True Blue 4 - Cherry Blossom Pink 4 - Peach 15 - Paint by Numbers - Acrylic - Bichromatic

[dark_kana]

Name: Kana
Title: Returning
Story: Circle never ends
Characters: Freya, Nick, Ayame, Asumi, Izumi
Colors: True Blue 4 Family Friend – Cherry Blossom Pink 4 Wabi-sabi – Peach 15 Hey don’t take all the credit, I helped too
Supplies and Styles: Paint by number (from subluxate : “I am le tired” “Then take a nap”) – Acrylic (http://daily-prompt.dreamwidth.org/227394.html#cutid1) - Bichromatic
Word count: 1158
Rating: PG
Summary: Freya and the other of ju-jitsu arrive in Japan.
Notes: Constructive criticism is, as always, welcome
Freya is part Japanese. Mentions of Japanese culture. If I'm saying things that aren't correct, please, let me know.
Can I have a color tag for Peach please. ^^




Freya smiles when they enter the house they are staying at. The entire group is silent. Looking in awe at the buildings. The neighborhood they are in, is one of the oldest in town. Some of the women are still walking around in typical kimono. Even some of the men are still wearing traditional clothes. The only thing missing is the fact that no one is carrying a katana - a long Japanese sword out of the old days. It’s still intriguing for the European ju-jitsuka’s.

“Freya, why do I have the feeling you are not impressed at all?”

She can hear the reproach in Rob’s voice. Sees the non-understanding on the faces of the others. Only Nick seems to think nothing is wrong.

“My mother is Japanese.”

Everyone looks at her in surprise. Except for Nick.

“As far as looks are concerned, I take after my father. No one would ever think I have Japanese blood running through my veins. Though I have my mother’s character. Kinda.”

“So, you’ve often been to Japan?”

She nods.

“Yeah. Even though my mother’s family did not approve of her marriage. But we come here every year. At least twice. Sometimes more. It depends.”

Looking around she opens one of the shoji.

“Freya. You can’t do that.”

Sensei sounds nervous. Looking aside she sees a Japanese woman approach. Smiling kindly at all of them. Acting as if she hasn’t noticed the opened Shoji.

Smiling Freya puts her bag inside the room before stepping forward to greet the woman. “Konnichiwa Izumi-obasan.”

She bows a little, her hands clasped together in front of her.

“Konnichiwa Freya-chan.”

Japanese courtesy doesn’t allow many emotions to be displayed in public, but Freya can hear it – perhaps she’s the only one of their group who can – the pleasant surprise of recognition when Izumi returns her greeting.

Gently the woman takes Freya’s hands in her own.

“Okaerinasai.”

Freya smiles, she is very happy to be back. Her instinct tells her to hug her aunt. She knows though that it would not be appreciated.

“Obasan. These are my friends.”

The woman bows to them and at Freya’s signal they bow back.

“I will show you to your rooms. And hai Freya-chan, you can take yours. I see you’ve already put your bag in there.”

She smiles when she hears the tone in Izumi’s voice. “Gomen ne Obasan.”

-

"Freya!!!"

Smiling she turns around when she recognizes the voice behind her. Sees how Ayame comes running towards her. Arms open.

"Ayame!"

She braces herself when she sees her friend has no intention of stopping running. She ignores the surprised looks her friends from ju-jitsu shoot her when she hugs the Japanese girl.

"How are you? It's been so long..."

"I'm fine. How are you? It has been long indeed."

They are talking through each other and with each other and no one understands how they can comprehend a word they are saying to one other, but apparently they can.

"Ayame. These are my friends. We train together."

Her friend snorts laughingly.

"Training you say. You fight..."

Freya rolls her eyes and turns to the others.

"Guys, this is Ayame. A really good friend of mine. Our families are really close and I've known her for years. How long already?"

Ayame slings her arm around Freya's shoulder. Leaning against her. "Uhm... How old were we? 5?"

-

"Ayame was the one who send you the paper lantern, wasn't she?"

Freya nods while she arranges the room a little. "Yeah. Did I already tell you she has a little sister?"

Looking up she sees Nick shake his head.

"Asumi. Three years younger."

"Freya-san."

Turning her head towards the opened Shoji, she sees Asumi. Smiling she stands up and walks over to her. Hugging the girl carefully.

"Asumi-san. How are you?"

"I'm fine."

There is something in the girl's voice that makes Freya doubt the answer. "Asumi?"

The girl smiles reassuringly. "It's okay. Just had a little fight with Ayame."

Surprised Freya looks at her. "What about?"

Asumi looks down at the package she is holding. Freya follows her gaze.

"It is for you. Ayame made it. I painted it."

She gives the present. "Wha..."

Her friend just smiles when seeing the confusion on Freya's face.

"Just. Just open it. I really hope you'll like it."

Carefully Freya unwraps it. Holding out a ceramic bowl. Self made. Completely. From clay to this. The painting is very simple. Very fragile. It's what makes it so beautiful, makes it perfect. The entire bowl is painted black. It has a soft shine. It is decorated with small white flowers.

"Wow. Asumi."

There is so much more she wants to say. But she just can't find any words to express it.

"It's beautiful."

Looking up - she ignores that there are tears shimmering in her eyes - she sees the happy look on Asumi's face.

"But. Why?"

Freya hands the bowl to Nick who came to stand right next to her. She can see the wonder on his face.

"Because. Ayame was busy one day. She and pottery, you know her."

The comment makes Freya chuckle.

"And she was making these bowls. When I entered the room, she had just finished this one."

"And I asked Asumi if she could paint it for you. I know how much you've wanted a simple bowl and how you couldn't really find one you liked."

Surprised Asumi turns to face her sister when she suddenly speaks up. Of course Freya had seen Ayame arrive a couple of minutes ago.

Neither of them says anything, but it is clearly that - whatever it was between them - the problems had been solved.

"Thank you! Both of you! It's... amazing. It's perfect!"

She sees the doubt still in Asumi's eyes. "But it's not perfect. There are..."

The smile on Freya's face makes her fall silent.

"That's what makes it perfect."

She hugs both her friends.

-

"I think I'm going to kick you guys out of my room."

Nick, Ayame and Asumi turn to look at her.

"Oy. You promised to help me train some of these new techniques sensei showed us."

Freya pouts and gives him - what he calls - puppy dog eyes. "But I am tired Nick..."

Her voice is whining and she hugs her pillow to stress her words. It makes him sigh softly - playfully - and roll his eyes.

"Alright. Then take a nap."

She smiles gratefully and blows him a kiss.

"And then you'll help me practice."

Freya laughs. More for the look on the faces of Ayame and Asumi than for his words.

"Deal. Now out. All of you. I'm going to sleep."

Nick gives her a quick kiss on her cheek and leaves the room. Freya hugs her two friends before they walk out as well. Ayame holds still in the doorway for a second.

"You love him. Don't you?"

Surprised Freya looks up. Eyes locking. She doesn't even need to answer. Ayame nods once and walks away.

Comments

[finch]

Is this a modern story or a historical? I'm guessing modern but I wanted to check. I'm surprised Freya never mentioned to her classmates that she spoke Japanese or knew their hosts. Is she embarrassed by her heritage?

Btw I'm pretty sure the plural of words like kimono is just kimono.

[dark_kana]

It's a modern one. ^^
And, she's not embarrassed by her heritage. Not at all in fact. But, she has these dreams, and that makes it very difficult to talk about it.
I hope you don't mind that I still keep that bit a bit mystery. :-)

Thanks, I've changed it. ^^

[finch]

Of course I don't mind, you're the writer. ;) Just letting you know what I'm thinking as a reader.

[dark_kana]

^^ And your opinion is greatly appreciated.

[isana]

I'm not Japanese, but I've studied and worked there for two years, so take what I have to say with a grain of salt. ;)

I dunno if anyone would be necessarily carrying around a katana in modern-day Japan, not without eliciting stares, since it's a weapon, after all (unless they're on a film set in Kyoto, that is!). There's some people who still wear kimono now and then as everyday wear, though, but it wouldn't be everybody. But if they're in an old-timey area, there's kimono rental places where tourists can try them on and walk around. :) (I tried it once--it's a lot of fun!)

I'm impressed by the Japanese you put in here, though--the greetings and the suffixes are pretty much right on! I assume Izumi knows Freya rather well to be addressing her as "-chan," but is she Ayame and Asumi's mother? If she is, she probably would be addressed as "auntie" or "oba-san" instead.

And awww. The friendship between Freya, Ayame and Asumi is really adorable. I like when friendships like that last very long.

[dark_kana]

Oh wow, I wish I've had the opportunity to study and work in Japan...
Thank you so much for this comment!

Well, they are indeed in an old-time area, where some still wear kimono as everyday wear. But you are very right to point out that not everyone is wearing it. ^^ Thanks. ^^
Oh, I did not know about the kimono rental places for tourists. It sounds like fun! :-)

I was rather nervous when adding the Japanese, to be honest. (Should I place notes at the end of the story with translations? Or is it okay like this?)
Izumi does indeed know Freya really well. Izumi is actually the sister of Freya's mother (and yes, she is the mother of Ayame and Asumi), so she is indeed Freya's aunt. Thanks for pointing that out, I hadn't thought about that.

I tried to portret their friendship based on the friendship between me and my 2 BFF, so I'm glad it came across as a real strong friendship that lasts a long while. :-)

[isana]

Hmm. If they're in an old-time area, the majority of people would still be in Western clothing--the ones still in kimono, if not tourists, will be working in shops and/or cafes, based on my experience? (Unless they're geisha or maiko-apprentice geisha-and then they'll be in the streets at night, but they're rare finds. But that's only if Freya and co. are staying in Kyoto. I get the idea that this is a smaller town.)

(Thanks! It really was fun, even if the kimono was hard to wear in summer weather.)

Should I place notes at the end of the story with translations? Or is it okay like this?

Up to you? The 'okaerinasai,' maybe (although reading that again it does sound a little odd, although Izumi's meaning is clear.) I assume mostly everyone else here can understand the "-chan" and "-san" suffixes well enough, though.

I should probably note that in Japanese (and Chinese) culture, any woman that's in your parents' generation can be called "aunt." :) But yes, then Izumi ought to be called "Izumi-obasan," or just "obasan." "Obaasan," on the other hand, is for grandmothers/elderly ladies, so be careful. ;)

Also, I'm curious: when Freya mentions she's half-Japanese but takes after her non-Japanese father, does that mean she looks completely European, or did she wind up with some features that might have hinted, like dark hair/dark eyes? I have half-Asian cousins who don't look Asian (father is American), but they don't look white, either, so.

[dark_kana]

It is indeed a smaller town. But thank you for all this information! I might use it in another drabble. :-)

any woman that's in your parents' generation can be called "aunt."
Really? I did not know that. So Izumi-obasan. ^^
Funny how one little letter - Obasan and Obaasan - can make such a huge difference in meaning. ^^

Freya does indeed look completely European, not a hint of Asian. She has light brown hair and green eyes - like her father, and rather pale skin. ^^

[isana]

No problem! You might want to check out a place called Kawagoe, then--not as big as Kyoto or Kamakura, but it's definitely got that "back-in-time" feel to it. It's actually where I got to try on kimonos with my friend when I was there!

Oh, yeah. You really have to be careful with how long you hold the "a" sound, or you wind up with some really awkward moments. (I haven't done that before, but I've accidentally spoken crudely to co-workers!)

Wow, completely European? That's rare! All of the half-Asian people I know look somewhat Asian, although not completely, of course. (I have to revise my statement above with respect to my cousins--it's their coloring and features that keep them from looking completely white.)

[dark_kana]

Oh, thank you! That place looks wonderful! ^^

Well, I might have changed my mind a little. Black hair instead of ligth brown. And brown eyes instead of green. But still, when you look at her, you'll think her European and not Asian. ^^

[isana]

If you ever have the chance to visit Japan, you should definitely visit! It's not very far from Tokyo, so it would make a great day trip, I think. My friend and I had a terrific time. :)

Fair enough! Some half-Asians look European at first glance, and then you don't really notice the details until they tell you or when you really look at their faces. (Once you get to 1/4 Asian, then they pretty much start looking white.)

[dark_kana]

If I ever make it to Japan (I'm still hoping one day I will ^^) I'll definately visit it!

I actually have a question. Nieces, like Freya and Ayame, do they still use the suffixes when they talk to each other?

[isana]

If they're cousins, then no, they don't have to use the suffixes, assuming they're around the same age. "-chan" is reserved for close friends/family, but if they're close, no suffixes are necessary. If one's older, then that's a different story--the younger one should use "-san," but, again, depends on the cousin being addressed. Again, if they're close, formality may not be an issue, so there could be room to bend the rules.

If they're aunt and niece, though, niece should probably be appending "-san" whenever she addresses the aunt, at the very least, or be calling her "obasan." The aunt can either use the niece's name (no suffixes) or address her as "-chan" as well.

[dark_kana]

Right! Thank you so much for the information!
They are indeed very close and around the same age, so... ^^

[bookblather]

Aww, what a lovely friendship.

[dark_kana]

:-) Thank you. I must admit, I based this friendship on me and my 2 BFF. (though we do not live so far apart... 10 minutes by bike? :p)