The Life You Live

Chapter 9

The next day, Saturday Kaya awoke feeling better than ever. She ate breakfast and then readied for the day. Putting on form fitting dark blue jeans and a white chemise blouse with sheer long sleeves. When she was ready she left home and made her way to the music shop to practice her harp playing.

"Good morning Miss Okane." The shop owner greeted knowing she was always coming. "Good morning Mister Niwa. Thank you for letting me practice." He nodded, "Of course."

This was their usual dialogue. Nothing special as it happened regularly. She placed her bag at her feet and situated herself at the harp and begun.

As usual customers would come in sometimes linger to listen and watch her play. Most the time she didn't pay them any mind, she was submerged in her own world of prracticing pieces she knew and the piece she was learning.

. . . .

Bunji was up and at 'em the next morning and fed Mohii and himself before bathing and dressing in a soft pair of jeans and a black sweater with a v-neck and a pair of knee-high combat boots. Because his hair wasn't long anymore, one would see the ruby tragus piercings in his ears as he remembered to replace them.

Once satisfied, Bunji whistle-chirped and Mohii's head popped around the kitchen corner. Like a fiend she tore over the floor and leapt up onto his shoulder and sat there, ducking, as he walked out and locked the door behind him.

Then, he walked down to the first floor and made his way to the subway; Mohii, taking advantage of the ride and laying on his shoulders. Her large, golden eyes were fascinated by the world around them, her pupils, slits, her tail, flicking at the tip.

And of course, this made a fuss where ever Bunjii went; thinking the bandages were a fashion choice rather than an actual necessity.

Regardless, he limped onto the train when it came and held onto a pole while petting Mohii's head with his other hand.

And when his stop came, he got off and Mohii sat up; perching on his shoulder so she could see over the people and as they ascended the steps to their intended destination.

When Bunji reached their destination, he walked into the shop, smiling immediately because he knew whom was playing the harp. When the old man greeted him, he returned a bow, saying, "good morning," before turning his indigo eyes right to her. Mohii, mrowling gently as she watched the strings on the harp vibrate. But she didn't jump down from Bunji's shoulders now that they were inside; she simply switched shoulders as Bunji walked over.

"Good morning Okane," he greeted; having waited to speak until she was looking at him and not playing. Whether that was right away or after a song.

. . . .

About an hour before the arrival of noon, Kaya was pulled out of her playing reverie when she heard the meow of a feline. Like it sounded as if it was inside the shop. She finished the run through up to the third stanza of her learning piece then looked around the shop.

There stood Iehiro with Mohii perched around his shoulders! Kaya almost didn't recognize him. His attire was vastly different from the business attire he had to wear for teaching. She didn't mind. It revealed more of just Iehiro's personality.

Kaya stood up and quickly approached her lips in full smile. "What a pleasant surprise! Nice to see you, Iehiro." Kaya leaned over a bit so she could look at Mohii's furry face directly. "Nice to meet you Mohii. You are so pretty, your picture doesn't do you justice. May I pet you?" She asked, although the question was obviously directed to Iehiro since it was illogical for the cat to respond.

. . . .

Bunji’s smile shaped itself in a fond way upon realizing that Kaya was polishing off the three stanzas and gave her a gentle grin when she greeted him. Chuckling when she leaned forward and greeted Mohii whom, given the opportunity, would mewl cutely and butt her head against Kaya’s nose and cheek; answering her question before she could finish.