Into the Wolf's Den
Disclaimer: I do not own Ruroni Kenshin/ Samurai X…although I wish I owned Saito. Thank you to Tamlin for the inspiration! :)
***
Saito Hajime never knew what came over and eventually hit him. He was not antisocial, per say. It was just that his current lifestyle suited him perfectly. He was contented with the job given him, enjoyed the little troubles Kenshin-gumi sometimes threw his way. Life was imperfect, and it could not get any better.
However, fate had other ideas, and so did the French Embassy.
It all began when one of the men asked to leave early for one reason or another. Saito suspected that the newbie had heard night patrol horror stories and wanted to see the dawn break. In the end, Lt. Fujita was sent to replace him. So, mumbling and grumbling behind his superior's back about gatotsuing vigilantes in order to get more sleep, he stepped out of the station with a carefully maintained poker face, sword ominously swinging at his side.
Silence was his companion until he rounded a corner and a soft rustling made him stand still. The sound came from a broad, albeit dark, alley between two estates by the river. He slowly approached. There was a whisper of foreign words, jumbled into what sounded like a rhythmic litany, almost chant-like in quality. A small girl crouched under the wall, smooth sandalwood beads slipping through her fingers. She started when his sword clicked and gave him away. He caught at her wrist, fixing his eyes on the crucifix resting on her lap.
A Christian. He glanced up and saw her face – frightened blue eyes, pale, almost waxen complexion, and golden curls tumbling down her shoulders in disarray. He stood her up, wondering if he should bring her to the station. It was unfortunately his duty time, and he did not want to claim responsibility for a murder by religious extremists. The girl was holding out a few pieces of coins in a foreign currency. French. Recognition dawned. During the Tokugawa era, it was they who supplied weapons to the resistance fighters, namely, their men. He took the girl's hand, feeling a little gracious towards a homeless creature. He would be hospitable, even for just one night.
...
It was strange to be leaning against the wall outside his own room and trying to fall asleep at the same time. Then again, it was just like the Shinsengumi days when even in the night, he was poised, ready to lead his men into battles. But one peek through the half-closed paper door was enough to remind him that his present discomfort was partly due to the spontaneous goodness of his heart.
Saito smirked to himself and took a longer look upon seeing that the girl was fast asleep. He had snuffed out the candle by the futon, and the lamplights outside fully shone into the room through barred windows, offering a little colour to the small, white face. Tomorrow, they would go to the police station to bring her back where she belonged. He did not know how long the search will take, but was confident that it would only be awhile as the girl was most likely to be inquired after.
He crawled back into the hallway and let his eyes rest on the clock ticking in his hand. Outside, the cicadas shrilled the end of summer, heavy breezes whistling through the swirling leaves. It was three o'clock in the morning.
***
No one, not even Madame, was looking when she quietly slipped out of the studio at the end of rehearsal. There was no time to throw on a coat; nor was there need to show that she was going out. She had to hurry if she did not want too be caught. Mentally sending an apology to Madame, Corinne exited through the small door at the side of the performance hall, indulging in only one last look at the groups of dancers excitedly chattering about the upcoming recital. Well, she would not be a part of that. Corinne ran down the long driveway, wincing whenever the sharp gravel poked at her satin toe shoes. Life for her will not be so very easy now.
The chief part of the afternoon was spent reacquainting herself with the city she saw only through carriage windows. It was strange to be in such close contact with a foreign territory: strange smells, exotic sights, and moreover, an alien language. For all their travels as a performing troupe, she had never before felt more excited and apprehensive. Leisurely she strolled the streets, glancing at every shop window, pausing by a gathering of people for the sheer pleasure of repeating to herself that she was in a different place, and was free.
For a while it was fun. But when twilight came, the streets grew silent and empty, shopkeepers boarded up their stores, and window shoppers began leaving for home. When policemen began to light up the street lamps, it was as if her fairytale world of pleasure and play had melted, leaving only a stark reality. Thus, berating herself for her rash actions, she reached into her pocket, hoping to find a suitable amount someone would be willing to trade for Japanese currency. Instead, all she found were loose change, quite valueless, and a scented wooden Rosary given to her by an admirer at Rome.
As she bent down to sit on her heels, she realized just how tired she was from the morning's rehearsal and the afternoon's wandering, the feeling of insurmountable lethargy making her all the more so. She sighed; return was unthinkable, for the piece of paper in her pocket made her imagine the selfishness of such act. It was essentially hopeless, and she became even more determined not be any trouble to her friends.
Corinne did not know how long she kept her position, only that when she broke out her reverie, she knew that she had been telling the beads, and a policeman was towering over her. She had been told that Christianity at its best was tepid in Japan, owing to the previous Tokugawa persecution, and although foreigners were tolerated, they were still warned against flaunting religious items, as there were still extremists. Now threatened, the admonition flew through her head over and over, and she began to hate herself for recklessness.
Nauseated with fright, her mind seemed to stop working when the policeman reached out to touch the crucifix. He watched her for a moment then gestured for her to follow him. In relief, she heard the sword locking back into its sheath.
The terror faded away somewhat during the long walk she was guided through. She dallied behind him, watching the straight, slim figure as they made their way to the residential districts of the city. Once or twice, he would glance to make sure she had not lost herself, and Corinne had to smile. Although the damp autumn fog had begun to filter in the streets, it was yet impossible for her to lose her way when such a commanding figure was right before her.
They had by this time reached a two-storey establishment set between two others of its kind. There was a barred window on the second storey from whence the street was highly visible. The cop had gone up the stairs, leaving her to fumble with the ribbons of her shoes before scampering up after him.
A soft glow illuminated the small room directly by the stairs, and, a moment later, the policeman came out to usher her in. Corinne contemplated the futon, thought to herself that it was most probably his, and that it was being given up for her. She gratefully accepted. The candle was blown out, and the rice paper door slid half-shut.
"Good night," she whispered, and thought she heard the mumbling of a similar wish.
This is...the story of a girl, who cried a river and drowned the whole world...naw, just kidding. This is the revamped version of Crystal Raindrops. If you've already read it, I can tell you that there's not going to be much change except for the insertion of a few more episodes just to clarify character development. I just realized that the original one was too narrative and lacked life. So, yeah.
The little historical details came from Leslie Downer's "The Last concubine". Corinne is Christian here because I thought that making her so would make the fear of Saito more believable and reasonable.
For comments, suggestions, and criticisms, please review. Everything sent will definitely be read.
-Saika
PS. I'm IttyBittyTidbits now, by the way.