When Anna woke up in the morning and found Hikaru gone, she suspected he was engaged with the interrogation of the prisoners and that she would not see him for a while. She decided to take a bath and have a massage. After that she felt much better, although tired.
When she returned to her rooms, she took out her guns and cleaned them once again, just to make sure they were in order. She also packed all her possessions, ready to go. She knew that she would have to return now to the inn and again share the accommodation with her companions.
She would also have to say goodbye to Lord Takeda. He couldn't stay any longer, while she was obliged to remain. She came here to do a specific job and she would honour her commitments. No matter what her personal feelings were... But she felt deep sadness thinking that she would never see him again.
Well, she had always known that life wasn't fair! She shrugged inwardly.
She thought again about her adoptive parents. She would work with them to lessen for them the burdens of old age. And when they finally passed away, she would return to England, where she could try and make a living for herself. How, she didn't know. But there must be something she could do. For the first time she also thought that perhaps she should try to find her father's relatives. Not because of their money, but just to feel she still had some family.
The afternoon meal was brought to her, but she wasn't hungry and she didn't even touch it.
She lay down and tried to rest...
*
Lord Takeda's arrival in the late afternoon woke her from a rather unpleasant dream featuring Commander Morrison.
Hikaru was very tired. She could see it clearly in his drawn face. "My Lord, please sit down." She insisted. "Can I offer you some food?"
"Thank you, Lottie. I had nothing the whole day."
She offered him her untouched meal and called for saké to be brought.
He was looking at her with tenderness. "I have already forgotten the pleasures of married life. It is such an indulgence to come home to someone who would care for my comforts."
Without a word she handed him a bowl with saké, which he drained in one go.
She looked at him with worried eyes. "My Lord, have you learned anything from the prisoners?"
"None of them said a word." He didn't feel guilty, lying to her. Although, strictly speaking he was saying the truth. "All of them will be punished as common criminals."
"So we still don't know who sent them?"
"I have some suspicions. But let us not talk about it now." He rose. "Would you take a bath with me?"
"As you wish, My Lord." She bowed and followed him to the bath house.
She helped him undress and gently washed him. With her every touch he relaxed in body and mind.
"I wish I didn't have to go." He said suddenly.
"I know."
"I wish..."
"Shhhh..." She stopped him, putting her finger on his lips. "I am grateful that we met, My Lord... Hikaru, let us not regret the shortness of time, but be grateful for any time at all."
"Hai." He agreed.
They moved to the pool, where she sat behind him and tried to massage his stiff neck. He submitted to her ministrations with a sigh of contentment.
"I have received a message from Lord Matsuda." He said after a while. "The ShÅgun's negotiators arrived this afternoon. I will have to leave tomorrow."
Her heart skipped a beat. Of course, she had known that was coming, but she still felt unprepared. "My Lord, all things come to an end."
"That is true." He agreed, turning towards her. "But I will miss your touch... I will miss you."
"And I you."
She allowed him to embrace her for the last time. She breathed deeply his smell, trying to fix it in her memory.
After the bath she helped him to dress and walked with him to his rooms.
"Will you stay with me?" He murmured, although his eyes were already closing.
"Of course." She lay down next to him. "Sleep now." She stroked him until he fell asleep.
But she wasn't tired. She didn't want to sleep. She wanted to remember this moment, when they both lay next to each other, the warmth of his body, his smell...
She got up at sunrise and went to her room to change and to collect her belongings. With a true regret she took off her kimono and left it folded tidily on her futon. From now on she would only wear her western clothes. After that she returned to his bedroom. She slipped back very quietly, not wanting to disturb him, but he was already awake.
He smiled, seeing her in her western clothing. "When I woke a while ago and didn't find you next to me, I thought you had left without saying goodbye."
"Wouldn't that be rude?" She tried to lighten the mood. She didn't want to remember their last moments together as something sad.
"Very." He agreed with a twinkle in his eye.
She helped him to dress and they shared their meal in silence. There was nothing that any of them could say.
It was still early, but the household was busy preparing everything for their Lord's departure.
Now, when the moment finally had come, none of them knew what to say and they stood facing each other in silence.
"My Lord Takeda." She bowed low.
"My Lady." His own bow showed the respect he had for her.
"I will never forget the favour that I received from your hands, My Lord."
"And I will not forget that you saved my life."
"I am happy I could be of service."
"And I will never forget the taste of your lips." He continued, lowering his voice.
"May good fortune always follow you and may your son grow to be a great samurai."
"Thank you, Ana-San. I hope you will find what you are looking for." She just inclined her head, trying not to spoil the moment. "I wish I had for you a gift you couldn't refuse." He seemed unable to stop talking.
"My Lord, you have already given me so much!" She exclaimed.
"But you refused all my gifts!" He didn't understand.
"No." She smiled. "Not all... You offered me your respect and your hospitality. You gave me this." She touched the band on her arm. "You are the most generous man I have ever known."
"It is easy to be generous with you." He gently touched her face. "If you'd let me, I would had given you anything."
"Anything? And does this not scare you?" She asked quietly. "To know that somebody could have so much power over you?"
"Does it scare you?" He asked in turn. She didn't reply. "My beautiful Lottie." He smiled, deeply touched.
He embraced her again, as if unable to part from her. She rested her head on his chest and listened to the rhythm of his heartbeat.
When they finally stepped outside, the Lord's retinue were already gathered and ready for the departure. Two beautiful horses were led forward and they mounted.
Lord Takeda looked at Anna with a new appreciation. She sat in the saddle as if she was born in it. With a narrow waist and a straight back she once again projected self-confidence and poise, reminding him of the impression she'd made the first time they met.
They moved out, spilling through the gate, with Anna and Lord Takeda at the head.
The whole town came out and lined the streets to bow to the leaving DaimyÅ.
Their first stop was at the inn, where Anna dismounted and bowed deeply to him.
He looked at her for the last time, curtly nodded and pushed his horse forward. The whole retinue followed, passing her, standing motionless at the gate.
Her heart contracted painfully, when she thought that she would never again see this wonderful man. A man who treated her only with respect and who gave her pleasure she had not known before. She felt hot tears filling her eyes, but she wiped them quickly away.
"Welcome back."
She was startled, because she didn't even notice Captain Norton, who came and stood next to her.
"Thank you." Her smile was a little pale.
"He definitely cuts an imposing figure." He commented, perhaps guessing the extent of her feelings.
"Yes, he does..." She agreed, but then she breathed deeply and gathered her wits. "Please, excuse me. I need to attend to some business." With a straight back and lifted head she walked away.