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had been there for some time who； having observed a proper interval； now were returning to seek advice from Nangi or tidbits of news of MITI from Riuichi Yano； the new minister。 He was Nangi's protegd； and Nangi's last official act before he left that organization six years ago had been to assure that Yano would succeed him。
As he smiled and spoke； thoughtfully answering all questions as best he could； Nangi kept a sharp eye out for the gaijin。 He wished to monitor their movements from the time they arrived。 One could divine much from observing the enemy at play。
Akiko； too； had one eye out for the gaijin。 But only for one： Nicholas。 This was the moment； and her eyes were like cameras； ready to record the event； to drink in expressions and emotions。
She felt her pulse racing； her heartbeat seemed to flutter her kimono。 She used her training to calm herself； to gather her resources for the beginning of her revenge。 She forced herself to concentrate on Sato's presence beside her。 She looked his way； saw instead Ishii staring at her with hooded eyes。 He smiled and nodded； turned back to his murmured conversation with Sato。
There was a rustling through the assembled guests； just the tiniest of ripples but Akiko； her senses finely attuned； shifted her gaze。 The mask of a smile was frozen on her intensely crimson lips； her white face perfect as she saw the throng begin to part at its farthest reaches。
〃Ah；〃 Sato said； turning； 〃Tomkin and Linnear are here at last。〃
Slowly； as if in a dream she had posed innumerable times； Akiko raised one hand； her fingers spreading open her fan of gilt； red； and jet so that only the edge of one eye could be seen。 The rest of her face was hidden。
Softly； she thought； softly。 Don't give away too much。 Not yet。 Give him time to approach。 e closer； Nicholas。 She willed him drawn to her。 e closer and begin the destruction of your life。
She could distinguish the two gaijin now； one broader than the other but both tall； towering above the other guests。
She could pick out Nicholas' features as the gaijin continued to make their way through the throng。 Tomkin wore a dark pinstripe with white shirt and rep tie。 Nicholas had chosen a less conservative suit of sea green linen； a gray shirt； and a tie as blue as an ocean trough。
His wide…cheeked face was still in shadow as the two passed through the long stand of tall bamboo but Akiko could already discern the odd tilted eyes； neither truly Caucasian nor Oriental。 They gave him a quality she could not understand。 Once again she felt the same kind of magnetic wave she had experienced in Jan Jan and she had to will herself to remain where she was at Sato's side。
Now they were very close indeed。 Nicholas' face sprang into the sunlight as if abruptly brought into focus in the center of a lens。 The gusting wind took a lock of his dark hair； sent it curling down across his forehead。 Automatically； his hand came up to push it away； a bar of shadow racing across those strong； confident features。
Not for long； Akiko whispered to herself。 The moment was almost at hand； and she knew that she had orchestrated it to perfection。 A sense of intense excitement…of ecstasy； almost…gyred within her； fueling her for what was about to happen。
The tiny pink tip of her tongue flicked out to moisten her lip as she watched the litheness with which he moved； the low center of gravity which propelled him with such controlled power…the training of dance or sumo。 In her mind's eye he became the great tiger； lord of the earth； padding with great stealth and coordination through the dense forest； prepared at any instant to make his prodigious killing leap onto the back of a lesser animal turning to flee his presence。
Now。 The moment was here at last。 Akiko waited until his gaze slid up； turning from Sato to her。 He was understandably curious； he had never seen her before and he must want to know what kind of woman Sato was about to marry。
She felt the intensity of his gaze。 He held on her fan； then her eye。 Their eyes locked； and for an unfathomable instant Akiko felt suspended in time and space。 All the preparations； the arduous years flew by her again in the brilliant flash of a film montage to culminate here。 Now。
With a firm hand she lowered her fan； exposing her face。
When Nicholas emerged from the limousine that had brought them out of Tokyo； he was first struck by the natural beauty of the setting。 On the way； they had skirted the large lake； moving away from its placid mist…covered surface as they began to wind their way up toward the cliff upon which the Shinto shrine was situated。
It was not surprising to him that the priests had chosen this spot to build their temple。 Shintoism was an attuning of the soul toward nature； life's currents。 Karma。 One's life was a part of a much vaster skein in which every living thing； human； animal； vegetable； and mineral； played its role。
Nicholas' spirit expanded outward； his heart soaring； as he put his feet down on the loamy pine…needled earth。 The wind was
fresh； and warmth was already creeping into the air。 Soon the mist would disappear from the boles of the pines and the skin of the lake。 The view would be fantastic then。
He was aware of the wings rushing by overhead； the rustling of the great branches； the concerted sway of the stand of bamboo。 The buzz of insects was in his ears as the breeze flapped his jacket。
Then； lastly； he recognized the stir within the crowd。 It was subtle and he was doubtful whether Tomkin was even aware of it。 But Nicholas knew。 The gaijin were here。 Even him。 Nangi had made it eminently clear that many did not consider him a Japanese。
As he passed through them； looking from face to face； he wondered what they privately thought of Colonel Linnear； Nicholas' father。 Were they proud of how he had helped in the rebuilding of Japan when he was brought in by Mac Arthur's SCAP forces？ Or did they secretly revile his memory because he was a foreign devil at work in Japan？ There was no accurate way of knowing； and Nicholas preferred to believe that at least some of them…like Sato…still honored his memory。 Nicholas knew that his father had been a great man； that he had fought long and hard against some deadly opposition to create a new and democratic superstructure for the postwar nation to rebuild itself。
〃Jesus； these bastards're small；〃 Tomkin whispered to him out of the side of his mouth。 〃I feel like a bull in a china shop。〃
They were heading toward Sato。 Nicholas could see him clearly； with Koten； the giant sumo； looking grotesque in a suit； not far away。 And by his side； a slim； elegant woman in the traditional bride's garb。 Nicholas tried to get a good look at her but she was holding a ceremonial fan spread across her face。 The Tsunokakushi hid the top of her head pletely。
〃If this were any other country；〃 Tomkin said softly； 〃I wouldn't even be here。 I still feel like shit。〃
〃Face；〃 said Nicholas。
〃Yeah。〃 Tomkin tried to cover his sour expression with a smile。 〃Face is gonna kill me one of these days。〃
Now they had e almost all the way through the mingling guests。 Nicholas could see Nangi off to the right； amid a dense swirl of dark