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"How much longer to you plan on locking yourself in the office?"
I barely glance up from my paper. The overwhelming weight of the handkerchief in my pocket seems to grow heavier with his sudden entrance.
"I am surprised," he continues after my hefty silence, "That you have refused to come with us to the teahouses as of late. You know Mr. Schessler from Germany will be meeting with us soon?"
I set down my pen and run a hand over my face. "Really, Chairman? Do you think I help run this company with a blindfold over my face and plugs in my ears?"
He does not laugh at my sarcasm as he used to, or even give a rebuttal as I was quite sure he would. I retrieve my pen and continue writing, acting as if I have been completely unbothered by his interruption.
"What is it you want, Chairman?" He refuses to leave my office, but he doesn't open up his mouth and speak! He really has become like a leech. I don't dare meet his eyes; not because I do not wish for him to see my expression. On the contrary! I would rather not see his. "Unless you have stopped in for a little chat?"
He clears his throat. "No, no. Merely about the meeting with Mr. Schessler. He will want to visit Gion, of course. I was quite sure-"
"-That since this is such an important meeting I have no option but to tag along?"
"Essentially so, Nobu. I'm sure others in the past have been able to understand why you have not been in attendance at any social gathering, but this is such an important meeting I am afraid missing even one night may cost us."
All I can think of now is the stupid doily in my pocket. "Of course." I grumble. "Let us hope that Mr. Schessler is an agreeable man, I certainly don't have the patience to deal with stubborn Europeans."
The Chairman abruptly sits in the chair opposite me. I was hopeful he would take his leave after such a rude comment, but as usual I was wrong.
"You are bothering me."
"Good."
"Don't you want me to get any work done for this forsaken company, Chairman?"
"You have no reason to lock yourself in your office for the past two months!"
"If I locked the damn door, I would be pleased to know how you came about getting in!" I shout, slamming my fist violently on the desk.
He holds his hands in the air as if he is trying to deflect my harsh words from attacking him. "I haven't seen you so easily irritated in a long time, Nobu."
I take a shuddering breath and look at him. Slowly, I feel my hand crawling into my pocket. I have kept it there for a week, obsessed with its meaning.
"Would you like to explain this?" I carelessly drop it onto the desk.
The Chairman stares at it, saying nothing, doing nothing. "What of it?"
"What of it?" I ask incredulously. "Really? Do you know how I came about it?"
He shifts. "Nobu, my friend, it is a handkerchief. One of mine, I may add." He speaks in an uneasy tone, and I am sure that he thinks I am insane.
"A little geisha gave it to me." I continue. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of acknowledging what he says; he is playing the fool, but I will not be tricked so easily. "A geisha with the most peculiar eyes."
His eyebrows knit close together. "Sayuri? Why would she have it?"
I gape. I was so sure that the Chairman would knowwhat this was and how the infernal girl came by it. "You-you-"
"Get some rest, Nobu." He lays a hand gently on my shoulder. "For all of our sakes. This office is doing you no good, my friend."
"Of course, Chairman." I whisper.
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"Izumi! Izuuumiiii!"
"Shush Nobu." The older girl murmurs. The boy is hiding between two boards, peeking out between them. He wants to play, but Izumi is too busy mending something or another.
He has to convince her! The little boy sits down and hides his face behind his fingers, dark eyes peeking out between them. "'Oo can' see me!" his voice is muffled.
Izumi gives a frustrated sigh and throws her work on the ground. "Really, Nobu! You are so irritating sometimes. Go help Yasu, now, why don't you?"
It didn't work. Before, she always used to laugh and play with him, but not anymore. Something has changed in the household, but he can't be sure of what it is.
He drags his feet- he would never dare to complain. He has learned early on that body language is just as important as words. Stomps outside, looking for Yasu. He was sure he saw her washing clothes by the stream.
"Yasu? Where are you?" he calls. Where else could she have gone?
The young boy travels along the riverbank, calling her name. Perhaps she went into town? But that cannot be likely, she would have told someone before she ventured there…
He is about to turn around when he finds her. "Yasu, why did you go swimming?"
She doesn't answer.
"Isn't the water cold?"
Her face is blue and she makes no effort to move, to acknowledge his presence. And then he realizes what has happened.
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I had the dream of my sister drowning all over again. It is the nightmare that always comes to me at the worst of times.
This Mr. Schessler arrived not a day and a half ago and the man is exasperating. Just as I imagined he would be! He is stubborn and curt and sits too straight. His mustache looks like a toothbrush.
The Chairman tells me I am nitpicking and that the two of us are quite alike.
"Are you trying to tell me I am growing a mustache?"
He merely laughed and refused to elaborate on what he meant.
And of course we must spend our time in Gion. Mr. Schessler specifically stated, by name, that Mameha be there, and I will not be astonished at all if her little sister will be there with her.
Curse the Chairman!
I pin the empty sleeve of my kimono. I am not ready for tonight; I have made a fool of myself twice in front of a young geisha. I am all the more sure that it will only happen again, for I cannot possibly ignore her any longer.