Chapter Two ~

Viggo pulled on his freshly polished knee boots and stood to don his jacket. The royal blue coat with its full skirt, silver embroidery and double row of pewter buttons was the finest garment he owned. It hid the threadbare waistcoat and the serviceable but hardly flattering shirt of undyed linen. The Dane didn't question his impulse to appear his best this evening; he was just glad that the tight-fitting knee breeches, riding boots and blue velvet suited him.

Though he was decently covered, Viggo didn't feel dressed until he'd buckled his sword around his slim hips. With its familiar weight on his left side, he was ready to go out.

Picking up his tri-corner hat, he strode out of the palace alone. He was disappointed that Keanu was not able to accompany him, but he knew the way to the theater and he did not care to miss tonight's performance.

Nakamura, proprietor of Jade Tree House, greeted Viggo as an honored guest and led him behind the stage. At the Dane's look of surprise, Nakamura hastened to explain.

"Tonight, the onnagata will give a special performance for a select audience," the manager said. "You will have the pleasure of seeing the Renjishi, the Lion Dance. It is rarely performed due to the level of skill required, but I did not wish to refuse Masato-san's request."

Viggo remembered the name from yesterday. Masato was one of the samurai who seemed to upset Keanu so much. Though Keanu had shown few outward signs, Viggo had felt the young warrior's disapproval of the men's behavior.

"Come," Nakamura said, holding aside a curtain of silk brocade.

Nakamura bowed and Viggo nodded to the three samurai lounging on cushions. It was indeed the trio of loudmouths from yesterday. The young one, Shin, eyed Viggo with overt antipathy as the Dane sat down several feet away, but the other two did not deign to notice the foreigner.

"I am sorry Keanu-san could not accompany you," the manager said with genuine regret. "I hope you will enjoy the performance."

Nakamura walked behind another curtain and the onnagata appeared. The dancer was dressed in tawny kimonos of rough raw silk and wore a wig that resembled a bronze chrysanthemum. The flickering lamplight caressed the lithe, agile body with fingers of light and shadow.

Viggo watched with appreciation as the performer leaped, stalked and spun in a pantomime of a hunting cat. The graceful, athletic movements of the dance were not only aesthetic, but also highly sensual and it was obvious that the performance was having an effect on the three inebriated warriors.

After a brief conversation with his friends, Shin got to his feet and took the dancer by the wrist. The onnagata froze in place as the other two samurai rose. As they approached the performer, Viggo heard them use a word he was not familiar with: hanamichi. It didn't take the Dane long to puzzle out the meaning.

"Do not hold back, blossom," Shagata said. "Show us your flowery path."

Masato pawed at the performer, crudely fondling the shapely backside as Shagata grasped a handful of the kimono. As Shin's pulled at the sash that belted the loose robe, Viggo stood. Perhaps this was commonplace behavior backstage, but the dancer did not seem to welcome the rough attention.

Before the Dane could speak, Shin ripped the sash from the kimono and tossed it aside. With a grinning leer, Shagata yanked the robe down the onnagata's shoulders. Masato pulled the gown up in the back, exposing the dancer's Heavenly Twins. All three looked surprised when the foreigner yanked the onnagata away from them.

"Stay behind me," the Dane said as he began backing away.

Alerted by a musician fleeing the incipient violence, Nakamura returned. The manager pulled the dancer out of the room and turned to face the samurai. Viggo held his weapon ready, but the drunken warriors were still stunned by the sudden turn of events.

"Take Orli away from here," Nakamura begged the Dane. "I can calm them down if they know he is out of their reach."

Viggo nodded. "Are you sure you'll be all right?"

"I have done this many times," Nakamura said wearily. "I wish Orli would choose one of them and put an end to it."

"I'll make sure the onnagata is safe," Viggo promised. "Good luck, Nakamura-san."

"And to you as well," Nakamura said as the gaijin walked away with the most coveted courtesan in Kyoto.

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As Viggo headed for the side door, he heard shouting behind him. He started to turn, but a soft hand slipped into his and drew him down the hall. The onnagata opened the door as the Dane glanced over his shoulder and saw Masato.

The burly samurai's katana was dripping red on the wooden floor. Behind Masato came Shagata and Shin. Much as it galled Viggo to run, he had promised to take the dancer to safety, and that must be his priority.

Leaping through the doorway, he pulled the performer down the road. As he made an immediate right and dodged between two private residences, he heard shouts from behind. Resisting the impulse to turn, he stopped beside a shoulder-high stone wall.

"Up and over," Viggo said, making a stirrup of his hands.

To the Dane's surprise, the onnagata jumped to the top of the wall with a flash of long legs and dropped lightly onto the other side. Shaking his head, Viggo hurried to join his charge and found they were in an exquisite formal garden. He wished he had time to admire the shrubs like green sculptures and expanses of sand and gravel raked into intricate patterns.

Closing his eyes to the elegant beauty, Viggo headed for the opposite wall with the onnagata at his heels. After a cautious look over the barrier, Viggo hauled himself up and reached down a hand to the dancer. Again, his help was spurned. Viggo gave a mental shrug as he looked up and down the narrow street before jumping to the ground.

"This way," he said as the onnagata joined him.

Viggo led them to Lord Watanabe's palace by a roundabout route that kept them off the major thoroughfares. He was trying hard to forget the glimpse he'd gotten of well-shaped legs, but the vision kept floating back into his mind in a most distracting manner.

The Dane considered himself the master of his body. He was not given to excesses in food, drink or any other physical activity. He ruled his passions; they did not rule him. Why then was it so hard for him to disregard the onnagata's charms?

"You will be safe here," Viggo said as they reached the daimyo's residence.

Viggo called out to one of the shogun's retainers. The warrior pushed away from the pillar he was leaning on and stared at the Dane and his companion. Another samurai stepped from the shadows of the porch to see what the commotion was and froze when he caught sight of the visitors.

"Where is Keanu?" Viggo asked the dumbfounded guards.

The older samurai answered. "He is with the daimyo," the man said, not mentioning the onnagata despite his intense curiosity. "Shall I inform him that you wish to see him?"

"Yes," Viggo said. "We'll come with you."

"Ah, Mortensen-san," the samurai said. "I cannot allow a performer into Lord Watanabe's home. If the Lady of the house ever found out, we would all have to commit seppuku."

Viggo frowned. He knew the sober-faced guard was probably joking about ritual suicide, but not about the rules of the house.

"This is my guest," the Dane said firmly. "I will take responsibility."

Both warriors bowed slightly in acknowledgement of this gaijin's bravery.

"I will take them to the daimyo," the younger one offered.

At the entrance to the lord's private rooms, a servant took charge. The samurai bowed again as he left Viggo and the onnagata. The servant showed them to a small, comfortable room and bade them wait. While Viggo pondered how best to explain his predicament to the shogun, the dancer sank onto a cushion and removed the lion's mane wig.

Long loose curls like unraveling tassels of dark silk were freed to frame the performer's flawless face. Though the sculpted features were still masked by paint and powder, the graceful symmetry of them tugged at Viggo's heart. Annoyed at himself for his weakness, Viggo looked at the floor as he spoke.

"You've not said a word this whole time. Can you speak?"

"If my lord wishes it," the dancer said in a soft voice that caressed the ears.

"Well who is your lord so we can ask him?" Viggo replied.

Eyes as deep and dark as the spaces between the stars looked into the Dane's. Time stopped for a brief eternity as Viggo absorbed the impact of that potent stare.

"Do you joke with me?" the onnagata broke the spell.

Viggo did not get to voice an answer. The door slid open and a kneeling maidservant gestured for them to come with her. The Dane got his thoughts in order as he stepped into the daimyo's audience chamber in his stockinged feet. The onnagata followed in Viggo's shadow, soft-footed as a cat. Viggo looked to Keanu and the grave expression on his friend's face warned him.

Viggo bowed deeply to the imposing man sitting on a slightly raised dais. "Lord Watanabe," he said respectfully. "Forgive me for bringing confusion to your house."

The daimyo carefully kept his eyes from straying toward the dancer. "What is the meaning of this disrespect?" he asked mildly.

Viggo was not fooled by the gentle tone. "I meant no disrespect, my lord," he said. "My help was sought and I gave it. If I have violated the rules of polite behavior, I will bear the burden of atonement and count the cost cheap. I could not allow another to come to harm because of my inaction."

The daimyo inclined his head slightly. "Spoken like a warrior," he said. "However, while I admire your spirit, I cannot allow you to bring shame to my house."

"Shame?" Viggo's frown deepened.

"I will let your friend explain matters to you," Lord Watanabe said. "I am sorry but I cannot allow this… entertainer to remain under my roof."

Viggo bowed curtly. "I find much to admire in your culture," he said, "but I cannot let rules of etiquette outweigh my compassion. I thank you for your hospitality, my lord. I shall take the onnagata and seek other lodgings."

Keanu came to stand by Viggo, further blocking the onnagata from the shogun's sight. "Come, Viggo-san," he said. "I know a place."

Read Chapter Three of Twelve + Epilogue of Bailey's The Onnagata