Thursday, June 30, 2005

   Basking in the glow of the computer monitor

Wednesday night and I have run out of nautical jokes! Don't all cheer at once now!

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Well, I did a little more Java again today. Yay. Otherwise not much happened. I did decide I want a root beer float. My brother & I went to the grocery store and the local convenience store and both of them were out of vanilla ice cream! So there was no root beer floats for us tonight!

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Well, since nothing exciting happened, I will give you the next part of my story. Feel free to scroll past it and get to the interesting things below it.

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Promises were made that day. Hikaru remembered that much. He was reminded of the promises one day shortly after he had sold the dojo to cover the debts left after his father’s death. Promises were made, and those promises had been broken.

Enough money was made in the sale to take care of the debts as well as allow Takeda to find a modest home for Hikaru. They were both beginning to settle in when a man came to their door. Takeda answered.

The man bowed respectfully. “Forgive the intrusion, please,” he said. “My name is Ikezawa. I served with Nakamura-san in the war. It is my duty to return him to his family. I understand there is a son.”

“Yes, there is a son,” Takeda answered. “He is resting now. He has been ill. Where is Nakamura?”

“At the temple undergoing preparation for the funeral.”

“Thank you, Ikezawa-san. I will inform Hikaru-kun and we will be there shortly.”

Hikaru came into the room behind Takeda. “No need, sensei,” he said. “I heard everything. Let us go to the temple.”

“Of course, Hikaru-kun.”

That had been the day before, and now the wake had begun. Hikaru thought back to the day his father had left. “Promise me you’ll be careful, father,” he had said. “Promise you’ll come back.”

Master Yoshihiro smiled at his son and said, “Of course, my bright boy, I promise I will come back to you. Promise me you’ll run the dojo in my absence.”

“Of course, father.”

That was the last Hikaru had seen his father until the day his remains were returned to Kamakura. Now he thought of those promises. His father had broken both promises and he had broken the one he had made as well. Once again tears came to Hikaru.
***
“There were signs and signals, sir, but I’m afraid I didn’t realize it until it was too late,” Yonaha said. “The dojo was sold in secret and your grandson was moved out during the night. I tried to speak with him, but the servant Takeda intervened.”

Nakamura had arrived in Kamakura the day after Yoshihiro’s body was returned. He had received a cable from Yonaha telling of this. “Have you found where they went?” he asked.

“No, sir, Ashida-san is looking into that himself. However, I think they will be at the temple. The wake was held today.”

“We will not disturb them today, Yonaha-san, but we will attend the funeral rites. Things may not have been right between my son and I these past sixteen years, but he was still my son. I must make amends with what is left of my family.”

“Of course, Nakamura-san. I understand.”

“Leave me now. I need to think.” Nakamura dismissed Yonaha.

Yonaha bowed and left the room. Ashida was waiting outside. “Well?” he asked.

“We’re doing nothing today,” Yonaha said. “He wants to be alone.”

“He’s not going to attend the wake? Why not? It’s his son.”

“Yes, it’s his son. It’s also a time for the close family and friends to pay their respects. I don’t know if you remember this but Nakamura-sama did not speak to his son for sixteen years. He does not feel it would be right for him to intrude.”

Ashida was not happy at the inaction of his superior. He felt it was his duty to contact the boy and bring him to his grandfather. He did not like this sitting back and doing nothing. With a slight expression of disappointment, he left the inn.

Yonaha followed. “Where are you going? Nakamura-san said not to disturb them today.”

“I’m going for a walk by the shore,” Ashida lied and headed toward the shore leaving Yonaha behind outside the inn. He walked partway to the shore and turned toward the temple.

The wake service was already ended and only the servant Takeda was visible. Ashida paid his respects, fully aware of Takeda’s eyes upon him. As he left he offered his condolences at the loss of his friend.

Takeda politely accepted the sentiment and said, “I know Nakamura-san is here. I will not object to his presence at the funeral, but please tell him not to approach Hikaru-kun. Not at the funeral.”

Ashida was taken aback at this request. “Of course, I understand. I will tell him.”

“Thank you. I will leave it up to Hikaru to make contact. If he does not wish to speak to him, I hope Nakamura-san will honor that wish.”

“Yes, I will tell him that as well.” Ashida bowed and left the temple to return to the inn.
***
On the eve of the funeral, strangers arrived at the Nakamura dojo. A man opened the gate and asked after their business.
Midori stepped forward and said, “Good evening. Please forgive the intrusion, but we are seeking a young boy that may live here.”

The man eyed Midori and her companions with suspicion. “There is no boy here. He has left. This dojo is mine now.”

“May I ask where he has gone?”

“I don’t know where he is living now. Even if I did, I would not tell you. Master Yoshihiro’s body was returned and the wake was held today. Good evening.” The man slid the gate closed.

Midori turned and explained what she had learned to Samantha and Doctor Murphy.

“Well, Sam,” Murphy said, “what do we do now? You were so sure this was the place we’d find your boy.”

Sam was looking at the large statue of the Buddha. “This is the place,” she said. “The statue is in the right spot from how I saw it. I know he’s here somewhere.” A look of frustration crossed her face.

“Well, we probably won’t get anywhere tonight, so let’s see if there’s an inn. All right, ladies?”
Sam and Midori agreed, and they walked to the main part of town. They soon found an inn where they found rooms. As they sat in the main dining area, Sam and Murphy drew many curious glances from both patrons and the staff.

Murphy watched a large boy working around the dining room. “Is that him?”

Sam looked at the boy and shook her head. “Uh uh…He’s too big and he’s not silver. Also, his hair is too short. The silver boy has a braid.”

“Braid. Got it,” Murphy said. The large boy brought their food to the table and bowed before he continued working. Murphy picked up the chopsticks. “Oh, this is going to be interesting.”

Midori smiled and showed both Murphy and Sam how to use chopsticks. “It’s really quite easy,” she said.

Sam and Murphy looked at each other and laughed. The rest of the meal was rather entertaining as the two Americans struggled with their chopsticks.

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It's about time Sam was back in the story, right? Yep, things are starting to come together. More to follow one of these days...

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Okay, here's the interesting stuff after the story. I'm almost to another milestone here. I will hit that milestone sometime during the next 24 hours. Yes, I have almost broken 3000 hits! Woohoo! I'll have to come up with something as a thank you.

Well, that's about it for excitement tonight, so I leave you to your own devices.

Laters!

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