Chapter 1 - one, two, three
Kame burst into the hospital room, a little out of breathe from having rushed all the way from the train station. “Grandma, Grandma, are you alright?”
The old lady on the hospital bed looked up pointedly “I’m not dead yet if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Awwww, that’s not what I meant, it’s just I received a phone call so urgently, I thought something terrible happened to you!”
“Well otherwise how could I make you come to visit me?”
“I’m glad you’re not in any immediate danger, but what happened? How’d you end up here?” Kame asked.
“Just a hip injury, fell off some stairs and fractured something. It’s not serious but at my age everything takes a long time to heal,” The old lady assured.
“It sounds pretty serious, grandma, do you want me to stay with you and help you until you recover?”
“Yes I do want your help but not here. The reason I called you here is because, well you know the Akanishi household. We are both indebted to them for treating us kindly through the years, especially when I was raising you up single-handedly. And now that I’m injured and have to rest for a couple months, I’m worried that there will be nobody to take care of JinJin”
“Who’s JinJin?” Kame looked puzzled, he’s only met Mr. and Mrs. Akanishi once when he was in his teens and grandma never talked about her work with him.
“He’s my charge, a sweet kid. So I want you to take my place for the next couple of months and help me out. You can do that right?.”
Kame started to furrow his eyebrows “I’d do anything for you but Grandma, you know I have my own work as well.”
“But this is an off season for travel, and Auntie Jane and Uncle Richard have enough helpers around. I can talk to them too if need be. You won’t need to worry about being taken care of financially of course, plus it’ll be a nice change of scenery. And really, you’re the only one I trust for this job.” Grandma loked at him earnestly.
“Oh alright, but only because you really want me to do it” and Kame pouted a little. He knew he’d miss his animal friends and the other employees that treated him like family. But never one to refuse others in need, especially someone as dear to him as his grandma, he decided to take the plunge. It’s only temporary, and I should trust Koki and gang to do a good job back at the reserve he thought to himself.
~ ~ ~
After calling with Auntie Jane and working out details for his temporary leave, (“don’t worry we’ll survive without you,” she assured him, he could hear Koki shouting ‘We miss you’ in the back) his grandma gave her grandson the address to the Akanishi household and immediately sent him on his way.
It has been a while since he's navigated the subway system in Tokyo, especially with his luggage slowing him down. He was proud he still remembered the shortcuts within the transfer stations and which exits the escalators were located.
2273 Takeno Street, he re-read the address scribbled on his hand.
“Ah where is it?” Kame exclaimed, it was already past dusk and he hoped he wouldn’t have to wander around in an unknown neighbourhood in the dark.
He took out his map of the district and looked intently at the small script, the rapidly dimming sunlight not helping in the least.
Why are big cities so complicated he thought to himself. He was so absorbed in his task that he didn’t notice a motorcycle blazing down the street in his direction. Apparently the motorcyclist also didn’t notice the young man standing in his side of the street.
Still concentrating, Kame felt a strong draft that sent him and his luggage flying off to the side. Shocked at the suddenness, but due to his superb reflexes, Kame balanced himself in a matter of seconds. What the…. And then he saw, the motorcycle up ahead. Its owner, in a flaming red jacket, had also stopped on the side, probably realizing his mistake earlier and how it could’ve been disastrous for both.
“Hey you,” started Kame. He stopped as the owner of the vehicle seemed to hear Kame and looked over his shoulder, not bothering to get off his bike. The biker shook his hair and took off his helmet to get a better view at what was shouting at him.
A Grecian profile appeared with long locks of hair flowing down to frame the biker’s face. And is that sunglasses? He was wearing sunglasses underneath the tinted bike helmet?
Seeing the biker just staring at Kame, not even asking him if he was hurt, infuriated Kame. “Watch where you’re going!” He shouted.
The biker made no attempt to acknowledge he’d heard that. He turned forwards again and put on his helmet before speeding away.
“Hey! I deserve an apology! UGH!” and Kame remembered why he didn’t like living in the city, especially those spoilt rich kids that treat everyone like dirt. Kame ran after the motorcycle, but after a while he couldn’t keep up and it turned out of sight.
“Ah this is Takeno Street” Kame noticed, after wondering where he ended up. At least he wasn't as lost anymore. After calming down a bit, he continued his task of finding his new home for the next couple of months.
A short walk later, Kame found himself standing in front a gated property, with a gold plated "2273" in front. It was beautifully landscaped with a long driveway leading up to a mansion. They have these kind of spaces in Tokyo? Kame was pretty impressed.
The guard in the front, after learning who Kame was, led him through the pathway and showed him into the house. “Wait here,” he had been told. Kame took his time to observe his surroundings. Though everything was very luxurious, it still emitted a simple and homey feel. Kame could see how his grandmother was so attached to this employer.
After a while, Mr. and Mrs. Akanishi emerged from the doors, and welcomed Kame warmly. They asked Kame how his grandmother was doing and that they were very sorry such an accident had happened, but also were thrilled to have the opportunity of having Kame over. They were as nice and hospital as Kame remembered.
“So where’s JinJin?” Kame wanted to get acquainted with his job as soon as possible. He had even gotten a train set along the way as a present to the child.
“Jinjin?” Mr. Akanishi raised his eyebrows a bit, “Ah, you mean my son Jin, he sort of comes and goes as he pleases, I’m sure you’ll get to meet him soon though.”
comes and goes as he pleases he hadn’t realized the Akanishi household was so loose with their children, no wonder his grandmother had wanted him here to help take care.
Outside, there was a loud motor sound, and then it was gone, followed by the front door slamming open and shut. A loud voice echoed in the hallways “Dad, you wanted me?”
“Ah he’s back, come, I’ll introduce him to you,” Akanishi senior motioned Kame to follow.
As Kame stepped into the hallway, he caught a glimpse of a red jacket he’s sure he’s seen before. And as the figure spun around, Kame was shocked, that hair, those sunglasses, “YOU!”
Jin looked him over and seemed to recognize him after a while. “Oh”
Mr. Akanishi seemed surprised, “Wait you know each other?”
The old lady on the hospital bed looked up pointedly “I’m not dead yet if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Awwww, that’s not what I meant, it’s just I received a phone call so urgently, I thought something terrible happened to you!”
“Well otherwise how could I make you come to visit me?”
“I’m glad you’re not in any immediate danger, but what happened? How’d you end up here?” Kame asked.
“Just a hip injury, fell off some stairs and fractured something. It’s not serious but at my age everything takes a long time to heal,” The old lady assured.
“It sounds pretty serious, grandma, do you want me to stay with you and help you until you recover?”
“Yes I do want your help but not here. The reason I called you here is because, well you know the Akanishi household. We are both indebted to them for treating us kindly through the years, especially when I was raising you up single-handedly. And now that I’m injured and have to rest for a couple months, I’m worried that there will be nobody to take care of JinJin”
“Who’s JinJin?” Kame looked puzzled, he’s only met Mr. and Mrs. Akanishi once when he was in his teens and grandma never talked about her work with him.
“He’s my charge, a sweet kid. So I want you to take my place for the next couple of months and help me out. You can do that right?.”
Kame started to furrow his eyebrows “I’d do anything for you but Grandma, you know I have my own work as well.”
“But this is an off season for travel, and Auntie Jane and Uncle Richard have enough helpers around. I can talk to them too if need be. You won’t need to worry about being taken care of financially of course, plus it’ll be a nice change of scenery. And really, you’re the only one I trust for this job.” Grandma loked at him earnestly.
“Oh alright, but only because you really want me to do it” and Kame pouted a little. He knew he’d miss his animal friends and the other employees that treated him like family. But never one to refuse others in need, especially someone as dear to him as his grandma, he decided to take the plunge. It’s only temporary, and I should trust Koki and gang to do a good job back at the reserve he thought to himself.
~ ~ ~
After calling with Auntie Jane and working out details for his temporary leave, (“don’t worry we’ll survive without you,” she assured him, he could hear Koki shouting ‘We miss you’ in the back) his grandma gave her grandson the address to the Akanishi household and immediately sent him on his way.
It has been a while since he's navigated the subway system in Tokyo, especially with his luggage slowing him down. He was proud he still remembered the shortcuts within the transfer stations and which exits the escalators were located.
2273 Takeno Street, he re-read the address scribbled on his hand.
“Ah where is it?” Kame exclaimed, it was already past dusk and he hoped he wouldn’t have to wander around in an unknown neighbourhood in the dark.
He took out his map of the district and looked intently at the small script, the rapidly dimming sunlight not helping in the least.
Why are big cities so complicated he thought to himself. He was so absorbed in his task that he didn’t notice a motorcycle blazing down the street in his direction. Apparently the motorcyclist also didn’t notice the young man standing in his side of the street.
Still concentrating, Kame felt a strong draft that sent him and his luggage flying off to the side. Shocked at the suddenness, but due to his superb reflexes, Kame balanced himself in a matter of seconds. What the…. And then he saw, the motorcycle up ahead. Its owner, in a flaming red jacket, had also stopped on the side, probably realizing his mistake earlier and how it could’ve been disastrous for both.
“Hey you,” started Kame. He stopped as the owner of the vehicle seemed to hear Kame and looked over his shoulder, not bothering to get off his bike. The biker shook his hair and took off his helmet to get a better view at what was shouting at him.
A Grecian profile appeared with long locks of hair flowing down to frame the biker’s face. And is that sunglasses? He was wearing sunglasses underneath the tinted bike helmet?
Seeing the biker just staring at Kame, not even asking him if he was hurt, infuriated Kame. “Watch where you’re going!” He shouted.
The biker made no attempt to acknowledge he’d heard that. He turned forwards again and put on his helmet before speeding away.
“Hey! I deserve an apology! UGH!” and Kame remembered why he didn’t like living in the city, especially those spoilt rich kids that treat everyone like dirt. Kame ran after the motorcycle, but after a while he couldn’t keep up and it turned out of sight.
“Ah this is Takeno Street” Kame noticed, after wondering where he ended up. At least he wasn't as lost anymore. After calming down a bit, he continued his task of finding his new home for the next couple of months.
A short walk later, Kame found himself standing in front a gated property, with a gold plated "2273" in front. It was beautifully landscaped with a long driveway leading up to a mansion. They have these kind of spaces in Tokyo? Kame was pretty impressed.
The guard in the front, after learning who Kame was, led him through the pathway and showed him into the house. “Wait here,” he had been told. Kame took his time to observe his surroundings. Though everything was very luxurious, it still emitted a simple and homey feel. Kame could see how his grandmother was so attached to this employer.
After a while, Mr. and Mrs. Akanishi emerged from the doors, and welcomed Kame warmly. They asked Kame how his grandmother was doing and that they were very sorry such an accident had happened, but also were thrilled to have the opportunity of having Kame over. They were as nice and hospital as Kame remembered.
“So where’s JinJin?” Kame wanted to get acquainted with his job as soon as possible. He had even gotten a train set along the way as a present to the child.
“Jinjin?” Mr. Akanishi raised his eyebrows a bit, “Ah, you mean my son Jin, he sort of comes and goes as he pleases, I’m sure you’ll get to meet him soon though.”
comes and goes as he pleases he hadn’t realized the Akanishi household was so loose with their children, no wonder his grandmother had wanted him here to help take care.
Outside, there was a loud motor sound, and then it was gone, followed by the front door slamming open and shut. A loud voice echoed in the hallways “Dad, you wanted me?”
“Ah he’s back, come, I’ll introduce him to you,” Akanishi senior motioned Kame to follow.
As Kame stepped into the hallway, he caught a glimpse of a red jacket he’s sure he’s seen before. And as the figure spun around, Kame was shocked, that hair, those sunglasses, “YOU!”
Jin looked him over and seemed to recognize him after a while. “Oh”
Mr. Akanishi seemed surprised, “Wait you know each other?”