Fifty Words for Rain(34)

Nori’s breath caught in her throat. But the man did not seem bothered by her grandmother’s behavior.

“Now, now, Yuko,” he huffed, waving one of his fat little hands in the air. “No need to get snippy. She’ll do nicely for my purposes. She should prove to be quite lucrative. A bit on the skinny side, though.”

“She will bloom in time,” Kiyomi interjected. “And I’ll look after her until then.”

She turned to Nori and flashed an infectious grin. It was spellbinding. “Are you truly obedient, Noriko?”

“Yes,” she chirped, flushing with pride. Her years of training left her confident in this one thing. “Yes, I am.”

“Yuko,” the man puffed, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping his sweaty face with it. “We’ve known each other a long time. And you’ve never agreed to deal with me until now. Your father was the proudest man I ever met, and he thought I was no better than the stuff he used to wipe his ass with. Why the step down from your pedestal?”

Her grandmother’s face remained impassive. She seemed immune to this man’s crudeness or, if not immune, very used to it.

“If you’re quite finished. I want this settled as soon as possible.”

“I’m leaving town tonight. Hurry up if you’re going to do it.”

Her grandmother’s gray-black eyes flashed. “I realize that you’re used to dealing with the small folk. But don’t forget whose house you are in, Syusuke.”

“If it’s money—”

“I don’t argue over money,” her grandmother said briskly, snapping her fan shut. “It’s vulgar. I’ll resolve this with you later. But right now I want you both to leave the room.” She turned her gaze to Nori. “I would speak with my granddaughter alone.”

The man bowed low, and the woman shrugged as if it did not matter to her either way. When they had gone, her grandmother turned back to her. There was a long moment of silence that made Nori squirm.

“You did well, Noriko.”

Nori blinked. Somehow, after waiting all these years for these simple words, they did not touch her now. “Thank you, Grandmother.”

This earned her a wry smile. “What is it that you want, Noriko?”

What kind of question was this? She folded her hands together. “I don’t want anything.”

Her grandmother raised an eyebrow. “Everyone wants something. I’ve watched you for years, but I’ve never been able to figure out what you want. I’m not talking about what you wish for. I’m not talking about foolish whims. I’m asking you what your purpose is. What you’re willing to devote your life to, what you are willing to die for.”

Nori pinched the skin on the inside of her palm. This was a question that she had no answer for. She racked her brains but could come up with nothing but the truth. “I didn’t think I was allowed to have one.”

Her grandmother turned away from her and walked over to the desk, the train of her kimono sweeping behind her. She picked up a leather-bound book that looked to be very old.

“My purpose is clear,” she said, her voice firm, her shoulders straight and proud. “It has always been clear. I was born with it. I will die with it. My purpose, my life’s blood, is this family.”

She beckoned Nori to come forward. Her gaze was bright with determination. “Do you know what this book is?”

Nori shook her head.

Her grandmother held the book up high. “This is the family tome. The name of every Kamiza for a thousand years is written in this book. My name, your mother’s name. Akira-san’s too. One day he will be called to take my place. It is my duty, my absolute duty, to see it so before I leave this world. Do you understand that, child?”

“Yes.”

Their eyes met, and despite Nori’s skepticism, there was something incredibly moving about her grandmother’s rapt conviction.

“Will you play your part, Noriko?”

Nori blinked. Something in her chest was squeezing and she could not speak.

Her grandmother nodded. “I have been wrong. I have been very wrong to hide you away in shame. You are your mother’s daughter. You are my blood. And you too have a part to play. Your name will be written in this book. You will be remembered.”

Something was roaring in her ears. “I will?”

“You will. But you must do your duty. When I die, which cannot be so far off now, your brother will take on my responsibilities. It is a heavy burden to bear.” The old woman shook her head as if in wonderment that she had not collapsed beneath it. “Tell me something, girl.”

Nori was tempted to say “Anything”: anything for her name to be in that book, beside her brother’s. “Yes?”

“What is most important to you in the world?”

This, at least, was a question she could answer. A flush crawled up her cheeks.

Her grandmother gave her a knowing smile. “It’s Akira-san, isn’t it?”

Her eyes welled with tears, and she ducked her head and wiped them away. “Yes.”

“He will need your help. He needs it now, in fact. He needs you to do your duty so that he can do his. Only you can do it, Nori. Only you can protect him.”

Her heart was thudding so hard she thought it was going to explode out of her chest. “I will. I would do anything. I won’t fail you, Obaasama. I will be good.”