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It is night, and we are in the dining room, sitting around the zataku and preparing to eat our evening meal. Our servants, Mizuki and Aya, are going around the table, serving tempura and steaming bowls white rice. "Domo arigato," mama says quietly to Mizuki. "Do itashi Mashite," Mizuki answers, and with a bow, both servants quietly move off to the side. Takeo and I dig into our food.
Mama shakes her head at us and daintily uses her chopsticks to pick up some shrimp. Papa clears his throat loudly while Takeo and I are gulping down our rice. Mama gives us a look and puts a finger to her lips.
"Goku. Mimi o katamukeru," she said firmly. My brother and I fall silent and we look at our father. "I received a message yesterday. Ichiro and Akira are coming to visit us," he says, a broad smile on his face. "Subarashii! Wonderful!" mama says excitedly, clapping her hands together.
Takeo and I share a secret grin. Oji Ichiro is our favorite uncle, and Oba Akira is our favorite aunt. But itoko Shin is our favorite of the Kimuras. Our crazy cousin is always doing stupid things. Once, he was trying to catch a fish in our fish pond and he ended up falling in! We love our cousin. Shin is always finding new things to do. "When will they arrive?" Takeo asks, taking another bite of rice. "Kayoubi. Tuesday," papa says, setting down his chopsticks. Mother motions for Mizuki and Aya, who quickly remove our plates and bowls and replace them with cups of green tea.
After dismissing ourselves from the table, Takeo and I venture out into the courtyard, throwing fake punches and kicks at each other. "What do you think Shin will do this time, that baka?" Takeo asks as he throws a pebble in the tiny stream that flows beneath the curved bridge.
I shrug and jump on the railing of the bridge, placing my feet directly in front of me and my arms spread wide. I wobble a little, and I windmill my arms to keep from falling."Chūi shite kudasai," Takeo warns me, automatically putting out his hand to keep me from falling. I ignore him and stop in the middle.
Bending my knees ever so slightly, I jump in the air, twist my body like an eel, and land silently on the bridge. My ani shakes his head at me. "One day, you're going to fall and break your neck, chīsana mausu," He says. I frown at him and sniff. I hate it when he calls me little mouse. I feel like a child all over again, and that's exactly what I don't want to be.
"Will we train more tomorrow?" I ask, trying to change the subject. "Yes. Tomorrow you learn to use the shadows," he says seriously. "The shadows? For what?" I ask, but before he can answer, mama calls us. "You will learn tomorrow," is all he says, and he runs back to the house.
I stay on the curved bridge a little longer, staring at the tsuki's reflection in the water. It's only half of a moon tonight, but in a couple of days it will be full. "Midori wa,-chū ni haitte!" I hear mama calling. "Come inside!" I run back to the house, the tiny pebbles on the path crunching beneath my feet.
I can't wait for tomorrow.
 Jademouse · Wed Sep 29, 2010 @ 05:33am · 0 Comments |
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