"Takiko! Have you got all your things packed?" Okuda Takiko heard her aunt's voice from the other room.She didn't answer, but picked up a picture she was about to put in her suitcase. As she looked at the faces of her mother, stepfather, and half-brother, tears welled up in her eyes. She started shaking and sobbing uncontrollably.
"Takiko! Didn't you hear…" Her aunt came in and noticed Takiko was upset. She put her arms around her 15-year old niece. "It's alright, Takiko. Just let the tears come."
******
"You haven't seen your father in a long time, and I know he's very excited about seeing you again!" Takiko's aunt glanced at Takiko sitting in the train seat next to her, hoping her chatter would keep Takiko's mind of the fire that killed her family two weeks ago. Takiko seemed unmoved, so her aunt tried again. "He just came back from another trip to China-you know how he practically lives there, researching Chinese history."
Takiko glanced out the window and spoke. "And he came back to Japan just to take care of me. I'm just in the way of his dreams again. In a few days, he'll be begging you to take me back."
"Takiko! You know that's not true! You're Einosuke-san's only child, and he loves you greatly."
Takiko started crying again and began shouting. "If he loves me, why didn't he ever visit me!? All the contact he made with me was a few postcards! That's not what I would call a good father!" she noticed people around them were staring, and she quieted down. "Gomen, Obasan. It's just that I remember when he left Okasan and me. I was only seven, but I remember him saying that Okasan got in his way to accomplish his dreams. He wanted us to move to China, but Okasan refused. Still, he wouldn't give up on his dreams of studying China up close, so he left us. His family got in his way; we weren't important enough to him!"
Her aunt gave her another hug. "It's true that you mother and father couldn't get along, but they both loved you. Your father thought you the apple of his eye, and you were the only reason he stayed in Japan as long as he did. He wanted to take you to China with him, but both he and your mother agreed the pressure of a new surrounding and language coupled with the stress of the divorce would be too much to ask of a young child."
Takiko looked up, almost smiling. "Really?" Her aunt smiled back and nodded.
******
As they exited the train, Okuda Einosuke ran up and hugged Takiko. "You've grown so big, Taki-chan!" He shook his head. "No….Takiko. I forget that you're a young woman now."
Takiko felt embarrassed yet happy that her father remembered her childhood nickname. Einosuke grabbed her suitcases from her, saying, "Here, let me take those."
He turned to Takiko's aunt. "Arigatou, Yoriko-san, for taking care of her these past two weeks while I made my way back from China."
"It has been a pleasure. Be sure to visit us again, Takiko!" They hugged each other good-bye, and Takiko left to start her new life.
******
"This will be your room. How do you like it?" Einosuke showed Takiko a room already prepared with furniture for her.
"It's fine." She noticed a school uniform lying on her bed. Her father put his hand on her shoulder. "The local Jr. High is ready to take you anytime you're ready. They've been informed of your situation and assure me with your past grades you'll have no trouble keeping up.
"Of course, the year before entering High School is very tough, and if you'd rather wait for next year's class…"
Takiko picked up the uniform. "No, Otosan. I think getting back to a normal routine would be best for me."
Einosuke nodded. "I understand. But anytime you feel it's too much for you, be sure to tell me. Well, I'll let you unpack."
******
That night, Takiko couldn't sleep, and so she went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. As she headed back towards her room, she saw a green light out of the corner of her eye. Startled, she turned around, but saw nothing. Had it been her imagination?
******
"I'm home!" Takiko called as she kicked off her shoes and put her book bag down. It had been a month since she had come to live with her father, and she had been going to school for a few weeks now.
"How was school?" Einosuke called from his den. "Did you make any new friends yet?"
Takiko walked in. "Oh, a few people I talk to during breaks. But I've never had really close friends. I'm kind of a loner."
"Everyone needs friends, Takiko." Her father seemed genuinely concerned. Takiko nodded, but tried to get him off the subject. "What are you doing?"
"Translating books from ancient Chinese to Japanese. A book company has approved these books I picked up in China to be translated so that all Japanese people can enjoy them."
"What are they about?"
"Oh, nothing a girl your age would be interested in. They're mostly about Chinese history, but you might like some of the ones about ancient Chinese legends." He pointed to a stack of books.
Takiko leafed through some of the books, but suddenly her heart raced as she saw one near the bottom with a familiar green glow. She picked it up. "What's this one? Why is it glowing?"
"Glowing? What are you talking about?"
"Can't you see…" Takiko stopped, thinking maybe she was seeing things.
"Anyway," Einosuke started, "this one is called Shijin Tenchi Sho, or Four Gods, Sky and Earth. I haven't had a chance to look at it closely, but I had to have it because of the legend."
"Legend?" Takiko asked.
"Long ago, the Chinese believed the country was split into four sections, each ruled by a separate animal god: Genbu of the north, Byakko of the west, Suzaku of the south, and Seiryuu of the east. Each region's people worshipped only their animal god. There were also 28 constellations, spilt into 7 for each region."
He took it from her. "Here, let me translate it for you." He got out a pen and paper, and opened the first page of the book. "Here in lies the tale of Genbu no Miko. If you, the reader, shall read this book until its end, you shall be bestowed upon the power of Genbu and have three wishes granted…"
"Three wishes!? How exciting!" Takiko turned the page and a bright green light emanated. Takiko and Einosuke covered their eyes. "What's happening!? AHHHH!!!!"
The light stopped, and Einosuke looked around. Takiko had vanished. "Takiko!? Where are you? TAKIKO!!!!!"
To be continued…
