This was something I had to do alone, although I know Yuunosuke is probably upset I bowed out of going to Yagi-san’s again for dinner. I still owe the kids a cake too but for now, this is more important.
I’ve been trailing him all day ever since he got into the office. He didn’t spend much time there and instead was making the rounds all over Tokyo. When was “patrolling” ever part of his job truly? The only time he’d go on patrol is as an excuse to stake out something else, but this time? He seems legitimately, -carefully- observing the younger recruits and taking note of what they are doing in that little notebook of his. Just like an ordinary cop on the beat… And he did this first thing in the morning and then again after lunch time. It was so mundane that I can’t believe it is the same man who used to go into the most dangerous and violent of missions. Did they demote him?
He also made a stop at the police hospital and I guess he’s there to meet that Dr. Tenma? Normally I wouldn’t have pried on someone else’s medical records but I wanted to know what happened and so I asked for Chief Toshio’s permission to use his clearance privileges and thankfully he agreed. I suppose the Chief is still very grateful for what that man did in Kyoto so many years ago. It was then that I found out about his -own- attempt on his life, though he’d rather call it “rest”, though it may have been accidental arising from PTSD is what’s on the official report. I’ll have to question this “Tenma” at some point, why are they pumping him so much drugs? Did he ask for it himself? Why does he need it still? Is he ill?
He spent more than an hour there and then he’s back to doing one last set of rounds. Doesn’t he ever get tired of just walking around? I guess not, as he’s even picked up the pace this time and I can hardly keep up. I admit trailing him half a street away is difficult in my condition but any closer and I’m sure he’ll catch me. Then my “investigation” will be all over. Although there were a few close calls there as I saw him look towards his back a few times, thankfully I’m quick to blend into the crowd since I just wore a plain thicker kimono today to ward off the cold. He really should wear a coat himself. But I suppose he doesn’t seem to care about it as long as he gets to smoke. Does that keep him warm enough though?
But I don’t get to think too much about the cold as he makes a turn and I realize that we’re in the direction of the red light district Yoshiwara. And it’s changed! A lot. Like it was burned down and now it’s being rebuilt. Is this where his woman is? I wait for him to enter the gates but he doesn’t, instead he speaks to the guards there and walks around inspecting the perimeter. Maybe he’ll return to here tonight! And if so, I’m going too!
That done he finally leaves and after a while, he (and I) return to the TMPD and the sun is almost set. I wait in an alley for what I think is maybe an hour and I see him again leave. He’s going home? But where to? He stops at a soba stand but then stops at another store and buys some grilled mackarel and sea breem. Finally he buys a bottle of sake! I thought he had quit drinking? He said it made him reckless and wanting to kill people. I’ve always thought the “wanting to kill” was a joke, but certainly I can see him not liking the idea of being rash or hasty. But I can’t stop him because I’m still hiding and so I follow him past the market but in the direction of Yagi-san’s house. Is he going home there? But he doesn’t. Not even half-way he turns and enters the grounds of a machiya and I bend down the fence and hide behind the bushes as he knocks on the door.
“Oh you’re late.”
“I had a lot of things to do.”
I look from behind the bush and there’s a woman, -the- woman, that Yagi-san was talking about? She’s beautiful, long wavy hair and knows how to carry a kimono. But she has ornaments on her hair and I -know- what those ornaments are! I’ve seen them before and I used to -love- them. She’s one of -us-. She’s a juyo! A prostitute! He’s been keeping her?! He’s exchanged his family for this woman?
“You look tired Hajime-han.”
“Ah. I brought dinner.”
He brings her food? Well I’ve yet to truly meet a Juyo who can cook. It’s not exactly a sought after trait in the brothels.
“How thoughtful of you. I see you’ve also brought wine.”
“It’s a cool night. I need to warm up.”
Had he said that with a bit more gusto, I’d have believe he’s planning for more than just a “warm up” – but he says it so flatly.
“I can get you “warmed” up.”
I peer again through the leaves. She’s a lot more thoughtful than I thought, but she needs to be to be able to keep him or perhaps entrap him… They go inside and I scurry to get a better vantage point, now that he’s gone inside and they’ve closed the door I can only see their silhouette through the shoji door and window. He takes off his jacket and she lets down her hair but he goes immediately to take a drink? Ah the sake but she takes it away from him and goes up to kiss him. Putting her arms around him, like he was hers. He responds with some necking but after some time pushes her away, reaching once again for a drink.
I’ve seen this from him so many times, except it was -me- who was being pushed away. I can hear a woman’s laugh and she sits down while he gets undressed? Are they going to? But then he immediately puts on what seems to be a kimono, after which he sits down and takes another -long- swig at the sake. I can see the woman holding something close to her mouth, a pipe maybe? But as soon as he sits down, she’s on him again, sitting on his lap and as their shadows mix, I can only imagine the petting that’s going on. She’s pretty aggressive isn’t she? And he’s not taking charge like he used to do back then but she separates from him, offering him some sake and he takes it. Once, twice, thrice! She’s going to get him drunk, to dull his senses! Didn’t he used to tell me that only a fool would fall for that woman’s trick? I -tried- it with him and it didn’t work. But he’s letting this woman?
I squat there trying to figure out what to do. How to -save- this idiot before he does things he will regret. I consider bursting through the door and just telling it to the two of them straight but that -never- works with him. It might even push him to that woman’s arms just to prove a point! And it’s then that it struck me, is that what happened here? What happened to -them-? Hajime you’re so far, so in too deep now that you’re willing to go down this ship…
Then I hear the door slide open and I recoil back into the bush. I see him carrying a small bag and now in a shabbier kimono and hakama.
“Really now Hajime. I’m starting to think you just come here to dress.”
“You said it yourself Aioi, I was tired.” He says it so monotonously.
“Well it’s your lost.” She smiles knowingly at him, “Or did you just want to get heated up for that hime-sama of yours?”
His face darkens and I’m certain he’s about to tell her off but he ends up just lighting a cigarette. “You should be -thankful-.” He grins at her, “I brought you dinner.”
“Oh I’m -very- thankful Mibu no Ookami-sama.” She bows to him with a sort of flourish as he turns his back and raises his hand, still with the bottle of sake, as a gesture of goodbye.
Mibu no Ookami? Only those in Kyoto who knows the story of the Shinsengumi would know such a name. I’m about to get out of my hiding spot as I need to follow him but the woman instead stays on the engawa. Her gaze obviously following his back long after he’s gone. Does he mean something to her other than a provider? She’s not in a brothel anymore. She would be considered a free woman and yet, here she is allowing herself to be held up by him. Perhaps he’s blackmailing her?! He is a cop after all – it’s not unheard of for a man in power to subdue at risk women who has -nowhere- else to go.
I wait again for her to leave but she doesn’t do so and I know I’ve lost his trail. I need to speak with Yagi-san. How much does she know?
(OOC: Saya is stuck in the bushes until Aioi leaves and she didn’t leave the engawa until a full 30 minutes later. Saya returns to the lodgings after this.)