CHAPTER
9
The plane landed roughly, jolting Ian into wakefulness. He had fallen asleep about five hours before their arrival in Japan, having tried to remain awake for most of the journey. The droan of the jet engines had lulled him to sleep, mingled with the soft voices in the background. Thomas and Terri had as well, while John, Hard Master and Ann had taken turns throughout the flight. Now the massive plane had landed, the screech of the tires on the runway waking them. Ian bolted upright, scrambling to look out the window. He took in a sharp breath at the skyline, seeing the towering sky scrapers and buildings in the distance. Then he blinked. It should be very early in the morning, but it was about ten in the morning. His mind was suddenly thrown off, and he felt really weird. Still, he was so excited, he could barely keep his voice down as he reached over and shook Thomas roughly.
"Thomas! Thomas we're here! Look!"
The young Asian boy opened his eyes, rubbing them and yawning as he peered out the window.
"Ah, what? Oh. Yes. Tokyo Bay."
Ian spun back around to gaze out the window.
"Tokyo Bay. Oh man. I can't believe this! Terri! Look!"
Terri sat up, joining her brother.
"Ah! This is crazy!"
Thomas took up his backpack, zipping it.
"You have not seen anything yet; wait until the Arashikage."
The plane jolted one last time, and then rolled up to the terminal. The wait wasn't long before the Michaels and Arashikages were walking off the plane. The air between plane and terminal was extremely humid, and within the matter of seconds, all of them were sweating. Ian was so excited he could barely contain himself; his hands were shaking and his breath came quickly as he looked around, and once he had stepped into the Tokyo airport, all he could do was freeze and stare. He had been used to seeing packed airports, but not with almost everyone being Japanese. Thomas grabbed his arm, pulling him along.
"Hurry, Ian, you will get left behind!"
The blond stuck right beside his friend, having to keep shoulder contact to avoid the pressing crowd. He was nervous, and knew he could trust Thomas, who had lived here half of his life.
"Where are we going after this, brother?"
The Asian adjusted his backpack strap, putting a supporting hand on Ian's back to keep him from getting behind.
"The Arashikage. We will take the shinkansen, or bullet train, as you know it, to Kyoto. It will take about another two hours, but you will be able to see the Kyoto mountain range on the way. After that, we will stop in Kyoto, and then drive another two hours to my home."
Ian gripped Thomas' shoulder, having to raise his voice above the noise.
"I can hardly believe this, Thomas! I can't believe I'm here!"
Thomas smiled, patting his back.
"Well believe it, brother...believe it!"
Soon they were well on their way to the Arashikage, speeding through the country on a shinkansen. It was absolutely gorgeous, the trees and grass in full bloom. Everything was an emerald green, with splotches of pink and white from the cherry trees and every now and again the deep blood red from Japanese willows. The mountain range was breath-taking...the beauty of this place could barely be described. They passed several rice fields, the gleaming, murky waters between the rows of green stalks glittering in the bright morning sun. Small countryside farms came and went, and soon, the train began the assent into the Kyoto mountains. For the first hour of the journey, Ian gazed in awe at the scenery, but had to fight the sleep; the time change was so awkward. Back home, it would be about four in the morning. For the second hour, he wrote mostly in his journal, describing everything he saw, including the shrines that they passed in the mountains.
Finally, the train stopped at the station, and all passengers were more than ready to get off. The ride had gone well, and now they were leaving the train. The station was definitely not as busy as the one in Tokyo, but still there were many people. The loud, never ending hum of hidden cicadas dominated the air, coming from the tree line across the station. Ian had never heard so many before, having lived in New York all of his life.
"Where do they come from? There seems to be so many!"
Thomas took his brother's bag from the cart, handing it to him.
"They are worst during summer, but we have grown used to them. This is nothing; in South Korea, they are very bad. They do not do much destruction, but you hear them all day and into the night, even sometimes in the city."
Terri clutched her bag in both hands, gazing around.
"It's so green!"
Thomas smiled.
"I forget, you lived in the city for a long time. You will like the country, do not worry. Here, I will take your bag,"
He offered his hand, and she shyly gave it to him.
"Thanks."
John hailed them from the parking lot.
"Ian, Terri, come on! The car is waiting!"
Once they had gotten to the parking lot, they spotted a black car waiting for them, and an older Japanese man, probably in his early twenties, got out to greet them.
"Hard Master, Thomas! Greetings!"
He bowed deeply to them, and they returned the bows with enthusiasm. Hard Master smiled widely, grasping his hand.
"Satsu, it is good to see you again."
The man named Satsu bowed his head in gratitude.
"And you, Master. Tommy! Look at you! You have grown a yard if you have an inch!"
Thomas smiled, bowing and grasping his hand.
"Thank you, Satsu-sama."
Satsu turned to Hard Master, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder.
"He will grow to be tall and strong, like his father."
Hard Master smiled, gazing down at his nephew.
"I do believe he will, Satsu...I do believe he will. Ah, and this is John Michaels and his family."
The Asian man stretched out his hand American style, shaking John's hand firmly.
"It is good to meet you, Mr. Michaels."
John returned the shake.
"You too, sir. This is my son, Ian; he will be training under Hard Master's care."
Satsu also shook Ian's hand, and then bowed to him.
"Welcome, Ian-kun. I have heard much about you; your ability to fight is well spoken of."
The blond smiled, squinting in the bright sun.
"Thank you, sir."
Hard Master threw the bags in the back, and once everyone had been introduced, they all climbed into the car, there to remain for another long two hours. Terri was once again stuck beside Thomas, who wasted no time in picking up his tale with the Arashikage. He spoke of it for a long while, and Ian noted that his sister seemed quite captivated, which caused him to smile at the thought.
The first hour came and went, and then the second, the beauty of the Japanese countryside only growing more gorgeous as they went deeper and deeper into the country and away from Kyoto. They passed a few villages, shrines and rice fields, and now they had entered a long, stone-made tunnel. There was no light in it save for that of the headlights, and once they had come out again, Ian couldn't help but take in a sharp breath. They were now at the base of a massive mountain, the peak so high up that it could barely be seen through the clouds. He had to crane his neck upward to see it, distractedly tapping Thomas' leg.
"Brother...what mountain is that?"
Thomas smiled, crossing his arms.
"That, Ian, is Mount Arashikage."
The blond spun around, his jaw dropped open.
"You're joking?"
The Asian shook his head, giving him a cocky smile.
"No. That is our mountain."
Ian spun back around in the seat, looking out the back window as they went down the road. Still he had to crane his neck.
"Oh that is so awesome! And you fell off of that!?"
Thomas laughed, turning to look at the mountain.
"Yes and no. More of a fall near the base than the top. Look, we are not far from home now,"
He pointed ahead, and Ian spotted the two massive columns of stone on either side of the road. Ian hadn't noticed, but now he did, and back in the tunnel, the road had turned to gravel, small, oval like stones making it up. Passed the columns were thick woods, the dense canopy of green above turning the light into a tinted green. All kinds of shrubbery and plants were arranged along the ground in between the trunks, with shrines and miniature pagodas planted near trickling rock streams and pools of mirror-clear water. Above the stone columns was a wooden archway, Japanese characters engraved on the surface. Thomas leaned over to look out the window as they passed under it.
"Oh, look, they fixed the arch."
Ian gazed back at it.
"What did it say?"
Thomas smiled proudly.
"Clan Arashikage."
They entered the thick woods, the tires crunching the gravel beneath them. The windows were down, and once again, the noise of cicadas echoed through the trees. Every now and again a bird could be heard calling, and more than once several deer were spotted grazing in open glades near the pagodas. Thomas pointed out that the woods were thinning, and soon they would see the Arashikage itself.
"We have come in the back way, so you will not see the front as of yet. Do not worry, you will soon, though...you will have much time to see everything."
The woods faded, and suddenly they were under and passed another archway, and then a wall of stone. A massive pagoda thrust its top into the sea blue sky behind this wall, and once they were through the gate, Ian could only stare. Japanese architecture and art lined the rock garden to the left, and the buildings around the pagoda were shining with Japanese lanterns. To the left, on a large platform of concrete, were about twelve students, all facing one master, who led them in an array of sword moves that looked almost like a dance. To the far left was another group, this time of about eighteen, all older. They were sparring with each other, called on by a master, Ian noting that they wore silk black outfits and masks. This place was huge, with buildings surrounding the place and several archways leading leading right to another section. Thomas spoke.
"This is the training ground, brother."
He motioned over to the right, and there were ramps at least fifteen feet off the ground where students balanced and fought with bo staves and knotted ropes.
"What if one falls?"
Thomas gave him a roguish look.
"This is the Arashikage, you forget."
Sure enough, just as he spoke, one of the students fell from the ramp, and it looked for the world like he would hit the gravel, but just as the ground was about to meet him, he turned, flipped, and landed on his feet, all in one move. They went under another archway, and this time the blond found himself in the midst of a huge garden, all sorts of trees and plants gracing the landscape. There were trickling rock fountains and pools of water, filled by a bamboo spout; there were rock gardens and swaying cherry trees, as well as shrines and pagodas. Off to the right, and then coming around halfway to the front and the left were many rooms with shoji screen doors and one long adjoining porch that connected them all. They were well hidden by the cherry trees and the four foot high rock wall. Here the car stopped, and Satsu opened the door.
"Ah, here we are. This is where you will be staying."
Ian was so eager to get out that he could hardly stay still, and as soon as the door was opened, he bolted from his seat, almost forgetting his bag before he scrambled back and grabbed it up. Thomas laughed at his friend, shaking his head.
"Brother, you are too excited!"
Ian sniffed indignantly.
"I am not. Besides, I've never been to Japan before and I can barely believe this!"
Suddenly, a squeal cut across the yard from one of the houses, and a young girl, probably about ten, came running from a doorway, leaping off the porch and flying towards Hard Master.
"Uncle! Uncle you are back!"
Hard Master smiled, kneeling to embrace the young girl as she flung herself into his open arms.
"Kimiko! It is good to see you! Look how you have grown."
The small Asian girl jumped up and down excitedly, grasping his hands.
"Oh Uncle, I am so glad you are here! And Tommy!"
She ran towards him and he practically had to drop his bags to catch her.
"Hello cousin! I never thought I should say that I am happy to see you."
Kimiko wrinkled her nose at him, but then hugged him again.
"Me neither!"
Thomas laughed, and then turned to Ian.
"Cousin, this is my friend, Ian; he shall be staying with us."
The Asian girl bowed politely, and the blond returned the bow, but he couldn't keep his eyes off of her...she was....pretty. Very, pretty. Hard Master took the bags from the back of the car, nodding towards his niece.
"Kimi, take your cousin and Ian to their rooms, please, and then you may show them around."
The young girl bowed again, and then motioned towards one of the buildings.
"This way."
They walked across the stretch of gravel, and then between a little doorway in the stone wall that lead to the porch. All along the deck were stairs at different intervals, which allowed one to go into the building at any point. Here they stepped onto the porch at a door, and Kimiko slid the shoji screen aside.
"This is where you shall be staying."
Thomas let his brother go first, and then stepped in after him, tossing his bag on the bed.
"I cannot believe this place. It has changed so much since I left."
Kimiko smiled.
"Yes, cousin, it has. They built for many long hours during the day, and sometimes at night. See, Tommy, they replanted the red willows!"
Across the room was yet another doorway that lead out into more gardens, and then passed that was another long row of porches and rooms, but they were well hidden by the thick, swaying, blood red branches of red willow trees. Through the forest of willows ran a trickling creek, and from several lower branches hung Japanese lanterns, lighting a gravel path that lead to the next row of houses. Ian felt so dizzy at the magnificence of this place. He stood in the middle of the room, turning a few times to take everything in. The floor was built of wooden boards, and the walls were a deep red color, much like those back at the dojo in Manhattan. There were two tiatami mats on the floor, having a rolled pillow and a thick blanket folded at the bottom, and small, circular tables sitting beside them. The light in the room either came from the large doors or the Japanese lanterns, giving it a spacious appeal. There was a closet to the right, and a dresser beside the second door, along with a small bathroom containing a sink and toilet to the left. Thomas took Ian's bag, laying on the bed.
"You are quite overwhelmed, brother."
The blond smiled, running a hand through his hair.
"I...know. Gosh. I'm sorry...I'm just..."
Kimiko smiled brightly.
"Overwhelmed. Here, I will leave you now for a while. You two unpack your things, and then Tomassu will show you around."
She bowed, and then left the room quietly, sliding the shoji screen back into place. Thomas laughed when she had gone, patting his brother's back.
"You are lovestruck, Ian. Face it."
The blond took his gaze from the door.
"I am not! She's...pretty."
Thomas gave him an incredulous look as he turned to unzip his bag.
"Uhhuh..."
"Thomas..."
"Just unpack your things."
The blond couldn't help but smile, and went to the other doorway, leaning against the thick frame and staring out at the swaying branches.
"I cannot believe I'm here, Thomas...."
Thomas joined him, and then smiled, laying a hand on his friend's shoulder and looking into his eyes.
"This is your new home, brother...welcome."