Kimono Code by Susannah McFarlane Read Free Book Online Page A

use their cunning to trick people. The more tails they have, the cleverer they are. They were believed to change their form and were often disguised as women.’
    â€˜And they are,’ said EJ. ‘The geisha in the dark kimonos are not real geisha. They are the kunoichi in disguise. It’s the perfect disguise at cherry blossom festival time! They mix the poison as part of the tea ceremony and then take it out to the trees. That’s why they are always walking around.’
    â€˜But, how are they getting it onto the trees?’ asked Akari.
    â€˜I still need to find that out,’ said EJ. ‘The answer will be back at the tea-house, I’m sure of it. I think I can save the last uninfected group of trees here, and then I need to go to Mount Fuji. That’s where I will find the mastermind of all this— Kitsune-sense i.’
    â€˜Hmmm,’ wondered, Akari. ‘I was on a mission once with GM80 and—’
    â€˜You were?’ said EJ, cutting her off excitedly. ‘With my grandmother?’
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ said Akari. ‘We foiled the plan of a beautiful but evil scientist, Kuramiko Kitsune. She always wore a kimono with a green-eyed fox. She was trying to steal inventions from the SHINE laboratory. We stopped her, but she escaped. We never heard from her again.’
    â€˜ Kitsune , fox,’ said EJ. ‘I think we have now.’
    â€˜It would seem so,’ agreed Akari. ‘Be careful, EJ. She is not only a brilliant scientist, but also she is a black belt in karate. Here, EJ-san, take this.’
    Akari gave EJ a simple bracelet of small brown wooden balls. As EJ looked at it closely, she could see that a Japanese symbol was painted on each ball.

    â€˜What is written on the balls?’ asked EJ.
    â€˜ Shizuka ,’ replied Akari. ‘It means calm, peaceful. You can’t always be near a beautiful garden, but wearing this may help you to remember to be still and to calm your mind.’
    â€˜Thank you, Akari-sensei,’ said EJ as she put it on next to her CHARM bracelet. EJ hoped that Akari would also show her a karate move that might help her against Kuramiko—and Nema back at home.
    â€˜One more thing, EJ-san,’ said Akari. ‘In karate, we use our opponent’s force against them rather than attacking them directly. Ju yoko go oseisu , gentleness controls hardness. When you understand that, you see how it is possible for something small to defeat something big. Remember, EJ-san. And remember, once you do save the blossom, which I know you will, take time to enjoy it.’
    EJ wasn’t as confident as Akari that she would succeed, but she bowed to Akari anyway. ‘I will. And thank you,’ she said. ‘Thank you for everything. Now I need to get to that tea-house.’
    â€˜How will you get in?’ asked Akari.
    â€˜I can play the disguise game too,’ said EJ, smiling as she sent a message to SHINE HQ.

 
    EJ went straight to the kimono shop EW12 had told her about. She was about to walk in when she heard someone speak.
    â€˜Have you taken any good photos of chocolate bars?’
    The voice seemed to be coming from a life-sized doll dressed in a yellow kimono outside the shop. EJ moved closer.
    â€˜Oh, yes,’ she whispered. ‘I must show you my jelly crunch pictures.’
    â€˜EJ12, I’m Agent JV12, Surveillance Division,’ said the girl from the side of her mouth. ‘A1 has updated me. We have your kimono ready. There’s something else.’
    â€˜What’s that, JV12?’
    â€˜A large group of geisha, maybe twenty, have just left the tea-house. They were all wearing the fox-and-tree kimonos, like in the photo you sent to A1.’
    â€˜Then that’s my opportunity to get in there,’ said EJ.
    â€˜Ask for the red cherry-blossom kimono,’ said JV12.
    â€˜Thanks, JV12,’ replied EJ. ‘Keep watch.’
    EJ approached the lady at the