“Thank you, please tell the master that I will prepare this banquet for him with all my heart.” Sakura was learning their Kyoto tongue.

As she guessed, Yos.h.i.+moto came to find her the next afternoon.

“Sakura greets you, my master. I wish you the best, my master. . . “ Sakura sat down in a similar manner to Nades.h.i.+ko.

However, Yos.h.i.+moto was chilled by this artificial manner and couldn’t reply to her for a while. He took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his forehead, and began to shake his fan. “Are you okay, Sakura?”

“Why? Don’t you like the Kyoto style? So I learned.” Sakura’s black eyes turned.

Yos.h.i.+moto sighed. “Girl, just because I like this style doesn’t mean you should become another Nades.h.i.+ko. Since I met you, I haven’t been like myself anymore. I even hate this kind of manner by Nades.h.i.+ko. You’d better be yourself. I am so creeped out when you call me ‘my master.’”

“Many of your guests are dukes. If I don’t know the etiquette of Kyoto, I will mess up the banquet and humiliate your family. So, I should learn about this.” Sakura sounded like she truly enjoyed the study and didn’t want to give it up.

“You know that I asked you because I want something new. If you give me the same type of banquet as Nades.h.i.+ko, you think I will be satisfied?” His poor expression finally made Sakura laugh aloud.

“Tell me, what’s your plan for this banquet?”

“How boring if I tell you my plan right now.” Sakura c.o.c.ked her head to think for a while, then she said, “I can tell you one thing now. I may invite you to dance a graceful dance with me.”

“What?”

Sakura stood up and retreated to a corner. She struck a waltz pose, smiling like a princess at him. “Yos.h.i.+moto, please invite me.”

Yos.h.i.+moto got her meaning in a minute; he stepped up to take her right hand. Though the pose was made with some doubt, his elegance made her comfortable. At first she wanted to teach him the manner of hand-kissing, but when she thought of that, she knew this manner only suited married ladies, so she decided to give up. Besides, Yos.h.i.+moto was gentle enough to invite her for a dance, even in such a time. If she was in Kai, Harun.o.bu wouldn’t have treated her so kindly.

“Sakura, what kind of dance do you want to teach me?” Yos.h.i.+moto’s eyes curved with happiness when he thought of being able to dance with her.

“Hey, would you be n.o.ble? n.o.ble! Don’t be so obscene! This dance is called the waltz. Now follow me to turn around, one, two, three . . . one, two, three . . .”

Sakura pretended to be formal, however, she let her expression slip many times when Yos.h.i.+moto wasn’t looking at her face. Yos.h.i.+moto must be the first waltz learner in ancient j.a.pan. However, he’d been good at all kinds of arts since childhood, according to the legend. He learned so quickly that she soon appreciated his steps.

“Great! Less stiffness! Turn around with the glissade . . . again . . . and again. . . “

“Sakura, would you go slower? I am not used to the turns yet. I am afraid I may faint.”

“Okay, never mind. I’ll go slower.”

Yos.h.i.+moto, to enjoy the western style of n.o.ble cla.s.ses, you should bear some bitterness first, Sakura said to herself. For sure, the rhythm of waltz was much faster than any dance of the old j.a.pan. The gentleman was responsible for leading all the turns, which was more difficult than it was for the ladies, who only needed to follow.

“Gos.h.!.+ . . . I am totally tired out. . . “

After dancing the whole afternoon, Yos.h.i.+moto was becoming more and more interested, however, Sakura felt that all of her bones were rattling. What was more, she found Yos.h.i.+moto was still interested. Would he ask to dance this with her every day?

“Don’t you want to dance anymore? Why are you laying down?” Yos.h.i.+moto laughed at her.

“Don’t bother me. I need a good sleep . . . to recover. . . “

Amidst her murmurs, Sakura quickly fell into a dream. Yos.h.i.+moto took a thin quilt to cover her, and bowed down to kiss her on the face.