Teito Monogatari:
The Tale of the Imperial Capital
Part 2: Supernatural Babylon
Author: Hiroshi Aramata
Part 4: Recapturing Yukari
Chapter 17: A Brother’s Feelings
“What is it, Junichi? I’m busy,” Yōichirō snapped furiously. The force with which he slammed the meeting room door made his irritation plain.
The look on Junichi’s face was stern and uncharacteristically serious. His ears were flushed red. He was determined not to retreat no matter what. He nearly tore the white hemp sleeve of his kimono as he removed a letter from it and slapped it against Yōichirō’s face.
“Look at this!” Junichi shouted.
“What is this? A letter?”
“This came to me yesterday. It’s from Professor Kōda Shigeyuki.”
“So what?”
“You bastard! I’m completely fed up with you. You know very well what Professor Kōda is doing, don’t you? He’s worried about Yukari and is searching for her and Katō!”
“I’m doing the same. I’ve ordered my household to use every possible means. I’ve also requested an investigation for a missing person at the police station. I have appealed to the army as well, asking for Lieutenant Katō to be interrogated and detained. I’m grateful for Professor Kōda’s efforts.”
Junichi dropped heavily onto a long sofa. He wiped streaming sweat from his brow with his white sleeve. He must have rushed to the Ministry of Finance.
Junichi held his head in both hands and shook it violently. Then he fixed his gaze on Yōichirō. “And you still call yourself Yukari’s brother? If anything happens to her, I’ll shout to the world that it’s all your fault! Aren’t you worried about your unfortunate little sister, who’s been abducted?”
Yōichirō glanced at the face of the large clock in the room. An emergency meeting was about to begin.
With the passing of the Meiji emperor, the era had changed to Taishō. Officials were working tirelessly on changes and revisions to foreign policy.
The great challenge facing the Ministry of Finance at the moment was the repayment of debts. Yōichirō had applied to Britain for loans to repay several of these debts that were about to come due. The Imperial Capital Improvement Plan was complete, and even though the scale had been kept relatively small, it had been tremendously expensive to implement.
“Junichi, let me make this clear: I am taking part in an important government project. I cannot afford to worry over private matters. My life is currently consumed by work. As Yukari’s brother, I’ve done all I can for her, as I just explained. What do you expect me to do?”
Junichi grimaced. “I know you’re busy, so go ahead and keep doing your number-crunching. We grew up together; I know you better than almost anyone. That’s why I need to say this: you always were a coward, Yōichirō, but when your little sister was being bullied, you always defended her. What changed? Why are you like this now?”
“There’s no point in arguing with me,” Yōichirō said. “I need to go to a meeting now. Give my regards to Mr. Kōda. I intend to send someone to formally offer my thanks to him before long.”
Junichi stood up again and slammed a bundle of letters down on the table.
“You fool. You’re not even worthy of being told that the professor has nearly found out where Katō is. I’ll be taking charge of these letters. I’ll find Yukari myself. I won’t ask you for help ever again.”
“Fine.”
Junichi strode toward the door and left the room without looking back.
Watching his close friend walk down the corridor toward the front entrance, Yōichirō narrowed his eyes against the intensity of the autumn sunlight. The midsummer sun had been red when the Meiji emperor had passed away. A little more than a month had passed since then. The sunlight was still harsh and bright, but it had lost its redness.
Red-burning Meiji had ended, and Japan was now plunging into the white-shining Taishō era. Thinking of the difficult path ahead, Yōichirō breathed a long sigh. Contrary to what the people believed, Japan was not in a state of unbroken prosperity. The degree of financial stringency had reached a point where there was no more time to spare.
I’m counting on you, Junichi. Save my sister, if you can.
Even as Yōichirō thought this, both his sister and his close friend felt unaccountably distant to him.
There was a light knock at the meeting room door, and he turned. A man timidly opened the door.
“Mr. Tatsumiya, the meeting is about to begin. The Director is calling for you.”
Yōichirō stroked the mustache he had recently started to grow and took a deep breath. I hope Junichi marries Yukari, he thought as he walked to the meeting.
But—the thought arrived horribly and without warning—what if Yukari was already married to Lieutenant Katō?!
No, Yōichirō thought firmly. Never. He shuddered in terror. He could not possibly hand Yukari over to Katō. He shook his head to dispel this sudden nightmare and hurried after the man who’d come to fetch him. As he walked, his pace quickened. With each step, his stride became more forceful. He soon passed the man and then several colleagues.
When the meeting room was in sight, Yōichirō cast all thoughts of his sister from his mind. He was a young official with a bright future. His country needed him. He could not save Yukari and Japan at the same time.
And yet, a fierce flash of protectiveness threatened to overwhelm his senses. Yōichirō couldn’t explain why, not even to himself. He hadn’t been home in four days. He felt like he’d forgotten something important.
The instant he stepped into the meeting room, he forgot even himself. A plush red carpet muffled his footsteps as he took his seat. A blazing flame—dangerous, searing everything it consumed—burned in the hearts of all who entered the room. Yōichirō’s flame burned brighter and hotter than anyone else’s.
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