Tricks and Thirst

Fifteen

Now alone in Kanako's bedroom, you hesitate. All things considered, the smartest move would be to get out of here and go back to the car to wait for Mori. But today isn't a day where you can really think straight, and the need to find out first-hand what's going on downstairs is overwhelming.

Careful, you tip-toe to the door and push it slowly. The narrow hall is empty. The stairs leading to the first floor are on your right; with a few more steps, you should be able to take a peek below. Kanako's soft voice when she greets Mori politely reaches you, so you assume they aren't too far. Unfamiliar with the layout of the house, you take a glance in the staircase before recoiling in a hurry behind the safety of the wall, heart in your throat.

The first floor looks like a large single room, and you could glimpse the back of a sofa with three people sitting on it, facing a low table, and Mori on another sofa opposite to them. Luckily for you, he wasn't looking up when you made your move.

Deep breaths allow you to calm down your raging heartbeat, and once the blood no longer pounds in your ears, you can focus again. The raspy voice of Kanako's father is the first you hear.

"Mori sensei, like I said earlier, while I am of course honored by the interest you express in my daughter, it would be difficult for me to get back on my word now that serious discussions are on their way with Tamura san. However, my wife insisted, and given that my daughter is more familiar with you than with Tamura san, I am willing to hear what she has to say about your unexpected proposal. I'm not a heartless man after all."

There is a lengthy silence, but you know it's because everyone is bowing to each other to acknowledge the difficult situation they all find themselves in.

"I am deeply grateful for your willingness to talk with me, Kijima san. If I had known your intentions, I would have come to you much sooner. I was... reluctant to appear to be in a hurry."

"Well, Kanako isn't getting any younger, so for sure, you have been patient." Her father's words make you tense and grit your teeth.

"Trust me, age doesn't matter to me, only strength of character, courage and loyalty," Mori replies, and you pick the underlying tension in his voice. It seems like you're not the only one annoyed by Kijima's barbs. "And your honorable daughter has plenty of that, I can see it every time she comes to the dojo. This is what drove me to come here today."

Kijima lets out an undignified snort. "You are too kind, but I fear you don't know her so well. Let me be frank, because I respect you and don't want to put you in an impossible situation. You should be aware that her... personal inclinations are a shameful stain on our family's reputation. I will be forever grateful to Tamura san for accepting to overlook it without asking for compensation, but I cannot ask you to do the same. You might want to reconsider your views of her... and your decision."

You bite your knuckles to the blood to stifle a roar of anger. The old man is purposefully demeaning his own daughter in front of Mori! That disgusting toad! Somehow, he'll have to pay, you swear it.

Another lengthy silence. You bet it's because Mori is struggling to keep it together. You don't know how Kanako manages not to throttle her father on the spot, but contrary to him, she is a woman of honor, respectful of her duty regardless of what he throws at her. Your love for her has no bound, and you're sure Mori's regard for her has increased tenfolds.

"Kijima san, I believe that by marrying me, your daughter's reputation will remain intact, and therefore your family's will be safe, too, and could even improve. After all, I am also a council member of Minami-Kyushu city, and would be happy to help you convey some of your concerns about the renovation costs of the water pipes network. This is one of your pressing issues, isn't it?" 

He sidesteps the core of the matter to protect Kanako's feelings and more or less bribes the old fool. That fox is smart. Kijima harrumphes.

"Well... this makes sense, but I don't know what Kanako thinks. After all, you are older than Tamura san."

Oh, insulting and petty. It will be really hard not to punch him next time you see this guy.

"Otoh san, if I may." You tense up at the sound of Kanako's voice, now stronger than before. "Mori sensei, your proposal comes as a real surprise as you never treated more favorably than others at the dojo. This tells much about your character. I don't know what you see in me but it will be my honor and pleasure to accept your proposal, with sincere gratitude."

"Kanako! You're so quick to accept when you threw a tantrum the other day at the simple idea of marriage! Why, is there something else you wanted to tell us?" Kijima's tone is tainted with suspicion and you tense again. For sure, now isn't the right time for Kanako to disclose she's intimately aware of Mori's more personal skills.

"No, otoh san, but like you said, I know Mori sensei while Tamura san is a perfect stranger to me. If you ever had any affection for me, I would appreciate if you could grant me this favor and give me a chance at... redressing the emotional wounds I caused you and okaa san."

"If this can help, Kijima san, I can arrange a ceremony within two days and will pay for all expenses."

"So generous of you!" Kijima exclaims. "But only two days? It's impossible! And why so fast?" 

"My relations with the head priest of the Inari shrine of Mt. Odake are excellent. Beside, I thought you would appreciate the chance at being delivered from the headaches of such a situation as quickly as possible. We can do a very simple ceremony, with only a few guests."

The room turns silent, and suddenly you realize that one way or another, this meeting will be soon over, that Mori will take his leave and not find you in the car where he left you. Sweat stinging your eyes and running along your back, you slowly crawl back to Kanako's bedroom. 

Swearing under your breath, you climb over the window handrail and let yourself hang down. You drop down and manage to absorb the blunt force of your fall with a smooth back roll. Another thing training has taught you well. Rising on your feet, you freeze when you find yourself nose-to-nose with a brown weasel. The little fellow tilts its head and stares at you. You don't like how unafraid it looks like.

"Pssshhh, go, leave! There's nothing for you here!"

The weasel doesn't even twitch and keeps taunting you. Maybe his eyes flash gold, maybe not. With a hiss of anger tainted with fear, you dismiss it and go back to the most pressing matter at hand: leaving this place. Crouching, you run to the garden wall but this time, exhausted by your gymnastics, you can't reach the top. 

Panic surges. No choice then. You run to the main gate and dart outside, hoping against hope you still have two minutes to get to safety. You've barely shut the car door on you that the door of the Kijima house opens, revealing Mori followed by Kanako's parents. Still panting, you slide down your seat to hide yourself. Two minutes later, the driver's door opens and Mori sits on your right.

"Don't move, they're still here," he says from the corner his mouth.

He slowly drives around, waves and bows and finally takes off. You can finally breathe properly again.