Lord Takeda walked briskly to his sister's quarters.
Mariko sat alone in the middle of her reception room. She was pale and looked very solemn.
"Mariko, what is the matter?" He asked, a little worried by her demeanour.
"My Lord." She bowed low, almost touching her forehead to the floor. "I have failed you. I have allowed your son to be in such danger." Her voice was breaking with remorse. "The shame is unbearable and I wish to ask your permission to end my life."
"Mariko!" He interrupted her. His tone was so firm that she didn't dare to continue. "It was not your fault."
"You have entrusted me with his safety."
"Haru is safe." He said gently.
"Only because of Gai-Jin. She saved your son."
"That's true. She is an exceptionally brave woman. You should get to know her better... It was not your fault." He repeated. "It was just an accident."
"My Lord..."
"Your request is denied!" He stated with authority. "If you feel responsible, find a way to prevent any similar accidents in the future. I don't want to hear of it again!"
"Yes, My Lord." She bowed with humility.
He only nodded and left her, annoyed by such nonsense. His next steps were directed to his son's rooms.
Dry and warm, Haru was practicing the art of writing.
"My Lord." He bowed to his father.
"Haru," Takeda lifted the boy onto his knee. "Do you understand what happened at the lake?"
"Yes, father. My tutor has already explained it to me."
"Is there anything you would like to say?"
"My Lord, I understand that it was irresponsible to play so close to the water. But I forgot myself. Lady Ana played the monster so exquisitely."
Only with an effort Takeda managed to suppress a smile. "Anything else?" He looked at the boy with a stern face.
"I know I owe Ana-San my life and I wish to thank her myself when she is feeling better."
Takeda was very proud of his son. "Yes. We all owe her a great debt. Lady Ana also saved my life."
"Will you tell me?" The boy's eyes were big with surprise and curiosity.
"Another time perhaps. Now I must return to make sure she is all right."
He hugged his son and left him to continue the writing lesson.
Returning to his rooms, he found Anna seated in front of a beautifully decorated screen, admiring its artistry. It depicted Sakura, a cherry blossom. The craftsmanship was perfect. The flowers looked as if they were real and were gently swaying on the breeze.
"That is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen." She whispered in awe.
He recalled that art was one of her passions and smiled, happy to provide details about the artist. "It's Hokusai."
"My Lord?" She looked at him with incomprehension.
"The artist." He explained. "His name was Hokusai. He was famous for his woodblock prints of Mount Fuji. Although, I am certain that some of his works were in his daughter's hand." He smiled. "She was just like you, independent and talented."
She bowed her head in thanks. And then she looked again around the room. "My Lord, your home is so beautiful." With a gesture she encompassed the screen, the prints on the wall, intricately decorated furniture and everything else he owned.
"It is true." He agreed. "These are beautiful objects. However, the real beauty lies in the soul."
"True." She smiled with sadness, mirroring his sentence. "However, you must realise that I do not fit in here."
"No?" His brow lifted inquisitively. "Please, explain."
"I am a foreigner. Because of Sakoku I have no right to even be here. How can I exist in a world where I have no rights?"
"You have rights!" He contradicted. "You are my guest."
"My Lord," She leaned towards him and stroked his handsome face with tenderness. "I am here at your pleasure. But I can't stay forever."
"Lottie." He took her hand in his. It seemed small and delicate, but he knew it was also strong. "I love you. We are bound by honour and destiny. You are expecting my child. I will not let you go. Why do you fight me so much?"
"What life will we give this child? A half-breed!"
He was silent for a long time. When he finally spoke it was with the authority of his position as a Great Lord.
"When we met, I was just curious about you. I admired your skills and... desired you." With a gesture he prevented her from speaking. "Of course I desired you. Who wouldn't? But then you risked your life to save mine and my respect for you grew. When I got to know you better and found out about your youth, I felt a deep sadness that your life had been so lonely and filled with tragedy. The strength that allowed you to conquer the obstacles and the vulnerability I sensed in you made me see my equal. Before, I had never thought like that about any woman. And I had despised Gai-Jin. But you..." He paused for a moment. "You were different. You made me realise that I wasn't better just because I was rich and carried two swords. In fact, you have shown me that in many ways you were my superior. Believe me, it wasn't an easy lesson. But that was the foundation of my feelings for you. I love you like I've never loved before. I will do anything for you... except letting you go!"
"My Lord," Her eyes brimmed with tears. "I bring bad luck to anyone I get close to. First my parents, later my uncle and now Kazuki... I can't stay here!"
"I don't believe in bad luck." He stated calmly. "Luck is what you make of life and you have only brought me happiness."
She had no answer to that. She hung her head, fighting internally with her own feelings.
"My Lord," She spoke eventually. "Hikaru, I love you with all my heart. But I need to leave you in order to protect you. And if you don't let me go now, I don't think I will have the strength to fight this feeling any longer."
"So don't."
"I am afraid." She confessed.
"I know. But I will always love you. And with the Emperor's protection you will be safe."
"The Emperor?"
"Yes, I told you we had much to discuss. When I was summoned to KyÅto, His Highness spoke to me about the changes Japan is now facing. We all know the ShÅgun cannot stop Gai-Jin and he is losing support with every concession he makes. His title of the 'Barbarian Expelling General' is just that - a title. The Emperor is planning to reclaim the powers that are rightfully his. But he will need to better understand what we are facing. That is why he needs you. His Highness charged me with a mission of finding you and convincing you to stay in Japan to advise him."
She looked at him with wide open eyes, not believing her own ears. "The Emperor knows about me?"
"Yes. He knows about you and... our relationship. He thinks you will be invaluable to his future rule."
"But I am sure his advisors wouldn't allow that. A barbarian in the Imperial palace?"
"He is the Emperor." Takeda stated calmly, shrugging her doubts. "A Living God!"
"But you said it yourself many times that you did not desire to be involved in politics."
"If it allows me to secure for you a safe position and keep you at my side I will do anything that is necessary."
He said it with such conviction and strength that her heart first contracted painfully and later expanded with all the love she had for him. She couldn't fight it any more. She didn't want to... With a sigh she fell into his embrace and allowed herself to be happy.
She felt his beating heart next to hers and the strength of his arms around her. She saw the truth of his love in his eyes and she trusted him to protect her.
With her finger she traced the line of his sensual lips, she touched his cheekbones and the laughter lines around his striking eyes, she stroked his re-growing hair and thought, perhaps for the first time in her life, that she had finally found her place. And that place was right here, beside him.
She finally found peace...