MEMOIRS OF AN OPIUM EATER": I went on the hunt I mentioned with Asamitsu, his brother Ide Michikane and Shosuro Kimi. Both Kimi and I were of course no match for the brothers when it came to riding, so at one point we found ourselves riding alone as the two men pursued a fox.
"I am glad Asamitsu asked you along," Kimi said. 'The last
time I went hunting with them I was also left behind, but had no
company at all:'
"It gladdens my heart to hear it:'
We rode through the woods in companionable silence for a
while before Kimi asked "What do you think of Asamitsu?"
"He seems to be a fine man," I said.
Behind her butterfly mask, her eyelids fluttered.
"Do you think his father may be considering you as his wife?"
she asked, with a coy smile.
''I'm sure I don't know," I said. "My, what a blunt question! I
thought you Scorpions were supposed to be subtle:'
"There are many, many people in the Scorpion clan, and not
all of us are alike. Besides, soon I will be in the Unicorn clan, and
they are not subtle at all. I'm just practicing:'
We laughed. "Is this your plot, then?" I asked. "You're trying to
arrange a sister in law who's to your liking?" She just smiled a
little.
"Asamitsu has many fine qualities," I said at last. "He gives
every appearance of being honorable, serious, a dutiful son.. ."
"Yes," she said. "He is all those things. And do not forget
thoughtful, like his mother. Gentle and kind as well - in
that he takes after his father:'
"If I didn't know better, I'd say you were going to wed the
wrong brother!"
When I said that, she laughed and laughed.