Taking Offense
27 October 1998
by Ed Rubin

Laying in bed, Naoki ground his teeth. They had discovered a lot, but what good would it do? They had not established a connection between Reika and Takeshi, at least not any that could be used to his satisfaction in establishing that Reika had been present the night Retsu had been killed.

Since the meeting with Takiro, Jinjiro had seemed less eager to continue to pursue the investigation. This was fine, as far as Naoki was concerned, since they could leave if Jinjiro declared his errand here complete. But even that wasn't as important anymore, as far as Naoki was concerned, since all the dangerous players in recent events were already gone or about to leave. Now, the only true danger was of making an enemy of Takeshi. But that certainly could be avoided. They need only mention Satoya and a certain geisha of the Pine House. Takeshi himself could deal with the missing geisha as he chose.

Having such a simple plan, and one that could easily work and that would have such easily acceptable consequences for him and his companions if it did, surely should have had Naoki in a better mood that one in which he now found himself. He relaxed his jaw, or at least he tried to, and continued to think about his state of mind, searching for the source of the problem.

Then it was there, as plain as one of the paintings in the Pine House, as vivid as the idyllic scene that had graced the wall beyond Yukiko's bed. An image of amending his story to include Yoji the bouncer, perhaps as an intermediary conspirator, a go-between for Satoya and the unnamed geisha. He was bothered because it was unworthy, however much Yoji had offended him. There was no need for this tactic.

He had been oversensitized to disrespectful treatment at the hands of his companions, and then that was reinforced by the lack of power he had discovered that they all had in exercising their responsibilities as magistrates, and then it was reinforced yet again by the scornful lack of respect he had been continually shown in the eyes of the Daimyo they had questioned. They had virtually screamed at him, "We could kill you without a thought, without effort, you runt pig." Then Yoji had said essentially the same thing.

Where was his place on the celestial order, if not between, rather than below, Yoji and the Daimyo? His honor had been insulted, and something would be done.

What to do was the question, then. A simple slaughter would be effective, and unquestioned, perhaps, but Naoki was not satisfied with that possibility. The Pine House was Takeshi-sama's preferred house of leisure, after all. Killing the doorman, even honorably, might displease him, and Naoki didn't like to collect enemies. So he would give Yoji an opportunity to apologize before punishing him. Yes, that would do it. Naoki's honor would be assuaged, and his place in the celestial order reaffirmed openly. Soon, soon enough this could be accomplished. Much relieved, Naoki turned over, checked the accessibility of his sword, and went to sleep.