« What are you reading ? » i asked Yuki.
We were in the private salon as usual, sipping tea together. She was lying on the futon and her legs were moving back and forth in the air. Last time I saw her like this, years ago, she was naked and was practicing her calligraphy, writing my name over and over on the paper after one of our embraces. But this time, she was fully dressed. In all my months as a Guardian, I hadn't touch her, keeping my faithfulness to Chizuru untainted. As for her, except for the first time when i told her that Chizuru wasn't my woman anymore, she never tried again to seduce me. We were just friends, enjoying each other's company.
Normally, a client would have been excessively annoyed that his oiran would prefer reading a book instead of entertaining him but i didn't care. To me, she wasn't an oiran anymore even if i was paying to see her. She was just a woman, allowing me to have a glimpse at her true self, and that was more important to me than any entertainment.
« It's a novel about the life of the Taiko. » she answered, not lifting her head from her book.
I didn't need to ask who it was. There was only one Taiko : Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the monkey, warlord vassal of Oda Nobunaga who finished his task of unifying Japan, just before the beginning of the Tokugawa shogunate.
« Is it good ? » i asked.
« Yeah, it explains a lot about his motivations, his life path... I always thought he was fascinating. » she answered again, licking her finger to turn the page.
« Why ? »
« He was born a commoner and he became one of the greatest and unified all Japan under his banner. Don't you think it's fascinating ? » she chuckled « you should like him too, i think. I heard Shinsengumi members weren't born samurai either. »
« It's true for some of us. »
« Us ? » she repeated with a grin.
« Them. » i corrected « Although I was born a samurai myself. »
She chuckled again, probably proud of herself for making me make such a mistake.
« What does it says, your book ? » i asked, changing the subject.
« A lot... Political intrigues, love, betrayals, military strategy, modernization... » she enumerated with a smile.
« Does it confort you in the idea that you would have been a perfect warlord in the Sengoku ? » i asked with a smirk.
« You're particularly in the mood for talking today... » she smirked like the fox she was, closing her novel « are you gonna eventually tell me what Yukimura said to you ? »
I looked at her, confused, but the smile on her face just grew widder. How could she know ?
« You're mistaken. » i answered.
« I don't believe I am. » she said playfully « you sit here, drinking tea to be sure to stay faithful and you sometimes get lost in thought and smile, something i haven't seen you do in ages. And... now you're blushing. »
I didn't answer and reported my attention on the window, trying to ignore the heat on my cheeks.
« Alright, don't talk » she said, plunging in her book again « but just know that it makes me happy to see you this happy. »
I nodded, just to acknowledge that i heard her. That woman was perceptive. A bit too much for my taste. The sun was getting lower on the horizon and i knew I had to go back in case Yamazaki was there. I stood up and thanked Yuki for her time before heading to the Gessin In temple.
Just as I expected, the ninja joined me in my room that night. It wasn't really surprising, he was coming at least once a week now.
« Yamazaki. » I bowed.
« Saito. » he bowed in return « Yukimura sends you her regards. »
We talked for several minutes. The information he gave me about the Mimawarigumi and Sakamoto had satisfied Ito and he gave it to the Tosa clan imperialists. They moved Sakamoto from the Terada-ya to somewhere better hidden, the Ōmiya, a soy sauce shop. He was staying there with another Tosa, Nagaoka, who we supposed was a kind of bodyguard. I expressed my regrets not to have any informations to give to the Shinsengumi in return and Yamazaki told me that the commander was starting to be tired of this little game and that maybe, i'll be allowed to come back soon. Kondou-san and Ito were supposed to have parted ways good friends after all and five months spying him made us learn nothing. Hijikata-san though wasn't sharing Kondou-san's opinion. To him, Ito was trying to lull us into inaction. This topic was still in discussion between the two men. I personally was thinking that Hijikata-san was right even if I would be satisfied to go back to the Shinsengumi. Kondou just couldn't ignore that Ito sent me spying only a few days ago. That wasn't the behavior of a friend.
« Before i forget » added Yamazaki, taking a paper out of his sleeve « this is the Aizu bounty for the death of Takeda Kanryuusai. »
I took the paper, nodding. Good. I was spending a bit too much money in Shimabara and I was starting to get low in finances. This was enough money to make me live comfortable for months.
« And this... » he added again, taking another paper out his sleeve « is directly from the Bakufu, for protecting the secret of the Ochimizu. »
I took the second paper but handed it back to Yamazaki.
« This is a mistake. I have no use of that much money. »
The sum written on the paper was outrageously high. I knew the Ochimizu was one of the greatest secrets of the Bakufu but my services didn't deserve this kind of payment. Plus, personal wealth was the enemy of the samurai. It could lead him out of the warrior's path. That amount was indecent.
« Take this back to the Shinsengumi » i asked « the men will make good use of it. »
« Unfortunately, i can't. » he admitted « it has your name on it. »
I nodded and grabbed the paper. I'll have to exchange it against actual money anyway. It was just a paper, nothing to be alarmed of...
« I won't keep it. » i told Yamazaki while he was on his way out.
« It's yours. » he shrugged « do as you wish with it. »
He left me alone in my room and i thought for a moment before making my decision. I got out of the Gessin In temple and walked back to Shimabara to enter the Hanamado.
« Welcome back, dear customer ! » greeted me the owner, bowing « Unfortunately, Yuki isn't available right now, she has an appointment. Do you wish to have another one of our oirans ? Or you can wait in the salon if you want. »
« I want to know the price for Yuki. » i said in my toneless voice.
She frowned before smiling again « With all my due respect, dear customer, i think you are well aware of our tariffs... »
« I think you misunderstood. » i said calmly « I'm here to buy her freedom. »