Heian Romance 7. The Heedless Man

7. The heedless man

 

One day as Yuiko is attending her patients at the Oxen Street, one of her helper runs to her saying that Yorinaga is waiting for her outside the clinic along with five armed Genji warriors on horseback.

“Master Koremitsu, I think they come here for revenge! What are we going to do?”

Yuiko pause and think for a moment, and then she gathered all the helpers to follow her to meet Yorinaga outside.

“Master Yorinaga, what an honor for us to have you revisited our clinic! All of us here are definitely in debt to you. We are very grateful that the horse you DONATED the other day had brings the people here few months supply of food. And so they will have a good winter thank to YOU! People, let us all bow down to the Great Master Yorinaga!” said Yuiko sincerely while instructs all the helpers to kowtow to Yorinaga.

“What is this all about?!”

“Master Yorinaga, have you ever experienced poverty, illness and hunger? I guess not. These people here suffer every day, while you people enjoy and overly indulge in sensual pleasure. I know that it is wrong to steal your horse, but try to think about it differently; by selling your horse it gives us fund to run the clinic and so indirectly you are actually helping the poor. That is a good deed isn’t it? Not to mention you will also gain respect from you own servants and warriors, they too have suffered you know.” said Yuiko earnestly trying to convince Yorinaga.

 “I guess you are right… Guards, retreat!”

Yuiko made a wry grin, and thought that her charismatic education with Satou no Norikiyo had finally paid off.

***

Yorinaga would visits the clinic every now and then to help the sick financially and sometimes he would assist Yuiko in her work too. After work they would sit at the veranda, drink sake and talk about the future. Nevertheless, arguments arise every time when they reach the topic of how to govern the country. Yorinaga prefers the conservative way by any means the ruler must be strict and severe punishment must be given to those who had sinned; while Yuiko take it the other way round, she prefers a more lenient and pliable ruler.

Yorinaga bought an exotic wine from the Sung Dynasty one day and as usual they would share it after work, it’s a consolation to them after a hard day labor. 

Yorinaga pours Yuiko and himself a second cup of wine while appreciating the beautiful calming snowing scenery at the veranda. He started to get tipsy after second shot; he turns towards Yuiko and found that she’s still sober.  Only until now that he would realize how attractive Yuiko is; her fair smooth complexion, beautiful watery eyes, almond shaped face, delicate nose and thin mouth, makes him blush just by looking at them. With the aid of alcohol, Yorinaga moves closer to Yuiko and kiss her by her cheek.

“What are you doing?!”

“I….Sorry…I have to get going…Bye!”

After the incident, Yorinaga never set foot to the clinic again. Maybe it is due to the fact that he had been promoted to the Minister of the Center a significant post at the court, higher post equals more responsibilities, therefore makes him busier as before. Or perhaps he is ashamed of the fact that he had kissed a man named Abe no Koremitsu and even found that this man is attractive…