Thirteen weeks of never-ending boredom assaulted Kano's mind. Yet he persevered. Thirteen weeks of physical training. Yet his body did not care, it yearned for more. Thirteen weeks of judicial training. Yet his mind remembered every bit of it while still thinking back to one night. He made few friends with his new team members, fellow marines and grunts, but only one name stayed upon his lips. Was it puppy love and infatuation? Probably, but it mattered not as it was still a wonderful feeling. Each and everyday he waited for a message from her. Yet none came. Did she forget him? Did she hate him? He had no answers. Just the single message she left him during the week after they had separated.
-Kano, that night we spent together was amazing and I have never felt the way you have made me feel. To be honest, all the attention you gave me was wonderful and I will cherish it. But that is also the reason we need to stop. I don't know where you will be and you don't know where I will be. The distance will be too great and long distance never works. It was just too much too quick and I don't want to be held back or hold you back.
-I think I fell in love with you.
...
He stared at that typing icon for an hour as it appeared and disappeared. He had started and backspaced countless times as well, but he could not argue with her logic. Maybe this was best. Maybe that was the way things were meant to be. Time. Time was what he needed and he knew that only after he finished his advanced training would he get that. Time away from this world. Time to focus on simpler things. And time to keep his mind occupied and away from thoughts of her.
***
"Lance Corporal Hoffstedder! Take your certificate and get the Hell gone!"
The Captain roared at Kano as he strode forward to accept his diploma. Well, you could call it that anyway. It was just an achievment certificate that stated he had graduated Military Police training. 'Yay me.'
That left a bus ride home and another week away from the Marines before he reports in to his new duty station. Kano barely noticed as he went through the routines. Bus depot, on the bus, the countryside passing him by and a bottle of beer his only companion. It wasn't until he showed up at his own front door and his mother wrapped him up in her tiny arms that he finally felt okay. Seeing the expectant look in her eye, he could only shake his head and bear the disapointed look that appeared.
"It's okay, bot-chan. We will find you a better one." she stated simply as she held her son close. He simply huffed and smiled at her.
"Fine mama. I'm still young. I'll get you your grandchildren soon enough. I'm only 22 now."
"And I want to enjoy my grandchildren while I am young!" She smacked him playfully on his head as he bowed it to her, knowing full well that was her intent.
"Lemme guess, dad is still in the field?"
"Of course. You know your father. What will you do while you are home?" at the last bit he saw a hint of worry appear in her eyes.
"Oh, I don't know. Hole up in the basement and play games?" He teased. In all honesty, he did not feel the need to play games. He wanted to go out and about, maybe see a few friends and places. Plus, he had to report to his recruiter and visit his old school. As he felt the hand hit his head again, he quickly informed her of his plans, which did not include holing up in his old room.
***
"Roger. My bot-chan needs a car." Kano could hear his mother arguing with his father over the telephone. He yawned as he came up the stairs and entered to the family kitchen.
"It is mine. I can do what I like with it. Besides, a cool car like that will surely impress these girls. My Kano-kun needs all the help he can get. You know how he gets all twisted up with one when he needs to spread himself out a bit."
'Mama, what kind of man do you think I am?' he thought as he spit out a little milk he had been trying to drink. Wiping his mouth, he replaced the container and looked in his mother's direction.
"I have decided. You can get me a new car. You always say I need a new car. Now we can. I love you. Now go have fun with your big thumpers." and she hung the phone up before Kano's father could say anything else.
"Mama, what's going on?"
"My Kano-kun needs a car now, he is a grown man. He can have mine."
"No. Really?!" Kano could not keep the excitement from his voice. He had always wanted his mother's car. She had been a bit of a delinquent back in her home town. She used to entertain him at night before bed with stories of her and her crew. Bosozoku gangs were all the rage where she grew up and it was rather natural she would become one.
After the two of them chatted over breakfast, he hurriedly dressed in his uniform and met his mother in the garage. She smiled and nodded as he quickly pulled off the car cover revealing a 1998 Nissan Skyline R34. It was still an amazing color of Bayside Blue since it had not seen the sun for more than a few minutes at a time when his father had brought it out to perform maintenance and wash it. His mother handed him the keys and he walked around to the driver's side. It was a right hand drive and his father had payed a pretty penny to have it DOT (Department of Transportation) inspected and approved.
'Been a minute since I've been to school. And never drove this except on Prom Night. '
***
Kano spent the whole morning walking around talking with his former teachers and answering questions about the marines. Finally, he was free for lunch, but as he was walking he had a sudden case of deja-vu. Images of Vicky and her sister passed his mind and he had a feeling someone was about to-
"Kano?"
A sweet young voice sounded his name before it repeated it much louder and with conviction. "My Kano!"
Before he could turn around, a feminine frame crashed into his back and two slender legs wrapped around his waist. Two arms wrapped around his neck and threatened to choke the life from him, but a wonderful smell invaded his nostrils and he thought that dying in such a way would not be so bad. He could feel the press of two soft mounds upon his back and his mind raced as he realized that a young woman had latched onto him. Throughout this, he realized that it could only be one person.
"Sarah. I can't breathe. "
"Don't care. You can't escape now. "
He could not help but laugh as the memories of giving her piggyback rides many, many times in their younger days. She was Victoria's little sister and he had always felt like she was his sister too. They had played games together, told stories, and he had even joined in on quite a few tea parties. He had doted on her, and both Vicky and Sarah had loved it. He started walking forward along the sidewalk as he listened to the laughter of the young woman, it had been three years since he had last seen her. She felt heavier.
"There! That's the elementary school. John K. Patterson Elementary. They built it two years ago and its where Vicky teaches. I was going to join her for lunch today but now I think I'll just go with you." She gushed at him. He stopped in front of the school and looked it over. He had no idea they had built a new one. 'Guess that means they tore down the old one after all. '
"Oh, I see. Since I told you I was meeting Vicky, you wanted to stop and see her, didn't you! Just don't care about me anymore."
"Of course I wanted to see you first. Why else would I visit the high school instead?" he tried to deflect. Truly, he really did want to see her, but he was trying to move on. The weight on his back fell away and he turned to look at his former passenger. She had turned into a beautiful young woman, short, brown hair with emerald green eyes. A pair of jeans hung to her every slender curve and he marveled at how they did not break at her hips. A simple blouse with ruffles along the hem in a deep crimson did not hide her growing chest, but it did show the wonderful cleavage that every straight man enjoyed. She had styled her hair in a punky do, it did not move at all when her head did or with the tiny breeze that swept about. 'Thats a lot of product. But it fits her. She was always a daredevil.'
"Because you have to."
He seemed to ignore her words as he stared into those eyes, lost as he was in the beauty before him. It was difficult to picture her as a little kid at this moment, and he was still just a simple man at his core.
"You are going to be simply gorgeous in a couple more years. Stunning now, but damn. I'm going to have to come back and knock some heads around, I just know it." His words forced a bright crimson to her face and the grin that popped up was so powerful it was doubtful anything could wipe it away.
"Shut up! You and your new uniform... and new muscles... " she trailed off as her hand slapped against his chest, she felt just how much stronger he had become. She could not help but pinch at his bicep also, just to make sure. His face was more full now too, he had become a lot more handsome than he was in her dreams and memories.
"Sarah. And Kano?" The voice shocked Sarah from her stupor and she recoiled back in embarrassment. They both turned to look at the speaker, but recognized immediately that it was Victoria, Sarah's sister and Kano's previous girl.
"Vicky!" Kano smiled brightly as he looked at 'Teacher' Vicky. She was wearing a sport coat and long skirt with a buttoned blouse while her hair was in an updo held by a pencil. She was the epitome of the sexy teacher. With just that one glance Kano felt his own temperature rise a bit.
"Sis! I found this wandering around lost. Can I keep it?" Sarah giggled as she latched onto Kano's arm and gripped it so hard that he could have used her as a tourniquet.
"No, you can't even take care of a Goldfish, let alone a full grown man."
"They are like cats. You just throw a little food out and give them a nice warm bed."
Kano coughed at the hidden implications of what she said and he felt his temperature rise a bit more. Suddenly, he got the feeling that the filial love between them had become one sided. Though, he also found himself imagining her in bed. "Lil Monster, you need to grow two more years before talking like that."
"One more. I just turned 17 last month." Her grip tightened unbelievably even more. "Or did you forget when my birthday is?"
"No, I remember, its in April... So its May now then? I was so focused on training I lost track of days."
"Well, I guess I'll forgive you, but you have to promise to come visit for my birthday next year!" She demanded.
"I'll try and get leave. It's going to be difficult to plan that since I'll be in San Diego."
"San Diego? What are you going to do there?"
"I'm Military Police now. This Marine can legally bust heads." Kano grinned as he lifted an arm to flex the bicep before patting it with his other hand. "These guns are now the authority, ladies."
They all three laughed and for that moment, it was years prior. Just the three of them, enjoying the time they spent together. A simple moment of peace and happiness, what more could you ask for my dears?