The Scent of Sake (43 page)

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“Exciting, yes, but so unstable, Mother,” Yoshitaro said. “And who knows what it bodes for us brewers.”

Rie turned to him. “We’ll survive, Yoshi. Just remember how many generations have been brewing here through all kinds of crises.” She sat back on her heels and inserted her comb. “The key is to keep our wits about us. And try to keep up with everything that’s happening in Kyoto and Edo.”

Rie sat alone at the dining table one evening after Yoshitaro had left. Tama was in the kitchen working.

“Excuse me,” O-Natsu’s voice wafted in softly.

“Yes, O-Natsu, come in,” Rie replied. She looked at the face of her old servant, now white haired, her step halting. Rie indicated a zabuton at the table.

“What is it, O-Natsu?”

“Well, Oku-san, this is difficult to say.” She paused, looked down, and cleared her throat.

Rie looked at her sharply. There was no possibility of another geisha’s child.

“I know how loyal Kinnosuke has always been to you and Yoshitaro. He is the most important person to the business.”

“Yes, of course, O-Natsu.” Rie rested the tip of her fan on her chin. She did not take her eyes off O-Natsu’s face.

“Well, it’s Nobu, his wife.”

Rie frowned. “What about Nobu?”

“She has spoken to someone at the Yamaguchi’s, saying you have shown favoritism toward Fumi and Hirokichi, over Yoshitaro and Ume.” O-Natsu bowed low and looked at her hands.

Rie placed her fan on the table deliberately. Had she shown favoritism? She must admit, she had. Still, everyone knew that loyalty could never be in question; moreover if Nobu spoke of matters internal to White Tiger at Yamaguchi’s, serious damage could result. Yamaguchi had shown that he was continually on the alert to defeat White Tiger.

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“Are you certain about this, O-Natsu? This is not some idle rumor?”

“I am afraid it is not a rumor, Oku-san. I have known the person who told me for many years. She is a very close friend, and she would not speak ill of you.”

“I see. Thank you, O-Natsu. You have always kept me informed in matters of importance. You are as valuable to me as Kinnosuke.” Rie bowed.

“I am so sorry,” O-Natsu said as she bowed and left the room. Rie put both hands to her face and sighed. She would have to ponder what O-Natsu said. It would not do to take any rash

action.

The next morning Rie stopped to caress the cypress support, then walked into the garden early, before anyone else was stirring in the house. She wiped the dew off her rock with her handkerchief and sat. She looked over at the koi swimming lazily in the pond. How many decisions affecting the house had she made over the years sitting on this very rock? She rested a hand on her chin and looked down at the gray stepping stones that wound a sinuous pattern through the garden and around the pond.

Kinnosuke was the single most important person to the work of White Tiger, after herself and Toji. She had often thanked the gods for sending him to White Tiger as a young boy, just as she had silently congratulated herself for promoting him in the office. His work was crucial to the success of White Tiger and to its status in the brewing world.

Still, it went without saying that loyalty to the house was absolute. Kinnosuke must have given Nobu the impression that she, Rie, was showing partiality to Fumi and Eitaro and their son, Hirokichi. Hiro was now a precocious child of ten, a few months younger than Ume. But Ume, as Yoshitaro’s only child, was Kinnosuke’s favorite. He always carried sweets in his sleeve, and Ume

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ran into the office each morning to greet him, holding out her hand as part of her ritual.

“Good morning, Banto-sama,” Yoshitaro had trained her to say. And somehow, during these brief morning visits of Ume’s, she began to absorb bits of information about the work of the brewery. And because Rie wanted Hirokichi to learn the work of the main house as well as his branch, she often invited him to the office. But had Kinno noticed some subtle difference in her attitude toward Yoshi and Eitaro, and had he spoken to Nobu about it? But for Nobu to speak to someone at Yamaguchi’s was unconscionable disloyalty. Rie stirred uneasily on her rock. She sat there, her heart heavy with what was to come. Was there another option? Another way to proceed? She stared into the distance for the answers, thought of her mother and father. Her promise to her father.
Oh, Kinno,
she thought, the weight of what must be done pressing on her chest.
I am sorry.
She stood and walked slowly back into the house. She would wait until the end of the day, until everyone but Kinnosuke had left. Then she would do what she must.

Rie opened the shoji and walked into the inner office in the early evening. Kinnosuke still sat at his table working with the abacus and ledgers after the others had left. He looked up quizzically and bowed.

She looked at him, dear Kinno-san, and took a deep, fortify-ing breath. How she hated to hurt him. She wished she could leave him unaware for just a moment longer, but she could not.
Oh Kinno,
she thought. Rie stood holding her fan below her obi with both hands and for a moment said nothing.

“Kinno-san,” she began. “Would you come into the parlor please?”

Kinnosuke blinked. “The parlor, Oku-san?” “Yes, please.”

Rie turned, opened the shoji, and walked along the corridor. She heard Kinnosuke’s slippers slapping after her. She took two zabuton from a stack at the side of the room and set them in front of the Butsudan, where the spirits of the ancestors attended. She

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arranged her kimono carefully under her as she sat and indicated a zabuton facing her. She inhaled deeply and paused.

Kinnosuke sat, bowed, and kept his eyes lowered to the tatami. “Kinn-san, you know how I have valued your work at White

Tiger all these many years.” He bowed.

“And your loyalty.”

He bowed lower, twice.

“Loyalty can never be called into question. It is absolute.” His head was bowed too low to reveal any expression.

“Of course,” he murmured.

“Unfortunately it has come to my attention that Nobu has been speaking ill of this house to people at Yamaguchi’s. It is disloyal, a dishonor for the house. Speaking to our chief rival about our house cannot be tolerated.”

A choked, gasping sound came from Kinnosuke, his head dropping still lower.

“You realize, Kinno-san, that this is a dishonor we cannot abide.”

Again Kinnosuke choked and gasped, unable to speak.

“You must divorce Nobu,” Rie said abruptly. She hated to break his heart, loyal Kinno, yet what else could she do?

“Divorce?” Kinnosuke huffed and looked up, his face white. “There is no choice,” Rie said. She wished such a drastic measure weren’t necessary. But it was.

Kinnosuke stammered. “She is . . . she is the mother of my two sons, and my daughter.” His eyes blinked and his breath came in rapid gasps.

“Divorce her!” Rie repeated sharply, her heart tightening in her chest. Oh, Kinno-san.

Kinnosuke squeezed his eyes shut to try to contain his tears.

His fists clenched on his lap. He began to bow repeatedly.

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“I am sorry. I am sorry. I have no words to apologize.” He repeated the refrain over and over as he bowed.

Rie stood. “I am sorry too, Kinno-san. So sorry. It is most unfortunate,” she said as she rose, walked to the shoji, and left Kinnosuke shaking and bowing in front of the Butsudan. Yet she couldn’t help but wonder if she’d done the right thing.

The next morning Yoshi hobbled rapidly into the dining room where Rie was still drinking her tea. “What do you think you have done, Mother, telling Kinno to divorce his wife, and talking about honor? How can you do this, to the person who has helped you achieve what White Tiger has become?” he said, pacing back and forth in front of her. “Questioning his loyalty, indeed! Have
you
no sense of loyalty? Have
you
no concern for anything other than the house? The house is all I hear, nothing about the people in it.” Yoshi was gasping for breath.

“Calm down, Yoshi. Kinno knows about loyalty very well. I have not accused him of disloyalty. But his wife, Nobu, has been talking against us at Yamaguchi’s. That is something we can’t tolerate, and at the very house that has caused us so much grief. It cannot be excused. It is regrettable to cause Kinno unhappiness, but he is well aware of what affects the interests of the house. We can’t compromise on this.” Rie sighed.

Yoshi stalked from the room and walked to the office. Kinnosuke was seated at his table, head on his hands.

“Oh, Kinno-san . . . I understand that Mother has ordered you to divorce Nobu.”

“It is true.” He raised his head, tears in his eyes.

“I’m very sorry. You have been happily married so long, and you have your three children. . . .”

Kinnosuke hung his head but said nothing.

“You know, Kinno-san, ever since I was a child I’ve felt closer to you than to Mother. She can be tyrannical at times.
You
were

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the one who really raised me, who took pains to teach me. I shall always be grateful to you.”

Kinnosuke bowed. “Thank you. As a child you were always so eager to learn. Of course my debt to your mother who gave me this opportunity and trained me is heavy. Her sense of timing in business is without equal. I have learned much from her and can never repay my debt.” He bowed again.

“Perhaps you and I can work even more closely together in the future, support each other,” Yoshitaro said.

“My loyalty has always been to the Omura House. That is why the charge of my wife’s disloyalty is so painful to me. I wonder if I should resign.” He looked querulously at Yoshitaro.

“Certainly not! That would serve no purpose, and I’m certain that Mother would not accept it. It would leave us weakened. We have no one to replace you. Your efforts are crucial to our success. I have no question about your loyalty. I cannot work without you.”

Kinnosuke bowed low. “Thank you for your confidence. Then I shall remain with you.” He bowed to the floor.

“Thank you, Kinno-san. You have my sympathy in this difficult time. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help.”

Yoshitaro put his hand on Kinnosuke’s shoulder and shook his head.

Kikuji Yamaguchi sat at his worktable, leaning backward and forward, backward and forward, belching frequently.

He called his chief clerk Yusuke to his table. “We can do something to stop Omura now. You know, their young Master was wounded in a samurai attack, lost his leg. Kinnosuke is over-worked. He can’t watch everything.”

“That’s so,” Yusuke said, scratching his bald head. “What do you suggest?”

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