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of what this might do to her and to him。 For in truth he had never before had a female pupil and had he been of another temperament he would have felt a certain trepidation。
In fact； he recognized that on some level it was odd that he had accepted her sex so readily。 His native China was so different in its concept of women。 Sun Hsiung knew that his father found intelligent women who showed any kind of talent troublesome。 〃Sooner or later；〃 he would tell his son； 〃they will open their mouths and talk back to you； and then what use is their talent？〃
In Japan as well as in China a woman was expected to follow the dictates of her father until she was married。 Then she was required to obey her husband and； in the event of his death； her eldest son。
The worst sin a wife could mit was to fail to bear children。 In that event； according to certain ancient codes； she was expected to leave。 In some cases she could choose to accept her husband's siring a child via a mistress or； failing that； adopting a child of one of her husband's relatives。
A wife's adultery caused her to be immediately divorced； but a man could have as many mistresses as he chose。 In fact； a law enacted in 1870 in Japan established kinship between parent and child to be in the first degree and kinship between a man and his mistress to be in the second degree。 Although this was rescinded ten years later； the custom of taking mistresses continued unabated。
When the emperor Mutsuhito ended his reign in 1912 it was rumored that the son who succeeded him as the emperor Taisho had been borne not by Mutsuhito's wife but by his mistress。 Taisho's reign was brief； in 1926 he was succeeded by his own son； Hirohito。
In recalling all this history Sun Hsiung again reminded himself what a renegade he had been and still was。 He had fled mainland China many years before because of the oppressive nature of the society。 The fact was that he did not find subservience in anyone attractive； particularly in a mate。 He had； consciously or no； dedicated his life to the pursuit of strength； and he differed markedly from the feudal Japanese samurai who fed on strength by day and by night wished only for the obeisance of gentle women。
He looked at his Little Soldier's working body now in the coppery lamplight； a thin sheen of sweat turning her pale skin glowing and burnished。
He asked himself whether he would look upon a male body with the same set of conflicting emotions which seemed to plague him。 Would he be so acutely aware of the play of her back muscles； the rippling of her thighs as she stretched and twisted in the Tai Chi？ She performed it with such startling skill and agility； it was difficult for Sun Hsiung to believe she had been at it for six months rather than six years。
His eyes stole down to the workings of her buttocks as she lifted one leg and spun； and he was profoundly ashamed of the instincts which rose within him。 And yet he could not help them。
He was a man who had always dealt with his desire in precisely the same way he did all his other requirements： when he felt the need for it he entered the new karyukai district and slaked his thirst。 Yet those times had all been of his own choosing and his iron control had dictated the nights he would perform those erotic exercises to the delight of not only himself but his partner as well。
Now； for the first time since he was a young； untrained lad； his desire rose unbidden； a deceitful serpent twining about him； enlacing him within its languorous coils。 Angry； he steeled his mind against the onslaught； but his mind had nothing to do with it。 He was a man； after all； who was in touch with the totality of his being； and he knew full well that only modern man chose to live pletely within his mind。
And it was Sun Hsiung's body that was speaking now and he knew deep down where his essence resided that he must respond to its calling in some manner。
That morning； while his pupil still slept off the night's lessons； he stole from the house and availed himself of the pleasures of the willow world。 But now； though he felt the pleasure rippling through him at what was being done to him； though he shot his seed twice within the span of time he was with the tayu； these were only surface sensations and while the storm raged； in the depths there was only motionlessness and silence。
He could not say that he had not enjoyed his stay within the precincts of the happy field。 He had felt the clouds and rain but yet his spirit was roaming restless。 Though his member was for the moment satiated； still the core of him remained unfulfilled。
Sun Hsiung wondered at this all the way back to his house and； turning the key in the lock and entering once again the sanctum of his domain； he at once understood the nature of his agitation。
For as he went through the silent rooms； he came upon his pupil's sleeping quarters。 The fusuma was partly open； as it always was； and Sun Hsiung paused to check on her。 She was still asleep； her face turned to the side； toward him。 She was on her back； one leg stuck straight out； the other bent sharply at the knee so that she had the electric appearance of leaping even in repose。
And like the clean edge of a gleaming knife Sun Hsiung felt the flick of his emotions flutter his heart as his eyes drank in the sight of her。
What mysterious essence could a woman of her young years possess to affect him thusly？ It was a question that he could not possibly answer for it belied the use of years and experience； the modities with which he was most familiar。
And as Sun Hsiung knelt just outside the threshold to her room； enrapt by the serenity of her wa； he felt a pulsing in the nether reaches of his lower belly； a kind of tidal pull that the Awabi divers spoke of where in a lake none should be。
So； too； now with Sun Hsiung。 And he craned his neck； staring hard at her sleeping face to make certain。 For it seemed to him that something was reaching out across the brief gulf that separated them and was massaging him internally。 It was not that he thought of this feat as impossible。 He knew too much of jaho to rule such a thing out。 But from such a one as his Little Soldier？ Why； she had had no training。
And yet he could not dispute what was occurring inside his body。 He looked around。 The day was almost done。 Long shadows stretched through the house like animate pets； and the light was fast failing。 Night was ing on。
So near him Akiko stirred； both legs extending； arms raised over her head as she； too； stretched like some great cat。 Her eyelids fluttered open and her irises were upon him as if in her slumber； through the membrane of her lids； she had been watching him all the time。
〃e here；〃 she murmured in a totally undisciplined voice。 And when Sun Hsiung made no move； said no word； her lids pulsed and he felt the kneading in his lower belly increase； radiating downward to the base of his member。 All at once his testicles began to tingle and it was as if a silken hand had grasped him about the base of his penis。 He began to stiffen and grow。
No！ a voice inside his head shouted； but he had no recourse。 As if he were a dreamer immersed in water； he swam lazily across the th