A small encounter could change the flow of one's destiny. Thinking back then, I was the one who was lost from my destiny and the one who found me was him who was literary lost.
~
"(F/N)-nee we got lots today"
"Sure we did, Ma-kun, everyone will be happy" with my cousin Maki-kun, we were on our way home from the market. Our village though was so far from the market, and it was only a small village with big trees surrounding the place.
On the way home, as we walked beside the road, there was not much of cars nor houses, this time, it was just me, my cousin and the green fields on both side. Not far though, we could see the forest-like place where our village was. It was a nice breeze but then the smell of the wind changed, and the clouds moved faster.
"Ma-kun, let's hurry, rain is coming"
Holding the baskets of fishes and fruits, we hurriedly ran. But then when we were near our village, there was a car parked on the side of the road. It seemed the car was broken. There was someone fixing the front of the car.
"Uhm," he was startled when I tried to talk to him "is there a problem?"
"Ah, yeah, my car broke." He answered and based from the grease of his clothes, seems like he was fixing his car for quite some time
"If it is okay with you, not far from here our village is there. The uncles there can help you" I pointed our village, but he tilted his head, curious if there was really a village insise that forest-like place.
"Ah, but-"
"Ma-kun, wait here with big brother, I'll just call your father. Entertain him okay? Do not worry sir. We'll help you fix your car"
"No, it is fine. You don't need to"
"Well, we need to hurry up and fix this since a heavy rain is coming. Also, our village is just over there" I explained and got the baskets from Ma-kun. "I'll return immediately"
I ran and left Ma-kun to that stranger. Even though it was weird to just leave Ma-kun to a stranger, I felt like he is a good person.
"Ahra, (F/N)-chan, ahre? Where is Ma-kun?"
"Ah, Obaa-san, ojii-san!"
"What's wrong, (F/N)-chan?"
Good thing that I immediately saw Ma-kun parents. I immediately explained him about the stranger's situation and then he called the one who knew mechanics that turned out to be the village's chief. I led them to that stranger's car.
Ma-kun was laughing with that stranger, and as they spotted us, they waved at us.
"Thank you very much for the help." The stranger bowed down continuously as village chief looked at his car. "I actually ran out of gas at first, but when I put my extra gas and tried to start again, it won't start"
"Well, the problem is not the gas, the problem is inside your car, and good thing it didn't start moving. You would get into accident,"
"Eh?"
"The brake is damaged"
"But you can fix it, village chief?" I asked curiously
"I can, but we need to move it to the village. My things are there, plus" he pointed the sky and it was really dark "Heavy rain is coming" he looked at the stranger who was at lost to what should he do "You can stay in our village first. We also have phone there and you can call your family about your situation. There's no signal for mobile phones here"
"Thank you very much. I am Ono Yuuki. I will never forget this kindness"
Ma-kun ran to the village and called the other uncles that could help in pushing the car. Good thing when the rain came, we arrived in the entrance of the village.
"(F/N)-chan, Ma-kun, lead Ono-kun first inside the house and then let him take a bath. You two also"
"Yes" I answered and led Ono-san in Ma-kun's house. Ma-kun's mother prepared the bath for him
"Uhm, thank you very much. What is your name, by the way?"
"Ah, I am (L/N) (F/N)." I answered, "Take a bath for now, Ono-san. I will take Ma-kun in my house and we'll take a bath there. Let's go Ma-kun"
We hurriedly went to my house and there took a bath. After taking a bath, we went to Ma-kun's house and saw Ono-san on the phone.
"Obaa-san, I'll help you. Ma-kun, you go and talk to Ono-san when he finished talking on the phone, okay?" Ma-kun nodded and I helped in cooking.
~
"The village chief is still looking at your car, Ono-kun" Ma-kun's father came in and he was full of grease
"Go and take a bath first. Then let's eat dinner" Ma-kun's mother approached him and ordered him
As for me, after cleaning the table, put plates and forks, I went to the living room and saw Ma-kun sleeping on Ono-san's lap.
"I apologized about it" I got Ma-kun from his lap and put him on the big sofa. "Did you call your family?"
"Yeah, I also called my manager. I told my situation and seemed I'll be staying the night here. I hope it is okay"
"It is fine. But you will stay in my house instead. Since it is a storm, the other houses here in this village will not be accessible so they will be staying here and in village chief's house. So there will be no space here later"
"Is it okay? How about your family?"
"I live alone." I answered and it was then I heard obaa-san called us. "Let's go to the dining room, Ono-san"
"Where's Ma-kun?"
"He is sleeping, should I wake him up?" obaa-san shook her head
"Let him sleep. The others will come any minute. You two should eat first."
The two of us sat down, and it seemed Ono-san was still anxious to what was going on.
"Ono-san, you seemed still anxious to what is going"
"Well, you are all nice and so close to each other. Somehow this ambiance is so new to me"
"It is a small village after all" I laughed "Everyone is so warm and so kind. They are all my family"
"Yes, yes, so Ono Yuuki-kun, right? Don't hold back and stay here until your car is fixed." Obaa-san patted his head "Now, eat the two of you"
"Ittadakimasu"
Obaa-san and I cooked chicken curry for tonight. A typical Japanese cuisine. Obaa-san was telling stories while still cooking curry while Ono-san remained silence while eating.
"By the way, Yuuki-kun, supposedly where are you heading?" Obaa-san suddenly asked while pouring water on his glass
"I'm heading back to Tokyo" my ears pricked as I heard that word "I had an event in Ogano, Saitama. The usual road I was taking was blocked so I took a different road."
"Well, you are seemed lost then Ono-kun" uncle chuckled as he entered the dining room "You went the other way. You are now in Fukushima"
"Eh?!"
"Fukushima"
I noticed Ono-san's face turned pale when he heard that. Was Tokyo that far from us? I only saw Japan's map, but I didn't know how far it was in reality.
"Ah, that time! I might turn on the wrong way. My GPS also didn't work. I'm so unlucky"
"Well, there are circumstances like that. You're lucky that the one saw you were (F/N)-chan and Ma-kun. And also, you didn't get into accident" obaasan patted his head and smiled "there's a reason why these things happened. Now, continue eating the two of you"
As we continued eating, the other villager's came and the wind started to blew harder. Not long after, Ma-kun's house were filled with people. I asked Ono-san to come with me to my house and there he would stay the night.
If there would be enough space in Ma-kun's house, they would let Ono-san stay there. But the only house that had space was my house. And the truth was, the others didn't want to stay in my house.
"Wah, what a cute little house you have here" Ono-san answered as he put down his things on the sofa. It was indeed a small house compared to other houses.
"Thanks. Ono-san, you can sleep here"
"A man's room. Whose room is this?"
"My brother." I answered "Oh, but don't worry. He is not here so you can use it"
"How about you?"
"The room next door" I answered and grabbed some new blankets.
~
The night continued and I sat down on the side of the window in the living room. I watched how the sky light up because of the lightings. I wanted to count the droplets of rain, but I would become idiot if I did that.
"(F/N)-san?" I jolted when someone called me. Ah, yeah, Ono-san was here. Every time I watched the rain, I was lost on other things. "Why are you still awake?"
"Ah, Ono-san. The truth is I enjoy watching the view when it is raining" I answered. I was then surprised as he sat down next to me "How about Ono-san? You are still awake"
"I cannot sleep. Probably because I am in a other's house" he answered as he shifted his gaze outside. Now looking at him, Ono-san was quite chubby, but he has a cute face. Surely he got a girlfriend already and waiting for him impatiently in Tokyo "It is pouring hard"
"Yeah, but I love this view. I have lots of good memories when it is raining" I explained and a loud thunder roar covered the place "Weird, isn't it?"
"Weird, but at least there are still people who appreciate this kind of weather." He chuckled
"In this village though, they hate when it happens" true, I was the only one who loved it. Since in this small village, this kind of weather, you could lose someone's life "Ah, by the way, Ono-san."
"Hmmmm?"
"You said you were heading back to Tokyo? So you lived there?"
"Yeah. I live there but I was born in Shizuoka prefecture. Why?"
"I always wanted to go there" I answered honestly "But people here didn't want me to go"
"Why?"
"I'll end up like Ono-san."
"End up like me?"
"I'll surely get lost" he turned red as I answered. "Just kidding. They don't want me to leave this place and go where my brother is"
"Eh? Why?" I remained silence and averted my gaze away from Ono-san "Ah, sorry, you don't need to tell me."
The sound of thunder roar could be hear around the room and none was talking. It was kind of awkward
"The people in the village want me stay here because they want to watch me all the time. That is why Ma-kun is always with me" I broke the silence covering the room "My brother left to Tokyo years ago before my mother died saving me" I chuckled
"Is that a laughing matter?" Ono-san nervously asked. I could see his surprised reaction
"Well, I just laughed about it. If I don't, I'll feel lonely and sad" I again chuckled "Well, my brother got married and moved to Tokyo. It's been years. He didn't know mom died last year"
"Sorry to hear about that. So you are alone ever since then? How about your father?"
"He died long time ago. Ma-kun sometimes stay with me but at night I am alone." I looked at Ono-san as I hugged my knees more "Thank you Ono-san."
"Eh, with what?"
"It's been a while since I talked to someone in this kind of weather and also at night I was always alone. I think that it is some kind of destiny that I met Ono-san"
"S-stop that. It is kind of embarrassing to hear" I had a glimpsed on him and he was blushing. I could see his face turning red up to his ears. It was amusing to see "Ah, right. What is your brother's name?"
"Hmmm?"
"Well, I can look for him then-"
"Thank you Ono-san, but I honestly wanted to tell brother what happened. Oh, but his name is (L/N) Katsuhiro"
Ono-san looked at me that made me curious his face was so serious "Then, (F/N)-san, do you want to come with me to Tokyo?"
My eyes widened to what he said. Was he serious?! "Eh?"
"I mean, I'll take full responsibility to what will happen to you. You can stay in my house while you search for your brother. At least let me repay the kindness you gave to me"
"Eh, but, Eh?! To Tokyo?!"
"I'll bring you to Tokyo and let you stay in my place. I'll help you in search for your brother. Then it depends on you if you want to stay there or go back here. I'll take full responsibility" he sounded so serious. But then, how about the people here? What would they say when I tell them about it? It was too sudden that I didn't know what to say "I apologize but I actually need your answer by the time they finished fixing my car"
"But, I don't know what to answer. I don't know how to say it to everyone"
"Did you try saying what you really want to say?" I tilted my head on what he meant by that "It seems you are a person who think first the feelings of others before yours, but once in a while, try putting your feelings first"
As to what Ono-san said, that night I didn't even sleep. I stared on the ceiling and I made my decision.
The next day, the sky cleared up and the people in the village continued their daily life as if a storm didn't come
Ono-san helped the village chief in fixing his car and as for me, I went to talk to Ma-kun's mother.
"Ahra, good morning, (F/N)-chan. Did you sleep well last night? Last night wasn't that so harsh, right?"
"Auntie, I need to tell you something" she smiled as she waited for my next words "I'll go to Tokyo with Ono-san. I'll look for brother and tell him personally what happened"
"You can't. Tokyo is a big city. No, no you can't"
"Please let her go" I looked behind me and Ono-san was standing there "I apologize, I just came here yesterday and I am sticking my nose on this village. But I will take full responsibility of (F/N)-san while she is in Tokyo. So please let her go" he bowed down 90 degrees to show his respect and seriousness
"Ono-san!"
"You told me yesterday that there are reasons why these things happened. I think that this is one of the reasons. I was indeed lost yesterday, but you all helped me and this time, I wanted to repay the kindness you gave me by taking full responsibility of (F/N)-san"
The other villagers who heard our conversation were looking at us and were very worried. It was then
"Finally it came to this"
"Village chief?"
"Ono-san's car is already fixed. Why don't you let your niece go with him? Ono-san is a good man. He'll surely take good care of (F/N)-chan" village chief lit up his pipe and chuckled "Think of (F/N)-chan's feelings this time. She wants to settle things with his brother by herself. Let her experience new environment"
"Saying that you are the first one who doesn't want to let (F/N)-chan to go" obaasan sighed and then looked at me "Go pack your things. And make sure to pack necessary things. You don't need to worry about money. And Yuuki-kun, we need to talk too"
"Then, I can go to Tokyo?!" I was so excited that my voiced cracked up and tears ran down on my cheeks. "Ono-san! I can go to Tokyo!" I hugged Ono-san and he hugged me back. I was so happy that my tears won't stop
"WAIT A MINUTE! YOU TWO! Listen (F/N)-chan, you can go to Tokyo and search for your brother but, but this"
"Thank you obaasan!" I freed myself from Ono-san and then hugged her "I'll go packed my things!"
Sorry, obaasan. I knew that I became selfish, but I need to take this opportunity. Also, just now, there was an indescribable feeling that welled up inside me.
~To be Continued~The Lost Ono Yuuki Part 2~