Musashi - Eiji Yoshikawa [276]
From the doorway, one of the students called Denshichirō’s name. “Well, what is it?”
“The sake is ready.”
“Bring it in!”
“I’ve set a place in the other room. You’ll be wanting a bath first, won’t you?”
“I don’t want a bath! Bring the sake in here.”
“Right by the Young Master’s bedside?”
“Why not? I haven’t seen him for a few months, and I want to talk to him. We haven’t always been on the best of terms, but there’s nothing like a brother when you need one. I’ll drink it here with him.”
He poured himself a cupful, then another and another. “Ah, this is good. If you were well, I’d pour some for you too.”
Seijūrō put up with this for a few minutes, then raised his eyes and said, “Would you mind not drinking here?”
“Uh?”
“It brings back a lot of unpleasant memories.”
“Oh?”
“I’m thinking of our father. He wouldn’t be pleased at the way you and I have always indulged ourselves. And what good has it ever done either one of us?”
“What’s the matter with you?”
“Maybe you don’t see it yet, but lying here, I’ve had time to regret my wasted life.”
Denshichirō laughed. “Speak for yourself! You’ve always been a nervous, sensitive type. That’s why you’ve never become a real swordsman. If you want the truth, I think it was a mistake for you to take Musashi on. But then it doesn’t make much difference whether it’s Musashi or somebody else. Fighting’s just not in your blood. You should let this defeat be a lesson to you and forget about swordsmanship. As I told you a long time ago, you should retire. You could still preside over the House of Yoshioka, and if there’s anyone so intent on challenging you that you can’t get out of it, I’ll fight in your stead.
“Leave the dōjō to me from now on. I’ll prove I can make it several times as successful as it was in our father’s time. If you’ll just put aside your suspicions that I’m trying to take your school away from you, I’ll show you what I can do.” He poured the last of the sake into his cup.
“Denshichirō!” cried Seijūrō. He tried to rise from his pallet, but couldn’t even push aside the covers. Falling back, he reached out and grasped his brother’s wrist.
“Watch out!” sputtered Denshichirō. “You’ll make me spill this.” He shifted his cup to his other hand.
“Denshichirō, I’ll gladly let you have the school, but you’ll have to take over my position as head of the house too.”
“All right, if that’s the way you want it.”
“You shouldn’t undertake the burden so lightly. You’d better give it some thought. I’d rather … close the place down than have you make the same mistakes I did and bring greater disgrace on our father’s name.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not like you.”
“Do you promise to mend your ways?”
“Hold on! I’ll drink if I want—if that’s what you mean.”
“I don’t care about your drinking, if you don’t carry it to excess. After all, the mistakes I made didn’t really come from sake.”
“Ah, I’ll bet your trouble was women. You always did like them too much. What you should do when you get well is marry and settle down.”
“No. I’m giving up the sword, but it’s no time to think about taking a wife. Yet there is one person I must do something for. If I can be sure she’s happy, I’ll ask for nothing more. I’ll be content to live by myself in a thatched hut in the woods.”
“Who is she?”
“Never mind; it doesn’t concern you. As a samurai, I feel I should hang on and try to redeem myself. But I can swallow my pride. You take charge of the school.”
“I’ll do that. You have my promise. I also swear that before long I’ll clear your name too. Just where is Musashi now?”
“Musashi?” Seijūrō choked. “You’re not thinking of fighting Musashi! I’ve just warned you not to make the same mistakes I did.”
“What else could I be thinking of? Isn’t that why you sent for me? We have to find Musashi before he escapes. If it