Feeling guilty again, Akitada sat. He told Kosehira of his visit to the merchant Fumi and his suspicions regarding the old murder case.
Kosehira nodded. “I know that old Chinese tale. I bet Taira Sukenori knew it, too.”
“Even if he didn’t, he could have arrived at some such offer. Their children were the right ages and genders.”
“Yes. I see.”
They fell silent as a servant brought in the food. Neither ate with much appetite.
Akitada put down his bowl first and gave Kosehira a beseeching look. “You have been more than kind, you and your family. I’ll never forget this visit.” There was a greater truth to that than Kosehira would ever realize. “Will you please make my goodbyes to your ladies and the children?” He choked a little, and added quickly, “You are a very lucky man.”
Kosehira looked at him sadly. “Thank you, Akitada. I know it well. It was my hope that you, too … well, it was my intention of taking you out of your sadness. Perhaps I have succeeded a little. But, Akitada, you need a wife. You cannot at your age continue like this. It isn’t fair to your children or to yourself. I hope you’ll forgive me for speaking so frankly. I am your closest friend and have your best interests in mind.”
Akitada glanced away. “I know. I don’t know what to tell you. I’m no longer young. And Tamako is still too much with me.”
“Well,” said Kosehira briskly, “so be it. You’ll take your time, but I insist that you come back here frequently. My tenure as governor will be up in another year and I may be sent to the ends of the earth then. So please come to see me often while we are close, and I’ll stop by your house also when I’m in the capital.”
They both rose. Akitada said, “I will, brother,” and embraced Kosehira.
On the way out, Kosehira said, “I’ll convey your farewells to Yukiko. She’ll miss seeing you before you go.”
Akitada stopped. “I … I had occasion to speak to Lady Yukiko. In the garden. The other morning.” Recalling the impropriety of that meeting, he added, “We met by accident. Briefly.” He knew his face had turned red and hoped Kosehira had not noticed.
Kosehira’s lip twitched. “I see. Well, then.” He took Akitada’s arm and they walked outside. “Have a safe journey.”
Akitada saw that an armed escort of mounted guards waited. He stopped. “Not for me, I hope?”
“Of course they are for you. Really, Akitada, you’re too important a man to travel alone, especially when carrying a report of the type you have prepared for His Majesty.”
Akitada saw the sense of that and expressed his thanks. Mounting the horse they brought for him, he thanked Kosehira again and rode away in great pomp and circumstance.
∞
The Sugawara home, slightly shabby and ever in need of repairs, received him, if not with the luxuries he had become accustomed to, at least with the warmth of familiarity and the joyful cries of the children. Akitada passed around some silver to his escort and dismissed them.
Then he dismounted, returned Genba’s happy smile, waved to Tora, and scooped up his children for a hug. They were full of questions and stories, but acquiesced when Tamako’s little maid came to take them away. Tora waited to greet him.
Akitada searched his face and decided that the rest had done him some good. He still looked drawn and tired, but his eyes were less dull and he flashed his usual smile.
“Welcome, sir. We didn’t expect you until the end of the week.”
Yes, that had been the plan before his foolish desire for a lovely young girl had sent him rushing away. “We finished yesterday,” he said in explanation and without mentioning that he had worked long hours to be done so soon. “I’ve missed my family,” he said, hoping to cheer himself up.
“What? His Excellency, the governor, and his lovely daughter haven’t been able to detain you?” Tora teased.
Akitada turned away. “I have work to do here. Where’s Saburo?”
“He’s coming. Twisted an ankle so he’s a bit slow these days.”
Akitada looked and saw Saburo making his way toward him on two crutches. “That looks bad,” he said. “Are you sure it’s just a minor thing?”
“Oh, yes.”
Akitada hastened to meet Saburo to save him some painful steps. “Are you going to be all right, Saburo?” he asked, searching his face. He thought he looked feverish, but with all that facial hair and makeup it was hard to tell.
Saburo grimaced. “Welcome home, sir. Sorry, I twisted my foot. It will make me a tad slower than usual. I’ll be ready to go over the accounts or take down any letters you may want to send.”
“Yes. Actually I do have some business to take care of. Take your time. I’ll have a bath and change first.
Saburo hobbled off in the direction of the main house. Akitada shook his head and remarked to Tora, “How will he manage the stairs?”
They watched as Saburo made his way up, hopping on one leg and holding both crutches in one hand while the other clutched the stair rail.
Tora released a breath. “There. He made it. You can trust Saburo to do what is needed.”
“Yes, but he seems very badly off for just having twisted an ankle.” Akitada shook his head again. “How is everything else? Has anything happened I should know about?”
“All is well, sir.” Tora smiled. “We’re glad you’re back.”
∞
The rest of the day passed uneventfully. Akitada spent time with the children and exchanged a few words with the women. Hanae was her old cheerful self, and Mrs. Kuruda had her usual complaints.
“I don’t know, sir,” she said almost immediately after greeting him, “I do my best to keep my eye on things, but it isn’t easy. Yoshi fell out of a tree and scraped his arm, Yasuko doesn’t seem to take any interest in learning to sew, and my clumsy son twists his ankle and won’t let me put hot compresses on it. Sometimes I think nobody pays any attention to what I tell them.”
Akitada said soothingly, “I’m sure they all benefit from your wisdom, Mrs. Kuruda.”
She sniffed and bustled off to see about his dinner, no doubt much to the dismay of the cook.
In his study, Akitada went over the accounts with Saburo. His salary had continued during his special assignment and his people had managed so well in his absence that he had more money than when he left. He praised Saburo and then dismissed him to rest his leg.
After a midday meal, which he took with the children, he changed into his good robe and carried his report to the Daidairi where he delivered it to the prime minister’s secretary. Afterward, he called on Fujiwara Kaneie in the Ministry of Justice.
The minister was very pleased to see him. No doubt work that was beyond Kaneie and any of the others in the ministry had stacked up in his absence. But Kaneie had the good manners to enquire about Akitada’s work in Otsu and received a copy of the report with great interest.
“Well,” he said with a smile, “I knew you’d put a stop to the greed of those monks. I hope you made your comments suitably strong. They have too many supporters at court.”
Akitada nodded. “I agree and I think I made it quite strong enough. Though it was mainly their misdeeds that made my case.”
“Excellent.” Kaneie eyed the fat report with a slight frown. “Good work as always. And we’ll be very glad to have you back, but no need to start today. Take the weekend off. You deserve a rest.”
It was afternoon by then and weekends were always days of rest, but Akitada expressed his thanks and departed before Kaneie could change his mind.
His next visit was to his friend Nakatoshi in the Ministry of Ceremonial. Nakatoshi cocked his head and eyed him. “I notice a new energy in your bearing. Is this entirely due to a chore well done or have you by chance met a pretty lady?”
Akitada laughed and blushed. “No, no,” he lied. “But I did come across some interesting murders.”