Reclaimed – Chapter 6

“Thank you all for coming.”

I bow my head down to the table and sit back up. The dining room is filled with the ladies in my life, and I blush under their scrutiny. This is the last group of people I want to piss off. Miko and Helena are like sisters to me, people I would do anything for. I finally have a modicum of respect from Mariko, and I’d like to keep it that way. Lucy and Kentaro’s mother sit apart, but they are still important to this conversation. Beni glows in the corner, fresh from a visit to Eiji where he proposed to her and even gave her a ring. She glances at it often, a sweet sappy grin overtaking her face before she stiffens up into her usual demeanor.

The dining room door slides open, and Oyama enters with a plate of chocolate brownies. Everyone stops to follow the plate to the table, and Helena hums her approval.

“This one is for you, Sanaa.” Oyama plates a brownie for me marked with a toothpick. The batter he used to make mine is laced with cake, and one brownie will be enough to knock me on my butt for the rest of the day. I’m the only one who needs the cake here besides Miko, but she is less green during the days than I ever was while pregnant. Since getting the implant, my nausea has abated to more tolerable levels, yet Oyama does not want me to suffer at all. I will probably be on the cake regimen for a few more days.

I glance around the room as Aunt Kimie and Lomo enter and join everyone. They chat amiably, eat brownies, and sip tea. Lucy and I share a small carafe of coffee. I’m happy to have it back in my life, if even for a short time before I’m on the road again.

Jiro walks past the room while the door is open and stops to look in. “Is this a meeting I wasn’t invited to?” His eyes zero in on the brownies.

“Stop!” I throw up my hand. “Oyama has more in the kitchen. This meeting is for women only.” Oyama directs Jiro out the door, bows, and closes the door behind him.

“Ladies, as you know, we’ll be leaving tomorrow, and I have requests of each of you while I’m gone.”

“I have requests of you while you’re gone, Sanaa,” Miko starts. “More rice crackers, some of those gummy candies, and if you can look into that syrupy sauce they put on berries, too, I’d like that as well.”

I laugh and cover my mouth so I don’t spit out coffee. “How do you know about that?”

She shrugs her shoulders. “Kentaro told me about it, and now I must have it. So be good and send some home.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I salute at her and open my tablet to my notes. Rice crackers, gummy candies, and syrup for Miko. She is definitely pregnant. “Now, if no one else has food requests…”

Everyone else smiles and shakes their heads, but Lucy points down at her coffee mug. Yes, more coffee. I add it to the list.

“Let’s start with my number one item. Hiro. As much as I love the kid, he can’t travel with us, and we have no orphanage and no school. I’m not comfortable with sending him into the system in Izumo either since it’s my fault his parents are dead.” I pick up the napkin and pat my upper lip already dotted with sweat. “I would like to leave him here and hope we can continue his education and train him for a vocation should he decide to stay or leave at any point once he is sixteen.” I fold my hands in front of me on the table. “I would like for Helena and Usagi to take Hiro in…”

Helena’s eyes brim in tears, and despite not knowing if this is good or bad, I rush on.

“You would provide him with a family, and with the help of tutors that I will hire, teach him and care for him.”

Miko hands Helena a handkerchief. I clear my throat to keep from being completely choked up.

“Beni, Eiji seems like a fantastic man, and I’m grateful he decided to set up shop in town, but he is without an apprentice. I’d like Hiro to train with him two days per week. People will always need shoes, and this is a skill Hiro could use for the rest of his life.”

The entire table is silent except for Helena’s sniffling. Maybe I’m being too commanding? Maybe I should have asked first? But I know the way Mariko handles this family. She makes decisions based on who is skilled at what, or on what people need, then she follows through and ensures everyone does their job.

“Helena…” I whisper. She nods her head, sniffs, and smiles at me. Thank the gods.

“I think… I think that’s a good idea. Akio gets along well with Hiro, and he no longer looks at me like I’m an alien. I can’t have children of my own…” Her voice dies out but she sips tea and clears her throat. “Yeah. I think this is the right choice.”

“I’ll speak with Eiji,” Beni says. “He loves kids so I can’t imagine he’d say no, especially under the circumstances.”

“Great.” When I pick up my brownie, my hand shakes. I’m more nervous about this than I thought. But I got the hardest item out of the way first.

“Miko, you’re my backup plan if Hiro hates the idea of being a cobbler. Put him to work in the izakaya and teach him the ropes of a restaurant. There will always be a job for him as a chef too if he decides on that.”

“Sure. I may get him to wash dishes anyway.” She smile at me and I cross Hiro off the list.

“Now on to the easy items. Aunt Kimie and Lomo will be taking care of Momo’s kittens once she has them weaned which will be soon. Miko has claimed a kitten which leaves three without homes.”

“We’re looking forward to taking one home with us.” Lomo beams, her hands clasped at her chest. “We’ll leave the others on the estate and come up to look after them a few times per week.”

“Sure. The kitchen staff here will make sure they’re fed.”

“Hiro is also welcome to eat dinner with us whenever he wants,” Lomo says, breaking off a piece of brownie. “We would love the company.”

I cross off Momo from my list. I wish I could travel with her. I miss her when I’m gone.

“Mariko, I have allotted extra funds for you and Lucy to hire a new chef. Oyama will be with me.”

“Thank goodness, Sanaa. I’ve been cooking for everyone while Oyama’s been gone, and it’s too much work for me.” Mariko pats at her hair before sipping tea. “My hands are not as nimble as they used to be.” She flexes her fingers, and I detect a note of regret in her voice.

“Oyama and Lucy have put together a list of candidates. Please start interviewing as soon as possible. I don’t want to leave you with this chore for too long.” Cross off the home chef item. “Tamiko, Kentaro’s told you of our need for staff while on the road. Do you have people ready to go tomorrow?”

She bows her head to me. The last time we spoke in person was when she came to tell us her husband betrayed me and left for the capital. Now he’s dead and I’m still alive giving orders. “I’ve recruited four people and found extra supplies from storage for your journey.”

“Fantastic.” This meeting is going a lot better than I imagined it would. I take another bite of brownie, allowing the chocolate to melt across my tongue. I can taste a faint hint of cake, a bit of herbal bitterness way back in my palate, so I swallow a mouthful of coffee to wash it down. I much prefer smoking the cake to eating it, which seems absurdly backwards, but what isn’t nowadays?

“Lucy, when I visited Maeda at the casino yesterday, he admitted he enjoys fortifying and policing the city more than he thought he would. Since we’ve now forgiven his lease for four months, I’d like for you to delve into his staff a little deeper and see if we can set up look-out stations farther out in the passes into Yamato. I know we get data from the satellites in orbit, but real people on the ground, observing the terrain and watching for intruders is a better option.”

“We can provide more support from within Minamoto Clan as well,” Tamiko offers. “I have several men and women that are excellent scouts.”

“That would be a great help, Tamiko.” Lucy pulls out her tablet. “And we will be able to compensate you for your help…”

“Please. It’s my duty to make up for the dishonorable actions of my husband. Besides, these people will be bored if I don’t put them to use soon. You will hear from me tomorrow.” Tamiko’s head jerks in a decisive nod before she sips tea. There will be no arguing with her about her duties. I cross city fortifications off my list.

“Well, my list is taken care of then.” I turn off the tablet and set it aside. Picking up the hot cup of coffee, I cradle it in my hands and lean forward at the table. “I remember telling Jiro back in Nishikyō how I would rather run the family like Mariko does than lead a whole country.”

Mariko’s eyes settle on me, cold and hostile, probably because I can’t do those duties even though I want to and she faults me for it. I shake off the feeling she still hates me. I thought we put that behind us.

“I wanted the opportunity to help out those I loved first and worry about everyone else later. Now I can do both of these things because of all of you. I’m grateful for your support, and I’m honored to call you my family.”