ENISHI'S Aftermath: SOMETHING TO LIVE FOR

CHAPTER #4

They arrived in Tokyo around sunset and found a stable for the horses. Enishi paid for hay, grain and stalls. Sumi noticed it was for at least five days. On their way he also bought her new clothes and they exchanged their hooded cloaks for black ones.

"Those rags smell," was the only explanation he gave.

Since the new clothes were not the new western influenced dress or a kimono, she accepted the clothing. They were of similar style to what he wore too. He took them to a Sento that had separate bathing for men and women. Back in Nagoya, Enishi had been told that the man running his business, frequently had baths at this particular Sento. This bathhouse was open air style. He wasn't surprised when he felt her eyes on him again, a short time later. He glanced at the roof of the main building and the surrounding trees, but couldn't see her. The feeling of being impressed with Sumi's ability to hide her presence, returned. Then he saw the man he'd been waiting for.

"Boss?" Jiro, Heishin's second in command, asked tentatively.

"How's business?"

"Slow, mostly because we blew up the town for you."

"Give those still loyal to us, money towards repairs." Enishi directed. "Did the police take my houses?"

"Yes. Everything legit has been seized too. They also patrol those sites regularly. Are you returning to Shanghai?"

Enishi didn't answer. "Do we still have that leather maker?"

"Yes sir."

He told Jiro which hotel he would be staying at, and to send the leather maker there tomorrow afternoon. Enishi got out of the bath and went inside to get dressed. In case Jiro tried to kill him, Enishi planned to stay at the hotel across the street from the one he had said he'd be at. Once outside the Sento, Sumi materialized behind him.

"I can protect my own back," he said casually.

She moved to walk almost beside him, but couldn't help keeping a few paces back. Sumi didn't think she had the right to walk beside him. One day she hoped to be his equal, but for now this was fine.

"Tonight we're sneaking past police and getting what's mine." He pulled his hood down lower, so no one could see his face or hair. "First let's get food."

"Food stalls, no restaurants." Sumi requested. "Less chance of being poisoned."

He smiled, and for the first time it wasn't to disarm someone. Her comment had actually amused him.

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Two people were glad that no moon could be seen in the night sky. It was a little windy and completely overcast. Not even stars peaked through the cloud cover. The conditions couldn't be more perfect for breaking and entering. It wasn't the mansion on top of the cliff, but a huge house with an iron gate and rock walls, that Enishi planned on penetrating. Even though he was a mastermind, Sumi surprised him with her ability to get over the wall and choke out the two policemen guarding the gate, before he even made his move. Together they approached the house, there were men surrounding the house, but they were no match for his companion. They entered not through the front door, but on the side, where Enishi had the key to a locked window. Once inside, he gave her a hand, to get in too. Lights were on, meaning there could be police they hadn't encountered yet.

Their plan was to split up. Sumi was tasked with quietly putting to sleep anyone in the house, allowing Enishi to get into the master bedroom and the secret compartment under the floor boards. They were surprised that no one was in the house. Respecting that it still was his place, Sumi patiently waited for Enishi to return. It wasn't lost on her, that at one point he had been very rich and yet it hadn't brought him happiness or peace.

The money and guns he'd hidden under the floor boards, were still there. He left the guns behind, but took the stacks of cash, which were high dominations of Japanese yen. There was nothing else he needed, so Enishi came back downstairs. He didn't see her, but sensed she was in the room.

"Let's go."

They left the same way they'd come in, he even re-locked the window, before throwing the key into a fish pond. This time however instead of going over the wall, they walked through the gate, before slipping back into the darkness.

Returning to the room, Sumi immediately went to the window, moving the curtains ever so slightly. "Someone is in that room you met the leather guy in."

"Doesn't matter." He sat down on the bed.

She moved a chair and lay down on the floor, back against the wall. Closing her eyes, she regulated her breathing. That was something Sumi had learned to do while on the run. Nothing should give away where she was. The spot she had chosen, was steeped in shadow, due to the lanterns outside.

He glanced at her, because she hadn't even asked to use the bed. Still watching her, he moved to lean against the headboard and saw her eyes open. That was the only indication that she'd heard him. Those eyes scanned the room and finally landed on Enishi. When he made no other move, they closed again. His eyes remained on her, but his mind was thinking about his sister and what Tomoe wanted from him, for her to smile again. Eventually he slept.

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Sumi had a nightmare and suddenly woke up, springing into a crouched position. It had made him wake up too. Sitting down with her legs crossed, she sighed in resignation. "I can't sleep indoors."

"You can't sleep, because of being hunted. You barely slept in the forest too." Enishi patted the bed. "Beside me, no one can hurt you."

"I'm fine here."

"Don't trust me?"

"You're a man, I don't trust men."

"Do you fear me?"

She didn't answer directly. "Only an idiot wouldn't be cautious around you."

"Perceptive."