It’s difficult. I can’t see beyond this wall. It’s like the house is purposely making it difficult to know what’s going on inside. I call one more time but it doesn’t seem like anyone’s home.
Fujita-san said there’d be somebody home at this time but maybe the woman he’s been housing here, Yagi Hide (but the gate sign says Yamaguchi?) already left. They seem to have separated on bad terms from what I can observe of Fujita-san.
Maybe I’ll come back another time. I go ahead turn my back readying to leave.
(Hide)
I get to the gate and fling it open. Nobody’s there? Did I imagine….?
Then I see a uniformed back. “Chief Uramura?” I call out.
Uramura:
I guess I was mistaken. Turning around I smile amicably and briefly tip my hat.
“Good day Madame.” I check behind her to see if there’s anybody else but there isn’t. “There’s some official matter I’d like to discuss with you and hopefully get your consent. Would you be able to spare a few moments of your time?”
Looking her over, she doesn’t look like she’s leaving from here anytime soon. That’s fortunate.
I bow at his greeting.
There’s some official matter I’d like to discuss with you and hopefully get your consent. Would you be able to spare a few moments of your time?
So Hajime is okay? I let out a breath that I didn’t realize I was holding. “Certainly, please, you had good timing in coming now.”
She seemed nervous? I suppose that’s to be expected, most people are against a man in uniform. I bow and go ahead and step inside.
“Fujita-san said you’d be available at this time.” I say and let my eyes roam, it’s probably one of the rare times I can get to see his home life or rather what it was. A tree house, that’s unexpected I’d expect him to not tolerate frivolous amenities. The house looks to be a decent size but a little on the smaller side compared to the yard that wraps on one side of the house. The value of this place must’ve come from the land.
“Lead the way madame.”
I lead the way inside, to the formal room. I see him looking around surreptitiously, but aside from Shindou-san and Sir Howard, none of Hajime’s colleagues came here. But one night… the night of the dance, for a while, I was his in the open and out in public, to his world. Ah, how fleeting…
As I bid him to sit, I hear Ai-chan in the other room, and Yukiko-san’s voice talking back. “My youngest, and Fujita-san’s niece are home right now, but we shall remain undisturbed,” I tell him. “Please let me know why you came here today.”
I’m led to a formal room which is what I would’ve expected except, instead of some poem a kanji of Makoto on an old flag is draped inside the alcove. I wonder what the Chief of Police would think that such a flag still hangs inside this house? Would it invite trouble? I’m sure so many pro-Bakufu men likely still nurse their alliances up to now. Does Fujita-san still?
But my eyes settle on the swords on the stand. “Are the Daisho his?” I say with some curiosity because if it’s true that Fujita-san has abandoned this house, a true samurai does not leave his swords behind. “My… What handsome set of swords.”
“My youngest, and Fujita-san’s niece are home right now, but we shall remain undisturbed,”
“Ah is that right?” I smile and close my eyes. “I didn’t think Fujita-san had any other family left.”
“Please let me know why you came here today.”
I nod a few times, “Ah yes yes yes. I apologize Yagi-san for being distracted.” I take out an envelope with some documents inside. “As you know this home and the land it’s built on is under the administration of the Metropolitan police. It was being rented by Fujita-san and now it seems that circumstances have changed…”
I fish around for a pen and hand it to her. “We need your consent to take ownership now that Fujita-san has abdicated… otherwise the police would have to reclaim ownership of this property.”
I can -see- his surprise at the flag. “Did you know? My family hosted the Shinsengumi when they first arrived in Kyoto, so for me it’s not a political association, but a personal one.” I smile, I don’t want the flag confusing Uramura-san as to Hajime’s motives…
Are the Daisho his? My… What handsome set of swords.
I manage to get out… I hadn’t checked this room, yet. It was the tatami room that I focused on… “Ah, they are a fine set, yes,” I nod, but my mind is -spinning- why would he leave those?
Ah is that right? I didn’t think Fujita-san had any other family left.
“She’s the daughter of his late brother, a fine young lady,” I say. Why do people think he sprung out of the ground, fully formed, without background or a past? That he was never a baby sung to by his mother, a boy with dreams? That he’ll never be an old man… but I look back at those swords. Maybe… he doesn’t want to be.
Then he speaks of the house, and I wait to be told, oh, we need you out in so many weeks… Speaking with this man had been on my list, and I already have a note out to Yamaji-sensei about figuring out how to keep Makoto at Futaba, and I’m on my tenth revision of a letter to my brother…
We need your consent to take ownership now that Fujita-san has abdicated… otherwise the police would have to reclaim ownership of this property
I’m stunned. I find my voice. “I would resume paying rent to the original owners?” I ask. They were a family my brother knew, who decided to immigrate… in the years while I was gone, I know a young family moved in and I never thought to ask, in my self-centered way, what hassle that would have been for Tamebo. Then when we came back from Ito, suddenly, the police were involved and my brother confirmed that he didn’t know the exact legal situation. “I lived in this house, when I first met Fujita-san.”
“Did you know? My family hosted the Shinsengumi when they first arrived in Kyoto, so for me it’s not a political association, but a personal one.”
“Ah so the flag is yours.” I say simply. That’s a relief.. After all these years I wouldn’t want to find out that the man who’s done so well for the department was another -unreasonable- subversive.
She agrees what a fine set they are and I nod, “Fujita-san must be keeping these pristine.” I grin a little, “I noticed he’s been sporting one of those used unnamed swords. I see he keeps the -fine- stuff here.”
“I would resume paying rent to the original owners?”“I lived in this house, when I first met Fujita-san.”
“Resume payment?” I shake my head and lean forward, “I’m sorry if I’ve not made it clear.” I push the papers towards her, “This is a release form. Now that the house is paid for…” I don’t know how Fujita-san paid for it, only that Kawaji told me not to ask questions. “We need the new owner to release the police of any indemnities arising from the property. Now can you kindly sign right there and this house will be your private property going forwards.”
Ah so the flag is yours.
I merely smile, hoping the rather inflammatory flag can be dismissed as a woman’s whim in decorating… but it’s not my flag, no. I didn’t watch the bannerman fall… go through -hell- yet bring this flag back, after all these years…
I noticed he’s been sporting one of those used unnamed swords. I see he keeps the -fine- stuff here.
“Ah, well, it doesn’t do good for a police officer to carry anything flashy, not when those sabers are the order of the day now.” I laugh a little. “You’ll have to excuse my favoritism, I’m a bit old-fashioned.” But of course those swords aren’t -his- and my state is making me… sloppy. I know those swords, after all. I can’t not worry, though, because I can’t forget the threat of that young man…
Then he explains more, that the house is paid for? Does the TMPD buy houses for cast-off mistresses? Or did Hajime manage this some other way?
We need the new owner to release the police of any indemnities arising from the property. Now can you kindly sign right there and this house will be your private property going forwards.
With a hand that I have to steady, I sign the document. Yagi Hide. The name I was born with… the one I’m fated to die with, I suppose.
“Thank you, Uramura-san. I had intended to come see you this week to see what could be worked out, for me and the children to remain here. I’m…” I put the cap back on the pen and hand it back, along with the papers, and I keep my composure. “I’m very thankful that you took time from your day to come visit me about this and see this settled.”
I then take a deep breath, and look up at the mustached man, loath to ask but… -needing- to. “How is he?”
Uramura:
“Ah, well, it doesn’t do good for a police officer to carry anything flashy, not when those sabers are the order of the day now.” I laugh a little. “You’ll have to excuse my favoritism, I’m a bit old-fashioned.”
“You’re in good company Yagi-san. I too prefer Japanese swords I am a former samurai after all.”
I’m glad that I was able to clear up the confusion with Yagi-san and she signs the document. I can’t quite read her face, another woman, mistress or not would’ve been happier, I think, to now own a house of their own. It is quite rare in it’s own right however, perhaps Yagi-san is from a well to do family after all she said they hosted the Shinsengumi and from what’s been said, they numbered by the hundreds.
“I’m very thankful that you took time from your day to come visit me about this and see this settled.”
I simply nod my head. Fujita-san should’ve been the one to come here but I don’t tell her that. After all it’s obvious why he made me come. But if he still cares for this woman very much, enough to secure her stay in Tokyo why leave? But I never understood him back then and I doubt I will now. Either way, what’s important is the police has nothing to do with this house anymore. The last thing we want is for our officers to be accused of indecency or that our officers think that such arrangements are acceptable.
Business done I start to get up and leave but the woman asks how Fujita-san is. I get up anyway and look down at her. “He’s incorrigible as ever Madame but he’s very useful to the Department.”
I’m ready to leave but there’s something about this woman’s present state that tugs at me. “Will you be okay Madame? Here in Tokyo now that your sponsor has withdrawn his support?” I didn’t quite know what to call Fujita-san but sponsor seemed harmless enough.
I put on my cap, “If you are in need of assistance now, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
Uramura-san is quiet as I sign the papers and hand them and his pen back. I wonder how many other officers get this sort of treatment? A house for a former mistress and the children they made during their union?
But… it’s one less thing to worry about. One less interruption for those who remain in this house. And to be truthful… for me. This house holds so many memories, good and bad…
Will you be okay Madame? Here in Tokyo now that your sponsor has withdrawn his support?
And then he offers assistance. I’m surprised but only bow slightly after standing. “Thank you Uramura-san for asking. I have some passive income, but my best path is to get a job,” I say. What job, I don’t know. The nursing education I had in England is still in my head, but my certifications and proof don’t exist here… but I’m healed and strong and I’ll do what I can.
Thank you Uramura-san for asking. I have some passive income, but my best path is to get a job,”
It’s then that I remember, just like Fujita-san, Yagi-san possesses a skill that is in critical short supply in the Department.
“You are well versed in the English language are you not Yagi-san?” I look her over and give her my card, “It would mostly be a desk job transcribing by pen or a typewriter… And at times being called in to do on the spot translations for various reasons. If you think that a -modest- pay and that type of job would interest you then please stop by and we can work out the details.”
Though I’m not sure how Fujita-san would react if Yagi-san takes the job.
Another surprise…
“You are well versed in the English language are you not Yagi-san?
I nod. “Yes, yes I am.” I know that in this time my fluency is unusual, even more so for a woman who’s never left the country… I take his card. “I’m not yet experienced with a typewriter, but I’m certain I could learn.” From Glass and Steel I know how to type, but the machines of this era… well I could adapt.
“I would be interested, thank you, Uramura-san,” I say, taking his card.
Of course, the precinct is very much Hajime’s turf… but it’s a large place and certainly they keep the female staff out of sight. In the handfuls of times that I’ve been there, I’ve not seen a one.
But I like the idea of being…. in a job with -purpose-, rather than just finding a job to make enough to live on so I can preserve my dowry for the girls. “Please tell me when I should stop by to discuss it further.”
I’m not yet experienced with a typewriter, but I’m certain I could learn.”
“Well we’ll start you off transcribing and find time for you to learn how to type.” The mere fact that a former samurai’s daughter know English is curious enough. It should not be surprising she doesn’t know to type. But really hardly anyone does and most of the officers like to just dictate.
Please tell me when I should stop by to discuss it further.”
“Perhaps later this week… Thursday mid morning.” That should ensure she and Fujita-san doesn’t bump into each other.
“Well then. Good day Madame. I’ll show myself out.”
(Ooc Uramura exits)
With the door closed it seems we’re now both at ease and Yagi-san makes herself comfortable, finding herself a seat. I look her over, she looks -well- in that nice but very traditional kimono. My wife always wears a kimono and for a Japanese woman, it does suit better. I can’t say I’m hot into this uniform but I will say it is simpler to wear than a haori and hakama.
“Thank you for considering me, Uramura-san. Please, I welcome your questions and I would be interested to know just what I would be doing.”
“Very well.” I say and put my hands together, “Can you tell me a bit more madame how you came to know so much about the English language? There’s very few here who can speak it well, even Kawaji-sama who has been to the far continent hardly speaks it. I hear it requires years of practice and is particularly difficult for a Japanese especially one who has not left the country.” I stare at her for a moment, “I’m sure your level of skill will eventually show in the course of your job, but I’d like to know -who- I have asked to worked with us.”
“Also I would like to know what is your -primary- motivation aside from making a living and providing for your house? I’m aware of course that Fujita-san seems to have abdicated support of your house and his responsibility and has left you to fend for yourself but is your motivation purely for money Yagi-san?”
She did tell me before she had some passive income from properties but if that’s true, then she shouldn’t need a job and the Yagi house has fared relatively well then, compared to other Shogunate supporters. And if that’s true, she can at a whim abandon her duties here in the TMPD.