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"Ichiro! Yōkoso kyōdai! It's good to see you!" Papa exclaims as Oji Ichiro comes up the path of stones that lead to the to genkan of our shinden-zukuri. "It's good to see you to, ototo!" Oji says, clapping papa on the back. Takeo and I are hiding in the bushes behind Oji. We plan to scare him. "On the count of three, we jump out and yell kangei. One...two..." I can see Takeo's lips about to form three. I get ready to spring, and...
"What are you two bakas doing back here?" we hear a voice behind us say. Takeo yelps and I jump so suddenly that I knock over the plant we're hiding behind. We both turn around, taking fighting stances. "You should of seen the look on your faces!" Our cousin laughs. "Shin, you damī! You almost scared Midori to death!" Takeo exclaims, and then he and Shin burst out laughing.
My face turns red, and they laugh more. "It's good to see you, cousins," Shin says, whacking Takeo on the back and giving me a hug. "What goes on your village?" my ani asks Shin. "Aiko still asks for you everyday," our itoko says, a sly smile on his face. Takeo's brightens up at the sound of Aiko's name. She's a girl Takeo met when we visited our family a few months ago. Takeo never admits it, but they're sweet on each other. I'm never going to like a boy. They're just so immature. Just look at Shin.
"Hontōdesu ka? Really?" Takeo asks excitedly. "Oh yes. She always says, 'I wish Takeo would come and visit again. Then i'd be able to stare at him from my booth and watch him teach the village children how to make boats'," Shin says in a high-pitched voice. Takeo punches Shin in the shoulder. After hearing enough about Aiko, I get bored and greet my Oba and Oji.
Oba Akira is my favorite aunt. She always wears hibiscus flowers in her long black hair. Oba is very calm but cheerful, much like mama. Oji Ichiro is much like Takeo, a skilled fighter and an expert prankster. Oji always tells me stories of when he was a young boy and how he used to always pull pranks on my sobo, his mother. Oji and papa are different in the sense that Oji Ichiro enjoys life and takes advantage of it, while papa simply values it and makes a living from it.
Papa was born into a royal family, but he was removed from his position because of a false crime. Our family is still considered members of aristocracy, and that is a reason we live in a shinden-zukuri, or mansion. It is connected by a series of long hallways and corridors, and large abodes in between. The layout is asymmetrical, and you can easily get from one place to another my simply walking down a hallway or open corridor. In the center is a large garden that has a fishpond and a little bridge.
It's quite large, but Takeo and I have memorized the entire area like the back of our hands. I listen for a little to my mama and Oba talk about ikebana, flower arranging, but then I get bored and drift back to Shin and Takeo. "Wouldn't it be fun to sneak out one night and to Kyoto?" Takeo is saying. "Why would we want to do that?" I ask. "Because it's the city! Imagine all the pranks you can play, all the shopkeepers we can fool, all the free food we can get! The city is a child's playground. With the right sukiru, anything is possible," Shin explains, and I can tell he is already planning his schemes.
"I don't think that's such a good idea. What if something happens?" I ask. "We'll be fine. We're men, we can take care of ourselves. Besides, Takeo knows how to fight. He can protect us if anything goes wrong," Shins says. "You worry too much, aneki," Takeo adds. "Musuko, come help your father bring our bags!" Oba calls to Shin. "I'll see you guys at dinner time," Shin says, and runs after Oji.
"What are you teaching me today?" I ask my ani. "First, why don't we warm up with a run?" Takeo says, and sprints away. I quickly run after him. Ever since Takeo started training me at the age of four, running around the perimeter of our estate was always a standard. Running was a part of me. If we didn't run before training, I felt tense and unstable. Running helped loosen the muscles and warm the body to prepare it for training. If it was too hot, Takeo would make me swim in the fish pond for an hour to strengthen my lungs and muscles.
As we jog side by side, I wonder if Takeo would really go into Kyoto with Shin. What if they got caught? Would Takeo be sent to jail? Or would our family be removed from our aristocratic position and be looked down upon? I shudder as I think about life without our fish pond and curved bridge and the small area surrounded by bamboo trees where Takeo and I train.
"Keep up the pace, Midori!" Takeo calls. I quickly refocus my thoughts and soon forget all about Kyoto. I have better things to do. Like learn to use the shadows.
 Jademouse · Sun Oct 03, 2010 @ 07:14am · 0 Comments |
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