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rsonal manner。
But outwardly she showed none of this disdain。 Yoki was important to her…at least for the next several hours。
The limo pulling up onto the gravel verge of the two…story house pushed her thoughts back to the present。 Seiichi Sato lived just north of Ueno Park in Uguisudani in Taito…Ku。 A block and a half to the southwest was wide Kototoi…dori； the avenue that curled like a serpent around two sides of the park。 Beyond； the high tops of the carefully pruned cypress stood stark and utterly black against the faintly pink and yellow glow from the Ginza and Shinjuku nightspots。 The trees were the natural markers of the Tokugawa Shogun graveyard across the myriad railroad tracks in the northern end of Ueno。
Sato's house was large by Tokyo standards； built on the ken principle； the standard six…foot unit of construction。 It was made of bamboo and cypress； the three…layered roof was of terra cotta tile。 The far end of the house contained a great notch to acmodate a more…than…one…hundred…year…old cryptomeria whose boughs overgrew the sheltering eight…foot fence； swaying over the road itself。
The driver came around and opened the rear door for them； and Akiko took her charge inside。
* * *
Seiichi Sato sipped hot sake from a tiny porcelain cup and contemplated the Void。 He did this； sometimes； in moments of intense stress； to clear his mind。 But mainly he used this form of mental exercise when he was impatient。 In a land where patience was not merely a virtue but a way of life； Sato had had to teach himself this attitude as if he were some form of alien in his own culture。 Yet he had worked diligently； even obsessively at it； and he knew that his patience had won him all that he held dear today。
He was in the six…tatami room…space being defined in Japanese houses by the number of reed mats the wood floor could contain…with only a small table； a cotton futon and a drawered naga…hibachi of burl paulownia wood dating from the early part of the nineteenth century。 A recess in the right top of the long brazier allowed for the heating of sake as well as food。
Sato wore only a white cotton kimono。 Its bold crimson square reproduced the crest of the Danjuro line of kabuki actors。 He looked calm and assured； his cool eyes staring at a spot not within the realm of the physical world。
A soft knock on the fusuma made him blink but otherwise he did not move。 Now he unlocked his thoughts and allowed the keen sense of anticipation to enfold him like a cloak on a chill winter's eve。
He reached out and moved the paper door an inch to the right。 Just the pronounced curve of the front half of Akiko's eye gazed at him from beneath a half…lowered lid。 The sable darkness dusted along the delicate flesh was like the painting of dusk across a changing sky。 The coal black iris was like the heart of some deeply buried treasure。 Despite himself； Sato felt the quickness of his pulse； the heat of his own breath firing in his throat。
〃You are late。〃 His voice was breathy as he began their ritual。 〃I thought you would not e。〃
Akiko heard the thickness in his voice and smiled to herself。 〃I always e；〃 she whispered。 〃I cannot do otherwise。〃
〃You are free to walk away。〃 Sato's heart constricted as he said those words。
〃1 give my love to you freely and I am bound by it。 I will never leave you。〃
The script had been developed over a period of months to provide them both with a degree of excitement and intrigue within the carefully prescribed boundaries of societal courtship。 Of course； there were aspects about their courtship…minor ones； to be sure… that had Sato's mother been alive she would have disapproved of in the most vociferous language。
Sato bowed his head and； opening the fusuma farther； moved back on his knees and shins to allow her entrance。 As Akiko entered； the dual kanji ideograms for sobi hovered in the center of Sato's being like a feudal daimyo's banner； for she did indeed possess sublime beauty。 And； despite their ritualistic dialog； he knew it was he who was bound to her for all time； body and spirit。
For a time they knelt facing one another； Sato's large； capable hands held palms up； Akiko's smaller ones resting lightly in his。 Locked； their eyes stared within and through。 Sato； contemplating the karma that had brought them together； felt the essence of her stirring； a lacquered kite rising above rooftops and rustling crowns of cypress and pine。 A strong gust took it suddenly and it shot straight for his heart； lodging there like a broken wing。
〃What are you thinking？〃
The question startled him。 Was it just because of the abrupt sound from out of the silence of the beating of their hearts； he asked himself。 From deep within him came a secret fear that somehow； in some unfathomable way； her mind had pierced his flesh； peering into his inviolable thoughts。 And in that split instant； a brief shudder contracted the muscles ridged along his gently arched back and he blinked； his eyes searching hers as if she were a stranger。
Then her lips bowed into a smile and her white； even teeth showed。 〃You are so solemn this night。〃 She laughed； and he saw the play of light along the side of her throat； the small shadow lying in the hollow like a teardrop。
He said nothing； and after studying his granitelike countenance for a moment she made a move to rise。 〃I will…〃But his fingers curled around her wrist stopped her and； perched like a bird； her lips opened。 〃Sato…san。〃
Slowly he brought her back down to her knees； then drew himself upward。 The fabric of his kimono winked and rippled as his shoulders squared and Akiko was abruptly aware of his strength and； even more； his power。
〃This night is special；〃 he said thickly。 〃There will only be one like it in all our lives。〃 He paused for a moment as if collecting his thoughts。 〃So our lives will be truly bound by the laws of the Amida Buddha。〃 His eyes raked her face。 〃Does this mean nothing to you？〃
〃I have thought of little else all day。〃
〃Then stay。〃 At that moment his fingers let go their grip and her arm； freed； drifted down to her lap。 Her perfect； lacquered nails overlapped as her fingers interlaced； a streak of light lying
along the gleaming surface of each beyond which he could not see。 〃On this most special of nights； send my gift away。〃
Her face； as posed as a porcelain mask； disclosed nothing of her inner feelings。 Sato could scarcely discern the rise and fall of her breasts as she breathed。 Her wa was as unruffled as the still skin of a mountain lake； reflecting rather than revealing。
He was disconcerted。 〃Surely you must know it is you who I desire。〃
Akiko turned her head as if he had struck her a physical blow。 〃Then you hate the gift I bear； you have hated all the gifts that I have brought you since…〃
〃No！〃 Trembling； Sato silently railed against the trap he had entered。
〃I have dishonored you with my desire to please you。〃 Akiko wrung her hands like an aggrieved little girl。
Sato leaned forward。 〃I have loved each and every gift； I have treasured the thought behind them。〃 He had regained control of his voice if not his emotions。 〃There is only honor in what you have brought me； knowing…〃 His eyes