Chapter Twenty

The carriage wasn’t even fully stopped before Hiroshi threw open the door and ran out. The climb down from the carriage made him stumble a little, but he recovered quickly. His legs pumped and the weeks of working them out carried him quicker than the hamster had ever run before. He heard Ezra shout something, but it didn’t quite register. It didn’t matter what the old grump said, Hiroshi didn’t hurt himself. He didn’t trip up the horses or anything. There was only one thing that mattered.

“MOOOOM,” he yelled as loud as he could just before his short, round form slammed into Hikari.

“Hiro -” she didn’t finish the word before, just like always, the round hamster slammed into her midsection. Only this time, while she used to brace herself and hold herself up to his crashes, this time, she fell back. Her small form sprawled backwards and all of Hiroshi’s weight crashed down on her as he followed her to the ground.

The smaller form stood there, mouth agape and eyes open wide in surprise. “Hiroshi, what…” Asami didn’t get to finish either. She was pulled down into the dog pile on their mother by Hiroshi.

He squeezed both of them tightly together, his face buried in his mother’s body. His body shuddered when his mom's and sister’s arms came around him in return.

“By the kami, the boy went mad. He did wrecked them,” Ezra yelled down to Nishikigi, who barked a laugh.

Itaro just stared out of the window, watching the display from his junior, confused. “What’s going on?” He looked over at Nishikigi.

“Oyakata sent off to pick up Hiroshi’s mother since they live so far away. I think they actually got to town last night? This was all planned,” Nishikigi said with a broad smile.

Itaro just smirked and nodded his head. “Nice. He’s been missing them. Come on, let’s go help,” he said as he climbed out of the carriage when Ezra finally got the horses to stop just a few feet away from the dog pile on the side of the road.

“Well, that wasn’t exactly planned,” Nishikigi said and pointed at the clump of people on the ground. “Yeah, we better,” he said and followed Itaro out.

“Oh wait! I have something for you!” Hiroshi jumped to his feet. “I made it,” he said as he went through the front gate and up the walkway into the house.

“Wait, Hiroshi, you need to help with the… Ugh, forget it,” Ezra shook his head and reached down to help Hiroshi’s mother up.

“Welcome to the Hajima stable. I’m Ezra. Sorry about that,” he said as he helped the woman to her feet with a smile.

Hikari gave a small laugh and brushed off her kimono. “No, no, it’s fine. I’m glad he was so excited to see us,” she said before she crouched down to help Asami get situated as well.

“Yeah, but he didn’t have to be so rough,” the small girl said and puffed out her cheeks. “Boys,” she said dramatically and shook her head.

Hikari smiled and nodded her head. “He’s excited to see you,” she explained.

Ezra just gave a small laugh and nodded his head before folding his arms against his chest. “We don’t get any better, I'm afraid, young lady. So, what’s your name?”

The girl looked up at the old man and smiled. “I’m Asami. Hiroshi’s younger but obviously much more mature little sister,” she said with a confident nod.

The other two men, seeing everything was in hand, set about getting the stuff they purchased from the markets. They walked past Ezra with their hands full. “Don’t worry, you get these guys situated. I’ll send someone out for the rest of the rest,” Nishikigi said.

Ezra just waved the two down and crouched down to Asami. He smiled and nodded to the young girl holding out a hand. “Well, it is good to meet you. I’m sorry we didn’t teach your brothers any manners while he’s been staying with us,” he said with a grin.

Asami shook Ezra’s hand and nodded her head. “It’s alright, I know my brother well enough. It’s being expected.”

Ezra gave a laugh and stood when Hikari gave a small laugh. “Sorry for her. I told her she was to be a proper lady while we were here. Think it went right to her head,” she explained with a small smile.

Ezra waved the concern away. “It’s no worries. It’ll be nice to have a proper lady around after dealing with all these brutish sumo wrestlers,” he said with a wink at Asami.

As the three of them spoke, a few other men came out to get the rest of the groceries. They stopped and bowed softly as Hikari while they introduced themselves. It was Udo and surprisingly Yoshitaro who came out. Though when Yoshi learned who the woman was, he glowered and went away from the little group without another word. He grabbed a few bags quickly and then left to go inside.

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“Sorry about him as well, he’s uh… well, he’s the difficult one in the house,” Ezra explained when Hikari watched Yoshi leave with a curious glance.

“Mom, here I got it,” Hiroshi yelled, and interrupted any further conversation about the stable bully.

Hikari knelt down when her son came rushing out towards the walk again to look and see what had him so excited. “What is it my little hamster?” She asked him.

He offered a small wooden box to her. Asami gazed at it before she pouted and crossed her arms. “No gift for me?”

Hiroshi ignored her and Hikari just laughed at the young girl.

“Open it,” Hiroshi said. “I’ve been working hard on it. Master Botan gave me some very special wood to help,” he explained as she opened the box.

Hikari’s eyes grew wide, and she pulled the small wooden sculpture from the box. It was just as Hiroshi wanted. A small rose on its side was held up by some small pieces on a pedestal. The wood Botan gave Hiroshi to remake the piece was a deep colored wood that seemed to have a natural polished look to it. It was intricately carved and Hikari almost couldn’t believe that Hiroshi’s stubby little fingers were able to carve such a thing. The carving for the pedals went deep so that it almost looked like he carved the entire pedal out and stuck it back on somehow.

“Sorry, I wanted…” Hiroshi started, but Hikari cut him off.

“No, it’s beautiful,” she said and looked at her son while her eyes got glassy. “Thank you, my little hamster,” her arm reached out and pulled Hiroshi into her embrace.

Asami just watched the ordeal and rolled her eyes before she turned to Ezra. “Gooey family stuff,” she said and shook her head. “Come on, pops, why don’t you show me the place?”

Ezra looked down at the girl, and Hiroshi looked up at Ezra. The look of pure shock and disbelief at what the girl who just moments ago was trying to be prim and proper just said.

“Uh…” was all the old curmudgeon could say.

Asami stared up at him and shrugged before she walked up the path to the stable’s front door herself. Hiroshi’s mother had objected to Asami just barging into a house populated with large men who fight for a living.

“No, it’s okay, mom. Most everyone is getting stuff ready for the cook-out. Besides,” Hiroshi said as he ran to catch up to his little sister. “I’m with her. It’ll all be okay.”

Hikari just stood there and watched before she gave a nod and a smile before she watched them leave. Ezra stood next to her and gave her a nod and a smile. “Hiroshi had a rough start in the house, but he’s been doing well. He’s well liked. Even the Master took a shine to him and has been giving him extra attention,” he explained with a nod of his head.

They walked towards the house and spoke a little about what Hiroshi had been up to, and general life in the stable. The siblings, however, had already made it inside and Hiroshi began showing his partner in crime around the stable.

“Okami, we have visitors. This is my sister, Asami.” Hiroshi said as they entered Auntie Yi’s domain.

The stable mom was standing in the kitchen with her hands on her hips, looking over Huan and a few of the other younger ranked disciples, including Itaro. When she heard her title being called, something she definitely wasn’t used to hearing, she turned towards the voice with a frown. The frown instantly turned right way up when she saw Hiroshi and the younger girl he had that followed him.

“Now, your sister can call me Auntie Yi as well,” she said with a nod down to the little girl. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Asami, but we’re pretty busy in here. Why don’t you go show her outside? Maybe the Oyakata will have something for you to do.” Auntie Yi finished and looked at Hiroshi.

The pair took their leave from the kitchen with a bow of their heads at the Okami and Hiroshi set off to show his sister the rest of the house. The only place they didn’t go was the training room. Hiroshi explained he wanted to show her and their mother that at the same time. He was rather proud of the area that he had been working so hard in and really wanted to show his mother the area.

When they finally went out to the backyard, they found most of his stablemates lounging around and relaxing. The Oyakata stood over a large open fire that had a metal grate sitting over it held together with some rocks. Next to him stood Ezra and Hikari and the three of them were chatting while Kenjiro was cooking various meats over the fire.

Auntie Yi was sending out vegetables, and side dishes with the people Hiroshi had seen in the kitchen. Everything was set down on a large table they had set up by where the Oyakata was cooking. He was flipping meat and fish and adding vegetables like sliced peppers, asparagus, and even some green beans to the grill and let everything get a nice char flavor it before he pulled them off and set them in dishes.

“Come, come, start eating. Some of the fish is ready and. vegetables. The meat is almost ready as well,” he said and waved at everyone.

“Come mama, let’s sit over here?” Hiroshi said and took his mother by the arm. He led her over to his favorite little spot on the bench under the large crooked tree. “And let me and Asami make you a plate,’ he said once she took her seat on the bench.

Hikari gave a mod, and the pair was off.

The food was all good. It was only cooked by Kenjiro, and with a heavy watching gaze from Auntie Yi. She had pre seasoned everything and did most of the actual work in the kitchen before she sent the things out to be cooked by the stable master. Hiroshi especially liked the fish they had served. There was grilled octopus and squid, as well as some tuna.

Any differences between any of the people who lived there had, was set aside for the night. Even Yoshitaro was mostly agreeable with everyone. There was a feeling of goodwill between everyone as they ate and joked around with each other. Hiroshi mostly stayed with his mother and sister, however, so excited to see them. Itaro joined them once all the food was actually done being made.

The air was a little warm, but it cooled once the sun set. The air turned crisp and a feeling of excitement and nervousness flooded the area. Tomorrow was the start of the new tournament. The Spring Tournament, the tournament of the Emperor. It was the biggest tournament of the year at the heart of the Empire.

“Alright then. We’re close to the theater house. We should get going,” Botan called over everyone, and the crowd hushed. “The theater promised to give a good show tonight. Apparently, they have a special guest. All the stables should be there, so I expect you all to be on your best behavior.” He said this and gave a side eye to Kenjiro with a slight grin.

The Oyakata smiled and raised his hands in surrender. “Yes, yes, but that goes double for the rest of you,” the stablemaster called out.

Botan nodded his head. “Go on, get dressed. We leave in ten minutes.”