Part Eight:
Girls
The garden in the back of the house was even more breathtaking than the one in the front. The path was curving and gentle like a miniature earthen river, coiling through the landscape at a serine pace. Each strategically placed plant had been allowed to grow into its natural shape and size but was well tended to, giving the garden a richness that nature did not often achieve on its own. In the afternoon glow, the place held a certain power over the three women strolling through it. The ponds mirrored the unadulterated blue of the sky above and the black pines and maples shaded them from the high sun.
Shino led them to a small pavilion where they sat on benches and watched the lively waters of the stream that backed up to the edge of the garden. The little open hut was so cool and pleasant that Fuu found her eyes growing comfortably heavy, her relaxed vision blurring the leaves of the Japanese maple hanging near the roof into a shapeless red mass. She felt peaceful here and all her previous concerns about leaving Mugen and Jin alone were plucked smoothly from her thoughts to be replaced by tranquility. Surely the two men couldn't get into too much trouble in such a short time. Fuu's eyes closed as she leaned against the short wall of the pavilion.
She dozed for a few minutes at most before she was awakened by Yatsuha's curious voice:
"Who's that over there?"
Fuu and Shino peered in the direction she was pointing in and spotted a woman in a silver kimono bustling about the back porch of a tiny house that was built in the same style as Jin's and Shino's.
"I didn't know there was even another house on your property," Fuu said to Jin's wife, whose tranquil face had tightened at the sight of the other woman.
"It was built for Hisakawa's widow after he died," Shino explained. "She did not appreciate being evicted from her large house, but her husband's will was very clear about her not getting any part of the money or property to herself."
"He had a wife and didn't pass his fortune onto her?" Yatsuha inquired incredulously. "That's a little heartless."
"If you knew her, you would not feel sorry for her. Hisakawa Hitomi is not a very pleasant woman." Shino's eyes narrowed slightly as she observed the widow sweeping off her small porch. "She was obviously terrible to her husband and now that he's gone, she and her Magistrate friend have caused Jin a lot of trouble since he became the land's owner. It doesn't matter that Jin had nothing to do with the arrangement and that he has shown her nothing but kindness. She seems to hate me even more – of course the feeling is mutual."
Hearing the blunt dislike in Shino's voice was a little surprising to Fuu. However, she figured if anyone could make Shino angry enough to talk that way, they must deserve it.
"Misery loves company," Yatsuha commented sagely, "and it hates seeing others happy. My childless sister-in-law started hating me the moment I told her I was pregnant. It can't be helped."
"I suppose you're right."
"Yeah," Fuu agreed, "don't let her ruin your happiness. There's nothing she can do to stop you and Jin from enjoying your life here."
Shino smiled at this. "Yes, that's true. Even if that awful Magistrate tries to push us around, we still have each other."
Fuu and Yatsuha wore identical expressions of wistfulness from the romance radiating off of Shino. If the men had been present they would have been undoubtedly disgusted with the female emotions swirling about at that moment.
"Hey, Fuu," said Yatsuha abruptly, as if struck by an important thought. "I never asked if you had anyone waiting for you back in your town. As successful as you've been with your tearoom, I'm sure you've caught plenty of eyes. You probably have to beat the guys off with a stick!"
Fuu laughed a little too loudly at this and her hands became suddenly preoccupied with the pins in her hair. "Uhhh, heh-heh… Yeah, the line goes right out the door. You wouldn't believe how many I've had to turn down! Ha ha ha!"
The mischievous grin on Yatsuha's face reminded Fuu forcibly of Mugen. "What about that super cheerful man that was doing your job for you when we visited?" she asked conspiratorially. "He seemed to really like you."
Fuu could feel her already pink face grow even warmer. "Oh, Goro? He's just a farmer from town – and not a very successful one either. But he's nice… Actually, now that I think about it, he's been nicer to me than anyone there. I think he kind of has a crush on me."
Shino beamed at her and she and Yatsuha leaned closer.
"Do you like him back?"
"Is he cute?"
"How long have you known him?"
"What's his sign?"
She was overwhelmed by the multitude of questions that tumbled out of their mouths and all she could mutter before they asked more was, "Well, I…" and "Uh, I guess," or the occasional, "I don't know." She'd never had to think about bubbly Goro so much in one sitting. On most days he was nothing more than her best customer.
Fuu was almost grateful for the loud crash that distracted everyone – until she saw who had caused it. The three women leapt to their feet when they spotted Mugen and Jin battling their way through the garden.
