Fable (on hiatsu)

18. Tails of Sight

We all piled into Jo's dad's car like three cats beings tossed into a bath. We were laughing, screeching and were pretty much a handful. The driver looked overloaded, his half-hidden expression showing all the angst we were causing him. I felt too bubbly with emotions to really have time to feel bad for him. We were on the kind of 'high' that one gets from being excessively happy and excited - and no, I don't take drugs. It's an expression.

We drove up several hills, down others and we squiggled along the loopy pavement that never went in a straight line. Trees and birds rushed past us through the windows, glass barriers against the world. The further we got, the less houses and people we saw, until there were none.

"We're here," Jo said, looking out the window, his head slightly tilted, staring at where the house would appear. A reflex conditioned by years of doing the same thing. Toby squished me into the door, trying his best to see out my window, to be the first to glimpse Jo's mansion.

It's not as if we didn't see each other outside of school, but more like we alsways ended up at Toby or my houses. The everlasting excuse was that Jo lived way too far away. Like on-the-other-side-of-the-mountain far. The trees cleared and we got our first glimpse of Jo's elusive home.

I whistled. Wow.

"You never told us you lived in a manor!" I exclaimed.

"Well... It's not a manor..." Jo was blushing considerably. He's pretty prone to that when he gets embarrassed as well as proud.

"If the house grounds take up the space of a baseball field, me says it's a manor," Toby replied. "I can't wait to explore it!"

"Me neither!" I'm pretty sure our eyes were shining with excitement.

"Hey! That's not why I invited you guys you know!" Our wannabe playboy whisper shouted.

"Yeah, we know, we know." Toby waved dismissively, "But why waste such an opportunity? It's a pity Craft's gonna act all grown up when we meet your Daddy, but we'll have him back to normal in no time!"

"Don't talk as if I'm not there, moron," I said, more out of reflex than by interest. The manor (cause it was one) had three visible building, but you could guess the presence of more behind them. They were low, of only one floor, but they were build in a luxurious deep red-brown wood. A long balcony encircled each building, making it possible to walk outside without having to wear shoes.

"I can't believe you live in a traditional Japanese manor!" Toby gasped. "There's even a sakura tree!" (sakura trees are cherry trees)

"Umm, can you both please stop calling my house a 'manor'?" Jo asked hesitantly.

"Of course," I agreed. Toby nodded his concent.

"You're totally right. It's a castle, in true form." Jo groaned in exasperation as we pulled into the driveway and stepped out.

We were herded to a visiting room and were offered tea. There we sat, bewildered, on an actual tatami mat, in an honest-to-God japanese manor- I mean castle. Wow. The three of us sat in an uncomfortable silence, waiting for Jo's 'daddy' (as Toby had put it) to show up. Soon enough, he opened the doors.

Cryme-san was even stonier than the last time I'd seen him. His face was a wall of impenetrable emotions. His skin was chalky and his was had turned into a dull silver. His gray eyes rested on each and every one of us as he entered the room. They contained a judging weight, as if he was evaluating our potential. Toby began to shake softly. He can't stand being judged silently. He gets sick.

So, I gave up another one of my secrets to save my friend. Even if part of it was me wanting to be spared of puke. I lifted my head and greeted Cryme-san like an old friend.