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the third…day petals were most affecting。 For it was on that last day when one truly understood the ineffable nature of beauty's transience。
But now what was he to think？ His whole reality had been turned upside down。 Was Akiko Yukio？ How could she still be alive？ Had Saigo pulled one last diabolical trick from beyond the grave？ Had he kept Nicholas from her all this time when she was alive and。。。
He could not go on with that thought； the idea made him sick to his stomach with the intensity of longing and bitter frustration。 Then he managed to get hold of himself。 He knew where he was and what he would have to do in order to find the answers to all these questions。 He would have to allow his Eastern side plete ascendancy。 Time。。。 and patience。 He knew that he would have to employ them both if he was to successfully break this maddening riddle。 Meanwhile he would just have to ignore his breaking heart。
He had been watching Alix Logan for over five months now。 Through the sun…drenched streets of Key West； along the narrow； flat beaches； in and out of the small clothing and jewelry boutiques。 He had even gone with her when she went to pick up her dog； a large brindled Doberman。 He cringed when he saw the neat white and black sign hanging from a crosstree on the lawn： Gold Coast Obedience School； and in smaller letters beneath： Police and Attack Training Our Specialty。 And the one thing he had learned from all that time on the job was that there was no conceivable way in to her。
Alix Logan was a looker。 She had a slender model's body； long thick hair the color of honey； streaked nicely now by the Florida sun。 Her eyes were an intense green。 He had seen them only through the pact Nikon 7 x 20 binoculars； flattened by the lens' prisms into ovoid orbs as large as the sun。
For just over five months she had been his universe； this powerful man with the wide shoulders and the cowboy's pushed…in face。 He had dogged her for so long and so intensely that it was as if he were living with her。 He knew what she ate； what her tastes in clothes and men were。 What she liked； what she didn't like。
Her favorite item was a hot fudge sundae with coffee ice cream and two cherries。 What she disliked most were the pair of monsters who shadowed her constantly。 At least that was how she thought of them。 He had heard her call one just that； 〃Monster！〃 as she accosted him on the pier one bright cloudless afternoon； rushing into the shadows to deliver her impassioned message to him directly； using her small fists on his burly chest for emphasis。
The monster stared at her impassively from out of his close…set brown eyes。
〃I'm fed up！〃 she screamed at him。 〃I can't take it anymore。 I thought it'd be all right down here。 But it's not。 I can't work； 1 can't sleep； I can't even make love without you monsters breathing fire on my back。〃 Her honey hair whipped in the salt wind。 〃Please； please； please； just leave me alone！〃
The monster turned his face away from her and； crossing his massive arms across his chest； began to whistle something from a Walt Disney movie。
The man with the cowboy's lined face witnessed all this from the small boat he sat in； gently rocking at pierside while he worked on his fishing tackle； a stained canvas hat scrunched down low over his forehead； putting his face in black shadow。 They knew him here as Bristol and that was how he liked it。 He also responded to 〃Tex；〃 a rather unimaginative nickname Tony； the dockmaster； had given him； owing to his face。
〃Tex〃 Bristol。 If you thought about it for more than a moment； it was idiotic。 But then； he thought； this whole scene was something for the books。
He finished his work on his rod and prepared to shove off。 On the pier； Alix Logan； tears trembling like diamonds in the corners of her eyes； was stalking stiff…legged away from the monster； toward the gangplank of a pleasure boat。
He cast off； heard the twin screws of the engines thrumming liquidly behind him。 He picked up speed； the thought of marlin in his head。
Far from shore； he had to laugh。 For someone dead and buried； he was leading a remarkably action…filled life。
Akiko Ofuda Sato felt the press of her husband's hand in the limo on the way home from the reception。 Felt the heat emanating from his body； the pressure of his lustful spirit so close beside her。 He made no overt move； but in all other aspects she felt the electricity crackling through him as they drew closer and closer to home。
Multiple images； thronging her mind in such profusion they tumbled end over end over each other； of her voyeuristic nights in the house； of the bodies of all the gifts she had presented him with over the long months； made her gasp inwardly with a manufactured excitement。 She squeezed Sato's hand； the edges of her lacquered nails scratching gently along the warm flesh of his palm。
Once inside； she went immediately to the bathroom and； doffing her kimono； removed all her undergarments。 Naked； she carefully wrapped her kimono around herself； tying the obi； checking her makeup in the mirror。 She reapplied eye shadow and lipstick。
The master bedroom was in the omoya； far from the six…tatami room where he had received his gifts。 Those women had never been allowed into this section of the house。 They were outsiders； after all； not family。
On a pedestal not far from the generous futon bed was a sculpture of Ankoku Doji； scowling fiercely； one leg up in the classic sitting position。 He was an aide to the kings of hell and； putting brush to a paper…covered plank； it was his responsibility to annotate the sins of each penitent who entered that unholy court to be tried for his misdeeds on earth。
This particular Ankoku Doji was carved from camphorwood； dated to the thirteenth century。
Akiko hated him。 His sculpted eyes seemed to follow her； seemed to know what she planned to do to his owner。 As soon as she was well ensconced here she was determined to move him to another place； preferably one she did not visit often。
Sato weled her to his futon。 They drank hot sake and he made several jokes。 She made sure she laughed although she barely heard them。
Was she terrified or revolted at the prospect of being penetrated by her sworn enemy？ She used all her prodigious skills to push down the black tide that threatened to engulf her mind。 She did
not want to think about what Sun Hsiung had said to her； but she had no choice。
Sato touched her and she jumped。 Her eyes flew open and she realized they had been squeezed shut as if that physical act could blot out the reverberations filling her mind。
〃You are an empty vessel which I will now proceed to fill；〃 Sun Hsiung had said to her。 〃You came to me of your own volition。 You must remember that in the days and weeks and months to e。 Your time will be long here。 It is not inconceivable that you will feel a desire to leave。 I will tell you now that you cannot。 That if you harbor any suspicion that you cannot tolerate hardship； pain； arduous labor； then you must leave immediately。 Now is the time； the only time。 Do I make myself clear？〃
And with terror filling her heart like a rush of water； she had nodded； said； 〃I do；〃 just as if these were marriage v