Chapter 16
The Professor's Final Lecture
Professor Hiroda, dean of the Asian Cultural Research department, introduced Professor Natori to the attendees--though she didn't need or want one. Due to the summer season, the auditorium was not quite filled, but it was otherwise well-attended. The dean was truly gratified at the turnout as he went on--and on--describing her seemingly endless resume of accomplishments and accolades.
After the dean's most exhaustive introduction, it was time for the main event. The Dean then invited her to the podium and the audience showed its wild approval of the guest speaker and, to some extent, the relief caused by the change of speakers. Professor Natori clearly showed her age as she haltingly approached the microphone. The instant she made a sound--her voice was still as clear as ever--the applause gave way to a revered silence.
"There's one phrase we've all learned since early childhood that has become part of what we are as Japanese." She looked around the audience and spotted a few foreigners. In quite respectable English, she added, "Yes, at least for tonight, we are all Japanese." She continued in Japanese. "The phrase is, 'Mukashi mukashi aru tokoro ni.' That is, of course, the Japanese version of the English phrase, 'Once upon a time.' These Mukashi Banashi, or stories of long ago, carried messages extolling virtue. As we all know, they involved people--usually very old people such as myself--as they dealt with various gods, demons, and magic." The audience chuckled at her emphasis on 'very old.' She continued. "Tonight, we shall explore what it's like to be a god in a country that reveres gods as national treasures--even though very few actually worship them."
Chihiro knew what was coming. She was getting her first mission statement. As she, the human, would not be coming and going to the other world, she was getting something like a parents' orientation. The professor had once again aimed her lecture at a particular person, all the while making the topic interesting for all. Hideki also sensed this was for Chihiro and, for once, he put aside his thoughts to listen to a lecture that really didn't contribute toward his objectives.
The lecture was quite an eye-opener for Chihiro; she was beginning to wonder if her spirit was the right 'person' for the job. Sen's experiences in the bathhouse were limited to the first floor; she had no idea as a ten year old what really transpired on the upper floors. Chihiro correctly surmised that Sen would need an extensive training regimen. Haku and Hideki, on the other hand, were quite familiar with the operations of the bathhouse, but the professor's delivery style made it fascinating anyway. Sen was not able to connect with the professor because she was out of range and didn't have Haku's abilities; she was content interacting with nearby spirits.
Chihiro noticed the professor was using the same technique she heard her use before: disguise a fact as a hypothetical or a theory. "What do gods do to relax? Do they want to be spiritual or would they rather shed their spirituality and have a good time? They will find 'Kaishun' (rejuvenation) either way--though I imagine the gods would favor the fun." The word 'kaishun' filtered through to Sen--as the professor had intended. It was the purpose of having the bathhouse. Sen had seen the word long before: it was emblazened on the entry wall of the bathhouse.
The lucture ended on schedule at eight PM. As was the custom with the professor, she was to hold a small reception afterwards for the faculty, graduate students, and any reporters who were covering the event. Chihiro dutifully left the auditorium and headed to the nearby hospital. The emergency room was fairly quiet. She spotted an elderly woman sitting in the main waiting area--unmistakably the professor's sister. "Excuse me, but are you Kaya Watanabe by any chance?" The old woman looked back at her and smiled. Chihiro could tell she had been crying for some time. "I haven't heard that name in over fifty years. You must be Ogino-san."
Sen was struck by the presence of the twin sister's spirit. The combination of the two sisters' spirits was the combination of Yubaba and Zeniba. Sen initiated the contact: [YOU MUST BE KAYA...]
[THAT IS CORRECT, BUT MY HUMAN NAME IS SHINOBU.]
Sen was considerate enough of others not to dig into them unless invited. Even though she was relatively young as sprits go, she was far better attuned to spirit sensibilities than many of her elders--including the millenia-old Haku. The name Shinobu was on the outer layer as all spirits' current names lie, but it was more polite to wait for an introduction--especially with more senior spirits. Miyu invited Sen in, partly as a test to see how deep she could go, but Kaya was not laying out a welcome mat. Sen didn't press further. Kaya continued. [DO YOU KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE?]
Chihiro got a sudden urge to act curious. "Watanabe-san,..."
"Please call me Shinobu Kitamura. Our names were changed a long time ago."
"Kitamura-san, why did Natori-sensei want me to meet you here?"
"Shortly, child, you shall see."
Shortly it indeed was. The phone rang at the reception desk and a flurry of activity ensued. The staff wheeled a gurney toward the front door. The sound of a siren grew increasingly as a rescue ambulance pulled up.
Chihiro gasped. "Is that..."
"Yes. She had a stroke. Her human presence has already passed away--I can sense it. There's still brain activity, but she's gone. I can stop crying for her now. Her spirit will continue for several more years without the pain she has had to witness." Shinobu stood up and went to the reception desk as the lifeless form passed by on the gurney. Chihiro got up with her in case she needed help moving around, but she appeared in much better health than her sister. "Sir, excuse me for bothering you, but I am her sister. Is there anything I can do?"
"We are attempting to revive her right now. Are you her next of kin?"
"No, she has a son. Here is his name card if you need to contact him. He wouldn't want to hear anything from me."
Sen was curious, but she was too respectful to ask. Kaya knew what she wanted to know and replied if she had asked the question. [YES, IN A WAY. HE'S ACTUALLY A RETIRED RAILROAD EXECUTIVE. HE'S A NORMAL HUMAN MALE: HE CAN'T SEPARATE AND ISN'T IN TOUCH WITH HIS SPIRIT. THE 'BOH' IN OUR WORLD IS A SPIRITUAL LIKENESS.]
Miyu came out of the treatment room seemingly quite pleased. [THAT WENT WELL. CHIHIRO, WE...]
[PLEASE CALL ME SEN, MIYU. NOW THAT I KNOW SOMETHING OF THE SPIRIT WHO GAVE ME THAT NAME, I WOULD BE HONORED]
Chihiro was totally baffled by all the different names the two sisters lived by. "Please, Kitamura-san, is there anything at all you can tell me that would make my getting to know you a little easier on myself?"
"I will try to make as much sense in the little time we have right now. Your spirit will be getting quite her fill from our spirits, and the hospital staff will be spending the next 43 minutes trying to revive my sister." At that, the professor's twin began to tell their story...
The Professor's Final Lecture
Professor Hiroda, dean of the Asian Cultural Research department, introduced Professor Natori to the attendees--though she didn't need or want one. Due to the summer season, the auditorium was not quite filled, but it was otherwise well-attended. The dean was truly gratified at the turnout as he went on--and on--describing her seemingly endless resume of accomplishments and accolades.
After the dean's most exhaustive introduction, it was time for the main event. The Dean then invited her to the podium and the audience showed its wild approval of the guest speaker and, to some extent, the relief caused by the change of speakers. Professor Natori clearly showed her age as she haltingly approached the microphone. The instant she made a sound--her voice was still as clear as ever--the applause gave way to a revered silence.
"There's one phrase we've all learned since early childhood that has become part of what we are as Japanese." She looked around the audience and spotted a few foreigners. In quite respectable English, she added, "Yes, at least for tonight, we are all Japanese." She continued in Japanese. "The phrase is, 'Mukashi mukashi aru tokoro ni.' That is, of course, the Japanese version of the English phrase, 'Once upon a time.' These Mukashi Banashi, or stories of long ago, carried messages extolling virtue. As we all know, they involved people--usually very old people such as myself--as they dealt with various gods, demons, and magic." The audience chuckled at her emphasis on 'very old.' She continued. "Tonight, we shall explore what it's like to be a god in a country that reveres gods as national treasures--even though very few actually worship them."
Chihiro knew what was coming. She was getting her first mission statement. As she, the human, would not be coming and going to the other world, she was getting something like a parents' orientation. The professor had once again aimed her lecture at a particular person, all the while making the topic interesting for all. Hideki also sensed this was for Chihiro and, for once, he put aside his thoughts to listen to a lecture that really didn't contribute toward his objectives.
The lecture was quite an eye-opener for Chihiro; she was beginning to wonder if her spirit was the right 'person' for the job. Sen's experiences in the bathhouse were limited to the first floor; she had no idea as a ten year old what really transpired on the upper floors. Chihiro correctly surmised that Sen would need an extensive training regimen. Haku and Hideki, on the other hand, were quite familiar with the operations of the bathhouse, but the professor's delivery style made it fascinating anyway. Sen was not able to connect with the professor because she was out of range and didn't have Haku's abilities; she was content interacting with nearby spirits.
Chihiro noticed the professor was using the same technique she heard her use before: disguise a fact as a hypothetical or a theory. "What do gods do to relax? Do they want to be spiritual or would they rather shed their spirituality and have a good time? They will find 'Kaishun' (rejuvenation) either way--though I imagine the gods would favor the fun." The word 'kaishun' filtered through to Sen--as the professor had intended. It was the purpose of having the bathhouse. Sen had seen the word long before: it was emblazened on the entry wall of the bathhouse.
The lucture ended on schedule at eight PM. As was the custom with the professor, she was to hold a small reception afterwards for the faculty, graduate students, and any reporters who were covering the event. Chihiro dutifully left the auditorium and headed to the nearby hospital. The emergency room was fairly quiet. She spotted an elderly woman sitting in the main waiting area--unmistakably the professor's sister. "Excuse me, but are you Kaya Watanabe by any chance?" The old woman looked back at her and smiled. Chihiro could tell she had been crying for some time. "I haven't heard that name in over fifty years. You must be Ogino-san."
Sen was struck by the presence of the twin sister's spirit. The combination of the two sisters' spirits was the combination of Yubaba and Zeniba. Sen initiated the contact: [YOU MUST BE KAYA...]
[THAT IS CORRECT, BUT MY HUMAN NAME IS SHINOBU.]
Sen was considerate enough of others not to dig into them unless invited. Even though she was relatively young as sprits go, she was far better attuned to spirit sensibilities than many of her elders--including the millenia-old Haku. The name Shinobu was on the outer layer as all spirits' current names lie, but it was more polite to wait for an introduction--especially with more senior spirits. Miyu invited Sen in, partly as a test to see how deep she could go, but Kaya was not laying out a welcome mat. Sen didn't press further. Kaya continued. [DO YOU KNOW WHY WE ARE HERE?]
Chihiro got a sudden urge to act curious. "Watanabe-san,..."
"Please call me Shinobu Kitamura. Our names were changed a long time ago."
"Kitamura-san, why did Natori-sensei want me to meet you here?"
"Shortly, child, you shall see."
Shortly it indeed was. The phone rang at the reception desk and a flurry of activity ensued. The staff wheeled a gurney toward the front door. The sound of a siren grew increasingly as a rescue ambulance pulled up.
Chihiro gasped. "Is that..."
"Yes. She had a stroke. Her human presence has already passed away--I can sense it. There's still brain activity, but she's gone. I can stop crying for her now. Her spirit will continue for several more years without the pain she has had to witness." Shinobu stood up and went to the reception desk as the lifeless form passed by on the gurney. Chihiro got up with her in case she needed help moving around, but she appeared in much better health than her sister. "Sir, excuse me for bothering you, but I am her sister. Is there anything I can do?"
"We are attempting to revive her right now. Are you her next of kin?"
"No, she has a son. Here is his name card if you need to contact him. He wouldn't want to hear anything from me."
Sen was curious, but she was too respectful to ask. Kaya knew what she wanted to know and replied if she had asked the question. [YES, IN A WAY. HE'S ACTUALLY A RETIRED RAILROAD EXECUTIVE. HE'S A NORMAL HUMAN MALE: HE CAN'T SEPARATE AND ISN'T IN TOUCH WITH HIS SPIRIT. THE 'BOH' IN OUR WORLD IS A SPIRITUAL LIKENESS.]
Miyu came out of the treatment room seemingly quite pleased. [THAT WENT WELL. CHIHIRO, WE...]
[PLEASE CALL ME SEN, MIYU. NOW THAT I KNOW SOMETHING OF THE SPIRIT WHO GAVE ME THAT NAME, I WOULD BE HONORED]
Chihiro was totally baffled by all the different names the two sisters lived by. "Please, Kitamura-san, is there anything at all you can tell me that would make my getting to know you a little easier on myself?"
"I will try to make as much sense in the little time we have right now. Your spirit will be getting quite her fill from our spirits, and the hospital staff will be spending the next 43 minutes trying to revive my sister." At that, the professor's twin began to tell their story...