Chapter 2

Kyoshi sat in silence next to Takakura, staring off into the space in front of him. They were on a bullet train headed for Enkakuchi. It would only take a couple of hours to get there, but for both men the time seemed to drag on. Kyo sighed softly, running his hands along the edges of the small box full of cranes he held in his hands. Everything had an air of unreality about it. It was like walking through a dream and not being able to feel yourself move.

Takakura grunted, bringing Kyo's attention to him. Takakura had been steadily filling Kyo in on the place they were headed to and what it was like, in his slow, gruff way. Kyo had been taking in all the information automatically, like a student only half listening to a teacher's lecture.

Forget-Me-Not Valley... The irony almost chocked in, but instead he was reduced to a short coughing fit. Takakura sighed as Kyo straightened up, gasping for breath.

"Your mother..." He paused, suddenly aware of what he'd said. Kyo stiffened slightly and looked up at Takakura, trying not to let the waves of pain over-take him. His mother wouldn't want him to grieve forever, when he'd had to time grieve over her while she was still alive and she could still comfort him. Takakura took a deep breath and started again. "Your mother was right when she said that you're sick. The city air ruins the lungs and heart, so..." He paused, groping for what to say next. "Do you... farming? Do you know how to farm?"

Kyoshi shook his head. He and his mother had lived in a small apartment in the city, near her office building. The closest that he had come to farming was working in the school garden. Takakura nodded to himself and sighed.

"Right." He said, in a tone that told Kyo he'd suspected so. "Alright. It isn't hard. I'll teach you as we go, so that you can get build up your strength." He paused, then fell quiet, drifting off into his own thoughts.

Kyoshi let him stay that way for a while, then slowly gathered himself to speak.

"What... what will I do, farming?" Kyo said, looking up at Takakura. "Will I farm, all the time, or school, too?"

Takakura looked up at Kyoshi, suprised. He shifted, sitting up and taking a deep breath. Kyo jumped at the sound of a gravely rumble that Takakura suddenly emitted, then realized he was laughing.

"School? That.. I suppose you still must school. Neither Ami or Aijou would want you not to school. I.. will speak with the Services in Enkakuchi about getting you home schooling material. Forget-Me-Not Valley is... there are no cars, or buses, or trains in Forget Valley. Everyone gets around walking... the only cars that come usually are to deliver supplies. I mean..." Takakura paused, realizing vaguely that he was staring to lose track of the subject. "It would be too far for you to go to Enkakuchi everyday. I do, but... I have a car, up in the city I use, too.. it's just too far, so you can home school, and stay in Forget Valley, where the air is healthier, and you can gain you strength."

Kyo nodded, feeling a little lost. This would be his new life. It was so completely different from everything else that he had ever lived. School festivals and sports events were over now...

I'm going to miss all the people...

The train suddenly jerked slightly as it slowed to a stop. The speaker crackled and a cheerful female voice came on.

"We have now entered Station Blue A at the Kobe station! Please exit and board accordingly and orderly. Thank you for riding on the BivKi Train rails."

Kyo watched as a few chattery tourists unloaded and more boarded, sighing to himself. His face darkened as a sudden memory struck.

"I promise we'll go next year, Kyo. I'm just feeling under the weather right now. When I'm feeling better, we'll go on our vacation, you'll see!

Kyo sighed to himself, closing his eyes briefly. That had been last year, when his mother first started to get sick. They'd been saving and planning to go on a vacation to a famous hot springs spa for years.

If only she'd known...

Takakura grunted. Kyoshi opened his eyes and looked at Takakura, waiting patiently.

"Mm. Farming..." Takakura sighed to himself, weighing his thoughts out. Kyoshi stroked the box of cranes, waiting patiently. Takakura finally looked up into Kyo's eyes, nodding to himself slightly before speaking. "Things come and go easily in Forget-Me-Not Valley... Material possessions, at least... Only if you work hard for it, though... I.. I spoke with your mother before she passed away." Takakura paused for a second, shifting awkwardly. "I realize that you were in financial difficulties... I don't have much to my name, but..." Takakura sighed, looking up at Kyo. "See... if you run the farm, Kyo, it'll be your responsibility. I realize that you may not know how to farm, at first, so I'll help you... it's just... after a while, it'll be yours to care for. And you've got a life ahead of you, to live for... So you'll keep all the money, that you earn, alright? If you work hard, it should be a nice amount."

"Are you sure that is alright, Mr. Takakura?" Kyoshi murmured softly. Shock trickled slowly through his body. He was definably not longer a child. He was going to be working a farm, earning his own money, and home schooling all in the same breath. "I mean... it is your farm."

The last of the passengers boarded and the train started to move again.

"No... no, it isn't." Takakura said, sighing softly. "Not anymore. I've lost most of the heart for it. It is yours now, if you want it."

Kyo sat in silence, thinking this over. Takakura suddenly stood up, then sat back down, obviously restless.

"You have to realize, Kyo, there is more to farming than the word. It isn't just the planting and the growing..." The words tumbled out of Takakura's mouth, as if he was trying to get the sentence out before he lost the power of it. "It's working with the land, hand in hand. It's.. It's the entire thing. It's being in the very womb of nature, and seeing what she can birth. It's fathering that... not... not to make it sound perverted, but it is true. Think of the power that you can have, Kyo. No... not even power, that distorts the truth. It's the blessing that you have to be there, to be in a place where you can realize yourself and the world at a deeper level than any city can offer."

Takakura fell back against the seat, sighing. He seemed more at ease now that he'd gotten all that out. Kyoshi stared up at Takakura in surprise, feeling like he was hearing but not understanding something amazing.

I... don't get it...

Just give it time. A small voice whispered in his mind. Kyo closed his eyes, sighing to himself. There was probably a magic to farming that he'd learn with time.

"As for the actual farming..." Started Takakura, nodding to himself. "I've already prepared the farm for your arrival. The fields have been cleared, the house cleaned, and I've managed to get you a cow. She's only a couple years old, and has had a calf ten days ago so sh-"

"Ten days?! My, my, better get her up with a bull soon then!" Said a middle-aged man who had sat down in the seat across the aisle from them. Takakura and Kyoshi turned, staring at him. He was built healthily, if with a bit of a beer belly. The man was tall with short cropped black hair and tanned skin. He stood up and sat down next to Kyo, nodding at Takakura and Kyo.

"Forgive me for interrupting, friends. But I just had to intervene! When it comes to cows, you've found my true love! I must offer any advice that I can, or else I will have failed to spread the love of the beautiful bovines!" The man laughed, half-bowing in his seat. "My name is Buri! I work for only the best in Kobe Beef production, Kobe Beef Incorporated!"

Kyoshi laughed softly in surprise. Buri had a vivacious atmosphere about him that lightened the mood Kyo had been carrying over him the entire train ride. Takakura smiled a little and nodded.

"So you work for the best of the best? Could you offer us any hints on taking care of our new cow, and any we might get, then?" Takakura asked, digging into his backpack. He pulled out some rice balls and offered them to Buri, who took a couple happily.

"Why of course! First of all, it's vital to massage and brush a cow daily, you see. The beautiful creatures like to have attention laid onto them! And handle her while milking with the utter most delicacy! Think of her as a real woman and you might enjoy it a bit more, eh?" Buri laughed robustly as Kyoshi turned bright red. "Ah, and when you have her calved! You want to get her with a bull as soon as possible after the first one is born, if you want to keep the milk coming for as long as it will. It takes as much time for her to birth a calf as it does for her to stop giving milk! Now, as for getting her pregnant! I like to do it myself, but nothing ever seems to yield from that, eh?" Buri winked at Kyoshi and laughed loudly, his smile broad on his friendly face. "Now, to get her really happy, give her treats! Would you like to eat bread all the time? No! So give her some of the berries from the forest that are safe to eat and she'll just love you..."

"Enkakuchi. Enkakuchi Station Yellow B! Please unload and load in an orderly fashion from the train. Thank you for riding the BivKi Train rails."

"Kyoshi? Kyoshi, time to wake up."

Kyoshi opened his eyes, stretching and taking a deep breath. The lights in the train were turned on and it was dark outside.

"Are we there?" Kyo murmured, rubbing his eyes. Takakura nodded and swung his backpack onto his back.

"It's only another short trip, and we'll be at the farm." Takakura said, stepping out of the seats into the aisle. Kyo stretched again and stood up after him, shifting his backpack and picking up his crane box. The passenger car was silent, except for a couple people whispering softly to each other in the corner. Adults were quietly reading newspapers and books or working on a laptop. Children stretched out in their seats, muttering softly in their sleep. Kyo glanced at a mother who was cradling her little boys against her as they slept, then looked away as the pain shot through him.

Takakura stepped out of the train and onto the platform, Kyoshi following right behind him. They remained in silence as they walked up out of the station and out onto the street. Kyoshi silently followed Takakura, looking around at the half-sleeping city of Enkakuchi. It had a lot more trees than his home had had and only about half as many sky-scrapers. Enkakuchi was still a very large city, though. The night-life crowds from a couple streets over were making a lot of noise, but no one seemed to care.

"Here's the parking garage where my car is, are you ready to go?" Takakura said, turning to look at Kyoshi. Kyoshi nodded silently, following Takakura.

"This is Forget-Me-Not Valley." Takakura murmured, his voice echoing in the night's silence. Kyoshi stared at the site below him, enchanted. The hill that he was on top on slowly rolled down into a beautiful valley that was dotted with dozens of trees and a rushing river. The distant roar of a waterfall made Kyo's skin tingle with excitement. He'd never seen a real waterfall.

"It's beautiful..." Kyo murmured, turning slowly to get a full view of the Valley. Through the darkness a few houses stood out on the small hills in the Valley, and Kyo could see the crest of an ocean. The stars shone astonishingly brightly. They seemed to almost sing of their own beauty from the sky. Kyo had never seen such a clear, clean sky or breathed such rich air before in his life.

Some burden in his heart eased, and a couple tears flowed down his face. It would be alright now. He would be safe here. Kyo laughed softly in surprise. He hadn't realized how scared he really was about where he would end up until just now.

Mom... Mom would be happy, I found such a beautiful place.

Kyo smiled, rubbing his eyes with his free hand- he was still holding the crane box. Takakura stood patiently, seeming to understand Kyo needed a moment to gather himself. Kyo gasped a little, smiling at how rich the air was, and looked over a small farm he saw to his right. It had a couple houses and some fields with a couple greenhouses.

"Is that your farm?" Kyoshi said, looking over at Takakura. Takakura shook his head and started down the hill.

"No, that's Vesta's farm. She grows produce there, that she sells in town and in the city. Our farm is most secluded..." Takakura sighed and turned to Kyoshi. "I don't know if you've been able to tell, but I like my privacy. I don't really like socializing. I mean... talking with you..." Takakura paused, shaking his head softly. "Is different. Your father and I... were best friends. So it's... like talking to him..." Takakura looked up at Kyoshi, his face twisted with the same pain that Kyoshi had for his mother. "You look almost exactly like him, when he was younger."

Kyoshi paused, feeling a little shocked. So every time he looked in a mirror, he was seeing a picture of his father from the past?

How... did that effect Mom?

"Our farm is off into the forest some... you can see but not be seen there. I like things that way." Takakura said, nodding to himself. "Well... come on. You look tired, we'd better get home."

Home...?

Kyoshi smiled softly to himself, feeling distant and lost for a moment. This was his new home.

The farm was hidden from the rest of the buildings in Forget-Me-Not Valley by a grove of trees. Moonlight flitted through the cherry blossom branches to reveal a few sturdy buildings and a fenced in field full of softly rustling green grass. Kyo felt excitement combat the lost feeling inside him. This was his new home. A place full of beautiful plants and fresh, rich air. It was beautiful.

"That's your house, over there, Kyo." Takakura said, pointing at a small cabin at the other end of the farm. "It's pretty basic, but it should suit your needs."

Kyoshi nodded and followed Takakura toward the cabin.

That must be a barn... Kyoshi thought, staring at a large building to his right. It had a silo next to it. A silo... that is where they store food, right? For the animals?

"Here we are..." Takakura said, stopping in front of the door. "I'll show you the inside really fast, so you know where everything is..."

"Thanks..." Kyo murmured, shifting his backpack and glancing around again. A couple small buildings to the right and what looked like a few gardening plots. Takakura unlocked the door and walked inside, Kyoshi followed him. Takakura flicked on a light.

"We've got electricity thanks to a water-powered dam over near Enkakuchi... I pay that bill, though, so don't worry about that..." Takakura murmured, looking around slowly. "This place use to be your Dad's... I haven't moved that much."

It was a one roomed cabin with simple furnishings. A table sat in the middle of the room with a couple chairs, a bed against the far left wall, and a small kitchen area up in the right corner. Some bookshelves were to the right, as well as a calendar and a small cabinet. It was small, but larger than any single room that Kyoshi had ever had before.

"I hope it isn't too small..." Takakura said, thinking somewhat along the same lines as Kyoshi. Kyoshi shook his head and Takakura nodded, walking over to the kitchen area. "There's a small fridge here... if you need any foods, just tell me, alright? I'll get it for you from town. There's lots of local foods you can gather and eat, though. I'm not too sure on what those are, but there's a girl who's an expert with plants. I'll introduce you to her tomorrow."

"I hope that this isn't too inconvenient." Kyoshi said, feeling awkward with Takakura taking care of him like this. Takakura shook his head, then turned and stared at Kyoshi.

"I..." He paused, sighing. "It's the least I can do for Aijou.. we... it's just like.. it's fine." Takakura sighed, shaking his head. "Though, you'll need to get some new clothes. Farming clothes... I've got mine at my house... I think..." Takakura paused, staring at Kyoshi for a second, the turning to the small cabinet and opening one of the drawers. Kyoshi put his backpack down on the floor next to the door and walked over to him, still holding the box of cranes in his hands. Takakura was slowly moving around a few pieces of clothing that sat in the drawer, handling them as if they were about to fall apart in his hands.

"These are your father's." Takakura whispered. He stared at them for a second, then sighed and picked a cotton shirt up and turned to Kyoshi, holding it out to him. "You can wear these. The jeans and shirt you've got on now will fall apart with the farm work we'll be doing, but these will hold up..."

Kyoshi stared at the shirt in Takakura's hand, feeling numb.

My father's clothing...?

Kyoshi hesitated for a second, then slowly reached out and took the shirt from Takakura. The cotton fiber felt surprisingly soft for farm clothes.

"Thank.... thank you." Kyo murmured, staring up at Takakura. Takakura nodded briefly and turned away, sighing. He looked around the room and nodded to himself, finally turning back to Kyoshi.

"Tomorrow, I'll introduce you to the people in town and show you where you can get everything you'll need..." Takakura paused, staring at Kyo again. "What you do... will be entirely up to you, alright? I'm... not going to tell you, what I think you should do... it's all up to you, the path you want to take."

Kyoshi nodded, feeling numb. There was a lot to take in before he could even start to think about what he would do with himself.

"Alright then... I'm in the cabin straight ahead if you need anything." Takakura said, starting for the door. Kyoshi slowly put his father's shirt away in the cabinet and turned to Takakura.

"Takakura... thank you, very much, for everything.." He murmured, suprised at how frail his voice sounded. Takakura turned and stared at Kyoshi for a second, then nodded and opened the door.

"Good night." He said, and shut it behind him.

Kyoshi laid in bed and stared at the ceiling. He was exhausted and sleep was slowly starting to wrap itself around him, but he couldn't sleep yet.

Mom's dead. Dad's dead... I'm in Dad's house now...

Kyo turned over, staring at the crane box he'd placed on the bedside table.

Mom...

Kyo sighed, closing his eyes. What do I do now?