As I help the children cross the street and keep watch at the school gates, I go over the list of things I have done in my head.
The doctor to visit in 2 weeks and her -removal- from the records – check
The application to this school – obviously I’m here – check
The research on the Shinsengumi – although yielded hardly anything – check
Now why would the Department of the Interior have so little record of that group? I heard they were dangerous and curious why is Fujita-san using that name Saitou Hajime – he told me just before he left for this mission that it was advantageous for him… And now another Captain appears -Okita- and one who served beneath him, Kano.. I’ve seen the nishiki paintings just the other day, Okita seems tall and has a flat face like a fish but those buying his pictures said, he looked like a “baby”.
Walking back to the middle of the schoolyard, I remember one more thing that I haven’t done. I should have that done very soon. I’m not sure who will be fetching the children today from school but if it is Yagi-san then I need to make sure to tell her. I wonder if she’ll agree to it?
I should check in with my contacts at the Yakuza. Yakuza dealings are mostly at night so it should not interfere here. It’s been a while and now that things have largely been secured with regards to Yagi-san, the biggest risk was that medical building and it’s proximity to Yoshiwara and thus Fujita-san and Kano, she should be relatively safe unless that man with the cape suddenly appears. I must see to my other job as well.
(OOC: Going forward, Shindou will likely appear anytime there is a serious issue with one of the residents in the Yagi household. He -is- a spy so his protection services are largely in the shadows. Anyone can drop in here to interact.)
1st Day as a Crossing Guard
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(Makoto)
I’m really really surprised today. Kenji’s mom came on time! Apparently his uncle or grandpa or someone is at his house so he was super-excited to get home. “Papa’s master” he called them. Oh well, families can be funny. He said that this guy was funny to and the strongest man in the -world-.
I don’t see Tsutomu-niisan yet. Or Yukiko-san or Kinosuke-san or Hahaue anywhere. Maybe they’re the ones late today?
I see a nice looking man who doesn’t seem that old. Oh! He must be our new crossing guard – I heard the teachers talking about how we -finally- got one. “Hi!” I call out.
Shindou: “Hi little girl, what’s your name?” I smile, “don’t go running very far because I’m new here and I don’t want to get in trouble.”
I laugh.
(Makoto)
Hi little girl, what’s your name?
A crossing guard is like the police, so it’s okay to tell. “I’m Yamaguchi Makoto!” I bow. “What’s your name?” I look up at him. He’s not as tall as Chichiue.
He tells me not to run. “Oh no. I’m just waiting for my family.” I’m not supposed to go out on my own, but it’s too bad that lately Hahaue doesn’t want to go out of the house.
My name is Shindou Naruhodo!” I bow to the little girl. “At your service! ”
So this is Makoto-chan, his child with her. I guess she looks like the Supt. But only a little. “Let’s wait a little for your haha ue”. I wonder if that tsutomu will show up too.
(Ooc: tsutomu likely won’t show)
“It can’t be helped,” I sigh, as Yukiko-san and I go down the street. I don’t exactly run anymore, and besides, we’re not that late. And I try to stay -in- these days, but as I’ve said, it can’t be helped – Kinosuke-san is tied up with the addition, as the boxes of roof tiles arrived and half were broken, so there’s currently an argument about what to do next.
I had -hoped- to get Makoto home early – we have a birthday to prepare for.
I see Makoto out front… with Shindou-san. Ah, he did get this job. Thankfully, I have my summary of my brother’s research with me. We get to the gates and I take my little girl’s hand. “I’m sorry we’re late, Makoto-chan.” I bow to Shindou-san. “Thank you, sir, for waiting with my daughter. Are you the new crossing guard?”
I look around, and don’t see Tsutomu-kun anywhere, and I sigh. Ever since he came back from that night with Eiji-san, he’s been more illusive.
I spy Yagi-san down the street and she’s with another girl, much younger. This is likely Yukiko. She had mentioned a man in the house Kinosuke but I don’t see him here. I’m not too vexed about it, mostly because I know most of the loose ends except for one has been taken cared of.
“Thank you, sir, for waiting with my daughter. Are you the new crossing guard?”
I let the child go to it’s mother and bow to Yagi-san, “Yes madame. This little girl has been keeping me company.” Most of the lower classmen has left already so only those in their teens are left. Her eyes scan the area, I’m sure looking for the boy named Tsutomu. That troubled boy…
“If your looking for Tsutomu, I think they have late practice today.” I look up one of the buildings where the dojo is located, “I can watch him for you.” I offer.
(OOC: it’s okay if you deduce anything from what Shindou says. LOL)
If you’re looking for Tsutomu, I think they have late practice today.
I’m a little surprised that he acknowledges me as someone he’s met, but perhaps my brother’s attempts at “ninja” have rubbed off on me.
“Thank you again,” I say. “I’d like him home soon, it’s his birthday.” I bow again, and hold out a folded piece of paper. “I hope this is useful.”
I’m a little relieved Yagi-san didn’t question me on how I knew Tsutomu. I certainly didn’t know by face, “Makoto-chan”.
“I’d like him home soon, it’s his birthday.”
“Oh, well then. I’ll be sure to bring him home as soon as possible.” Of course if he pulls that wandering around town again, it would be difficult. “Would this be a surprise party then?”
I look at the girl who’s hopping from one foot to another. But Yagi-san hands me a note. Wait didn’t she tell me she wasn’t going to use me as a conduit to send messages. I wonder what -this- is about. I maintain my jolly expression.
(OOC: Might want to post what the message is. Heh).
“No, no, it’s low key.” A surprise party? “Just a dinner he likes, and a treat for after.”
He looks cheerful at the note but there’s something in his tone…?
I let Makoto to to Yukiko-san before frowning at Shindou-san. “It’s research that I was able to get in from Kyoto regarding a certain individual. I’ts not a personal note – I’m following our agreement.” I start to turn. “Again, perhaps it will be useful? There’s very little I can do for him, after all. It’s in my handwriting but I wanted to make sure the names were written correctly.”
It’s as I step away that I wonder – how will he know what Tsutomu-kun looks like? He resembles his father but not -entirely-.
(OOC – Hide will exit unless stopped)
Text of note:
Kato Washio was indeed a member of the 1st squad under Okita Souji. There were numerous write-ups regarding his behavior – specifically in being involved in at least one violent love triangle and two others which appear not to have been but caused trouble within the Shinsengumi. However, due to the interventions of the sub-captain, he was never severely reprimanded and was allowed to remain as part of the group. There were multiple references to his skill with the sword, going so far as to describe it as “beautiful”. He left in early 1867 with the Goryo Eji splinter group who later attempted to assassinate Kondo Isami. No first- or third-hand communication post-war. Due to the lack of known -friendly- survivors of the 1st troupe, no in-person research with those who may have known him was attempted.
I detect hesitancy in her tone when speaking about Tsutomu. Low key huh? I wonder if that boy will even recipricote considering what I witnessed. But it doesn’t matter. I’ll take him home. I’m sure Fujita-san would want no other, not that I’m doing this for him. I just feel sorry for the boy, our circumstances are different but I think I know what being thrown away feels like.
“It’s research that I was able to get in from Kyoto regarding a certain individual. I’ts not a personal note – I’m following our agreement.”
“I didn’t say you weren’t.” I haven’t read the letter after all. My she’s testy today isn’t she? I sigh, “Even if it was a letter of the other sort, I wouldn’t want to be breaking rank. I’d still be obligated to deliver it. Though my opinion remains unchanged.”
There’s very little I can do for him, after all. It’s in my handwriting but I wanted to make sure the names were written correctly.”
She turns but the way she said that, was she frustrated? It can’t be helped. I read the rest of the note. It’s much more detailed than what I found in the Interior’s archives. I thought our information was absolute but then again, who knows who’s been erasing the history of these men.
“Yagi-san…” I pocket the note, “The nameplate on your door. Do you think you can remove that or change it to another name? It’s ill advised to leave it as “Yagi”. If you’ll let me know what name you’d like to use I’ll make the change tonight.”.
(OOC: Who is the sub-captain or is that not known? Oishi?)
Shindou-san and I seem to not be communicating well this afternoon. I sigh, but at least I was able to pass along the information.
He asks about the nameplate. I guess now that someone’s looking for me… “Yamaguchi.” It’s an ordinary enough name, and it’s his oldest name. I smile and look back at him. “Thank you, Shindou-san. I appreciate everything you’re doing for us, even if it is your job.”
To Makoto, I say, “now, let me show you how to decorate a cake.” She, Yukiko-san and myself turn to walk to home.
(OOC – The three ladies exit)
(OOC – yes, forgot the name, lol)
“Hey Tsutomu.” I walk with him, it’s been a while and my crossing guard duties are finished.
“Hn. You again?”
I grin, such an ill-tempered boy this Tsutomu. But he’s young and confused.
“I finally passed for a crossing guard at your school, so we’ll be seeing each other more often.”
“Oh wow…” He feigns excitement, “So did you get demoted or something? The last time you walked me home, you were wearing a police uniform.”
I laugh. This boy is a bit annoying isn’t he? “No. I wasn’t demoted.” I tell him truthfully, “I needed a second job.” Not much “needed” as your difficult father pushed off his responsibilities to me
“Huh…” He stops for a moment and looks up at me, then he starts walking and mumbles, “I heard the job at the police doesn’t pay well. My mother used to tell my father.”
“Really? Well it depends what rank you are.” I see Tokio-san must not have been very supportive of Fujita-san then, but after he got back the Keishikan promoted him – I don’t necessarily understand why Kawaji did, after all I saw the reports. I thought Kawaji was going to make him retire, not become one of his seconds. “I’m still somewhat low ranked so I need a second job.”
He stops walking for a moment, “Why don’t you find a new job? Then you wouldn’t have to have a second job and you’d have more time or energy or whatever…”
I pat his shoulder to indicate he needs to keep walking, at our pace we’d never get to their house. “Well you see, it’s not always about money or even time.” I look up at the sunset, then back down at him, “I like to think I’m some sort of guardian for the city. Pushing and pulling it to go the right direction to see the light!” I hold my palm up against his face blocking the setting sun, then open two fingers letting the light shine through to his eyes.
The boy rolls his eyes and pushes my hand away. “Such lofty ideals for a low level cop who don’t make much money and don’t have much time.”
“Well one day. You’ll see.” I grin at him, “I’ll be so good in my job, you won’t find me anymore in your school as a crossing guard.”
“Hmph. I doubt it.” He crosses his arms as we walk, “You’ll probably end up dead or in a desk job.”
Geez, this kid is really a -downer-. Well Fujita-san was difficult, i shouldn’t be surprised. “What are you talking about kid, some of us may end up dead…” I stare at him, “but the best of us live through many life and death battles, hardly seeing those we love the most.” I laugh suddenly, even to me that sounded corny, “But you’re right at some point we all end up with a desk job as a reward for all our efforts, pain and suffering.”
He -finally- smiles -barely-. Not that he believed anything I say but maybe just the ridiculousness of it all. I ruffle his hair as we come up the gates, “Hey. I heard it’s your birthday. Try to enjoy it.”
“Who told you?”
I shrug, “The best policemen just knows everything!” I grin and show him my sparkling teeth.
He rolls his eyes again and runs inside.
Now on to this nameplate. I remove the old and on the block of wood, start carving out Yamaguchi. 山口 . That was easy.
I stand up admiring my work and think a bit of the name. Makoto was enrolled as Yamaguchi right? And Yagi-san chose this name. It’s too obvious this is somehow connected to Fujita. Perhaps it’s his true name? That man holds many secrets. Oh well. I have other things to do.