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le of the new Tokyo； the soaring； ugly buildings so new the lacquer had not yet dried in their towering gallerylike lobbies； he longed for the bustle of the young Japanese； so chic and beautiful in their wide…shouldered jackets； their loose blousey shirts； and their high…waisted trousers。
Underground； he took the Ginza Line nine stops； transferring to the Hibiya Line for the short trip to Roppongi。 He emerged from the subway exit and went west； toward Shibuya。 He took the all glass elevator in the Ishibashi Building to the top floor and entered the ironclad doors of Jan Jan。 From its southeasterly facing floor…to…ceiling windows he could make out the floodlit stone walls of the Russian embassy。
The air was alive with the percussive rhythms of rock music： The Yellow Magic Orchestra and an English group called Japan。 It was well after midnight and the place was jumping。 Cigarette smoke blued the pale walls。 The intense spot lighting striking like arrows straight down from the enormously high acoustic baffled ceiling dappled the springy wooden dance floor； turning it into a rippling tiger's pelt。
Around the central dance floor rose three tiers of clear Plexiglas tables and midnight blue velour…covered banquettes。 Waitresses moved quickly and efficiently in amongst the crowd。 There was movement； heat； sound in crushing waves。 The electricity of modern life。
Nicholas' mind was engaged as he moved slowly through the bouncing energetic throng。 His eyes roved across the sea of young painted faces； seeing the laughter； the self…engrossment； observing slick…winged hairstyles； arms entangled around waists and buttocks； whirling torsos； dervishes of the night； enraptured by a bination of the musical pulse； the boost of liquor and； perhaps； illicit drugs； and； above all； the narcotizing sense of eternal youth。 The concept of mortality had no place here and； if it came； would never be recognized。
For just an instant Nicholas wondered what it was he was searching for。 Then he thought of Justine and knew that he would not find it here。
When Akiko Ofuda saw Nicholas walk in through Jan Jan's high Edo period portals she turned her head partly away into the shadows。 Her heart was beating fast。 Bewildered； she fought to understand the reason for his abrupt appearance。 Did he know anything？ Could he？
But no； she thought； calming herself。 It was too early。 His presence must be merely a coincidence。 A jest of the gods。 She rose from where she had been sitting at a table along the second tier and walked slowly； lithely； circling the perimeter of the light…streaked dance floor。
She kept him in sight all the while； watching him clandestinely but carefully。 What she saw was a ruggedly angular face that had nothing of the classical beauty about it。 It was far too odd and distinctive for that。 The long upswept eyes hinted of his Oriental blood； as did his prominent cheekbones。 But he had a good solid Anglo…Saxon chin that was as Western as his father。
He was black haired and wide…shouldered； with the odd narrow hips of a dancer and the thickly muscled legs of the serious athlete。
Akiko found herself longing to strip him naked to admire the sight of those overlays of long； sinewy muscle。 But other than
this； it was difficult to say what she thought of him on first sight。 So many conflicting emotions swirled inside her； contending for ascendancy。
How she hated him！ She was struck anew by the force of it。 Seeing him so abruptly； in so unforeseen a manner brought the full shock of the secret emotions she had been harboring for so long into the forefront。 She trembled in rage even while her eyes drank in the emanations of his power。 It was evident even from such a distance： the lift of his head； the rolling liquid stride； the minute movements of his shoulders and upper arms！ These all spoke of the extreme danger leashed tightly inside this man。
But as she herself moved； keeping pace with him； she felt an odd elation begin to suffuse her and she thought； What extraordinary karma I must possess to gain this added advantage over him from the start！ Her pulse beat hard within her as her eyes drank him in； noting his strength； the intensity of his spirit。 Oh； but she longed for that moment when he first saw her。 Unconsciously； her fingers rose to her cheek； softly stroking the taut flesh there。 She experienced an almost giddy sensation at the intensity of her longing； and a part of her wanted to draw it out as long as possible。 After all this time； she did not want the end to e so soon； certainly not until the time of her own choosing。
Oh； yes； it had been a stroke of genius suggesting to Sato that he invite the gaijin to the wedding。 〃Especially this Linnear；〃 she had whispered in his ear late one night。 〃We all know his family's history。 Think what face it will give you to have him present at such an event！〃
Yes； yes； Nicholas； she crooned silently as she stalked him high above his head； the time is ing soon when I will look directly in your eyes and see that strength crumble and fly away like gray ash in the wind。
She felt intoxicated； her throat constricted； the muscles in her thighs trembling with the flutter of her heart as she felt herself drawn inexorably toward him。 But she used all her training to restrain herself from destroying in an instant of ecstatic gloating everything she had worked for for so long。
Now she broke away from his orbit； walking more quickly； ignoring the glances of those she passed； the lust of the men； the envy of the women； she had bee inured to that。 It was time to pick up Yoki； Sato would soon be home from the wars。
Akiko watched Yoki out of the er of her eye as they sped through the center of Tokyo and out again。 She is a magnificent creature； Akiko thought。 I have chosen well。 She had found Yoki some weeks ago and when she was certain of her choice had struck up a conversation with her。 That had led to an odd…at least Akiko saw it as that…kind of friendship。 Its borders were the night when； as far as Yoki was concerned； they both emerged like nocturnal birds。
Akiko had once asked Yoki what occupied her during the day。 〃Oh； on and off； I'm a saleslady；〃 she had said。 〃You know； door to door。 Perfumes and cosmetics。 Otherwise I watch television。 Not only dramas but programs where I learn calligraphy； flower arranging…even the tea ceremony。〃
In a culture where 93 percent of the population watched TV at least once a day that was； perhaps； not surprising。 Yet it nevertheless chilled Akiko that her country was teaching its population by proxy。 She had learned the tea ceremony from her mother； and she remembered watching the older woman's face； listening to the tone of her voice； seeing the patterns on her kimono moving just so here and not at all there； resolving to memorize every detail no matter how tiny for those； her mother had once told her； were all that would be noticed。
Could the emissions of an electronic cathode ray tube provide such teaching？ She was sure it could not； and she found herself disgusted when she thought of the number of women being taught in such an impersonal manner。
But outwardly she showed none of this disdain。 Yoki was important to her…at least