It was a day much like any other. As had been the day before, the one prior, in fact all of them since she met Ezoe. She could have exploded with frustration but restricted herself to making faces at the cat.
‘Mi-chan, what are my appointments for the day?’ she asked the apprentice when she’d finished breakfast.
‘You have a booking in the early afternoon,’ Michiko began.
‘Mm, and the evening?’
‘The evening’s a little more complicated. You were to see a paper merchant but the Izumiya ageya sent their apologies – their premises won’t be available for entertaining after all.’
‘What do you mean? An ageya can’t do that. That client’s been waiting months – to cancel now would be unbearably rude. Surely they’re not proposing that?’
‘I’m afraid they are, Onēsan,’ said Michiko. ‘Our proprietor was most unhappy. He rushed straight over but they were adamant. He’s been trying to find an alternative but with it being so late he hasn’t had any success.’
As Michiko was speaking Katsuyama’s expression had changed.
‘Perhaps it isn’t such a bad thing after all.’
‘I thought you’d be upset.’
‘Mi-chan, as you’ll be free this evening, could you find one or two other apprentices to help with a task?’
‘Saikaku-sama,’ Michiko cried, grabbing at the stranger’s arm. ‘It’s wonderful to see you again after such a long time. I hope you’re planning to stay in town.’
‘Let go of me,’ the stranger barked from under his deep-brimmed straw hat. ‘I’m Wada and whether I stay is not your concern.’
Michiko retreated to side of the road and the other apprentices. Uncovering the names of those who preferred not to announce themselves was part of what an apprentice did. Usually it was to pass the time and feed the gossip that sustained Yoshiwara. Today she had a sense her mistress wanted the information for something else.
One of the other apprentices went to inform Katsuyama. Michiko settled back, apparently in playful conversation, but in reality watching the street for any other visitors heading towards Izumiya.
Lord Wada. So it could be true. Katsuyama hurriedly prepared some ink and wrote out a note. Once finished she called for a servant to have it dispatched. It was just a warning so he would be prepared. But if what she suspected was happening, it would be followed by another letter that would require a more immediate and dramatic response.
As the servant departed another of the apprentices arrived with a different name. Fifteen minutes later and there was one more. It tallied with her suspicions but the most important was still missing from the list.
*
‘Saikaku-sama,’ Michiko cried, grabbing at the stranger’s arm. ‘It’s wonderful to see you again after such a long time. I hope you’re planning to stay in town.’
‘Get out of my way, you filthy whore.’
With his deep-throated reply, the stranger thrust Michiko from him with such force that she tottered and fell. He and his assistant continued towards Izumiya at pace. But Michiko’s relay was already in action, nodding forcefully at the monk selling tea-whisks as she raced to catch up.
‘Sir, sir,’ the monk slurred as he staggered forward. ‘Not only the very best tea-whisk, but a wonderful reminder of Yoshiwara.’
He tripped, falling into the man’s assistant who, despite his best efforts, careered into his master beside.
‘Let me help you – I’m so sorry for this offensive drunk,’ said Michiko’s friend as she caught up. ‘He’s an embarrassment to the quarter. We try to have him barred, but he must have an arrangement with the guard at the great gate as he always finds his way back.’
The assistant was caught between attacking the monk, who was backing away in haste, and bowing at his master as he was steadied by the apprentice at his arm.
‘Get away with you!’
The man shrugged the apprentice off and turned his ire on the monk.
‘You’re fortunate I have business to attend to or I would test my blade on you,’ he snarled. The monk retreated even further at the threat. ‘If I find you here when I return, you’ll be in two pieces before the day is out.’
He stalked towards Izumiya, his assistant hurrying in his wake.
‘Did you get a look?’ asked Michiko when she reached her friend.
‘It never fails,’ said the apprentice, flipping away the small mirror she’d held at her side to see under the stranger’s hat. ‘I don’t know who he is but he’s the man you were looking for. The one with the mole on the left side of his face.’
‘He’s here,’ exclaimed Michiko as she burst into Katsuyama’s room. ‘Lord Genpachi, he’s here.’
‘It’s as I thought.’
Katsuyama hurried to her writing table and wrote out a note.
‘Mi-chan, I need you to have this dispatched to Lord Ezoe with the greatest of haste. Use Itō, he’s the fastest, and tell him he will be paid double if he has the message delivered within the quarter-hour.’
Michiko took the letter and darted from the room.
So it was happening. The events had come to their climax. And they were to reach their conclusion here. For all the searching outside, the walls of the quarter hadn’t been obstructing her. The path to retribution lay within. They had those who had destroyed her family entrapped.
‘It all comes back to Yoshiwara.’