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as gone。
Though she had spent years with him； though he had held the key to her world； and had passed it on to her； there came a time when she began to doubt that she had ever been to Yami Doko。
The Swiss Alps rose all about the vast chalet in which she lay swathed in pure white bandages。 She could not see and most of the time there was nothing of interest to hear。 She fed off her memories。
Kyoki became a dream； as insubstantial as smoke rising from a forest floor。 But not what she had absorbed from him。
Every day white…suited nurses wheeled her outside into the thin sunshine for exactly forty minutes。 The Swiss were as precise as the Japanese about some things。 Schedules were one of them。
She remembered the moment the wild boar came crashing out of the underbrush to confront them。 She stood her ground as the snorting creature bore down upon her。 She was aware of the boar's tusks； rough textured and oily looking； curving outward from that lowered jaw； set to impale her。
She made no move； however。 Her spirit was like an untroubled lake。 She opened her mouth。 From it emanated a kiai known as toate…no…ate； the distant strike。
The boar spun in the air； emitting a high…pitched squeal； quickly cut off as if a powerful grip had been put on its throat。 It fell heavily on its side and was still until； as Kyoki had taught her； she chose to end her shout。
She remembered the touch of Kyoki's kimono against the back of her hand。 The passage of his presence during long afternoons of sleep； when he seemed to stalk her dreams； as if even her sleep at Yami Doko was part of her training。
She longed for his lessons the way a young man longs for sex； aches for it； dreams about it； bees； at length； obsessed with it。
There was a chasteness to their relationship which she could never remember having with a man before。 He was not saintly； but she did not desire him。 Because she lusted after what he possessed more。 He had jaho； and she longed for that until it became her lover。
She remembered their parting。 She had been with him seven years； which was a significant number to both of them； a magic number。 It was time to return to the world and claim her revenge。
A face in the rain； flickering。
Behind her； she half suspected the castle to fall into ruin； disappearing amid new foliage magically springing up。 Rain beat down on her shoulders in rhythm with the komuso's melody。 Before her； rabbits skittered out of her way and a lone hawk flew over the treetops； searching while it rode the inconstant currents。
ing down off the frosty Asama kogen； mingling with tourists and Tokyo residents alike in the rolling parklands； it occurred to her that the person she missed most was Saigo； that Kyoki's lessons had been her lover for seven years because Saigo could not be。 She had deliberately put the thought of him aside so as not to torture herself。
He was no longer in Kumamoto； she was told by telephone； so she traveled to the outskirts of Tokyo； where he had told her his family lived。
She had had no contact with him in seven years； yet as the gleaming railroad took her toward her destination； it seemed to her no more than seven minutes。 One inhalation of time。 There was no space between them； no sense of change or alienation。
Occasionally； Saigo had spoken of his parents…and of course she had seen the devastation written across his face when he spoke of his father's death…but nothing he had said prepared her for the splendor of that house。
For one thing it was large…a rare quality in Japanese homes； for another； it was surrounded by the most beautiful gardens and orchards。 Space was so highly prized that Akiko was slightly stunned to see so much in the hands of one family。
Deeper was her surprise when she found that the 〃family〃 now consisted of Saigo's mother and a dozen servants。 No brothers or sisters； no other family members。
She was a diminutive woman with delicate bones and the beautiful manding face of a samurai lady。 Tradition meant a great deal to her。
As a weled traveler； Akiko was met at the door by a servant and escorted to a room where another servant unpacked her bags while a third led her to the bath。 Afterward； she was fed broiled fluke fin in soy sauce； a superb cold seaweed salad； chicken yakitori； rice； and a pale gold tea the taste of which was unfamiliar to her。
By this time it was late in the evening。 A fourth servant appeared when she was finished； led her back to her room； where her futon had been prepared for sleep。 Thus she spent her first sixteen hours in the house without ever meeting her hostess。
The next morning Akiko arose and dressed in her best kimono； which； she observed sadly as she saw herself in the mirror； was not very fine at all。 Her life up until now had left precious little room for her to be concerned with the niceties of being a woman。
The hems of both sleeves were threadbare； and the silk of which it was made was hardly of the finest quality。
By contrast； Itami was splendidly attired。 But then； Akiko thought； she would be so even in the pany of the greatest ladies in Japan。
They met in one of the sixteen…tatami rooms where Akiko was led as soon as she was dressed and properly coiffed。 The young woman who had first seen her to her room had knocked quietly and politely on the shoji； entering only when she was bade； to kneel behind Akiko； spending almost an hour brushing； bing； and putting up her hair with the implements Akiko had handed her： the tsuge wood kushi that had been Ikan's； the matching set of kanzashi that had been presented to her by Shimada。
Handed the mirror by the servant； Akiko was struck by how much she resembled her mother。 How many years had it been since she had had her hair like this？ She could not remember； could not even say whether she liked herself this way。
A tea set separated them； of superb workmanship and material of equal quality： the porcelain was translucent and as thin as skin。 The intricacies of the ceremony Itami was performing with the tea served a dual purpose。 It alleviated the tension and un…fortableness strangers inevitably feel when first they meet。 It also served to focus their attention on Zen； on the formation of harmony。
At the end of the ceremony； if they were not exactly friends； neither were they strangers。
〃It pleases me that you have e；〃 Itami said。 She had a pleasant； well…modulated voice and her manner； though formal in the sense of ancient tradition； was nevertheless fueled by a genuine warmth that served to put Akiko at her ease。 〃My son has spoken of you several times。〃 There was more that she wanted to say on this score； Akiko sensed。
〃You have arrived at a fortuitous time；〃 Itami continued； 〃for while Saigo is not here； he is scheduled to arrive in a week's time。 You will stay； of course。〃
〃I could not think of intruding for so long；〃 Akiko said。 〃But 1 thank you for your offer。〃
〃An offer is nothing unless it is accepted；〃 Itami replied。 〃As you can see； this house is large…some might say overlarge for one woman。 My days are sometimes lonely； one's life can be filled with too much contemplation。 It would please me greatly to have a panion。 Will you favor me？〃
〃If you w