It took quite a bit of time before I’m out of Ueno park and into the central district of Tokyo. I had stopped by Futaba elementary just to confirm if they were still in Tokyo or not. Apparently – not-. So I was left without a recourse except to try the Tokyo Police Headquarters.
“Excuse me sir. Does Lt. Fujita still work here?”
The receptionist looks up from his desk, “Lieutenant?”
I nod my head, the man seems confused so I repeat myself. “Fujita Goro.”
“Oh… You mean the Superintendent.”
A grin settles on my face. Good Fujita-san still works here.
“Second floor down the hall to the right. Room 210. But I wouldn’t go there if I were you.”
I smile at the officer. I’ve been told that many many times. It seems like Fujita-san still has that reputation. “It’s alright. He knows me.” I say and head on up.
Reunion (TMPD: Afternoon – January 6, 1886)
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I was standing by the window when a knock came on my door. Taking a drag on my cigarette first, I finally say, “Come in!”
“Fujita-san… Sir… I mean Otou-san.”
Surprised I turn towards the door. A small grin starts planting itself on my face. “Welcome back.”
He’s grown a lot older and quite tall, if he keeps growing like that he’ll be as tall as I am in a few years. How things change… And yet not so, he’s still having trouble calling me -that-.
“Make yourself comfortable.” I point to the sofa.
“Thank you Sir.”
“Glad to see you’re back. Are you on vacation?” I ask knowing fully well that this visit was unusual, I had thought it’d be another year till he came back.
He doesn’t answer right away and he didn’t need to, in fact I can guess why he came.
“How have you been sir?”
“Quite well.” I try not to grin, I’ve been doing much better actually but considering the situation, it’s best to be modest. I look at him and light another cigarette and sit down at my desk.
“How about Tsutomu and Tsuyoshi?” He asks with a smile on his face. “Tsutomu would write me but I’ve been relocated so much that we’ve lost contact.”
Pretending to arrange some papers in front of me, I answer him as casually as I could, “They’re back in Aizu. I’m sure they’d be glad to hear from you however.” Placing the papers down, I look at him. He’s not being direct with me… Back then, he was old enough to know what exactly was happening between Tokio and I. However his reservation is not the result of any duplicity on his part, simply he’s matured and far from the quiet boy who occasionally had fiery outburst. When he was younger, I had thought him and Tsutomu were in fact real brothers as they shared the same personality but perhaps that’s no longer true. Eiji has outgrown being a child.
“Ah I’m glad to hear that they’re doing well.” He nods. “As long as they’re in Aizu and with Tokio-san I’m sure things will be just fine.”
I nod. Something about that statement is tearing up at me but I remind myself there was nothing condemning about his remark. He knows Tokio to be the woman who took care of him and has a great deal of respect for her. “If you’re ever going up north, you should visit them. You’ve been to Morinosuke’s place before.” In truth I do not know if that’s where they’re staying but Morinosuke will certainly know where Tokio and the children are.
“I will do that. I’ve been thinking of joining the infantry in Hokkaido.” He looks at me and grins, “Yamakawa-san said that would probably be one of the best assignments if I was serious about the military.”
“That would be correct.” I grin. “You should probably pay your respects to him as well while in Aizu.”
“But Sir… I mean otou-san.” He coughs and I shake my head.
“You don’t have to force yourself.” Standing up I go by the window. “Once is enough. I already -know-.”
“Thank you Fujita-san.” He laughs nervously. “I’m sorry I guess it’s not as easy as I thought.”
“How long are you going to be here in Tokyo?”
“I don’t know yet. Since I asked for an indefinite leave…”
“I see. Well you better get to Aizu and enjoy the hot springs for a while to recuperate.”
He laughs nervously, “Sir… You sound like you want to get rid of me.”
“Do I?” I turn and grin. It might be true.
“Yes you do.”
With a sigh I shake my head, “Are you that interested at what’s here in Tokyo?”
“I also wanted to visit you Fujita-san. I’ve heard that you’ve left the house.” He doesn’t hide his frown.
I was not about to take his bait so I asked, “Where are you staying?”
“Well… At an inn close to the Kamiya dojo.”
“WHAT???” I almost dropped my cigarette.
He sighs. “It was cheaper.”
“You don’t have to loiter there.” I say with a grim look on my face. If there was one thing I did not like Eiji doing, was that to keep on corresponding with the Battousai and his friends. “I have rented a small place in a machiya close to here. If you want you can stay there.” I raise my eyebrows at him, “seeing that you do not seem so keen on leaving for Aizu just yet.”
“Ah that would be good. Rent here in the city is expensive.”
I proceed to write the address of the machiya and a note to Takamura Morohu. “Here give this to the shop keeper. He’ll know what to do with you.”
“Getting rid of me already?” He looks back at me after pocketing the letter.
“I’m a busy person.” I grin at him remembering something from long ago. “Good people work -hard- remember? Or have you forgotten now that “vacation” seems to be the only thing on your mind?”
He shrugs and smiles, “I’ve been working for the last three years Fujita-san…” going by the door he turns the knob without looking at me, “I leave you alone for a few and I get odd letters. I had to take a break.”
He doesn’t wait for my answer. I had none to give him after all. Those odd letters, I can only think they are from Tsutomu, those two certainly were like brothers. I was always thankful to Eiji that my oldest could look up to someone else in my absence. I go back to my work. It seems I won’t be going back to Hide early after all.