Shioi neko shani no Monogatari

SHIROI NEKO “SHANI”
By Yayoi Hisamatsu

Haru no hajime no sawayaka na yoru deshita. Kuroi silk no you na yozora ni takusan no hoshi-tachi ga matataki (twinkling) ate imashita. Cheerful na hoshi no fairy-tachi ga kin no suzu (bell) o ashi ni tsukete odoru to usui kiri (mist) no you na dress no suso (the train) kara kawa no nagare no you ni melody ga umaremashita. Kidotta tsuki no fairy-tachi ga hoshi no fairy-tachi no melody ni awasete harp o kanademashita (play). Yozora wa utsukushii ongaku no kouzui (flood) ni narimashita.
Yagate yozora no melody wa chijou (on earth) nimo shitatari (dripping) nohara (field) no chiisai na ana (hole) no naka de 4 hikime no konko o omou to shite ita okaasan neko no karada o tsutsumimashita. Sono toki, okasan neko no o-naka ga pikutto ugoite koneko no Seany (Shani) ga umaremashita.
Shani wa yozora kara no utsukushii present o karada zentai de kanjite “mi---.” To chiisaku nakimashita. Okaasan neko wa Shani no karada o yasashiku namemashita (lap, lick).
Yozora no ongaku wa itsu no ma ni ka kie, ten mo chijou mo kamisama no seijaku (stillness) no naka e haitte yuki mo shita.
Shani ga umarete 2kai me no haru ga kimashita. Shani wa blue no hitomi (eyes) no utsukushii shiroi neko ni seichou shimashita keredo, Shani wa hoka no neko-tachi no you ni nezumi (mouse) ya mushi (insect) o oikakaeru koto o shimasen deshita. Sore yori Shani wa chiisa na doubutsu-tachi no karada kara afureru sound ni mimi o katamuke jitto shite iru no ga suki deshita.
Shani wa kyou mo nohara no o-ki ni iri no bashou de shizuka ni mimi o katamukete imashita. Shani no mimi no soba o mitsubachi(honey bee) ga awatadashii (in a hurry) oto o tatete tobisatte ikimashita. Hatarakimono no ari-tachi ga Shani no ashimoto o kisokutadashii (regular) rhythm de koushin (parade) shite ikimashita 2hiki no ookii na utsukushii swallowtail ga Shani no mawari o yuuga (elegance, grace) na oto o tsukurinagara toned imashita. Nohara wa ooku no inochi no oto de ippai deshita.
Shani no mimimoto de dareka ga sasayakimashita (whisper), “Ai suru Shani! Kon nichi wa.” Shani no me no mae no poppy no naka ni chiisa na chiisa na fairy ga tatte imasu. Sono chiisa na fairy niwa usui 2mai no hane ga ate karada niwa hikari no ito de anda (under) (crochet) dress o matoi (wear), atama niwa kin ni kagayaku kanmuri o tsukete imashita. Kaze ga kanojo no dress o yurasu (to shake) to dress kara takusan no flower ga umaremashita. Shani o yasashii haru no kaori ga tsutsumimashita.
“Anata wa Dare?” Shani wa bikkuri shite blue no hitomi (eyes) o pachipachi sasete tazunemashita. Fairy wa yasashiku hohoende (smile) kotaemashita.
“Ai suru Shani, Watashi wa haru no fairy no princess. Haru ni umareta subete no inochi ni kamisama no ai o ataeru tame ni hataraite iru no”
“Kamisama no ai yo!!”
“Sou yo! Shani! Subete no minamoto (original) de aru kamisama no ai yo!” Shani, Anata mo takusan itadaite iru deshou.”
“Boku mo?”
“Mochiron yo Shani. Kamisama wa dare hitori o-wasure ni naranai wa! Anata no karada niwa kamisama no utsukushii harmony no melody ga nagarete imasu.”

Sou iutte, fairy no princess wa Shani no hana ni atatakai (heartfelt) shukufuku no kiss o shimashita. Shani wa kiss o sareru to kokoro de honou (flame) ga moeru no o kanjimashita. Sono honou (flame) wa dondon hirogari, Shani no karada o atsuku moyashimashita. Sou shite Shani wa kamisama ga fukaku jibun o ai shite iru koto o kanjite yorokobi de ippai ni narimashita.
Shani wa mawari no inochi-tachi ga kamisama no ai no naka ni ari, subete ga toutoku. Subete ga yasashiku subete ga atatakai to shirimashita. Itsumo anata o mite imasu. Subete o ai shinasai! Soshite, subete no mono no tame ni anata no melody o tsukainasai! Anata ga ai o ookiku sureba suru dake anata no melody wa utsukushii o mashimasu. Tenshi-tachi ga anata no melody ni kouki (noble) na onkai (musical scale) o ataeru deshou.” Shani, Anata ni ooku no shukufuku o...”Fairy no princess wa sou iu to ato iu ma ni hikari no naka e kiete ikimashita.

Shani no mawari o yasashii haru no hikari ga tsutsumikonde imashita.

To be continued…

The Shiroi Neko “Shani”
By Yayoi Hisamatsu
1991 Nen 10 Gatsu 14 nichi
Fukuoka Japan