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Because the thought of Nicholas permanently wedded to Tomkin Industries was more than she could bear。 She wanted her father out of her life； had struggled all through her formative years for just such an objective； even going so far as to change her last name to Tobin。 And she knew that if there was a chance that he would e back into her life she would move heaven and earth to prevent it。
Angry now as well as lonely； she dialed Mary Kate's extension。 If Nicholas had phoned at this moment； she would have spat at him for putting her in such an impossible position； for making her fear for him and them both。
Justine was told that her friend was in a meeting； so again she left a message； hoping they could have lunch and celebrate。 Then she asked Min to e in。 Together they began working out logistics； departmental and otherwise； so that Justine could get on with her first projects for Millar； Soames & Robberts。 * * *
It took all of Nicholas' training to cover his true feelings。 The shock had been so great； so totally unexpected that he had taken that one lurching step backward； losing for an instant his centrism； exhibiting a certain paleness of plexion； a momentary flaring of the nostrils as animal instinct threatened ascendancy； he was certain no one had noticed。 His face closed down like a steel trap as the soft mix of voices from all around him faded。。。。
And he was back in New York； his long dai…katana drawn； its gleaming blade arching away toward Saigo。 He took a step forward and his cousin said； 〃You believe that Yukio is alive； somewhere； and thinking every so often of the old days with you。 But； oh no； this is not so！〃 He laughed as they continued to circle each other with murderous intent。 He looked into Nicholas' eyes as he said； 〃She lies at the bottom of the Straits of Shimonoseki； cousin； precisely where I dumped her。
〃She loved you； you know。 With every breath she breathed； with every word she spoke。 And at last it drove me out of my mind。 She was the only woman for me。。。 without her there were only men。〃 His eyes blazed like coals； red…rimmed and mad。 He was bleeding heavily。
〃You made me kill her； Nicholas！〃 he blurted out in sudden accusation。
For months Nicholas had lived with that pain； a black cyst of torment he rarely let out into the light of day。 And now to see。。。 It was not as if Akiko Ofuda looked like Yukio： a family resemblance； a sister even。 Her face was Yukio's。 And as for her figure； well； certainly there were differences。 But Nicholas had last seen Yukio in the winter of 1963 on that long； terrible journey south to Kumamoto and Saigo。 And when he had returned at last to Tokyo； alone and confused； everything had changed。 Satsugai； Saigo's father； had been murdered。 Then the Colonel； Nicholas' father； died。 Shortly thereafter； Cheong； his mother； had mitted seppuku with her sister…in…law； Itami； as second。
Now； staring hard at Akiko Ofuda； Nicholas wondered wildly whether Saigo had lied that one last time。 Was it possible？ He was a master of twisted truths。 He had been dying when he told Nicholas。 What would that have made him do？ Lie or tell the truth at last？ Whatever would hurt Nicholas the most。 Truth or fiction？ Nicholas could not tell。
Yet how Akiko had stared at him from the moment he was close enough for her to see him。 Though there were more than a hundred people at the affair； her eyes had locked on his。 She had created the aura of mystery； hiding her face until he was quite close。 She had used her fan deliberately。 Why？ If she were not Yukio； why would she have any interest in him？ And yet to turn up here as Sato's soon…to…be…wife。。。 The wild coincidence did not escape him。 Nicholas； quite rightly； did not trust in coincidences as a force of nature。
All through the ceremony； as the traditional sake cup was being passed from Sato to Akiko； Nicholas' mind was preoccupied by the bizarre puzzle。 But the more he thought； the more he seemed to bee entangled in a mare's nest of questions without answers。 It was clear to him that he would get nowhere until he could speak to Akiko herself。 And yet his mind would not stop turning over the possibilities： was she； wasn't she？ His eyes stared at her bleakly。 That face； her face。 It was as if he had suddenly stepped into a haunted house and now； confused； could not find his way out again。 It felt precisely as if all solid ground had fled。
Was the ceremony long or short？ He could not tell。 He was suspended in an agony of not knowing。 Hope； fear； anger； and cynicism all mixed inside him。 His own thoughts and memories took precedence over outside events。 His body went through the proper motions like an automaton。
And always he found her looking at him。 Those eyes he had known so well； had loved so desperately； so wildly； so utterly passionately in the dark days of his youth locked with his。 He tried to read some kind of emotion there and； because he was a master of this as well as of many other things； he was dismayed to find that he drew a blank。 Did he see mockery there or love； desire or betrayal？ He found he had no way of knowing and this； too； was as frightening as this kami resurrected from his past。
All Nicholas could think of was getting a chance to talk to Akiko。 But quickly he saw just how difficult it was going to be to get her alone。 With the ceremony's end； clusters of friends immediately gathered around the couple； wishing them well； offering their congratulations。
Others began to drift away down the narrow dirt path toward the edge of the lake below； where striped pavilions had been erected the night before。
There was no space for him。 The best he could do was to offer Ms own congratulations to them both。 Sato was smiling hugely； being very American about it； pumping hands just like a canny senator in his re…election bid。
Tomkin grunted at Nicholas' elbow； said； 〃I'm about ready for him to pass out the cigars。〃 He turned his head away。 〃You go on to the reception。 My gut still hurts； I'm going back to the hotel。 I'll send the car back for you。〃
Alone； Nicholas began to walk down the path circling the cliffs。
Ahead of him he could see Sato and Akiko； still surrounded by well…wishers。 There was laughter and gaiety now that the stiff formality of the ceremony had been dispensed with。
He saw her descending through the darkness and light； the moving shadows of the pines painting abstract symbols upon the delicate curve of her back。 A slight swaying of the shoulders and hips； appearing and disappearing as he descended behind her。
The wedding； the crowds； the swirling chattering talk faded so that he was alone with her and the elements。 He was acutely aware of the sunlight； the shadows； the scents of pine and cedar； incense and wild lemon； but only as they pertained to her。
Her passage was like the return of the plovers after a long； sere winter when the ground was rimed with frost and only the glowing hearths emanated warmth。
Once Nicholas had likened Yukio to the fading pale petals that fall on the last of hanami's three days。 Although many said that at hanami's peak； the second day； the cherry blossoms were most beautiful； still； to almost every Japanese the third…day petals were most