The next day, Pink Ume caught me as I was finishing breakfast. “Hyacinth-sama wishes to see both of us. Would you come with me?”

When we arrived, White Ume, Professor, Cook, and Surei were already seated around the room, waiting for us. We sat down.

Surei began. “Thank you all for coming. No doubt all of you have heard the rumors of tension between Retired Emperor Sutoku and Emperor Go-Shirakawa. The rumors are correct—it is almost certain there will be serious unrest soon. This may well involve fighting in the city. I brought you here because we have to prepare for any eventuality.”

Professor nodded, “Rumors have been flying for a while. What do you want to do? Leave town until it is over?”

“I want to defend the Spring Palace if possible.” Surei looked at me. “Yoshi, you’ve been fighting in the provinces for the many years. You must have seen something like this before. What happens when there is fighting in a town?”

“Six years ago, the governor of Bizen put together a force to clean out large-scale pirate infestations in his province. It paid well, and I hate pirates, so I joined.” I shuddered at the memory. “The final battle resulted in the destruction of the main pirate stronghold at Okayama, a town of several thousand inhabitants.”

I stared out the window, trying to choose my words carefully to convey what I had experienced. “When the people of Okayama saw our approaching forces, panic set in. Everyone tried to flee at the same time, jamming up the streets and causing hysteria and riots. Even before we arrived, everything was on fire. Whole blocks were wiped out, with nothing left but scorched ground, ashes and bodies. People caught between the battling armies were ridden down and killed. After the battle, the looting began.”

With a grim face, Cook added, “Soldiers raped the women and stole anything of value. Anyone who tried to stop them was killed. Getting out without losing your children in the mobs was almost impossible.” The way she said it made me think she was speaking from personal experience.

The Ume twins looked at each other with wide eyes. “No,” White Ume whispered.

“That’s why we’re having this meeting—so the Spring Palace won’t suffer that sort of treatment,” Surei told them.

Professor pursed his lips. “What kinds of forces are we likely to face? There is no way we can defend against an army.”

I answered, “Once the fighting ends, it’s almost impossible for commanders to keep their troops under control. They tend to break up into roving bands, the losers looking for valuables to carry off as they run, the victors looking for loot, saké, and women for the victory celebration. We won’t be one of the military objectives, so we won’t face a full-scale assault. Still, we should be prepared to defend against groups who see us as a possible source of women and portable wealth. The best defense will be to look as threatening as we can. Looters want easy pickings.”

Professor frowned. “So, we’ll be trying to hold off small groups of trained bushi. The Spring Palace wasn’t built to be a stronghold. Defending it might be possible, but it will be hard.”

“What do you recommend?” Surei asked.

He thought for a bit. “We’ll need to see to the wall. It should be checked for weaknesses and provided with guard towers. The gates require strengthening, and we should increase the number of sentries.”

Cook added, “Markets will close during fighting so it will be hard to buy food. We should store more supplies here. Usually, we keep seven days of provisions on the premises—we should store at least ten. No customers during battle, so we’ll use less food than normal. We’ll get lots of rice, dried fish, and pickled vegetables. They keep longer.”

Surei looked at me. “What are your thoughts, Yoshi?”

“Who’ll man the towers and the guard posts? You have maybe twenty or thirty men working here, and most of them aren’t trained warriors. For a building this size, you’ll need forty sentries for each shift. Where are you going to get the additional guards? With the two rival Emperors hiring fighting men, skilled bushi will not be easy to find nor will they work for cheap. Where will you get the arms and armor for these guards? Where will they be staying?”

Surei nodded. “You make a good point, Yoshi. We’ll need more people. We’ll also have to construct more housing and storage buildings here in the compound. We can use some of our current yojimbo, but I am going to hire some extra guards. However, you forgot the women, Yoshi. They won’t be as good as regular bushi, but I think with some training, we can make them decent archers. At the very least, we can teach them to defend themselves, dress them in some armor, and put them on the walls. How proficient with a yumi could they become with a month of training, do you think?”

“Women?” I thought about it and then laughed. “I suppose that could work. They could probably get good enough to hit their targets at close range. When brigands see a cloud of arrows coming their way, they don’t stop to think about the skill of the archers—or their sex. They just run.”

The Ume twins were outraged. Pink Ume said, “Mistress! It isn’t proper for women to fight. If people found out, it would cause a scandal!”

Surei looked at them with narrowed eyes, her lips pressed into a thin line. “I would rather live with a scandal than be raped or killed. I don’t intend to have them out battling in the streets, but if trouble comes, I want them to be able to defend themselves.” She said sharply, “Do you have a problem with that?”

Thoroughly cowed, both women paled and assured Surei that they didn’t.

She turned to Professor. “Draw up a preliminary proposal for strengthening our defenses. I need some idea of what this is going to cost. Include an estimate of how many extra guards we will require. Give me an idea of how many extra weapons we have to acquire, both regular and training. Assume we have the women and other staff on the walls. I want it by tomorrow. We’ll go over your ideas, and begin work on it immediately.”

She told the Ume twins, “There will be more people staying here, so plan for that.”

Cook asked, “What about our families? We can’t leave them out there in the city if there is fighting.”

Surei nodded her head sharply. “You’re right. I should have thought of that. Working together, I believe we can ensure the safety of the staff and their families.” She turned back to the Ume twins. “Find out how many people are going to want their families to stay here. I need an estimate of how many people we’ll be taking care of. Then, we can decide how many more sleeping areas we’re going to need. We’ll put everyone in tents if we have to. It won’t be comfortable, but they’ll have a place to stay.”

She told Cook. “You’re right, we have to ensure we have at least a full ten days of food as well as all the usual supplies we’ll require to stay open. Once the twins have their estimates, determine how much food we need on hand to feed all these people.”

I asked, “Why are you staying open? Once things start heading for a showdown, why don’t you just shut the place down and get everyone out of the capital? It seems foolish to stay around while a battle is going on.”

Surei angrily shook her head. “It’s taken me years to build the Spring Palace. I won’t let it be burned down by a bunch of drunken bushi. I’ll die first.” She paused for a moment. “I think we can use one part of your idea.”

She turned back to the twins. “While we’re going to need the staff to stay and help run things, find out if any of them want to move their families out of the city. I have a small property near Lake Awaumi. We can send people there and bring them back after things calm down.”

She looked around at everyone. “That’s all I have for now. Thank you for coming. Hard times are coming, but if we plan ahead, I am sure that we can make it through together.” Professor, Cook, and the twins all stood, bowed to Surei and left. I moved to follow them.

“Yoshi, wait.”

I stopped.

“I want you to lead the weapons-training class for the women.”

“Me?” I raised my eyebrows. “Why not Professor?”

“I think you have a better idea of techniques for them to use against trained bushi.”

“What makes you say that?”

Surei gave me an enigmatic smile. “Why do you think?”

Comprehension dawned. “Oh, you mean since I worked so much with you when we were younger— “

Surei finished. “—you can just teach them the same techniques you taught me. Also, you’re the most experienced person we have available, and I want to teach the women everything we can.”

“Well, I still think Professor would be better since he knows them so much better, but…”

“Thank you, Yoshi. I knew I could count on you.”

She turned her attention back to some papers on the desk in front of her. I didn’t move. After a short pause, I said, “There is one thing I want to know, though.”

She looked up and said, “Oh? What is it?”

“Why are you so determined to keep the Spring Palace open and defend it? It would be much safer to evacuate everyone to that property you have on the lake and wait out the trouble. It can’t last more than a fortnight or so. Everyone would be safe and you could come back and pick up where you left off. If you stay and try and defend the Spring Palace, many of your staff could be killed.”

She leaned forward, her eyes hard. “I could not come back and pick up where I left off. If, as you stated, the Spring Palace were destroyed in the fighting, I would be ruined. It has taken me eight years to build it, to make it the most fashionable spot in the capital. I don’t have the resources to rebuild it. Not only that but with the destruction of the Spring Palace, most of my staff would be out of jobs. People will work with me to defend the Spring Palace because, without it, they would be out on the street begging or selling themselves to buy food. Many of them would rather die than be reduced to that. It’s not just for my own sake that I need to save the saké house.”

She stood and began pacing, more upset than I had seen her since I returned. “I know that I would rather die than be reduced to penury. I made myself a promise years ago, Yoshi—I would do whatever needed to escape my situation. Now that I have gotten this far, it only makes me more determined. Anyone who attacks the Spring Palace will only succeed over my dead body—because I will not allow it to fall as long as there is life in me.”

*****

As Professor had noted, the Spring Palace wasn’t really suited for use as a defensive stronghold. I couldn’t help worrying as we inspected the walls.

“A lot of wall to cover,” he mused.

“We will probably need towers in full view of each other and positioned so they can provide covering fire,” I agreed.

Professor shook his head worriedly. “We are going to need at least another fifty bodies to get a complete complement of guards.”

“Or use the women already here. How many are there anyway?”

“About seventy. And then there are gardeners, stableboys, and others. At least ninety all told. You really think they can fight?”

“Do you think the Hyacinth can fight? How about Cook?”

Professor nodded. “Certainly, those two are dangerous. I guess we can train the others, but it takes more than training in the use of weapons to make a real warrior.” He sighed. “Hyacinth-sama is right, though. We have no choice but to try. I am not looking forward to defending the Spring Palace with a bunch of half-trained troops, though.”

Professor walked over to a section of wall and struck it with the hilt of his tantou. It made a dull thump. He continued down the wall, rapping the pommel against the wood at regular intervals. A little further down, the rapping brought forth a hollow noise. He reversed the knife and dug the blade into the wood. It penetrated to the hilt. Digging around, he discovered an entire section where the wood had rotted. He marked the spot on the wall with a piece of charcoal.

He shook his head. “Wood rots, the stones inside settle or come out. These walls have not been maintained as well as they should have been.” He gazed around the Spring Palace, his eyes abstracted. “Walls. Yes, that is it. Walls are the key.” He gave me a sharp look. “People here in the capital don’t appreciate walls enough.”

Professor took a scroll and piece of charcoal from me and made a quick sketch of the walls of the Spring Palace. He marked the spot we were standing. He returned the paper to me and said “Half a jou of wood needs replacing here. Write that down.”

As I noted it on the scroll, he moved onto another section of wall and checked it. The upper part had a hollow sound to it. He marked it as well. “Let’s call that five koku of stone to fill this in.”

I wrote that down.

Still looking at the wall, he asked, “Did your estate have walls like this?”

“Yes.”

He snorted in disgust. “City bushi. We had walls made of solid rock as thick as a man is tall. A moat too.” He thought for a moment. “I don’t suppose we could dig a moat.”

I laughed. “In the middle of the street? No, I don’t think so. The neighbors would complain. Anyway, this isn’t Owari. You had bandits for neighbors, we have merchants.”

He walked for a bit then said, “They have a wall in China so big you can drive a cart down the middle. But then, they have Mongols for neighbors.”

I stared at him in disbelief. “Where did you hear that?”

“I read it in a scroll once, then asked Benkon about it. He said he saw the wall. It is four times the height of a man. Now, that is a real fortification.” He stared at the wall before him. “Maybe we can raise the height of these. They are too easy to scale.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

We continued our inspection. While there weren’t really that many walls to check, I tired quickly. By the time we finished, I just wanted to sit down.

Professor took the scroll from me and added up the amount of stone and wood we would need as I leaned against a nearby building. He impressed me anew with his understanding of the science of fortifications and defense. I could think of at least three times in the previous decade when his expertise would have saved the armies I was fighting with.

One of the girls came running up. “Professor, there is a problem in the Winter Hall.”

Handing me the scroll, he said, “I don’t know the exact prices for building materials, but fixing the walls is going to cost at least six tael of gold. If we increase the height of the walls, that amount could double. I’d appreciate it if you would take these figures to the mistress and tell her.”

He laughed suddenly. “She is not going to like this. I’m glad you’re the bearer of this news and not me.”

“Thanks a lot,” I said, sourly.

I went looking for Surei. Walking around the Spring Palace had just about finished me off. I felt like an old man as I hobbled along trying to find her.

Dimples came up the path carrying some bottles on a tray.

“Have you seen the mistress?” I asked her.

“She’s over this way,” she said, indicating the northern portion of the estate. “If you come with me, I’ll take you there.”

With a sigh of weariness, I started after her.

Dimples, seeing my labored walking, slowed down to match my pace.

“The Mistress is very lovely, isn’t she?” she suddenly asked me.

Cautiously, I answered, “I suppose so.”

“You suppose so? Senior Retired Emperor Toba said she was the most exquisite woman he had ever met,” she said in irritation.

“How much further is it?” I asked, hoping to change the subject.

She stomped along beside me for a short time.

“She’s in that building just ahead,” she finally said, pointing to a large enclosed outbuilding.

She looked back over her shoulder at me and smiled. “Here, let me get this for you.” She ran ahead and slid the door open.

Why is she suddenly so helpful?

I stumbled through the open door, grateful to have finally arrived. Dimples ducked in behind me. She slid the door closed with a loud bang and stood with her back to it, blocking the way out.

There were several large tubs of water in the room. The beguiling scent of expensive hair oils and subtle perfumes filled the air. A number of Surei’s women gathered around the tubs, wearing nothing but unadorned single layer white silk underrobes. They were washing their hair. With their floor-length tresses, none of the women could wash their hair without help. It took at least two assistants to manage that mass of hair. Once a woman finished washing her hair, another would carefully comb the hair out as they waited for it to dry.

It was readily apparent why the women only wore the single layer underrobes. Dealing with as much hair as they had, it was impossible to prevent one’s clothes from becoming soaked, so they wore simple clothes that would dry quickly. Unfortunately for my peace of mind, the wet robes clung tightly to the women. The soaked fabric was nearly transparent, clearly showing their shapely forms.

All conversation in the room had halted at the sound of the closing door, and many of the women paused to see what caused the disturbance. I stood staring at them with my mouth open, almost mesmerized by the view before me. Some tittered at my expression. I managed to tear my eyes away and search around the room, searching for Surei. I didn’t see her.

Reddening in embarrassment, I tried to stammer an apology. “I—uh, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.” There was even more giggling as I stumbled over my speech.

One woman with her back to me had her head completely submerged in a tub. As she stood, her form caught my eye. Water cascaded down her robe, soaking it from neck to ankle, revealing a tautly muscled posterior and shapely calves. My eyes continued up her body as she turned to face me. I was fascinated by the motion of her generous breasts. The giggling grew louder.

“Yoshi?” With a start, I realized it was Surei talking.

I cast my eyes around the room, trying to locate her. She spoke again. “Yoshi, was there something you wanted?”

Involuntarily, my gaze was drawn back to the breasts of the woman in front of me. I managed to pull my gaze away from her chest and look her in the face. It was Surei.

I turned back to the door, roughly shoved Dimples to one side, and stalked out of the room, followed by yet more giggling and some outright laughter.

I slowed my pace once I got away from the bathhouse. I regretted being so rough with Dimples, but my thoughts were in complete turmoil. When I viewed Surei unclothed like that, it brought to mind memories and feelings I had tried to bury.

I was both aroused and consumed by rage. I was angry at Dimples for tricking me into the bathhouse. I was angry at Surei for keeping me at a distance. I was angry at the world for placing me in this intolerable situation.

I wanted to lash out, to hurt someone. To … I slammed my left shoulder against the trunk of a nearby tree. My vision filled with stars and the resulting pain in my wound was a white-hot flare burning through the knotted emotional chaos in my thoughts. I collapsed against the tree, gasping in agony, unable to think of anything but the torment in my shoulder. Once the pain died down, I straightened back up and got my breathing under control.

Kind of an extreme method for banishing some unpleasant thoughts, but effective.

I was still upset and confused, but at least I had myself under control. It was impossible for me to maintain any emotional distance while I stayed here at the saké house. My feelings for Surei were too strong. The girls didn’t help matters any, either.

I yanked the paper of our poems out of my robe and stared at it. It was time I faced reality. When I decided to pursue the men who betrayed my family, I had forsaken any hope of a life with Surei. The poems were a foolish symbol of an impossible dream. Crumpling the sheet into a ball, I threw it into the bushes lining the walkway.

Nearby was a bench overlooking the garden, so I sat down and stared out at the greenery. It was beautiful, serene—a place of peace. There was no help for me in the pleasant view, though. Even its cultivated perfection reminded me of Surei. She had doubtless determined the exact placement of each plant, each rock and each patch of sand. Every shrub in it bore the mark of her influence.

I started Benkon’s meditation techniques in an attempt to center my chi. Taking deep breaths, I tried to empty my mind. Eventually, I felt calmer and got my emotions and wild thoughts under control.

Surei came up behind me. She was fully clothed again, her damp hair gleaming in the dappled sunlight. As she sat next to me on the bench, she laid her hand gently on my arm. Her face bore a slight smile, and the crinkles around her eyes spoke of her amusement.

“I’m sorry, Yoshi, I don’t know what has gotten into Dimples. She should never have brought you in while we were washing our hair. She knows better. I am going to have a long talk with her about appropriate behavior.”

Listening to Surei speak, the memory of her standing there in her wet robes rose unbidden in my thoughts.

I shrugged her arm off and stood. I gave her Professor’s calculations about the requirements for defending the Spring Palace. “These are from Professor.” Then I looked out into the garden, keeping my back to her. I was angry, aroused and confused again.

Without turning around, I told her, “Surei, this is not going to work. I’m not accomplishing anything by staying here at the Spring Palace. Given our former relationship, it’s too painful for me to be around you. I realize you don’t have any particular feeling for me, but I can’t help myself. I think both of us would be better off if I left.”

I took a deep breath and then let it out again. “I’ve given up everything to pursue vengeance for my family. It’s past time I resumed my hunt. I’ll head out of the city until I have fully recovered, save up some more money, and then try again to find the people responsible. If you wish, I will leave my naginata with you as a surety that I will pay you back for the money you gave Stone.”

I turned back to her. She was no longer smiling.

She sat quietly for a few moments, then shook her head. “I couldn’t take your naginata, Yoshi. Before you make up your mind to leave, I would like you to think about something. There are still a number of things you could do to help Akiko, and I would still like to get your help preparing for the defense of the Spring Palace. You are in no condition to work as a warrior, but you should be able to handle training classes. If you feel you can’t remain here at the Spring Palace, would you consider staying with Akiko until we discover who is assisting Taira? I need you for that.” She looked away. “I’m sure Akiko would enjoy some company. She doesn’t get many visitors.”

I was reluctant to agree. Being around Surei would be emotionally draining. On the other hand, I didn’t want to leave while there was any chance I could aid Akiko.

“I suppose I could stay in Kyoto for a time to help…”

“Since you are going to be nearby, can I count on you to train the women? You would only have to come by in the morning most days.”

I sighed. “All right, that’s reasonable. But once the crisis here in Kyoto is resolved and we have straightened out Akiko’s problem, I will need to be on my way.”

“Of course.” Surei hesitated. “There is one thing…” Her voice trailed off.

“Yes,” I said.

“I haven’t told Akiko you are back. Ikeda Minbukyou has been visiting her regularly, and I didn’t want anyone to know you’d survived the attacks in Isé, considering that someone here in Kyoto had to be involved in the plot against Akiko.”

“Just tell her not to tell anyone.”

“She hates keeping secrets. Even if I could convince her not to tell, she’s a terrible liar. I’ll send a quick message to her telling her you are on your way, and then I’ll get you a palanquin. It’s a long walk, and I think you should avoid being seen out on the streets.”

She stood up. “Gather what you will need at Akiko’s and meet me at the west gate. Anything you don’t have an immediate requirement for I will place in storage here at the Spring Palace.”

When I arrived out front of the Spring Palace, Surei greeted me as if I were a valued customer, presumably for the benefit of anyone who might be watching. “It was good of you to come by. We so look forward to seeing you again.” She personally helped me over to where the palanquin waited, then turned to greet another arrival.

The trip was quick. By the time I turned to the bearers to find out what I owed them, they were already moving off. Apparently, Surei had taken care of payment.

I walked through the front gate at Akiko’s, calling “Hello. Anyone home??”

Masanori, the old bushi, popped his head around the corner. When he saw me, he smiled and gestured for me to come in. He pointed me to the path to the main house. “You’re here to see the Lady, right? She is excited to see you again.”

As I crossed to the main house, the children were playing in the garden. The game seemed to involve the two boys attacking imaginary enemies with sticks while the three girls ran around screaming. Then they all started running around and screaming. Apparently running around and screaming were essential parts of the game.

The side panels on the main building had been removed to let in the sun and fresh air. Akiko was sitting just inside the entryway, watching the children. She stood to greet me. “Yoshi, it’s wonderful to see you! Surei just sent a message telling me you were back! I had no idea you would be gone so long in Isé.”

She hugged me tightly, but the pressure on my ribs drew an involuntary gasp of pain. She let go at once. When she saw my face, she raised her hand to her mouth. “Are you all right?”

I nodded my head wordlessly.

She took my hand and led me inside.

I carefully lowered myself to the floor. Getting up and down was still painful—my ribs, in particular, hurt when I moved. I was glad I would be spending some time here. I was not as ready to travel as I had thought.

The obvious difficulty I had sitting down did nothing to alleviate Akiko’s concerns. “Yoshi, I’m so sorry. Surei told me you were hurt but didn’t say how seriously.” Raising her voice, she called the servants, “Bring some saké and food. We have a guest!” I settled into a more comfortable position as she turned back and asked, “Are you feeling better now?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

“I feel terrible about your injuries. I would rather have found someone like Ikeda Minbukyou to marry than have you wounded on my behalf.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. It was my own fault I was hurt. It had nothing to do with you.”

The two boys came running up. “Mama, we defeated the demon!” shouted one. He looked to be about seven years old. The other was only a couple of years older and not as well-dressed. Both boys were covered in dirt and leaves.

“He was attacking the village, but we drove him away, Mistress,” the older boy added.

“How? By rolling in the dirt? Your clothes! Oh, you two are a mess,” Akiko cried in dismay, rushing over to the boys and brushing the leaves off their robes. “Here we have a distinguished guest, and you look like wild things!”

The boys took notice of me for the first time. Akiko introduced me. “This is Yoshi-san. He is a great bushi and an old friend.”

Their eyes lit up at the mention of bushi. “Have you fought any demons?” the younger one demanded. “Or bandits?” asked the older.

“Yoshi-san saved the High Priestess of Isé from assassins,” Akiko told them. I looked at her in surprise. She smiled. “Everyone in Kyoto has heard the story even if they don’t know who the bushi was,” she explained.

The three girls came running in. One of them, a couple of years younger than Dimples, caught my attention. She looked exactly like Surei and Akiko when they were children. The five clamored, “Tell us about the high priestess!”

“Children! Have you forgotten your manners?” Akiko said. “You will introduce yourselves properly and then be seated if you want to hear this story. Or Yoshi-san will think you a bunch of hooligans.”

The younger boy and the better-dressed girl went first, bowing and formally giving their full names, Yoshitomo and Aoi. “But we usually call them Yoshi-kun and Aoi-chan,” Akiko said.

The other three children introduced themselves as the two daughters and son of Akiko’s attendant, Sachiko. Sachiko was Masanori’s daughter. After the introductions, the five children sat down expectantly.

I gave Akiko a dirty look. She smiled serenely at me, not bothered in the least. I looked at the five faces alight with anticipation. With a small internal sigh, I smiled and began telling the story. “I couldn’t sleep, so I was taking a walk in the early morning at a shrine near Lake Awaumi when I saw something strange…”

I tried to make the tale interesting, emphasizing the exciting parts and playing down my desperation and fear. The children sat there with wide eyes. They barely moved as they listened. When I got to the part of the tale where I held off the man from the door to the high priestess, Aoi-chan raised her hand and covered her mouth in alarm. When the military escort finally came running up and chased off the last of the villains, Yoshi-kun jumped up and shouted “YES!”

Akiko gently chided him, “You are forgetting your manners.” He sat down again, a little red-faced, but still excited. I smiled at his youthful enthusiasm, remembering when a simple story had the ability to move me the same way.

The children wanted to hear more stories. I looked at Akiko. “Perhaps one more short one?” She nodded her assent.

“Let me tell you about the brave bushi and the Dragon King of the Lake,” I began. “The Dragon King lives deep beneath Lake Awaumi with his five beautiful daughters. He is very wise, but is particularly skilled in the ways of magic…”

After I finished that story, they wanted to hear still more, but Akiko told them, “Go out and play now. The adults are going to talk.”

The children headed out. Aoi-chan was telling the others, “I will be the high priestess. Yoshi-kun, you’ll protect me from the kidnappers…”

Akiko smiled as the children began playing “Rescue the High Priestess.” But once they were out of earshot, her smile disappeared. “Do you really think they were trying to kill the high priestess? That seems inconceivable. Who would stand to benefit from her death?”

“I honestly don’t know. I spoke with her shortly after the incident, and she wasn’t sure if they were trying to kill her or just kidnap her. Things are unsettled, though. I overheard some of the merchants in the caravan complaining about the political situation.”

Akiko was shocked. “That’s terrible!”

“Yes, but we can’t do anything about it. Fortunately, the trip to Isé wasn’t a complete waste of time.” I told her about how District Magistrate Taira had switched shouen and was cheating her.

Akiko shook her head, her eyes wide with alarm. “It is like a nightmare, all this plotting and violence. We truly live in a fallen and depraved world.”

I could see her making a deliberate effort to be more cheerful as she changed the subject. “So, how are you and Surei? It must be nice to spend time with her after all these years.”

I stared out over the wild vegetation as I tried to come up with an answer. Finally, I said, “Actually, Surei and I … there is no Surei and I. Surei has made it clear she is uninterested in me.”

“Really? Did she say why?”

As I started to tell her about the situation, it was if a dam broke, and it all came rushing out. “Things haven’t worked out like I thought they would. I was hoping Surei and I could pick up where we left off, but Surei isn’t interested. I don’t think she can ever forgive me for leaving her behind in Kyoto. I once believed that we were so closely bound that nothing could separate us. I was mistaken. All that is finished. She has become cold and cynical. It is understandable, given her situation, but I don’t know her anymore, and I’m not sure I want to. She is a very different person than she was.”

Akiko said, “That’s not entirely correct. Surei has been very good to me.”

“Yes, of course, you are right. She has been good to you, but she doesn’t seem to feel that way about anyone else … or at least not about me.”

“Well, Surei had a very tough time when you didn’t return.” Being reminded of my failures with Surei only made me feel worse. Akiko seemed to sense my distress. She smiled and gently touched my arm. “Yoshi, you have a good heart, but you can’t blame yourself for what happened to Surei. There is no way you could have known.”

She looked at me, the curiosity evident in her eyes. “Why didn’t you come back, though? You must have known we were worried about you.”

I shuddered and took a deep breath, then said, “There was a pirate problem down in Kyuushuu about eleven years back, and our clan was charged with taking care of it…”