Getting back from Toshio’s office, he’s assured me that all ports and docks are being watched from here to Osaka. By now I’m sure whoever took Hide already knows we’re on to them. On one hand I had wanted to go into this quietly but with how fast they moved, we’re at a disadvantage and only numbers will at least keep them where they’re at.
I look out in the darkness as I sit on the engawa. I hated looking at darkness but then I can’t even look up to the night sky. Both things irritate me to no end so instead I focus on the furiously burning tip of my tobacco. I’ve dropped everything to look for her. Kami only knows what’s going on in Tokyo now, but I have faith that I’ve left at least our house in good hands.
Settling my temple on the palm of my hand, I still have a raging headache that’s making it difficult to think clearly. But I need to use this time to look back at all the clues, the evidence. I have a good ideea of who took her, this Asato and the one posing as Okita, although somewhat improbable -is- likely Kichisaburou. Looks like Okita? Unhealthy obsession with the Shinsengumi? With a grudge to settle? And half-burnt… That can only be him and even if not, it wouldn’t matter. I’ll still kill him and her once I catch up to them. If this was a crime of passion, she’d be dead already – which led me to think this was a mercenaries job and the weasel reminding me that those two didn’t have the means cemented that. I saw the clinic myself, it was run down.
So it is funded but by who and for what purpose? Revenge is out, at least for her kidnappers. If it was for ransom, they’d already contacted us by now with the terms. Who’d want her except for old shadows created by us or in the wilderness, wanting their revenge? Charles maybe? Vincent recently appeared after all. Perhaps Okita? I know he’s to appear when this place is close to its end and it seems we’re at that point.
I shake my head again, trying to clear it. No. Not Charles. Not Okita… They’re not of this world and the other is dead. So who else? Goryo Eiji is accounted for. Gold Hunters but Tamesaburo eliminated the majority of them. The “Shinsengumi collectors”? Muraoka the collector is dead though they did get to him…
But there was one more name Kato whom Tamesaburou said was overseas. I haven’t eliminated him yet. Being overseas is a good alibi and if he’s a man doing business with the British, means he’s a gilded man. Do I know anything else about him? I try to remember as I start a new stick of cigarette. Wasn’t this the same man who used to pester Shimada – and Shimada is a man not easily intimidated… And according to Tamesaburo when he was in Tokyo that this Kato was very interested in Hide earlier this summer… That this man also dabbled in politics and has an interest in old samurai…
I wonder…
I go to the main room of the Yagi’s hoping to find Tamesaburou. I need to know more about this man and maybe, confirm something else.
(OOC: Saitou is waiting for one of the Yagi’s)
(Tamesaburou)
This house is unsettled… and I can’t sleep. I spent hours today in the files, is there anything? Anybody? Who would want oneesan? To rip her from her family…
Of course, it wasn’t that long ago that I was willing to do that.
Not helpful, Tamebo…
So I do what is helpful, and get some sake and two cups. Checking by… Yuunosuke is snoring in his room so I guess I’ll be alone tonight.
Then I see my to-be brother-in-law. I motion to the engawa, and set down the sake and cups. “Promise me that you won’t do this on an empty stomach or oneesan will kill me. That was her rule about us drinking, when we got old enough.”
I sit down and look up at him, and pour his cup. “Any leads?” She’s not here, so there must not be good news.
“Promise me that you won’t do this on an empty stomach or oneesan will kill me. That was her rule about us drinking, when we got old enough.”
I’d rather decline the sake but it would be rude to do so. So I take the cup offered.
“Any leads?”
“We think they’re in Osaka. I’m hopeful we’ll be able to close off all exits.” Hopeful is operative of course but the police system in Japan isn’t that bad even if the military is decimating it somewhat. I drown the sake.
“Last time you were in Tokyo, you had mentioned that this Kato Hayato has recently asked about your sister instead of Shimada. What precisely happened then?” I light up and purposely leave the pack of cigarettes should he choose to take one. “What do you think prompted him to shift his interest?”
I’ll ask about this one first, the one in this world. Before I ask the improbable and impossible questions.
(Tamesaburou)
Osaka? But there’s a thousand ways to get there, by boat or train or road…. but despite the troubles associated with a booming seaport, Osaka is well-run by the police system – after all, in Kansai we want a better rep than the trouble and corruption associated with the Yokohama port…
Last time you were in Tokyo, you had mentioned that this Kato Hayato has recently asked about your sister instead of Shimada. What precisely happened then?
He leaves the cigarettes out and I take it as an unspoken offer, lighting up and taking a deep drag before talking. “He showed up… a few years ago. After Hide-neesan went to Tokyo. He’s from here, but was educated in Osaka and now makes most of his money there. He’s involved in a lot of things…. and is absolutely obsessed with the Shinsengumi.” I down my cup, and refill mine and Saitou-san’s. “First he came as a…. I guess you’d say regular fan. Just wanted to know… eventually, what he could buy.” I shake my head, “one time he came in – with a building crew – with an offer for the beam that still has the cuts in it from the night of Serizawa’s assassination. I just thought he was a nut… a rich nut, but a nut all the same.”
“And like everyone else, he wanted to know about the living captains – of which we maintain that there are none as neither you nor Nagakura-san use your old names. Suzuki Mikisaburou… I heard he was alive but if there’s any interest in the Goryo Eji it’s in his brother, and not him.” I sigh – if this was a lighter moment, I’d laugh about Suzuki-san’s ego being crushed, still, over his brother. “And I leave Shimada-san out of it. That man… doesn’t need the hassle of being pestered and peppered with endless questions. He’s had it rough, since it all ended.” I’m quiet for a moment. “He’s been good to our family, with Otou-san dead and Hanako’s father out of the picture, he’s been like a grandfather to the children. He protects us, and… we’re very protective of him.”
“Kato-san has asked about Hide-neesan before… he’s also an Okita obsessive, so… that goes together. Our story for her is that she’s retired to live quietly in the country, but he’s always… pressed.” I get to the end of the cigarette, and stub it out. “He’s also well-known to pay crazy prices for some really suspect memorabilia – there’s enough fake Shinsengumi swords out there to fill this room, fake banners, that sort of thing.”
What do you think prompted him to shift his interest?
“I can’t even say. He was interested in -everything-, and relentless.” I look up. “Thinking back, the way Abe Juro showed up out of nowhere, wanting to know all about Hide-neesan… I can’t help but wonder if that was part of it. That maybe he had figured out that our story wasn’t true and had him come.”
There had to be something, some sign.
He tells me more of Kato, his obssessiveness about anything Shinsengumi, the living Captains and Okita and I suppose in turn Hide. And he speaks fondly of Shimada. On one hand I should speak to him at some point but right now is not the time for that. And yet you’ve not spoken to -any- of the Shinsengumi.
He tells me of their story that she lived in the country side, which seems to have satisfied the inquisitors until Abe Juro came along.
“Thinking back, the way Abe Juro showed up out of nowhere, wanting to know all about Hide-neesan… I can’t help but wonder if that was part of it. That maybe he had figured out that our story wasn’t true and had him come.”
“Perhaps…” I think back to the timing of these events. “I was working on a case in Yoshiwara, the Goryo Eiji was there including Abe. They got close enough to the house that I had to settle the matter. Abe Juro disappeared however and Mikisaburo was taken into custody but I’ve since lost track of him.”
I take a long drag on my cigarette. “If Abe is involved then of course he knows -me-. And certainly knew that Hide was living in Tokyo with a police officer.” But even though instincts tell me to follow this trail, the connection seems weak to this Kato.
“Tell me, what did he say was his profession now? How did he make a living?” I look up and drown another sake, “Then after that I’ll have to ask you one more preposterous thing.”
I was working on a case in Yoshiwara, the Goryo Eiji was there including Abe. They got close enough to the house that I had to settle the matter. Abe Juro disappeared however and Mikisaburo was taken into custody but I’ve since lost track of him.
I nod. “He was asking about you, as well, but our policy is to deny any “stories” about Saitou Hajime being a Meiji cop, but it was the questioning about Hideneesan…” I pour myself another one and toss it back. “Although is Abe involved now? Nagakura-san confirmed that he’s returned home to Hokkaido, after all.” All that cost me was a bottle of his favorite Kyoto sake – not expensive, but oh, the shipping…
Tell me, what did he say was his profession now? How did he make a living?
“He’s started with a boat and ship maintenance company that belonged to his mother’s family in Osaka… and then he bought distressed ships and repaired them and got into shipping. That lead to an ironworks, for the ships, and warehouses… all sorts of things. He’s invested in some artisans here in Kyoto to create exports for the Western markets – gaudy little silk paintings, fake ivory netsuke, fabrics… and that all goes out through his shipping – and he’s supposedly very wealthy. I’ve kept an eye on him over the years, since he’s been so persistent.”
Then after that I’ll have to ask you one more preposterous thing
“Oh?” What would -he- consider preposterous? For this I take another one of his cigarettes.
“Although is Abe involved now? Nagakura-san confirmed that he’s returned home to Hokkaido, after all.
I shake my head, every connection so far is weak except for the timing and little details like this Kato’s interest in old samurai families and the Shinsengumi of course.
He’s started with a boat and ship maintenance company that belonged to his mother’s family in Osaka… and then he bought distressed ships and repaired them and got into shipping. That lead to an ironworks, for the ships, and warehouses… all sorts of things. He’s invested in some artisans here in Kyoto to create exports for the Western markets – gaudy little silk paintings, fake ivory netsuke, fabrics… and that all goes out through his shipping – and he’s supposedly very wealthy. I’ve kept an eye on him over the years, since he’s been so persistent.”
I hate men like these. There’s always something once you peel back the layers but unless something else happens, it’s all conjecture. I don’t think it’s possible that this gilded man would care about the Shinsengumi gold, which I know is -not- here in Kyoto. But what would he want Hide for? A trophy? I’m grasping at straws…
“Oh?”
“Who else did Hide took an interest in or had an interest in her?” I take a moment and watch the smoke I blew to the side, “Any foreigners? Also did she ever marry or betrothed to anyone?” Of course he’ll think it’s an unreasonable inquiry, but if I had to explain further I’m not sure I’ll be able to.
“Oh, and he’s also fairly young – he’s about my age, but looks older – his hair is creeping back and ah, he’s a bit on the larger side. The news makes a big fuss of him because of his relative youth – he rose fast.”
Who else did Hide took an interest in or had an interest in her?
“Her? She took no interest. I tried… to find someone for her to marry, so she could have… something. We even did some introductions to try to arrange something, but she turned each and every one down. But to be fair… I couldn’t find good candidates. Not many people wanted to be connected to the Shinsengumi in those years right after the war.” I shrug. “She never seemed to attract attention – she’s not like my wife and her sisters, who would have men pestering them in the street.” This is a funny line of questioning, but he probably needs to look at every angle. “Some of the visitors wanted to talk to her… but it was those who just wanted to -unload- sorrow, anger, bitterness… but nobody ever… approached her.”
Any foreigners? Also did she ever marry or betrothed to anyone?
“Foreigners? I don’t think she’d ever met any, not in Kyoto. We’re not … sophisticated here anymore.” Now we get something called “tourists” that come and gawk at us and loudly complain about the food and washrooms, but I’m told, that’s just the way they are. “But she’s never been married. She moved to Tokyo… and then it’s only been you. Even in Ito she remained single, which I can only imagine how hard that must have been.” Now this one is really strange… foreigners?
“Oh, and he’s also fairly young – he’s about my age, but looks older – his hair is creeping back and ah, he’s a bit on the larger side. The news makes a big fuss of him because of his relative youth – he rose fast.
“I see.” I sigh, “I think for now we’ll have to keep an eye on him.” Of course I say that because there’s been hardly anything concrete aside from Asato and likely that imposter.
“She never seemed to attract attention – she’s not like my wife and her sisters, who would have men pestering them in the street.”
“Is that so.” Well I certainly was attracted to Hide but as a fling I suppose back then – before it got serious.
“Foreigners? I don’t think she’d ever met any, not in Kyoto. We’re not … sophisticated here anymore.” “But she’s never been married. She moved to Tokyo… and then it’s only been you. Even in Ito she remained single, which I can only imagine how hard that must have been.”
I simply nod. So he doesn’t know. I’d drop the name but he’d be oblivious to it. And as for being only me, I can only muster a fake smile at that and finish the last of the sake. I didn’t touch the food however. “Well I better turn in. I have a full day tomorrow.”
(OOC you can close if you want)
Well I better turn in. I have a full day tomorrow
I nod. “I hope we can be helpful, as always.” I’d tell him to find my sister, safe and sound… but he doesn’t need to be told that.
“Thanks for sharing my drink.” I lift up the bottle. He’s not nearly as greedy as Yuubo.
(OOC – close)