The Samurai's Lady (9 page)

“What is it?” He knelt beside her. When he lifted her eyes to his he saw they were misted with tears.
“What you were telling Midori.” She said quietly. “I‟ve never heard it quite like that before. I belong to a church and serve wherever they ask me to but—it seemed likeyou were saying that works won‟t get us into heaven?”
“That‟s right.” He smiled. “Jesus paid the whole price of our disobedience and he kept the whole law for us. Remember he said, “You think I‟ve come to destroy the law but I have come not to destroy the law but to fulfill it.” So, because he kept the whole Old
Testament law perfectly, when we accept him as our savior in God‟s eyes we have keptthe law also, because Jesus did. There is nothing more.”
“What must I do to be saved?” She asked.
“Do you believe that Jesus is God and Man and died to pay the price for your sins?”
“Yes.”
“Then you need do nothing more.” He smiled.
Two days later Midori came back to return the scrolls. Kenji was with her. “We want to become Christians.” Kenji said.
Fujito smiled and welcomed them in. He might have asked if they were sure; he knew the perils of being a Christian in Japan. But the rewards were far greater. Afterward they all went back to their house for a meal.
“To celebrate Christmas.” Midori smiled.
The months passed. Finally, frost and ice began to melt and grass peeked out from under the snow.
Fujito knew that they would have to move on soon; the roads would be open in a month or so.
When they did open Kenji went to the next village for supplies. When he returned he went straight to Fujito.
“Kenji, what is it? Come inside.”
“They‟re putting posters up. About a samurai from Satsuma and a young lady, who is barbarian?”
Fujito sighed. They had come close already. “That‟s right.”
“You wouldn‟t know it. She looks and acts like one of us. Did you teach her?” “Yes.” Over tea to warm the traveler, he told him the whole story. They worked out a plan. Instead of going straight through to the Kiso valley they would travel to Matsumoto and then through the tiny village south of it and back to the Kiso. The evening before they left they entertained their new brother and sister in the Faith. Katharine enjoyed preparing and serving the meal. Each time he looked at her he wished he could convince her to stay with him.
When it was time for Mdori and Kenji to return home the two women embraced and bid each other a tearful goodbye. Fujito wished they could stay where they were; hehated to see Katharine so sad. But it seemed the Shogun‟s forces were taking no chances,
if they were even checking small settlements. He only hoped there were a few towns leftthat they hadn‟t checked out.
As they were setting off the next morning Midori ran out of the house and handed Katharine a rolled piece of rice paper. “God go with you both.” She clasped Katharine to her in an unJapanese fashion and bowed to Fujito. “Thank you, for everything.”
“Do itashimashite.” He smiled. “I wish I could be here to deliver your baby.” “Don‟t worry sensei. Perhaps you could write so that I may tell you?” “We‟ll try.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “Sayonara.”
“Sayonara.”
As the small farmhouses shrank in the distance Fujito saw tears on Katharine‟s cheek. Putting down his pack, he caught her arm.
“What is it,
koibito
?”
“I miss Midori already.”
He caught a tear onthe back of his index finger. “Do you know that Japanese never say goodbye?”
Katharine shook her head.
“Sayonara, roughly translated means see you again, not goodbye.” He smiled. She sniffed and tried to smile.
“We‟ll let them know where we are. I promise.” He said softly. The Samurai‟s Lady

Chapter Nine
When they were well on their way to Matsumoto Fujito stopped to refill the water bottles.
“Why don‟t you open the scroll?” He suggested when he came back from the river.
Katharine had almost forgotten. She pulled out the parchment and untied the red silk ribbon.
“You‟ll have to translate.” She told him, handing him the piece of paper. He read the neatly brushed characters and smiled. “They‟re Bible verses.” He told her. “All about how we are united in spirit because of our belief in Jesus. If it wasn‟t for that, we would be strangers.”
“And even enemies.” She said softly. She knew that Kenji could have so easily turned them in at the Post Station the day he went for supplies. Ifit hadn‟t been for God‟s timing that they should accept Him, it could easily have happened. She marveled in her heart how astonishing that timing was. She remembered again the words, “While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”
Fujito was watching her. Kneeling beside her he raised her bowed head so that their eyes met.
“I know what your thinking,
koibito
.” He said gently. “How easy it would have been for them to turn us in when the roads opened again.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “And how marvelous God‟s timing is.”
“Yes.” He agreed. “Just when I was so lonely I didn‟t think I could stand it any more He brought you into my life. Just like Jonah spewed up by the whale.” He grinned.“You didn‟t see a big fish in the bay, did you?”
“I don‟t know samurai.” She grinned. “Was I all covered in whale slime?” She picked up some snow, balled it and threw it at him. It hit his Kimono where it covered his heart.
“So that‟s the way it is, my Lady?” He picked up some snow and made a snowball of his own. He hit her in the shoulder. She pushed him away and he pushed her back.
By now, they were both giggling like children. He pushed her down on the snow and began tickling her then stopped and looked into her eyes.
When she saw the smoldering deep within them, she stopped giggling, too. She waited for his mouth to settle on hers.
It did so with a passion she did not know he possessed. The pressure of his lips made her own burn. But it was not unpleasant. Then his mouth left hers, branded a trail along her cheek, and then returned.
When he felt her fingers entwining in his hair, he knew he must stop. It was difficult, but he eased away from her and sat up. He smiled his eyes shy. It still amazed her.
“You didn‟t think I knew how tokiss like that?” He guessed. Her eyes gave the answer.
He touched her cheek with the backs of his fingers and whispered, “When I told you I loved you
koibito
, I meant it.” He smiled.
He knew that if he were to come to her it would only be if everything were right, even if it meant he would never know her thus. If that were to be the case, he would never take another woman as his wife.
“Come on.” His voice was husky. “We need to be on our way.” He smiled. He stood to his feet and reached down to pull her up. He touched the backs of his fingers to her cheek.
She began to clear off the loose snow from her quilted kimono. He took her hand and briefly kissed her knuckles brushing the snow for her with his other hand. He turned and hoisted the pack over his shoulder. She followed slowly behind him. Even as most of her did not want to fall in love with him, a small part wondered what it would have been like to—
She banished the thought with a determined shake of her head. Falling in love with him would only complicate matters, she reminded herself firmly. They stayed one night at Matsumoto then moved on down the mountain trails leading to Kisoji, the Kiso valley. Katharine found it more difficult to walk with her light pack than she had when they had been going up hill.
“Don‟t lean into it.” Fujito instructed, try and stand as straight as you can.” She found it easier to walk after that.
The sun was warm on the back of her neck just above the top of the pack. Snow was melting and water had pooled in several places along their path. A short way from where he turned to follow a straight trail through into the valley she felt the snow give way beneath her feet. She screamed as she felt herself being carried headlong toward the edge of the cliff. There was nothing but air underneath her feet when she was pulled to safety just a huge bank of snow tumbled to the ledge below.
He felt her body tremble against him. Her knees were shaking so much; her heart beating so fast she couldn‟t stand. Fujito held her until her nerves relaxed and her heart resumed its normal beat.
“What happened, did you slip?”
“No.” She panted between shallow breaths. “I felt the snow give way under my feet and I was pulled along.”
“Easy.” He whispered against her cheek. “Try to take deep breaths, all right? We‟ll make camp here for the night? It‟ll be getting dark soon.”
She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. “All right.”
He set down his pack a safe distance away from where the snow had broken loose and pulled out a folded kimono.
“You can sit on this until I get a fire started, all right?”
She nodded.
“I could clear some snow away to make you feel safer?” A tiny smile turned up one corner of his mouth.
“No, I should be all right here.” She laughed, but it was shaky. She could no longer hold back the tears of relief.
He knelt beside her and cradled her in his arms He felt her shoulders heave with the force of her sobs. “Shhh.” He whispered. “You‟re safe now, Katsuko. It‟s all right.”
He felt better now that she was crying. She needed to let out the tension she had been holding inside. It would lessen the chance she would go into shock. Where would they go from here? They needed to get off the island. But where would be the best place to leave from? He would have to consider the options carefully.
A coastal town in direct line from the valley would be the most expedient, but also very close to Edo, a prospect he had tried to avoid all the way along. They could go to Nikko, and from there to Mito and then on to Shikoku. It would mean passing the Shogun‟s capital; but if they traveled at night, they could probably make it past there.
But on second thought, it would be too dangerous. Travelling the bay was unsafe at the best of times; night travel would endanger their lives even more so. He finally decided the best route would be to Nikko, then from there to the five lakes of Mount Fuji and around the peninsula. This way would at one point take themclose to Edo. But it would still be at least a day‟s journey from the time they receivedword they were in the area. And they could get away quickly if they needed to.

When she awoke the next morning, he told her what they would do. “I don‟t care.” She said glumly. “Why don‟t we just give ourselves up? I‟m tired of running. At least in prison I can rest. What‟s the worst they can do, execute me?”
“There are very few executions in Japan. The torture they administer in prison usually kills before you get to trial.” He said, more harshly than he‟d meant to. “You‟re
tired, aren‟t you?” He asked more gently. She nodded. He came to sit beside her. “I know you are
koibito
. And I blame myself for putting you through this.” “What do you mean?”
“Well, I sent you away because an official told me that there had been Christians killed in Nagasaki. I was afraid because I saw one of the Shogun‟s spies on the hill above the castle.I thought they were looking for you.”
“I saw him too, from the garden.”
“That‟s when I decided to send you to Kimika‟s. I was hoping that Kazu was in Edo for a year. Then I could have brought you back without a problem when the dangeron Kyushu was over.” He paused and poured water from the pot into their teacups. Thenhe continued.“I should have kept you in Kagoshima.” He smiled. “After the incident Haratoda told me about there were no more persecutions. I could have hidden you for a year. Do you know that before you left Michiko told me that it was hard for her to remember youaren‟t Japanese?”
“No.” She smiled.
“Well, she did.” He smiled. “And believe me, you don‟t really want to be in prison. I can guarantee it isn‟t anything like your Tower of London. Japanese justice isswift, and brutal.” He took a sip of tea then asked, “What‟s really bothering you,
koibito
? Could it be that you were more frightened yesterday than you care to admit?”
His soft brown eyes and gentle smile compelled her to answer. “Yes, I suppose I am.” She admitted.
“It‟ll be all right. You‟ll see. We‟re almost in the valley. From there it‟s flat all the way home.” He smiled.
“Promise?”
“I promise.” He whispered. He pressed a fleeting kiss to her lips.
Their journey out of the valley was delayed a day because of a storm. But although the wind blew and rain pelted the ground, it was over quickly. From Kisoji they turned northward to Nikko. When they reached it Katharine fell in love with the enchanting shrines and temples and especially with the red curving bridge.
“Nikko means sunlight.” Fujito told her that evening in their room at the ryokan. “That will be my new nickname for you. Because you have filled my otherwise boringlife with sunshine.” He smiled, kissing the tip of her nose.
“I can‟t see how a daimyo‟s life could ever be boring.”
“It is when you don‟t want it. I never did. Have you never wondered why I could speak English as well as I do? Or why I knew the English Factor at Hirado so well?”
“I had, but I thought it would be impolite to ask.”
He put his arm around her shoulders. “Would you like me to tell you?” She nodded.
“Well,” he began. “I was the second of two sons. My brother Yukijiro inherited the title of Daimyo. He was meant for the role. He could ride and hunt; he fought with the samurai spirit of long ago. And he was cruel. Just the kind of son father wanted.
“But he was sickly. He had problems with his lungs and his heart. So father was anxious that I be able to do as good a job, if it should become necessary.” “But you aren‟t like that, Isamu.”
He squeezed her shoulder and pulled her toward him. He fluttered a butterfly kiss on her temple. “I never could be.” He smiled. “Father knew that even when I was only a few years old. I was only a fair horseman, and hopeless at hunting. Not because Icouldn‟t shoot, but because I didn‟t want to kill, for this father had me beaten severely.Actually, he had a servant do it because he was too ashamed to do it himself.
“The last straw came when I completely failed at Kendo, Japanese fencing. I was fifteen and extremely uncoordinated. I simply didn‟t know how to use my height to advantage. My father threw himself into a rage.”
“But that doesn‟t sound like much of a reason.” Katharine observed. “My father was top of his school.” Fujito smiled “He demanded that I return to lessons. I said no. I told him I wanted to be an apothecary, a sensei.” “What did he do?”
“Nothing, until the next morning. He had a servant pack my things and threw me out. I got some work with a local sensei of another village and when he died two years
later, I traveled around giving aid to the sick. That‟s how I found Hirado. One of the men off the ship was sick and when the factor found out I was a sensei he sent for me.”
“Did you make him well?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “But I was lucky. If I‟d had to set a knife to a wound, I would have had no idea what to do.”
She raised her hand to slap his shoulder playfully and he grabbed it. He pressed his lips to the backs of her fingers. He chuckled.
“The factor was so impressed with me he asked me to stay. But I would need to learn English.”
“So he taught you?”
“Yes.”
“And about Jesus?”
“Yes, he taught me that too. And about English medicine.”
“And other things.” She smiled shyly.
He chuckled. “Yes,
koibito
. About other things, too.” He held her in his arms and kissed her lips.
In the small space of the room, his scent was heady. Her heart raced at his touch. A thought entered her brain, unbidden: she knew she could not keep herself from falling in love with him much longer. She pushed it resolutely out of her head as he eased away.
Early the next morning, just before sunrise they went for a walk through the town. Fujito wore his doctor‟s kimono, as this was the area of Matsudaira, who was loyal to the Shogun. It would be to their advantage to be as inconspicuous as possible, even at the early hour. They paused on the red lacquered bridge overlooking the river. The sun was just rising above the distant horizon in front of them. “You never did finish your story.” She reminded him.
“Didn‟t I?” He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. “Would you like me to finish it now?”
Katharine nodded.
“Where was I?”
“In Hirado. How did you become Daimyo?”
“My brother took charge of Kagoshima after Father abdicated.” He said picking up the storyfrom where he‟d left off. “But he was cruel and ruthless, taking delight inkilling peasants even for reasons another samurai would not.”
“He must have been hated.” Katharine guessed.
“He was.” Fujito smiled. “The times he was in Edo were times of relaxation and peace. People were free to breathe easy.”
“How often was he away?”
“Only every two years for a year when he had to go to the Shogun‟s capital.” “Is that why you didn‟t come for me sooner? Because you were in Edo?” “Yes. But that was also why I sent you away; I didn‟t want you in Kagoshima without me to protect you.”
She looked into his eyes and saw sadness there. “Please don‟t torture yourself because of what happened, Isamu.” She whispered. “You promised me you‟d come for me as soon as you could. And you kept your promise. Nothing else matters, now.”
Turning, he enfolded her in his arms. It was as close as she had come to saying she loved him; he would not press her for the words. “Oh, Nikko-Sama, how I love you.”
He whispered against her cheek. It was a fraction of space and time to her mouth. “I‟d better continue with my story.” He smiled after he eased her away from him moments later. His shy voice held a hint of huskiness.
“Anyway one year his retainers conspired to murder him between Edo and Kyushu.”
“And they succeeded?”
“Yes. He was ambushed by a group of bannermen that were at the rear of the procession. Somehow they made their way unnoticed to the middle of the line where hewas riding and thrust a katana into his back.”
“Is that when you became Daimyo?”
“No.” He shook his head, smiling. “My brother had a wife who was kept in Edo as a hostage to ensure his return. They had a son, my nephew, Jiro. He was sixteen when his father was killed. He asked me to rule Kagoshima for him. But if I had refused, hewould have ordered me to do so.”
“Where is he now?”
“He moved his household to Kumamoto. He‟s still there.”
“Do you communicate?”
“Sometimes. I haven‟t seen him for a few years.”
“What was he like?”
“Very much like me.” He smiled. “Except he had the necessary qualities to make a good ruler. He hid his distaste of killing much better than I ever could. But he told me once how he really felt. In fact, he said he wished he was my son instead of mybrother‟s.”
“Do you have a wife in Edo, Isamu?”
“No.” He smiled down at her and kissed the tip of her nose. He almost said “Not yet.” But he knew that he would probably never see Edo again. “One of my retainers hasleft his wife there instead.”
“But the authorities and your nephew must not like the arrangement?” “Not really.” He admitted. After a pause he said, “I was almost married once.” “Really? What was she like?”
“Meek and gentle, submissive, groveling.” He smiled. “Nothing like you.” He chuckled when he saw her blush.
“Why did you not marry?”
“My brother ordered the marriage, but he was killed before it could take place. Neither she nor I had any interest in each other so we never went through with it. I can‟t even remember her name.” But he knew he would never forget Katharine‟s, no matter what happened.
He did not want to spend any more time in Nikko than he had to. It was too close to Edo to be safe. But he‟d overheard a conversation in a teahouse that made him gladhe‟d changed his mind about Mito, even though it meant getting closer to the dragon‟s mouth.
Two men were talking at a nearby table. Apparently, the one man‟s daughter had written from Mito telling him that the town had almost been completely engulfed by a mudslide. The road in and probably the harbor too, would be blocked. It was a round about way to Fuji and they had to retrace their steps, but since Nikko was only a day or so away, he wanted to make sure no one knew where they were going and follow them.
The weather was pleasant, making the way easier. And, as Fujito had promised, it was flat land.
The ground terraced upward in rice paddies, but he showed her the easiest way to traverse them. To Katharine, anything was better than crossing over mountain peeks of sheer ice. When they came upon the five lakes near the mountain, it almost took her breath away.
“Beautiful, isn‟t it?” He asked.
“Yes.” She said on a sigh.
“Not as beautiful as you, my Nikko.” He smiled. He touched her blushing cheek with the backs of his fingers.
“Oh, you!”
He chuckled.
That night they made camp near one of the lakes. The lake air made her sleep easy and she was soon dreaming.