Sumomo said in a small voice.

"So sorry."

"Cherries are an acquired taste, as are their flowers. Carrots can take on many flavors, if properly treated." Again she waited but Sumomo still looked down. "Not in riddles, so you will not be confused, it is not sex that is really sought by men in my World, but romance--our most forbidden fruit."

Sumomo was startled. "It is?"

"Oh yes, for us. It is poisonous. Men seek romance in your world too, most men, and it is not forbidden you, is it?"

"No."

"Your future husband is no different, he seeks romance too, wherever it is available.

Better you make as much available at home as you can, for as long as you can." Koiko smiled. "Then you have can have cherries and fine carrots. The flavors can be acquired, easily."

"Then please teach me."

"Tell me about this man, your husband-to-be."

"His name is Oda, Rokan Oda,"

Sumomo said at once, using the cover name Katsumata had given her. "His father is a goshi... and he comes from Kanagawa in Satsuma."

"And your father?"

"It is as I said, Lady. He is of the line Fujahito," she said, using her new cover surname, "they are also from a village nearby and also goshi."

"Your guardian says this Rokan Oda is important."

"He is too kind, Lady, though Oda-sama is shishi and did take part in the attack on Lord Anjo at Yedo's gates, and also killed the Elder Utani." Katsumata had told her it was safer to tell the truth where possible, the fewer the lies to remember.

"Where is he now?"

"At Yedo, Lady."

"How long do you want to stay with me?"

"For me, Lady, as long as I can. My guardian said Kyoto was dangerous for me. I cannot return home, my father disapproves of me as he had told you, as Oda-sama's parents disapprove of him, so sorry because of me."

Koiko frowned. "That will make life impossible."

"Yes. Karma is karma and what is to be will be. Though I am of no value to anyone and believe I am unknown to the Bakufu, Sensei Katsumata approves of my Oda-sama, accepted the responsibility.

He said I'm to obey you in all things."

"Better to obey your parents, Sumomo."

"Yes, I know, but my Oda-sama forbids it."

A good answer, Koiko thought, seeing the pride and the conviction. Saddened, she glanced at the half-opened window. Surely this forbidden romance would end like so many others. In suicide. Together if Sumomo was blessed. Or her alone when, as this Oda should, he obeys his parents and takes a wife acceptable to them.

She sighed. In the garden outside, twilight was becoming night. A slight wind. "The leaves are whispering one to another. What are they saying?"

Sumomo covered her surprise and began to listen. At length she said, "So sorry, I do not know."

"Listen while I am gone. It is important to know what leaves whisper. Tonight you will stay here, Sumomo. Perhaps I will return, perhaps not. If I do then we will talk some more, and you will tell me. If not we will continue tomorrow and you will tell me then. When Teko comes back to prepare the futons tell her I want you both to compose a haiku." She thought a moment and then smiled.

"A haiku about a snail."

"Hello, Koiko," Yoshi said listlessly.

His back was to the wall, his hand near his sword and he wore a yukata of purple silk.

Outwardly he appeared calm but she saw through him and knew him to be lonely, frightened and in need of other skills.

Her smile was enough to brighten the blackest day.

At once she saw his eyes soften. Good, first hurdle. "Now," she said, with pretended gravity, "I have a poem for you: "It is not easy To be sure which End is which of A resting snail!"

His laugh resounded around the room.

Good, second hurdle. "I'm so pleased you allowed me to come to Kyoto with you." His eyes took on the other glow and her soul warmed.

Instinctively she changed what she was going to say, that he was so handsome in the flickering night lights. Instead she said what was deep within her: Those were sad times When, without you, I watched days come up And go down again.

She was kneeling opposite him and he reached out and caught her hand. No need for words. For him or for her. Now he was at peace, tension gone, loneliness gone and all fear. And she was at peace too. So much energy expended to take him out of himself. So much revealed. Unwise to reveal so much.

You are very important to me, he was saying without saying it, speaking as lovers will.

You do me too much honor, she replied with a tiny frown. Then her fingers, delicately caressing the back of his hand said, I adore thee.

Eyes locked with eyes. She raised his hand and brushed her lips against it. Silence gripping them, beginning to hurt, hurting and then in one swift movement, she slipped over to his side and embraced him tightly. Her laugh trilled.

"Too much serious is bad for me, Tora-chan!" She hugged him again, nestling into his embrace. "You make me so happy."

"Ah, no more than I," he murmured, glad the tension was broken so nicely. "You are adored and so are your poems."

"The one about the snail was by Kyorai."

He laughed. "It is by Koiko the Lily!

Is, not was."

Again she nestled closer, enjoying his warmth and strength. "I nearly died when I heard about this morning."

"Life," he said simply. "I should have been more prepared but I was fascinated by the street."

He told her how different it had seemed. "It was a rare experience--the feeling of invisibility --too good not to sample again, however dangerous.

Does the danger add a spice to it? I will experiment in Yedo. At night it would be easier and I will train special guards to accompany me."

"Please excuse me, but I would suggest you partake of that drug sparingly."

"I mean to." His arms held her, both of them comfortable. "It could develop into that, yes, easily."

The room adjoined his sleeping quarters. Like the whole barracks complex it was masculine, with minimum furniture, the tatami first quality but in need of replacement. I won't be displeased to leave this place, he thought. Their ears caught the pad of approaching feet, his hand snaked to his sword hilt. Both of them tensed. "Sire?" a muffled voice said.

"What is it?" Yoshi said.

"So sorry to disturb you, Sire, a letter has just arrived, from Dragon's Tooth."

Without needing to be asked, Koiko went to the side of the door out of the way and stood there on guard. Yoshi readied. "Open the door, sentry," he called out. The door slid opened.

The sentry hesitated seeing Yoshi in a defense-attack position, sword loose in its scabbard. "Give the scroll to Lady Koiko." The sentry obeyed then went away again. When he had reached the end of the corridor and had gone through that door, Koiko closed this one.

She handed him the scroll and knelt in her place opposite. He broke the seal.

The letter from his wife asked after his health and gave news that his sons and the rest of his family were well and looking forward to his return. Then the information began: The prospectors have been travelling diligently with your vassal Misamoto. As yet they have found no gold but report large--the word they used was "huge"--deposits of high quality coal, easy to mine and near the surface. I understand them to say this is "black gold" and could be profitably bartered with the gai-jin for money. They continue to search. We hear Anjo had been made tairo and boasts that you will soon be invited to retire from the Council of Elders. Next, the confidant you visited on the way to Kyoto tells the following: the code word he gave you about an enemy is correct and that a similar plan is ready as the enemy's state policy.

Crimson Sky. So a lightning attack is "State Policy"! Will my agreement with Ogama hold?