The Tale of the Princess of the Crescent Moon
Fifteen
Friday night; Izayoi and Nakamura-sensei were finishing the day's lesson.
"You're not shooting as well as you normally do, Izayoi," said Nakamura-sensei. "Your mind is clearly elsewhere—is something bothering you?"
"No, sensei...no..." she said dejectedly, "It's just that...I don't think we can have our regular lunch tomorrow."
"Are you having one of your 'days off?' Or is something else the matter?" He looked kindly at her, and asked,"There's nothing wrong at home, is there?"
"No, no...everything's fine at home," she said, avoiding his eyes, "But...I think I'm going to be sick tomorrow, so I don't think we'll be able to have our lunch."
"Going to be sick? Indeed," he said thoughtfully, peering over his glasses. "In that case, I will see you Monday, then. Do feel better, and get a good rest this weekend."
"I will...thank you, sensei," she said, blinking back tears that she hoped he wouldn't see. She handed him her bow and arrow, bowed quickly, and ran off. Rather than go to the locker room and change, she made a great leap to the rooftops of the school, and began running home.
"Going to be sick. Indeed," Nakamura-sensei said again to himself, as he watched her depart. His gaze fell on the moon, rising majestically over the school library; tomorrow night, it would be full.
"Well, it's that day again," said Kagome resignedly, as they sat at the breakfast table. "Honestly, it seems to get worse every time. I think she's been sick twice this morning already."
"Three times," said Inuyasha darkly. "The first was at sunrise."
"Oh dear," said Kagome worriedly. "I don't know what's wrong with her...you've never been like this."
"Yeah, but I never had time to feel sorry for myself. When I was her age, I had all I could do to keep myself alive."
The phone rang; Souta answered it. He held his mouth over the receiver, and said "It's Nakamura-sensei, for Izayoi."
"Oh dear," said Kagome. "Maybe I'd better get it." She took the phone, said hello, and listened a few moments. "Please hold on; I'll ask her," she said, put down the phone, and went upstairs to Izayoi's room.
"Iza-chan," she called, knocking on the door.
"Go away," came Izayoi's muffled response.
"Iza-chan," Kagome said insistently, "It's Nakamura-sensei. He's worried about you. He says he can bring you some herbs to help you feel better."
"Nakamura-sensei? Coming here? And he'll see me like this? NO!" Izayoi screamed, and suddenly she burst through the door, her face ashen. She dashed for the bathroom, ran in, and slammed the door. Kagome winced at the unpleasant sounds she heard coming through the door, but she sighed and went downstairs to pick up the phone.
"Nakamura-sensei...she says you're very kind to make the offer, but that she's fine, and all she needs is a little rest," Kagome said cheerily, hoping that she sounded convincing. "She can get this way at this time of the month—oops! Pardon me, that doesn't mean what it sounds like," she said, blushing fiercely. "Yes, yes, thank you so much for your concern. Perhaps we'll see you next week."
Kagome put down the phone, then she looked grimly at Inuyasha. "Inuyasha," she began slowly, "I don't like the way she's been sick this morning. I don't like it at all. I hope she's not..." her voice trailed off.
"She's not what?" said Inuyasha.
"Dear, do you remember what happened to me, oh, about fifteen years ago, that made me sick a lot in the morning?" she said sweetly.
Inuyasha stared at her uncomprehendingly for a few moments, then his eyes suddenly grew very wide. "Izayoi!" he roared, and he dashed towards the stairs.
Kagome grabbed his sleeve, stopping him before he could make it out the door. "Let me handle this, please?" she chided. "We need to be sensitive about this sort of thing, and well...right now, you look even less sensitive than usual." Inuyasha growled, but nodded. They went up the stairs together, and again Kagome knocked gently on Izayoi's door.
"Iza-chan...please. Your father and I need to talk to you."
"Go away! I don't want you to see me when I'm like this," Izayoi snapped.
"Izayoi Higurashi," Kagome said testily, "We've seen you every day since the moment that you were born. Whatever it is, we've already seen it. We're coming in." She turned to Inuyasha and whispered, "Remember...let me handle this."
Kagome opened the door and walked in, and Inuyasha followed her. Izayoi was lying on the bed; she had wrapped herself from head to toe in her comforter, and only her tear-streaked face was showing. "Don't look at me," she said angrily. "What do you want, anyway?"
"Now, Iza-chan, you've been sick quite a lot this morning, and, well, your father and I are concerned about you," Kagome said gently. She tried to wipe the tears from her daughter's face, but Izayoi turned away from her. "You know that your father and I love you very much, and no matter what is bothering you, the three of us will get through it together. But we were wondering, darling, whether...if you...if there was any way that you might be..."
"Your mother thinks you're pregnant," blurted Inuyasha.
"What?" shrieked Izayoi. She sat up, letting the comforter fall away as she rose. Her long black hair was ratted and tangled, and it fell across her eyes as she whirled to face her mother. "You can't be serious! You know that none of the boys at school will even talk to me, and the only boy that does talk to me is Shippou, and we've never..." she blushed hotly and snapped, "well, it's none of your business anyway what we've done or haven't done, but we haven't done that, so no, I'm not pregnant."
Kagome sighed. "Well, that's a relief. I'm glad we could speak about this sensitive subject like mature adults," she said, looking daggers at Inuyasha. "But if...that isn't your problem, Iza-chan, what's wrong?"
"What's wrong? What's wrong?" shrieked Izayoi. She furiously pulled at her black hair. "This is what's wrong! I hate this! I hate being human! I hate how I look... I hate how it feels! I just feel so...so ugly, so...filthy," she cried, shaking with revulsion. "And to think that Nakamura-sensei might have come here today...to see me like this..." She blanched, and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead, and she gulped several times as she choked out, "I'd rather not talk about that anymore."
"You don't think I'm ugly or filthy, do you?" asked Kagome coolly.
"No, Mom...of course not! But you're different. That's the way you're supposed to be. This..." she said tugging at her hair and pulling at her ears, "This is just wrong."
"Now, young lady," said Kagome crossly, "I'll hear no more of this talk of ugliness. You are my beautiful black-haired princess, and I love you no matter how you look. Now, let's you and I go sit in the sun and ..."
"NO! I'm not going outside! Someone will see me! I'll get hurt!" Izayoi screamed, and she grabbed for the comforter again and swaddled herself in it.
"But Iza-chan," said Kagome soothingly, "We can go to the back garden, where I used to rock you when you were a baby. You remember how you loved that, don't you? No one will see us there."
"Yeah, and don't be so scared about getting hurt," said Inuyasha. "This era isn't like mine. It's perfectly safe if you stay at the temple. It's so safe here, one night while I was human, I even fell asleep—outside, in the back garden, in your mother's arms. And that never happens in my time." He quite prudently neglected to mention that the evening in question had begun with Kagome giving him a luxurious and romantic candlelight massage...and then she had blown out the candles and surprised him with something even more romantic (another activity he only pursued in human form while on the temple grounds in the modern era). "Believe me," he continued, "while you're at the temple, it's safe, and with your mother and me around, it's really safe."
"No," whimpered Izayoi. "I don't want to go outside. I don't want to see anybody and I don't want anybody to see me. I just want to lie here until it's over. Please, Mommy," she moaned, "Please just go away." Her eyes filled with tears, and she turned her face to the wall.
"Alright, princess, alright...you can stay here today. But one of these days...you will have to face the world as a human. You won't be able to stay in your room the rest of your life."
"I can try," sobbed Izayoi, and she pulled the comforter tighter around her.
Kagome and Inuyasha bent over Izayoi and kissed her tenderly; Izayoi squirmed uncomfortably and repeated almost inaudibly, "Please just go away." Kagome and Inuyasha left their daughter's room silently, and quietly closed the door behind them.
"Well, that could have gone better," said Kagome as they made their way back downstairs to the breakfast table. "You've never been that much trouble as a human. Were you like that when you were her age?"
"Heck, no," said Inuyasha. "I was doing all I could to stay alive. If I had spent that much time feeling sorry for myself, I would have been killed."
"Well," she sighed heavily, "Let's hope this is just a phase. I'm sure she'll grow out of it." She put her head in her hands. "I hope."
They day before the night of the full moon was always an unpleasant day in the Higurashi household, but the day that report cards were sent home was worse.
"Izayoi! Explain these grades! I thought you said you were doing better!"
"But Mom, I thought I was!"
"Well, you're just not studying hard enough!""I am studying! It doesn't help! It doesn't matter how much I study, I just...don't...get it!"
Kagome stormed across the living room to Inuyasha, who was busy playing with the cat on the floor. She shoved the report card at him. "Look at these grades!"
Inuyasha barely even glanced at the report card (grades never made any sense to him, anyway). "What's it say about her archery?"
"Her archery isn't the problem," Kagome snapped. "It's an A-plus."
"And that's good," asked Inuyasha distantly, still playing with the cat.
"Yes, that's very good, but..."
"Well, I could have told you that," said Inuyasha. She's better than you were at her age." Kagome began slowly turning red, and then purple, and she crumpled the report card angrily in her fist. "Besides, as far as I can tell," Inuyasha continued, "the rest of that stuff isn't good for anything, anyway, so..." He put down the cat and gave Izayoi a big thumbs-up. "Way to go, princess!"
"Osuwari!" Kagome snapped. The cat screamed and bolted, barely escaping being crushed as Inuyasha was hurled face-first to the floor, and the house shook at the impact. "You're no help at all...as usual," she snarled. Kagome whirled angrily towards Izayoi. "Now, you listen to me, young lady! Despite what your father says, these grades are just not acceptable."
"Mom, you just don't get it!" Izayoi shouted. "I study and I study, and it doesn't make any difference. Nothing makes any sense. I don't get it, and you don't get it, and you just don't get ANYTHING!" Izayoi ran for the door, angry tears streaming down her face. "You just ...don't...GET IT!" she shouted again, and she ran outside, slamming the door behind her. The house shook as the door slammed; vases rattled on the shelves, and a few photos on the mantel fell forward onto the floor.
"Dear me, Kagome-chan," said Mama, who had come downstairs to see what all the commotion was about, "What with poor Inu-chan hitting the floor and poor Iza-chan slamming the door, it's a good thing I had the house earthquake-proofed years ago."
"I just don't get her," fumed Kagome. "School's not supposed to be this hard. You and I never had arguments like this when I was in school. I don't know where she gets this thick-headedness." She cocked an eyebrow at Inuyasha, who was still slowly picking himself off the floor, still spitting bits of dust and lint out of his mouth. "Well, actually, I do know where she gets it," she said exasperatedly.
"Now, Kagome-chan," chided Mama gently. "You and I didn't have fights like this, but I do remember more than one report card that didn't look so good because a certain little girl was busy with...oh, 'extra-curricular activities,' shall we say?"
"But look at this," Kagome said, slapping the crumpled report card. "Even when I was in the past all the time, it was never this bad."
"Oh really," said Mama quietly. "I think I may still have your old report cards somewhere... would you like to see the ones with or without the tear stains?"
To that, Kagome had no response; she just looked at the report card, then sighed again.
"Maybe I was... a little hard on her."
Inuyasha snorted. "Maybe?"
"O...su...wa...ri!" Kagome growled, and Inuyasha hit the floor again, and once again the house shook and the windows rattled.
"Now, Kagome-chan," Mama laughed quietly, resting her hands on Kagome's shoulders reassuringly. "I think Inu-chan understands your concern. But maybe Iza-chan needs to know that you understand hers," said Mama gently.
Kagome sighed heavily. "OK, I guess we'd better go get her." She went to the door and looked outside. "Where do you think she's gone?"
"Where do you think? Where does she always go?" muttered Inuyasha, his mouth still buried in the matting.
"Well, let's go get her, then," Kagome said. Inuyasha made a nasty hacking noise as he tried to clear the dust from his throat, and he glared angrily at Kagome. "Fine. I'll go get her." She went to the door and started pulling on her coat. "I'm just glad I didn't tell Souta to put the ladder away after last time..."
Izayoi's favorite "cooling off" place was on the roof of the temple behind the great crest over the entrance, a flat spot that was large enough for her to pace back and forth when she was angry, that also provided an excellent vantage point overlooking the entire complex when she needed just to stand and think. She was fuming and pacing furiously, trying to fight back the tears (and the urge to scream with rage) when she heard the quiet scraping of a ladder against the slate roof tiles, followed by the sound of Kagome's footsteps on the rungs as she cautiously made her way up the ladder to the roof.
"What you and your father have for high places, I'll never understand," Kagome said as her head rose into view. "At least you like the roof—at least it gives me somewhere flat to sit. He always gets into the trees, and I'm afraid that if I try to get to him, I'm going to fall and break my neck." Kagome picked her way gingerly along the great sloping roof to Izayoi, then sat down with a sigh of relief. "When I was a girl, and I was unhappy, I sat under the Goshinboku. You should try it some time. It's very soothing...and it's a lot easier to get to." Kagome took Izayoi's hand, and said quietly, "I'm sorry I yelled at you so, Iza-chan. I know it's hard for you."
Kagome sighed wisfully, and said, "Fourteen and fifteen were probably the hardest years of my life. Falling down the well...falling in love..." She sighed again. "And, to be honest with you, school was not my top priority, and my grades showed it. But once things finally calmed down and I could spend more time back here—as much as it annoyed your father—my grades finally got back to where they were supposed to be." She patted Izayoi's hand reassuringly. "Maybe we've been spending too much time in the past. Your father won't like it—again," she laughed, "but maybe we need to spend more time here, in the present, so you can take care of what's important."
Izayoi whirled angrily at her mother, and the golden flecks in her dark eyes flashed with fury. "Spend more time here?" she shouted. "I want to spend less time here! I hate school! I've always hated school! Don't tell me about your bad grades," Izayoi growled. "I've seen your scrapbooks. I know what kind of a student you were. I've always tried to be like you...and I can't. I just can't. It doesn't matter how hard I study—it just doesn't make any difference!"
Kagome reached for her daughter, trying to comfort her, but Izayoi pulled away angrily, and furiously rubbed the tears from her eyes with her sleeve. "And I hate having to lie all the time," she shouted, "about who I am, about what I am, about what I can do! And I hate this!" Izayoi snatched at the kerchief that hid her ears and tore it angrily from her head, and she hurled it out into the courtyard; the cloth fluttered slowly down to the temple steps below. "That made me a liar on the first day I went to school, and it makes me a liar every day, and I hate being a liar, and I hate that...that thing! Mom, why do I have to do this?"
For a moment Kagome looked her daughter squarely in the eyes; but then her face fell, and she looked away, and when she spoke, her voice was quiet, cold, and brittle. "The nurse who was the first person to see your face on the day you were born said that you were your father's daughter, and so you are," she said. "You are his child, and a child of his era. You belong in the past. But you are also my child, and this is my era, and you belong in the present, too. I wanted my daughter to have every opportunity in this world, so that if you chose to live here, you could... and you could succeed at whatever you wanted to try." Her voice broke, and she continued even more quietly, "You think that living a hanyou's life is hard... try raising a hanyou child. I did the best that I could for you, Izayoi. I'm sorry that my world, and the life I hoped that you could have in it, isn't... working out for you." Tears began slowly running down Kagome's cheeks, and she turned her face away.
"Mom," Izayoi said, softly, "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I really am trying."
"I know," said Kagome quietly.
Izayoi rested her head on her mother's shoulder, and tears leaked quietly from her eyes. "And this world," she said softly, "...It's great, and you're a great mom, and I know how much you love me...but I just like Dad's world better. The air is cleaner, the water tastes better...everything tastes better. Things are just...simpler, in his world."
"Well, you're right about the air—even my human nose can tell that much. But," Kagome said with a smile as she gently wiped the tears from her daughter's cheeks, "you've got to admit, there are some advantages to this world. Like being able to go to the store for food, instead of having to go hunting or foraging every time you want a meal. And you seem to like this era's food well enough—last night, didn't you eat an entire pizza all by yourself? Even your father doesn't eat that quickly! I was amazed," she chuckled.
"Yeah...the food here is pretty good," Izayoi agreed grudgingly.
"And as much as you hate school, that's where you met Nakamura-sensei...and aren't you happy about that?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah...I guess..." Izayoi nodded glumly.
"And plumbing—don't forget plumbing," Kagome added. "Natural hot springs under the stars are lovely...but there's nothing like having your own tub that you can fill whenever you like. And, come on, bathrooms have other advantages. Squatting behind bushes hiding from Miroku gets old fast."
"Hiding from Uncle Miroku?" gasped Izayoi, blushing a brilliant pink. "But...he's always been so nice to me... Do you mean he would ... try to watch you...or me...?" Izayoi suddenly blanched as white as her hair, her hand flew to her mouth, and beads of cold sweat started to form on her forehead.
"No, no, no... Relax, sweetheart, nothing like that ever happened," Kagome laughed. She took out a handkerchief and gently mopped the sweat from Izayoi's brow. "Your uncle Miroku loves you very much—you know that. He'd never even think about doing anything like that... besides, he knows your father would tear him limb from limb if he did, friend or no. But don't worry, dear, even your uncle Miroku has his limits. At least, we think he has his limits," she giggled. "Anyway, no, he never tried to spy on us like that. Never. Not once. But Sango and I always watched out for each other, just to be on the safe side. It never happened, so let's not think about that any more, OK, sweetheart?" she said kindly, gently smoothing Izayoi's ruffled hair. "But let's just say, indoor plumbing has its advantages..." Kagome smiled, "Right, Iza-chan?"
Izayoi nodded vigorously. "I never thought of it that way," she said, shuddering, "but I guess you're right."
"Don't hold it against your uncle Miroku," Kagome laughed. "I know you've heard a lot of stories about him...and all of them are probably true, especially the outrageous ones...but since his girls were born, he's become a changed man. At least, that's what we think." This time, both of them giggled.
Kagome and Izayoi sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the leaves in the courtyard trees blowing in a gentle breeze. Then, Kagome said, "Another plus for this era. Nothing ever tries to eat you, here in the present. Now, we came close to that point a few times...but nothing in this era has actually ever tried. Not like last week in the past...oh, dear, your poor father." She laughed and clapped her hands. "I'll never forget the expression on that youkai's face, when your father blasted his way out of his belly."
Izayoi giggled. "I guess Dad goes down easily...but doesn't always sit well."
"You can say that again," laughed Kagome. "I don't know how many times he had to scrub himself to finally get rid of that horrible smell."
"Uh, Mom..." said Izayoi, wrinkling her nose, "He hasn't...quite...gotten the smell off yet."
"Well, there you go," said Kagome, "Sometimes there are even advantages to my feeble human sense of smell, aren't there?" They both laughed again. Izayoi hugged her mother, and Kagome smiled as she stroked Izayoi's long white hair.
They sat silently again for a few moments, but then Izayoi said saidly, "But there's one thing the past has that the present never will. Shippou," she sighed.
"Oh dear...I know what that sound means," Kagome laughed. "I used to sound just like that when I was your age, when I talked about your father." She looked into the distance, and a sly smile crept across her face. "So you see, Iza-chan, I do get it."
Kagome gently took her daughter by the shoulders, and said, "You have your father's ears and hair...and, it seems, the head that goes underneath them." Kagome scratched Izayoi's head playfully, and she smiled as Izayoi squirmed uncomfortably. "But you also have your father's heart—and your father never gives up. Ever. And neither do you." Kagome suddenly hugged Izayoi tightly, and whispered. "Never give up, Iza-chan. That's all I ask. Never give up."
"I won't, Mom. I won't ever give up. I'll try harder. I know I can. I promise," sobbed Izayoi softly, hugging her mother tightly.
"Well. Now that that's settled," said Kagome brightly, "If you promise me that you'll take your school books with you and do at least a little studying...and that you'll be back Sunday night, in plenty of time for school on Monday... you can go to the past this weekend. By yourself. I went to the past by myself all the time when I was your age, so I guess... every once and a while... it's OK for you to do the same. Just try not to get involved in any...quests," she said with a smile, "And be sure that your arrows always hit what you're aiming at," she chuckled.
Izayoi squealed with delight. "Really? I can?" Izayoi hugged Kagome enthusiastically. "Oh, I will! I promise I'll study! Thank you, Mom!"
"You're welcome, dear. Now, Iza-chan...you will..." Kagome said uncomfortably, "be a good girl, won't you, dear? I can trust you to be...good...while you're visiting Shippou?"
"Oh Mom, come on," laughed Izayoi. "Don't worry. I know what you're trying to say. I'll be 'good.' We don't have that kind of relationship, anyway." Izayoi turned away and looked into the distance. "Even though sometimes I wish we did..." she muttered softly to herself.
"Well, that's something a mother doesn't need to hear," said Kagome primly, "so let's pretend I didn't. But...I remember having exactly those same feelings when I was getting to know your father. So, my sweet little princess," Kagome smiled gently, "I do get it...I really do."
"Yeah...I guess you do," said Izayoi sheepishly.
Mother and daughter smiled at each other for a few moments, then Kagome said cheerily, "Well, Iza-chan, could you get me down from here? It's getting dark, and I don't like using the ladder if I can't see where I'm going. And maybe, before we go back into the house, would you sit with me under the Goshinboku for a few minutes? Just to see what it's like?"
"Sure, Mom," Izayoi laughed. "I already know what it's like...but I'd love to sit there with you."
"And maybe...you might try the Goshinboku the next time you need to get away to think? The ground under the Goshinboku," Kagome added hastily, "not the branches?"
"Whatever you say, Mom," snickered Izayoi.
"And maybe...I can tell Souta to put away the ladder?" Kagome asked hopefully.
"One step at a time, Mom," laughed Izayoi.
"One step at a time," agreed Kagome. Izayoi lifted Kagome into her arms, leaped down from the roof, and landed lightly and nimbly in the courtyard. Then, arm in arm they walked to the Goshinboku, and they smiled as they sat together under its regal canopy. And as they watched the sun set over the courtyard, Kagome softly hummed to herself the lullaby that she used to sing to the infant Izayoi when she slept in Kagome's arms under that very same tree. And the Goshinboku's leaves glowed red and gold in the light of the setting sun, and the leaves shimmered like living flame as they rustled in the gentle twilight breeze.
Izayoi's fifteenth birthday went mostly uncelebrated at school. The few girls who weren't horribly terrified of her congratulated her at lunch, but her birthday went generally unmarked; and that was (mostly) fine with her.
Nakamura-sensei congratulated her very sweetly at their daily lesson, and promised her a something very special as a birthday present. They began the afternoon shooting as usual; but then, shortly after sundown, just before the lesson was to end, he gave her quite a shock: "Izayoi, let me see your purifying arrow."
"My what?" she said nervously, unconvincingly.
"Your purifying arrow," he said calmly. "You forget: I saw you shoot one the first day we met."
"Oh yeah," Izayoi said sheepishly.
"Your arrow was powerful, but it was clouded by anger and resentment. True power does not come from anger. To purify that which is without, you must find the purity that exists within."
Nakamura-sensei drew his bow, and the tip of the arrow suddenly burst into a beautiful, sparkling radiance, so bright that it was painful for Izayoi to look at it. He shot the arrow into the sky, where it burst like fireworks into a shower of twinkling lights that fluttered gently to earth. Izayoi caught one on her hand, but it did not burn; rather, she felt the spark suddenly kindle a gentle sweetness within her heart, as though a tiny dark corner of her soul had been purified.
"My grandmother was a miko," he explained. "Her spiritual powers flow from her, through my mother, to me. I sensed the same power in you the day we met, and in your mother as well. Now: to the lesson." He walked behind Izayoi, and said, "Draw the arrow, but do not release it. Summon the purifying fire: then close your eyes."
Izayoi drew the bow, and the arrow tip burst into purifying flame. It was nowhere near as bright as Nakamura-sensei's arrow, and she felt very small and ashamed. But Nakamura-sensei set his hands on her shoulders, and said gently, "Do not compare yourself to me. I may be further along the path than you; but it is the same path, and if you set your eyes on me, you take them off the goal. Now: close your eyes." Izayoi did so, and Nakamura-sensei continued, "Feel the calmness within that you feel when you stir the tea. The silence from which you can hear the change in the song of the whisk that tells you that the tea is ready...the stillness in which you hear the flower tell you where it must be cut...the moment before the brush touches the paper, in which you hear it tell you which way it must move. It is within that stillness that your own purity lies; and it is not the desire to vanquish your opponent, but the will to speak the truth of that purity, that is the way to true power."
Izayoi stood perfectly still, listening to some inner voice, barely breathing; and then, still holding the arrow at the ready, she relaxed, and seemed to grow ever so slightly taller. "Open your eyes," said Nakamura-sensei; and when Izayoi did, she was startled to see how brightly the purifying arrow was burning—nearly as bright as his, and even brighter than her mother's. "Clarify your intention, then let it find its target," said Nakamura-sensei. Izayoi's eyes narrowed, then opened wide; and the arrow flew straight, as though of its own accord, to the center of the target; and when the arrow struck, the target dissolved into a shower of pink and violet sparks, shimmering gently into nothingness.
"Now you see why we study the tea, the brush, the flower," said Nakamura-sensei. "It is simple to shoot the bow so that the arrow finds the target; it is difficult to look within and find the truth." He gently took Izayoi's hands in his, and said quietly, "I love my sons...but they have neither the talent, nor the sensitivity...nor the slightest interest...to follow the path I walk. But now," he smiled and squeezed her hands warmly, "Now I have a daughter, with whom I can share my most precious, my most important secrets, to whom I can give the real treasures of my family. Now, my dear child...now, the real work begins."