I wake up in bed, and he’s gone, of course.
I help Yukiko-san with the children, getting them fed and them out of the door, with her escorting them. I go back to my room, after, to feed Ai-chan and see to some household paperwork. Soon, she’s back, with some marketing and ready to take Ai-chan so I can get about my day.
“I should go,” I say, looking outside. “But it looks like rain…” I look to Eiji-san, anxiously. “Do you think that… we’ll be safe? With Okita Souji around…” I shake my head. “But your father is pleased that I’m cooking again, so I should keep making progress…” I sigh, dithering.
We leave in a rickshaw, and go to the clinic. Inside, I go into the changing room. I undress, but instead of changing into my exercise costume take the kimono of another woman. It’s plainer than mine, or a more somber color and pattern, but most of the others are ordinary women injured in household accidents – mostly burns. I tuck the packet I brought with me into my obi, and take a small bag from my exercise clothes bag and tuck it under my arm. I turn the cloak I wore inside out, where the lining has a different color… I steal someone else’s umbrella, and head out the back entrance, which leads to a tangle of paths on the University grounds.
It’s raining now, and it’s a sea of umbrellas. I left my cane behind and I regret the -hell- out of that by now, on the slippery streets, where a steady fall wind blows.
But before too much time has passed, I’m here. The Kamiya Dojo. I knock on the gate. After all, I changed my mind last night.
The Battosai is here, and opens up for me. “Yagi-san? Is there something this one can help you with?” His eyes are wide and full of concern. Kind. I blink. But this is not the time for kindness. Or hope.
I nod. “I need to stay here for a while.” I’d apologize for what I’m doing… what I’m bringing to his door. But of everyone involved, he has the best chance to make it. “You know what’s coming.” I look away. At least the children are in school.
I close my eyes. I -know- she’s listening. Watching. She always has, that sneak. Come and get me – and there’s a bonus Battosai here too.
(OOC – if you want to RP a dojo occupant, please do so. If not, just reply as such here.)
(Ooc: point 1 does this mean she ducked out on Eiji? If so Eiji is going straight to Saitou which means after a bit he will likely enter this thread… understood? Also I could rp a dojo participant tom. Reply on point 1, then I’ll reply as a dojo rp)
(OOC – Yes, she has ducked out on Eiji. Sessions usually last an hour or so, up to you on how long it takes for him to realize. Understand that Saitou may appear.)
Kaoru:
“Yagi-san!” I can’t help but be surprised as Kenshin comes into the yard with Yagi-san. She came all the way here? But something must have happened.
“Hey Kaoru. What is she doing here?” Yahiko gives Kenshin and I a very doubtful look but Kenji just smiles at our visitor obviously rememberin who she is.
“Yahiko don’t be rude.” I take Kenji and give him to Yahiko. “She’s obviously here to ask for help. Take Kenji to the back.” I give him a look that says, he knows what to do… That is protect Kenji, protect this child of the new era.
He nods and leaves and I turn to Yagi-san and hold her hand. “Whatever it is. I promised you we will help.”I look at Kenshin and give him a smile. Even if we haven’t truly spoken again I gave her my promise and I believe in Kenshin and I believe in our friends. One is already on the way!
(Kenshin)
Yagi-san sits on the engawa, and some of the distress on her face leaves. She was limping pretty badly… She must have noticed me looking. “My ankle was broken, when I was kidnapped. The imposter used the saya of his sword by order of the mother of the man who kidnapped me to… punish me.” Her eyes look distant as she talks. If only this one had realized, that night at the station…
Then everyone comes outside. “Oh, is my Kenji-kun feeling better?” I ask, reaching over to pick up my son before he scampers away.
“Did you bring Makoto-chan to play? I’m boooooored,” Kenji-kun complains. “Even school is better!”
“You had a fever last night….” I’m about to promise something later, if he keeps feeling better, but with Yagi-san now here and looking like she does… I’m not sure what this day will look like.
Yahiko-kun is… as this one expects. Still holding a grudge against Saitou, and all of those in his house. But like his mother, I know he will protect Kenji-kun against whatever happens.
Kaoru-dono of course goes to Yagi-san, and shows her kind heart. Taking her hand, not caring who she’s the… wife, I suppose, of.
Yagi-san looks out into the rain. “He was stalking me yesterday. He knows where to find me. Okita Souji. I’m sorry, to all of you, for bringing this to your door.”
“Doesn’t Saitou have your home protected?” But Kaoru-dono told me of the strange requests, regarding Yagi-san’s children. Why would their father not..? Of course we will… but it shouldn’t have to come to this.
“He does,” she says, still looking out at the rain. “But his heart isn’t in it.”
I touch Kaoru-dono on the shoulder as she smiles that wonderful smile at me. The one that brought this one to a better place. “I’ll get you two some tea.”
(OOC – Kenshin exits)
Kaoru:
Kenshin leaves for tea for Yagi-san.
“But his heart isn’t in it.”
I’m… surprised. That doesn’t sound like man who came here before threatening us due to Hiko sensei… and then shortly after catering to Hiko sensei’s whim so he’d leave Yagi-san alone.
“Well you can stay here as long as you like but… how about those you left behind Yagi-san?” I smile a little, “Although I can understand if you don’t want to see that man anymore.” He wasn’t exactly fun to be around and at best he was an uneasy ally to Kenshin.
(Hide)
Well you can stay here as long as you like but… how about those you left behind Yagi-san?” I smile a little, “Although I can understand if you don’t want to see that man anymore.
“I want to see him. I love him,” I say, quietly. “But he found… our love to be a curse, and my unwillingness to be what he needed only made it worse, and decided to free himself.” I keep watching the rain. “He’s still here. He will do what has to be done in the name of justice. But not for me.” But I will free him.
“As for… my family…” I look down. When I hugged Makoto goodbye this morning, as she was impatient to get to school, I whispered that I loved her. To Tsutomu-kun, I touched his shoulder, because what words work with him anymore? After what happened at the school the other day… maybe at least I can bring his father back. I’m doing this for him, as well. He’s lost too much already. And I spent some time with Ai-chan… I blink. “The older ones are in school, and Yukiko-san has the baby, for now. I’m not sure when Eiji-san will notice that I’m missing.”
(Kenshin)
I come back with tea, to find them talking. This one wonders what Yagi-san means, that his heart isn’t in it? Did something happen between them? Okita was an old flame of hers – and he liked to parade around with her, in the old days. I thought back then how foolish he was – was he trying to put her in danger? Get her killed? Some of the Shinsengumi had women, and the ones that had freedom were still kept safe behind walls. Perhaps that’s why, like with Master, she did not seem to understand, or have a sense of caution.
Then there’s a thumping on the door.
“He’s here,” Yagi-san says, pale, as she struggles to stand. This one bids her to remain as she is, and I got to the door. I feel him before I get there, he’s not trying to hide.
I open the gate and indeed it’s Okita Souji. Unmistakable – unlike the imposter I saw that night at the train station. He looks older but otherwise unchanged since those years… He nods his head. “Oh, Battosai. I’ve come to settle business, and it looks like I’ll be able to take care of two at once.” He walks past me, and bows to Kaoru-dono, holding a box. “Dear Battosai’s wife! I brought your son the cookies he liked, the time we had our little outing. He’s a feisty one!”
He then looks at Yagi-san. “And you’re here too. How nice. Now you can see what a real fight looks like – I know you were -mighty- impressed back then when you saw me and Hajime-kun spar – but this is a fight of destiny!” He then grins at her. “And then, it’s time for your destiny.”
Kaoru:
“I want to see him. I love him,” I say, quietly. “But he found… our love to be a curse, and my unwillingness to be what he needed only made it worse, and decided to free himself.”
“Well I never thought of Saitou-san as a fickle man but I don’t know him well. Only the time when he helped us.”
He’s still here. He will do what has to be done in the name of justice. But not for me.”
I look at her. The times I’ve met her she seemed so fragile unable to take any form of constructive criticism and I waver whether to tell her… that she sounds rather selfish. But people don’t get better by not knowing so I tread on shaky ground. “Mou. Yagi-san, you’re sounding rather selfish right now. Can’t Saitou-san keep his justice and protect you as well. Isn’t justice for everyone?” But who knows? Maybe yagi-san is right and he won’t even come and Kenshin will be by himself. No. I’m here and soon our friend.
Then the gates shake and for the first time i get to see the strongest of the Shinsengumi captains. He makes open threats to Kenshin and I grip my shinai as he presents his sweets. However little I can help I-will-.
“Thanks for the sweets but we’d rather have peace.” I tell him and get in between him and Yagi-san. “And Yagi-san too.” He’s not much of a man if he picks on defenseless women and children.
Saitou:
I take a horse from the stable. I stop by the house first just to make sure Hide didn’t return here. Foolish I know but it gives me an opportunity to brief yukiko and then the head of the sword police and give them new orders to watch the house and the other half to go back to the precinct and provide further support. I leave soon thereafter, there isn’t much to look at but I do look at Kobayashi’s hospital, the therapy clinic and market and with that turning into nothing there’s only one place left. The rundown dojo.
And if she’s not there?
Then we know.
(Hide)
Mou. Yagi-san, you’re sounding rather selfish right now. Can’t Saitou-san keep his justice and protect you as well. Isn’t justice for everyone?
“I always promised him… that I understand that Japan, his duty, his justice, comes first. Above me, above us, our family. I’m the daughter of samurai. I understand this… but living it…” I close my eyes, “is harder. And in trying to live up to that promise… in trying to be -perfect-… I’ve messed up. I’ve messed up badly, Himura-san.”
“He’s keeping another woman. An old lover, from the Kyoto days. She’s been a key part of some police work, and… I -hate- it. So much.” I twist up my hands. “He comes home smelling like her… and I can’t say anything. I don’t want to seem jealous, even though I am. So I tell him that I trust him – and while I do, it’s another thing entirely to be -fine- with the situation, be above petty -feelings-, and it’s only compounded because she’s entwined with his work. But I missed the entire point of the “Saitou cheats on Hide” story. It wasn’t to test my trust after all.”
“When Megumi used her charms on your husband, back when you first met, you -knew- nothing would happen – he was more flustered than interested. But you still let it be known. That you minded. It didn’t stop her… but -he- knew where you stood. That you… cared. That you wanted him. You expressed that… and here you are now.” I smile. “I was trying too hard to be perfect, not to show ugly emotions, to make him -deal- with me. But that’s not what is going to get me what I want.”
“But yes, justice… is for everyone. That’s why he came when you were kidnapped, after all.” I look over at her. She’s right… if it’s done it’s done, right?
Souji enters – alone – all threats and… charm. I remember that he disliked stealthy entrances. I don’t miss how Himura-san gets between Souji and I, holding her shinai.
(Okita)
I address first the lady of the house. “Your son is a good boy, ma’am,” I say. “And it’s nice to see the children of this new era, being allowed their innocence. Compared to our time, eh, Battosai?”
I turn to look at him. My nemesis. In my memories, and then my imaginings… well, he was never tall but had more of a… presence. But for a god of Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, he must be accustomed to cloaking his true self, surrounded by these mortals – like his shinai-wielding wife. “How old were you, Battosai, when someone put a sword in your hand? I was nine. Kondou-san became the father I didn’t have, even though he was only ten years older – mine died young, my mother too. My favorite sister was married off to an unworthy man….” I sigh. “And war came and I realized -why- that sword was in my hand, and that I was willing to follow Kondou-san anywhere he asked, to be the son he wanted. Why the freak accident of my skill was something that caused -excitement-. Was it like that for you?” I smile. I’ve wondered, all these years… what drove that remarkable skill of his.
(Kenshin)
This one is… surprised when Okita starts talking about… his childhood. Is this some new technique of his? To stand in the rain, and… talk?
“This one’s master did not want me to go to war, that he did not. He knew the power of the Hiten Mitsurugi-ryū, and what it could do. It was this one… that could not ignore the suffering. And now that this one is a rurouni… it is still not something this one can ignore. The Shinsengumi were not above tricks in their day, but children? A woman you once loved?” I stare at him.
“But still others found use for you – you were younger than I! A child assassin!” He shakes his head. “And as for Yagi-san, what happened in the past is irrelevant – I am here to carry out a judgement. My Hide-san, her “sister”, thought that maybe she learned her lesson the last time my sword lay on her neck, but here Yagi-san is.” He grins a little at her. “You broke Hajime-kun. And she did like him. So… she’s told me that you no longer get a reprieve.”
Then he pauses, and furrows his brow. “What the hell is a rurouni?” He looks at me, head tilted, hand on his sword, as if he actually -just now- started listening to this one.
Yagi-san tells me of a promise she made to him. I smile a little, “That’s not too different of a promise I made to myself.” I look over to Kenshin, “To support him until he fulfills the answer he found.”
She tells me she messed up and that Saitou-san has been cheating on her. But that she denies it in front of him. That she was trying to be perfect and above petty feelings. That she wanted to show she trusted him -anyway-.
“But that’s a lie isn’t it? Trusting someone when you know they may stray and not doing anything about it.” I look down. “I’m not sure what I would do myself either but if I told Kenshin knowing that, in a sense I’m -forcing- him to be loyal to me using guilt. That’s the opposite of trust. And I’m not sure what he’d think if I caught him with another and said nothing, did nothing. I guess I’m always truthful to what I feel and it shows.”
“I was trying too hard to be perfect, not to show ugly emotions, to make him -deal- with me.
“Deal with you? Do you mean to confront you Yagi-san or just to stay by you?” I glance back at her wondering if she were like those women who tried to manipulate their man by witholding information, feelings or even affection. “I remember Saitou in the wilderness, he would be with many women. I thought to myself, why is a man like that who I heard had a good wife still look like he’s looking for something? I felt -sorry- for him so I baked him a cake.” I look at Kenshin again, I wasn’t sure what he thought of that but the Kenshin I know today can easily discern a kind gesture instead of a suspicious one.
“But yes, justice… is for everyone. That’s why he came when you were kidnapped, after all.”
“And for that I shall always be thankful, even if he is -very- hard to deal with.” My eyes settle on my husband again, “I believe Saitou’s sense of justice will one day let him look at Kenshin as more than just Battousai.”
But Okita’s here still and as I stand in between Yagi-san and Okita-san. “Sorry our conversation’s cut short Yagi-san but I’ll tell you this. When Kenshin left me, I couldn’t say anything. I just let him leave – thinking if he loved me enough, he’ll stay. But he didn’t stay and it wasn’t because he didn’t love me enough. It took many friends help to finally welcome him back to Tokyo.”
Okita addresses me again but I only remain silent. Once I put a shinai in my hands I’m always serious even if I know the difference of strength between us. But Okita Souji goes on a long discourse about his past and compares it to Kenshin. Similar but different. Kenshin was used by many men, blinded by his desire to help the helpless. But Okita followed a Kondou? But Okita doesn’t articulate what he thought this substitute father wanted of him. Odd. And yet it seems that’s precisely it, that makes him jealous of Kenshin today.
But then he speaks of Saitou-san, how the wolf was broken. And the sister that I didn’t first believe existed.
So… she’s told me that you no longer get a reprieve.”
“But where is she? For all we know, you may just be laying blame on someone elses feet! When in fact Yagi-san’s sister may be innocent in all this.” Because if he uses children and willing to kill women, he’s much more of a coward than Kanryuu.
I finally arrive. I don’t barge in right away and I’m careful to hide my ki. There are loud voices inside. Arguments?
But then I hear familiar names and voices. So he’s here but without going inside I can’t tell if she’s inside. I wait to see how this evolves. Or devolve. Right wolf?
(OOC: Kenshin can probably detect Saitou. At this point Saitou and Kenshin I think has much more recent interaction and for lack of a better term affinity than he has with Okita. Though if Okita would stop making speeches and really concerntrate he might detect Saitou. At this point I don’t consider Okita and Saitou cut from simmilar cloths, so their ki might not be as familiar anymore especially if Saitou is trying to hide it.)
(Kenshin)
But where is she? For all we know, you may just be laying blame on someone elses feet! When in fact Yagi-san’s sister may be innocent in all this
There are two Yagi-sans? This would explain… why the woman I so briefly met doesn’t seem at all like this one. As always, when I try to understand the wilderness… I can only think of the wrongs this one committed there as well.
Okita looks at Kaoru-dono carefully. “She’s more…. careful than Yagi-san. She knows when to stay hidden, and -how-. Yes, she’s the one you met in the wilderness. The one nobody cared to talk to. But she was loyal to me! Meanwhile, this one sat in the shadows and -stole- Hajime-kun from his -perfect- life – a purpose, sons… so what if his wife wasn’t some touchy chatterbox? He did better than the rest of us! And then Hajime-kun agitated to take -my- loyal Hide-san away and put in Yagi-san, so they could… cavort together in the Wilderness. And when they got run off, did they think of of her? No!”
What the hell is a rurouni?
“A swordman who wanders,” I say. “And when this one wanders, I did so to protect people. Although I no longer wander, it’s a title this one is proud to carry. Just as I do this sword.” I draw, slowly and deliberately. His ki is… unsteady and any movement… “It’s said that you were interested in swords – we knew how obsessively you did so, dragging Yagi-san behind you. You can see that this is no ordinary sword – the blade is reversed.”
Okita laughs. “What – you can’t be serious? So you don’t kill? You carry a sword, you have the powers of a -god- and you don’t -kill-? What happened to the legendary Battosai? The manslayer that paralyzed Kyoto?”
“That man is gone, that he is. At great price.” I think of the scars on my cheek… and for a moment see the face of Tomoe-dono. She still smiles for me, even after all these years.
“Then why? Why did he tell me to fight this…. this… this isn’t who I’m destined to fight?” Okita’s eyes are suddenly wild, desperate. “I lived to these times for -something- – not for some woman, but to regain my valor, my pride that my illness stole from me! And it has to be to settle this! But – you’re not even -him-!” He puts his hand to his forehead, as if dazed. He’s still, and quiet, for what feels like a long time in the soft rain that’s turning into a drizzle, and he looks down, water dripping down his face. “He’s here. Somewhere.”
It’s then I can sense, quietly… a familliar “ki”. Is he listening to this? Will he make himself known?
(Hide)
My conversation with Himura-san is cut short… but she left me with much to think about. And I remember the cake. It was… given freely, kindly.
Truth…. trust…. if I live through this thing I called down today… Do you mean to confront you Yagi-san or just to stay by you?
I hear Souji talking and he just seems… lost. Some of it makes sense. Playing with children… not because he was carefree, but because he missed that, maybe even envious? And… my sister -is- here. I can feel her. But they -both- resented Hajime and I? For the idea that I cost Hajime a life he envied? That we tore them apart when he had to leave the Wilderness?
And even more so as the Battosai shows his sword, and speaks of his life now. Souji gets quiet, and says something I can’t quite hear.
I stand, and painfully take a few steps forward.
“Souji – this isn’t your fight. That fight ended a long time ago.”
He glances over his shoulder at me. “Sit down, Yagi-san. I’m here to kill you to.”
I take another step. “No, you’re -not-. If you take out Himura-san now, it won’t give you what you want. Nor will killing me. Did the others you killed, back in the Wilderness, heal anything?”
“Stop trying to distract me!”
“You said she makes you -content-. Isn’t that enough to build a life on? If you stop… whining and look at what you have – you -lived-. We’re -all- rare creatures, we touched death too many times.” I think of another, who had a face like this, who was cruel and capricious. Who wanted to be someone he wasn’t. This one can be more, -maybe-. “It can make it… hard to live, sometimes.”
“Being content isn’t enough,” he looks at me, and then grins. “Your speeches are nice… but you’ve lost your man.”
Saitou:
I almost release a chuckle when Okita complains that the fight of his destiny is no longer the Battousai. Was he that much of an idiot? Didn’t he himself said, -he- still used a proper sword than the Rurouni? But it must be because he heard it from the horse’s mouth.
“Souji – this isn’t your fight. That fight ended a long time ago.”
And then Hide makes herself known. Throwing around that hope of hers but this is as she said, -her- Okita. The one who’s still threatening to kill her.
If you take out Himura-san now, it won’t give you what you want. Nor will killing me. Did the others you killed, back in the Wilderness, heal anything?”
And she speaks further even if I don’t see it. I can imagine she’s getting closer to him.
“You said she makes you -content-. Isn’t that enough to build a life on? If you stop… whining and look at what you have – you -lived-.
But she’s wrong about one thing… And so I finally step inside the rundown dojo.
“Tanuki… Can you get this woman out of the way?” I look at Hide. She knows better than to get close to an unstable man.
“So you won’t fight the Battousai.” I cross my arms and smoke looking down at him, “I guess you’ve lost. If you want to do what that woman tells you, you can go peacefully to prison and your Hide can visit you as much as she likes.”
Because Hide is wrong if she thinks this man who recklessly killed in the wilderness and tried to kill her regardless of their reason can simply start another life. Besides I hardly accept their reason. Those who forfeit their lives by their own doing and blames it on others deserve no mercy from me. That’s a stuff of fairy tales and this place is not of one.
(Hide)
Your speeches are nice… but you’ve lost your man
I flinch at that comment. “It’s too late for speeches with him.” Souji then laughs at that….
And then… he enters. Barely looking at me, ordering Himura-san to get me “out of the way”.
So you won’t fight the Battousai
“There’s no Battosai to fight,” he says, shoulders slumped. “You told me that he was here… I thought if I finished the last fight… they’d be proud of me, in the end, and that I could finally die -in peace-. Instead of getting there and finding they still pity me. But now there’s nothing. Taking you, or even Shinpachi-kun… nothing. I’m not you, Hajime-kun – I only had one fight. And I was too late.”
And for this man I once loved… another man I hid my true feelings while we were together, never speaking up… I feel… -sad- that that’s all he had to measure his life by.
Souji looks at me, even as Himura-san edges me back. “That’s not going to be my life. Thank you for your foolish words, Yagi-san. I’m certain that you -sincerely- meant them.” His eyes to me are cold.
He turns to address his old comrade. “And how long will I live in prison, Hajime-kun?” he asks, wearily. “If you don’t kill me one night, then your government will certainly make sure that the famous ‘Okita Souji’ is dead in the first week. And what can you actually -get- me on? Those people in the wilderness? Do you even know -who-…” he shakes his head. “I don’t even know. If I didn’t wake up covered in blood, I would have thought it… a nightmare of madness. And as for Yagi-san, you know that didn’t happen *here* and I can tell if you had to do it over… you’d have spared yourself these last few weeks of drinking the poison that she calls -hope- – that you see that she can’t -stop- offering?”
I look down at then, the over to… Hajime. I swallow as I think that name, looking at that face. “Hajime, would you? Knowing the lies I told myself so I could put on a face for you since that night? I am… very upset about Aioi, and Shindou-san told me -more-. So you wouldn’t see… see that I wasn’t perfect? That I wasn’t a good woman, who could out-paragon that paragon that is your wife?” I look at him, those cold eyes. Maybe if I had been brave enough last night to -talk- to this one… but that time has passed.
“Yagi-san – perhaps let us deal with Okita first?” the Battosai says, a slight frown on his face.
I shake my head. “That’s why he’s back. My sister saw all of this. That if Souji couldn’t extract her Judgement, that I’d do it for her, when I’ve lost everything else.” I reach into my obi, taking out my tanto and the last packet of Misao-san’s concoction, and hand it to Himura-san, and look to the gates, where I’m certain she’s -somewhere-. “There, sister. Your plans fail.” And I guess… so is my easy way.
“I’m sorry to both of you – Himura-san, Himura-san,” I say, changing another name in my head for the correct one. “That this came to your door, and disturbed your lives.”
“You told me that he was here… I thought if I finished the last fight… they’d be proud of me, in the end, and that I could finally die -in peace-. Instead of getting there and finding they still pity me. But now there’s nothing. Taking you, or even Shinpachi-kun… nothing.
“He -is- here.” I throw a sideway glance to the Battousai, -our- fight isn’t finish. “That you decide he’s not a worthy opponent is -not- my problem.”
I’m not you, Hajime-kun – I only had one fight. And I was too late.”
“And I’m supposed to take pity on you? Try fighting -hundreds- of life and death battles.” I speak to a foolish man.
And he turns to Hide and I don’t miss the look she gives him. That look that somehow she still feels responsible for this man who downright insults her and I can only shake my head. Back then he’d maybe show him mercy out of deference to her but even -I- know that’s foolish.
And back he turns to me, suddenly -complaining- about going to prison.
“You might be surprised Okita, there’s been many more men much more dangerous than you. They might not even care to remember who you are.” Because although he likes to think he’s a legend, time has dulled that legend and the complete destruction of the Shinsengumi was over a decade ago.
And what can you actually -get- me on? Those people in the wilderness? Do you even know -who-…” he shakes his head. “I don’t even know. If I didn’t wake up covered in blood, I would have thought it… a nightmare of madness.
I can only chuckle softly at that. Does he really think we need evidence? “You’ve made your confession. That’s generally enough.” I give a look at the Battousai, “But you might get lucky and tug at the heart strings of someone who may try to release you.” If that happens let’s see how he feels at mortal enemy showing him even more mercy. Or perhaps it’s his old lover Hide who will release him. Omoishiroi.
And as for Yagi-san, you know that didn’t happen *here* and I can tell if you had to do it over… you’d have spared yourself these last few weeks of drinking the poison that she calls -hope- – that you see that she can’t -stop- offering?”
I shrug, “Evil acts is everywhere. I make no differences in jurisdiction.” I take a long drag before addressing the poison called hope. “I would. She only needed to tell me she needed to leave or told me to leave and I would’ve. But since we’re still here.” I shrug. Besides I find my comfort now elsewhere. One who never needed anything and required nothing in return.
And of course she interrupts us. Asking me if I would. I’d answer her but isn’t the answer obvious? If she’s content to pretend to play house, I’ll fill my needs elsewhere. “I don’t need a woman who’s only looking for an easy way and has no interest in getting to know who I am.”
“Yagi-san – perhaps let us deal with Okita first?”
Ah… The first voice of reason. I smirk at the Battousai and the Tanuki. He got a good one. I’ll give him that. And then Hide gives him the much historied tanto and the concoction I needed. Did I know this was her plan, yes. She could’ve simply asked me and we could’ve spared ourselves and the “Himura’s” more trouble.
She apologizes to the Himura family and I go over to Okita.
“I was told I’m better than the Battousai, but that he could beat me if he was protecting someone.” I stare at him. “Maybe you can beat me if you get out of jail as payback for trying to replace your Hide in the wilderness,” I smirk, “And of course for locking you up as you say “unjustly”. You might even win now that I have no one to protect and you do. You can show Hijikata that he made a mistake trusting me more than you.”
(Okita)
I hate that look she gives me. Pity. Like when she’d take me to Asato’s and I’d have spells… but really, now, who would release me? My Hide-san can barely move in this world.
I don’t need a woman who’s only looking for an easy way and has no interest in getting to know who I am
I glance back at her. Huh. She looks… defeated.
There’s a round of apologies to the Battosai from Yagi-san oh how -nice-. And she carries that tanto? Why? She can’t use it. And some packet. Poison, I wonder, idly.
But then… Hajime-kun brings Toshi-san’s name in it and…. trust. “Oh, you’re not protecting her? Good.”
With a swift move, I pull out my tanto and throw it back, aiming at Yagi-san’s head and I hear her scream, as I draw my katana and move to strike Hajime-kun. “If I can’t have the Battosai…. and you can beat him, then-”
Then there’s a strange sound and Yagi-san… she’s running? All lopsided. “Hajime, his aim is terrible.” She’s panting, holding the side of her neck. “-You- – stop it. Go to jail and -think- about it,” she tells me. “And -stop- blaming me, or him, or our friends. And you can tell her that.” Those eyes… always beseeching, brimming with sympathy, that once wore me out with their draining neediness, have a different look. “And even though I was ready to end my life today, I’m not… forgiving you for your role.” She turns from me, in a way that feels… dismissive.
Then she steps up to Hajime-kun. “And Hajime…. I need to know the other one is still there. I know that I you’re not done yet and I’m not looking for the ‘easy way’… I just have to know that he isn’t as stupid as I almost was. Then you can deal with Souji. And whatever else.”
I fall back on the ground. Coughing. Damn rain…
(Hide)
I slump against him, cursing my ankle. “No more false hope.”
Ooc reply tom
She shouts and by instinct I move to the side as the glint of a blade tries to slice my shoulder in half. I guess I let my guard down when I tried speaking to him, offering up myself this time in place of all the other grudges he keeps. At least he still seems -lively-.
But I look back at a Hide running towards us, her holding her neck bleeding. My eyes narrow.
“Hajime, his aim is terrible.”
Was it really?
-You- – stop it. Go to jail and -think- about it,” “And -stop- blaming me, or him, or our friends. And you can tell her that.”
I’d almost grin at this had she not received another injury.
“And even though I was ready to end my life today, I’m not… forgiving you for your role.”
So I was right. Well half right. I did half expect her to run away with him. But maybe she’s finally understanding now, that we can all pretend to be friends but in fact we are not. I turn away and she steps up to me.
And Hajime…. I need to know the other one is still there. I know that I you’re not done yet and I’m not looking for the ‘easy way’… I just have to know that he isn’t as stupid as I almost was.
I look down at her. This woman who I once… But she slumps against me unable to support herself. I catch her by the arms.
“No more false hope.”
“Then don’t ask about him.” That’s the only answer I’ll give her from now on. Since the engawa is several steps away, I go ahead and scoop her from the ground. Her kimono’s already ruined but maybe her ankle can get a reprieve. I put her against a post on the engawa and remove the hand that’s holding her neck. He was a bad aim. At least with a tanto.
“It’s a shallow wound.” I tell her and look around for something cleaner to press against it. Nothing we’re both drenched so I reach inside my pocket and pull out that old tenugui I still carry around. Unfolding it, the ring she gives me a hard time with reveals itself and I take it from the cloth and put it to my breast pocket.
“Here, press this against your neck. It will keep it dry for now.”
Straightening up. I turn my attention to the coughing man on the ground. Too bad it’s a bit of ways walk from here to the TMPD’s detention center.
“Battousai, a carriage will pick her up later.” I give Hide a long glance, “It’ll be a cramped ride as the children, Eiji and Yukiko will be on it too.” I sigh and light a cigarette. What a fiasco this has been for everyone, but at least this one is over. All that’s needed is to brig him and file paperwork, that’ll take me longer to do I presume.
So everything that we experienced is still from that time more than five years ago? It was a hard time for everyone, even Kenshin, Misao-chan, Megumi-san and obviously Saitou-san and Yagi-san. I put down my shinai now that Okita is down on the ground just coughing. I guess I came out of that place unscathed. I watch as Saitou-san ties up Okita’s hands and ties him onto the horse. He’s making him walk… Like a common criminal but Okita isn’t an ordinary man.
I sit down on the engawa besides Yagi-san as the rain subsided. “We’ll wait for the carriage to come for you. Ne Yagi-san?” I smile. For now the threat of Okita Souji will be suppressed in jail. And I hope just like what Yagi-san told him, he has some time to reflect. But what about the sister? Won’t she at least visit him? It’s better I think if she does but would she cause trouble?
(OOC: Saitou will send the carriage with the children over. There’s still some police presence at the house. Saitou will come home later that night to check up on the residents.)
Then don’t ask about him
I’m the one who said “no false hope”, aren’t I? And… I’ll have to go on that, at least. I nod, but I’m surprised as he picks me up and puts me back on the engawa.
He offers me her tenugui… where the ring I gave him is wrapped up. I hold the cloth to my neck – it’s a shallow cut and… I’m surprised that it didn’t kill me, had his aim been true. I look up at him for a second, the face of the man… for a moment I can’t breathe, seeing him.
I can’t chase the past. I can’t fix the past. I can only go forward. Even if that takes me where I don’t want to go.
I look at the man who’s being tied up behind a horse, like a common criminal. His head down, and he glances over… and I look away. What changed that night of the judgement is clear to me now. I look away. “Goodbye, Souji,” I say, quietly.
Himura-san sits down beside me, as it all gets quiet. A carriage… where were the children in all of this? I thought they’d be safe at school, at home…
I watch Hajime lead his prisoner off. “I thought my sister would show, for this. I… know when she’s around.” I smile a little, maybe now she understands a bit, “but she’s not the one who jumps into a fight, making speeches. She watches. And waits.” I close my eyes, and then open them, seeing her husband by the gate, alert. “But she holds no threat to you or your family. I’m sorry that this one did…. and despite that, thank you for what you both did today.”
“I also wanted to thank you for being a friend to Hajime in the wilderness. For the cake, even if you were sorry for him – you remembered, and… you didn’t ask for anything in return.” What a fateful day. Did my mistakes start then? The need to compete with his wife? The next part comes out… harder. “And for what you’ve said today. I… I’ve never had many friends. I need this, sometime. I hope one day I can repay you.” I look away from those bright eyes.
Kaoru:
As I went near her, I heard her say goodbye to Okita. Will she really be alright? I heard from Kenshin, this Okita had originally been hers so to speak. And right now Saitou-san is showing him no mercy, but that’s how I’ve always known Saitou.
She starts talking about her sister. That this sister holds no threat and that she’s sorry for what happened today. I nod. “Thank you. But even if there is still a threat, we’ve seen more than this Yagi-san.” I can’t imagine the Bakumatsu but… “At least this time our dojo stayed intact.”
And she thanks me for Saitou, that was so long ago. I never even thought much about it.
“And for what you’ve said today. I… I’ve never had many friends. I need this, sometime. I hope one day I can repay you.”
“That’s what friends do Yagi-san.” I smile looking up, thinking of all our friends. She looks away and I reach out to hold her hand. “And friends don’t pay each other back.” I laugh a little, “Well unless they’re faking it.”
“Now get some rest. I think Kenji is going to be -so- happy to see Makoto-chan and the rest.” Because didn’t Saitou say her family is going home together? I give her hand one last squeeze and then tell Kenshin I’m getting us another set of tea.
(OOC: you may close. it’s assumed they get back to the house just by dinner time.)
“Your carriage is here, Yagi-san,” he says.
I nod, getting up, stiffly, letting go of Himura-san’s hand. I wish them both goodbye. Do I really have a friend here? I… I’d like to think so.
But for now the carriage stops. Tsutomu-kun looking away, and there’s something weird in his eyes as his eyes briefly look back. I squeeze in next to Yukiko-san and Makoto, and Ai-chan lunges over at me, fussing. Makoto takes my other hand. “I got to see chichiue’s office. But nobody would tell me anything and it’s not fun like I thought. I didn’t see anything at all except his desk and it was all locked.” But she’s trembling as she sits next to me. Still… she’s warm and real and I let go of her hand to put my arm around her.
Eiji-san looks out the window. I… I’ve done him wrong, as well.
“When we get back, I’m going to change and feed Ai-chan. Then I’ll make dinner.” I soothe Ai-chan.
(OOC – close)