Minimum Damage

Sunny Side Up: Chapter Three

Akihiko allows a sigh to escape him as he's greeted by row upon row of glassy-eyed stares.

The soft breath is laden with disappointment: already, within the span of their short visit, he's been deemed far less interesting by his father than the man's phone. Fuyuhiko Usami has been talking or texting non-stop, outside of a quick but extremely formal greeting with his child on the threshold of Aiko Usami's flat and a few stern queries in Japanese in the limo about school and tutors.

As his father looks up in between correspondences, Akihiko quickly darts his pale eyes away. He tilts his shaggy head to the side and does his best to appear that nothing else in the world currently exists- except for the wall of designer bears on display before him.

However, the moment that Fuyuhiko returns his gaze to his mobile, Akihiko tentatively glances over again. He can't help it: it's as though the man is magnetized. No matter how hard he tries, he just can't keep his attention elsewhere.

Pretending that his eye is a camera (it's not that far a stretch since his mind is perfectly photographic), he drinks in the details before him with the zeal of the terribly parched.

He notes the gathering gray at the man's temples; the lines etched by experience and excess around Fuyuhiko's dark eyes. The strong angle of the elder Usami's jaw and the breadth of his father's shoulders stir up strange sensations in his low belly and make his chest tight. It is a feeling he has experienced before, studying some of his mother's many suitors, but it will take several years yet before Akihiko is accurately is able to name it.

Taking in his father's proud stance, unconsciously the boy squares his own narrow shoulders.

Fuyuhiko's powerful physique is rendered even more impressive by the perfectly tailored suit that he wears, an ensemble that undoubtedly cost as much as one of the toy store clerks' annual salaries. Looking down for the merest of moments at his own wrinkled jumper, Akihiko's brow furrows. His long fingers feel suddenly clubbish as he fumbles with his sweater, attempting to rectify his rumples.

Silently he vows to be more conscious of his wardrobe in the future.

Tender ears strain to translate as Fuyuhiko now speaks sternly into his phone. Though his face remains impassive, it is clear the President of Usami-corps is reprimanding the unfortunate on the other end of the line. Akihiko finds the tone both terrifying and mesmerizing.

So entranced is he by his father's brusque cadence he forgets himself. He starts when Fuyuhiko suddenly snaps his phone shut and catches him staring.

"Made up your mind yet, Akihiko?"

Akihiko can't help but wince. His father's manner has not quite shifted gears from his call and the sharpness of the question catches the fragile, fluttering wings of his heart like a thorn.

Fuyuhiko notes the way his son's pale eyes cloud over. He grunts lightly, annoyed by his own abruptness. Fighting the urge to look at his watch, he diverts his dark eyes to the wall of bears.

"I know I said I'd bring you a bear, Akihiko, but isn't this better? Getting to choose the one you want, yourself?"

Fuyuhiko has softened his tone, but his approximation of "fatherly" is stiff and awkward and both Usami's are acutely aware that this choosing has come about because he couldn't find time to make the purchase himself.

When he'd given Akihiko the chance to select his birthday gift, Fuyuhiko never imagined the boy would actually suggest something specific. His other son, Haruhiko, has always deferred to his discretion when similar offers have been made.

The elder Usami had been imagining something along the lines of books or bonds. Bears were the farthest thing from his mind and he thought the request peculiar for a boy of six.

Or is it seven?

Even so, he felt bound to honor Akihiko's petition, considering how little time they spend together.

Akihiko looks thoughtful at his father's query. Fuyuhiko reads this as consideration of which fuzzy creation to select. In reality, his son is determining whether or not to drag this process out. It will take well into his teens, however, before Akihiko commits to a program of paternal annoyance with any real vigor. Today, he still harbors concerns about irritating his father.

Truthfully, he had selected his bear the first time his eyes swept the ranks.

Akihiko amends himself here. More like the bear chose me. There no doubt in his mind that the moment he met that particular bear's onyx eyes, it winked at him.

Nodding to the overly-attentive shopkeeper who has been hovering nearby, Akihiko indicates the mischievous Teddy. "May I please see that one, Sir?"

Flashing a saccharine grin, the man steps quickly over and pulls the bear from the shelf. "Good choice, young man!"

He sets the giant plushie in front of Akihiko with flare. "We don't carry many of these, nowadays. Most our bears are handmade here in the U.K. But this is a small custom outfit in Japan that the store owner's family has been working with since after The War!"

An expression of momentary chagrin flits over the clerk's face when he realizes that, given the obvious heritage of his customers, such a mention of the Allies' triumph might be off-putting.

While Fuyuhiko frowns at the clerk, Akihiko has eyes only for the lovely large bear before him. It is indeed, "as big as himself."

Thin fingers reach out to stroke a honey-colored ear. Bending his knees and dropping down on his haunches, these same fingers soon stretch out the tag that has been carefully stitched to the Teddy's right side near its bottom. There are characters embroidered here and then in English:

Suzuki Kuma-craft… made in Japan

Something in Akihiko's chest constricts and he feels even greater conviction that Suzuki-san's wink was no mere trick of the eye. They are soul-mates, he and this great, golden bear: creatures made in Japan but displaced- bright misfits of sorts in the gray London landscape.

Looking up, though he really needs no further confirmation, Akihiko scans Suzuki-san's face hoping that he'll get another wink. Suzuki-san, however, remains wisely blank. Akihiko understands immediately, but he resolves that he'll not let his new friend out of his sight until he witnesses him wink again.

"Well, Akihiko?"

Despite the air in his father's words that imply "hurry up!" Akihiko offers the man a rare, true smile.

"He's perfect, Father. Thank you."

Except for that bow… We'll have to get you a new one Suzuki-san… Something that suits you.

So, at the start of this piece, I said it would be three chapters. But you all should know by now that I can never hold to the number of chapters I originally intend. I also realize that this is a short chapter. However, I When I got to this last line, it just seemed like such a natural stopping point. Plus, I decided I wanted to end on a light note before I dipped back into the angst pool.

This little anthology is quite close to my heart and those of you who left reviews for the last chapter (or any chapter) have my sincere appreciation. I hope to hear from you again, or new "you's" who are out there reading. Thank you to for the follows and favorites too.