"Then he should have gone into the main street and got five or ten or twenty of his people and brought them back and smashed the fence down--he is an important official, the officers and all soldiers obeyed him at the Legation. That would certainly have made Raiko kowtow for a year or more and guaranteed he would have the service he wanted when he wanted--we might have had to run off too.
That is what I would have done if I was an important official like him." Hiraga smiled and Fujiko suppressed a shiver. "It's a matter of face. Yet they understand face very well. They would have defended their stupid Legation to the last man, then the fleet would have laid waste Yedo."
"Isn't that what we want?"
"Yes." Hiraga laughed. "But not when you are weaponless and grovelling like a gardener--I really felt naked!" Again a refill. Hiraga looked at her. Ordinarily, even though the girl of the evening was not particularly attractive, his normal virility and the sak`e would arouse him.
Tonight was different. This was the gai-jin Yoshiwara, she had bedded them so was tainted. Perhaps Ori would like her, he thought, and smiled back at her for face. "Order some food, eh, Fujiko? The best the house can provide."
"At once, Hiraga-san." She hurried away.
"Listen, Ori," Hiraga whispered so no one could overhear. "There's great danger here."
He took out the folded poster.
Ori was shocked. "Two koku? That will tempt anyone. It could be you, not exactly, but a Barrier guard might stop you."
"Raiko said the same."
Ori looked up at him. "Joun was an artist, a good one."
"I'd thought of that, and I've been wondering how they caught him and broke him. He knows many shishi secrets, knows Katsumata's planning to intercept the Shogun."
"Disgusting, allowing himself to be caught alive.
It is obvious we have been infiltrated." Ori handed the picture back. "Two koku would tempt anyone, even the most zealous mama-san."
"I thought of that too."
"Grow a beard, Hiraga, or mustache, that would help."
"Yes, that would help." Hiraga was glad that Ori was back in his head again, his counsel always valuable. "A strange feeling to know that this is out there."
Ori broke the silence. "In a day or two, soon as I can, I am stronger every day, I will go to Kyoto and join Katsumata to warn him about Joun. He should be warned."
"Yes, good idea, very good."
"What about you?"
"I am safe amongst the gai-jin, safer there than anywhere--so long as I'm not betrayed.
Akimoto's at Hodogaya, I have sent for him, then we can decide."
"Good. You will be safer to try for Kyoto at once, before these pictures are sent throughout the Tokaido."
"No. Taira is too good an opportunity to miss. I will cache swords there in case."
"Get a revolver, less obvious." Ori put his right hand inside his yokata, moving it away from his shoulder, and scratched the bandage.
Hiraga was shocked to see the little gold cross on the thin gold chain around his neck. "Why wear that?"
Ori shrugged. "It amuses me."
"Get rid of it, Ori--it ties you to the Tokaido killing, Shorin and her. The cross is an unnecessary danger."
"Many samurai are Christian."
"Yes but she could identify that cross. It is insane to take such a risk. If you want to wear one get another."
After a pause Ori said, "This one amuses me."
Hiraga saw the inflexibility, cursed him inwardly but decided it was his duty to protect the shishi movement, protect sonno-joi and now was the time. "Take-it-off!"
The blood soared into Ori's face.
His half smile did not change but he knew he was called. His choice was simple: refuse and die, or obey.
A mosquito buzzed around his face. He disregarded it, not wanting to make a sudden movement. Slowly his right hand pulled the chain away from his neck, breaking it. The cross and chain vanished into his sleeve pocket. Then he placed both hands on the tatami and bowed low.
"You are right, Hiraga-san, it was an unnecessary danger. Please accept my apologies."
Silently Hiraga bowed back. Only then did he relax and Ori straighten. Both men knew their relationship had changed. Permanently.
They had not become enemies, just were no longer friends, allies always, but never friends again. Ever. As Ori picked up his cup and raised it, toasting him, he was pleased to find his inner rage so controlled that his fingers did not shake. "Thank you."
Hiraga drank with him, leaned over and poured for both of them. "Now Sumomo. Please tell me about her."
"I remember almost nothing." Ori opened his fan and wafted the mosquito away. "The mama-san Noriko told me Sumomo arrived like a spirit with me on a stretcher, told her almost nothing except that a gai-jin doctor had cut me open and sewed me up again. She paid half Shorin's debts and persuaded her to hide me.
During the waiting Sumomo spoke hardly at all after asking about Shorin, what had happened to him. When the messenger returned from Yedo with your message she left for Shimonoseki at once.
The only news she gave was that Satsuma is mobilizing for war, and your Choshu batteries had again fired on the gai-jin ships in the Straits, turning them back."
"Good. You told her everything about Shorin?"
"Yes. She asked me seriously and then, after I told her she said she would be revenged."
"Did she leave any message or letter with the mama-san?"
Ori shrugged. "She left nothing with me."
Perhaps Noriko has one, Hiraga thought.
Never mind, that can wait. "She looked well?"
"Yes. I owe her my life."