Kunihiko stayed for a moment of silence almost one hour before a young monk approached him from behind.
"Okuichi Sama, you came," The monk greeted him with a smile as he bowed slightly towards this familiar guest. "You always came without informing us ahead of time." Kunihiko smiled at the young monk. This fellow is one of his schoolmates before he decided to become a monk and stay at this serene and oldest temple in Japan, away from its neighbouring temple with those famous tamed reindeers as attractions for tourists to visit. He frowns at the young monk's comment.
"I didn't know Shen Sama accepting guests, Kikuchi san," Kunihiko asked as he left the family tomb behind. "The last time he ever accepts guest was..." And he walks with the monk heading towards the grand hall of the temple.
Kikuchi shook his head, heaved a light sigh. "I am surprised to hear it too, but we always know Shen Sama has his reasons to accept guests," they passed by the familiar guest room, and his frown deepens at the sight of a pair of woman shoes just outside the room. The same room he used to occupy when he was recuperating after his brother died ten years ago. "Aye. It is a woman staying in your old room," Kikuchi, the monk shared his information regarding the guest. But, Kunihiko didn't say anything. "I heard you were the last guest we ever accepted. Maybe if you ask Shen Sama, you might get the answer from him. I will leave you here then. Shen Sama should be resting in the grand hall resting room."
"Thank you, Kikuchi san." Kunihiko gave him a friendly slap on his friend shoulder. "But I won't be staying this time. I will go pay my respect to Shen Sama before I leave."
"I see," he looked disappointed, and his tone slightly down confirmed it. "Then I should bid you farewell. I hope to see you again soon." He bowed and left Kunihiko in the opposite direction.
Kunihiko looked around the temple with a sense of familiarity and fondness of the place. The Sakura blossoms bloom in full and with the coldness of early spring with a little windy makes its flowers scattered on the ground creating a floor of pink everywhere. He hurriedly leaves the place to look for Shen Sama.
He found Shen Sama resting in his small warm room at the end of the grand hall. Ten years have past and yet his strength still as good as before.
"Shen Sama, I came to pay my respect to you," Kunihiko started. "May I come in?"
"What a pleasant surprise to see you again," An old monk spoke as Kunihiko invite himself without waiting for the owner to permit him to enter. Shen Sama's poker face didn't bother Kunihiko at all. "After ten years." Kunihiko paid his respect in an old fashion way as the old monk watch over him and nodded.
"I am surprised that you let other guest took my room, Shen Sama." Kunihiko then took a seat on the front, just opposite of the old monk. Shen Sama started to cough, ignoring him. Kunihiko quickly served him a cup of tea to Shen Sama.
"She's in traumatic pain. Just like you when you first came to seek peace," Shen Sama accepted his offering and sipped it slowly before continuing. "Though she is much worse than you. But, she is in the healing phase."
"I understand."
############
Ally arrived at the Nara temple and was grateful to be able to meet the Grandmaster Shen. He even allowed her to stay for two nights for recuperating at his temple though her initial plan was to send out prayers to her dearest baby son a farewell before she can live her own life. The minute the old monk saw her, she can see him frowning, and it took only seconds before he asked her to stay at his temple. Luckily she was well prepared to stay overnight if she can't return to the Onsen Resort, not far from Nara.
She put down her things inside the room before she grabbed her saddlebag and went out to continue with her drawing. She has another three hours before her recuperating session with the Grandmaster Shen starts. Sketching were her passions. Every time she has time and an inspirations hit in, she will spend time on her drawing. Her favourites person to draw was her 'little sweet pumpkin' and Ally adored her long hairs or anyone with long hairs.
As the crowds at the nearby temple have finally lessened and there is nobody interest her anymore, she saw the young monk passed by. She quickly put down her drawing board inside her saddlebag and leaves it behind to look for the young monk. He should know where the grandmaster Shen should be. Ally finally get her info straight, she went back to retrieve her saddlebag on the stone bench while frowning why her bag not on the end of the bench stone but at the bench stone under a tree. Without suspecting anything, she took it and headed to the inner room of the grand hall of the temple.
It was after the recuperating session ended two days later that she was able to draw again. She should leave the temple soon. Her stays in Osaka are ending soon. She should head to the airport immediately. Woon Young might not be happy with her excuses if she late. Even Lisa on her way to the airport as well. She bids her final respect to Grandmaster Shen and leaves in a hurry. Later, at the base of the hill, only to realise that something wrong with the saddlebag. She makes a detour to the nearest police station and hand in the saddlebag to the police as a lost and found item from the temple before heading to the Kansai International Airport. She refuses to leave any contact number to the police and also stated that she doesn't need any repayment or anything. Even if the same person has her saddlebag, she didn't wish for the other person to return it to her.
###########
Kunihiko was in the middle of watching the basketball tournament when a call came in. They finally found his laptop with his saddlebag. He was planning to return the other saddlebag to the other person but the policeman unable to contact her and she already mentioned that 'Keep it. She doesn't need it'. All they know was that she was in a rush to return to Korea.