Released – Chapter 8

After a week of training in the Itō dōjō, eating four fatty meals per day with Oyama by my side, and getting caught up with all my family and friends, Sakai stops by the morning of the first of June. My life is about to become stressful again. I’ve had my rehabilitation, though I’m still weak and underweight, and now it’s time to get back to work.

“Minamoto’s spies have seen you around town so now he knows you’re home. He’d like to meet later today.”

“Jiro and I have talked about this…” I let my voice fall away. I think Jiro’s been giving me time to ponder the idea of letting Kentaro Minamoto into my life, even at arms-length, but I’m still not sure.

“Kentaro is a good fighter,” Jiro interjects where I leave off, “and he’s exceptional with the shinobijō. He’s an excellent climber, too. Maybe if you can win him over with your charm and your wit, he’ll teach you as well. Just don’t flirt with him, or I may have to kill him.”

Sakai laughs and sips tea.

“Jiro,” I say, leaning back in my chair and examining my nails, “if it even looks like I’m flirting with someone else, you should know it’s just an act to lure some weak and unsuspecting person into my trap.”

“Gods, help us all,” Sakai says, lifting his eyes to the ceiling. “I’ll set the meeting up for afternoon tea at the Ame Okiya. Sanaa, you will have to pretend to like tea. Sorry.” I shrug my shoulders. It’s the least I can do. “How’s the dōjō?”

“Sanaa’s the most confident I’ve ever seen her. We spar all the time now. I haven’t introduced her to any other weapons though Beni’s been to the storage area and brought back a few items we can start with.”

Beni has been so helpful and attentive. When we were reunited, I was sure to tell her I’m sorry for her loss and thank her for taking care of Jiro while I was gone.

“Also,” Jiro continues, “I asked Usagi yesterday to go pick up Sanaa’s brand-new shinobijō. I ordered one of a specific design. It was fun picking it out.” I may not get a ring from Jiro ever but weapons? Yes, indeed.

The thought makes me laugh. “You’re so romantic.” He shrugs his shoulders, and Sakai rolls his eyes. “Speaking of romance, we have two weddings coming up?”

“Um, no,” Sakai replies, and my face falls. “Miko and Yoichi will have their small wedding and a party after. Lucy and I are getting the permit and then that’s it. She doesn’t want anything big because of the attention it will bring, and I agree. I don’t think Sakai family can afford that kind of attention, either.”

“Ah, well, we should still go out for dinner or something.” Sakai fades into his passive expression, and Jiro smiles. Jiro is aware I’m needling Sakai because I’ve grown to love Lucy this week. She’s been spending a lot of time with me. Sometimes Lucy just sits and listens to us, but other times she could chat for hours. She’s even come to the dōjō to watch us practice. She’s gathering information on me, my personality, and the way I handle things so she can better advise me. Having her around so casually at first was strange, but now it’s like she’s always been a part of our lives.

“Fine. We’ll all go out to dinner. Immediate family only. Mariko’s been asking me for more to do. She can plan it.”

I really want to get along with Mariko. Without my aunts close by, I’d like to be closer to her, but when I first arrived home, I went to hug her, she turned from me and walked away. I don’t think anyone noticed her rebuff, but I’ve been thinking of it ever since. It’s most likely too soon for me to show affection to her. I’ll try again later.

“Sanaa, I’m here to talk about your new training. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be with Jiro in the mornings for training in weapons, climbing, and stealth. In the afternoons, you will either train with me and we will work on… your poker face, or you will meet with Lucy to discuss social and political studies. Days when neither of us can meet with you, you’re free to do as you please. My only suggestion for those days off is that you go back to Ku 1 with an escort to gather information on Maeda. As head of the biggest yakuza family here in Nishikyō, he’s going to be incredibly powerful once we reach Yūsei. His support means the difference between success and failure.”

Way to put the pressure on, Sakai. Looks like my leisurely days with Jiro are coming to an end.

“And I have one last piece of news to deliver. We must make as much progress as possible before the year is out. November twentieth will be your last day in Nishikyō. All of our last days. You, your aunts, your friends, and all of Sakai clan will be on the first wave of ships for Yūsei. We get loaded up for hibernation, the crew boards, and we leave orbit in January.”

This is it. This is the news I’ve been dreading and yet hoping for for months now. When I found out I was the next ruler of New Japan on Yūsei, I suspected I’d be going in the first wave, but no one said anything. Everything in my life has come to a head now that Lucy has been added to the family. It turns out Sakai is influential but even more so with her support.

Jiro, a small, sad smile on his face, puts his hands on my shoulders, and I slip my fingers under one of them. “What are the flight estimates?” I ask.

“Six to eight years of hibernation,” Sakai says. “We will age half that.”

I will go to sleep before I turn twenty-one and wake up a twenty-five-year-old woman. I will lose precious years of my life making this trip, and so will everyone I love. I hope it’s worth it.

—-

“Miss Itami, I’m glad to see you’re feeling better. Sakai tells me you were injured during the earthquake. How unfortunate.”

What a supremely cunning liar Minamoto is. I’m sure he knows everything about the fight, my injuries, my recovery, and my near death again in the hospital at the hands of an assassin. He has spies. We have spies. If only we all just told each other everything, but instead we do this dance. To men like Minamoto, the dance is everything, and if I don’t want to offend him, I will have to step lightly.

“I am quite well now, thank you.” I rise from seiza to lean forward and lift my cup of tea from the table between us. Jiro sits silently to my left, Usagi standing behind me, and Sakai is on my right.

I sit back on my heels and take the time to sum up Kentaro Minamoto. He’s twenty-two, the same age as Jiro. He’s lean, fit, and possibly a little wiry under his gray kimono. He has a thin face, long forehead, and short spiky hair. If I had seen him out and about, I definitely would have thought, “Not my type.” He has yet to utter a word, but he is watching me while I watch him.

“You said you had business to discuss, Minamoto,” Sakai says, setting his tea cup down and placing his hands on his upper thighs. I continue to sip at the genmaicha. Hmmm, this tea is not as bad as I remember it being.

Kentaro lightly shakes his head at Minamoto. Violence flashes over Minamoto’s eyes as Kentaro turns towards me.

“Miss Itami, I am willing to throw the full weight of my house behind you, but I ask one thing in return.”

I keep my face as passive as possible. Here it comes.

“You currently have no consort. You are twenty and of the age that such things are permissible. It would be advantageous for both our families if you were to take my son, Kentaro.”

Kentaro’s eyes close, his breathing becoming measured and audible, obviously quelling his anger. I admire his reserve though I’m secretly wishing he would blow up. There is never enough drama in these meetings for my taste.

“Your request is very generous, but I do currently have a consort, and I will only ever have the one.”

I let the silence brew for a minute while Jiro and Sakai sit still on either side of me. I wanted drama and now I have it. I bet they didn’t expect me to come right on out and say I’m already attached, but it’s true, and I’m not going to let any one else think I can be bought in this way. I can’t legally marry so I must be firm.

Minamoto is processing this new information, watching me without blinking and drumming his fingers on his knee. His spies have probably told him I’ve been spending a lot of time with Jiro and now he’s certain I’ve linked myself indefinitely with Sakai clan. He won’t be happy about that, I can tell, but he’ll have to deal. They will all have to deal with my decisions. I won’t let them boss me around about my private life.

“But I’m thinking Kentaro may be quite useful so I have another suggestion.” Kentaro’s eyes snap to me, terror behind them. “I’d like to take him into the family fold as an advisor. He will live in the Sakai building, and his services may be required night or day. He may feel free to do as he pleases outside of working for us. I won’t restrict his… social life, as long as it does not interfere with business. Does this sound agreeable to you?”

While Minamoto and Kentaro whisper in each other’s ears, I sip more tea and wait. Jiro raises his eyebrows a little at me, and I have to turn away before I laugh.

“Your offer is most hospitable,” Minamoto says. “We accept.”

Kentaro pales like he’s heading to a death sentence. Oh Kentaro, don’t be so down. I’ll be nice. I promise.

“Great. I’m pleased. Sakai will be in charge of our future relationship. Kentaro, your services will be expected immediately. Please be ready for Sakai’s men who will come for you and your belongings in two hours.”

I stand up, Sakai and Jiro follow suit, and Minamoto and Kentaro bow, touching their foreheads to the tatami.

Usagi opens the door, and we all follow him out. Reaching over, I lace my fingers with Jiro’s as we walk down the hallway. Now the news will spread that I’m monogamous, but I can be swayed in other ways.

Jiro squeezes my hand and nods. He approves.