“The early whistling breeze welcomed the last day of August. It was Emperor Taisho’s birthday called Tenchosetsyu or the Tencho Festival taken from the Chinese idiom that means:

 The sky and the earth, the universe is eternal. – Lao Tzu”

“Wow that’s very poetic and deep piece, Koharu!” 

“And just like that idiom, people hope for an eternal life of our emperor too!” the maid replied. 

“Today is considered a holiday, so you don’t need to go to school, my lady,” she added. 

Yumeko’s thoughts were livelier for she did not need to go to school today. She felt the urge of doing something fun on the first holiday of her current memory.

“Koharu! I want to make this day enjoyable! Do you have recommendations? Aside from…”

Yumeko tried to pretend that she knew many places in the town to avoid confusing Koharu.

“Ah, except the Edohouki shop! That shop is best in town, they have awesome brooms made of high-quality great millets! You can sweep it softly and easily!” She said in excitement.

“Broom?!”

“Have you forgotten my lady? You even have the miniature broomcorn in your room. You love their handmade goods!” the maid replied.

“Oh that one! He...he...” she answered unsuspectingly. 

The venturesome young heart definitely did not want to spend her holiday buying another broom, so she asked for a second attempt. 

“Oh! What about that one...” she prolonged to let Koharu answer. 

“That shop!” the maid exclaimed.

Another shop, what is it time? The frustrated Yumeko thought to herself.

“Washi paper shop my lady! They sell beautiful uchiwa and kazari. The best fans in town with its excellent colorful patterns! They have multiple paper products, like Jabari, a zigzag letter writing set. You have plenty of it in your study room!” Koharu continued. 

“I wonder if losing my memory would change all my past interest completely. I felt like an entirely different person. I have no idea if this is a good thing though and I  do not want to buy papers on my rare holidays!”

Yumeko said to herself, as she hoped to hear an exciting recommendation from Koharu.

“My lady?” Koharu wondered if her lady was listening to her.

“Ah yes! Koharu! Those are wonderful things to do! But except shops, is there anything we could go together? You know! Something relaxing! I think holidays are made to let us rest!” Yumeko put on a big smile and tried to convince her more.

Then she realized that her lady do not want to visit those places anymore. She was becoming more carefree day by day. Koharu thought her lady was no longer fascinated with those traditional things she suggested.

“Perhaps, she was growing like those modern women of Taisho,” Koharu thought to herself. 

“I wonder if it is okay to bring her back to that place now.” Koharu murmured to herself.

 Yumeko saw Koharu mumbled something.

“Ehh…are you hiding a secret place from me now?” Yumeko asked suspiciously. 

Koharu was shocked and tried not to look at her lady’s eyes, for the maid servant knew her lady would not stop until she convinced her. 

“This is bad. I don’t want her hurtful tears to fall once more.” 

“Ko-ha-ru! Take me there!”Yumeko smiled brightly.

“However, I should say yes, if my lady said so. Seeing her brave pleasant look, I think your daughter will be fine now. Right? Okusama?”  Koharu thought to herself. 

“Okay, my lady! Let’s head to Midoritochi mountain. I’ll prepare white towels, cookies, and milk.” 

Yumeko was astonished thinking it was a picnic adventure with Koharu. She was swaying her dress out of excitement. A few minutes passed, she came back and brought a glass of water.

“My lady, you should drink a lot of water first and eat one cookie. We shouldn’t consume a lot of food yet.”  said Koharu, while holding two tote bags with koi fish and Japanese woman soaking in the onsen designs.

Yumeko drank the water quickly.

“Tasty! Thank you Koharu! That’s right. I should not eat now so we can savor much food in our picnic.” She put on a big smile. 

“We are going to a hot spring located in the foot of Midoritochi mountain, my lady. We—”

“That’s…that’s sound more fun! Let’s go Koharu!” said Yumeko, as her feet wanted to leave already.

“We should drink milk after bath. If you’re dehydrated because of the hot spring water, please let me know right away, my lady.” She reminded with a smile. 

The maid servant thought that her lady was expecting a different activity. However, she was relieved that her lady was even happier now. 

“As I thought, my lady is ready to go back there again.”  

The summer heat has slowly faded away, so it was a good chance to dip into the warmth of hot spring. The pedal journey has started. The two tote bags were placed in the front basket. The milk and cookies, towels and soaps were properly situated in different bags. They passed through onigiri and ramen shops, traditional houses and temples. They biked through the wooden bridge above a small stream that connects to the Shibuya river. They were welcomed by a large pleasant green field. The air was cool, clean and peaceful too. As they looked ahead, they saw the foot of the mountain with the symbol of a hot spring engraved in a wooden signboard. 

“This is it my lady!” she excitingly said.

She took a glance of Yumeko who looked very amazed with the beautiful nature that surrounded her, as if it was her first time there. Yet, Koharu just disregard this thought upon seeing how her lady bravely came back to this place again. 

“This is our holiday, Koharu! Make sure to relax, okay?” Yumeko said as she held her maid servant’s hand, showing her gratefulness for the things Koharu had done for her all this time. 

“Thank you my lady, you are so kind.” Koharu replied as she thought how lucky she was to serve under such kind-hearted lady.

They parked their bicycle and saw the rural hot spring made of ancient wood materials. They went in,. Koharu put all their belongings in an open-shelf. 

Yumeko realized that they had to remove their clothing following the traditional onsen manners. Seeing Koharu unbothered, she thought that they must have gone many times before. 

The two young hearts dip in the amber-colored saline spring water. The natural minerals gave off an earthy smell. It was warm enough to protect them from the cool air outside, as they stayed in an open-bath, the rontenburo. 

The two striving girls deserved this holiday. They put the white cloth on their heads and gently closed their eyes. They leaned on the big rocks surrounding the bath. They listened to the sound of the water mill as it welcomed the natural spring water streaming from Midoritochi mountain. 

“Koharu, when did the very first time we visit this place? I don’t recall. I guess I have a poor memory.” Yumeko curiously asked while her eyes closed. 

“When you were four years old, my lady. You stumbled down while walking with your mother. She was really worried seeing you in pain. You had a wound on your left knee and that was the first time, she took you here. She believed that hot spring is a healing spot, my lady. It is full of minerals that helps heal and cure body pains and wounds. That was why your mother used to bring you here whenever you’re unwell. It became her habit as you aged.”

“My mother must be a really kind and caring woman.”  Yumeko thought to herself.

“… and when was the next visit after that Koharu? Could you tell me more…?” Yumeko continued as she craved for more knowledge about her mother.

Koharu was shocked thinking that her lady finally was ready to hear more stories about her mother. She was always crying whenever she thought of her after she passed away. Little did she know that Yumeko had no memories of her late mother, at all. 

“Some of the stories were vague to me because I was young like you too, but your parents used to recall those memories as you grow up. That was why I still remembered it clearly. And now, lend me your ears my lady,” said the loyal maid servant.

“There was a time, you spilled mild-hot milk on your clothes down to your lap. You cried loudly, and she quickly took you here again. When you were five, you couldn’t reach the doll displayed on the cabinet. You looked at me, I wanted to help but I was shorter than you and I couldn’t speak well.” Koharu laughed remembering those times.

“You just cried loudly, then your mother came running down the stairs and reached it for you. She used to gently touch your bangs whenever you sob. Then you acted like your arm was hurt trying to reach the doll, though it wasn’t true. You cried while pointing your small finger to your left arm.” Koharu continued, smiling. 

“Your mother knew you just wanted to go to this hot spring with her again. And she did,” the maid servant continued.

Yumeko’s tears was about to flow, she must have been treasured dearly by her mother. She felt miserable. She did not even know how she looked like.

These happy stories were tormenting her. 

She was losing her strength. She felt emptier and emptier as Koharu talked. 

“And when was the last time we went here Koharu?” Yumeko asked again, trying to hold back her emotions, as she wanted hear more.

Koharu remained silent for a minute. She could not say it, as if it was something she feared. She could not believe that her lady forgot it already, yet she just thought that she wanted to forget all the sad memories that had happened before. And now, she was brave enough to hear it again. 

“Koharu…please.” Yumeko whispered while her eyes remained close. 

“Two years ago, my lady. It was the day she passed away. That was the last hot spring visit.” Koharu continued in a sad tone. 

“She got infected with the non-curable disease. You cried endlessly as you kept telling her to come here believing this place could heal her as she used to tell you that onsen could cure people.”

“Madam Hosokawa heard your agonizing cries and with her weak body she accepted your request. And yet, the natural healing minerals of this hot spring were not enough…to save your mother’s life…my lady.” Koharu sadly uttered.

Tears had fallen. It was warm. It freely ran down to the side of her eyes, down to her cheeks. 

“I was deeply loved by a mother. But I felt like an orphan. I forgot how it felt like.” 

Yumeko splashed the warm spring water on her face. She did it countless times.

Koharu did not open her eyes, for she was already aware that her lady was shedding tears. The maid servant was heartbroken, too.

“I think, wiping my ugly tears was one of my mother’s daily routines.Thank you, Koharu. Those are lovely stories of her.” Yumeko added as she tried to put on a smile.

“The warmth of their hearts and the softness of their hands were created to wipe our pain away, my lady…with or without tears.” Koharu softly added. 

The two young hearts got off the bath, wore on their bath kimono, drank milk, and ate cookies, silently. They felt the fresh air from the abundant forest trees with pre-autumn leaves around them, waiting for it to carry their heavy feelings away.

To be continued.

End Notes

Onsen - literally means hot spring

Rontenburo - outside hot spring

Okusama - how the master’s wife was called

Washi - decorative paper

Uchiwa - decorative fan

Kazari - decorations

Jabara - zigzag writing set