Boris Akunin: All the World's a Stage

( To her pupil .) And you go and run around for a while. With your character you won’t be able to sit still in any case. You will start squealing and fidgeting, and we don’t want that. Nobo-ji-san must sleep soundly now.

The little girl bows and goes out. The Inaudible One hesitates and does not take the cup.

Ah, it must still be painful for you to hold it. Let me give you the medicine to drink myself.

She gently takes the Inaudible One by the neck and raises the cup to his lips. He shudders and squeezes his eyes shut. He pauses again, then drains it all.

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Izumi lowers his head onto the pillow, which is a wooden support. The Inaudible One instantly falls asleep, his chest rising and falling smoothly. The geisha sits there, looking at the sleeping man.

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Izumi sits down in front of the dressing table, raises the lid of the casket and looks into the mirror. The sleeping man is left behind her back.

IZUMI ( in a low, agitated voice ) Yugen is always invisible! Beauty remains concealed! To tear away its veil means only to destroy the mystery. A beloved with no face! That is true yugen ! Here my imagination can create the world’s loveliest face, a magical face! I shall love him! Yes, it is decided: we shall be such a couple as the world has never seen. I the best of women and he the best of men. I fine, he finer still, as dream is finer than reality. Anybody can easily see me. But his beauty shall be revealed to me alone!

Suddenly the Inaudible One gets up and walks out of the room. Izumi does not notice.

We women are corporeal creatures, weak and timid. Thus nature’s female Yin created us. My chosen one shall be fearless and disincarnate. A true man is a disembodied Spirit! My face will wither, but an ethereal Spirit is eternal. He is the very one I need!

She looks round abruptly and sees that the sleeping man has disappeared.

Truly he is incorporeal… And, truly, like a Spirit… Could he have heard my words and run off in embarrassment?

She grabs her head in her hands.

The shoji slide open and Sen-chan glances in.

SEN-CHAN A man has come to see you. He wants to talk to you. His face is hidden, and he did not give his name…

IZUMI His face is hidden? He has come back to me! Nobo-ji, come in! Why did you go away?

SEN-CHAN No, my lady Izumi, this is a different man. And from his dress, he looks like an important samurai.

The samurai enters, wearing a straw hat pulled low in front of his face. He gestures impatiently for the pupil to leave. She bows respectfully and disappears. The samurai walks into the room and closes the shoji behind him. He responds to the geisha’s bow with a curt nod, then sits in front of her and removes his hat.

KUBOTA I hope the girl did not recognise my voice. I would not want any loose talk about my visit.

IZUMI You, Mr Kubota? What an unexpected visitor! Ah, to what do I owe this most singular honour?

She bows again, even lower.

KUBOTA Having arrived in Edo, the prince has ordered the presentation of the geishas to be held forthwith. Tomorrow he must attend at court, but on the day thereafter he summons all of you to visit him.

Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Joyful Anticipation’.

I advised him to take special notice of a geisha from the Yanagi tea house.

Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Boundless Gratitude’.

I said that she is elegant and she, alone of all of them, embodies true yugen .

Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Oh, Undeserved Praise’.

I told him that you combine nobility with delicacy of soul and heavenly beauty.

Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Pleasant Embarrassment’.

Now I am almost certain of his choice, but even so a vague disquiet troubles me. I know His Lordship. He is overly susceptible to the influence of others, credulous and passionate. The concubine who moves into our castle will win instant control of his heart and thoughts. The princess is no hindrance, she is dull of mind and year after year gives birth only to daughters. And if the concubine should bear the prince a son, nothing will shake her domination. It is appalling to consider what might happen if the prince should bring some shrewish vixen back from Edo.

Izumi performs the gesture ‘Delicate Commiseration’.

I have gathered all the finest geishas of the capital, but you alone are worthy to become the prince’s concubine.

Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Respectful Doubt’.

Are you afraid of life in foreign parts? I shall help you, and you will quickly settle in with us in Satsuma. As reliable allies, we shall be able to protect the prince from errors.

Izumi bows and performs the gesture ‘Oh, Your Wisdom is Boundless!’

But first we must make quite sure that no chance is left to your rivals. I have made a most thorough study of my good lord’s tastes. Remember what I tell now: the prince’s favourite dance is ‘The Babbling Brook’.

Izumi nods.

Wear something very simple, a kimono with no glamour. Lower the neckline and reveal your elbows. His Lordship has always been a great admirer of an elegant female neck and elbows that are white.

Izumi raises her arms and her sleeves slip down, revealing her elbows. Kubota nods his head in admiration.

I see you grasp advice at the first telling. I have no need to fear the outcome of this presentation.

He gets up and they exchange bows. Kubota puts on his hat and leaves. Izumi is left alone. She presses her hands to her temples and sways slightly, like a willow tree in the wind.

In the garden the Inaudible One appears, concealing himself from Izumi. He watches her.

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