Saitou:
It was time… To pick myself back up. So early that morning, I took myself to a public bath to get clean and then went to work. My first stop at the TMPD was to let Uramura know that I’m going on the field again and not to expect anymore updates with regards to the state of his men strewn all over Tokyo. He has a lot to think about on how to reorganize and reform his squad and the only piece of advise I could give him was start to discipline those at the top. That’s what we had to do in the Shinsengumi, even Yamanami-san was not immune from our instituted laws. And after his forced seppuku, we became so notorious no one on the lower ranks tried to abandon their post anymore.
That done, I left a letter at Kawaji’s office saying that the sword police is in place at the Yagi house in Tokyo and that Sir Howard and his visitor may visit. That they do not need to expect resistance from me as I’ll be busy on the job that may take me away from Tokyo. I also let Kawaji know that I’m taking a part time job at the Tokyo Museum and that it should not interfere with my duties. That’s one thing I’ll give Kawaji, he’s always given me autonomy, even on the cases I want to work on even if he complains that he doesn’t understand what I’m thinking. Besides a man like him only cares about the results and so do I, so that’s likely why we can work together. I don’t want a lot of bureaucracy and he understands this. Although I think he’s still uncomfortable on certain aspects that he will from time to time remind me that I’m not to involve myself in personal fights. Lately that’s been a difficult line not to cross. Everything has been personal, so personal in fact that I have to occasionally ask myself is this my justice or something else entirely? But nothing will happen by waiting, so I go forward.
After quickly stopping by my office, I left for the Tokyo Museum and arrived there at nine in the morning. I don’t have a card but it seems I was already expected as I was whisked away first to the administration part of the building where a clerk fills up the paper work for my employment and I read the terms and of course the benefits before agreeing to sign the contract. After that, I’m introduced to a few people who runs the museum and one of them gives me a key. It’s a key to the storeroom where all the Japanese swords are kept. That Takamine instructed that only I am allowed unlimited access. I grimace a bit at that. One of them must’ve noticed my apprehension and assures me that Takamine is very particular about who has access since he deemed none of them qualified to handle a true Japanese sword. That before me, only Takamine himself had access to the store room. I’m afraid to ask how many swords are in there… If it’s as much as I’m suspecting it is, it may take me years as a “flexible” worker to properly curate the Museum’s sword collection… Much less maintain and repair it. But I remind myself that this is for the girls and I do have a penchant for true Japanese swords. Only Nippontous are true swords after all.
I’m given a tour of the new building, very western and grand but again the Meiji preoccupies itself in making a good impression to the world. They don’t want to be considered backward, after just having gone through a civil war and many uprisings. It’s essential after all that Japan is considered an equal in the world stage, otherwise this country may follow the fates of other Western occupied nations. Then I’m led to the other end of the building and we go out to a courtyard and from there I can see a much smaller and plain looking structure. I asked if that’s the one and they confirm it is. I asked them if they’d like to go with me inside but they politely decline. I only give them a look. Really? Why do men of intellect tend to give off such a weak impression? I’m told that if I need anything, supplies and all that, to just take what I need in the resource room back in the main building. I say I don’t need anything yet. I’m just going to look around first, take stock of what’s there and give them a few suggestions. They seem happy and immediately leave while I light a cigarette and go inside… It’s stuffy. It’s dusty. But I see, there’s a lot of treasures in here. A few missing swords may not be missed but can fetch a good amount if sold -illegally-. No wonder Takamine keeps access to this store house highly restricted. I walk around from corner to corner, looking at boxes and shelves. Some swords are complete, the others are deconstructed. A lot of it needs -care-. I have a few hours till I need to prepare myself to go to the Hachirou and meet that swine, but for now I let myself indulge in delight of a good Japanese sword. It was my first “love” after all.
(OOC: Saitou will later move to the Hachirou on Monday evening. If there’s a hachirou post started, he will move into that post. Otherwise he will make a new Hachirou post to see Miyagawa.)