"What? No, that's not ever going to be possible." Hayami said in refusal to her friend's
absurd request trying hard not to shout and disturb the kids from where they were playing in
their room.
"I'm really happy for your brother and his soon to be wife, really, I am. But you should also
try to understand me when I say that I can't do what you are asking of me, I really can't."
Hayami said to Himari from where she sat with her other friend-more of a big sister to both
Hayami and Himari actually-Karen. To an ordinary eye, Karen looked far from the
conversation, but Hayami and Himari both knew that wasn't the case. She was just waiting
for the time it would be appropriate enough to speak and Hayami really hoped it wasn't going
to be in favor of Himari because Karen could be quite persuasive and Hayami has also always
respected the older woman's advice.
"Please Hayami. Look, I know what I'm asking of you is really hard and uncomfortable for
you…"
"Which is why you shouldn't have asked in the first place" Hayami interrupted Himari, who
only rolled her eyes and continued with what she had in mind. "But you also know that I
wouldn't ask this of you if it wasn't important, or if there was another alternative…." Hayami
knew that she was saying the truth, but still…
"I don't know…"
"Look, Miou personally asked me for this favor, and apart from it being a favor, she really
misses you and wants to see you. Knowing that you wouldn't come if she only extended a
normal invite, that's why she begged me to beg you to be the event photographer for her
wedding. It would really mean a lot to her, so please, please, please help me out with this."
Hayami sighed tiredly. She would really love to do this for her friend. But what Himari was
asking of her was too much in her own opinion. Going back to Japan meant seeing them,
seeing "him". And quite frankly, she wasn't too sure if she was ready to for it at all…she
doubts she would ever be.
And there was the issue with the kids. They loved going with her on her travels, and she in
turn loved taking them with her. But taking them along with her to Japan meant the
possibility of them running into him much higher, and she wasn't ready for that either and
neither was she also ready for any custody fights or abusive words spoken her children. These
were many of her concerns among many, and she told them to her friends-although they all
knew that there was one more important reason of the fear of having to go back to Japan that
she left out…but they left it that way. Some things were left better unsaid.
"I understand your concerns Yami, I really do. But this wedding is such a huge thing for Miou
and she wants the event coverage to be extra special. But for it to be, it has to be done by a
professional and quite frankly, you are that person Yami. So please just help us out and as for
the rest, I promise to take care of it perfectly well. The kids won't have to see him and if you
hide well, he might not see you either. But I also hope you know that you can't hide them
forever."
Hayami sighed tiredly. Everything Himari said was through, but…she…Himari and Karen
must have noticed that she was close to swaying but was still very uncertain, and that was
when Karen decided to join in the conversation and mission of trying to persuade her, and
what she said really hit close to home.
"Himari is right Yami. You really can't hide from him forever, most especially the kids. Soon,
they are going to be asking about their father…what would you do then? And besides, Japan
is also your homeland. Not just for them or for him. You can't say you won't ever step foot
there again all because of a group of spoiled brats like that. It doesn't make any sort of sense
at all. Besides, Miou really needs your help, not only as a photographer, but as a friend who is
there to wish her well on her big day. Think about it, would it really be kind of you to
disappoint someone who really needs you just because of some people."
"Yeah, it really wouldn't make any sense…" Hayami muttered and later sighed in defeat, "ok
fine. I'll do it, I'll be the event photographer for Miou's and your brother's wedding."
"Whoo-hoo…" Himari started to rejoice but Hayami wasn't quite done.
"But you have to promise me something…" Hayami started, and both Himari and Karen
looked at her in curiosity, also not sure if they really wanted to hear the request.
"Promise me you are going to keep the kids far away from him…" Himari opened her mouth,
probably to protest about her request but Hayami cut her off quickly. "I know, I know that I
can't hide them from hm forever. But I know that I'm also not ready to let them know about
him or him to know about them either. Please try to understand and also respect my
decision." She pleaded gently.
Himari and Karen shared a quick glance that made Hayami suspicious but later shook it off as
Himari proceeded to look at her with a big, blinding smile." No problem, we'll cross that
bridge when we get there. But for now…. Kids!!!!!!!!! get your scrawny legs here, we are
going to Japan baby! Whoo-hoo!"
It didn't take up to even a minute, when they heard two pairs of feet running to meet the
adults in the sitting room. Excited smiles were on both their faces at the knowledge that they
were going to travel with their mother and their aunts. They had also never gone to Japan
before, but they knew that that was their mother's homeland and so they were very excited to
be going to where their mother grew up all her life.
"Ne, ne, aunt Karen. Are we really going to Japan?" Keiko asked her aunty, voicing enough
happiness and enthusiasm for both she and Keiki. The adults looked at the children, a smile
that their young brain wasn't able to understand, or see it for the bittersweet and tensed smile
that it was. If only they knew…But they didn't need to know, at least for now. So, Karen
answered them with as much Genuity and enthusiasm that she could muster, "Yes honey.
You, Keiki, Aunt Himari, your mother and I are all going to Japan."
"Together?" the girl asked with enough innocence and happiness that squeezed their hearts
with guilt. "Yes honey. We are all going together…" Karen answered quietly, and looked over
to Hayami… "and together, we will be fine… "Hayami could only nod her head, silently
praying to kami that she doesn't end up regretting the decision she had just made.