Chapter 25
A few days have whizzed pass me since our family meeting. I haven't spoken to Rui since then neither he I. I look out my office window and all I see is shades of grey. I see carefully structured buildings that can save space; which is sparse and withstand tremors which crack the Richter scale. I sigh to myself when I hear a rap on the door. Yuki brings in more piles of files for my viewing. I can hear her telling me that I have a luncheon with a number of architects for the project. Wait a minute…
'Rui called?' I exclaimed breaking out of my reverie.
'Yes. He left a message saying that he wants to meet you at Chibouk's tonight 7p.m.' replied Yuki reading the message.
'Chibouk's… 7 p.m. ...'I nodded calmly and dismissed Yuki because my insides were anything but calm.
'Indeed. Thank you gentleman… and I'll be meeting all of you again…. Next Thursday.' I nodded as I went my own way.
peeppeep
I look to my left and see my mother. I sigh, take a deep breath and get in.
'What is it now mother?' I ask as the car moves to its next destination.
'We're off to meet the Nishikado's at a tea house in Hakuri.' Said mother nonchalantly.
'Excuse me, but I had plans for tonight. Flying two hours for tea would definitely ruin it for me.' I said disbelieving the absurdity of the situation.
My mother looks at me pointedly and says, who ever said we were meeting for tea?'
I give her a puzzled look and she only looks straight on.
I look out of the window, the snowy white peaks of Mount Akina calm me down. There has been no reception since we reached the airport but before that I had a call from the contractor which was followed by a call from the site manager and another from Yuki.
The stewardess buckles her seatbelt and the captain announces the weather outside. Mother closes her laptop and me my file. The plane comes to a complete halt and mother tells me,
'Leave that in the plane. I want no interruptions today.' She has an upturned smile and steps off the plane with only her clutch bag. I sigh and follow suit. A limo is awaiting us; I quickly get in as a gust of wind nearly freezes me to death. I am surprised to see my father already in the limo and raise an eyebrow; he refuses to look at me… something's amiss.
'Ohayo…' a lady in a kimono bows and leads us to a room.
I take off my shoes and from there hear father and mother greeting the Nishikado's and the vice-versa. As I step into the room I hear, 'Uncle…Auntie'
I look up and see Soujiro there pause and bow, 'Uncle, auntie, Soujiro…' and take my place at my mother's side.
The lady comes in once more and we bow to each other. The lady gracefully performs the ceremony. The cup is in front of me…. I turn it 180° and lift… take a sip, wipe the rim… turn and bow in appreciation. These methods have been instilled in me since childhood….
/Flashback/
'NO!' boomed Nakusara-sinsei's voice through the air as she hit my back with a ruler.
'Straight back. Hands 45° from the floor….' I see Soujiro in the corner of the room fingers looking like breadsticks.
'CON-CEN-TRATE' shrieked the sensei again.
#Flash#
'My back hurts…' I said pointing to the bamboo board on my back.
'Try eating with your back tied to the chair.' Said Soujiro complaining.
'Try walking in 4 inch clogs.' I said indignantly.
'Try having your fingers beaten.' Said Soujiro lifting his fingers up.
'Ok…ok you win… no one can beat your "breadsticks" 'I said with a twinkle and he just stared back at me evilly.
/End of Flashback/
'Arigado gozaimazu…' we all bow simultaneously as the lady leaves the room.
Mr. Nishikado slides a box slowly towards my father and my father does the same. Father stands up and leaves the room and mother and I follow suit silently. The lady leads us to a separate villa and then leaves us.
'Go to your room and change into this now.' Said father handing me the same box from earlier on. I go up and put the box on the floor. I open it and find wrapped in red and pink tissue a cream coloured silk kimono with peach blossom patterns-
knockknock
'Come in," the door opens and a lady walks in and informs me she is here to help me put the kimono on.
After much layering and tugging another lady comes in and armed with her bamboo comb and make-up kit smiles at me and I shake my head.
I see mother and father in the living room talking and I bow. They stand up and nod in approval. Father steps out the door and I follow closely behind them this time we head to a room and I step in to get a shock…
