In the end I ended up staying at the Yagi estate. I actually never had slept in a room here as I lived in the Maekawa’s mostly watching Serizawa’s group and that worked out because then it kept me somewhat neutral at the politics that happened in the Shinsengumi – but I owed my loyalty to Kondou-san and my gratitude to his wife, Tsune. Of course in hindsight, it helped in a different way, I was able to keep my distance unlike Heisuke who stayed here.
The room is of course ready when I get back, a warm futon and even some water that I’m thankful for. Someone even left a Yukata, a little small so I change into that too and let my clothes hang to dry. It’s her family that’s keeping me warm today but I’d much prefer Hide’s company instead.
I try to sleep but I know it won’t come easily, so I smoke some looking out in the night sky as I sit with an open door as the rain slowed down. I don’t look at the night sky so much, I couldn’t after she told me about how everything she was, was from him. That was many years ago in their years, but in this time only a year and I guess I never got over it. Yet in our last argument she mistook it as about Okita and my jealousy of him. No Hide it was about you and I. Who am I to you really, without this life or even our children? Because I know how to leave behind everything, it is after all the story of my life.
I try to give her, her freedom but she clings. I try to give her, her dreams but she pushes it away. And yet in there I read, a woman who gave herself to a man who was fickle towards her at best but took advantage of her at worst. So I’ve decided not to give her to him and instead, once I get her back to her home – I will find him and cut him down. Like I should have back in the wilderness, had my then wife straightened my paths again but she didn’t and so he went free not answering to my sword. Would she get in between us and claim that isn’t -her- Souji or will she use my justice against me? Likely, but then where does that leave my reality? Where would that leave us?
I realize I’ve been smoking so much so I take a drink. If she were here I’d ask her those questions but the truth was it would be an exercise of futility because I know however she answers back, I wouldn’t believe. Only my sword can find the answer. But regardless of the truth, she is an innocent that must be protected with this sword and this justice. I’ll bring her back, for her sake -alone- not mine, nor the children, nor her brothers, nor Okita’s or anybody else alive or dead.
Just her. Just -this-.
After cleaning the wound on my shoulder, I wrap it back again with provisions I took from the Precinct. Then head for bed, this time I’m able to get a few hours of sleep and then…
Just before dawn, I found myself at the Aoi-ya waiting for the Itachi. Now, I am ready.
(Misao)
Saitou’s here before dawn and I pop in the kitchen where I charm Omasu into wrapping up some riceballs (I maybe Okashira but I am still -not- allowed to cook! Just one fire, that was it…). He looks like maybe he got some rest, any maybe even a bath.
“Hey!” I call out to him. “Ready to go climb some hills up to the pigeon roost?” With the train lines running so close to the Aoi-ya…. great for business, but the distance pigeons don’t like it as much. I lead the way east out of the city, up past Anrakuji. It’s one of Aoshi-sama’s favorite places.
“Oh, and I told Yagi-san that we have Hiko being way up in the northern mountains, off of the Oi river, for a couple of weeks now,” I didn’t hear him tell Saitou that and wasn’t that his job, to come ask about that guy? Oh well. “Why are you worried about Hiko anyway?” I ask.
“Fliers went out on the last train to Osaka last night,” I tell him, wrapping up the last of the things to be done from the night before. “Did Toshio-san think his counterparts were willing to be useful?” The guy in Shiga likes to pretend that any problem in Otsu is all Kyoto’s doing, but the minute anything happens in Otsu, he’s all over it. Like how due to their bumbling, some of the girls from the Tanaka group went missing…
“Ready to go climb some hills up to the pigeon roost?”
“If they’re good. Otherwise I’m going to -roast- them.”
I follow her.
“Oh, and I told Yagi-san that we have Hiko being way up in the northern mountains, off of the Oi river, for a couple of weeks now,”
“I assumed Yuunosuke cleared the matter up with you already. I just needed to be sure he wasn’t involved.”
“Why are you worried about Hiko anyway?”
I consider for a moment how to answer that. Did she know how my marriage failed in the background? Everyone thought that Tokio was a saint but she was emotionally involved with him. I don’t know if it ever was more than that but she didn’t want -me-, maybe him. “He took an interest in my wife.”
“Fliers went out on the last train to Osaka last night,”
“Thank you weasel.” I know what she was trying to do. She wanted me to get some rest. I guess everyone did.
“Did Toshio-san think his counterparts were willing to be useful?”
“He’s closer to the one in Osaka but the one in Shiga…” I shake my head, “But he assures me if we want anyone to cooperate, he can make them.” Kyoto after all calls the big shot around here even if Tokyo likes to think otherwise.
“Thanks for cleaning up the Tanaka aftermath.” I’m sure the oniwaban didn’t like how i left it but I only came for the head. I hardly considered the rest of the body, after all that was how I did my work. Alone usually or with the entire police force but more and more these days the police has become a land of bureaucrats.
If they’re good. Otherwise I’m going to -roast- them.
I throw two wrapped riceballs over my shoulder at him. “Eat these to take off the edge, then, those pigeons have work to do!”
He took an interest in my wife
Oh so…. there were rumors, back a long time ago, but I didn’t pay attention – unlike some other people, I didn’t really take an interest in Saitou’s marriage? I thought it was -funny- when he first told us, oh-so-casually, that he did have a wife, but…. “Hey, how’s that kid? Eiji-kun? Didn’t you take him back with you? Did he turn out okay?” I always wondered about him – he was a good kid.
He’s closer to the one in Osaka but the one in Shiga… But he assures me if we want anyone to cooperate, he can make them.
As I suspected!
Thanks for cleaning up the Tanaka aftermath.
“It’s what we do. The police aren’t equipped to deal with things like that – some of those women were professionals, but others… they were plucked from a normal life. We -”
Then, suddenly, there’s a WOOSH through the air, three times, and in a tree, no more than two inches from my nose, are three kunai, deeply embedded into the wood.
“Get down!” I almost shove Saitou to the ground, and I shed my kimono to reveal my ninja garb as two more kunai come at us, which I deflect.
“That old man,” I mutter, scanning the treeline. I see something…. and my own kunai go flying.
Then there’s a great rustling in the trees. “My darling Misao-chan! It’s been so long since you’ve come to see an old man!” An old man lands from the largest tree.
“I -just- saw Gramps last Thursday,” I say to Saitou as I help him up. I shake my head, ruefully.
Gramps looks over Saitou. “Well, there’s someone we’ve not seen in a while!”
She throws me rice balls but I’m not really hungry. I eat one anyway and pocket the other.
She asks about Eiji. “You know when he was younger he asked about you. He’s a good young man. Never gave my brother any heartache.” Though he’s certainly giving me a headache lately.
Then she shoves me to the ground. I could dodged it but for now I follow the okashira. I need to, if I want this to go quickly and find Hide.
“Does Okina usually greet you this way? ” for some odd reason I always thought he’d be the doting grandfather, hugging her openly and twirling both of them around.
I straighten up. “How is the former Okashira? Didn’t you retire Okina?” I try to feel for Aoshi but I don’t feel him at all. I wonder if the wilderness got him too. But the weasel sure doesn’t seem to indicate there something wrong with her Aoshi-sama.
You know when he was younger he asked about you. He’s a good young man. Never gave my brother any heartache.
I glance back at him. “I thought you were taking him to your house? So what’s he doing now? Still in school?” He was a lot younger than me, after all.
Does Okina usually greet you this way?
“My darling Misao-chan!” Suddenly tears burst, copiously, from his eyes. “She’s all grown up now, our Okashira – but this old man is going to die soon and has to make sure that she’s ready for this dangerous world!”
“You’ve got many more years, Gramps. And I’ve been dodging that trick since I was five,” I tell him, putting a kiss on his cheek. “He doesn’t do this every time, Saitou. Sometimes its stars, or arrows….” I grin at the old man, and he smiles back at me through his tears.
How is the former Okashira? Didn’t you retire Okina?
“Oh ho ho I have a few years left, Saitou. A few still. And while Aoshi is away, it’s up to me to be here for my Misao-chan.” He tries to pinch my cheek and I dodge it, but manage to get a pull in on his beard as I move out of the way.
But we have business, and my face changes. “There’s a kidnapping case from Tokyo, and the woman has been tracked to Kyoto. She was seen with two other people in Tokyo – a man and a woman. We think the best way out is either by road to where the Yado starts, out to Osaka, or, less likely, overland to Lake Biwa.” I shake my head. I hand him a flyer – I got a fresh stack before I left the precinct last night. “Her name is Yagi Hide – yes, one of -those- Yagis. She’s also Saitou’s…” I’m not sure of what word to use – what are they to each other these days. He can’t still be married to that one wife anymore, right?
Gramps’ face, too, changes – no more tears – as he looks it over – he’s all former Okashira now. “So I can guess that you’re here to send pigeons out on our network at the roadside restaurants along both paths?” He nods, and turns towards the coops. “Let’s get them in the air. Oyamazaki, Kanmaki – either are the most common places for launching a boat.” At the coops, over the sound of pigeon coos… “Then Yamashina – that’s the only decent road over the mountains to Lake Biwa. I assume you have the trains monitored?”
“I thought you were taking him to your house? So what’s he doing now? Still in school?
“He did live with us for some time, took care of my boys.” I don’t add since their mother was mostly trying to run away. “He just came back from the military. Can’t hold a sword to save his life.” I say with a chuckle – but I bet just like that Tatsunosuke, Eiji is an excellent marksman. Or so I’ve heard.
I let the grandfather and granddaughter have a moment. They must do this each time. She pretends not to like it but I’m sure she does, after all she seems to dismiss other people and their opinions -easily-. He finally tells me that the icicle is away and I’m fine with that. The icicle in the wilderness, that I knew was trouble if I remember right.
She tells him about Hide. “Her name is Yagi Hide – yes, one of -those- Yagis. She’s also Saitou’s…”
“She’s my wife and the mother to my two daughters.” I say matter of factly. There’s no reason for these people to think she’s not. Maybe they’ll even try to get this moving along.
Let’s get them in the air. Oyamazaki, Kanmaki – either are the most common places for launching a boat.” At the coops, over the sound of pigeon coos… “Then Yamashina – that’s the only decent road over the mountains to Lake Biwa. I assume you have the trains monitored?
“Yes the trains are covered. No one should be able to board them between Kyoto all the way to Tokyo.” I finally light a cigarette, “How fast are your pigeons and what do we do in the meantime?” I hope they don’t say, -wait- for the pigeons to come back. That would be… I take a drag on my cigarette and try to ignore the thought.
He just came back from the military. Can’t hold a sword to save his life
“Oh wow he is grown up!” I say, with a smile. “And I can’t believe that about the sword, but does the army even teach that now?” But he does sound proud of Eiji-kun. Good!
She’s my wife and the mother to my two daughters
Gramps nods. “The full resources of the Oniwaban group are at your disposal, Saitou.” His wife! It’s nice that actually happened for them! And two kids… didn’t he already have two? I -think- I may have met they, waaaay back when.
Gramps and I pull out the pigeons, who are always ready to fly, with the flyer and some notes from us to our contacts. “Go, go,” I whisper to one of my favorites as he goes out into the air and is gone from our sight.
How fast are your pigeons and what do we do in the meantime?
“The ones out to Yamashina should be back within the hour. Down to the Yado, maybe another hour after that,” I answer, calculating the distance and the speed our pigeons typically can fly. Gramps nods in confirmation.
There’s a small sitting area, with an open fire. “I’ll make tea,” I say. I know telling him to wait right now… well, that can only be hell. Gramps comes over, pats me on the head, and goes back to the pigeon roost. “We may need more, so I’ll make sure they’re ready.” I smile back at him as he leaves.
“So two daughters, huh? How old are they? Do they look like you, or her?” With the water done, I seep the tea, and look back over at him as I wait – on the tea and him.
“And I can’t believe that about the sword, but does the army even teach that now?”
“Not so much in the army, the focus has been firearms. After all that’s how the Choshu won against Satsuma.” I think back, “But the police is a different matter, the head of the police Kawaji-san is fond of the sword styles.”
“The full resources of the Oniwaban group are at your disposal, Saitou.”
I bow slightly to the former Okashira. “I’m indebted.” I respond back as I watch Misao “speak” to one of the pigeons. In another life I suppose I’d understand all of this, but my reality is now and it doesn’t involve Ninjas until today.
I follow them to a sitting area and it becomes a conversation? I feel some of my fortitude from this morning dissipate. I had expected, to be half-way to Hide by now. But I show them respect and myself, self-control.
“So two daughters, huh? How old are they? Do they look like you, or her?”
I blink a little. I never thought I’d be speaking about my daughters from someone in the wilderness. “My youngest is Ai we just had her this September. She looks like my mother, her eyes but her hair is curlier like that of Hide. And Makoto is almost 7 now, at first I thought she’d get more from Hide but she’s turning out to be more like me. Squinty eyed and straight black hair.” I grin slightly, “These days I don’t even think she got anything from her mother.”
“How about you weasel? When are you going to settle down? I imagine the Oniwabanshu would be open to the idea of you having a family and still working.” I don’t tell her, in the world of Glass and Steel that Hide and I used to visit, it was quite common to be working and raising a family at the same time – even for a woman.
(OOC – will continue tom)
He sits and speaks of his daughters, and… it’s a nice look in his eyes.
My youngest is Ai we just had her this September. She looks like my mother, her eyes but her hair is curlier like that of Hide. And Makoto is almost 7 now, at first I thought she’d get more from Hide but she’s turning out to be more like me. Squinty eyed and straight black hair. These days I don’t even think she got anything from her mother.
I didn’t realize that Hide-san -just- had a baby! And Saitou grins as he talks about his oldest daughter. “Oh, is she a handful? You know, you can send her over here for ninja training,” I grin.
How about you weasel? When are you going to settle down? I imagine the Oniwabanshu would be open to the idea of you having a family and still working.
I smile over at him. “That’s a nice idea, but for now… as Okashira, I have to help the Oniwabanshuu to become whatever it’s meant to be in this new era first. Aoshi-sama thinks we should just be restaurant keepers.” I sigh at that. “And Gramps thinks we should be ready to swing through the trees taking down villains like in his day. I think… it’s going to be a middle path. Helping people who the police aren’t equipped to help, like those women. Working in information…” I grin. “You remember, it was our network, all throughout Kyoto’s villages, that stood up to Shishio’s fire-starting thugs? It’s still there. Good people, who want to help Kyoto, even if we’re no longer the capital and Osaka gets all of the money now.” I shake my head. There’s more to being a leader than I knew on that day I seized it, all those years ago before the fight for Kyoto.
I don’t regret a minute of it!
I’m looking up at the sky … “not too much longer, Saitou, for the first ones to come back.” I try not to sigh. I can’t imagine what waiting must be like for him.
“Oh, is she a handful? You know, you can send her over here for ninja training,”
I shake my head. “My eldest son Tsutomu is the “handful” one. But I wouldn’t want to send -any- of my daughters for such dangerous work like you do.” I look at her, “You’ve been training since you were little I heard and well… Look at who’s been training you.” I glance at the general direction of Okina. We have records of him in the Department of Interior, but even before then the Oniwaban was the guards of Edo castle.
“That’s a nice idea, but for now… as Okashira, I have to help the Oniwabanshuu to become whatever it’s meant to be in this new era first. Aoshi-sama thinks we should just be restaurant keepers.” I sigh at that. “And Gramps thinks we should be ready to swing through the trees taking down villains like in his day. I think… it’s going to be a middle path.
With a nod, I add, “It must be people like us… If I could control the future my daughters would have a soba restaurant instead.” I grin a little at her. “And my sons will be Kendo instructors but never go off to war. So… give us “Old guys” a break.”
“You remember, it was our network, all throughout Kyoto’s villages, that stood up to Shishio’s fire-starting thugs? It’s still there. Good people, who want to help Kyoto, even if we’re no longer the capital and Osaka gets all of the money now.”
“Yes.” I start smoking, “I’m glad you’re able to fulfill your destiny now, compared to during -that- time.” In the wilderness of course, she had no authority and was relegated to nothing more than a young child expected to pine for her Aoshi-sama but disallowed from realizing those feelings.
It’s been a while and I pull out my watch, the sun is starting to peek through the horizon. My mind races on what could’ve happened in between but I will those thoughts away.
“not too much longer, Saitou, for the first ones to come back.”
I watch the tip of my tobacco turn red. I hope so.
You’ve been training since you were little I heard and well… Look at who’s been training you
I nod. Those were the best years! With Beshimi, Hyottoko, Shikijo, Han’nya and of course Aoshi-sama! “The Oniwaban group took in orphans and trained them, but now there’s a central state that better provides for children.” Of course, there are still those that fall through the cracks of that new system… but we can help with that, too.
It must be people like us… If I could control the future my daughters would have a soba restaurant instead. And my sons will be Kendo instructors but never go off to war. So… give us “Old guys” a break
“Oh yeah, you like soba, right?” But I can somehow imagine an old Saitou, sitting in the corner and glowering at any man who stayed -too- long to look at or talk to his pretty daughters. “And she’s a good cook.” Not that I ever had any, back then. I seem to remember being stuck in the longest, most -boring- dinners…
“But yeah, you old guys saw a lot. I guess with Shishio, and Enishi, I saw the end of that era. We’re alike, Saitou – the last Shisnengumi, the last kunoichi,” I stand up to stretch. Japan will go to war some day, Aoshi-sama says, but it will go as a nation with “professional” armies and navies and no need for the samurai, ninja and those who defended her for so long.
I’m glad you’re able to fulfill your destiny now, compared to during -that- time.
I smile and look at the fire. “Thank you Saitou. And thank you for seeing it, back then.”
Then on the horizon, a small speck… could it be? I watch the skies eagerly, as it flies in with the sunrise. It’s my Kinoki-kun! I run to the pigeon roosts, where he flies directly. Trying not to disturb him, I carefully unwind the paper around his leg.
My face falls. “Nothing.”
But then several more come in, with the same result, and I feel my stomach dropping… but it’s okay, Lake Biwa was the back-up, they’re probably on the way to Osaka…”
It’s then another tense hour as the sun rises fully into morning and I wait for the next round of pigeons from the West.
Then they all start coming in… Nothing, nothing!
Finally the last one flutters in. “Kabu-kun…. don’t disappoint your Okashira,” I mutter. I read the note, deciphering the code…
“Saitou! Saitou!” I wave the paper in the air. “This one! A rest stop at Myokian Temple!” I read out the passage, “Sunday night we had a teamster stop by, a regular, flush with cash and a old sword. He said he made more money taking, in his words, an old lady, a small samurai and a sick woman to a landing stage on the Yado from central Kyoto than he did in two loads.”
“Saitou! Doesn’t that sound like them?” And I know the source to be reliable – she’s one of Gramp’s old sweethearts!
The Okashira told me to stay put, however the message from Toshio-san is urgent and related likely to what she is working on with Saitou-san. With no one of rank available to mediate the situation, I make the decision myself and go up the pigeon roost!
“Misao-chan!” I call out and wave. I see Saitou-san there, we had hit it off back then. I smile at him, he remembers right as we slid off away from the others? It was a -fun- night.
I run knowing that my legs flash a bit against the morning sun and my bosom does it’s natural bounce. I hope he notices.
After a reminisce of the wilderness, she thanks me. I’m not sure how helpful I was to her, likely not. I was always doing my own thing. But finally the pigeons arrive and with much anticipation I wait but with each arrival the weasels face starts to fall. They’ve not all arrived yet. I tell myself.
Finally one last pigeon arrives and she waves the paper in the air.
“This one! A rest stop at Myokian Temple!” I read out the passage, “Sunday night we had a teamster stop by, a regular, flush with cash and a old sword. He said he made more money taking, in his words, an old lady, a small samurai and a sick woman to a landing stage on the Yado from central Kyoto than he did in two loads.”
We stand side by side reading the note. “That’s them.” I say grimly. “Sunday night…” I try not to sound disappointed. The trail is getting further away but I think to myself only 6 hours ago I thought I had run up to a dead end. This is better and it’s as I thought, the Yodo river.
“Can you send them back a message? Tell them I am coming and to have this teamster be available so I can interview him. Tell them money is not an issue – if it is needed.”
Then suddenly I look to my right as the corner of my eyes catches a figure. One of the Oniwabanshu… Her. Another one from the wilderness.
“Okon.”
“Hello Saitou-san.” Then she looks at Misao-chan, “I just had to deliver this letter from the Kyoto police to you directly. It seemed urgent.”
She smiles and tosses her hair. She’s not aged one bit. “Glad to see me?”
I shake my head, “I heard you were with the Behemoth, I mean “Hiko Seijuurou”.”
“Well he’s off to his retreat.”
“-Good-. Can you do me a favor and make sure he stays there?” I ask seriously.
But she lowers her eyes demurely, “If I didn’t know better I’d say that’s testosterone talking. Don’t you just want to disappear somewhere? Have a little fun -quickie- in the woods?”
I cough a bit, inhaling the smoke in the wrong pipe. “No and I’m spoken for now.”
She frowns and I turn back tot he weasel, “The Chief says Kanemoto secured all the outgoing ports and also contacted the neighboring town of Kobe.” I hope against all hope that, that means we’ve cut off any further escape routes.
“I’m going to the temple.” I tell her.
Can you send them back a message? Tell them I am coming and to have this teamster be available so I can interview him. Tell them money is not an issue – if it is needed
I’m scribbling out a note, and Gramps has joined us. “Oh, my dear old friend Kawahara Mi-san is clever!” His eyes are twinkling! That old ladykiller! He grins at Saitou. “And she won’t need money – she’s crafty enough to delay the man. without it.” He chuckles to himself and I know that there’s a -story- there.
Then I hear a voice calling out to me and it’s … Okon.
I just had to deliver this letter from the Kyoto police to you directly. It seemed urgent.
I read over the letter, while she does her… thing. I know she and Saitou had a… moment, back at the end of the wilderness. Over the years she’s mentioned it – and… she’s been a little lost since Omasu and Kuro married, and then Shiro married an outsider and brought her into the “family”. And that Hiko just strings her along!
She makes an offer to Saitou, but he dismisses her easily. Of course he does.
“The Chief also mentioned that the dead Shinsengumi collector’s home was not only robbed of cash, but other Shinsengumi items – namely a haori and a sword.” I turn to Saitou. Maybe he knows why this would be important?
I then address Okon. “Thank you, this was most urgent. Every bit of information is helpful.” I step closer, to address her in a quieter voice, “but I need you to be where I can’t today on the Tanaka clean-up – you’re the best at helping those women, you’re a strong person but someone they can both connect to and admire in a difficult time. I’m relying on you, Okon.” I know I dismissed her harshly yesterday and… I’m a different leader than Aoshi-sama. He could be … a little cold! But that was a different time. Even if her intentions are not all -pure- in coming up here, she’s still a great member of the Oniwabanshuu.
If only Hiko would stop -messing- with her!
I’m going to the temple.
“And I’ll go with you so you get all of the cooperation you need.” Some of the old-timers can be close-mouthed! And time is ticking away to get to Hide-san….
Okon:
“Thank you, this was most urgent. Every bit of information is helpful.” but I need you to be where I can’t today on the Tanaka clean-up – you’re the best at helping those women, you’re a strong person but someone they can both connect to and admire in a difficult time. I’m relying on you, Okon.”
Oh my Okashira! This is the reason why I can never leave the Oniwaban group! Unlike the others whose attention has been halved after finding their “mates”, I have devoted years and more good years to serving my Okashira. Of course, a girl does need a vacation when Hiko-sama comes into town.
I look at Saitou-san and quietly tell him, “Your lost but the offer still stands. -Anytime-.” With a bow to my Okashira, I quickly leave for my true assignment.
Saitou:
Misao tells me about the note and what was taken from it. A Shinsengumi haori and a sword? Is this connected? I had initially dismissed it before when speaking to Tamesaburo, mostly because it sounded like a normal robbery. But I was wrong… This and the note, this person impersonating Okita has an unhealthy obssession with him if he wants our uniform. One can’t parade around anywhere in Japan wearing it without calling attention to yourself.
Okon say’s something but I don’t hear it as I’m lost in thought for a moment. Then she disappears. Drat! I should’ve told her to tell me when Hiko plans to go back to Tokyo.
“And I’ll go with you so you get all of the cooperation you need
I look at her for a moment. She’s the same and yet not from the blurry memories I had of her. But I am thankful for her help.
“We’ll take my horse. We’ll double ride.” I know I can ride -fast- now that I remembered how to handle a horse, even faster than a kunoichi can fly or run.
(OOC: Close thread. You can start the temple thread whenever you feel like it)