I bet Shindou-san is getting annoyed at how I’m pacing but this ship is going very, very slow.
The sails hang slack in the winter sky which means we’re going… nowhere. The current is there but without any wind we’re not making much progress. I look at the sky – clear, cloudless.
I bet back on land another certain ninja is hopping on a train right now and will get there before us. For someone who doesn’t want to be “involved’…
But Shindou-san seems… down. I go over to where he’s sitting and kick his foot very very lightly to get his attention. “So, you aren’t acting like things went well back in Yokohama,” I say, sitting down on a nearby barrel. Sure, some things could have gone -better-, it was a slow operation BUT nobody was hurt. Nobody got away. We’ll get those women home or to a least a life that’s not one of enslavement. “What, do you think Sai-, I mean, Fujita, would have done better?” Huh. He must really look up to him.
It’s like nothing is moving… I look out and it’s dark and one can’t tell if we’ve done a mile or 10 miles. How long has it been that we’ve been going through this fog? This -slog- of a pace?
So, you aren’t acting like things went well back in Yokohama,” . “What, do you think Sai-, I mean, Fujita, would have done better?
I blink. I didn’t notice her there. Well she’s a shinobi after all…
“What’s there to celebrate? He gave us scraps and we don’t know what we’d find there.”
I turn to her, “Why’d you choose to come with Makimachi-san? What’s -your- end game?”
Did I really surprise him? His demeanor is as if I woke him from sleeping, but his eyes were open!
Ah, well, all this waiting can make people… drowsy.
“What’s there to celebrate? He gave us scraps and we don’t know what we’d find there.
I scoff at that, “a human trafficking -and- a drug operation, both taken down in one night? Along with their bases? If that’s scraps…” I shrug. “I guess it didn’t have a lot of exciting man-to-man fighting…” Men!
Why’d you choose to come with Makimachi-san? What’s -your- end game?
I sit down next to him. “For one, I know Yagi-san. For the other – as much as he pisses me off, he’s honest and speaks his mind. And once, at a time…” I think back to those days, “there was this woman who wanted me out of the way so she could… pursue Aoshi-sama. And Aoshi-sama had his -own- ideas about what to do with me. Fujita-san was the only person who didn’t see me as some kid in the way or a problem to be solved. He took me seriously when nobody else did. I’m sure some of his bosses don’t like my ‘vigilantes’, he knows best when we’ll be useful.” I know I’m a -relic- in some ways, but it’s great that we still have unique places where we can help.
I grin over at him a bit. “While he’s still annoying, and sort of weird with Hide-san these days, I’ll still drop anything to help him.”
“And you – what’s your end game? I heard that you’ve worked with him a lot lately.”
I just look at her. There wasn’t any fighting at all. Not that I looked for it… But ever since that event in Yoshiwara, I wanted… to redeem myself but she doesn’t know that. Even with the best intelligence, the Oniwaban may have known about it but probably didn’t know enough about it.
She tells me about her reasons. Why she’s here. For Yagi-san. I didn’t know they were close? Perhaps an association from Kyoto? And then the talk turns to Fujita-san about how she was treated not as a kid… Suddenly I find myself simpering. “I guess our experience with him are completely the opposite then.” I say and turn to her, leaning against the rails of the ship. “You see I was one of the best undercover cops in the TMPD, young… brilliant they said. But that man kept telling my superiors I’m not good enough and would likely get killed eventhough I’ve been at this job for almost two years.” I shake my head and scoff, “Then all of a sudden I’m stripped of my assignments and now under his wing doing light investigative duties in the gambling dens and whorehouses of Yoshiwara while he gets to go infiltrate deep into those disgruntled samurai.”
But I pause for a moment remembering, he did leave the rescuing of Aioi-san to me and me alone. Still in the end I came up short in the final battle and this one in the warehouse. Just because some kunoichi told me she didn’t want him killed. Ah… now I’m making excuses aren’t I?
My end game? Do I even have one at this point? I furrow my brow and just stare at her. “Show him up… I guess.”
Do I really mean that though? If I wanted to show him up, I didn’t have to follow any of his instructions so why the hell am I even doing this?
“I rescued that woman of his, Aioi-san in the brothels. She got me back in the police but promptly stopped talking to me after…” Well after we got caught fooling around by Fujita-san.
“She only came by to find out how to get a hold of Yagi-san.” Was Aioi-san stringing me along to help him out too? Fujita-san, why are all these women dropping things to help you? Why am I?
His look when I talk about the warehouse operation is… strange. Maybe because I was in there, but being undercover is always tense, even if not always -active-. In fact, if you do it right – and when there’s innocents there’s no other way – it should end with a whimper. Seriously, there are nights working at the Aioya that are a -lot- more engaging that sitting on watch or out undercover.
I guess our experience with him are completely the opposite then
I listen to him and nod. “But he couldn’t do that deep infiltration without your ‘light’ investigative duties. The TMPD isn’t that different than the Oniwaban – I wouldn’t be able to do much without the information I get from everyone. I wouldn’t be on this boat if I couldn’t hand off clean-up to Okon-san – and it’s actually what she’s -good- at.” I’m fortunate there! She’s poised in a way that I’ll never be.
“Also – I would hope you realize that he doesn’t take anyone under his wing. As for getting killed, don’t you think he’s seen enough of that?” My eyes darken at bit – the deaths of Hannya, Shikijo, Hyottoko and Beshimi will always weigh on us. “As someone who can be…” I grin a bit, trying to shake the cloud that I just felt, “impulsive, it’s hard to follow the direction of a stern mentor who -never- seems pleased, and who -always- seems to be levels ahead of you in skill.”
“He just wants you to be better,” I say. I think that’s what Aoshi-sama wants as well for me, we just don’t agree what ‘better’ is. But I think Saitou and Shindou-san are not as far apart. I don’t think Saitou would show the trust he has otherwise, but I guess that’s hard for Shindou-san to see this close.
Show him up… I guess.
So he does know! “Hey, I don’t think he’ll be impressed by showing -off-. And you know that. That’s why you made your case to Adachi-san instead of just doing what you wanted or trying to out-boss him. You followed the plan even when it was -boring-,” I don’t mention that I thought he had skipped out, he was so -slow-! “Your way of law relies on things that ours doesn’t – you need evidence and witnesses or even the worst villain goes free. There’s no justice if those supporting are -sloppy- because they want to show someone up.” I’ve learned a lot from Asuka-san, and Gramps, about that, as I’m trying to guide the Oniwabanshuu into this new world. “And you know that. That’s why you made your case to Adachi-san instead of just doing what you wanted or trying to out-boss him. “If we saved the girls but lost the guards, what would we have then for actually ending all this?”
I think of that fat man at the flaming house, the one who ordered Hide-san’s abduction. He’s sitting in jail, and from our intel, -hating- it, not being the Prince of the Ports anymore with fine food and comforts. Is that justice, compared to what he did, and all the misery he caused? It’s frustrating that Meiji justice is slow – but that’s the way now. I’m not even from the old days, like Saitou and Gramps, and I’m impatient about it. What it must be for them!
And then he tells me about getting involved with Saitou’s women and my eyes go wide! Ugh… although I know about Aioi. She’s in the records, the ones collected from the Bakumatsu days. So that’s who he dumped Hide-san for! Well Aioi was his… lady I guess before Hide-san. Huh.
But something he said… “why would you tell her where to find Hide-san?” She was just -kidnapped- and there’s still trouble out there! I look at him squarely. “Was this part of showing up Fujita-san? Or were you interested in Aioi-san?” I mean, taking his girl… Hiko did that with is wife in the Wilderness.
I almost groan as she goes on this long discourse about how there’s a thing everyone’s good at.
“Are you always like this?” I can’t help interrupting. “I can’t imagine him not groaning at your speech.”
But then she gets this really dark look and I stop. She picks herself back up though and goes -back- to her speech. That Fujita-san just wants me to be better. I’d tell her, isn’t that what I’m doing? I’m -showing- I -am- better. And more and more lecturing…
“Makimachi-san… I think. It would behoove you to think for a moment that the person you are speaking to already knows much of what you are telling them.” I sigh, “I’m not a kid or a young man who’s just come up in the world. Much like you’re not some innocent or young woman who knows little of the world. I at least know what my profession and my duties requires of me.”
“But talking about all that evidence, doing it the right way. I’m sure you -know- Fujita-san doesn’t work within the confines of the law. At least not the law as it is perceived to be.” Certainly he makes judgment calls and his superior is complicit in “massaging” the law as they see fit. Suddenly I shake my head and grin, “Maybe that’s why it’s so easy for him to take a life.” And why I hesitate but next time…
But our talk turns towards Aioi-san.
“Why? Aioi-san said she needed to find something out from Yagi-san in order to help him.” I shrug, “She worked closely with him in the past as an agent so regardless of my personal feelings or Yagi-san’s discomfort, it’s important she gets the information she needed. Not only for Fujita-san’s safety but especially for Aioi-san’s as well.”
I glance back at her when she asked me if I’m interested in Aioi-san, “Aioi-san prefers men who are sure-footed.” I say, “Or maybe she just prefers men she cannot have like him. He’s pretty set on Yagi-san after all after all everyone in the department knows the woman he took to the police ball was not his wife Tokio.” Although I’ve heard rumors he has been working very late hours and not going home.
(Misao)
Are you always like this? I can’t imagine him not groaning at your speech.
“Oh, he would,” I agree. “That’s why I don’t even -try- with him. Wait, I did in Osaka, but he – he wasn’t in a good place then.” He was out of his mind with worry, after all.
“So if you knew what I was telling you, then why are you speaking as if you don’t? It looks a -lot- like you’re feeling sorry for yourself for not being Fujita.” I give him a look. I know he trusts me… somewhat. I know it’s something rarely granted, for a man like him. Only Aoshi-sama puts up more walls. But does Shindou-san understand?
Maybe that’s why it’s so easy for him to take a life
Is that it? “I’ll spare you another speech but let’s say… it’s not a skill you should develop.” My voice goes low and I look away, remembering how I once spoke of obtaining a Gatling gun, that horrible device that decimated my -family-, four men so strong and skilled, as if they were paper. I know my predecessors as Okashira killed, and ordered it done. I was directed elsewhere that day.
As for Saitou? I know it. Tanaka. The kidnapper who looked like Hide-san’s old lover, and the old lady who helped him. More and more, going back to the Bakumatsu. Aoshi-sama has killed. Himura-san did, long ago. But these men are the last of their age. And the TMPD lets Saitou do as he will, from what I understand. He certainly was able to do so with the Kyoto and Osaka police. Normally the kidnapping of an ‘unimportant’ woman wouldn’t nessecate the resources it used – but it paid off in the end, when it was part of something bigger.
“Or maybe she just prefers men she cannot have like him. He’s pretty set on Yagi-san after all after all everyone in the department knows the woman he took to the police ball was not his wife Tokio.
Does he now know? I thought he was close to the family? “Shindou-san, Hide-san and Fujita-san are done. They break up and make up a lot, but I think this time it’s for real.” -Something- feels different, this time, in the air… Although I wonder what this police ball was? One last hurrah?
“So do you think Aioi-san wanted -intel- out of Hide-san or something else?” I tilt my head and look at him. Did he really get pulled into some sort of -that- trouble? He had feelings for Aioi-san, he admitted as such! But a former lover of Saitou’s shows up and they’re broken up for real this time, the timing seems … ugh, I try to stay out of all of that. I should have tried to get more out of Kaoru-chan! I think she’s sort of friends with Hide-san, as strange as that is.
Shindou:
“That’s why I don’t even -try- with him. Wait, I did in Osaka, but he – he wasn’t in a good place then.”
Of course she’d try. I can’t imagine a man like him tolerating that but maybe that’s part of not being in a good place. But what is a good place for that kind of man?
It looks a -lot- like you’re feeling sorry for yourself for not being Fujita.”
I grimace a bit and mutter, “I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself.”
“I’ll spare you another speech but let’s say… it’s not a skill you should develop.
I let out a looong sigh. “Makimachi-san, I don’t know what world you live in or what makes you say that but you can’t protect anyone without the willingness to kill at least.” I know Fujita-san would say that. “No pretty words from you will change that fact. In fact, even the famed Battousai…” I stop thinking of a man the Police Chief knows well, “Now turned Rurouni owes some of his non-killing and peaceful ways to those who bloody their hands for the sake of a greater good.” A lasting good. Not one where evil is allowed to return to the world because someone else thought he’s paid the price or gave him the benefit of the doubt or that he’ll eventually do good for the world. That’s simply wishful thinking. Impractical. Dishonest. -Dangerous-.
“Shindou-san, Hide-san and Fujita-san are done. They break up and make up a lot, but I think this time it’s for real.”
“Really?” I can’t hide my surprise. It was very possible Fujita-san was seeing Aioi-san on the side, more than just an “asset” of his but he could’ve kept on seeing Aioi-san along with keeping up his house with Yagi-san. “I’m surprised… But I guess I shouldn’t be. There were rumors that the Superintendent was back to his old ways of spending an ungodly amount of time at work.” For a while when the going was good with Yagi-san and him, it was the first time I saw the man deciding to actually put aside a day or two to spend it at his home.
“So do you think Aioi-san wanted -intel- out of Hide-san or something else?”
“She said it was intel but that the Superintendent should not find out.” Makimachi-san has a look that told me, she didn’t believe it so I can’t help but defend Aioi-san, “I spent quite a bit of time with Aioi-san as her bodyguard Makimachi-san. She’s a well trained asset. Duplicitous to others but not to him. She cared about him you know, for all her complaining to me about how impossible he is and that he paid her very little attention. Only when he needed something.”
I wonder what would Yagi-san think if she heard me saying that? She seems like a pretty nice lady that I almost feel guilty defending Aioi-san to Makimachi-san. Since the two of them seems to be close friends, she’ll likely repeat what I said to Yagi-san.
I wonder where Aioi-san is now? Fujita-san promptly removed her from the safehouse that night. Was it so he could keep her to himself? But if Yagi-san and Fujita-san is no more, did he decide to keep Aioi-san for himself? There’s only one person who can answer that and he’s in Ito.
The wind howls and I look up. There’s at least a full moon tonight but it does little to light the expanse of darkness that this ship is wading through.
I wasn’t feeling sorry for myself.
I hold in a sigh. I can -feel- that seeping through the air from Hide-san often enough to know it when I see it. And how much one in that state can be in denial. They both know better. It’s hard to see out of, though.
Now turned Rurouni owes some of his non-killing and peaceful ways to those who bloody their hands for the sake of a greater good.
He sounds just like -Saitou-! “I’ve seen Himura-san fight, Shindou-san.” Thanks to Sano-san, I’ve heard about the fights I wasn’t there for. “I’ve seen him come close, so close to giving into who he was.” I didn’t know him well, but to hear the tone of his voice change, the polite language disappear… his eyes even glowed. “And I’ve seen him lose, and almost destroy himself wondering if… for him most of all it’s a constant fight.” I don’t know why people think it’s -easy- for him to -not- kill.
I run my hand through my bangs. “Truth is, I don’t know if worst came to worst, if I could – once I thought I was going to, oh-so-casually. But if I was ever in that situation – I’d want to be like any of those people I’ve seen fight, and my -own- center as well, to know…” I look away. Remembering the time that Gramps, almost killed by Aoshi-sama, asked Himura-san to kill Aoshi-sama. That Aoshi-sama was no better than a demon. When I had wanted a Gatling gun, to fight Shishio. But Kaoru-chan and Himura-san knew better. “I’d like to find another way. If we killed tonight, we would have lost evidence.” He’s the one who lives in that world, doesn’t he understand?
Maybe we’re all hopelessly naive, but I’d rather be that than be cynical. Saitou I guess earned it, but not this kid! “You should ask Fujita-san sometimes about his adopted son, Mashima Eiji. He thought he had to kill, to avenge his family. What do you think happened? How do you think he raised a son?”
I blink, and look back over at him, tossing my hair to get it back in place. “You don’t have to be Fujita-san any more than I have to be Aoshi-sama.”
I’m surprised… But I guess I shouldn’t be. There were rumors that the Superintendent was back to his old ways of spending an ungodly amount of time at work.
I nod. “He’s been pushing too much… using medicine that he shouldn’t be.” Maybe I don’t get the way those two love, all storms and thunder and then suddenly sweetness and light. It seems -exhausting-.
Shindou-san speaks of Aioi-san, how she’s an -asset-. “He’s had others, before, in the past, but set them aside once Hide-san came along.” There’s one in the TMPD… and of course the rumors about him and -others-, including Okon-san.
I’ve gathered intelligence enough to know he’s being cagey. Out of loyalty to Saitou or… is it Aioi-san? “So… she’s still hung up on him? What, did she tell you all about it?” Ouch.
Shindou:
“And I’ve seen him lose, and almost destroy himself wondering if… for him most of all it’s a constant fight.”
I’d ask Makimachi-san if that’s enough reason not to fulfill the duties that is required of me. To do what must be done for the sake of the greater good. And Himura-san’s internal battles does not negate the reality. In fact, it -strengthens- the need for men who does what must be done regardless of it all so that men like Himura-san can have the luxury of indecision and the nobleness of sparing someone. I don’t want to be like Himura-san struggling with such questions of life or death nor do I care about the nobility of sparing someone. For every person that Himura-san spared, likely caused strife to another and a loose end that we the police must deal with. That must be the reason Fujita-san never liked Himura-san even in these times of “peace”.
“Truth is, I don’t know if worst came to worst, if I could –
“Then it’s simply not for you. And so just leave it to the people who -can-.” Live with the judgments they’ve made. And until I’m at that point, I will always be that greenhorn that he said would get killed.
“I’d like to find another way. If we killed tonight, we would have lost evidence.” I decide to smile this time and nod in the affirmative. Makimachi-san would never understand I don’t think.
She tells me to ask the Supervisor about his adopted son Eiji. I didn’t truly cross paths with that young man. He’s in the army though, I heard. A platoon that was sent to the northern part of the disputed islands with Russia. That’s not a place where you have the luxury of trying to decide what kind of person you want to be.
“You don’t have to be Fujita-san any more than I have to be Aoshi-sama.”
“Or you can be. If you really wanted to follow the back of the person you admire.” I smile a bit. “And just so we’re clear I don’t “admire” nor envy Fujita-san, only his -post-.”
“He’s had others, before, in the past, but set them aside once Hide-san came along.”
I’m not surprised he’s had others. Yagi-san wasn’t his wife after all and oddly enough they still went to the police ball as if she were his wife. But I didn’t really see Yagi-san visit him much prior to that nor after it. Maybe it was to alleviate suspicion? But why go so public about it in the ball when everyone and anyone who is important was to be found there? Did he forbid her to visit him? Or did she not see it important? If it were me I’d be happy if Aioi-san would visit me every day. Just like that one time… Even if she just needed something.
“So… she’s still hung up on him? What, did she tell you all about it?”
“Aioi-san is a hard to read woman. One moment she’s complaining about him dumping her on me. The next minute I’m all that she cares about, getting me back in the police. And after that, well he was working a case with her and I got shut out of the picture.” I sigh, “If you’re asking whether I think she cared for him more than just a friend, I’d say yes. Did he return those feelings? I’m not sure but I’ve seen him be protective around her.”
I shrug, “I suppose it’s only normal. They’ve known each other for years right? And she’s not exactly a woman easy to ignore even for a man like him.” I certainly couldn’t! “The only way to answer your question is to ask him where she is.” Once we find out, maybe then I can really ask her what happened back then.
(Misao)
I don’t think we will come to an agreement about killing versus non-killing any more than Saitou and Himura-san will. But I do add, “do you think we’d be here on a boat chasing after a Tanaka-related crime group if he hadn’t ended up beheaded? I doubt he would have given anything up about his connections to that old woman and her son,” I shrug, “so we’ll never know.” I sigh. At least this time it’s being done orderly, and we could rescue the victims like those women in the warehouse before instead of after.
“And just so we’re clear I don’t “admire” nor envy Fujita-san, only his -post-
I smile at that. Sure, sure… perhaps it’s not admire, but it’s probably something as complicated as what it is with Aoshi-sama and I – but at least he won’t be teased about being in love with Saitou. Or….?
If you’re asking whether I think she cared for him more than just a friend, I’d say yes. Did he return those feelings? I’m not sure but I’ve seen him be protective around her.
Hm. I wonder what all happened? They were affectionate after she woke up, and on the train back. But they have their own pace in this world. That thought makes me glace up at the starry sky, which still refuses to give up a breeze. Is this, too, because of them? This part of the coast should have a good wind this time of year.
“The only way to answer your question is to ask him where she is.
“So you want to see her again?” Now this one sounds – well, interesting. Is he really interested in her, or who she -is- to Saitou? “You know, I have networks who know people,” I offer, “if you want.” I guess I can’t stay out of other people’s troubles after all. She was probably using him, after all, to get to Saitou or Hide-san, but he has to figure that out for himself.
I stand up and pace to the other side of the boat. “Do you think we’re going to have to break out some oars?” To propel the boat, yes, but also to whack some people on the head who aren’t -doing- anything.
“do you think we’d be here on a boat chasing after a Tanaka-related crime group if he hadn’t ended up beheaded? I doubt he would have given anything up about his connections to that old woman and her son,” I shrug, “so we’ll never know.”
“Was that criticism directed at him Makimachi-san?” I almost grin at this, almost glad that the man whose back seem so far away has imperfections. But it’s not like I wasn’t aware of his limits. I used to count them in front of Uramura-san and at times Kawaji-san, telling them how that man has lost his touch and isn’t up to date with how things are done and should be done now in the TMPD. He was to put it simply stuck in the past.
More seriously I add, “Since it’s no longer an ongoing case as Tanaka is dead, there would not have been time to interrogate Tanaka after the Superintendent got past his private militia. Although what’s surprising is that Tanaka didn’t get killed in his room but in some underground tunnel leading away from the estate. The tunnels were blockaded except for one. Makes you wonder doesn’t it? It almost sounds like he was allowed to escape so he can be trapped and killed just like some rat. It almost seemed too personal. Maa…” Was it some vendetta? That case took 5 years for him to close and I saw his report to Kawaji that a woman and a child was attacked in Ito. That he was able to rescue the child that was abducted. Those two could only be… I shake my head. “Well whatever things have been, what’s important is the task at hand.”
She offers to find Aioi-san. I shake my head and almost said, what’s the point? THe way I am right now would only elicit the same reaction from her. And when I am around Aioi-san I seem to lose my sense of self, acting like some giddy boy. Unlike when I’m in front of Makimachi-san, she’s still a woman but it’s -different- I don’t lose myself around her. I feel rather grounded.. Maybe -too- grounded.
“A woman of the clouds…” I mutter thinking of Aioi-san, something that Makimachi-san is definitely -not-. Maybe that’s why that Shinomori isn’t around?
““Do you think we’re going to have to break out some oars”
“This is a cruiser.” I shake my head, “The sails are there but it’s also steam powered.” She is right though, why does it seem like we’re just wading slowly? It must be a trick? It’s too dark to see and there’s no vantage points out here.
(OOC: you can close)