Gloria Oliver by In Service Of Samurai Read Free Book Online Page A

yourself.”
    “I would appreciate that, Miko-san.” He hoped she could hear the sincerity in his voice.
    Nodding, the geisha sat down. “Aren’t you going to get undressed?”
    He felt his cheeks grow warm as her blue-lit eyes flashed in his direction. “Well, yes. I mean—”
    “Toshi-san, you’re modest. What a delight in a boy!” Sweet laughter momentarily filled the air. “Oh, but I’ve forgotten, haven’t I? You’re almost a man,” she teased. “Which makes this even a rarer find.”
    Miko’s ridicule and light, candid laughter pleased and embarrassed him at the same time. He had never undressed before a woman before, let alone a demon. With Master Shun’s long work hours, it was rare for him to have more than a few minutes at the communal baths before it was time for the establishment to close. He’d not had many occasions to be nude before others. Red-faced, he turned his back on her and got out of his soiled clothes. He threw his blue and brown cotton shirt and pants into a small pile and grabbed the clean clothes at his side. He put on the thin undercoat and then reached for the outer garment. The soft silk felt good in his hands as he unfolded the man’s kimono and started to put it on. He hesitated for a moment as he noticed the three moon crests emblazoned on the garment’s sleeve.
    “Miko-san, should I really be wearing this?” He didn’t look at her. “I realize Asaka-sama owns me now, but I’m not really a part of his household.”
    “Do not worry. It’s all right. Lord Asaka has approved of this. He has told me he believes you can do what must be done. He gave his permission for you to wear his clothes.”
    Toshi stopped in the midst of tying the kimono’s sash. “ His clothes?” He heard Miko’s silver bells ring as she tried to restrain her amusement at his shock.
    “Won’t you hurry and finish dressing?” she said, laughter still coloring her voice. “I can’t wait to see how you look in them.”
    As she had warned him, the clothes were too big for him. Though the sleeves were longer than his arms, he found he didn’t mind, since it would help him keep warm. The same thought occurred to him regarding his feet.
    “Oh, my, how handsome you look.” Miko laughed lightly, her soft voice filling the room, as she bade him turn in a full circle before her.
    He felt like a child playing dress-up. “Miko-san, can … can Asaka-sama really turn me into one of you?”
    The geisha’s laughter died. She came closer and asked him to sit down. “Yes, Toshi-kun, I think he could,” she confided. “It’s my belief that it’s only because of him we’re all still here, that through his will, and his will alone, he enabled us to return from death so we might complete our journey.”
    He paid little attention to the last, a fearful shiver running through him as the validity of the samurai’s threat was confirmed. “How did you all … die?”
    “Would you believe that to this day we are not sure?” she said. “We know it happened late one night as most of us were sleeping. It’s thought perhaps we unknowingly drifted into a current and it forced us onto a reef, but no one really knows.
    “I awakened to the noise of water seeping into my room. Foolishly, I opened my door to find out why and was swept against a wall by the water that rushed in like a tsunami. I hit my head and went unconscious. It wasn’t long after that I drowned.”
    Miko turned her face from him, making him feel guilty for having asked.
    “I’m sorry, Miko-san. I hadn’t meant to—”
    “It’s all right, Toshi-kun. It all happened a very long time ago. It no longer matters.” Her tone belied her words. “What matters is that we have you now and, therefore, have a chance to succeed in our mission.”
    Feeling his stomach knot from something other than seasickness, he curled his blankets more snuggly around him.
    “Your illness should dissipate once the sun rises,” she said. “The waves of the sea