19

Shigeru now came from the castle every day around dusk. They ate and talked or played Go, which Shigeru had learned from childhood and was now reasonably skilled at; he taught Akane and she grasped the game quickly and intuitively and came to love its intricate and implacable essence. Usually after they made love, he returned to his own apartments; occasionally he stayed with her for the whole night. He did this rarely, for it was then that he felt most in danger of falling in love with her, in the surrender of self that came with falling asleep in her arms and waking in the night and in the early morning to make love again.

Usually after staying the night he would go away for several days; there were always matters to attend to: he wanted to keep an eye on the borders, visit Tsuwano with Kitano Tadao to reinforce that family’s loyalty, oversee the harvest in his mother’s estate across the river-as well as the everyday affairs of the clan, in which he now immersed himself. He tried not to think of her during that time. But he did not want to sleep with anyone else, and when he returned, his heart thumped with as much excitement as on their first night.

He frequently visited his mother at her house by the river to tell her what he was doing with the fields and forests that belonged to her. She came from a high-rank family: her brothers had died within months of each other, leaving no children; the estate had passed to their sister to be held for her sons. The castle possessed many other lands, but this estate was especially dear to Shigeru: it seemed to belong to him personally, and it was here that he could put into practice all he had learned from Eijiro’s writings, which he still kept with him. His mother said nothing about his arrangement with Akane, though she could hardly be ignorant of it-Akane had made sure the whole city knew of her new elevated status, with all the honor and prestige it entailed. However, some time after the house under the pine trees was finished, around the middle of the eleventh month, when the first frosts were beginning to silver the rice stubble, Lady Otori announced to Shigeru that she intended to move to the castle.

“Why?” he said, astonished, for she had often expressed pleasure at the warmth and comfort of her house compared to the castle in winter.

“I feel it is my duty to take my place there and to look after Takeshi and yourself, especially if you are to be married.”

“I am to be married?” He had known, of course, that this would happen sooner or later but had not been told of any firm arrangements.

“Well, not immediately, but you turn seventeen next year, and there is a very suitable young woman. I have been discussing it with Ichiro and with Lord Irie. They have broached the subject with your father, and he is inclined to give the match his approval.”

“I hope she is from the Otori,” he said. “I do not want my wife selected from the Tohan.”

He had spoken lightly, partly joking. His mother pursed her lips and looked sideways; when she spoke, her voice was lowered.

“Of course she is from the Otori-from one of the oldest families. And she is a relative of mine: her father is a distant cousin. I agree with you, the Tohan have no right to decide whom you will marry…”

“Surely everyone is agreed on that?”

“I’m afraid your uncles are of the opinion that a political marriage might prevent further difficulties with the Tohan. Apparently the Iida have a girl in mind.”

“Absolutely not!” Shigeru replied. “I will not be married to anyone from the Tohan-above all, not to anyone chosen by the Iida.”

“Lord Irie said this would be your reaction. Of course, I have to follow my eldest son’s wishes and my husband’s. But to avoid misunderstandings, the betrothal might take place before the Iida make a formal request. That way they will not appear to be insulted.”

“If that is your desire, I will obey you and my father,” Shigeru replied.

“YOUR MOTHER is jealous of me,” Akane exclaimed when Shigeru told her about this conversation.

“Jealous of you? She did not even mention you!”

“She is afraid of my influence over you. She is moving to establish herself within the castle so she can influence the selection of your wife, and after your marriage the girl herself. Who is she, by the way?”

“She is some distant relative. I forgot to ask her name.”

“I suppose you will always act with such indifference,” Akane said. “Truly, the women of your class have wretched lives.”

“I am sure I will respect her, and we will have children, of course.” It was a cold night, and Akane had ordered the rice wine to be warmed. Now she called for another flask and filled his cup; he filled hers in return and she drank it in one gulp.

“Something has upset you?” he said as he filled her cup again.

“What will become of me when you are married?”

“I imagine our arrangement will continue.” He smiled at her. “If you want it to, of course. If you don’t, this house is yours, as long as you are discreet.”

“Discreet? What does that mean?”

“I cannot bear the thought of another man here,” he admitted, surprised himself by the sudden pain the idea gave him.

“You see, no one is immune to jealousy, not even warriors!” Akane said with an air of triumph. “You must have come to care for me!”

“I think you know that,” he replied. “And do you care enough for me to be jealous of my wife?”

“Don’t joke about jealousy,” she said, drinking again. “I’ve seen women driven insane by it, by the casual behavior of men they’ve fallen in love with. Love affairs are just a distraction for men. For women, they are our whole life.”

“Have you ever been in love, Akane?”

“No, nor do I intend to be!” She saw a look of disappointment flash briefly across his face. We are all the same, she thought. We want to be loved yet will not fall ourselves.

“What about the man called Hayato?”

“Hayato was very kind to me when my father died.”

“He is said to be driven out of his mind by his love for you.”

“Poor Hayato,” Akane said. “If I had not come to your attention, then I would be living with him now.”

The wine had made her speak with honesty, yet she saw that she had displeased him and regretted saying so much.

“It is better that neither of us fall in love,” said Shigeru, the coldness that she feared returning.

“Lord Shigeru, you are young, forgive me for pointing it out. I am older than you-three years older; I propose we make a pact. We will not fall in love, but we will try not to give each other cause for jealousy. You have to marry; you have to have children. You must treat your wife with honor. But I also have certain claims on you now, and I expect you to honor them.”

He was surprised by her seriousness and found himself admiring her. The lamplight accentuated her cheekbones: something about the strength of her face reminded him of the woman from the Hidden who had spoken to him as if she were his equal.

He had little knowledge of what made a marriage. His own parents lived separate lives, and he had barely spoken to his uncles’ wives, who lived in the deep interior of the castle with their attendants and servants. He cast his mind around further and suddenly remembered Otori Eijiro and his wife: there had been affection and respect between them, and the woman and her daughters had moved freely and on equal terms with the men. It is the influence of the Maruyama, Eijiro had said, and then had told him about Lady Naomi.

“What are you thinking?” Akane said, surprised by his long silence.

“Of marriage, of what happens between men and women; of Maruyama, where they say women have greater freedom.”

“Maruyama will go the way of all the other great domains,” Akane said. “And Naomi will be the last female head of the clan.”