice set coming in," she said after checking the horizon with a studied eye. She did catch a glimmer of a smile from Steve though as he obediently stayed behind and it was enough to drive home whatever encouragement she needed that morning. "You got this, brah, I give it two more decent attempts and you'll have it down. No trouble," Kono reiterated calmly as he fell in alongside her, ready to get to the crux of mastering his new board.
"So?" Danny asked as they moved well away from Steve and Makoa. He was annoyed with himself and slightly on edge from his failed first attempt. "You saw?"
"Yup," she answered off-handedly because she knew it wasn't going to be a big deal to fix. Her eyes were now distant and measuring the next set which she found herself approving of and she pointed for Danny to ready himself. "This one, Danny. You only need to take your time and trust that the board will be there. Nothing else; just take your time. The water's perfect and that solves half of the challenge; don't fight things ... just trust them to happen. Don't forget that this is your board ... you made it and know its every inch. You know what it can do for you.""
Danny grinned at Kono as he studied her profile. She was confidently back to giving him direction and completely enthralled in her role as teacher. His happy grin started as a small crooked lifting of one side of his mouth, then morphed into an all out smile which lit his face up and brought her sketchy serious mood to a higher, more cheerful plane. "You good, too?"
Kono beamed back then; her own smile brightening her features and she shook her head at the astuteness of his question. She easily caught the soft stress on the word 'too' and knew he was thrilled to be back regardless of the tiny misfire on his first wave of the day.
"Good?" she asked, a laugh finally reaching her voice as she glanced towards the shoreline quickly finding Chin relaxing comfortably in a chair. Her smile grew when a glance over her shoulder confirmed Steve sitting sentry just off the lineup but with a patient and expectant posture as he watched them. There really wasn't a reason for her to be anything but good; in fact, nothing more that day could be so very right as she and Danny simply sat together like they had so many times before.
"Yeah, I am," she truthfully added, before slapping a handful of water directly into his face. As Danny sputtered and laughed out loud, Kono kicked off hard to escape his payback, yelling over her shoulder, "More than good! Perfect in fact. Now let's get this done, paddlepuss!"
~ this is technically THE END. But it will be continued ... with an EPILOGUE. ~