The gardens were chilly already so Mei worked on her bonsai tree in a heated greenhouse. There was a pit in the center of it, filled with hot coals. The bonsai trees were in light blue porcelain jars. She enjoyed gently forming them, her fingers so nimble, every detail counting. It was actually not that different from her secret work, come to think of it. Finesse, accuracy and perfection were important in both. Yes, one day she would have her own house and her own bonsai garden... but for now, she would continue living in the court.
Atsuko game in, grinning at her.
- "Fancy seeing you up that early," she said. "You are usually such a sleepyhead."
You would be too, friend, if you strolled the streets of Dojyu at night, Mei thought, but just smiled back.
- "I brought you hot tea and shrimp crackers," Atsuko continued. "Come on, take a break."
The women sat on a bench carved onto the floor so that they could sit near the pit of the hot coals and warm their feet.
- "Atsuko? Have you had any... special lover?" Mei asked.
- "Not really, no. There has been an odd man of the court... bushi are the best, they have the most stamina and best-formed bodies," she winked and laughed.
- "Yes, I suppose so. I have had only a few lovers, but I am thinking... could it be something more?" Mei said, frowning. She had had great urges for making love, but the idea of doing that with just someone suitable filled her with depression and emptiness.
- "Well, they talk about love. The samurai compose poetry for courtesans and geishas..." Atsuko said, an uncharacteristic trace of bitterness in her voice. "Then they meet the next one and forget about the previous."
- "But there must be true love too. There are happy marriages..."
- "Yes, but marriages are first and foremost companionship. Perhaps it can even be so fulfilling that the partners don't have their fun on the side, though that is rare."
- "See... that is the thing. Maybe I am mad, or a hopeless romantic, but I would want the... you know, that kind of love to be more than 'fun on the side'. True, and real."
- "You have a strange heart, girl," Atsuko said gently. "Perhaps it is because you are a child of romantic love, and part a nature spirit. I do hope you will get what you wish for... perhaps from the man in my tea leaves. In the meantime, though - why not take Ketori as your lover? He is young and eager."
- "It is out of balance, Atsuko... he wishes for something he thinks I am able to provide, while for me he would be no more than a young, warm body in my bed. It is wrong. Also, there is no honor in treating other people like tools."
Atsuko looked at her blankly.
- "That is what other people are to the noble and samurai classes, precisely. That is where the Celestial Order has put them." Then her face melted into a fond smile. "But I do love you for thinking so. You are a really strange one, girl. It is good that someone cares for even the eta."
- "Speaking of samurai... do you know Daidoji?"
- "The military family of Cranes? I know of them. Have talked with some of them. Ochimi has a diplomatic position in the court, he sometimes plays Go with me..."
- "Do you know anyone by the name Tamoko?"
- "I once heard a Lion courtier ask him about Tamoko..." Atsuko's eyes were alight with excitement. "He seemed so smug too... and Ochimi's mouth went into a thin line, anger flickering in his eyes. He said he has never heard of any Tamoko, and that the Lion must be mistaken. Well, then I asked, discreetly of course, of the maid of the courtier, and I found out that it was a big scandal in Fukama at the time. You know, Daidoji lands are in Fukama?"
Mei nodded.
- "Must have been a blow to them when the capital was moved to Dojyu," she said.
- "So it was, especially as the clan has always relied much on diplomacy," Atsuko went on. "Anyway, a lot of Daidoji are mixed with smuggling, yakuza, bounty hunting and the like. That is naturally alright as long as you don't get caught. But this young man, Daidoji Yoshimo did. He was involved in breaking and entering, and there was ninja activity too... the details are shady, but they ordered him executed. Now, this Tamoko... she was a military promise, anticipated the next famous Daidoji general... she gets straight orders from her daimyo, disobeys them, kills two imperial guards and breaks her brother out of the prison. And after that, no sign of either of them. You can believe the Daidoji lost face! I do not know if she went mad or what happened..."
Mei inhaled in order to tell her about her dream, when a messenger peeked in.
- "Ladies, please. Come to the court, the emperor wishes to speak to everyone."
eta = untouchables, classless people
