The Jade Seal

by Yuriko Taira

  This kimono had purple as its base colour and pink cherry blossom at the lower part and the sleeves. Mrs Abe also gave me kimono accessories and underdresses. She then laid a futon mattress down on the tatami (Japanese style floor mat), and gave me pillows and clean linen.

  “You must be very tired. Please get some sleep. I’ll go to make up Shinkichi’s room. That boy didn’t tell us he was coming home until the last minute.”

  “It was a last-minute decision, Okaasan.”

  “Really? Was he truly busy or had something happened?”

  “Yes, he was busy, and some—” I was about to tell Mrs Abe what had happened, but Shinkichi interrupted us.

  “Mum, I’m very tired. I want to have a sleep. Is my bed ready?”

  “I’ll make it for you right now.” Mrs Abe went to Shinkichi’s room quickly.

  As soon as his mother was out of sight, Shinkichi kissed my forehead. “Don’t mention the accidents to my family,” he whispered. “I don’t want them to worry about us.”

  “Understood.” I nodded.

  CHAPTER 11

  Islept soundly. When I woke up, it was well past lunch-time. I came downstairs, and saw Shinkichi and his father in the study. Mr Abe was not as tall as his son, a bit paler with deep wrinkles on his face, but most of his hair was still black. They appeared to be in a serious discussion.

  I tiptoed outside. The front yard was reasonable in size. A small Japanese cherry tree stood in the centre, and some vegetables and herbs were growing by the fence. It must be beautiful during cherry blossom season, I thought. Mr Abe’s car sat quietly in a wooden garage at one side of the front yard.

  Then, I went to the back of the house. The backyard was a lot smaller than the front yard. Recyclable and non-recyclable garbage bags were neatly stacked by the back gate waiting to be collected.

  There was a door to the kitchen from the backyard. I peeked in, no one was in the kitchen. So, I went inside, put on a kettle, then went to the study.

  “Otōsan and Shinkichi-san, would you like to have a cup of tea or coffee?”

  “Coffee with milk, no sugar, please,” Mr Abe said.

  “Babe, tea for me as usual.”

  “はい。” I went back to the kitchen.

  I put the tea, coffee, and some mochi that I found in the fridge on a tray; then taking the tray to the study. The telephone rang.

  “I’ll get it,” Shinkichi said and picked up the phone. He spoke in English.

  My ears were peeled as my instinct told me that the call was not local, it might be about me. By the time I put the tray on a desk, and gave the cup of coffee to Mr Abe, the call was already ended.

  “Babe, it was Missus Shilbury on the phone. She said Mister Huang tried to get in touch with you,” Shinkichi said, taking the cup of tea from my hands.

  “Oh… but you don’t want me to talk to Mister Huang, do you?”

  “We can use a public phone to call him,” Shinkichi suggested.

  “I thought you didn’t want me to have anything to do with him?”

  “No, I don’t. But you need to take control of the Yuwen Estate.”

  “Do you want me to fire him?” I tried to read Shinkichi’s mind.

  “Yes, we’ll do that when we’re ready. For the time being, let’s learn about the operations of the Yuwen Estate and Yuwen Foundation.”

  “Okay, let’s go.” I walked towards the door.

  “Babe, you’re still wearing the same clothes of yesterday.”

  “But I don’t have any other clothes.”

  “Yes, you do. Mum has given you two kimonos.”

  So, I'm not out of his sight even at his own home. “Oh… my god, I don’t even know how to wear them.”

  “I’ll help you,” Shinkichi said, putting his cup of tea on the tray. “Dad, please excuse me.”

  “No problem. Go and teach her,” Mr Abe said.

  We left the study, and went upstairs.

  “Wait for me in your room. I’ll be there in a minute,” Shinkichi said and went into his bedroom.

  A few minutes later, he came to me, carrying a black kimono.

  “Am I wearing this kimono today?” I asked, staring at the kimono in his hand.

  “No, this isn't your kimono. It's my kimono.” Shinkichi went to the wardrobe, and took the houmongi kimono and other clothes out of a drawer. “Take off all your clothes and put these on.”

  “All my clothes? Including underwear?” I asked him.

  “Usually you don’t wear underwear with kimonos, but you can leave your undies on if you like.”

  So, I kept my undies on.

  “Pay attention to how I do it. You’ll have to put it on yourself next time,” he said, holding up a kimono underdress behind me.

  “Yes, boss.” I put my arms into the sleeves of the underdress.

  Shinkichi tied a sash on the underdress and put the kimono over it, then an inner belt around my waist. He put an obi over the inner belt, circled the obi around my waist twice; and tied the remaining obi into knots of three flowers at my back. An oval shape obi-makura (belt buckle) which was wrapped in a salmon-coloured obi-age (top sash) was used to hold the flower knots upright. Then he used the end of the obi to make one more knot of flowers and completed the job by tying an obi-jime on the obi.

  “It’s all done, babe,” he said in a tone of satisfaction.

  I sat down on the tatami and put on a pair of white tabi.

  “Stand up and turn around,” Shinkichi ordered.

  I got up and turned slowly in a full circle.

  Shinkichi came closer, and brushed my hair with his fingers, putting a beautiful multi-coloured pin into my hair. “I want to marry you now,” he whispered.

  “Did you promise your father something you shouldn’t?”

  “No, I didn’t promise Dad things I shouldn’t. I’ve waited long enough.”

  “I don’t even know if I’ll be alive tomorrow,” I said with fear in my voice.

  “I’ll make sure you’re alive tomorrow, marry me and live as long as I do.” He kissed my forehead.

  Shinkichi took off his tracksuit, and put on his black kimono quickly; then walked towards the door. “Come, let’s go to sort out the Huang business, then set our wedding date.”

  I followed him downstairs, carrying a pair of zori and a matching handbag.

  “Are you going out?” Mrs Abe greeted us at the bottom of the stairs.

  “Yes, Mum. We’re going to the shops,” Shinkichi replied.

  “Shinkichi, Attorney Matsuda is coming to see you both this evening,” Mr Abe said, popping his head out of the study.

  “Also, Junko’s fiancé and his parents are coming over for dinner tonight.” Mrs Abe added.

  “Don’t worry, Mum and Dad. We’ll be back before dinner,” Shinkichi said.

  “いってきます！” (We are going now but do not worry, we will be back safely.) we said to them, walking towards the door.

  “いってらっしゃい！” (Do come back safely.) Mr and Mrs Abe said, watching until we were outside.

  Our first stop was the Australian Consulate-General, in Osaka.

  “Ma’am, my girlfriend has lost her bank cards. Can you help?” Shinkichi asked a woman at the reception.

  “Yes, of course.” She gave me a form to fill in, then took us to a man in a black business suit and grey tie.

  “Do you have your passport with you?” the man asked me.

  I handed him my passport. The man checked, then connected me to my bank in Australia.

  After sorting out my banking business, we went to a phone booth outside a department store. The booth was very small, but Shinkichi insisted on getting inside with me. So, we squeezed ourselves together to fit inside.

  “I’m so glad you’re not hurt,” Huang said, as soon as he came to the phone.

  “It was a lucky escape, Uncle Huang.” I tried to be cheerful about it.

  “Are you well enough to meet me in Seoul, my Princess?” Huang asked.
<
br />   “What for?”

  “For an antique auction, the Jade Seal maybe there,” Huang said.

  “How do you know the Jade Seal maybe there, Uncle Huang?”

  “Ha-ha, ha-ha; I said 'maybe', but we shouldn’t let go of any opportunity to find the Jade Seal. This antique auction is one of these opportunities.”

  Shinkichi motioned for me to accept the invitation.

  “Okay, I’ll meet you there.” I put the phone down.

  We wriggled out of the phone booth.

  “Why do you want me to meet him in Seoul? Have you changed your mind about him?” I asked Shinkichi.

  “No, I haven’t changed my opinion on Huang; but my dad is right, if the Jade Seal is important to you, I must support you. You’re not going to there without me, are you?” he looked down at me.

  “Gosh, I didn’t say I’m going there on my own,” I said, looking up at him.

  Shinkichi grinned, and gave me a kiss on my forehead. “I’ll let Sean know about this, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  “Let’s go shopping.” He took my hand.

  We walked into various shops and bought some Western-style clothes and shoes for me. When we came home with our hands full, the house was also full, not with shopping but with people.

  Shinkichi’s younger brother, Shinzō ran to hug him. “お元気ですか, 兄。” (How are you, my older brother?)

  “元気です, 弟。” (I am fine, my little brother.)

  “お元気ですか, 義理の妹。” (How are you, my sister-in-law?)

  “はじめました, 私の義理の兄弟。” (Nice to meet you, my brother-in-law.)

  Then, we greeted Junko, her fiancé, Gakuto Eguchi, and Gakuto’s parents.

  “I’m so pleased you’re coming to my wedding,” Junko said, her small eyes becoming two curved lines on her round face in a way that was so like Shinkichi.

  Her long, thick black hair was tied up in a bun at the back of her head; and a pink flower which nicely matched with the obi of her kimono, was pinned into her hair.

  “I’m honored to be at your wedding,” I said.

  “I've heard this is your first visit to Japan,” Gakuto said to me.

  He looked about the same age as Shinkichi; and wore a black business suit with a supermarket logo, appearing to have come here straight from work.

  “Yes, Gakuto-san. This is the first time I’ve visited Japan.”

  “Your Japanese is very good,” Gakuto praised.

  “Of course, her Japanese is very good, because I’m her teacher.” Shinkichi was quick to give himself a gold medal.

  “Ha-ha, ha-ha,” we laughed at Shinkichi’s vanity.

  Dingdong, dingdong; the doorbell rang. Mr Abe went to the door and returned with a man wearing frameless glasses, who was almost the height as Shinkichi.

  “Shinkichi, I heard you’ve come home with a bride,” the man said, looking at Shinzō.

  “Matsuda-san, I’m Shinzō.”

  At 22 years old, Shinzō was of similar height and body build to Shinkichi, and also wore a black kimono.

  Matsuda ran his fingers through his salt-and-pepper hair, staring at Shinkichi and Shinzō. “Abe-san, do you have twins?” he joked.

  “Mum and Dad don’t have twins. I’m four years older, fitter and tanner,” Shinkichi pulled up the sleeves of his kimono to show off his tanned skin.

  “Ha-ha, ha-ha; he’s given himself another gold medal,” we laughed again.

  “Matsuda-san, Shinkichi and Yuuko-chan, please come to the study.” Mr Abe called us for a meeting.

  We excused ourselves and went into the study. Matsuda had been a close friend of Mr Abe and taken care of the Abe’s legal matters for many years. He offered to be my attorney. I felt a great weight being taken off my shoulders. We immediately worked on a plan to protect my inheritance.

  “Everyone, dinner is ready,” Mrs Abe called out.

  We took our seats at the dining table. As the bridegroom-to-be, Gakuto served the first round of sake for everyone. Although not as tall as Shinkichi, Gakuto was handsome with short black hair and small, dark-brown eyes. His pale skin and slim build made him a perfect match to Junko.

  His parents, wearing formal black kimonos, were quiet but could not conceal their joy at the union of the two families.

  After the first round of sake and appetizer, Mrs Abe and Junko served the main course to everyone: miso soup, rice, pickled bean sprouts, roasted fish, tempura prawns and vegetables.

  The joy of family union was like a light in the darkest moment of my life. Sean was right, a safe place can help me to decide what to do next. I picked up a bottle of sake from the table and filled Shinkichi's cup.

  Shinkichi raised his cup. "Everyone, let's give this toast to my bride-in-waiting," he said, the others followed him, and cheered.

  CHAPTER 12

  The following morning, Shinkichi and I flew to Hokkaido by Japan Air, arriving in Sapporo after about a two-hour flight. We then hired a car and drove to Rausu located on the Shiretoko Peninsula at the eastern end of Hokkaido, a small town of only a few thousand people.

  In the evening, we reached a small wooden house at the edge of an open field off the main road. The house was like something out of a Christmas greeting card where snow covered its roof and verandah, and warm lights shone through the windows. We parked the car in front of a low fence made by mud bricks; and walked through an ungated opening into the front yard, which was also covered in snow.

  The front door opened; a man with a thick partly grey beard, stood in the warm lights. He was wearing a cotton quilted kimono jacket and boots, not the same type as Mr Abe's kimonos jacket and shoes.

  An Ainu? I thought, staring at him.

  “Good evening, we’re sorry to trouble you, but we’re looking for Kaga Umon-san, caretaker of the Yuwen tomb?” Shinkichi bowed to the big beard man at 15-degree.

  “I’m Kaga Umon. Who are you?” Kaga had a deep voice.

  “I’m Shinkichi Abe. This is my girlfriend, Yuuko Yuwen.”

  I came forward, and bowed at 15-degree. “How do you do, Kaga-san?”

  “Yuwen? Are you related to the Yuwen family?” Kaga stared at me. He seemed to be surprised at hearing the name ‘Yuwen’.

  “Yes, I am,” I said.

  “Yuuko-san, what can I do for you?” Kaga looked up and down at me, as if he was not sure who I truly was.

  “We’d like to visit the Yuwen tomb.”

  “The Yuwen tomb? No Yuwen has been to the tomb for almost twenty years.”

  “Well, we’re here now,” Shinkichi said.

  “If you’re a member of the Yuwen family, I’ll take you to the tomb tomorrow. Please be prepared for a long walk through the forest,” Kaga said. “Please come in, and make yourselves home for the night.”

  He led us into the house, where we met his wife and son. We stayed at the boy’s bedroom for the night. It was a small room, but comfortable and warm.

  In the early morning of the next day, Kaga and his teenage son Eiji put on their rice-straw hat and cape, and snow straw sandals; got into our car; and guided us to Mount Rausu which is located between Shari and Rausu on Shiretoko Peninsula.

  Seventy per cent of the land here was lush mountain forest, not fertile for growing rice or other agricultural produce. For many generations, the Umon family had lived on fish from the sea and cared for a cave in the mountains. This cave was the Yuwen tomb.

  We parked the car at the foot of Mount Rausu, going into the mountain forest on foot. For a strange reason, I felt that we were being watched. Suddenly, a small animal with reddish-brown fur popped out of the snow in front of me.

  “Ah, ah!” I screamed and held onto Shinkichi’s arm tightly.

  “Don’t be afraid, it’s an Ezo red fox. They like to check out humans,” Eiji said.

  The fox stared at us with its tiny brown eyes. I calmed down, and staring back at it. The fur from its mouth to its stomach was actually white in colour and its feet was b
lack. Eiji threw a biscuit into the woods. The fox ran after it like a rocket.

  The higher we went up Mount Rausu, the deeper the snow was under our feet. A few Ezo sika deer ran around us as we walked through the acorn-bearing Mongolian oaks and Japanese stone pines.

  “Dad, it’s abnormal to see sikas so active in winter,” Eiji said to Kaga.

  “Yeah, it’s unusual.” Kaga took the rifle off his shoulder.

  “Dad, look!” Eiji called out aloud.

  Lights were blinking like green stars in a distance ahead of us. When we got closer, we found that winter had mysteriously melted away around a cave. The grass was emerald green, and trees reached the sky.

  Sika deer were playing in front of the cave, blocking the entry. Kaga whistled to them. The sikas parted.

  A big stag with huge antlers stood at the entry of the cave, staring at us with his unusual dark-green eyes. “Ah wow,” the stag roared. The sound of his roar was so deep and strong that I thought we were being greeted by the king of the animal kingdom. He scratched the soil with his hooves, then came and knelt down beside me.

  “Ah… Princess of Xianbei!” Kaga exclaimed, also knelt down in front me; his hands on the floor and his head between his arms, face down. Eiji followed his father immediately.

  “Please do not do this.” I pulled Kaga’s arms, trying to get him up.

  “Your Highness, please forgive me for not recognising you. We’re descendants of Xianbei. We’re your servants,” Kaga said, did not move.

  “Please raise, Kaga-san and Eiji-san.” I said, in a tone of authority.

  They stood up. I patted the stag’s antlers gently, and he stood up, too.

  Shinkichi and I walked into the cave; the stag, Kaga and his young son followed us. A large stone hid deep inside the cave, surrounded by many small stones.

  “That’s the Yuwen stone.” Kaga pointed at the big stone.

  “Kaga-san, have you seen a Jade Seal in the cave?” I asked, squatting to check the small stones.

  “No, I’ve not seen any Jade Seal. Is the Yuwen stone not a piece of jade?” Kaga asked.