Young Samurai_ The Way of the Sword - Chris Bradford [45]
They all did so. At first, Jack heard only an indistinct wash of sound, but it soon separated out into a rain-like pitter-patter of dry leaves. Then, just as he was starting to enjoy the experience, he heard giggling.
‘Stop it!’ cried Kiku.
Jack opened his eyes to see Saburo tickling Kiku’s ear with a twig. She grabbed a handful of dead leaves and threw them in his face, but also got Yamato. In a matter of moments, they were all involved in a riotous battle of leaves.
‘I suppose time spent laughing is time spent with the gods,’ observed Sensei Kano ruefully, and walked off, leaving the young samurai convulsed with laughter as they played among the leaves.
They spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the expansive temple gardens. They crossed over wooden bridges and circled a large pond on which people rowed in little boats, playing koto harps and admiring the autumnal views.
Jack spotted Kazuki and his friends in one of the boats on the far shore. They hadn’t seen him but seemed to be having too much fun splashing one another to care about Jack. Then Jack saw Emi walking across one of the bridges. At last this was his chance to speak with her alone.
‘I’ll catch up with you,’ said Jack to the rest of the group, who were heading towards a small shrine on the other side of the pond. ‘I just need to ask Emi something.’
Yamato and Akiko both stopped. Akiko raised her eyebrows in curiosity but said nothing.
‘Come on, you three,’ Saburo called impatiently. ‘Once we’ve seen this last shrine, we can hire a boat and go paddling.’
Yamato hesitated a moment longer. Jack knew his friend still felt guilty for not being there when Kazuki and his gang had jumped him at the Hall of the Hawk. He hadn’t left his side since.
‘Let’s go,’ said Akiko, walking off. ‘We’ll see him on the way back.’
‘We’ll be just over there if you need us,’ Yamato said, following Akiko with reluctance.
Jack watched as the two of them headed off to join the others. In her honey-coloured kimono, Akiko appeared to float away like a leaf on a stream. Jack hurried over to Emi. She was standing on the bridge, admiring a maple tree that hung over the water like a tongue of flame. Emi bowed as he approached.
‘Enjoying momiji gari?’ she asked, smiling.
‘Yes. And you?’ replied Jack, returning the bow.
‘Very much. It’s my favourite time of year.’
Jack glanced over at the nearby maple tree, trying to think of what to say next.
‘Is it ever like this in your country?’ Emi asked.
‘Sometimes,’ replied Jack, watching a leaf fall through the air and land on the surface of the pond. ‘But most of the time it rains…’
An awkward silence fell between them as he summoned up the courage to speak. ‘May I ask you a favour?’
‘Of course.’
‘Can I visit your father’s palace again?’
She looked at him, her eyes registering surprise. ‘Any particular reason?’
‘Yes… When we were there for the tea ceremony, I noticed some screen paintings of tigers. I’d like to see them again.’
Jack had thought carefully about this answer, but when he said it now the excuse sounded weak, and he cringed.
‘I didn’t know you were interested in art,’ she said, the corners of her mouth crinkling into a mischievous smile.
Jack nodded.
‘I’m sure it can be arranged. I would have to speak with my father, of course, when he gets back.’
‘Of course,’ Jack agreed. Then he heard laughter and turned to see that Cho and Kai had caught up with Emi and were giggling behind their hands.
‘I have to go,’ Emi said, bowing before joining her friends and their elderly chaperone.
Jack watched them leave, whispering to one another and glancing over their shoulders at him before bursting into fits of giggles again. Had they overheard him speaking with Emi? Or were they laughing simply because they had discovered him and Emi alone