Doodle Champion Island Journeys!

11.

Super fire arrow, Fluffy, Arrow Shop, Northwest Docks, got it! But first things first: she needed to find Momotaro.

Promising the rabbit - or as she called herself, Lady Usagi - to go to Fluffy's place as soon as she finished her work here on the highlands, Lucky jogged towards the peaches she had left on the ground. The third was as big as the previous two, so she placed it on her head before picking the other two up in both arms. Third time's the charm, she must be getting close to Momotaro by now!

She noticed a triangular house by the cliff, next to the river where it started to descend in height to form a waterfall. There were chatters, she could tell two male voices - one of an old man and the other of a teenage boy, and an old female voice.

Lucky came to the front of the house, which viewed the lower grounds, and met the owners of the voices: an elderly woman in a floral pink dress and a man with some kind of... leaf on his head? Their hair was in the color of white pepper, their wrinkled faces kind and gentle as forever when they spoke to a young boy. He had black hair tied in a small ponytail plus a white bandana to prevent his bangs from poking into his eyes, a sturdy build, dressing in blue and red the same way as the dog, pheasant, and monkey.

He was the peach boy she was looking for, Momotaro.

"Momotaro... there you are!" she exclaimed as she made her way to the group of humans.

"Oh, hello Lucky!" he paused the conversation with his parents and turned to the approaching cat, seeming to have learnt her name somewhere already,  "And you have... ah, of course, I knew I must've dropped some of my peaches on the way back. Thanks for getting them," Momotaro took the peaches and put them in a big sack, freeing her from the weight.

"So, what are you doing all the way out here?" he asked.

"Your teammates are getting ready for the big game! They're worried about you," Lucky replied, "They thought you'd gone missing."

"There's nothing to worry about! I just came to visit my parents before the game." Momotaro reassured her, then he turned to his parents, gesturing his hand to the feline as he introduced: "Mum, Dad... this is Lucky, the amazing athlete I was telling you about!"

Wait... they were talking about me!?

"Why, hello Lucky! Nice to meet you," Momotaro's father greeted.

"We've heard a lot about you. Our son is very grateful for all of your help..." his mother said.

My help... but I didn't really do anything for him, did I? Except for picking up the peaches and telling him about his teammates... She was taken aback by the tone of their voices, as if she'd done something so great such as saving their lives, but in fact, she barely knew them until this moment. She was simply an athlete chasing her goal.

Oh my... "Well, it's nice to meet you both!"

"Well, we better get back to the Rugby game," Momotaro spoke up, unconsciously helping Lucky out of her awkwardness.

"Be careful with the Oni, and don't forget these peaches for your friends," the mother put the sack over his shoulder as she reminded him.

"Right! Thanks Mum. See you both soon!" he bid them goodbye as he left for the game. Lucky was about to leave, too, to the Northwest Docks as promised with Lady Usagi, but was held back by Momotaro's father calling her.

"Why don't you stay for a little snack, Lucky? I figure you should be tired from the games. Three in one morning, that's quite a record!"

"Thank you, sir, but I need to go elsewhere." Lucky politely refused. "I already promised Lady Usagi to help reopen her hot springs..."

"Then what about some tea, hun? Anyhow, I doubt working for her is an easy task," the mother smiled, "That lady used to be known as super mountain girl back in her prime time, age sure takes away many things... I'm glad you've decided to help. At least let us get your lungs warmed up for the go. It won't take long."

"O-okay. Thank you very much!" Lucky followed the couple inside their house.

"My name is Yamane and my wife's Hana. Just call us by our names, there's no need for formalities, got it?" the father - Yamane told the cat girl.

Their living room consisted of a chessboard, a console table, and a tray with a tea set by the backdoor.

Hana poured some tea into a red ceramic cup and handed it to Lucky. She held it near her face, letting herself enveloped in the sweet scent of mountain herbs. She closed her eyes. Ah, it was refreshing indeed. How long was it that she had felt to not be on the run? A whole month, perhaps, maybe more.

"Hmm, the tea smells delicious," Lucky took a sip. The warmth ran from the tip of her tongue to the bottom of her lungs, spreading in her body. She felt as if something that had been straining her was cleansed, she felt lighter. Her tail swayed in relaxation.

"Said, do you mind telling us about your family? I wonder what has nurtured you into such a young talent," Yamane spoke, making Lucky become flustered at the title, "It was mountain works, in our son's case. We were too old when we had him, so as a result, he does most of the housework while it's supposed to be the other way around, with him was just a kid."

"Well... I'm the middle child in a family of five, there's nothing much. It's not like we had a tradition of training like I do or anything, this is just the path I chose that differs," Lucky pondered on what else to say, but found herself lost for words.

"That's a happy big family you have there. Five children!" Hana commented happily.

"My wife and I wanted to have a child for years, so long that your hair was no longer black," Yamane said, "Then one day, we found a peach floating down the river, and saved it from the hard fall. We cut it open and inside was a baby! That's how we found our son, Momotaro. So whenever there are peaches, Momotaro isn't far behind!"

"He's a strong one, like a gift of the mountains. When he was fourteen he joined the Championship for the first time, though this time he had decided to set his aim on Oni Island only, to be the new Champion of Rugby. Replace the Onis, after presumably a hundred years of their reign! Hope he comes back to visit us soon, his training sessions usually take days so this time may last for the whole Championship!" Hana said, "I've started to miss him already..."

"Oh..." that's all Lucky found herself reacting to a mother's longing, "Well, I wish him victory! I'll try my best to win as well!"

"What spirit! You are a nice lassie, Lucky. And we shouldn't waste any more of your time. Good to have a small talk with you." Yamane nodded firmly and gave his hand for a handshake, to which she returned.

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