Chapters Forty through Forty-Six Summary

In chapter forty, Blackthorne is taken to the tea house where Kiku is and spends an evening with Kiku and Mariko, learning for some time about the various sexual toys used to prolong the moment of "Clouds and Rain." Mariko leaves and Blackthorne spends the night. In chapter forty-one, Toranga learns that his half-brother, Zataki, is flaunting his alliance with Ishido and is on his way to see Toranga. Mariko goes to Toranga and apologizes for the fact that she could not arrange a better deal for Kiku's contract, the first indication that Toranga seems interested in Kiku as a consort for himself.

Blackthorne asks about the costs of some things, including the rebuilding of his house after the earthquake and resulting fire but Mariko assures him that Fujiko will take care of all the arrangements and...