The Pillow Book of Lady Wisteria (40 page)

“I heard that the
sōsakan-sama
has been accused of murder and treason.” O-hana edged closer to Reiko. “How awful!”

“Indeed,” Reiko said flatly. O-hana had overstepped the bounds of courtesy by mentioning Sano’s problems, and Reiko resented O-hana’s obvious hunger for sordid details.

“I’m so sorry. You must be very worried about what’s happened.” O-hana knelt cautiously, like a cat settling down in a place where it feels insecure. “I hope I haven’t upset you more by speaking of it.”

Instead of heeding her wish to order the girl back to work, Reiko forced a smile and said, “It’s all right.” O-hana was only offering sympathy as best she knew how. Personal problems were no excuse for ill temper toward an innocent servant.

“You and the
sōsakan-sama
have been good to me, and I’d hate for anything bad to happen to you,” O-hana said. An odd, furtive note echoed in her voice, almost as if she felt the opposite of what she said. After a pause, she blurted, “I wish I could make all these troubles disappear.”

Reiko fought her suspicion, because there was no reason to think O-hana meant her harm. “Thank you,” Reiko said more warmly. “I’m sorry if I seemed harsh. I am a little worried.”

O-hana blushed, hunching in inexplicable shame. “I don’t deserve your apology,” she mumbled.

But there definitely was something off about O-hana that Reiko couldn’t attribute to her own overactive imagination. “What’s the matter?” she said.

“Nothing!” The girl sat up straight, as if jabbed in the back. “It’s kind of you to ask, but I’m fine.” She gave Reiko a too-bright smile. “It’s your situation that concerns me. What are you going to do?”

Unconvinced, Reiko eyed her closely. “I’ll try to discover who killed Lord Mitsuyoshi and prove my husband’s innocence.”

“Maybe I can help,” O-hana said. “Shall I go with you?”

Her readiness to intrude again aroused new suspicion in Reiko. “You can help me by staying here and attending to your duties,” Reiko said.

“Yes, Honorable Mistress.”

A look of pique and disappointment flitted across O-hana’s face, but she bowed meekly, rose, and sidled away. Reiko hurried outside to her waiting palanquin.

Sano and his detectives walked down the passage leading away from the Tokugawa family enclave. Through the gun holes and arrow slits in the enclosed corridors that topped the high walls, Sano heard the guards conversing while they waited to shoot anyone who invaded the castle. He kept his eyes focused straight ahead and his face expressionless, concealing his fear as he passed beneath watchtowers occupied by more guards. There was no security here for a man accused of treason. Sano felt like an enemy soldier trapped in the castle, because the might of the Tokugawa would turn on him unless he somehow obtained the information he’d failed to get from Lord Matsudaira and cleared his name.

“
Sōsakan-sama
!” Rapid footsteps behind Sano accompanied the call. “May I please speak with you?”

Sano turned and saw, running down the passage toward him, the guard who’d watched him so intently at the Matsudaira estate. He halted, glad that someone from the household was willing to talk to him.

“Yes,” Sano said. The guard lurched to a stop before him, panting from exertion, and bowed. “Go ahead.”

The guard looked around, his sensitive face taut with nervousness. He mumbled, “In private, if we may?”

“As you wish.” Sano signaled his men to move ahead, while he walked with the guard.

“Many thanks.” Though the guard spoke with breathless relief, he dawdled, his shoulders hunched and his gaze furtive.

Sano studied the man while allowing him time to compose himself. He had a frown that wrinkled the skin of his upper eyelids, and a delicate mouth that lent him a vulnerable air despite his muscular heft.

“What’s your name?” Sano said.

“Wada,” the guard said, as if making a guilty admission.

“Don’t be afraid, Wada-
san
. I appreciate your coming to me,” Sano said.

They traveled some twenty paces before Wada said in an almost inaudible voice, “Family reputation is very important to my master. He loved his son and wants to preserve only the good memories of him.”

“But someone who cares less about appearances might reveal the truth about Lord Mitsuyoshi?” Sano suggested.

Wada hesitated, his gaze fixed on the ground as they walked. “My master has forbidden his family, retainers, and servants to talk to you. I don’t want to disobey him.”

And he certainly didn’t want to be punished, Sano thought. Was the man fishing for a bribe? Sano scrutinized Wada’s profile, but saw no avarice, only the worry of a man torn between loyalty and the desire to speak his mind. “Your ultimate duty is to the shogun,” Sano said. “His Excellency has ordered me to investigate Lord Mitsuyoshi’s murder, and you must cooperate by telling me everything you know that might be relevant.”

Wada’s frown relaxed, but he still looked perturbed. “My family has served the Matsudaira for five generations,” he said. “I was part of Mitsuyoshi-
san
’s retinue since the day he was born and looked after him all his life. He was as dear to me as a younger brother. I don’t want to lose my post, but I couldn’t bear it if the wrong man was punished for his murder and his killer went free because I kept silent.”

“I’ll do everything in my power to avenge Mitsuyoshi-
san
’s death,” Sano promised.

“Well…” Although Wada seemed reassured, hesitation inserted uneasy pauses between his words. “When Mitsuyoshi-
san
was very young, the clan’s fortune teller predicted that he would someday rule Japan. From that moment his life was a preparation for becoming shogun. His father hired teachers to make Mitsuyoshi-
san
study books and practice martial arts all day long, and priests to discipline his spirit. Eventually he was introduced to the shogun, who took a liking to him. It looked as if the prophecy would come true. So much was expected of him because he was going to inherit the regime… ”

“That he rebelled?” Sano said.

Nodding, the guard continued with reluctance: “He was a strong-willed boy. He craved adventure. When he was sixteen, he got tired of constant discipline and protection. He ordered me to help him sneak out of the castle. We would roam the town while his father thought he was studying. Mitsuyoshi-
san
loved the entertainment districts. He had good looks, charm, and money, and he made friends at the teahouses and gambling dens. Soon he discovered Yoshiwara, and the trouble started.

“One night when the shogun wanted his company, he was nowhere to be found. Lord Matsudaira learned he’d been visiting a courtesan. When Mitsuyoshi-
san
came home, they had a terrible argument. His father was furious that he’d disappointed the shogun and risked falling out of favor. Mitsuyoshi-
san
begged a little freedom in exchange for sacrificing himself to the clan’s ambitions. They both wanted him to be the next shogun, but Mitsuyoshi-
san
was the one who paid the price.”

Apparently, Mitsuyoshi had been the shogun’s sexual object, and disliked the role forced on him. “What happened then?” Sano said.

“The arguments continued,” said Wada. “Lord Matsudaira ordered Mitsuyoshi-
san
to dedicate himself to pleasing the shogun. Mitsuyoshi-
san
pursued his own enjoyment, and the shogun began to complain that he was never available when he was wanted. Eventually his father cut off his allowance so he couldn’t afford his habits.

“Mitsuyoshi-
san
began paying closer attention to the shogun because he didn’t want to lose his chance at the succession,” Wada said, “but we still went out together, to teahouses and brothels that often served him without payment because he was a Tokugawa samurai and the shogun’s favorite. But there was one place he ran into trouble. It’s a gambling den in Nihonbashi. The patrons are hoodlums and gangsters.”

Sano experienced the internal stir that signaled the advent of an important clue. “Did he lose money to them?”

Grimness hardened Wada’s features as he nodded. “He should never have gotten involved with them, but he loved the thrill of Edo’s underside. He should never have put himself in their debt because they’re dangerous. The owner of the place is a wild, tough
rōnin
who fears no one, not even the Tokugawa. One night while Mitsuyoshi-
san
and I were in town, he cornered us and demanded that Mitsuyoshi-
san
pay him and his friends their money. When Mitsuyoshi-
san
said he couldn’t, the
rōnin
threatened to kill him unless he paid.”

Here, at last, was a possible suspect other than the three already executed. Elation flared in Sano. “When was the threat made?”

“About two months ago.” Wada pondered for a moment. “But even before Mitsuyoshi-
san
owed money, the
rōnin
hated him. They had some sort of feud.”

“Did Mitsuyoshi-
san
pay what he owed?” Sano said as his excitement increased.

“Not to my knowledge.” After another pause, Wada said, “Even though Treasury Minister Nitta was convicted of the murder and now you’ve been accused of it, I can’t help wondering if the rōnin was involved in Mitsuyoshi-
san
’s death.”

Nor could Sano. But there was still the matter of determining that the rōnin could have killed Mitsuyoshi.

“I didn’t come forward earlier and tell you or the police about the rōnin,” Wada said, “because I knew my master wouldn’t want his son’s reputation ruined. And later, when the treasury minister was convicted, I thought the killer had been caught and I needn’t speak.” He hung his head. “I’m sorry.”

Sano couldn’t be angry at the guard for withholding information because he understood the code of loyalty that bound them both. He also understood the agonizing guilt Wada suffered because he’d violated that code for the sake of the truth.

“I want to make up for whatever trouble I’ve caused, by telling you everything I know, including one last thing,” Wada said earnestly. “The
rōnin
was in Yoshiwara that night. When I went with Mitsuyoshi-
san
to the
ageya
for his appointment with Lady Wisteria, I saw the
rōnin
in the crowd outside.”

Sano inhaled the fresh, invigorating atmosphere of joyous possibility; his heart soared because he now had a new suspect and a whole new line of inquiry.

“Who is the rōnin, and where can I find him?” Sano said, wanting to fall on his knees and thank the gods for this new chance to prove he wasn’t a murderer or traitor.

“I can take you to the gambling den now, if you like,” Wada said, “but I don’t know the
rōnin
’s proper name. Everyone calls him Lightning.”

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