The carriage waits outside the Department of the Interior. I had read the letter that was delivered to the pig Miyagawa and unlike his initial plan of blackmailing Miyagawa using his connections to Tanaka, this one hits closer to home. Of course Hajime told me all about it, that this man was masquerading as the son of an important stateman when in fact he was nothing more than a bastard son of an illicit affair.
Miyagawa-sama!
Congratulations on your very successful dedication to your father Miyagawa-san in Shimonoseki. I spoke to the father and son who was present in your dedication ceremony and they had a good story to tell! But much more interesting is the much historied “adventures” of your father. A truly remarkable and impossible feat of which you must be very proud as his progeny. Let us celebrate and catch up with the past, to ensure your path forward!
I’ll have a carriage waiting for you with a wonderful lady to accompany you this evening. Do ensure that you leave word to your assistants and any one who has business with you that you maybe gone for at least a week, especially those at the Department of the Interior. We don’t want them to worry as we catch up about you and your dear “father” Miyagawa-san! Or if not and they go looking for you, imagine what they’ll find! No one will ever look at you the same way ever again.
So exciting, no?
My best regards,
Peaches your bestfriend
Did Hajime really have to write it this way? Such a jovial letter full of “enthusiasm”. But I suppose, he has to be careful even if the letter was to be found out. At least he put a bit of distance between now and when Miyagawa’s associates may start looking for him. By that time, Hajime would’ve destroyed all evidence and links back to him or I.
So now I wait in this carriage that he provided and soon the sun will go down. Hajime did tell me the driver knows where we’re going but when I asked him if it was the Hikage or one of the other teahouses, he only replied that, those would take too long. That man has lost his patience hasn’t he? But the faster this whole affair is done, the faster he’ll forget about that Princess and then finally he can move on.
(OOC: This is the Miyagawa thread. Oh correction, the -pig- thread I’m told.)
(Miyagawa)
I read the letter -three times-. Who the hell is this? Peaches? But’s it’s -clear-.
But… I crumple the letter. It’s -her-, I know it’s -her-, that old -bitch-. Other than my mother, now locked up for “care” and that bitch are the only people alive who -know-. I call for my servant, telling him that I have urgent things to attend to.
A week. She thinks she can command a week of -my- time? I’m an important man! I scribble out a letter to my stupid superior at the Interior, claiming my mother’s illness has flared up again… after all, I am a good son. Whore. That goddamned whore, spreading her legs and then telling the one worst woman in the -world-…
I pull open the door to the carriage and I’m faced with the Tayu, back to her haughty ways, if not in her costume. Of course… she supplied women to all of Tanaka’s ventures. The old woman was told to be careful for just this reason, one of -hers- getting in…
“You work for her?” I say, closing the door to the carriage and grabbing her by the neck. I grin. “Did you enjoy being used up at the lattices? How many men did you have to take, for her?” I chuckle. She can’t carry her head like that anymore.
Close up, without her makeup, I realize why she looks familiar, but I didn’t waste time looking at her then, -too old-. “You were Tanaka’s woman, we’re you?” I tighten my grip on her. “Were you just his whore, or did her mission for you start all the way back then?”
Aioi:
Of course the pompous pig comes in with a bad temper.
“Did you enjoy being used up at the lattices? How many men did you have to take, for her?”
I can only smile with my eyes while he’s pressing his hand on my neck. I don’t stop him but I manage a good smirk through the hurt. The carriage moves -swiftly- away from the main roads but he doesn’t notice as he’s still trying to choke me.
“Were you just his whore, or did her mission for you start all the way back then?”
“Don’t you want to know the -real- story “Miyagawa-sama”?” I say in between breaths.
I pull out a blindfold and show it to him. “Hurt me here and…” I choke a little, “you’ll be dead within -minutes- or put this on, cooperate and maybe I’ll ask them to -spare- you.”
His life isn’t his anymore the moment he got on this carriage. Stupid pig.
She smirks and I feel myself -stirring- despite it all. As used up as she is, she still has -pride-.
I’d still like to take it from her.
Don’t you want to know the -real- story “Miyagawa-sama”?
Damn, does she know too? Well, nobody will miss her, -after-. I press tighter on her neck….
Hurt me here and… you’ll be dead within -minutes- or put this on, cooperate and maybe I’ll ask them to -spare- you.”
I narrow my eyes at that. “She’s left plenty of dead women like you around, don’t think you’re special,” I chuckle, letting her go. Since she was Tanaka’s woman, she’s probably long been in the employ of that woman.
Of course she’ll spare me, though. This nonsense… she’s just showing her power over me. But she needs me – without my string-pulling, what she’s accomplished these past years would have been impossible. I put the blindfold on. We can’t be going all the way to Ito in a carriage, after all, and she won’t leave her little den. That woman needs to be brought down a peg, too. I’m too important to play these games with her.
But at the threat of his life, he lets me go. Coward.
“She’s left plenty of dead women like you around, don’t think you’re special,”
“I’ve survived many life and death battles Miyagawa-sama.” I use his line. Hajime and I go way back after all. I simply smile as he gives in to the blindfold. “Now please enjoy the ride.”
And I see the dusk turns into dark and the carriage is no longer traveling on a paved road but a rough one. And the trees suddenly turns into shadows. We’re going to be in the middle of nowhere. That man… How did he expect me to get back without his help? But he’s waiting for me.
(After half an hour or so…)
And we pull up just like he said, at an abandoned storehouse. How did he know this place? Or does he keep it especially for this purpose. I get off the carriage first and am surprised at what I see. It’s Hajime-han, he was the driver… Of course.
“I’ve delivered Mama-sama’s favorite asset.” I tell him. He should pick up on that and do with it what he wishes.
He pulls up Miyagawa by the arm and pushes him forward. “Walk straight and don’t try to run or I’ll skewer you like the -swine- that you are.”
(Miyagawa)
I’ve survived many life and death battles Miyagawa-sama
“Hardly, woman,” I scoff. What do women know of such things? Even whores live lives of ease, while men risk their lives!
It’s boring as we roll along… Mama-sama and her stupid, stupid -tricks-. My mother’s best friend since childhood, who listened to her nonsense about my -father-, and found the man…. he doesn’t matter. Dead anyway.
Then we arrive and it’s annoying as my hands are tied… she did this oh, what, five years ago? When I started rising in the Interior, just to -remind- me.
A man’s voice…
Walk straight and don’t try to run or I’ll skewer you like the -swine- that you are.
I know that voice… “Fujita! What the hell? Did she buy you too?” I shouldn’t have let him go off like that. He’s another weak one…
“Fujita! What the hell? Did she buy you too?”
“Mama-sama is the generous sort.” I lie. He’s obviously pinning this all on the old woman and I could use -that- and I -might-. But the truth was, I look to a prepared table to the side where I’ve prepared my tools and not too far from there… I came prepared to let this man die a slow death.
I shove him first to a waiting chair and bind his legs to the foot and the rest of him to the back. After knowing he’s secured and can’t escape I turn to Aioi. I see she has bruises on her neck that wasn’t there when I sent her here.
“If you’re going to stay here…” I nod to the furthest corner where there’s a table and some chairs. She doesn’t have to see everything even if she’s to hear him scream.
After Aioi goes to the corner, I go ahead and remove his blindfold. There’s only a few lit candles in the place and he probably can’t see to where Aioi’s gone to and where my implements are.
“Tell me Miyagawa, so what really is the deal with you and Mama-sama, she told me you’re the bastard son of the Elder Miyagawa but not much else.” I ask as I smoke and blow it to his face. “But truly what I’m interested in is Mama-sama’s vast riches through her opium smuggling business. I can’t be her lieutenant if I don’t know much about her and your business together.”
I look at him at the low light. I don’t know why I’m asking him these things. He can lie to me after all or withold certain information.
I go over to the table and stub my cigarette, taking out a hammer, letting him see as I let the head land on my palm a few times, something I’ve learned from my yakuza days. “Do make it an interesting story, full of detail. And after that I’ll tell you a story as well.” I smirk at him.
(Miyagawa)
Mama-sama is the generous sort
I bark out a laugh. “Nothing comes for free from her. What did she promise? More money? Women? Maybe a turn with that Yagi woman once you deliver? You didn’t seem to like the young one much the other night… maybe you like them old and frumpy!” I laugh. This is foolish!
I think the woman is sent away. That damned Tayu… or a common whore, now. When my blindfold is replaced, I see… not much. But Fujita…
Tell me Miyagawa, so what really is the deal with you and Mama-sama, she told me you’re the bastard son of the Elder Miyagawa but not much else.
I feel the blood rush out of my face, then back in… so she told! “That bitch!” I shout. If she told someone like Fujita, with his stupid grin, who else is she telling? Haven’t I given her enough????
“But truly what I’m interested in is Mama-sama’s vast riches through her opium smuggling business. I can’t be her lieutenant if I don’t know much about her and your business together.
Why the hell should I? “Lieutenant? Is that all she promised you? With me, I can give you the job of that useless Uramura, or, if you’re -very- useful, Kawaji, once I’m head of the Interior,” I tell him. Of course, it’s all a bluff. Once I’m out of here, I’ll find someone to make certain that he’s dead.
Do make it an interesting story, full of detail. And after that I’ll tell you a story as well
Oh, now he has a hammer? “I don’t need stories. Tell Mama-sama that I’m done with this stupid exercise of hers. I’ll find that Yagi woman myself… ” and bring her -head- to the old woman. That’ll mess up her -other- plans, but no matter. I’ll get that woman at the onsen to poison her tea…
Nothing comes for free from her. What did she promise? More money? Women? Maybe a turn with that Yagi woman once you deliver? You didn’t seem to like the young one much the other night… maybe you like them old and frumpy!
“Oh. Well she did promise me my turn and I suppose I like my women to be -my- age.” Because I saw how he salivated over the weasel. He spent so much time chasing her that I couldn’t prevent Hide from getting shot.
The pig goes frantic as I feign knowledge about his bastard status. “Yeah mama-sama -is- a bitch isn’t she?” I can’t help but chuckle, “Told me all about your father’s cuckolding, running after some Shishi back in the day.” But it’s disappointing that he doesn’t say more but it doesn’t matter.
“Is that how mama-sama gets you to do her bidding?” I take a puff, “See I want to know how you please the old “-bitch-“.” Witch is more like it but we’ll go with his take.
“Lieutenant? Is that all she promised you? With me, I can give you the job of that useless Uramura, or, if you’re -very- useful, Kawaji, once I’m head of the Interior,”
“She told me she owned the entire police department in Ito. Was that all your doing Miyagawa-san?” I stop and put down the hammer, looking at him and feigning some interest in his proposal. “Kawaji’s post? Impossible… Your proposals are -interesting- but it’s all just -words-.”
Cupping my chin, I try to look somewhat interested, “Maybe you can back it up with other “favors” you’ve done for mama-sama…” I try to look like I’m going to bite but the truth was I already have -enough- right here.
“I don’t need stories. Tell Mama-sama that I’m done with this stupid exercise of hers. I’ll find that Yagi woman myself… “
“Well if you can’t tell me a good story about mama-sama, something you did for her that I can use to my advantage…” I shrug at the mention of Hide, he won’t be getting near her again.
“Is that all of it?” I squat and then -slam- the ground with the hammer just missing his left feet. “Should I start doing what she asked?” I chuckle low and peer up meeting his eyes. I can’t wait to take a -bite- out of him.
(Miyagawa)
I suppose I like my women to be -my- age
I shake my head. “You’re missing a lot, then, with old women like that.” He’s a fool. Who wants used-up women?
Told me all about your father’s cuckolding, running after some Shishi back in the day
“Then who the hell is ‘Peaches’? One of his lovers? Her lover?” My mother, my stupid, stupid mother…
Is that how mama-sama gets you to do her bidding?” I take a puff, “See I want to know how you please the old “-bitch-
I’m not going to give him the satisfaction. “So now you do her dirty work too?”
She told me she owned the entire police department in Ito. Was that all your doing Miyagawa-san?
I frown. Why does he care? “Of course, she doesn’t have the finesse or the connections to do so! It was easy to pin things on that foolish man who ran the police there. Backwards country people… and of course, I can make you want you want. I have connections, I have my mother’s money and my -father’s- name – to those who help me, I can ensure quiet a career!” I boast.
Maybe you can back it up with other “favors” you’ve done for mama-sama…
I relish the idea of -educating- this fool… “We tied up enforcement at the Osaka port, replaced officials who wanted to be too nosy… and the chief there is a dim-wit we could easily work around. Do you want Osaka, first?” I chuckle. “She has her hands in lots of places, always has been. Her grandfather was a yukuza head in Kyoto before the war, you know. Learned it all at his knee, and used her talents to push her son and husbands.” For a woman she has a lot of -will-.
But then he starts swinging the hammer at me and I yelp! “What the hell? You know who I am! What I can do for you? She only needs -thugs-. I’m going to be prime minister!” With Mama-sama to keep crime and trouble going despite all of the empty talk from this government…
Leave it up to the fool to spill by letting him know I’m willing to go one way or the other. Of course it’s not the fear that catches him, it’s his arrogant and boastful nature. I don’t say much else as I got what I need. I didn’t even have to -beat- him and I could set him free but I -won’t-. It’s time to drop the act and I don’t say anymore to any of his “confessions”.
He yelps and I glare at him before letting go of the hammer. I remove my gloves and let them fall to the ground and spat my cigarette to the side. Then I grab his chin with my left hand, letting my fingers dig deeply into his cheeks enough so his lips purses like a flat fish. Then I leer down at his face, glaring at him. “I know what you did, you swine.” Forcefully I chuck his face to the side and straighten up.
“You should be grateful! I sent you the Tayu and what did you do?” I grab his neck with one hand, putting pressure on his jugular. Tilting my head, I let a sombre expression cross my face as I dig my fingers deep enough that I feel his skin catch in my nails. “Did you know that back then, in Kyoto, even if you were a hatamoto or a high ranking official, a Tayu can refuse to see you?”
I push his neck upwards so that the back of his head laid into the back of the chair. And I take a look at that neck, it would be so easy to just take my katana and slit his throat wide open and this would be over in an instant. But that’s not what I want so I wait until he’s almost out of breath before letting him go and he takes a lungful of air.
“And back then, even the Shinsengumi -notorious- for their brutality in the streets and -taking- what they want, still found time to go to the teahouses hoping for an audience with a Tayu.” I speak of course of Serizawa even his notoriety only afforded me an indirect introduction to Aioi.
I look at the scrapes on his neck and dissatisfied I grab his -face-. The palm of my right hand clamping on his mouth like a vice while letting my thumb and my forefinger settle just underneath his eyes.
“You must be wondering why I have such a strong grip on both hands?” I smirk and let my fingers bore into his face. “It’s because I’ve held a sword my entire life. Can you feel the calluses on my hands grazing against that -soft- and plump cheek of yours?”
Clawing his face, I -slowly- bring my thumb to his eyeballs and press with just enough pressure to let him know I can blind him with just a press of a finger. “Is an eye enough payment for what you did to the Tayu and those “young and fresh” girls that you have a hankering for?” I make no mention of Hide at Kato’s estate. I know he didn’t care much about her, his interest was squarely in satisfying Yasutake but he was an accomplice or at best an honored guest celebrating Hide’s assault and violation. But now, more than that, how many young women or maybe even young girls did he molest and ravished in that “club” and elsewhere? If he treated Aioi like a common prostitute, what more those inexperienced girls? And my mind flashes back to that young girl he presented me at the teahouse that he was eyeing lasciviously. I let out a deep breath as my chest suddenly wants to cave in as if I can’t breathe but it I’m able to regain my composure and keep a tight grip on him.
“Remember that night? If I pluck out that eye of yours how will you -enjoy- your “fresh” girls? That would be a shame…” I let go of his face, patting it a couple of times and he seems relieved. But without warning I slug him with my left fist that almost topples the chair over as it wobbled unsteadily.
“Ah sumana. I had to test my arm because I must’ve swung that sword -thousands- of times and lately I’ve been told I’m an old man.” I scoff at first but end up chuckling low, “Better than me trying out that hammer to your face no?” I look at him. The tools will come later, but for now I’m savoring the moment of getting my bare hands on him.
(OOC: I took some of Miyagawa’s reactions here as I thought it appropriate. If you disagree that, that’s how Miyagawa would react then we can negotiate that. He doesn’t have much leverage though at this point… So I think more and more I’ll transition this to Saitou’s point of view. I’ll note it as an ooc when i truly do and kick you out. LOL)
He starts speaking of the women? Is he a lover of the Tayu, out for revenge? Going on and on about Tayu and the Shinsengumi?
And back then, even the Shinsengumi -notorious- for their brutality in the streets and -taking- what they want, still found time to go to the teahouses hoping for an audience with a Tayu
“Those traitors?” I get a laugh out. My father hated them -so-…
“It’s because I’ve held a sword my entire life
Him? “Who the hell are you, old man?” I rasp.
Then pressure, pressure on my eye! I struggle against the bindings as he talks again about -women-!
There’s relief as he releases my face and I’d tell him that the Tayu had what was coming to her for being so -listless-. Shouldn’t a professional do better, focus on her customer? But I’m relieved that my face is not the focus on his anymore! How would I look in the newspapers without an eye?
I’m about to think this is all over when… there’s a sudden force, and pain, and I dizzily register I’m on the floor, still tied up? “Bastard, you bastard,” I mutter. What else does he -want-? Throwing my offers in my face?
(OOC – it’s all fine!)
“Those traitors?”
“Ah it’s time I tell you a story about those “traitors”. Kato would’ve loved this but it’s a shame you won’t be able to tell him -yourself-.” I flash a knowing grin at him but don’t tell him he’ll be slaughtered right -here-. He should know that by now no? So I fish a cigarette from my breast pocket and start to smoke -again-.
“There were all sorts of men in the Shinsengumi. I’ll tell you the rise of one of their officers. His name isn’t important but he was a thug for the Yakuza, his main job was to collect donations and protection money. Some hatamoto stood up to him one day and reminded him that he was the second son of a low ranking samurai. He said “No wonder you’re a yakuza mutt.” And just like this hatamoto was killed and the mutt ran from the police in Edo. Some man getting married that day generously lent him money to escape to Kyoto. And what do you know? After several months of hiding out in Kyoto the same man who helped him in Edo finally appeared along with others who wanted to protect the Shogun in the capital.”
That was an old story of course and I pause for a moment, thinking of those days when we were at Yagi-san’s estate. Who would’ve known I’d take his daughter, have children with her and make promises, only to abandon the her in the end? I stare at the red tip of my tabacco for a while but a moan brings me back -here-. So I continue.
“The idiot having nothing better to do followed that man Kondou Isami. He didn’t know what he was getting himself into.” I grin and ash my smokes, “In the end he found out that they were all -strong- men but the reputation they built up as the Mibu Wolves was well deserved. They were feared because they killed in the streets and some of them took what they wanted like the former commander, Serizawa Kamo. This Serizawa knew high ranking people in the Aizu clan and so seeked Aizu’s sponsorhship and that cemented him as one of the High Commanders of the Shinsengumi along with Kondou. Rumors swirled around this new upstart, a dog really, that he was a criminal and a former yakuza. All of it was true, which was -perfect-. Kondou had a loyal and crafty right hand named Hijikata Toshizo who schemed that this upstart should get close to Serizawa’s faction – he already had the notorious reputation after all. So the upstart did and reported all of Serizawa’s delinquency back to Hijikata. Hijikata urged Kondou to go Matsudaira Katamori the daimyo of Aizu and appointed as the Kyoto Shoshidai. It’s then that it was decided to eliminate Serizawa to ensure the success of the Kyoto Shoshidai.”
I blow out a long stream of smoke and look at my prey. “Hoi. Stay awake ahou!” I don’t finish and just chuckle to myself as I look at the barrel just behind him. I go to the swine and right the toppled chair he’s tied to and unbind his legs from the foot of the chair and then retie them together. After that I get the rope I’ve prepared, through the pulley and center it on the barrel -full- of water.
“Get up.” I flick my cigarette away and free him from the chair and with his hands still bound behind his back and his feet tied together, he hops but then stops as he realizes what’s next. “It’s rude to doze off when someone’s in the middle of a story.” With one tug, I pull the thick rope and wrap his feet with it and I look down on him like he was some animal. Well he -is-.
With one mighty pull, I hoist him up using the pulley and now he hangs upside down and he’s dunk in the water head first. I wait for almost a minute before pulling him out, well this is only to wake him up. And then I secure the rope on the stake I made before hand.
I smoke again and start walking around him. “Now where were we? Ah so Serizawa’s dead and -finally- Kondou’s faction becomes the Shinsengumi. And because this upstart was instrumental in the purge of Serizawa, he was quickly promoted to “Captain” and suddenly he had -clout-. But the Shinsengumi’s reputation was all but decimated by then. Thankfully a fateful event happened and this is where your father’s Ishin Shishi comrades come front and center. Those Choshu men who eventually united with the Satsuma to overthrow the Shogunate.”
I ash my cigarette, “Ah but I’m getting ahead of myself. The Shinsengumi got wind that the Ishin Shishi was going to set the capital city on fire and then kidnap the emperor in the confusion. But do you know -how- they got wind of it?” I grin at him, “That man Hijikata had many eyes and ears and they raided a Shishi named Furutaka Shuntaro. And that Furutaka was one hell of a prisoner. The upstart couldn’t make the man talk even with all this waterboarding.”
I sigh and let loose the ropes and once again he’s submerged in the water. He tries to twist that paunchy body of his and I enjoy the spectacle. Realizing that he might actually drown, I pull him up. We’re not done yet.
Fujita starts to talk instead of answering my question! He goes on and on with a -long- story. About the Shinsengumi! He has the -wrong- guy here for that, after all, my -father- was always trying to kill them!
Then – off the chair and tied up again, and before I know it, I’m in the water. I gasp and wheeze for breath, sputtering, while he keeps talking. “I don’t -care- about the Shinsengumi!” I get out. “I want to know what you want with me!”
The upstart couldn’t make the man talk even with all this waterboarding
Wait, what – and I’m in again, fighting against the water, and just as I feel myself about to pass out… I’m out again.
“What – what is it that you want?” I get out, coughing, shivering in the cold.
Saitou:
“What – what is it that you want?”
I stop my story for a moment and glare at him. I want him -dead- at the end of this. But most of all I want that which is now -impossible- and he’s one of the reasons. Still he’s got some life left in him talking back to me like that. But -I- can -fix- that.
“You see this upstart turned Captain, wasn’t well versed in interrogation techniques at the time. He thought waterboarding was enough but not for this hardened Shishi and so he called for help and Hijikata came himself.” Bending down I turn my head to look at his now swollen face. “Ah and that’s when…” I go to the table and retrieve some nails and the hammer that I left on the ground. “Should I do a demonstration?” Moving him from the barrel I lower him just enough so his head touches the ground. Giving him a break I suppose.
“Hijikata in front of his new Captain drove the nails to Furutaka’s feet. Like this.” And I drive the nail into the swine’s feet and he screams. “Oi… I touch his face with my foot. Weren’t you power tripping just earlier? Don’t embarass yourself by squealing like a girl…” I look down on him and show him the nail, “These are much smaller nails than what Hijikata-san used.”
Taking a few puffs on my cigarette I cross my arms and continue with the story. “Furutaka screamed like you did just now, but obviously he was much more of a man than you. The Shishi still wouldn’t talk so…” I go over to the table and take out a couple of candles and show it to him.
“Hijikata told his Captain to watch closely as he dug some more holes on Furutaka’s feet with the nail and then stuck these candles on the holes he’s made.” I can’t help but chuckle a little, “Want me to show you?” Not that he really has a choice.
Fujita keeps talking!
I scream and scream as there’s pain in my feet and I can barely breathe…
“Stop it, stop it!” I don’t sound like a man right now, even my father would scorn me… “stop it, what do you want? Where the factory is?” I was going to help this man! Give him a position, I already gave him money, a woman…
Then the candles come out oh -god-… “You monster!” I scream.
“One more.” I say and do the same to his other feet unceremoniously.
“And of course since Hijikata-san now has a pleasing candleholder, the man lights it up and watches the candle flame dance. He knew the hot wax would eventually find itself into the open wounds on Furutaka’s feet but it would take all night. So he left him like that till morning.” I pause for a minute, thinking back to that time and remembering, “Ah but he did ask his new Captain to undress the captive down to his fudonshi and lash him every 30 minutes. Why 30 minutes? Well I think mostly to give his Captain a break.”
“stop it, what do you want? Where the factory is?”
With a sigh, I feign disappointment and I can care less about some factory. “I forgot to strip you and I suppose I don’t have a whip.” With a shrug I continue, “Of course Furutaka confessed the next day. After all Hijikata-san would’ve had him killed as the Shishi would become a liability rather than an asset. That’s how Hijikata got his moniker “Oni Fukuchou” and that greenhorn Captain went up the ranks as his trusted arm.”
I go around him and pull him up by the rope until he is a feet off the floor, securing it with a stake. “I’m not as patient as the Oni Fukuchou though.” I chuckle, “And those candles? I think that was just for the show.”
“But maybe we can do better?” Going to the side of the table, I retrieve my katana. “Have you ever heard of the mainland’s “Death by a Thousand Cuts?” Unsheathing my katana, the blade catches the candle light. “A nippontou is not the right length but I’m sure I can manage to -skin- a swine like you, even if it does take -longer-.”
I don’t really look at him. He’ll just be another dead man whose head will go missing.
It’s clear that Miyagawa already told him everything he knew about that Mama-sama and even offers up more information that Hajime-han seems to want to ignore. And the pig even spills all about his plans for being Prime Minister and his desire to topple the Head of the Police. That’s enough isn’t it? There was nothing left to do with that pig but that fool told the wolf he’ll go after the Princess himself and so has egged on Hajime to punish Miyagawa in the same way he did others when he was still in the Shinsengumi. I watch as Hajime handles the man roughly and everytime I think he’s going to end Miyagawa’s misery, he pivots and terrorizes the pig in the guise of…
It’s then that I realize. I told his Princess, he doesn’t work that way and all she could do was claim she didn’t know how he worked. But I do…
And it would never be in the guise of an interrogation. He kills but he does not -terrorize-. He is efficient and have no feelings of regret or vengeance to grapple with, at least until her. Wolf…
Standing up, I walk up to him and place my hand on the arm that’s holding his sword. “You were right.” I look at the sword and then at him, “I don’t want to be a witness to a murder.”
His eyes already like steel, hardens some more. “Then get -out-. I still have unfinished business here.”
“No Haj…” I stop mid sentence remembering not to say his Shinsengumi name in front of the pig, “Gorou-san, you kill with a purpose, that’s different from murder.” I try to remind the man who or rather what he is truly but he abruptly turns towards me and tries to argue his justice.
“He’s evil. He’s helped an evil woman capture an entire town, spread opium in various parts of Japan and what happens if he’s succesful in his ambition to become Prime Minister? He has to be -eliminated- Aioi.”
I look at the man who needs so much help right now. For a moment I wonder if it was his Hime-sama -here- instead of me, can she sway him or would he even let her witness this? Probably neither and the Princess is in her “Castle” -safe-.
And I remember on his other missions, what things he might temper his justice with. It wasn’t mercy, -never- that but something else he used to say in the past… “You already have so much work to do.” I glance back at the pig but not with pity, more like disdain. “He’s worth more to you and the government -alive-. As soon as you foil that Mama-sama’s operations in Ito, his ambitions will be over with the loss of his reputation.”
I search the Wolf’s face and he doesn’t realize it but his breathing has slowed, unlike earlier where he breathed like a wild beast. He lowers his sword and puts it back into its sheath. A sheath, I was for him tonight but it shouldn’t have been me I think. Still it was her that lit his fire, even if it was to his detriment. But things change don’t they? And the less he sees of her, sooner or later the memory of that Princess will start to fade for this wolf.
“Consider yourself -fortunate-. The Tayu took -pity- on you.” The wolf tells the pig, “If you want to live, tell me how you can be useful in capturing Yasutake and also the location of that factory.”
His rage is contained for now. But what will he do when faced with the woman that his Princess called evil? Will he cross this line again?
(???)
I watch, mildly surprised that Saitou doesn’t notice me. He’s focused on his task. He also brought a woman. Sloppy.
I’ve tortured enough people in my time. My time is long past, but it’s still there for the wolf. He speaks of the past, and I know well enough to know just who the captain was who assisted Hijikata. He still has the edge, after all, despite his errors. The fukuchou would never bring an outsider – a woman – to one of these “sessions”, nor would he have left the back upper window unlatched.
Yet he’s not the same wolf, as was relayed to me. It’s not just his woman’s kidnapping. Age, injury – I can see much has changed, in both body and mind.
The woman with him speaks up. Saitou stops his worst, as he’s just making threats. So this woman can tame the wolf? -Interesting-.
The man is a mess, blubbering, sobbing. “There’s three factories – on the outskirts of Yokohama. Close to the train line. There’s special cars, to Ito…” His blubbering is overtaking him. “Let me live, I’ll retire, just don’t tell about my father…. it’s all I really have…” He lasted longer under the wolf’s torture than I would have calculated.
I finally step forward, into the scene, my coat swirling around me as I move.
“Be glad that it’s me and not Himura,” I say. “He’d have stopped you long ago.” He has another task tonight.
I look at the hanging man, who will never walk easily again, who hassled Misao-chan, but who I had my eye on before all these events. The opium in this country isn’t all connected to Kanryu and what he did, but it’s close enough, and his people are the closest to the formula that Takani devised. I’m still compromised, and now that Misao-chan has stuck her nose in it, even more so. I coolly eye the sobbing man. “We’re going to need more detail, Miyagawa. Are those the same warehouses where the women are kept?” My eyes gleam a bit at his surprise, “ah, and we have someone in the TMPD who kindly let us know that the sword police duty rosters had been messed with, pulling private protection… clever, to wait for Uramura and Kawaji to be on Kyshuu, on an inspection tour.”
“I didn’t know! I didn’t order that! Not yet-” Miyagawa starts sobbing again.
I lean down close to him. “Your -mole- wished to surprise you, he felt a little jealous that you found a new ‘friend’ in the TMPD.” Standing up, I glance back at Saitou, who, despite putting away his sword, is still focused on this issue at hand. “The mole has been contained.” Okina laments the aging of our formerly robust network, but old men are overlooked in the places we keep them.
(OOC – dammit, Aoshi has joined the game)
“Be glad that it’s me and not Himura,” I say. “He’d have stopped you long ago.”
“Oh so the former Okashira shows himself.” I eye him coldly. He’s not needed here and as for stopping me? Many years ago I said, if the Battousai and I meet as enemies, then I have nothing more to say to him. But I don’t tell Aoshi this. It’s none of his business.
He asks about the warehouses and of course the Oniwaban network is always impressive. That there is someone inside the TMPD who is connected to the Oniwaban, is a different problem in itself, especially with how Kawaji views the group as mercenaries. Not one to ally himself with. But -I- don’t care about that so I say nothing for now.
The pig denies having involvement in the sword police but I say nothing about him authorizing the replacement of the prefectural Ito police. I watch as the icicle leans in and tells the pig about a mole inside the -TMPD-. It’s not surprising, although Kawaji has made great strides in recruiting able men, most of them has a history. Keeping them in line is a challenge. I’m living proof of that.
“The mole has been contained.”
I finally speak up, “Contained where? Or are you saying he’s been disposed of?” Because if this mole is still alive, then he shouldn’t be left to the Oniwaban. If it’s a mess that the TMPD is involved in, it will be the department who will clean it up, not a mercenary group even if they are old protectors of Kyoto. In this sense I will agree with Kawaji.
I glance back at Aioi who is just observing all of us. I regret having had her witness this and should’ve gone with my first instinct which is to send her away. Still, I trust her more than I do anyone from the wilderness.
“And why are you here Shinomori?” I don’t bother asking a ninja how he got inside, any ninja worth his or her salt could’ve gotten in here. I’m impressed though that he found this storehouse that’s out in the middle of -nowhere-.
I light a smoke. Aioi’s right, earlier I couldn’t even -taste- my cigarette. I look at the pig still hanging, the blood dripping down his legs. Soon I’ll have to take him down and though I don’t want to let him -live-, circumstances deem that he be left alive if I’m to foil that woman. He thinks this is torture? I can’t help but suddenly grin remembering what the Daikeshi said, that they are not without fangs. I wonder how long they’ll let this pig live? Certainly I wouldn’t bat an eye if he was found in a ditch somewhere.
(OOC: LOL well I was expecting Misao but if not her likely it would’ve been Aoshi.)
(Aoshi)
He’s a quiet one, as he listens, but as I remember him he did not tend to waste breath with unnecessary conversation. He shouldn’t be surprised that I keep track of many things.
Contained where? Or are you saying he’s been disposed of?
That caught his attention, and not that his former mistress lost the protection of the sword police at her house this evening. Perhaps it’s not of his concern anymore? “He’s contained, and fully willing to confess to you when needed.” I regard Miyagawa. He makes poor choices in his associates, this one gave up much easier. “He’s just a connection to this one.”
The woman stays quiet, and in the background now that she’s played her part. He must trust her to bring her here. I doubt this is sanctioned by the TMPD.
And why are you here Shinomori?
“The potter who created the statues of drugs was one of ours, long ago.” We used it for messages and poison, once. My eyes again find Miyagawa. “That, and the insult done to our Okashira should not stand.” Thankfully she still confesses everything freely to Okina, who in turn tells me. However, it was Saitou who got Misao-chan mixed up in his troubles, setting her on a “mission” she has no reason being involved in.
That should be enough for him, and it’s all I’m going to offer. I go back Miyagawa, who is still in tears, bloody, a mess. I tap his shoulder with the toe of my shoe, making him swing slightly. I’m not here for Saitou, after all. “So, by the railroad?” I ask.
“Just let me down! I don’t want to die!” He is sturdier than I’d thought.
I don’t look back at Saitou, after all, I’m poaching his catch. “Fujita,” I say, using -that- name, as the woman did. “The old woman is Kato’s mother, correct? Some sort of benefactor?” Another swing, and he screams out.
“I don’t need her -money-!” he yells out. “Let me down and I’ll tell you everything.” He’s crying again, and now hyperventilating. “The drugs, the smuggling, the women, I eased her path! I know everything!”
“He’ll be of no use if he passes out,” I say, dryly to Saitou. I’m certain Miyagawa is monitored, and if Kato’s mother finds out that he’s missing, a good deal of the proof may disappear, along with the drugs and women.
He’s contained, and fully willing to confess to you when needed.”
“You didn’t answer my question Shinomori.” I can always go to Okina directly and besides… I take a look at the pig whose starting to turn blue.
The potter who created the statues of drugs was one of ours, long ago.” “That, and the insult done to our Okashira should not stand.”
“Ah so you have a mess to clean up.” Cover up is more like it but why get into semantics? “But as for the weasel, she’s in Tokyo likely amongst the friends of the Battousai. She’s been wanting to see you. So perhaps turn your attention there.” I give him a steely glare. And get out of my way.
Shinomori asks again where the warehouse is, but goes ahead and says where he thinks it is. But the pig is struggling with all his might. Guess he’s finding a second wind, thinking the former Okashira might be his way out. But it won’t be that easy.
“Fujita,” “The old woman is Kato’s mother, correct? Some sort of benefactor?”
I don’t answer him. He might think it’s his business but it is -mine- so I go where the thick rope is and cut it with a swing of my katana and the pig goes thumping to the ground hitting his head first. I tie him up again and hoist him up, not that he can actually stand.
“I’m bringing this one. And don’t worry Okashira, it will be at least a week before anyone thinks this swine is missing.” And that’s enough time for me to do what I must and place everything in order. “You can interrogate your mole and send me the information by tomorrow, otherwise it seems this one is ready to talk.”
I glance one time at Aioi to follow me out. She can’t be left here with this man who may or may not be of stable mind.
(OOC: Saitou is exiting with Miyagawa and Aioi. You can close or try to stop Saitou but he’ll fight Aoshi.)
(Aoshi)
You didn’t answer my question Shinomori
“Contained as in alive.” Asked by this man? It would be humorous, I suppose, if I enjoyed humor.
Ah so you have a mess to clean up
“Like with Gein, we take care of our messes, as well as the messes left by the police after Tanaka fell,” I tell him, remembering once when he was both a formidable fighter and ally as we tracked down the puppet master. I don’t address Misao-chan – after all, who is he to make such commands with his life in such a state? I -always- know where she is, and the trouble she keeps finding as she refuses to settle down.
Miyagawa is cut down from his ropes and falls to the floor. As he makes no struggle, I believe finally unconscious.
it will be at least a week before anyone thinks this swine is missing.
“Your confidence is misplaced, ‘Fujita’. Do you really think that a woman like that wouldn’t have such a valuable asset under watch?” If so he’s a fool – much changed from the man I knew, who could work alongside his greatest sworn enemy when needed. Justice, huh?
His glance tells me that to resist would mean a fight. Would I? My double kodachi would enjoy it, certainly, but with him as it is now? I’d gain some satisfaction from it, but not really.
“I’ll find you tomorrow. If she’s not caught up to you by then.” I start to leave as well, but glance back over my shoulder. The mole refused to answer one question – if he had shared the duty location of the sword police protection unit to anyone. But as it doesn’t seem of concern to Saitou, I’ll press him on other matters.
I’d tell him that vengeance and pride are not the only paths – I -know- – but, I am a man who only speaks words when they’ll actually be heard.
(OOC – close)