Okay, got some stuff to put out.
First of all, I got a good lead on how to wrap this up and start on the next world. And the best part is that it satisfies my desire to have everything tied up and a neat little Gordian knot, and yet still leave things hanging.
I'll spoil it for you guys just this once so I can get some commentary on the matter before I go through with it. (The awkward multi-part spoiler is because Yuku won't nest the spoiler tag. Probably better this way anyhow.)
Spoiler Part AROB SpoilerSpoiler Part BSo, that's what I got in mind. Thoughts, please?
Oh, and also, have a bit of story to munch on, too!
The others all came
to visit me. Ayeka chastised me for being reckless... then
congratulated me on showing that I had a true heart of a nobleman.
Sasami-chan simply gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished that her
courageous Onii-chan gets better soon. Tenchi said I was crazy, but
in a good way. Ryoko said I was pretty damn cool for pulling a stunt
like that. Mihoshi lamented my refusal to become a GP officer so she
could have me as her partner.
And then Mr. Mihara
showed up with Yuki, and I asked everyone to leave so I can speak
privately with Mr. Mihara.
“I never did
thank you properly for what you did today, Mr. Grimm,” the old man
said. “My granddaughter could have been traumatized for life from
her experience today... but because of you, she is happy and smiling
instead.” The old man smiled and laughed. “You would think that
she went on some grand adventure from the way she describes it!
Isn't that something? Children have such vivid imaginations.”
I smiled back at
the happy grandfather. “I know what you mean. I still remember
what it was like being a child and imagining such things. I suppose
that's part of why I did what I did today. I remember being a child,
and how hard it is when my hopes and dreams were crushed. I wouldn't
wish that heartbreak on anyone.”
Mr. Mihara nodded
knowingly. “It's a shame you do not seem to have any children of
your own, Mr. Grimm. I suspect if you did you would probably be a
great father. But regardless, we do need to talk about your future.”
“My future?” I
replied in surprise. “Do you have something in mind, Mr. Mihara?”
Mr. Mihara smiled
at me. “If your method of instruction does indeed prove to be
effective, then I will employ you immediately.”
I blinked. “Wait,
doesn't that require special certification?”
Mr. Mihara waved it
off. “With my connections it is a mere formality. Mr. Grimm, I
have seen Miss Kuramitsu in action recently. And I feel that if you
are able to make her into a competent driver, then you would be the
best teacher in the world, bar none.”
“You want me to
work at your school teaching people to drive.”
“Do you have any
objections about it?” Mr. Mihara said.
I frowned at that.
Personally, I didn't have any real objections, but on the other
hand...
“I... may have
certain family obligations that would render me unavailable for weeks
at a time. They tend to come on short notice.”
Mr. Mihara nodded
understandingly. “Of course. In that case, we will fully document
your training of Miss Kuramitsu and you will use that documentation
to train several of our instructors in your training methods.
Afterwards, we will retain you as a senior instructor at our school,
so you will be free to take leave as you need it.”
“... Well, I can
see why everyone calls you 'Chief' now. Where do I sign?”
The old man
guffawed heartily. “Don't worry about it now. On Monday we'll sit
down with my lawyer – you'll probably want to bring one of your
own, just for your own peace of mind – and we'll draw up your
contract of employment.”
I felt my eyebrows
shoot up to the top of my skull. “Is that really necessary?”
“You forget
yourself – your a foreign national here in Japan, and you're going
to be educating people to safely move a ton of steel down crowded
streets at high speeds.”
I scoffed at that.
“Oh. Sure. No pressure. None at all.” I then made a motion as
though to hang myself. “GAAACK!”
Mr. Mihara laughed.
“Well, at least you do have a sense of humor. Which is a lot more
than I can say about some of the stiffs my son has working there.”
Mr. Mihara left
after exchanging some pleasantries with me. Taking his place was
Sasami-chan and Yuki. Yuki seemed nervous about something and
Sasami-chan kept nudging her closer to me. A sense of dread
curiosity washed over me as I began to worry over what the girl might
say next.
I could just hear
it now. 'You bravery stole my heart away, Mr. Grimm! Please wait
for me – I promise I will be a good wife.' The scary part is that
it's not at all without precedence in this country.
Yuki then opened
her mouth and I braced myself.
“Mr. Grimm...
this is kind of embarrassing for me... but could you help me with my
English homework?”
I let go of the
breath I was holding and felt myself deflate with relief.
“Yuki-chan, you
could ask me to help you write a doctoral thesis on American Studies
and I would not mind one bit. Pull up that feeding table and get
yourself settled. It's cram time.”
When I was a child,
I had issues with learning to read. Fortunately, the school I went
to had an incredibly comprehensive phonics and vocabulary program.
All the bizarre quirks of everyday English phonetics was simplified
into glyphs that were easy to memorize, and just as easy to wean us
off of.
To this day, I
couldn't recall all the glyphs they used, but I could remember some
of the more important and useful ones – like the subtext letter 'e'
to denote a silent-e, or the 'ing' with a rocker over it to denote
the slurring of the three letters that was commonly used to indicate
a verb.
With these tools
from my childhood, I quickly marked-up Yuki's verbal practice
assignment and provided her with a key... and then I began to drill
her relentlessly on each of the different sounds.
“Close, but not
quite,” I told her. “to make the proper 'r' sound you need to
keep the tip of your tongue from touching to roof of your mouth. And
don't forget – middle of your palette, not the front. The front is
for the 'l' sound. Try again.”
“Okay,” sighed
the little girl. As she focused on making 'ra', 'ri', 'ru', 're',
and 'ro' sounds, her Grandfather and Washu-chan stepped in and
watched in fascination for a moment.
“Alright, that
sounded a lot better,” I praised her. “Even just with that
you'll knock your classmates off their feet. But I do hope that you
get better at it.”
At that, Washu
stepped forward with a smile on her face, and clapped twice.
“Okay, kiddos, as
much as I hate to interrupt a study session, visiting hours are
over.”
“Moouuu,”
moaned Sasami-chan and Yuki at the same time.
“Oh, don't be
that way you two,” I said. “Especially you, Sasami-chan. You
know that visitors are always welcome in our home. We can do more
study sessions later next week. Besides, aren't you gonna show her
around tomorrow?”
Sasami had the
decency to laugh nervously as she rubbed the back of her head. “But
Onii-chan, it won't be the same without you.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Of course not. Nothing is ever the same without me.”
Washu snorted.
“Don't be getting so full of yourself now. C'mon. Time to let Mr.
Courageous get some beauty rest.”
The girls and I
waved goodbye to each other as they left, but Washu-chan stayed
behind for just a moment longer.
“You know, from
what you've told me things might not have gone so badly if you'd just
let them play out as they were supposed to.”
I sighed at that.
“You should know better, Washu-chan. Temporal Momentum may be in
effect, but so is the Butterfly Effect. Yakage was supposed to die
months ago. Instead, he hung in there for as long as he could,
teaching me what he can.”
“It was your
idea,” Washu shot back mildly.
“I thought you
were the one that put it into his head that I should be his student.”
“And you were the
one that put it in my head
that I should do something about it. Therefore, your idea. Not
mine.”
“Ugh,” I
groaned. “Semantics! Either way, he could very well have decided
to go through with fighting Tenchi anyhow. Blaze of glory and all.”
Washu sighed
herself now. “Look, we'll have this argument later, Garrick. Just
get some rest or else...” She then put on a Stepford Smile so
horrifying that it would have sent a chill down my
spine if I didn't know Washu that well. “...I'll drug you to sleep
myself.”
I snorted at that display. “Get the hell outta here ya damn
lunatic.”
Washu just cackled insanely, undoubtedly raising the hackles of every
woman at the nurses station as she went. I just smiled and shook my
head – kinda hard not to love that mad scientist.
I woke up the next morning, stiff and tired, but the staff informed
me that I was to be discharged no matter how bad I felt – they had
no more reason to keep me there, and as the old saw goes, a hospital
bed made is a hospital bed filled.
Of course, it seemed that no one back home remembered.
Suddenly, a familiar looking sedan pulled up. In the back seat was
not the Mr. Mihara I knew, but a somewhat younger specimen that
resembled him... along with a much much younger face that I knew only
too well.
“Ah! Yuki-chan! What are you doing here?”
“We came to see you, Gar-kun! But I thought you would be inside
still.”
“Nah. I got discharged today, though I sure could use a nice long
soak in the bath. I'm stiff as a board.”
“Come with us then! We were going to your house after we saw you
anyhow.”
“Ah, thank you so much. I would appreciate that, and it seems they
forgot about me anyhow.”
“So, you are the Mr. Grimm I've heard so much about,” said the
man as he stepped out of the vehicle. “May daughter speaks very
highly of you. As does my Father.”
“I assume then that you are Mr. Mihara?”
“I am. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said as
he bowed to me.
“The pleasure is all mine,” I replied.
“Of course. Please, get in. There's quite a bit I would like to
discuss along the way.”
Mr. Mihara's sedan was more like a small limousine on the inside. It
was so roomy that the three of us fit into the back seat without even
touching. Although Yuki surprisingly grabbed ahold of my arm.
I gave the girl a bemused look.
“Yuki-chan,” said her father somewhat gruffly. “You're making
him uncomfortable.”
“Oh no! It's alright Mr. Mihara. She just reminds me of some of
my little cousins from back home. They're all grown now, so it's
actually pretty nostalgic for me.”
Mr. Mihara grunted softly and nodded. “Anyhow... I've heard many
interesting things about you, Mr. Grimm. Double-doctorate in
Engineering fields, patent holder of that automotive diesel-electric
system, you practice swordplay, you're a veteran of the US Navy, and
you teach the most hopeless person behind the wheel of a car I have
ever seen to drive like a professional. But most importantly, you
save my daughter, coming down on those men like a professional
bodyguard. Who are you, Mr. Grimm, and what are you doing here in
Okayama?”
“Ah... I think someone has loose lips,” I quipped.
Mr. Mihara simply scowled at me.
I sighed and went on, “I'm a man that would like to leave a
sorrowful past behind Mr. Mihara. I came to Japan to do that. If I
hadn't broken down on the doorstep of the Masaki Household, I may
very well have just become a truck driver so I could continue
wandering this beautiful country.”
“Oh? And why would the Masaki household take you in? I know that
old Priest is a good man, but he's not always one to take in strays.”
I shrugged. “Because there is a little girl over there that would
have been heart broken. She's good like that. She can read people
like a book. She didn't have to read into me too deeply to know how
bad off I was and absolutely demanded they adopt me.”
“And what of your own family?”
I shook my head slowly. “Gone. No trace. I miss them horribly,
but nothing I do will bring them back. So, I just try to move on as
best as I can.” Yuki's grip on my arm tightened.
Mr. Mihara gave me a hard look. “I would think I would have heard
something about that. All but one of a family in America disappears
into nothing? The news outlets would feed on that like sharks.”
“Just goes to show you, the most tragic tales are the ones you
never hear about until you come face-to-face with them. One good
friend of mine... she was taken from her family by the local
government because it was felt that they didn't have the means to
care for her. The foster family she was given to only wanted her to
be a perfect little doll – a status symbol. When she began to
rebel, they sent her to a reform school. Only because she didn't
want to be a perfect little stuffed doll that just sat in a room and
looked pretty.
“She grew up, always fighting, always on the defensive. She was
molested and had to learn how to do horrible things like spitting
razor blades just to protect herself. But she did grow up. She
became a tough, no-nonsense person with a sense of humor so crass
that it was simply not fit for polite company.
“But in her own way, she was beautiful. She was strong in ways few
women are, and yet still very much a woman. I honestly admired her.”
Mr. Mihara gave me an odd look. “You speak of her almost as though
she were a lover.”
I snorted. “Her preference was bad-boys-gone-good. And that was
exactly what she had – an honorable and just man who was a complete
and total bad-boy. Even if she didn't have him around I wouldn't
have stood a chance. Back then I was just a victim trying to come
out of his shell. If anything, I was her Little Brother. And I am
ever grateful for them taking care of me when I needed it.”
Mr. Mihara nodded, seemingly satisfied. “I see then. In that
case, I will not trouble you over your past. You seem to be a highly
virtuous man anyhow. You're in that house surrounded by all those
women... you're either gay or you've got the will of Buda himself!”
“Ugh, no thanks,” I groaned. “I'd very much like to find a
nice woman for myself and start a family.”
Yuki suddenly buried her face in my shoulder.
Mr. Mihara gave me a look. I nodded and mouthed the word 'Later'
while gesturing at Yuki. He nodded in understanding.
Man, I hated having to break a little girl's heart, but at least I
could nip this in the bud and let her down easily.
Back home, I was greeted with embarrassed expressions, to which
Washu-chan promptly whacked everyone from Tenchi on down to
Sasami-chan over the head with a paper fan.
While Sasami-chan showed Yuki around, Yosho had tea with Mr. Mihara
and I went for a nice two-hour-long soak in my own tub inside my
C-Space. Eventually, though, I did get to feeling like a boiled
chicken, so I got out and made myself presentable once more before
going outside.
Mr. Mihara had already left – Yuki would stay the night and I was
to bring her to school tomorrow. I was feeling much better that
evening, so I took Yuki and Sasami-chan up to the shrine so they
could leave offerings and wishes there.
“Oh, Nii-chan, I though you should know that I showed Yuki
Washu-chan's lab.”
I smiled knowingly as we walked sedately down the steps on our way
back to the house. “So, you know everything then, Yuki-chan?”
“Unh,” replied Yuki. “It's so cool! I never thought I would
get to have a princess from another planet as a friend. But what are
you, Gar-kun?”
“I'm human. I just come from a slightly different version of Earth
and a couple decades into the future.”
“What was it like there?”
“Pretty tough. It's not like it was all ravaged by nuclear war or
anything, but there were all kinds of troubles. Rich people getting
richer, poor people getting poorer, economic recessions, polarized
governments, terrorism all over the place, brush fire wars,
revolutions, expensive fuel, and so on and so forth.”
“That is tough,” Yuki replied thoughtfully. “I'm glad you
don't have to live there anymore.”
“Well, speaking of tough, do you still have homework left?”
“Not really. But if you don't mind, I would like help with my
English again.”
I smiled. “Sure thing, small stuff. I'll show you my room next.
It's a bit like Washu-chan's lab, but nowhere nearly as big.”
As soon as we got back, Yuki went charging up the stairs, startling
Ayeka at first. But Yuki, reading Ayeka perfectly, apologized
politely before running up to my door. Not hard to figure out since
it's like Washu's door, just colored differently. Ayeka smiled and
chuckled at the girl's energy and enthusiasm while I gave way for her
to pass by on the stairs.
“And people wonder why I want kids of my own,” I said
sotto-voiced to the Princess.
Ayeka chuckled once more. “Brother, I can hardly wait for the day.
Just make sure we get a chance to inspect the woman before you marry
her.”
“Of course,” I said distractedly, looking over to Yuki, who was
giving me an impatient look.
I spent the entire afternoon showing her my space and all the things
I did. I showed her the smithy and how I practiced my hand at
crafting swords. I showed her the garden room with all my wonderful
plants and my Juraian Seedling, which beamed happily for Yuki,
causing her face to light up with joy. I showed her the workshop
where I put Scooby together. I showed her my drafting table and
workstation where I did my CAD and 3D design work. I showed her my
library, all my reading nooks, and my little kitchen. I even showed
her the bath.
Once all that was done, we cracked open her English workbook and got
to work.
Yuki actually surprised me – she was pronouncing the words with
very little trouble. She still had a distinctly Japanese accent, but
she was perfectly understandable. She must have been practicing with
a religious fervor to improved as much as she did.
“I think we've practiced enough. Sasami-chan should have dinner
done soon so why don't we go downstairs.”
“Gar-kun... before we go outside there is something I want to tell
you...”
Oh boy, here it comes...
“I... I like you. I really do like you, Gar-kun! I think you are
incredibly nice and very smart! You're also tough and strong and
cool! I love how you saved me yesterday! You picked me up and kept
me safe in your strong arms! I think I like your arms the most...
they make me feel safe.”
I sighed heavily, kneeled down to Yuki's level and pulled her into a
hug.
“I like you, too, Yuki. I just wish you were at least ten years
older.”
“But you can wait, right?”
I pulled away from the precocious little girl. “Who told you
that?”
“Sasami-chan.”
I rolled my eyes. “That little imp. Why would she say something
like that?”
“She said that Katherine would keep you young and healthy for a
very long time.”
She would!? I thought to myself. I knew the little seedling
had taken an immediate liking to me from the moment it sprouted, but
I think I would have noticed if Katherine had bonded to me. Even so,
I was starting to wonder what exactly the women in my life were
hiding from me. I wanted to dwell on this matter more, but there was
a more immediate concern at hand.
“And what about you?” I asked Yuki.
“She said she'd find a tree that liked me too.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Little brat covered all the bases.”
Yuki giggled at my expense and I cut a mildly scathing look at her.
“Okay then, what if you have to share me with another woman?”
Yuki gave me a determined look. If she were older and of the right
mindset, I would suspect that she'd try pinning me to a wall.
“Sasami-chan told me about her grandmother and how she likes to
play match maker. She also told me about her mother and her aunt and
how they're best friends even though they share the same husband. If
Grandmother Seto finds you another wife, then I would do my best to
be her friend.”
I suddenly felt like Agent J in Men In Black when he fired the
Noisy Cricket the first time – thrown across a room and flattened.
And then I realized what had just happened: I just had my first face
vault.
What. The. Hell.
Okay, I thought as I picked myself back up, time to shift
tactics.
“Look, Yuki... This is just a crush you're having. You can't tell
me you haven't had one before now.”
“I don't care. You need someone that will stay with you Gar-kun.
I won't leave you alone. I'll take care of you and have your
babies.”
BAM! Again! Evidently this plan of attack wouldn't work, either.
“Whah!” I said incoherently as I got back up again. “A little
young to be thinking that far ahead, aren't you?”
Yuki went bright red. “Ah... Um... well... it's only natural...
when a woman loves a man that she has his children. And I want
someone who is nice and smart and strong and tough like you are to be
my baby's father.” She then looked down to the floor. “They'd
have the best father in the world.”
“Yuki, you're dodging the question.”
“It wouldn't be right away!” she yelled suddenly, eyes screwed
shut. “Not right away. I want to at least wait until I graduate
from high school. Sasami-chan said she'll teach me everything about
being part of the Royal Household. She said she'll even get Mr.
Yosho to teach me to fight for myself.”
“Wait, what!? You want to learn swordsmanship from Yosho!?”
Yuki looked up at me, beaming nothing but pure innocent confusion.
“Ah... is that wrong?”
I sighed heavily. “Yuki... This really isn't some game. It isn't
some fantasy story. You're life would be in real danger. Is that
what you want?”
Yuki closed her eyes and hugged me tightly. “I want to be strong
like you, Gar-kun.”
“No, you don't,” I told her firmly as I gently pushed her away.
“Why not?” she replied petulantly.
“Because being strong like me means having everything you ever
wanted, everything you ever loved withheld and ripped away from you.
That includes me.”
“You mean...” Yuki gazed back up at me in horror. “You really
did lose everyone in your family?”
“Yes. I had a large family back home. Five brothers, one sister,
nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, and more
cousins and second-cousins than you can shake a stick at. And I will
never ever get to see them again.”
Yuki's eyes were sorrowful, but there was also resolve. “That is
part of why I want to be with you, Gar-kun. I want to help you by
being the most important part of Gar-kun's new family.”
I sighed explosively. I hate this. I do like this girl. She's a
sweet little thing and a hard worker. And evidently she was very
dedicated. Tsunami's sake – Yuki wanted to learn to fight so she
could validate her claim to me with the Jyuraians!
“Look... Yuki, you said you wanted to wait until after high school,
right?”
“Yes!” she cried out brightly.
“Okay then. Then you'll just have to wait until after high
school.”
“Eh?” said Yuki as she frowned, not quite getting what I was
saying. “What do you mean?”
“We can see each other. I can still help you with your homework.
But until you graduate from high school then we can't be anything
more than family friends.”
“I'll do it then!” snapped Yuki. “And just so you know how
serious I am, I promise you I will graduate three years early!”
If I had been drinking anything that would have been a spit-take
right there. This girl would be the death of me. I just knew it.
First of all, I got a good lead on how to wrap this up and start on the next world. And the best part is that it satisfies my desire to have everything tied up and a neat little Gordian knot, and yet still leave things hanging.
I'll spoil it for you guys just this once so I can get some commentary on the matter before I go through with it. (The awkward multi-part spoiler is because Yuku won't nest the spoiler tag. Probably better this way anyhow.)
Spoiler Part AROB SpoilerSpoiler Part BSo, that's what I got in mind. Thoughts, please?
![[+]](/images/collapse_collapsed.png "[+]")
SpoilerOh, and also, have a bit of story to munch on, too!
The others all came
to visit me. Ayeka chastised me for being reckless... then
congratulated me on showing that I had a true heart of a nobleman.
Sasami-chan simply gave me a kiss on the cheek and wished that her
courageous Onii-chan gets better soon. Tenchi said I was crazy, but
in a good way. Ryoko said I was pretty damn cool for pulling a stunt
like that. Mihoshi lamented my refusal to become a GP officer so she
could have me as her partner.
And then Mr. Mihara
showed up with Yuki, and I asked everyone to leave so I can speak
privately with Mr. Mihara.
“I never did
thank you properly for what you did today, Mr. Grimm,” the old man
said. “My granddaughter could have been traumatized for life from
her experience today... but because of you, she is happy and smiling
instead.” The old man smiled and laughed. “You would think that
she went on some grand adventure from the way she describes it!
Isn't that something? Children have such vivid imaginations.”
I smiled back at
the happy grandfather. “I know what you mean. I still remember
what it was like being a child and imagining such things. I suppose
that's part of why I did what I did today. I remember being a child,
and how hard it is when my hopes and dreams were crushed. I wouldn't
wish that heartbreak on anyone.”
Mr. Mihara nodded
knowingly. “It's a shame you do not seem to have any children of
your own, Mr. Grimm. I suspect if you did you would probably be a
great father. But regardless, we do need to talk about your future.”
“My future?” I
replied in surprise. “Do you have something in mind, Mr. Mihara?”
Mr. Mihara smiled
at me. “If your method of instruction does indeed prove to be
effective, then I will employ you immediately.”
I blinked. “Wait,
doesn't that require special certification?”
Mr. Mihara waved it
off. “With my connections it is a mere formality. Mr. Grimm, I
have seen Miss Kuramitsu in action recently. And I feel that if you
are able to make her into a competent driver, then you would be the
best teacher in the world, bar none.”
“You want me to
work at your school teaching people to drive.”
“Do you have any
objections about it?” Mr. Mihara said.
I frowned at that.
Personally, I didn't have any real objections, but on the other
hand...
“I... may have
certain family obligations that would render me unavailable for weeks
at a time. They tend to come on short notice.”
Mr. Mihara nodded
understandingly. “Of course. In that case, we will fully document
your training of Miss Kuramitsu and you will use that documentation
to train several of our instructors in your training methods.
Afterwards, we will retain you as a senior instructor at our school,
so you will be free to take leave as you need it.”
“... Well, I can
see why everyone calls you 'Chief' now. Where do I sign?”
The old man
guffawed heartily. “Don't worry about it now. On Monday we'll sit
down with my lawyer – you'll probably want to bring one of your
own, just for your own peace of mind – and we'll draw up your
contract of employment.”
I felt my eyebrows
shoot up to the top of my skull. “Is that really necessary?”
“You forget
yourself – your a foreign national here in Japan, and you're going
to be educating people to safely move a ton of steel down crowded
streets at high speeds.”
I scoffed at that.
“Oh. Sure. No pressure. None at all.” I then made a motion as
though to hang myself. “GAAACK!”
Mr. Mihara laughed.
“Well, at least you do have a sense of humor. Which is a lot more
than I can say about some of the stiffs my son has working there.”
Mr. Mihara left
after exchanging some pleasantries with me. Taking his place was
Sasami-chan and Yuki. Yuki seemed nervous about something and
Sasami-chan kept nudging her closer to me. A sense of dread
curiosity washed over me as I began to worry over what the girl might
say next.
I could just hear
it now. 'You bravery stole my heart away, Mr. Grimm! Please wait
for me – I promise I will be a good wife.' The scary part is that
it's not at all without precedence in this country.
Yuki then opened
her mouth and I braced myself.
“Mr. Grimm...
this is kind of embarrassing for me... but could you help me with my
English homework?”
I let go of the
breath I was holding and felt myself deflate with relief.
“Yuki-chan, you
could ask me to help you write a doctoral thesis on American Studies
and I would not mind one bit. Pull up that feeding table and get
yourself settled. It's cram time.”
When I was a child,
I had issues with learning to read. Fortunately, the school I went
to had an incredibly comprehensive phonics and vocabulary program.
All the bizarre quirks of everyday English phonetics was simplified
into glyphs that were easy to memorize, and just as easy to wean us
off of.
To this day, I
couldn't recall all the glyphs they used, but I could remember some
of the more important and useful ones – like the subtext letter 'e'
to denote a silent-e, or the 'ing' with a rocker over it to denote
the slurring of the three letters that was commonly used to indicate
a verb.
With these tools
from my childhood, I quickly marked-up Yuki's verbal practice
assignment and provided her with a key... and then I began to drill
her relentlessly on each of the different sounds.
“Close, but not
quite,” I told her. “to make the proper 'r' sound you need to
keep the tip of your tongue from touching to roof of your mouth. And
don't forget – middle of your palette, not the front. The front is
for the 'l' sound. Try again.”
“Okay,” sighed
the little girl. As she focused on making 'ra', 'ri', 'ru', 're',
and 'ro' sounds, her Grandfather and Washu-chan stepped in and
watched in fascination for a moment.
“Alright, that
sounded a lot better,” I praised her. “Even just with that
you'll knock your classmates off their feet. But I do hope that you
get better at it.”
At that, Washu
stepped forward with a smile on her face, and clapped twice.
“Okay, kiddos, as
much as I hate to interrupt a study session, visiting hours are
over.”
“Moouuu,”
moaned Sasami-chan and Yuki at the same time.
“Oh, don't be
that way you two,” I said. “Especially you, Sasami-chan. You
know that visitors are always welcome in our home. We can do more
study sessions later next week. Besides, aren't you gonna show her
around tomorrow?”
Sasami had the
decency to laugh nervously as she rubbed the back of her head. “But
Onii-chan, it won't be the same without you.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Of course not. Nothing is ever the same without me.”
Washu snorted.
“Don't be getting so full of yourself now. C'mon. Time to let Mr.
Courageous get some beauty rest.”
The girls and I
waved goodbye to each other as they left, but Washu-chan stayed
behind for just a moment longer.
“You know, from
what you've told me things might not have gone so badly if you'd just
let them play out as they were supposed to.”
I sighed at that.
“You should know better, Washu-chan. Temporal Momentum may be in
effect, but so is the Butterfly Effect. Yakage was supposed to die
months ago. Instead, he hung in there for as long as he could,
teaching me what he can.”
“It was your
idea,” Washu shot back mildly.
“I thought you
were the one that put it into his head that I should be his student.”
“And you were the
one that put it in my head
that I should do something about it. Therefore, your idea. Not
mine.”
“Ugh,” I
groaned. “Semantics! Either way, he could very well have decided
to go through with fighting Tenchi anyhow. Blaze of glory and all.”
Washu sighed
herself now. “Look, we'll have this argument later, Garrick. Just
get some rest or else...” She then put on a Stepford Smile so
horrifying that it would have sent a chill down my
spine if I didn't know Washu that well. “...I'll drug you to sleep
myself.”
I snorted at that display. “Get the hell outta here ya damn
lunatic.”
Washu just cackled insanely, undoubtedly raising the hackles of every
woman at the nurses station as she went. I just smiled and shook my
head – kinda hard not to love that mad scientist.
I woke up the next morning, stiff and tired, but the staff informed
me that I was to be discharged no matter how bad I felt – they had
no more reason to keep me there, and as the old saw goes, a hospital
bed made is a hospital bed filled.
Of course, it seemed that no one back home remembered.
Suddenly, a familiar looking sedan pulled up. In the back seat was
not the Mr. Mihara I knew, but a somewhat younger specimen that
resembled him... along with a much much younger face that I knew only
too well.
“Ah! Yuki-chan! What are you doing here?”
“We came to see you, Gar-kun! But I thought you would be inside
still.”
“Nah. I got discharged today, though I sure could use a nice long
soak in the bath. I'm stiff as a board.”
“Come with us then! We were going to your house after we saw you
anyhow.”
“Ah, thank you so much. I would appreciate that, and it seems they
forgot about me anyhow.”
“So, you are the Mr. Grimm I've heard so much about,” said the
man as he stepped out of the vehicle. “May daughter speaks very
highly of you. As does my Father.”
“I assume then that you are Mr. Mihara?”
“I am. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” he said as
he bowed to me.
“The pleasure is all mine,” I replied.
“Of course. Please, get in. There's quite a bit I would like to
discuss along the way.”
Mr. Mihara's sedan was more like a small limousine on the inside. It
was so roomy that the three of us fit into the back seat without even
touching. Although Yuki surprisingly grabbed ahold of my arm.
I gave the girl a bemused look.
“Yuki-chan,” said her father somewhat gruffly. “You're making
him uncomfortable.”
“Oh no! It's alright Mr. Mihara. She just reminds me of some of
my little cousins from back home. They're all grown now, so it's
actually pretty nostalgic for me.”
Mr. Mihara grunted softly and nodded. “Anyhow... I've heard many
interesting things about you, Mr. Grimm. Double-doctorate in
Engineering fields, patent holder of that automotive diesel-electric
system, you practice swordplay, you're a veteran of the US Navy, and
you teach the most hopeless person behind the wheel of a car I have
ever seen to drive like a professional. But most importantly, you
save my daughter, coming down on those men like a professional
bodyguard. Who are you, Mr. Grimm, and what are you doing here in
Okayama?”
“Ah... I think someone has loose lips,” I quipped.
Mr. Mihara simply scowled at me.
I sighed and went on, “I'm a man that would like to leave a
sorrowful past behind Mr. Mihara. I came to Japan to do that. If I
hadn't broken down on the doorstep of the Masaki Household, I may
very well have just become a truck driver so I could continue
wandering this beautiful country.”
“Oh? And why would the Masaki household take you in? I know that
old Priest is a good man, but he's not always one to take in strays.”
I shrugged. “Because there is a little girl over there that would
have been heart broken. She's good like that. She can read people
like a book. She didn't have to read into me too deeply to know how
bad off I was and absolutely demanded they adopt me.”
“And what of your own family?”
I shook my head slowly. “Gone. No trace. I miss them horribly,
but nothing I do will bring them back. So, I just try to move on as
best as I can.” Yuki's grip on my arm tightened.
Mr. Mihara gave me a hard look. “I would think I would have heard
something about that. All but one of a family in America disappears
into nothing? The news outlets would feed on that like sharks.”
“Just goes to show you, the most tragic tales are the ones you
never hear about until you come face-to-face with them. One good
friend of mine... she was taken from her family by the local
government because it was felt that they didn't have the means to
care for her. The foster family she was given to only wanted her to
be a perfect little doll – a status symbol. When she began to
rebel, they sent her to a reform school. Only because she didn't
want to be a perfect little stuffed doll that just sat in a room and
looked pretty.
“She grew up, always fighting, always on the defensive. She was
molested and had to learn how to do horrible things like spitting
razor blades just to protect herself. But she did grow up. She
became a tough, no-nonsense person with a sense of humor so crass
that it was simply not fit for polite company.
“But in her own way, she was beautiful. She was strong in ways few
women are, and yet still very much a woman. I honestly admired her.”
Mr. Mihara gave me an odd look. “You speak of her almost as though
she were a lover.”
I snorted. “Her preference was bad-boys-gone-good. And that was
exactly what she had – an honorable and just man who was a complete
and total bad-boy. Even if she didn't have him around I wouldn't
have stood a chance. Back then I was just a victim trying to come
out of his shell. If anything, I was her Little Brother. And I am
ever grateful for them taking care of me when I needed it.”
Mr. Mihara nodded, seemingly satisfied. “I see then. In that
case, I will not trouble you over your past. You seem to be a highly
virtuous man anyhow. You're in that house surrounded by all those
women... you're either gay or you've got the will of Buda himself!”
“Ugh, no thanks,” I groaned. “I'd very much like to find a
nice woman for myself and start a family.”
Yuki suddenly buried her face in my shoulder.
Mr. Mihara gave me a look. I nodded and mouthed the word 'Later'
while gesturing at Yuki. He nodded in understanding.
Man, I hated having to break a little girl's heart, but at least I
could nip this in the bud and let her down easily.
Back home, I was greeted with embarrassed expressions, to which
Washu-chan promptly whacked everyone from Tenchi on down to
Sasami-chan over the head with a paper fan.
While Sasami-chan showed Yuki around, Yosho had tea with Mr. Mihara
and I went for a nice two-hour-long soak in my own tub inside my
C-Space. Eventually, though, I did get to feeling like a boiled
chicken, so I got out and made myself presentable once more before
going outside.
Mr. Mihara had already left – Yuki would stay the night and I was
to bring her to school tomorrow. I was feeling much better that
evening, so I took Yuki and Sasami-chan up to the shrine so they
could leave offerings and wishes there.
“Oh, Nii-chan, I though you should know that I showed Yuki
Washu-chan's lab.”
I smiled knowingly as we walked sedately down the steps on our way
back to the house. “So, you know everything then, Yuki-chan?”
“Unh,” replied Yuki. “It's so cool! I never thought I would
get to have a princess from another planet as a friend. But what are
you, Gar-kun?”
“I'm human. I just come from a slightly different version of Earth
and a couple decades into the future.”
“What was it like there?”
“Pretty tough. It's not like it was all ravaged by nuclear war or
anything, but there were all kinds of troubles. Rich people getting
richer, poor people getting poorer, economic recessions, polarized
governments, terrorism all over the place, brush fire wars,
revolutions, expensive fuel, and so on and so forth.”
“That is tough,” Yuki replied thoughtfully. “I'm glad you
don't have to live there anymore.”
“Well, speaking of tough, do you still have homework left?”
“Not really. But if you don't mind, I would like help with my
English again.”
I smiled. “Sure thing, small stuff. I'll show you my room next.
It's a bit like Washu-chan's lab, but nowhere nearly as big.”
As soon as we got back, Yuki went charging up the stairs, startling
Ayeka at first. But Yuki, reading Ayeka perfectly, apologized
politely before running up to my door. Not hard to figure out since
it's like Washu's door, just colored differently. Ayeka smiled and
chuckled at the girl's energy and enthusiasm while I gave way for her
to pass by on the stairs.
“And people wonder why I want kids of my own,” I said
sotto-voiced to the Princess.
Ayeka chuckled once more. “Brother, I can hardly wait for the day.
Just make sure we get a chance to inspect the woman before you marry
her.”
“Of course,” I said distractedly, looking over to Yuki, who was
giving me an impatient look.
I spent the entire afternoon showing her my space and all the things
I did. I showed her the smithy and how I practiced my hand at
crafting swords. I showed her the garden room with all my wonderful
plants and my Juraian Seedling, which beamed happily for Yuki,
causing her face to light up with joy. I showed her the workshop
where I put Scooby together. I showed her my drafting table and
workstation where I did my CAD and 3D design work. I showed her my
library, all my reading nooks, and my little kitchen. I even showed
her the bath.
Once all that was done, we cracked open her English workbook and got
to work.
Yuki actually surprised me – she was pronouncing the words with
very little trouble. She still had a distinctly Japanese accent, but
she was perfectly understandable. She must have been practicing with
a religious fervor to improved as much as she did.
“I think we've practiced enough. Sasami-chan should have dinner
done soon so why don't we go downstairs.”
“Gar-kun... before we go outside there is something I want to tell
you...”
Oh boy, here it comes...
“I... I like you. I really do like you, Gar-kun! I think you are
incredibly nice and very smart! You're also tough and strong and
cool! I love how you saved me yesterday! You picked me up and kept
me safe in your strong arms! I think I like your arms the most...
they make me feel safe.”
I sighed heavily, kneeled down to Yuki's level and pulled her into a
hug.
“I like you, too, Yuki. I just wish you were at least ten years
older.”
“But you can wait, right?”
I pulled away from the precocious little girl. “Who told you
that?”
“Sasami-chan.”
I rolled my eyes. “That little imp. Why would she say something
like that?”
“She said that Katherine would keep you young and healthy for a
very long time.”
She would!? I thought to myself. I knew the little seedling
had taken an immediate liking to me from the moment it sprouted, but
I think I would have noticed if Katherine had bonded to me. Even so,
I was starting to wonder what exactly the women in my life were
hiding from me. I wanted to dwell on this matter more, but there was
a more immediate concern at hand.
“And what about you?” I asked Yuki.
“She said she'd find a tree that liked me too.”
I sighed and rolled my eyes. “Little brat covered all the bases.”
Yuki giggled at my expense and I cut a mildly scathing look at her.
“Okay then, what if you have to share me with another woman?”
Yuki gave me a determined look. If she were older and of the right
mindset, I would suspect that she'd try pinning me to a wall.
“Sasami-chan told me about her grandmother and how she likes to
play match maker. She also told me about her mother and her aunt and
how they're best friends even though they share the same husband. If
Grandmother Seto finds you another wife, then I would do my best to
be her friend.”
I suddenly felt like Agent J in Men In Black when he fired the
Noisy Cricket the first time – thrown across a room and flattened.
And then I realized what had just happened: I just had my first face
vault.
What. The. Hell.
Okay, I thought as I picked myself back up, time to shift
tactics.
“Look, Yuki... This is just a crush you're having. You can't tell
me you haven't had one before now.”
“I don't care. You need someone that will stay with you Gar-kun.
I won't leave you alone. I'll take care of you and have your
babies.”
BAM! Again! Evidently this plan of attack wouldn't work, either.
“Whah!” I said incoherently as I got back up again. “A little
young to be thinking that far ahead, aren't you?”
Yuki went bright red. “Ah... Um... well... it's only natural...
when a woman loves a man that she has his children. And I want
someone who is nice and smart and strong and tough like you are to be
my baby's father.” She then looked down to the floor. “They'd
have the best father in the world.”
“Yuki, you're dodging the question.”
“It wouldn't be right away!” she yelled suddenly, eyes screwed
shut. “Not right away. I want to at least wait until I graduate
from high school. Sasami-chan said she'll teach me everything about
being part of the Royal Household. She said she'll even get Mr.
Yosho to teach me to fight for myself.”
“Wait, what!? You want to learn swordsmanship from Yosho!?”
Yuki looked up at me, beaming nothing but pure innocent confusion.
“Ah... is that wrong?”
I sighed heavily. “Yuki... This really isn't some game. It isn't
some fantasy story. You're life would be in real danger. Is that
what you want?”
Yuki closed her eyes and hugged me tightly. “I want to be strong
like you, Gar-kun.”
“No, you don't,” I told her firmly as I gently pushed her away.
“Why not?” she replied petulantly.
“Because being strong like me means having everything you ever
wanted, everything you ever loved withheld and ripped away from you.
That includes me.”
“You mean...” Yuki gazed back up at me in horror. “You really
did lose everyone in your family?”
“Yes. I had a large family back home. Five brothers, one sister,
nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, great-aunts, great-uncles, and more
cousins and second-cousins than you can shake a stick at. And I will
never ever get to see them again.”
Yuki's eyes were sorrowful, but there was also resolve. “That is
part of why I want to be with you, Gar-kun. I want to help you by
being the most important part of Gar-kun's new family.”
I sighed explosively. I hate this. I do like this girl. She's a
sweet little thing and a hard worker. And evidently she was very
dedicated. Tsunami's sake – Yuki wanted to learn to fight so she
could validate her claim to me with the Jyuraians!
“Look... Yuki, you said you wanted to wait until after high school,
right?”
“Yes!” she cried out brightly.
“Okay then. Then you'll just have to wait until after high
school.”
“Eh?” said Yuki as she frowned, not quite getting what I was
saying. “What do you mean?”
“We can see each other. I can still help you with your homework.
But until you graduate from high school then we can't be anything
more than family friends.”
“I'll do it then!” snapped Yuki. “And just so you know how
serious I am, I promise you I will graduate three years early!”
If I had been drinking anything that would have been a spit-take
right there. This girl would be the death of me. I just knew it.