I flew out the door before they could answer.
The walk to the station had become routine since I hit school full force after spring break. I’d been studying like a maniac trying to give Setsuko some competition in the straight A department. The only class I thought might be a problem was my art class with Kawanasan. Since spring break our schedules never seemed to mesh. Because of the lessons I missed my final painting, which counted as my entire grade. As much as I dreaded the final, it would be nice to see Fudo again. He promised he’d be home Wednesday night so we could catch up.
As I rode the train to school, I couldn’t believe that in just three weeks I’d be back home in Idaho. For the first time in my life I understood the meaning of “time flies”.
Bursting out of the train station as if I had Ren’s super speed, I raced to campus hoping to catch the girls before our first class. The bright red brick bell tower loomed large against the cloudless blue sky. I’d miss the wonderful old Ivy League feel of Seda Academy. Back in Magic Valley, the ugly concrete boxlike campus buildings of the local community college awaited me. Mom didn’t want me to go to a big university until I was sure I wanted to continue my art career.
“Hey Erin, long time no see.”
I turned around to face Gina sans Adam. “Hey, where’s your better half?”
She scrunched up her face. “We are taking a test break.”
Gina followed me as I kept walking toward the main part of campus. “Why?”
She trudged next to me slamming her shoes on the brick pathway as if she held it responsible for her break with Adam. “Well, he lives in Utah and I live in San Francisco. That’s a pretty long-distance relationship.”
“Right.” My heart sank when I thought about the thousands of miles, I’d be away from Kenzo. “What about convincing him to go to San Francisco State?”
She stopped taking out her frustrations on the brick pathway. “Trust me, I’ve tried. But his whole family has gone to the University of Utah for generations…so there’s that.”
I put my arm over her shoulder. “You guys are perfect together, you’ll find a way.”
She brightened. “I hope so.”
The click clacking of hard soled shoes on the brick pathway echoed behind us. “Don’t let me interrupt anything.”
I turned to face a ticked off Setsuko. “Why, I do believe you are jealous.”
Setsuko huffed. “No, I think you guys will be the ones that are jealous.” She held out her right hand and showed off a beautiful jade ring. “My host family gave me my good-bye gift early.”
While Gina gushed over the ring, I thought back to the good-bye presents the Moris’ gave me realizing I hadn’t given them a thought since I left. Well, except sometimes when I plowed through a whole box of Little Pockys, I would think fondly of Aki.
Setsuko shoved the ring in my face. “Isn’t it an amazing ring? Look at how translucent the jade is.”
No match for Amaterasu’s sacred stone, I thought to myself. “Very nice.”
Thankfully, the tower bell rang.
Gina tugged on her backpack purse. “I’ve got to meet up with Adam.”
Setsuko rolled her eyes. “What are they going to do when they get back home? Long distance romances never work.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure.” I smiled at Gina as she disappeared around the bend. “I think Adam and Gina might just beat the odds.”
She shrugged her shoulders. “Good luck with your Art History final.”
“I’d wish you luck with your Advanced Japanese final, but I know you don’t need it.”
“About time you recognized my brilliance.”
As I watched Setsuko practically skip down the pathway, I had to admit I’d miss her.
Jumping back into my imitation of Ren’s supersonic speed, I raced through the courtyard and up the stairs to my class. Plopping down in my usual spot in the back row, I glanced down at the final exam laying on my desk. I felt grateful I saw so much art on my various adventures. I breezed through the multiple-choice section on the Jomon, Yayoi, Kufun and Asuka periods. Most of the answers were all about the different styles of basic ink drawings and rudimentary pottery. I flashed back on the vase that sported Death’s face. The pending battle was still very much on my mind. Could I really take on Death and win?
Shaking off my doubts, I dug into the essay section of the exam grateful for my trips to Iwakuni and Kumamoto castles. The questions focused on the samurai armor of the Kamakura period. Thankfully the longest essay question covered the Edo period, from 1603 until 1886. The most stunning painted screens, Imari ceramics, and woodblock prints were done during that time. Amazing how much beautiful art can be made in a time of relative peace.
I picked as my highlight piece a print by Hiroshige, my favorite woodblock artist, called Sudden Shower at Ohashi. The way he depicted the sheet of torrential rain as it descended upon six people with the use of only a chisel and a block of wood blew my mind. The people hid under their umbrellas as they raced across a wooden bridge straddling a vast river. The scene seemed so real it made me feel like I was racing right along with them. The use of muted colors captured the dreariness of the day. I loved how the artist placed a fisherman on a raft off to the right side of the bridge to fill the open space on the river. Everything about the print screamed masterwork.
The bell rang and I turned in my exam and walked down to the lounge with my stomach serenading me the whole way. I headed straight for the vending machines, but someone blocked my path—Kenzo. “We need to talk.”
“I bet you say that to all the girls.” I rubbed my growling stomach. “But as you can hear I’m in desperate need of food. I only had a tangerine for breakfast.”
“Your stomach rules your world.”
“Yep. I was heading to the machines.”
Kenzo shook his head. “That isn’t real food. Follow me.”
With the glares from the Harem boring through the back of my head, I followed Kenzo out of the student lounge. “Where are we going? There is a good curry place just around the corner.”
His nose crinkled. “Haven’t I taught you anything about the proper way to dine in Japan?”
I couldn’t tell him the real reason I ate so poorly was because I grew up on junk food. “Yeah, you have, but I’m a student remember? I can’t afford to eat at fancy French restaurants.”
He took my hand in his. “Well, I can.”
I didn’t want to point out it was on the PSIA’s yen.
He led me through the Seda lunchtime crowd and down a tiny back alley that Tokyo was so famous for. At the end of the alley sat a cute little bistro with a black and white striped awning and two little mini Eiffel Towers on either side of the door.
Kenzo laughed when he saw me eyeing the towers. “Don’t worry, the decorations are tacky but not the food.”
I had no doubt. Kenzo would never let anything but the very best cuisine touch his lips. We sat at a cute wrought iron bistro set in the back of the tiny restaurant.
Kenzo did his show off thing and ordered in French.
“So, what is so important you had to drag me away from campus?”
He reached into his leather jacket pocket. “It’s something from Amaterasu.” Don’t open it here. Take it home with you.”
Tucking the small brocade covered box carefully inside my backpack I asked, “Do you know what it is?”
“No. She wouldn’t tell me.”
“Wow, that’s saying something.”
Kenzo beamed as the waitress placed a pretty black and white floral plate with two sauce-covered crepes in front of me. “Aren’t you eating?”
He shook his head causing his shaggy haircut to sway like the ocean. “No. I actually have to run. There’s a meeting back at headquarters.”
“Really?” I eyed his rocker uniform. “Dressed like that?”
Kenzo stood up and zipped up his black leather biker jacket. “Believe it or not, this is a regulation PSIA undercover uniform.”
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He waved good-bye and I just smiled. Even when Kenzo lied he did it with style. Digging into my crepe, the aroma of mushroom and chicken filling made me drool. I happily devoured the first crepe and quickly inhaled the second. The waitress took my plate away astonished. I must have eaten my lunch in two minutes. Not a record for a Japanese person, but certainly for an American.
With a bit of time to spare before my Japanese final with Mr. Shinji and my curiosity getting the better of me, I leaned against a storefront wall and pulled out the brocade box Kenzo gave me. A huge grin spread across my face when I saw what was inside the box. Nestled in a piece of blue velvet, sat a porcelain charm that looked exactly like Yuki. How thoughtful of Amaterasu to give me such a gift. She must have known how attached I’d become to her little messenger.
Tucking the box in the front pocket of my backpack, I strolled the back alleys trying to burn off a few of the thousands of calories I must have just consumed. Working my way back to campus, I passed little shops with handbags flying like flags on outdoor racks and cute T-shirts with all kinds of Janglish words on the front. My favorite blazed across a bright pink T said, “My Lovely Porpoise”.
Taking the stairs up to Mr. Shinji’s office for the last time hit me harder than I imagined. Maybe it affected me so much because we started off as enemies and now, I considered him a friend.
He opened the door with a stunned expression on his face. In Japanese he said, “Erin, you are early.”
I laughed. “I thought I should make an extra effort for my final.”
His eyes twinkled. “Good choice.” He motioned to the worn leather chair across from him. “Are you ready for your exam?”
I sat up ramrod straight. “Yes, sir.”
“I have decided this exam will only consist of one question.”
I swallowed hard. “One question? It must be all encompassing.”
“Yes, it is.” He leaned over his desk and placed a black clock-shaped timer in front of me. “You have twenty minutes to tell me, what key elements of Japanese society caught you by surprise.”
I bit my lip. Talk about a loaded question. “Sir, can I think about it a moment?”
“No. I’d like to hear your offhand impressions. It’s not like this is a written exam. Just say what comes to your mind.”
My mind flooded with all the paranormal things I could never talk about. “Okay, this is going to be totally random. But when I think back to my host family, my first impression of the Japanese people, I was surprised how much Japanese women seem to run the family. You always hear that Japanese men are the ones that are the heads of households, but I have found that is not really true. At least in the families I’ve been exposed to.”
Mr. Shinji leaned back in his chair. “Interesting, and observant. What else?”
“I’d heard the Japanese have a very different way of looking at ordinary objects. I found that to be true, but I’m surprised that literally covers everything. Beauty and utility go hand in hand in Japan. When you go to the grocery store, your meat and produce are wrapped up like a gift. Color and design are so important here. My artist’s eye gets a feast every day.”
“That’s quite wonderfully said, Erin.”
Funny, my face flushed. I’d never been complimented on my choice of words before. “The other thing I’ve noticed is most people are very generous. When I’m lost, someone always tries to help me even if they don’t speak English. I admit I had a different impression on my first day here. I tried desperately to get help when I got lost. I had to wait for Kenzo Sawada to rescue me.”
“I remember.” Mr. Shinji smiled. “Well, if you are like most of the other women on campus, I’m sure you didn’t mind.”
I laughed. “No, I didn’t. He befriended me and introduced me to Ren which I am so grateful for.”
His brow furrowed. “The academy would have found you accommodations in the city as well.”
Oh great. The last thing I wanted to do was tick off Mr. Shinji when I had my final grade at stake. “I know you would, sir. It’s just that Ren and I have become friends, which has been a nice benefit.”
He nodded. “You have two minutes left. Anything else?”
I probably should kiss some ass and say something nice about the academy. “Yes. I admit I’d heard that Japanese schools could be very strict, and the classes were quite academic and dry. But Seda has been anything but. Despite my rather bumpy start at the academy, I mean no one wants to meet the Headmaster on the first day as I did…but...”
He smiled as the buzzer on the timer rang. “You may finish your thought.”
“I have found the teachers and the classes at Seda to be some of the best I’ve ever taken.”
He pushed back his chair and held out his hand. “Very good, Ms. Van Horn.”
I bowed deeply and said in the most formal of Japanese, “It’s been an honor to be your pupil, Mister Shinji.”
He gave me a slight bow back and said in English. “I’ll have to give you an A just for being an exemplary suck up.”
Special Credit
May 9th 8:00AM
Ren greeted me with a smile. “Your big mythology final is today, isn’t it?”
Why did Ren have such a huge smile on her face? She knew I stayed up all night cramming for the test. Barely able to keep my eyes open, I headed over to the kitchen, my nose following the aroma trail of strong French roast coffee. Pouring a huge mug full, I turned to Ren. “Thanks for making the coffee. I needed it big time.”
Yuki flew off her carpeted tree and landed on the kitchen counter next to me. “My mistress wishes you great speed in your schooling. The situation in Kyoto grows more dire by the day.”
Terrific. Like I didn’t feel enough pressure this morning. “Tell her thank you for me.”
The corners of my mouth turned up at the irony of the situation. Here I was talking to a sacred creature we didn’t even cover in my mythology class.
Ren’s eyes narrowed. “What is so amusing?”
“It’s pretty ironic that I’m heading off to take a final in Japanese mythology about creatures I know are real.”
Yuki chortled. “I am certain you did not learn about me. Momonga are one of the paranormal world’s best kept secrets.”
I stroked Yuki under her chubby cheeks. “The cutest secret, too.”
Her high-pitched chortle filled the kitchen. Ren tapped her watch. “You better get going. Mr. Tanaka can show you no favoritism, and that includes your grade.”
“That sucks. Aren’t there any advantages to working for the PSIA?”
Yuki rubbed her little hands together. “They supply me with all the pine nuts I can eat. My cubby hole is full of them.”
I glared at her carpeted tree. “So that’s where you’re getting your stash.”
“Better get going,” Ren scolded me like my mother.
“Right.” I grabbed my backpack and off I went practically running to get to the station to catch the train. Once on campus, I headed straight to the classroom with just a few minutes to spare.
May 9th 9:00AM
Mythology Secret
Mr. Tanaka stood in front of the white board just finishing up writing out the questions for the final. I gulped when I realized the entire final included nothing but essay questions. My apprehension quickly spread through the rest of the class as they filed in and read the board.
Mr. Tanaka cleared his throat. “Class, as you can see the exam contains nothing but the essay questions I have written up on the board. I expect you to take the entire class to answer them. The last three should have quite lengthy explanations. You may begin now.”
The first ten questions covered the basics of Japanese mythology with the creation of Japan the central focus. I scribbled down my answer. A pair of deities Izanagi and Izanami were born and ordered to create solid land out of the objects floating in the ocean. They stirred the water with a jeweled spear and formed an island called Onogoro. Once on the island, Izanagi and Izanami marri
ed and created eight children who became the islands of Japan.
I sped through the rest of the questions which were pretty basic, until I hit the last three. What was my favorite magical creature? Yuki of course. But even though Mr. Tanaka knew about Yuki’s existence, Momonga were never mentioned in standard textbooks. Instead, I settled on my next favorite creature and one I hoped were equally as real as Yuki—kappa. They are greenish turtle like creatures, only without the shell. Kappas live in rivers, lakes and streams. On the top of their heads they have a hollow bowl shape which holds water. If it spills the kappa lose their magical powers. They are known to be quite mischievous and will try to lure people into the water. They love to wrestle and accept any challenge. Kappa are known to be very polite and can be distracted from their pranks by bowing to them and when they return the bow, you can quickly escape. Kappas are very knowledgeable about human medicine and can set bones and use salves to cure humans they like. Kappas are also known to save children that fall into the water. They enjoy cucumbers and the vegetable can be used as a distraction if a kappa is behaving badly. One of their known funny attributes is their propensity to fart. In my research I learned that one of my favorite sushi, kappamaki, are a homage to the strange creatures and their love of cucumbers.
The final question: list one of the myths about the relationship between the Amaterasu and her brother Susanoo. My favorite myth about them is the story where Amaterasu asks for Susanoo’s sword, which she breaks into three pieces and puts in her mouth. When she spat out the metal, there were three pieces, which then were turned into goddesses. Not to be outdone, Susanoo took a beaded necklace his sister gave him and put it in his mouth. He quickly spat out five gods. Susanoo claimed victory, but Amaterasu pointed out he had to use her beads to create the gods, so therefore her power was greater. Which proves even in mythology sibling rivalry reigns supreme.
The bell rang and the class dropped off their exams. I headed up to the desk and Mr. Tanaka motioned for me to stay behind. Once the last student left the classroom, he closed the door. I broke out in a sweat. “Sir, is there a problem?”
Final Showdown Page 10
