Page 29 of All That Has Flown Beyond
“Let’s have some tea, shall we?”
Kaiyo sat at a long table underneath drying lavender. He looked around nervously as she prepared the drink. He tried to clear his mind from the creeping doubts taking over it.
She set out the cups and teapot, pouring the green tea with care. Once she had sat down, she looked at him silently. All Kaiyo could do was look back, taking in the faint lines of her face, the white streaked through her straight hair.
“Well. How about we get to know each other?” she said, holding out her hand. Kaiyo took a subtle breath as he placed his hand in hers. He knew she didn’t mean with words.
They closed their eyes. Kaiyo took another deep breath. He let his thoughts trickle out. He felt himself be. Ousía was invisible but apparent, like thoughts or dreams or emotions. Tied…but intangible to him.
He opened himself up to Akiko and let himself feel her presence. Her Ousía was strong and ordered. Graceful. They sensed each other for a moment.
“What does your Ousía feel like to you?” Akiko asked from beyond the darkness of his closed eyes. He furrowed his brows, trying to find the words to explain it.
“Like a loose sail flapping in the wind,” he replied. She hummed and let go of his hand.
“I think that’s enough for now,” she said. Kaiyo opened his eyes, wondering how his Ousía had felt toher.
“I am currently in need of an apprentice. Is that something you would be interested in?” Akiko asked, taking a sip of the still-scalding drink. Kaiyo blinked at her in surprise.
“I…I mean, I wouldn’t presume…”
“I am not asking you to presume. I’m asking you what you’re looking for.”
“Well. I mean. Why…I mean. We’ve only just met. Why would you want me as an apprentice?”
“You tell me,” Akiko replied, amusement playing on the edges of her lips. Kaiyo’s eyebrows twitched down for a moment.
“I don’t know.” Kaiyo stared at his drink. The silence stretched. “I…because you knew my dad?”
“Why would that affect who I want as an apprentice? I have met many people in my life.”
“I…I don’t know.” Kaiyo let the silence fall.
“I am sorry for the loss of your father, but did he teach you nothing whilst he was alive?” Akiko asked casually.
Kaiyo looked up, annoyance mixing with confusion. Akiko raised her thin eyebrows. Kaiyo pressed his lips together. Akiko’s amusement seemed only to grow.
“Okay,” she said. “Imagine I have a sandwich.”
“Okay…” Kaiyo said, deciding to just follow the current of the conversation.
“There are two people in front of me whom I can give the sandwich to. One is a man poor in money. He would not be able to finance a sandwich as good as mine. He is hungry and malnourished. It has been a while since he had such a good meal.
“The other is a man rich in money. He could easily buy a sandwich. He is well fed. His last meal was only a few hours ago. He is hungry and wants my sandwich, but he isn’t starving like the poor man is. How much is my sandwich worth?”
Kaiyo looked at Akiko’s questioning face, fighting the ridiculous urge to laugh.
“Um…”
“Do not try to answer what you think I want to hear. Tell me what you truly think.”
“Um…well, I think you should give the sandwich to the poor man for free?”
“For free? So the sandwich has no value.”
“Well, no. It does, but…I mean, the guy is starving, so…”
“What about me? Maybe I’m starving.”
