support herself and me anymore. Because-” Okaru paused, sparkling with glee. “I’m getting married!”
Reiko was astonished. A short time ago Okaru had been in love with Oishi and heartbroken because he’d jilted her. Now she’d found someone else. “Who is he?”
“His name is Jihei. He has his own furniture shop. He’s rich, and handsome, and not too old.” Okaru bubbled, “He’s so good to me! We’re so much in love! I’m so happy!”
“How did you meet him?” Reiko asked, impressed by Okaru’s fast work.
“His shop is near the inn, and he saw me that day when the crowd was hounding me. He thought I was so beautiful, he fell in love at first sight. He couldn’t forget me. After I went back to the inn, I peeked inside his shop one day, and he saw me, and he rushed out and introduced himself, and I fell in love with him, too.” Okaru blushed and giggled.
Reiko wondered if a love match made in such haste could bring lasting happiness. Then again, many arranged marriages didn’t. “Well. I’m glad you’ll be settled comfortably.” But she couldn’t help thinking of Oishi, forgotten so soon.
Tears misted Okaru’s eyes. “I’ll never forget Oishi, though.” She smiled sadly. “If not for him, I wouldn’t have come to Edo, and I wouldn’t have met Jihei. In a way, he brought us together. I visited his grave at Sengaku Temple, and I thanked him and prayed for his spirit. Have you been there?”
“Not yet,” Reiko said. “My husband is taking me today.”
“Before I say good-bye, I want to thank you for your kindness,” Okaru said. “You helped me when I had no one else to turn to.”
“It was nothing,” Reiko said, glad that Okaru didn’t bear her any grudge.
“There’s something I’d like to ask…?”
“What is it?”
“Masahiro was kind to me. May I say good-bye to him?”
“Of course.” Reiko didn’t think it could hurt. “He’s outside.”
As soon as Okaru had left, Chiyo arrived for a visit. “Did you hear that?” Reiko asked.
Chiyo nodded. “I couldn’t resist eavesdropping.”
“What do you think?”
“I think that although many people have suffered because of the forty-seven
“She certainly has.” Reiko added ruefully, “You were right about her being trouble.”
“But you were right to act on Okaru’s information about the vendetta,” Chiyo hastened to say. “Discovering the truth is important, no matter the cost.”
They smiled at each other. Reiko was glad that Okaru hadn’t permanently come between them. Their friendship had weathered a difference of opinion and emerged stronger because each could appreciate the other’s viewpoint.
* * *
Masahiro heard Okaru call his name and saw her tripping toward him beneath the cherry trees. His heart soared. Ever since she’d left, he’d felt a hollow ache inside. He’d thought of looking for her, but his shame about what had happened while she was here had stopped him. He wasn’t only bothered by his mother catching them together; he felt guilty because of Goza, the tattoos, the bloody clothes, and the fact that he’d delayed telling his parents about them because he’d wanted to protect Okaru. It was his first, upsetting taste of divided loyalty. Now he was glad he hadn’t gone after Okaru, because although she smiled and held out her arms, he could tell that she didn’t feel the same way about him as he did about her.
She wasn’t in love with him, and she never would be.
“Hello! Do you remember me?” Okaru said gaily.
Masahiro was so downcast that all he could do was nod. She thought he was a child, like Akiko and Taeko and Tatsuo, who were running and playing nearby.
“I felt bad because I left without saying good-bye to you,” Okaru said.
She’d come to say good-bye now, Masahiro realized. The ache inside him grew. “Where are you going?” he managed to say.
“Not far. I’ll be staying in Nihonbashi.” Dimples wreathed Okaru’s face. “I’m getting married.”
The news was like a stab to his heart. All his vague dreams about Okaru died for good. While she rambled on about her fiance, the house she would live in, and the children she hoped to have, Masahiro was struck by how far apart the few years’ difference in their ages put them. Okaru was a grown woman, while he was still a boy. Sadness filled him, but he also felt relief. He wasn’t ready for marriage, or housekeeping, or even love. He had too many other things to do first. And although he still desired Okaru, they weren’t meant for each other. He could accept that they belonged to different worlds.
“It would be nice if you would come and visit me,” Okaru said.
“Yes.” But Masahiro knew he would never see her again. That was as it should be.
After a pause, Okaru said, “I wanted to tell you I’m sorry about … what happened.”
Masahiro felt his cheeks flame.
“I didn’t mean anything by it. I was so unhappy, I needed somebody, and you were there.” Okaru seemed ashamed, too. “I’m sorry I upset your mother.”
To her, the embrace that had caused him so much excitement and pleasure had been nothing but a mistake. But Masahiro could accept that, too. “It’s all right,” he said.
“I’m glad you’re not mad at me. I’ll never forget how you protected me from Oishi’s wife.” Okaru smiled fondly. “You’re my hero.” Then she took a closer look at him, and surprise raised her eyebrows. She frowned as her gaze held his.
Masahiro heard a thought, as clear as if she’d spoken it:
Okaru’s smile turned wistful. “I guess I should be going.” She bowed. “Good-bye.”
“Good-bye,” Masahiro said.
Okaru hesitated, then held out her hand. Masahiro hesitated, then reached for it. Their fingers clasped, then let go. The soft warmth of her skin lingered on his as Okaru walked away through the rain of falling cherry blossoms.
“Masahiro!” Taeko called. “Try and catch me!”
And now he was running, laughing as he chased Taeko. It felt good to be so carefree. Masahiro spared a moment to wonder if he would fall in love again someday. Would he be lucky enough that the girl he fell in love with would fall in love with him, too?
He thought he probably would.
* * *
“Shh, don’t cry,” Hirata crooned to his baby daughter. He rocked her in his arms. “Papa’s here.”
The baby squalled, her little fists waving, her feet kicking inside the blanket wrapped around her. Hirata smiled. It was amazing how much one could love such a tiny, new person.
Midori bustled into the room. “She’s hungry. Give her to me.”
Hirata handed the baby over. “She’s also wet,” he said, holding out the damp sleeve of his kimono. “It’s amazing how much water such a tiny person can make.”
“Oh, I almost forgot to tell you,” Midori said. “You have visitors.”
When Hirata went into the reception room, there were Tahara, Deguchi, and Kitano. They bowed politely. “Hello,” Tahara said with his rakish smile.
Chilling fear and fuming anger beset Hirata. “What are you doing here?”
“Now, now, is that any way to greet your guests?” Kitano’s eyes crinkled in his scarred, paralyzed face.
“We haven’t seen you in a while,” Tahara said, “so we decided to stop by.” Deguchi watched Hirata through heavy-lidded eyes, inscrutable. “Have you been avoiding us?”
Hirata had. Whenever he’d felt their aura, he’d walked in the opposite direction. Whenever he’d seen them around town, he’d pretended not to notice them. He hadn’t wanted to talk to them until he’d made sense of the incident at the palace. But no matter how much he mulled it over, he ended up with the same questions that only they could answer.
“We thought it was time for another talk,” Kitano said.
