The Chrysanthemum and the Rose
by DJ Clawson
This is story 9 in the series that started with "A Bit of Advice." You might want to click on my author profile and start with the first one at this point. Otherwise, enjoy!
Check the Flicker account for frequent updates based on things described in the chapters.
www . flickr . com / photos / 25734638 (at) N03 / sets / 72157605063518073 /
Chapter 28 – Keeping the Peace
Dr. Ogata stayed through the night and most of the next day, mainly at Geoffrey's insistence. Georgie and Mugen both slept through the day, so Geoffrey and Danny had time to answer any other questions the doctor had on the medical book. He lit incense next to Mugen, who was vastly sicker, but admitted it was mainly because the ill preferred nice smells. He was happy that Georgiana did not require stitches on her hands, and that the marks were just surface wounds. By the late afternoon she was up, and he turned his attention to Sanjuro, who was not weathering the cold very well, and needed to remain in bed.
"Mama, I made this for you," Alison said, and held up her hands, releasing a burst of paper.
"What's this?"
"Snow!"
"It used to be part of someone's notebook," Geoffrey said, standing above her.
Georgie picked up one of the pieces and recognized the English paper and Geoffrey's handwriting. "I see."
"It's all right – it got a smile out of you," Geoffrey said, but didn't smile at his daughter. "But no more snow."
Georgie dressed for dinner, putting on a heavy woman's kimono and socks before leaving their room. Dinner was hot, salty fish dishes, and a little milk from the cow. "What do you think?"
"I think the best Christmas present I could receive would be a steak," Geoffrey said, chewing on a rice ball. "If we can even figure out when that is."
"Our English bones haven't withered away yet," Georgie said, and took a rice ball to the face. "Alison!"
Alison giggled and scampered away. She would have made it out the other door as it opened, but Mugen was standing there, leaning on a real staff now. "Oi, Ali-chan, where are you going?"
"Away from me," Georgie said, wiping the sticky rice from her face.
Mugen took Alison's hand and led her back to the tray of food, seating himself between the Darcys. "When did you become so tough? She's just a little kid."
Georgie responded by tossing her next rice ball in Mugen's face, hitting him square between the eyes.
"Ach! Some kids never learn," he grumbled and turned to the food in front of him.
To their surprise, Mugen disappeared some time after the meal, and Kiso informed them he had gone to town.
"I suppose I should, too," Geoffrey said. It stopped snowing late the night before, and was warmer out.
"Usually village constables don't come unless called."
"How do you know? Do you know any?"
"Not as friends," she said. "I would go with you – "
He leaned over and kissed her. "Don't even think of it. Get some rest."
"Will you watch over Mugen?"
"Perhaps with a different intent, but yes." He walked quietly past his daughter, who was already asleep, put on a scarf and a hat, and stepped out into the night.
He was familiar with Imbe – and they were familiar with their Okappiki. He turned down offers for drinks, except for tea to keep him warm. "Have any of you seen Mugen-san?"
"Who's he?"
"Is he that criminal? The one with the beard?"
"Hai."
The drunk next to him laughed. "I don't know why you keep that piece of shit around."
Geoffrey was curious as to how many enemies Mugen had succeeded in making in so short a time. "What did he ever do to you?"
"Why does he have to do anything? He's worthless. I'm only a merchant; samurai would spit on my grave for stealing their money. Even farmers can look down on me, but I'm not trash. You should put him to work doing something useful, like leatherworking."
"I don't think he likes being told what to do."
"Then he's going to meet the business end of a sword one day!"
"We'll see," he replied, and finished his tea. "Have a good night."
"Good night, Okappiki-san."
If he wasn't with the drunks, there was only one other place that immediately came to Geoffrey's mind, distasteful though it was. How did Mugen have it in him? The day before he lay at death's door. Fortunately, like everything else, the Japanese kept their houses of prostitution clean and their customers relatively quiet. Geoffrey kept his head down and bowed to the passing samurai, sneaking down from the castle-town for a night's entertainment away from the prying eyes of their friends and family. Geoffrey was familiar with the type.
"You scum! Get out of here!"
The woman's screams concerned him more, though they were of concern and not pain. He rounded the corner to find Mugen being flung through a doorway and onto the ground below, and a well-dressed woman rushing through to him. The samurai who had done the shouting had his long sword drawn as he stepped down to ground level, still barefoot and swaying drunkenly.
"What's this?" Geoffrey said, drawing his jutte. Even though his pistol was his real weapon, the jutte was the sign of his status.
"Get out of my way!" the samurai said, pushing Geoffrey back. "You know who I am, stupid gaijin?"
Geoffrey patiently bowed. "Do you have a dispute with this man?"
"He's taken my geisha!"
Mugen picked himself up off the ground, using his cane to do so. "I paid her in full before you even came in."
"That doesn't matter. I won't take your – " and used a term Geoffrey didn't know, but didn't feel compelled to ask about. The samurai raised his katana above his head and swung at Mugen. The geisha screamed as Mugen rolled out of the way, pushing her with him.
Geoffrey stepped in, to the side and not in front of the blade. "Samurai-sama, you cannot kill this man."
"What kind of okappiki are you? Of course I can!" He shoved Geoffrey aside with an elbow, but before he swung again, Mugen reached forward and pulled the samurai's own short sword from his belt and used it to block the longer one.
Seeing no alternative, Geoffrey drew his pistol and fired into the air. That was enough to stop them both from killing each other. "Please, sirs, step away from each other."
The samurai grumbled. "You have no right to interfere."
"You have no right to kill him."
"I have every right! He's scum of the earth. I only have to – "
"You only have to justify yourself afterwards," Geoffrey said. "And you'll have some trouble finding justification, even in the case of this particular man, considering you are robbing him of the money he paid this geisha by killing him now. For all I know, it was a conspiracy between the two of you!" He gestured with his jutte between the samurai and the geisha. "There are plenty of other geisha here for you, Samurai-sama. Now please take your business elsewhere."
The samurai hesitated, then replaced his blade. Mugen thrust the other one into the earth for the samurai to retrieve, and he was on his way. The geisha helped Mugen up. Mugen, not so steady on his feet, bowed to Geoffrey, then reentered the house. Geoffrey forced himself to turn away and return to the streets. "There is nothing to see here. Go back to your homes, all of you!"
He sat on the porch of a tavern for some time, warming his hands with a hot bottle of sake. Eventually he gave into the temptation to drink it, foul as it was, but was only two mouthfuls through when Mugen emerged from down the road, walking a little easier now, but still leaning on the cane for strength. He sat down beside Geoffrey, and poured a dish of sake for himself. "They give you good stuff."
"Don't tell them I can't tell the difference," he said. "You didn't have to fight that samurai."
"Are you serious? He would have killed me. Were you paying attention at all?"
"I mean, he is a samurai. You could have let him go first."
"Why should I? I paid first, I go first. Don't let all of this talk of rank go to your head. Or does it even really need to walk so far to get there? I've seen your grand palace. There are shōguns who would slit their bellies if they were promised Pemerli in the afterlife."
"Pemberley."
"Whatever." He poured himself another dish, and knocked it back. "If I start listening to them about who I am supposed to be, I will have nothing. Nothing. In here." He tapped himself on the chest. "A mixed race convict? Who would want me, if I didn't at least want myself? No one."
"That must be lonely," Geoffrey said.
"You just realized this now? Where have you been, Jeffrey-chan?"
Dearest Niece and Nephew, Georgiana and Geoffrey Darcy,
I certainly hope this letter finds you well, as our lives depend on it. Similarly, we are well in Edo. Brian is on his absolute best behavior, not out of any sense of duty to the shōgun (and he has certainly never listened to me before on this) but in the greater interest of your security. He complains that this has left him with very little to do, but I would argue with that. We have been given considerable freedom in the city for foreigners, especially in visiting the main merchants that Brian does business with or hopes to do business with. He keeps begging me to learn fan dancing, but I must keep reminding him that I am not a whore.
Now on to the more serious news: Please send our warmest regards to Mugen, and beg him to visit us in Edo or Dejima, whichever way you travel to return to us. There was much joy here to hear that he is alive and well, and succeeded in locating you, as it seems from your description that locating him was impossible.
This letter must pass through several officers, so I have been advised not to make it too long and will end here by saying two things. First, we are shortly expecting letters that arrived in Dejima from India, quite possibly from the family, and will be forwarding them on. Second, the date indicated below is corresponding to the tenth of November to help you calculate a specific date in December, if you wish to know.
All Our Love,
Her Highness Princess Nadezhda Maddox
Brian Maddox
In a different hand was written:
P.S. I did not call her a whore. All my love, Brian.
"It's so strange," Georgie said, "that I've never wanted to celebrate Christmas more, now that I can't do it properly."
"Oi, Christmas?" Mugen said from over by his pile of swords they had collected from Tanaka's gang. He was going through them, trying to calibrate out the decent ones. "Is that the holiday where we get gifts? Because I wouldn't be opposed to that."
"You have to give them as well," Geoffrey said. "'Tis better to give than receive."
"Bullshit."
"Sensei!" Georgie covered Alison's ears.
"Ah, so what, that she knows some curses in Japanese? Your parents won't know the difference. Wait, maybe Bingley-san will. Well, he's not hard to push around."
"Sensei."
"All right, all right." He picked up another blade from the pile, a longer one, and ran his thumb against the edge. "Still sharp. Just rusty. Good enough for practice."
"I am sorry for destroying your sword," Georgie said.
"Forget it. Cane blades are always inferior. If there's one decent katana here I'll be happy. If not, I'll take Sanjuro's blades when he dies, if he doesn't give them to Dani-chan."
"Mugen!" Georgie hissed, and looked around. Sanjuro was not around, and Danny was in his room.
Mugen shrugged. "He knows it, I know it. He's samurai; death isn't a surprise to him. He might even want it, crazy bushi." (warrior)
"What about you?" Geoffrey said. "Aren't you a warrior?"
"But I'm not a samurai. Besides, I've seen Nirai Kanai a couple times now, and I always walked away."
Geoffrey looked at his wife, but she only shrugged. Mugen seemed to be perfectly serious, and went about his business. "This one is crap. But, good for practice." He set it in the 'bad' pile.
The next day, Geoffrey took Danny with him when he made his rounds. Danny obviously was depressed over Sanjuro's decline and needed fresh air. Finally there was a use for geta, especially very high ones, to keep their feet out of the snow and slush. At his normal pace, Geoffrey had no problem in them whatsoever, even when Danny looked unsteady, but he could not imagine how he could run.
They bowed to the passing priest, returning from some errand, probably a visitation for a sick person. "O-priest-sama."
"Okappiki-san, Dani-san." He bowed. He always had a quiet smile on his face.
"We were about to stop for some tea to warm up," Geoffrey said. "Would you care to join us?"
"Hai, sir. Thank you for your kindness."
Geoffrey knew a teahouse that was generally empty at this time of day. With the snow, they were the only customers, and were served quickly. Where it once seemed silly, removing one's shoes now made sense, as their geta were filthy from the road, and the floors kept immaculate.
"If you would permit me, Okappiki-san, I have long noticed now that you have the walk of an old man."
Danny smothered his laughter with his kimono sleeve. Geoffrey simply hid his expression behind the dish. "Excuse me – what do you mean by that?"
"It is a compliment – though I admit, not a very common one. I can understand if there is confusion. When you walk, it is very careful, like there is wisdom in every step. You know when to be slow and when to be fast. I would assume if I met you now it is because of your particular position, but you have always walked like that."
He bowed. "I am honored." He added, "A little confused, but honored."
"In my monastery, we had a visiting monk from another sect who was a master of walking meditation. It would take him an hour to get from one end of this room to the other, but he would achieve the full meditative state while moving, whereas we would have to sit quietly to do the very same."
Geoffrey mumbled, "I am not always so steady on my feet."
"All life is suffering. It is through mindful actions that we achieve Enlightenment, and relief from all sufferings."
"What if someone is truly good, and still suffers?" Danny asked before Geoffrey could get the chance.
"He could be suffering for crimes from his past lives. Karma, good and bad, follows a person from one life to the next."
Geoffrey bowed. "I am sorry, but I cannot agree with you on this matter of reincarnation."
"You do not have that in the West?"
"No."
"That is very sad. It is very hard for a person to attain Enlightenment in a single lifetime."
"Perhaps it is not Enlightenment we seek, but eternal peace."
"They are one in the same."
They could not discuss Christianity with him. The magistrate of Dejima was very clear about that. Instead Geoffrey poured himself more tea. "What is Nirai Kanai?"
"Nirai Kanai? I have not heard of – oh. Excuse me." He smiled. "It has been a long time since my days in a monastery. I have heard of it, but it is not one of our beliefs. The teachings of the Buddha arrived in Japan late, after many others." He had to think on it, and finally had time for his tea. "It is not a Shinto term. I believe it is an islander belief, from the south – Okinawa, maybe. It refers to the realm of the gods. Unfortunately I cannot tell you much more than that."
"A friend of ours said he was there several times."
"Impossible! Unless I am mistaken, it is not a physical place. Either he is a ghost, or he has been on the verge of death."
Geoffrey nodded. "I suspect it is the latter."
When they returned, it was already getting dark. Mugen was resting, and Geoffrey found Georgie in their room, with Alison in her lap, pointing to words on the page. She had written out English words in broad strokes since they had no schoolbooks. "What does this say?"
"Ran!"
"Rain. See the I?"
"Ray-in."
"You realize you're talking to her in Japanese and making her read English?" Geoffrey grinned.
"I imagine we'll have to return to England some day, and I don't think the great works of literature have been translated into Japanese quite yet," she said.
After they'd eaten and put Alison to bed, they retired themselves. As Geoffrey redid the bandages around his wife's hands, he told her about his encounter with the priest. He had not told her about the night before, and the geisha.
"Mugen's always been like that. He doesn't make a big deal about bad things that have happened to him. And I brought him close to death myself," she said.
He grimaced and looked at her hands. "How are they?"
"Just sore now. They need time. Too much time, in my opinion."
He kissed her palms. "So I walk like an old man and you heal like one."
"He didn't mean it like that! And you had better not mean it like that, Geoffrey Darcy."
"I'm not ready to be old just yet," he said, and she responded with a kiss.
...Next Chapter - Kogi's Bargain
