They arrived at the island a few hours later just as the sun was setting, casting the woods and mountains in an orange glow. Another car drove them to the inn were they would be staying. To Sam, it was the most amazing looking place he had ever seen. The inn was nestled among the trees and was so low key and cozy that it was almost invisible if it wasn't for the windows and colorful hanging paper lanterns.
"Arigatō." San-Li bowed to the maid who showed them to their room.
The maid bowed back and rolled the door shut behind her as she left. Sam couldn't help but notice the bed situation; two futons pushed together with one blanket over top, a pillow, and a narrow block of wood with padding at the top. He looked up and saw that San-Li was staring at him.
"What?" He asked.
"We don't have to sleep close to each other if it makes you uncomfortable." She said with a small smile.
Sam shrugged and looked away. "I don't mind if you don't mind."
"Trust me, I definitely do not mind sleeping close to you." She flashed him a smirk and looked him and down slowly. "Take off your clothes."
"What!?"
San-Li chuckled and gestured to their luggage in the corner. "This is an informal business retreat. Change into something less formal for dinner."
"Oh." Sam relaxed a little. "Right."
"And I am going to do the same." San-Li went over to her trunk and pulled out a bundle of fabric. "Do me a favor and tell the maid to bring a basin of water please."
"How do I do that?" Sam asked as she disappeared into the bathroom.
"Watashi wa, mizu no ryūiki o onegai motsu koto ga dekimasu."
Sam looked out into the hallway and waved over a young woman who was wearing a simple blue and white robe.
"Um,Watashi wa," Sam stumbled over his words. "mizu no ryūiki o...onegai, um... motsu koto ga...ga... um, dekimasu?"
The maid looked at him in confusion. "Are you asking for a basin of water sir or squid oil?"
"Water please." Sam sighed in relief. "Thanks. I mean, Arigatō. "
The maid bowed and left and Sam went to change his clothes. He thought about warning San-Li not to come out until he was done, but he remembered with a slight flush that San-Li had seen him and Fred change clothes on the Titanic. As he finished changing there was a light tapping on the door and he opened it to see a small basin of water as well as a small rag laying right outside the room. He took it inside and tapped on the bathroom door.
"Thanks, Sammy." San-Li took the basin and closed the bathroom door again.
She came out a few minutes later wearing a lighter kimono in pastel colors and with all of the make up washed off of her face. She went over to the make up stand in the corner and applied lipstick, eye liner, and blush. She looked over at Sam, who had been staring at her the whole time and raised an eyebrow.
"What?" She asked a bit defensively. "It's too hot for all that white make up."
"I like looking at you." Sam shook his head and blushed. "I mean, I like looking at you transform yourself. Putting on make up and stuff. Not looking at you in a creepy way."
San-Li giggled and walked over to stand directly in front of him. Sam noticed with a little pride that he has grown almost a full head taller than her. She placed her hands on either side of his face and tilted his head down until their foreheads were touching.
"I like you." She said quietly.
"I like you, too." Sam whispered and closed his eyes.
"But maybe I like us too much for your own good."
Sam opened his eyes and looked at her in confusion. She stared back at him her expression unreadable. She started to move away from him but he placed his hands on her hips to hold her in place.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked urgently. "Are you breaking up with me?"
San-Li shook her head and pressed her lips against his desperately. He kissed her back and moved one hand up to cradle her cheek. She pulled away slowly and ran a hand down his chest. Sam took a shuddering breath but didn't move away.
"You shouldn't let me kiss you like that," San-Li said in a low whisper. "Something bad could happen."
"You started it." He mumbled leaning back in to kiss her again.
San-Li broke into a large smile and move away from him towards the door.
"Come on," She said over her shoulder. "We'll be late for dinner."
Sam followed her down the hallway mildly annoyed with himself. San-Li had little control if any so he was going to have to have enough control for both of them. The walked through the inn until they came to a mid sized dining room and the only one sitting at the table was Fukuhara who didn't seem that happy to see them. Sam sat down feeling a bit awkward while San-Li poured Fukuhara what looked like a cup of water.
"So Fukuhara," Sam said as San-Li poured him a cup as well. "San-Li never told me what you did for a living."
Fukuhara snarled at him and took a drink of water before answering. "I am vice president of Ikumara Industries Incorporated. We manufacture harmless house hold appliances despite whatever you Americans try to peg us as."
"Fukuhara please." San-Li said softly laying a hand on his arm.
He grunted angrily and roughly pulled his arm from out under her hand, but held out his cup for her to refill. Sam looked back and forth between them feeling slightly uncomfortable. He took a sip of his water and nearly choked on it. That was definitely not water.
"San-Li," He whispered urgently. "Did you give me alcohol? I told you before I don't drink."
"I'm sorry I forgot." She whispered back pouring him a glass of water instead. "It's sake. Everyone here drinks it. And try to call me Setsuko around others alright? "
She then downed his old cup and shuddered a little. Sam laid his hand on top of hers and Fukuhara cleared his throat angrily. San-Li gently removed Sam's hand from hers and poured Fukuhara another cup of sake. Sam looked back and forth between them and felt both uncomfortable and little bit annoyed. San-Li was acting like this guy was her ex boyfriend or something, but that couldn't be right. Fukuhara looked like he was close to forty-five and San-Li wasn't even seventeen yet.
The three of them sat in awkward silence until everyone else showed up followed by the maids carrying their dinner. Light and friendly conversation started as they ate. Sam relaxed a little bit couldn't help stealing glances at Fukuhara from time to time. San-Li must have noticed because she gently started to caress his knee.
"So Bando," General Thompson said. "I remember you telling me something about your geisha women being really good dancers?"
"Why yes," Bando nodded eagerly. "Our very own Setsuko is a very accomplished dancer. She'll be happy to preform a few short pieces."
"Oh please do Setsuko." Misuki piped up. "I'll back you up on the shamisen."
"Well..." San-Li looked at Sam and blushed. "I guess a short piece won't hurt. Do you mind playing Dorobō o aisuru yō ni ?"
Misuki nodded eagerly and picked up a small guitar like instrument and started to tune it. San-Li flashed him another smile and then moved away from the table to stand on the other side of the room. She knelt down with one knee touching the floor and pulled two fans out of her obi.
Sam watched breathlessly as Misuki played a song and San-Li started to dance. Passion was in every movement that she made and matched the pace of the music. Sam caught his breath as the music became more frantic and a look of panic came across San-Li's face. The music reached its peak and stopped suddenly San-Li froze in place. The tune of the shamisen became slow and filled with sadness and San-Li slowly sank backwards with her fan held high in the air.
Everyone began clapping and cheering and Sam leaned over to the geisha next to him.
"What was that song about?" He whispered. "It was amazing."
"I believe in your language it translates to 'To love a thief.'" She whispered back excitedly. "It's a beautifully tragic story about a thief who falls in love and they have a passionate affair. But when their affair is discovered the thief is unable to protect the lover and dies from grief."
"Oh wow." San-Li panted sitting back down at the table. "I haven't done that in forever. I almost forgot the steps for a minute."
"You danced beautifully as always." Bando raised his cup in a toast.
"Yeah, that was amazing." The lieutenant grinned at her. "The girls back home sure don't dance like that."
"Yeah," Sam smiled at San-Li. "Amazing."
