The Twelve Kingdoms: Shadow of the Moon

out.
    As she scanned the restaurant, she saw no hint of Takki returning. She put up with it the best she could, but then one of the four got up and walked towards her. She scrambled to her feet, ignored the man calling after her and caught the attention of a waiter. "Um . . . do you know where I can find Takki-san?"
    He curtly pointed towards the back of the restaurant. Figuring he meant for her to go find Takki by herself, Youko set off in the direction he had indicated, lugging the rucksack along with her. Nobody tried to stop her.
    She made her way along a narrow corridor and emerged into what looked like the building's cluttered back rooms. Feeling somehow self-conscious as she crept along, she at last came upon a beautifully carved door. The door was open. From behind a screen that blocked the middle of the room from view came Takki's voice.
    "Really, there's nothing to worry about!"
    "But, my dear, she's being sought by the police!"
    Youko stopped in her tracks. There was reluctance in the old woman's voice. The sudden rush of anxiety made Youko stop and crane her neck. Of course, no way she'd want to hire a kaikyaku. She resisted the impulse to rush in and bow her head and beg, Please. That would be too presumptuous. At the same time, she was in too desperate a state of mind to return to the restaurant.
    "Oh, what's a kaikyaku? Just somebody who got lost, no? All that stuff about them making bad things happen, you don't believe those old superstitions, do you?"
    "Of course I don't, but what if the officials find out?"
    "Nobody says anything, nobody finds out anything. That girl's not going to talk. Think about it, she's a bargain find, don't you think? Not bad looking, not too old. She'd be handy to have around."
    "Yes, but . . . . "
    "Behaves herself, too. You teach her how to treat the guests right and she'll be bringing 'em in the front door. All you have to do is take her off my hands for a reasonable price. What's there to worry about?"
    Youko tilted her head to one side. Takki's tone of voice was . . . odd. It wasn't good manners to eavesdrop but she wasn't going to stop listening now. She began to hear something else as well, almost subconsciously, a sound like the faint roar of the ocean.
    "But a kaikyaku . . . . "
    "And no strings attached! Think of that. No parents or brothers storming in and raising a ruckus. Right from the start it'll be like she doesn't even exist. None of the usual fuss and bother."
    "But does she really have what it takes to work here?"
    "She said so herself. I told her it was a hotel. She thought I meant working as a maid or something. That girl is quite the little fool."
    Listening attentively to their conversation, Youko knew something was terribly wrong. She was "that girl." Till now, Takki had always addressed her so warmly and sincerely. Youko didn't sense a speck of that consideration now. What was she to make of this? It was almost as if she were listening to the voice of a completely different person.
    "But . . . . "
    "Everybody knows what those green pillars mean, and what kind of a woman works at a place that has them. You'd better know the difference, too, when it comes to paying the bill."
    Youko's eyes flew open wide. The shock didn't knock her flat only because she was still holding onto Takki's rucksack. The monkey had told her. Why hadn't she listened more closely to its warnings?
    Shock, and then anger. Her pulse raced. Her constricted breath was hot in her throat. The sound of the ocean roared in her ears, deafening her. So that's what this has been about. She took a tight grip of the sword, still wrapped up like a parcel. A moment later she settled herself down and instead turned on her heels and retreated down the narrow hallway the way she had come. Pretending that nothing at all was amiss, she strode through the restaurant and headed for the exit.
    At a brisk pace, Youko stepped through the doors and again looked up at the building. The pillars and beams, even the window frames, were painted green. She'd figured out what it meant in the nick of time. She was still carrying Takki's rucksack. No way was she going back inside to return it.
    Almost as if on cue, a second-floor window opened. A woman leaned against the ornate balcony railing and stared out at the world. Her gleaming kimono was rumpled and undone, the collar wide and open. Her occupation was as plain as the nose on her face.
    Youko shuddered with revulsion. As if sensing that she was being