When Zhang Heng returned, he found Akane squatting by a wooden basin preparing nigiri sushi.
Nigiri sushi, hand-pressed sushi rice topped with sliced fresh fish, was considered a more luxurious dish. Legend had it that Tokugawa Ienari, the Tokugawa shogunate’s eleventh shogun, was a greedy and lustful man. His favorite concubine’s adopted father was a man named Sekio Nakano. Thanks to too many people wanting to become high-ranking officials through Sekio, many luxury shops were set up nearby his residence. A sushi restaurant owner had the idea of setting up a business selling nigiri sushi next door to Sekio. (Frankly, it was not really that high-end, but the trend soon caught on, and stalls were being set up on the streets).
“Is that tonight’s dinner?” Zhang Heng asked, placing the soba noodles and roasted glutinous rice balls on the table. He had already finished the oden on the way back.
“No. I’ll be visiting Kiyomizu-dera tomorrow. This is for tomorrow,” answered Akane.
Zhang Heng heard of the famous temple located in the Otowa Mountain in the east of Kyoto before. Built in 778 AD, it was the oldest temple in Kyoto. Although the building had withstood fires and reconstructions, the scenery from there was no less stunning. Visitors ascended the mountainside to admire cherry blossoms in spring and maple leaves in autumn. In later generations, Kiyomizu-dera was included in the World Heritage site and has since been one of Kyoto’s must-see attractions.
“Are you going to see the cherry blossoms? Can I come along?”
“Um, something like that.” Akane nodded slowly. Somehow, the question made her blush a little. “Don’t you need to do your translation work?”
“It’s fine. My employer usually doesn’t get up until midday. If you’re going to be there for a while, I’ll just leave first.”
“Oh, okay. Then help me make more nigiri.”
“Thank you.”
Zhang Heng had been touring Kyoto with Gabriel a lot later, but the French merchant had a preference for places that offered food, drink, and play-he was not interested in shrines and temples at all. In contrast, Zhang Heng, who had never been to Kyoto, was very interested to see what the centuries-old Kiyomizu-dera looked like. Since Koyama Akane was going, he thought he might as well tag along
The next morning, before the sun rose, Akane knocked on the door to Zhang Heng’s room.
When he opened the door, Akane was carrying a lantern and the nigiri sushi box they prepared the night before.
Since they were going to the temple, she was in a formal kimono with red, blue, yellow, and white, held together with a sash. On her feet, she wore white tabi* and zori*.
Because she spent most of her time in the dojo, she was always dressed in dogi* and hakama*. This was the first time Zhang Heng had seen Akane out of her uniform. She actually looked feminine, and he couldn’t help but stare a little.
The gawking made Akane a little uneasy. “What?!”
She lowered the lantern, trying to hide her face in the darkness, and said sternly, “Hurry up and get ready. We’ll leave soon.” “Alright. I’ll get changed.”
Zhang Heng disappeared into his room again. Akane began to exhale, but Zhang Heng suddenly turned around again and asked, “Er… what should I wear to the temple?”
“Anything you like. Just don’t bring your sword.”
“Okay.”
Akane watched Zhang Heng enter the roomhe had forgotten to close the door behind him, and for a minute, she did not know what to do. Even though she could not see anything from where she was, she could hear the rustling of the fabric as he put on his clothes. Her face flushed, and she wanted to get away from the door, but she was worried that doing so would make her look suspicious.
In fact, she was a little strange. Her mother had died young, so Akane grew up in the dojo; Apart from her father, she had always been surrounded by trainees in the dojo-most of them men. She trained together with them, inevitably, there had to be some physical contact, yet she was never bothered by it. But why would standing here at the door make her feel so nervous?
Was her outfit today a little too unusual?
But back when her father was still alive, when they visited Kiyomizu-dera together for the last time, she had the same outfit on, and she developed the habit of visiting Kiyomizu Temple at this time year.
This year, though, was different because someone else would be going with her.
Zhang Heng quickly changed into his clothes and washed his face with the cold well water. Compared to well-dressed Akane, he looked no different from what he usually did, really doing what she said and putting on his everyday clothes.
“Let’s go.”
Akane led the way, and Zhang Heng followed closely behind.
Since they were both martial artists, they were light on their feet, and before long, they were already at Niomon. Zhang Heng looked up and saw the vermilion lacquered gate. The first ray of sunlight in the morning fell on the corner of the gate’s tower, and it gave off a solemn yet divine look.
From here, the winding stone path stretched upward to the west gate. Behind it was the three-storied pagoda and kaisan-do, and through a corridor, was the famous Kiyomizu Stage built on a cliff.
From there, one had a breathtaking view of the blooming cherry blossoms. Although there was one in the place Zhang Heng was living in, nothing could compare to the sight of the trees when grouped. From this point, Kyoto’s imperial city with the hall behind it supported by 139 huge wooden pillars was clearly visible, making it an extraordinary sight. “The view here is spectacular,” Zhang Heng said. “I’ve heard people talking about the cherry blossoms in Kiyomizu temple, and now that I’ve seen it, I have to say that it certainly lives up to its reputation.”
Akane muttered an agreement, but her body still seemed slightly stiff.
Their journey there had been an annoying one. Whenever both of them were walking side by side, she would feel awkward, and whenever she sped up her pace, she would wonder if Zhang Heng was watching her. When she turned around and saw him admiring the view, she would feel a little disappointed. She felt like she was going mad the whole way there.
Fortunately, they quickly arrived at the main hall where she could pray to Guan Yin, sorting out her chaotic emotions. Akane wondered what was wrong with herself today, even attempting to meditate to quieten the distracting thoughts in her mind.
After that, the two strolled across the stage, walked down the forest path to the valley below. Trudging through a maple forest, the two soon arrived at Otowa-no-taki, which literally translates to Sound of Feathers.
Although it was called a ‘taki,’ it was actually not a waterfall. Instead, there were only three small streams of water flowing down the rocks. It was only dawn, but a few people were already there, getting the water.
Translator’s footnote:
Tabi: Japanese socks worn with thonged footwear
Zori: a traditional Japanese style of flip-flops, originally made with a straw sole.
Dogi: uniform for training in Japanese martial arts
Hakama: a type of traditional Japanese clothing
