The Way of the Fox (32 page)

“
Please sit closer, Hanako san. We would truly enjoy your company.”

Hanako was caught. She
flushed, then came forward to join the main group of diners – sitting herself awkwardly between Tonbo and Benten. Benten and the girl made an appalling show of pretending that they did not know one another. Neither of them had the least acting talent at all.

Kuno ended his conversation with one
of the poetically accomplished courtesans, and then turned to Hanako.

“
Hanako san. Please forgive my impropriety – but we are investigating the haunting of this town. What can you tell us of the lady from this house who died?”

The young maid dropped her gaze to the floor. Her hands gripped tight together, and her
voice fell almost to a whisper.

“Kiko san. She was.. She was...”

The plump courtesan looked up from her meal, quite happy to talk. “Kiko was a gossip, samurai san! Sharp eyed and sharp tongued. If anyone received clandestine presents from a valued customer, she would always report it straight to Mama Ippongi – and Mama Ippongi insists upon her cut!” The courtesan shook her head. “She favoured only the highest Raiden officers, scheming with them, thick as thieves… And the curse took her! Three months ago, almost to the day!”

Kuno listened carefully. “And she died at night, with no marks?”

Hanako kept her gaze upon the floor.

“At night, samurai san. With no marks. Just a look of terror upon her face….”

Deeply upset, the girl arose. She headed to the door, and gave a bow.

“Please excuse me.”

Benten yea
rned upwards, clearly wanting to go after her – but he returned to his meal, looking torn and miserable. Sura spotted a platter of dumplings nearby, and rapidly helped herself.

“
Benten san? I believe I left my spear outside where it might trip one of the ladies. Could you perhaps find a safer place for it?”

The young ronin eagerly looked up.

“Of course, Sura san!’ The man swiftly arose – his wounded thigh utterly forgotten. “I shall attend to it.”

Off he
raced – clearly hurrying after the girl. Sura kept her eyes on her dinner and gave a slight, sly smile. Kuno looked at her in puzzlement, and decided he would find out her plans in all due course.

The plump courtesan joined Sura in plundering
the dumpling plate. She looked towards the door, and gave an unhappy sigh.

“Poor child.
Please forgive her, Asodo san. Hanako has not been well ever since her night at the castle. She has seen death brush too close.”

Kuno raised one brow. “
Too close?”

“First Kiko – in the room next to Hanako’s own! And then last night –
Lord Raiden!” The girl looked quite harried. “The curse! None of us are safe from the hungry ghosts! None of us! Hanako may have been the last person to ever see the man alive. Not that his presence on this earth shall be missed.” The courtesan swiftly put a hand against her mouth. “Buddha forgive me for saying it.”

The courtesans and maids finished with their meals. The courtesans arose – now came their baths, and then the long process of preparing their makeup, robes and hair. The
maids moved efficiently to clear away the trays. With the room suddenly quite empty, Chiri looked carefully about herself, then nestled close to confer quietly with her friends.

“
Colleagues. I feel perhaps that this Hanako should be questioned further.”

“
Mmm-hmm .” Sura finished a morsel of crayfish, savouring it slyly. “Let’s give her another ten minutes. At least until Benten retrieves my spear.”

“
Your spear?”

“Ten should be enough.” Sura spied the sak
ē. “Just time enough for a drink.”

With the courtesans all scrubbed and now enjoying their baths, the maids had a brief moment of peace. Soon, the complex rituals of dressing and adorning the courtesans would begin – but for the moment, there was time
for a brief sit down and a cup of tea. Sleeves still rolled and her face flushed from the heat of the bath house, Hanako seated herself in her own narrow little room beside the stairs. She sat for a moment, one hand against her head, and closed her eyes, looking lost and worn.

Sura stuck her head about the door.
She was carrying a teapot and cups, and brightened the moment she saw Hanako.

“So there you are! The cooks said that you were in the laundry!”

“The laundry?” The girl closed the neck of her robes with one hand. “Why no! No, Kitsune san. I have been assisting at the baths.”

“I was sure they said the laundry. Or was that Benten? I’m sure someone saw him there.” Sura
happily invited herself in and sat down. “Tea? I brought you tea! It settles the stomach. You looked as though dinner didn’t agree with you.”

“Oh!” Hanako found
herself with a brimming teacup in hand. “Oh no – I am quite well, honoured priestess.”

“Well – I just thought I’d talk with you. Mama Ippongi is telling poor Chiri about the terrible burden of double entry accounting, and the lads are all talking shop.
You know – swords, armour, this season’s lacing patterns…” Sura looked about herself: the little room was plain but extremely well kept. “I love your accent! It’s local, yes? But beautifully educated.”

The girl drank – keeping herself poised, calm and controlled.

“My mistress teaches me well, Sura san. But I have far to go.”

“
But you seem well versed in etiquette already, Hanako san. Surely you are a great boon to this house?”

“
I merely have a few small natural talents, Sura san.” Hanako turned her piercing eyes upon the fox. He voice was intelligent and calm.

“
Forgive me Kitsune san – but you did not invite yourself to my humble room in order to ask about my education.”

Sura considered the girl, head
tilted and fox tail swishing. Sura set aside her tea.

“
I do not want you to feel hunted and interrogated, Hanako san. But I wish to hear your tale of the night Lord Raiden died.”

“
You are investigating Lord Raiden’s death?” Hanako turned her teacup around and around in her hand. “But he is not a victim of the ghost. Surely he died of a heart condition, Sura san?”

“Interesting.
No one has yet specifically blamed a ghost.”

A cold wind
stirred through the room. The lamp flame guttered. Hanako hunched, pulling her robes tight about her shoulders.

“
It is a natural thought, Sura san, given that you are a Spirit Hunter.” The girl seemed to physically steel herself. She set aside her tea and glanced briefly at the fox.

“Very well, Sura san. I shall tell you what I know.”

Hanako took a quiet, firm breath. She looked out of the window, towards the Raiden keep.

“
I am not a courtesan, priestess. The maids are often apprentices, but I do not choose to be a courtesan.

“
Mama Ippongi told me that I was summoned to the lord. He had seen me from his palanquin as he passed through the town. I did not want to go, but I had no choice. Disobedience would have meant death. It would have meant terrible disaster to Mama Ippongi and all who live here. So that night, I made my way into the castle, and found myself ushered to the lord’s chambers in the upper keep.”

Sura
cupped her chin as the listened. “Were you alone?”

“
No, Sura san. I was sent out with a page and a maid.”

“
And Benten san.”

Hanako looked at the floor. “
Yes. And Benten.”

She ordered the teacups without looking up at Sura.

“Only the maid remained with me once we entered the keep. The others stayed in the guard room at the gate house.”

“Think carefully. What precisely happened on
ce you entered the keep?”

“We were met by a guard and taken
to the head of the stairs outside Lord Raiden’s room. There were two guards at the door. We were allowed into the antechamber... The guards kept the door open. We were under observation as we sat down to wait.” The girl quietly smoothed her robes. “We were kept waiting for a considerable time. A castle maid arrived, carrying a tray with a teapot and a cup... The door to the main chamber was opened, and Lord Raiden was inside. He seemed... eager – very eager to receive her. He certainly saw us in the ante chamber. He seemed... pleased.”

The girl seemed stiff and sickened at the thought. Sura nodded, picturing the room in her mind.

“What was Lord Raiden doing? Why had he kept you waiting?”

Hanako made an elegant gesture of her hand.

“He was busy with ledgers and a counting frame. There were books and papers… He was writing.”

“Was there a small book? A black ledger?”

“Yes... Yes, I believe there was. He put it aside when the teapot arrived. But the door was closed again, and the maid departed.” The girl set her hands into her lap – quite controlled. “Lord Raiden must have been deeply interested in his accounts. I was left waiting for a long time. Finally he opened the door. He seemed somewhat red faced – slightly unwell. I was told that I would not be required for the evening that I was free to go. I bowed to him, but he scarcely acknowledged my presence.

“
I left, and was home before midnight.”

Sura mused the story over, tapping at her chin.

“So you saw Lord Raiden? Just before midnight.”

“
Yes, Sura san. As did my companion, the maid. I am sure your confederates have already found her, and are taking her story. You will find that her tale matches exactly with my own.”

Sura waved a hand, dismissing all hard feelings. “
We mean no insult, lady. We are merely trying to gain a full picture of this town’s troubles.”

Her eye lit upon Hanako’s fan – a beautiful old thing that lay half open on the floor off to one side. The fan had been painted with an image of a rabbit and the full moon. The fox saw it, and was delighted.

“A rabbit! An usagi!” Sura helped herself to more tea. “I knew an usagi once! She was a puppeteer! A brilliant puppeteer. When she was in human form, she still kept her fluffy tail.”

Hanako moved
to quietly close the fan. “It was given to me at my last house, Sura san.”

“
Ah yes. You are not from here.”

“No, Sura san.
I came from Udoji, on the far side of the forest.”

“
How long have you been here?”

“
Two years, lady.” Hanako gave Sura a most definite bow. “And now, you must forgive me, priestess. The guests will be arriving in two hours. I must assist the ladies with their makeup and dresses.”

“
Of course, Hanako san. Please do forgive me for my curiosity.”

Sura bowed, gathered up the tea things, and headed for the door. Out in the corridor, she could see Benten speaking to Chiri, enthusiastically showing the rat a view out to the mountains. Sura paused and gave a smile.

“Benten is a delightful character once you get to know him.” She gave a fond cluck of her tongue. “I’m glad he has employment. How long has he been here?”

Hanako blushed ever so slightly, turning away.

“I do not know, Sura san.” The girl gave a very pointed bow. “Goodnight, Sura san.”

“Nighty night!”

With her white-tipped pony tail and fox-brush gleaming, Sura set off back down the corridor. Hanako closed the door behind her. Sura instantly flitted back to the door and set her pointed ear against it for a moment – fancying that she heard Hanako giving a sharp sigh of relief. Swishing her tail, Sura made her way back to the kitchens, humming to herself in thought.

The evening gave way to full darkness as the
greater hour of the Rooster vanished and the lesser hour of the dog began. The brothel festooned itself with lanterns, setting lights all around the gate and garden. On either side of Mama Ippongi’s, a few wealthy houses glimmered with lamps. With the first guests arriving and business about to begin, the four Spirit Hunters took their leave, setting out into the dark streets to wend their way back towards the inn. They walked together, with the elementals clinging tight to Chiri, sifting through the information gleaned after the evening meal.

Kuno walked side by side with Sura, scowling in thought.

“I spoke with the other maid at length. She confirms Hanako’s tale. Tea was brought to Lord Raiden. Hanako and the maid were kept waiting until finally Hanako was summoned into the main chamber. The lord seemed flushed and distracted. He released Hanako almost immediately. She exited the room, and the women returned to the brothel accompanied by Benten and the page boy.”

“Wait wait wait wait wait!” Sura held up a finger. “He summoned Hanako to his chamber.
She later exited the room to join the maid. So the maid was not actually
in
the chamber with Hanako?”