Aioi:
It’s now the afternoon and thankfully today, I did get some sleep since that fool fell asleep on me. Sometimes that happens with highly excitable men who drink too much and us girls get a free pass. And I don’t know when that information will arrive for Hajime-han but I can’t take a chance. If he gets it today, he won’t wait. So I go this afternoon even though he wanted me to go back to the Hachirou to keep up appearances.
I look up at the imposing building. I know he’s in the office, the second floor, third window from the left. But he’s not what I’m here for and I go inside and tell the clerk that I’m looking for Naruhodo-san. And it’s not long that I’m waiting.
“Aioi-san…” He greets me and I smile at him and immediately he blushes.
“Thanks for seeing me Naruhodo-san.” I take him by the hand and quickly we leave out the building. He seems a little bewildered as I pull us into an alley. I don’t want anyone seeing us.
“No. No. It’s -my- pleasure.” He gives me that same look that I always get from him. The smitten look of a young man. I can’t help but smile and remember -how- Hajime-han threw him out that night. Was it his possessiveness or was it for the sake of this young man?
“Is Hajime-han inside?” I ask.
“I think he is.” He lowers his head a little disappointed I guess.
“Good. And I know he doesn’t tend to leave there until it’s dark out.” How do I know that? Because sometimes he comes home to -me-. It’s too bad really that now we have a job to do. I would’ve liked…
“Do you want me to get him?”
I shake my head and take his arm. And he looks down where I’m holding him. “I need your help. I need to speak to that woman, Yagi Hide I think is her name.”
He blinks surprised, “But… Are you sure? She’s his significant other…”
“I don’t think so. Not anymore.” And i give him a hurt look, “And you don’t want us to meet because I’m a paid woman?”
“No. That’s not what I meant.” He looks away, “It’s just that I don’t think Fujita-san would want you to meet her. That’s why.”
“But this is for his sake.” I insist and squeeze his arm.
“Is he in trouble? Can I help him?”
I shake my head and with a little smile, “You’re such a goodie-too-shoe. I’ll always like that about you.”
He looks down and blushes shyly again. “Well…”
“But no. In fact it’s important he doesn’t know I went to her. So will you do it?”
He nods. “Of course Aioi-san.”
And I can’t help but be pleased with him, though I guess I’ll always think of him as a boy and not as a man. “Then let’s go. Take me there and then you can leave immediately.” She doesn’t have to know how I got there and I can take care of myself getting back.
“I can wait for you Aioi-san. Take you back to the machiya.” He offers.
I shake my head, “It’s a nice offer but I don’t want Hajime-han to find you there again.” I reach up and touch his cheek, “You understand don’t you?”
“Yes. Well let me get us a ride.”
I bat my eyelashes at him. He’s a good boy. “Thank you Naruhodo-san.”
And true to his word, Naruhodo-san takes me to that woman’s house. He gives me a pleading look to let him stay but I only shake my head. “I’ll remember this.” I blow him a little kiss as the carriage rolls away. And on the door, I see a last name “Yamaguchi”. He’s used that name before. Well he can’t use Fujita here so I suppose it makes sense.
“Excuse me. Is Yagi-san there? Open up please.” I call out and knock on the gates. Well I guess our situations have reversed. But unlike her I’m not here to satisfy my curiosity or make myself feel holier than thou. I came for one reason only. That foolish man.
I hear a voice outside… a woman’s voice? Is Himura-san back again?
I open the gate and it’s… the guard appears. I could just send her away… but… maybe it’s about Hajime. Something happened to him… my heart beating wildly, I nod to the guard. “I know who this is, thank you for watching.”
I let her in. “Is Hajime okay?” I ask. If he didn’t send her… how else would she know of this house? He would have had to tell her where it is.
Aioi: A guard appears but she dismisses him. I don’t recall Hajime-han ever mentioning to having his wife’s place guarded ah but this is the Princess.
“Personal bodyguards…” I smile, “You must really be -special-.”
She lets me in just to the garden but from what I can see, this former home of his is quite nice. I wonder if his wife’s place is better? No. Again this is his Princess. “Nice place.” I might as well compliment her accomplishments of getting that man to make provisions for her shelter and apparently her safety.
She asks about him but I don’t answer that. She doesn’t need to know, he’s somewhat of a mess. Besides, there’s no need to fatten up the Princess’ ego some more.
“I’ll make it quick. I want to know what you -personally- knew about the Tanaka case.” I look at her, “And I don’t need to know what happened last October in Kyoto. We worked together then. But I know Tanaka is dead with his head gone missing but Hajime-han doesn’t work like -that-. So something else is going on and if I were to take a guess, it likely has something to do with you “Princess”.”
OOC posting tomorrow
Personal bodyguards… You must really be -special-.
“No, just under threat,” I say, looking at her. “It’s not as special as you would think.” After all, I’m here at home all the time, but I know that neither of my threats can get in. At least that. Well, there’s the one I just let in, but she seems content to use words.
She tells me that it’s a nice place, “thank you,” I say. What else is there to say? At least I know now that she won’t be in this house. It’s cold comfort, though. I’d trade this house for Hajime in a minute. Aioi-san also ignores my question about Hajime… I’m surprised that she would pass on a chance to needle me about their relationship.
I’ll make it quick. I want to know what you -personally- knew about the Tanaka case. And I don’t need to know what happened last October in Kyoto. We worked together then. But I know Tanaka is dead with his head gone missing but Hajime-han doesn’t work like -that-. So something else is going on and if I were to take a guess, it likely has something to do with you “Princess”.
Princess… -Princess-? “Don’t you call me that,” I snap at her. But as for the rest… “what do you need to know? Doesn’t Hajime tell you everything? Partners in work, partners in bed?” I meet her eyes, but Hajime -beheaded- Tanaka? No wonder… that he never got over me not being there that night. No wonder… I look away. “Why do you need to know it?” What does she need this information for? I’ve been told that she cares for him, and know that he keeps going back to her, over and over, but she was still in Yoshiwara while I was playing wife.
“It’s not as special as you would think.”
Oh it -is-. A small squad of Police Officers and Swordsmen at that! I can’t help but roll my eyes. I suppose I can blame him for what she is today.
“Don’t you call me that,”
“That’s what he called you.” I shrug and she barrages me with questions that I have no plan of answering except -one-.
“He’s not been telling me everything lately.” And it’s probably because of her. “I’m not going to put myself on the line if I don’t know what I’m getting myself into.”
I roll my eyes. “Especially if this is all because of -you- “Princess”.”
I shouldn’t risk more of her ire but I hate women like her. Sitting pretty in her pretty house full of pretty children. And she gets to be jealous that he spends an hour or two in bed with me with -nothing- in return.
“Why do you need to know it?”
“Why do you need a reason?” I raise an eyebrow at her. “You who sit there doing nothing? Happy in your laurels that a man has lost his head because of you.”
I let out an exasperated breath. “And if you had been listening, I already told you he does not work like that. He kills -quickly- sometimes by beheading but he doesn’t take -pleasure- in it. Much less take a head as a consolation prize.” He was a former Samurai but the practice of beheading serves no purpose to someone like him today. “So what is your connection to Tanaka? Or even that Miyagawa?”
That’s what he called you.
“Yes, -called-, as in time past. What name has he given you?” She’s wearing the kimono he bought her again, not her usual style.
I’m not going to put myself on the line if I don’t know what I’m getting myself into.
With that statement I soften somewhat. She’s not Saya-san but she’s doing the same work, playing the same role, she once did… Even as she jabs me again with “Princess”…
Why do you need a reason? You who sit there doing nothing? Happy in your laurels that a man has lost his head because of you.
She goes on to berate me about not knowing about how Hajime kills. “I know very little about how he fights… just what I know from the old days, because others told me, and…” I shake my head. No speaking of -that-, of books and what it inspired. I think back. Souji kept track of the other captains, mostly his “competition”, Hajime and Nagakura-san and Toudou-san… Hajime was always -efficient-, if brutal, he said. Souji liked to make speeches, I knew.
“So he doesn’t tell me anything either, but I’m not allowed to be of use to him, even if I had any skills. He kept the details of my kidnapping from me and I only found out last week that two of the perpetrators are still out there.” I’m the shining princess at home, meant to calm him and feed him. Turns out that wasn’t enough, not when the dear princess treats him like a passing boarder instead of what she wanted… a husband.
“And what he does tell me…” I look away from her, out at the plants in the garden, dry and brown now in the winter… “I have another woman I chase as well, trying to tear down and -best- even though she’s hundreds of miles away and sees me as his little whore. His wife meddled in his work, and I… try -not- to, and to keep my mouth -shut-.” How devastated I was, when I was goaded into revealing his true identity to Shindo-san. And what did I get, in this “contest”? The same place she is. Without him.
“I have no connection to Tanaka prior to when… I think it was his associates came into the home I was living in with our daughter in Ito, Shizuoka and attacked… they tried to take Makoto-chan,” I say, swallowing. “Hajime took the brunt of the damage, losing a lot of blood… it was then he moved us back here to Tokyo. But of course, I didn’t know any -details-, and I didn’t press. I was more worried that he’d break up with me for my safety since we were attacked in the first place.” She’ll find that selfish, no doubt, because it -is-.
“Miyagawa is… a friend of the man named Kato who arranged for my kidnapping. Important in the government. I never met him, but he was at the party where Kato was having some sort of quasi-marriage ceremony with me., before Hajime rescued me.” I look at her. “I just found out about him.” I’ve already sent a letter to Yuunosuke to see what the archives have about his father… the name rings a bell but Souji tracked a -lot- of people.
Aioi:
“Yes, -called-, as in time past. What name has he given you?”
So she wants to know. “-Nothing-. Whatever he’s wanting to call me for the night.” I didn’t hate being called that other wife or this “Princess” when it came down to it. The other night was the first time he called me beautiful and by my name at the same time. It -almost- seemed sincere until he woke up the next day. I look to the side a bit irritated, more at myself than him honestly.
“So he doesn’t tell me anything either, but I’m not allowed to be of use to him, even if I had any skills. He kept the details of my kidnapping from me and I only found out last week that two of the perpetrators are still out there.”
-Great-. So she knows very little about him and has kept information from her too. But that makes sense if he wasn’t satisfied with the conclusion of her kidnapping.
“I have another woman I chase as well, trying to tear down and -best- even though she’s hundreds of miles away and sees me as his little whore. His wife meddled in his work, and I… try -not- to, and to keep my mouth -shut-.”
“I didn’t ask about that wife of his.” I answer back a bit irate, “Nor whatever you two did to meddle or -not- with his work. Or whether any of your actions were justified.”
“I have no connection to Tanaka prior to when… I think it was his associates came into the home I was living in with our daughter in Ito, Shizuoka and attacked… they tried to take Makoto-chan,” “Hajime took the brunt of the damage, losing a lot of blood… it was then he moved us back here to Tokyo. But of course, I didn’t know any -details-, and I didn’t press. I was more worried that he’d break up with me for my safety since we were attacked in the first place.”
-Finally-, something -useful-. “So your home in Ito was attacked because of him.” So my suspicions were -correct-. I sigh. “I guess that explain the cruelty behind Tanaka’s murder. He’d never let it go.” And now? With her abduction? No wonder he hasn’t told her anything.
“I suppose that’s why he suddenly disappeared in the middle of a mission and didn’t come back until summer.” I shake my head, “Pretending he didn’t even remember me, which was a load of -crap-.” But no matter, we’re even after all I had -fun- playing with him. Making him think I would “out” him at any moment.
“Miyagawa is… a friend of the man named Kato who arranged for my kidnapping. Important in the government. I never met him, but he was at the party where Kato was having some sort of quasi-marriage ceremony with me., before Hajime rescued me.”“I just found out about him.”.
Miyagawa did boast to me about his position in the Department of the Interior. “Well that man won’t be a going concern soon.” I say and look at her. Is she worth it? What makes her worth it Mibu no Ookami? But I got what I came for so I turn to leave.
(OOC: Aioi will exit unless something else.)
And suddenly, I’m jealous of her – jealous of what he shares with her, the trust he has in her, that she’s more of his confidante than I ever was. Envious that it’s her bed that he’s in, her name that he calls. A real flesh and blood woman, not a princess. He uses her, but she has him now.
So your home in Ito was attacked because of him. I guess that explain the cruelty behind Tanaka’s murder. He’d never let it go.
“Sounds like him,” I say. She then speaks of how he disappeared and didn’t remember her. Time and memory work strangely but she’s unaware of it. “He’s had memory problems, at times. Due to his injuries.” Well, the memory problems are all because of me, how he nearly will kill himself over me. Or would. I look at the lady in front of me, who is prettier than the makeup I first saw her in. She’s younger, her face fresher but her eyes and expression seem older. No naivety with her.
So… Miyagawa will be dead, too… along with Mama-sama. Is he evil, or just friends with one who is? Again, I lack -context- to understand. But if he’s embedded in the government… this one seems so dangerous. “I have reached out for research about Miyagawa, it may be too little, too late… but if I find out something, I will send it to the machiya.”
Aioi-san’s eyes on me are searching, appraising… what does she see? A worn-down middle aged woman, one who breezed in and insulted her and now cries when she gets it back?
She turns to leave, but I grab her arm. “His past partner was deeply injured twice helping him, and she’ll limp for the rest of his life. Make certain that both of you come back,” I tell her. But is she like Saya-san, willing to take a bullet for him? I could tell her, having done so myself, that he doesn’t take well to that sort of thing from any woman who cares for him.
No doubt she’ll sneer at that. But… I want him to live, even if it’s not with me, and I don’t want him to live with regrets because another woman did something stupid in his name. Shielding him from his own feelings is one of my things, after all. And no matter if I like her or not, she deserves better than to die catching those villians.
I let go of her arm. She has what she needs from me.
(OOC – you may close)
Aioi:
“Sounds like him,”
I’d ask her which one, cruelty or stubbornness? But looking at her, the way her mouth is set and her glower, it must be the former. And memory problems from injuries? I’d ask her what physical injury is it that causes a man like that to have lapses in his memory? He’s never had them before but what does it matter to her? She got what she wanted, a house that’s hers and children with him. He loves children eventhough he’ll never say so. I saw it in the rare times he speaks about his son and daughters.
“I have reached out for research about Miyagawa, it may be too little, too late… but if I find out something, I will send it to the machiya.”
“It will probably be took late.” I shrug, “He’ll have killed him by tomorrow I think.” And what does she think of his work truly? Was she naive enough to think that his justice, that he’s always spouting off, is dependent on the murder being sanctioned by the government or allowed by his position in the police? That he’s some sort of “honorable” police officer that she can take “pride” in? Well his wife already did that.
As I leave she grabs my arm telling me about a “partner” that was injured and that to make certain we both come back. I can’t help but suddenly leer at that. “I’m sure your well wishes isn’t really meant for me.” Because it’s obvious she hates my presence in his life, this woman who thinks she’s owed something. “But if what I think is going on, is correct, he’ll be -damned- to get killed first before he’s redeemed his honor in your eyes.”
I leave her, fully knowing she won’t understand at all. And even if she did -eventually-, it will be too late and what excuse will she come up with then? But for now I have some thinking to do. Do I help him or not?