The Black Snow
By Icha
Rated: K+
Charyō, the teahouse, was located in the middle of the small pond in Junboku no Koya. Shizuka took Diana and Bruce there, passing through a nice Zen sand garden with rocks and delicate raked sand (usually the monks and the nuns were the one that raked the sand into many designs. Diana tried raking the sand yesterday, and concluded that it was not as easy as it seemed). They strolled along the small river, and then crossed it on a small wooden bridge. From afar they could hear the cicadas singing and the monks chanting the LotusSutra. They could smell the fragrance of jin-koh (agarwood) burned by the nuns, the very same ingredient used to perfume the garments of Hikaru Genji in Genji Monogatari (the Tale of Genji), during the Heian period a thousand years ago. The tranquility brought a sense of wholeness to Diana.
She glanced at Bruce, and grinned to see him so out-of-place in this environment. There they were, the calm Shizuka walking with mindfulness and Diana the Amazon walking slowly with her tatami sandals, both enjoying the scenery. But Bruce walked with determination and big paces (but slow, to accommodate Shizuka's steps), his back straight, eyes fixed forward. Even without the katana (Japanese long sword) and wakizashi (Japanese short sword), he looked exactly like a Samurai going to war, instead of going to have some tea with a monk. Well, a former-godfather monk.
When the small pond was within their sight, Shizuka suddenly stopped and turned back to the couple she escorted.
"Before you have your tea, may I share some words with you two?"
Diana arched her eyebrow. She looked at Bruce, who was already wearing his Batman expression. "Yes, I suppose we can," she decided to answer on behalf of Bruce. "What is it that you want to say, Shizuka-san?"
Shizuka didn't reply immediately. Instead, she turned her gaze to a bamboo bush near her, thinking.
"I was not so sure if this is a wise thing to say," she finally looked back to Diana. "But I have the feeling that you are here not only to enjoy the scenery with Fugen-san."
Diana blinked. She knew that Bruce would not answer the question. It was up to her now to play the part.
"I'm not sure I understand what you mean." She hated playing diplomat with the nun, but she had to.
Shizuka reached for Diana's hands, holding them, studying the silver vambrace (Diana usually wore it, even when wearing a kimono).
"You are Diana of Themyscira. Also known as Wonder Woman," the nun spoke clearly. It was not a surprise; Diana told her real name to the nuns and monks, and some of them also recognized her as Wonder Woman. Diana stood still, not knowing where the conversation was headed.
"You have been here for almost three days with us. Meditating, communing, raking sand..." Diana smiled at this. "But you never wanted to ask for an audience with Fugen-san. You might not even have been aware of his presence. Then Burusu-san came, and asked for the audience. And you went with him."
The nun let go of Diana's hands and took two steps away. "While I do not doubt the love between you two, and I sincerely hope you will always be happy, I doubt that you would like to see Fugen-san just for a cup of tea," Shizuka faced Bruce and Diana again.
"I think you want to get in touch with his past life," she concluded.
Diana could sense a slight change in Bruce's posture; he was getting ready. Was Shizuka a bodyguard of Fugen? At another time, she might have laughed at the thought. But at the moment she did not know what to say, except to be honest with the nun.
Diana looked again at Bruce. He nodded. She was the diplomat; he was the detective. This was a diplomat's job.
"We didn't come here to disturb the silent water," she looked into the nun's eyes. "We just need his help."
"I thought of that, too," Shizuka smiled, assuring Diana that she also wasn't intending to stir up anything. "Yet, Fugen-san and I have been friends since I met him almost three years ago. He didn't come here often, and when he did, we didn't talk much. But I understood that he regretted his past, and wanted to have a new life. It is not within my rights to tell him what to do with his life, nor what kind of redemption he must seek." She walked to Diana and Bruce, looking alternately at them.
"Punishment does not have to come in the form of confinement. He had done many things in the past. Now he regrets it, and wants to live a different life. What I'm asking of you is to be considerate of him."
Diana nodded in understanding.
"I do not know him well enough to comment at the moment, Shizuka-san. But I promise that I will try to be just. I am not a judge here, just someone who needs his help."
Shizuka bowed and said, "I am glad for this conversation," then resumed walking towards the pond. Bruce and Diana glanced at each other, and then followed the nun.
To get to the teahouse, the visitors needed to use a black wooden bridge. The teahouse looked like it was floating on the pool, surrounded by numerous pink lotuses. They could see a short table in the middle of charyō with an elderly man sitting behind the table, gazing at the lotuses. From afar Diana could see the serenity in his face.
Hearing their approaching footsteps, the man stood up, and went to the bridge to welcome them. He was in his sixties, bald, wearing a simple black Zen robe. He was about the same height as Diana, and only a few inches shorter than Bruce. But his composure and presence made him as tall as the Dark 'Samurai'. This man was indeed a man of great influence.
He stood still in the middle of the bridge, spreading his warm smile to welcome the visitors. "Good afternoon. Welcome to our humble charyō. I trust that you are Bruce Wayne and Diana of Themyscira?"
To Diana's surprise, the elder spoke in fluent English. Realizing that Bruce wasn't surprised at all, Diana remembered that if the man was Fugen, he must've used a lot of English during his time as Masahiro.
"Yes, we are," She answered. "I suppose you are Fugen-san? Many thanks for allowing us to drink tea with you." The three of them bowed to Fugen, who bowed back to them.
"Fugen-san, I leave them with you," Shizuka said to Fugen. "Have a nice tea time," she added to Bruce and Diana, and left.
Fugen only smiled. He gestured to the teahouse, and led his visitors to the hut. They entered charyō, leaving their sandals outside (a gesture of leaving worldly problems outside), and sat on some pillows arranged surrounding the table. Fugen fixed his position, kneeled, then bowed again to the couple in front of him.
"I am very pleased to have new friends here today to drink tea with me," he spoke serenely. In turn, Diana and Bruce bowed as well; Bruce in a very samurai manner.
"We... are very pleased as well, Sir," Diana hoped that her tone was sincere enough. Adjusting her position, she added more confidently, "I have been staying here for three days, but have not yet had the opportunity to meet you."
There were three teacups at the table. Fugen filled all the cups with macha (powdered green tea). He lifted a pot from the brazier, pouring hot water into his visitors' cups, adding, "This relaxing tea was produced by the villagers from this very own land."
Soft vapors rose from the hot green tea. It was summer in Japan, but the location of Junboku no Koya made the weather feel like spring instead. The monk stirred the tea with the chasen (swirl brush for tea ceremony), then bowed and gave a cup to Bruce (who bowed back) and to Diana (who also bowed, imitating Bruce).
Diana examined the cup. She knew little about the Japanese tea ceremony, but she knew that the basic philosophy was to enjoy everything from the teacup to the tea itself, from the flying bird nearby to the sunlight. The blue-green clay teacup was simple in its design.
"A beautiful teacup," Bruce said, to her surprise. She looked at him and saw that he had left his Batman demeanor behind, and looked somewhat relaxed. He even studied the teacup as if it was a renaissance sculpture molded by Botticelli.
"It was made by the local villagers as well," Fugen replied as he admired his own cup. "It is amazing that such beauty can be found in such a remote place as this, made by simple people."
Bruce held his teacup with his right hand, rotating it three times clockwise. Diana imitated his actions. He drank the tea slowly. The green tea was bitter, but refreshing. Diana also drank her own tea, enjoying the warmth.
For a while, no one spoke. Diana didn't know if Bruce's detective mind was working, but she saw that his expression was not the Batman's. She glanced at the tea hut. It was small, but the absence of walls made the hut seem large and integrated with the surroundings. She allowed herself to admire the lotuses floating nearby, before realized that there was a painting on the floor, next to Fugen.
Bruce also noticed the painting. He put down his half-empty cup, saying, "That is a beautiful painting."
Fugen smiled. He also put down his cup, took the painting from the floor, a parchment rather than a framed picture. He took a long look at it, and showed it to the couple. It was a painting of butterflies and sakura (cherry blossoms). With one glance Bruce recognized Akoya's signature at the right bottom.
"I must say that the artist captured the beauty of sakura and the butterflies perfectly," Diana commented. She leaned over and tilted her head to have a better look at the painting.
Fugen handed the painting to Bruce. Diana shifted her position to him, admiring the soft brushes of a blue butterfly flying over a sakura flower. Again, to her surprise Bruce looked genuinely interested in the painting.
"A very nice mix of Japanese and Chinese style," he noted. "The artist did a good job."
Smiling within, Diana noticed that Bruce wanted to use the painting as a stepping-stone to open conversation about Akoya. It was not a detective behavior; it was a diplomatic approach. Or perhaps, sincere appreciation, judging from his look of interest and the fact that he didn't introduce the topic of Fugen's daughter. Diana doubted that it would be good to mention her right away; hence she was glad that Bruce seemed to be truly studying the art. She glanced at Fugen to see that the old monk only showed the admiration of the painting, without any hint of regret or sadness in his eyes. Could it be that they were wrong? That this person was not Masahiro? But why had Shizuka warned them?
Not knowing what else to say, Diana decided to talk about other things.
"So, you have been staying in this place for a while, Fugen-san?" She handed the painting back to Fugen.
"I just arrived a week ago," the old monk replied, carefully placing the painting next to him. "I used to come here often, but then southern Japan also attracted me, thus I spent a few months down there. And yourself? How do you like this place?"
"I found that my heart was captured by the beauty of this place," Diana answered honestly. "It was very serene and calm. Being here, one would feel that all of one's problems had vanished. Like there was nothing to be afraid of."
Fugen smiled, looking at his teacup again. "Yes, indeed. It is the feeling I truly treasure."
Diana shifted her position, thinking of what else to say. She began to regret letting Bruce drag her here. Now she just wanted to enjoy the tea, without having to dig information from the old monk sitting in front of him. She played with her teacup for a while. Her kimono sleeve was lifted, exposing her silver vambrace.
"You are Diana of Themyscira," Fugen suddenly spoke again, " – also known as Wonder Woman."
Diana was surprised, as she hadn't anticipated that a wandering monk would be aware of her existence. She looked at her vambrace, and to Fugen. How did he...
"I used to read news before I left for the monastery," Fugen explained. "I remembered watching the late news about some heroes saving Tokyo, years ago. I recalled that it was you and a bearded man with long hair. The...Aquaman?"
Diana understood that Fugen was referring to a fight she and Aquaman had with a monster in Tokyo, a long time ago. She nodded. "Yes, it was Aquaman and I."
"Ah, then it is a pleasure indeed to meet you, Wonder Woman," Fugen bowed to Diana. "You are also known for your mission of peace, and I am so fond of it. People have said that you have a lasso that could reveal the truth?"
"Yes, I do. I...actually brought the lasso with me. But of course I didn't bring it here." Why should she use it against an old monk? Even if he was a former Yakuza godfather.
"The Truth..." Fugen gazed at a lotus. "Well then. Shall I refill your cups again?"
"Yes, please," Bruce opened up to speak after a long silence. He wiped the part of the cup which his lips touched with the right hand, rotated the cup counterclockwise then returned it to Fugen. Again, Diana imitated his actions.
"You seem to be well acquainted with chanoyu, Bruce-san," Fugen commented as he lifted the teapot and poured hot water into Bruce's teacup. He stirred the macha, then returned the cup to Bruce. The monk then continued filling Diana's cup with more tea.
"I used to live in Japan several years ago. Being here actually reminded me of that time."
"Ah, that explains your expertise then. Your posture and demeanor truly spoke for you," Fugen looked into Bruce's eye. "Several years ago... you were very young then?"
Again, to Diana's surprise, Bruce chuckled. "I suppose so. I couldn't even believe how the time had gone by."
Fugen laughed quietly as well. "Yes, it is amazing, isn't it? To remember those old days, when you were young and made stupid mistakes..."
Diana shifted her position again, knowing that she had to start somewhere. "Fugen-san, I am interested in the beautiful painting. Who is this Akoya, the artist? She is indeed a very talented painter."
The old monk shifted to Diana. "She was one of the best this country had to offer in this century. I quote that from Kateigaho, our famous art magazine."
"Have you...ever met her?"
"I wish I had...but I was late. Too late to introduce myself to her," Diana noticed that sadness slowly clouded Fugen's serene face, and she realized that he was indeed Masahiro.
"I don't understand, Sir," she forced herself to speak. "You implied that you wanted to see and befriend her, but it was too late?"
Fugen traced the sakura in the painting with his old fingers. "She...died three years ago. I failed to see her beforehand, and that had been my deepest regret," He raised his head. "Diana-san, you are such a beautiful soul, you would never regret anything in your life. As for this old monk, my ignorance has clouded me, and I failed to meet another beautiful soul like Akoya. The truth is so saddening."
"It is not true. I also have my regrets," Diana swallowed hard, trying to continue. "A lot of regrets."
"Do you?" Fugen studied Diana carefully. "You seem to be able to handle those quite well."
"I accepted them – there was no other way. Running is not the answer." Although Diana was speaking of her regrets in her own life, she couldn't help to think that she must've touched Fugen's sensitive issues.
"Ah, so true. Run as we like, the shadows of the past will still follow." Fugen shifted his attention to his teacup, grief clearly etched in his face.
"So, have you run before, Fugen-san?" Deciding to spark the conversation, Bruce spoke again, making Diana alarmed with this direct question. She realized that Fugen was Masahiro, but she still couldn't think of him as the Yakuza godfather. To her, Fugen and Masahiro were very different.
"Have you, Bruce-san?" Apparently Fugen wasn't insulted with the query, nor intended to be cynical by answering Bruce's question with another question.
"Many times," Bruce answered, looking directly at Fugen. "And it wasn't a pleasant experience."
"No, no...it wasn't pleasant at all." Fugen gazed at the hovering white clouds. Putting the teacup on the table, he continued, "We should have stayed instead and faced the consequences."
"Like...facing the consequences of not seeing Akoya while you actually could, Fugen-san?" Diana steeled herself to talk about the truth they were all avoiding. "Because at that time, there was no Fugen yet? Instead, there was only Iwamura Masahiro."
If Fugen was stunned by Diana's words, he didn't show it. Instead, he faced Diana and Bruce, shifting his position, straightening his back.
"So Shizuka was right. You were not here to have some tea with me." It wasn't an accusation – he simply stated a fact.
"I'm truly sorry," Diana felt very uncomfortable. "I do enjoy the tea and the surroundings. It's just that we need your help, and thus we have to disturb you."
"I'm not sure what an old monk like me can do for you. I have donated most of my savings to orphanages and other refuges. I can't think of anything a Wonder Woman could ask of me." It was true – Bruce had mentioned earlier that there were reasonable amounts of money given to some humanitarian institutions a few weeks after Masahiro's disappearance.
"Not from you, Fugen-san," Bruce jumped in again. "From Masahiro."
Fugen looked at Bruce, interested. "So, I have been found, at last. Intriguing," he then leaned back. "I would expect some Yakuza men coming for me, instead of two foreigners like you."
"We are not related to any Yakuza gang, I can assure you," Diana leaned forward to Fugen. "You know me, Fugen-san, though only from the news. I always try to speak the truth. Now, may I ask you to do the same for me?"
"Masahiro is dead now, Diana-san, only Fugen remains," Fugen's tired eyes looked directly into Diana's. "But I guess I still have to face the ghosts of Masahiro's past."
Yes, you do. In fact, you probably have to go to jail for what you have done. But why do I pity you? Why do I understand that you are here as a monk, instead of in jail as a Yakuza?
Diana wanted to say those words to Fugen. But instead, she restrained herself and only said, "The past is over; only the present remains. Now we would like you to save the future." She gestured to Bruce, who nodded.
"I was here on behalf of the citizens of Gotham, Fugen-san," Bruce settled in his seat, beginning to talk. "We have found some drug rings operating in three cities in the United States. Those rings are connected with the Iwamura clan here in Japan. The drug they trade is very dangerous, and we think it is important for Japan and the U.S. to solve this problem together. The drug is called Kuroyuki - 'The Black Snow'. Masahiro might recognize that."
Fugen frowned. "Kuroyuki was synthesized five years ago. The Iwamura planned to trade the drug, but then Masahiro cancelled it a year later, about four years ago. He thought of quitting the drug ring and started the better, cleaner business."
"I presume Akoya had contributed to his change of plan?" Having two separate alter egos, Bruce understood that it was very important to address Masahiro as a separate individual from Fugen.
"Yes. Masahiro had tried to convince his clan that quitting the business would not ruin the Iwamura Empire. For one year he had explored other businesses that would still keep the Iwamura high in the Nikkei index, but would be legal, and thus would win Akoya back." Fugen closed his eyes. "He was too late. Akoya died the day he had his final meeting."
Diana felt tears in her eyes. Blinking, she murmured, "I'm truly sorry..."
"That was Akoya's final words to Masahiro," Fugen gazed at the lotuses. "She was sorry, but Masahiro's regret was beyond measure." He blinked his eyes, letting go of the tears. "But, it was the past. Now...if Fugen could help the future, what can he do?"
"Tell us about Suijiro's movement, and how to bring him to justice," Bruce replied in Batman's tone. "It will also help the process if you could testify against him."
Fugen tilted his head to Bruce and smiled grimly. "For the exchange of my freedom, you ask me to testify against my son? I have lost a daughter, Bruce-san. I do not intend to lose my son."
Diana noticed that Fugen had merged again with Masahiro. She wasn't sure if this was a good sign.
"You have to do what is appropriate, Fugen-san. I'm sure that was what Buddha always said."
"For a Hellenist, your understanding of Zen is very good, Diana-san."
"Thank you. So you agree with me – about the truth."
"Yes. But you also should understand this: Suijiro is still my son – no matter what he did. I cannot stand and testify against him."
"Suijiro had taken many lives," Bruce interrupted. "Half of the Black Snow's victims are young women like Akoya. Many parents like you have grieved for their deaths. Do you still want to hide and let this pain go on? Can you still sleep after all this time?"
"He is my son! I cannot stand against him!"
Bruce clenched his jaw. So far he had been able to see Fugen as a different person from Masahiro. But now, the anger emerging from the old monk disturbed him. He opened his mouth to snap, but a flash of thought entered his mind.
"Ayame would understand if you delivered him. This is all about her, isn't it? Your former wife – you don't want to disappoint her. You have failed to protect Akoya, now if you let anyone hurt Suijiro, you fear Ayame wouldn't forgive you," Bruce bowed briefly, "Fugen-san, onegaishimasu! You are the Compassionate One. Don't let your mind cloud you."
Diana nodded in agreement. "Please, help us. Ayame would not blame you, I'm very sure of that."
Fugen said nothing, but raised his hands to cover his face. He wept silently.
"I'm so sorry..." he finally spoke. "I couldn't save her. And I couldn't save him too...I failed you..."
Diana realized that the old monk must have been addressing his words to Ayame. Slowly, she reached for Fugen, touching his robe silently.
"She would understand..."
Fugen lowered his hands, looking at Diana. "My wife had asked me to take care of our children. Akoya died because of me. Now, I can't even save Suijiro."
"Not from a lack of trying," Bruce spoke again. "You had asked him to stop this after Akoya's death. When he refused, you couldn't do anything but resign. In fact, you could have stopped it right there, handing him – and yourself – over to the police. But you didn't do that. You chose to leave him with the Iwamura business, even though you knew what he did."
Fugen said nothing. He sat still, fully realizing what would happen next.
Bruce leaned forward to Fugen. "You know he was responsible for Akoya's death. But you couldn't do anything, because you had promised your wife that you would take care of both Suijiro and Akoya."
A sudden wind blew across the pond. The old monk sighed wearily, wrapping his Zen robe closer to his body, taking care of his painting so it wouldn't be blown by the wind.
"You must be a detective back in Gotham, Bruce-san, or a policeman. You are very direct. I suppose you have read all of the Iwamura files, then, but still cannot catch Suijiro?"
"We need your help. That's why I dragged Diana here. It was a mere coincidence that she was here in the same place with you."
"I cannot give you an answer now. I need more time to contemplate this."
Bruce nodded. "Understood. We will wait."
"Thank you for your understanding," Fugen bowed to Bruce and Diana, regaining his serenity. The couple bowed back.
"We still need to go inside of the headquarters for some evidence," Bruce added. "Could you enlighten us?"
Chuckling, Fugen answered. "If I were enlightened before, Masahiro wouldn't exist. There would be only Fugen, ever, until he fades away." The old monk shifted to Diana, studying her yukata.
"You are very comfortable in that yukata, Diana-san. Have you worn a kimono before?"
"Yes, but only the modified, not the formal one. Actually this is my first time wearing a formal yukata," Diana admitted. "It is very beautiful, that's why I feel very comfortable."
"Is that so? Amazing..." Fugen leaned forward. "If you would like to shop for more kimonos, I would suggest you go to Ginza in Tokyo. There is a nice department store there, Eiga, selling elegant kimonos for all seasons. I am sure they will find some nice ones for you."
The last thing Diana thought about at the moment was shopping in Ginza. She opened her mouth to question the relevance of kimonos and the Black Snow, but she noticed that Bruce just nodded slightly. By Hera, what –
"I will take her there once we are in Tokyo, Sir. Thank you." Bruce bowed, seemingly happy to take her shopping. Diana's jaw still dropped in disbelief. When will –
"Her complexion is not as fair as the Japanese, but her hair covers it. Many colors would suit Diana-san for her kimono," Fugen replied, as if he was a designer giving advice to Bruce about what kind of kimono he should buy for Diana. He switched to Diana, examining her blue sateen kimono with lotus patterns.
"Go to the first floor. Look for Lady Miyako's kimono. They will have it in stock, though it might not be on display in the shop. Ask for the sample from the storage."
Lady Miyako – what?
"We will do so. Thank you very much." Bruce bowed. Diana blinked. Great Gaea – now I get it!
She bowed as well to Fugen. "We are truly thankful for your help."
"We should go now. I will contact you later for your help, Fugen-san."
"I will be here – I will not run."
Bruce smirked, bowed to leave, but then remembered another thing. "The painting is really a masterpiece. You should be careful with the weather here, though. It might destroy the parchment if you don't protect it."
Reaching for Akoya's painting, Fugen smiled. "I always put it inside a vacuum tube to protect it. I didn't want to frame it, as it would restrict me from carrying it with me. Akoya painted it for me the last spring before she...left for good. In fact, she painted the sakura that grew in this very land over there," he gestured to a group of flowerless cherry tree in the far side of the complex. "Once I knew where she made her last painting, I went here. That was the day Masahiro died, and Fugen was born."
"I understand that sakura only grow for a few days during the early spring, and then lose their blossoms again, waiting for the next spring to bloom. Such a rare beauty," Diana whispered, almost to herself.
"Indeed," Fugen rolled Akoya's painting, inserting it into a tube. "But that is exactly the reason not to waste the beauty for something else less meaningful. I was late in realizing it, and I have regretted that." He then alternately faced Diana and Bruce.
"I understand that both of you share the same beauty. It does not matter if it is a very short beauty, or a long lifetime one. It depends on us – if we treasure it and live moment to moment with gratitude, then the short-time beauty would be an eternal beauty. Embrace it, never let it go."
Now Bruce swallowed, striving to say something. Finally he just bowed, "Thank you for your advice."
"Yes, thank you very much."
"Take it from someone who regrets his past life," Fugen smiled. Then he rose, escorting his guests to the bridge, and went back to sit in a full-lotus position. He closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the afternoon sun caressing his face. When his visitors turned back to see him from the other end of the bridge, he had slipped into an ocean of tranquility.