Play 33: The Memories Of Wrath
"I see you've found her already."
I whipped my head around to see Kondou smiling gladly. I swallowed, glancing from the doctor to the other man in confusion. Wait, did that mean that I got away letting them know that I was a Yukimura?
Matsumoto laid a hand on my shoulder and smiled. "Jun...I came here to see you. Kondou-san told me that Koudou-san's daughter was staying with the Shinsengumi." Hearing that, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I doubt he had seen Chizuru before, so it was a relief that he hadn't realize that I was an imposter.
Kondou seemed elated on my account. "I knew Koudou-san and Matsumoto-san were acquaintances, so I thought perhaps he might be able to give us a clue as to his friend's whereabouts. I looked him up as soon as he returned to Kyoto."
The doctor then told me that he had just missed me when he left for Edo as I just reached Kyoto. He had received all my letters, but when he finally returned, he had no idea where I was, so he couldn't start an endless search for me.
I frowned as he continued to explain his situation. There was something he said that just didn't add up. If I, or rather, Yukimura Chizuru had sent him letters, she would have sign off at the end with her name, right? Why was he calling me Jun if he knew Koudou's daughter was Chizuru?
"I'm sorry that I missed you. You must have had a rough time." Matsumoto's words pulled me back from my suspecting thoughts. "Is there anything you need?" I tried to read his expression, but it was so well poker-faced. I glanced at Kondou awkwardly, and he understood, leaving at once to let us be.
"You know I'm not one of the Yukimuras." I said that as a statement, not a question. I knew he was at least observant enough to know that I wasn't a Yukimura, and I was right.
Sighing, he folded his arms. "I was surprised when Kondou-san told me that Yukimura Jun, not Chizuru, was staying here." He met my eyes with kindness, and I was a little taken aback. "So is there anything you need?" He repeated the question with patience.
"Firstly...Koudou-san."
His face was grim. "Unfortunately, I know no more about where Koudou-san might be than you do." I sighed, telling myself that it was to be expected.
"Then...Those inhuman experiments..." I trailed off, wondering if I was asking too much.
Matsumoto didn't seem to notice, but nodded in understanding. "Kouoduo-san was working with the Shinsengumi under orders from the shogun to create what were called 'furies'." When I furrowed my eyebrows, he responded like me, but in anger. "Furies are humans with nigh-demonic strength and speed and phenomenal healing abilities." I felt chills ran down my spine as I remembered Sanan's state and gulped aloud. The doctor paused to look at me, and then continued. "The substance that transforms normal men into these furies is called the Water of Life."
"More like the Water of Insanity," I muttered under my breath, and he smiled sadly at that.
"In China, they call it 'sentan'. In short, it grants immortality."
It might sound something right from a manga or novel, but I had experienced things almost as weird as these. Moreover, the doctor sounded like he was speaking the truth.
"I've heard how it makes one strong and hard to kill," I said, tapping my chin as I recalled what Souji had told me after Sanan transformed. "But doesn't it cause so much pain that it causes most people to go crazy?" I paused, cringing at the memory of meeting those men I encountered when I first reached Kyoto. "And even if you do survive that, the smell of blood can still make you insane again..."
Matsumoto pinched the bridge of his nose, looking exhausted all of the sudden. "So you know about that too..."
"But why...?" I couldn't think of why he would do this. Reading from the father's diary, he seemed to be a kind man who would do anything for his daughter. Why would he agree to do this crazy experiment?
"Perhaps this is why Koudou-san left. His conscience would no longer allow to continue." The doctor sighed. I thought he looked quite glad, and couldn't disagree with that.
I cleared my throat loudly. "So are you going ask why I'm pretending to be a Yukimura?"
He looked at me for a while and laughed. "I had intended to expose you in front of the Shinsengumi as an imposter, but..." He smiled kindly, and I felt gratefulness warmed my stomach. "I am now sure you have some predicament."
"How do you know that?"
Without replying me, Matsumoto just grinned. "I do have a question though. How is Chizuru doing?"
For a moment, I wanted to bluff my way out, but decided against it. "Not so well." I sighed tiredly, and he frowned. There was an unbearable silence when I decided to leave the doctor to do his job.
I ran back to my room to find the twins playing crocodile with all the futon, and I nagged at them for making a mess. Soon then, we settled down, facing each other solemnly.
"I have been wondering about this for a while, Yuri." I gave her a sideway glance. "You said that if Chizuru die, I would die."
"Yup yup." Yuri nodded at that. "Like I said before, one of the ways to get back is to die, but it's a twenty-percent success rate."
"If you die, Chizuru dies, and you two might managed to return to when you belong." Eri's face, like usual, was hard to read.
"Well, after all, you two exchange places because I accidentally let the both of you die at the same time," Yuri murmured, and Eri glared at her.
"Are you sure? Papa will be angry."
Yuri rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Whatever. He's always angry with me anyway." She looked at me. "Humans are not supposed to die at the same time on the same day, you know? For example, in your case, you and Chizuru-chan died at exactly 6.47pm at around January."
"Wait...I'm supposed to be dead...!?" My blood drained away from my face and I began to shake uncontrollably. That damned servant guy...I'm going to kill him when I get back!