As usual Mahina woke up really before anyone else did and went through her daily ritual, shower to rinse her hair wet, bikini selected, flipflops on, shrong (her mom made) in aquamarine-teal-blues with oceanlike scene and dolphins. Wet suit draped over her shoulder and her premade bag by the door taken. And down she went on the stairs to the front door and closed it behind her. At the long winding driveway was Keanu. Always here to pick her up. She slid in and her board was on the roof and before Keanu started to drive and in his native tongue of somoanian told her that Mukoo wanted to meet at the Seashell Cafe and talk. This was well nothing really strange so Mahina just shrugged it off. When they arrived, she kept her bag and things in the Limo and just took out her wallet. Keanu stayed in the Limo which was her first let on something was up. Entering in the Cafe she searched Mukoo out by scent and he was in the corner table, back to her and looking out at the ocean who's promise of swells reaching 9ft were no lie. They were starting now and Mahina was feeling that familiar itch and need to get out there. But this meeting first. She came to his side and touched his shoulder, he jumped. Staring right at her and whispered...
"Gees, I hate it when you do that! You would think after all these years I would be used to it with you being ...... you. " smirking she immediately took a seat across from him and a Waitress came by with a Menu..
"Order anything...it's on me." As he sipped his coffee. She ordered a fruit salad, bagel and bottle of water. Handing the Menu back. "So what's going on? This isn't like you."
"Why did Keanu give you the impression something bad was going down?"
Weighing his question and she shook her head, "No just it wasn't a direct communication from you just felt strange. And I can tell something is up.." she leaned into him for only him to hear "I can sense it."
"How can you tell that?" this peaked his curiousity more of what all these years Mahina was. He knew she could pick up on more then a Human, who can shift and all that good stuff but to sense emotions and the sorts was new to him. "Because your left eye creases into those fine lines around the corner of it more and twitches." Smirking and he chuckled, their orders came and waited till the Waitress placed them all down and him to tell her they didn't need anything else to pluck a piece of freshly cut pineapple in her mouth.
"Well Nina....This past weekend been a high point and weighed a great decision to make and well I'll get right into what happened. I'm leaving Hawai'i and before you get into your usual 'you-say-that-all-the-time-big-deal' speech, this time it's for real. This time I mean it."
She watched him, watched each word he spoke and she did open her mouth to start to say something when he said he was leaving Hawai'i only she sniffed and there was no lie detected. Now he had her curious, worried and sad all at the same time. So before she was going to jump to conclusions she waited for him to continue and leaving her food untouched. After a few minutes of staring at him eating, he started back up.
"I have been corresponding to Kai, remember him from Junior high? short guy with a birthmark that looked like a star on his left arm?" She nodded even though she for the life of her couldn't remember any guy with the sort. He wasn't a Lycan so he wouldn't know that she just fibbed so he can continue. "Well he is now the Vice President of a huge chain of surf shops along the California and South Carolina coastlines. I'm sure you have heard of them, California Pacific?" Mahina shook her head yes, they were mainly known for their beach attire and fiberglass boards. Very commerical.
"Of course who hasn't? Though for someone like me, you and the gang, their boards are not for us. Too wallet eating for something that's production made." One thing he always forgets about her, that she is non commerical and very hawaiian 'old school', laid back and true to her words. It's what sets her apart from the rest of them. "Yes them. Well, Kai and I have met several times and this past week I signed a deal to open a chain of shops here along the islands starting with Maui. Only there will be some changes and differences to Tropic." He pulled out a old tore up notebook that looked like it's seen better days and Mahina's eyes lit up. This was her notebook with Mukoo and Akuna from back when they were 14 and had fantasties and dreams of their own surf shop with all things from old school. Like the olden hawaiian print that was handmade, handmade shrongs, rentals of water equipment and most important of all.... a board shaper. Someone that made boards with a mystic spiritually to them. That you have a appreciation for the sport, fun and thrill a wave can give. Not for just speed and who's the best. She reach for it immediately.
"Oh my God Mukoo! You kept it? These were my life dreams....Yours, mine and.........Akuna's" she was reflecting back when Mukoo spoke and she was touching the outside words written in ink. "It was always your idea Nina, we never had the heart to tell you that we just went along with it. What if I told you that your dream is a reality?"
She snapped out of her daze and looked him dead in the eyes. There was excitement rising and fear. Fear that he was speaking a joke. It would be a sick one to pull something like that since at 14 her heart and soul was in and she still on several occasions dreamed of it. "Nina, I am not lieing. I've seen you at the shop all these years. You would never say anything but what you envisioned in that book.." nodding to the notebook she was clutching to her chest. "is not what all these years has made you happy to work at. It's nothing like mine and that has bothered you. Only you're to afraid to admit it. I'm telling you right now it's going to happen. Everything you wanted. Your's will be the only one set differently from any other and won't be apart of Cali Pac. I didn't want to close down Island Tropics Beach, he wanted it but I couldn't." reaching over to take her hand in his and leaned closer. "Pacific Legend will become real, your dream, your concept. All the inner details I will walk you thru and help. I will get you setup with loans, permits, everything all will be transferred in your name. I have Link's construction crew on standby to get my word when to start working." He squeezed her hand. "Everything. Every little detail will be taken care of and I will help you, once the guys start construction is when I will go to Maui and start with the chain of shops. That has always been my dream." He paused for what seemed like forever. "All I need is an answer from you Mahina. I wanted to do this for a real long time, I wanted to give you what your soul needs to still heal to allow it to breathe so to speak." he looked to her, giving her all the time she needed to answer. She wiped under her eye with her free hand as her azure eyes watched the waves roll, watching the groups of surfers out there riding or on shore. Just having a good time. Looking back to the notebook and at the words of "Pacific Legend". It's been a dream but she was perfectly happy working for Mukoo but he was right. Just wasn't enough and now he was giving her his shop to make her dreams come true. Looking to him, taking a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"Yes." Tears rippled down her cheeks, the name was Akuna's and to keep the memory of him alive he knew she would use it. Embracing him it was an emotional moment but aside from that she was going to be an owner of a shop. He petted her back and she used a napkin to clean her cheeks and Mukoo went to pay for the check. "Ready?" she blinked to him and collected her wallet to stand.
"Where are we going?"
He smirked to take her hand, "To the Bank, we have an appointment in ten minutes." Mahina looked down at herself and then to Mukoo..
"Then we need to stop at Sheana's." There went the classic Mukoo laugh as he shook his head. "Keanu took care of that while we've talking." As he lead them out to the Limo and opened the door for Mahina first and climbed in, closing the door and Keanu was off to the Bank and for Mahina to change on the way.