Most night’s I’m awake, building up trust with Imai’s group. They’re a rough lot, interested in drink and women and quick tempered. I wish I could say their conviction was as flimsy as their behavior but I’m finding that’s not the case. The Goryo Eiji has kept to themselves but I’m careful not to get too drunk. Abe has been following me around and I -let- him. Better him on a fool’s errand than me wasting my time avoiding him. He’d get suspicious. As for Kano, he seems to stay mostly with the Satsuma men and avoid the prostitutes of the place. He’s somewhat out of place and I should find out more about him. Perhaps I should follow him around? He seems to like going outside Yoshiwara.
I take a puff from the pipe, it’s not quite like my cigarettes. Too rough on the throat. Watching the Ageya-machi street below as night time men and women, finally wake up and leave Yoshiwara. The men back to their homes, while the women back to those who held their contracts.
Ageya-machi Yoshiwara
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Did he know I was tailing him? No I’m sure he did not. I heard he had come back from lunch with Shinohara so there would not be enough time for him to go back to the medical building. But how much if any did he say about Hide?
These are the men who ended up hating the Shinsengumi and I’m sure our benefactor Yagi Gennoujo would not be looked upon favorably by them. But they never went and bothered the Yagi’s for many years, it would be surprising if they did so now. They were obsessed in killing Kondo-san which in a way one of these men did. Abe is still obsessed with getting rid of me but I’m not worried about him. I know what he’d do. It’s the younger man I’m worried about.
I cannot trail Kano everyday, that would take me away from the happenings here in Yoshiwara and my mission here. I must –keep- him in Yoshiwara. Just as they say keep your friends close and enemies closer. He is definitely an enemy but two can play that game.
Standing up from where I’m sitting, I go to the men of the Goryo Eiji. The three of them go quiet. I grin, “These are different times. I never thought we’d be working together.” I raise my sake cup, “But since we are, why don’t we get re-acquainted.”
The two somewhat looks away but Kano’s eyes almost twinkle as he flashed me a wide smile. I can feel my skin crawl but I sit down beside him. Shinohara who’s sitting across Kano rolls his eyes and keeps his attention with Abe.
“Why Saitou-san, I never thought the man who bested me just a couple of days ago would be asking for a truce.”
“A truce? Why not.” I pour sake for him, look at his face that almost looks like a girl, “Such –beautiful- “swordplay” shouldn’t be wasted.” I close my eyes and smile.
“Hmm. Well I suppose it’s time to work.” He leans in slightly. I fight the urge to go the opposite way. Imai comes in and draped all over him is who else but Aioi. I must keep my enemies close, especially now one of them knows of Hide. I need to know more about him and wonder who is trustworthy enough to –ask-.