The Eternal Servant

“Koharu, come here!”

Kei Kimitaka’s shout echoed through the house and Naiki immediately heard a pair of feet running towards them. Correction; running was the wrong word to use in this instance. It sounded more like a pair of feet quickly shuffling across the ground.

Naiki Kimitaka knew this was the case even before his mother shuffled into the room where his father was waiting for her. His mother, Koharu, was wearing a plain brown kimono that prevented her from taking a full stride. As usual, she was wearing a hoodveil which covered her head leaving only her eyes visible to him. Seeing him in the room, his mother gave him a quick bow before kneeling before his father and bowing her head at his feet.

“Koharu, can you explain this?” his father asked. His mother raised her head slightly and was immediately cut down. “Put your head on the ground woman!”

At his father’s shout, his mother lowered her head even more. This time her face and not just her forehead was touching the ground. Seemingly satisfied, his father continued. “I gave you a weekly budget for household expenses. Why did you go over the budget last week?”   

Naiki knew the reason but kept quiet. His father wasn’t asking him, but his mother. Telling the truth now might even make things worse for his mother.

“My lord, this woman was foolish and did not plan her expenses properly.” His mother pleaded. “Please punish your servant so that she will never make the mistake again.”

Like any good Vipponese mother, Naiki’s mother did not give him up. Naiki felt a lump in his throat as his father took out his belt and stood behind the kneeling form of his wife. Raising his belt above his head, he smacked it across the back of his wife. The room echoed with the sound.

10 times the belt went up and down before his father finally stopped.  Throughout the punishment period, his mother curled up on her hands and knees, took her punishment without moving. Later, Naiki would learn how rare his mother was. Most women would at least fidget but back then, Naiki only heard a whimper and nothing more from his mother. A whimper that almost broke him but Naiki controlled himself. Even at that young age, he knew the dishonor he would be bringing to his mother if he tried to comfort her at that moment.

“Take this as a lesson woman. Now get out of my sight!” At his father’s command, his mother started to crawl out of the room on her hands and knees. Naiki could clearly see that she was in pain but like a good Vipponese woman, she thank her lord and husband for her punishment. After she had left the room, his father turned and looked at Naiki. One look at his father’s face and Naiki knew his father knew.

“You know I was the one who spent the money, don’t you father?” His father nodded and Naiki felt his temper rising. “Then why did you punish mother and not me?”

“Because I gave the money to your mother Naiki,” his father said as he started to put his belt back around his pants. “She was the one responsible for the money, not you.”

“As a woman, she cannot keep the money from me the moment I asked for it.” Now he was getting angry. “You know that and still you punished her?”

“Yes,” his father said. “Your mother is a good woman and a great slave. She properly never even thought of saying no to you when you asked for the money.”

“Then why…it’s not her fault! It was mine and you know that!”

“Because your mother is a good woman.” His confusion must have shown because his father calmly explained. “Your mother gave you the money even though she knew she would be punished for it when I find out. Your mother would never hide her expenses from me. She expected a punishment and I would not be doing my duty as her husband if I didn’t give it to her. Do you understand?”

He did not, at least not then, and Naiki shook his head to indicate the fact. A smile came to his father’s face and he explained further. “We all have our roles to play Naiki. Our roles as men are to provide for our family, to ensure that they are fed and that they are kept safe. A woman’s role is to be a good servant to her husband and a good slave to her family. Your mother did her role as expected of her. She obeyed a command from you, a man, but in doing so disobeyed an order from me, also a man.”

“That’s a no-win situation for her.”

“True and she was put in that position because of you.” His father said. “I am angry with you but the money was given to her and your mother was to control the expenses. She did not managed to do so because of you but what do you expect me to do?”

“Punish me!”

“Even though the money was never yours to control?” His father asked.  

“She is the servant and slave.” Naiki said. “Mother can’t say no to a male of House Kimitaka and I’m a male. So…why does she get the punishment?”

“Because the money was given to her.”

“That’s not fair father.” Naiki finally said.

“True,” his father nodded again. “But such is life and not just to your mother. You think I wanted to punish her even when I know she’s not at fault?”

Naiki knew the answer but he still had to ask. “So if I asked for money again in the future from mother…”

“If she gives it to you, and she would, I would have to punish her again. What does that tell you my boy?”

“Don’t ask for extra money in the future.”

“Why?”

“Because she would give it to me and mother would be punish for my mistake.” 

“Don’t put her in that position again Naiki. In Vippon, a woman’s place is directly tied to the men of her family. What you do affects not just you but your family as well. The men, we can handle ourselves, but women? Weak females which required our constant care and protection? They will suffer for your actions.”

Understanding suddenly dawned on the young Naiki. “And my role as a man is to protect the women of the family and to keep them safe. Safe from…you?”

Kei Kimitaka’s smile got wider as he realized his son was beginning to understand his role as a man. “In this case, yes. You want to protect your mother don’t you?”

“Of course.” Naiki silently vowed not to do anything that would harm his mother ever again. “That’s why I’m here right? To see the results of my…silly actions.”

“Then don’t do this ever again.” His father said. “Not just now but in the future as well. When you have your own wives, daughters and granddaughters, think of them when you want to do something. Think of the women you are protecting.”

Naiki nodded. “Is there anything else father?”

“You got that guitar with the money right?”

“…Yes”

“Make sure you practice. Don’t make your mother suffer for nothing.” Naiki nodded in agreement and his father continued. “Now go and apologized to your mother. She’s a good servant and slave to the house of Kimitaka.”

That was, is, his mother. A good woman, a good servant, a good slave, and a great mother. Naiki couldn’t help but think so as he sat beside the hospital bed of his mother. It’s strange what you would think of when you realized someone would soon not be with you ever again.

Over 40 years had passed since that day when Naiki realized the responsibility that came with being a man and though his father was the one who explained everything, his real teacher was his mother. His mother lying in front of him, dressed in a white hospital kimono, her head covered in a black hoodveil. His mother, who was dying in front of him.

“My lord? My lord, is that you? My lord?”

Naiki reached out to hold the hand of his mother and spoke softly, “No, mother. It’s me, Naiki. Your son.”

His mother’s eye shone with recognition. “Oh, Naiki. I…I thought I saw your father just now. I…I really wanted to see him again.” There were no words for him to speak. His father has been dead for over 10 years. “My boy, do you think I will see your father again? Do you think they will let me in? Do you think they will let me serve?”

“Yes, they will mother. For over 50 years, Koharu Kimitaka has been a great slave to the House of Kimitaka. Since her marriage, Koharu Kimitaka has been a great servant to her lord and master, Kei Kimitake. When you are gone, you will be received in heaven by our ancestors. They will welcome you into the Heavenly House of Kimitaka where you, and all the other good women in the history of our House, will serve for all eternally. Father will be there and when you arrive, he will be there to greet you. You will be his eternal servant, serving him for all eternity.”

The words broke his heart but nothing he said was untrue. Since her marriage, her mother has been a great servant to his father. Naiki knew for a fact there was no way his ancestors would deny his mother a place in heaven. Like his father said all those years ago; she was a good woman.

“My boy…my good boy.” His mother said. “My good boy.”

With that, his mother closed her eyes for the final time and was gone. Naiki felt tears coming out of his eyes and wiped them away. He took a moment to gather himself before standing up. His legs shook with emotions but he knew he shouldn’t wait. He walked out of the room into the corridor and went to the hospital shrine where his family was waiting.

He entered the shrine quietly. His sons and grandsons were all sitting on the benches at the back of the shrine and they all stood up when they saw him. His wives, daughter-in-laws and granddaughters were on their knees, praying at the front of the shrine. Naiki cleared his throat loudly and the women turned around on their knees.

“She is gone. Mother is now with our ancestors.” His sons and grandsons bowed their head in respect and some of his women started to sob. As women, they were allowed such show of public weakness. Naiki continued. “Go now and pay your last respects to her.”

Slowly, his family walked out of the shrine. When the last of them left, Naiki went and sat down on the bench. He put his head in his hands and cried. Now, alone in his grief, he can mourn.