Okusama woke to someone pounding on the door fiercely. She rose and went to the living room. Onna was already at the door. She glanced at where Ototo-shi had been sitting, but he was gone. She wondered if he had finally gone to bed.
“In the name of the Guntai, open up!” a man shouted from the other side of the door.
Onna opened the door and looked out at the group of guards standing on the door step.
“Let us in, we have come to search the premise,” the Captain said.
“Search it for what?” Onna asked.
“We are looking for Ikasu. Now step aside,” he said.
Onna stepped away from the door and let them come in.
“He’s not here,” she said as the Captain stepped into the house.
“Search it!” the Captain ordered to his men. Then he looked at Onna and asked, “Where is he then?”
“I don’t know,” she answered.
“We were told that he had come here,” the Captain said.
“He was here last night, but he left. What is this all about?” Onna asked.
“That is none of your concern!” the Captain said.
It didn’t take the guards long to search the home, it was small with few places for a man to hide. The guards came back through and out the front door.
“Should he return, notify the Guntai immediately and detain him here,” the Captain said.
“He said he wouldn’t be coming back here,” Onna said.
The Captain nodded and the guards left. Onna closed the door.
“Why did you tell them so much?” Okusama asked.
“I told them nothing that would help them find Ikasu. We don’t know anything to tell. There is no reason to risk our lives simply to spite the Guntai,” she answered.
Okusama sighed and nodded. “You’re right, of course.”
Onna went to Okusama and hugged her. “He will be alright.”
“Onna, I just feel as if something terrible is about to happen. I feel as if I will not see Ikasu again,” Okusama whispered.
“Ikasu has the blessings of his God, nothing will happen that isn’t His will,” Onna said.
She had meant to reassure her sister, but she could tell by the look on her face that she had given no comfort.
Okusama pulled away from Onna and asked, “Where is Ototo-shi?”
“I don’t know,” Onna said.
Okusama looked in Ototo-shi’s small room. It was empty.
