Shogun

She saw them all staring at her and she was startled. “Yes?”

Yaemon frowned. “I said, can we go and have my lessons, First Mother? I said it two times.”

“I’m sorry, my son, I was drifting away. That’s what happens when you get old. Yes, come along then.” Kiri helped her up. Yaemon ran off ahead. The Grays were already on their feet and one of them caught him and affectionately swung him onto his shoulders. The four samurai who had escorted her waited separately.

“Walk with me a little, Lord Toranaga, would you please? I need a strong arm to lean on.”

Toranaga was on his feet with surprising agility. She took his arm but did not use his strength. “Yes. I need a strong arm. Yaemon does. And so does the realm.”

“I’m always ready to serve you,” Toranaga said.

When they were away from the others, she said quietly, “Become sole Regent. Take the power and rule yourself. Until Yaemon becomes of age.”

“The Taiko’s testament forbids this—even if I wished it, which I don’t. The curbs he made preclude one Regent’s taking power. I don’t seek sole power. I never have.”

“Tora-chan,” she said, using the nickname the Taiko had given him so long ago, “we have few secrets, you and I. You could do it, if you wished. I will answer for the Lady Ochiba. Take the power for your own lifetime. Become Shogun and make—”

“Lady, what you say is treason. I-do-not-seek-to-be-Shogun.”

“Of course, but please listen to me a last time. Become Shogun, make Yaemon your sole heir—your sole heir. He could be Shogun, after you. Isn’t his bloodline Fujimoto— through Lady Ochiba back to her grandfather Goroda and through him back to antiquity? Fujimoto!”

Toranaga stared at her. “You think the daimyos would agree to such a claim, or that His Highness, the Son of Heaven, could approve the appointment?”

“No. Not for Yaemon by himself. But if you were Shogun first, and you adopted him, you could persuade them, all of them. We will support you, the Lady Ochiba and I.”

“She has agreed to this?” asked Toranaga, astounded.

“No. We’ve never discussed it. It’s my idea. But she will agree. I will answer for her. In advance.”

“This is an impossible conversation, Lady.”

“You can manage Ishido, and all of them. You always have. I’m afraid of what I hear, Tora-chan, rumors of war, the taking of sides, and the Dark Centuries beginning again. When war begins it will go on forever and eat Yaemon up.”

“Yes. I believe that, too. Yes, if it begins it will last forever.”

“Then take the power! Do what you wish, to whomever you wish, however you wish. Yaemon’s a worthy boy. I know you like him. He has his father’s mind and with your guidance, we would all benefit. He should have his heritage.”

“I’m not opposing him, or his succession. How many times need I say it?”

“The Heir will be destroyed unless you actively support him.”

“I do support him!” Toranaga said. “In every way. That’s what I agreed with the Taiko, your late husband.”

Yodoko sighed and pulled her habit closer. “These old bones are chilled. So many secrets and battles, treacheries and deaths and victories, Tora-chan. I’m only a woman, and very much alone. I’m glad that I’m dedicated to Buddha now, and that most of my thoughts are toward Buddha and my next life. But in this one I have to protect my son and to say these things to you. I hope you will forgive my impertinence.”

“I always seek and enjoy your counsel.”

“Thank you.” Her back straightened a little. “Listen, while I’m alive neither the Heir nor the Lady Ochiba will ever go against you.”

“Yes.”

“Will you consider what I proposed?”

“My late Master’s will forbids it. I cannot go against the will or my sacred promise as a Regent.”

They walked in silence. Then Yodoko sighed. “Why not take her to wife?”

Toranaga stopped in his tracks. “Ochiba?”

“Why not? She’s totally worthy as a political choice. A perfect choice for you. She’s beautiful, young, strong, her bloodline’s the best, part Fujimoto, part Minowara, the sun dances in her, and she has an immense joy of life. You’ve no official wife now—so why not? This would solve the problem of the succession and stop the realm from being torn apart. You would have other sons by her surely. Yaemon would succeed you, then his sons or her other sons. You could become Shogun. You would have the power of the realm and the power of a father so you could train Yaemon to your way. You would adopt him formally and he would be as much your son as any you have. Why not marry Lady Ochiba?”

Because she’s a wildcat, a treacherous tigress with the face and body of a goddess, who thinks she’s an empress and acts like one, Toranaga told himself. You could never trust her in your bed. She’d be just as likely to thread a needle through your eyes when you’re asleep as she’d be to caress you. Oh no, not her! Even if I married her in name only—which she’d never agree to—oh no! It’s impossible! For all sorts of reasons, not the least of which is that she’s hated me and plotted my downfall, and that of my house, ever since she whelped for the first time, eleven years ago.

Even then, even at seventeen, she had committed herself to my destruction. Ah, so soft outwardly, like the first ripe peach of summer, and as fragrant. But inwardly sword steel with a mind to match, weaving her spells, soon making the Taiko mad over her to the exclusion of all others. Yes, she had the Taiko cowed since she was fifteen when he first took her formally. Yes, and don’t forget, truly, she pillowed him, even then, not he her, however much he believed it. Yes, even at fifteen, Ochiba knew what she sought and the way to obtain it. Then the miracle happening, giving the Taiko a son at long last, she alone of all the women he had in his life. How many pillow ladies? A hundred at least, him a stoat who sprayed more Joyful Juice into more Heavenly Chambers than ten ordinary men! Yes. And these women of all ages and all castes, casual or consort, from a Fujimoto princess to Fourth Class courtesans. But none ever even became pregnant, though later, many of those that the Taiko dismissed or divorced or married off had children by other men. None, except the Lady Ochiba.

But she gave him his first son at fifty-three, poor little thing, sickly and dying so soon, the Taiko rending his clothes, almost crazy with grief, blaming himself and not her. Then, four years later, miraculously she whelped again, miraculously another son, miraculously healthy this time, she twenty-one now. Ochiba the Peerless, the Taiko had called her.

Did the Taiko father Yaemon or not? Eeeee, I’d give a lot to know the truth. Will we ever know the truth? Probably not, but what would I not give for proof, one way or another.

Strange that the Taiko, so clever about everything else, was not clever about Ochiba, doting on her and Yaemon to insanity. Strange that of all the women she should have been the mother of his heir, she whose father and stepfather and mother were dead because of the Taiko.

Would she have the cleverness to pillow with another man, to take his seed, then obliterate this same man to safeguard herself? Not once but twice?

Could she be so treacherous? Oh, yes.

Marry Ochiba? Never.

“I’m honored that you would make such a suggestion,” Toranaga said.

“You’re a man, Tora-chan. You could handle such a woman easily. You’re the only man in the Empire who could, neh? She would make a marvelous match for you. Look how she fights to protect her son’s interests now, and she’s only a defenseless woman. She’d be a worthy wife for you.”

“I don’t think she would ever consider it.”

“And if she did?”

“I would like to know. Privately. Yes, that would be an inestimable honor.”

“Many people believe that only you stand between Yaemon and the succession.”

“Many people are fools.”

“Yes. But you’re not, Toranaga-sama. Neither is the Lady Ochiba.”

Nor are you, my Lady, he thought.