Clean-up Duties for the Police

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shindou-shocked“We found these two dumped in the river just outside Yoshiwara.”
One of the policemen who hauled the bodies casually mentions. The stench of rotting flesh permeates the air and I can’t help but cover my mouth trying to stop from gagging.
“Lately there’s been more murders happening in the area. I hear a bunch of disgruntled samurai is running the place.”
“Oh? That’s -impossible- the Yakuza would never allow that to happen.” One of the younger police says.
“Who knows what happens there now. Oi Shindou! Come help us here will you?”

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One thought on “Clean-up Duties for the Police”

  1. Later that night:
    I can’t sleep.
    I toss for the 100th time on the futon, trying to find a comfortable place. I even changed only to my undershirt to get comfortable but I’m -wide- awake. The head of that murdered man seem to hang in the ceiling staring back at me. Is he crying for justice? Was he really a bad man? Did he deserve to die like that? Unlike the other body, which seemed like a quick death, Kano’s was more brutal. More -personal-, almost like a vendetta. Did the Shinsengumi Captain avenge the death of his commander? If so revenge has been forbidden since the dawn of the Meiji era. Or did he kill him because of Yagi-san? In all cases the Meiji has -law- and -order- we should all follow!
    I sit up from the futon and notice I’ve been sweating profusely. I stand up towards the window feeling slightly better under the moonlight. I’ve seen death in the past but why this one bothered me so. This level of brutality is not one I’ve ever seen, even with the Yakuza. Suddenly I’m unsure whether I can trust this man who goes by many names and many lives it seems.
    I was supposed to send Fujita-san information on the day that the Yakuza planned to take back Yoshiwara, it’s only in 2 weeks – not a lot of time to prepare but now I’m not so sure. I don’t think I -should-. For a while I thought I could work and trust this man, he seemed to have opened up more and the way he regarded Yagi-san seemed sincere even if she was just his mistress, but now… He’s done everything that Kawaji-san told him -not- to do. But if I don’t let him know, whoever is left in Yoshiwara will be slaughtered like cattle. The Yakuza is not playing games, they intend to bring brute force to take back the red light district.
    But then again, even if I were to tell him. What could one man do against hundreds?
    There’s probably nothing that can be done. Should I tell Kawaji instead, that his veteran spy is going around and killing people as he pleases?
    I try to fall back to sleep but it’s not coming tonight.

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