Thursday, April 3, 2008

   Takara: Treasure
This is a Short Story I wrote for creative writing class. Please enjoy! ^_^

“Wish me luck, Mairead.” She whispered to the pendant around her neck, as she reached for her ID on her short Japanese styled desk. It had Japanese books, a laptop, a stack of fresh paper, and a mug filled with pencils, and pens. After making sure she was decent, she waltzed outside for a brief walk.

“WAAAAIT!” She ran, pushing her way through the ridiculous Tokyo crowds. “PLEASE!!! JUST--!” She pushed her way through the sea of faceless people, “FOR ME!!!” She tripped, and scraped her knee, “AH!” She cried, catching a few glances from the faceless crowd. A boy ran behind her, and asked her something in Japanese, but she didn’t have time to wonder about what he said (AKA, translate it into English).

SWHUAAAAAAA! The bullet train was leaving. She got-up, ignoring the stinging pain; it wasn’t as bad as her mind was making her think, she reasoned, besides, unlike taxies, trains have a little harder time stopping for lollygaggers.
She just managed to squeeze onto the train, and find a hand rail before the train took off. “I—made—it” She gasped-out each word, trying to catch her breath. “T-take that—fate,” She giggled deliriously. If she had missed this train, she would have had to take a taxi.

It was now only a few minuets before she would get to work. She didn’t have to go outside of Tokyo, but she didn’t feel like taking a taxi. Either way she’d be in some over crowed place, traveling to work; if she had to be uncomfortable, she would prefer it be in a speedy style. That’s the only complaint she’s had of Tokyo so far, after 2 months of living here—it’s too crowded! “Maybe I can move to Kyoto after collage.” She laughed. “Hey—it’s a dream,” she whispered to herself, moving a curly red lock of hair from her green eyes, as she started to day dream.

The train stopped, snapping the girl out of it. Everyone started rushing off the train. The good thing about being last on, is being first off. She wasn’t late, so she didn’t rush herself; the Toho studio was only 3 blocks away. The stinging on her knee was getting worse. “Just my imagination,” she murmured quietly to herself, not bothering to check the scrape.

She let herself into the studio with her Toho ID card, which hung discreetly around her neck, it read: Swan Sara Sharada, from right to left, in Kanji. She always asked people to call her Sara.
She smiled; I know I’m early…but, just how early? She wondered. She perked-up when spotted her boss. Before starting a conversation, they both bowed; A conditioned reflex for her by now.
“O-haiyo desu Yikimora-san! Ima Nanji da?” Good morning Mr. Yukimora! What time is it? She asked.
“O-hai-yo Suuwanu-chan. Hachi-ji desu.” Good morning Miss Swan. It is Eight o` clock. “Anata wa hayai hi yo,” You’re early today! Mr.Yikimora replied.
“Hai! Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu! Wagata.” Yes! Thank-you-very-much! I know! Sara giggled at the end.
“Saa, anata wa Shigoto ima.” Alright, you get to work now.
“Hai.” Yes sir. I said. Already…? We must be filming today, she thought.


Sara walked onto the dressing room, and checked her scrape. “Great. It’s bleeding.” She frowned, then proceeded to clean the scrape, when she realized, that her necklace was gone. “Wait… Oh! Shimatta!!!” She felt her heart sink; that was the necklace her best friend, Mairead, gave her before she left to study aboard in Japan. She sank, down to the cold dressing-room floor, her eyes swelling with salty tears. “I—It must have d—dropped when I—I… fell.”

She started to cry; surly someone had picked it up by now, and she would never see it again. She just sat there, with her head in her knees crying for a few minuets, until she remembered what her boss would have said, ‘Mai Re Shou Go ON!!!’ It was his best English. She smiled. “I must sound that silly to them sometimes.” She got-up, drying off her glistening tears, she was glad she was alone. “Sugoi. Coming in early really does pay off sometimes…” she hiccupped, and smiled a little.

Sara ended-up filming with everyone else. It took a few takes, but eventually they got the scene ‘Kampekina,’ perfect. Sara played the lead role in a comedy, as a Gaijin, or foreigner. Sara actually had a nice time, despite the melancholy feeling of missing something that had seriously become part of her.

“Oi! Anata kore wa otoshi-mashte.” Hey! You dropped this! “Dozo!” Please Take it. A boy, who didn’t look older then 17, was holding Sara’s pendant in his hands, offering it to her. He seemed to be beautiful in every way, If only he were older, she found herself thinking in the back of her mind.

Salty tears swelled in her eyes again, she tried to blink them back, and she did her best not to hug the boy; hugging in rude in public here. she always had to remind herself. She bowed deeply, as deep as she could. “D—Domo Arigatou Gozaimasu yo!!!!” T—Thank-you-very-much!!! She stuttered. “I don’t know how to express my gratitude in Japanese, but… Thank-you. Thank-you!”
He smiled, “That… is fine, Sara-san.” He replied, he had a definite Japanese accent.
“You can speak English?”
“A little.” He smiled. “More then you know in Japanese.” The more he spoke, the better he got. “I am a little… rusty.” She gave a sage-like smile. “I am just glad that I was able to return your takara…ano… treasure to you.”
“It is my treasure isn’t it?” Sara felt much lighter, possibly a little giddy even. “I like you, kid.” She laughed.
“Who are you calling a child?” He asked, looking rather offended, “I am 22.”
“No-Way. That’s… You’re the same age as me.” I blushed at my earlier thoughts.
“Honton, sugoi!?” Really? Cool. He replied.
“Would you like to go out, for dinner? It is the least I could repay you for returning this to me.” Sara Asked, smiling broadly, it felt like nothing could burst her bubble.
“Not today—how about tomorrow?” He asked.
“Sure.” She smiled.
“Oi…” Hey, “I’ve got a question,” He turned and looked me in the eyes.
“Yes?”
“Would you have asked me out to dinner If I didn’t tell you I was 22?” Sara Blushed.
“…” She was speechless for a moment. The truth is, no she wouldn’t have. “No.” She laughed. “No I wouldn’t have. I would have offered to buy you some ice-cream.”
“How old did you think I was?” He looked interested, and hurt at the same time, a hard look to pull-off.
“…17.”
“You make me feel young.” He sighed. “Can’t you wait until I’m 30?” He laughed. Sara laughed too.
“Well, lets hope this new friendship lasts that long!” She laughed. “By the way, I never got your name! Isn’t that rude here…?”
“Yes. It is. You caught me.” He blushed. “It’s Tasuka Ren. Just call me Ren, please.” Ren said. He was right, in the beginning he was just a little rusty, he was starting to sound like he had almost no accent.
“Well, Ren-kun, I am Swan Sara Sharada. PLEASE just call me Sara.” She laughed, as she got out some paper, and a pen. “Can I have your number?”
“Sure.” He grabbed the paper, and scribbled his information on it, Sara followed suit.
“Well… I hope I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You will.” He smiled.


Owari! The End!

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