Saitou:
I had to meet with Takikawa-san before coming here, mostly to explain why I had to leave so suddenly with no explanation. Also to tell him that Hide, or rather Yagi-san to him, had relocated closer to her estranged relatives and that I needed to impose on his hospitality again. However this time he didn’t seem convinced and I had no choice but to name drop Muriyama’s name to get him to say yes to taking me in for a few days. I’ve dressed inconspicuously trying to blend in the “tourists” that’s left in the town. There’s a certain somberness to the place unlike last year when I lived here. But it is -winter-, not summer. Still there’s no sounds of laughter from families, women and especially of children. The few women and children that I did meet tended to scurry off as soon as I lock eyes with them. I touch my chin where a stubble had started growing. I haven’t shaved in a while compared to when I was here last.
It’s difficult getting a word to Sugiyama in advance and it would be dangerous to do so. So I’m left staking out the place, waiting and watching but it’s getting late and I’ve been here a few hours. The straw hat I wear -helps- with the cold but soon it will be dark as the sun sets earlier these winter days. There’s little chance Sugiyama will come out once it’s dark but I think she’ll still venture out during the day just to get away from those people.
Thankfully the cold works both ways and it seems that the security at the onsen is quite lacking. The witch’s lackeys must be sheltering from the cold. Their type always looks for comfort and convenience after all – as long as the witch is not looking. I reach into my pocket to start a smoke but decide against it. I can’t risk anyone spotting me.
(Sugiyama)
One of the maids, one of the few who have stayed since the “old” days and remain loyal, found me to let me know that she saw a man around the place. Straw hat, strange bangs? Could it be…
Is it? It’s been a day. The old woman has been… agitated today, fussing and demanding that thankfully has kept me at her bidding and not the object of that bastard Yamato’s lechery… but he did have a closed-door meeting today with her, and I heard her shouting about “money, he wants -more- money!”. More complaints of a headache, after. She drove off the only doctor in Ito so we’re left with herbalists…
I’m stopped as I go outside, one of her guards looks me over. He’s drunk, and he eyes me -openly-. “Wait, where you going, little rabbit?” He laughs at his own joke about my name.
“Madame wishes for fresh water from the back well,” I tell him. He nods, with the cold weather that recently arrived most of this crowd spends time either in a hot bath, drunk, or both. I slip away before they ask more questions.
I get to the place where he was seen earlier. “Is someone out here?” I ask. I shiver in the cold.
Saitou:
“Is someone out here?”
That woman… Quickly I get out of my hiding spot and pull her arm, dragging her where we likely won’t be seen. I peak out from the dense foliage just to check she wasn’t followed but I ask her to follow me a few feet away from where she started.
“I thought you weren’t going to come out.” I look at her. I’d ask her how she is but I decide not to. She looks worse for wear and it’s only been a couple of days.
“I should tell you that I have a few people working to help us. Muriyama and what’s left of his men in the police and Miyake, the fisher man.” I finally light a smoke, “You’d know Muriyama Buchou of course? And it’s not too important if you’re not acquianted with Miyake-san.”
“Did you manage to get the information I asked for last time? To keep aware of who comes and goes and at what time?” I glance back at her, “I’m interested if a man named Yamato has been meeting with the old witch or at least some of his men in the police.” That’s my first order of business, to get back order in this place after all.
But I have another, more important to myself personally. “Also… I didn’t ask of you this before but do you have access to the books that implicates Hide as embezzling for Tanaka? I’d like to secure those before we put the operation in place.”
(OOC: I should add that Yamato wouldn’t himself typically go to the Sugiyama onsen, though his policemen certainly enjoys themselves there.)
(Sugiyama)
“I thought you weren’t going to come out.
I’m here…? But he leaves this alone, and I’m glad. He should understand that I’m risking what little I have left for this operation…
You’d know Muriyama Buchou of course? And it’s not too important if you’re not acquianted with Miyake-san.
I nod, they’re both good men, and men who stayed despite it all. “Yes, of course with Muriyama-san, and Miyake-san used to… in the old days, take city people out fishing.” How much we used to make from people who paid to do work!
I’m interested if a man named Yamato has been meeting with the old witch or at least some of his men in the police.
“The police come here often to “bust” gambling but it’s just a shake-down unless they’re people connected to Madame… they spend most of their pay here on the same vice, as well as others,” I tell him. I think back to when this was a legitimate place. It’s even worse now than the most disreputable corners of Atami… “Yamato was here earlier, spoke with her alone, and left me outside, but whatever it was, she was unhappy – someone wanted more money but had nothing to show for it. He left just a while ago,” I try to recall everything. “She’s been very agitated overall lately. She wants me to call for a doctor from Osaka in the morning.”
Also… I didn’t ask of you this before but do you have access to the books that implicates Hide as embezzling for Tanaka? I’d like to secure those before we put the operation in place.
I shake my head. “No, she keeps those, as well any other records, in a large safe in her room. She does the bookkeeping herself, although she brought in an outsider to make the fake records.” I shiver again, and try to ignore the dull ache in my crippled ankle. It’s been hurting more, since it turned cold.
She confirms she knows both men. “Good. Then if you see them or one of their men, then rest assured you can do what they ask.”
She explains to me what the newly appointed police has been up to. That they shake down the customers and spend it all again at the Onsen. “There are other onsens that these men has been frequenting?” I ask, “Do you think the owners of those other Onsens will agree to share their “guest” list if we need it in the future?” Everything will help, even if circumstancial. At the very least, these men can likely be dismissed once it’s established that they were unduly taking “recreational” time off on duty.
“Yamato was here earlier, spoke with her alone, and left me outside, but whatever it was, she was unhappy – someone wanted more money but had nothing to show for it. He left just a while ago,”
I nod, “Yes that was -my- doing. I needed a trail from him to…” That -Witch-. “to Yasutake.” It’s curious however -why- he’d come himself and not send one of his lackeys. “I’m sure Yasutake is financing the local police. Do you know or have you yourself taken bribe money to the Precinct?” It’s a long shot but if she hasn’t done so herself, maybe Yasutake will ask her… “And would you be opposed to taking the bribe money yourself to the Precinct likely tomorrow?”
But something catches my attention, “So she lets you out after all.” I say, “Is Yasutake sick?” I couldn’t be that fortunate but if she dropped dead tonight, I wouldn’t be complaining. “Do you know anything about this doctor?”
But she brings me disappointing news about the ledgers, that it’s well guarded. I take a couple of puffs on my cigarette. I don’t want Hide caught in the middle of this or rather her issue be left unresolved. I look back at Sugiyama whose shivering in the cold. I shouldn’t keep her too long. “Sugiyama I plan to get you out of here within a day or two at most… That’s one of my duties… However, would you be able to stand witness for Hide’s innocence in all this?” After all we may not find this outsider and as for the books, it -is- her Onsen that was taken over.
There are other onsens that these men has been frequenting? Do you think the owners of those other Onsens will agree to share their “guest” list if we need it in the future?
“Some are run now by her, she either muscled them out or drove them out of business. Others are… playing along, enjoying the money.” I sigh. I’m no better, I suppose I could have ran before…. “A few are still honest, but it’s hard for them, but they have long ties and love this town. They’ll help in any way, once they’re no longer living in fear.”
“I’m sure Yasutake is financing the local police. Do you know or have you yourself taken bribe money to the Precinct?” It’s a long shot but if she hasn’t done so herself, maybe Yasutake will ask her… “And would you be opposed to taking the bribe money yourself to the Precinct likely tomorrow?
“No, they come here for their bribes. Her men… were skimming.” I look away, they now rest deep in the ocean. “So they come here to make certain they get it all. Either Yamato or his chief man, Amari.” As for me? That’s almost laughable. “Yamaguchi-san, I can barely walk around here,” I say, warily. “Even if I was whole, after the Mochizukis, she’s not let me leave. I’m afraid I can’t help you in that regard.”
“Is Yasutake sick? Do you know anything about this doctor?
I nod, slightly. “I think so – she’s been short of breath lately. She’s hiding it, but something must be amiss if she’s talking of calling for her personal doctor, we don’t have one in Ito anymore.” But if she dies in the night before this man supposedly comes in to save us all, what happens? She’s bragged that she only got stronger when an associate was assassinated by the police. Which one will step up? “I don’t know much about the doctor, sorry.”
“Sugiyama I plan to get you out of here within a day or two at most… That’s one of my duties… However, would you be able to stand witness for Hide’s innocence in all this?
Is that all that matters to him? Her? Maybe thinks he’ll win her back? “Yes,” I say, after a moment. He’s years too late for me, I’m ruined and my family’s business is gone, I’m only helping because I want -revenge-, to see her dragged off to jail or better yet -dead-. Then I think of something. “The copyist – he wasn’t able to replicate some of the smudges. The smudges came from Makoto-chan, sitting in her mother’s lap while she worked.” My father fussed at how untidy it was, but as long as it was accurate I didn’t care. “I read something in a Tokyo newspaper, that they can match the lines from the smudges and marks she left to her actual hand?” Western foolishness, but it did make me wonder… and I liked knowing something Mama-sama didn’t. I just let her think Hide-san was clumsy.
Saitou:
They’ll help in any way, once they’re no longer living in fear.”
“And those are the ones I’m banking on.” I tell her, “But that portion can wait.” I’ll have to ask her again who we may rely on in this matter but Muriyama should also be able to help in that regard. It’s needed but not -yet- essential.
“No, they come here for their bribes. Her men… were skimming.” “So they come here to make certain they get it all. Either Yamato or his chief man, Amari.” A
I simply shrug at that. I could care less who was skimming who. They’re all the same after all. “Yes I saw this Amari briefly. Yamato’s not the type to do the dirty work but Amari’s likely the type to cling to whoever he thinks is in charge.” And for now that’s Yamato, for later? Maybe Yasutake. In either case both need to be dealt with.
I see an incredulous expression cross her face briefly as I ask if she can be the one to take the bribe money. I knew it would be a long shot but seeing that she’s still able to go around without direct interference from Yasutake, I thought perhaps she may have certain liberties but she claims she doesn’t. So how does she plan to send for a doctor?
“Even if I was whole, after the Mochizukis, she’s not let me leave. I’m afraid I can’t help you in that regard.”
“You’re right. Sumana… Even if you were allowed out, there’s no guarantee that she’d release the bribe money anyway, much less choose you to deliver it.” But it doesn’t matter, I only needed to send the message and confirm its receipt after all. Anything more than that was would’ve been preferable but I can work with either case.
Short of breath? Should I be sympathetic to that witch? I almost chuckle at that. “If she’s asking you to call for the doctor, then make sure to keep all the details. He may or may not be one of her underlings.” And the truth was, if this doctor would be all the way from Osaka, it would take another day for this doctor to get here. Would that be an opportunity or a hindrance?
She agrees to be Hide’s witness, which gives me a slight relief. But as this conversation draws on and on, I realize how important Sugiyama is. I still have Miyagawa in hand who with the right prodding can witness to the other illegal activities that he allowed Yasutake to commit. And I knew Sugiyama was important before, mostly as a witness to what’s transpired here in Ito… But now?
The copyist – he wasn’t able to replicate some of the smudges. The smudges came from Makoto-chan, sitting in her mother’s lap while she worked.” “I read something in a Tokyo newspaper, that they can match the lines from the smudges and marks she left to her actual hand?”
I know what she’s trying to propose, that Makoto’s fingerprints can help in exonorating Hide. But I… Still refuse to go down that route. “It’s called fingerprint analysis. It’s not yet widely used in Japan but in Britain in the London city police, they have used it to identify suspects and solve crimes.” But I shake my head. There’s no way I’d let my daughter get involve in this. I narrow my eyes remembering the time Hide offered herself as a decoy. Although it’s been said I’m the most like Shishio, I’m -not- him, one who views the use of his loved ones as preferable… Desirable even… To win. I’d win another way and if I lose, then so be it. Besides, there’s other ways. She already said so herself she has no access to the records, I’ll just have to get them myself. After all this.
It’s getting colder and I look back at her. She doesn’t look like a woman who has much to live for nor look forward to. It’s apparent with the way she conducts herself and that look in her eyes that clearly says she’s only doing this to get back at the witch and to hell to what happens after.
“Anger can be good. It can help direct your focus and keep your determination. Just… Don’t let it take over and make you do something foolish.” I’ve spoken similar words before, to the Battousai. But this time around it’s entirely different.
I finish the rest of my cigarette, “You better get back before anyone finds you missing. I or someone will be coming for you sometime tomorrow night or the day after. We need to establish a meeting place. Where’s a place that you can go to from time to time until we arrive? Preferably one that’s not heavily guarded.” I do wish I could give her a precise time but the one I sent to Yokohama will need a bit more time but I’m giving them a day or at worst two. Then no more.
(OOC: I think I’ve established in a previous thread that Yamato doesn’t really go to the onsen but I’ll work with it. As for Amari, know that he’ll likely be written in at the events at the precinct if he’s Yamato’s guy.As for the bribe money, on whether Yasutake sends it or not – I’ll leave that up to you. You can write it in some post or just OOC it.)
If she’s asking you to call for the doctor, then make sure to keep all the details. He may or may not be one of her underlings
I nod. Certainly there’s someone closer? Atami has a number of doctors, so she must have some trust for him. “She takes a number of powders with her evening tea.”
He explains the “fingerprint” thing, and that sounds like what I read. I don’t really understand -science-. But then he’s quiet, and narrows his eyes, and in that I see… a resemblance. To a little girl who could be sunshine and energy to one who seemed to regard the world warily. “Oh, you’re Makoto-chan’s…” I feel foolish for not putting it together back in the day. No wonder he went looking for her! “I never told her they were made by the little girl,” I tell him, as the anger I see in his face -scares- me, after I thought I was dulled to it.
Anger can be good. It can help direct your focus and keep your determination. Just… Don’t let it take over and make you do something foolish.
I look at him, and hear… the weight of experience in his voice. “Thank you, Yamaguchi-san. I… I don’t want to be a hero,” I say, wearily. “I just want to be free of this, of -her-. She’s ruined my life.”
We need to establish a meeting place. Where’s a place that you can go to from time to time until we arrive? Preferably one that’s not heavily guarded
“Here is the best. It used to be a lovely garden… but the current guests don’t care for it,” I say, my tone resigned. “I come back here, along with my most trusted employee, and older woman, Yuka-san. It’s… peaceful.” I don’t like working in gardens but even in the state its in, its a reminder of the times before my father threw us into ruin.
I leave in, and return before I’m missed.
(OOC – Close)
(OOC – The money will be sent, with some grumbling. Mama-sama uses a vegetable delivery man she has under her thumb to make the drop in the morning)