At the Station – The next day
I arrive at the station earlier than usual. I did not bother to have breakfast at home, Tokio was still asleep. It will be a busy day, perhaps the papers are piling up on my desk and Chou has not gone through them. Ah… Someday that young man will be taking my place, when I finally decide that I’ve done as much for this country as I can.
“Ohayo!” I grin at the front desk officer who jerks his head up.
“Eh… Ohayo Fujita-san.” He shifts and looks away. I shrug the occurance off to my unusual behavior. It’s been a while since I’ve greeted anyone, especially this young man.
Entering the main lobby I see quite a number of people already huddling together. Perhaps Kawaji-san is still not in and people are loitering as usual. When the cat is away, the mouse will play, or so I’ve heard.
“Get back to your post.” I call out to them grinning. Ah… I’m usually not this talkative in the mornings but I am feeling rather well. Most of them shook their heads but dispersed and I head on to my office. The morning passed quickly and my arm a little stiff from all the writing. Several reports laid out on my desk, that I have shoved aside as unimportant for the moment.
Taking a cigarette, I flick the match and put my feet on the table. Yes a break… That is what I need right now. To think… Of how much she had changed my life. It seems to be affecting even the little things. Trivial things such as greeting or taking a walk, they don’t seem as trivial now. I can’t wait to see her. It’s been a day already and I need to know if she is feeling well. A smile slowly breaks out onto my face. I wonder if we shall have a boy or a girl? It won’t matter of course but… I want the child to carry my name, however Meiji laws do not allow for such unless I divorce Tokio first. And no… That is not an option right now. I shall have to look for ways to go around this stupid law.
Heaving a sigh I go out to patrol. As I pass a couple of officers, I catch their conversation. I do have excellent hearing.
“Don’t look now… That’s Fujita…”
“Ah… He is? What a crass…”
I don’t bother to look. These conversations… Rather rumors are normal. They are speaking again probably of how I am probably Saitou Hajime… And that the Shinsengumi were loud, violent and unreasonable people. This is nothing new and I have important things to think about.
Noon to afternoon passes by slowly… Aside from a domestic disturbance earlier, nothing significant happened. Although that woman sure has a good aim. She hit that man right across the head with a ceramic bottle. This is the problem of infidelity among couples. Somehow the story is always the same amongst these types. A gust of wind suddenly blows and almost takes my cap with it… What am I thinking, I am doing the same thing… And perhaps it will end the same way… A broken cup… Though who will throw it, I am not sure. The woman who I love now… Or the woman whom I am supposed to be faithful to. No… I can’t think about these things. It will ruin the mood when I visit Hide.
I take a few more turns around the block. I will not knock on her door until Tokio is out of my mind. Smoking helps…