Reunited – Chapter 28

It’s already late and the minor moon is setting when Jiro messages. They arrived at Hideki’s apartment and are going to start looking for Sasaki the next morning. I lie in bed with Kumo and stare out into space until I can’t keep my eyes open anymore. Sleep is not kind to me. I dream about the woods and forests and stars, and I wake up in the morning, sweating and exhausted. Jiro isn’t next to me. Instead, a big, white, hairy mound with four paws up in the air occupies his space. Dogs are strange.

Lucy treats me to coffee in the morning out on the porch, and we don’t talk about the men being gone. What’s done is done.

“This coffee you bought in Izumo is so smooth. I love it.”

“Me too. It’s not bitter at all.”

She sits back in her lounge chair and brings her knees up under the blanket thrown over her legs. I wiggle my toes under Kumo at my feet. We sit silently, watching a bird bathe in the garden pond and sip for a while before Lucy sighs.

“Did Mark ever tell you that you’re the reason he and I got together?”

“No, really? How did that happen?” I set my coffee mug down and turn towards her, eager for Sakai gossip.

She smiles at me from the corner of her eyes. “We had been working together for a few years. Just normal political stuff with the clans and representing special interests, as he does. I had a major crush on him, but I was careful not to let it show. And then you graduated from school. You were sixteen?”

“Yes.”

“You applied for the engineering sponsorship with another boy from your school. You know Mark watched you from a young age, right?” I nod. “You were up for this big position, and he was worried you wouldn’t get it because the other boy’s father had contacts even though his grades were far worse than yours.”

I remember this kid. William. He was in engineering because his father wanted him to be.

“So Mark came to me about you.”

“Really? That’s pretty bold, going all the way to the top.”

“Well, I realize now I wasn’t as careful about not showing my feelings as I thought I was.” She smiles again. “So anyway, I fixed it that year for two sponsorships to become available. It wasn’t a big deal — certainly wasn’t the first time it had ever happened — and funnily enough, the other boy dropped out after only three months, and you soared to the top. Mark and I both watched you go through the system from there on out, and I was really taken by the way he cared for you. I finally got the guts to make my move after attending a few summer festivals with him.” She laughs and sips at her coffee. “I was so nervous. Anyway…”

She reaches over and grasps my hand.

“You’ve been a part of my life for a long time, Sanaa. This is not the end for us. Try not to panic, okay?”

“Okay, Lucy. I’ll try.” I squeeze her hand, and we both let go to drink more coffee.

“Here.” She hands me her tablet. “Take a look at the last images we got from the ships in orbit.”

Our Yamato, this little town, will easily hold both the first and second wave settlers should they want to stay here, but Lucy and I feel we need to know the continent in case we have to evacuate. The ships sent these new photos last night before they left orbit and even Jiro hasn’t seen them yet. I swipe to a photo of a wide grass prairie in the north near the equator bordered by a desert to the east. This area appears to be largely uninhabited and must be the Nogusa-hara and Kōbuchi Desert Hiro was talking about when he was here. We should consider hiding out there if we need to. The majority of the population on Yūsei lives on the East Coast. Only Izumo has any discernible population here on the West Coast.

“I think that prairie is our best bet,” I say, handing the tablet back.

“I agree. There are more photos to show you, though, but I need to go over my correspondence. I’ll come visit you later.”

I sit and finish the coffee on the porch until my mug grows cold. The sun climbs higher in the sky, and its warmth creeps across the porch and brightens Kumo to blinding proportions. The kitchen door slides open and out comes Oyama with his gardening gear. He now owns a few rakes, a small shovel, a bucket and some gloves, most of which were left behind in the storage area next to the kitchen.

“Can I help, Oyama? I don’t have any plans this morning.”

“Of course. The sun will be over the whole garden soon. You should get your hat.”

After retrieving my hat and sweater from my room, I sit next to Oyama by one of the gardening beds, and he indicates which plants are weeds and what should stay.

“When we’re done pulling them up, we’ll plant carrots and parsnips here. I’m going to clear out this next bed and plant mizuna and a few other greens in there, but we’ll need to put netting over the top to keep the rabbits out.”

Gardening is good, mind-numbing work, although if Oyama weren’t here I’d be pulling up all the wrong things. I love green plants and trees, but this is my first time ever having to tell them apart or get my hands into soil.

For an hour, I rip up weeds while Oyama works in the next bed over, and Kumo sleeps in the sun next to me. The crunching sound of approaching feet on the gravel jerks me out of my reverie. Miko is heading straight for me. She’s rough around the edges, her hair not quite combed and wearing mis-matched pajamas with socks, slippers, and a sweater.

“Morning, Miko.” I pat the edge of the garden bed, which is a good place to sit while I work away. She gingerly sets herself down, and I pause for a minute to examine her. “You look hungover. How was the rest of the party? Did you drink after most people left?”

“Nope, and the rest of the party was lovely. I’m sorry you had to leave so suddenly.” She folds her arms across the tops of her legs and lays her head down on them.

I set my gloves and shovel aside. Something is definitely wrong with Miko. She’s listless and pale, and I’ve never once seen her depressed. “Are you sick? You’ve been so tired, and you don’t look well. Maybe you should go see a doctor.”

She rubs her face and laughs. “Oh, Sanaa, I’m not sick. I’m pregnant.”

“Miko!” I gasp before I throw my arms around her and hug her tight. “No wonder. I should have put two and two together a few days ago. Congratulations! I’m so happy for you and Yoichi.”

Miko smiles wanly, and Oyama bows when she turns to him. “Congratulations. That is excellent news.”

“Oyama, I’ve been so nauseous. I came to see you both because I can’t keep anything down, especially in the mornings, and I’m so tired. I used to love the smell of food cooking and now it makes me want to throw up. Being at the izakaya last night was torturous.”

“Well, you didn’t look it. I’ll give you that. Tired, sure, but I had no idea.”

Oyama nods. “It was a great opening night. Maybe you’d like some bland soups and bread for a few weeks. And you should eat small amounts all day. That will help. I cooked for both of my pregnant cousins in Nishikyō before I met Sanaa. They were the same way.”

“Thanks. Those are good ideas. Fresh air helps, too.” She takes a deep breath through her nose and blows it out slowly. “So I went and saw a doctor in town yesterday. No more hot baths for me. I have to go in last once the water is cool. I have to keep walking, and now I have to take some gods awful vitamins too that I can barely choke down. I hope this passes quickly.”

“I think it’s supposed to.” I squeeze her knee and smile. This is the best kind of sickness. I was worried she had caught some alien bug.

She stands up and brushes herself off. “I didn’t get to tell Jiro or Mark before they left. You’ll tell him next time you talk?”

“Of course. I would love to pass on this happy news,” I say, pressing my hand to my chest.

Yay! A baby! Now, I just have to wait the nine or so months until I can hold the sweet baby in my arms and tell him or her all about Nishikyō and this new world we live on.

I return to pulling weeds and don’t think about the ninety percent chance I won’t live to meet this baby.

—-

I want to stick to my normal routine, so after lunch, I head to the dōjō ready to work out. Kentaro sits alone on the mats, stretching his hamstrings and calves.

“Did we lose Usagi?”

“Yes, for today. Helena had a doctor’s appointment down in town and he said he’d go with her. Do you still want to spar?” He’s stretches his shoulders and winces. “Dammit, I pulled something in practice the other day.”

Hmmm, I can’t have Kentaro injured and unable to workout with me. “Helena has been teaching me some massage therapy tricks since her left hand is still paralyzed. Would you like me to work out that knot for you?” I place my wooden sword back in the rack and stretch my fingers.

“Uh, no, that’s okay.”

“Really. It could help.” I smile and raise my hands to his shoulder, but he twists away from me.

“No! Really, Sanaa. No, you should definitely not give me a massage. In fact, I think I’m going to skip practice today. I need to visit my mother anyway. Later.”

Kentaro grabs his shirt at the door and sprints down the gravel sidewalk to the main house.

What the hell is going on with him? I sigh and plop down on the mats. First the excessive drinking and the way he yelled at Hideki last night? I’ve never seen him so intense. I don’t understand Kentaro lately, and now he’s left me alone when I could use his company. All I wanted to do was fight and play and forget about the impending deadline. This may be my last day of freedom.

Now what? I guess I should practice forms by myself for a while since I’m already here and my muscles are tight from leaning over in the garden all morning. Returning to the rack, I choose a sword and work on forms for an hour with my eyes open and closed. Iaido is not heart pumping action like sparring is, but I clear my mind and lose myself in the precision of each movement. Practicing forms is meditation for me.

“Sanaa?” Beni stands at the door, watching me, but my back is turned to her. I was staring at the knots in the wood in the wall.

“Yes, Beni?” I return the sword to the rack and grab a towel.

“You’re so peaceful when you practice. I can see why you like it so much.”

“Thank you,” I say, bowing to her.

“Where is everyone?”

“Usagi went to town with Helena and then Kentaro ditched me.” I shrug my shoulders. “Don’t know why.”

Beni’s lips quirk in a sad smile before she strides forward to take my hand. “Momo is giving birth right now, and I didn’t think you’d want to miss it.”

“Oh wow. Yes!” I drop the towel on the floor and run with her through the outer gardens, past Yoichi and Miko’s house, through the gate and inner gardens, and straight to my room. Mariko is already in there, standing at a respectful distance, but watching through the closet door.

“Look, Sanaa. She’s had four already.”

I peek in at Momo, and she’s in the process of squeezing out a whole other kitten while the other four mewl and squeak at her belly, their eyes closed. Maybe she’s had kittens before, because she’s not panicking, just lying and growling low and long. My insides cramps in solidarity. This must hurt like crazy.

“All of the information I found on cats giving birth says to give them lots of space and not interfere unless something is wrong, but she looks like she’s doing all right.” Mariko nods with her arms crossed. She’s had two children, although not at the same time, so I trust her judgment.

A wet and disgusting kitten hits the nest from the end of Momo, and she is relieved for a moment before inclining her head back and licking her newborn. Something’s not right about this one, though. He’s stiff and bent in the wrong direction.

“Oh no, I don’t think that one made it.” Looking around the floor, I find one of Jiro’s white t-shirts and slowly creep up on the closet. I get down on my hands and knees to examine the unmoving kitten. I place two fingers under his jaw, but he’s already cold, the poor thing. I gently drape the shirt over him and scoop him up. I’ll bury him in the yard behind the dōjō later.

Momo meows lightly at me, and I can tell she’s done. Her belly isn’t moving anymore, but four happy, nursing kittens are now where once there were none. “I’m sorry about this one, Momo.”

Sitting back on my feet, I hold the poor, dead kitten in my lap.

“I’m sorry Jiro wasn’t here for this.”

—-

I bury the kitten behind the dōjō using Oyama’s gardening trowel and then eat a quiet dinner with everyone. We move Momo and her new family into a fresh box lined with soft blankets, but I leave her in the closet. I don’t want anything sneaking in and killing any of the kittens.

Once the sun sets, I sit in the lounge chair outside while I wait for Jiro to get online, tip my head back, and stargaze. If I watch the stars for an extended period of time, I can see their progression across the sky at night. I think there must be other planets in this system because a few bright stars peek out before the rest fill in the spaces in between. Behind my head, the minor moon is rising, and in a couple of hours, the major moon will be right behind it. I wonder if I can start to plan some constellations in my head…

Ping!

I’m so surprised that I fumble my tablet and almost drop it on the ground.

“Good evening. Are you out watching the stars without me?” Jiro asks.

“Ha! Yes. They miss you, as do I. Are you okay?”

“Mark and I are back in Hideki’s apartment. We walked all over the city today looking for Arata Sasaki, but according to everyone we met, he’s returned to his town in the mountains.”

My stomach sinks way down low, and my hands start to shake. This was not the news I was hoping for.

“Oh no.”

“Try not to worry. Mark has been examining the images we got from orbit and the shuttle is picking us up tomorrow morning and landing us outside his town.”

“I feel sick.” I do. My stomach has shrunk to the size of a pebble, and I’m ready to lose what little I ate at dinner.

“Please try not to panic. I’m going to do everything I can to get back to you by the afternoon tomorrow. But here’s the other news I have. We saw several shrines in town, and they’re all the same as the first. You’re a deity! Or will be. Hideki feels awful. He was ready to throw himself off of a cliff yesterday.”

“Well, he was pretty brutal with me. Anyway, doesn’t matter.”

“Don’t say that.”

I don’t know what else to say. There’s only another twenty-four hours left.

“Did I miss anything today?” he asks.

“Momo had her kittens! Five in total, but one died. I was… really sad. I buried the poor thing out behind the dōjō.”

“I’m so sorry, Sanaa. For everything.”

I know he’s apologizing for so much, so much that is not his fault, nor even really mine, but all revolves around me somehow. My fate, my heritage, everything.

“I love you,” I write back.

“I love you, too.”

“Anyway, you’re making me cry, and I have other good news to deliver. In about nine months time, you’ll be an uncle. Miko is pregnant.”

There is an extended amount of silence on Jiro’s end, and I wonder if we’ve been cut off.

“Now you’ve made me cry.”

“Oh, but it’s happy news. Don’t be upset.”

“I’m upset because it’s not us.”

I regret turning the implant back on, but who knows where I’ll be a week from now, a month from now? Much less nine months from now.

“Please let Mark know. I’m sure he’ll be pleased. And let him know I miss him too.”

“I will. I have to go. I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“I understand. I miss you. Sleep well.”

“Tell everyone we’re fine and give Momo an extra scratch from me. I can’t wait to see the kittens when I get back.”

“Sleep well.”

I watch the tablet screen until Jiro’s name grays out and fades away.