Islands of Paradise 1
Chapter 3 – Search But Not Rescue
Three days had passed since Sherry’s last phone call with Mikiya, she was beginning to get worried. He had neither been home, nor to his office, and was not seen around town. It was actually quite easy to run into somebody around town with so few grocery stores and malls. But Mikiya was at neither places, he had disappeared.
So with her recently washed car, she set out to find the missing person. Once at the mall, she decided to call some friends for help. After a half an hour at the coffee shop, Shiro, Ragra, and Key appeared to aid in her quest.
Ragra Tsukane was slightly taller than Shiro, and slightly more muscular. Whereas Shiro did exercises in the ROTC, Ragra did other sports. Ragra’s skin was somewhat lighter, however, as he spent much of his time indoors on a computer lately. He had the obvious Asian features of black hair, and dark brown eyes which were covered by his slim half-frame glasses. His smile showed off his white celebrity-worthy teeth, his face glowed in confidence and positivity. He had the looks to be adored by his peers, and was probably one of the most popular guys in school. Today, he wore a simple white short-sleeve dress shirt with khaki slacks and tennis shoes. Sherry noticed his glasses were different since the last time she saw him one year ago.
Key Park on the other hand, was a short, small boy. It was hard to believe that he and Ragra were the same age. Key’s skin was almost pale, and his body was thin from lack of physical activity. Key had much longer hair, which he kept in a ponytail behind his back. He wore a red shirt with light khaki shorts and a pair of sandals.
“Thanks for coming, guys,” Sherry told them. “You okay, Key? Are you its okay for you be out?”
“I’m fine,” Key said. “I can’t stay inside all the time, I need air and sun like everyone else.”
“You need some girl friends,” Ragra said playfully. “You only called guys.”
“I’m about to send you headfirst into Vietnam and that’s what you have to say?” Sherry taunted.
“Which side?” Shiro asked. “North or South?”
“I don’t get it,” Key mumbled.
“I meant was going to send you guys into the forests,” Sherry explained. “But don’t worry Key, you don’t need to. And I also called Jess. She said she’ll gather some friends and call back later.”
“So where do we start?” Ragra asked.
“Well,” Sherry began. “I’m sure that Mikiya isn’t at his apartment or the office. My plan is to hang around the mall, the grocery stores, and a few other places to see if he shows up. Unless anyone has a better plan, that’s what we’re going with.”
“That works,” Shiro agreed. “So where will we go?”
“You and Ragra will go to Walmart,” Sherry told him. “Key and I will be at Costco. Jess and whoever she brings will be at the mall.”
“You think he’ll show up?” Key asked.
“He needs food,” Sherry said. “And just like you, he needs air and sun too.”
Jessica Ulf put down the phone and thought for a moment.
How troublesome, she thought. I was about to go to and have some fun. Now I have to look for the idiot I haven’t seen in a year. Might as well call some friends.
So she called Zebulon MacPhee and Eleazar Yethford, neither of them answered the phone so she left messages explaining the details. They would hear it sooner or later, and then they would listen to her directions to get to the Kukui Grove Shopping Center as soon as possible.
So she told her sister, Megan Ulf, that she would be out helping Sherry look for the always-missing Mikiya Tohno and to get lunch by herself. Megan moaned and groaned, half-awake, asking Jess to bring back some pizza while she was out. Jess tossed Megan back into her room and left.
As Jess drove to the mall, she thought that Sherry’s plan was full of holes. They needed to cover the beaches, restaurants, and Mikiya’s apartment and office. Just because he was not there now does not mean he could not stop by later. And Jess knew Mikiya, Mikiya could not last without visiting a beach every now and then.
I should have asked Meg for help, Jess thought. Oh wait, she hates Mike’s guts. Nevermind then.
So Jess drove to the mall and sat at the coffee shop, because she had hunch that Mikiya would show up there. She ordered a mocha latte and quietly watched shoppers pass by on this quiet Monday afternoon. Zebulon walked in shortly after she was done with her drink.
“Hey,” he called out, sitting down at her table. “So what were we here for again?”
“You heard my message didn’t you?” Jess said. “Otherwise you wouldn’t know to meet me here.”
“I heard some of it,” Zebulon told her. “But a part of it was fuzzy.”
“Damn cell phone reception,” Jess cursed quietly.
“I don’t really drink coffee,” Zebulon said, looking at the front counter of the coffee shop.
“Then get something else,” Jess said. “We’ll be here a while. We’re supposed to wait here until Mikiya shows up.”
“Mikiya?” Zebulon asked. “I just saw him before I walked in here. I told him I was meeting you here.”
“You did what?” Jess said.
“I told him I was meeting you here,” Zebulon repeated.
“Great,” Jess sighed. “That means now he’s not here. I have to call Sherry now.”
When Megan heard her sister say that she was going out to look for Mikiya, Megan scrambled into action. She called her friends, and told them Mikiya was back in town. After arranging to meet her friends at the Ashley Family Southwestern Restaurant, Megan got ready to hunt and jumped into her car.
Megan had a piece of her mind to give Mikiya, she did not like him to the least and was most likely one of the reasons he left one year ago. Ever since they met years ago, they did not get along, they were like polar opposites. They never got along, and often found themselves at odds with each other. To her, Mikiya was and always will be an idiot. Many of Megan’s friends agreed with her viewpoint and joiner her in her disliking of Mikiya. Now that he was back, she could get rid of some unwanted stress. And maybe he would leave again.
Not that Megan was a mean person, but she liked her carefree and easygoing days. But Mikiya always ruined that with his orchestrating-everything-behind-the-scenes attitude. The reason why Megan hated Mikiya could easily fill a book.
When she got to the meeting point, she found Ezra Morgan and Agatha Gates already there. They stood up and greeted her, inviting her to sit with them and eat lunch.
Agatha was a red-haired girl with green eyes with a voluptuous hourglass figure. She wore a necklace with the Star of David hanging around her neck. She sported a light red blouse and jeans.
Ezra was a tall guy with auburn-colored hair, a healthy slim build, and a handsome picture-perfect smile. When he was little other kids used to make fun of his hair until he socked him with his fists, nobody made fun of him since. He decided to wear light gray shirt with an open plaid shirt on top and some jeans with boots. A Dallas Cowboys cap covered his hair, showing his love for his home roots.
“Where’s everyone else?” Megan asked, as they ate lunch, juicy bison burgers.
“Already out,” Ezra said. “We were waiting on you.”
“Oh okay,” Megan said. “So what’s the news?”
“Jess and Zebulon are camping the mall,” Ezra reported. “Sherry and Key are at Costco, Shiro and Ragra are sitting around Walmart. We have friends at several restaurants and Nawiliwili Harbor. They will call if Mikiya comes around.”
“So we pretty much have this entire town under watch,” Megan said. “But what about if he’s in another town?”
“That’s where we’re going,” Agatha said, now finished with her lunch. “We’re heading to the Kapa’a mall after this.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan,” Megan accepted. “Let me finish my lunch, that fool isn’t worth rushing this delicious meal.”
So they finished eating and talking about the Star Wars movie which they watching on opening night. After eating they paid for the food and left a hefty tip on the table. As they left, an older woman walked in and greeted the shop owner.
“Aloha Anna,” the woman greeted cheerfully.
“Hey Nicole,” the restaurant owner said. “What brings you here?”
Megan exited the restaurant with her friends and let them jump into her car. A moment later, they were on the highway headed toward Kapa’a. They listened to the radio while driving, head banging to Whitesnake and Men at Work.
They parked close to one of the entrances and walked around the mall, just to see the sights. Upon nearing the movie theater, they came upon a familiar face.
“Eleazar,” Megan said. “What are you doing here?”
“Greetings friends,” he greeted. “I was pondering whether to read or to partake in a cinematic. I am in possession of an enlightening read, but am also quite enticed by the theatrics of that blockbuster.”
He pointed to movie of the movie posters, but Megan could not quite figure out which one since they were all right next to one another. Eleazar was always like that, stuck on the fence. There was someone who usually took care of his indecision, but she was not around today. At the moment, Megan did not care for that, Eleazar was probably neutral in the argument over Mikiya, so she would keep him out in the dark in their adventures today.
“Go do both,” Megan told him. “At the same time.”
“But I can’t read in there,” Eleazar said.
“Just do it,” Megan ordered.
“Yes, ma’am,” Eleazar replied quickly, then went into the theater.
“Now that he’s out of the way,” Megan continued. “Spread out and search for our target.”
“I’ll go this way,” Ezra said, pointing to the left.
“Then Agatha and I will go right,” Megan said. “We’ll circle around and meet back here.”
“Aloha Anna,” Nicole greeted, walking in through the door. “How’s business doing today?”
“Usual,” Anna said. “Are you here to boast?”
“No, never,” Nicole said with a soft giggle. “Our place is slow enough to leave Rin in charge of things.”
“She can’t even cook,” Anna said, raising her eyes from the glass cup she was polishing.
“Exactly,” Nicole said with a smile.
“Can I get a refill, please?” A man called out from a table near the corner.
“Certainly,” Anna said. “Be right with you. Hold on Nicky, I’ll be right back.”
Anna went to the man with a pitcher of water and refilled his glass.
“Thanks,” he said. “I needed that.”
“You’re welcome,” Anna said. “No half full or empty jokes please.”
The man laughed, Anna laughed too. This pleasant man’s name was Aleister Gates, a middle-aged man who owned a lot of land and plantations on the island. He was kind and passionate, he and Anna got along well.
“I’m worried,” he said. “Seems like my daughter has become involved in something troublesome. I must right this wrong before it becomes serious.”
“What’s the matter?” Anna asked. “Is she affiliating with delinquents?”
“No,” Aleister said. “It seems one of the Ulf girls have her in tow again. I do not mind them being friends, but I do not want her sending my daughter down a wrong path.”
“Well then, go,” Anna told him. “Your daughter is important to you, isn’t she?”
“But this food is so good, I can’t leave now,” he joked.
“Oh, you tease,” Anna said. “Out with you, rescue your daughter.”
They laughed again and Aleister left to see what his daughter was up to. After waving goodbye at the door, Anna returned to Nicole, who had been staring at the menu the entire time.
“It’s no wonder why you have more customers than I do,” Nicole sighed.
“We all know your husband was the brains in your family, Nicky,” Anna said, returning to polishing her cup.
“That’s mean,” Nicole pouted.
“You should hire Mikiya again,” Anna said. “You did really well when he was around. He really liked your husband if I recall, you know Mikiya would help you if asked.”
“He has a life of his own now,” Nicole replied. “I can’t turn to a teenager everytime my business has problems.”
Anna had been there when Nicole’s husband, Yuuto Sakurai, died in the helicopter accident. It was devastating year for the crops that year, and he was asked to pilot the helicopter for several agricultural zoning surveyors. While passing over the mountain they were caught in a sudden summer squall hitting the island, the helicopter crashed into the side of the mountain with no survivors. Anna attended the funeral as well, that was the only time Nicole had ever cried. Nicole always had a happy expression on her face, it was one of her strong points.
“I better call my daughter just in case,” Anna reminded herself. “You should call your kids, Nicky.”
“No need,” Nicole said. “Shiro is looking for Mikiya with Sherry and his friends. Rin is watching TV at the café.”
“I wonder who will find that boy first,” Anna said, just as another customer walked in.
Aleister called his daughter first, that was his first priority. She picked up after the second ring.
“Hey, dad,” she said. “What’s up?”
“Nothing,” he said. “But are you following that Ulf sister around again?”
“I’m not following her, dad,” Agatha told her father. “We’re hanging out.”
“That’s fine,” Aleister said. “But if you find Mikiya, don’t you do anything, is that clear? I won’t have my daughter take part in something as low as revenge.”
“Yes, dad,” Agatha said. “I’ll call you if we find him.”
Agatha hung up and Aleister got into his car. While he pulled out of the restaurant’s parking lot, he called the more responsible Ulf sister, Jessica. She picked up before he got out of the parking lot.
“Mister Gates,” she said. “What pleasantry do I owe you for this call?”
“I can call my daughter’s friends once in a while, can’t I?” Aleister said kindly.
“Certainly,” Jess answered. “Is there something on your mind?”
“Actually,” Aleister told her. “It’s about Mikiya, it seems your sister is up to no good. I need you to stop her before she does something to harm the young man.”
“Where is she?” Jess asked. “Goodness, do I need to keep her on a leash or something?”
“She’s at the Kapa’a mall,” Aleister said. “I hear that Mikiya isn’t in Lihue, so your efforts there are unfortunately wasted.”
“Is that so?” Jess said.
“Yes,” Aleister said. “Tell you what, I’ll meet you and your friends at the Kukui Grove Mall and we’ll all head over to Kapa’a together. I know a lot of folks there so it will be easier to find him.”
“Thank you,” Jess said. “I’ll be waiting for you here.”
It was a short drive to the mall, Aleister was in front of them in minutes. The entire group was together, Jess, Zebulon, Sherry, Shiro, Ragra, and Key.
“Okay,” he began. “Let’s do this like adults do. Shiro, Ragra, and Key, patrol Lihue. Go from the beach to the mall, there’s a chance he could still be hiding around town somewhere. Jess, Zebulon, Sherry, you’re coming with me.”
They split up and the two groups headed their separate ways. As Aleister drove to Kapa’a, he looked at the sky overhead.
“It’s going to rain,” he said.
“How can you tell?” Jess asked, looking at the only partly-cloudy sky.
“Those clouds over there,” Zebulon pointed. They’re rain clouds, rain, thunderstorms, the big stuff.”
“Nimbostratus,” Sherry said, not bothering to look up at the sky.
Zebulon, the aviation enthusiast, Aleister thought. And Sherry, the encyclopedia.
They were soon in Kapa’a, stopping at various businesses to see if Mikiya dropped by. Aleister did the talking while everyone else just waited around or did some eye-shopping. The answer was always the same. No. The only thing different was their level of nastiness. Some spat at Mikiya’s name, others simply turned them away. They were all kind to Aleister as he was a great and respectable man, but they wondered why he would be looking the target of everyone’s hate.
It was late afternoon when the rain started falling, they had taken refuge inside a family diner. They had hot cocoa and coffee while they took a break from searching the town. The small town was so much larger when you were looking for someone.
“In any case,” Aleister said. “We’re running around without a clue. We will not find him at this rate, is there really no clue to his whereabouts? Certainly there must be someone who knows where is he, or at least an idea of where.”
“There was that cardboard box,” Jess said thoughtfully.
“That’s in my garage,” Sherry said. “I don’t know if it’s much of a lead, but I think we should look in more isolated places.”
“Isolated places?” Zebulon asked. “Why is that?”
“Would you stay in a town where everyone hates you?” Sherry reasoned.
“So that would mean state parks and the wilderness,” Aleister said thinking. “There’s still too many.”
Aleister paused to answer a phone call, it was from his daughter.
“We found him, dad,” she said.
“This is boring,” Megan moaned.
“This was your idea to begin with,” Ezra said.
“Let’s just home and do something fun,” Agatha suggested. “Like Risk or something. It looks like it’s going to rain soon anyway.”
Megan drove quietly, listening to the radio play softly. Just as she pulled back onto the highway, another vehicle caught her eye. It was Mikiya’s navy blue Toyota Camry. It was somewhat damaged and was missing its hubcaps, but it was definitely Mikiya’s car.
Megan followed his car. Agatha fell asleep in the backseat, Ezra was trying to fold a road map. Megan followed Mikiya as he turned off the highway into a park, Lydgate State Park. He parked and exited his car with a giant plastic bag. Megan parked the car and watched him. Agatha woke up in the back, and Ezra noticed they were not moving anymore.
“What’s going on?” Agatha asked, rubbing her sleepily eyes.
“I found him,” Megan said triumphantly. “He’s over there.”
They watched Mikiya, he simply stood out in the open with his giant plastic bad as if he was waiting for someone.
“What’s he doing?” Ezra said, still trying to fold the map. “I swear these creases are lying to me…”
In the backseat, Agatha called her father. Meanwhile, Megan got out of her car and walked toward Mikiya. Just before she got to him, a bunch of children ran up to him. They wore Cub Scout uniforms, some were carrying pots and pans.
“You’re finally back with the hot dogs and hamburgers!” One of the taller kids said. “Come on, I’m hungry!”
“You’re still going to have to wait for these to cook,” Mikiya said politely. “Now take this bag your den mother, I have someone waiting on me.”
The kids ran away with the grocery bad, leaving Mikiya with Megan. They stood far from each other, Mikiya looked out at the ocean watching the waves roll in and out.
“So you noticed me,” Megan said.
“You’re not exactly a discreet stalker on the road,” Mikiya said.
“So then why did you stop?” Megan asked. “Aren’t you trying stay away from everyone?”
“Unlike you,” Mikiya said. “I have a job to do, I wasn’t raised in a rich family with lots of money and loving parents. I need money to keep a roof over my head and food to eat.”
“You make it sound like I’m some spoiled rich princess,” Megan spat. “You know nothing about me, don’t even pretend you do.”
“I don’t,” Mikiya said, taking a moment to wave to the Cub Scouts. “And I don’t want to. There’s what’s-his-name for that.”
“You mean Nathaniel?” Megan asked.
“Yeah, that guy,” Mikiya said. “He’s cool, go bother him on your off days and leave me alone.”
Megan felt like there was an underlying meaning in his last statement, but could not put her finger on it. She felt the urge to punch him in the face rising, she clenched her fists.
“Hey, don’t start eating without me!” Mikiya shouted to the group of Cub Scouts.
“Hi-yah!” Megan roared, as she jump-kicked Mikiya in the back.
But her hit did not connect, Mikiya dodged it at the last moment by ducking.
“Hey, someone dropped a nickel,” he said, picking up a coin off the ground. “Oh hey, it’s a quarter.”
Megan spun around and sent a wide punch his way, she missed again when he decided to move and walk toward the Cub Scouts. She was about to go crazy when a hand clamped down on her shoulder.
“Megan,” Jess said strictly. “What are you up to?”
“Um, uh,” Megan struggled for words. “Nothing?”
“I saw the whole thing,” Jess told her. “Get back to your car. I told you no attacking Mikiya outside of an official match.”
“You hit him anyway,” Megan muttered.
“What was that?” Jess hissed.
“Nothing!” Megan said, before returning to her car.
By the car, Zebulon was confronting Ezra. Agatha was talking to her father, who was demanding an explanation.
“Look at you, can’t even fold a map,” Zebulon said to Ezra.
“I want to see you fold this insanity,” Ezra rebutted, shoving the map into Zeb’s hands.
“With ease,” Zebulon said proudly, folding the map neatly and quickly.
“I hate you,” Ezra said.
“My job here is done,” Zebulon said with a laugh. “But seriously, what are you doing here?”
“Megan asked for help,” Ezra said. “I figured I should help, since I don’t like Mikiya either.”
“That’s right,” Zebulon said, thinking. “You guys are still at odds.”
“He’s at odds with the entire island,” Ezra said. “He should do the right thing and leave.”
“Would you run away?” Zebulon asked.
“Never,” Ezra said proudly.
“Then you see what he’s thinking,” Zebulon said. “Say, you want to go watch a movie later or something?”
“I already saw Star Wars and Pirates of the Caribbean,” Ezra told him.
“You suck,” Zebulon said.
“Yes, you do,” Ezra retorted.
Across the park, Sherry talked to Mikiya while Shiro and Ragra watched from afar. The rain was shifting from light to heavy, they were prepared to run back to the car.
“Where were you these past few days?” Sherry asked. “I was worried about you, you know?”
“Sorry about that,” Mikiya said. “I was so busy working I barely notice the days go by.”
“Where do you sleep?” Sherry asked. “What do you eat? You can’t eat junk food all the time.”
“Says you,” Mikiya said with a laugh. “I can live off that.”
“Are you alright?” Sherry continued to ask. “Did Megan do something to you?”
“Her? Please,” Mikiya said. “I don’t even listen to her anymore. Say, I’m in the middle of a job here, can we talk later?”
“Call me later,” Sherry said. “You have to, you hear me? Promise me.”
“Fine, fine,” Mikiya said, waving her off. “Now go before the rain gets heavier.”
Sherry left to get to Aleister’s car while Aleister himself approached Mikiya. He carried an umbrella so he did not care about the rain.
“What are you doing here?” Aleister asked.
“The den mother asked me to help out on their summer camping trip,” Mikiya explained. “It started on Saturday, it’s quite nice to sleep under the stars and eat out.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” Aleister said. “You okay? I know it isn’t easy for you.”
“I’m alright,” Mikiya said. “Tired, but alright.”
“Not about the job,” Aleister said. “I meant about coming home.”
“Oh, that,” Mikiya sighed. “I think I’m going to move.”
“Where to?” Aleister asked. “Back to Denver?”
“Heck no,” Mikiya said. “They hate me there too.”
“Then where to?” Aleister asked again.
“You’re a good man, Mister Gates,” Mikiya said. “Don’t tell anyone I’m moving again. I hope you get a good harvest this year.”
“I get a good harvest every year!” Aleister said as Mikiya walked away.
He turned around and walked back to his car where the others waited. He thought about the irony, searching for him all day but only saying a few words. Not many questions were answered, but Aleister was certain of one thing. Mikiya was not welcome here.
But there was nothing Aleister could do about it, Truthfully, it was none of his business. But he was an adult, so he had to act like one. That was the thing about being grownup. A kid could scream, shout, and fight, but an adult had to deal with it.
The drive back to the mall was silent, Aleister turned on the radio to fill the silence. Once they arrived, he dropped them off so they could all go home. They thanked him for his help and went their separate ways homeward bound. The rain was much heavier now, he could only watch them disappear into the rain.
“I think I’ll have dinner at Anna’s again,” he told himself.
Back at Lydgate State Park, Mikiya sat under a tent watching the rain. He sat next to several Cub Scouts talking amongst themselves. Mikiya used to be a Cub Scout, the orphanage he was raised in made all of their children join it. The orphanage keeper and the local den mother were some of the very few people that still treated him kindly. But he could not burden them anymore, he had long left the orphanage and quit being a boy scout.
But where would I go? Mikiya thought. Mister Gates is right, I have nowhere to go. Should I tough it off or move again?
“This rain just doesn’t let up,” one of the Cub Scouts said.
“No, Kenneth,” Mikiya said. “No it doesn’t.”
