The Calm (pt1)

They drove to an out-of-the way vacant minka. A small traditional cottage nestled beneath a shady canopy of plum trees, mellow purple hydrangea bushes and moist green foliage dulled by the setting sun. The distant view of the Enko River waters was barely visible over the fading horizon.

"Hashimoto-sensei said this will be the place we can rest until time."

"Until time? Oh, the drop off day." Eiji mumbled when Kei parked the car before the minka's wide front porch.

The earlier visit was a courtesy to announce their arrival. Dr. Hashimoto given them access to the vacant company lodgings where they could wait out for the time.

"What's the date anyway?"

"July 10th. Going by the calendar hanging on the office's reception wall. We have eleven days to keep out of harms way." Tyne soberly answered.

"How we're going to know?"

Tyne showed Eiji his German watch where the tiny date panel on the clock face was showing the correct number. It had stopped working a while back when the radio was in their care. It seemed to be functioning again.

"It's working."

"Yeah."

"Just as well."

Tyne sighed, feeling exhausted and his body aching for sleep.

They ambled out of the car and casually stepped onto the porch to inspect the simple cottage. Kei noticed that there was some oil in the hanging and pole lanterns. He focused on the task of lighting a few to make more of the cottage's form visible.

Sean rummaged around the kitchen area to inspect the pantry cupboards and ground floor ice box. Empty. Of course. He returned to the main room and slumped down on a cushion next to Eiji at the chabudai low table. Eiji was staring blankly at a ranma carved pattern of flowers.

"Ouch!" Eiji yelped at the unexpected dull whack to this gut.

"We're even." Sean pouted. He wrapped his arms around Eiji's waist and rested his head on his chest. "You broke my heart."

"Sorry." Eiji sighed. He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall.

Cricket droning. Comfortable heat. Sweet floral scents and moist soil. They calmed his apprehensions, so his body lapsed into a gentle sleep with Sean snoring against his chest.

Tyne sighed at the sight of Eiji and Sean sleeping in the main room. His brows raised when Kei walked past him with a blanket, and he tucked it around the men.

"You're such a mother hen." Tyne chuckled.

"Shuddup." Kei snapped back. He sighed and faced Eiji's sleeping face. "Least I can do. The guy saved my life."

Tyne decided to inspect the cottage to determine its safety. There weren't many entrances as the shoji doors were fixed wall panels except the front porch area. One side of the back area had amados permanently fitted. He suspected the cottage was modified this way to withstand harsh weather. Fortunately.

He checked the in-built closet for futons and smiled when saw there was enough for all of them. With Kei's aid, he set the main room into a bedroom.

The four of them were soon deep in their minds with sleep.

They woke the next morning naturally. The mellow chirping, a crisp morning breeze and welcoming daylight from the ranma invigorated their senses and energies.

Eiji stretched out his arms and groaned at the sudden cramp he felt from his bruised forearm. Sean groggily grabbed at his arm and began carefully massaging around the wounded area to ensure blood circulation.

"Didn't hurt?" he asked.

Eiji shook his head.

He ungracefully dropped Eiji's arm and flicked his forehead.

"I said I was sorry!" Eiji snapped at the sudden dekopin.

"Not enough. You punched me in the stomach and ran off!" Sean childishly snapped back.

Eiji lowered his head.

Sean sighed. "I'm not mad. I was scared I wouldn't see you again."

"Why?"

Sean scoffed. "Seriously Eiji. Am I even your friend?"

Eiji faced him with friendly smile. "Idiot!"

He returned the finger flick gesture to Sean's forehead.

"Should we leave you faggots alone?" Kei wryly said from the other side of the room as he was moving the chabudai back in place.

Tyne had packed away their futons.

"What did I say about using that disgusting F word?!" Sean snapped back at Kei and tackled him to the ground.

Tyne stepped around their play fight to sit next to Eiji.

"I am glad to see you again. Sorry about..." Tyne sighed away the rest of his apology. "How's the arm?"

Eiji inspected his forearm. He unwrapped the badge to take a look at the yellowing bruise. It was surprisingly healing fast. He suspected it was due to the medicine he had taken at the shrine.

"It's healing well." Tyne noted with a tone of surprise. "Who treated it?"

Eiji paused before explaining his sprints through the forest and moment at Bishamonten's shrine. Obviously not disclosing his vows, prayers and matters that were only between him and Okamisama. He gulped at the sudden drop of color from Tyne's cheeks.

"Japan's god of war?" Tyne's voice went weak.

"You know about Bishamonten?" Eiji asked, both surprised and impressed.

"Through my university lessons." He nodded. "One of the seven gods of luck."

He faced Eiji, staring him square in the eye. "O'Bishamonten's priest allowed you into the shrine?"

Eiji sense a tone of insistence to his words. Was he also asking for forgiveness?

"Yeah."

Tyne sighed with relief. His hand fiddled about his pocket, but resurfaced empty.

"How much was the US willing to know about their enemy?" Eiji asked. An effort to change the subject.

"Not a lot. To be honest, my field was considered controversial because it was too focused on learning about other cultures." Tyne chuckled. "My professors were constantly fighting with the school board to keep it running."

"I figure they don't they run it now." Eiji suspected.

"There was a lot of talk about shutting down the program just before I enlisted. I'm glad I got the chance to be part of it before it happened."

Tyne sighed. "I suspect when the war is over, we'll all be wondering what we had been fighting."

"Too busy rebuilding to think philosophical." Eiji scoffed.

"True." Tyne nodded his head.

Eiji changed the subject to ask about Ren. This caused the three men to face him with grim expressions.