by Lila Mina
“Irimi, hmm?” Honda grunted with a frown.
“Yes. With him, my chessboard is brand new, contrary to yours. I can use my foreigner wild card and pretend I ignore the rules binding both of you. He… can’t play exactly by the same book with me. Let’s use this opportunity. Neither of you need to do anything about it, except trust me.”
“I cannot dispute the benefits of such a strategy, but irimi is a suicidal move if timing, placement and speed are not perfect. And you severely underestimate him. Although I may not... forbid you to do it, I will not support your plan.”
Oh, of course you won’t. It’s your way or the highway, right?
Lana and Honda fell into a staring contest and Yuki sighed at their antics.
“Well… we have a few days, don’t we? You have given us a lot to consider, Lana san. My father will be livid when he learns about the baby. Among all of us, you have the strongest position to disclose this information to him. Yes, goshujin sama, she does.” Yuki added with emphasis, seeing her husband’s anger simmering again. “So much will depend on your ability to take out the fire before the whole barrel explodes.”
Lana bowed. “I’m aware of it, Yuki sama. For this, I need to be in a strong position where his need for my expertise will overcome his desire of… retribution. I have a couple of weeks to work on the best way to do it. This will bring us right after obon I guess.”
“Ah, obon…” If possible, Honda turned even sourer. “We haven’t discussed it with you yet, but we have to go the Nakazawa family estate during this holiday. It has been five years since Yuki’s mother’s passing, and her family gathers for a ceremony on the 14th.”
“The timing is unfortunate,” Yuki added with a slight grimace. “But it can’t be helped.”
“Of course. I’ll stay here and rest, it won’t hurt. Usually Gabriella and I go together on vacation, but this year, I’m happy to let her go on her road trip with her boyfriend, and merely… roll around on the tatami.”
Honda’s disapproving stare spoke volume about his thoughts on being idle.
“Roll around on the tatami and come up with the best approach for my meeting, and practice solo aikido, and take care of the garden, and keep the house tidy,” she amended, unable to hide her sarcasm.
Yuki’s melodious laughter cut through the tension and made her companions relax.
“Speaking of Gabriella san,” Yuki said. “Isn’t she coming tomorrow for her introduction to kendo?”
Lana snapped her fingers. “Ah yes, I forgot about that. Well, let me call her and ask her to come next week, it might be better…”
“No, no. This will be nice and welcome. Unless you object, goshujin sama?”
“I suppose you wish to tell her about your pregnancy, Lana san?”
Lana straightened, back on the defensive. “Yes, I do. She is… the closest thing I have to a relative… here.”
“Then let her come tomorrow. I agree we all need a light and pleasant diversion.”
He got up, putting an end to their discussion, and Lana followed suit, eager to go to bed; Yuki remained sitting where she was.
“Goshujin sama...” her soft voice called out.
“Hm, yes?” her husband replied, lost in thought.
“My heartfelt congratulations for this wonderful news. I am delighted for you and pray for the healthy birth of your first born and the safe delivery of its mother.” Yuki said with a deep bow.
Oh, Yuki sama…
Lana’s hand flew to her mouth. Her legs buckled under her as overwhelming emotions choked her; she stared at her companion.
In a daze, Honda took a few steps toward his prostrated wife and kneeled down in front of her. He mirrored her gesture for what seemed an eternity, offering her more humble gratitude than he ought to show her.
To everyone’s acute awareness, her open-hearted acceptance of the disruptive consequences of his acts was anything but self-evident.
For this sacrifice, her husband would always remain in her debt.
9 Teaching New Lessons
The following day, Gabriella rang the estate interphone at 2 pm.
“Hey cara mia, you’re right on time! Let me open the door for you.”
“Actually, I came with my bike. Can you unlock the main gate instead? I’d rather not leave it on the street.”
“No problem, here you go! I’ll be with you in a second, I want to see your new toy.”
Lana stepped outside the house into the alley and whistled in admiration at the sight of the chrome and blue steel Yamaha. “Wow, now that’s what I call a ride! You weren’t pulling my leg, this is a beauty, even to my ignorant eyes.”
“Isn’t it awesome? I’m just in love with it,” Gabriella exclaimed, removing her helmet before unzipping her leather jacket. “Of course, it cost me an arm and a leg, but frankly, I couldn’t pass this chance.”
“For the life of me, I can’t drive something like that, but I hope you will allow me to go with you one day.”
“Anytime! Gosh, what a hot and sunny weekend, I can’t wait to be by the beach. We’ve booked hotels all along the Ise peninsula, but otherwise, we’ll ride wherever we want. It’s going to be beautiful.”
“Good afternoon Gabriella san, how are you? Oh, a 2008 Yamaha Raider? You have great taste.” The two friends turned to see Honda coming from the garden gate, a rake and a plastic bag full of leaves and cut grass in hand.
“Thank you, Sensei. I dare say that at least when it comes to choosing bikes, I know what I’m doing. I hope you’re fine, too.”
Honda joined them and crouched to have a better look at the bike’s engines. “Oh, I am certain you are up-to-date regarding my health status,” he deadpanned. Lana shuffled her feet, embarrassed it was so obvious she shared a lot with her best friend.
“Only up to what propriety allows, of course,” Gabriella lied with a falsely demure tone. Lana stifled a groan at her teasing.
“This is a relief, nothing too scary then. I would not want you to get… shy in my presence.” His wry smirk challenged her.
Lana did a mental facepalm. These two had been playing a game of cat-and-mouse ever since they had met, and they loved to make her squirm.
Gabriella grinned back. “Oh no, don’t worry, it’s hard to make me nervous. Thankfully we didn’t meet during my undergrad years because you would be now.”
This time, Lana groaned aloud and grabbed her friend’s elbow, pulling her toward the house to cut short this slippery conversation.
“Well, I hope you’re ready for some serious sweating today?”
“Hmm, I’m ready to get my ass served, that’s for sure. Wait a second.” Gabriella turned back to Honda who was still admiring her bike. “Sensei, if you want to take it for a ride, please go ahead. The keys are in the ignition.”
“Thank you for your generous offer, but another time. I will be joining you in the dojo. My wife has requested my assistance for performing demonstrations.”
“Oh!” Gabriella exclaimed, her smile a bit less bright. “You also practice kendo?”
“It has been a long time since I did any, but Yuki considers that for what she wants to show you today, my meager skills will be adequate. I am glad to help my sempai,” he said easily.
Lana didn’t believe her ears. “Yuki sama… holds a higher rank than you in kendo?” The vivid image of Honda yielding to his wife’s authority without question made her head swim.
“Yes, I am a second dan while she is a third, as you know. I will be with you in a moment. I have to dispose of this first,” he pointed at the plastic bag.
Flustered for different reasons, the two friends stepped inside the house. “I hope it’s okay if you start right away? Yuki sama has to run a few errands before dinner. Please join us for a meal by the way.”
“It would have been great, but I’m meeting Yoshiro at 7 in Kichijoji and I don’t want to reschedule. We… are going to have a serious talk,” she explained with wiggling eyebrows. “Hopefully this won’t
lead to us cancelling our trip!”
“Oh! That kind of talk? Don’t let me keep you then. But this still leaves plenty of time for you to get crushed and recover. And I need to tell you something.”
Gabriella gave her a piercing look. “You sound very serious.”
“Don’t worry, it’s not bad news, but you know me, it’s always so complicated. There’s not one week going by without a new episode of my drama, right? Well, yesterday was kind of epic.”
“Should I get upset at a certain someone? Should I kick his ass with one of those kendo sticks?”
Lana burst out laughing as they went inside the side room next to the dojo, and she took out the basic training gear Yuki had prepared for their guest.
“No! No need for any ass-kicking today, or at least not his. But thanks for offering. And they’re called shinai, by the way, not ‘sticks’. Now, let me help you with this, Yuki sama showed me how. She hopes one day I will also try kendo.”
“You aren’t joining us?” Gabriella sounded almost disappointed, or maybe stressed at the idea of a one-to-one session with her powerful instructor assisted by her fearsome husband.
“Ah no! Today is just for you, cara mia, but I’ll stay and watch from the side if you don’t mind?”
“Not at all, but no pics please. I’ll have your head if anything leaks out.” Lana pouted in feigned disappointment. Her friend slapped the back of her skull, and both giggled like teenagers.
From the changing room, they saw Yuki step on the tatami and pay her respects to the kamidana. She wore her black kendo armor and carried her men — helmet — on the side; her undergarments were dark blue, and she had pulled her long hair into a simple ponytail, revealing her slender neck. The aura of sheer self-confidence and ability she projected was breathtaking.
Lana heard Gabriella’s hiss of breath and couldn’t repress a smirk. Ah yes, my lady is something. A nice, warm feeling bloomed in her belly.
“Now, don’t go and burn your fingers, all right? Remember, in kendo, you only use your shinai...” She winked and tied a final knot on Gabriella’s armor. Her friend threw her a scalding glare.
“Tsk, I swear she is… too much to handle,” Gabriella muttered.
“Come on, let’s not make her wait any longer. Take a deep breath and focus on her instructions, otherwise you’ll end up knocked out in less than two seconds. When it comes to matters of life or death, it’s amazing how your brain manages to switch to the right priorities,” Lana teased as the two friends left the changing room. “Yuki sama, Gabriella is ready.”
Yuki faced them and still kneeling, bowed in greetings. The brunette hastened to do the same. “Good afternoon Gabriella san. It was such a nice and pleasant surprise to hear about your interest in kendo, I hope I will help you make a decision today. I can also recommend several good dojos in Mitaka area if you wish.”
“Thank you so much for your time, Yuki san, I’m terribly sorry for the imposition,” Gabriella said, flustered.
“Oh no, believe me, the pleasure is all mine. Please come with me to the weapon rack, I’m going to show you first the different sizes of shinai so we can choose the right one for you. Then we will begin with basic body posture, footwork and shinai position.”
Lana sat against the wall, near the entrance of the dojo, and had to bite her tongue to not smile like a fool. Yuki’s voice bordered on husky and reminded her of their intimate moments. What an interesting tango to watch.
Right then, Honda stepped onto the tatami and Lana’s smirk turned into a muted ‘O’ of surprise. Karma was a bitch.
Are you kidding me? How can you do this to me?
Her unbalanced hormones spiked, and she bit her bottom lip hard. If Yuki suited up in her protective gear was deadly attractive and sensual, Honda was a wet dream come true, taken straight from her favorite samurai TV dramas. She had to peel her eyes away from his crouched form covered in black armor, kendogi and hakama as he paid his respects to the dojo. Watching this training session had turned from fun into a slow-burn torture.
Get a grip, girl! Drooling won’t help!
To her chagrin, he sat by her side to put his helmet and gloves on, as he waited for Yuki to call for him. His tanned face and short salt-and-pepper hair were enhanced by the all-black garments. She did her best to hide her nervous fidgeting, but the man never missed a thing.
“What is it? Did you hurt your leg? You cannot sit in seiza anymore?” he grumbled while focusing on his equipment.
“My legs are fine, goshujin sama,” Lana retorted with a low voice, staring at Gabriella fumbling with her shinai. “It is the first time I have seen you and Yuki sama wearing bogu.”
“So? Why would this make you unable to sit properly as you are expected to?”
“It’s… a challenge to handle,” she replied curtly.
There was a lengthy silence. “Duly noted. Now, engage in self-control exercises because the dojo is the last place where you should be distracted by this kind of thoughts.”
Lana barely repressed a snort, remembering where he had first made his move on her. Telling her not to think about this was bound to have the opposite effect. With any chance, he counted on it.
“Stop fidgeting and regulate your breathing. If I see another lapse in control, you will find there is a whole range of severe lessons in self-discipline perfectly suitable for your condition. And no, taking your leave is not an option. Watch and learn,” Honda added before standing up in one smooth move to join Yuki and Gabriella for a first round of demonstration.
Oh, you awful tease... His mind games always left her torn between extreme annoyance and tingling pleasure. Even though her wild imagination pushed her to explore new scenarios, she had to focus on the trio in front of her. She would be in trouble if any of her companions drilled her on technical points afterward… although that prospect probably wasn’t so terrible, come to think of it.
One hour later, after removing her gear, Gabriella caught up with Lana in the hall outside the dojo. Lana smiled at her purple face, covered in sweat.
“My my, cara mia, you might want to take a shower before anything else!”
“Yes please! I’m dying! It’s been ages since I have had to move so much. And those two! Talk about being relentless and unforgiving.”
“Yep, welcome to my world,” Lana said with a playful wink. “Go ahead, use the guest bathroom. It’s more or less mine now. I’ve already brought fresh towels and your bag.”
“Thank you, you’re an angel. Lana, that woman is…” Gabriella trailed off, once again flustered. “I don’t know if I got it right, but she might have made a sort of... move on me? It was so subtle and under the nose of her husband, so I’m really not sure...”
Lana laughed. “Well, she would do it and wouldn’t be shy about it… and he wouldn’t care at all. She is free to pursue her... main brand of interest.”
“For the sake of our friendship, I’ve got to confess my resistance levels are bordering zero with her. It’s awful, I know, I feel so bad about it… Perhaps today wasn’t a good idea at all, and I should have kept away.”
Lana cupped her friend’s cheek. “Cara mia, if two of the people I care the most about in the world want to share something special and have fun together, I won’t stand in the way, or comment.”
Gabriella’s eyes filled with tears and emotion made her cheeks burn even redder. “Oh… no, you don’t have to, you don’t mean it…”
“Of course, I do,” Lana replied with a gentle smile. “If there’s one thing this relationship has taught me is that with the right people, sharing can be even more rewarding than keeping everything for yourself. Hush now, take a shower, take your time! Join me after you’re done, because I need to talk with you.”
Amused by her friend’s emotional turmoil, a fond smile on her lips, Lana headed to their home office to pick up filing supplies.
To her surprise, Honda was there. Except for his helmet and gloves set aside on his desk, he still had his kendo ge
ar on. He was waiting for the fax machine to finish spitting out a few pages, dabbing rivulets of sweat on his face and neck with a hand towel. The late afternoon sun inundated the room as the shoji — rice paper sliding panels — were open. Honda hadn’t turned the A/C on, and the air was almost suffocating.
“Oh, my apologies, I didn’t think you would be here. I’ll come back later.”
“No, come in. This is for you actually.” He handed her two fax pages. “A booking confirmation, between August 14th and 17th.”
Lana blinked, taken aback. “Uh, a hotel reservation?”
“Yes, this establishment is only a one-hour drive from the Nakazawa estate, on the coast. We will drop you there on our way and join you for two nights after the ceremony is over. We… have no wish to stay longer than necessary this year.”
“Well, this sounds wonderful and exciting…” Lana looked at the document and frowned. “My apologies, but you already paid for everything! A last-minute booking during obon in a hotel like this, the price is outrageous. I really wish to cover my share. I can pay for my holidays.”
Honda waved his hand impatiently. “I am aware of it, but this is a… gift both of us would like to offer you. I realize — or rather, Yuki made me realize last night — that you should be idle and take things slow for a while. This entire situation is certainly exhausting for you. We all need a few days of rest anyway. So, accept it as such.”
Lana quirked an eyebrow. Only you can make a gift and a five-star romantic holiday plan sound like a chore and an obligation.
She took a deep bow. “Well, seen from this perspective, thank you very much for this kind attention, goshujin sama. Please excuse me...”
A stack of clear files in hand, she turned to leave when his fingers tugged at her sleeveless, pale gray chiffon dress. It was her favorite knee-length summer robe, loose enough around her chest to allow her body to breathe in the hot and sticky heat.
“Tsk. Our conversation of yesterday is not over yet,” he muttered as he invaded her personal sphere in all his armored glory. “There are several points I need to drive home as you seem oblivious of them… or worse, willing to discard them. But I cannot figure out whether it is out of defiance, or recklessness. For your sake, I hope it is the latter.”
