{"id":220,"date":"2013-06-14T21:37:44","date_gmt":"2013-06-14T12:37:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/?p=220"},"modified":"2016-08-27T16:03:04","modified_gmt":"2016-08-27T07:03:04","slug":"part017_edit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/part017_edit\/","title":{"rendered":"\u5341\u4e03 Part 17 (Master)"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"garden\"
\n<\/a>\u201cYou called for me, Master?\u201d Sagiri asked, sitting on folded knees across from the elder tengu. It was a warm afternoon\u2014the rainy season had just ended, leaving the air thick with humidity.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d Shima said with a nod. \u201cI have a task for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sagiri straightened in anticipation. Though she had been training with Shima for decades, she still leapt at any chance to prove herself. She wondered if she might once again be able to demonstrate her medical abilities with a new patient, or perhaps show her skills in battle. It had been quite some time since the attack at the western temple, and there was only so much one could display in a sparring match.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are two new children today,\u201d the older woman continued. \u201cI\u2019d like you to tend to them until they\u2019re settled in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sagiri resisted the urge to slump. Her expression remained focused, masking her inner disappointment.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut Master, I\u2019m no good with children,\u201d she said, keeping her tone even. There was a fine line between expressing one\u2019s opinion and outright complaining.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why I chose you. You need to be capable with everyone, not only your peers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sagiri had nothing to say. She knew that her mentor was right\u2014though Sagiri had recently begun to show signs of leadership and authority, she had no experience with the younger monks. Any interactions with them were usually brief and barely tolerated. Her eyes fell to the tatami floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cTell me, Sagiri\u2014what is important to a monk?\u201d Shima\u2019s voice was pleasant in spite of her apprentice\u2019s silence.<\/p>\n

\u201cDiscipline,\u201d Sagiri quickly answered. \u201cHumility. Focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re forgetting one. Something rather important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sagiri inhaled, her eyes casting sideways as she thought. Her palms were neatly set on her knees and she resisted the urge to grip the cloth beneath them.<\/p>\n

\u201c . . . awareness?\u201d she finally offered.<\/p>\n

\u201cCompassion.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sagiri fell silent once more. She mentally cursed herself for forgetting, especially in front of her master.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop berating yourself,\u201d Shima said, knowing in an instant what was going through her student\u2019s mind. \u201cIf you\u2019re striving for perfection, it must be in all aspects. You need to find balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d Sagiri said, lowering her head as she bowed.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Go wait in the courtyard. They\u2019ll be arriving soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new arrivals were both boys. They were dressed in the clothing of common villagers, standing nervously aside the monk that had escorted them. It seemed they were the same age, no older than twelve or thirteen years old. Sagiri sighed, deciding to count her blessings; they could have been even younger.<\/p>\n

\u201cState your names,\u201d she said, clasping her hands behind her back as the other monk took his leave.<\/p>\n

\u201cShou,\u201d said the first, adjusting his posture to match the older tengu\u2019s. His eyes were bright and clear, eager to make a good impression on the monk.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you?\u201d she asked, giving the other a passive glance.<\/p>\n

\u201cShichi,\u201d he said with a bow of his head, his voice much quieter than his companion\u2019s. With only one word, Sagiri could see that he was dreadfully shy. He was slower to make eye contact and quickly looked away upon doing so. It was almost enough to make her cringe.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood\u2014we won\u2019t have to change your names. I am Sagiri. Until you have found proper mentors, you will do as I say,\u201d she said, terribly curt as she spoke. \u201cUnderstood?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes,\u201d they replied with simultaneous bows. They had heard of tengu taking new names upon joining a temple, assuring their oneness with the others. Every monk they\u2019d ever met had a name beginning with S<\/em>. The boys had pressed this fact when convincing their parents to let them join. They had both been given appropriate names at birth; it was obviously meant to be.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo,\u201d she said. \u201cTell me why you want to be monks. What are your skills?\u201d<\/p>\n

Shou responded first, grateful for a chance to share his abilities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI like history,\u201d the young tengu said. \u201cI want to study and make records. My memory is very good, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen what was the name of the monk who brought you here?\u201d she asked, her eyes narrow with skepticism.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, he was . . .\u201d Shou stammered, breaking his stance to rub the side of his face. Sagiri ignored his faltering, instead turning her attention to Shichi.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what about you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m . . .\u201d the boy said, his heart pounding. \u201cI-I\u2019m not really good at anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWonderful.\u201d Sagiri suppressed a sigh. \u201cBoth of you, head up to the main hall. Sumi will have you fitted for your robes.\u201d<\/p>\n

As she turned to leave, she gave the boys one final look.<\/p>\n

\u201cMake sure you earn them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shou exhaled heavily upon her departure, forcing a laugh as he looked to his friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought monks were supposed to be kind,\u201d he said, scratching the side of his long beak. His failure to answer her question didn\u2019t seem to faze him\u2014in fact, he found the situation painfully humorous.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo did I,\u201d Shichi whispered, looking in the direction Sagiri had gone.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, where\u2019s the main hall?\u201d Shou glanced about in a mixture of confusion and wonder.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have no idea.\u201d<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Shou quickly found his place alongside the temple historian. His memory did, in fact, prove to be excellent. His writing skills, however, were much less impressive. His hands were often stained with ink as he was set to practice for hours on end. Shichi\u2019s time was spent elsewhere, completing chores in the kitchen and garden between studies. The work, however, wasn\u2019t the hardest part of being a monk. The greatest difficulty in their new lifestyle was to simply sit in silence\u2014in meditation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is impossible,\u201d Shou said, sitting next to Shichi in the empty zendo. They had chosen to come practice while the other monks were occupied, mainly to avoid embarrassing themselves in the process.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not that bad,\u201d Shichi said. \u201cTry counting your breaths if you can\u2019t concentrate.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow am I supposed to concentrate when Sagiri keeps hitting me with that stick?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe she wouldn\u2019t strike you if you didn\u2019t fall asleep.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t help it\u2014I get bored.\u201d Shou sighed. \u201cI\u2019m not cut out for this. I can\u2019t even do the full lotus like you can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t have to sit this way. Do whatever is comfortable,\u201d Shichi said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about this?\u201d Shou asked, laying himself down on his side and propping his head up with a fist. They both started laughing, momentarily forgetting their intention to meditate. Shichi covered his beak with both hands, hoping that nobody had heard them behaving so foolishly in the hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t let Sagiri see you lounging like that,\u201d Shichi said, still stifling his laughter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWho cares? She\u2019s not going to be my master anyway,\u201d Shou said, remaining in his pose. \u201cSay, do you think Saburo will take me on?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe historian? I think you have a chance. He seems to like you, and you really impressed him with the dates you recited,\u201d Shichi replied, trying not to think about his own chances of finding a master. He hadn\u2019t seemed to make an impression on any of the monks, nor had he thought of a focus he could devote himself to.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut nobody is going to mentor us if we can\u2019t even meditate,\u201d Shichi said, giving his friend a gentle reminder of their purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe some incense will help,\u201d Shou said, fishing out the wooden box where the sticks were kept. \u201cIt will at least keep track of the time, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

He opened the box, releasing the scent of jinkoh incense. It had a light, natural aroma, reminding Shichi of the way trees smelled after a storm\u2014of old books and tarnished bronze. Shou removed a long stick, taking it to a candle to be lit.<\/p>\n

\u201cOw!\u201d he cried suddenly, dropping the incense and clutching his hand.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong?\u201d Shichi asked, immediately moving to his friend\u2019s side. He took Shou\u2019s palm into his hands, examining the faint burn on his finger.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe candle, I\u2014\u201d Shou said, putting forth a tremendous effort to keep from crying. \u201cAh, it hurts.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCome with me,\u201d Shichi said, keeping a gentle hold on his companion\u2019s hand as he led him out of the hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are we going?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe garden.\u201d<\/p>\n

The temple gardens were lush and vast, carrying enough to provide for every monk who resided there. There were rows of cabbage and radish with an even larger field of rice past the border. Herbs were carefully lined in the soil, used for both seasonings and medicine. Shichi led the other tengu down the neatly spread aisles, crouching next to a patch of aloe.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me your hand,\u201d he said, breaking off a thick, green blade. The inside was swollen with a clear juice. Carefully, he applied it to the burn, using gentle movements to rub the liquid into Shou\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n

\u201cWow, that\u2019s\u2014\u201d Shou began to say, but was cut off by the shadow that had swept over their bodies.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are you two doing?\u201d Sagiri\u2019s arms folded as she addressed the young monks.<\/p>\n

Shou winced at the sight of her. \u201cAh, well, we . . .\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSaburo is looking for you,\u201d she said, glaring thorns into the boy\u2019s wide eyes. \u201cDon\u2019t keep him waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shou gave a hurried bow, then rushed off through the outstretched leaves toward the main building. Shichi had frozen in place, still holding the broken aloe leaf as he looked up at her. For a while, she simply watched him, her eyes motionless as she thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere did you learn to use that?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI . . . I used to grow plants behind my parents\u2019 house. I found it out on accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you like plants?\u201d Sagiri said, still towering over him with a fist on her hip. \u201cGood. You\u2019re going to de-slug this entire garden to make up for the aloe you destroyed. Don\u2019t come to dinner until you\u2019re finished.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi lowered his gaze to the dirt. \u201cYes, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI am not<\/em> your master,\u201d she snapped. \u201cDon\u2019t call me that again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi\u2019s face grew hot as he tensed, wondering why he had let his words slip. His body shrunk in her shadow and his shoulders tightened in embarrassment. He wished that he could remove the aloe plant and bury himself in its place.<\/p>\n

\u201c . . . I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before he could even finish apologizing, she had already turned to leave.<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

The next day, Shima had once again called upon her student. She watched as Sagiri made the motions of preparing tea, each movement precise and deliberate. The usual eloquence that the monk performed with, however, was strangely lacking.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow are the new arrivals doing?\u201d Shima asked, accepting the steaming cup.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re fine,\u201d Sagiri said, placing her hands on her folded knees.<\/p>\n

\u201cTruly? I noticed one of them crying in the garden yesterday.\u201d Shima set her cup down with a soft clink. \u201cThe quiet one. Did that have something to do with you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Sagiri swallowed, not daring to blink as she took in her master\u2019s words.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren cry. It can\u2019t be helped,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, since you\u2019ve become such an expert on children, I\u2019d like you to consider becoming a mentor to one of the boys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut,\u201d Sagiri said, her chest puffing in trepidation. \u201cBut if I take an apprentice, I won\u2019t qualify for head monk. I\u2019ve worked so hard for this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to make the same decision, you know.\u201d Her master turned to look out into the courtyard. The stone path was bathed in sunlight, highlighting the birds that flitted between the rafters. \u201cWould you rather I had given up on you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c . . . no, Master.\u201d<\/p>\n

#<\/p>\n

Where before Shichi had merely been unimpressive, his presence was now enough to raise genuine irritation. Sagiri had spent decades refining herself\u2014developing skills in battle, healing, and leadership. Talk of the new head monk had been circulating for months, and the favorite of every discussion had always been Sagiri. What had once been a clear path to her goal was now cruelly blocked\u2014barricaded by a mere child. Perhaps she could simply ignore her mentor\u2019s advice and leave him to someone else. Her words had only been a suggestion, not a command. Even so, Sagiri couldn\u2019t help but view the boy with disdain.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is unacceptable,\u201d she said, gazing out into the overgrown garden. It was the peak of summer, which meant the weeds grew exponentially faster. Even constant tending could barely keep up with their tenacity. \u201cI want you to weed the garden until I return\u2014and no breaks. Diligence is vital to being a monk.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI understand,\u201d Shichi said, his voice flat as he replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. Get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sagiri was rather pleased with herself as she walked back toward the main hall. Weeding was a boundless task\u2014something she could burden him with for hours while she continued her training and independent study. Completing the entire garden was certain to take at least a week. She spent the afternoon in refreshing solitude, practicing her stances in the courtyard before returning indoors to make tea. The evening brought rain, allowing her to fall asleep to the sound of water on the tile roof.<\/p>\n

The sun had not yet risen when she awoke, opening her eyes to a dark, silent room. The rain hadn\u2019t stopped. She was glad\u2014more rain meant less work watering the garden.<\/p>\n

The garden.<\/p>\n

Shichi.<\/p>\n

She sat up quickly, throwing off the thin blanket that covered the futon. Grabbing her robe, she tied it on as she rushed out through the courtyard and past the meditation hall. Her pulse raced as she hurried around the storehouse and through the gates that led to the garden. She scanned the rows of vegetables, looking for the quiet boy who had promised to follow her every order\u2014to trust her completely.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she said, the word barely making it through her tightened throat. Shichi was on the ground beside a row of turnips. His body was soaked, the water beading on his feathers and staining his robes to a deep, mournful blue. He stirred as she turned him, cracking his weary eyes to look up at the older monk. Without a word, she gathered him into her arms, noticing just how light his body was as she carried him out of the garden. He coughed against her shoulder, each breath harsh and scratchy against his throat.<\/p>\n

Why couldn\u2019t he have just disobeyed her and gone inside? What was he trying to prove?<\/p>\n

Sagiri took him through a narrow hall, sliding open the infirmary door with her foot. The scent of dried herbs was light in the air yet did little to calm her as she set him down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, Shichi,\u201d she said, helping him out of his wet shirt and wrapping a blanket around his shoulders. \u201cI made a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t reply right away, doing his best to keep down his coughs. She left his side to prepare a pot of hot tea, selecting fresh roots for the water. In that moment, she had forgotten everything else\u2014about his failings, her master, and the position of head monk. All she could think of was making him well. It was an odd change from her normal state of mind\u2014of her strive for perfection, for accomplishment and strength. She couldn\u2019t remember the last time she had felt this way.<\/p>\n

She recalled what Shima had once said to her when she was younger\u2014when she was still learning medicine.<\/p>\n

You cannot heal with anger in your heart.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHere.\u201d She handed him a ceramic cup. He waited a moment, then took a careful sip.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it ginger?\u201d he asked, looking up as she dried his head with a cloth.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes. And one more thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shichi paused, averting his eyes as he considered the taste. He inhaled, considering the scent of the steam.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd licorice root?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d Sagiri said. \u201cThey\u2019re good for colds.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI see.\u201d He let his eyes fall back down to the cup. \u201cWhat else is good for a cold?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell you after you\u2019ve gotten some rest. You need to sleep,\u201d she said, drying the last of the feathers between his eyes.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right.\u201d Shichi finished his tea before setting the cup down on a low table. \u201cThank you, M\u2014 ah, wh-what should I call you?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI changed my mind. \u2018Master\u2019 is fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cYou called for me, Master?\u201d Sagiri asked, sitting on folded knees across from the elder tengu. It was a warm afternoon\u2014the rainy season had just ended, leaving the air thick with humidity. \u201cYes,\u201d Shima said with a nod. \u201cI have…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-220","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-book-one"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=220"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1093,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/220\/revisions\/1093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=220"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=220"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jisukcho.com\/karasu\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=220"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}