It’s past lunch time. I had no appetite again but at least my administrative work is done and I’m once again having to take care of personal issues. No these are not “personal” issues only, this is part of my job to make this Tokyo a safer place. Certainly a former Shinsengumi captain who cannot find any semblance of peace and wields his sword indiscriminately is a threat. But of course I can’t deny the truth that drives me to make sure this is taken cared of, the truth that I can’t stand the idea that Hide will be under his blade again.
I stare a bit at the table as I smoke. Who are you, you idiot? Who disguises this for a job and yet who does it for a woman?
That I loved.
That’s right. -You- “loved”. But NOT anymore.
I choke a bit at the smoke that I inhaled too forcefully.
This man in my head, who’s still -crazy- about that woman needs to -go-. What made him so obssessed with her anyway? The sex? When I checked it out, it wasn’t that good. She hardly even moved and insulted my name. I sigh a little, knowing the difficulties consummating it with Aioi. Now -she- was good if only I can find a way to get -rid- of him.
She wants out. I want out too. Then she says it’s premature? What the hell? It must be a trick. She used to trick him yes? Tell him she loves him but then never saw him, much less see me. She would ghost & gaslight him, ignore him and everything else important to him, cherry picking what’s convenient and easy for her. Of course he catered to her, waited for her, gave her songs, played to her desires and whim. He was such an idiot always hoping for more eventhough he knew he’d be disappointed at -best-. And yet she complained, just like that song he “didn’t bring me flowers anymore”.
And I ended up doing that too last night. I shake my head and ash my cigarette and stuck the thing in my mouth. The whole shebang. Letting her “fix” me, giving her songs, telling her my “feelings”. I even kissed her goodbye…
You’re as pathetic as I was.
No I’m not and you are the pathetic one and much more of a fool!
In Osaka, I only saved her for her own sake because that’s what justice is. But he read that damn diary with such anguish and now here we are trying to save her lover -again-. The good one, the one that made the damn stars twinkle!
“Fujita-san!” A knock comes on the door and I… It takes a while for me to gain my composure.
“Come in.” I bark after a minute.
“Go inside.” The rooster head is pushed into my office and the door locked.
“It’s about time you called for me.” He grins and I manage a smirk.
“You know next time, you can just ask reception for Superintendent Fujita.”
He grins and looks around, “Ah… I thought I did but I guess I said Lieutenant. I see you’ve done well for yourself.”
“Well sit down. Make yourself comfortable Sanosuke.”
And he flops himself down on the sofa, his arms stretched out with that familiar twig on his mouth. “So what’s the plan?”
(OOC: to be continued)
Sano left and needless to say I am glad he’s come. The Battousai told me that it’s his unpredictable nature that makes things happen and that he can be counted upon. There are few things that the Battousai and I agree with and this is one of them. Still an ahou of course. But it will take him a day or two to arrange everything I asked for and I’m sure he’s going to stop by the dojo to let them know Okita will soon be out of their hair.
I go stand by the window, as always the day has gotten away from me. She wanted to get to Okita so quickly, settle it I suppose now that she and I decided we’re done. I smirk a little, maybe she wants to finally be rid of her sister? Or are they just going to “share” him? I smirk a little at the thought and take a hit on my cig. Lucky guy.
Just a month ago I was adamant she’ll no longer be with Okita. Not after what she said she did in her diary and his audacious remark of being a “legend”. He didn’t deserve her and I was a -fool- for wanting to give her, her dream. And now? I still think it’s -foolish- and so I’ll put a stop to it.
Heh. You are one green-eyed monster.
No. I’m only upholding justice.
Justice? But what about last night? How tempted you were to bed the woman again?
My eyes narrow at the thought of that. Why did she come? We were -done-. She wanted to fix things? With words again? Was it a game? To see how far she can push me or make me give in? I can’t think too much about that. About fidelity and honor or how to be good or how to love. Those things are gone along with my hope. I never had much hope in the first place and she knew that so why even bother to ask? Ah… To show me my undesirable traits I guess. This man who foolishly waited for her to take care of his house, his needs and his past. Well… It’s not all her fault. It was his for “hoping” for too much.
I light the last of my cigarette. I’m not sure how many I’ve smoked standing here but the wind blows and it’s so much cooler now that it is dark.
I should go home…
To where? You idiot…
I could go to the machiya… It’s not too late.
And it’s then that he’s come for me again. I can feel it stronger this time as I drop my lit cigarette and it burns a part of the wooden floor.
I’m tired of this.
Clawing at my chest, I lose some wind but I manage to get back to my desk. This time I take out not only the weasel girl’s new concoction but the old one. The much stronger one that Hide didn’t flush down. I take several packets and down them one by one until everything in front of me was empty.
You’ll be dead soon.
I tell my old self with an evil grin.
So just stay quiet.
Suddenly everything turns black. Good.
(OOC: Saitou will remain unconscious for at least 24 hours. His door is locked and none in the TMPD will notice anything out of the ordinary as he’s usually low key.)
(Misao)
“I want to go check on Saitou,” I say, after dinner, to Himura-san. It’s fun to see Sano-san again but wow, something just sounded strange about his tale of being Okita Souji’s “cellie”…. and now Saitou has him on some mission that he’s sworn to secrecy about… Saitou asking for Sano-san’s help?
“Do you wish for this one to come with you, Misao-dono?” he asks. I wonder if he’s concerned, too.
I shake my head. “If he’s fine, he’ll be really grumpy to see you,” I say, shaking my head.
I get into the precinct, and to his office. The door is locked, but I smell cigarettes… I take a moment to feel it. It’s not fresh. Maybe he’s gone? But there’s also a faint smell of burnt wood. And while the offices for “important” people on this hall feel closed for the day, there’s still a light on under. I knock, once, twice, a third time…. nothing. “Fujita-san?” I call out. Nothing.
I glance down the hall. Nobody’s around, and it’s not a hard lock for me… I pop it open.
He’s on the floor! I close the door behind me, and put two fingers on his neck, feeling a pulse…
It’s there, but light. “Come on, come on….” He’s breathing, but it’s shallow. It’s then I spot the pile of papers on his desk – with the embossed mark of the Oniwabanshuu on them. Not just of the ones I brought him, but at least one of the original ones as well.
“Saitou, you -ahou-,” I say, muttering one of his favorite curses.
I know how to treat this… I close my eyes for a moment wishing for Aoshi-san, who does the parts with needles and veins so calmly and smoothly….
I then look up and see someone else in the room. “You didn’t lock the door, Misao-dono.” If I had the time, I’d run up and hug Himura-san. But he kneels next to me and looks over Saitou.
“Saitou… took a lot of a medicine that’s rather toxic,” I say. “I can treat it, but not here.”
“You can bring him to the dojo, Misao-dono, you know that,” he offers.
I know Saitou would -hate- that, but it’s closer than his home, and I need to get to my things and -fast-. I nod. “Then you go and get Yagi-san once he’s there – in another time and place, she trained as a nurse.” He looks at me, confused, but I know he has to be aware of -things-. But now’s not the time! And I don’t know which doctors here in Tokyo to trust – with Gensai-sensei retired out to the country and Megumi-san still chasing her tail in Aizu…
“Do you think we both can carry him down? And then find a carriage?” I ask. I take off his uniform coat so he doesn’t look so much like a police officer. Maybe just some drunk being carried home… I also sweep the papers off into my pocket – I’ll need to count them to get right the dosage for treatment.
(OOC – pausing in case anyone sees and/or interacts as they leave and go to the dojo)
(OOC: No one will, otherwise they’d be stopped.)
(Kenshin)
Misao-san and I get Saitou back to the dojo… where she is joined by Kaoru-dono in setting up a sickbed as Misao-san goes through her pack, which carries a surprising amount of weapons and little packets. Saitou is… out. He wouldn’t take a lot of medicine unless… I shake my head. That’s not the man I’ve known all these years, crossed swords with anytime.
“I’ll be back with Yagi-san,” I say.
I’m quick getting there, it’s already dark. I could just leap over these gates, but if they’re still on alert for Okita-san… well, I knock loudly. I’ll try this first, but Misao-san indicated that time important. “Yagi-san!” I call out. It’s then I remember that she’s nearly been crippled… well, this one will carry her if needed.
(OOC – Kenshin is loudly banging on the gate)
Eiji:
I’m just coming back. I purposely left earlier and just coming back now that I know Yukikk has gone to get the kids. But what do I find but Kenshin-san.
“Please come in Kenshin-san, only Yagi-san would be home and she’s probably tending to Ai-chan.”
I open the gates for him and lead him inside.
“What brings you here Kenshin-san?” I don’t want to jump to conclusions. But my worry is building.
(Kenshin)
“Saitou has fallen ill and this one and Misao-san brought him to the dojo. Misao-san thinks that Yagi-san would be useful…” And of course, she’d want to be there, even though Kaoru-dono told me some of her recent conversations with Yagi-san…
Eiji-san guides me inside… this one has kept his distance to this house after what happened with Tokio-san.
Yagi-san comes out with an adorable (but plump) baby, and her look goes from confusion to dread. “Himura-san… what’s happened?” This one doesn’t miss how she clutches the baby to her…
“Saitou took ill at the preceint. Misao-san found him, he’s at the dojo now, and she requested you.” Then I remember what Misao-san said…. “You have medical training? Do you need to get anything?”
The baby just -looks- at me – and she has Saitou’s eyes! Yagi-san looks stunned, but then seems to shake it off. “Eiji-san, could you mind Ai-chan until Yukiko-san gets home, please?” She hands the baby over to Eiji-san and goes to a room in the back, coming back out with a wrap, a bag and a small can. “Eiji-san, this can will feed Ai-chan… there’s only one jar in the icebox for her of my milk,” she says, taking a moment to kiss her daughter on her head of curly hair.
“Come by the dojo later – maybe Hajime can come home?” Her eyes dart over to me, but I don’t respond… because this one does not know. “Or at least… for news to bring back. Please… you know Tsutomu-kun’s nightmares, so…. watch him specially, please?”
She grabs her cane.
(OOC – Kenshin and Hide will leave unless stopped)
EIJI:
Kenshin-san doesn’t provide too much detail whether to me or Yagi-san. Only that father has taken ill. He was just fine and I want to ask for more but I have to be patient. If he’s at the dojo and not in a hospital then perhaps his illness only needs bed rest. But I wonder what happened? Just this morning he was full of plans.
The baby is handed to me along with her food. And I keep Ai-chan close to my chest.
“I’ll stop by the dojo later.” And she’s worried about Tomu, “I won’t way anything until we know more.” And even then? It depends…
I watch them leave. Yukiko will be arriving soon with the children I think.
Ooc I should add that kaoru will be at the dojo just arrived a few minutes ahead of kenshin and hide with kenji.
(OOC – Kenshin and Hide exit to a new thread)