FOUR SEASONS  :  SUMMER

                     Story By : Kenjii Izuke

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                           PART 2 : Bursting Into Bloom

       Tanaka Tomomi quickly and skillfully secured the bright yellow ribbon behind her head of thick black hair, and pulled both ends of the knot tight. In one corner of the room, the young and mysterious Matsumoto Hatsuoki sat cross-legged, silently meditating, a jar of burning incense sticks in front of her.

       “Hatsuoki-san!” Tomomi called cheerfully. “Hurry up! It’s time to get breakfast ready! Quick, or oba-san will punish us for being late!”

An awkward silence followed. Tomomi frowned, becoming impatient. In that state of quiet meditation, Matsumoto Hatsuoki could not be the least bit bothered about preparing breakfast or doing chores, even if it meant she would be hanged to death – but of course that was not going to happen. A very scantily-clad dancing harem girl might dance stark naked in front of her, or an overly-obese Indian man dressed in a jester’s clothing might sing KAMIGAYO while walking on his hands in front of her, but she would not be moved or awoken out of her trance.

       “I’m going out now, Hatsuoki-san,” Tomomi said quietly, opening the door of the room. She took one last look at Hatsuoki, who had not even batted an eyelid. “Don’t be too long, or oba-san will be very angry with you. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.” She disappeared from the room and ran on clogged feet to the kitchen. Sayaka was already there – she had been for twenty minutes already – rolling up long pieces of white bread dough into small, round buns.

       “Ohaiyo, Sayaka-san,” Tomomi greeted politely.

       “Ohaiyo gozaimasu,” Sayaka replied, not bothering to look up. Strands of hair fell over her sweaty face and stuck to her skin. Every once in a while she would pause to wipe her sweaty palms on her robes. “Where is Hatsuoki?” she asked finally, noticing that Tomomi was not doing anything, but merely standing beside her, watching the dough-rolling with much interest. “Why don’t you cut up the dough? There’s lots left.” She gestured to the large slab of dough lying on the edge of the table.

       “Hai,” Tomomi answered. She obediently rolled out the soft, fresh dough and began chopping it into pieces with a large knife. “Hatsuoki-san is meditating. I couldn’t wake her out of that state.” She pushed her hair behind her ears and pushed the cut pieces of dough towards Sayaka, who picked them up and rolled them into buns, one by one.

       Suddenly, the door opened. Light filled the stuffed, dimly-lit room, but none of the workers ceased their endless, tiring toil. “Tomoe Sayaka,” boomed the voice of one of the men at the door. Sayaka turned and looked up in surprise, but avoided the man’s gaze. She was a traditional girl, and despite the existence of Katsuragi Akito, she had no intention of breaking the temple laws a second time. She felt guilty for looking into the eyes of Akito. “Hai,” Sayaka said, stepping forward.

       “The Master wishes to see you in his court, now.”

       He turned, and without another word, left the kitchen. Sayaka walked slowly to the doorstep. She could feel her cheeks flush hotly with excitement. She took another hesitant forward, towards the light outside, before turning round to gaze at the little old lady knitting in the corner of the kitchen. “Oba... oba-san?” she said warily, but her face lit up when she saw how Taiko-san’s eyes, though surrounded by drooping lids and wrinkles, sparkled brightly. “Go ahead,” Taiko-san said, turning back to her knitting. “Good news awaits you, my child.”

       Sayaka slipped on her clogs, smiling, and ran off quickly, in the direction of the central court, where the master sat each day. The hall was lavishly furnished, with gold structures, beautiful paintings and fine carpets. Sayaka walked in carefully, in her thick white socks, and knelt down respectfully before the master, without a word. The intimidating voice of the Kodanshi Sakurahana Temple’s master boomed over her like a frightening peal of thunder.

       “Tomoe Sayaka,” he boomed. “A request has been received for you to join the boys and men of the temple in training in martial arts skills. Does it have your consent?”

       Sayaka did not hesitate to reply his question. “Yes, master Godou, this request reaches you with my full consent,” she said loudly and clearly. She did not want the master to think that she was cowardly, with a small voice, for she feared he might not, then, let her train with the men of the temple.

       “Tomoe Sayaka, present, then, your reason for this request,” he said.

       Sayaka was unsure of what to say to this. All she knew was that she wanted to be free to do the things that the men did – fight, work outside... She cleared her throat, and spoke loudly. “Godou-sama, my brother is a master of martial arts. He fought as a samurai. He is the only male among the seven children of my family, and he is the eldest child. My sisters and I were never given a chance to do anything but work like servants. We, as girls, were kept inside the house, slaving all day long while my brother went out to fight for the country. At tender ages we were sold as servants. I have always admired the warriors of the temple, Godou-sama. They serve good purposes in life.” She stopped, and waited for Godou to speak on.

       “Tomoe Sayaka, I understand that you are now fourteen years of age. Throughout your eight years working in this temple, have you broken any rule set to you?” These words broke out loud, hard, like a punishing whiplash in the silence of the hall.

       Sayaka swallowed hard. She had to lie. If she were to tell the truth, would Godou, then, deny her of her training in martial arts? Sayaka shuddered. All was silent in the court as everyone present awaited Sayaka’s reply. Sayaka burst into tears. “Godou-sama! Please forgive me! I have betrayed the laws of the templ! Have mercy on me, Godou-sama!” She began to beat her head against the floor wildly, all the time crying out loudly, “GOMEN NASAI! GOMEN NASAI~!!” The elders stared at each other hesitantly, not knowing now what to do in this situation.

       Finally, Godou spoke. His thunderous voice rang out, echoing within the four walls of the court. “Tomoe Sayaka, stand up.”

       Silence.

       Sayaka stopped, sniffled for a moment, and then stood up. Her face was tear-strained and her vision blurred by her red, teary eyes. “Don’t act rashly. You are an honest girl. I will not banish you, for I have knowledge of what you have committed. The young warrior Katsuragi Akito has well informed me of your courageous act to defy the temple laws. And I must say, young girl, that I am very impressed with your bravery.” He cleared his throat, and Sayaka’s eyes widened in shock. Godou’s message was so unexpected. She felt a sudden need to cry out with joy and relief.

       “Katsuragi Akito, come here.”

       Footsteps were heard as Akito, very quietly, walked up the carpeted path and stood next to Sayaka. “Tomorrow, you will serve as this girl’s mentor,” Godou said, getting off his throne-like, kingly seat to approach the young pair before him.

       “Go... Godou-sama!! I find myself unworthy of this post. Please, Godou-sama, do select someone more skilled than I,” Akito exclaimed, bowing low before Godou, his hands clasped tightly behind his back. Godou frowned down at him, looking rather displeased. “Katsuragi, I believe this girl here has knowledge the size of a snow pea about martial arts. You, on the other hand, come from a long line of country-serving samurai and temple warriors. How, then, is it that you name yourself so humbly?” His voice was sharp and stern, as though rebuking Akito.

       Akito took a nervous step forward, and bowed his head. “Godou-sama, I will tutor my student to the best of my abilities, even if I am senior to this girl by a mere two years, and God-willing, I will turn this girl into an extraordinary fighter!” he said loudly and confidently.

       Godou sat down once again. “Tomoe Sayaka, all rules set to you as a servant girl will be vanquished, except for what is written in the lawbooks. With all due respect to the gods of the temple, you are now under our forefather, the late Natsuhiko Hikage. So, Hikage Sayaka, you may now regard the face of your mentor, Hikage Akito,” Godou Tatsuhiko declared majestically. Nervously, Sayaka turned her head upwards, and stared into Akito’s deep brown eyes. Not being used top looking at men in the face, she blushed, and instantly looked away.

       “You may leave the court. Hikage Sayaka, you will no longer need to work with the other girls. You will room with your mentor from today onwards,” Godou commanded. Akito bowed and left. Sayaka did the same, but she had a horrified look upon her face. She was to share a room with Akito!? She shook her head vigorously in disbelief. To share a room with a man – to her, it was something... unbecoming of her! She could not comprehend why the notion could have come to Godou’s mind.

       Shaking the thoughts away, she stepped out of the hall and faced Akito bravely. “How shall I address you now, then? Sensei?” she said, boldly looking him in the eye, though the very act made her blush hotly up to her ears. Akito laughed; a deep, rich laughter that resounded in Sayaka’s ears.

       “Dispose of the formalities,” he said, brushing the issue aside with a wave of the hand. “Just call me Akito. It is, after all, my name, by which I wish to be called, and are we not almost of the same age?” He smiled, and Sayaka blushed an even brighter red, embarrassed.

       “I believe two years are not a very small gap,” she rebuked him politely. Akito shrugged nonchalantly. “It is as you wish,” he replied casually. “But I do not wish to bear such a respectful name, especially not in my lowly, humble position.” He looked a around, and his gaze rested briefly upon a white wolf-like dog lying beneath one of the cherry blossom trees, in slumber amongst the white and pink petals of the sakura flowers.

       “A... Akito-san,” Sayaka said, lowering her voice. Akito turned to look at her with an apprehensive expression. “Hai?” he said. Sayaka shuffled her feet for a moment, still afraid to speak. “Um... could I go and shift my belongings now?” she said nervously, daring to glance up briefly, but she quickly lowered her eyes. Looking at Katsuragi Akito in the eye was like staring at the intense, blazing glare three o’clock sun in the blue sky.

       “You can, if you like,” Akito said, and nodded. “I will help you.”

       Sayaka saw no way out of this. If Akito said he would go and help her with the moving, he definitely would, no matter what Sayaka said. “Domo arigato,” she said, and bowed respectfully. Akito bowed back to her with equal respect, his hand sweeping gracefully behind his back. “Iie,” he replied politely.

                                                *      *      *

       Tomoe Sayaka sat in front of the red-framed wall mirror, carefully brushing her short, silky brown hair. A while ago, Akito had informed her of the stern rule for all new warriors-in-training to have their hair shaved like monks. This was to show that they were new, and that they were prepared to undergo the intensive training under the heat of the sun. Sayaka had protested against being made bald, so Akito, bearing a trimming scissors, cut her long, beautiful hair short, without shaving close to her scalp, and left it just like that – short and neat.

       She couldn’t believe her immense luck. All her life... she had so wanted to learn how to fight, how to handle a weapon, like her brother, and now, she was being granted the chance to learn how to – under one of the temple’s most admirable young fighters, Katsuragi Akito. She smiled to herself, and shook her head in correction. Wrong, she told herself. Hikage Akito. And I’m Hikage Sayaka now.

       As she put down the brush and stared at her reflection in the mirror, Katsuragi Akito swept past her, from the bathroom, and slipped under the thick green blankets. Sayaka turned in surprise. “Aki... Akito-san... is... is it time for bed already?” she asked anxiously, stammering, not wanting to give Akito the impression that she was a disobedient student who had no night curfew limits.

       “Almost,” he replied, in a muffled voice, from under the heavy blankets. “You should sleep now, and rise early tomorrow morning.” He yawned. “If you have trouble waking up tomorrow at five-thirty, I’ll get you out of bed.” Sayaka could have sworn she saw him grin when he had said this to her. “Your training starts at six,” he continued. He sat up, spread the large blanket over to the other side, and lay back down. “Sayaka. Oyasumi nasai.”

       Sayaka took one last look at herself in the mirror, and turned red. She liked the new her. She couldn’t help thinking how much prettier she looked now. The neat boy-cut snipped by Akito gave her a modest, sweet look. She slipped in slowly beside Akito, who was sleeping soundly, and took a deep breath. The person sleeping next to me, under the same huge blanket, is a man, she thought in disbelief. She shook her head. She could smell the flowery scent of sakura coming from Akito’s hair. Fresh and sweet. She smiled, and closed her eyes, turning over onto her side.

       She’d almost drifted off to sleep when something fell on her, and she stifled a frightened gasp. She turned slowly, and saw Akito’s arm around her. Akito was fast asleep, his dry lips parted as he breathed, and Sayaka blushed immediately. He must have rolled over in his sleep, she thought, smiling. He sleeps like a little baby boy.Still, she felt comfortable and secure with Akito’s arm round her body. She reminded herself that she’d be spending a lot of time training under him for the next... goodness knows how long, and she would be resting in this same room. I have to live with it, she told herself. Her fears subsiding, she curled herself up and snuggled closer to Akito, feeling the warmth from his body soothe her.

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       Sayaka awoke in the morning to find Katsuragi Akito sitting cross-legged beside her sleeping figure, a gentle smile on his face. She blinked several times, and lifted her head sleepily.

       “O-hai-yo,” he greeted warmly, his brown eyes twinkling. “Finally, you are up.” In her sleepy state, Sayaka studied Akito carefully. He was dressed in plain brown robes – the clothing Sayaka recognized as the ones that the young fighters wore during training sessions. His tuft of soft, dark brown hair was neatly combed and the half-fringe fell neatly over his eyes. He was quite tan – Sayaka guessed that it was because of the constant training he had under the blazing sun.

       “Ohaiyo gozaimasu,” Sayaka said finally, sounding quite lethargic. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and sat up, staring at the door for quite a long moment. Her short, black hair was messy and needed drastic conditioning. After a while, Akito snapped his fingers loudly, and Sayaka snapped out of her space out. “G... gomen nasai! I’ll go and get ready immediately. Would... would Akito-san like a cup of tea?” she exclaimed, in sudden shock.

       Akito smiled. “Go and get ready first,” he said, gesturing to the bathroom door. Sayaka’s cheeks turned red in embarrassment, and she nodded. Obediently, she stood up and opened the small closet door to take out a change of clothing before disappearing into the bathroom. Sounds of water running were heard as Sayaka washed up, took a quick shower and dressed into the white robes she would be using for her training sessions. She felt proud of herself as she stepped out of the bathroom.

       “Sit down, Sayaka,” Akito ordered suddenly, gesturing to the embroidered futon in front of the mirror. Surprised, Sayaka set down her clothes in the small rattan laundry basket, in the corner of the room. But all the same, she knelt down on the flat cushion, facing the mirror. She could see Akito’s and her reflection in the clear glass. Akito moved up to her and knelt behind her. “There is a bit jutting out here,” Akito commented, taking in his fingers a small clump of hair near Sayaka’s neck.

       Sayaka almost jumped, because Akito’s fingers were so cold against her skin, but she relaxed soon. Akito reached for the scissors on the dressing table and, with one quick movement, snipped off the long bit of hair that he was talking about. Placing the scissors back, he took the small, red brush in his right hand and, carefully, began to brush Sayaka’s messy, knotted hair with utter gentleness in handling. Sayaka saw a contented smile on the sixteen-year old’s handsome face as he ran the bristles of the brush through Sayaka’s short hair.

       “Sayaka-chan.” He stopped brushing, and laid the brush on the table. He ran his hand through her hair, and then stared at Sayaka’s reflection in the mirror, satisfied that all the knots were gone. “You remind me of my younger sister.” A wistful smile formed on his face, and Sayaka could not help but wonder if something form of calamity had come upon this sister of his. She was about to ask him about the issue, but the young man stood up suddenly, running a hand through his hair. “Iie yo.” He shook his head. “I should not be talking about this,” he said, a regretful look crossing his face. “Come, let us go outside. You would rather your lessons started earlier, would you not?”

       Sayaka stood up, and bowed respectfully. “Domo,” she answered, before straightening up and following Akito to the door. She slipped her feet into soft shoes, shoes specially made for fighting, when the fighters practiced kicking.

Akito led her around the temple wings, and as they passed each compound, Sayaka turned her head at the loud, resounding shouts of the young fighters in training under Master Godou Natsuhiko as they moved in an orderly manner, bearing long bamboo poles. Akito walked on, and brought her to a small garden, with a large cement cemented area in the middle. The garden was a rather quaint place, with thick, lush green carpet grass cut every week. “This is where I used to train privately when I was much younger,” Akito told Sayaka, directing her to the cement circle.

       Sayaka stood in front of Akito, her face red. She had no understanding of martial arts, and she did not know what to do. But Akito’s reassuring words and encouraging gentleness soothed her; she felt at ease with him. She knew he would be patient with her. As long as she worked hard, kept by the rules, and practiced, she would be as superior as he was at that moment. “Step one...” Akito began, looking forward, his expression serious as he concentrated on the apple tree in front of him.

                                                *      *      *

       A gentle breeze blew, lifting the soft, velvety petals of the fallen sakura blossoms and moving them swiftly across the cemented floors. The dry brown and yellow leaves rustled as they were swept along with the pretty pink-and-white flowers. It was summer, and the sun was bright as it blazed heat down onto the earth, reheating the grounds of Japan with all the heat it had lost during the seasons of autumn to spring. Everywhere was bustling with activity, and people were active, no longer dormant like they were in the seasons before that. It was a time of fun and relaxation, for summer was vivid, brilliantly coloured and effervescent, an enthusiastic season.

       A red-and-blue monarch butterfly, its wings splattered with white and green, rested on a daisy, after a long and tiring flight in search for food. Its wings ceased to move for a moment, and then, sensing sudden movement around, its wings fluttered again, and off it flew, to seek refuge somewhere safer, despite its exhaustion, until it was out of sight.

       “What a pretty butterfly.”

       Kaikin stood straight, with her feet together, staring down at the petite, fresh white daisy with interest, at the exact spot where the large, colourful monarch butterfly had been just a split-second ago. Her fair hands were clasped at the pocket of her blue-and-white checked apron. Her round, dark eyes narrowed, and her gaze was wistful for a moment as she looked up, trying to find the trail the butterfly might have taken. But she could not find the butterfly. It had taken off and disappeared... to another garden, perhaps, where movement was scarce.

       Sighting a long wooden pole leaning against the wall, Kaikin made her way over to it and picked it up with both hands. Her slender fingers traced the veins of the wood gently.

       “Kaikin.”

       Kaikin’s eyes widened immediately at the sound of the voice behind her, as her fingers gripped the wooden pole tightly. “HAA~!” With one swift movement, she whirled around, swinging the weapon at the person behind her aggressively, as she kicked out skillfully with her left leg. The person, a male, caught the pole just as promptly and twisted it around. At the same time, his right hand reached out to block Kaikin’s kicking assault. Kaikin strained for a moment, before jumping back to stare at the person in front of her. She smiled. “Onii-san!”

       “You still fight well, but you are not very swift.” Her brother, Katsuragi Akito, cocked his head to one side, as he twirled the pole around with both hands, and caught it smartly behind his back. “You have not changed, not since the first day we arrived here,” he said solemnly. “The Master will be furious if he finds out that you actually know martial arts. I might be put to blame, and you know that.” He turned to the side, his head bowed. “Whatever you choose to do here, just do not display any form of martial arts in front of anyone in this temple. If Godou-sama hears about you, you will be banished. He does not like dishonesty among the temple servants.”

       Kaikin’s smiled faded immediately. “Naze da?” she said indignantly. “You have never told me the reason behind this form of idiocy set by the temple Master. I want to know why the maidservants are not allowed to have any knowledge of martial arts.”

       “It is just the tradition,” he said, and shook his head. “In Sayaka-chan’s case, it is different. She has no knowledge of martial arts, but she has made a plea to learn, and she has good reasons for it. Because of this, Godou-sama is granting her the privilege of training like the young men of this temple.” Akito sighed. “But you... you, Kaikin, are different. You already know how to fight. You knew how to fight even before you worked here. Godou-sama knows our ancestral line. He knows to whom we date back. But he does not know about your little lie. You must be careful, Kaikin.”

       “How was your lesson?” Kaikin said, changing the subject abruptly.

       Akito turned to look at his sister with a warm, caring and brotherly gaze. “It was all right,” he answered promptly. “Sayaka is a good student, and she is a fast learner. She will be able to take the first test soon.” He smiled warmly. “I have never trained anyone before, but God-willing, I will turn Sayaka into one of the finest fighters ever. Even if she is a girl.”

       Kaikin’s eyes narrowed, and she looked at her brother with a sharp, piercing gaze. “Don’t talk like that,” she said forebodingly, taking a step forward. “Your heart goes out to Sayaka, does it not?”

       Akito was stunned at how directly the question came from his younger sister’s mouth, but he narrowed his gaze all the same, feeling threatened. “What are you talking about?” he retorted angrily. “Tomoe Sayaka is my student, that is all. I will train her, she will fight, and that is the story. What more nonsense do you intend to add to this?” He took an angry step forward. “I do not know what you mean by what you just said. Take it back. I will go to my room now.” He turned around, and started walking away, slowly, from the small garden. He heard his sister’s voice behind him, livid and accusing. “Don’t deny it! You have something for that girl, and you know it well yourself!” Eager to get away from his sister’s laments, he hurried back, wanting to get to his room as fast as possible.

       Akito opened the door to his room forcefully, breathing hard. He removed his shoes, stepped in, and slammed the door behind him. A voice greeted him politely, but shakily. “Aki... Akito-san?” He looked up, and saw Sayaka sitting on the mattress, a book in her hands. She smiled timidly. “Sou... do desu ka?” she asked nervously, putting her book down. When Akito didn’t answer, but merely stood where he was, a hateful expression on his face, Sayaka got up, looking anxious, and walked over to him. Akito, sensing her advance, retreated a step.

       Sayaka put a hand on his shoulder cautiously. “Daijoubu ka, Akito-san?” she said softly. Akito twitched once. The young girl was shocked to see a tear form at the corner of his eye. Her heart touched, she reached out and put her arms around Akito comfortingly, a smile crossing her face. “Akito-san,” she said softly, patting his back soothingly. “Daijoubu. Whatever it is, everything’s okay. Don’t cry,” she whispered, as a sob escaped Akito’s lips.

       Finally, Akito pulled away from Sayaka, who dropped her hands to her side immediately and turned red. “I’m all right. Thank you for your concern. I just need to rest a while,” he said quickly, as he brushed past the surprised girl and slipped into the comfort of the warm blankets upon the mattress. Tomoe Sayaka stared for a moment at Akito’s sleeping figure, her expression wistful and upset, but she picked up her book, sat beside Akito, and continued reading.