The Gift of Rio (The Gift of the Elements)

by C. S. Elston

  Rio got up and gathered her things. She walked over to the indoor watersports building, let herself in, and went for an early morning swim. This time, she had the place to herself. The water felt peaceful, as it always did, even when she was just taking a simple shower. Still, Rio couldn’t help but miss the almost perfect feeling she got every time she went swimming in the Wailuku River back home. That was an utterly tranquil experience every single time and she looked forward to doing it again soon. But, not until she finished what she set out to do in Japan. Besides, while the idea of going home was still appealing, the thought of leaving Luke was becoming an increasingly difficult one to face.

  To that point, the only thing that motivated her to get out of the pool on this particular morning was knowing that she was about to see Luke and then the two of them would head up to Mount Kurama to try and find Sota. In fact, this was the first morning since she’d arrived that she was ready and waiting outside of the boys’ dorm when Luke walked out.

  “Let me guess,” Luke started as he opened the door and stepped outside, “you didn’t sleep a wink and you read the entire Bible.”

  “You’re both right and wrong,” Rio said with a brief chuckle. “I didn’t sleep but I only read Genesis, Job, Exodus and there were some bits of Chronicles sprinkled in there.”

  “Oh, is that all?”

  “That’s it.”

  “You must be slowing down,” he teased.

  “I must be,” Rio agreed with a sarcastic but flirtatious grin on her face.

  “So,” Luke began to inquire, “any thoughts on what you’ve read so far?”

  “Well, like I said, I’m not that deep into it.”

  “Genesis, Exodus and Job . . . That’s a pretty sizeable chunk of reading for one night.”

  “True. And, there was a lot to it. I see what you mean, already, about God being patient. I find myself getting mad that people won’t just do what they’re supposed to.”

  Luke nodded in agreement.

  “But,” Rio continued, “then I remember, that’s me, too. I don’t always do what I know I’m supposed to do either.”

  “It sure seems to me like you’ve got a head start on a lot of people in that department, Rio. But, you’re right. When you get to Paul’s letters in the New Testament you’ll read where he says that we all fall short. And, that’s why Jesus did what He did for us.”

  “Because or despite?”

  “Because. The law of the Old Testament proved that we couldn't be righteous on our own. So, God loved us enough to intervene. Under the law, a pure sacrifice had to be made as atonement for our sins. It was what made it possible to have a relationship with God. Jesus was that final and ultimate, pure sacrifice.”

  Luke could see Rio pondering his statements. He appreciated how deeply she was thinking it all over. But, he didn’t want to overwhelm her to the point where she found it easier to stick her head in the sand. So, he decided to move the conversation along and allow it to develop organically as she read further into the Bible.

  “You’ll get to that soon enough. The more I think about it, the more I realize reading it in chronological order like you’re doing is the right call.”

  As they arrived at the van, the conversation shifted. They loaded their bags in and decided to consolidate the new stuff with the things they had loaded the previous night into the backpacks once they reached Kyoto. After climbing in and taking their seats, Luke took another look at a map Isaac had given them the night before. He circled the approximate location of the monastery he had told them about when he confirmed for them that, while there were roads on Mount Kurama, none of them got you very close to where they wanted to go. So, they had all agreed the best approach was to park the van in Kyoto, take the train up to the village of Kurama, and start their hike from there. Isaac had been kind enough to take the time to show them everything on the map and then give it to them to take on their journey.

  After re-familiarizing himself with the map, Luke put the key in the ignition and started the engine. Rio immediately reached forward and ejected the CD. This took Luke aback.

  “You got something else in mind?” Luke asked Rio.

  “I do,” she quickly answered as she took the CD from the player and put it in its case.

  “What have you got?”

  “I was inspired by that rain song you played so, I brought my own.”

  “Let’s hear it then.”

  “Coming right up,” Rio said as she started to dig it out. “Now, don’t judge me too harshly. I only brought three CD’s with me from home.”

  “Well, if you only brought three, then the three you chose will say a lot about you.”

  “Oh,” she started to say as she looked over at him with a furrowed brow, “don’t say that. That’s too much pressure.”

  “Okay, I take it back. Forget I said that. No pressure at all.”

  “Alright,” she said with hesitation before hiding the CD case as she took the disc out and slid it into the player. She bumped it up to track number eight, hit play and was shocked when Luke started bobbing his head to the intro as he threw the van into reverse and backed out of his parking space.

  “Just like you knew the rain song, which is called ‘Flood’ by the way, I know this one.”

  “You do?”

  “Of course, I know ‘Waterfalls’ by TLC. I haven’t been living on the moon.”

  “I don’t know why I’m surprised but I totally am.”

  “You’re surprised because you thought I only listened to Christian music.”

  “Yeah, I guess I did.”

  “As a Christian,” Luke told her, “I try not to be of the world. But, I still live in it.”

  Luke began to sing along with the first verse and Rio quickly joined him. The journey to Mount Kurama was officially under way and neither of them was sure about exactly what they would find when they got there.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  Kurama

  In talking to Isaac, the night before, Rio had learned that Mount Kurama is one of the more famous locales in Japan. It holds a lot of significance for the country and culture, both in its folklore and its history. From personal observation, she also found it to be breathtakingly picturesque.

  Rio was taking in the beauty of the mountain from the train window as she and Luke rode the Eizan Electric Railway into Kurama. They wore their fully loaded backpacks and Luke carried a long cylinder-shaped bag with everything inside he needed to pitch a tent. A smile crept up out of the corners of his mouth as he watched the woman he had developed some ever-growing romantic feelings for. She was staring at God’s creation from inside of man’s.

  Awestruck. That’s the best word Luke could think of to describe the look on Rio’s face as she watched the suburban houses disappear. They were replaced with every shade of green Rio could imagine. She noticed the gorgeous maple trees but found the old cedar trees particularly majestic.

  Suddenly, the train entered a thick fog and, although the overall vision was severely hampered by it, everything became just a little bit more magical. The wonder on Rio’s face was pure joy for Luke who preferred the view he was taking in to the one that Rio was so enamored with. They were both wearing smiles that nearly stretched from one ear to the other when the train came to a stop.

  Luke and Rio followed the crowd out of the train car and stepped onto the covered platform at Kurama Station. They continued to follow the small mob and stepped out into a parking lot where Rio noticed a statue of a bright red, angry-looking face that had to be more than nine feet in height and sported a disproportionate nose that was easily as long as the statue was tall.

  “What is that scary looking thing?” Rio exclaimed as she stopped and stared at it.

  “Tengu,” Luke said matter-of-factly as he stopped to wait for her. “You’ll see a lot of those around here.”

  “Who’s Tengu?”

  “More like, what’s Tengu?”

  “Okay, what’s Tengu?”
/>   “Mythological demons that haunt the mountain forests. Especially on Kurama. If I remember right, this is supposed to be where the Tengu king lives. I’m sure Isaac could tell you a lot more about that though.”

  “Doesn’t that scare the heck out of you?”

  “Not at all. Why would it?”

  “We’re talking about spending the night out here.”

  “So.”

  “So? What if the myth is based on something real?”

  “I know I'm on the right side. History’s already been written. My God wins. Keep reading that Bible. You’ll get it.”

  Luke started walking again.

  “Still scary,” Rio said as she hurried to catch up with Luke. “I hope you packed a lot of toilet paper.”

  They approached a large, stone staircase that was lined with red lamps and stopped. Above the staircase was the gate to Kurama-dera Temple. The whole thing gave off a dramatic, almost eerie feeling.

  “It almost seems like we’ve stepped back in time,” Rio said.

  “Well,” Luke began to answer, “I think it is about eight-hundred years old.”

  “Wow. Really?”

  “Yep. Come on, let’s keep moving.”

  Luke led Rio around to the back of the temple. The abundance of cherry blossoms, about a month past their peak bloom, allowed Rio to quickly leave the eerie feeling at the front of the temple. Luke found the hiking trail Isaac had marked on the map. It took them through the forest and past several other temple structures. The climb became steep as they headed further up the mountain but the scenic surroundings made the trip too enjoyable to complain. Everywhere they looked was another batch of gigantic pines, a small stream or, at one point, a whole section of above ground cedar roots. It was unlike anything Rio had seen in Hawaii and she was appreciative of the whole experience.

  About forty-five minutes into the hike, they reached a trail that split off from the main path. Luke pulled out the map Isaac had given them and decided that it was where they had been told to break off.

  “This way . . . ” he said out loud with a hint of indecision in his voice.

  “You sure?”

  “As sure as I can be since I’ve never been here or where we’re going before.”

  “I trust you,” Rio assured him. “You’ve got Boy Scout written all over you.”

  “Well,” he began to playfully respond, “that’s odd.”

  “What? That you’ve got words all over you?”

  “That, too. But, I was referring specifically to the Boy Scout comment.”

  “Why’s that odd?”

  “Because I was never a Boy Scout. My family never did any kind of camping at all. My mom’s idea of roughing it is two weeks without a mani-pedi.”

  Rio giggled.

  “Seriously. Not that she’s some self-involved, rich snob. She’s not at all. She’s one of the kindest, most compassionate and generous people I’ve ever known. A great example for me of what it means to be a Christian. Both of my parents are. Two very different people and two different angles on the same thing. My dad is a fair-minded, hard worker and a real people person. The kind of guy everyone enjoys being around. A jokester. He’s got a great sense of humor, which sometimes embarrasses my mom. But, she also loves him for it.”

  “They sound great,” Rio said sincerely.

  “They are.”

  “Do you miss them? Being so far from home?”

  “Of course. I call every other week or so. And, I get home at least once a year.”

  “Wait,” Rio said as she stopped walking and looked at him, wide-eyed. “Are you missing your one trip home a year right now?”

  “No. Well, kinda-sorta . . . I guess so. But, don’t worry about that.”

  “Don’t worry about it? I feel terrible.”

  “Don’t. You shouldn’t. I want to be here. I chose to be here.”

  “Still.”

  “That makes it sound like a bigger deal than it is. The real big deal is here, what we’re doing. This is beyond once in a life-time, Rio. If I hadn’t stayed, I’d be missing out on one of the most important things to ever happen in my life. I chose to be here because I’d rather be here. It’s an honor to be here. To share this with you.”

  “Luke, if you hadn’t stayed, I don’t know where I’d be right now.”

  “Oh, come on . . . I’m sure God would’ve sent someone else to help.”

  “No, really. I mean it.”

  “So do I, Rio. You’re too important. Whatever He’s got planned for you, it’s big.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Buddha Belly

  “You’re the best parts of them,” Rio said as she started walking again.

  “What?” Luke asked as he began to walk as well.

  “I’ve obviously never even met them but, I’d be willing to bet just about anything that you’re the best parts of each of your parents.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Luke said, trying to brush the praise off.

  “You’re pretty great,” Rio persisted.

  “You’re right,” Luke joked. “I am pretty great.”

  “I’m serious,” Rio said as she playfully smacked Luke in the arm. “Just take the compliment.”

  “Thank you,” Luke said sincerely. “That’s a very nice thing to say.”

  “You’re welcome,” Rio said warmly. “It’s the truth. I’m not sure I know anyone else who would be on this journey with me right now.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you could find plenty of people who would do this with you.”

  “I completely disagree. It’s a sacrifice. Most people are too self-centered to give up their time like this.”

  “You’re a pretty easy person to want to spend time with, Rio. It’s not much of a sacrifice. Really.”

  “Whether you’ll admit it or not, you’re giving up a lot to be here right now. I appreciate it and I admire the kind of person who is willing to do that.”

  “Enough to reward me?” Luke asked.

  Rio’s tummy fluttered as she anticipated the request of a kiss. “Depends on what you have in mind.”

  “Well, the sandwiches are in your bag, so . . . ”

  “Oh,” Rio let out in surprise as she stopped, peeled her backpack off, and tried to hide her disappointment. “Yeah, let’s eat.”

  Rio dug out two sandwiches and handed them to Luke as she put her bag back in order, zipped it up and strapped it back on. Taking a sandwich from him as they began to walk again, Rio decided to change the subject in a continued attempt to hide the fact that she was secretly wishing that Luke would kiss her.

  “I know I gave you a hard time about acting like I wouldn’t know what a monastery was but the truth is . . . ”

  “Uh-oh,” Luke interrupted with a big smirk on his face as he unwrapped his ham sandwich.

  “I know, this is kind of hard to admit. Before you jump to any conclusions though, I generally know what a monastery is. But, it seems like that word gets tossed around sort of interchangeably with temple and shrine. I’m not sure I understand the difference between the three and I kind of feel like I should before we get to this place.”

  “Fair enough,” Luke said sincerely as he let go of the teasing and swallowed his food before continuing. “I wouldn’t exactly say this is my area of expertise but, let me break down what I do know. Or, what I think I know. Hopefully, I can get all of this at least close to right.”

  “Okay.”

  “First, a shrine is where they practice Shinto.”

  “Oh, that’s what both of my parents’ families were.”

  “Temples are where Buddhism is practiced. But, here in Japan, the two religions have kind of merged over the centuries and most of the people here tend to practice elements of both.”

  “Really?” Rio asked as she finally took the first bite of her sandwich.

  “Think of it like this,” Luke started explaining, “Buddhism was introduced here from China and Korea something like twelve or thirteen hundred
years ago. Since then, the Japanese people have adopted it but haven’t let go of Shinto. So, Shinto has become the Japanese religion as it pertains to earthly things. People commonly go to shrines to pray for their success in business or for a happy life. But, Buddhism is considered the more spiritual side of religion. People go to temples to pray for their ancestors. So, a wedding might be held at a shrine and a funeral at a temple.”

  “Interesting,” Rio said as she pondered all the new information. “Where do monasteries fit into all of this?”

  “A monastery is really just a religious building where a community of monks from one of any number of religions live under strict religious vows.”

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Sure you did,” Luke jabbed Rio with a friendly tease.

  “I did,” Rio insisted.

  “I believe you.”

  “Which religion is the one we’re going to?”

  “Buddhist. Which means it’s technically called a vihara. Monastery is the English term and it’s way more common globally to call it that. But, the monks here will call it a vihara.”

  “What are the differences between Christianity and Buddhism?”

  “That’s a long list.”

  “How about the highlights?”

  “One of the few common grounds is that they both sprang out of other religions. Christianity from Judaism and Buddhism from Hinduism.”

  “Oh, so Buddhists believe in many gods? I kind of thought Buddha was their god.”

  “No, Buddha just means ‘enlightened one’ and he was the guy who started it all. His name wasn’t even Buddha. Originally, he was known as Siddhartha Guatama. No one called him Buddha until he left his wife and son in search of a release from this world of suffering. Six years after disappearing, he resurfaced saying he had received the four noble truths while meditating.”

  “What are those?”

  “Life is suffering, suffering is caused by desire, the ending of desire eliminates suffering, and you end desire by following ‘The Middle Way’.”

  “And, how do you do that?”

  “By having the right view, resolve, speech, action, livelihood, effort, concentration and ecstasy.”