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Chosa was an impressive man。 His wide face and chunky body appeared attached without the need for a neck； the beach…ball head smashed cruelly down between massive shoulders。
The irizumi made him seem larger； more manding than he might otherwise be。 The force of the tattooing； the hyperimaginative covering of his flesh in colored inks； served the same purpose as a mask might on someone with less personality。 Ushiba； who knew him better than anyone else； was of the belief that its fa？ade allowed Chosa the freedom to employ chimerical personality shifts without the leash of conscience or remorse； as if the creatures crawling over him might be responsible for this behavior and not Chosa himself。
〃You make me sick；〃 Ushiba said； but his glance briefly touched the spot on Chosa's flesh where beast and woman joined most intimately。 〃These bastard Americans。。。〃 He seemed to strangle on bitter emotion。
〃It's the Americans we're in bed with who make you sick；〃 Chosa said； moving into the kitchen to prepare tea。
〃That we need them at all is galling。〃 Ushiba lit a cigarette as he followed Chosa。 〃I wonder that you don't feel it。〃
〃Oh； I do feel it。〃 Chosa put water on to boil； taking cups from a cabinet； measuring out tea。 〃But； unlike you； I've learned to live with it。〃
This suite； part of a triplex Chosa owned in the building； was reserved only for him and his occasional guests。 Bodyguards and servants lived in the rooms below。 He was one public figure who cherished his privacy。 Midnight might seem an odd time to meet with the chief minister of MITI； but after all； Chosa was Yakuza； and such direct links between the underworld and the bureaucracy required absolute security。 That the Daijin Ushiba was an adviser to the former Kaisho's three…member inner council was a secret no one involved wanted known。 Since Tomoo Kozo's death late last year； the inner council consisted of Chosa； Tetsuo Akinaga； and Tachi Shidare； a young man elevated to Kozo's position of oyabun of the Yamauchi clan。 With the exception of Shidare； who was as yet too young； these men … along with Ushiba … were reigning members of the Godaishu who had bee discontented with Mikio Okami's power as Kaisho。 After months of bitter debate； they had agreed to oust him； but somehow； someone unknown had transformed that decision into a death sentence for Okami。
〃It's humiliating。〃
〃No。〃 Chosa turned on the Daijin abruptly。 〃It's humiliating being privy to your weakness。〃 He poured tea into two cups； and they sat at the kitchen table； staring into one another's face。
〃Yes。〃 Ushiba blew out a cloud of smoke。 〃My doctor tells me my ulcer is worse。 The Americans are making it bleed； don't you think I have reason enough to despise them？〃
Chosa handed Ushiba the tea。 As he did so； he gave him a skeptical look。 〃Oh； yes。 But you delimited the Americans。 Just like you helped us delimit the Kaisho。〃
〃Murdering Mikio Okami。 Is that what you term delimiting？〃
Chosa raised his eyebrows。 〃Okami is dead？ Do you know something I do not； Naohiro？〃
〃Well； so； of course not〃 Ushiba made a grimace of pain； wrapped his fine fingers tightly around the earthenware cup。 〃I was merely assuming his demise。〃
〃With Okami that would be a mistake。〃 Chosa drained his cup； ran his fingertip around the bottom； picking up the limp tea leaves。 He deliberately ignored the Daijin's pain； to do otherwise would make Naohiro lose face。
〃But surely if Okami were alive； we would have heard some word of him by now。〃
Chosa sucked his fingertip into his mouth； chewed meditatively on the bitter leaves。 〃True； I have heard no word of Okami。 But his would…be assassin is now dead； so firsthand verification is impossible。〃 He smiled； putting his hand over Ushiba's。 〃Don't worry about the Kaisho。 His power has been destroyed。 It is as my grandfather said； 'Count as friends only those who have the ability to destroy you'。〃 Chosa cherished these moments because they were the only time when he could confront Ushiba honestly。
〃If you truly thought Mikio Okami was alive； you would do something about it；〃 Ushiba continued as he tapped ash off the end of his cigarette。 〃He was your problem。〃
〃Yes。 The Kaisho。〃 Chosa's face was thoughtful。 〃A latter…day shogun。 What a disaster he was for us！ So much power concentrated in one man。 Disgraceful！〃
〃Disgraceful only because he managed to put himself beyond the scope of even your power。 I； myself； could admire him for that。〃
〃Pah！〃 Chosa appeared disgusted； 〃With all your spies； don't tell me you didn't know I was the one who ordered his death。〃
Ushiba's beautiful face turned hard。 〃Your habit of making fun of me will be the death of you； one day。 I assure you I knew nothing of that plot〃
Now Chosa could not contain his mirth。 〃Of course the Americans have put a hole in your stomach。 You've been busting a gut trying to understand their humor。〃
〃And you；〃 Ushiba said； scowling； 〃have picked up too much from them。〃
〃Well； if so； I've lost nothing in the process； so I wish you'd quit worrying about it。 Bad for your stomach。〃
〃So's this tea。〃 Ushiba pushed the cup away from him。 He got up； went quickly to the bathroom； leaving Chosa alone with his thoughts。
It was true； he thought mournfully； the Americans would be the death of Naohiro。 That would be a sad day； for he； Chosa； would lose his edge with the other oyabun； his shining path to the ministries of Japan。 Well； it was a difficult decision； but he knew he must plan for that day。 Naohiro was not getting better； despite the best efforts of his physicians。 He should have been in hospital months ago for a week of intravenous drug therapy and utter calm； but Naohiro would not … or possibly could not … agree to it
Naohiro possessed kan； a word adapted from the Chinese that referred to the home of a ruling mandarin。 In modern Japanese it was the definition of power for the bureaucrat and was the basis for the word kanryodo； the way of the samurai…bureaucrat。
Naohiro was a true samurai…bureaucrat。 His work at MITI meant everything to him。 The one sure way to kill him quickly； Chosa mused； would be to take him away from his work。 The physicians knew that so they had not insisted。
Chosa revered Ushiba； he might even in his own way love； him。 But Chosa was； first and foremost； a pragmatist。 In the world of violence and treachery that he inhabited； there was little room for passion or sentiment except as acceptable symbols at specified and infrequent intervals。
Ushiba returned to the kitchen； white…faced and silent。 He lit another cigarette； stood silently smoking for some time。
Knowing he had offended the Daijin； Chosa now sought to win back the ground he had lost。 He went to the refrigerator； brought back a carton of milk from which he filled Ushiba's teacup。 〃Cheer up； my friend。 At least； you don't have to worry about Tomoo Kozo anymore。〃
Ushiba gave a disgusted grunt 〃Crazy oyabun！ He tried to destroy Nicholas Linnear and wound up being killed by his prey。〃
〃Look on the bright side。 The Kaisho's inner council is better off without him。〃
Ushiba shrugged as he sat down。 〃That may well be true； now that you and Tetsuo Akinaga have agreed on Tachi Shida