The House of Yamazaki
The light peeks through the curtain, seeking my eyes to tell me to wake up. I woke up since the sun hadn't risen, but my body didn't. I get off the bed, clean myself, brush my long hair, and wear the clothes that I have in my suitcase.
Breathe in, breathe out, and get out.
I slightly open the room door and peek my eyes to see, but no one's there, not even the sound. I step out and cross the hallway to Jodai's room. And I raise my hand to knock on his door.
"Knock, Knock."
"..."
"Is he out?"
I ask myself.
I am going to hit the door again, but I pause myself. Then, I decided to just leave it at that. I walk through the hallway, and I can clearly see the color and pattern of the wallpaper at this hour. It is black and has unique green creatures and Kiku flowers—they're hauntingly beautiful. My legs lead me the same way I walked last night to see the big picture golden frame hanging on the wall, which caught my eyes.
There are six people in total in this frame. And I noticed something on the bottom right corner that was written in gold.
Names?
The father, Yamazaki Aka . The mother, Yamazaki Makime. The first son, Yamazaki Jodai, The second son, Yamazaki Koide. The uncle, Yamazaki Kire. The beloved friend, Mangetsu Kajiya Airen.
"...Hmm."
There's only one guy who isn't one of Yamazakis; perhaps they consider him a family member.
They all have black hair.
He has the same eye look as him, like me.. but they all have black eye color.
I ensure that because last night I looked right in Mr. Yamazaki's eyes, they are black just like Jodai.
What my grandma meant by that 'same eye look..'
The feelings? What exactly are the feelings they give me.. *sigh I don't understand at all.
"Stop...I don't want to let any other things get in my head.."
I talk to myself softly while walking through the hall and see the left direction ahead.
I don't need to find my real father.
I see the bright and faded purple and orange leaves together with the dark green color of the tall big tree in the middle of the garden.
I step closer to see the view fully in my eyes.
"Samidare trees.."
The man's voice from behind me.
"..?"
I turn to see it's Mr. Yamazaki. He walks and stands next to me and admires his tree with me.
I look up at the top of the tree, and suddenly, the rain falls down, dropping drop by drop on the leaves.
"It's beautiful...especially under the rain."
I speak my thoughts.
"Yes, it's beautiful in fall time."
"..."
The trees and the rain, and particularly the sound of the water, remind me of everything about the Bamboo house. The calmness, the soothing nature sound, and I could smell the dirt and tea leaves passing through my nose. I open my eyes; it's just a nostalgic sense that makes me reluctant to think that way. Am I worthy of saying nostalgic feelings? Can I call the Bamboo house a home?
"Would you like some tea?"
He asks.
"I'll be honored."
I answer.
We move ourselves to the side where the tea table and the seats are, and I can see the view from another angle.
"How's the tea?"
He asks.
"Sour and sweet.. hibiscus?"
"!!"
He's a little surprised.
"Yes...you know a lot about tea?"
He asks.
"More like plants and herbs… I used my knowledge to learn to make tea for Mr.Saya and..Mr.Kaiza, when I had free time"
I answer and smile at him.
"I see"
"You really don't look like Stygians. It's hard to believe that you're from a Stygian family. Not just the looks but the element of everything.. don't take that personally, young lady."
"You're right because I'm not Stygian."
"So, you use the Takaki name already?"
"No, I use my mother's name.. White-Reine."
"..."
He pauses his action.
"I heard the rumor that your mother was from the North Mountain, am I correct?
He asks while he's thinking about something in his mind. I can tell by the black eyes that are shifting.
"Yes."
"What is her name again?"
"Catalina, Catalina White-Reine."
"!!"
His pupil black eyes are shrinking while his body is still calm.
"What is it, Mr. Yamazaki?"
"...No, nothing, hehe…. You must...very much love her to want to keep her last name going."
"I've never been Stygians, Mr. Yamazaki. Charon isn't my real father."
I explain.
"!!!"
He's totally shocked. I can see clearly now and the cup of tea that is still hanging in the air.
"...Do you trust me a little too much to tell your secret to me, young lady?
He asks.
"It's not a secret... I really don't mind if people know...because I am just a little young woman who doesn't have any role in Keithland."
"Did my son know?"
"I really don't know, hehe. He didn't ask about the details much because he witnessed every situation I was in…I think he might figure it out on his own... pick up there and there. If he asks me, I'll definitely tell him.. but he doesn't."
I explain with a genuine smile.
Then I turn my eyes to admire the tree while the mysterious rain falls on it, leaving me with a lingering longing for something or someone.
"About the sword..."
He speaks up.
"Yes?"
"I know who exactly will be willing to do it for you...he's the greatest and the best swordsmith I've ever known...But he's very picky about making the sword for someone and also hard to pin down. I mean, he's moving around a lot, so no one exactly knows where he is...But I know his actual resting location after the long trip he comes back to his place. I could say home, but not sure enough to refer to that name."
"..So it might take a while?"
I assume.
"Yes, I think he will answer shortly."
"How do you know that he will make a sword for me? if he's picky."
I ask.
"I know he cannot resist this offer..."
What a vague and intriguing answer.
"If you don't mind, you can stay here longer until the sword is made."
"..."
"Or if you feel uneasy, I can send the sword to you. But to create the sword specifically for someone, he must know the size of the swordsman, hands, height, thick and thin, and personality."
"Personality?"
"Yes, normally other swordsmiths don't do that...but this guy...is.. unique and like I said, he's the best, so he wants to create something that is really best..."
"...Then I'll wait... if Mr. Yamazaki doesn't mind me staying here...I would like to have the sword from the unique man as well."
That means it will take longer to see Mr. Kaiza.
"Good... then it will be concluded."
He says to me.
"Father!!"
The scream of Jodai makes his father and I turn around.
"What?"
"...No, nothing, Father."
He softens his voice after his eyes are on me.
"Hehe."
His father probably knows what his son's looking for.
"You got up…early."
Jodai walks toward me and asks calmly.
"I knocked on your door, but you didn't answer."
"I must sleep in."
"..."
"Good, you must feel good to be home, Jodai."
I smile at him, and I glance at His father, who is smiling wider than me.
He must be very happy.
After lunch, Mr. Yamazaki asked Jodai to take me on a house tour or find something to entertain me around the house. He also ordered me not to go outside his property, especially at night, to prevent outside dangers from people or from something invisible that I could not touch or see. Well, I'm still scared of this house. It's beautiful and all, but it feels like the house has its own feelings, its own spirit.
We finish the house tour, and we decide to go to our room to rest and wait for dinner.
"Zephyra, I'll take you to dinner. Please, don't go by yourself without me."
And I wonder if this house is actually haunted even if Jodai doesn't want to go alone or let me walk alone.
"..Why?"
"Can you wait for me? I'll call you when it's time."
"Yes."
"You should rest. I'll..."
"Wait!"
I shout to him and grab his wrist.
"What is it, Zephyra?"
He's shocked.
"Can you...stay with me?"
I ask.
"..."
"Please."
I beg.
"Yes, Zephyra."
He surrenders, closes the room door, and steps inside the room.
"You can rest here if you want to take a nap or sleep."
I suggest.
"..."
He stands still. Then I decided to sit on the couch at the end of the bed. I look at him and he's still standing in the same place.
"Jodai?"
"...Yes."
"Do you want to take a nap?"
"...No."
"Do you want to sit here...with me?"
"...Yes."
Then he comes to me, awkwardly sits beside me, and gives a little space between us.
"Jodai, can you do me a favor?
"Y-Yes."
"Can you cut my hair?"
"!!?"
"I really want to cut my hair because it's too long, and I can't cut it myself."
"..."
"You can use the sword."
"..."
"Is it too much..? Then I'll try...to cut it myself."
"You really don't mind if I cut your hair?"
"Not at all. You're good at using sharp things, and I trust you."
"...Then I'll be honored."
"Really? nice."
I tell him, and I turn my back to him excitedly.
He gets up and finds the brush in front of the dressing table. He takes one and sits behind me. He carefully brushes my hair from the top to the bottom again and again.
"It feels nice..."
I say out loud.
"..."
"How much do you want to cut it off?"
He asks.
"Hmm, just the black."
"..."
"Cut all that's it black... or just a little higher because it's still too long."
"...Yes, Zephyra"
Then Jodai pulls out his sword that he was given by his father and he grabs my entire hair around my hips, takes it away from my body, and puts his sword underneath it.
"Slice!"
And then the sound of the sharp blade being sliced against my hair is smoothly clear, and my hair is cut off in one go.
"I cut it, Zephyra."
He tells me, and I turn my face to look at the floor. On the couch, not a single hair is falling down.
And I notice that my hair is in his left hand.
"..."
I look at him, and he says nothing.
"I don't want to let it down on the floor."
He explains.
"Alright...Jodai, the front as well."
I turn my face back and get off the couch.
"..."
He says nothing
"Jodai?"
"Yes."
He answers me and stands beside me.
What is he doing?
I look at him, and I don't see my hair in his hand anymore. Did he just throw it away that fast?
"Can you cut the black in front, too?"
I ask and turn my face directly to him.
"..."
"Zephyra, are you sure?... I'm afraid I will make it bad."
"Do you think I will look bad?"
"No, no. I mean, I have never cut someone's hair before"
"You already did a second ago,"
"..."
I look at him with my brightest eyes.
"I'll try, Zephyra."
"Thank you. Don't worry, just cut where the black's at."
"Yes, Zephyra."
He brushes my hair at the front sides again, and he uses his index finger and his middle finger to grab my side front out of my face and take out his short knife. He starts at my earlobe area, slicing and tilting all the way down to the front, and it ends around my collarbones.
"..."
I slightly shift my eyes, glancing at Jodai. He sees me and quickly turns his eyes back to my hair.
This time, his hair falls slightly to the floor. And he does the same on the other side.
"It's done, Zephyra."
"Thank you..."
I tell him and hurriedly step in front of the mirror.
"Hmm."
I turn my face from side to side, And my eyes catch at Jodai behind my back.
"What is it?... it looks that bad?"
I ask him while looking at him in the mirror.
"You look very beautiful, Zephyra.. adorable."
"Eh?... Can I trust your words?"
"Yes..."
And then he steps closer to me.
And I turn my body to him.
"It suits you very well..."
He tells me with his pinkish cheeks and with his admiration of me from his gaze.
"Well,...because of you... it's your work..."
I curl my front hair at the end of the left side, which is no longer black.
Why do I feel shy all of a sudden?