Everything has to be perfect, she thought as she
placed the extra plate on the table. I don't want him complaining about
anything. Juhachi-gou placed the spoon and fork to the sides of the
plate, made sure the napkin was available for any use, then
walked to the kitchen to check on dinner. Hm, she mused as she lifted
one of the pots' lids, the sauce looks kind of watery. She
compared the picture of the dish in the cook book to the one she made.
Yeesh! Mine looks disgusting! She re-read the
instructions carefully. "Aw, Heck!" she cursed aloud, tossing the gunk
in the garbage.
"Good thing that was only some sauce." said a voice from the kitchen door.
She didn't even turn around, but, instead, she checked
on the other pots to make sure
they were proceeding in the right path.
"If you came here to bother me, Krillin, then don't try. I'm annoyed enough as it is."
"Hey, you were the one who wanted to cook the sauce for him as a 'treat'. I told you the recipe was too hard."
"Yeah, yeah," she answered, half listening.
She busied herself by stirring the contents of a
small pot. Then, feeling the heaviness of the silence, she turned her head
towards the door. Krillin looked slightly embarrassed, as if he wanted
to say something but hesitated.
"What?" asked Juhachi-gou, sharply.
"Juhachi-gou...I...I'm kind of nervous.."
"About what?" she inquired, resuming the stirring in the pot.
"Well...about this whole dinner business..."
She stopped stirring, but continued to look into the pot. So that's how he saw it...a "business"... not a "family get-together".
"Does my brother make you nervous?" She asked, casually.
"Huh? Um...n-no...it's just that..."
He's a bloody cyborg who never calls, never visits,
and never writes, thought Juhachi-gou, finishing Krillin's thoughts. It's
true,
Junana-gou barely see her now. He didn't come to her wedding, didn't
congratulate her when Marron was born; in fact, he only
visited her once...and that was to fix her car when the motor broke
down. The tie between the two had faded, if not
disappeared. He never bothered dropping by, and she was too busy to
roam around the mountains searching for his little cabin.
But lately, she began to feel the need to see him after all these years...she
couldn't quite explain it herself. Maybe because she felt
there was a loose knot in her life that needed some tightening. Maybe
because he was like her...they suffered from the same
experience...and they forgot the same past.
"Don't worry, Krillin," she replied casually." I just invited him to dinner."
"Yeah, but, what should I say?! I mean, I barely know him.."
"It's not like he's gonna babble and you won't understand him! Geez! Just talk about...I dunno...boy stuff!"
"'Boy stuff'???"
"Y'know! Cars and guns and all that silly talk! Those are his main passions!"
Krillin scratched his head in confusion. Do I dare
tell her I don't know anything about cars or guns? She brushed past him,
remarking:
"It's a good thing Kame Sennin went to see that beauty
pageant tonight. He won't get in the way." She quickly ascended the
stairs, saying, "I need to change my clothes, Krillin. Junana-gou should
be here any minute."
"Eh...okay."
He heard the bedroom door close.
"Great. Just great!"
He sighed. Not only do I have nothing to tell Junana-gou,
Krillin complained to himself, I bet HE has nothing to tell me either.
And Juhachi-gou is so happy to see him too...I'll probably just get
in the way... Marron slowly descended the steps with
childish caution. Noticing her father musing in the living room, she
ran to him, crying "Daddy! Daddy!" Krillin stretched out his
arms in amusement and lifted her high above his head. For a moment,
he forgot worries.
"Hey, there! Has Marron been a good little girl?"
She giggled loudly, responding with a series of incoherent
syllables children her age are prone to. He laughed along
with her, amusing her further with little sounds and quick tickles.
But he noticed that, all of a sudden, Marron cut her laughter
into a total silence. She seemed to be fixing her gaze at the front
door behind him for some reason. Krillin turned around.. .And
there he was.
Junana-gou, with complete coldness, was standing
at the entrance of the front door with his hand still on the
door knob. The door was always unlocked, so it wasn't a problem entering.
It's just that Krillin didn't hear him enter. A heavy
silence ensued over the house. Nope, reflected Krillin, he didn't change
one bit. His smooth, jet black hair still hung down and
reached his shoulders. The same ice-cold blue eyes and finely arched
eyebrows. The same casual clothes...same gaze...same
everything.
"H-hello, Junana-gou."
started Krillin, placing Marron on her feet. She
sheepishly hid behind her father, and buried
her full face into his trousers.
"Hello," answered Junana-gou in a total monotone.
"Nice to see you again."
Krillin noticed Junana-gou had a little sports bag with him.
"Hey, can I take that for you?"
"No, thank you."
Not wanting to seem rude or annoying, Krillin refrained from insisting. Marron continued clinging to her father, but studied the stranger with curious eyes. He only granted her a quick glance as he stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Otherwise, he seemed totally unaware of her existence.
"It was very nice," resumed Krillin, "of you to drop by and have dinner with us."
"Nothing to it," answered Junana-gou, casting a hasty glance around the small house.
Krillin began to sweat nervously. Okay...well?? he thought, doesn't this guy respond to anything without that cold tone of his?
"Hello, Junana-gou."
Krillin awoke from his reflections and saw that Juhachi-gou had finally finished changing and came downstairs to greet her long awaited brother. He sighed in utter relief. The twins shook hands very casually, as if they've never been separated at all. Marron, on seeing her mother, dashed to her side and held fast to her leg.
"You seem healthy, Juhachi-gou."
"Yeah, I get along. And you?"
"I had a slight cold, but I'm fine now."
Marron, now feeling confident that both her parents were around to protect her, asked in her little voice,
" Mommy...who's that?"
Juhachi-gou looked down affectionately at her daughter.
Junana-gou looked at the child straight in the face without betraying
any emotions. Usually strangers smile when children ask about their
names; their innocence amuses them. Junana-gou was just
stoic.
"Why, Sweetie, this is uncle Junana," answered her mother, as she lifted her up to see him, "Say hello to your uncle."
"Hello, uncle," greeted Marron obediently.
Junana-gou looked at her full in the face, but remained silent. If Krillin didn't know better, he would've sworn he could detect a twitch in Junana-gou's eyebrow...a little flash in the eye...was it ..hatred?? What am I thinking, thought Krillin, that can't be.
"Well," announced Juhachi-gou aloud, "Now that we're all here, Let's have dinner."
If silence had a weight, mused Krillin as he cut his fish fillet, it would have crushed us to the floor. All throughout dinner, no one had uttered a single syllable. Marron's occasional giggles interrupted the silence, but otherwise, all was quiet. Krillin cautiously peered at Junana-gou. How silently he ate...and how his eyes seemed to focus on something invisible as he munched his meal. Krillin looked in the direction which captivated his guest, but found nothing of genuine interest. There was the wall, a collection of different photos on top of a little drawer case, and a tiny window. But Junana-gou seemed so intent on one thing that he barely turned his head. I wonder what's interesting him so much, thought Krillin. I wonder what he's thinking...
"See anything you like?" asked Junana-gou, without turning his head.
The question startled Krillin. He didn't expect Junana-gou to be aware of his staring.
"M-me? No, not at all!" stuttered Krillin, pretending to cut his fillet with all the interest of the world.
"Then why do you keep looking at me?"
Juhachi-gou had, up to now, been busy checking Marron with her eye and enjoying the meal. However, this little conversation which broke the silence caused her to put down her fork and ask.
"What's wrong?"
"Your husband seems to be studying my face," replied Junana-gou, taking a mouthful of food.
"I didn't mean to offend you," apologized Krillin.
"Of course you didn't," muttered Junana-gou contemptuously," You never did."
"No, seriously, I..." began Krillin again.
"Stuff it!" interrupted Junana-gou, "What would I do with your petty apology? It won't do me any good."
Krillin, in total embarrassment, fixed his gaze downwards so as not to anger the guest any longer. Then he heard Juhachi-gou's voice, loud and clear.
"Junana-gou, what the Hell's the matter with you?"
"Nothing," replied Junana-gou calmly as he chomped another bite.
"Like Hell nothing!"
Junana-gou continued to chew his food, avoiding the look of anger on Juhachi-gou's face. Krillin thought it best to mollify his wife. The last thing he wanted was to see a fight between the twins.
"Hey, Honey, it's alright! Just forget it."
"No, I won't! I wanna know what's bugging him RIGHT NOW!!"
She pounded the table with her fists, causing some
glasses to spill their liquids. Junana-gou, however, seemed oblivious
to her irritation.
"Answer me, Junana-gou. What's the matter?"
"I said nothing."
"Are you gonna keep on saying that?!"
"You're making yourself angry, Juhachi-gou. I'm telling you nothing's with me."
"Junana-gou," she started with restrained irritation, "we're twins and cyborgs. So, I can sense some of your thoughts in my mind. And do you know what thoughts I feel coming from you?"
He gulped some water and turned his head to the window to look at the sea, ignoring her question.
"I feel anger, hatred, and plain annoyance coming from you. Now tell me why?"
"Juhachi-gou," begged Krillin," please don't do this!"
"You're not happy here," she continued, "Not happy at all to see me live my new life, are you?"
"Juhachi-gou!"
"Aren't you happy for me, Junana-gou?" asked Juhachi-gou, neglecting Krillin's pleas, "Aren't you happy that now I have a real life...a husband...a daughter...a home...everything! Say you're happy for me, Junana-gou!"
The pause was for a minute. It seemed like an hour.
"No, Juhachi-gou," answered Junana-gou, still avoiding her glare," I'm not happy for you."
Krillin turned to Junana-gou, whom by finishing that statement, now confronted his sister with his cold, expressionless eyes. Juhachi-gou jumped up. She pushed her chair far away from her to avoid using it for some painful purpose. Marron was totally mute as she stared at her mother's clear eyes. She rarely get to see her mother lose her temper.
" 'Not happy'?" repeated Juhachi-gou," Excuse me, you're 'not happy' for all I've achieved?"
"Frankly, no."
"Oh! And why's that, pray tell?"
"I'm just not."
"And I suppose YOU lead a better life than I do?"
"I didn't say that."
"Then what will you have me do, eh? Live my life on the road with you? Go back to that damned cave and live in that preservatory container? You think THAT's better?"
"I don't think you understand me."
"As a matter of fact, no. I don't."
She paced up and down the room in utter anger. Her brother remained seated, with his hands interlocked in each other and his eyes cast downwards. Both siblings seemed unaware of Krillin and Marron's presence. Suddenly, Juhachi-gou smacked her forehead and cried out.
"Godammit, Junana-gou! Why aren't you happy? I invite you to my house to have dinner...I offer you a chance to embrace this family and become one with it...I do everything I can to please you. Look at this!!" she shouted, gesturing at the room. "I cooked the best meal I could. I cleaned the house from top to bottom. I tried to make you happy for me because I'm living a better life. I try to make you happy the best I could."
"I never asked you to cook for me, Juhachi-gou," responded Junana-gou very gently, "I never asked you to clean or work yourself this way to satisfy me. All I wanted was to see you again."
There was another silence. She studied her brother's handsome face, concentrating on every detail in hope it would reveal something about his emotions. But she knew she wouldn't find any. It's funny how she could reveal some of her emotions on her face, but her brother was like a stone statue. He never showed anything.
"I was happy when you asked me to visit , Juhachi-gou." he resumed, "We seldom see each other any more."
He got up from his chair and strolled slowly around the room, talking in a quiet tone.
"But, the truth is, you've changed so much."
"Me? How so?"
"You've become more human. You live your life like any normal girl does. You raise a daughter, care for a house, have friends, go shopping even. All the little things humans do."
"Is that why you're unhappy?"
He stopped suddenly. He seemed to be pondering something in his brain. Then, with the same gentle tone, replied.
"I don't like your life, Juhachi-gou."
"Why?"
"I don't like your husband. I don't like your daughter...she looks just him. I don't like this house. I don't like anything you find your happiness in."
"And it's just like that, then? You just hate all my life and despise my happiness?"
"There is a reason...but I doubt if you'd understand it."
"Y'know, I don't think I care to understand it. I want you to get out."
Her brother looked at her with no reaction. Krillin wanted to say something...protest...pacify...anything. But the look on Juhachi-gou's face and the increasing coldness in Junana-gou's eyes greatly discouraged him. He thought it best to remain silent and dispassionate. Juhachi-gou continued to glare at her brother as she vehemently declared,
"I don't ever want to see you again. I said get out."
The smile that crossed her brother's lips was mild, gentle, and kind. His eyes showed a sweet-tempered brightness as he looked at her beautiful, fair face. And yet, one could detect some pain in the man's eyes as he smiled. He seemed reproachful and bitter over his sister's treatment...as if he felt he didn't deserve it. He pushed some of his black hair out of his face, thereby showing his glittering earrings he still wore after so many years.
"All right, Juhachi-gou. Please yourself. I'll go."
As he crossed the hall of the main entrance, he took his bag which he left by the stairs, and walked out the door. The door made a gentle click as it shut. And then silence threw it's weight on the house again.
"Hmph!" snorted Juhachi-gou.
She stomped to the living room and tossed herself on the sofa, vexed with the scene she just made, and vexed with her brother for what he said. She crossed her arms, and grit her teeth in complete exasperation.
"The jerk," she grumbled, "How dare he.."
Krillin carefully approached her, like a child approaches a stranger, and sat by her side, fiddling his thumbs nervously. Should I speak or just shut up, he wondered. It wasn't my fault per say...but I do feel sort of responsible for all this. She was so happy to see him...and I spoiled everything by staring at him and bothering him. He heard a stifled sob next to him, and turned to the source. Oh God, he thought, the poor thing is crying.
"Hey, now! It's not that bad, Juhachi-gou!"
He put his hand on her shoulder. She merely bit her lip and looked away, trying to appear uncaring, but Krillin saw a tear trickle down her snow white cheek. She wiped it away in vexation.
"So you lost your temper." he continued, "It's okay!"
"He's such a cold-blooded animal!" burst out Juhachi-gou in anger, "Why does he do this to me?!"
Krillin looked at her compassionately as he racked
his brain in search for an answer. He recalled the twins' lives
previously. They they coped with the same experience. Lived a lot of
their lives together. Understood each other completely.
But now they were separate. And it suddenly struck Krillin.
"Maybe I can understand him a bit, Juhachi-gou. Maybe he feels hurt or jealous because you left him behind as you busied yourself with your life."
"That's not a reason!" she argued.
"Try to look at it from his perspective. Maybe then it'll make sense."
"I don't want to talk or think about him at all!"
But she did. Did he really feel cheated and hurt because she chose a different path from him? Did he feel that she left him behind as she began a new life? Junana-gou, she thought, do you feel you're all alone? Marron had seen all this with her innocent, childish eyes. She scarcely understood why her "Mommy" yelled and her "Daddy" comforted and her "Uncle" left. She shuffled out of her chair and pattered towards the front door where her uncle just left moments ago. After pushing it open, she stepped lightly onto the porch with her eyes fixed on the stars and big round moon. Suddenly, on spotting a familiar figure by the shore, she ran to it as it lay crouched on the sand. The figure had its face buried in its knees and its arms surrounding the legs. She stood motionless, but still gazed at the figure's back and lustrous black hair with curiosity.
"Uncle Junana!!" she exclaimed.
The figure didn't start, didn't budge. In fact, it seemed unconscious of any other existence. But it slowly lifted its head and turned it half around.
"Hey, Marron."
She smiled and giggled a bit. Junana-gou resumed his former position. After some moments, he felt a little weight lean on his side. He raised his head to find that the girl had nestled herself against him and smiled contentedly. He didn't disturb her.
"Uncle Junana?"
"What?"
"Do you like my Mommy?"
"Yes." "Do you like her a lot?"
"Yes."
"Did you play with her?"
"I don't know."
"Did you tell her stories when you were small?"
"Maybe."
"Can you tell me a story?"
"I don't remember any."
"Please?"
He sighed as he stared at the bright stars decorating the black sky. Wish God can turn me into a star and let me live far from here, sighed Junana-gou. Far, far from this place. But it was obvious the child wasn't going to leave him alone.
"All right."
She snuggled up more closely and waited.
"But only I will understand it," he warned.
"I stumbled across an old newspaper clipping in an old folder about a little town up North. It was about the mysterious disappearance of two teenagers, a boy and a girl. The police didn't have a trace as to where they were or what happened. So, the case was eventually abandoned. There was a picture of the two children's house in the paper, along with two faded photos of the victims."
"Then I get this eerie feeling...could that be me and Juhachi-gou? Did Dr. Gero kidnap us? Where we killed and then sold to that mad scientist?"
"So, I traveled there...to that town. It was really cold, about December. But I don't remember feeling chilly. When I reached the sleepy town, I didn't recognize it. No sudden burst of memories or a sudden rememberance...no, just a dull 'I don't remember this place at all' acknowledgment. I wandered around for a while, looking at the shops' bright displays and the people in warm clothing passing by. I smelled the scent of food from the restaurants. I studied the low buildings with various signs decorating their facades. All those sights and smells that help one recollect his home. But I didn't remember."
"I reached a little suburban area full of cozy houses. I can't say why...I just chose to stop by some little house and look at it. Maybe because I saw two children, a boy and a baby girl, playing in the snow. I think they were trying to build a snowman; there was a black hat on its shapeless head."
"When a cold wind blew the snowman's hat off, it rolled until it hit my feet. The boy ran after it, shouting for it to return. He reached the hat that was at my feet, then, as he picked it up, looked up at me."
"'Hello, Mister,' he said."
"'Hi,' I answered."
"'Are you gonna be our new neighbor?'"
"I shook my head."
"'Oh...are you lost?'"
"I shook my head again."
"'Then, you're just walking around?'"
"'Yes.'"
"'Are you looking for someone?'"
"'No, I'm looking for something.'"
"He scratched his little head in confusion."
"'Well, if you're looking for something, don't go to that house next door.'"
"He pointed at an old two-storeyd house near by. It must've been a beautiful house once, but it was sinking into rapid decay. The window panes were smashed. Part of the roof was missing. The termites had obviously found that place a haven. In short, it had a melancholy air surrounding it which warded off all intruders."
"'Why not?'"
"'Didn't you hear, Mister? It's haunted!'"
"'I see.'"
"'Mommy says a family used to live there, but some Goblins took them away and ruined their house.'"
"'I see.'"
"His mother called him and his sister inside, and I was left alone again. I looked at the haunted house next door...Yes, it was the same house I saw in the clipping. So, I went there."
"I used the back door to enter; all the rust and neglect made it easier to barge in. It was colder inside that outside. I think I was in the kitchen because I saw all these broken plates and rusty pots scattered on the floor. The cupboards lacked handles and shelves. I nearly stumbled across a broken table infested with termites and rot. The chairs were overturned and the sink's faucet was missing. Besides the reeking smell of the rot, the slightest movement caused the dust to rise and choke me. Was this where I ate? I didn't remember. I entered the living room."
"The couches were tattered and torn. All the spring were showing and bits of cotton crowded the holes in the sofa. I perceived a broken T.V, all covered with dust. I looked at the cracking ceiling. It was ready to fall any moment. Was this where I sat during the evenings? I didn't remember."
"I noticed some dusty frames on an oak cupboard.
When I picked it up and blew off the dust, I saw a photo of a family. The
mother looked a lot like Juhachi-gou, only she had long, black hair
tied with a green ribbon. A man was standing near her,
looking proud and dignified. He had blond hair and a bushy mustache
and beard. He carried a little boy with closely cut black
hair and blue eyes. A little girl in a pink dress and two blond pony
tails sat on the mother's lap. Both children were laughing.
Both parents were smiling. Was that me and my family? I didn't remember."
"I went up to the second floor. The first room I entered was so corroded, I almost hesitated to proceed. It looked like a girl's room; I saw the closet open with some dresses and shirts hanging inside...all tattered and threadbare. I reached the desk in the room and saw some dust covered notebooks all scattered about. I picked up one of the notebooks and opened it. It was a diary. Must've been the girl's diary. It had such comments like 'Jun Mikada asked me out today..' and 'Kyoko invited me to a slumber party..' or 'Susin asked me to introduce her to my brother...I think she has a crush on him..'. Was this Juhachi-gou's diary? Would she remember? I took the diary."
"I walked into a less decayed room to the right of the former. Telling from the various tattered car posters on the wall and small car models on the shelves, I concluded it was the boy's room. I looked around, careful not to exite too much dust. I opened one of the drawers and found a little wallet, completely full of holes. I picked it up and searched through it; I found some money, gnawed by moths...I found three cards, all memberships for some gun club...and I found a picture of a young girl and a boy. The girl had long curly red hair and deep green eyes. The boy had black long hair and light blue eyes, just like mine. He had his arm around the girl's waist and both smiled full heartedly at the camera. Was this my room? Was this my wallet? Was that me and that my girlfriend? I didn't remember."
"I didn't remember anything. I couldn't remember who I was, how I lived, who I knew. Nothing. I couldn't even remember my name. Now its Junana-gou, but what was it then?"
"I walked away from that house. Did I walk to school on this pavement? Did I say 'good morning' to the neighbors? Did I see my sister play outside with her little friends? I still didn't remember."
"I wandered around for a long time in the streets and alleys until it got dark. I bought a sandwich from a fast-food restaurant and munched on it while I strolled around. A homeless old man begged me for some money, but I refused."
"'Wait!' he pleaded, 'if you give me some money, I'll tell you a good story!'"
"'I'm not interested.'"
"'Ah! But you will be. It's about that haunted house.'"
"'Poppy-cock.'"
"'No one knows what happened to that family, but I do.'"
"'Do you?'"
"'Of course.'"
"'Then talk.'"
"I gave him some money, and he told it. A family, he didn't remember the name, lived in that house. They had two handsome children and such a beautiful house. Both children walked to school everyday, and took this road. It was a nice, quiet road which people seldom took. It was a short cut, actually, to school. One day, mid-April, the two kids were walking along when three dark figures interrupted their path. They said something which angered the boy and frightened his sister; she clinged to her brother from sheer terror. One of the figures grabbed the girl's wrist and she screamed in response. The boy tried to protect her, but they knocked him out cold with a stick. They also drugged the girl to silence her. They carried them away, and were never seen again. The police combed the whole town for months, but to no avail. The two children simply vanished. That broke the hearts of the parents. The mother died in six months, and the father followed her after a year. No one cared for their house, so it sunk into oblivion."
"'And how do you know this?' I inquired."
"'Well, my boy, I was there when the children were kidnapped, But I hid in the shadows to avoid trouble. When you beg, you see alot of things.'"
"'Why didn't you tell the police?'"
"'Police don't listen to beggars, boy. And besides, I didn't want those guys coming for me too. You see what I'm saying?'"
"I left him and sat down in an empty, dark park. Was I really kidnapped like the old beggar said? I struggled to remember anything from my past. I could only vaguely recall a senile, ugly, old man with a smelly breath examining my head and grinning evilly over his bloody tools. But he's a blur. I recall a little muffled, girlish voice crying in the night as some experiment was going on. But that voice's a hum. I remember being installed in some cold container feeling stiff and heavy in the head. But that feeling's a daze."
"I woke up, I don't know how many years later, unable to express my emotions. In fact, I barely felt any emotions. Did I feel surprise? No. Did I feel anger? No. Did I feel fatigue? No. All of my emotions were crippled beyond repair."
"But I didn't feel sad or lonely, because my sister was with me. We were now exactly alike. She was now my only family. My only companion. My only link to a life that was cut off long ago."
"It's times like these," he whispered to himself, "when I wish that black sea would just shroud me completely from this life."
He felt a gentle hand softly touch his shoulder from behind, but he didn't stir a muscle. He knew it was Juhachi-gou without seeing her.
"How long have you been listening?"
"Long enough to hear your story."
"I still can't remember."
"Why do you persist?"
"I don't know...I can't seem to live my life without knowing everything about it. It tugs at my heart to know that I can't remember one single event that happened to me before."
"You're such a child."
"Maybe, Juhachi-gou. Maybe I am."
She still kept her hand on his shoulder as she bent over him. He still kept his gaze fixed on the sea. Then she whispered almost inaudibly.
"You feel angry because you can't remember your past. And I am what remains of your past."
"And now, you're gone too." he completed.
"You're wrong, Junana-gou. I'm right here. I never left you alone."
"No. When you married and began to live a normal life, you faded away too. And I was left alone to wonder about the past while you created a future."
"Junana-gou, you shouldn't yank at a past that won't come back. No matter how hard you search, you won't remember it again."
They remained silent for a minute. They both heard Marron's steady, soft breathing and heard the gentle waves crawl up the shore and retreat bashfully.
"It's pretty ironic," remarked Junana-gou.
"What do you mean?"
"We're twins, but totally different. You're so eager to grasp the future and live it to the fullest, And I'm plodding through the past, trying to remember it."
"Yeesh, Junana-gou!" said Juhachi-gou as she got up, but still keeping her gentle tone, "Why do you enjoy torturing me?"
"Do I?"
"Yes! I want to be happy with my life. I want to create a new world for myself. But I don't want to see you unhappy for me. You're trying to grasp something that slips through your fingers like water. I want you to happy, like I am, with this second chance you have."
"I wish I could, Juhachi-gou. But I don't think one can be happy without having a past to look back on."
"But, Junana-gou," she argued kindly, "You just said I was your only link to your past, and I just told you that I'm still that link despite all I do. So, you DO, in fact, have a past...me! Why don't you see it that way?"
He looked up at her with expressionless eyes as she stared back at him.
"And the same goes for you, Brother," she continued, "You're my link to the past, and I refuse to cast you off. You're still a part of me in some way."
Carrying Marron from his side and handing her to
her mother, he got up carefully from his spot. After wiping off some sand
from his behind, he stooped down and picked up his bag. He unzipped
it and produced a little purple notebook with yellow
papers.
"Here," he said, handing it to his sister," read
it. I think it's your diary." As she took it curiously, he added, "I don't
think
I need it anymore."
She glanced at it, then looked at her brother intensely with her piercing eyes.
"Sister, you take care of yourself." she heard him say gently.
"Wait!" cried Juhachi-gou as he turned around to leave. "Junana-gou, why didn't you come here more often?"
"I couldn't."
"But why?"
"Maybe it was too painful. I think it hurt me so much to see us leading different, separate lives."
"Does it still hurt you as much as it used to?"
"I don't know."
"Then, will you visit me again some time soon?"
"Maybe." He mused for a moment then smiled affectionately at her, "Maybe next time, I'll come to say hello."
He flew off into the pitch black sky, and was gone.
The next morning, as Krillin walked downstairs, he saw Juhachi-gou sitting at the kitchen table, with a steaming cup of coffee, reading a little purple notebook.