“Your sorrow is my sole regret,” he replied. “All others whom I love will rejoice with me in my deed.”
To this I had no reply. He gave my hand a responsive grip, and hastened out. I sank down, overcome with a wave of returning grief and horror. But he had said there was need for haste. I sat up and clapped sharply for Fujimaro and Yuki. They entered and bowed to receive my urgent commands. Yuki rushed out to ride posthaste to Shinagawa, Fujimaro to make arrangements for the ceremony of hara-kiri. I was left alone with my anguish.
Twilight approached. My attendants came with lamps and the evening meal. I could not eat, and I dared not refresh myself with sake. There was need for me to retain perfect control of mind and body. I could do nothing but suffer and wait for the terrible moment, hiding my pain as best I could behind a mask of austerity.
At last Yuki came to announce his return with Kohana San. I ordered the geisha brought in and Yoritomo notified. As the girl kowtowed before me I saw by her pallor that she had been told. Yet she had the fortitude to smile and murmur the usual complimentary greetings. Only once I caught her gaze and read in her agonized eyes the grief and despair which etiquette compelled her to conceal.
Soon Yoritomo entered, gravely serene, yet radiant with the solemn joy of self-sacrifice. His final testament was in the hands of his father. All was now in readiness for him to undergo the ultimate test of sincerity. When he seated himself beside me Kohana prostrated herself at his feet. He regarded her with the tender compassion of a saint for a suffering child.
“Kohana is of samurai blood,” he said. “She knows that death is a small matter.”
“The servant implores the honorable joy of following her lord!” she murmured.
“Greater service is asked,” he replied. “Those whom I leave behind may still profit by the craft of Kohana.”
“Must I then linger?” she sobbed. The weakness was only of a moment’s duration. She looked up, her face bright with the same glory of self-sacrifice that shone in the serene countenance of my friend. “The will of my lord is the joy of his servant!”
Yuki kowtowed to me and whispered: “My lord, now is our time for purification.”