Ichiro felt a twinge of disappointment when Kumiko returned fully dressed. He missed the sight and sense of her naked body, and the knowledge that he was unlikely to have her again only made his situation seem more unjust.

He swallowed as she shut the door and approached him with her bucket in hand. Her grave countenance filled him with dread about what he was about to see or hear.

"I have some bad news," she said softly, confirming his suspicions. "It has become too dangerous to keep you here." She placed the bucket on the floor beside her feet. "I shall have to usher you out after night falls."

Ichiro's chest grew tight. He gazed up at her whilst unable to believe his ears. "You don't mean that, do you? This can't be goodbye..."

With an exhale, Kumiko fell to her knees and wrapped both arms around him in an embrace. "I'm sorry. I wish things could be different..."

She slowly let go of him, then proceeded to push the bucket forward. "Please bathe yourself while I wash your clothes. It's best that you leave this place-"

"Wait," Ichiro pleaded, reaching out to grab her wrist. "Surely, there's more we could do together? Perhaps even another solution to your troubles?"

A faint smile crept across Kumiko's face. She leaned toward him, and Ichiro knew what she wanted. Without hesitation, he met her halfway in a kiss that made him forget the uncertain future and heed only the present.

He let go of her wrist and placed his hands on either side of her hips. She responded by pressing herself against his bare chest, enveloping him with her fragrant scent and the softness of her silk robes. Ichiro fought back a sigh whilst wishing for the moment to last forever, which left him dejected when Kumiko eventually pulled away.

"Why did you do that?" she asked with a quiver of her lips. "Our business has been settled..."

Ichiro remembered his words from the previous night and became aware of his mistake. For some reason, he had become terrible at controlling his desire, and now all he could do was offer another explanation.

"A parting gift. I hope it's to your liking."

Kumiko sighed before gazing at the idle bucket of water on the floor. "I shall treasure your kindness for years to come, but we must direct our passion elsewhere. Get yourself clean, please?"

It seemed like she was ready to send him off for good, difficult to accept as it was. Ichiro took the bucket with a heavy heart and tried his best to face the notion that Kumiko didn't feel as strongly about him as he had believed.

And why should she? Perhaps she finally sees that I am unworthy of her affection...

He observed Kumiko whilst she gathered up his clothing to be washed. Was this the first time she had toiled hard to meet someone's needs? Or was he just another in a long line of patients, some of whom had not been as lucky?

These questions weighed heavily on his mind as he knelt down to swash warm water on his face and toss aside loose strands of hair. He wanted desperately to mean something to her, and he was beginning to fear that his doubt would drive him mad.

******

Ichiro soon discovered that there weren't many ways to pass the time besides filling his stomach and huddling with Kumiko by the fire whilst waiting for his clothes to dry. Her smile seemed like a sign that she was content with his company, though he still thought it best to seek confirmation in her words.

"Kumiko, how do you really feel about me?"

She turned towards him with eyes full of surprise. "Why do you ask? Is it not obvious?"

"I..." He smiled, feeling bashful in her presence again. "I suppose so, but you were cold to me earlier. It made me worry."

Kumiko rubbed her cheek against his shoulder. "Rest assured, I still like you very much. As any woman would."

Ichiro remembered his lack of success with other women and laughed quietly to himself. "You'd be surprised. You're the first to show me any affection."

"I find that hard to believe. You must surely be loved by many."

"Only by my parents. And our customers too, if one considers that to be love."

"How many customers do you get?"

"A lot. I can hardly count," Ichiro admitted, thinking of the women who would seek him out whenever he was at the local market or tending to the stall at the front of his parents' house.

"And why do you think they choose you over the others?"

"Because of the tea that I-" He paused before the truth finally struck him. Those women came not just to converse and drink, but to look at him as well. Especially during the summer when he would wear very little.

Ichiro stared at Kumiko, feeling like his understanding of the world had been turned upside down. "Heavens. How could I have been so blind?"

Kumiko lifted her head off his shoulder and regarded him with good humor. "That's anybody's guess. Do they try to court you like I have?"

"Come to think of it..." Ichiro mused for a moment about what many of his customers had in common. "A married woman is in no position to be amorous with someone like me..."

"But surely there are young maidens too?" Kumiko asked whilst picking up a stick and tending to the fire. "Wouldn't they have more courage?"

Ichiro thought about his mother Kaede and her sometimes lofty demands, then smiled. "That is a good question. Perhaps they are afraid of crossing my mother. She would undoubtedly subject them to one trial after another."

"I see." Kumiko withdrew her stick and gazed at him once more. "Do you think she would do the same with me?"

"I believe so. She might even be envious of your beauty," Ichiro replied before forcing himself to confront the harsh truth. "But that will never happen. We aren't destined to be together."

Kumiko's smile faded as she averted her eyes. "I always knew that to be the case, but hearing it from you pains me nevertheless."

Ichiro watched her stare at the hearth dejectedly and felt his own heart ache in turn. She had suffered too much in her short life, and he wanted nothing more than the power to offer her a life of comfort so that she would never have to worry again.

With a heavy breath, he reached out to stroke Kumiko's shoulder, prompting her to sigh and lean against him once more for support. Her sweet scent filled him with an intense yearning that he just had to express in words.

"Kumiko, I..." Ichiro paused in shame before he willed himself to continue. "I wish I could spend a few more nights with you."

"As do I," Kumiko replied without moving another inch. "No other man's charms can compare to yours."

"Then, I am glad we're in agreement. Maybe we'll meet again in another life..."

"Of course. That would be wonderful."

The way Kumiko's voice faltered made him suspect that she didn't believe such a thing, but he chose not to regard it by simply enjoying the short time they had left together.