Ride on Time

Chapter 21

Misao silently stared at the Shirakawa Canals, holding the hem of her kimono with her left hand and a wagasa in her right. The sun was a little hotter today and the dainty red umbrella served as a sort of protection.
She sighed, lightly dabbing at the beads of sweat near her hairline, and made her way towards the Ryōtei. She hoped that her makeup hadn't gotten messed by the sweat and made her way to the bathroom to check herself out. Luckily, there wasn't a smudge on her face so she just used the toilet and began work.
Misao secretly wished that Shri would come in much like he did yesterday or if she could take the day off and spend the rest of the day with him. She really didn't want Shri to leave, especially since she finally found a man that she feels comfortable with.
Misao didn't know why, but there was something about him that makes him seem different, attracting her to get to know him better. Maybe the Om that fell out of Shri's necklace just so she could return it? She certainly felt that way.
The day went on extra slow and she at last left the Ryōtei. She still hoped that she might bump into Shri on her way home but sadly, there was no one of interest.
Misao walked towards her home and took her keys out to let herself in. But there was something that stopped her, she just didn't know what. In the end, she sighed and put her keys away, meaning to take a late evening walk to ease herself.
Misao's oshiroi-clad face gave off a mysterious beauty under the glow of the halogen streetlights. Somehow, she ended up in front of the torii of the brightly lit Yasaka Jinja. Misao stopped at the gates and closed her eyes, pressing her palms together in prayer, before making her way towards the Maruyama Park.
She sat down on one of the benches and stared at the tranquil garden, the leaves of the weeping cherry blossom tree now lush and green. Misao contemplated on whether she should go to Yumemite and see if Shri was anywhere about to see him one last time before his departure.
But at the same time, she felt something stopping her. It was as if something was preventing her from going to the apartment complex.
Misao sighed and leaned forward, folding her arms against her lap. The obiage around her waist bit into her stomach a little but she didn't care. She thought that she must've looked odd, a geisha girl in full attire, sitting and moping on a bench in Maruyama Park at night. The magatama that she tucked under her nagajuban slipped out, hanging freely, and occasionally bumping against her knees.
"Mi... Misao?" A voice suddenly called.
Misao quickly sat up, a shiver running down her spine. It was around the Ghost Festival, or Hungry Ghost as Shri calls it, and her mother had always warned her about ghosts calling humans to eat them or launch a surprise attack of some sort.
"Misao?" The voice came again, this time more familiar.
Misao ignored the legend and got up, looking around for the owner of the voice. She let out a gasp when Shri came to her, looking just as surprised as she was.
"Shri?" Misao said in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"I don't know, I just came here for a walk," Shri shrugged. "Also, I heard that some dance was going on? The Bon Odori?"
Misao snorted. "Oh Shri... that dance finished hours ago. You're too late for it, it was done in the evening!"
"Aww nuts..." Shri sighed. "There goes my chance of watching the dance today..."
Misao chuckled. "Oh come on... you wanna be here to welcome the ghosts?"
Shri gulped. "Yeah, you're right. I don't even go for the Chinese Opera in my town for Hungry Ghost, scared because I know there would be ghosts around, let alone welcome them in a different country..."
"Yeah, you might even feel the spirits lurking around," Misao joked. "Seriously, some said they can actually feel it. I have felt it myself last year."
Shri shrugged. "Well, there's something like that for us Indians too, this time of the year. I mean, we don't do dances and stuff, but we do give offerings to the dead."
Misao nodded understandingly. "I see... looks like this is the time of ghosts, isn't it?"
"Yeah..." Shri smiled awkwardly. "By the way... you... you wanna walk around or something?"
"Sure," Misao shrugged. "I'd love to."
They walked around the path and eventually came to the bridge overlooking the lake. Of course, Shri had to stop and snap a picture.
"I wish I don't have to leave," Shri sighed. "It's really nice here, relaxing, calm. It's back to square in a few days for me."
Misao sighed. "I wish that too..."
Shri looked at her in surprise. "You... you don't want me to leave?"
"What? No, no, that's not what I meant to say," Misao quickly said. She looked into Shri's eyes and sighed before turning back to the lake, gripping onto the railing with both hands. "It's just that... it's was nice knowing you for the last week and a half. But you're gonna leave soon."
"Yeah, same," Shri nodded. "I really like this place too, Japan. Malaysia is nice and all, but we have to get back for work. Got meeting in a few days too..."
"Must be tough, huh..." Misao remarked, staring at the beautiful gardens of Maruyama Park. "Well, being a geisha isn't all that easy either. Sometimes we have tough customers to deal with."
Shri snorted. "We were one of the easiest to deal with, huh?"
"To be honest, yeah..." Misao chuckled. "You guys were one of the best customers I've ever had."
"It was fun too, but kinda hard to kneel like that on the tatami," Shri remarked. "Is there a secret for it?"
"Well... not really," Misao shrugged. "We just sit on the zabuton or on a slightly elevated surface."
"Oh..." Shri nodded understandingly. "I'll try that one day."
Misao snorted, imagining him in the middle of a room and struggling to sit in seiza. She chuckled and linked her arm with Shri's, causing him to flinch.
"I'm sorry..." Misao sighed, hugging his arm and leaning against him. "But do you mind... if I lean on you for a while? I'm a little tired, just got back from work."
"No, um... sure," Shri sheepishly said, his face growing a little hot. "You... you wanna sit down?"
"No, it's okay, I like it here," Misao smiled, feeling his warmth. "The gardens, I mean."
Everything was silent, save for the koi occasionally splashing in the lake.
"I've never seen koi that big..." Shri remarked. "I sometimes wish I can just get settled here."
"Shri, no," Misao said. "Japan is a stressful place. Not here in Gion, at least, but it is in the city."
"I guess..." Shri sighed. "Then again, which city isn't stressful?"
"I guess you're right about that too," Misao sighed. "By the way, what time's your flight tomorrow?"
Shri looked confused. "Tomorrow? Misao, no. I'm not leaving tomorrow. We're only going home the day after tomorrow."
Misao straightened herself, surprised. "Wait, what? But... yesterday you said that this was your last night here?"
"Yeah, that was a miscalculation on my part, sorry about that..." Shri sheepishly apologised. "I'm only leaving the day after tomorrow."
"Oh..." Misao smiled, unhooking her arm from his. "So... you're not leaving tomorrow?"
"Nope..." Shri shook his head. "So I guess I have one more day to watch the Bon Odori. It goes for three days, right?"
"Four," Misao chuckled. "They had one yesterday too."
"Bon Odori is the Hungry Ghost, right?" Shri asked. Misao nodded in reply, prompting him to continue. "You guys celebrate it so late? In Malaysia, it's in July."
"July?" Misao asked in surprise. "I think it depends on the region or something."
"Maybe," Shri shrugged. "But it's July to like... September where it ends with the Mooncake Festival."
"That's Tsukimi," Misao explained. "It's early October this year. A little late..."
"Oh okay..." Shri nodded. "Anyway... you... you wanna hang out tomorrow? It's my last day here, after all. Maybe we can properly hang out?"
Misao grinned. "Sure! I'd love that, really."
"What about your work?" Shri asked. "Will it be okay?"
"I'll just call in sick, no biggie," Misao grinned. "It's your last day here tomorrow, Shri. I can always go to work afterwards."
Shri smiled. "Thanks, Misao. I'd really like to spend my last day here with you."
Misao was so overjoyed that she could've leapt around the park to celebrate.

I'm really not sure why the Hungry Ghost Festival in Malaysia is celebrated a month earlier. Like... this year, there's a Bon Odori celebration held right here, in Shah Alam, but it's celebrated one month before in July and not in August. I find it kinda strange. Even the Chinese Opera performances that I've mentioned earlier in this book are held in July, not August. But when I Google it, it says August. 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️