A long day at work… home later but first…
A quiet sake at a place where they know me but leave me alone! I know certain members of the TMPD prefers certain places and this isn’t one of them. The girl brings over a bottle and I pour some, I take a sip and enjoy the taste. Of all of the Western drinks I’ve had for social reasons, a good Japanese sake… nothing surpasses that.
Ah, now to relax … sometimes nights like this reminds me of when I would sit and talk with Okobu-san for hours. It’s been a long time.
May 21st, 1885 – Evening – Kawaji Needs a Drink
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I emerge from my hiding place, a lonely alley… I’ve been trying to catch Okubo this week but work keeps him out of reach. I smirk as he enters the sake bar, I did not know the man had a penchant for drinking as well…
We all do, after duty that is. I enter the bar and sit right beside him uninvited.
“You take your sake hot or cold?” I grin, “I see even the Police Commissioner needs a sake break once in a while…
He knows why I’m here. It’s now gotten to this point… I’ve tried doing it the right way, marching into his office… But he leaves me no choice.
You take your sake hot or cold? I see even the Police Commissioner needs a sake break once in a while…
“For today, cold. It’s refreshing as it gets warm…” I look up at Fujita. I wave at the place across from me. “Come, now that you’ve found me, join me.” I know he’s been trying to trying to get an assignment, something like he once did.
That man is more stubborn than anything…
“Of course…”
I order hot sake for myself, I prefer it that way. Reaching across of Kawaji I take an ashtray, I like to smoke when I drink. It keeps me in balance.
“How’s your wife Kawaji?” Ah I have time for idle chatter. He needs to warm up first before I start demanding… Or rather, the alcohol needs to get a hold of him first.
I wonder if he notices, I’ve never called him with an honorific. He is my superior but in truth ever since we started work, he knows I am not under him… At least till after Okubo-san died.
Fujita starts smoking but after now I’m used to it… as long as he doesn’t start in my office.
How’s your wife Kawaji?
Fujita engaging in casual conversation? I drink more of the sake… “Ah, she does well, thank you Fujita-san.” It doesn’t escape my notice how he calls me. Lack of respect? In times past that would have offended me but I’ve been around this man long enough not to expect too much in the way of exaggerate courtesy.
“And you wife?” I take another sip. The quality of the sake here is not the finest I’ve ever had but again the lack of attention when I come here is more valuable. Of course Fujita had to find me but I know his work.
“Ah, she does well, thank you Fujita-san.”
Quite a bland answer… Perhaps Kawaji is a private man himself. I can understand that… I smirk and take a swig of the hot sake. Not the best but not the worse either, if the old superstitions are true then I think my lucks just changed for the better. Lately the sake’s been tasting very bitter. I narrow my eyes.
So why does it taste fine now?
I wait for him to say more, but the man knows how to divert a conversation just as well as I can.
“And you wife?”
“You know how that went.” I smirk. Maybe because I’ve been freed from her that the sake is tasting fine. “She has the boys…”
I look back at him. I’d ask the man how I can get my children back but, he’s been married to his wife for so many years that he probably has no advice to give me. Not that I’d really listen to him. We tolerate each other at best.
Fujita is a better drinking companion than I could have imagined.
You know how that went. She has the boys…
Ah yes. Such a situation, there are those who believe the police should lead exemplary personal lives in addition to keeping Tokyo and Japan safe but that’s a rather narrow view. I am surprised that he speaks of it, Fujita is one who doesn’t go around lamenting all of the issues in his personal life like others do. “Ah yes… your boys… I believe your ward is now in the military?” I remember hearing something about that and of course such information would be in the files… if I had -time- to read up on all of my employees.
I take another taste of the sake. Its flavor improves as I drink more of it. If Fujita simply wishes to chat… we’ve never been close but maybe he won’t bother me so much about another assignment. At least tonight.
“Ah yes… your boys… I believe your ward is now in the military?”
I merely nod at this. Eiji won’t be coming back anytime soon. It is too bad he doesn’t know, I’ve not said anything to him… Unless someone else already did.
Taking longer drags on my cigarette, I watch as a man and woman entered the bar. I do not have to look closely to know she is a bawd, I know it already just by the smell of their perfume. After all that is why I told Tokio I was leaving.
“Heh…” I throw Kawaji a knowing grin. “They’re out early…” I say off handedly.
The woman who enters the bar doesn’t escape Fujita’s notice. Of course the -type- of woman she is doesn’t escape my notice either.
“Early? For some there is always a time for such things.” I grin back at him. Ah yes this sake… it does put me in a more pleasant mood. There was once a time for me but that was a long time ago. From what I heard he is no stranger to such things…
Fujita’s restlessness of course hasn’t escaped me, I know too well that he wants another assignment, to return in full to the kind of work I once assigned him before his injury and recovery in England. It’s best I keep Fujita busy… him bursting into my office can be disturbing. “How has your shoulder been Fujita-san?” I ask.
“Early? For some there is always a time for such things.”
I chuckle at this. Apparently, word has gotten out. I need to rampage the place once again. Get those ahou to actually start working instead of gossiping about what I do after work and about their semi-worthless lives…
“How has your shoulder been Fujita-san?”
“It’s gotten better Kawaji. How many times do I have to tell you that.” I scowl, “You should know I’m not the type to fall prey easily.”
I narrow my eyes… One mistake and that’s all he remembers… One mistake, I do not -make- mistakes on the job.
Or did I?
Snorting I poured myself another drink. “When are you going to get me some real work instead of all that bureaucratic red tape you have me working on?”
He seems annoyed that I brought up his injury, of course a man doesn’t wish to be reminded but I must know. “Of course, Fujita-san,” I nod.
When are you going to get me some real work instead of all that bureaucratic red tape you have me working on?
Ah, so -there- it is. I take a sip of sake before answering. “Bureaucratic red tape is a part of the job, of course. And times have changed. There are still continuing problems but it’s been years since some madman wanted to overthrow the government.” My eyes narrow a bit at that, of Shishio who caused the death of Okubo-san… what the country lost on that day. Thinking of my old mentor I take another drink. “A normal life isn’t that bad, now is it, Fujita-san? And then there is the work I’ve spoken to you about in Kyoto…” More of that bureaucratic work that he despises but it is necessary.
Of course, Fujita-san
I take a break and slow down the drinking. He is getting on my nerves… As -usual-. His answer tells me already that he does not believe what I’m saying. How can I beat it into his thick skull and -bald- one that I am -fine-. I smirk though and run my hand through my hair. At least I got a full set of hair, if I can’t have anything else.
“Bureaucratic red tape is a part of the job, of course. And times have changed. There are still continuing problems but it’s been years since some madman wanted to overthrow the government.”
Watching him as he finishes his statement, tells me he is still not over Okubo’s passing. He is a loyal man, which is probably why I decided not to leave the Keishikan. As a superior he is a decent one and not corrupt.
“A normal life isn’t that bad, now is it, Fujita-san?
“A normal life?” You’ve got to be kidding… He doesn’t understand, there is nothing normal after this. I might be getting old but not to old yet to be decrepit. I sigh… I have my work and it’s what I’ve done. What I do…
And then there is the work I’ve spoken to you about in Kyoto…
“I’m not cut out for that.” I tell him simply, “I still have connections underground, right now I can tell you the Yakuza is quite active…” I turn to look at him closely, “And if you give me inside information, I can get rid of the few thorns in public office…”
Just give the word Kawaji… I need it…
He offers information about the yakuza and to take care of what are probably corrupt public officials. Any other man I would think that he’s bluffing to improve his standing, but with Fujita-san – I do not believe that is the case.
It’s this that I think Okubo-san saw in him a long time ago, despite that they stood on opposite sides during the war, and let him do the work that he’s done for us.
“We know quite well that the Yakuza is -active-. Shindou-kun is of course involved in that.” He’s turning out better than some would have expected but his way is not quite that of Fujita’s. Putting aside my sake, I look at Fujita-san. “There is an assignment… but of course -now- isn’t the time or place to discuss it.” I can understand a man wanting to continue his work but after time… “I am however tied up with this work in Kyoto for now as you will not go… we will have to discuss this later.”
By then I’ll have thought of something to keep him occupied, there are a few possibilities in all of the many things going on. The man has talents and skills that are unrivaled but as Japan becomes a more peaceful country… it is again I think of Okubo-san and wonder if he would be pleased with where we are now.
We know quite well that the Yakuza is -active-. Shindou-kun is of course involved in that.”
I finish my sake and place the cup down a little bit harder than I would’ve liked. Shindou-kun, that bastard… Young and foolish… But he’s not dead yet and that is something I had always told myself…
“There is an assignment… but of course -now- isn’t the time or place to discuss it.”
I shake my head. “With what you’ve given me so far…” I stand up and crush the cigarette on the floor. “I wouldn’t put much faith in that. It’s probably some foolish busy work. Go get another clerk, one who can spell at least.”
I throw Kawaji one last glance. If Okubo was here, I won’t have to deal with the likes of him. His nature is to be docile and yet proud… We agree on the latter but not on the former. I look again the man and his escort at the corner. Lucky him… Too bad for me I won’t get paid till later this week and then, most of that will go elsewhere. Stepping out I walk briskly. I should just sleep, then I won’t think and the days would go faster.
I was right after all, if I want something done now… I should rely on myself.
(OOC: Saitou exits)
Fujita-san of course isn’t pleased with what I have to say… but I will have to find him something to do. Something beyond the paperwork he seems to hate so much. He leaves and I shake my head.
But for now… the evening is escaping me and I should get home. I wonder what my wife has prepared for this evening? A quiet night without having to see to the professional or social demands that come with the job…
I pay for my sake and leave.