‘So, Clarence-san, you did it. You avenged Chōshi-san’s death. You took on two of the most powerful men in the country and won.’
Takata looked at me with probing eyes. As with everything he said, I couldn’t be sure what was genuine and what was loaded to reveal something in my response. I tried to give up as little as I could.
‘Thank you. But I think it would be more realistic to say I was a useful pawn. It seems to me you won this particular battle.’
He smiled. It looked sincere.
‘You undervalue your contribution,’ he said. ‘But you’re right that the situation has worked out for us both. Let’s just say we each have cause for celebration.’
He raised his glass to mine. We were sat in the living room of his house. Unlike the last time it was just the two of us, if you discounted the bodyguards stationed outside the room and around the grounds. A gentle breeze blew outside, rustling the last stubborn leaves of a maple tree that refused to accept the passage of time. It was losing its battle and a sudden gust tore another piece of treasure from its spindly grasp.
‘So what do you intend to do?’ he asked.
‘I haven’t decided yet.’
He threw me a curious look.
‘You’re an intriguing man. Although I suppose by now I shouldn’t be surprised.’
His eyes searched mine, as though through them he could draw further information from my brain. I held his gaze but kept my mouth shut.
‘I make it my business to be able to read people and anticipate their actions, but you’ve had a capacity to catch me off guard from the start.’
‘I’m not sure what you mean,’ I said. ‘I only got out of hospital half an hour ago. I haven’t had time to think.’
‘I didn’t expect you to give it much thought. My impression was of a more reluctant member of our organisation. I thought you might take the debt we owe you as an opportunity to get out.’ He waved a hand magnanimously. ‘You would of course go with my blessing, and you’ll always be able to rely on our support. We don’t hold quite the same influence in your country, but if you needed it I’m sure there would be ways in which we could help.’
I wasn’t trying to play mind games with him. I really hadn’t thought about what to do next. I’d spent my two days conscious in hospital snoozing, reading and watching TV. I’d revelled in new-found safety. And I’d thought about Tomoe and reread her letter countless times. Despite everything, it had strangely brought me peace, even a faint glow of happiness amid the melancholy thoughts. It had allowed me to remember her alive, to remember us, to break from the visions of her dead. Which made me think.
‘Wait a minute. How come I’m not under arrest?’
‘Oh, that?’ said Takata. ‘They ended up doing a post-mortem after all. It revealed that poor Chōshi-san couldn’t have had her life taken by you on the day it was alleged.’
My eyes narrowed.
‘Come to think of it, the Takata-gumi seemed to escape mention in all of the reports I read.’
He shrugged.
‘What do you expect? We provided some security consultation but essentially we were bystanders. In the scheme of things the newspapers appeared to think our fleeting involvement not worthy of note. They were far more interested in Onishi and Yabu.’
Two small examples of the power that came with reclaiming the throne. With his enemies and counterbalances gone, he’d be stronger than ever. It was the kind of thought that would previously have made me shudder but I didn’t feel anything now. I’d changed. Or maybe I hadn’t. Maybe the person I always was had just been released. It was what Tomoe and Takata seemed to think.
‘I’m not sure what there is for me now in England that there wasn’t before,’ I said, returning to his question. ‘I don’t know what I’d do with myself if I went back.’
‘And you do if you stay?’
‘I could go back to teaching.’
‘A nine-and-a-half-fingered teacher with a large horimono on his back? I’m not sure there would be many schools queuing up for your services.’
‘My finger? Who would hold an injury from a car accident against me? And I’m not planning to teach any classes bare-chested.’
He smiled.
‘You don’t think the life of a teacher may seem dull now you’ve been involved in a more … dynamic job?’
‘Maybe all I ever wanted was happy mundanity.’
He cocked his head and observed me.
‘Maybe it’s what you thought you wanted, I’m not sure. But I don’t think deep down it’s what you really desired. The kind of people you’re drawn to, the way you went about things when events turned out as they did. Your life wouldn’t have led to this if you really were after quiet.’
I wondered if he was right. But I’d backed out of bungee jumps before when I got nervous – it wasn’t the kind of thing that suggested I’d been looking for this.
‘Well, we’ll have to see. I need to take some time out. I might go back to London after all.’
‘There are “buts” in your voice.’
Faces flashed across my mind and a nipple that no longer was.
‘There are buts.’
Slights and unpunished acts.
‘I still feel I have unfinished business. Maybe I’ll stay.’
He raised his eyebrows.
‘Unfinished business?’
‘Something like that.’
I wondered if he got the same sense of satisfaction leaving people hanging on what was left unsaid.
‘I mean, I’ve got to get my tattoo finished for a start. I’ll look pretty stupid going around with it as it is for the rest of my life.’
He smiled, and I sensed the smile was from inside as well as on his face.
‘If you stay, you’ll have to show it to me when it’s completed. Perhaps you’ll be able to enlighten me on your unfinished business at the same time. The ripples from the pebbles you throw have a tendency to turn into waves. I’d like to be able to prepare.’
I smiled back. He was right. If I did stay it was likely to get just as messy again. But the thought didn’t scare me as it once would have. It wasn’t just Sumida – I’d been looking and learning as well.
I got up and bowed deeply. He stood and bowed in return. With that I turned and walked from the room.