Chapter 61 Reroute to Saka (1/2)

”You're happy this morning.” Tyne gave a different answer.

Kei was unable to hide his  'I got lucky' grin.

”Those two women gave you a night to remember, huh?” He chuckled.

”They were gifted beauties.” Kei sighed dreamily.

”Are you sure they were women?” Sean tested for Kei's reaction and laughed when the man predictably delivered with his usual ranting.

Eiji felt relieved that they were reacting normally, and Tyne had placed his foot down on interacting further with those families.

Tama gave him a light rub on his elbow as she pawed Sean's lap and snuggled down to sleep.

Sean's face lapsed into a goofy grin at being in the back seat to pet the cat to sleep. When his head was bowed low and tilted to one side, Eiji saw many kiss marks all over and trailing down his neck.

”Hey, um, thanks for back there when Ricky was flirting with me,” he whispered to Sean out of Kei's earshot.

”Nah. I wanted to relieve a load, and he was a willing participant. That's all there was too it.” Sean nonchalantly brushed off.

”But I don't think I could've turned down his invitation without causing problems.” Eiji sighed.

Sean understood what troubled Eiji's mind. He'd never tell him that was the reason he had jumped in. It wouldn't be fair on him.

The car became stuffy. Winding the window down had only let in more hot air.

Eiji removed his jacket. In doing so, felt the stiff crisp paper in his breast pocket. Ohno-sensei's letter.  He wondered how far away his wife's address was.

He pulled it out and studied the address on the envelope with a frown.

”Hey, Kei, do you know where Saka village is in Koyaura?”

Kei frowned. ”Why?”

”Is it in the region?” Eiji persisted.

”Koyaura is. I think. New place a few 100 miles out from where your folks are.” Kei groaned with smirk. ”Don't think you want to go there.”

”Why?”

”By my memory of the bus depot maps. There's a military training base nearby.”

”What's in Saka?” Tyne asked, with his head skewed around the front passenger seat.

”Ohno-sensei's wife. I have his letter for her.” Eiji soberly answered.

Tyne frowned, perplexed.

”He was my school teacher and also a fellow prisoner back at Iwo Jima.” Eiji further explained.