Storm (27 page)

I flushed darker. But the drawing hadn’t been crude or pervy. It had been in a delicate fine-art style, like something you’d see in a museum. I felt a rush of gratitude, that he could see such beauty in me the way I saw it in him. “They’re beautiful,” I said. “You’re so talented.”

His face was as red as an
umeboshi
plum. “Not really.”

I bumped my shoulder into his, a faint wave of pain emanating from the kirin bruise that was now fading. “Don’t be so modest. But stay off your wrist now, okay? You need to write your entrance exams to get into art school.”

“I know.” We sat for a minute. I couldn’t stop thinking about the drawing. I wanted to kiss him all over. “How was kendo practice?” he asked, and the question jolted me out of it.

“Fine,” I said.

“Did you beat Satoshi to a pulp?” He grinned.

“Satoshi wasn’t there.”

Tomo leaned his head back. “Huh. So he is, after all.”

“Is what?”

“He told me he was enrolling in a cram school,” Tomo said. “He wants to take entrance exams.”

I gaped. “Seriously?”

Tomo nodded. “It’s probably too late for this year. But some schools have retakes in the summer. He might be able to get it together by then.”

What happened had really changed all of our lives, sent us spinning off in directions we hadn’t known we could go.

“And you?” he said.

“Me? What about me?”

“Are you... Are you going back to America?”

Dad had called again over the weekend to invite me back. He hadn’t mentioned the Kami to Diane—would she even believe him? But he kept sending me emails, photos of the lake, insisting I would have fun.

The lake was beautiful, even if it came with a lot of family drama to work through. I missed my life on the western side of the world, where I never culturally goofed or said the wrong thing without realizing. With everything that had happened, I had to pull a miracle by February or international school was probably in my future.

But so what? Tomo wouldn’t be at Suntaba next year, anyway. And I could still see Yuki and Tanaka outside of school. Maybe international school wouldn’t be so bad.

“I don’t know what’ll happen,” I said. “But right now, my home is here in Shizuoka. With you.”

He looked up, a shy smile spreading across his face. His fingers trailed over my arm and linked with mine. I could see the scars that trailed up his other arm, crisscrossing with one another in a history map that was uniquely his.

“None of them have come off the page, you know,” he said.

“Hmm?”

“The drawings.” He’d seen me looking at his scars. “They haven’t attacked, not even one. They still move, but the darkness in them is sleeping. I can feel it.”

“And the nightmares?”

“I still get them sometimes,” he said. “But I also get new dreams. Amaterasu and Tsukiyomi walking along the Heavenly Bridge together, flocks of ravens circling them, things like that.”

“Nice.” I smiled.

“Katie,” he said, his eyes filled with worry. “He’s still in there, you know. The darkness is still there.”

Of course. Because as long as Tomo lived, the threat of Tsukiyomi resurfacing existed. “You can’t help it,” I said. “You’re descended from Tsukiyomi, and from Amaterasu. You have light and darkness both in you.”

He lay back on his bed, staring at his ceiling. “Yeah. But I was thinking. So does everyone.” I lay back beside him, and he pressed his warm shoulder against mine, our fingers still twisted together. He held up our entwined fingers, turning them gently in the beam of light from his window. “There’s a darkness in my heart. And I’ll fight it for the rest of my life.” He squeezed my fingers. “I’m glad we’re fighting together.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Me, too.”

I didn’t know if the darkness would ever waken in him, if it would slumber forever now the cycle had been broken. But I knew Tomo would fight it as he always had, that we would carve out the fate we wanted, that we would cleave the past from the future.

I knew that it was worth everything to fight.

And I knew that nothing could stop us.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from
RAIN
by Amanda Sun.

Abunai:

“It’s dangerous” or “Watch out!” (
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)

Ano ne:

“Listen, okay?” (
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)

Arigatou:

“Thank you” (
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)

(Aru)baito:

A part-time job (
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)

Atama wo Sagete:

“Lower your head” (
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)

Chan:

Suffix used for girlfriends or those younger than the speaker (
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)

Chawan:

The special teacup used in a tea ceremony (
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)

Che:

“Damn it!” (
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)

Chigau:

Literally “It’s different,” or “It’s not like that,” but it’s used as a more polite way to say “No” (
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)

Conbini:

A convenience store (
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)

Daijoubu:

“Are you all right?” or “I’m/It’s all right” (
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)

Dame:

“It’s bad.” Used to tell someone not to do or say something

Dekiru zo:

“You can do it.” Slang used by male speakers (
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)

Depaato:

A department store (
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)

Dou:

“How is it?” (
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)

Doushita:

“What happened?” (
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)

Ee:

Can be used when one is surprised, impressed or simply listening and processing what someone is saying. Roughly translates to “Is that so?” (
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)

Ee to:

“Um,” means the speaker is thinking of what to say (
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)

Faito:

An encouraging phrase meaning to fight with one’s might or do one’s best (
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)

Furin:

A traditional Japanese wind chime (
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)

Gaijin:

A person from a foreign country (
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)

Genkan:

The foyer or entrance of a Japanese building. Usually the floor of the
genkan
is lower than the rest of the building, to keep shoes and outside things separate from the clean raised floor inside. (
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)

Genki:

In good health or spirits (
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)

Genmai:

Roasted brown rice tea (
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)

Geta:

Traditional Japanese sandals that vaguely resemble flip-flops. Usually worn with a yukata or kimono (
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)

Gomen:

“I’m sorry.” Also used to refuse a date request (
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)

Hai:

“Yes,” but usually used to let the speaker know you’re paying attention (
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)

Hai, kochira desu:

“Yes, this person/this place” (
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)

Hakama:

The pleated skirt-like clothing worn by
kendouka
(
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)

Hanabi:

Fireworks (
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)

Happi:

A special coat worn during festivals (
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)

Hidoi:

Mean or harsh (
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)

Hontou ka:

“For real?” (
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)

Ikuze:

“Let’s go,” said in a tough slang (
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)

Inugami:

A dog demon from Shinto tradition. Known for their uncontrollable wrath and murderous instincts. (
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)

Irrashaimase:

A welcome greeting by store clerks (
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)

Isami:

Courage (
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)

Itadakimasu:

“I’m going to receive.” Said before a meal like
“bon appétit”
(
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)

I-te/Itai:

“Ouch” or “It hurts” (
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)

Itterasshai:

“Go (and come back) safely,” said to the one leaving home (
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)

Jikan de gozaimasu:

“It’s time.” Very polite Japanese (
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)

Kakigori:

Shaved ice with syrup, much like a snow cone (
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)

Kamaboko:

Fish cake (
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)

Kapparu:

“Couple,” a dating couple

Kashikomarimashita:

“I understand,” said by waiters taking orders (
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)

Kawaii:

“So cute!” (
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)

Keitai:

Cell phone (
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)

Kendouka:

A kendo participant (
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)

Kirin:

A traditional Asian unicorn. “Kirin” is also a homophone for “giraffe.” (
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)

Kotatsu:

A heated table used in Japanese homes in the winter (
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)

Kouchou:

A school headmaster or principal (
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)

Kouhai:

A fellow student younger than the speaker (
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)

Kun:

Suffix generally used for guy friends (
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)

Kuromoji:

A bamboo stick used to eat traditional Japanese sweets (
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)

Kusanagi no Tsurugi:

The sword of legend, one of the Imperial Treasures of Japan (
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)

Maa:

“Well,” but it can be used as a subtle way of affirming something (“Well, yes”) (
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)

Machinasai:

“Wait,” said as an order (
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)

Maji de:

“That’s impossible” (
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)

Matte:

“Wait” (
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)

Momiji:

Maple (
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)

Moshi mosh(i):

“Hello?” Said when answering the phone (
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)

Moushi wake gozaimasen:

Literally “There is no excuse.” A very formal apology. (
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)

Muri:

Something impossible, or unreasonable; a bad idea (
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Ne:

“Isn’t it?” It can also be used as “Hey,” to get someone’s attention. (
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)

O temae choudai itashimasu:

“Thank you for making the tea,” said during tea ceremonies (
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)

Obasan:

“Aunt,” or said to an older stranger to be polite (
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)

Ofuda:

A Shinto scroll traditionally said to exorcise demons (
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)

Ohayo:

“Good morning” (
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)

Okaeri:

“Welcome back,” said when someone returns home (
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)

Oi:

“Hey” (
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)

Oni:

A Japanese demon (
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)

(O)tousan:

A polite term for father. It’s more polite than Tousan

Ryokan:

A traditional Japanese inn (
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)

Sama:

A suffix used to raise the person to an honorific status (
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)

San:

A polite suffix used for people you don’t know well, or those older than you (
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)

Sankyu:

“Thank you” (
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)

Sanshu no Jingi:

The Imperial Treasures of Japan: the sword, the jewel and the mirror (
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)

Senpai:

A fellow student older than the speaker (
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)

Shikari shite:

“Get ahold of yourself,” or “Calm down” (
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)

Shinai:

A sword made of bamboo slats tied together, used for kendo (
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)

Shou ga nai:

“It can’t be helped” (
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)

Sore dake:

“That’s all” (
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)

Sou ka:

“Is that right?” (
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)

Sumimasen:

“Sorry” or “Excuse me.” Can also mean “Thank you” in certain contexts. (
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)

Takoyaki:

Breaded balls of octopus, often served at festivals (
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)

Temaki:

A cone-shaped, hand-rolled sushi (
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)

Torii:

Shinto entrance monument to a shrine. The O-Torii is the famous orange gate in front of Itsukushima Shrine. (
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)

Tsugi:

“Next” (
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)

Umeboshi:

A Japanese pickled plum (
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)

Urusai/Uruse:

“Shut up,” or “It’s noisy” (
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)

Uso:

An expression of disbelief, literally “That’s a lie” (
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)

Wakatta:

“I get it,” or “I understand” (
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)

Washi:

A special paper placed under traditional Japanese
wagashi
, or sweets (
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)

Yamata no Kagami:

Amaterasu’s mirror, one of the Imperial Treasures of Japan

Yamenasai:

“Stop,” said as an order (
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)

Yasakani no Magatama:

A crescent-shaped jewel of legend, one of the Imperial Treasures of Japan (
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)

Yatagarasu:

A three-legged raven, the traditional messenger of Amaterasu (
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)

Yatta (ne):

“I did it!” or a general “Yay!” With ne it means “You did it, didn’t you?” Sort of like “Good job!” (
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)

Yoyo tsuri:

A balloon yo-yo, often part of a festival fishing game (
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)

Yukata
:

A lightweight summer kimono (
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)

Yumi:

A Japanese longbow (
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)

Yurusenai yo:

“I won’t forgive you” (
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)

Yuuki:

Bravery or courage (
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)

Zannen:

“What a shame” (
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)