Where the Reeds Grow Thick

Chapter 12

In the morning, Shige awoke on the hard tatami floor; dust and smoke from outside wafted through the air, though the drunks next door were quiet like penitents through the thin shoji walls.

The light was still sparse as she snuck by Takuma's curled-up body; his snorting snores put her in a good mood for the start of her work day. Scrubbing her face of dirt, she found someone's old rouge and soot stick and applied the makeup tentatively. It was odd to wear a silk obi at the height of war's austerity, but her face in the waxed floor's reflection made her feel pretty.

"Shige," she heard Waka whisper from behind the door. "Are you ready?"

Shige opened the door to her room and resolved herself to her new work. Shige watched as Waka moved around the tea house, serving food and drink to the customers. At first, Shige was nervous about making mistakes, but she soon found a rhythm to her work.

She watched as Waka chatted with the customers, laughing at their jokes and pretending to be interested in their flirting. Shige tried to emulate her, smiling politely and making small talk with the customers as she served them. Overall, she supposed she hadn't made a complete bust of it. Most of their clientele were builders on their breaks or minor samurai looking to decompress at the end of the day.

The men were gruff and dirty,some getting handsy until Waka would distract them with some game using grilled quail eggs. Shige didn't envy the older woman for her work, but it was a good source of morale to see Waka strong arm her way through different social styles.

By dark, Shige was allowed to go back to her room, and she gladly obliged. Very tired, Shige dragged her feet down the hall.

"I'm coming in, Takuma,"she called.

After a moment, the slide lock signaled she could open the door. She entered the room to find Takuma waiting for her, a small smile on his face. "How was work?" he asked.

"It was busy, but I think I did alright," she replied, taking off her zori and sitting on the futon. "I'm still getting used to the kimono, though."

"I'm sure you look nice in it."

Shige lit an oil lamp and set it on a small table nearby. For a moment, she considered asking Takuma to turn while she removed her kimono, but she laughed at the thought. "I'm going to change my clothes. Don't look," she joked.

Takuma turned away from her, anyway. "Of course."

Shige quickly undressed to her underclothes, grateful for the privacy. Sitting on the futon to brush her hair, she watched Takuma with amusement. He sat hunched over, fiddling with the oval object that Hina had given her.

"What is that you're holding?" Shige asked.

Takuma looked up, surprised. "It's the hand guard of a sword, a tsuba," he said, holding it out for her to see. "Hina gave it to you before we left."

Shige took the object and examined it. It was an oval about the size of her palm, a group of people etched into the metal. "What is it for?" she asked.

"It's the part that keeps your grip on the hilt," Takuma explained. "This one must have lost the ring that keeps it in place."

Shige nodded. "Interesting. It must have fallen--"

"It belongs to my lord Shiba. I can feel the etching of the Seven Lucky Gods along it."

All sorts of circumstances cycled through Shige's head. "Why was it with the bandit that Hina killed, then? I doubt he had murdered your lord."

Takuma's face darkened. "No, he wouldn't have had a reason to. It's possible that it was stolen from my lord's belongings."

"Do you think it could lead us to my brother?" Shige whispered.

Takuma gripped her wrist, pulling her closer to him. "Only... only if Lord Shiba had fallen in league with the bandits," he whispered back. "I won't entertain the idea until I have proof."

Shige nodded. A chill ran up her spine to think of her brother in danger. Takuma's hand at her wrist was hot and desperate, and she knew he dreaded any possibility." We have to keep searching for him," she said. "Both of them. We can't give up yet."

"I won't give up until I find him," said Takuma, his eyes softening as he released her wrist. "And I won't abandon you either, Shige."

Shige felt a wave of emotion wash over her. She knew that he was telling the truth and would do everything in his power to find her brother and keep her safe.

Shige placed a palm on his cheek and brushed her thumb along his cheekbone. "I trust you," she said.