el.the miko-第13部分

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　cryptomeria　whose　boughs　overgrew　the　sheltering　eight…foot　fence；　swaying　over　the　road　itself。
　The　driver　came　around　and　opened　the　rear　door　for　them；　and　Akiko　took　her　charge　inside。
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　Seiichi　Sato　sipped　hot　sake　from　a　tiny　porcelain　cup　and　contemplated　the　Void。　He　did　this；　sometimes；　in　moments　of　intense　stress；　to　clear　his　mind。　But　mainly　he　used　this　form　of　mental　exercise　when　he　was　impatient。　In　a　land　where　patience　was　not　merely　a　virtue　but　a　way　of　life；　Sato　had　had　to　teach　himself　this　attitude　as　if　he　were　some　form　of　alien　in　his　own　culture。　Yet　he　had　worked　diligently；　even　obsessively　at　it；　and　he　knew　that　his　patience　had　won　him　all　that　he　held　dear　today。
　He　was　in　the　six…tatami　room…space　being　defined　in　Japanese　houses　by　the　number　of　reed　mats　the　wood　floor　could　contain…with　only　a　small　table；　a　cotton　futon　and　a　drawered　naga…hibachi　of　burl　paulownia　wood　dating　from　the　early　part　of　the　nineteenth　century。　A　recess　in　the　right　top　of　the　long　brazier　allowed　for　the　heating　of　sake　as　well　as　food。
　Sato　wore　only　a　white　cotton　kimono。　Its　bold　crimson　square　reproduced　the　crest　of　the　Danjuro　line　of　kabuki　actors。　He　looked　calm　and　assured；　his　cool　eyes　staring　at　a　spot　not　within　the　realm　of　the　physical　world。
　A　soft　knock　on　the　fusuma　made　him　blink　but　otherwise　he　did　not　move。　Now　he　unlocked　his　thoughts　and　allowed　the　keen　sense　of　anticipation　to　enfold　him　like　a　cloak　on　a　chill　winter's　eve。
　He　reached　out　and　moved　the　paper　door　an　inch　to　the　right。　Just　the　pronounced　curve　of　the　front　half　of　Akiko's　eye　gazed　at　him　from　beneath　a　half…lowered　lid。　The　sable　darkness　dusted　along　the　delicate　flesh　was　like　the　painting　of　dusk　across　a　changing　sky。　The　coal　black　iris　was　like　the　heart　of　some　deeply　buried　treasure。　Despite　himself；　Sato　felt　the　quickness　of　his　pulse；　the　heat　of　his　own　breath　firing　in　his　throat。
　〃You　are　late。〃　His　voice　was　breathy　as　he　began　their　ritual。　〃I　thought　you　would　not　e。〃
　Akiko　heard　the　thickness　in　his　voice　and　smiled　to　herself。　〃I　always　e；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　cannot　do　otherwise。〃
　〃You　are　free　to　walk　away。〃　Sato's　heart　constricted　as　he　said　those　words。
　〃1　give　my　love　to　you　freely　and　I　am　bound　by　it。　I　will　never　leave　you。〃
　The　script　had　been　developed　over　a　period　of　months　to　provide　them　both　with　a　degree　of　excitement　and　intrigue　within　the　carefully　prescribed　boundaries　of　societal　courtship。　Of　course；　there　were　aspects　about　their　courtship…minor　ones；　to　be　sure…　that　had　Sato's　mother　been　alive　she　would　have　disapproved　of　in　the　most　vociferous　language。　
　Sato　bowed　his　head　and；　opening　the　fusuma　farther；　moved　back　on　his　knees　and　shins　to　allow　her　entrance。　As　Akiko　entered；　the　dual　kanji　ideograms　for　sobi　hovered　in　the　center　of　Sato's　being　like　a　feudal　daimyo's　banner；　for　she　did　indeed　possess　sublime　beauty。　And；　despite　their　ritualistic　dialog；　he　knew　it　was　he　who　was　bound　to　her　for　all　time；　body　and　spirit。
　For　a　time　they　knelt　facing　one　another；　Sato's　large；　capable　hands　held　palms　up；　Akiko's　smaller　ones　resting　lightly　in　his。　Locked；　their　eyes　stared　within　and　through。　Sato；　contemplating　the　karma　that　had　brought　them　together；　felt　the　essence　of　her　stirring；　a　lacquered　kite　rising　above　rooftops　and　rustling　crowns　of　cypress　and　pine。　A　strong　gust　took　it　suddenly　and　it　shot　straight　for　his　heart；　lodging　there　like　a　broken　wing。
　〃What　are　you　thinking？〃
　The　question　startled　him。　Was　it　just　because　of　the　abrupt　sound　from　out　of　the　silence　of　the　beating　of　their　hearts；　he　asked　himself。　From　deep　within　him　came　a　secret　fear　that　somehow；　in　some　unfathomable　way；　her　mind　had　pierced　his　flesh；　peering　into　his　inviolable　thoughts。　And　in　that　split　instant；　a　brief　shudder　contracted　the　muscles　ridged　along　his　gently　arched　back　and　he　blinked；　his　eyes　searching　hers　as　if　she　were　a　stranger。
　Then　her　lips　bowed　into　a　smile　and　her　white；　even　teeth　showed。　〃You　are　so　solemn　this　night。〃　She　laughed；　and　he　saw　the　play　of　light　along　the　side　of　her　throat；　the　small　shadow　lying　in　the　hollow　like　a　teardrop。
　He　said　nothing；　and　after　studying　his　granitelike　countenance　for　a　moment　she　made　a　move　to　rise。　〃I　will…〃But　his　fingers　curled　around　her　wrist　stopped　her　and；　perched　like　a　bird；　her　lips　opened。　〃Sato…san。〃
　Slowly　he　brought　her　back　down　to　her　knees；　then　drew　himself　upward。　The　fabric　of　his　kimono　winked　and　rippled　as　his　shoulders　squared　and　Akiko　was　abruptly　aware　of　his　strength　and；　even　more；　his　power。
　〃This　night　is　special；〃　he　said　thickly。　〃There　will　only　be　one　like　it　in　all　our　lives。〃　He　paused　for　a　moment　as　if　collecting　his　thoughts。　〃So　our　lives　will　be　truly　bound　by　the　laws　of　the　Amida　Buddha。〃　His　eyes　raked　her　face。　〃Does　this　mean　nothing　to　you？〃
　〃I　have　thought　of　little　else　all　day。〃
　〃Then　stay。〃　At　that　moment　his　fingers　let　go　their　grip　and　her　arm；　freed；　drifted　down　to　her　lap。　Her　perfect；　lacquered　nails　overlapped　as　her　fingers　interlaced；　a　streak　of　light　lying
　along　the　gleaming　surface　of　each　beyond　which　he　could　not　see。　〃On　this　most　special　of　nights；　send　my　gift　away。〃
　Her　face；　as　posed　as　a　porcelain　mask；　disclosed　nothing　of　her　inner　feelings。　Sato　could　scarcely　discern　the　rise　and　fall　of　her　breasts　as　she　breathed。　Her　wa　was　as　unruffled　as　the　still　skin　of　a　mountain　lake；　reflecting　rather　than　revealing。
　He　was　disconcerted。　〃Surely　you　must　know　it　is　you　who　I　desire。〃
　Akiko　turned　her　head　as　if　he　had　struck　her　a　physical　blow。　〃Then　you　hate　the　gift　I　bear；　you　have　hated　all　the　gifts　that　I　have　brought　you　since…〃
　〃No！〃　Trembling；　Sato　silently　railed　against　the　trap　he　had　entered。
　〃I　have　dishonored　you　with　my　desire　to　please　you。〃　Akiko　wrung　her　hands　like　an　aggrieved　little　girl。
　Sato　leaned　forward。　〃I　have　loved　each　and　every　gift；　I　have　treasured　the　thought　behind　them。〃　He　had　regained　control　of　his　voice　if　not　his　emotions。　〃There　is　only　honor　in　what　you　have　brought　me；　knowing…〃　His　eyes　slid　away　from　her；　staring　fixedly　at　the　tatami　between　them。　〃Knowing　that　you　have　never。。。　been　with　a　man；　understanding　my　desires〃…he　took　a　deep　breath…〃and　wanting　to　bring　me　happiness　in　this　sphere。〃
　Her　head　lowered。　〃It　is　my　duty。　I…〃
　But　his　hand　shot　out　again；　covering　hers。　〃But　tonight　we　are　so　close　to　being　joined。　Seeing　you　and…〃
　〃What　you　ask…〃　Her　head　snapped　up。　〃And　then　what　of　our　wedding　night？　Will　we　make　a　mockery　of　tradition？　Will　we　degrade　the　path　that　is　ours？　Do　you　want　that？〃
　Sato　felt　her　nails　digging　into　his　calloused　flesh　and　knew　she　was　right。　He　grasped　at　the　fluttering　of　his　intense　desire　for　her；　choking　it　off。　His　head　nodded　on　his　thick　neck　and　he　whispered　through　dry　lips；　〃It　is　your　gift　that　I　desire。〃
　Akiko　stood　by　the　naga…hibachi；　feeling　its　heat　suffuse　her。　She　paid　only　the　most　minimal　attention　to　the　work　her　hands　were　doing；　cooking　the　soba；　the　buckwheat　noodles；　preparing　the　soy…based　sauce　in　small　porcelain　cups；　pouring　the　rest　into　a　tiny　matching　pitcher；　setting　out　the　green　horseradish　and　chopped　cucumber　on　a　saucerlike　plate。
　The　soba；　when　done；　was　lifted　in　tiny　portions　into　rectangular　stacking　trays　of　black　lacquer。　Normally；　she　would　be　waited　upon　as　would　be　Sato。　But　this　was　part　of　her　gift　to　him；　and　at　this　time　of　the　night　servants　were　enjoined　from　this　side　of　the　house。
　Akiko　served　the　food　and　more　hot　sake。　She　observed　thai　Sato　and　Yoki　were　talking　in　low；　intimate　tones。　She　had　prepared　the　girl　well。　Yoki　knew　what　to　expect　and　what　was　expected　of　her。
　Akiko　rose　and　walked　silently　to　the　edge　of　the　fitsuma。　She　paused　with　a　delicate　hand　on　the　light　wooden　frame。　The　sound　of　them　washed　over　her　before　she　slid　the　paper　door　shut　behind　her。
　But　she　did　not　leave　the　house。　Instead；　she　moved　to　the　left；　entering　a　smaller；　two…tatami　room。　Carefully　closing　the　fusuma；　she　slid　across　the　reed　mats　on　her　knees　until　she　reached　the　shoji　mon　with　the　room　within　which　Sato　and　Y5ki　reclined。
　The　screen　was　actually　posed　of　many　long　and　narrow　vertical　panels；　decorative　and　pleasing　to　the　eye。　Some　time　ago；　just　after　she　had　been　introduced　into　the　household；　Akiko　had　secretly　altered　the　nature　of　one　of　these　panels　so　that　it　became　removable　by　a　subtle　manipulation　of　its　thin　wooden　border。
　Through　this　rift　she　now　gazed　upon　Sato　and　Yoki。　They　had　finished　their　soba；　the　sake　was　almost　gone。　They　were　very　close　together。　Kneeling　at　her　spyhole；　Akiko　settled　herself　for　what　was　to　e。
　Sato's　back　was　to　her。　She　saw　the　movement　of　his　arm　and　then　the　soft　slide　of　Yoki's　kimono…for　Akiko　knew　better　than　to　present　the　girl　to　Sato　in　her　Western…style　clothes…back　and　down；　exposing　one　soft　white　shoulder。
　Akiko　held　her　breath　as　the　rich　play　of　the　girl's　muscles　was　revealed。　Sato's　eyes　were　drawn　to　Yoki's　breasts；　the　brown　and　gray　kimono　lay　like　wings　on　the　tatami　on　either　side　of　her；　her　thighs　still　partially　wrapped。　Then　Sato's　head　bent　down　and　forward　and　with　a　soft　cry　Yoki's　head　went　back；　her　fingers　caressing　his　ears　as　his　tongue　streaked　hotly　across　her　nipples。
　Akiko　crossed　her　arms　over　her　own　breasts；　feeling　the　hot　stiffness　there　like　points　of　fire。　Her　mouth　was　dry　and　she　longed　for　sake　to　slake　her　thirst。
　She　had　almost　given　in　to　Sato　tonight。　That　had　shocked　her　like　a　lightning　bolt　out　of　the　blue。　It　had　been　relatively　easy　to　keep　him　at　arm's　length　all　these　long　weeks；　she　had　been　disgusted　by　the　lust　clouding　his　eyes。　But　this　night　had　been　different。
　Yoki　was　now　pletely　naked。　Sato's　open　mouth　licked　and　sucked　at　her　flesh　with　such　intensity　that　Akiko　could　feel　her　own　flesh　heating；　tingling　just　as　if　it　were　she　he　was　making　love　to。
　Why？　What　had　been　different？　Akiko　searched　her　mind；　analyzing　as　Sun　Hsiung　had　taught　her　to　do　so　long　ago：　quarter　your　memory；　then　divide　it　into　eighths；　sixteenths；　and　so　on。　〃Eventually；〃　he　h