The shoji to Naomi's shop slid open just as she was ready to close it down for the night. The young woman glanced up from where she sat at the desk. She smiled when she saw who it was. "Hello Kaida," she said as the slender, red headed girl walked up to the desk. "Good evening, Naomi. How was business today?" Kaida asked, leaning gently against the desk.
"Oh, slow as usually it is this time of year," Naomi replied, putting the paper work she had been working on in a small box that lay open on the desk. She then slid the box onto a shelf under it.
"Is Keiji coming to pick you up? I need to speak with him about the next shipment of silks," Kaida said, standing up straight again.
"Yes, actually, he is. He's also bringing Kira. She didn't want to stay with the babysitter this time," Naomi replied, putting the money from that day's sales in her small pouch-like purse.
Just then, the bell rang as the shoji was pushed open. In stepped a tall, slender young man with black hair, black eyes, and olive colored skin. A small girl tagged along at his side. Her cinnamon colored hair caressed her chubby cheeks. When she saw Kaida she let go of her father's pant leg and ran to the young merchant woman. "Auntie!" she squealed in glee, throwing her arms around Kaida's leg, for she was too short to reach any higher. "Hello Kira," Kaida said, picking the small girl up and giving her a big hug. Kira then turned to Naomi and, reaching out, said, "Mommy!"
Naomi smiled, taking the young child in her arms. Then, Kaida turned to the man and said," Mr. Tanaka, when will you be able to get the silks to me?"
The tall man walked up to the small gathering and said," I have arranged for a half a dozen carts to meet you at the docks first thing tomorrow morning."
"Keiji, when was the last time you spoke with your brother?" Naomi asked. Her husband turned to look at her.
"Not recently, why?" he replied, his black eyes reflecting a look of uneasiness.
"He paid a visit early this morning. He told me that there has been a gang hanging around at the docks. Supposedly, they have been robbing rich merchant ships, particularly ones who have connections with Europe. They have also been said to rob people who have connections with merchants like that. I'd suggest you two be careful tomorrow," Naomi said, her normally playful tone turning to a serious, business-like one.
"I'm not too terribly worried," Kaida said, running her hand through her hair which was now untied and hanging limply about her shoulders and down to her hips.
"Why might that be, Miss Masako?" After all, if they decide to attack us tomorrow, you'll be the one who looses the most," Keiji said, his low voice serious and worried
. "I have my reasons. Anyhow, it is getting late and the streets do not get any safer the lower the sun sinks," Kaida replied. After exchanging farewells, the red headed girl exited the shop and headed toward an awaiting carriage. "No, I'm not worried about any of this gang business. That is, if Mr. Sagara comes as he said he would," she thought to herself as she settled into the seat. No, at the moment there were more important things to worry about than loosing money.