Disclaimer: I don't own Samurai Champloo or any of its characters.
Chapter 21
Are all merchant quarters in Japan this busy? Jin contemplated this question as he surveyed the Kofu merchant quarter. It was strange to see so many people in the merchant quarter of a small castle town, and find that the hum created by the hustle and bustle of their activity was similar to that of Nihonbashi in Edo. The composition of the shops was a little different, reflecting the fact that Kofu and neighbouring areas specialized in the production of silk. And of course, deposits of quartz crystal had been discovered in the mountains about a century ago, so the manufacturers of jewels were well represented here. There were also shops selling buckwheat noodle, a specialty of this region, while teahouses served 'Hoto', a dish of Chinese origin known to be favoured by Takeda Shingen as nutritional provision during battles.
Other than that, things were as expected. Vendors of soya sauce called out 'Best soya sauce in town!' while sellers of pottery and metalware attempted to attract buyers by yelling, 'High quality goods for a low price – come and have a look!' Vendors of news sold broadsheets and shouted out the most sensational news of the day; today it was 'Another case of kitsunetsuki!'
Jin and Mugen had already heard about the latest kitsunetsuki victim from the 'list' – an artist by the name of Ishikawa. But for the time being they had another objective; they were here to interview Takatoshi. So they negotiated a couple of narrow winding streets, asking for directions until they spotted the shop pointed out by some locals as Takatoshi's lacquerware shop.
Inside the shop a portly bald man dressed in a dark blue kimono spoke to a customer. "Ah, the makie (sprinkled picture) technique is used to create such wonderful pieces of art. Basically one uses the sap of the urushi tree and metal powder, but there are many varieties of makie – the togidashi, the takamakie, ikakeji and nashiji. The design on this box uses the togidashi technique – this gold chrysanthemum was hardened, completely covered in lacquer, and then polished down with charcoal to be revealed in a subtle way. Exquisite work!"
The man in the blue kimono briefly glanced at Jin and Mugen as they entered the shop, but continued to focus on his present customer, moving on to a discussion of some of the other objects on display. Another shop attendant, a middle aged woman, approached them. "Irrashaimasu – welcome. May I help you?"
"We have some private business with Takatoshi-san," said Jin.
The man in the blue kimono looked up. "Excuse me," he said to his present customer, as the shop attendant took over. He approached Jin and Mugen with a look of curiosity. "I am Takatoshi, how may I help you?"
"We want to know how much it costs," said Mugen.
He spoke with a sense of certainty that Takatoshi knew what 'it' meant, Jin noted with some amusement. And strangely enough, Takatoshi did seem to know what Mugen was alluding to. Perhaps this was how criminals typically conducted their business – there was a hidden language involved. It had something to do with the attitude assumed and the manner of speaking, which embodied an innocuous phrase or sentence with a meaning obvious only to the parties in question. Mugen, who had plenty of experience in dealing with criminals, obviously knew this language.
Takatoshi said blandly, "There is a room behind this one where we can have a more private discussion." He led Jin and Mugen out of the display room into a small room that appeared to be some sort of inventory, but had a rectangular patch matted with tatami, on which some sitting cushions were placed for visitors.
Mugen plonked himself down on one of them without being invited to do so by Takatoshi. After some hesitation, Jin followed suit. Takatoshi sat facing Jin and Mugen, but directed most of his scrutiny towards Jin.
It did not take long for Jin to figure out the underlying dynamics of the situation. He obviously thinks I am the 'customer' and I have appointed Mugen as some sort of an agent to help me out in making a deal with him. I suppose that's all right – it shouldn't be too hard to play that role.
"So how much does it cost?" asked Jin, repeating Mugen's question.
"There is no need for such haste, is there? Perhaps we should introduce ourselves first."
"I am not sure we want to tell you our names yet."
"Ah, so that's how it is going to be. But who told you about me?"
"Again, we can't tell you. Let's say we know someone who knows some people who know you."
Mugen added curtly, "We don't want to do any business with you if we're asked too many questions."
Takatoshi smiled reassuringly at Jin. "Don't worry, - that is always the case with my clients. I understand perfectly – some matters have to be handled with the utmost delicacy."
Jin said, "We want to find out about how it works before we decide anything."
Mugen observed that Jin was playing his 'role' quite well. Fish-Face sounds cautious, and yet curious and a little eager – just as he should.
Takatoshi replied, again addressing Jin. "Are you, perhaps, a betting man? Perhaps you have placed bets on outcomes of sumo wrestling competitions, horse races, and so on?"
"No, my experience in that regard is somewhat limited, but my friend here is familiar with such things," said Jin, nodding briefly in Mugen's direction. "Why do you ask?"
"There is no need to worry, samurai-san. Even though the buke shohatto (laws for the samurai classes) discourage gambling, we all know that the samurai do not take it that seriously. And the bakufu looks the other way. Otherwise how would gambling establishments run by the yakuza flourish all around the country?"
"What is your point?"
"Basically the transaction between us is recorded as a gamble. People can bet on anything they please. They can bet on whether a person is going to live to be a hundred years old, or die from an illness by the end of the year."
"We want to know exactly how it works. Where does the Furin Kazan Inn come in?"
"Ah, the Furin Kazan Inn. I like your approach, samurai-san. You are very direct."
Jin and Mugen stared coldly at Takatoshi as he continued, "There is an interesting bunch of ladies running that inn, particularly that woman Tomoe. Have you met her?"
Jin and Mugen exchanged glances, tacitly agreeing that there was no point concealing the fact that they had visited the inn. Jin said, "Yes, we have. She is, as you say, an interesting lady."
"To say that she is interesting amounts to a euphemism, I suppose. And she has extraordinary powers, doesn't she?"
"She certainly claims to have extraordinary powers. But surely it is all superstition?"
"That is precisely the point. For example, in a trial before a magistrate it would be dismissed as such."
"Think about it. If Tomoe made the statements she is prone to making in a trial, they would be dismissed as ridiculous, and she would be pronounced as insane. At least, that is the most likely outcome."
Takatoshi had leaned forward as he said this, with an intense and animated expression in his eyes. "Of, course, there is also the possibility that the presiding magistrate is superstitious, in which case fear would do the trick."
Mugen said, "Huh? You think he'd be scared of spells or something?"
"A lot of people are superstitious you know, even those who pretend to be rational. Deep within all of us there is a fear of the unknown. For example, we can be frightened by ghost stories if the story-teller creates a suitably appropriate atmosphere for it."
"And then, the political and social atmosphere of these times is quite atavistic. It is rumoured, for example that when Tokugawa Tsunayoshi succeeds shogun Ietsuna, he will pass a 'Dog Edict' putting a ban on killing dogs. Why does he think he should do this? Because he is a superstitious man who was born in the Year of the Dog, and thinks that it has some special significance."[1]
"Furthermore, as rumours of kitsunetsuki have gathered force people from all walks of life have been seeking the advice of priests and exorcists; there has been an increasing demand for charms to ward of evil spirits."
Jin said, "But surely a presiding magistrate would not publicly endorse such beliefs – it would be embarrassing."
Takatoshi shook his head vigorously. "He may not publicly endorse those beliefs, but he might have them nevertheless. You are mistaken if you think that people of high public stature and position are not influenced by superstition. Perhaps you might think that the rumour regarding Tsunayoshi is just a rumour. But not very long ago, during the sengoku jidai (warring states era) the great general Toyotomi Hideoshi wrote a letter to the kami Inari requesting a punishment for a fox spirit that had supposedly possessed one of his servants! I believe the letter is still preserved today, at the Todaji temple in Nara."[2]
"But that was more than a hundred years ago. To believe in such things in this day and age – it is just too absurd," said Jin, as Mugen nodded in agreement. However, both of them managed to convey a mixture of scepticism and eagerness, as if to suggest that they wanted to believe in kitsunetsuki.
"I agree – it seems a little to absurd to think that three women can sit together and chant spells causing someone to fall sick and die, and have people believe that the death was due to possession by a fox spirit."
"But that is exactly what Tomoe claims," said Mugen.
"Yes, and she does have some powers – tsukimonosuji usually do. I certainly believe that she has the ability to predict the future – and the ability to predict death."
"As to how it all works out, I will tell you only what you need to know. For the sake of an example, let's say you have a rich uncle who is old and not likely to live very long. You are his only living relative and stand to inherit everything he owns. Wouldn't it be convenient to know when he is going to die? I mean it may be crass and vulgar to think that way, but it is only practical, and definitely not criminal. Perhaps you are in debt and you need to know whether you are going to inherit a sum of money by the eighth month of the year. But your uncle could live up to five years, in which case you would be happy for him, but it would be useful to know."
"Now what happens is as follows. I like to gamble, and you come to see me. You are a good nephew and dote on your uncle, so you bet a sum of money that your uncle will be healthy and alive around the eighth month of the year, but I bet that he won't. If you are right, I pay you, and if I am right you pay me."
At this point Takatoshi paused and stared intently at Jin, as if waiting in anticipation to hear the details of the 'job' Jin had in mind for him. Jin, on the other hand, wasn't sure if his acting skills were up to it, but did his best to assume the attitude of a man who wants another person conveniently out of the way. He noted that Mugen was playing his part to perfection; he had a speculative gleam in his eyes and a look that said, 'Let's get down to business, shall we?'
"How much will it cost?" said Mugen, calmly repeating the question he had asked earlier.
Takatoshi smiled. "The odds are quite steep. Again, using our hypothetical example, if your uncle is alive and well when the eighth month of the year arrives, you win and I pay you a certain number of ryo. But if he passes away, you give me two hundred times that amount."
"What if we decided not to pay up?" asked Mugen.
Takatoshi's facial expression didn't change but there was a cold edge to his voice as he said, "That would be a very bad decision."
Jin got up and said, "We will have to discuss this, and let you know later."
"Take all the time you need. I'll be waiting."
---xxx---
Later, during their lunch at a teahouse in the neighbourhood, Jin and Mugen briefly discussed their meeting with Takatoshi.
"So what do you think? Is this gambling crap he was talking about a good enough cover?"
"Well, if the authorities did question him about it, it would sound very suspicious, but there would be no direct evidence to support the fact that a murder has taken place. And he would probably disguise the gamble. For example he could say that his client had bet on the outcome of a beetle wrestling competition rather than the life of someone."
"Yeah, but if the police got to see the pattern in every case they investigated – I dunno, I would arrest the man and force him to confess."
"It has probably never come to that. The police may be able to narrow down a list of suspects based on motives, but they would never have thought to look at whether any of them had any dealings with Takatoshi. We were, in fact, lucky to receive a tip from Akemi-san, the lady Fuu and I interviewed at Sekisuiji. And it was a chance remark she made to Fuu that had motivated us to question her."
"The brat is quite a good little goyokiki isn't she?"
"Yes. As you know she was very keen to interview Takatoshi, but I didn't think it was a good idea. Fortunately, she wasn't too stubborn about it."
"Is that why you bought that trinket? To pacify her?"
Mugen had pointed towards the kogai kanzashi – a hair accessory Jin had purchased at the merchant quarter. There was a faint blush on Jin's cheeks as he answered, rather defensively, "Fuu-chan seems to like these – she always has a couple of them decorating her hair. And this is not just a trinket – this variety of kanzashi can be used for self defense."[3]
"Really? Yeah, I suppose so. Although I don't think she has ever thought of using them pins stuck in her hair that way. And as you and I know, she has been in trouble often enough."
"Perhaps her recent experience in martial art will make her appreciate them differently."
"Is she any good with the jo? I mean, do you think she stands a chance in a real fight?"
Jin paused briefly as he contemplated the question. "I think that she has the skills, but I am not sure if she has the instinct," he said cautiously, before he added, "I think that in a real fight she might end up losing because she is a very compassionate soul. As you know, sometimes the only way to survive a fight is to kill the other person, and that decision has to be made within a split second. Because of her nature, Fuu will probably hesitate in such a situation."
"Well, it is good that there are always people to fight for her."
"I want to make sure it stays that way – I definitely don't want her to have the experience of killing someone. So I hope she never has to fight."
"In that case she won't be using the kanzashi as a weapon."
"It doesn't matter – I just want to give her something she likes."
Jin smiled in amusement as Mugen rolled his eyes and muttered something to indicate his disapproval.
[1] Tsunayoshi did indeed pass such a law during his time as shogun. (See Wikipedia article on Tokugawa Tsunayoshi).
[2] A translated version of the letter Hideyoshi wrote appears in Lafcadio Hearn's Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan. Extracts are easily available on the internet, but I have reproduced it below for interested readers:
KYOTO, the seventeenth day of the Third Month.
TO INARI DAIMYOJIN:—
My Lord—I have the honour to inform you that one of the foxes under your jurisdiction has bewitched one of my servants, causing her and others a great deal of trouble. I have to request that you will make minute inquiries into the matter, and endeavour to find out the reason of your subject misbehaving in this way, and let me know the result. If it turns out that the fox has no adequate reason to give for his behaviour, you are to arrest and punish him at once. If you hesitate to take action in this matter, I shall issue orders for the destruction of every fox in the land. Any other particulars that you may wish to be informed of in reference to what has occurred, you can learn from the high-priest YOSHIDA.
Apologising for the imperfections of this letter, I have the honour to be Your obedient servant,
Your obedient servant,
HIDEYOSHI TAIKO
[3] The wikipedia article on kanzashi describes the kogai kanzashi as follows: "Kogai kanzashi are made using rods of tortoiseshell or other materials such as ceramics or metals. Kogai means sword in Japanese. This is appropriate because many Kogai Kanzashi are formed from a pin and a sleeve, like a sword and its sheath." The website samuraiweapons(dot)org describes its use as a weapon.
Author's note: Again, I thank reviewers and readers, and those who have put me on favs and alerts. Also, thanks to the Editors/Lilah 71 of the Best Anime Fiction site for including this story on their list of fan fiction. All these things give me a lot of support and encouragement.
The interview with Takatoshi is actually rather similiar to its counterpart in The Pale Horse, including some of the dialogue. In that novel the character Mark Easterbrook talks to a 'Mr. Bradley'.
I am not sure when I will be updating next; it is busy at work and I will be travelling soon. But I will try to update ASAP. In the meantime readers can check out a site on which I have made a 'scrapblog' based on some chapters of this novel. These are basically amateurish collages I made using extracts from the novel and images from the series. But it is something completely new to me and I had a lot of fun with it! The homepage link on my profile page leads to my live journal account from which these can be accessed. Actually, there are some SC based scrapblogs on scrapblogs(dot)com that are really good; a lot better than mine.