Sumi's Book Read online

  “What happened?” I stared at the blank page. “Is this invisible ink?”

  “No,” Queen Kumari said. “Apparently, your dream wasn’t acceptable.”

  “But it’s my dream!” I protested. “I can’t change it. Then it won’t be mine.”

  “You can’t begin your quest until your dream is recorded and accepted.” The fairy tapped her chin. “It might help to read your mother’s dream.”

  I didn’t see how, but I was willing to try anything. I hated that a stupid book had rejected my dream.

  “I’d be honored to read it,” I said.

  The book opened to a page written in my mother’s graceful hand. Pictures of delicate bonsai trees and red-lace maples filled the four corners. The edges were adorned with lilies, orchids, and sago palms, mixed with primitive tools, pottery, and other artifacts. When I looked closely, I noticed that the pots were cracked and chipped, the tools were bent or rusted, and some of the flowers and plants had torn petals and wilted leaves.

  The illustrations perfectly represented my mother and her words:

  The words made me shiver—not with cold, but with awe. My mother’s displays of ancient art and artifacts gave people a glimpse of beauty from the past. Her dream had come true.

  The book flipped back to my blank page.

  “Are you ready?” Queen Kumari asked.

  I nodded. My mother’s dream had been focused on helping others. My dream did, too. I just had to use the right words. I dipped the pen in ink again and wrote:

  I want to design clothes that make girls look fantastic!

  My delighted grin faded along with the ink.

  The words were gone again!

  “What’s wrong with that dream?” I folded my arms and exhaled with frustration. “Girls love clothes that look great.”

  “Why?” Queen Kumari asked.

  I shrugged. The answer was so obvious. “Because nice clothes make them.… Oh!” Hoping the obvious answer was the key, I picked up the pen again.

  I shut my eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them slowly.

  My words were still on the page!

  I watched as pictures of jeweled Japanese hair sticks, kimono bows, sewing needles and colored threads, ribbons, buttons, cherry blossoms, and lilies filled up the empty space on the page.

  “It’s beautiful.” As I reached out to touch the page, The Book of Dreams slammed closed. The book, quill pen, and ink shell blinked out. The fairy queen continued to hover.

  “What did Okasan do next?” I asked.

  “Like most girls, she chose appropriate clothing from the Willowood Fairy wardrobe,” Queen Kumari said. “However—”

  “Clothes!” I exclaimed, cutting her off. I didn’t mean to be rude, but a fairy wardrobe was just too exciting. I jumped up. “Can I see?”

  Queen Kumari frowned, as though she were undecided.

  I clasped my hands and begged, “Please!”

  “As you wish,” the fairy said, flicking her wrist.

  The stone pedestal and sponge stool sank into the rock floor, and a wide wooden panel rose up. A painting of two beautiful geishas dressed in traditional kimonos decorated the front of the panel. One held a samisen, a three-stringed Japanese instrument. The other had a drum called a ko-tsuzumi. It was narrow in the middle with drum skins stretched over rings at both ends and tied together with thick strings. The wooden panel suddenly expanded into a large chest with two doors on the top. The bottom had many drawers with brass handles, like a mizuya.

  The transformation happened quickly, but I was still dancing with impatience. When it seemed like the process was finished, I glanced at Queen Kumari. “Can I look now?” I asked.

  The fairy nodded, and I opened the doors. The first thing I saw was the broken Yugen mirror lying on a shelf. I ignored it to check out the fabulous clothes draped on hangers and pegs.

  The fabrics and materials were as varied as the styles: gossamer chiffon and satiny silk dresses and skirts; leather leggings; homespun tunics; fleece-lined jackets; cargo-type pants and snug capris; ruffled tops; blouses with sweeping, dramatic sleeves; and luxurious knit sweaters.

  There were so many choices, I didn’t know where to begin. I was in absolute heaven.

  Eventually, my eye was drawn to a gray-blue dress draped in an almost Grecian style. I pressed the soft, delicate fabric against my cheek.

  “I love this,” I said, “but I’m not sure what shoes to wear with it.”

  “Decide quickly, please,” the fairy queen said. “It doesn’t matter what you wear.”

  I laughed. “It always matters what I wear.”

  Unlike the bins at Mystic Moments, each drawer in the fairy mizuya was devoted to a particular item. I found a darling pair of lace-up leather sandals among the boots and slippers in the shoes drawer. In case Aventurine was colder outside the cave, I also picked out a silvery silk scarf that would look amazing with the gray-blue dress.

  I quickly changed into the dress and laced up the sandals. Then I found a drawer of bracelets and slipped on a bunch of beautiful beaded ones. The beads clicked in a satisfying way when I moved. I wondered if I looked as magical as I felt.

  I wound the scarf around my neck and turned to Queen Kumari. The fairy queen’s serene face showed no signs of impatience.

  “Do you have a mirror?” I asked.

  Queen Kumari glided across the floor. She reached into the wardrobe and picked up the Yugen hand mirror. Before I could remind her that the mirror had no glass, the wardrobe flattened and sank back into the floor.

  “This is the only mirror you’ll need.” The fairy queen handed it to me. “It’s called Takara.”

  “Uh-huh.” Takara means “treasure” in Japanese. I stared at the gleaming brass where the mirror glass should have been, but I couldn’t see my reflection.

  “Listen, Sumi,” Queen Kumari said sharply. “Every word I say will be of vital importance on your journey.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry.” My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I held the hand mirror behind my back and gave her my full attention.

  “You must find the five shards of Takara’s missing glass,” the fairy continued. “As you secure each shard, it will automatically be attracted to its proper place in the mirror frame.”

  “How am I supposed to find five little pieces of glass?” I knew from Okasan’s stories that the fairy world was full of strange places and dangerous creatures. “Aventurine is too big.”

  “Your ancestors did it,” Queen Kumari said. “Surely you’re as intelligent and capable as they were.”

  I couldn’t disagree without looking really stupid.

  “There is one hint I can give you,” the fairy added. “The last shard lies beneath Bristolmeir, at the bottom of the sea.”

  I blinked. I was a good swimmer, but I couldn’t breathe underwater. Then I remembered my mother’s stories. The girls were always given things that helped them accomplish their tasks. Did Queen Kumari have a big spiral shell that would magically turn into scuba gear?

  As if on cue, Queen Kumari said, “Queen Patchouli has three gifts for you.”

  “What are they?” I asked eagerly.

  “The words ‘Takara’s truth,’ ” the fairy said. “They will make the Yugen mirror disappear and reappear.”

  That wasn’t as exotic or exciting as I had imagined, but at least I wouldn’t have to carry the mirror the whole time. I could make it go away until I needed it.

  “What else?” I asked, hoping for something better.

  Queen Kumari smiled and swept her arm across the space where the wardrobe had been. The stone pedestal emerged again. This time a huge layer cake with pink and yellow icing flowers and green jelly leaves sat on top of it.

  “That looks delicious,” I said. “Will Queen Patchouli be insulted if I can’t eat it all?”

  “No.” The fairy queen laughed. “One piece will be more than enough.”

  “Oh, good.” I smiled and nodded. “Do you want a piece?”
r />   “No, thank you,” Queen Kumari said. “But your third gift might like cake.”

  What kind of Aventurine gift had a sweet tooth?

  “Come here, Kano,” she said.

  I turned and gasped.

  My third gift was the most gorgeous boy I had ever seen.

  4

  Piece of Cake

  Kano bowed his head toward Queen Kumari. “I am here as requested.”

  “Queen Patchouli has sent Kano to be your guide,” Queen Kumari told me. “He knows the ways of Aventurine. It would be wise to listen to him.”

  Before I could thank her, the fairy queen faded into the wall. Just faded away! I shrugged it off. Weird things probably happened all the time in magical places, and I was more interested in my gifts, especially my guide.

  Kano was dressed in a blue tunic belted over a white shirt and gray leggings. The tops of his black boots were turned over like a pirate’s, but he didn’t wear a gold hoop in his ear or a skull-and-crossbones hat on his handsome head. With a mop of curly brown hair, large green eyes, and a slightly lopsided grin, he looked exactly like the boy of my dreams.

  “Hello, Sumi,” Kano said. His voice sounded like melted caramel, smooth and warm.

  I was too captivated to talk.

  “Is something wrong?” Kano asked.

  “You’re so—so beautiful,” I stammered, then silently scolded myself for acting like a lovesick groupie. Kano wasn’t a rock star. I usually didn’t have any trouble flirting with boys, and then I’d gone and called this one beautiful. He must think I’m really lame, I thought.

  Kano shrugged. “What you think doesn’t make it so.”

  I frowned. How rude! Was he seriously mocking me? I couldn’t tell. Feeling oddly flustered, I tried to prove my point. “You have to know you’re good-looking. Anyone would agree with me.”

  “Perhaps,” Kano said, “but a scarlet swamp bat would be repulsed by my appearance.”

  “Um, okay. But I’m not a bat.” I held up the broken mirror. “When this mirror is fixed, you’ll see what you look like.”

  Kano looked into the empty brass frame. “What I see doesn’t change the truth of what I said.”

  Baffled and a bit perturbed, I glanced at the mirror. I saw Kano’s distorted image in the polished brass. I turned the empty frame to face me. “That’s strange.”

  “You are a little strange,” Kano said.

  “Not me!” I sounded more upset than I intended. I didn’t want him to think his opinion mattered to me—even though it did. “I meant that your face is reflected in the brass, and mine isn’t.”

  “That is curious,” Kano said.

  “And troubling.” I looked into the mirror from different angles, but it didn’t make a difference. My face wasn’t reflected back at all.

  I caught Kano watching me. His mesmerizing eyes were narrowed with concern.

  “Queen Kumari said you know how things work in Aventurine. Why is this happening?” I asked anxiously.

  “I have an idea,” Kano said.

  I waited, feeling more and more awkward as the seconds ticked away. When he didn’t continue, I vowed to make my next imaginary boy a lot less infuriating.

  “What is it?” I asked with a huff of impatience. I flicked my hair over my shoulder in what I hoped was an imperious way.

  “Are you sure you want to know?” Kano asked with a hint of superiority.

  Was he teasing? Again, I couldn’t tell, so I matched his annoying attitude. “Of course I want to know, but if you don’t want to tell me—”

  “Sometimes the truth can be hard to take,” Kano said.

  “I can take anything you dish out,” I shot back.

  “We’ll see.” Kano looked me in the eye. “Takara reflects truth. Are you dishonest?”

  “No!” I snapped. “I’m not a liar or a cheater.”

  Kano just looked at me, as though my protest were proof.

  “Then perhaps you can’t see yourself because there’s nothing there to see.” A smile played at the corner of Kano’s mouth, and there was a distinct twinkle in his eye.

  He had to be teasing! I was mad at myself for not realizing it sooner, but teasing was something I knew how to handle.

  “That’s not nice.” I pouted playfully. My parents, my friends, and every boy I’ve ever met can’t stand to see me sad. “Why are you being so mean?”

  “I wasn’t joking or being mean, Sumi,” Kano said. “If Takara doesn’t see you, there’s something wrong with you.”

  “What?” The comment caught me off guard, and I reacted with surprised anger. “There’s nothing wrong with me.”

  “Then why doesn’t Takara see you?” Kano asked calmly.

  I tried to think of a stinging comeback, but everything that came to mind seemed childish. I wasn’t sure if Kano was teasing me because that’s what boys do or if he just said exactly what he thought. Either way, it hurt my feelings.

  And that bothered me more than being teased.

  I couldn’t go on a mission or a quest or whatever with someone who thought I was defective!

  Maybe I was testing myself! So I didn’t say or do the wrong thing when I finally met the real boy of my dreams. Kano might be harder to win over, but I didn’t back down from the challenge. I changed tactics.

  “Would you like some cake, Kano?” I momentarily imagined myself smushing a piece in his face.

  “I’d love some!” Kano grinned.

  A wide knife, forks, napkins, and seashell plates were neatly laid out on the pedestal beside the cake. I set down the hand mirror and picked up the knife. Kano leaned in to peer over my shoulder. He smelled clean and fresh, like ocean air and soap.

  “Can I have a piece with a sugar flower?” Kano asked. “And one of those leaves?”

  “Sure!” I cut a huge piece with three flowers and a cluster of leaves and slid the cake knife underneath it. I had to admit, it was kind of cute how excited he was about the cake. I was forced to use my fingers to keep the big wedge from falling as I moved it onto a plate. “Sorry about the fingers.”

  “That’s okay. I don’t mind.” Kano took the plate, but he didn’t use a fork. He picked up the cake with his hand and took a huge bite. Icing smeared all around his mouth.

  “That’s disgusting!” I made a sick face. I couldn’t help it. Everyone has good manners in Japan. I handed him a napkin.

  “It’s just cake.” Kano shook his head, as though I were being unreasonable, but he wiped the icing off his face. “You are such a girl!”

  “You are so right!” I smiled so he wouldn’t think I was mad. “Girls don’t smush their food into their mouths!” I ignored the thought that I had just imagined smushing cake into his face.

  “They would if they tasted this cake.” Kano took another bite and sighed. “It’s really good. You should try it.”

  I cut myself a smaller piece. I wanted to try this fairy cake, but I didn’t want to eat it with my hands. I used a fork and took a dainty bite. A thousand tiny bursts of flavor exploded in my mouth: strawberries and honey laced with vanilla custard and sprinkled with cinnamon and nutmeg.

  “This is the best cake I’ve ever had!” I took another, larger bite.

  “Me too,” Kano said. “May I have another piece?”

  My mouth was full, so I just nodded. I closed my eyes and chewed slowly, savoring the sweet, liquid fire that trickled down my throat and seeped into every cell. My skin felt warm, and my fingers and toes tingled with fizzy bubbles. I had never eaten anything as delicious. The taste and sensations were so vivid and unique, I couldn’t possibly have imagined them.

  I wasn’t dreaming.

  I was awake, in Aventurine, and living in fairy time just as Queen Kumari had tried to tell me. I had thought that I had accepted that this was real, but eating fairy food had finally, truly convinced me.

  My hands went limp, and my plate and fork clattered on the floor. I stared at Kano. “You’re real.”

  “So are you!” Ka
no squatted down to pick up my plate and then set both of our plates on the pedestal.

  I glanced around, wondering for the first time why I had landed in a cave and not in the land of the Willowood Fairies that my mother had always described. The whole concept of Aventurine would be easier to accept if I were in a green meadow with flowers and fruit trees, bubbling brooks and birds, and fairies serving a scrumptious picnic. I felt like I was being punished with this dreary cave, but I clamped my lips together and didn’t complain. I didn’t want to make my situation worse. Besides, there were good things about it. I loved my new fairy clothes, and the cake was amazing. I just wasn’t wild about my hot guide.

  “Sorry, this all just suddenly felt real,” I said. Then I blurted out, “Why don’t you like me, Kano?”

  “Who said I didn’t like you?” Kano asked.

  “You did!” I exclaimed. “You haven’t said one nice thing about me, and I even gave you two pieces of cake!”

  “Did you offer me cake because you thought I was hungry?” Kano asked. I hesitated, so he answered the question for me. “No. Or because you thought I might enjoy it?”

  “Yes, I thought you might like it,” I said.

  “Maybe. Maybe not. I think it was really just a bribe to make me like you.”

  “Did it work?” I looked up into his eyes and nervously twiddled my scarf.

  “A little.” Kano’s mischievous smile lit up the gloomy cave.

  I smiled. Finding five small shards of glass was a daunting task. It would be unbearable if Kano and I couldn’t get along.

  “Would you like some more?” I asked.

  “No, thank you.” Kano rubbed his flat stomach. “I’m full.”

  The pedestal collapsed into the floor. The rest of my cake vanished with it, but the hand mirror was left behind on the floor.

  “Are you ready to begin?” asked Kano.

  “Yes,” I said. Now that I knew that Aventurine and my fairy godmother heritage were real, I had to do my best to succeed. I picked up Takara and tried not to think about Okasan’s crescent-shaped scar. “Let’s go look for mirror shards.”