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I have never enjoyed Tokyo, to be frank.
The Chairman would say there isn't much I like, aside from sumo and running the business. As always, he is wrong! It just so happens that Tokyo has never caught my interest- surely it is because of the absurd amount of politicians. Although I cannot complain too much, seeing as they have a magnificent sumo tournament soon.
I have not seen Sayuri since our night at the Ichiriki. I imagine-and would hope- she said nothing to Mameha. Of course we did nothing wrong; but being a geisha is such a precarious life that my simple action could ruin her.
Particularly with Hatsumomo roaming the streets!
There have been nights, lying in silence, that I have replayed the moment in my head. The Lizard kissed a geisha. And now, he is going to Tokyo with her.
Have I gone mad?
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Our train compartment is completely silent, aside from Mr. Schessler's snoring. This man truly is a joke, but what can I do? They say a war is coming, and we need investments desperately.
The Chairman is silent, impatiently flipping through a newspaper. Every now and then he glances up and out the window, sighs, and returns to the news. I for one am content with the silence (other than Schessler's abhorrent cacophony!) and may think clearly.
With the world changing, I must question my place at Iwamura Electric. Not that the Chairman would ever reduce me to an inferior position- that would never happen. But I am smart enough to know that every corner of the hemisphere is impatient and restless with something I cannot place. It is more than just the bad taste of depression in our mouths.
There is a headline on the Chairman's newspaper about our invasion of China; I know about the Nanking Massacre, probably more than the average civilian on the street will know. Am I to shield Sayuri from this and allow her to live the happy, concealed life of a geisha? She knows I am an honest and gruff man, but I can barely open my mouth to tell her of my drowned sister or the horrors I witnessed in the army, much less thrust a newspaper in her arms.
"You seem distant, Nobu-san." Murmurs the Chairman, barely looking up from his page. "Perhaps you would rather be in Osaka or Gion?"
"Anywhere but Tokyo!" I snap, and he laughs in response. "If it wasn't for the sake of the company I would say I was down with the flu and refused to crawl out of bed for such a worthless visit."
"As always, Nobu." He tosses the newspaper to the floor and crosses one leg over his knee. "You really are a no-fun business partner sometimes."
"And you really are a teenaged boy." I harrumph.
"I owe you too much, as always." He leans forward and looks out the window at the passing landscape. "Tell me, you have changed in these past days. Who has tamed the beast that is Nobu Toshikazu?"
I am suddenly uncomfortable. I have always been honest with the Chairman, surely he knows the plans by now? "No such person, you know that very well!" I chuckle. It is all too fake, and we both know it.
"You're an awful liar, Nobu. No wonder you have so much contempt for politicians." He rubs his chin with one hand and looks back at me. "I won't pretend I don't know. You are my greatest friend, Nobu. I would hate to see you giving up your beliefs for a geisha."
As strange as it sounds, I have his handkerchief in my pocket- the very one Sayuri surely held close to her heart for so many weeks. There is a bit of her with that handkerchief, and I feel as if he knows how much she means to me. "I won't argue with you about this, Chairman." My voice is dangerously low. "Only because I don't want to wake up Mister Big Shot!"
He nods. "I understand," he responds sadly. "I just would hate my greatest friend to be-" he stops, and my eyes narrow.
"It's fine, Chairman. I know well enough what you want to say." Before he may apologize I rise and walk out of the compartment.
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When I've returned Mr. Schessler is awake and speaking animatedly with the Chairman. His Japanese is weak, yet the Chairman has no trouble understanding him.
"Ah, Mr. Toshikazu! How pleasant you have returned to us! I was just speaking to Mr. Iwamura about the nights we have spent at the teahouse, he hinted that those two lovely women will be accompanying us in Tokyo!"
He's rubbing the stupid toothbrush above his lip with his finger. I'm sure he's hinting at something, or perhaps I am just overly suspicious of the idiot. "Indeed, Mr. Schessler." I busy myself with re-pinning my sleeve. "We will be meeting them with a group of other businessmen we are involved with at the Rikugien garden." Schessler nods, although I'm positive he has no idea what I am talking about.
"And that lovely little geisha will be there, I hope? Quite an interesting character, I've grown fond of her!"
He's talking about Sayuri. I accidently stick the pin in the stump of my arm and look up at him. "Y-yes, of course she will!" Schessler's eyes narrow with suspicion.
"Very well then." And that is the end of that.
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"What a beautiful garden, wouldn't you agree, Sayuri? You must thank the Chairman and Nobu-san for their kindness." Mameha pushes gently.
Sayuri bows. "I feel so lucky to be in the accompaniment of such great men!" her voice is sickeningly sweet. I hold back a rather rude comment and give a close-lipped smile. She's watching me closely, but what does she expect me to do? Pat her on the back and tell her she is the fairest of them all?
"It was built in the Edo period." The Chairman says nonchalantly, hands in his pockets as we stroll the grounds. "It is to represent scenes from famous poems."
"Thank you for the history lesson, Chairman. Should I be taking notes?" Mameha jokes.
"Only if you plan on using it for future entertainment!"
Their conversation is drowned out. Schessler is staring at Sayuri with a hungry, animalistic look. She is paying neither of us any attention, in fact she's engrossed with the movement of the trees in the early spring breeze.
He turns to me. "What is the price?" he asks in a low undertone.
"Excuse me?"
"Just one night with this Sayuri. Is that not a part of a geisha's services?"
I stop in my tracks. "You do not seem to know much of their world, do you, Mr. Schessler?"
He looks confused. "I wouldn't assume you do either, with all respect. I was always under the assumption you could have cared less, in fact." Schessler's voice changes as he glances back at Sayuri. "If you want our investments…I may speak directly to the Fuehrer, of course, and the military heads in Germany, we will need your help as it is.."
"I am not sure what you are trying to say, Mr. Schessler." My hand is trembling as his face becomes uncomfortably close to my own.
"On the contrary, I think you do!" his voice is cold, far from the cordial tone he has always assumed prior. "I see the way you look at her, don't deny you wouldn't enjoy a little tumble with her every now and then. This is a man to man talk, eh? One night, and the future of your company is in the best hands possible."
"Do you honestly think," I take a step back, "I would sell a woman to you for a night? Particularly a geisha!" I take a deep breath. I could be ruining our company with my words, my wants. "If this is the deal I must make to ensure my company safety in the coming years, you are wrong. Wrong! Do you hear me, you infernal German? Leave for all I care, just stay away from my company."
His jaw tightens. "Yet we have just arrived in Tokyo, Mr. Toshikazu, and you expect me to depart? What will your business partner say?" he nods in the direction of the Chairman; he, Mameha and Sayuri have wandered to the water's edge and are chatting, oblivious to the fact that we are not in their company. "He won't be happy, since it is his company."
I touch the handkerchief in my pocket gently. "A night with a geisha is the only thing keeping you from investing with us, Mr. Schessler? May I ask how you came to such a decision- perhaps you spoke to the young men working at the restaurants?"
I've angered him, just as I hoped. He stomps off without another word. I'm putting the company in a dangerous place.
I release my breath and begin to walk on stiff legs towards the little group- our other investors have arrived. Schessler is not a man to be crossed, I have found. And I have no clue how I am to solve this- for I cannot promise Sayuri to him for a night. I know well enough that is not a geisha's practice.
Perhaps I should refer him to Hatsumomo?
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It is quiet in the garden. Sayuri is watching me, and if it weren't for the amount of people I would reach out and touch her, compliment her in my way.
There is a bond between us. I have known this since I met her, despite my contempt for such women. One day, I will be able to speak to her honestly. One day, I will tell her of my past. But for now, all I can do is look at her and wait for the day at the Ichiriki when we will drink sake together.
"Look at the trees, Nobu-san, they are beautiful how they bend over the water, aren't they? They are such narcissists- even in old age they grow over the water to gaze at their reflections!" Sayuri says dreamily, coming to stand next to me.
I allow a small smile at her comment. "You are as imaginative as ever, Sayuri. You geisha live in an alternate world, you know that?"
She looks at my profile- the ugly scars and scorched skin. I don't turn and look at her fully, but I can see her tiny hand flutter as if she had the intention to reach up and touch me. "Or perhaps a different way of speaking, Nobu-san." Her leg briefly brushes against mine as she walks away, leaving me staring at my own reflection.