Saitou:
I’ve done everything I can at the precinct and so that only left Aioi this afternoon. The truth was up until I got to the Machiya I still was debating whether we’re to proceed with our entrapment. I could still ask her to proceed with it this evening, after all she still has access to him. He gets to continue as is, for -now-. Still it leaves me off-kilter. The longer this takes, the longer everything else does including… My eyes narrow.
“Lately you’ve just been standing at my door. Either decide to come in or get out.”
Suddenly back -here-, I scowl a bit at that and go inside.
“Eh?” She says to me as I go by the window smoking. “Not in a good mood? Your prey is back in Tokyo.”
“I know.” I say in a low tone and she comes up to me. Taking my cigarette and kissing the side of my lips. I can only look at her.
“One day won’t matter would it? Or if you really want, with some “changes” I’m willing to risk it tonight.”
I take back my cig from her and go back to smoking. “I already know that man is back in Tokyo.” In fact, I even sent an officer back to Shimonoseki to investigate the attempted assassination on that pig’s life. I’d mind if someone else got to him instead of me.
“Ah you’re grumpy today.” She lightly taps her fan on my chest. “What happened at the TMPD? And why aren’t we doing this tonight?”
I tilt my head just looking at her. Someone used to ask about my day back then. But I suppose this is as good as any. I shrug, “Kawaji isn’t satisfied with merely eliminating them.”
“Oh that’s surprising.” She looks at me, “I’ve never heard him oppose your measures before.”
I let out an exasperated breath, “It’s because of politics. I’m sure. He’s one of -them- now.” Ashing the cigarette I continue, “It took a while but in the end I suppose he did remove my shackles.”
Suddenly she laughs and goes to the table and after pouring a drink comes back and offers it to me. I look at it for a moment and rid myself of the cigarette and take the alcohol that’s offered.
“Well then, if you really wanted to. You can kill him tonight.” She says, “And of course I’ll help.”
Drowning the sake I give her back the cup. Looking at the window sill, I shake my head a little, “Though I’d like nothing else for this to be done and get Hide the peace of mind she needs, taking down that swine in a hurry might tip that witch.”
“Such a simple matter Hajime-han.” She comes back with another cup, “All he needs is to take a known vacation while he disappears, that give you enough time for that mama-san doesn’t it?”
That is true and I’ve considered every possibility of how to do this -now-, but aside from the hurdle that Kawaji placed and -conveniently- tore down, it’s the people of that village that’s holding me back. I look at the liquid in the cup. Those people, they were unlike the village of Shingetsu where every man was for himself. If I do what -I- want and that witch finds out, she’ll not only get away but cause the people of that town much more hardship before she leaves. For a moment, I think back to my time in Ito with Hide, the first time I came and I was mostly my self and the second time where I’ve lost everything I “knew”. Forgetting everything, for a moment I thought I could live in that town by the sea, working as a fisherman and coming home before sunset. But slowly the idyllicness of the place ate up at me and by the time I got myself back, I was willing to go straight to Hokkaido as a prison warden if I couldn’t get back to Tokyo. Thankfully I did get back to Tokyo, but not without consequences. And I empty my cup once again.
“Ah it’s too bad you’re unwilling to do him in tonight.”
She sounds almost disappointed and I wonder -why- but instead I nod and make a bad joke, “It’s too bad that the attempt on his life during that unveiling of the statue wasn’t very successful. Our work would’ve been done.” I scoff a bit. “I bet it only landed that father and son in jail.” Those idiots…
She laughts softly at that and and takes back my cup. “Another one?” She asks but I shake my head, I can’t go back to the rowhouses if I’m too drunk.
“Now tell me what happened in Ito…” she tilts her head with a smile but remains at the table, “Isn’t that some peaceful sleepy tourist town?”
I simply nod my head at that but I don’t tell Aioi Hide’s and my connection to it, rather -was- our connection to the place. “But I suppose it’s the perfect place to hide out for that woman.” I shrug, “She has a small army of goons assisting her.” But I don’t tell her my connections to that town.
“Ah such a shame that such a peaceful tourist town is being turned asunder.”
I glance at Aioi, looking at the woman whom I’ve been with back then and I suppose now with a quiet admiration. I have no intentions of involving her any further. But I shake off that feeling. Besides didn’t I tell myself, Miyagawa will be our last job together? I need to let Aioi -free-.
“You said he arranged for an exclusivity contract at the Hachirou?” I ask.
“Ah yes, that -pig-.” She smiles but then immediately avert her eyes and I have to wonder why is that? A more appropriate reaction was her rolling her eyes. But I can’t worry about that for now.
“So you’ll have to go tonight.” I say and go near where she’s standing. “I’m sorry about the delay.” This I tell her truthfully and meet her eyes, “But it will only be for a week or so… So try to bear with it.”
She merely nods and with that, I’m hit with a pang of guilt.
“Get some rest and be ready. They’ll be expecting you tonight.” And I’m not sure which other nights he’ll use her.
But as I turn to leave, she touches my arm. “I can get some rest, but being -ready- Hajime-han.” She looks up at me and I can’t quite read the expression on her face but it’s not her usual…
“I need…” She tightens her hold on my arm.”Can you help me prepare for tonight?”
“Prepare for what?” I ask confused at this request.
“That pig doesn’t know how to prepare a woman.” She looks away suddenly, as I’m sure the surprise is plain on my face. She pauses and takes a moment to summon the next words,”He does it raw… and it’s painful.”
I blink. Stunned at this revelation. Not once had she ever let it slip what happens between her and whatever man she’s been with. Not like this at least. She’s a -professional- of course. She’d normally laugh it off, well except for the other night when she got mad at me for waking up the next day and wanting to leave, which is what we -do- or did back then.
“Please just… before I get dressed.” She pulls me over and I have to make a decision. I didn’t mean for it to happen a second time but it did. No that’s -not- true. I -did- let it happen.
Besides it doesn’t matter anymore.
(OOC: To be continued in Ruffian’s Row)
(Late Evening at the Row Houses)
“Should I arrest you for breaking and entering?”
I turn around and it’s that cop! “I thought you said, you were going to get out of our hair!”
He grins a little. “Change of plans. I still have to crash here after all.”
“Guess you’re staying in Tokyo a while then?”
“Hopefully not too long.” He answers and goes to the door, looking at my handiwork. “Why’d you do this? It’s not like I’m going to pay you extra.”
“Hey! Be -happy- I did!” I scoff at him, “Besides sometimes people do things just because it’s the -right- thing to do.”
And he looks at me and suddenly grins and shrugs. “Suit yourself.”
He goes inside and is that -perfume- I smell? Curious I follow him inside as he removes his shoes and settles comfortably to one side. He takes out some soba and starts eating while totally ignoring me!
“Did you just come back from drinking?” I ask, because he must’ve right? Since he’s basically drowning in that smell.
“No boy.” He looks up and goes back to eating. “I can’t tonight, I have a second job to go to in the morning.”
“A second job?” I tilt my head and grin at him back, “You hard up you cop? They must not pay you anything in the TMPD.” I jest.
He sighs and puts his food down, “No. The government pays a fair price.”
So he must make a ton of money then? I mean just that job with Shishio should’ve netted him a fortune!
“Don’t look so surprised about my other job.” He puts away what he’s eating, “I have a lot of other extra expenses to keep up with.”
“Wow Saitou. Never thought you’d have a life outside of your “corrupt” police job.” I laugh a little. “So what is this second job of yours?”
He looks up at me and grimaces. “It’s at the Metropolitan Museum. I maintain their Japanese sword collection.”
Wow… that’s actually kind of impressive. But I shouldn’t be surprised, he seems like the sword type. Though why does he prefer to use a nameless katana? And he breaks a -lot- of them too! “Well if you do good there, maybe you can retire from the police. Get yourself a respectable job.”
I’m kidding of course but he scowls and I guess he’s a bad sport. “Boy why are you still here? Don’t you have a rabbit to go have a date with?”
“Again you cop! She’s not a rabbit! She’s TSU-BA-ME-chan!” I show him my fist, “Get it right next time or else…”
He simply snickers and lights a cigarette. “She must really look forward to seeing you. It must be nice.”
He looks up the ceiling and blows his smoke towards it. Suddenly he’s quiet. I’d ask him about that really earthy smell but something tells me it’s probably not a subject I should broach right now. So instead I tell him about what happened this week.
“By the way, Yukiko’s your niece right?”
“Yes.” But he doesn’t turn and keeps looking up and I have to wonder what he’s staring at, on the dark wooden ceiling.
“She came to Tsubame’s party. She’s a very nice girl, I’m sorry I was such a jerk to her before.”
“Well boy…” He places the cigarette on his lips and blows smoke rings before continuing, “Once in a while, a -man- can be a jerk or even worst.”
What’s that supposed to mean? I purse my lips. He’s such an odd man. “But it’s too bad though, no one else came from your house except her. Kaoru even tried to invite Yagi-san over and I’m sure she’d have brought the children too. Kenji would’ve had a blast but he was bored the entire time.”
“That brat?” He let’s out a snort and tilts his head to the side looking at me. “And Yukiko went alone with you? Her Aunt approved of it? I guess it’s alright, her only real friend is Eiji and likely now her… aunt.”
“Well Kaoru came to invite Yagi-san over, even offered up Kenshin’s protection but she’s too afraid I guess.” I shrug. “And yeah it was obvious she doesn’t get around much and she seemed to -miss- Eiji when we spoke of him.”
I can see his eyes turn to my direction but his head doesn’t move.
“She’d listen in on stories we had to tell about Eiji, but you know what? When I asked her how he was doing and where he is now, she didn’t even know.” I shake my head. “He came to us before he left and let us know he was joining the army again heading north. Didn’t he tell you guys? I was going to tell her but I thought it was weird that Eiji didn’t.”
“Ah well. I know where he went.” Then he turns his head, “And since you seem to know, it’s best you not tell her nor her Aunt.”
“Why?”
He looks at me as if he’s assessing me. “Some things are better left alone.”
“Taku! She looked sad you know. You shouldn’t let whatever happened to you and Yagi-san spill over to others.”
He only snorts at that and goes back to smoking.
“No wonder Yagi-san got tired of you.” But then I ask him, “So what is Yagi-san afraid of that she can’t even leave the house, even with Kenshin nor even Chief Uramura?”
“It’s better she stay where it’s safe for her.” He ashes the cigarette on the ashtray beside him.
“But that’s no way to live! Being a prisoner in your own house.” I prod on, “Kaoru said that it was you who was mostly forbidding Yagi-san to go outside.”
Suddenly he turns his head with a heated look on his face but it disappears as soon as it started. “It will be over soon enough.” He sighs, “Now boy. Can you go home to your rabbit and leave me alone? I have to be bright and early tomorrow.”
“Fine.” I go ahead and put my sandals on. “But hey Saitou, make sure you take a bath. You kind smell funny.”
“Ahou… You wouldn’t even know.” He hisses, “Now get out.”
With a grin, I close the door and try the lock again. Good. It worked.
(OOC: Yahiko and Saitou stays in their respective “row house”.)