These shoes… are too big. I frown as I leave the house and walk down the street. Turning the corner, I make a left and a right turn onto one of the main streets. Here the houses are larger and some of them with small stores in the front. Most of the owners are old people now and their children having gone to the city, there are hardly any left to run them so most remain closed.
Finally I reach my destination and I knock on the gates. I am greeted by an old man whom I remember as their servant.
“May I help you?”
“Good evening. I’m here to see Kinnosuke.” I say and look straight at him. He doesn’t remember me I guess. “I am a old acquaintace of him.”
He looks me over and then allows me inside.
“Wait here until I get the master.”
Master? I look back as the man disappears. Only one man is called Master in this house and that is the old man named Suzuki. If Kinosuke is the master now… I frown and look around their garden. It’s still well maintained as I remember… Spacious… Just the perfect size back then when father would teach kendo to Suzuki-san’s children.
I hear footsteps and I turn to meet him on the engawa.
“Ah Yamaguchi-san…” He bows, “I must say I’m not at all surprised you came here to visit.”
I raise my hand and show him the sake. “Let’s have a drink.”
He motions me to follow him to an inner room overlooking a smaller garden this time.
“Please sit down.” He says and at once we are followed by his servant, a man named Hattori. From what I remember this man’s ancestors has been serving the Suzuki family for generations. “Can you bring us some tofu in soy sauce and vinegar? A couple of sake cups as well.”
“At once sir.” He scurries off.
“Do you mind if I smoke here?” I ask.
“Not at all. Please make yourself at home.” He smiles slightly.
I nod and light up.
“Juunosuke…” His voice is low, “He had picked up that habit as well while abroad.”
“Ah, I hear it is not good for you.” Blowing out the smoke to the side, I grin, “but it is -addictive-.”
The servant comes with the food and sake cups as Kinosuke requested. He bows and slides the shoji door closed behind him. It is rare now to find men like Hattori. They are a rare breed and is a testament of the old traditions of a true samurai’s house. My family being the lowest form of samurai has no family loyal to the Yamaguchi… However our family is decreed to remain loyal to it’s sponsor, none other than the Suzuki family.
“Is your father around? I would like to speak with him as well.” I ask the obvious of course. If Suzuki-san was still alive, than Hattori would be called “young master”.
“Ah he passed away. Not too long after your brother.” He pours me a cup of sake and then himself, “Please… take this.”
I take the sake that’s offered.
“I see.” I take a swig of the sake. “This house is a big one for you then.”
“Hai but it has been with our family for generations. Juunosuke has left the estate to my care.”
“He has no plans to come back?”
He shakes his head, “Maybe only to visit. He now has a wife there in Holland.”
Finishing the cigarette, I flick it out to the garden and turn my attention to the tofu. “So what do you do now?” I watch him as he takes a drink.
“Well… Not much. We have investments that earn a decent amount of interest which pays for the upkeep of this house and some of the necessities. Now that samurai is no longer needed…”
I shake my head, “Let me stop you right there.” Calmly I put my cup down, “Just because the Meiji has abolished the samurai clans, surely you realize that this is not entirely true. Many Japanese still practice bushido, unless of course you think the old man who serves you now is -merely- a servant.”
He blinks at me. “No. Not at all. I am greatful that Hattori is still with our house. But you misunderstand…” I bows slightly, “What I meant to say is that there is no work to be had for a practicing samurai these days, unless one is conscripted to the military or the police. I being a son of a true bushi, will not join with this Meiji government. I am content in watching this estate and my family’s investments grow.”
“Sumanai…” I mutter. A son of a true bushi huh? That has always been the difference. “So you are living comfortably?”
“Well yes.” He smiles at me, “My father was a -wise- man who thought about his children’s future. It is because of him that I can choose how to live my life now, even if the time of the samurai has passed.”
Looking at him, I take another drink of the sake and now pour one for myself and Kinosuke. I consider his words very carefully, taking my time and not saying anything as I continue to drink. The sake tastes quite well even if not warm. In a way as I think more about what he just said, in a way, it is acceptable. After all the true path to bushido is to do what you think is right, to not compromise those beliefs. If he believes that living this way is the right thing to do, then it is not something I can find fault with.
“Yamaguchi-san…” I look up at Kinosuke, he’s placed his cup down, “Have you thought about what I told you earlier?”
I nod but don’t answer right away.
“This house has gotten too big for me and too -bare-.” He smiles a bit awkwardly, “I think it is the right moment to find myself a wife. I have the capacity to support Yukiko and I do think she is not averse to the idea.”
Placing the sake cup down, I light a smoke once again. I was drinking too fast for my liking. Looking back at him, I decide not to beat around the bush any longer. “It might be the right moment for you Kinosuke… But not for my niece.”
He blinks and slowly the smile disappeared from his face, “So you are not allowing it?”
Taking the cigarette off my lips I answer, “Not at the moment.”
Suddenly he falls silent. “I do not know under what circumstances you two got together, however I do know my brother trusted you with Yukiko, otherwise he would not have left her under your care.”
“Well then.” His head shots up.
“Wait… Let me finish.” Taking a drag I continue, “But I also know what my brother’s wish was for his daughter. You know this as well I think.”
He plays with the sake cup and then pours for himself.
I sigh a little, “But would I be wrong if I said, you ignored these wishes in fear that it might change her mind?”
Silence. I can even hear my own breath in such silence. I wait for his answer. His answer is necessary.
Finally he looks back and nods his head, “Yes. That is true.”
I am pleased with his answer of course but I am careful not to show it. This man, even if his bearing is rather -insignificant-, Suzuki-san raised him well enough to let him make his own choices and to be honest about it.
“My niece is a timid creature, don’t you agree?” I grin slightly. She might be timid but when pushed, she can be like her father who is steadfast on his choices.
“Ah well…” He laughs slightly with a bit of a twinkle in his eye. I am -surprised-.
“Let her come to Tokyo with us, then I will send her to Kyoto.”
“That’s quite far Yamaguchi-san!”
I raise my hand, “It is but it’s necessary she experiences other things aside from what she is familiar with. Tokyo and even -you-.”
Leaning on the table, he looks back at me, “How long?”
“A year at least. Just enough time to forget about you and maybe figure out what she wants to do since she is so young.” I look at the table, the sake is about done so I pour only for myself and not offer him any. He can eat the tofu as much as he wants. I doubt however if he’s still aware of the food and drink, with that mouth of his gaping like that. “Also I need you to watch our house here in Akashi, since you did such a fine job at it before.” I don’t smirk at that, but I do -mean- what I say.
“You are a hard bargain Yamaguchi-san.” He leans back, “Hiroaki did say you’ve changed not only your name but your profession as well.”
“Oh?” I tap the ashes on the empty sake cup and eye the sake bottle, “I am a policeman now. What did Hiroaki tell you?”
He looks at me puzzled, “You were in Kyoto teaching as a Kendo instructor like your father.”
“I was.” I lie… I did not know that Hiroaki had tried to mask my involvement with the Shinsengumi. That was -wise- of him. Taking a drag on my cigarette I continue, “So what is your answer?”
“Am I not allowed to see her? Perhaps send letters at least.”
“You are -not- allowed to see her… However, letters I will permit.” I sigh slightly again, “Look Kinosuke, you do not want to wed a young girl who has not seen much of the world yet… much less “found” herself. It’s a hard thing to always wonder whether your wife will be happy with the simple life you want to give her. It might work out, however it probably won’t. This is as much for you as it is for her.” Of course, I speak of these things from first hand experience.
Suddenly he takes the sake bottle and I watch as he drowns it in one gulp. I’m a little disappointed at that… I wanted it for myself.
“I’ve already waited…” He looks back at me, “I suppose I can wait some more.”
I smile and nod my head, “Good decision. Now there’s only one thing left.”
“What is it?” This time there is a hint of annoyance in his voice. The sake must be getting to him too. I must say however he is a person with low tolerance. I drank most of the sake myself.
“I’d like you to speak to her. I don’t care if you do it tonight or tomorrow.” Taking one last puff, I say, “If it comes from you then I think she will listen.”
Bowing and shaking his head, he replies, “Fine… Fine. I’ll do it.”
“Thank you.” I smirk a little, “I should be going it’s getting quite late.”
(OOC: Saitou was gone for dinner, he left the house before… Saitou will be back late at night when most people has gone to bed.)