Shindou:
As soon as Miyagawa-san left I go ahead to my intended destination. Curiously there is another bystander standing on the opposite side of the street. And I hesitate. What is it with me today and all these passer-bys?
Must be nerves…
Well I heard he left earlier today, so he must be at home right? I would’ve tried to delay some more but mother would get on my case. Besides I know it won’t get easier if I keep avoiding Fujita-san. Hopefully Yagi-san is there, she’d be much easier but then I remember she and I too had our “moments”.
No use standing around here.
I knock and wait for someone to answer.
(OOC: If anyone else aside from Hide answers, Shindou will just leave the paper bag full of veggies.)
(Hide)
There’s a knock, and I go to the door. I offered to get the children, but Yukiko-san eagerly volunteered, with Eiji-san in…. enthusiastic agreement. She said she wanted me to make a pork dish tonight and that she would go to the butcher for me.
Eiji-san is still around here somewhere, but I go on ahead to the door, walking with the cane – the time I spent up on my feet cooking and then attempting seiza got to me.
“Oh! Shindou-san!” I can’t help but smile, even if he looks… cautious. And what’s in his bag. “Please, please, come on in,” I offer.
Oh -good-. It’s Yagi-san. I almost sigh with relief.
“Oh! Shindou-san!”
“Hello Yagi-san.” I smile truly glad to see that she’s safe. “Mother had me bring some vegetables from our small farm.” I put up the paper bag full of cabbages, daikon, sweet potatoes and others. “She said it will be good for your recovery after you had your baby.”
I step inside and follow her to the front of the house. “If you ask me she just wanted to know if you had a girl or boy ma’am.” I hope she doesn’t ask me to go inside. If he’s in there… I glance around just to be sure.
I look at Shindou-san. It’s been a while since we met… sometimes the way the time flows here, things can feel like forever.
I look inside the bag. Her farm is well ahead of our garden, in terms of getting a harvest. “Thank you so much – I’m just now getting back to cooking, I’ll make good use of these. Please pass along my thanks to your mother – is she doing well?”
“Tell your mother that I had a little girl – come in and meet Ai-chan,” I offer. He glances around. Quietly, I say, “he’s not here, if you’re concerned about seeing him.”
is she doing well?”
Well I wouldn’t tell Yagi-san that my mother still calls her the moniker, “someday wife” but she does and I think that it means she’s doing well. “My mother is a gritty woman Yagi-san. Nothing can stop her.” I smile, “Even an errant son like me.”
She tells me to come in and meet Ai-chan? I guess that’s the baby.
“he’s not here, if you’re concerned about seeing him.”
Balancing the paper bag with one hand, I rub the back of my neck and laugh nervously. “Well he did in no uncertain terms told me I was unwelcome just a few days ago.” But of course I was more trouble than I was worth. Which reminds me Yagi-san doesn’t know I returned to the police but why talk about -that-. I’d hate to have to admit I hid from her when she visited our house.
I go ahead and step inside. It won’t hurt if I’m quick about it.
My mother is a gritty woman Yagi-san. Nothing can stop her
I smile. “Then nothing has changed – she’s a strong woman.” She’s another one, who tried to make me see…
A few days ago? Was that -before-? “Oh, is this still about you not coming back?” Hajime really relied on him, even if there had been difficulties between him and I at one time. “He has a hard time finding people he can rely on, and trust,” I say. Or he did… I look down.
I lead him inside, and Ai-chan is in her basket in the tatami room, having just woke up. “Ai-chan, here’s someone new for you to meet!” I pick her up, and she goes “Brrrr!” I smile, “she’s found out how much fun it is to make noises.”
“Oh, is this still about you not coming back?”
“Well I’ve been back actually.” I tried to steer clear of the subject of her abduction but I guess I should make it clear, “During the time you two were in Osaka, Aioi-san convinced me to go back to service.”
“He has a hard time finding people he can rely on, and trust,”
Yagi-san keeps looking down. Even earlier.. “Well that’s true. I’m not exactly one he can rely on. But maybe now I can start over.”
Then I’m introduced to Ai-chan in the tatami room. I remember this room when I grilled Yagi-san for what she knew about the Shinsengumi. Now it’s full of light and -life-. The little girl starts making noises and pursing it’s lips together.
“she’s found out how much fun it is to make noises.”
I grin at the little girl. “Wow such a beautiful baby Yagi-san.” I tickle Ai-chan’s nose with my forefinger, “Fujita-san and you must be very proud!”
“Hey little Ai-chan. I’m sure your daddy will see you soon. He ducked out early today you know.” I tell the baby and make a funny face.
(OOC – replying tomorrow)
During the time you two were in Osaka, Aioi-san convinced me to go back to service.
“You worked with her as well?” I ask. So she’s more of a fixture than I thought, if Shindou-san is working with her. And certainly… despite those remarks he made, not…
Ai-chan and her happy smiles and mood – so different from our earlier visitor! – chase any strange thoughts away. “Ah, she’s a good baby – strong and healthy and good-natured.” She stops her noises and does her -stare-, giving Shindou-san a good look. After a minute, she smiles, waves her hands and goes back to babbling.
“We had to entertain Sir Howard Vincent earlier – for some reason he has an interest in the Shinsengumi,” I say, shrugging. “But I believe he went back to work after….”
“Shindou-san… you know, I’m sure, of what happened in Osaka. There was a man involved – a Miyagawa-san? I hear he’s in the Interior Ministry. Do you know of him?”
Shindou:
You worked with her as well?
She seemed surprised. “Well yes.” I can’t help but gush a little. “A very fascinating woman.” For a moment I let myself think of the Tayu but I end up in a sigh, “Please don’t tell Fujita-san. He’s already rather cross with me besides he said Aioi-san is back in Kyoto.”
The baby gives me a stare and it’s just like… I gulp a little but then she smiles and waves her hands. Phew… I thought I was in trouble. Straightening up I listen as Yagi-san tells me of a visitor.
“We had to entertain Sir Howard Vincent earlier – for some reason he has an interest in the Shinsengumi,” I say, shrugging. “But I believe he went back to work after….”
“Oh that high flying Briton? Kawaji-san is very interested in him but almost no one is allowed to speak with him, not that we could.” I look at Yagi-san, “I guess he did but I stopped by his office…” I laugh nervously to make sure he was still around so I can get here first but he wasn’t there.”
“Shindou-san… you know, I’m sure, of what happened in Osaka. There was a man involved – a Miyagawa-san? I hear he’s in the Interior Ministry. Do you know of him?”
“I’ve not been involved in your case Yagi-san. Fujita-san has been… Closed off to me.” Then I realize! “Hey I -just- met a Miyagawa Katsugoro moments ago! He said he was originally from here and was looking around the neighborhood. Rather short man, young looking face with a long hair. But that voice, not deep nor high pitched but almost gleeful?” Could that be whom Yagi-san is looking for? If he’s from the Interior he must be some big wig.
The way he speaks about Aioi… makes me wonder what sort of spell that even an aged courtesan can cast… I look at him. He never spoke of women, but then again he knows more about my personal life than I do of his based on the circumstances of his place in my life. About not saying anything…I don’t make promises I can’t keep.
he said Aioi-san is back in Kyoto.
“Really?” I can’t hide a degree of surprise. “I thought I smelled her on him the other night…” But maybe between now and then… I try not to sigh. A lot changed.
“Well, perhaps nobody is allowed to speak to him… he is quiet the talker,” I say, a bit dryly. But I now really wonder where he went?
It’s also a surprise but also not… that Shindou-san has been left out of whatever happened with Osaka. I assume that Kato is still in jail but what of his mother? His associates?
Miyagawa Katsugoro
I feel the blood drain out of my face as he uses that name, and describes a man…
Finding my voice, I say. “That’s not the same Miyagawa that I speak of. Miyagawa Katsugoro… was the boyhood name of Kondou Isami, leader of the Shinsengumi, prior to his adoption into the Kondou family. And the man you describe, using a name like -that-… Shindou-san, please be careful around him.” I shiver, even with the warm afternoon sun coming in. Why is he near -our- house? Isn’t the Battosai his target? “He’s a deadly swordsman from the old days – don’t let his stature fool you.”
“Really?” I can’t hide a degree of surprise. “I thought I smelled her on him the other night…”
“What?” Now I’m the one surprised. “You mean she’s still at the machiya?” At once I want to go there, just to see but I know the spell the Tayu can cast. And it was just a spell after all isn’t it? I need to build my life instead… “Fujita-san probably lied to me but with good reason.” I mutter more to myself.
I’m only half listening at the talk of the foreigner but then as I told her about Miyagawa-san…
Shindou-san, please be careful around him.” He’s a deadly swordsman from the old days – don’t let his stature fool you.”
“He seemed out of place so I had a good look at him. He was an odd one, complaining about how “his lady” took care of the cooking but that he suffers for it. And then said something about weeds not being the same.” I shake my head. He was an odd one but he seemed nice enough… I frown. “Yagi-san maybe you should tell Fujita-san?”
“There’s no need.” I spin around and it’s a man probably as old as myself, or a tad younger.
“Otou-san already knows and asked me to keep Yagi-san safe.”
He’s a stealthy one. I didn’t even notice him come in. How long was he standing there.
“And you are?”
He bows, “Eiji – I’m Fujita-san’s adopted son.” He looks at Yagi-san who’s now very pale. “Yagi-san there’s no need to worry. I promised Otou-san I’ll protect you.”
Then he looks at me, “It’s probably best if you go home before it gets too dark Shindou-san.”
I’d stay but I don’t even have a sword on me. And I don’t think this young man wants me here -at- -all-.
I bow to Yagi-san. “Sorry to have been the bearer of bad news Yagi-san…. But please if I can help, don’t hesitate to call on me.” I’ve lost the confidence of my superior, that’s true but that doesn’t mean I’m not useful.
You mean she’s still at the machiya?
So…. that’s why Eiji-san was kicked out of there. Does he know?
Fujita-san probably lied to me but with good reason
What happened between the three of them? Shindou-san seems to have some sort of… infatuation. I’ve seen that face enough, back in the old days. A young man would fall under the spell of a woman whose ability to survive was based on how well she could charm. And they’d all come see Yagi-san to lament… which Souji found amusing.
complaining about how “his lady” took care of the cooking but that he suffers for it. And then said something about weeds not being the same.
Small changes made a big difference between her and I… her family was more prosperous, and had servants, so while she was pressed into helping, she never -loved- it…
But the part about weeds? Didn’t she say that at the judgement? “She said… that we’re just aberrant weeds,” I say, quietly, almost to myself. I told Hajime, soon after, that I didn’t believe it… but I have to wonder.
There’s no need. Otou-san already knows and asked me to keep Yagi-san safe.
I look back at Eiji-san, who slipped in, with some surprise then back at the floor. Is that why… he tried to keep me from leaving, earlier? And just when… did this request come into being? Before or after?
Yagi-san there’s no need to worry. I promised Otou-san I’ll protect you
I look back up at him. “Thank you, Eiji-san,” I say, quietly. Trying to process all that I’ve learned, this afternoon. “This is Shindou-san, an associate of your father from the TMPD. He was very helpful, over the summer, when he was away.”
And now Shindou-san is obviously uncomfortable – why is he so on-edge? “Thank you again for coming to see the baby, and for the vegetables. Please give her my best… and thank you as always for your support.” I slowly rise, and then lean back down to pick up Ai-chan, who was enjoying herself on the floor, starts makes a fussier-sounding version of her favorite “brrrr” sound at me.
Eiji:
“I’ll walk him out Yagi-san. Best you stay here.”
I tell her. So this is Shindou, someone who helped Otou-san. That’s -rare-. Yagi-san thanks him as we exit.
(OOC: Close. Eiji’s attention was called when he heard deadly swordsman. He didn’t hear the earlier conversation other than that. Saitou will start a new thread mostly because he is going home early today right before dark. I’ll just have it that they had a tense but quiet dinner.)