Yogotte ittemo Utsukushii~
********
Note: hello! Since the Broken Nihontou sequel is still…in the process of brainstorming, I started in between with this fic story on Soujiro and Misao: Done already in short four chapters! (in a sense, since Misao is not really physically present at the story) plus another bonus character! ^-^ …won't spoil the story any further for ya. Tell me what you think, I love getting reviews (
In Pacem!
Ori Oscuro
********
| Part 1: A Sojourn in Osaka |
It has been a long day stride in a tiring afternoon for the reformed ronin in Osaka, one of the biggest capitals in Japan. Seta Soujiro wearily strode by the Pier, where the main trade of fishing gathers a bustling crowd: traders and costumers alike, as massive modern boats from the western civilization is used to even gather more effective catches. Things change all and eventually, just in a few years time the west will thoroughly influenced Japan in means of trading and livelihood, changing the way of living forever.
Four years of travel made him robust and strong, there is a slight glow to his cheeks that he gets if he bask under the afternoon sun and his arms and legs seems longer and firmer, probably for taking long walks and strides from town to town while also carrying his heavy baggage's. He could have grown taller, he noted. For at one point he has to stop by and buy some clothes several months ago. He is so absorb in his quest and journey that he even don't have time to cut his hair, it has grown in a considerable length now, so that he have to tie it roughly into a high pony- tail, enough to have him resemble the long dead Souji Okita to whom fellow travelers spoke of, those have been before the Meiji Era. Some say, he looks like Souji Okita only older. And if he ever got a chance to look by the mirror, he has a feeling he might not even recognize himself. It will be better if any trace of his trademark kawaii-but-deadly façade has fleeted by the wears of travel of four years.
"I think they'll let me in, this time for sure!" he remarked with a sly smile, "It has been almost four years anyway!"
Soujiro was referring to the nearby inn and bar nears the pier, by the fisherman's wharf. He tried too take rest stop there once, but he wasn't able to…everyone mistook him as an underage lost young lad. Cursed his looks before, maybe after all this time they will not eventually recognized him.
And it works, as he went in no one attempted to tell him to go out and tell him he is not fit for the place. It seems no one could recognize someone who has gone for 4-years time, also surprisingly the bar and inn is quite clean and well-kept than he expected. Usually places like these reek with cigarette smoke, people playing poker while wantonly getting drunk and merry with women…which often results to your usual brawl. Instead, there are only a few people there who were just doing about that. They seem rather much at peace taking their meal and instead of rattling drunken shouts, are voices engaged in a seemingly sensible conversation.
"This is so unusual for a bar by a fisherman's wharf!" Soujiro exclaimed in wonder, "Whoever owned this place must have done sort of a miracle!"
"Then welcome, this is the most decent bar by the Pier in all Osaka," a voice from behind replied, answering Soujiro's question. The young wanderer turned around, and behind him by the counter seems to be the owner of the place, and is busy drying up some glasses. He looks strange...like I have seen him before, Soujiro squints his indigo orbs to focus on seeing that somehow familiar figure by the counter. Wearing a crisp white shirt and a black rough jerkin, an indication that this owner is catching up with the modern times, He also has a short cropped gray hair with parted sharp bangs, has brown eyes and a slight disturbing feminity to his voice that seems to ring a bell to Soujiro's memory. Without removing his attention, he carefully approached and observed the bartender owner.
"As long as I own this place, no one will have the guts to mess it up and get the people to behave themselves to have reasonable costumers go around here..." the man continued, without lifting his eyes from his work. " So young man, if you are not here for anything else, then what is it?"
"W-What?" Soujiro stammered in surprise, as he took few steps back. The owner has finished cleaning his glasses and is looking straight at him.
"Costumers don't just come here carrying swords and not asking for anything, I told you before I don't want trouble in my place," the owner gave him a cold look, Soujiro wants to say something…probably the person is being just defensive, recalling that carrying the sword publicly is prohibited in most places already. How could he tell he seems to meet this person before?
"I'm sorry; it just seems you look familiar to me." He apologized, "I'll just have a drink of sake, one for the road."
The bartender's mood seems to lighten with a mischievous smile, "You are new to such places aren't you?", and he hoists a small shot glass and a big wine bottle. "This is not your usual bar, it's like we say…modernized. Everything served here is already European."
"Oh, I see…" Soujiro nearly shrank with the remark; actually he didn't even have Sake even once. "…then I'll have which comes close to Sake..."
" Tequila shot is the closest, even if you take such small amount it really kicks a lot…especially for first timers. " and the bartender poured a small amount to Soujiro's shot glass, and starts to lecture him on it as well. " For first-time drinkers, I prefer you go for a chaser, it will lessen the tipsy effect…which is by a slice of this lemon and a pinch of salt…to which you put on the rim of your glass if you want.." he said, lifting a small plate to Soujiro's view. "Once taking a shot, you quickly have to suck the lemon slice to remove the hot sensation in your mouth."
Soujiro nodded timidly at the lecture, he can't believe he is getting tips on how to take a drink. Westerners do have strange rituals in just drinking one small shot of their spirits! He thought.
"Now if you are a pro, and really want to get sober at least," the bartender continued, "You put some jelly fruit in your glass like so, sweetness heighten your stupor," looking at Soujiro, he shrugs. "But I won't recommend it to a first timer like you, not unless you want to end up with a vicious hangover."
Soujiro took the small shot of glass and raised it to the light, the golden fluid in it is so little, yet the scent of the alcohol seems so strong. "I can't even sip with this thing!" he complained, and the owner just laughed. "You baka! You don't sip it, you have to drink it straight then follow it quick with a chaser! Remember, it burns..."
He does what he is told, and Soujiro took one quick gulp. The mysterious familiar owner is right, the thing starts to burn and sends a strong hot sensation slowly seeping through his whole body enough to make him light-headed. For a few minutes he feels uncontrolled and numb, to at the point to almost leaning his face to the table. The amused owner followed him quickly with the chaser; Soujiro took it quickly as if his mouth is on fire. After awhile, he felt at back again…taking few deep breaths furiously and fanning his kimono, "You were lucky indeed! Not most amateurs are as strong as you, you know!"
"I nearly collapsed! What's so lucky about that?"
"That's because, most first-timers throw up pretty badly." The owner pointed out, giving him a congratulate pat at the shoulder. "Also, I don't know how to say this…but you seem pretty familiar too. Like I have met you somewhere."
"I thought so," Soujiro remarked, "How familiar?"
"In my earlier days, I used to get jealous of a young man always with my master…" the owner recalled, and absentmindedly took the mop nearby and starts cleaning the floor in the counter. "...he seems to be his right-hand of sort…and is always there everywhere my master is. He happens to be a loyal servant like me, but my master, who used to be a powerful man, took a special liking on him…and I in vain try anything just to please him."
"And who is this Master of yours?"
The man looked up and stopped mopping, holstering it to his side as he ponders "Hmm... let's say he is a madman but intelligent and has strong connections with the political world."
"..And this young man always with him?"
"Looks no more than a boy," he replied, and resumes mopping the floor. "I assumed he left as quickly when everything seems to be in chaos, never heard of him again for almost four years."
The conversation was quickly cut off when some angry shouts resonating at one side of the bar. "I hope that it's not another petty trouble again," he sighed. Sometimes sailors from the trading port coming from European countries and are the frequent trouble makers in nearby piers, sometimes grabbing the catering women and getting all madly drunk feeling superior everywhere they go. This time, it seems one of those women are getting to that trouble. "Let me go!! I'm going to tell my boss if you don't let me go!" One of the women struggled as one of those men at sea try to force her to seat down and have a kiss.
"Ye shut up your whining woman!" One of them barked, "We don't give a damn who's your boss, he'll be just to sissy to show up if he sees how many of us are here!"
" My boss Hojoun would kick you so hard all of you might regret it!" she spat to one of them , only to be dealt with a blow at cheek so hard that it send her crashing to the other table.
"Hojoun…" Soujiro tried to recall, he know he had heard of that name somewhere. The Hojoun he knows is dead, Shi-shi-o's campaign manager. The last news he heard of him before he made his leave to Edo is that he shot himself in the prison before awaiting his own trial. "So...Hojoun…"
But Hojoun wasn't listening, the mop is still at his grip and is looking sharply at the direction of one of his employees getting hurt, he removed his jerkin and rolled up his sleeves, opening the counter and moves forward, "Can you wait here for awhile? I got to fix some rednecks who are abusing my employees…"
" Maybe I can be of help…" for it looks like he is not of shape to beat them, Soujiro observed that this Hojoun has a somehow slender and lanky body that looks like it has little exercise. But he seemed furiously determined to beat the rowdy crowd with just his mop. Hojoun tore off the rags of the mop's head to bare its metal edge,
"Leave it to me; I can just handle this like good ol' times…"
Good all times?
"Hey boss, you shouldn't have hurt the lady y'know." One of the men whispered, "I think I heard of this Hojoun guy she's talking about. They said he is very deadly when someone offends his turf! "
"And you guys better leave before I do something else!" Hojoun called out from behind the talking group. The leader of the rowdy bunch take a one quick look at him, he is much smaller than they expected and quite lanky, he is holding a bared mop and has a very angry look at his brown eyes. "If anyone tries to fool around with my employees, it would be a big mistake. Don't let me do it. "
The leader roared with laughter, "Mateys! Is this the boss the young miss is talking about? Why, I can just sneeze and it will blow him away! " and all of them joined in a boisterous chorus of guffaws.
"I see, so I have to take down all three of you…" Hojoun said calmly, taking a stance and holding the exposed blade of his mop
"Wrong choice, puny man..." the leader snickered, baring a long heavy chain at his fist, the other comrades follow suit with their knives and broken bottles "What can ye do with that broken mop o' yours? Defend ye' lady there?"
Hojoun signaled the woman to leave the scene and as he does so, the sailor charged with the swerving heavy chain aimed to his arm. In a matter of reflex and timing, Hojoun snared the chain to the bottom pole of his mop, twisting it and pulling it off the Dutchman's grasp and thus binding the chain one with his mop. Startled and surprised, the other comrade's rushed to their leader's defense but he is much faster. He swerved the bounded chain and exposed blade in a circular motion enough to knock the two lackeys down. The chain snared the one man's arm and with an elaborate twist with the pole it sends the lackey crashing down the wall, the other side which is the blade cuts through the other man's hand and dropping the weapon down. But being the mop and the chain as one, Hojoun gave it another elliptical maneuver and like a grappling vine the weapon which is a wide knife by the way, was snared from the mid-air and he whips it to the disgruntled leader of the gang. It nailed his hand to the floor.
The man let out a painful scream, "Ye bastard! Finish him, all of you! "
"Our boss is good in swerving weapons," the girl from awhile ago told Soujiro, who can't believe his eyes. "I don't know how he came about it, but it's such a good martial art for offense and defense."
"It's not just any martial art, it is a DEADLY skill. Moving two adjoining weapons isn't an easy task to master…" Soujiro turns pale, as he tries to come up with the impression… if that man has a flipped away chin length hair, and is donning a green kimono of a woman, with the way he handled the improvised mop in motion he can't be apparently mistaken as...
" KAMATARI?!"
**********
********
Note: hello! Since the Broken Nihontou sequel is still…in the process of brainstorming, I started in between with this fic story on Soujiro and Misao: Done already in short four chapters! (in a sense, since Misao is not really physically present at the story) plus another bonus character! ^-^ …won't spoil the story any further for ya. Tell me what you think, I love getting reviews (
In Pacem!
Ori Oscuro
********
| Part 1: A Sojourn in Osaka |
It has been a long day stride in a tiring afternoon for the reformed ronin in Osaka, one of the biggest capitals in Japan. Seta Soujiro wearily strode by the Pier, where the main trade of fishing gathers a bustling crowd: traders and costumers alike, as massive modern boats from the western civilization is used to even gather more effective catches. Things change all and eventually, just in a few years time the west will thoroughly influenced Japan in means of trading and livelihood, changing the way of living forever.
Four years of travel made him robust and strong, there is a slight glow to his cheeks that he gets if he bask under the afternoon sun and his arms and legs seems longer and firmer, probably for taking long walks and strides from town to town while also carrying his heavy baggage's. He could have grown taller, he noted. For at one point he has to stop by and buy some clothes several months ago. He is so absorb in his quest and journey that he even don't have time to cut his hair, it has grown in a considerable length now, so that he have to tie it roughly into a high pony- tail, enough to have him resemble the long dead Souji Okita to whom fellow travelers spoke of, those have been before the Meiji Era. Some say, he looks like Souji Okita only older. And if he ever got a chance to look by the mirror, he has a feeling he might not even recognize himself. It will be better if any trace of his trademark kawaii-but-deadly façade has fleeted by the wears of travel of four years.
"I think they'll let me in, this time for sure!" he remarked with a sly smile, "It has been almost four years anyway!"
Soujiro was referring to the nearby inn and bar nears the pier, by the fisherman's wharf. He tried too take rest stop there once, but he wasn't able to…everyone mistook him as an underage lost young lad. Cursed his looks before, maybe after all this time they will not eventually recognized him.
And it works, as he went in no one attempted to tell him to go out and tell him he is not fit for the place. It seems no one could recognize someone who has gone for 4-years time, also surprisingly the bar and inn is quite clean and well-kept than he expected. Usually places like these reek with cigarette smoke, people playing poker while wantonly getting drunk and merry with women…which often results to your usual brawl. Instead, there are only a few people there who were just doing about that. They seem rather much at peace taking their meal and instead of rattling drunken shouts, are voices engaged in a seemingly sensible conversation.
"This is so unusual for a bar by a fisherman's wharf!" Soujiro exclaimed in wonder, "Whoever owned this place must have done sort of a miracle!"
"Then welcome, this is the most decent bar by the Pier in all Osaka," a voice from behind replied, answering Soujiro's question. The young wanderer turned around, and behind him by the counter seems to be the owner of the place, and is busy drying up some glasses. He looks strange...like I have seen him before, Soujiro squints his indigo orbs to focus on seeing that somehow familiar figure by the counter. Wearing a crisp white shirt and a black rough jerkin, an indication that this owner is catching up with the modern times, He also has a short cropped gray hair with parted sharp bangs, has brown eyes and a slight disturbing feminity to his voice that seems to ring a bell to Soujiro's memory. Without removing his attention, he carefully approached and observed the bartender owner.
"As long as I own this place, no one will have the guts to mess it up and get the people to behave themselves to have reasonable costumers go around here..." the man continued, without lifting his eyes from his work. " So young man, if you are not here for anything else, then what is it?"
"W-What?" Soujiro stammered in surprise, as he took few steps back. The owner has finished cleaning his glasses and is looking straight at him.
"Costumers don't just come here carrying swords and not asking for anything, I told you before I don't want trouble in my place," the owner gave him a cold look, Soujiro wants to say something…probably the person is being just defensive, recalling that carrying the sword publicly is prohibited in most places already. How could he tell he seems to meet this person before?
"I'm sorry; it just seems you look familiar to me." He apologized, "I'll just have a drink of sake, one for the road."
The bartender's mood seems to lighten with a mischievous smile, "You are new to such places aren't you?", and he hoists a small shot glass and a big wine bottle. "This is not your usual bar, it's like we say…modernized. Everything served here is already European."
"Oh, I see…" Soujiro nearly shrank with the remark; actually he didn't even have Sake even once. "…then I'll have which comes close to Sake..."
" Tequila shot is the closest, even if you take such small amount it really kicks a lot…especially for first timers. " and the bartender poured a small amount to Soujiro's shot glass, and starts to lecture him on it as well. " For first-time drinkers, I prefer you go for a chaser, it will lessen the tipsy effect…which is by a slice of this lemon and a pinch of salt…to which you put on the rim of your glass if you want.." he said, lifting a small plate to Soujiro's view. "Once taking a shot, you quickly have to suck the lemon slice to remove the hot sensation in your mouth."
Soujiro nodded timidly at the lecture, he can't believe he is getting tips on how to take a drink. Westerners do have strange rituals in just drinking one small shot of their spirits! He thought.
"Now if you are a pro, and really want to get sober at least," the bartender continued, "You put some jelly fruit in your glass like so, sweetness heighten your stupor," looking at Soujiro, he shrugs. "But I won't recommend it to a first timer like you, not unless you want to end up with a vicious hangover."
Soujiro took the small shot of glass and raised it to the light, the golden fluid in it is so little, yet the scent of the alcohol seems so strong. "I can't even sip with this thing!" he complained, and the owner just laughed. "You baka! You don't sip it, you have to drink it straight then follow it quick with a chaser! Remember, it burns..."
He does what he is told, and Soujiro took one quick gulp. The mysterious familiar owner is right, the thing starts to burn and sends a strong hot sensation slowly seeping through his whole body enough to make him light-headed. For a few minutes he feels uncontrolled and numb, to at the point to almost leaning his face to the table. The amused owner followed him quickly with the chaser; Soujiro took it quickly as if his mouth is on fire. After awhile, he felt at back again…taking few deep breaths furiously and fanning his kimono, "You were lucky indeed! Not most amateurs are as strong as you, you know!"
"I nearly collapsed! What's so lucky about that?"
"That's because, most first-timers throw up pretty badly." The owner pointed out, giving him a congratulate pat at the shoulder. "Also, I don't know how to say this…but you seem pretty familiar too. Like I have met you somewhere."
"I thought so," Soujiro remarked, "How familiar?"
"In my earlier days, I used to get jealous of a young man always with my master…" the owner recalled, and absentmindedly took the mop nearby and starts cleaning the floor in the counter. "...he seems to be his right-hand of sort…and is always there everywhere my master is. He happens to be a loyal servant like me, but my master, who used to be a powerful man, took a special liking on him…and I in vain try anything just to please him."
"And who is this Master of yours?"
The man looked up and stopped mopping, holstering it to his side as he ponders "Hmm... let's say he is a madman but intelligent and has strong connections with the political world."
"..And this young man always with him?"
"Looks no more than a boy," he replied, and resumes mopping the floor. "I assumed he left as quickly when everything seems to be in chaos, never heard of him again for almost four years."
The conversation was quickly cut off when some angry shouts resonating at one side of the bar. "I hope that it's not another petty trouble again," he sighed. Sometimes sailors from the trading port coming from European countries and are the frequent trouble makers in nearby piers, sometimes grabbing the catering women and getting all madly drunk feeling superior everywhere they go. This time, it seems one of those women are getting to that trouble. "Let me go!! I'm going to tell my boss if you don't let me go!" One of the women struggled as one of those men at sea try to force her to seat down and have a kiss.
"Ye shut up your whining woman!" One of them barked, "We don't give a damn who's your boss, he'll be just to sissy to show up if he sees how many of us are here!"
" My boss Hojoun would kick you so hard all of you might regret it!" she spat to one of them , only to be dealt with a blow at cheek so hard that it send her crashing to the other table.
"Hojoun…" Soujiro tried to recall, he know he had heard of that name somewhere. The Hojoun he knows is dead, Shi-shi-o's campaign manager. The last news he heard of him before he made his leave to Edo is that he shot himself in the prison before awaiting his own trial. "So...Hojoun…"
But Hojoun wasn't listening, the mop is still at his grip and is looking sharply at the direction of one of his employees getting hurt, he removed his jerkin and rolled up his sleeves, opening the counter and moves forward, "Can you wait here for awhile? I got to fix some rednecks who are abusing my employees…"
" Maybe I can be of help…" for it looks like he is not of shape to beat them, Soujiro observed that this Hojoun has a somehow slender and lanky body that looks like it has little exercise. But he seemed furiously determined to beat the rowdy crowd with just his mop. Hojoun tore off the rags of the mop's head to bare its metal edge,
"Leave it to me; I can just handle this like good ol' times…"
Good all times?
"Hey boss, you shouldn't have hurt the lady y'know." One of the men whispered, "I think I heard of this Hojoun guy she's talking about. They said he is very deadly when someone offends his turf! "
"And you guys better leave before I do something else!" Hojoun called out from behind the talking group. The leader of the rowdy bunch take a one quick look at him, he is much smaller than they expected and quite lanky, he is holding a bared mop and has a very angry look at his brown eyes. "If anyone tries to fool around with my employees, it would be a big mistake. Don't let me do it. "
The leader roared with laughter, "Mateys! Is this the boss the young miss is talking about? Why, I can just sneeze and it will blow him away! " and all of them joined in a boisterous chorus of guffaws.
"I see, so I have to take down all three of you…" Hojoun said calmly, taking a stance and holding the exposed blade of his mop
"Wrong choice, puny man..." the leader snickered, baring a long heavy chain at his fist, the other comrades follow suit with their knives and broken bottles "What can ye do with that broken mop o' yours? Defend ye' lady there?"
Hojoun signaled the woman to leave the scene and as he does so, the sailor charged with the swerving heavy chain aimed to his arm. In a matter of reflex and timing, Hojoun snared the chain to the bottom pole of his mop, twisting it and pulling it off the Dutchman's grasp and thus binding the chain one with his mop. Startled and surprised, the other comrade's rushed to their leader's defense but he is much faster. He swerved the bounded chain and exposed blade in a circular motion enough to knock the two lackeys down. The chain snared the one man's arm and with an elaborate twist with the pole it sends the lackey crashing down the wall, the other side which is the blade cuts through the other man's hand and dropping the weapon down. But being the mop and the chain as one, Hojoun gave it another elliptical maneuver and like a grappling vine the weapon which is a wide knife by the way, was snared from the mid-air and he whips it to the disgruntled leader of the gang. It nailed his hand to the floor.
The man let out a painful scream, "Ye bastard! Finish him, all of you! "
"Our boss is good in swerving weapons," the girl from awhile ago told Soujiro, who can't believe his eyes. "I don't know how he came about it, but it's such a good martial art for offense and defense."
"It's not just any martial art, it is a DEADLY skill. Moving two adjoining weapons isn't an easy task to master…" Soujiro turns pale, as he tries to come up with the impression… if that man has a flipped away chin length hair, and is donning a green kimono of a woman, with the way he handled the improvised mop in motion he can't be apparently mistaken as...
" KAMATARI?!"
**********