Kimono Code by Susannah McFarlane Read Free Book Online

never again. And I couldn’t stop SHADOW from infecting the trees here!’ EJ paused, her mind still swirling with questions. ‘And why would anyone want to do that, anyway?’
    â€˜Perhaps they are sad,’ suggested Akari. ‘Sadness kept inside us can become anger, which can do terrible things.’
    For a moment, EJ’s thoughts flashed back to Nema at school. Is Nema mean because she is sad?
    â€˜Holding onto anger is not good for us,’ continued Akari. ‘It’s like grabbing a hot coal to throw at someone else; you are the one who gets burnt.’
    â€˜At the moment they are winning,’ said EJ glumly.
    â€˜Hmm,’ said Akari, nodding slightly. ‘Often what you see is right in front of you; you just need to be able to see it. And, to see, we need to be calm.’
    â€˜I’m not very good at that,’ admitted EJ.
    â€˜You can learn,’ said Akari. ‘Buddha, a wise teacher, said: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” You have a Buddha charm on your bracelet.’ Akari pointed to the CHARM of a chubby, smiling man before continuing. ‘Let me show you. Close your eyes for a moment, EJ-san.’
    EJ was not sure she had time for this, but she did as Akari told her.
    â€˜Now, take some deep breaths slowly, focus on your breath. Tell yourself, “The sun is warm, the sky is blue.” It takes us to a calm place.’
    â€˜The sun is warm, the sky is blue,’ repeated EJ. She took a breath, and then she breathed out again.
    â€˜Now keep going,’ said Akari.
    EJ sat, breathing in deeply, concentrating on each breath. As she did so, her mind did begin to feel clearer than before. It was like a breeze coming through, blowing away the confusion. She wasn’t sure how long she sat there, but when she opened her eyes her chopstick-cam was in front of her. Calmly, EJ pick up the chopstick, plugged one end into her phone and replayed the video. She watched the geisha in the dark kimono enter through the painted panels. When she spoke, EJ replayed the video and turned up the volume. She made out the words ‘ Kitsune-sensei ’. EJ knew that the Japanese added the word ‘sensei’ to the last name of a person who was a leader or a teacher. So was Kitsune the name of the person behind this?
    EJ took another deep breath and continued to play the video. She watched the tea spill and the geisha leaving. But, when she saw the back of the geisha’s kimono, she paused the player. EJ took a screen shot and enlarged the picture of the back of the kimono. As she looked at it, she remembered the intercepted message: ‘Follow the kimono code.’
    EJ looked at the kimono. Suddenly, all of the clues she had sensed began falling into place. The kimono was the code!

 
    EJ started at the bottom of the kimono and told Akari what she thought its pictures meant.
    â€˜Do you see, it starts at Mount Fuji, the home of the Cherry Blossom Princess, Konohanasakuuyahime . The writer of the first message said she was the new Konohanasakuuyahime , meaning she was now controlling the blossom. Her symbol is the fox, and the kimono shows foxes leaving Mount Fuji.’
    â€˜I see it,’ said Akari.
    â€˜And look,’ continued EJ, pointing to the bottom of Mount Fuji. ‘There are symbols embroidered here.’

    â€˜That is the symbol for kunoichi , the ninjas,’ continued EJ. ‘They are the fox’s kunoichi , the Kitsune-kunoichi , working for Kitsune-sensei to carry out the evil plan. They leave Mount Fuji with these leaves, which, when put in contact with the trees, blocks the blossom. See, the leaves are swirling around the bare branches of cherry blossom. The last intercepted message was calling them back to Mount Fuji to collect more Blossom Block to take to Tokyo.’
    â€˜I’m impressed, EJ,’ said Akari. ‘Foxes in Japanese legend are magical spirits who often