After an hour, I stood next to Akemi, who was giggling in the company of other women. I was watching Shina approaching us slowly. When she got close, she looked at Akemi sideways.
“You could have told me what your party was going to wear,” she hissed at me.
“I didn't know myself.”
“What do you mean, you didn't know? Didn't you ask her, silly?”
“Well, I forgot, okay? Don't start. I had enough of that before I got here.”
“I don't think so. We spent so much time, and for what? There were so many other options. I could have... we could have picked out that dark blue kimono. Or that black one with...”
“Shina, baby, please let's not go there. It's already too late. Your outfit is immaculate. Yukata goes well with anything.”
“Amateur's opinion,” the girl finished and sighed. “Yukata is... ah, you're not worth talking to. Okay, tell me about the people that came with you.”
“They're just people. She's my acquaintance, and he's my subordinate.”
“Shinji, I wanna know more! I just realized that I know nothing about your life outside the neighborhood. It'd be okay if you were a regular schoolboy, but you always bring a beautiful woman with you to receptions,” at the end, she sounded somewhat offended. “You could have invited me for once. Come on, tell me!”
What a child.
“Taro is my subordinate. He's a jack of all trades, as they say. I just wanted to take him out, so people would start getting used to seeing him with me. Akemi is just an acquaintance. We go to the same club. She wouldn't be here if not for her book business and my tiff with Chesuje.”
“Well, okay,” Shina said quietly. “Oh, look, that's Mizuki's fiancé.”
What?
“A fiancé? Mizuki's?” I stared at the girl.
Then I stared at the blond guy, who was about my age. He was wearing a kimono.
“Wow. Since when is he her fiancé?”
“Three years now.”
Holy crap.
“Why am I discovering this just now?”
“So what? He's a fiancé. That's it. What's so special about it? You've never asked.”
Ay, caramba! Actually, she's right. I didn’t even know that they were a clan until recently. Not that I care much, but this is very unexpected.
“Ho, ho. What bloodline does he belong to?”
“Ours. He's my second cousin, I told you about him. You might have seen their youngest girl.”
Geez... What's wrong with them? Oh, that's right—she's been adopted. Hm. In that case, it's okay.
“He kind of looks like Taro. How old is he?”
“Sixteen. I don't think he looks like him at all. Maybe just the hair.”
“As you say. I’ve never seen him around school.”
“He goes to Shirubariri,” Shina said, indulging in a cake that she grabbed from the table.
Shirubariri? Is that the one dominated by the military? Interesting choice. This guy, apparently, had three more brothers and a sister. I wonder if they are here? Actually, it's not important.
“What does Mizuki think of all of this?”
“What do you mean? What is she supposed to think? Renzhiro is a fine fiancé, and much better than someone you have never seen. Father and grandpa wouldn’t suggest a bad fiancé.”
Hm, that's definitely foreign to me—not caring about who you're going to have for a spouse. However, her words actually make sense. At least, she knows this cousin. I wonder if Mizuki was their flesh and blood, would it be okay for her to marry a second cousin? What is her bloodline, by the way?
“What's Mizuki's bloodline?” I asked Shina.
Seeing how this question made her uncomfortable, I decided to follow up with another one.
“Didn't her parents have a coat of arms?”
The girl had just inhaled enough air to answer my first question, and then almost choked from my second one.
“Are you okay?”
I did not foresee what was going to happen next. Shina looked at me very seriously, addressing me in a tone of voice I’ve never heard from her before.
“Never, Shinji, you can never raise this topic again in the presence of my family.”
Wow, what's the big deal?
“Mizuki is the last survivor of her clan,” after a minute of silence, she continued, “from the ruling bloodline of the destroyed clan.”
“What does that have to do with... I don't get it.”
“Shh. Her clan was destroyed by Koyama.”
Good heavens! They have some huge skeletons in their closets.
“Does Mizuki know?”
“Yes. I'm begging you, Shinji, leave it alone. I wasn't born yet, but even I get shivers thinking about it. Just believe me, the Koyama had their reasons to destroy them,” the girl shook her head. “The war started one year prior to my birth. It lasted twelve years and ended after the adoption of the survivor of the ruling bloodline. Horrible things are told about her. Mizuki... Dad said he just couldn't... Well, you know.”
Oh-ho-ho. I don't even want to think about the things the younger Koyama had to go through or what is going through her head. One thing for sure—I've never noticed any venom in her. Anyway, her family would know better.
“Okay, let's drop it. I get it and I’m not going to stick my nose where it doesn't belong. Hey,” I changed the subject, “do you have a fiancé too?”
“Pfft. No, I don't,” Shina got a little flushed. “As long as father has no heir, there is no hurry.”
“Your parents are too young, so that's still possible in the future.”
“I hope so,” she rumbled in response. “I hope it's soon enough. They'll definitely start looking for a significant other for me as soon as I turn eighteen. When they find one, they'll no longer think about a brother for me. Okay, I have to go see other guests.”
Perhaps, I should go make some friends too. Oh! Lordy, lord! Chesuje!
“Ladies,” I went up to Akemi's company. “Can I steal my friend from you? I want her to meet someone.”
“Sure, sure,” one of the women said, smiling leniently.
Apparently, my words, uttered by a teenager, sounded funny. It was a bit unpleasant but expected.
“Where else would you make acquaintances if not during receptions like this one?”
Is that such an exquisite insult? Meaning that I am here only thanks to Koyama and can make connections only thanks to them? Am I paranoid?
“Anywhere, miss. It's not about the reception,” I answered somewhat coldly.
After exchanging bows, I led Akemi away from them, and we started making our way towards Chesuje, taking the long way.
“I'd be careful, Shin, if I were you. Women are more dangerous than men nowadays,” Akemi said out of the blue.
“You think I may forget?” I replied, looking at her. “They might underestimate the enemy, too. Why don't you tell me why you don't like Chesuje very much? I always forget to ask you. I understand that he's your competitor, but based on what I'm seeing you loathe him more than you loathe your competitors.”
“He stands in the way of my business, but that's expected. The problem is that he had an opportunity to beat me, so he established certain limits, which I'm not allowed to cross. What especially sucks is that I can't go either way now. He even helped me when I was in a really crappy situation. It's as if I'm his toy.”
“If you were a man, he would have driven you into bankruptcy a long time ago.”
“That's what sucks even more. He told me that he's going to play with me until he gets sick of it,” she said in an offended voice. “I'm not his woman! He should play with his own women.”
At the moment when we caught Chesuje, he and the woman he was with were headed towards the table with fish appetizers.
“Chesuje-san, nice to see you!” I exclaimed.
“Oh, Sakurai,” he turned to us and glanced at Akemi. “I see that you're making some shady acquaintances.”
“I don'
t understand what you're talking about, but anyway, I don't think I have to introduce my guest.”
“The only criminal boss-lady in Japan? No, you don't have to.”
“Boss?” I copped out. “You are wrong. This dear young lady can't possibly have anything to do with criminals.”
“That's your problem, Sakurai.”
“I don't see any problem, Chesuje, only benefits.”
“You must have good vision, young man. Or on the contrary...”
“Time will tell, Chesuje-san. For now, I'm going to enjoy this wonderful reception and these scrumptious hors-d'oeuvres. Mmm,” I shook my head, putting a fish ring into my mouth. “Salmon. I read it's a very healthy choice of fish in terms of diet. By the way, I decided to start a book business. Could you give me some pointers?”
“Ask your lady,” he said through his teeth. “Many years in the business, after all.”
“You have been in the business even longer. That's why I'm asking you.”
“This is a complex business, Sakurai, and competitors aren't tolerated in it,” this was a hint, I thought.
“I'll take the risk. Risk is a very noble thing.”
“Then you shouldn't take it definitely,” now I was reminded of my origin.
“Just to prevent you from losing more than your ancestral lands.”
Take that, jerk.
To my dirty crack, Chesuje just squinted his eyes. I respected that.
“I got lucky,” he almost hissed.
Was that a hint to keep away from danger? He shouldn't have.
“To each their own. For example, I had bad luck when I was born a commoner in the middle of the Koyama neighborhood.”
Now I was hinting at the fact that he wouldn’t get away cleanly if something happened to me. What did he think? That I wouldn’t take advantage of the current situation?
“In my clan, this wouldn't fly,” this was a hint that he was provided protection as well, and Koyama would not start a war because of me.
“What can I say? Life is an incomprehensible thing,” I meant, anything could happen.
Who's going to check?
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
I will.
“People value stability and do not like to take risks.”
The bad part is that the clan won't support you.
“That's right, young man. That's right.”
And you won't be backed up by Koyama.
“What can be more stable than books? I think it's worth it to give it a try. I'll start the business, and my children will continue it.”
That had a double meaning too referring to the distant prospect of my death, clans’ interference, and me getting to him before he could get to me.
“Yes, try it, Sakurai, try it.”
“Kagami-san did an excellent job with the reception, as usual,” I said, picking up another fish ring. “Well, Chesuje-san, it was nice chatting with you, but we gotta go. We still have a lot of people to talk to.”
Five minutes later, we stood by yet another table, a vegetarian dream. Akemi immediately picked up a tomato stuffed with something.
“I would take such pleasure in squeezing out his guts,” she said viciously, holding the vegetable in front of her eyes.
“Calm down, Akemi. What’s gotten into you? Are you going to eat or squash that tomato?”
“Could he attack?” She asked and put the tomato into her mouth. “Mmm!”
“Tasty, huh? No, he won't attack. Not directly anyway. He's not a fool to challenge me and see for sure if Koyama will back me up or not.”
“Will they?” The woman asked, looking at me.
She was gleaming with curiosity.
“Who knows, Akemi? Who knows?”
“Shinji!”
“I think they will. But not directly. No one is going to start a clan war because of me. Especially after I die.”
She took a wine glass off the tray being carried around by a waiter and gave me a serious look.
“Let's not talk about death today. Let's have a drink instead.”
Ten minutes later Mizuki came up to us.
“Nakata-san,” she bowed to Akemi, after which she turned to me. “Shinji, father wants you for something. I can answer your question right away: I don't know for what.”
“No assumptions?”
“How am I supposed to know what he wants from you? He asked me to tell you to come see him, and I did. Shinji-i-i.,” it seemed that she was going to say something silly, but then restrained herself. “Father is in the house right now. Ask one of the servants, and they'll take you to him.”
I looked around the yard and saw Kagami, who was talking to Rydon's brother. Chesuje wasn't anywhere around.
“I'm gonna go,” I told Akemi and nodded towards Kagami. “If you need anything, go to Kagami. Praise her cooking skills and she’ll do anything to protect you.”
“Go. I am a big girl. I'll figure it out on my own.”
Damn it, I didn't want to leave her there by herself.
“Goodness gracious, Shinji, have you forgotten that this is not my first reception with aristocrats? Trust me, everything will be alright. Go now.”
Akeno was in the western part of the house, in a small room with a coffee table in the middle. When I entered, he was drinking something from a clay bowl.
“Hello, Akeno-san,” I greeted him.
“Oh, Shinji, have a seat. You gotta try this,” he said, filling a second bowl with liquid out of a black bottle with Indian wording on it. “Chandrama ven is a very, VERY, rare nectar from India. I was given two bottles today.”
For the next five minutes, we silently appreciated the greatness of the drink. When our bowls were emptied, Akeno filled them again and started the conversation.
“Perhaps, you will find this reason insignificant, but I invited you to talk, and it'll make me feel better if we do.”
“I'm listening, Akeno-san.”
“It's about your guest, Shinji. You probably realize by now that my father and I know some things about her. What do you know about Nakata Akemi? Wait, let me rephrase. Do you know that your acquaintance is a criminal boss?” The man asked not with tension, but rather clarity in his voice.
He wanted to have a straight talk with me and I didn't mind. I could have, of course, denied everything and said that I had no idea. However, while we were at it, why not? I assumed this could be a possible outcome, which would actually make things a little easier in the future, and I wouldn’t have to watch my words so closely. Plus, I didn’t like lying to this man. That would just put another brick in the wall of distrust between us.
The pause was getting too long, and I had to answer with something.
“Yes, I know. I’ve known about it since I met her for the first time.”
“Why are you dealing with her then?” Akeno sounded a bit relieved.
“We had similar interests,” I noticed that the man raised his eyebrow, so I added, “Chesuje. We both don't like him.”
“You don't like him so much that you're ready to start a war with him? With the head of a wealthy aristocratic bloodline?”
“You're exaggerating, Akeno-san. There will be no war. I don’t need a war just like he doesn’t—extra expenses and all that.”
“Why even start anything then?”
“He started to mess with me. For now, it's little things, but it's just the beginning. I called him out on it. That's it.”
“Your actions are dangerous, Shinji. He won't leave you alone now if what you're saying is right. It's okay though. We'll think of something. Tell me, what's the point in all this for Nakata? Don't you think you might be used?”
“Heh,” I couldn't help but smile. “I’ll start at the beginning. I'll be honest with you, Akeno-san. Without Chesuje, I would have found a different aristocrat. I don't need to be involved in a war right now, but that applies to just right now. I've got my life planned for many years to come, and a war with an aristocratic bloodline was
in this plan. I needed to keep Chesuje agitated, but I'm not prepared for the war just yet.”
I pondered for a moment and continued.
“Interestingly, had Yamashita not lost his company, I wouldn't have become the man about town and would be now just preparing to target some aristo. But everything happened much sooner, and here I am. The plan shifted by two years, and now I have to work at an accelerated pace. If you're interested as to why I need this conflict, I'll explain. It's actually pretty clear. I need fame, reputation, and resources that I will gobble up together with my opponent.”
“Be careful not to gag,” Akeno said seriously.
“That's possible too,” I sighed. “With risks come profit. I don't feel like spending decades to achieve my goals, which are pretty simple—at least the first part—to gain as much as possible. Having goals like these assumes multiple risks.”
“Instead of all this,” Akeno cut in, “you could have just expressed your wishes. In the Koyama clan, you could have...”
“I Don't. Obey. Anyone,” I raised my voice. “I'm sorry. This is my path. Okay, let’s move on. What was next on the agenda? Oh yeah, Nakata Akemi. She won't walk away empty-handed, believe me. However, I can't tell you what exactly she'll gain from it. It is not my secret that I promised to keep. No, I don't think I'm being used. Vice versa. That's all. Any other questions?”
“Not today,” he shook his head. “That's overwhelming enough. I have to think everything through.”
“Ask your questions if you need to. I'll answer if I can. I'd better go for now. My criminal boss-lady is getting lonely there.”
I walked out to the yard and took a deep breath. Despite the spontaneity of the conversation, or rather my honesty, it was all quite bearable. Sooner or later, it would have happened. Moreover, I was going to arrange an evening of coming out with my plans, anyway. Relatively speaking, of course. It wasn't going to happen until it was time to ask for a coat of arms, though. Now I had to find Akemi and Taro and get out of there before something else happened.
I found my “pocket boss” in the company of Sean, Rydon's elder brother. At the moment, she was smiling sweetly like the good listener she pretended to be. Why pretended? Because she always had her palms crossed on her hips when she was ignoring the words of the other person. I knew this “Yep, yep, sure” pose all too well.
Losing Masks Page 8
