Rest for the Weary

[Seito Risa]

The old kitchen table seemed smaller now. Yet the four places set upon it did not seem to overcrowd the surface. Risa's Mother, working at a pot on the stove, took a pinch of dried herb, crushed it between her fingers and sprinkled it into the pot. Risa, pulling a shrink wrapped packet of something from the refrigerator, pausing to take in a deep breath, the smell of her Mother's cooking giving her fond memories. Closing the fridge door she walks to the small island in the kitchen where a cutting board surrounded by small dishes, all but one filled with something chopped, shredded or cubed. She unwraps the wrapping, dropping six boneless, skinless chicken breasts to the cutting board.

SR: "Smells great. Ichi-kun is going to really enjoy it."

Risa wipes her hands on her apron and turns again, the slightly floofy skirt of her light green dress twirling in the breeze. Her comment earns a giggle.

Mother: "I know it is his favorite. I have tried to teach him to make the dumplings himself, but the man is all thumbs in the kitchen."

Risa smiles as she picks up a small dish containing some sea salt and cross back to the cutting board, beginning to season the chicken.

SR: "I feel sorry for whomever he ends up with. They will have a high bar to set for cooking with the way you do things."

Mother: "Yes, well, for a time I rather imagined it would be you. Why else would I have worked you so hard int he kitchen in your younger years? But, it wasn't meant to be. I'm sure he will find someone that can fill both his belly and his heart."

Risa flips the breasts over with a pair of tongs and sets about seasoning the other sides.

SR: "I Think he has found someone that fills his heart. Problem is, I don't think he can cook, either."

Mother: "Speaking of which, could you hand me the bowl of dumplings when you have a second?"

Risa nods, crossing to the sink to wash and dry her hands before retrieving the simple white bowl. She crosses and sets it down near her Mother. Risa leans her arms on the cabinet and watches, her eyes on the content of the pot.

SR: "Mom. I know you were in full agreement with what Grandfather wanted. So was I and so was Ichi-kun. Now, though, do you think it is right? I know Grandfather is disappointed, though he would never admit it, that I have not beaten the World Champion yet, but what do you think?"

Her mother takes some of the dumplings from the bowl and begins dropping them into the pot.

Mother: "You want me to answer that honestly, daughter of mine?"

Risa nods, turning and pulling over the stool from the island. She settles down on it, tucking the back hem of the green dress under her in proper fashion.

SR: "I want to know."

Mother: "Well. Hand me the pepper grinder? Thanks."

Risa hands her Mom the grinder and settles in to listen intently.

Mother: "As you know, I feel that you have done a magnificent job. No one could have expected you to do so much so soon. Championship and all. All the ladies at work wanted to know if you got to put out a t-shirt or something, so they could wear it in support of you. As soon as you told me you had approved a design and they were going to be on the website I told them. Everyone showed up the Friday before In Your Hands wearing them in support of you. Me personally, I wore mine with pride. I wore it with pride the day after, too."

Risa blinked, her elbow going to the cabinet edge, her chin resting on the palm of her right hand.

SR: "You own one of my shirts?"

Mother: "No, I own three."

Risa chuckled.

SR: "You know my residual from those is pretty much nothing?"

Her Mom nodded, smiling.

Mother: "That's the way of it. So me personally, I believe you have done fantastic. I believe you will continue to do so as long as you do two simple things. One is believe in yourself. The other, is to believe in Ichiro. His advice can be of great value. As you learned long ago his friendship is."

Risa nods, turning and looking back at the island. Sighing she gets to her feet, moves the stool and settles in to start cubing the chicken.

SR: "I am...frustrated...with them. Not so much that I can't seem to beat Eden Morgan, she's definitely the toughest I've ever faced, but with the general...attitude toward me. Eden feels it some, resistance to a strong female presence, but..."

Her Mother turns from stirring the pot, placing a lid on it and pulling a nearby stool over herself to settle on.

Mother: "Let me guess. A strong Asian female presence is really freaking them out?"

Risa shrugs as she lines up one of the breasts with tongs, holds it expertly and begins to cut it.

SR: "I think that's a goodly part of it. In the US, our countryfolk are treated like curiosities. In the sport in the US, we are in the opening matches, or even the dark ones. Curtain jerkers for sure. We are expected to be novel, to fly around helter skelter across the ring, to possibly shoot colored mist from out mouths, ears or out of our butts or something.."

Her Mother laughed. Loudly.

Mother: "That would have been something to see. Your Grandfather shooting red mist out of his butt."

Both laugh.

SR: "Then there is the whole thing with expecting us to have martial arts teachers, live in dojos, practice weird arts and mysticism and all sorts of nonsense. Well, not total nonsense, but that stereo type is, well...not accurate."

Her Mom nods, taking a moment to stir the soup.

Mother: "It is what the American audience expects. So seeing someone like you is a shock to them. Someone who doesn't dress in a Gui and hop around like they are standing on a hot plate is probably something they don't expect. Ichiro has helped you keep yourself from being talked into that?"

Risa nods.

SR: "He has been quite a blessing, Mother. But something bothers me. I haven't told Ichi-kun yet, because I knew he would worry about it and it would ruin this break for him."

Mother: "Oh? Something you can't tell your best friend?"

Risa nods.

SR: "Hai. I might be losing the title. Perhaps even my spot on the roster. The people in charge are considering that during the break, they want to tell me on Television what decision they reach."

Her Mom tilts her head to the side and considers her daughter.

Mother: "That isn't what bothers you, is it? It is what you are planning to do in response?"

Risa nods, finishing cutting the sixth breast, she gathers the chicken and blops it into the empty bowl.

SR: "Mother. I know I can do this. I can't beat Eden Morgan yet, but I will. But for now, there is something else I want to take care of. An old debt that needs to be repaid. And doing so might make Ichiro uncomfortable at best and might set him off at worst. I don't want him to get hurt due to something I do."

Her Mother stands up and puts her hands on her daughter's shoulders, gently. She leans over to whisper.

Mother: "You need to trust in him, my dear. Believe that he will do what must be done, as will you. The two of you are so much alike. You're right about one thing, if you were putting yourself in harms way by doing something drastic, then he'd probably want to be at your side, or help in some way."

Risa nods, hands dropping to her lap, right over left.

SR: "You're right, but it doesn't make it any easier. When he couldn't walk I was scared. Now that he is better, I'm still scared, of what would happen if he got hurt again."

Her Mother nods and reaches down, taking the bowl of chicken.

Mother: "I'm more worried about what he and Grandfather will do if they get back from the Art Fair and find dinner isn't ready."

Risa sighs, pushing up from the stool and taking a bowl containing tomatoes and one containing mushrooms and turning to the counter where her Mom has placed the chicken.

SR: "You're right. Maybe if, after dinner, we all sit down and discuss it, come to an idea that way."

Her Mother stops, turns and winks at her daughter.

Mother: "I think that, is the best idea you could come up with on this. Once the men have full bellies, they will be far more agreeable, hmm?"

They share a laugh...