Temper Dread: Book Two of the TEMPER Saga

by Lila Mina

  New Year was a highly important family festivity, like Christmas in the West. Lana’s curiosity was piqued, and her next words tumbled out of her mouth without thinking.

  “Oh, you still have your mother, goshujin sama—”

  Honda pinned her with a stare that reminded her of bad days at the dojo, before turning back to Yuki, with a sour but resolute face.

  “I will answer tomorrow.” He took a deep breath. “I have decided we would go. All of us.” Yuki’s eyes widened but she held her tongue.

  “It would be foolish and risky to wait until the child is born before informing her of our situation. We are already taking the risk she learns it from someone else. It is time she meets Lana san and learns of our decisions. I do not expect her to be pleased with us, though.”

  “Well then, I’ll let you call her to inform her we’ll come with a guest. You shouldn’t say more. This isn’t something to discuss over the phone.”

  “Indeed not.” Honda turned to Lana. “We will talk about this again later, Lana san. This will be even more challenging than with Nakazawa sama. Otoh sama is a ruthless but pragmatic man who can see where his direct interests lie. My mother is an 86 year-old lady who is the head of our family and a strict follower of our most ancient traditions. She is not fond of outsiders, and even less of foreigners. I have no doubt she will call me extremely selfish and will attempt to make me relent at all costs. You will also be the focus of her… discontent.”

  A surge of annoyance shot through Lana. Butting heads with a sour granny. It’s going to be so much fun.

  “I see. Well, we’ll do our best to make her see the merits of the situation, won’t we?”

  “Yes, we will. You will have also the opportunity to meet other members of my family.”

  “Do you expect the same level of resistance from everyone?”

  Yuki huffed and piped in. “Oh, many won’t care at all, others will merely follow okaa sama’s opinion, while the rest will put all of us severely to the test.”

  Lana’s eyebrow shot up at the obvious sarcasm in Yuki’s voice and she wondered at the background story there. A look at Honda’s aggravated face told her she’d better keep quiet.

  “Yuki san, it would be wise to control this witty tongue of yours when we are there and keep your reflections to yourself. I should not have to care about it on top of the rest.” His wife bowed her head, but Lana could see the soft upturn pulling at the corner of her lips.

  Honda growled and pointed a finger at Lana. “Of course, this applies especially to you. That attitude of yours? Even though she will directly challenge you and it will not be pleasant, make sure to keep it strictly in check.”

  Lana bowed her head in acceptance although his warning irritated her. But it was hard not to snicker. It wasn’t as if the man didn’t have a short temper and ego to match, and it was a universal truth mothers pushed all your buttons at once, whatever your age. A side look at Yuki’s hyper controlled face told her she was of the same mind.

  “My apologies, but given the circumstances and possible backlash, shouldn’t we meet your honored mother when the whole family isn’t there? Would this not be easier for us to see her before, or right after oshogatsu?”

  Yuki shook her head vehemently. “No, no! It is best not to be at the center of her… undivided attention for this. Everyone will come with their smaller or larger problems — Aiko chan’s struggles with her final high school semester, Kentaro kun’s failing marriage, Sawa san’s bad health condition, and other similar issues. With any chance, something even bigger will be the main topic of those three days and our… arrangement will not make so many waves.”

  Honda threw Yuki a wry look. “This is wishful thinking Yuki san, but indeed, it is best to do it in that context, despite having to face everyone’s opinion all at once.”

  “I understand. Well, at least, it will be done, and this bridge will be burned.”

  Honda stood up. “I will be on my way now and will be back at around 10 pm.” Both women saw him out. When the door closed behind him, Lana sighed.

  “When you have time, Yuki sama, would you mind briefing me somehow on goshujin sama’s relatives? It looks like we’re about to step into a minefield, and I’d like to better understand who is who, who will be a possible ally or at least not a direct threat, etc. I’m sure he’ll give me useful information, but I’d appreciate your input, too.”

  A fresh cup of tea in hand, Yuki sat down with a nod. “Yes, you certainly need more perspective than what he can offer you. Not only about okaa sama, but also his two sisters, their spouses and even their children as they are now adults, some with children themselves. If I can help you avoid many of the pitfalls I faced in the early years of our marriage, I’ll be more than happy to do so. No family is ever easy, but goshujin sama’s…”

  Lana didn’t hide her surprise. “You had a hard time? With your background and your arranged marriage? How could anyone challenge your position?”

  A sad smile on her lips, Yuki sighed. “Not at the beginning, but things changed when I miscarried three times, and four different doctors told me to stop trying if I didn’t want to die. This was three years after our wedding.”

  Lana recoiled and grimaced in sympathetic pain. “My apologies, I didn’t mean to make you—”

  “Tsk, don’t fret, it’s only a fact. In the eye of okaa sama, my position was severely weakened. Goshujin sama refused to divorce. She couldn’t order him to do so, because of the strategic sensitivity of our marriage, although the reason would have been valid enough, even in court. But there were other subtle ways to make me feel less valuable and welcome, and many relatives didn’t waste time to fall in line behind her. Now time has gone by, and things have settled down a little. It is no longer a chore to go there for oshogatsu… although this year will certainly be memorable.”

  “Hm, this is already grating on my nerves and I’m not even there yet.”

  Yuki chuckled and caressed Lana’s cheek. “You’re adorable to feel hurt on my behalf, but please set this resentment aside, it won’t help you keep a cool head. Try to use my story for your own gain.” Yuki sipped her tea for a while before continuing.

  “I don’t wish to cover everything with you today, but it’s best I tell you one more thing now while goshujin sama is away. Do not discuss it with him, understood? This is… completely taboo, and I have the details only because his sister told me, but I believe it is important for you to know.” Yuki’s voice took an unusual steely tone.

  “When he passed away twenty years ago, his family found out that goshujin sama’s father had led a double life during most of his marriage.” Lana hissed in surprise and her companion shook her head.

  “Under a false identity, using complex schemes, he had married another woman. The scandal was discovered when their two children came to attend his funeral. They had found out the truth when going through his personal papers and were foolish — or brave enough, who knows — to introduce themselves to the rest of the family. Oddly enough, their mother had vanished without a trace right after their father’s death, but nobody ever found proof of foul play.”

  “The shock left everyone reeling. Okaa sama suffered from cardiac troubles for a while afterward and turned… even more difficult than before. Not that she was romantically attached to her husband, mind you, but the way he did it… well, the level of insult and dishonor was unspeakable. A lot of strings had to be pulled to keep the story out of limelight. Goshujin sama was…”

  Yuki hesitated and took a sip of her tea, choosing her next words carefully. “Let’s just say he changed a lot around that time. Believe it or not, he wasn’t so… intransigent and abrasive in his younger years. We knew each other from afar, through kendo training under my father’s instruction. He had a nice sense of humor and laughed easily — yes, yes, we’re talking about the same man.”

  Seeing Lana’s eyes grow big as a saucer, Yuki smiled sadly before continuing. “I never figured out the exact reasons beh
ind his transformation. I suspect it was something much more serious than this discovery, as upsetting as it was. Anyway, this happened before we got engaged and married, so it wasn’t my place to ask.”

  A lengthy silence settled in. Lana fidgeted in her seat, dread twisting her guts. Twenty years ago… I bet it was that damned onryo his dad had his affair with. Did she murder him and only Honda knows it? Was it him we saw that night at the resort? What a mess! And now I’m the other woman in their story... and I’ve got something not natural on my shoulder, too.

  Sensing her unease, Yuki took Lana’s hand and squeezed it lovingly, triggering a flood of warm feelings inside Lana.

  “We aren’t in that scenario, Lana san, for better or worse, this is not us. When we got married, goshujin sama vowed he would never put me through something like this and he has been true to his word.”

  Guilt made Lana nauseous. No, he’s not fooled around behind your back, but there’s so much you deserve to know! When will he finally tell you? That idiot!

  “Anyway, if okaa sama seems particularly bitter or unfair with you, this would explain why. If she… throws… specific accusations, don’t be surprised, all right?”

  “Yes, I understand how this would trigger bad memories for her and everyone else, and why goshujin sama is not going there with a confident heart.” Lana sighed.

  “No, but he’ll defend our common decision, so we won’t leave you hanging out to dry. Use this steely spine and sharp mind of yours, work on your temper, and let’s turn the tables on them. At the end of the day, it’s about the three of us and the little one, and all of us are keen to make it work,” Yuki smiled softly, reassuring her.

  “Your support is tremendous, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much I’m grateful for it.”

  “No, we’re the ones who should be grateful. You’re showing us humbling trust. I will never forget it.”

  Shuddering, Lana glanced down to hide her emotional reaction. Damn those hormones.

  “Ah…” she sniffed, “don’t mind me... few people in my life have fought in my corner.”

  Her companion moved to Lana’s side to cup her cheek and catch a runaway tear. “Don’t doubt for one second that the two of us are on your side.” Lana didn’t trust her voice yet, so she settled with a quick nod. “Let’s put this aside for now,” Yuki added with a resolute smile. “Let’s do something more practical and grounding, like going through what we need to do for osoji. In such a big house, the list is endless, but with three pairs of hands this year, we should be able to tackle it more easily.”

  Lana was happy to switch topics. “Show me the way. I can’t iron shirts for the life of me but cleaning windows and using a vacuum cleaner are right in my alley.”

  With her clear and delightful laugh that never ceased to make Lana’s heart drum wildly, Yuki got off her chair.

  “Good, because as you know, we have many windows. Come with me, I’ll show you the room that will take up most of our time. Let’s make this house all shiny and beautiful to give a heartfelt welcome to O-Toshigami sama. This coming year, we can definitely use His blessings and help!”

  END OF BOOK TWO

  Glossary of Japanese terms

  Dogi: white pants and jacket used as training gear by aikido, judo and karate practitioners

  Dojo-cho: leader of a martial art school

  Genkan: entrance of a home

  Goshujin sama: honored husband, honored lord/master

  Hakama: black and flowing traditional trouser worn by aikido practitioners who hold a 'dan' rank (black belt)

  Kami: divinities

  Kamidana: small Shinto altar affixed to the main wall of a dojo

  Kohai: practitioner holding a lower rank

  Kyu: grade conferred to Japanese martial arts practitioners before they achieve the first 'dan' rank

  Mudansha: practitioner of a traditional Japanese martial arts who doesn't hold a 'dan' rank yet (black belt)

  Neko: cat

  Oku sama: (your, his) honored wife

  - san: standard honorific put after a first or last name

  - sama: respectful honorific put after a first or last name

  Osoji: end-of-year house cleaning.

  Oshogatsu: New Year

  Seiza: Japanese traditional way of sitting on your knees and ankles

  Sempai: practitioner holding a higher rank

  Shihan: master, expert in martial art

  Shintoism: the main, traditional religion of Japan, along with Buddhism. Shintoism is an animistic religion: everything (including non-animated objects and elements such as wind, swords or stones) possesses a spirit

  Tatami: straw mats used in dojo and in rooms inside Japanese houses

  Torii: tall arch marking the entrance of a Shinto shrine

  Ukemi: rolling, falling

  Uke: attacker and recipient of a martial art technique

  Yokai: Japanese ghosts, demons, otherworldy beings

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  The TEMPER Saga Continues!

  TEMPER: DELIVERANCE

  Book Three of the TEMPER saga

  Available in paperback and ebook.

  TEMPER: DELIVERANCE

  Compassion and Boundless Desire Will Set Them Free

  Pure joy and sweet bliss mingling with utter horror and heartbreaking agony: pristine snow turns red during the first hours of the New Year in the snowy countryside of Nikko.

  Harrowing sacrifice allows a battered Lana and her mournful companions to begin a new life as a family. Healing is a slow process, though, and Lana battles with herself to understand her new identity and family dynamics.

  But true deliverance and peace will come only when she confronts her real enemy.

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  TEMPER: DELIVERANCE - SNEAK PEEK!

  Lana picked up the two bikkurapon in her bag. Her gloves were in the car, but her pockets were warm enough. Her fingers rolled the balls furiously together; sniffling, she realized her cheeks were wet.

  Damn those hormones, I’m a teenager all over again...

  Choked by emotions, she let her feet bring her to the outskirts of the forest, covered in a blanket of snow like the rest of the landscape. A glance over her shoulder told her the house was now a good 900 meters behind her. An incoming Skype call startled her.

  Uh. Network reception so far from civilization? Ah… Gabriella...

  “Hey…” Lana said with a tired but happy voice. A friendly ear, that’s what she needed right now. “How come you’re up so early? It must be what, 5 am for you? You’re not having a hell of a good time in a decadent room with a view of the Colosseum?”

  Gabriella’s warm laughter warmed her bruised heart. “Oh yes, cara mia, I do but jet lag is killing me and I’m up with the cows while candy lover is still asleep… Anyway. I wanted to call you today because tomorrow I won’t be in any shape to do it — so Happy New Year a few hours early!”

  Lana groaned and resumed walking, stepping under the trees. “Hold that thought. For now, 2017 will be a complete disaster. This whole thing looks more and more like a damn NHK drama. Your sense of timing is perfect or awful, I don’t know, but you’re catching me sulking and fuming in the snow, seriously contemplating going back to that castle and cutting everyone down. Think Kill Bill meets Battle Royal.”

  “Oh shit! Wow, I thought you guys had a chance!”

  “Well, I believed somebody actually had a plan and would try convincing his mom, but no! Nothing! Only a stupid statement presenting the situation, introducing me and that’s it. Totally surreal!”

  “So, I guess your vibrant personality and beautiful face didn’t win her over?”

  “Ah! I
f she had found me worth of the effort, she would have cut my head off on the spot. Remember my nonna? Well, that’s the same gargoyle model, but in old-fashioned, uber-traditional Japanese style. Give me an arch-conservative Italian aristocrat every day!”

  “Oh, Lana, I’m so sorry cara mia…”

  “You and me both. I wasn’t expecting her support, but truly his lack of efforts, his lack of spine leave me speechless.”

  “Tell me about it. Yoshiro is doing a little better in that department, but I think he won’t even try to fight all the micro-management decisions that his mother is making about our wedding. Men! What’s wrong with them?”

  With a heavy sigh, Lana sat on a fallen log. She caught sight of a clearing on her left.

  “I don’t know… It’s so different from his usual character... And Yuki sama can’t say one word. She has her own story with the old woman, no real influence, and her position is already more than precarious. Anyway. I just had a talk with the matriarch. I wanted to give her a clearer picture of the situation.”

  “Oh, it must have gone…?”

  “Trust me, Nakazawa is a cinnamon roll compared to her! She was as nasty as old people in power who don’t give a shit anymore can be... To hell with all of them! I’m not a doll or a pawn, I won’t be sidelined like this. But to be honest, despite all his assurances, I can’t imagine what will happen next…”

  Despondent, tears burning her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose before continuing with a more upbeat voice. “But enough about me, tell me more about your Roman holidays, I really need to hear something nice for a change.”

  “Hey, what can I say?” Gabriella chuckled, happy to switch topics. “We eat, drink, visit, fuck, rinse and repeat! It’s like a honeymoon and it’s just amazing. Yoshiro loves Italy. He wants to come back next summer to tour the entire country by bike. It would be so perfect!”