Firefly

by India Millar

  By the time Reo had straightened, she had stood away from me and was bowing with every appearance of courtesy.

  I was bewildered. Even more so when Reo was still silent when we were a street away from the Hidden House. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I spoke cautiously.

  “Reo-san, I must beg your indulgence. As you said, I am nothing but a youth. I am not an iki man about town such as you are, and I have no knowledge of the world.” I hesitated, wondering if I was laying on the flattery a little too much even for Reo. But I sensed him relax and knew I had not. By the gods, but the man was a fool! “But it seemed to me that Hana-san was discourteous to you. How dare she behave like that to such a great noble as you?”

  Reo lifted his head, his expression sulky. “She is a stupid woman,” he said arrogantly. “You are right. She was most discourteous to me. Had it been anyone but Hana who had spoken to me like that, I would have struck her down on the spot. She and every one of her precious geisha.”

  “You were surely merciful, Reo-san,” I fawned.

  “I was, wasn’t I?” Reo’s good humor was nearly restored by my flattery. I chose my words very carefully.

  “Is Hana-san perhaps an old friend?”

  “No. I don’t think I would call Hana a friend.” Reo pursed his lips and tapped me quite hard on the shoulder with his fan. “I would advise you very strongly to keep away from Hana’s teahouse, young Jun. Hana seems to have taken a fancy to you, and I must warn you, she is a very dangerous woman.”

  I was fascinated and waited for more. When Reo stayed silent, I persisted.

  “Oh, surely not! She’s only a woman, after all. Just because she has the good fortune to manage a very fine teahouse, Reo-san, I don’t see how she could be any danger to me. Especially when she knows that I have such a powerful noble as you to protect me.”

  I smiled at him with shy adoration. I was surprised when he looked uncomfortable.

  “Never take anything in the Floating World at face value, Jun,” he muttered. “It’s rumored that Hana has more power in the Floating World than you or I could ever begin to imagine. It’s said that she actually owns both the teahouse and the Hidden House. Apparently, they were gifted to her by her lover, who was the most feared yakuza in the whole of Edo, just before he died. Now, his son has inherited his father’s empire, and it’s said he’s very fond of Hana in his turn.”

  I was bewildered. “A yakuza? A mere gangster? What harm could he do to you? He wouldn’t dare touch a noble. If he tried, the authorities would have his head off the next day.”

  “If it were anybody but the yakuza Akira, they would.” Reo was obviously uncomfortable even speaking the yakuza’s name. “It’s whispered that he has all of Edo wound in his obi. He owns teahouses and shops and brothels. Great men owe him money. I’ve been told that he knows secrets that would cause such loss of face to important nobles that the greatest in the land turn a stone face to anything he chooses to do.”

  The words “even the shogun” hovered unsaid. I stifled laughter, hardly able to believe that even the arrogant Reo believed this nonsense. Yakuza, indeed! I was certain that either Father or Isamu would not have hesitated to ensure that Hana had gotten her just deserts had she dared to speak to either of them as she had to Reo. I hid a sneer. No matter. Very soon indeed, Reo would find that Hana’s insult had been nothing at all compared to what I was about to do to him.

  My sister was about to be avenged by my hand. I looked forward to it with very great anticipation.

  Twenty-One

  My shadow is my

  True companion. It is

  Always there for me.

  “Enough of this chatter about Hana. I’m bored with her and her teahouse. I doubt you would have enjoyed the Hidden House anyway. I’m sure the tales about the place are exaggerated. No doubt she and her yakuza spread the gossip themselves to justify the shocking fees they charge customers. I daresay she was up to something similar tonight, trying to whet my appetite by teasing me.”

  Reo was talking himself into believing his own words, I could tell. Was there no end to the arrogance of the man? I nodded thoughtfully as he took my arm.

  “What real man has need of women anyway? I’ve always thought the code of wakashudo is the true way to follow for any samurai. I’m certain you’ve already found Isamu thinks that way!”

  He leered at me. He was so close, I could smell the sake on his breath. I had a vivid memory of Emiko telling me about seeing Soji and Isamu together in the bath and moved away from him.

  “I’m sure you’re right, Reo-san,” I agreed. I glanced around. We had come to a halt in a relatively quiet part of the Floating World. I thought there must have been a fire here recently, as there were a couple of plots with half-built houses on them and then a space where the earth was scorched and bare. Little enough here to entice the crowds. There was a narrow, unlit alley a few steps further on, perfect for my plans. I listened carefully but could catch no sound of life coming from down there, although the hum of life vibrated from the next street.

  “Of course I’m right. Never mind Hana, I’m on fire for you.” Reo grabbed my hand and placed it on his crotch. I had expected to find a rearing tree and was surprised to find it only half erect. No matter. Reo clearly had only one thing on his mind, and it suited my purpose perfectly. “Come along, Jun, There’s nothing here for us. We need to get back into the Floating World proper. I know a very discreet house of assignation not far from here.”

  He made to move away, and I threw my arms around his neck in mock passion.

  “Reo-chan,” I murmured. “That will be wonderful for the rest of the night. But I don’t want to wait that long. Look—this alley is nice and dark and deserted. Wouldn’t you like to stop here for a while?”

  He hesitated, peering down into the darkness. I thought he was about to refuse, so I rubbed against him seductively.

  “Well, you might be right. It wouldn’t be as comfortable as exploring each other on a futon, but it would be…different.”

  “Oh, it will!” I assured him. “And there’s always the added spice that we might be discovered. So exciting!”

  Reo was convinced. I felt his tree swell beneath my hand. I tugged him down into the alley, using it as a handle.

  I had no need for any light to see by. The small sounds we made bounced off the walls of the alley, so I used our echoes to find my way. The ground was fairly smooth beneath my feet; I had no fear of tripping. Reo was less sure.

  “Not so fast, Jun. I don’t want to trip and injure myself.” He sounded pettish, and I wished heartily that Emiko could be here to see her lover’s caution. Here I was, a “boy” he was supposed to be deeply in lust with who was finally offering himself to be taken, and what was this brave man’s response? Fear that he might turn his ankle in the dark! Poor Emiko, deceived on all sides. But if my plan worked, at least one of her deceivers would be dealt with.

  I reached the end of the alley and turned. Lacking my sense of the night, Reo took another stumbling step and stubbed his toe on the wall.

  “Ouch! I really don’t know about this, Jun. I daresay this sort of thing might be all right for your battle-hardened samurai lovers, but I’m used to a little more decorum in my affairs. This is most uncomfortable. And I just know that this wall is dirty. It’s going to stain my robes. No, this just will not do. Come along. Lead me back to the street again. We will go to my deliciously comfortable house of assignation. Jun? Where are you?”

  There was a rising note of panic in Reo’s voice. I moved closer to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He screamed with surprise.

  “I’m here, master,” I teased from the other side of him.

  “Jun, really. I don’t know what sort of game you want to play, but I’m not interested. Come along. Lead me out of this horrible alley. Now.”

  I stayed silent, breathing very quietly. I could feel the panic rising in Reo like a physical presence. I touched his face, light as moth-wings, and h
e screamed again, lurching away from me.

  “Don’t you want to play, master?” I whispered right next to him. “I had heard that you liked to play games. Is that wrong? If it is, I am so sorry. I will leave you here to find your own way back out and go see if Hana really would like me to visit the Hidden House. But do be careful. I’m sure I saw rats when we came down here.”

  “No!” Reo’s voice was as high pitched as a woman’s with fear. He grabbed for me, and I evaded him easily. “I don’t like rats. They bite. You can catch terrible things from a rat bite.” Suddenly, he was wheedling. “I know what you’re up to, my dear Jun. You’re only a boy, after all. This is your idea of fun, isn’t it? Well, I’m not amused. Not at all. Take me back into the Floating World and we’ll say no more about it.”

  I stayed silent, listening to his heart pound. When it suited me, I giggled.

  “But I thought you wanted me, Reo-san? Don’t you find this tremendously exciting? Just the two of us here, well away from anybody who could see or hear us?”

  I grabbed for his tree of flesh. It was no longer even half-erect; in fact, it was so flaccid I had to search for it. Excellent; by the time I had finished with him, I hoped it would be a long time before it rose for anybody. Reo snatched for my wrist with a speed that surprised me, but I was far too fast for him. Before he could close his fingers, my hand was well away.

  “Go away. Leave me here on my own.” Reo’s tone was indignant, but I heard the bluster beneath his brave words. “I know we’re not far from the main road. I can soon find my way back to the Floating World proper. I realize now that you have nothing at all I want. In fact,” he added spitefully, “if you want to know the truth, I wasn’t all that interested in you in the first place. It was amusing stealing you off Isamu, but I really only wanted you to get me into the Hidden House.”

  He was telling the truth. I could tell from his voice. I was furiously indignant. How dare this weak despoiler of innocent virgins not find me attractive!

  “Isamu is a thousand times the man you are,” I whispered very closely to his ear. So close that when he jerked his head in shock, he almost hit me. I bit down on my anger; I had to be careful not to allow my personal feelings to make me careless. When I spoke again, I was on his other side. “I am a thousand times the man you are.”

  Ridiculously, I found myself wishing that he knew the truth, if only to see the irony in my words.

  “You and Isamu both are too in love with the code of wakashudo,” he sneered. Clearly, I had not frightened him enough yet; he was gaining in confidence. “Neither of you are real men. I daresay neither of you would even know what a proper woman feels like. I’m not surprised Isamu has put off marrying his betrothed for so long. I’m sure the poor girl will get a terrible shock when her wedding night actually arrives. If it ever does.”

  He cackled at his own wit. I steadied my body, counting ten heartbeats before I moved. Reo had not only despoiled my sister, now he had insulted my brother. And, oddly, me as well.

  Enough. It was time he learned the lesson I had ready for him.

  I pinched his cheek, darted away, felt for his flaccid tree, and pinched what I found. His arms thrashed about. A child could have heard him grunting, and I evaded his flailing hands effortlessly.

  “Jun! Jun!” he wailed loudly. “I’ve upset you by saying those things about Isamu. I’m sorry. I spoke in anger. I didn’t mean it, not a single word. Look, lead me away from this terrible place and I’ll give you money. More money than you’ve ever seen. I promise, you can go away and forget we ever met. But please, don’t tell Isamu what I said.”

  “He’ll kill you with no mercy at all if I tell him.” I stood very still in front of Reo. I could feel his terror. I had no pity for him at all. “When I tell him, shall I also tell him how you violated his sister?”

  “What?” Reo’s voice was a tremulous whisper. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Suddenly, it seemed he was far less interested in being led out of the alley. I felt him shrink back, as though he hoped the wall itself might part and offer him shelter.

  “Emiko-san. You must remember her, surely? Isamu’s beautiful sister. Daughter and sister to samurai. You went to her father’s house and despoiled her beneath his roof.”

  “No, no. That’s all nonsense.” He laughed uncertainly. “Do you know Emiko? Is it she that told you all these lies? If you really do know the silly girl, you must guess it’s all nonsense. She’s just a bored, rich, young girl, that’s all. She makes things up. Do you really believe that a man from a noble family could ever do something so discourteous?”

  Knowing my sister, I almost believed him. Then I recalled her red-rimmed eyes and the days she had spent longing for him to get in touch with her and I knew he was lying. And of course, there was the small matter of the note he had sent to her.

  “I believe you would,” I whispered. Reo was trying to slide away from me. He was holding his breath; as if that would stop me from hearing him! I moved swiftly to block his path. When I spoke again, he hissed with fear. “I saw the note you sent to her. Did you use the same calligrapher to write her note as the one you sent to me?”

  He wailed in fear. “You can’t know about that! Nobody can know! Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?”

  “I am shinobi,” I said softly. Where the idea came from to lie to Reo, I had no idea. But I was delighted by the effect my words had. He screamed like an animal in pain. I realized at once that he knew shinobi were no legend; had he perhaps made use of their services himself? If he had, so much the better.

  “No! By all the gods, no! Who is employing you? It can’t be Emiko. She wouldn’t know about such things. And if Isamu knew about it, he would have killed me himself. It doesn’t matter. Tell me what you’re being paid and I’ll double it.”

  I allowed his scrabbling hands to grasp the front of my robes. Then, very gently, I patted his hand.

  “You can’t pay me enough. It’s a matter of honor.”

  “Don’t kill me, please!” Suddenly forgetting his fear of rats, Reo sank to his knees before me. He banged his head on the filthy ground in front of me, kowtowing as if I were the shogun himself. “Please, let me live. I’ll never go near Emiko again. I’ll write to her and tell her it was all a mistake. I promise.”

  He meant it. At that moment, at least. It didn’t matter greatly to me. I had no intention of killing him. If I did, Emiko would spend the rest of her life grieving for her lost lover. My sister had a full—and I hoped long—life in front of her if I could save her from her own romantic notions.

  “Get up, Reo,” I said. When he did not move, I gave him a brisk kick in the ribs. “Get up. That’s better. Stand still.”

  I reached out and tugged at the obi that fastened his robe. Reo obviously misunderstood what I was after as he spoke eagerly.

  “Please, take it. There’s a gold koban and some silver in my purse, it’s all yours.”

  A gold koban. Enough to feed a man for a year. My disgust deepened. How could anybody be stupid enough to bring that much money somewhere like the Floating World? It was asking for trouble. Well, Reo had found trouble, even if not in the way he had expected. His fingers scrabbled at the obi, trying to help me. “The netsuke is made from black coral and beautifully carved. You’ll be able to sell that easily.”

  In his eagerness, Reo tore both the purse and netsuke from his obi, thrusting them both blindly at me. I had admired the netsuke earlier. The traditional fasteners that secured purses to the obi by silken strings were typically made of ivory. I had no doubt that this variation was valuable on its own. I took both the purse and the netsuke silently, tucking them into my obi.

  “And the robe.”

  “What?” Reo seemed to have recovered a little of his bravado. I slapped the side of his head to remind him who had the upper hand here. He gasped in disbelief, and I thought cynically that it was probably the first time anybody had dared administer the mildest hurt to this spo
iled noble. “You can’t be serious!” he bleated.

  “Oh, but I am. Take your robe off. And whatever you’re wearing beneath it. I’ll have your zori as well.”

  “I see.” There was a questioning note in the words. I realized with disbelief that this arrogant wretch had begun to think I still wanted to play love games with him. And that—in spite of his words a few moments ago—he was more than willing to play. I was sure when he spoke again. “Really, Jun. This is hardly the place, you know. Well, you’ve had your little joke. Do you know, I actually believed you when you said you were shinobi. Although how you found out about my little fling with Emiko, I have no idea.”

  I am onna-bugeisha, I said only to myself, concentrating on each syllable as if it was a lifeline. Which it was, but not for me. Without the rigorous mental training of a samurai warrior woman, I would have killed Reo where he stood without the least hesitation and felt the world a cleaner, better place without him.

  He was reaching for his obi. I grasped his hand and slid my fingers up to his neck. I felt his relief. I allowed him a heartbeat of hope, and then pinched the pulse in his neck between my thumb and first finger.

  Riku-san had taught me the trick.

  “This has no part in the code of bushido, Keiko-chan,” he warned. “It is not fair. It is not honorable. Even if they know of it, no samurai would dream of using it. But it may save your life one day.” He had instructed me to stand still and had placed his fingers against my neck, exactly as I was doing now to Reo. “Now, carefully. A little pressure—just so!—and the world will begin to go away from you.”

  He was right. The earth rocked beneath my feet and suddenly I was incapable of moving a muscle. I could breathe. I could hear and see. But I could neither move nor speak. Riku-san released his grasp and I jumped with shock.

  “What did you do?” I demanded.

  He demonstrated with his own neck, showing me the exact point I needed.