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s a widower… and gambling had bee his passions。 He had hired others to run his farms and they had been derelict in their duty。
At least that was how Toshiro had put it。 Kagami snorted again。 More likely； Toshiro had been remiss in his hiring。 It served him right； and Kagami would have derived much clandestine pleasure from his brother…in…law's plight had it not been for the request for the loan。
Of course； there was no question about giving it to him。 Ka…gami's wife had been quite clear about that。 〃You have no choice；〃 she had stated flatly after Toshiro had left last night。 〃He is your brother。 There are family ties to think of。 Duty。〃 Her eyes flashed。 〃I shouldn't have to remind you of such basic matters。〃
It was no good telling her that had the situation been reversed they would not have seen one sen from Toshiro； who cared for no one but himself。 After all； had he ever sent a gift for Ken's graduation or Tamiko's thirteenth birthday？ Oh； the children never knew。 Presents arrived for them on the appropriate days； ostensibly from Toshiro。 But Kagami knew that his wife secretly traveled to Daimaru to purchase them herself…with his money。
Kagami closed his eyes； felt the heavy pulse of his blood through his veins。 It was really too much。 It strained the boundaries of duty。
Sighing； he rose and walked； dripping； across the room； down the short hall and into the steam room。 He wanted to be quite relaxed before his massage。
As Kagami sat down on the tiled bench and put his head back； against the moisture…streaked wall； he thought about a massage he had once gotten in Korea。 Business had dictated he travel there in his younger years； but nothing could get him back now。 He shuddered inwardly at the recollection of their form of massage。 Torture； more like it。 He should have known better。 The Koreans were barbarians in everything they tried to do。 The Tokugawa Shogun had called them 〃garlic…eaters。〃 That was in 1605； and they had progressed not at all since then。 Except that they had learned how to take graft from the Americans。 Dirty people without a sense of honor。
Kagami shook his head； wanting to clear his mind of Koreans and Toshiro and all other negative influences。 This had begun as an evil day； but he was determined that it should end otherwise。
The steam pipe to his left hissed and coughed； new mist began to form in the room。 The heat rose and Kagami began to sweat。 He had forgotten to cool off in the shower before ing in here。 He had Toshiro to thank for that as well。
It was just as well。 He put his hands on his belly。 Too much fat there these days。 Maybe his extra sweating would do him some good。 His eyes closed。 He was pletely relaxed。
The door opened。 Kagami did not open his eyes but he was aware of a brief lessening of the intense heat； a momentary thinning of the humid atmosphere。 Then the swirling clouds of steam enveloped him once more。
He did not wonder who had e in。 Members of the upper…echelon management team were in and out of this section of the floor all through the day and even on into the night after the rest of the building was closed and dark。 The men rarely spoke to one another here； understanding implicitly the nature of the renewing process that ultimately led to a more productive workday for all of them。
Kagami felt a presence； no more than a shadow perhaps。 As it passed； something caused him to open his eyes。 He could not immediately say what it was； a premonition perhaps or a subtle change in the environment。
He saw a figure across the room； made indistinct by the steam。 Mist seemed to flow around the form； changing its shape even as Kagami looked。
The figure was standing and now it came forward in an odd； gliding gait that seemed all liquid； as if the being before him had no bones or hard muscle。 Kagami wiped the sweat from his eyes。 He felt the absurd urge to pinch himself to make certain he had not somehow fallen asleep； lulled by the heat and the peacefulness。
For now he could discern much of the figure； and it appeared to him as if it might be female。 But surely not！ he admonished himself。 Even the blind Taiwanese girls were forbidden in the steam room。
Kagami's mouth dropped open and he gasped。 Appearing out of the layers of mist was the unmistakable patch of female pubic hair； dark as night； beads of water clinging in its curls like pearls on the bed of the sea。 This is monstrous； he thought indignantly。 What gross breach of protocol。 I must lodge a protest with Sato…san。
The naked hips swung back and forth minutely as the woman came toward him and Kagami felt the first faint stirrings in his lower belly。 There was something so intensely sexual； made all the more powerful because there was an absence of flaunting。 The sexuality seemed to have an existence all its own； lacing the steamy atmosphere so that； despite himself； Kagami felt the blood pooling in his loins； the telltale thickening of his penis。
And all the while his mind was outraged； for with the excitement came the unmistakable…yet totally unfamiliar…sensation of being goaded into desire against his will。
Now he could see more of the torso； the high cone…shaped breasts； the dark nipples hard and distended； the flat； slightly curved stomach。
He could no longer hide his erection and he put his hands down between his thighs； trying to cover his embarrassment。 That was when he first sensed the danger。 She stopped in front of him and； standing straight…backed； thrust her legs out。 Jeweled water dripped from the fringe of tight curls onto her firm columns of flesh。 Kagami found himself straining forward to see the central vertical ribbon； nature's most beautiful route。
He gasped and began to choke on his own saliva。 Bile came rushing up from his grinding stomach and his mind； stunned； blanked out。 All he could do was stare at the inner flesh of her thighs； slack…jawed； while his erection withered on the vine。
Then； stupefaction still dominant on his face； he raised his gaze upward to the woman's head； saw only a pair of dark enigmatic eyes behind a spread fan of gilt； red and jet。
〃Who…〃 he began； abruptly finding his voice。
But now the fan was moving； ing away； revealing the soft smile on her face。 A beautiful face。 It made Kagami sigh with its exquisite line and youth。 Then； lagging far behind； recognition came； flooding him like a spotlight。 And in his mind's eye the oval； high…cheeked face turned into a painted demon's mask。
〃You…！〃 The scream bubbled out of his open mouth like a geyser。
The fan struck him edge on； twisting at the very last instant； wielded by a master。 It sliced through sweating skin and warm flesh； scraping most painfully along the cheekbone。
Kagami was slow to recoil。 The strike was so unexpected； so skillfully administered and with such a razor sharp edge； that he was barely aware of what had taken place。
Kagami's first thought was to protect his genitals and thus he offered no real resistance。 The great gilt fan flicked out again； again； again。 He cried out each time he was cut but he steadfastly refused to bring his hands away from between his thighs。
The torso of the woman flowed toward him like smoke borne on the gentle wind of