Now that was a great meeting… my efforts at kissing up to the British in Hong Kong will open more markets to us. The little trinkets that the Westerners crave do well, but it’s what is deep within my cargo ships… but then I’ve found truly clever people, who are also desperate for work. People who can make a ceramic statue or some sort of foolish decoration… but once you crack the glaze, it’s compressed opium! Customs may look for hidden spots in the hold, but who would expect a statue of Buddha to contain an entire kilo of well-refined opium?
Shipping and repairs and metalworks make for a fine profit, but vice… now, that’s where the obscene profits happen.
Jun-kun comes into my office. “Any updates from my mother’s house?” I ask. This project has been in the works for a while… I’m so pleased that it went off well. That man is a wild card, but the woman is sober and straight-laced, even if she’s deeply delusional.
“All is quiet and going as planned. The house remains well-guarded,” he tells me.
“So how much did we lose that was in-transit with Tanaka?” Ah, he was a fool… but he was a good middle-man in getting the opium to my craftsmen, and handling all of that dirty, dirty money.
“Not too much. Our craftsman at the Nakagyo Ward factory received a delivery the day before his empire collapsed… and there’s enough rats trying to take over his old territory… we’ll find the right one to replace him.”
I nod. My contacts on the Western coast of the US will take whatever I can supply, and are willing to wait as I’m the only one who’s perfected this certain form of smuggling.
Jun-kun hesitates. “However… it seems like some of the investigation into Tanaka is looking inward. Our good friend, the Assistant Deputy Interior Minister, Miyagawa Kichirou, is very concerned that his role – “
I shake my head. “That man is a worrier. I’ve taken care of it all.” I’ve put too much work into securing his rise. With the Interior Ministry over the police… it’s been a good place to cultivate my own person who can rise to the top. “He stayed away from the whores, right? Tanaka’s little ‘gatherings’?”
Jun-kun’s face tells me what I need to know. “Fine, fine. See if we can get one of our other people in the ministry to give us some intel.” If Miyagawa-san would just do this correctly he’d be the minister some day, but some men cannot control themselves…
“I’ll see to that now, sir. Here’s some more paperwork to review that needs your approval and stamp – about our expansion at the port.” I nod.
Why do I have to wait for Thursday? Today’s Tuesday. Maybe tomorrow! I’ve been waiting for my prize for a long time, after all. I’ve been patient enough.
(OOC – Kato is in his office)
Ooc: it’s unclear what to do here. Is the way this plot is to proceed is by writing in other characters to connect to what you’ve written?
OOC – This is an open thread for any characters who come to Osaka looking for Kato. He will be in his office all day.
“Kato-san? Glad to meet you sir.” I bow slightly, “I’m Fujita Goro a Police Inspector in Tokyo, assigned to Yagi Hide’s case. I saw your post in the morning paper and came here immediately because I wanted to clarify the details of the reward. Specifically who can qualify and for how much.” I smirk a little. He should know what I mean by that.
Jun-kun comes in, looking hassled. I have made his morning busy – he’s overseeing coordinating with the stewards at my mother’s estate to move our little “event” forward a night.
“Sir, this man wishes to speak to you…”
He’s in a police uniform, and not one of our local boys, nor those Kyoto pests. “Very well, Jun-kun. Please continue moving the arrangements for tomorrow,” I say, dismissing him. I told him, I don’t want excuses from the caterers! If they have another job, mine should take importance – they know who I am.
Kato-san? Glad to meet you sir. I’m Fujita Goro a Police Inspector in Tokyo, assigned to Yagi Hide’s case. I saw your post in the morning paper and came here immediately because I wanted to clarify the details of the reward. Specifically who can qualify and for how much.
“Ah! How nice to see a department as esteemed as the TMPD take interest in such a simple case.” I stand up. “Kato Hayato – I’m a busy man but never too busy for the police, nor for this sad situation regarding Yagi Hide.” I shake my head, looking the man over. Those squinty eyes and rather stupid smile… huh, they must not be putting their best and brightest on the case.
“As for the reward, Fujita-san…” I take out a cigar, and slowly light it up. “I’m certain someone has seen her – after all, such a legendary beauty could not pass by unnoticed – it’s a shame that the picture was of poor quality. I know the citizens of both Osaka and Kyoto are observant. And it’s to whoever provides the information that finds her safe – -whoever-.”
I think the man is stupidly hinting around… but I’ve not come this far by blindly believing self-introduced contacts. And not from the TMPD – that damned Kawaji is incorruptible and holds too much power. But let’s see. “One of Kawaji’s men, are you?” I ask, casually.
“Very well, Jun-kun. Please continue moving the arrangements for tomorrow,”
His secretary leaves after Kato, makes it a point that something has to be done about certain arrangements. I wonder what that is? He is a business man but those types don’t usually change their plans around so easily if there are external parties involved.
“Ah! How nice to see a department as esteemed as the TMPD take interest in such a simple case.”
“Ah but it’s not such a simple case sir,” I wave my hand, “You see this woman Yagi Hide, is a permanent resident of Tokyo and is fiancé of one of our own, a bright younger man going by the name Yamaguchi – a favorite in the TMPD. To be honest, I find it rather vexing to be following up for a mere fiancé but now you’re saying there’s a reward involved… I wanted to see how much more effort I should put into it.”
“I’m certain someone has seen her – after all, such a legendary beauty could not pass by unnoticed – it’s a shame that the picture was of poor quality. I know the citizens of both Osaka and Kyoto are observant. And it’s to whoever provides the information that finds her safe – -whoever-.”
I take out a picture of Hide from my pocket, the one I cut out for the flyer and show it to him. “A much clearer picture – if I do say so myself. I could ask that they reprint the flyers but to be honest, it’s too much of a bothersome thing to do without much renumeration…”
I stare at the picture in my hand and shrug, “Seriously, is this Yagi Hide a beauty?” I frown, “She looks quite plain to me and her brothers couldn’t care less about what happens to her. They didn’t even know until I came knocking, that their sister was living such a dishonest and immoral life in Tokyo. They kept saying she lived in the countryside! Ah I shouldn’t be so judgmental, that Yamaguchi -boy- did say he intended to marry her.”
Ah but it’s not such a simple case sir, You see this woman Yagi Hide, is a permanent resident of Tokyo and is fiancé of one of our own, a bright younger man going by the name Yamaguchi – a favorite in the TMPD. To be honest, I find it rather vexing to be following up for a mere fiancé but now you’re saying there’s a reward involved… I wanted to see how much more effort I should put into it.”
I shake my head. “Ah, engaged to a cop, you say?” I sit back in my desk chair and lean back. “Tokyo… I don’t do business there. The TMPD can’t do much against the crime and corruption – perhaps you boys should be looking back at this Yamaguchi fellow?” I know from that woman my friend associates with that she’s had a child, which is fine… after all, it’s nice to have proof of a woman’s fertility. “Perhaps he’s on the take and it went wrong?”
I take a glance at the photograph. It doesn’t do her well, but I find that I don’t trust photographs much myself. They flatten the face and dull the eyes. Why, I paid some famous photographer to do a series of me, and in every one, it looked as if I were bloated and blotchy! I dismiss it – that, and she’s smiling in the photo, which I feel is unseemly for a Japanese woman to do in that situation. “She was the woman of the legendary Okita Souji,” I chuckle. “He was known for his taste in swords, his fighting prowess – he’d hardly settle for an ordinary girl.”
She looks quite plain to me and her brothers couldn’t care less about what happens to her. They didn’t even know until I came knocking, that their sister was living such a dishonest and immoral life in Tokyo. They kept saying she lived in the countryside! Ah I shouldn’t be so judgmental, that Yamaguchi -boy- did say he intended to marry her.
I narrow my eyes. “The Yagi boys like to tell lies, and stall, and are stupid to turn down my good money. But I have to believe you’re misinformed. They keep close tabs on her – I only recently heard of someone who also teaches at that second-rate school Yagi Yuunosuke teaches at, and he just took leave to visit her in Tokyo earlier in the fall.” I smirk at him. “So either the TMPD lives up to their famously poor reputation, or you’re just trying to get the reward money out of me.” I grin, broadly. Given the way Tanaka was able to grow in Tokyo… I don’t hold much esteem for the police there. Their best people are recruited away for the army, after all.
I size up this man. He’s probably Kawaji’s man, as he dodged my question. They must be indeed sniffing after Miyagawa, then. But next time they should send a smarter man!
“Tokyo… I don’t do business there. The TMPD can’t do much against the crime and corruption – perhaps you boys should be looking back at this Yamaguchi fellow?”“Perhaps he’s on the take and it went wrong?
“To be honest Kato-san, I couldn’t care less. I’ve been running around from Tokyo and now to Osaka and I don’t get paid enough to do this.” I shrug, “If he’s taken a bribe, slept with a woman for free and have that liability taken cared of, who cares? That’s how the world is now.”
He almost looked disappointed when I showed him the picture but I didn’t miss that he took a pretty good look at it. That’s not the look of a man disinterested.
“She was the woman of the legendary Okita Souji,” I chuckle. “He was known for his taste in swords, his fighting prowess – he’d hardly settle for an ordinary girl.”
“So you think this Hide is special?” I bluff and look at the picture again. “I hear she’s rather disappointing and as for Okita Souji, he’s not much of a legend if all he is, is a forgotten legend. Who’s still interested in that group anyway, such a niche interest, -behind- the times? It’s all about Choshu and Satsuma now.”
“The Yagi boys like to tell lies, and stall, and are stupid to turn down my good money. But I have to believe you’re misinformed. They keep close tabs on her – I only recently heard of someone who also teaches at that second-rate school Yagi Yuunosuke teaches at, and he just took leave to visit her in Tokyo earlier in the fall.”
I see. So this man has gone through great lengths to spy on the Yagi’s… Imagine to employ someone at Yuunosuke’s school. His interest is not just passing interest.
“So either the TMPD lives up to their famously poor reputation, or you’re just trying to get the reward money out of me.”
“It’s probably both Kato-san.” I grin at him, “My boss is Kawaji but I’m just one of his hundreds of recruits over the years. He wouldn’t care if I don’t bring this woman back as long as I showed some effort and filed the correct paper work… But you had me interested in the reward and I thought maybe I’ve come this far to Osaka already – that I’d work a little harder if the money went to me.”
I stand up, “But it doesn’t sound like you’re that interested in finding her at all. Maybe this Yagi Hide isn’t that quite as legendary as Okita after all. Just an ordinary girl. No one will miss her.”
So you think this Hide is special? I hear she’s rather disappointing and as for Okita Souji, he’s not much of a legend if all he is, is a forgotten legend. Who’s still interested in that group anyway, such a niche interest, -behind- the times? It’s all about Choshu and Satsuma now.
“Oh ho! Now you’ve hit on an area of great interest to me, Fujita-san. The Shinsengumi. I spent much of my boyhood in Kyoto, ah, how I idolized them…” I think back to those days. “And how tragic, in the end. All dead now, aside from a few low-level nobodies. But it’s a very stirring and romantic story – who of Choshuu or Satsuma have the charisma, the tragedy, of the Shinsengumi? -Perhaps- Sakamoto Ryoma…” I go to one of the cabinets, where I keep a few little treasures – certainly not my best or even my favorite, but a nice selection. “I collect Shinsengumi memorabilia. That’s how I know those Yagi boys.” I open the wooden doors to show the glass, and my treasures within.
“History will come around to them again,” I nod, looking at my collection. Some fine tsuba, one that belonged to Serizawa Kamo, even! “And it’s through my interest that of course, I knew of the Yagi girl.” Then I look over at him. He’s the right age. “And you, Fujita-san? Where were you during the war?”
It’s probably both Kato-san. My boss is Kawaji but I’m just one of his hundreds of recruits over the years. He wouldn’t care if I don’t bring this woman back as long as I showed some effort and filed the correct paper work… But you had me interested in the reward and I thought maybe I’ve come this far to Osaka already – that I’d work a little harder if the money went to me
I grin. “Well I’ll keep that in mind, Fujita-san. I believe the rules of the police say that you cannot accept a reward from a private citizen – to keep your reputation, of course. But…” I shrug. “we’re ever so far away from Tokyo, so should you find something, I’m certain you would get your just reward.” It’s not as if he’d find her anyway. Just another sleezy cop, looking for some easy money.
But it doesn’t sound like you’re that interested in finding her at all. Maybe this Yagi Hide isn’t that quite as legendary as Okita after all. Just an ordinary girl. No one will miss her.
“Oh no,” I shake my head. “Most of them, you know, were typical samurai. Kondou Isami left a wife back at home, but kept one in Kyoto. Hijikata was said to keep many women. Saitou Hajime was noted to be especially rotten with women,” I say, laughing. Abe-san told the best stories. “But Okita… ah, the tale of the young samurai and the beautiful daughter of the village head. It’s a very stirring tale.” I nod. “For her ties to the Shinsengumi, and that I am a proud son of Kyoto… I feel my -generous- reward it quite worthwhile.”
“But if you don’t feel up to it…” I shrug. “I’m certain, for 200 yen, the police have already had a number of good leads to follow.”
ooc will reply tom
“Oh ho! Now you’ve hit on an area of great interest to me, Fujita-san. The Shinsengumi. I spent much of my boyhood in Kyoto, ah, how I idolized them…”
I watch as he goes unveils his “Shinsengumi Treasures”. I lean in, widening my eyes in admiration. But what I see -hardly- would qualify as treasures. Maybe some of these were from some of our members but none has true provenance. He boasts about a tsuba that he believes belong to Serizawa-san, but I know having to dispose of his corpse and personal effects that his sword broke and his hand was almost severed which meant that his sword guard likely broke from the intensity of the attacks against him.
“Very -impressive-.” I tell him.
“And you, Fujita-san? Where were you during the war?”
“I stayed in Edo.” I grin, “Not too far from the Shieikan Hall. During the war the Shinsengumi tried to recruit but who would want to join a losing lot like that? Only those half-wit farmers. I laid low, avoided all the ruckus and look at me today, able to secure a position in the Meiji without much trouble.”
“Well I’ll keep that in mind, Fujita-san. I believe the rules of the police say that you cannot accept a reward from a private citizen – to keep your reputation, of course. But…” I shrug. “we’re ever so far away from Tokyo, so should you find something, I’m certain you would get your just reward.”
“Ah that’s very fair of you Kato-san. And I wouldn’t have to accept it personally, that and any other donations can be arranged privately.”
“Most of them, you know, were typical samurai. Kondou Isami left a wife back at home, but kept one in Kyoto. Hijikata was said to keep many women. Saitou Hajime was noted to be especially rotten with women,” I say, laughing. Abe-san told the best stories. “But Okita… ah, the tale of the young samurai and the beautiful daughter of the village head. It’s a very stirring tale
“You know… Kondou has a daughter living in Tama and another daughter with his mistress who also moved to Tokyo. The police likes to keep tabs on former enemies of the state including their kin.” I finally light a cigarette, “For a generous sum of money, I can get you more information or perhaps even arrange a -personal- meeting…” But the way he spoke about Okita and Hide, makes me want to gag… And for a moment I wonder aside from being a collector looking for a prized possession, what else could a man like him be conjuring? What else is a woman good for?
“But if you don’t feel up to it…” I shrug. “I’m certain, for 200 yen, the police have already had a number of good leads to follow.”
And so he said it. The purpose of why I came here. To confirm if what I’d suspected was true about the purpose of his reward. To throw us off. “Ah they’ve been running around like chicken with their head cut off. Nothing solid as usual. I’ll make sure they work even harder and rely on your good faith for the reward and of course -my- cut.”
(OOC: you may close unless there’s something else)
Ah, I see he appreciates my treasures. Even a foolish man would appreciate them.
Yet then he calls the Shinsengumi a lot of half-wit farmers, showing his true lack of refinement. “I believe that eventually, history will come around on them, with them being the true spirit of the samurai, the last great flame.” Of course, I don’t count that ragtag group from that other rebellion.
But then he does offer me a connection to Kondou. Hmmm… the girls would be old enough, now, and have the actual blood… but no memories of the great man. I smile, “that would please me greatly, Fujita-san.” But if nothing else, I can get some more items – ones with good provenance. And I already have one little treasure waiting for me. Soon, soon… I shouldn’t be so greedy!
Ah they’ve been running around like chicken with their head cut off. Nothing solid as usual. I’ll make sure they work even harder and rely on your good faith for the reward and of course -my- cut.
I nod at that. “That’s too bad – time is a ticking, when it comes to these things, is it not? But hopefully a responsible citizen will come forward soon – not just for Yagi Hide’s sake, but to have those vile kidnappers brought to justice.”
I step forward and give the man a great strong handshake, into which, I pass him a ten yen note. Not quite the two hundred, but enough for him to know that I’m serious about the Kondou connection – it all lines up with what my sources have been able to discover, but certain TMPD files are sealed even to their superiors in the Ministry. “Keep in touch, eh, Fujita-san?” I wink. I guess I am a greedy man!
I then let the man leave. There’s much to do to prepare.
(OOC – Close)