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She was wrong。
As she wept on her futon in the otherwise deserted house of her husband and her prey； she beseeched the Amida Buddha only for absolution and death。 For the thought…oh； Buddha！ the knowledge…that she could love just like any other mortal sent waves of panic through her。 She had set her life on a certain course； believing specific things about herself。
But now the ache she felt through to the core of her spirit whenever she thought of Nicholas Linnear…which was to say all the time…blasted her in the furnace of revelation。 For she was sworn to destroy him。
She thought about turning away from her vow； of letting peace flow down around her。 She dreamed of surcease。
But then she parted her naked thighs and stared down at the delicate flesh of their insides。 On each writhed a flaming horned dragon； multicolored tattoos of fantastic workmanship。
And she knew that peace was not for her； or love either。 For Kyoki had marked her soul just as surely as he had her flesh。 There was no hope of surcease。
She had had her respite； the one lull in the storm； and for that time had reveled in the joy of another life。 Giri bound her； heart and spirit。 What had begun must be seen to its final conclusion。
She thought of Saigo again； standing strong and handsome in the forest glade in Kyushu； the sunlight striking his shoulders； silvering his hair。 How his presence had altered her life！
She rose and went through the silent house。 It already seemed dead and buried； the thick bars of sunlight beating against the closed panes of glass； seeking entry。 But this was a house of the dead； the sun no longer held any dominion here。
Akiko glided from room to room as if fixing each space； each object in her mind for the last time。 She touched everything； she moved everything。 In this manner she came upon the mini tape recorder by which Koten had been eavesdropping on her husband。
When she rewound the tape and pressed 〃Play；〃 she heard all that Phoenix had said to Sato。
Rain puckered the skin of the rotenburo； splashing against their shoulders； beating against the tops of their heads。 Neither of them felt a drop。
In the distance the beckoning amber lights of the squid boats winked on and off through the downpour as Nicholas and Sato hauled on Phoenix's corpse； pulling it slowly out of the heated water。
〃Amida！〃 Sato whispered through the sibilance of the rain； and scrambled hastily out of the pool； holding the small patch of cloth over his groin while he searched in the wetness and the dark for another one。
He returned as quickly as he could to where the ninja was stretched out by the side of the rotenburo； his legs crossed at the ankles； his arms spread wide。 Sato placed the small square over Phoenix's private parts。
〃The indignity of it；〃 he murmured as he hunkered down beside Nicholas。 There was no one else about； the rain had seen to that。 〃This is no way to die。〃
〃It was not how he would choose to go；〃 Nicholas said； and pointed。 〃Look here。〃 A hole； black and gaping； disfigured the back of Phoenix's head。 〃This was done by no samurai。〃
Sato looked sadly down at the corpse； white and bloated； spat upon by the storm。 〃It could be a KGB execution。〃 His voice was a trifle unsteady。 〃I had a cousin once in the Kempeitai。 He knew all about such things and he told me。 A bullet through the brain； that's the Russian style。〃
〃Whoever did it；〃 Nicholas observed； 〃had to be very good indeed。 This man was ninja sensei。〃
Sato put his head in his hands。 〃He had information for us。 Perhaps he got careless。 He was certain that the Soviets had no knowledge of his pursuit。〃
〃He had to have been surprised here。 He would never have died otherwise。 This could not have happened in a pitched battle。 They were here； waiting for him。〃
Sato lifted his head。 His eyes were red rimmed and perplexed。 〃But how？〃
Nicholas did not like the answer he was about to give。 〃If there's a traitor in the keiretsu； perhaps he is closer than that。 Inside your kobun。〃
〃Nonsense；〃 Sato said。 〃No one from my kobun…absolutely no one…knew where I was going。 Phoenix's call came to the house。 Only you were there。 Akiko…〃
〃And Koten。〃
〃Koten？〃 Sato's eyes were wide all around。 〃Oh； Buddha； no！〃 Then he considered。 〃He has been with me the last three or four times Phoenix phoned。〃 He shook his head。 〃But even so； I took great pains to make certain I was alone when we spoke。〃
〃You mean it was impossible for him to eavesdrop。〃
〃Well； no。 I mean…〃 Sato slammed fist into palm。 〃Koten is sensei of sumai； the most ancient form of his art： bat sumo。 Phoenix knew him； trusted him。〃 He looked to the sky。 〃Muhon…nin！〃 he cried。
Between them steam rose slowly from Phoenix's cooling body and it seemed as if the twisted； multicolored tattoo that covered his shoulder and back was rising with the mist； the only part of him still alive。
〃He must pay！〃 Sato said。 〃He knows where Phoenix would have led us。 And I'll make him tell us！〃
He was up and running before Nicholas could stop him。 Beyond the rotenburo's terraced tract； the lights of the squid fleet had disappeared and now only swirling darkness sought to engulf them。 The lights of the swinging lanterns in the trees surrounding the pool were smeared by the slanting rain； some of them had already gone out； felled by the strengthening wind。
〃Sato…san！〃 Nicholas called as he ran。 But it was useless。 The wind tore his words from his lips and； in any case； Sato was not about to listen to reason。 Tenchi was far too important to him and there was no time for caution。
Nicholas raced across the open expanse between the camphor trees that lined the walkways to the pool。 There was no sound but the moaning of the wind and the heavy beating rain。
Nicholas' concentration narrowed as he slewed into the dimly lit locker room。 Koten； master of sumo and the more deadly sumai； would need less than three seconds with Sato to put him away； and thus Nicholas' anxiety level was high。
That was the only explanation as to why he did not sense the surreptitious sound until quite late； and then it was actually the movement of shadow on the periphery of his vision that alerted him。
He whirled just in time to duck away； swivel to his right。 Heard the whirr as of a bright insect； the brief puff of wind at its passage。 The soft thunk just behind and to the left of him indicated the position of the thrown shuriken。 Ninja！ That meant that Phoenix's quarry； the muhon…nin who had fled the Tenshin Shoden Katori； was still here。 Then there was still a chance to keep Tenchi alive and out of reach of the Russians！
Nicholas followed his instincts。 His working muscles gleaming with beaded water and sweat； he set off after his adversary。 He wanted to e to close quarters with him as quickly as possible in order to negate the advantage of the long…range shuriken。
He twisted and turned through the tunnellike labyrinth of the rotenburo's corridors； sliding and sometimes crawling on his belly； always mindful of breaking up any rhythm to his movements。
378
Twice he heard the buzzing passage of shuriken quite near him and he redoubled his efforts； knowing from the sounds that he was closing in。