MARRIED TO A KITSUNE

CHAPTER II

Sometimes, during the walk home from school, Honoree would find herself thinking about the streets in Strasbourg, France. She was raised there for quite some time and live her recent four years in Hakusan, Ishikawa Perfecture.

Her mother met her father during a vacation at Hokkaido, Japan. They both speak English fluently and after a year of long distance relationship, they get married. Her mother couldn't leave her life in France and because her father was head over heels in love with her mother, he agreed to settle in France. Honoree was born a year later. Her father speaks to her in japanese but the lingua franca she'd master was french. She could speak english too and that give her advantage over both cultures. It's from her mother Honoree inherited her curls and deep blue eyes but her height comes from her father. People used to say that Honoree and her father smiles in a very similar way.

Everything was going well with their life back then, until her father decides to go back to Japan saying that after all the years he spent in France, he just couldn't feel at home. He said that he had a job offer in Tokyo that will enable them to find a decent home after several months and her mother wouldn't have to work anymore. He insisted on bringing them with him but her mother said that her work in the law firm is important to her and she couldn't leave it all behind. Honoree was only twelve years old that time and just started attending secondary school. In the end, they decided that its better for her to stay with her mother.

During the first month, young Honoree got to talked to her father every night. After three months she only received phone calls three times a week until it became occasional and after seven months, her father didn't call her at all.

One night, her mother brought home a man she doesn't know. "You will call him Uncle Jules since he will live with us from now on." she said.

Uncle Jules was kind to her. He bought her any dolls she likes and he tries to cheer her up but the void of her father's absence couldn't be filled by him. Besides, there is something about her Uncle Jules that seems cold to Honoree. There are days when they will leave her by herself at home saying that they have family events to attend and she couldn't come with them.

Exactly a year after her father leaves them, her mother got pregnant. Honoree knew things couldn't be the way they've always been before. She dreaded the day her mother will send her away but she doesn't expect that it will come sooner.

"Honey, your father and I filed a divorce by mutual consent before he leaves us. I'm sorry we kept it from you." her mother explains. "But your father and I, it just couldn't work. He'll be getting married again too."

Young Honoree wants to cry out loud, but when she glanced up, she saw her Uncle Jules smirk at her. His eyes not giving off any regrets. She realized that the kindness he showed to her results from pure pity. He felt sad for the girl who will have nowhere to go soon.

"When will I leave?" Honoree asked, making sure Uncle Jules heard.

Her mother looked at him first then back to Honoree and patted her hair. "At the end of the month dear, your father and I decided that you will be sent to your grandfather in Japan."

Honoree clenched her fist hard. Japan? She may be a half japanese but how will she survive there? She doesn't know anything about that country and she spoke very little nihonggo. It was just cruel, sending me on a foreign country, she thought. But she kept all her protest by herself. She wouldn't give her Uncle Jules the satisfaction of watching her in all her helplessness.

At the end of the month she traveled alone by plane going to Narita airport where she met her grandfather. It took her minutes to spot her grandfather's welcome banner with her name on it. She wave at him and as if they've known each other for years, she ran to him and wrapped herself into his arms.

"Fom now on, you col I Ojii-san, Okay?" he said in a broken english.

Her grandfather, Takao Ishirama, looks the same as her father. Gray hair and simple clothes, Honoree felt her place in the world might be in Japan, with her Ojii-san. Never did she knew that adjusting to a new culture could be so hard. Ojii-san introduced her to his cousin, Hideki Ishirama, a thirty five year old man who volunteered to come along with them to Hakusan. Luckily, Hideki speak english well and he became the means of communication between Honoree and her grandfather during the first month.

Ojii-san's home was a huge traditional wooden house with a wide lawn at the back. Its located at the top of a small mountain and Honoree have to climb fifty step stairs in order to reach it. There is a shrine across his home and Honoree is expected to help him manage it. Hideki arranged Honoree's documents, enrolling her for the next school year. When his wife joined them at the middle of the month, she taught Honoree basic things a japanese girls do, like fixing her hair neatly and wearing a kimono. She bought Honoree three pairs of colorful kimonos.

"Dono yona utsukushi ko." she said, smiling.

Hideki smiled at his wife and nods. "She said that Hono-chan is a beautiful child."

"Arigato." Honoree said.

Hideki taught her simple phrases useful in starting a conversation. They would spend a whole afternoon teaching her nihonggo and japanese writing system: hiragana, katakana and kanji while his wife serve them afternoon tea. Honoree learned fast when it comes to greeting people, showing respect and maintaining the house but she got difficulty pronouncing words and writing her name."Watashi wa Honoree Ishirama desu. Hajimemashite" (I am Honoree Ishirama, nice to meet you.) She spend two hours repeating the phrase over and over again.

"Je suis Honoree Ishirama, agr閍ble de vous rencontrer. Pourquoi est-il si difficile de dire en japonais?" (I am Honoree Ishirama, nice to meet you. Why is it so hard to say in japanese?) She shouted in frustration causing Hideki to laugh. To their surprise, Ojii-san came with a newspaper rolled and strike Honoree gently in the the arm.

Honoree grabbed her dictionary and find the words she wants to say.

"Naze anata wa watashi ni hittodeshita?" (Why did you hit me?)

Ojii-san put his hands on his waist and looked down on her. "Anata wa kono-ka de nihongo o hanasu dake ni naru!" (You will only speak japanese in this house!) Hideki and his wife laugh more.

The punishment Honoree receives proved to be a ladder of success. After a year she could speak directly to her grandfather without looking up on the dictionary. When Hideki saw that Honoree had adapt smoothly to her new environment, he decided that its time for him and his wife to go back to Tokyo.

"We'll be calling you every now and then Hono-chan." he promised.

He did. He calls Honoree once a week and they spend couple of hours talking mostly about the things she still finds confusing.

"Ojii-san always scolds me when Im not saying "Itadakimasu!" (I will humbly receive now) before eating or "tadaima" (I'm home) before entering the house. Geez, Ojii-san is so mean." Honoree laughs. She finds her Ojii-san strict but loving.

Takao Ishirama remembered the day when his son, Honoree's father, came to him informing of their plan to send Honoree to his care. He got angry, he was getting old and he felt like he couldn't raise another child anymore. Nonetheless, he had no choice. If he wouldn't take the responsibility, Honoree will be sent to an all girls dormitory in Germany together with her cousins. When he traveled to Narita Airport to picked up Honoree, he was prepared to meet a brat but she proved to be a charming little girl and he felt sorry for her having to live in the consequences of her parent's decision. Years past, he grew very fond of her and he was aware of the difficulties she had fitting in the society but what can he do? She was born with a foreign blood. Her appearance will always attract curious eyes.

So he taught her many things, mainly cooking japanese cuisine so that she wouldn't feel different from others. He spend time talking to her about the japanese culture including each region's specialty, tourist spots, festivals and folklores. He introduces her with pride to their relatives. And when he looked at her, he can't help but feel like he had a child again, he loved Honoree like he never loved his own children. She was special and he would do everything to make her happy.

"Tadaima Jii-san!" Honoree shouts.

Takao appears behind her and said in japanese. "Naze anata wa sakende iru?!" (Why are you shouting?!)

Honoree laughs. "It's because you always said that you couldn't hear me when I'm home."