AOYAMA WINS HIS SUIT
Aoyama's _yashiki_ blazed with light. The guests looked around, at the
many lamps, the waiting-women in dainty attire, the ornament of service
and of substance; and then looked into each other's faces. The
unseemliness of the thing was on the minds of all these dozen to twenty
gentlemen. The body of the wife had hardly been carried from the house
to the funeral pyre. It was true that grief was to be given no display
in the _samurai_ code. The new promotion offered excuse for its
celebration. But on the whole this feast seemed an indecent exhibition
of rejoicing. "Aoyama Uji is not the Shu[u]zen of old. What has got into
the man this past month?" Thus Okumura Shu[u]zen spoke of his namesake.
"Bah! It is the shadow of Kiku, the 'sewing girl.' Aoyama rejoices in
thus replacing old material. May he get a better heir on her than his
last. 'Tis said to be a monster!" Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon whispered,
half in jest and half in a savage earnest of disapproval.
O[u]kubo Hikoroku first broached the matter openly at table. "Aoyama
Uji, is this not a strange meeting? Here we are, all members of the
Gaman Kwai; as _hatamoto_, men close to the suzerain's knee and ready
for the call to battle. But this--with the glitter of apparel in
substance and women, it is show and feast for _kugé_ (court nobles), a
meeting to view the moon and its light upon the snow. Deign to explain."
Aoyama smiled. He might have made some formal excuse for this
eccentricity. Saburo[u]zaémon spoke out for him--"Don't be obtuse,
O[u]kubo Uji. The one lacking here is the cause of the feast. O'Kiku
Dono still delays. Is it not so, Aoyama Uji?" He spoke with cold
certainty, a curious intonation in voice. Aoyama was black with a fury
about to burst forth when O[u]kubo sprang up. He looked around. "Just
so! Wait but a moment. We'll have her here." Aoyama was turned aside,
and would have detained him. "Hikoroku Dono, it is useless. Kiku is not
in the _yashiki_." To the dubious look of astonishment--"It is fact. She
was a vile disloyal woman. Breaking the holly hock plate, the trust gift
of the To[u]sho[u]gu, this Aoyama put her to death. This shall be
apology to the suzerain's House." O[u]kubo sat down again in pure
amazement--"For what is said one feels regret. The apology is made; but
surely...." Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon laughed outright. He seemed with
intention to egg him on. O[u]kubo turned indignantly. "Why laugh,
Endo[u] Uji? Is the life of a human being to be put against a piece of
porcelain?"--"Saburo[u]zaémon laughs at your credulity, O[u]kubo Dono.
It is but a ruse to put us from the search. Kiku certainly is not far
off."
O[u]kubo danced up in a fury. This time he was not to be kept. "'Tis
true! But the badger's lurking hole, the place where he keeps her, is
known. Soon she shall be here." Defying Shu[u]zen's wrath he and Endo[u]
left the room. O[u]kubo was ahead. Throwing open the _sho[u]ji_ of the
maid's room he looked within. Ah! Standing by the closet in the dim
light was the figure of O'Kiku. "Kiku, why are you here, not joining in
the feast? The beauty and the lady, whose love seduces so stern a man as
Shu[u]zen to soft ways, is not to neglect the guests. Come to the
banquet hall." He seized her sleeve. Said Saburo[u]zaémon from the
_ro[u]ka_--"Whom do you address, O[u]kubo Uji?" He looked around the
room. "There is no one here.... Kiku? You grasp a garment hanging on the
clothes rack." It was true. Dazed and somewhat upset O[u]kubo returned
to the banquet room. Aoyama met defiantly the hard look of Endo[u], the
inquiring question of O[u]kubo--"Is it true Aoyama? Did you really value
a human life against a plate, and kill her?"--"It is plain fact," was
the answer.
Again the strange looks passed between the guests. Some shrugged their
shoulders. Others looked at him and whispered. Some laughed, with
glances at the frightened faces of the waiting women. "It's not to be
believed," said the emphatic tones of O[u]kubo. Suddenly a breath seemed
to go round the room. Every light went out; except the one before
Hikoroku. Dimly outlined by Shu[u]zen's side could be seen the figure of
O'Kiku. The wan face amid the long disordered dangling hair; the gore
smeared face, and neck, and bosom, sent a thrill and shudder through
those present. At the exclamations Shu[u]zen turned. He saw her--"Vile
jade! You too would reproach Shu[u]zen. A cut for you!" He sprang up,
dagger in hand to cut her down. Then followed a wild scene with the
raving man. The maids sought to avoid death; happily with success beyond
trifling injuries, for sight of a woman made him frantic. Surrounding
Shu[u]zen the men drew him on. From behind O[u]kubo, Okumura, Endo[u]
rushed upon him. Overpowered he was secured. With the madness of the
host the banquet came to an end. As they left O[u]kubo said to Endo[u]
Saburo[u]zaémon--"Really Endo[u] Uji, why so rough in speech with
Aoyama? With those of one band quarrels are not to be sought."--"Nor
will be," answered Saburo[u]zaémon with a slight tinge of contempt. Then
he added slowly--"There is a strange affair in Yoshiwara. The
chamberlain of Shu[u]zen, one Chu[u]dayu, is involved; and Shu[u]zen
with him. This matter of Kiku threatens grave issue with the
_waka-toshiyori_. It is said that the two murdered the woman--because
both wanted her for concubine." He laughed harshly--"Why tell these
facts to neighbour O[u]kubo?" Said Hikoroku, with his blunt truth--"The
sounds and sights from Shu[u]zen's _yashiki_ are not always pleasant.
There are tales in the household of a night--that on which Shu[u]zen's
wife died. All there was in confusion. It is for fellow-members to
protect the reputation of each other." Endo[u] was rebuked in turn.
Shu[u]zen was himself again. With the passing of the wine, the guests,
the confusion, he was the cold, collected, dreaded master of a few hours
ago. Respectfully the _kerai_ withdrew. Left to himself he pondered the
events of these hours. He recognized and measured the concentrated
dislike expressed in the words and actions of Endo[u] Saburo[u]zaémon,
egging on O[u]kubo, irritating himself to desperation. To Shu[u]zen it
was a question as to just what was meant. At his age even in his caste
men did not seek each other out to draw the sword. The issue was much
more serious, involving disgrace. He would like to get at the inner
motive of this fellow's action. How invaluable the aid of Chu[u]dayu,
who knew the ins and outs of the _yashiki_ of all Edo, and particularly
of his lord's intimates. But he had disappeared--as if the earth had
swallowed him. Shu[u]zen had condoned too many instances of the
chamberlain's free use of his lord's funds, to come upon him harshly for
any peculation. The man had been useful in many dubious actions; in
bribery, solicitation, pimping, as a useful and facile witness.
Chu[u]dayu would worm himself to the bottom of this matter in short
order.
Thus he went to rest. Despite disordered brain his sleep was sound. It
was Gekkeiji's bell striking the ninth hour (1 A.M.) which roused; or
else the throat fouled and dried his mouth. He was parched beyond
measure; his tongue seemed to fill the whole cavity. Impatiently he
called--"Heigh there! Water! Is there no one to attend?"--"At the lord's
service...." The gentle tones of a woman made answer. She knelt at his
pillow. The water pitcher was offered. He took it and drank greedily.
Then--"What maid is this? Does she seek Shu[u]zen's bed? He is in no
humour for such favour." And the girl wailed in answer--"Ah! Ah! Harsh
his lordship's tone, harsh his words. Has not long since his command
been issued? The fault lies not with Kiku. A lying officer stands
between the Tono Sama and his handmaid." Shu[u]zen sat bolt upright,
glaring. Framed by the long trailing hair there appeared to his eyes the
wan, blood smeared face of O'Kiku. With a yell he was on one
knee--"Wretched woman! Does Kiku still pursue and solicit Shu[u]zen?
Make ready! Again a cut!" He sprang to his feet, grasped and drew the
pillow sword. With smothered cry of terror and anguish the figure turned
to flee; but he cut her down from shoulder to pap. As he did so the
_sho[u]ji_ were flung wide apart. The moonlight from the opened _amado_
flooded the room and lighted up the intruder.
Rage and hate growled in the tones of Shu[u]zen--"A bandit thief and
doubtful fellow, thus to push himself into the presence of a _hatamoto_
of the land! Fellow, name yourself: who thus by night breaks into
Shu[u]zen's presence, intrudes upon his pleasure." Harsh and insulting
the laugh of Sampei. He pointed with his drawn sword to the bleeding
prostrate corpse of the unfortunate waiting maid, cut down by Shu[u]zen
in belief of the apparition of her namesake. "More than one Kiku
harbours in the lair of Aoyama. Would he slay them all in sacrifice to
his lust? Wataru Sampei comes to ask account of his wife Kiku, daughter
of Jinnai, _ro[u]nin_ of Takéda Ke of Kai, as is himself. Now--to the
contest! God of the bow and feathered shaft, favour this
Sampei!"--"Favour this Shu[u]zen!" Both men made invocation almost in
the same breath as they sprang at each other. Sampei was pushed on by
rage and vengeance; Aoyama by a savage joy in combat. Here was a worthy
antagonist, a true taste of old of the battle field. If Sampei was the
younger man, he was also in worse training than Shu[u]zen; and in his
poor condition hardly a match for the practised soldier. However
Shu[u]zen was compelled to admire a resourcefulness in parrying his own
fierce attack, the beauty of his enemy's Muramasa blade, which seemed
itself to act and seek his life. "Shu[u]zen's prize--the sword of
Sampei!" He shouted in exultation. Sampei was forced back to the
_ro[u]ka_. At the sill he tripped and fell. "Now off with you--to Meido
and the Yellow Fountain, to join wife and parent thief." Shu[u]zen in
joy swung high his blade for the fatal blow. Sampei without sword was
helpless at his feet. But the blade did not descend. Shu[u]zen's arm was
held fast. By the outraged wife, O'Kiku, as later tradition would
assert? At this pass Sampei used his dagger. Plunged straight into the
belly of Shu[u]zen with it he disembowelled him. Abandoning hold on his
weapon, with a screech Aoyama fell, twisting and writhing in the pool of
his blood. When the _kerai_, roused by the disturbance, the shouts and
the clashing of swords, fell on Sampei, to disarm and make short work of
him, the _karo[u]_ Makishima Gombei prevented them. With difficulty he
dragged Shu[u]zen's sword out from the deep cut it had made in the beam
of the partition. "Stain not good weapons with the blood of a rascal and
thief, who shall undergo the torture and the disgrace of the execution
ground. Be sure his lordship will be well avenged. It is better so."
Thus with bitter regret Sampei found himself avenged, but still in life.
The next day, with the presence of the messengers from Shinano no Kami,
the situation changed. With the report from Makishima was demanded the
person of Wataru Sampei, whose story fitted into present evidence
obtained. Deeper and deeper went the investigation into Aoyama's house
affairs. Here was great disorder--harshness, lust, ill discipline. On
this latter charge--lack of discipline--official displeasure gladly
fell. The tale of the monster, obviously unfit for any service to the
suzerain, came out. The _kaieki_ of the House--deprivation of rank and
income--followed. As far as posthumous action could disgrace, so far did
Shu[u]zen suffer.
Much better was the fate of Sampei. The case of the Bancho[u] _yashiki_
no longer could be hid under a bushel. It was the affair of a
_hatamoto_, so hated by the _daimyo[u]_. Satsuma no Kami sought and
obtained his charge. During the weeks which followed Sampei was the
object of respect and solicitude of those who had the care of him. As
_ro[u]nin_ of the Takéda House this was all the greater in this
_yashiki_ where the Tokugawa were held in no great affection. The
breaking into the _yashiki_ of a _hatamoto_, the slaying of its lord,
could not be condoned. The official world was glad to combine this with
the lack of discipline decision. When the inevitable order came to cut
belly it was a chamberlain of Satsuma no Kami who acted as _kaishaku_
(second); and Sampei knew that to this man would fall the possession and
adoption of his little son. Thus came he to his end, and his House into
this brave heirship. Thus was disappointed the malice of Shu[u]zen, in
his last breath denouncing his slayer as the husband of O'Kiku.
Announced Horibé Izumi no Kami, the _machibugyo[u]_ who made final
disposition of the case--"Between Sampei and Kiku no marriage being
proved, the issue belonging to the man, the child Jumatsu is held
sinless; for the woman Yui detention for further examination of conduct
and condition." This examination never came; nor was intended to come.
For some months she was detained in the _yashiki_ of Horibé Sama. Then
the third Sho[u]gun died; a general pardon followed of all ordinary
offenders. Under this order she was released, and the Miuraya had the
hint or good sense not to press for renewed service. A nun, she cut off
the long and beautiful hair, to pray in this world for the souls of
father, sister, he who had acted as more than brother in the vengeance
taken. Thus through the long years to her final and irrevocable release
without any earthly condition.