"But why . . ."
"Well, besides being a corporate attorney, he's supposed to be an amateur expert on swords. Hobby of his."
"And Noda is actually letting him see it?" There was a faint note of surprise in his voice. "Very unusual. That sword has been kept very tightly under wraps, or so I've heard."
"Believe it. Tomorrow Matt Walton gets a command presentation. Courtesy of Noda. He's arranged everything with the Imperial Household." She gazed up at the sky, now a white marble reflecting back the lights from the traffic.
"Tam, I'd like very much to see it too. Think you could arrange something with Noda-san?"
"I can try."
"You know, not many people outside the Imperial Household have actually viewed it really up close. I hear it's almost perfectly preserved."
"Then this could be your chance." She reached and took his hand. After all, the weather was cold. "I'll ring Noda in the morning."
"Thanks. But no matter what happens, with that or anything else, just seeing you again will make this trip worthwhile." He gave her hand a squeeze.
"All right, Ken, dammit you win." She turned and slipped her arms around his neck, then drew his lips down to hers. The snow drifted onto her eyelids. "You're right. I don't have any answers, to anything."