Lady Samurai

Chapter 63

"The passes have opened, the snow melted and the roads will be clear to travel. We will be able to go to Kyōto." Lord Takeda and Anna sat alone on the veranda, admiring the garden in full bloom.

Lottie recalled another garden they'd visited, nearly a year ago. So much had happened since then - then she had been an interpreter for the Americans and she had no hopes of staying with Lord Takeda beyond his departure from Kanagawa. Now she was his samurai and was going to meet the Emperor. Then she had no plans other than to find her adoptive parents and now she owned their village.

Hikaru watched her face and was able to see clearly that she was concerned. "You should not worry, my love." He took her hand in his. "The Emperor needs you and he will protect you."

"I am not worried for myself." She turned her face towards him. "What about Mariko and your son?"

"As discussed, Haru will be sent to his mother's family, where he will be safe and well looked after. And Mariko will accompany you..."

"That's what I'm thinking about!" She cut him off. "If Saitō continues to attack me, she might be in danger. Why does he hate you so?"

He did not answer straight away, considering how much he should reveal to her. But then decided that Lottie deserved to know the whole truth. "We grew up together." He started. "Both families were close to the Emperor. Our fathers were friends. However, there was something about him that made other children weary. He always fancied himself as someone destined for great future. Others laughed at his boasting, but that only made him more determined to prove them wrong. Eventually, he started resenting me as well. I was popular, easy to be with and I always had people around me. With time, when we grew up, other boys chose to follow me. Girls also..." He confessed, a little embarrassed now of his teenage conquests.

"There was one girl, a daughter of a minor lord, who decided that she was going to marry me. I was not particularly interested, but Saitō... He was obsessed with her. Eventually, he managed to convince her father to agree to a marriage. The girl refused. She said she would rather kill herself than be his wife. They ignored it, of course. On her wedding night she committed seppuku. Saitō blamed me and vowed revenge. As soon as he became the head of his family, he changed his allegiance and went to serve the Shōgun. Since then he has done whatever he could to take away anything that is dear to me."

She listened with horror. "That's horrible." Despite the fact that Saitō had tried to kill her, Lottie felt sorry for him. "And nothing will satisfy him until you suffer a loss?"

"Yes." Hikaru confirmed.

"Then surely you must reconsider. You can't send Mariko with me. She might get hurt."

"You are to stay in Kyōto under the pretext of being one of her maids. There is no other way for you to enter the palace. We have discussed that." He explained patiently.

"We did. But I didn't fully understand the danger we would be putting her in. Can I not dress as a man again?"

"Little Lottie," He smiled with amusement. "Nobody would ever take you for a man."

"I could cut my hair again and..."

"No." He stopped her. "We will do what has been agreed: you and Mariko will stay in Kyōto, while I go to Edo to complete my compulsory residency. Do not worry," He moved closer and embraced her. "I will leave suitable protection for you both. What I am worried about though..." He leaned back and looked at her with a mischievous grin. "...is that the Emperor will see what I can see in you and he will want to steal you from me."

She was grateful for this attempt to lighten the mood and she grinned back at him. "Is he as handsome as you?" She challenged.

"Hmm, I can't possibly say."