by Tommy Schmitz
A stray cat took to stalking Kenji and the girls from the night,
on their brief hike home to finally eat dinner.
The croaking armies were just tuning up.
"A rice paddy on a Tokyo night in Spring... " Kenji began saying in mock formality...
"...plays host to a misplaced Alabama yearning."
"But not misguided." Katie extended the mock.
"Excellent point Katie. It does serve the purpose of life." said Kenji.
The cat raced in front of the three and stopped.
"And Mr. Cat, how are you doing this evening?"
The girls laughed.
Kenji crouched down and scratched under the cat's chin.
"You don't say? Adventure awaits us at home? Is that it?"
Kenji turned his face to the girls. "He is warning us... in a friendly way."
"Is there cause for alarm, Mr. Cat?" Kenji said.
"Hmmm. I see." he responded to the cat.
"No cause for alarm, girls."
"Well Mr. Cat, you've been most helpful. Is there anything we can do for you this evening,
Kenji looked at the cat.
"I see." he said.
Then to the girls, "He says he's hungry now, but under present circumstances, he can wait a couple hours.
"Then come to my hut this evening, Mr. Cat. And we'll dine together. About ten-ish then?
Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention , Mr. Cat. It's a pleasure to meet you.
The three continued walking and the cat ran off.
"Were you really talking to that cat, Satchitananda-san?"
"I don't think so", the other said.
Mr. Cat was talking to me more than I was talking to him.
"I'm hungry," said Katie.
And all three stepped up their pace.
From a distance they could see Obachan
standing outside with the two Foreign Ministry agents.
Another car then stopped in front, its lights turning off,
and another two men got out.
*******
The walkers could hear one of the them.
"Who are these men, O né-san...
and who is that man ahead walking with Katie-Susan-chan..."
Obá-chan spoke up. "Taya-san, Kaneko-san, these are my younger brothers.
Takanosuke Mori, president of Fuji Television Network and Tetsuo Mori, president of Fuji Sports Television.
Bows and name cards were quickly exchanged.
Takanosuke examined the cards of the agents. "What's the Foreign Ministry doing here at night?" he said.
Obá-chan grabbed the forearms of the agents. And walked them away from her brothers.
"Gentlemen, may I have a word with you for a moment in private....
My brothers are here,
and they haven't seen their cousin from Guam
in decades. Would you be so kind postponing your questioning
of Sachinosuke Mori-san for just one hour?"
"We merely want to check his passport mame.
It's an order from our Ministry's highest level. Taya-san said.
"We have no questions for him, and no further interest." Kaneko-san added.
"Gentleman. I appreciate your situation, but please understand mine as well.
This is a delicate and emotional family situation that is presently upon us.
Please. Give us an hour.
And then you can spend the rest of the evening
with our cousin if that's what you'd like."
And Obá-chan stepped away suddenly from the agents.
The girls were running now to greet their uncles.
"Hello Oooji" they both repeated.
"Cousin, welcome home, thank you for entertaining Katie and Susan this evening."
The brothers in suits stood still and silent and an unanticipated recognition hit them like a tsunami.
The girls hugged their great uncles tightly and pulled them by the hands inside.
And Obá-chan wrapped her arms around Kenji walking with him and speaking in a whisper,
"The agents want to see your passport, Kenji-san, I've bought us an hour delay. Your brothers are here."
"I see. Thank you, O né-san."
Obá-chan, her three brothers, and Katie and Susan
gathered standing up in the living room.
"Younger brothers?" she said looking at the two in suits.
"This is your younger brother."
The older brothers kept looking at the floor.
"Huh?!" Katie cried out, "We have never heard his name, Obá-chan! Why?
"His name is Kenji." Obá-chan barely whispered.
"His name is Satchitananda!" Susan cried.
"Why has this been a secret for so many years." said Katie.
"Do Mom and Dad know about Kenj-san? Susan said.
Obá-chan shook her head a bit.
"He is your younger brother? And your younger brother? And your younger brother?"
she said. And with an arm and hand extended, she pointed impolitely.
"Did you all think he was dead?" said Susan.
"Well aren't you happy to see each other, you brothers?!" Katie said.
The middle brother breaks into weeping and Kenji walks to him and hugs him....
The oldest brother says "I don't see why we're having to go through this now
and under these difficult circumstances."
Obá-chan cuts in, "Just a moment please... brother..."
"Why would you come here now," the older brother continues....
"this family buried this suffering long long ago.
... and today your timing is not good.
Kenji stood quietly and listened, relaxed and aware.
The girls leaned nervously on each other.
Obá-chan held back her tears.
"Excuse me," older brother continues, "I'm leaving. My apologies, Kenji-san, perhaps some other time."
"Some other time" Kenji says.
"Brother, are you coming?"
"I'll call a taxi later ... older brother.... thank you."
And Takanosuke Mori walked to his car
and drove away unaware of an extra dose of eye contact from the agents.
"I'll start some tea," said Susan.
"Me too." Katie said.
"I am sorry, my brothers, I am sorry.
I did not know any other way to do this. But I felt it necessary."
Tetsuo Mori was still breathing heavily from his now dissapating weep, and he spoke,
"I don't know what got into older brother..."
Obá-chan was shaking her head and staring at the floor, and she then spoke,
"Younger brother, please hear Kenji's story and how he came here to help us."
And with Obá-chan's urging and leading and filling-in here and there...
Kenji related his story to his brother.
*******
When he finished, the three sat in silence a few moments.
"And you're here without a passport?" became older brother's words.
"Yes." Kenji said.
"How did you get in?"
"I cannot explain that to you right now."
"But right now, Obá-chan says,
"Kenji needs to go into hiding somehow...
Kenji? I'm sorry. OR would it be easier
to turn yourself over right now. I am sorry."
"With your permission, O né-san, it is not quite time for me to be in custody." Kenji said.
"I'll go away from the neighborhood. ...Oh..." He looked at his watch.
"Right after my dinner appointment commencing a few moments from now."
"What's he talking about." Obá-chan said.
"He has a dinner appointment." the one said.
"He does." said the other.
"Who on earth with?"
Kenji stepped into the conversation. "With Mr. Cat from the neighborhood,
who was kind enough to make himself useful this evening,
now if you'll excuse me, sister, brother, Katie and Susan....
I'll just mosey-on to the back of the house and depart."
"Wait, Otouto-san, I have a question. You left out part of your story."
"You know..." Her pace slowed now.
"...about the night of the bombing?...
"...when someone else in the family..."
"also suffered and continues to suffer today."
Middle brother looked confused.
"Yes." said Kenji.
"Could that other person be ... ?" and her voice deleted at the breath,
the name she intended to say... and switched gears...
"... be connected to why your eldest brother just now stormed away...
...and is there something you'd like to tell us about that?"
"O né-san, you are a brilliant sister. And you ask a good question.... but..." Kenji was interrupted.
"Remember, you promised you'd explain...
maybe now is a perfect time?"
"I am sorry, I cannot relate the story at this time, O né-san.
But you will know it. And soon." said Kenji.
"You are still insufferable!" Obá-chan said.
"What about tomorrow morning Satchitananda-san!"
The girls stood ready - not to be left out.
"We have to record your flute tomorrow morning."
"Oh, that's right. Don't worry. I'll meet you in your room at 9:00a.m. sharp."
"I think I'll just disappear somewhere." said Obachan and rolled her eyes at hopelessness.
"We'll have everything ready." said Susan.
"Good. Until then?"
"Oyasuminasai, Oooji." said Katie.
And out of bows and hugs, Kenji left the room,
and snatched a can of tuna fish
from a cupboard along the way.
"My apologies gentleman... this is highly embarrassing to me I assure you,"
Oba-chan had stepped out to speak to the agents.
"...but our cousin seems to have disappeared.
And we're not sure why.
Perhaps there is some problem he has that we are not aware of?"
"You let him escape?" said Kaneko-san.
"Certainly not! He was here a moment ago... and now he's gone.... what else can I tell you?!"
"We're in trouble." said Taya-san, "We'll have to report it now..."
"he must be in the forest. where else could he hide?" said Kaneko-san and added,
"Is there a photo of this guy?"
Taya-san said nothing.
"No? There's no record of entry, no passport?"
"No we didn't photograph him...
....how were we suppose to know!?
we're in big trouble." and Taya-san
stepped back into the driver's seat of the government car.
(End of Chapter 19)
