Soon after Geisha had arrived, Lord Takeda had received information that a man, who claimed to be one of his servants, was requesting to see him urgently. He had been a little surprised, but nevertheless, after whispering an explanation to Lord Matsuda, he had slipped away from his seat and followed a servant to the back of the house, away from the bustle of the banquet. Half way there he stopped and ordered the servant to return to the hall and fetch Ana-San.
The back veranda was silent and abandoned. He tensed, suddenly alarmed by the long shadows and the secluded spot. Surreptitiously he put his hand on the hilt of his sword, but soon relaxed, recognising the silhouette of a man waiting for him in the garden.
"I could get used to living like that." Kazuki said a little wistfully, turning to his Lord.
"Why are you here?" Lord Takeda was not prepared to discuss the merits of being an aristocrat.
"My Lord, I have some news that couldn't wait. My people acquired information that there was going to be another attack. Tonight."
"How reliable is that news?"
"I would say, most likely."
"On our way back?"
"Yes, my Lord."
"How many?"
"I am not sure, but any more than fifteen or twenty would have drawn too much attention beforehand."
"Send a message to Nabutada. He is to prepare my men and position them hidden in wait along our route. Tell him that only after we are attacked are they to engage. We need to take prisoners. We need to know who pays them."
"Yes, my Lord." Kazuki bowed and fell silent, seeing Anna approaching.
She was surprised to see Lord Takeda in this secluded place. And talking to some shadowy figure. "My Lord." She bowed. "How can I be of service?"
"Ana-San." He addressed her formally. "Please stay here, while I talk to Lord Matsuda. My man," He pointed to Kazuki, who was still standing in the shadows. "Will make sure you are safe here."
"Yes, My Lord." She bowed.
As the Lord disappeared, Anna tried to get a glimpse of his servant. She had never seen him before, but he must have been trustworthy. She stepped to the edge of the veranda, to gaze once more at the garden. It was beautiful.
Although still in the shadows himself, Kazuki could clearly see her face. Illuminated by the moonlight and with a dreamy expression on her face, she looked very alluring. It was easy to see why his Lord was enchanted.
His train of thought was disrupted suddenly by Lord Takeda's return.
"You may go now!" The Lord dismissed him with a gesture.
"Yes, my Lord." Kazuki bowed again and left to execute his orders.
For a long time Lord Takeda stood there in silence, considering something with concentration. She didn't disturb him, trusting him completely by now. Finally, he turned to Anna. His face was serious, but he tried to look at ease. "I do not believe that your companions will be needing any more of your help tonight." He smiled. "After so much saké with Geisha, and later, with some more female company, they will surely manage for themselves."
She only smiled in reply.
"However, I have received some urgent messages that require my immediate return." He stepped closer to her and gently touched her arm. "Shall we go?"
"My Lord, I should not leave without thanking our generous host."
"I have done that already." He forestalled her objections. "He agrees we should leave before the others. Do not worry, they will be taken care of."
She just nodded in agreement, following him to the courtyard. They both climbed into the palanquin, which was immediately surrounded by their combined guards.
They were silent on the way, as the palanquin didn't guarantee any privacy. Although Anna had a vague impression that the Lord was a little tense. And the palanquin itself felt different... more solid.
Suddenly there were loud shouts on the road ahead and they stopped. There was a hiss of swords being unsheathed in a hurry and in a moment the sounds of battle were all around them.
"Take this!" Lord Takeda didn't hesitate for a second. He pushed his shorter sword into Anna's hand and jumped out.
She could hear the whacks of arrows on the walls of the palanquin, but luckily none of them penetrated the wood.
In that moment she understood why this type of palanquin had been chosen tonight. She also realised that this attack must have been expected.
The loud shouting and screams of pain frightened her, because she didn't know what was really happening outside. In a hurry she was pulling off her outer kimono, to get some freedom of movement. She grabbed the sword Hikaru had left her and took a peek outside.
All around her a battle was raging. The samurai from their combined guard surrounded the palanquin in a tight protective cordon. The Lord himself was fighting a short distance away, protected by his samurai. It seemed that there were many more attackers than defenders and she was desperately trying to think of something to do. Unable to hide inside the palanquin like a little frightened child, Anna decided to join the fight. She stepped out, the sword at the ready, to do whatever she could to help.
She noticed that one of the samurai had been injured, lying on the ground, an attacker towering over him with a sword raised high and ready for the death blow. Without a moment of hesitation and with all her strength Anna rammed the sword into an exposed area under his raised arm. She was stunned at how easily the blade penetrated the body, stopping only at the hilt. The attacker fell to the ground, instantly dead.
Then her instincts warned her about another danger coming directly from behind. The bloody sword clutched in her hand, she turned around, raising the blade instinctively and only in the last moment she was able to block the blow designed to cut her through. The strength of that attack was so great that a sharp cry escaped her lips and it was enough to catch the attention of Lord Takeda, who turned towards her just in time to block another blow and dispatch the attacker.
He looked at Anna with concern, despite the battle raging around them.
"I am fine." She whispered with trembling lips.
But at that moment there were more shouts and they were surrounded by more people dressed in black.
With a shocked surprise Takeda noticed her pale face and frightened eyes. "These are my men." He assured her calmly, retrieving the bloodied sword from her hand.
She breathed deeply with relief. "This is the second time, when I failed to defend myself." She said with intensity. Her voice shaking. "Never before have I felt so defenceless and... scared!"
The Lord looked at the slain attacker at her feet, blood still oozing from his wound. "Not so defenceless, it seems." He said with respect.
Anna followed his gaze. "I have never killed a man before." She said with a shudder. Her face still ghastly pale.
"You are safe now." He whispered straight into her ear, holding her trembling body tight against his chest. "I will protect you."
"My Lord..." She felt tears filling her eyes.
"Let us return home." He said calmly, dismissing any further thoughts of the attackers from his mind.
*
That night they made love with passion and urgency, fuelled by the danger they had just shared.
When exhausted, happy and satisfied Lord Takeda fell asleep in her arms, Anna stayed awake, reliving the events of that evening.
Despite her own conviction that she was able to face up to any danger with calmness and confidence, she realised with shock that during tonight's ambush she had completely lost her head. Perhaps it was because she hadn't had her guns with her? But the truth was she had felt vulnerable and defenceless.
And something more... She realised that her fear wasn't only for herself. She was afraid for him! In that moment of enlightenment she understood that she had fallen in love with this proud man, a man who always treated her with respect and kindness. The man whose life she saved and who tonight repaid her in kind. Despite everything that divided them, there was between them a strong bond of honour, sealed with blood.
Anna vowed to herself that from now on she would never part with her guns. And that she would never again allow herself to feel so helpless!
She sighed quietly, but Hikaru must have been sleeping lightly. He opened his eyes and looked around with alarm, ready to reach for his sword.
"I am sorry, My Lord. I didn't mean to wake you. There is nothing wrong."
"But you are sad." He sat up and took her hand in his.
"That's nothing..." She tried to dismiss his worry, but he was insistent.
"Please, tell me what is troubling you?"
"I can't stop thinking about tonight's ambush." She confessed eventually.
"Do not worry. You are safe here." He tried to calm her. "We were well prepared for the attack. During the banquet I received a message that the ambush was very probable."
"I guessed that, but why didn't you tell me?!" Incredulity in her voice betrayed her agitation.
"I didn't want to worry you..."
"You had no right to keep it from me!" She cut him off. "You cannot presume to make decisions for me! I am quite capable of doing it myself!"
"I know that..." He tried to speak, but she was getting angrier.
"If you told me I would be better prepared! You have no right to treat me like that!" She repeated.
"Forgive me." He said eventually. "I should not have kept it from you."
"Was the attack because of me?!" She exclaimed in exasperation.
"Why do you think so?"
"Perhaps someone thinks that you are allying yourself with Gai-Jin? The ShÅgun was forced to negotiate. Helping us, you are siding with the foreigners..."
"Shhh..." He gently laid his finger across her lips. "We have never before discussed politics."
"Never before your life was in such a danger!" She insisted.
"Dear Lottie, I do not fear death."
"I do! I've seen enough of it around me!"
"Let us not talk about it now. Only this night counts. And only this moment, when I hold you in my arms. We both could have died tonight. Moments are our greatest treasure, as they make us who we are, so let us enjoy this moment to the full."
He kissed her gently.
She kissed him back.
Suddenly, despite all the sadness, the fear and anger, the passion once again engulfed their bodies and they allowed themselves to be carried away...