Chapter 7

So off I went, to the vault to see Hachiko. I thought I was going to be delayed by Hideki’s crap but he came to work and took over the shift like he was supposed to, even if he was late.

“Glad I didn’t have to stay the whole shift. Not sure I would have made it without killing the new guy. He’s worse than Hideki.”

As usual, I had to make sure no one was following me to go see Hachiko. Who knows what would happen if someone stumbled across her. She’s an 8 foot tall monster who could eat someone and use their bones as toothpicks.

“Wait a minute. I’ve never seen bones near there. Does she eat the bones too?”

“Looking at this vault in the daylight, it’s really built well isn’t it. You would think after all this time it would have degraded but back then they did build things better.”

I opened the door to the vault and this time, to my surprise, I saw Hachiko just sitting there, against the back wall of the vault, head down, with her arms wrapped around her knees. She seemed to be asleep but that was an awkward position to be sleeping in. I leaned over and started calling to her.

“Hachiko. Hey Hachiko. Hachiko!”

Hachiko slowly started to wake up.

“Is that youuuu Kazuuuuuuuu?”

“Yeah Hachiko, it’s me. Wake up.”

I watched as Hachiko stretched her arms out and yawned.

“Those teeth.”

Hachiko started to stretch out like a housecat A really big housecat. Then she looked up at me.

“I was thinking about you Kazuuuu. It was nice. Youuuu were just laying here next to me. It was peaceful and quiet.”

“Hachiko. That’s what you call a dream.”

“Dream? Really? Don’t think I ever had one before.”

“Really? But you’re like 1000 years old.”

“HEY! I’m not that old!”

I started laughing because she had the most serious look on her face. She should have known I was joking but I guess she took it seriously.

“What’s so funny Kazuuuu?”

“Your face.”

Hachiko got into what I could only describe as an attack position. Kind of like a cat or dog when they see another and want to show dominance. She even started to snarl at me and show her teeth.

“Wait! Hachiko! That’s not what I meant! I meant the face you were making was funny because you took my joke so seriously.”

“So youuuu’re not saying my face looks funny and makes youuuuu laugh?”

“No. Of course not. Why would you think that? I think you’re beautiful.”

Hachiko started to get up but decided not to stand. She instead got into a sitting position and put her head down.

“I apologize Kazuuuu, I thought youuuu were being mean to me. I guess I really am just a dumb monster.”

“Pick your head up Hachiko. And stop calling yourself names. Why do you keep saying things like you’re dumb or stupid? Is that what those other humans taught you?”

I didn’t realize I sounded like I was scolding her at the time but it made me mad knowing that she was probably treated poorly. She actually started to shed a few tears and it was my fault. It was probably my inexperience in dealing with women or feelings or...maybe it was just me.

I took a seat on one of the crates near Hachiko and she leaned over and put her head on my shoulder. I wiped her tears away.

“No Kazuuuu. Even the families I stayed with didn’t say much to me except for that one girl. They let me live with them but never much conversation. I may not uuuunderstand all the ways huuuumans commuuuunicate but I can try if youuu help me.”

“We can work on that Hachiko, especially if I take you out into the city.”

“Y-y-y-ouuuu really want to take me into the city? Aren’t youuu scared Kazuuuu? I am. I’m very scared of the huuuumans. Very scared.”

She reached around me with both arms and started squeezing me. At first it was like a hug but then she started squeezing harder and harder.

“Hachiko.”

“Yes Kazuuuuu?”

“You realize if you squeeze me to death we can’t go right?”

“I apologize Kazuuu. I didn’t realize…”

She started to loosen her grip. Even though she still had her arms around me, we were back to hug level and not break my ribs level.

“Hachiko. We’ll go slow okay. I’ll help you learn to communicate better and when you’re ready I’ll take you out. You’ll be with me. I’ll protect you. I want to show you how much the world has changed since you’ve been in here. You don’t have to talk to anyone except me, I’ll do all the talking for us.”

“I don’t know Kazuuuu. I’m just happy that youuuu’re here with me. I don’t need the city or the stuuuupid huuuumans.”

Now that she loosened her grip I was able to slip my arm out and started stroking her hair in an attempt to calm her nerves a bit.

“Okay Hachiko. But I do want to show you one day what the world has become. You’ll be so amazed. Even I get amazed at some of the stuff humans have done over the years.”

“Maybe Kazuuuu. Maybe...”

“If we do go out one day, we have to get you new clothes. You can’t go out in these rags.”

“New clothes?! For me!? Really?! Are there huuuuman females as tall as me?! That’s amazing. Will I look like all those fancy ladies? That’s kind of exciting.”

“You really are excited aren’t you Hachiko. Not sure how I’m going to pull this off but now that I opened my mouth, I guess I have to.”

“No Hachiko, no women are as tall as you. I’m going to have to figure that part out. I figured out the sneakers, right?”

“Okay. I trust youuuu Kazuuuu. I’m trusting youuu to make me look pretty so I can go…..out….side.”

“That sounded really confident….”

I could feel her shaking as she said that. I guess no matter what, she’s going to be afraid.

“So will you trust me to measure you then?”

“Are youuuu just trying to touch my ass again Kazuuuu?”

“Yes.”

“Wow. So forceful!”

“I’m kidding Hachi but I do have to if we’re going to get a good measurement.”

“Hachi?”

“Yes, short for Hachiko. It’s what we humans call a nickname. Like when you call me Kazu. It’s just a quicker way to say someone’s name.”

“Oooooh. I get it. It’s so efficient. I don’t think I ever heard anyone do something like that.”

Since we got a late start I pulled out my phone to check the time.

“Hey Kazuuuu! What’s that thing!?”

“My phone? Oh that’s right. You wouldn’t know what this is.”

She looked up at me like a lost puppy waiting for me to tell her what it was.

“Since she’s been in this vault probably well over 200 years, she might not even know about the original phone.”

“Tell me Kazuuuu! Tell me what that phone thing is please! Did I say it right?!”

“Hold on. Hold on. I’m going to. I’m just debating which way to tell you. Technology has come a long way since you were locked in here. I don’t even know if I’d call it technology from the year we’re guessing you were locked in this thing.”

“Is telling me really that difficult? I guess I really am...”

Before she finished that sentence I jumped in. She was about to call herself dumb or stupid or something and it just irked me to hear it.

“No Hachiko, it’s not that it's difficult really. But there were several steps and years of history to get to this one device. There’s just so many ways I can tell you. I can tell you myself or I can find a video on my phone and show you.”

“Vid...eo? On your phone? And this vid...eo would tell me? Are youuuu joking with me again? Do youuuu think I won’t uuuunderstand?”

I was debating how to tell her about the phone but my mind was a mass of jumbled thoughts because of how many years had passed. Should I have told her everything from the beginning? Somewhere in the middle? Just explain the phone I was showing her?

“Hachiko. Go sit where you were when I came in okay?”

“Okay….”

Hachiko started to crawl slowly over to the spot where she was instead of getting up to walk. At her height she could make it across the room quickly but she was definitely showing disappointment.

“Wow she’s upset. I just didn’t have the right words. Ugh.”

I got up to go to the same spot I asked Hachiko to go to and as I passed her I slapped her on the ass.

“Hey! Kaaaaazuuuuuuuuuuuuu!”

“Well hurry up and stop sulking. Come on.”

I sat in the same spot that Hachiko was sitting in when I came in and motioned to her to come sit next to me. But she stopped right in front of me and picked herself up. She was on her knees, right in front of me, looking right at me like she had something on her mind.

“Are youuuu done teasing me now?!”

I was looking up at an 8 foot tall creature who seemed agitated. I had to come up with an answer to keep her from getting upset again.

“Hachiko. I swear I’m not teasing you. Come sit next to me so I can explain what a video is and show you one that will help explain the phone.”

Hachiko grunted and then sat next to me, though she still thought I was teasing her since she still doesn’t know what a video is. I turned to look at her and she looked back at him. It’s not like we haven’t looked at each other before but for some reason this time we were like embarrassed teenagers. We made eye contact and then both turned away from each other. I’m pretty sure we were both blushing too.

“Ok Hachiko. I’m going to explain this to you as best as I can with the help of a video.”

“With the help….of a vid….eo?”

I pulled my phone out of my pocket to show her. Hachiko was intently looking and listening to me talk about my phone.

“This is what we call a cellular phone. It lets you communicate with other people who are far away. But it can do other things too.”

“Are youuuuu making fun of me Kazuuuu? Youuu can’t do that. Next thing youuuu know youuuu’ll be telling me that people can fly.”

“Actually…..”

Hachiko crossed her arms and started pouting.

“I guess I have to explain flying to her also now. Imagine if I told her people went to the moon.”

“Look, Hachi, I swear you can communicate with people over long distances. Just watch and I will put it on speaker so you can hear it too.”

“Speak….er?”

“I really have a lot to teach you. Be quiet for a few minutes okay. I’m going to make a phone call and let you listen.”

Since I finally got her calmed, I proceeded to call my sister Maki.

“Hopefully the shrimp is still awake or I’m going to look like a fool and have no way to prove this too her.”

So I hit the speed dial and waited for Maki to answer the phone.

“Maki. Hi Maki. Just wanted to call and let you know I’m okay.”

“Uhhhh...it’s late Kazu. Will you be home soon?”

“No. I’ll be late sis.”

“Is it because---.”

“Can’t talk right now Maki, we’ll talk when I get home.”

“Damned brat. Ugh.”

I turned to look at Hachiko but I didn’t realize how close she was. We were face to face again, there might have been maybe a centimeter between us. She looked like she was going to explode with joy or excitement or however I should say that. She was extremely excited and that was just from a phone call. Wait until she learns about the other features of phones.

“Kazuuuuuuuu! There was another voice!! Was that another huuuuman!? Who was that?!! Soooo another huuuuuman has one of these?!? This phone thing let you talk to them!? Is it magic?!! Tell me! Tell me!!”

“Okay, calm down Hachiko. We just started, there’s a lot more.”

“Just started?!?! There’s more!?”

Hachiko moved even closer to me, not that there was much space between us as it was. She wrapped her arm around mine, kind of like she thought I was going to escape or something and wanted to make sure I didn’t. She was as excited as a kid with a new toy.

“What you just heard was called a phone call. Using the phone, I could call someone else. Anyone in the world even. As long as they have one too. So yes it was another human. It was my little sister Maki.”

“Little sister? Will I get to meet this little sister if I go outside with youuuu?”

“Maybe Hachiko. You know we have a lot to consider if we go outside and I want you to be safe. That even includes my sister. I haven’t told her about you because I don’t even know how she’ll react.”

“Kazuuuu, I’m honored that youuu are trying to protect me.”

“I just don’t want anything to happen to you.”

Hachiko went to rest her head on my shoulder again.

“I’ll be with youuuuu so I’ll be safe. Show me more please.”

“Even though you’re hundreds of years old, you still have a somewhat childlike nature to you. It’s kind of cute."

Hachiko blushed and turned away to hide it from me but I saw her. Since she’s so pale it’s almost like her whole face turns red like in an anime or something.

So I started flipping through my phone to find a video that could explain phones from the very beginning. Good thing I didn’t even try to explain that part or we might have went down on of those rabbit holes that you never get out of.

“I will explain these other things you’re seeing later but remember when I mentioned movies? So remember when you chased me around the vault? If we captured that, it would be called a video. A movie would be a longer version of that. So they’re both moving pictures to some degree. But there can be short movies or long videos so it’s not as easy as that to explain.”

“Ok. I think I uuuunderstand…….may...be.”

“Ok, let’s try this. This is a video that will explain what phones are. Phones didn’t look like this at the beginning. It was like using a string to move sound between two points.”

“A string? Really?”

“Yes. A string. Let’s watch this video and it will explain phones to you. I will have to explain more about videos and movies later. What you’re going to watch is a video but not a movie. A movie would be something scripted. Though videos can be scripted too so it’s not the best explanation.”

“Youuuu mean something like a….play? I think that’s what it was called. I never saw one but the older sister girl would try to tell me about it. Like she would try to….act it...out? I’m not suuuuure I’m saying it right.”

“Yes, something like that. Someone would write it and people would act it out, but then it gets filmed on a camera.”

“A cam...era? I thought they only take still pictures?”

“So you do know what a camera is. This is a much more advanced camera than the one you’re thinking of though. A movie is usually done as a form of entertainment. Now let me show you this video. We’ll talk more about this stuff later.”

I finally found a video that explained phones from the original concept to the current cell phones. Once I pressed play, Hachiko was as still as a statue while watching the video. She was completely engrossed by the video.

“Kazuuuuu? Kazuuuuuuuu!? So all this...happened while I was in here?”

“Yes ma’am. But there is a lot, lot more. Phones are a big part of it but wait until you see cars and TVs and computers. In your time people died when they got sick right? Well not anymore because science has come a long way.”

“Wow!!! Kazuuuu….I’m still afraid to go out there but now I uuuunderstand what youuuu meant when youuu say a lot has changed. Can we see more of these video things? But youuuuu know...I’d be happy if I could just stay here and watch these videos with youuuu.”

“We’ll watch more but for now I need to measure you so I can try to figure out clothing for you.”

“Youuuu promise we can watch more?”

“Yes, I swear. Maybe next time we can watch a movie. Like a zombie movie so you can see how scary it was like when you chased me in the dark.”

Hachiko put her head down thinking I was admonishing her. I have to remember that she’s kind of sensitive. After noticing this, I put my hand on her head and started stroking her hair.

“Hey. Pick your head up. It’s okay. I was joking.”

“But I…”

“Shhhhhhh… it’s okay, really.”

This is when I thought of something that would pick her spirits back up. I turned to Hachiko and put my phone in her hands. I thought it looked small in my hands but it was so tiny in hers. Her hands are huge.

“Let me show you how to make a video?”

“REAWWWY!?!??!”

I always try not to laugh when she drags or slurs words but it’s not that it’s funny. It’s actually kind of cute. This really tall creature has a cutesy side.

“Wow that was loud. Okay Hachiko, I’m going to show you how to make a video. Pay attention okay?”

“And youuuu can do it with this cell phone thing?”

“Yes Hachiko.”

I walked over to her and started showing her how to use the phone to make a video. I walked her through every step from how to turn on the phone, all the way to recording video. Then I turned it off to see if she remembered everything that she needed to do if she wanted to make a video.

“So when I go over to the other side of the room, I’m going to raise my right arm. That’s the signal. Okay?”

“Okay Kazuuuuuu.”

“Get ready. Here I go.”

I proceeded to walk to the other side of the room. I wanted to mess with her and raise my left arm or do something else instead of my right arm but I decided not to. She was so excited and I didn’t want to take that away from her or make her feel like I was purposely making fun of her.

“Remember to point it at me so I’m on the screen. Okay?”

“I can do it Kazuuuu!”

I raised my right arm to signal her to start recording. It seems like she remembered everything just fine. Since we were in the vault there wasn’t much I could really do so I took off my backpack and then sat down on one of the crates. After that I took off my left sneaker and pretended I was examining it and then I put it back on.

“Okay Hachiko. Press the red dot again.”

“Okay….. I did it Kazuuuu. I did it!”

As I started walking back to the other side of the room, I could see the excitement in Hachiko’s eyes. For her it was a big accomplishment. I wasn’t even sure she’d be able to with those huge hands of hers but it seems like she got it. I patted her on the head since she seemed to like me doing that. Then I sat next to her and she wrapped her arm around mine.

“Okay, let’s see what you got.”

I took the phone from her to show her how to play the video but decided to give it back to her and let her play it herself since it was her video.

“Here’s how you play the video. See the symbol that looks like it’s pointing to the right? Press that and the video will play.”

“Okay. Press this thing and the video will play. Got it.”

Hachiko pressed the play icon and watched her video in utter amazement. I was watching her while she watched the video. I wanted to see what her reaction would be.

“I did it! I did it! I did it! I made a video thing! That’s youuuu but youuuu’re in the cell phone thing!”

“You did good.”

“So if I had one of those cell phone things I could call youuuu? Like when youuu called the little sister person?”

“Little sister person? You mean Maki. I guess you could.”

“Maybe some day in the fuuuture? I know I’m just a monster but I want to be able to hear youuuur voice when youuuuu’re not here.”