The Jade Lioness

by Christina Courtenay

  ‘Perhaps that wouldn’t be such a bad thing,’ he muttered to himself. Maybe he should even try to open the wound further in order to bleed to death before Tanaka returned? At least that would spare him any more pain. He swore under his breath. No, he would face whatever Tanaka chose to mete out to him with courage. There was no honour in dying like a weakling. He couldn’t shame his family so.

  He finished off the makeshift bandage with a tight knot and blessed his gaolers for at least tying his hands in front of him rather than behind, thus giving him slightly more freedom. Then, in order to conserve his strength, he curled up on the mattress in the foetal position, hugging his knees and drawing in deep breaths to try and stem the tide of pain washing through him. He ached all over. In fact there probably wasn’t a single part of him that wasn’t covered in bruises or contusions.

  ‘Whoreson!’ he muttered through aching lips, sucking on a tooth that was decidedly loose. He knew he wouldn’t leave this cell alive. But no matter what the man did to him, he would never betray Temi, even though he was sure that Hasuko would have spirited her away to safety by now. If not for Temi’s sake, then for the preservation of her own skin. Tanaka would never find her.

  If only the ordeal was all over.

  Kazuo took a deep breath and concentrated on the image of Temi in his mind. For her and for his family he would suffer anything, but he prayed for courage nonetheless.

  ‘Are you sure you want to do this, Kei-san?’

  Temperance glanced at her companion with a worried frown creasing her brow and tried to walk slowly and demurely in her lovely outfit. It felt so strange to be wearing female clothing since she’d been wearing men’s apparel for so long. She had to make a conscious effort not to lengthen her stride and to hold up the trailing back part of the kimono so that it didn’t drag in the dust. As always, she was wearing a wide-brimmed hat, but underneath, instead of the usual scarf, she had a borrowed black wig which was making her scalp itch.

  ‘Of course. I’m happy to be able to help you, Temi-san. Don’t worry, I am a good actress. It’s what I do every day, pretend.’

  Temperance’s curiosity was roused by this ingenuous statement. ‘Is it very bad, Kei-san? I mean, having to … be with men you don’t like every day.’

  ‘It could be worse. My master is fair. He doesn’t force me to work all the time and he lets me choose the men I like best from those that entertain us. If someone was horrible, he wouldn’t make me lie with them. Also, he allows me to keep some of the money I make. Not all masters do that. One day, I may be able to save enough to open my own establishment.’

  ‘I see. And is that what you want?’

  ‘It’s not a bad life compared to some and I would have something to pass on to my child. If I’d remained a poor farmer’s daughter we would both have had hard times.’

  ‘Ah, yes, your little girl. Don’t you find it hard to have a child while working the hours you do?’

  Kei smiled. ‘No, there is always someone to help me with her in a house full of women. She is very spoilt.’

  ‘I wish I had a child.’ Temperance sighed wistfully. ‘I doubt I’ll ever have one now though. I’m not even sure I’ll see my family again.’

  ‘If it is your fate, you will have one,’ Kei said firmly. ‘Now we have to concentrate on tonight.’

  ‘Yes, sorry, you’re right. We must do our best to save Kazuo.’ If it’s not too late, she added inwardly, then sent up a swift prayer that it wasn’t.

  As arranged by Hasuko, there were two palanquins waiting outside the gate into Yoshiwara, and Temperance and Kei approached one each. Just as Temperance was about to enter hers, however, she was grabbed from behind and she heard a deep chuckle which made her stand stock still with shock.

  ‘Well, well, if it isn’t the high and mighty Miss Marston. I thought I recognised that determined chin. Fallen on hard times, have you? Having to resort to selling your delectable body decked out like a native, with a silly wig and all? Tut, tut, and to think you could have been a respectable married woman by now, if only you’d accepted my offer.’

  Temperance turned slowly, unable to believe her eyes. Pieter Haag was the last person on earth she had expected to see here in Edo and at first she merely blinked stupidly at him before finding her tongue.

  ‘Mr Haag? What on earth are you doing here?’

  ‘I’ve come with Noordholt and the others to pay our respects to the Shogun. Had you forgotten? I seem to remember you were present when he announced his intention of coming here. It was just before you disappeared.’

  Temperance’s memory stirred and she remembered the conversation about Nico going to Edo for a few months. It seemed like such a long time ago that she found it difficult to take in the reality of the man before her. Slowly she came out of her stupor and noticed that the hateful man still had his arms around her.

  ‘Let me go, sir. I have business to attend to.’ She nodded towards the palanquins where Kei was watching with a worried look on her pretty face. ‘These people are waiting for me.’

  ‘Well, they can continue to wait. We have unfinished business of our own you and I, and this time, my dear, you’re not going to escape me.’ Without further ado, he suddenly produced a knife, which he pointed at her side while pulling one arm up behind her in a painful grip. ‘Now tell your “friends” that you are not going with them and we’ll be off.’

  ‘But I—’

  The knife pricked her through the layers of clothing. ‘Do as you’re told,’ he hissed, his voice brooking no argument.

  Temperance called out to Kei that there had been an unforeseen delay to their plans, but her eyes beseeched the girl to run for help. Kei hesitated, but Haag did not. Hauling on her arm, he quickly propelled Temperance in front of him, towards the gate and back into the pleasure district. The guards took no notice and she guessed he must have bribed them. Within moments they were lost in the crowds. Temperance tried to fight him, kicking backwards aiming for his shins and doing what Midori had taught her to break Haag’s grip, but to no avail. He was a lot stronger than he looked and anger seemed to be lending him additional strength.

  ‘Don’t think you can get away this time, you little whore,’ he said, pricking her skin once more. ‘Just walk, and fast.’

  Haag felt triumph coursing through his veins, making his heart pump faster with sheer joy. He had her at last and now she was going to pay for the merry dance she’d led him.

  ‘Where the hell have you been?’ he hissed angrily. ‘We’ve been looking everywhere for you.’

  ‘None of your business,’ she snarled.

  He didn’t like her tone so he tightened his grip on her and heard her draw in a sharp breath of pain. The sound made him smile. He was so close to having her, after all those weeks of painful dreams and lusting after her. Any intentions he’d had of giving her pleasure or making her desire him in return had been forgotten. All he could think about now was taking her, as quickly and roughly as possible, and if she suffered in the process so much the better. It was no more than she deserved.

  ‘Well, no matter,’ he said. ‘I’ve found you now and soon we’ll be returning to the inn where I’m staying with the others. But first we have a few matters to discuss.’

  ‘I have nothing to discuss with you whatsoever, you bastard. Let me go!’

  She tried once more to wriggle out of his grasp but he reminded her of the presence of his sharp knife and she subsided. Good. He had her in his power now and he wasn’t letting her go until he had her full co-operation in every way.

  He was going to enjoy the next hour or so immensely.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Temperance was marched along the street, past the turning for Hasuko’s house and into a seedier looking area. She realised that Haag must have been here before and had come to seek pleasure, only to stumble on her instead. It was the worst possible luck.

  They reached a small two storey house, whose owner sat outside wearing a jacket that was none
too clean. An oily grin split his face at the sight of them and he stood up and bowed.

  ‘Welcome back, Gai-jin-san,’ he said and Haag returned the greeting curtly before reaching into his pocket for some coins. In order to do this, he had to loosen his grip slightly, which gave Temperance the opportunity she’d been waiting for. Somehow she managed to free herself and sprinted off down the alley, colliding with people willy-nilly, but unheeding of their angry shouts. The geta on her feet didn’t make for a speedy running style, but she was used to them by now and was able to put some distance between herself and Haag. Her clothing was heavy, however, especially since she was actually wearing two kimonos – one normal coloured one on top and the pure white one underneath for the intended ruse – and this slowed her down considerably.

  As she glanced over her shoulder and saw her pursuer gaining on her, her heart hammered harder in her chest and she drew in heaving gasps of much needed air. Her eyes searched frantically for somewhere to hide or something to throw in his path to stop him. Instead they alighted upon a very unlikely possible saviour. Without hesitation, she called out his name.

  ‘Ryo! Tasukete kure, please!’

  She had no idea what her erstwhile captor was doing in Yoshiwara – presumably hiding from the authorities like numerous other outlaws or seeking his own pleasure – but she didn’t care. Nor did she care that he might try to sell her again. Anything was preferable to spending time with Pieter Haag, who’d looked as though he would relish hurting her and clearly stopped at nothing to get his own way. Well, two could play at that game.

  Panting with effort, Temperance reached a startled Ryo and sought shelter behind him, like a child hiding behind its mother’s skirts. ‘There,’ she pointed at Haag. ‘Gai-jin … evil … please, stop him I beg of you … reward.’

  Ryo’s features lit up with a grin and he called out to some of his henchmen who were loitering nearby, just before Haag came to a halt only yards away, brandishing his knife.

  ‘Stop cowering behind an innocent bystander,’ he shouted at Temperance. ‘It will avail you nothing for I’ll not hesitate to kill him if I have to. You can’t escape me.’ To his obvious surprise, however, he suddenly found himself surrounded by six men, armed with swords or knives longer than his own. His bewildered gaze swivelled round while he blustered, ‘Nani? What …?’ Then he stammered out in broken Japanese. ‘Woman mine, leave, now. Woman wife. Run away.’

  Ryo laughed. ‘I can’t blame her. I’d run too if I was married to you.’

  ‘Nani?’ Haag’s grasp of the language was not sufficient for him to follow such rapid speech, despite having been in Japan for some time. Temperance knew he’d never bothered learning much, preferring to use a translator.

  ‘Should you be out and about on your own, foreigner?’ Ryo asked silkily, taking a step towards Haag. Pulling out his sword, he inspected it in the light from a nearby lantern, testing its blade against his thumb and pretending to flinch at its sharpness.

  ‘What’s he saying?’ Haag’s eyes fixed on the deadly sword in front of him, a frightened look in them like that of prey caught in the gaze of a snake. He quickly glanced at Temperance instead for an answer, scowling mightily.

  ‘I believe he is asking what you’re doing here,’ she replied, feeling calmer now the immediate threat from him was gone. She didn’t know what Ryo intended to do, but he seemed to be on her side for now, which was enough.

  ‘I’ve merely come to seek pleasure, same as everyone else. Tell him!’ Haag ordered. Temperance translated quickly, even though she knew that wasn’t Haag’s aim right now, but Ryo shook his head with another laugh.

  ‘As far as I’ve heard, the foreigners are all supposed to stay in their cosy little inn on the outskirts of Edo,’ he said. ‘I should think someone would pay me well if I capture him and turn him over to the authorities. Shall I do that for you, Shinju-san?’

  ‘Would you? Please? I would be forever in your debt,’ Temperance breathed.

  ‘Let’s have no talk of debts. If I do this, I believe it would make us even,’ Ryo mused. ‘I have been thinking about my behaviour when we met and I probably did the wrong thing. I should have taken you back to your relatives and asked for a ransom. I … selling you to Imada was a mistake.’

  ‘I did tell you that.’ It seemed so long ago now that Temperance didn’t really feel angry about Ryo’s actions any longer and it was irrelevant in any case.

  ‘I know, but I was in a hurry and there were reasons why I didn’t want to go back. So what do you say, shall I even the score?’

  ‘Yes, please. That man is scum and I don’t ever want to see him again. I really don’t care what you do to him.’

  Ryo chuckled. ‘So much the better. Then we can have some sport with him first.’

  ‘What’s he saying?’ Haag was beginning to panic and Temperance could see sweat running down his forehead. He tried to bluff his way out of the situation. ‘I have a right to go wherever I wish.’ He tried again in Japanese. ‘Woman bad. Wife, go home.’

  Ryo shook his head and sent him a pitiful glance. ‘Does he think I was born yesterday?’

  Temperance glared at Haag and told him what Ryo had said. ‘You’re not allowed to be out and about on your own. You should be at some inn apparently. He’s going to escort you back there, via the authorities of course.’

  ‘You bitch! This is all your fault. Just you wait till I get my hands on you again. You’ll live to regret this day, I swear it,’ Haag snarled and tried to push his way through the group of men who had come ever closer, but they were upon him in moments. Although he struggled like one possessed, he was no match for the outlaws who were used to fighting dirty, and they soon had him in a secure grip.

  ‘No, let me go! I’m bleeding. Aaarggh … my stomach, I’m bleeding I tell you. I need a surgeon. Temperance, order these men to let me go or it will be the worse for you. I’ll tell Noordholt where I found you, he’ll punish you, he’ll—’

  ‘Shut up, imbecile. Bakajaro!’ Ryo slapped the hysterical man viciously, then turned to Temperance. ‘Where were you going? Can we escort you?’

  Temperance still wasn’t sure if she could trust him and now that the threat from Haag was removed she began to wonder if she had done the right thing. She decided she had no choice, however, so she told Ryo part of the truth.

  ‘I was by the gate, on my way to rescue someone from, er, enforced confinement.’

  Ryo’s eyes lit up again. ‘Can we help? It sounds like you need some strong men for that kind of sport. We’re spoiling for a fight. Nothing’s been happening for weeks and we’re bored to tears.’

  ‘Well, I was hoping to use cunning, but I could probably do with some back-up.’ Temperance wasn’t sure it was a good idea, but the thought of braving Tanaka’s den alone was not one she relished. At least if Ryo was there to fall back on, she would feel slightly better. ‘There won’t be any remuneration though, I’m afraid,’ she added apologetically.

  ‘Doesn’t matter. I still have some spoils from our last, er, mission. Tell me where you’re going and we’ll come along as soon as we have deposited this dog turd somewhere. Come, let us go.’

  Ryo took the lead and their little procession began to make its way back to the main gate. Along the way, Temperance told Ryo a short version of how she’d ended up in Yoshiwara.

  ‘Are you going to capture me again and sell me back to Tanaka?’ she challenged, still not quite trusting him.

  But Ryo shook his head. ‘No, I told you, I had second thoughts. It didn’t sit right with me and I’ve regretted the whole episode ever since I left Imada’s tea house.’

  The evening was beginning to have a surreal feel to it and Temperance wondered if perhaps she was dreaming, but they reached the gate and went through without mishap. The guard seemed to accept whatever explanation Ryo offered for the wild-eyed captive they had with them. To Temperance’s relief Kei was still waiting outside, wringing her hands. She ran up to Temperance the moment she set
eyes on her.

  ‘Temi-san, I have been so worried. I couldn’t find anyone to help you and I didn’t know where he’d taken you.’

  ‘It’s all right, I have a saviour already. Or several, actually.’ She indicated Ryo and his men. ‘They’re even willing to help us with our mission. What do you think?’

  Kei thought for a moment. ‘Perhaps if you ask them to wait outside and if we haven’t emerged within a short space of time, they can come to our rescue?’

  ‘Good plan.’ Temi went to tell Ryo what Kei had said and he nodded acquiescence.

  ‘You go ahead then. If you’re not out by the time we reach the gate of Tanaka’s residence, we’ll go in after you. Although we’ll avail ourselves of the back wall rather than use the main entrance, of course.’ He nodded towards Haag. ‘Don’t worry about him, he won’t trouble you again.’

  ‘You’re going to kill him?’ Although she disliked the man intensely, condoning murder was not something Temperance could do.

  ‘No, just teach him a lesson. Now go, or you’ll be too late.’

  Temperance hoped they weren’t already.

  Kei was every bit as good an actress as she had claimed, and she flirted and simpered her way past the guards at the main gate of Tanaka’s residence without any trouble. Temperance remained mutely in the background, her head bent as if she were of lesser importance, and the guards hardly spared her a glance. After one last sally, Kei sashayed through the archway, her tinkling laugh making the men smile and stare after her with lovelorn eyes.

  ‘Well, that wasn’t so hard.’ Kei smiled. ‘The difficult part will be to locate the prisoner. Let me have a go first. You wait over there in the shadows while I try my whiles on that big oaf lurking over there.’ She pointed at another guard who was standing near a smaller gate leading into an inner courtyard. The man looked bored and restless, and it would seem Kei had picked her victim well because his expression brightened the moment he caught sight of her.