The Art of Sitting Still
How did Aoshi do it? Kenji glanced out of the corner of his eye at the tall man who was still sitting in the same position he had been for most of the three days the Himuras had been in Kyoto. Maybe the book helped. Kenji considered asking his mother if he could look at a book, one with lots of pictures, but then rejected the idea. Mama was probably still upset at him.
It was all Aoshi's fault. Today Okina and Misao were supposed to take them to see Kyoto's greatest sites. Unfortunately it had rained heavily instead. The adults had managed to find things to do but Kenji was bored. His parents hadn't let him pack many of his toys because there wasn't room and there was always something to do in Kyoto. When it wasn't raining at least.
That afternoon he had been playing with Misao but she kept glancing across the room at Aoshi. Kenji wasn't sure why. Maybe to check and see if he ever moved. Daddy said Aoshi liked to meditate. Kenji privately thought Aoshi had figured out how to sleep with his eyes open. Mama, Yahiko and her other students occasionaly meditated in the dojo but it never lasted this long. Aoshi never even looked up when other people came in and out of the room and held conversations. Kenji wondered if he would even jump if someone screamed right behind him. And since the boy had nothing better to do he decided to test that theory.
He had waited till Misao's attention was distracted by Omasu bringing in the tea things. He then crept up behind the quiet man who gave no indication of hearing him aproach and yelled as loud as he could.
Omasu dropped the teapot. Misao covered her ears with her hands. People ran in from all over the Aoiya. Aoshi never even flinched. After making sure he was alright Mama wanted to know why he had screamed. Apparently it was very bad to try and scare someone even if they knew you were there and hadn't been scared at all.
And now as punishment he had to sit still until dinnertime. Kenji wasn't sure how long that was but it seemed like forever. His leg itched. The food smells drifting in were making his mouth water.
"You're wiggling, Kenji."
Kenji glared at Aoshi who went right back to reading his book. Next time he'd try dropping a bug down the back of Aoshi's yukata. Maybe that would make him flinch.