Chapter 19

"He's not a bad boy," Sastuki said to her husband.

"No one ever said he was," Eitaro countered. "He's just not right for Anko, even if they can get married now. She'd be disgraced. He will take her away from us forever. We need to stop this nonsense right now."

"It isn't as bad as we feared," Satsuki repeated. "Kiyo heard them talking in the garden. From what Kiyo heard him say, he isn't in any position to marry for many years, and he knows it. That alone means we don't have to interfere. He seems respectable, and that makes him harmless.

"But there are other reasons to let this continue," she went on. "The Westerners want something we have right here, in this district, but we don't know what it is. We need to find out and take control of it. We cannot alienate them now," she finished, "Remember, Gengoro was granted an audience." Satsuki had just received a message, not long after the one announcing Eitaro's official appointment as the district Sheriff, stating that Gengoro had actually been granted an audience with the Daimyo. They did not know if this happened before or after the formalizing of Eitaro's appointment.

"I must send a message of acceptance." Eitaro's brow furrowed, as he turned over the implications in his mind. If he formally accepted the appointment, he knew it would be harder to remove him, no matter how convincing Gengoro's arguments might be.

"You already did," Satsuki replied. She had sent the message on his behalf as soon as she'd read the declaration of appointment. Eitaro regarded her with admiration. She always knew exactly what to do.

"We can only wait and see what happens with the Daimyo," Eitaro said, following that topic. "I don't think I should go there myself. Not yet."

"Not until we see Gengoro's response to your official appointment and acceptance, anyway," Satsuki agreed. "However, I'm afraid, from what I hear, he's completely consumed by revenge. I'm not sure it matters to him what the Daimyo says." The couple looked at each other. The question of alliances and support was crucial now, and they both knew it. Gengoro might still ignore or pretend not to have heard about Eitaro's official appointment and mount a military challenge on any or no pretext, before he even spoke to the Daimyo. There was fighting and chaos everywhere. Why shouldn't it affect them?

Satsuki made a dismissive gesture as she rose. "It's expedient for now, Husband. We simply let Anko continue her relationship with this boy to keep the door open. The boy is fairly important among them, I think. He is the one in charge of the survey party. He's a decent sort of person, as far as we can tell. When we are securely positioned, we will terminate their communication if that seems appropriate. Remember, too, the boy may be recalled or transferred at any time."

"He's just a common sailor," Eitaro growled, slamming shut a scroll case.

Satsuki pursed her lips and made a disgusted puff. Eitaro had better face the fact that they needed this boy. "He's not a common sailor. He's a naval officer, which makes him a potentially useful one."

"I do not like any part of this, Satsuki," Eitaro said, thumping the table with his fist. "How can I allow my daughter to keep company with a man who says he cannot marry her? That way lies ruin, and you know it. He'll only break her heart and ruin her prospects and his career! What are you thinking of?"

Satsuki composed herself. Survival depended on flexibility. Nothing ever stayed the same in the material world. Letting out a gentle breath, she let her gaze meet her husband's.

"I'm thinking about all of us," Satsuki said. "I'm thinking about the future of our family and our district as a whole. Anko has sense. She knows he cannot marry her, nor she him. She'll be realistic about the relationship. By keeping the lessons, we will help her do that. We won't give her the chance to let it get out of hand, and we'll still get what we need."

"If they're respectable, as you say, that boy's family wouldn't like this any better than I do," Eitaro's gaze threw daggers at his wife.

Satsuki nodded, and smiled. She was, in fact, counting on it.