Tension filled the workroom as the weavers bent over their looms, hands busy, but eyes wary. I read anticipation in their exchange of meaningful glances, and in the way they watched for Madame and for me.

I met their eyes with a challenge in my own. And for a moment, I believe I scared them. But they would pursue their conspiracy.

It happened as soon as Satomi had conveniently finished her late morning breakfast. I never doubted her cooperation in the scheme. She stomped into the room, bawling an affected plaint, and calling for her mother.

“She’s done it again! She’s taken Grandmother’s cane!”

This time, the theft was not my doing, but it didn’t matter. I would be thoroughly whipped for it anyway.

Madame retrieved her switch and returned to the room. She gave me a terse nod as if to say, “You know what to do.”

I did. Drawing a slow breath, I loosened my robe and let it pillow around my ankles without a rustle. As I did this, the air in the room tightened. I almost thought I could hear the watchers cease to breathe. Madame paused. Blinked. Her right hand trembled an instant as she raised the switch.

There was not a scar on my back Madame didn’t know. Now she was astounded to see my neck made somehow new, bright as new-fallen snow.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

The shoji door slid wide and heads swiveled to face the veranda. We all expected Ansei, standing in the doorway with the late morning sun shining behind him. He was part of this mystery and everyone knew it.

But Tatsuo stood on the veranda, leaning his aging body against the rosewood cane.

“I’m sorry, Madame. I have the cane. Please don’t punish Furi.”

Madame stared in disbelief.

“Where did you find that?”

“Find it? No. I took it. I have felt the need of something to aide my step these many months. I thought I would give it a try. I’m sorry, Satomi. I know how you prize it.”

“If you need a cane, Tatsuo, you have but to ask for one,” Madame said, pressing her lips together tightly.

“Yes. Yes, thank you. I would like a cane.”

Satomi exhaled heavily in frustration.

“Don’t defend her. I know she took it before you did. Mother, you can’t let her get away with teasing me.”

Madame rotated between Satomi and Tatsuo. I believe if Tatsuo had left the room then, Madame would have resumed her beating. But he stood frozen, daring Madame to strike me. For a moment they glared at each other, standing at impasse. Finally, Madame stamped one foot, threw down her switch and quit the room.

Forcing a confrontation that lead to Madame’s defeat in front of her servants meant a grave loss of face for Madame, and Tatsuo couldn’t avoid some kind of consequence for having done it. I wondered what motivated him to take such a risk.

I didn’t know how, but I had a vague suspicion Ansei played some role in this event. I didn’t know how Tatsuo had found the cane, and Satomi couldn’t puzzle it out either. No doubt she had hidden it away herself. Perhaps Tatsuo found it by the same magic which Ansei had procured it when I had hidden it behind Satomi’s chest. Perhaps this was Ansei’s doing again.

I might have gone on merely guessing, but I desperately needed an ally, and so, determined to confront him.