Saturday morning, April 30th – The Hisamitsu Estate in Tokushima
Many years ago, one of the Hisamitsu family ancestors had fancied himself a designer or an architect. He had decided that the stables needed a touch of class for his aristocratic family members and their distinguished guests. He was also the kind of person who abhorred waking up early. So, he had a covered veranda built onto the west side of the stables. It was designed to have a good view of the small pasture adjacent to the stables and of the setting sun in the evenings.
Unfortunately, there is more to being an architect than simply deciding that something looks pretty and that you want it. In the mornings, it was in the shade of the stables and too cold for breakfast. In the evenings, after having been blasted all afternoon by the blazing sun, it was too hot for dinner. And even if the temperature was right, the adjacent stables blocked off the wind and provided the veranda with a very earthy… aroma.
Over the years, there had been suggestions to fix the veranda with heaters or fans… or to just tear it down. In the end, an enterprising stablehand simply walled up the open sides and used the space for storage. However, there was an unforeseen way that the ill-conceived veranda eventually served some vestige of it's original purpose.
"Seriously, you used to play hide and seek here?" Taiga asked as she looked out over the paddock and pasture from the height of the veranda's roof. Although she sounded dismissive, she rather liked the height advantage over the men working down below.
"Yeah. Haruta and I hid up here when we were kids." Noto said with a nostalgic sigh. "There are lots of good places to hide in an old Heian place like this, but I always like this one because it was like hiding in plain sight."
"Where is he anyway?" Ryuuji asked. He had seen Ami, Deena, and Yuri-sensei in the house with Obāsama, but he hadn't seen Haruta or The Major all morning.
"I think he's having some kind of special bonding time with Major Charming." Hisako replied.
"Major Charming?" Minori asked.
"Yuri-sensei's husband. Hisako-senpai has called him that ever since she met him." Suzume replied.
Minori thought about how lovey-dovey the foreigner was with her old sensei and considered how it might be a good nickname for him.
"It's pretty peaceful up here." Nanako said as she leaned back and looked up at the wide expanse of blue sky.
Hisako looked down at where Nanako was stretched out on her back. The tall model's vision was immediately tinged with a soft pastel rose color due to her lust addled mind. She was filled with the urge to pin down the cute purple haired girl and kiss her from her luscious lips, down her sensitive and smooth neck to the swell of her… of her…
"There you guys are!" Ami's voice called out from the path that led to the stable's entrance.
"If you're here to tell us to get off the roof, you can forget it." Taiga said defensively.
"Oh no," Ami smiled wickedly, "I just came to tell you that Obāsama has asked the stablehands to prepare the horses for a trail ride up the mountain. But if you're having more fun up there, I'll tell her you're not interested."
"Stop!" Taiga was on her feet. She wanted to yell baka at the bluenette but… Ami wasn't in the wrong. As part of her attempts to be a better person, she had started reflecting on her own actions and the resulting consequences. And... those reflections told her a pretty sad story. It all reinforced something Ami had told her long ago. Her mother had told her the same thing. And… even Minorin had told her, If you don't want to be treated like a child, stop acting like one. Taking a deep breath, she started over, "Takasu-san, please forgive my childish outburst. I am thrilled with Obāsama's offer to enjoy a horseback ride. Thank you for taking the effort to find me and let me know."
Ami blinked in surprise. The muscle-head had told her that Taiga was trying to change and she had already seen some of that effort in the attempt to rebuild the broken relationship with Yasuko. Ami could instantly think of a dozen sarcastic replies she could make to Taiga's attempt at being more mature, but a wave of guilt hit her when she recalled the weird dream with the air-strike. "Taiga, I… I'll let Obāsama know you are on your way. And… I appreciate your apology but please don't call me Takasu-san again."
Taiga felt her rage boiling up. She had tried her hardest to be the good girl, only to have Ami tell her…
"It's not that I think it's creepy or anything." Ami looked away as she revealed some of her own feelings, "It's just that… as a celebrity, I don't have many people that I can call… real friends. So… don't say anything that puts unnecessary distance between us. Okay?"
"Yeah, okay." Taiga replied after blinking several times to make sure she wasn't hallucinating. Her rage had converted into shock even before the words in Ami's response had fully registered in her brain. She watched Ami turn and walk back up the path to the house before she was able to turn to Minorin and stutter, "S...she said I was her friend. Her real friend? She did say that, didn't she?"
"Silly Taiga!" Minori lightly smacked her short friend on the head, "Of course you two are friends!"
From what Ryuuji could see, Minori's flippant reply may have actually increased Taiga's shock. He also watched his wife go back into the big manor, then smiled while he listened to Taiga's spluttering surprise. He knew Ami hadn't done it intentionally, but he couldn't help but think, You really got to her Ami. That blow was more effective than if you had called her an idiot, flipped your hair, and walked away.
"Taiga, a moment?" Noto asked as everyone cued up around the ladder to climb down off the roof.
"Yeah?" Taiga could see that Noto was concerned about something. His troubled appearance pulled Taiga out of her floundering thoughts.
Minori had an idea what they needed to talk about and patted Noto on the shoulder before descending the ladder.
"This may not be the fun ride that you think it is." Noto said as if having to break some bad news to someone, "I have a feeling my… Obāsama is going to ask a personal favor of you. I just want you to know that she isn't trying to be mean to you. She would only ask this of someone that she believes in."
...someone that she believes in.
"Unh…" Taiga put her hand over her face as her vision momentarily blurred. She knew that Noto was not the kind of person to say something like that in jest, so it came as yet another shattering blow to her self-image… or at least to the image she thought that everyone had of her.
"Are you okay?" Noto took Taiga's arm to steady her.
"Yeah. I'm just not used to hearing things like that." For Taiga to find out that she is someone that Obāsama believes in, right after hearing Ami tell her that she is a real friend… Well, it's not like any of this was unpleasant news for Taiga. In fact, her inner psyche was already in full-on celebration mode. But the foundation that she based her grip on reality had been severely shaken. "It's just weird, you know. People… treating me like and adult."
"Taiga, you are an adult." Noto replied with an expression of confusion and concern.
Taiga could rant for an hour on how difficult it is to think of yourself as an adult when everyone's assumption is that you are a child. Her hands curled into fists with the avalanche of recent memories of that annoying aspect of her life. But Noto's response had been genuine and to her memory, he had never treated her dismissively. Instead of allowing herself to blow up at him, she tried to stabilize her inner chaos, by asking Noto, "Do you know what this is about?"
"Yeah, it's about Haruta. She wants you to help him. I know you probably don't care about him…" Noto got cut off.
"Why wouldn't I care about Haruta?" Taiga had just stepped onto the ladder but stopped and looked up at where Noto was holding it steady for her.
"Well, he used to tease you a lot." Noto suddenly wondered if he shouldn't have reminded Taiga of that part of their past.
"Nah, it's all good. Even that kind of thing is a good memory now." Taiga said as she continued down the ladder.
Taiga you sound like an old man when you say that. ...is what Noto almost said before he remembered how hard she could hit… with or without a wooden sword in her hand.
.
Down on the walkway back to the house, Deena had been one of the first down the ladder and quickly caught up with Ami. The horseback riding offer sounded wonderful, so she hoped… "Ami, will you be going up the mountain too?"
"Not this time. But Aiko-chan will, so you two should have a lot of fun." Ami smiled but noticed that the smile wasn't returned.
"You know… I screwed up once by just having fun with you guys, when I was supposed to be working. I wish I was just here to have fun, but… I do have a mission I'm supposed to be working on." Deena admitted.
"Hmm… well, Suzume will be on the ride too, so half of the team will be going." Ami suggested slyly.
"But it's you and Ryuuji that make the decisions. We both know that." Deena said firmly.
"Confidentially," Ami said quietly to the tall Aussie, "I'm already convinced. All I have to do is get Ryuuji to agree, and we'll be back in business."
"Really?" Deena clapped with excitement.
"Yes. So here's the deal. You go up the mountain and watch after my friends, and I promise to do my best to convince Ryuuji. Will that work for you?" Ami asked with a smile.
"Yes!" Deena would have jumped for joy, but she had already discovered that she could hit her head on the beams that supported the winding roof of the covered pathway.
"Go get changed. I have a feeling Taiga is going to want to leave as soon as Obāsama is done with her." Ami felt like she was encouraging an excited child.
"Thanks Ami!" Deena called back as she charged up the steps into the house.
Ami smiled while she watched the tall blond Aussie rush off to get ready. She really wanted to join in too, but the idea of riding a horse with the morning sickness symptoms she had been having – well, that combination just didn't sound like a lot of fun.
.
Obāsama waited for her guests in the sitting room – which, in the architecture of the Heian-esque nature of the mansion meant that one wall was completely open to a view of a well kept garden and distant mountains in the distance. Originally, that wall had been the old kind that collapsed and receded out of the way in good weather. As old as she was, even Obāsama could barely remember when those folding walls had been replaced with floor to ceiling windows. Her old body appreciated the comfort of the heating and air conditioning that came with the installation of those windows, but she still missed the collapsing paper walls. Closed off from the outside world, the room seemed too quiet.
She hadn't been waiting long when she heard the approaching footsteps of her grandson and his diminutive friend entering the silent room. Turning to face them, Obāsama spoke before they could make their polite greetings, "Taiga-chan, I hope you will be able to forgive this old woman her strange requests."
"Please. After your great hospitality, how could I ignore your request." Taiga responded eloquently.
Noto was momentarily stunned. But, he remembered that Taiga had been sporadically privileged to a rather elite upbringing and had probably had one or two etiquette classes in her youth. So, she can be quite polite when she wants to.
"Ugh." Obāsama closed her eyes and put her hand over her face as if she were fending off a headache.
"Obāsama, are you unwell?" Noto asked.
"This polite speech… I feel like I'm having a strained conversation with one of my relatives… one of the difficult ones. Would you two mind terribly if we spoke casually with one another?" Obāsama asked.
"I don't mind." Taiga replied but seemed a little disappointed.
"Taiga-chan, do you actually prefer elegant speech?" Obāsama asked.
"No, not… really." Taiga pouted, "It's just… my father made me take all these refinement and etiquette classes so I would know how to act like a lady. I always thought they were so stupid because I didn't know anyone that wouldn't laugh at me if I tried it. My dad is a lout and didn't use it himself, and my okāsan…"
"I heard that your mother is a fine person." Obāsama prompted when Taiga's voice fell off.
"She is nice… even if she has a tendency to still treat me like a child. But she isn't one to use elegant speech either. She says it's too old fashioned and doesn't fit her lifestyle." Taiga explained.
"So, you wanted a chance to use to use some archaic mannerisms with an archaic person who would be old enough to appreciate them? Obāsama asked with a playful smile.
"Ah! No, I didn't mean…" Taiga tried to figure out how she could back away from the unintended discourtesy.
"I know you didn't mean to insult me. I was just teasing." Obāsama laughed. When she saw that Taiga seemed a little hurt that she had been made fun of, she offered, "Let me make you a deal."
"A deal?" Taiga's eyebrow raised.
"I have something rather serious to discuss with you. As such, I will not be able to enjoy polite banter with you now. So, let us talk plainly of these serious things and I promise you a chance to exercise your eloquence with me when you return from the mountain. Does that sound acceptable?"
A trip up the mountain to the cabin.
On horseback.
And a chance to show off my sophistication with Obāsama later.
Who do you want me to kill? Taiga was about to ask, but the level of concern and sincerity she could see in Obāsama's face told her that it would be terribly inappropriate… even if they weren't using proper etiquette and polite speech. Instead, she asked the troubled old woman, "How can I help?"
"Thank you Taiga-chan." Obāsama said as she rose from her chair and took Taiga's hand.
Taiga thought it would be just a small western style handshake but the old woman surprised her when she made a polite bow before continuing.
"So that you understand why this is important to me, please allow me to tell you a little story about my grandson and a dear friend of his. You know him, but you may not know that those two boys have been friends since they were quite young."
Obāsama recalled the years of Noto's youth. She told of the splendid summer vacations when they were together and how excited Noto had been, when he found out that he could go to the same high school with his friend. The old woman also spoke of the Koji family's ceramics industry, that had enjoyed a healthy relationship with the Hisamitsu family's mercantile business.
Taiga didn't know about this past that the two boys shared, but she also didn't find it to be all that interesting. If it had been anyone else, she would have interrupted them with a pronouncement of Booooooring! Instead, she politely walked along with the Hisamitsu matriarch as they passed through the corridors of the old mansion. She listened as they passed by rooms and large windows with views of the surrounding mountains or of the well kept garden that the wings of the house surrounded.
Taiga's mind began to wander as she listened to the old woman's sonorous voice and they passed by the various rooms. She could imagine a younger Haruta and Noto having pillow fights in the bedrooms, running through the halls with shrieks of laughter, and playing hide-and-seek out in the ornamental garden. The soft comforting voice of the old woman and the pleasant views were starting to have a seductively relaxing effect… maybe a bit too relaxing.
Just as she was fighting to stifle a yawn, Taiga saw a change in the kind old lady's demeanor. Daydream images of two young boys laughing and playing evaporated in an instant. Obāsama had mentioned Haruta's arranged marriage and Taiga was reminded of the chance encounter when she had met Haruta's girlfriend while selling Valentine's chocolates. Both of their happy reminiscing was gone and Obāsama's mood went dark with pain and despair. For a moment, Taiga feared that her disinterest and boredom had been discovered.
Obāsama did have an idea that Taiga was getting weary of her ramblings, but that had nothing to do with her heartache. The pain she was expressing mirrored the pain in the story she was telling. It was the turning point in the lives of Haruta and his wife. Every possession they had, most of their families, and many of their friends had been wiped out on that cold day in March. Eventually, homes and businesses could be rebuilt. Possessions could be repurchased. But the people that were gone…
Family.
Friends.
Funerals and remembrance were the only things that could be done for the loved ones who would never come back. Their loss was devastating, but more-so to some than to others. To complicate matters, not everyone handles grief the same way. So just because some people seem to be getting on with their lives – it doesn't mean they loved their missing friends and family any less. Unfortunately, that truth was an incomprehensible concept for someone still mired in sadness and despair. This was the topic that Obāsama finished just as they came to a room that overlooked the mansion's garden.
At the edge of the room where the open wall provided both view and access to the lovely garden, a lone figure sat on a cushion and slowly rocked back and forth. She made no sound and the quiet was only broken by the trickle of running water and the constant thunk of the garden's sōzu fountain. A thick blanket was pulled around the slowly rocking body. From the room's doorway, all that could be seen of her was a mass of unkempt plum colored hair.
"What… do you want me to do?" Taiga inquired with the growing apprehension that she was going to be asked to make friends with the human flotsam.
"I want you to save her." Obāsama stated.
"Huh? Me? She needs professional help from people with skills that I don't have." Taiga balked. Remembering how everyone went on and on about how Ami saved Ryuuji from his self-destructive depression, she suggested, "You should ask Ami. She has experience with this sort of thing."
"Professional help had an effect… to some degree. And, I did ask Ami-chan. Unfortunately, she is not available since she needs to take care of her child." Obāsama replied.
What! Why that two faced, lying, bitch! Take care of her child? Minorin and I could do that while she attends to… this! Taiga wanted to rant, but she kept her calm… barely.
"Actually, Ami-chan was the one that recommended you." Obāsama recalled.
"What?" Taiga was no longer able to keep quiet as her rage reached a new level.
"She said that you were uniquely qualified to dispense the kind of therapy that is most likely to work – in this situation." Obāsama replied.
"Oh?" Taiga was taken aback. To hear that Ami believed she was 'uniquely qualified' in anything was surprising to her. Well, anything other than being a miniature tyrant. "So, what is this therapy that Ami thinks I might be good at?"
"Tough love." Obāsama replied. "You weren't the only one that was suggested for this role. One of the counselors suggested that it should be her husband, but it would be impossible for Haruta to do that to his wife when she already hates him. Shinako might be able to do it, even though it isn't her forte. But she is tasked to be Noto's assistant now and has little time to spare. But, even before I made their excuses, Ami said that you would be the best person for this."
"Tough… love." Taiga's hands were clenched in little fists. So… miniature tyrant is my unique qualification after all, is it? Dammit Ami, the next time I see you…
"Ami-chan believes that you can pull the young woman out of her wallowing misery with the sheer force of your personality." Obāsama confided.
"Eh?" Taiga knew that it was a two-edged complement but she hadn't expected to hear that Ami had said something like that about her.
"She said it wouldn't be pretty… or nice, but it would be effective." Obāsama added.
Not pretty or nice. Is that Amin's way of describing my methods or me? Or both? Taiga stewed.
"She also said that you do your best work when you have… creative freedom. So I will leave this in your hands to do as you please." Obāsama turned to leave, but added, "Ami-chan has faith in you. But her recommendation isn't the only reason I am asking you to do this. I believe in you too, Taiga-chan."
Obāsama left Taiga at the entryway to the open-walled room. Leaving the bedroom corridors behind, she walked into the dining room where many of her young guests had gathered for a late breakfast. The early risers were already dressed for the day while the late risers were still wearing their yukatas. Then there was the group of riders - already dressed for their trail ride with Taiga. They weren't wearing the riding boots, gloves, and helmets in the house – but they were wearing the pastel colored boot-cut jeans and anyone with long hair had it tied up or braided.
Ami, still wearing her Yukata and sitting next to her fierce looking husband, looked up when the old woman entered the room. "Will she do it?"
"I believe so." Obāsama replied with a slight smile. "I just hope Taiga isn't unnecessarily rough. Haruta's wife has already been through a lot."
"You said that she might still be suicidal, right?" Ami reminded the old woman of what she had said before Ami had suggested sending Taiga in. "If that's the case…"
Obāsama remembered their conversation from before. Ryuuji had told her of how kids, parents, and even his teachers were afraid of him from childhood until he was sixteen years old. No amount of pleading from him or his mother had been able to change anyone's mind. And yet, within a week of meeting Taiga, virtually all of his classmates had stopped being frightened of him. More importantly, Ryuuji had been able to engage with his classmates as well. I believe she can get through to the girl, but her methods…
Ami noticed the reluctant smile and asked, "Are you worried about what Taiga might do?"
"You're going to tell me that I shouldn't be concerned?" Obāsama answered with a question that was meant to make the striking young blue haired woman reconsider that kind of advice. She was therefore quite stunned at the response she got.
"No, not at all. In fact, you should be very concerned." Ami almost laughed as she replied, "Don't be surprised if Taiga's… therapy… leaves lots of bruises."
"You're kidding." Obāsama gasped.
"Unfortunately, she isn't." Ryuuji responded, "Taiga's not as irrational as she used to be, but she can still be pretty violent."
"But… she's so small. How much violence could she bring to bear?" Obāsama asked.
"Remember that video of the little girl in the Kendo competition?" Ami raised an eyebrow as she delivered the finishing blow, "That little girl in the video was Taiga."
Obāsama's eyes opened wide and her face paled as she recalled the tough little Kendo contestant.
.
Back at the room where Obāsama left a stunned Taiga, the Palm Top Tiger had remained frozen for several minutes as she considered the things she had just heard.
Not pretty or nice, but effective.
I believe in you...
Taiga had been too astonished to respond when Obāsama left. She was still angry with Ami, but that emotion had been relegated to the background. Confidence and pride were pulsing through her small body with every beat of her heart. She had known that the old woman liked her, but to hear her say… that!
I believe in you.
The hollow thunk of the garden sōzu's bamboo log startled Taiga out of her stunned trance. She realized that she had been staring down the empty corridor where Obāsama had left her awash in conflicting emotions. But there wasn't so much conflict now. Slowly turning to get another look at the rocking figure at the edge of the room, she was now filled with… determination.
Walking around the slowly rocking girl, Taiga stood in her line of sight and asked, "Koji-san. Is that what you want me to call you?"
No response. The eyes didn't even move from wherever they had been staring before. The slow rocking continued unabated.
"I'm Aisaka Taiga. We met once, back when Haruta and I were in high school. The two of you showed up to buy Valentine's Day chocolate at a place where I was working." Taiga made the initial introduction and looked for the girl to respond. But there was still no response or even a sign that the girl had heard anything Taiga had said.
"My friends call me Taiga, but you can call me Aisaka-sama." Taiga said as her eyes narrowed. "And, you should know this about me: I do not like being ignored."
The girl blinked. Her eyes finally moved so that she was glaring at Taiga. There was no other sign of a reply but the cold look from her eyes.
"Oh, a challenge? I like challenges." Taiga looked around at her surroundings. There was the heavy futon in the bedroom behind the girl. The porch in front of her was bare of any furnishings, but there were steps that led down into the decorative garden. Just then, the open end of the thick bamboo sōzu swung down and made a muted 'thunk' sound before swinging back up to begin refilling with water. Taiga looked at the stream where the sōzu discharged it's water and noticed two wooden buckets near a bench.
Hoping that the buckets weren't just ornamental and not being used as planters, Taiga casually walked down the steps from the porch. Both buckets were empty and looked to be usable too. She dipped one in the stream and filled it with the cold water that trickled down from the mountain's heights. The captured water that swirled around wasn't the cleanest, but Taiga decided that it would be okay for the intended purpose. Hefting it by the handle, she gazed back up the way she had come and smiled wickedly at the slowly rocking and mostly unresponsive girl.
.
A little over a kilometer away, The Major and Haruta were working on one of the gates that had fallen into disrepair. The two of them had already dug a hole around the leaning post and were struggling to pull it, and it's concrete anchor, out of the ground. It was hard work, but not all that complex. Or at least… it wasn't supposed to be. The concrete anchor seemed to be caught on something and wasn't coming out as it should. The two men had just finished their current attempt to pull out the recalcitrant post when they heard a blood curdling scream pierce the air and echo back from the valley below.
EEEEEEEEEEYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
"What the hell was that?" The Major gasped as he looked around for… whatever had made that sound. He knew something of Japanese wildlife but he couldn't imagine a creature that would cry out like that.
"Dude, I think that was my wife. I mean… it sounded like her but I've never heard her scream like that before." Haruta replied worriedly.
"Ah. That tells me two things then." The Major sounded reassured as he caught his breath, "Obāsama was successful at persuading Taiga to deal with your wife."
"Huh? Taiga?" Haruta could easily believe Taiga could make someone scream. He had seen that happen a few times. But there was something that confused him, "How do you know Taiga?"
"I don't know her all that well really, but I've heard some… interesting stories about her." The Major had likened the tales to old warrior stories told by combat veterans.
"Heh, they were probably all true." Haruta laughed a little as he stepped up for the next try at pulling out the stuck fence post. Before he started, he asked The Major, "What was the second thing?"
"What second thing?" The Major asked as he also moved into position to tackle the fence post.
"You said that my wife's scream told you two things?" Haruta prompted.
"Oh yeah… you said that you'd never heard her scream like that before." The Major chuckled, "That means you haven't been trying hard enough."
"Dude!" an exasperated Haruta cried out as he watched The Major completely fail at trying to hide his laughter.
.
Back at the estate, Haruta's drenched wife had leaped to her feet in shock and outrage at what had been done to her.
"What!" the girl was soaked and shivering from the deluge of cold mountain water that Taiga had just dumped over her head. The thick blanket was soaked as well as the crumpled looking yukata she had been wearing continuously since she had arrived at the estate.
"Ah good, you're on your feet. Let's get you to the bath now." Taiga pinched her nose and turned away from the taller girl a bit as she added, "Whoa girl, you are seriously ripe."
"What the hell was that?" the girl demanded as she pointed at the discarded bucket.
"Not too bright are ya?" Taiga looked at the taller girl dismissively and replied, "That was a bucket of water."
"I know that! I mean, why…" the girl demanded.
"I told you that I don't like being ignored and that I like challenges. That was the only warning you get." Taiga replied while completely ignoring the rage of the shivering girl.
"How dare you… YIIIIIIIIIE!" the girl yelped while cradling her left breast with both hands.
"This is a riding crop, and that was just a little love tap." Taiga said as if she were educating a child. "Now, I told you to get to the bath and that I don't like being ignored. Do you want to start moving on your own now, or do you want to see what one of these love taps feels like on that great big lumpy ass of yours?"
"No, I…" the girl started to insist that she did not want to be hit by that evil looking wand again, but something that the infuriating little woman said could not be ignored. "I do NOT have a big lumpy ass!"
"Still not moving, eh?" Taiga asked casually as she swung her arm out and flicked her wrist.
Swish… SNAP!
"Yiiieeeeeeee!" another shriek lurched out into the cool mountain air. But this time is was followed with the sound of feet running on hardwood floors, rather than useless discussion.
.
Toward the end of the day, The Major and Haruta arrived back at the estate. Muddy and tired, they were at least satisfied that they had been able to properly repair the lower paddock gate. After getting cleaned up, they rejoined the others in the dining room.
Haruta looked around for his wife for a moment, but realized she wasn't there. Assuming that she was still in her room, he sighed and told The Major, "I guess she was too much to deal with – even for the Palm Top Tiger."
"Your wife?" Ami asked – then waved off toward the mountain as she told him, "She should be almost to the cabin by now."
"Huh?" Haruta was stunned.
"Does she know how to ride a horse?" The Major asked. He was a little concerned since a mountain trail could be a bit more challenging than beaches and rolling hills.
"Yeah, her niisan was good at yabusame. He was in the Aoi Matsuri festival in Kyoto last year. She used to ride horses with him." Haruta's response had started out with some of his old energy but ended up with a tone of despair.
"Yabusame?" The Major asked. The word sounded familiar as a ceremonial performance, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Think… archery on horseback." Noto replied.
"Ah yes." The Major nodded, then asked, "That brother… he was killed by the tsunami, wasn't he?"
"Yeah." Haruta's eyes became vacant as he remembered the ghastly scene, "I identified his body and… his older son. The bodies of his wife and younger son were never found."
"Oh Haruta, how awful!" Yuri gasped.
"Were you the one to break it to her… your wife, I mean." Hisako asked.
"Yeah. I had to. She… she didn't have anyone else." Haruta looked away so he could wipe the wetness from his eyes. Trying to distract himself from that memory, he asked, "So, she's really up there with Taiga huh? I hope she'll be okay."
"Don't worry. Taiga isn't the only one with her." Ryuuji consoled his friend.
.
Saturday evening, May 30th – Hisamitsu Cabin at the High Pasture
At the same time that Haruta was worrying about his wife, she was lined up along a fence railing at one of the high pastures. The edge of the pasture gave way to a fairly steep slope on it's way down to the valley far below. The western sky was starting to take on the gold and orange hues as the sun sank lower into the distant horizon.
"Koji-san, watch this! It's so pretty!" Aiko-chan exclaimed as she pointed down at the valley below.
She didn't reply, but she did look off into the distance where the child was pointing. At first, it seemed like nothing was happening. As the minutes ticked by, she started to see what everyone thought was so amazing. The setting sun was still visible to them, but it began to be blocked by the surrounding mountains around the valley. A great shadow started off slowly from the base of the mountain and moved faster and faster until it was racing across the distant roads, fields, and houses. All that was in light was quickly falling into darkness as the shadow consumed everything in the lowlands.
But the darkness wasn't complete. Faint, flickering illumination came from homes, streetlights, and cars. There was also quite a bit of reflected light from the high places and mountaintops where the sunlight still reached.
"I guess it's not completely dark." Koji-san said aloud.
"No, not completely." Deena said while she gazed up at the colorful sky, "It will get pretty dark since there won't be any moon, but the stars… the stars will be amazing."
"Really?" Aiko-chan looked up from the valley to the sky above, to see if they were already amazing.
"Not yet, but in a little over an hour, when the last rays of the sun are gone, it should be spectacular."
"Be careful about overselling." Suzume warned Deena.
"I'm serious. As long as we don't get any cloud cover, we should be able to see a meteor shower in the morning." Deena replied.
"Seriously?" Umeki was starting to get excited too.
"What's a meteor shower?" Aiko-chan asked.
"Shooting stars." Umeki replied.
"We can see shooting stars? Really, Deena-chan?" Aiko-chan squealed in excitement.
"Yeah, the Eta Aquarids started a couple of nights ago and will peak about a week from now, but we should be able to see something… oh no." Deena suddenly had a moment of doubt when she remembered something about that particular meteor shower.
"What's wrong?" Aiko-chan asked.
"Um… that meteor shower is strong in the southern hemisphere… where Australia is. But… I don't know how much of it we'll be able to see from Japan. I'm sorry for getting your hopes up." Deena apologized.
"No, it's okay Deena-chan." Yasuko reached up and patted Deena's head as she asked, "So, how early will we need to wake up for this shower thingy?"
"Three o'clock should do it." Deena replied.
"Three o'clock!" several of them gasped.
"Yeah, actually that would be a great time! The meteor shower will be going on and then we'll get to see three more things together. Moonrise will be about three-fifteen, Venus rises about thirty minutes later along with the first rays of the sun, and then we can watch the sunrise!" Deena's enthusiasm didn't allow her to notice their shock and revulsion.
"Deena… I didn't know you were into astrology so much?" Yasuko asked while she tried to find a reason for her to beg off anything that would require her to wake up at three in the morning.
"It's astronomy, and it's really just a hobby." Deena replied and began to notice everyone's reaction to her stargazing proposal. "Yeah, it's… it's just a hobby, so… we don't have to do that. It was just a suggestion."
"I want to see the shooting stars with you, Deena-chan." Aiko-chan pleaded.
"Deena-chan," Yasuko hugged the tall Aussie from behind and leaned her head against Deena's back as she asked, "this is something you want to do with everyone, isn't it? You want to make this memory with your friends and keep it forever, don't you?"
"Yes, Onee-chan." Deena replied.
"Okay then… I'm in." Yasuko agreed, even though waking up early was something she definitely didn't like to do when on vacation.
"We're in!" Umeki said as she raised Suzume's hand with hers.
"I'm used to waking up early for practice so it won't be any problem for me! How about you, Taiga?" Minori asked her long time friend.
"Ugh, I guess so. I mean… since everyone else is doing it." Taiga groaned. She had to rise early for her club activities too, but she had planned on sleeping in late during her vacation.
"Will you come too, Koji-san?" Aiko-chan asked the last, and quietest member of the group.
"This… sounds like something you should do with your friends." Koji-san replied.
"No, I'm pretty sure – making you wake up at three in the morning when you're on your vacation, is something a friend shouldn't do. Ouch!" Taiga rubbed her arm where Minori had punched her.
"Ignoring the Palm Top Turkey of Foolishness," Suzume grated at Taiga, then turned to Koji-san and told her, "we can be your friends too."
"Hey!" Taiga reacted to her maligned and somewhat less endearing nickname.
"You don't want to be my friend." Koji-san said as she turned away from them, "Friends of mine die."
"Well, they were lousy friends anyway." Taiga saw that the look of astonished disgust among her friends so she explained, "What? Either they were lousy friends or Koji-san is the lousy friend. Look, either they were the bad kind of people who want Koji-san to suffer horribly, or they they were good people who would want Koji-san to be happy but she doesn't care what they want, so Koji-san is the bad person. Which is it?"
"Taiga… it's not that simple." Yasuko wanted to explain but she didn't have the words.
"Then what is it?" Taiga asked. She wasn't being argumentative – she just didn't know how to understand this, other than the black and white terms she had already stated.
"It's called survivor guilt." Deena said aloud.
"What?" Taiga asked.
"It's something the military trains us to look out for in our comrades." Deena explained, "Survivor guilt is a symptom of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. It can happen to anyone who survives en event where others did not."
"It's not irrational!" Koji-san yelled at Deena as if to deny something that she had said.
"I never said it was irrational." Deena cocked her head and asked, "Someone tried to tell you that, didn't they?"
Koji-san stopped glaring at Deena and nodded her head.
"Whoever it was… shouldn't have said that." Deena's training had emphasized that certain well-meaning actions could actually set back someone's recovery.
"How is it not irrational?" Minori asked.
Koji-san looked up to yell at the pink haired girl, but Deena answered before she could say anything.
"Guilt and grief are intricately linked to compassion. Emotions aren't logical, so words and ideas like 'rationality' don't really work. At least… that's what I remember from my training." Deena replied.
Minori considered what Deena said, and how it fit into some of the lectures from a few of her 'humanities' classes.
"Still… I don't see how it could be rational to blame yourself… or Haruta, for a tsunami." Taiga opined.
"You don't understand me, so how can you help me?" Koji-san covered her eyes with her hand and continued, "You want to be my friend so you can help me. But you don't understand me so you can't help me. So how can you ever be my friend? It's all so… hopeless."
"Hey hey," Yasuko said as she took the hands of the distraught girl and looked into her eyes, "friends help each other, right? Can't we be your friends if we want to help you?"
"That's why I said it's hopeless. Even if you want to help me, you can't. So, what's the point?" Koji-san rejected the offer but she didn't pull her hands away from Yasuko.
"You've got it all wrong Koji-san." Minori replied with a smile of understanding, "We're not going to begin with us trying to help you. We'll start with you helping us."
"Huh?" Koji-san looked around and saw that only Deena and Yasuko seemed to understand what Minori was driving at.
"You help us to understand you. For now, we'll just listen. We can try to help you later." Yasuko said softly.
For a moment, Deena wondered if Yasuko had also gone through some PTSD support training, but she remembered the stories of Ryuuji's friendless youth. For over a decade, every school day had been a PTSD inducing event for Yasuko's beloved son. Of course she would have developed skills to deal with it.
"You'll just listen to me?" Koji-san asked hopefully.
"For now," Yasuko promised, "then, when we understand you a bit, we can try and help later."
"It… might take a while." Koji-san cautioned Yasuko.
"How long?" Taiga looked at the time on her cell phone and commented, "We need to get to sleep early if we're waking up at three in the morning to look at shooting stars."
"Ignoring the Palm Top Jellyfish of Silliness," Suzume grated at Taiga once again, "I think Onee-chan is saying that you should take all the time you need."
"Hey… now I'm not even a vertebrate now?" Taiga objected.
"Onee-chan?" Koji-san asked.
"It's what everyone calls me." Yasuko answered with a sound of happiness and a touch of pride.
"It would be strange for me to call you Onee-chan, since I am older than you." Koji-san said.
"No you're not." Taiga replied with a muted laugh.
"I'm older than Haruta, you know. How old are you?" Koji-san challenged.
"We don't… talk about age." Deena said quickly, "But suffice it to say that there are a few people who are older than Yasuko that still refer to her as Onee-chan."
"Oh… I see." Koji-san guessed that it was some kind of honorary thing that their group had agreed on. Regardless, there was something she needed to address if she was going to give them a chance to help her, "Please call me Muyuki. I… I don't know if I'm ready to have friends again but, I do appreciate your offer to help me."
"Muyuki-chan it is!" Yasuko cheered.
Muyuki cringed at the 'chan' suffix, but she could see that once Yasuko had announced it, there was little she could do to stop it from being imprinted on the group's collective consciousness.
.
Tuesday late morning, May 3rd – The Hisamitsu Estate in Tokushima
Obāsama found her grandson out in the garden. Noto was pushing a stroller with one of the five month old twins while his wife pushed another with the matching sibling. Ryuuji and Ami pushed a stroller with their son who was almost nine months old. Shinako took a turn at pushing the stroller that carried Yuri's seven month old son. Obāsama thought it a shame that The Major couldn't be with Yuri on this peaceful stroll through the garden, but all of them appreciated his efforts to help Haruta get back on his feet.
Maya nudged Noto when she noticed the family matriarch watching them. He was about to call out to her, to see if she needed him for anything but Ami spoke up first.
"Obāsama, this garden is so beautiful and… peaceful. I can't really ride the horses these days, but I could spend hours in this lovely place." Ami sighed happily as she pulled her stroller up close to the steps where Obāsama was standing.
"It appears that little Tatsuya finds it to be relaxing as well." Obāsama said as she gazed down into the stroller to see the sleeping infant.
"Has something come up?" Noto asked as he and Maya drew close as well.
"Nothing urgent, I can assure you." the old matriarch told them as she glanced at the sleepy children in the strollers. "One of the stablehands has informed me that Taiga-chan's group has been spotted coming down the mountain. They should be here in an hour. Would you like to have lunch with them when they arrive?"
"Should we… contact Haruta too?" Yuri asked. She thought that Haruta would want to see his wife, but the teacher's not-so-hidden desire to see her own husband, was evident as well.
"I have already informed Haruta-kun and The Major, but they are already in Fukuyama." Obāsama replied.
"Ah yes, I had forgotten about that trip." Yuri had barely been awake when her husband kissed her goodbye early that morning. He had said something about running an errand that would take all day, but she couldn't remember the rest.
"I am sorry for monopolizing your husband during your vacation here." Obāsama said apologetically.
"No no, it's quite alright. I know it's something he enjoys and he is helping out one of my precious students as well. I do miss him, but I am also grateful for this opportunity." Yuri bowed to further illustrate her appreciation for all that Obāsama had done for them.
"Please," Obāsama waved off the praise, "this was more Noto-kun's doing than mine. But enough of this mutual admiration festival. We need to hurry if we want to have lunch with our friends who are returning from the cabin."
.
Taiga and the others were less than a kilometer away… in a straight line. But the safe path down the broad Tokushima mountain was anything but straight. Fortunately, there were enough experienced riders in the group to deter anyone from trying to take a risky shortcut.
Taiga entertained the 'shortcut' idea for the briefest of moments, but there were too many risks. Sure it would be fun to clear some fallen logs, a fence, and a few boulders on her well trained horse. But Midnight Star was getting on in years and would never recover from a fall. Aside from that, the others saw her as somewhat of an expert rider and would probably follow her if she started recklessly sprinting down the mountain now. It was hard for her to pass up careless fun, but she knew it was the price that had to be paid for becoming a responsible adult. And, she did like it when the others thought of her that way.
"So, you three were in Haruta's class in high school?" Muyuki asked as her horse slowly plodded after the tail of the horse in front of her. Unlike Taiga's proud black and white stallion, hers seemed to have lost it's spirit with it's youth.
"Ha! No. Minorin and I were in the same class with Haruta." Taiga laughed at the girl's continued confusion at trying to figure out where Yasuko fit in all of these friendships and acquaintances.
"But… you seem to know each other so well?" Muyuki countered. She worried about this always cheerful, beautiful, and… busty young woman that knew all of her husband's friends so well. Now that this diminutive dominatrix of discipline had crashed her pity party, she was concerned that her husband might give up on her and choose someone else. Someone more cheerful like…
"Ya-chan is… older than the rest of us." Taiga thought it was safe to say it like that since Yasuko was proud of her 'Onee-chan' title anyways.
"Really?" Muyuki asked with a tone of disbelief. Okay, she might look older than Taiga, but she doesn't look older than Minori-chan.
"Back at the house are some others from our class. Noto-kun, Maya-chan, Nanako-chan, Ami-chan, and Ryuuji-kun were all in our class and Yuri-sensei was our teacher. You may have heard of Ami-chan before. She used to be called Kawashima Ami, but she married Ryuuji, so she is Takasu Ami now. And Onee-chan's name is Takasu Yasuko." Minori had an idea why Muyuki sounded nervous and decided to give the struggling girl a hint.
"Oh! So… she is called Onee-chan because she is Ryuuji-kun's older sister?" Muyuki concluded.
"Yeah! Let's go with that." Taiga said loudly before anyone else could correct the misunderstanding.
"So you see… there is nothing to fear since Onee-chan is older than Haruta." Minori tried to help the girl, but Muyuki didn't seem reassured.
"I am a few years older than Haruta too." Muyuki admitted.
"A few years?" Taiga asked.
"I would be in my last year at Tohoku University if…" Muyuki's voice trailed off. Nobody needed her to finish the sentence though. Tohoku University was in Sendai where the tsunami had left so much devastation. The fall back into her depression from the painful reminder of the tsunami was interrupted by a cute giggle. Nothing could have been more out of place at that moment and she looked up sharply to see who could dare find humor from what she had said.
"Oh, Muyuki-chan! Don't look so cross." Yasuko's lilting voice was like a song that matched the joyous expression on her face. "You don't know how happy you've made me just now. Thinking that I was a classmate of your sweet Haruta-kun and that I might become your rival. That's just the best!"
Muyuki couldn't tell if this blond vixen was an airhead or heartlessly cruel. At a loss for words, she could only glare at the ecstatic woman.
"But, I can see that you're still upset so I'll tell you a little secret that will make you feel all better. Okay?" Yasuko said as she moved her horse up a little closer to the plain looking girl with the plum colored hair.
The thought crossed Muyuki's mind that if Yasuko wasn't an airhead, the thing she was about to hear could be the cruelest blow yet. But, there was something about the innocence of the blond that made her unsure, so she let the woman come close to hear this magical secret.
"I'm not Ryu-chan's onee… I'm his okāsan." Yasuko said in a quieter voice than usual, but not so quiet that everyone else in their trail group couldn't hear it.
"Huh?" Muyuki's first thought was that she had misheard the woman. Then, she assumed that it was some kind of joke. But the others weren't reacting. "You're… Haruta's classmate's… mother?"
"Yes." Yasuko replied with a giggle.
"No way." Muyuki's disbelief dripped from her reaction.
"It's true." Taiga volunteered.
"But… how can you be his mother when you look younger than Kushieda-san!"
"Hey!" Minori reacted.
"Maybe her athleticism makes Minori-chan seem older than she is?" Deena proposed.
"Huh? Why is this suddenly about me?" Minori demanded.
Muyuki wasn't completely convinced about Yasuko's age, but she couldn't deny the playfulness and camaraderie of everyone else around her. Either they were all so close that they united to plot against her with this ludicrous lie, or… there was no conspiracy and she truly had nothing to worry about. Still surrounded by their levity, Muyuki sighed. Wouldn't that be nice.
.
Tuesday early afternoon, May 3rd – Fukuyama
"Dude, I don't think this is a baseball game." Haruta's comment was as confused as it was obvious.
The flier on the wall at the ramen shop had invited people to come and watch the afternoon baseball games in the park. Since there was no available seating for them in the small restaurant, they took their meals the few blocks over to the athletic center and found a comfortable place in the bleachers. There were a lot of other people in the stands with them, but it wasn't a baseball game that was playing out on the field. Dozens of scantily clad girls seemed to be competing against each other in a variety of skill and talent contests.
Scantily clad girls… thus the nature of Haruta's confusion and The Major's discomfort.
"We should leave." The Major announced while already standing up from the seat he had just found.
"Whoa dude, there's nothin wrong with eating here, right?" Haruta asked, but part of him was already screaming that he was a married man and that there was a lot of things wrong with eating here.
"Haruta, I know Japanese people look younger to westerners, but those girls out there… how old do you thing they are?" The Major asked.
"Uh… high school?" Haruta replied hopefully, but some of the girls looked like they might be younger than that. Maybe a lot younger.
"Even if they are… we are adult, married men and not related to any of them. How do you think that's going to look?" The Major warned.
"It's a total bummer dude… but you're right." Haruta agreed and collected his things to leave.
Just a few steps away from the bleachers, they heard a shrill voice yell at them. "Why are you walking out on their performance? That's just rude!"
"Whu… you mean us?" Haruta asked as they both turned around to see who was upset with them.
"They're trying the best they can, you know." a small girl with clenched fists was fighting back tears while she chewed out the two men, "All of those girls… this is their dream… their big chance! And you're just walking away? How could you be so cruel?"
Haruta and The Major looked at each other, then back at the distraught girl. The Major knelt in front of the girl and asked, "I believe there is some misunderstanding. Exactly, who do you think we are?"
"Um… aren't you the judges from Tokyo?" the girl asked.
"No way. We're just here to buy horse and stable stuff." Haruta replied
"Huh?" the girl was stunned, but still had the presence of mind to ask, "But then… why are you here?"
"A flier in a ramen shop said we could watch a baseball game while eating lunch." The Major answered while holding up his sealed ramen bowl as evidence.
"Oh… I guess that means the judges haven't come yet. I thought it was you two since they were described as a tall goofy looking guy and a European." the downcast girl explained.
"Hey…" Haruta didn't think the girl was trying to be mean, but that explanation seemed a little harsh.
"I'm an American, not a European. And Haruta here is… well, I guess he is kinda goofy looking. I can see how you could have made that mistake." The Major tried to console the sad girl.
"HEY!" Haruta once again felt that he was being picked on unfairly.
"I'm sorry. It's just that… everyone got so excited when you arrived. I… I thought for sure…" the girl covered her eyes with her forearm to hide the tears.
"Are you one of the competitors?" The Major asked softly.
"No, I'm just here to cheer for my nee-san." the little girl sniffled.
Haruta's ire evaporated when he saw the little girl struggle so hard not to cry in front of them. After taking a deep breath he asked, "So… what kinda competition is it?"
"It's a sorta talent competition to see if any of them might get picked for an idol group that the talent agency is putting together." the girl told them.
"Talent agency?" The Major got a bad feeling just then, "Do you know what talent agency it was?"
"Yes. It was…"
.
Tuesday early afternoon, May 3rd – The Hisamitsu Estate in Tokushima
"The Kuroi Kaisha Talent Agency." Ryuuji said with a groan. After all the trouble that firm had caused him and his friends, he hadn't wanted to hear that name again… ever. Unfortunately, he had just listened to The Major's story of what had happened in Fukuyama, and had guessed who the guilty party was.
His memories flashed back to that eventful meeting with the scumbag from that talent agency who had come to force Ami into a terrible contract. And now he had to consider that the fault for the talent agents not showing up… might be his. The trick to get that idiot agent to confess the agency's wrongdoing to the internet had all but destroyed the company. Indeed, the only reason they still existed was because their records had been seized pending an investigation of various criminal practices.
"What do you want me to do?" The Major asked. Knowing that Ryuuji had already announced that he was getting out of the entertainment business, he hadn't made any promises to the girl. Indeed, he hadn't even told her who he was calling. But he did say that he would try to help if he could. And in this kind of situation, Ryuuji was the only person he could think of. The scary looking but big-hearted young man was the only one he knew, that might be able to do something for these girls.
"Major… I would like to help them. I really would. But… if I do, I'll be dragging everyone back into that mess with me." Ryuuji felt a pang of regret that he had even said that much. He suspected that his friends had been hurt more than they had let on. Hisako was as tough as a battleship and hadn't suffered so much. Ami had some experience with the fickle life of celebrity too. But the others… Suzume, Aiko-chan, and Yuri-sensei.
"I'm ready to go back to work. You won't be dragging me anywhere." Hisako said defiantly.
Ryuuji looked up and noticed that everyone had been listening to the conversation. But, before he could reply to Hisako, others chimed in with their votes.
"Me too!" Suzume bounced on her tiptoes, "I just want to have fun with everyone like we used to."
"Don't you dare try to blame this on Aiko-chan," Ami nodded over to where the little girl stood between Deena and Yuri. "She feels the same as Suzume and her parents are even okay with it… as long as it's the same arrangement we had before."
"The same arrangement…" Ryuuji took a deep breath as he considered his wife's words. That arrangement involved more than just the performers and himself. He knew his mother would be thrilled if they went back to their performance careers. She loved the excitement and the travel… which were things that she hadn't had much of until then. The real concern was of course…
"I… I think Ryuuji might be right." Yuri-sensei stuttered as she looked around at all the expectant eyes. Everyone, except Ryuuji. "Think about how sad you were when it seemed like everyone was against you. You… you're all so young and shouldn't be in a position to be hurt like that."
"Sensei," Ryuuji paused as he summoned up the words, "Everyone else was hurt to some degree, but honestly… I think it was the worst for you. Your reliability was questioned and you almost lost your job."
"No, I…" Yuri remembered the crushing fear from the time when she had been called into the administration office to respond to the allegations against her. But that moment aside, she had worried about young Suzume and little Aiko-chan more than her own situation.
"Ryuuji-kun," the deep voice came from the phone in Ryuuji's hand. Everyone had forgotten that The Major was still connected to the conversation. "Listen to me for a moment. I'm sorry if I didn't convey our situation to you, and caused you additional grief. Yuri was never in as much trouble as you thought. The way some of those people tried to get rid of her might have worked on an inexperienced person who thought they were alone. But she wasn't alone. We had a very good lawyer on our side."
"Oh?" Ryuuji blinked as a stifling guilt that had been bothering him seemed to evaporate away.
"That's true, but still… you're young and you should be enjoying your school life." Yuri tried to sound persuasive but she could see that her arguments were just glancing off the eager and hopeful faces.
"Sensei?" Taiga slyly glanced up at her former teacher, "It's not nice to ruin everyone's fun. You're not gonna get all emotional and stubborn, are you? You know, like the way you were that time around your birthday, or that other time just before Christmas and New Year. Has The Major ever heard those stories? I'll bet he'd love to hear about how you signed up for a real-estate course because you couldn't…"
"YES!" Yuri shouted nervously, "The singing and dancing thing sounds great! Let's do it! Let's all have fun again!"
Deena picked up Aiko-chan and spun around in their shared excitement. Suzume and Umeki were doing a little victory dance together. Ami stepped into Ryuuji's arms and gave him a warm hug. But not everyone was thrilled with the decision.
Yasuko pulled her dejected friend into an embrace and patted her head.
"Onee-chan, I… I just wanted to do what was right for the children." Yuri whimpered.
"I know you did." Yasuko said compassionately, "You did your best."
"I failed." Yuri said as she let her head fall down on Yasuko's shoulder.
"No, you didn't." the ever-cheerful blond said with a smile, "You let them know how much you care, and that's a good thing. But, it's also good to let children do something that excites them and lets them have fun. And, if it takes up a lot of their time and interferes with proper schooling, it's important to have you there - to keep them focused on those important things as well."
Not too far away from where the mother consoled the teacher, Ami reached for the phone in Ryuuji's hand. He sighed while he accepted the decision that had just been made for him. Then he handed her the phone.
"Hello Major." Ami said calmly while luxuriating in Ryuuji's embrace.
"Ami-chan?" The Major hadn't expected to suddenly hear her voice.
"Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do for them today. But, if they could give you their contact information, I will have my very own agent and manager call them to discuss a better time and place."
"Uh… Ami-chan, I don't think they would believe me." The Major said quietly. He wondered if anyone would be gullible enough to believe a foreigner who tells them to give him their contact information because one of the top performers in the country wanted it.
"You're probably right." Ami chuckled a little then said, "Hand them the phone. I think I could convince them pretty quickly."
.
Stunned silence.
Shocked disbelief.
Gasps of understanding.
Screams of excitement.
.
Glossary
Nee-san (nee-chan, nee-sama): older sister, but not oldest sister – which would be onee-san.
Paddock: a fenced enclosure where horses are kept.
PTSD: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder.
Sōzu: A water feature found in Japanese gardens. A short length of bamboo on a pivot will slowly fill with water until it rotates to let the water out. Once empty, it falls back against a rock and makes a 'tock' or 'thunk' sound.
Stablehand: a person who works with horses in a stable.