Chapter 3: Happy Meeting and Greeting
Italics means spoken in Japanese.
Noblesse side
Shinwoo hopped from foot to foot as he waited beside M-21 outside the exist gate of the airport. He was annexes beyond belief.
Even with M-21's attempts at aiding him in learning his Japanese he was still quite horrible at it. About half way through the teaching processes M-21 had just sighed and asked him what exactly he really wanted to be able to say to his grandma.
When apparently Shinwoo had begun to look crest fallen at this comment M-21 had actually been somewhat affectionate with him and tasseled his hair. Stating as long as Shinwoo got his feelings across in the main way; that he would aid him the rest of the way in getting his grandma and him to communicate.
So now Shinwoo stood waiting for the moment of truth when he meets his grandma for the first time in 10 years.
Noblesse- M-21
I watched Shinwoo pace back and forth. He continued to fidget and show he was severely impatient at this point. I sighed. This was not what I would call a good idea in my book. I was as social as a door knob as M-24 once put it and I would have to agree. I had no place in acting as a translator or mediator but I would try my hardest because I promised my aid to Shinwoo and gave my support as well.
I heard a sharp intake of breath to my right and glance towards Shinwoo to see that he had stopped moving and possibly even breathing. For a second I was worried but then he let out a breath. I then followed his line of sight and it landed on an elderly but still pretty women. She appeared to be in her 50s or 60s. She had a single white streak through her black hair pulled back into a bun. She wore a Japanese kimono decorated with birds of some type, which gained her a few looks from the others passing her by. She stood straight and had the same blue eyes as her grandson if I was correct in assuming who she was.
Her gaze confidently scanned her surroundings looking for something specific and then they locked onto Shinwoo. Her calm face broke into a beautiful smile as she walked her way over to us through the bustle of the airport. She stood in front of her grandson about a head or so shorter than him. Shinwoo was still frozen as he looked at her. I noticed a man was standing next to her but was too interested in what was about to take place in front of me to pay attention past that.
"It has been a while grandson."
Shinwoo snapped out of it and tried to make sense of what she said. As he looked confused the man next to her stated in choppy Korean,
"She stated hello."
I turned my observation onto this man. He was tall with brown hair and a beard. A cigarette was in his mouth and his eyes twinkled as a watched everything around him. He wore brown pants with spenders and a white shirt. He held a jacket over his shoulder as well.
Shinwoo's grandma laughed and stated,
"It seems someone has not been practicing their Japanese over the years."
Shinwoo getting the gist of what she said flinched slightly. But was calmed as a hand was placed on his shoulder and patted him, he looked at her as her eyes smiled as well.
"But don't worry I have not been practicing my Korean either."
She then began to laugh as Shinwoo turned to me in confusion.
"What did she say?"
Noting their eyes on me I explained,
"She stated you haven't been practicing your Japanese but not to worry because she hasn't been practicing her Korean."
"Oh." He stated as he then turned to his grandma and smiled. She looked at him with a puzzled face as he stated,
"I missed you grandma and am really happy to see you again."
He bowed and was abruptly hugged by his grandma as she began to cry.
Normal POV
Now you must be wondering where Motomi's adopted son was during all this well let's take a few steps back and turn to the other side's point of view.
Togainu No Chi – Motomi
When we got off the plan Akira said he needed to go to the bathroom and said he would meet us outside. So we headed for the exit after grabbing our bags. Tsubame was scanning the crowd as soon as we exited the airport. She had not really shown us a picture of this grandson of hers so I couldn't help her in locating where he was.
Then she broke out in a smile and started towards a young man probably in high school with red hair and blue eyes that matched Tsubame. When we came to a stop in front of him she gave her greeting and he was confused so I told him what she said. She then went on to laugh it off on both their parts with saying neither of them practice.
I knew I was not going to be able to translate this accurately and I was in trouble. Tsubame was going to tease me for this. When suddenly Shinwoo turned to the person standing behind him and seemed to ask for a translation.
I got a shock the person he spoke to appeared to be an older version of Akira. He was dressed in a black suite. His hair was a paler version of Akiras and his eyes were a similar color. But the still held the coldness and calmness similar to Akira's eyes. One main different between them though was that this man had a scar on his mouth.
The man translated Tsubame's words seemingly perfectly for the boy turned and with lines he apparently forced himself to memorize declared he missed his grandma perfectly. Tsubame was over joyed; she shed tears of joy as she hugged her grandson.
I glanced over at the look alike to Akira who was leaning against a slick black car with an almost hidden smile on his face. I then walked over to him and said,
"Thanks with the translation just now."
He glanced at me and stated,
"Shinwoo wanted moral support because his relearning of Japanese was not going well even though he was trying so hard. I just helped him that's all."
He stated this nonchalantly as he watched Shinwoo attempt to get Tsubame to stop crying. This guy whoever he was obviously was a nice guy.
Tsubame
I was so happy that my dear grandson had practiced something he wanted to say to me upon meeting. When I was done letting my emotions get the better of me I then turned my attention to the man who was accompanying my grandson.
To my surprise he looked like an older version of Akira. I walked over to the car and smiled at him.
Were you the one who taught my grandson to say those lines?" I said with a twinkle in my eye.
He looked at me only to reply,
"When he got the letters I translated them for him. He then decided to try to relearn the language but that fell through so I though having him at least learn some key things he wished to be able to say to would also suffice."
"Thank you so much for that. You have no idea how happy that made me." I said.
"He is the one who chose what to say not me. It's all his words in the end. I just came as support to get them across."
"You belittle yourself way to much sir." I exclaim.
All the while this conversation my grandson seemed to be barely understanding the conversation and getting very confused. He kind of looked like a kicked puppy that had no idea what was going on. I hugged him once more.
"Oh have I already missed introduction..."
To Be Continued…
Naïve: So I am totally back and ready to start again.
Shinwoo: That's good we were all starting to think you were never coming back.
Naïve: Nonce. Anyway this story continues. Who is the person appearing at the end will we finally have things start to get down and dirty. Just stay tuned.