Such Is Not the Way of Hearts

Yukemori and Mei laughed, rolling the die once again. They were having a lucky streak - the bone die once again faced them favorably after spinning for a while on the table. Yukemori's brother swept the table, dexterously arranged the koku in piles of ten coins, and separated the five percent commission due to the house.

- "Let's stop for now," Mei said. "I am hungry. Some sushi and sake, maybe?"

- "Oh all right," Yukemori grinned. He felt he could listen to the rolling of the die and watch the excited concentrated faces of the gamblers all night. He didn't even mind losing that much. There was special magic generated by playing for money, he believed.

However, there were important matters to think about. Yukemori had always been one who didn't much believe in having a choice to make a difference. Things happened, for good or bad. In that way Mei fascinated him - her determination to make the world more 'fair' as she used to say, a concept Yukemori had problems grasping, was both admirable and foolhardy. What made his friend tick?

- "Which place?" he asked.

- "We won quite a lot..." Mei said, her eyes shining, "so let's go to Ryokan Daifuku!"

Yukemori whistled, but was immediately enthusiastic. Ryokan Daifuku, or Inn of Great Fortune, had the best sushi of midtown Dojyu. Daifuku also meant a rice cake filled with bean jam, and the namesake rice cakes were also delicious in the inn. It was by far the most expensive of the inns, so it suited very well that they would go there to celebrate their good fortune.

- "Shall we, however, visit my home first?" Yukemori said. "I would dress better when I have a chance to eat like a nobleman."

- "Sure." Mei was curious. What did she feel for Yukemori? She was sure that the young man was a genuinely nice and friendly person, also humorous and quick-witted. He was not unpleasant to look at, with wiry muscles, tan and lean body, long cheekbones and the ready smile. But... anyway, she was curious to see how he lived.

As she soon found out, Yukemori had a small house nearby the dock district. It wasn't a luxurious city part, and the house wasn't very ornamental, but it had a yard, and it was his own. The house stood on a wooden platform, and as the two entered, Mei could see rice paper walls separating the different functional parts.

- "Let me pour some plum wine for you, while I dress," Yukemori said, and led Mei in front of the small table. No ornaments of any sort, just a little cup full of chopsticks. Yukemori moved the paper wall in order to conceal the view to his simple mattress and wardrobe. Mei thought about how he would look naked. Not bad at all, probably. He was such a nice person... should she...

The young man emerged wearing a red silk kimono and black trousers, and poured some plum wine for himself as well. He sat facing Mei, and looked her into the eye. Mei felt uncomfortable, as if her contact to her own soul was muddled by some vague radiation from an outer source.

- "Yukemori..." Mei whispered, touching his finger gently with her own. He looked startled, but kept looking at her.

- "Mei, I..." he started, but Mei didn't let him finish.

- "I was wondering... I really, really like you. And I have been wanting..." she inhaled and bent a bit forwards, pressing her lips against Yukemori's. The lips were soft. He didn't flinch away from her, but didn't answer the kiss either. Embarrassed, Mei pulled away.

Yukemori was quiet for a few seconds, his eyes never leaving Mei's.

- "Mei... many a man would be so proud if a court beauty like you kissed them... but I... feel things. I feel your heart is somewhere else. You look at me, and see a friend who has no obvious fault. You decide that I am good enough. And... I am afraid I have more pride than that. I want to be more than just good enough," he said, very politely, very gently.

Mei felt ashamed. It was essentially the whole truth. She looked away.

- "What a loss of face," she whispered. "...I am not worthy of your friendship any more. Myself I thought there is no honor in treating other people like mere tools, and here I do just that, to one I greatly... respect. And like." She didn't look up.

- "Mei..." Yukemori's hands were gentle, massaging Mei's palm. "You have not lost face. You did not calculate this, you merely thought that what would be convenient and wise, could be forced to be the way of hearts. But such is not the case. You are still my friend, and I would be greatly distressed if I didn't see you again."

Mei looked up and smiled ruefully.

- "How good it would be if it could be... us! I have no ties anyplace, I can bed whom I want, choose the life I want. You, the oyabun doesn't interfere with your mates, or does he?"

- "He does not. He is wary of the liaisons where both are of the family, but does not forbid it as there really is no way. But such is not the will of the Fortunes... and we will have to talk about what is going on in Kozakura, yes?"