Flower Spelling - Chapter 13
Chapter 13 – Reunion with Bain
Even the oppressive frost of the mornings and nights had dissipated like a sheet of paper, and the cherry trees’ firmly closed buds had begun to swell. The long-awaited coming of spring, nevertheless, lacked the power to dispel the thick air that persisted in the Choshu domain dwelling. Not only had the shogunate’s verdict against Katsura and Ito still not been finalized, but another piece of news had also arrived from home that shook the clan.
It was claimed that Shimazu Hisamitsu of Satsuma was organizing his troops to advance into the capital. Despite being merely a rumor, certain people suspected that Satsuma was attempting to launch a war against the Tokugawa shogunate, leading to an unprecedentedly violent atmosphere in the premise.
Scarcely able to join the ranks of the clansmen, who would debate and argue with each other whenever they encountered each other, Sogetsu tended to spend most of her time in solitude, mostly reading.
To be honest, the word “war” doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest… Right now, it is probably the year 1862, so there are five years to go before the Taisei Hokan. Even if Satsuma had raised an army, it would not have succeeded.
Or will the war happen without Sogetsu realizing it?
The answer was invariably a roundabout route.
That’s when it happened.
A letter was sent to her from Bain.
Since the incident with the landlady, Bain and Sogetsu had exchanged letters from time to time, and this correspondence continued intermittently through Hanabishi even after Sogetsu’s arrival at the clan residence. The letter was written in a beautiful script, inviting her to meet him for the first time in a long absence, as he had an upcoming trip to Shinagawa.
In reality, Bain and the other British consular staff had relocated to the foreign settlement in Yokohama by this point. This was in response to the attack on Tozenji by the expulsionists. However, Yokohama’s remoteness from Edo imposed its own set of inconveniences, particularly in terms of the time it consumed to establish communication with the shogunate. Upon urgent demands from other countries, the Shogunate was obliged to consolidate the consulates of various countries in one place in Edo to facilitate their protection. Gotenyama, in Shinagawa, was chosen as the site for the consulate.
As part of the inspection team, Bain was coming to Edo.
I wish I could meet you… but I wonder if I can go out.
Even now, the clan’s dwelling was under the magistrate’s vigilant supervision. What’s more, Bain and the other foreigners were subjected to constant monitoring in the form of bodyguards. As a result of the fact that the government officials were keeping an eye on her, Sogetsu was reluctant.
“Should I decline?”
After considerable contemplation, she sought Katsura for advice. Having not seen Katsura in a long time, he appeared to be exhausted and seemed to have lost some weight.
“But I assume they know about your predicament?”
“Yes. He said that he would drop in at Sagamiya after his visit and that he would meet me there. If I use Ohana’s room, we can chat at ease out of sight.”
“Hmm.” Katsura placed his hand on his chin and mused for a moment. “In that case, I suppose it will turn out fine. You are free to go.”
Katsura chuckled slightly, perhaps amused by Sogetsu’s surprise as she leaned forward.
“What’s the big surprise? I have caused you so much trouble. Have a good time.”
“Thank you! I will be very careful not to arouse suspicion.”
“Oh. It’s just… I am somewhat concerned that this invitation comes at a time when Satsuma is on the move…”
At the time, Sogetsu was unaware of the meaning of Katsura’s words, which he muttered to himself.
?
Now, the appointed day.
At last, the persistent pouring rain had ceased and the day was warm and springlike. Feeling cheerful and rejuvenated after the depression of the past few days, she headed off to Sagamiya and waited in Hanabishi’s room.
“Miss Sou! Long time no see!” With fluent Japanese, a gentleman in Western clothes showed up.
“Long time no see! And Mr. Jude, how have you been?”
Since they met in the summer, it was nearly six months ago. Bain joyfully rushed up to her, and said, “You’ve become quite lovely, haven’t you?” He joked mildly about Sogetsu’s hakama and then, with a flowing motion, offered her a blooming branch of cherry blossoms.
“Oh, thank you very much. It’s beautiful… Is this the cherry blossom in Gotenyama?”
“Yes. It would be ungentlemanly to meet a lady and not bring her flowers.”
She smiled in response and glanced outwards to see that the construction was going well.
Beyond the sliding doors, the rugged framework of Gotenyama’s foundations was visible through the lightly colored sakura trees.
“But my friend Ohana was mad at the officials for taking away everyone’s joy in Edo.”
Gotenyama was one of the most prominent cherry blossom viewing spots in Edo, and the building of a foreign consulate faced significant opposition from Edo citizens.
“I, too, would like to enjoy the cherry blossoms with the people of Edo… We don’t want any unwelcome visitors either.”
“Oh… Surely there are those who would take the opportunity to attack.”
The list of possible candidates immediately flashed across her mind and she heaved a mental sigh.
“I wish Japan and other countries could get on as well as you and I do, Mr. Jude.”
“Yes, indeed… still, the reality is harsh. I heard that Satsuma is in the process of raising an army.”
“You are well informed. Even at the Chosyu residence, the subject is being discussed.”
“So the rumors are true, then?” Bain’s eyes sparkled. “Will the Choshu also rise up against the army?”
“Well… A lot of people are still trying to figure out how to follow in the footsteps of Satsuma, but I don’t know what the policy of the clan is…”
“Just as you see it. War or no war, who seems to have the upper hand?”
“I guess…”
She thought to herself, “He’s really biting,” ?? then she abruptly recalled Katsura’s last words.
“Mr. Jude.” Even she herself could perceive that her face was tense. “Did you invite me here today in order to obtain information from me about Choshu?”
Bain’s blue eyes widened, seemingly in a state of shock. That was the answer.
“I truly have no knowledge of political matters. Even if I did, I couldn’t disclose it to you. After all, I’m Japanese, and I am indebted to Choshu nor can I betray them.”
Her voice was firm, as though not belonging to her.
A leaden, weighty silence descended.
“… So sorry, Miss Sou.” Bain stared straight at Sogetsu with piercingly melancholic lines in his gaze and slowly spoke in a hushed voice. “I am deeply sorry. It’s not the kind of question you ask a friend.”
Seeing the wounded look on his friend’s face, Sogetsu regretted that she had been excessively harsh.
“I am sorry, too. I didn’t mean to be impolite…”
“No. What you have said is true. I had hoped to acquire information about Choshu from you. But it is also true that I wanted to meet my first Japanese friend again.”
“Yes, I believe you.”
After that, they exchanged idle chatter regarding what they had been up to and parted ways.
Upon parting, “Next time, I’ll ask you out completely free of politics.”
Looking at the beaming Bain, “Yes. I’d love to. I’m looking forward to that day”. Sogetsu smiled in return.
T/N:
So sorry, Miss Sou – This is written in English in the original text