The Voice of Japan

*1*

She understood it's term now as she sat upon her balcony. The bustle of the city below her was just the small wake up that it gained every day as the rising sun greeted the day. She awed at the sight, falling deeper into the land she now called home. The banging of a cage caught her ear as the day fully began.

"Aright Usagi, I'm here, I'm here." she made her way to the small cage.

Lifting the little fluff of a bunny out of the cage, Harper placed him upon the ground, watching as he bounced around the apartment floor. From the entrance to the balcony door, he ran and jumped around, gaining giggles of entertainment from her. He was one of the best things that happened to her, besides moving to Japan.

She was so afraid at first that no one would let her have him here in such an apartment, yet they didn't mind and her neighbors loved him as she walked by with him every night to the ocean shore. He somehow caught everyone's heart by just going up to them and he got spoiled for it. All sort of treats and pats he got as he just sat there and looked cute.

Opening the balcony door, Harper sat down and waited for him as the sun rose higher upon the city, feeling the hop of Usagi landing in her lap. She stroked his silky ears as she let the morning slowly go by as another door opened next to hers.

"Oh, ohayō, genki?" she heard beside her.

Harper saw Mr. Takada come out to his own balcony and smile over to her, "Ohayō Takada-san! Watashi wa genki desu, anata wa?"

"Chotto tsukarete imasu." he replied as she lifted Usagi in her arms.

"Is that Harper?" she heard his wife asked as the woman's head poked out the door. "Oh Harper, ohayō! How are you? Have you eaten?"

Harper laughed as the married couple went back and forth at each other over how they talk with her. She was glad to have those two as her neighbors, one a retired military official and now teaching English to students, while the other a secretary for the Prime Minister. She wasn't sure if she was happier of the fact they were around more than the others or that they spoke English to her and helped her correct her Japanese. With a wave of Mrs. Takada's hands, Harper went back in and found herself with in the Takada's home as she saw the tanuki udon on the small table.

"The good stuff." Harper said as she placed Usagi down on the floor.

"That it is, he asked for it this morning." she said hiking her thumb at her husband outside.

It was interesting to see the two of them interact with each other, mostly due to her being an American and him Japanese. Her loud boisterous actions against his quiet and reserved notions were always something that caught her eye. It's also why she grew so quick to them.

"Any new things at the office today?" she asked Harper.

"None so far, just the one dog that was sick. Two cats that needed fixed and last I knew I have a broken turtle shell today to add to the list." Harper stated as she took another bite of the noodles.

"Sounds like a busy day." Mrs. Takada said.

"It always is. Does make me miss the days working in the clinic and getting all sorts of neat animals." she smiled as she remembered all the strange and exotic animals that came into the clinic.

"You had snakes, enough for me not to enter." Mr. Takada said taking his seat.

"They aren't that bad, more interesting than anything."

"You won't get him to agree on that. He's like Indy Jones."

"I just do not like snakes. Although I wish I was like him."

"Who Indiana Jones?" Harper asked him.

"Īe" he shook his head, "I want to be like actor and be good looking at old age."

Both Harper and Mrs. Takada laughed at his statement as he just shrugged at them and continued eating. This was what Harper loved about them, that no matter how old they were, they were still teenagers at heart.

"Harper." Mrs. Takada spoke up, "I have a request for you."

Now that wasn't something she was ready to hear, the low serious tone meant something was coming that she wasn't going to want to hear.

"You came to Japan to start anew, to remove yourself from bad memories and-"

"Yes, I know what you mean." Harper interrupted.

"Well, there are two women that come to my building when the nations gather in Japan, these women specialize in-"

"Mrs. Takada, please. I know what you are doing and I can tell you I'm just fine." Harper defended herself.

"Fine?" she heard him over speak her, "Harper-chan, you couldn't even look me in the eye when you first came here. Let alone speak to me until three months later. You have been in Japan for over a year and yet still struggle with the past."

"He is right dear, we are only bringing this up to help you." she agreed with her husband as she handed Harper two cards. "Marissa and Marie are amazing women and can help you."

Harper read the cards as the therapist titles came to view, "These women have nothing to do with my-"

"Yet they will still help you. I have already brought you up to Marissa and she is more than willing to help you. The best part is that you don't have to be in the same room, they will talk with you in your home and help that way." Mrs. Takada said.

"I'm not-"

"It's over computer. One is in Canada while the other is in Germany."

Wait, two different countries working on her in Japan, how did that make sense?"

"Believe me, I have seen what they have done and they are amazing at it. Oh, which reminds me, if you'd like, since I know it's your day off, you could come with me and meet Marie. A couple of nations are coming to Japan and are meeting in the main building."

"Please Harper," Mr. Takada came to her and placed his hand upon her shoulder, "It isn't right for such a young girl to live with that. You deserve freedom from it."

"He's right sweetie. You don't need to have that dwell on you." she chimed in, "Like you said when you first got here, it's a whole new beginning for you. So please Harper, for yourself?"

"Or for us, we don't like seeing you like you are. You are too beautiful of a girl to be hiding away so much. So bright and caring. Please Harper."

She just sat there as she looked at the cards again, her mind whirling between the present and past as she could feel it... no she wouldn't let her mind sink like that, not in front of them. Confessing to them was hard enough on its own, she was just lucky enough that both didn't think little of her and held her as she cried.

The tiny paws of Usagi caught her attention as he pawed at her leg, asking up into her lap. Gently scooping up the bunny, she petted his head as he nudged the cards. As if he was telling her to get the help that the Takada's were offering.

Harper gave a heavy sigh, "Alright, tomorrow Mrs. Takada, I will accompany you to the building to meet her."