The Key

Visiting An Old Friend

"So now what do we do Landon?"

"I'm not quite sure..."

We stood there thinking for what seemed to be about 5 minutes when finally I come up with an excellent idea.

"I got it!"

"What?"

"Do you remember a girl named Miki?"

"You mean the one who moved in the middle of the school year?"

"Ya. I think we should ask her to translate, she is japanese after all."

"Do you know where she lives?"

"Yes, but it's a long walk."

"I'm fine with that."

"We better start walking now then."

We start off by stopping at a store then we begin the long walk to Miki's house. She lives in the forest on the other side of the valley, finding it isn't the issue but getting there is. Especially now since the sky is stormy and it looks as if it's going to rain. Also there are thieves in this part that will plunder and destroy every bag that is left unattended so we need to be careful. As if to prove my suspicions correct after 15 minutes it started raining and then we saw them. They were all over the place, in the trees, behind rocks, in the ditches, they were everywhere and each and every one of them was armed. Whether it be with a bow and arrow and pistol for long distance, or sword and dagger for up close they all had one.

"W-who are these people Yuka?"

"Thieves, bandits, brigands, whatever you call them."

As I finished speaking the smallest of the bandits steps forward to speak, he was a young kid, not much older than 8 by my guess.

"Aye! The girl there is right. But lucky for you we don't want much today and if you have good enough reason for passing through here we will let you go without any trouble."

"Did he just say aye? haha that there is dang funny!" Landon whispers.

"Oh, hush up!" I say elbowing him in the ribs. "We are here on the way to my friend Miki's place, she lives not too far from here."

"Wait! You know Miki? Boys put your weapons down!" At this every gun, pistol, sword and dagger return to sides and they all look at ease. "These people are friends of Miki, they are not a threat and are not to be bugged." For such a young boy he sure has a lot of authority, I wonder why...

"So you are going to let us pass?"

"Why of course!"

"Oh no! I've got to get to Miki's house fast because It's going to be dark in a few minutes."

"Do you want me to show you the way?"

"If you could that would really help. Oh, and my name is Yuka, this is Landon."

"I'm Katsu. How did you meet Miki anyways?"

"We went to school together a couple of years ago, she was always very nice to me."

"Sounds like her," he says smiling."She took my friends and I in when everyone else had abandoned us, not only that but when we had tried to steal her belongings when we first met her she outsmarted us. No one had ever done that before she came along so we let her join our band of boys."

"Really? Is that why she had left so suddenly from school without any explanation? It makes sense now."

"Ya, she's been there for us always, not many people do that for orphans."

"You're an orphan? Do you mind me asking what happened."

"Not at all. A few years ago my mother died in a building fire while trying to save one of the children in the building. My father was devastated when he found this out and about a year later he committed suicide. After that my grandparents sent me to an orphanage and I eventually ran away along with a few of my friends that I had met while at the orphanage. We have been living out here ever since."

"I'm sorry. That must be very hard, you know living out in the woods and all."

"Actually it's not as bad as it sounds."

"Ummm... Katsu, where are we even going, I don't see and cabins and you are walking toward a waterfall..." Landon says looking very worried.

"Well Landon, the reason you don't see a cabin or anything is because it is behind that waterfall right there. Don't ask how we did it but that is where we all live. Including Miki."

"Oh, okay."

"Wait! you live behind a waterfall?!? That is so cool!" I exclaim. I've always wanted to be in a place behind a waterfall!

"Yup! It's cool, huh?"

"Oh heck yes!" Landon and I yell at the same time.

"You ready to enter?"

"Of course!" It's weird how often Landon and I talk in unison. It happens a lot.

"Right this way then."

We walk through the water that is coming from the waterfall and on the other side is a door. Not just any door but a large ebony door with an amber colored door knob shaped like a music note. Miki always was into music so it would make sense that she would have a music note shaped door knob.

Katsu reaches up and does a series of knock on the door followed by a shout and then the door opens. That's when I see her, she is much taller and thinner than the last time I saw her, her hair is longer and blonder but otherwise she really hasn't changed much.

"Yuka? Landon? Is that really you?"

"Yes, ma'am. We were wondering if you could possibly help us translate this note." I hand her the folded up line piece of paper I had gotten from the vending machine in the post office, unlike me Miki knows japanese.

"Sure thing let me see it."