Next Day: Fallen Shizoku

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1. That night, I go drinking again the hall with Imai. These men do nothing but drink sake, talk of old days and commune with women. I’m not sure if I’d rather see the Shizoku grovel for food on their hands and knees instead.
   “Imai-sama, if I may speak to you for moment.” I bow to him -respectfully-. “Alone please if possible.”
   He waves Aioi away, she’s always clinging to him and she catches my eye but now is not the time.
   “Sure Saitou-kun,” He stands up, “Men, continue your merry making!”
   “Kampaii!!!” The room erupts and I try not shake my head. Everyone here who has lost their dignity has lost their reason as well.
   We go one of the private rooms and he pulls out his steel fan and starts to fan himself.
   “So what did you find out?” He cuts to the chase.
   “Imai-sama, the reason we’re being barricaded in is because the police is trying to prevent an attack on Yoshiwara by the Yakuza.”
   “Those same fools huh?” He laughs, “Didn’t we teach them a lesson before? Do they need to be taught -again-?”
   I shake my head, “I’m afraid the attack is going to happen tomorrow night. That policeman I was speaking to when I was out with our men said so. And it makes much sense for the Yakuza to strike when it’s darkest.”
   “Well we’ll be ready for them then!” He grins his evil grin.
   I bow my head a little lower as I kneel, “Imai-sama, if I may be so rude. It may behoove us to avoid a head on confrontation with the Yakuza. I’ve heard that the Yakuza of the Edo area is twice our number.”
   Imai suddenly stands up and hits my shoulder and I grit my teeth, that steel fan was heavy. “What! Have you turned coward Saitou!” He looks down at me, “We the Shizoku never runs away from a fight!”
   I take a deep breath and lower my head one more time, “Imai-sama! I certainly understand your dedication to Bushidou! We breathe it! We live for it!”
   Placing my forehead on the tatami, I continue “But please think of the greater harm it may cause you and our cause! Your benefactor would likely not want both the Yakuza and Shizoku fighting. The Yakuza is the source of his funds while us Shizoku is the source of his strength! One cannot exist without the other, at least today! We may lose his favor!”
   He grunts and taps my head, “Look at me. We cannot lose face here. If we do, the cause is dead.” He smirks at me, “But I -like- you. You’ve proven very useful to me. So I’ll overlook this show of weakness. After all it’s only normal to fear for one’s own life.”
   I sit up and we sit for a moment in silence. I’ve failed in convincing him. Blood will flow in Yoshiwara and I cannot stop it. But I knew the chance for success was low but I had to take it.
   “Well here’s what we’ll do. We’ll fool those who’s questionable into staying here.” He nods approvingly at himself, “But those who are -loyal-, we’ll tip them off to leave so they can leave tomorrow. You and I will have to stay here of course, so those like Mikisaburo gets duped into thinking they’re really fighting for the cause when in fact we’re just leaving them for -bait-.”
   He starts to laugh and I grin at him. I can’t quite laugh with him. If I could, I could kill him right now but I need to track down his benefactor. I’m sure it will lead me to Tanaka. I stay my justice for today and leave fate to the hands of the Police.
   I hope Shindou has already taken action, one to leak the information to the Yakuza that the Shizoku knows they’re coming. But knowing that lot is just as bad as these men here, they’re all just looking for a fight. And two, to let the residents, brothel and teahouses know that a storm is coming that they should leave temporarily if they have a place to go or at least lock their doors and to not allow the women out.

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