Revealed – Chapter 24

Sanaa enters the dōjō for the first time with a smile on her face, and Jiro knows he’s the one who put it there. The kiss he planted on her neck still tingles on his lips from the previous night, accelerating his heart and lightening his mood. But then the old man walks out of the back room, and her face falls.

“Let’s get started on advanced defense.” Koichi signals to Jiro to grab the swords, and Jiro mouths, “Sorry,” at Sanaa. Her mouth turns sideways in disappointment, but she covers it up, laying her bag on the floor and getting ready for practice.

Advanced defense is tough, though, and for some reason, Jiro’s father isn’t interested in keeping the session light. He instructs Jiro to back her into the corner several times. If the fight had been real, she would be dead. She fails to block or defend herself, and Koichi prods Jiro to push harder and harder. This time, as she lies on the floor, stunned and staring at the ceiling, Jiro wonders just how hard she needs to be pushed.

What’s the real need here? A few weeks ago, Koichi hinted Sanaa was in danger and may have to defend herself, but after that conversation, no one mentioned it again. She doesn’t even own a sword. Is his family going to gift one to her? That would be unprecedented. She’s not even a member of his clan like Oyama or Usagi. Maybe they could let her borrow Yoichi’s sword until one was found for her. Masa might be able to dig one up somewhere.

“Sanaa, when I come at you like that, you need to get out of the way! If I come in high, roll or slide out of the way. This?” Koichi gestures to her on the floor. “This is unacceptable.”

Jiro rolls his eyes at his father’s back. Wow, thanks for being so hard on her. Surely, that’s exactly what she needs right now. Jiro needs to make this situation better. He’ll take her out to dinner tonight and finally make the move to kiss her for real this time. With that thought warming his chest, he reaches out to Sanaa and offers her a hand to stand up.

“Are you all right?”

“Yeah. I’m fine.” She nods and swipes at her pants. “Again?”

Jiro chuckles and turns to his father. “She never gives up. Go ahead and try that again.”

This time Koichi attacks her and she gets out of the way just in time. Turning around, she lashes out with a kick to Koichi’s side that knocks him sideways, and Jiro bursts into a gut breaking laugh.

“That’ll teach you.” Jiro clutches his stomach, trying to catch his breath. She pulled that move on him a few days ago, and he expected her to try it again.

Sanaa lowers her sword with a smile, and she straightens her shoulders proudly. She should be proud! Damn, Jiro is proud of her. This girl had never held a sword before he handed one to her a few months ago. Since then, the dōjō has been filled with an energy it hasn’t seen in several generations.

With a loud creak, the dōjō’s door opens and Sakai strides in.

“I’m glad you’re all still here,” he says, glancing up at the clock. It’s five-thirty, and they’ve gone at least thirty minutes past their usual break time. “Koichi, Mariko wants to see you at home. I just came from there. Jiro, I need you to come with me tonight. Important business.”

“But…” Jiro and Sanaa start at the same time, glancing at each other. What was she going to say? Her eyes plead with him. Does she want to go out too? Sakai is impossible. He has the worst timing.

“Sorry, if you have plans. You need to be there.” Sakai stands his ground.

“Fine,” Sanaa mumbles, her breath growling behind clenched teeth. She crosses the room in front of them, tosses the sword into the rack, grabs her shirt and bag, and leaves without looking back.

“I guess I’ll go back to work!” Her voice echoes from the hallway back into the dōjō, and Jiro closes his eyes. She’s pissed and will probably be in a bad mood the next time he sees her. He can’t blame her.

“Let’s go,” Sakai says. Jiro grabs his bag and exits the building behind him.

—-

“Sorry, Jiro. We are going straight to Rakuman bar to meet Minamoto for drinks. I believe Kentaro will be there,” Sakai says as they walk out the dōjō door. Sanaa stormed out over ten minutes earlier, but Jiro still looks towards the train station hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Maybe he can take her out to dinner tomorrow.

“Great.”

Kentaro is the last person Jiro wants to see right now.

“But I want you to listen and tell me what you think is going on below the surface.”

Jiro narrows his eyes at Sakai and Sakai keeps his face passive, a challenge to Jiro. Read me — go right ahead and try.

“What’s going on? You and my father have been in meetings every day, and I’ve been doing all the busy work. This is the first time I’ve met with anyone in several weeks.”

“Your father and I have been working on a secret project, one I hope to get you involved in in the coming days. I’ve been working closely with Ms. Coen and your father and mother have been dealing with matters in the building and amongst our allies. They’re both busy tonight, so it’s time you came along.”

Jiro takes a few strides in silence, navigating around a group of people gathered on one corner. “How do you expect me to help if I don’t know what’s going on?”

“I just need your eyes and ears. In a few days, everything will come to light. I promise.”

At Rakuman, sitting seiza across the table from Yoshinori Minamoto, Kentaro, and Tadao Matsuda, Jiro watches them all carefully. This is definitely not how he wanted to spend his evening. Sakai takes the saké carafe and fills everyone’s cups at the table. Jiro’s stomach growls. He hasn’t had anything to eat since lunch.

After ten minutes of pleasantries during which Sakai and Minamoto talk of family and everyone else sits in silence drinking, Minamoto clears his throat and smacks his knees good-naturedly.

“So, Sakai, my informants tell me that you’ve been busy lately. Mornings and evenings in Ku 1 with Ms. Coen, moving people in and out of your main building, and security has increased exponentially. I’m concerned for you and your family. Is there anything that we can do to help?”

Jiro pushes down the immediate rage he has against Sakai and adjusts his knees under him. Minamoto knows more about what’s going on than he does! Jiro’s gone from Sakai building all day. He hasn’t seen anything, but Minamoto’s spies have been watching Jiro’s family closer than he has. Something’s amiss, and no one but Sakai knows what’s going on.

Minamoto’s face is passive but concerned, yet there’s no warmth in his eyes. Matsuda is as cold as ever, staring down Jiro over the lip of his saké cup. Kentaro nodded at Jiro when they saw each other and Jiro nodded back. That was it. Now, Kentaro drums his fingers on his knee and waits for Sakai’s response.

“Thank you for your concern, but it’s unwarranted. I made deals with members of the family five years ago to redistribute some of the Sakai holdings this year. Consequently, a few of our family members have moved into newly renovated spaces, and we are planning to upgrade other apartments and businesses for those that will not be on the first five waves of colonization. It is nothing significant.” Sakai waves his hand in a nonchalant manner and smiles. Despite all the peaceful faces around the table, the air is laced with frost.

“And your increased security?” Matsuda pushes his dirty brown hair off his face and narrows his eyes at Sakai.

“They are helping with the moves. Extra hands only, I assure you.”

If only Jiro could be as skilled a liar as Sakai.

“We’d like to provide help,” Minamoto says, sweeping his hands wide in front of him. “Please let me send a team of ten men tomorrow. It would be my honor.”

Sakai shifts in his seat but then grabs his cup again. “That won’t be necessary. Almost everything has been taken care of. I appreciate your gesture, and I’ll be sure to call on you the next time I need extra help. Was that all you wanted to discuss this evening? Jiro and I were just about to meet others for dinner.”

Jiro drains his saké cup and sets it down on the table, ready to make a hasty departure.

“I have a question,” Kentaro says, leaning forward and looking directly at Jiro. “I hear from Asa that you’re training someone new at the dōjō. Please. Enlighten us.”

Asa? How would Asa know what he does all day? He never tells her anything.

“I’m not sure what you mean. I’m there most afternoons by myself.” Oh shit. He wasn’t prepared to lie about seeing Sanaa every day, and he’s pretty sure that Sakai doesn’t want them to know. Jiro’s going to do the smart thing and not look to Sakai for confirmation of his lie.

“Really? I heard it’s a girl. Asa is jealous beyond words.” Kentaro laughs, his head thrown back and Jiro holds his passivity though his brain races through conflicting emotions. He misses Kentaro and their usual banter. He wants to protect Sanaa. He wants to throttle Asa for being a gossip. He wants to kill Sakai for being secretive.

How could Asa even know he’s training someone? She or one of her friends must have seen him with Sanaa around the dōjō and spread the word.

Jiro softens his shoulders and laughs back at his old friend. “You know Asa. I refused to sleep with her and now she’s vengeful. She’s pulling your leg.”

“Ah, I can believe that.” Kentaro nods, satisfied.

Sakai pulls out his tablet, effectively ending the meeting. “Gentlemen, we have to go. Your drinks are on me.” He pays swiftly, interfacing with the bar’s register. Jiro and Sakai dip their heads in a curt bow, get up, and exit the bar.

Sakai stays silent until they’re a block from the restaurant. “Well, Jiro?”

“What in gods’ name is going on?”

“They’ve obviously been watching us closely the past few weeks which means we need to be careful. I want you to talk to Masa tomorrow about weapons. I’d like to add to our stock both at home and at all our major holdings. We need a wide variety of weapons, especially smaller composite knives. Your mother is particular about what we keep on hand. Ask her opinion.”

“Okay. And the increased security? I’m assuming Minamoto was right about that even though you blew it off.”

Sakai stays silent for another block before they round the corner into their neighborhood.

“Should we get ramen?” he asks, gesturing at the place across the street from Sakai building.

“Not unless you tell me what’s going on. I was going to have dinner with Sanaa, and I don’t want to sit across the table from you if you’re going to sit silent all night.”

Sakai sighs. “Fine. I’ll send you the new Sakai building occupancy list. We’ve moved some people around and more security into the building. I have Usagi handling it.”

No wonder he hasn’t been around.

“What’s it all for? Why are you in Ku 1 so much anyway?” Increased security at home and Sakai gone to talk to Ms. Coen all day everyday? Jiro thought Sakai was in Ku 1 with Sanaa every morning, and that was it.

Sakai stops on the sidewalk, and Jiro walks two steps before realizing. When he turns to face his uncle, Sakai takes him by the shoulders.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been able to tell you everything straight from the beginning. We all trust you, but this is bigger than any of us. Bigger than you, me… our family. A few more days, and you’ll know everything, I promise.” Sakai squeezes Jiro’s shoulders hard.

“But…” What could be this important? And worth waiting a few more days for?

“No, Jiro. And you need to be prepared, okay? When the change comes, it’ll come fast and be confusing. It will impact you on a fundamental level. You’ll need to listen and obey instructions to the best of your ability. Understood?”

The hair on the back of Jiro’s neck stands up, a cold sweat breaking out there, heightened by the alcohol running through him. He doesn’t understand but nods to Sakai anyway. Fighting with him and his parents may only get him put in the backseat, and whatever happens next is going to be big. He can feel it.

A dark car pulls up on the street next to them and Sakai narrows his eyes as it stops at the curb. The window opens a crack and a woman’s voice calls to Sakai. He sighs and rubs at his face.

“Sorry, Jiro. Change in plans. We’ll have to have dinner together some other night.”

The car door opens halfway and Sakai slides into the seat next to whomever is in there.

“You’re bailing on me?” Jiro calls out as the car speeds away.

Fine. He’ll eat on his own.

What else is going to happen tonight?