(Disclaimers: Nobuhiro Watsuki is the man, see Chapter 1 disclaimer for details)
4/23/02
5/13/02 – revised
Chapter 5
A Scent in the Wind; A Wolf on the Hunt
Morning after the Hanami Festival; Takagi Residence
Tokio made her way home on foot, arriving just before dawn. During the night a windy rain had caused a majority of the sakura blossoms to be washed from the trees to lie in sodden drifts, like snow, against walls of homes and shops. Tokio felt the world of nature had reflected her loss.
Fortunately when she reached home the side entrance was already unbarred. Cold and wet, she quietly let herself into the house through the back. Making her way to her room she heard the shoji open to her right and felt a stinging blow to her cheek, which sent her to her knees.
"Slut!" bellowed Kojuurou.
"Father!"
"Baka, you have ruined everything!" shouted her father, clouting her on the side of her face again.
Tokio put out her hands, trying to shield her face, "No, it is not what you think."
"NOT what I THINK!" he roared loudly, punctuating his words with his fist repeatedly; her attempts to defend herself made him angrier. "I THINK my slut of a daughter is SNEAKING into my home at DAWN after being out all night with a MAN who is not yet her husband and thanks to her WON'T BE!" He hit her over and over.
Tokio stopped defending herself and lay curled up on the floor of the engawa in a protective huddle. "Don't…Father, please," she cried, "nothing happened."
"You expect me to believe that!" He was enraged, kicking her side. "My plans are ruined because you couldn't keep your legs together for a little while longer!
Putting a hand on her husband's arm, Tokio's mother tried to restrain him from striking the girl again. He slapped her hard with the back of his hand; she landed roughly against the shoji.
"Your whore of a daughter might as well be in a brothel except what man will pay for what he can have for FREE," he spat. "The samurai didn't want this arrangement to start with. He won't marry her now. He has proof that she is so lacking in honor that even the Daimyo wouldn't force him to take her now!"
That struck a nerve and Tokio began to cry in earnest, huge wracking sobs, everything she had felt and not shed from last night came crashing down on her. He was right. The reasoning was flawed but the outcome was the same.
At some point her father had left off hitting her and stormed out of the house. Her mother held her while she continued to sob, instinctively knowing that this harsh grief wasn't caused by Kojuurou's cruelty. "I don't know what happened, Tokio, but if you continue like this you will make yourself sick," she said gently.
Eventually Tokio allowed her mother to get her to her feet and to her room. The older woman left her there while she fetched water and medicine for her daughter's face. When she returned she was surprised to see that Tokio had started packing a traveling basket with clothing and a few personal items.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing the worried disbelief in her mother's voice she looked up. There was a bruise already starting to appear on her mother's cheek. She could feel her own face and lip swelling. Tokio thought her mother was a pretty woman, she hated that haunted look caused by her father's abuse, and she hated to add to her mother's pain. "I must go," she said with quiet determination.
"Tokio, you can't leave," said the older woman, sympathizing. Reina sometimes wished she could flee, run away somewhere else, but she was older and knew the world at large could be a far crueler place than where she was. "If you leave now he would never let you return."
Putting her arms around her mother she hugged her tight, "I can't stay," she whispered in anguish, "and I don't think I can come back"
"No, don't do this. He'll calm down, you'll see. Maybe you can't marry your samurai, but there will be someone else." The words lacked conviction. Oh, she knew that there would be other offers for marriage, Kojuurou was a wealthy man, but she had never seen Tokio interested in any one before this, and for a short period of time – only yesterday – she dared hope that her daughter had found something that she had not. In hindsight Reina thought it was a pity that the girl had formed an attachment. Perhaps this had worked out for the best. A woman shouldn't be in love with her husband, it would only cause her more pain. Reina had proof of that. In the beginning of her marriage to Kojuurou Takagi she had imagined herself in love with him, but he had long since destroyed any gentler feelings she may have had for him.
Tokio took both her mother's hands into hers, and kissed them. "For reasons I can't explain I can't have him, I would stain his honor, and I know there can't be anyone else. I beg you," she said softly, "to take my word that if I stay here his life is in danger. I must go."
"Tokio," her mother said sadly
"It will be alright, you'll see. I'll stay at the Pottery with the other women. You can come and see me and I can easily send you messages. Please Mother, you must tell no one where I've gone, no one, not even Captain Saitou."
Was he alright? She ached to know. When he was well would he come to find her? Would he remember any part of the evening, and if he did would he think he was well rid of someone who would bring him nothing but shame? There was no way he would remember the murder, but he would hear about her condition at headquarters. He would hear about how everyone had seen her. She felt ill just thinking about what his reaction might be. He was a proud man. If she were a woman of his own class she would take the necessary steps to reclaim her honor. Recourse would be sought with a white kimono and kneeling on a white edged tatami, but she couldn't. She never believed that such a thing could bring back honor anyway, and even if she did believe it, there were other lives looking to her.
Her mother regarded her firmly, "No. I don't know what evil you have fallen into but if you're determined to go then I will tell your father that I've sent you to stay with your Aunt, at least until such time as you've had your flux and we are sure that you're not with child. That game could be played for month, do not ask for more. She let a hand smooth down the girl's hair. "When this trouble passes you'll come home." Yes, Reina thought, it would be better if the girl were not in her father's sight for awhile anyway.
Tokio nodded her acceptance for now, but didn't believe that it would work out that way. The Shinsengumi Commander would not give up that easily. Making herself one promise, she decided she would keep a small blade with her at all times, and if she was found then she could seek to end her life with a clear conscience.
The last thing her mother packed into her carry basket was some medicines for her face. Then her mother helped her put on the basket's shoulder straps and she left by the same side gate.
Kyoto; Border of Gion and Fushimi Districts
It was a short trip north, to the border of Gion and a fair sized compound. The sign outside the gates read Ohoshi Pottery.
Hoping that someone could hear her she rapped on the gate.
Someone was already up. It was the potter. "Yuuki, I hope I'm not disturbing you."
He took one look at her face, "Tokio," the man said sadly, "what did he do to you?"
"That bad?" she said with false levity.
"You haven't seen it?" The older man was looking at her with some concern and immediately taking her burden off her back. This wasn't the first time the girl had shown up with marks of her father's wrath but this was assuredly the worst.
Tokio shook her head. "I have some medicine with me but what I really need is some sleep and a place to stay for awhile. I thought I could stay with the other women?"
"Yes, yes, of course, but first let's get you inside and have my wife look at your face. Nana will know what to do. Can you even see out of that eye?"
"Not very well I'm afraid," and then changing the subject, "Yuuki, there is a chance that… that the Shinsengumi may be looking for me," she said hesitantly. "They have questions I'd rather not answer. I have no reason to think that they'll look for me here, but I don't want you to put yourself or the others at risk. If they show up just let me know." "I'll have to be prepared to make sure they can't question me," she thought. She felt strangely composed about it.
"Oh, I knew it, they want to know about…about our enterprise?" he lowered his voice, although there was no one around.
"No, no, it has nothing to do with that. We've done nothing wrong here."
The potter always thought she was a bit naïve in that regard. All it would take would be for the Bakufu to even think they'd been insulted and everything was over. Sometimes he wondered why he went along with her plans, but then he'd look at her and know that it was hopeless to think of doing anything else. Takagi was a fool! If he and Nana had been blessed with a child like Tokio… but oh well, enough of that. There was the Shinsengumi to think about. He could well imagine the Mibu Wolves would in fact find their activities very objectionable. "Well, no sense paying for a river crossing unless it's necessary." He quoted, more to himself than to her.
A painful half-smile graced her face. He and Nana were extremely kind to those less fortunate that themselves. She hoped she wouldn't be bringing any trouble to their gates. Yuuki had once been samurai himself, but he had voluntarily given up that right to make his living as an artist and to marry his Nana.
They say that a samurai's sword is his soul. Yuuki had once said that he could hold his sword or hold his Nana, and when he looked inside himself he had seen the truth. That she was his soul. Was it any wonder that Tokio had harbored an unspoken unacknowledged desire to find something similar? As a dutiful daughter she would have been prepared to honor the husband selected for her regardless; that is if she had never meet Hajime. Somehow he had marked her as his, and she could belong to one else.
Once inside Nana caught sight of her face. The older woman was beside herself with a mixture of fury and concern. Yuuki fetched some water and Nana bathed her face. Yuuki retrieved the medicines that Tokio's mother had selected from her traveling basket. Murmuring approval Nana applied the medicines to Tokio's bruised face. They moved in tandem, these two, with the grace that loving awareness had gifted them. Tokio fought off an overwhelming feeling of sorrow and loss.
Nana said, "Well, I don't think there is any permanent damage to that eye but it's going to take a while for the swelling to do down, and you will probably not want anything but soft foods and soups for a few days." Her voice was one of practicality but her heart was breaking for the battered young woman. "Let's get you to bed." Nana placed her in a room in the main house. Tokio was asleep before her head hit the futon, and for once too exhausted to dream.
***
Morning after the Hanami Festival: Mibu Guard Station
Hajime woke up to find himself in his room with Souji and Sanosuke speaking quietly nearby. His side felt painful with every breath he took, and something was missing. It took him only a moment to realize what it was.
"Where is Tokio?"
"What? Hey, he's awake," this from Souji. "I have to go tell the Commander. Hijikata said he wanted to be informed as soon as you came to."
"First you will tell me where Tokio is," commanded the injured man.
"Uh, well, we aren't exactly sure. I'll be right back," and he swiftly left the room.
"Coward," muttered Sanosuke.
"What does he mean 'we don't know'?" growled Hajime, his fine dark eyebrows drawn down low into a scowl.
"Hey, don't get all snarly with everyone already. We're looking for her," Sanosuke's voice equal measures of annoyance and concern. "We know she made it home this morning just before dawn. By the time we had gotten there she had already left again to go to her Aunt's. We went to the Aunt's house but the girl had never been there. Hey! You can't get up!" Sanosuke braced a hand in front of Hajime as he attempted to sit up.
"Ahou, get out of my way." Hajime knocked his hand out of the way just as Commander Hijikata and Souji came in.
"That's enough," said Toshizou, clearly not in the mood for either of them. "Harada, Okita, I'll talk with Saitou alone.
Both men bowed and took their leave closing the shoji behind them.
Toshizou sat on the tatami next to Hajime's futon, his voice chiding, "The doctor will not be pleased if he has to stitch you up again."
Hajime gave him a narrow glare.
"Okay," Toshizou said seriously, "it would be a shame if that girl's sacrifice was for nothing."
Hajime lay back down, forcing himself to calmness, "Tell me."
That was better, Toshizou thought. "I'm in need of some information myself, so why don't you tell me how the evening started, who attacked you, and I'll tell you how I think it ended."
Hajime told him about the attack, about one attacker getting away, and making it back to the Takase River. "After that I'm not sure. There are some other disjointed images…"
"Hajime! How much does a yotaka cost?"
Hajime shook his head, "…but they don't make any sense and I can't be sure that they're real."
Hijikata frowned, "And you're sure she was the target?"
Hajime was positive, "They called her name and tried to strike her down." He burned anew with the thought of their treachery. She was his! How dare they try to take her from him!
Toshizou pondered that for a minute and then measured the wounded man's reaction as he said, "Well, both men are dead. That has been verified."
"I would have remembered if I had killed the first man."
"I don't think you did, I think Tokio did."
Hajime coughed, and then wished he hadn't, "Is that so."
"Witnesses say that a woman and a man took refuge under the gojo-ohashi bridge. The man passed out. The woman…," he paused, "pretending to be a prostitute, led another man under the bridge, where she attacked him with a katana."
"You're telling me that Tokio attacked an armed assassin with my blade and killed him?" his voice deep and filled with disbelief.
Toshizou was considered a martial arts genius, but he was less than knowledgeable about this Wolf's reaction if he were told the truth. "Are you sure you want to know the details?" Toshizou looked uneasy, "I feel they would cause you grief and I can just as easily keep them to myself. However, once they are said then there is no retraction, they will forever be in your mind. Perhaps you should think about this carefully."
Hajime impaled him with narrowed amber eyes, "If she suffered," he growled, "then the least I can do is hear it."
"Alright," consciously maintaining a flat tone of voice and addressing the situation from a military point of view he said, "Her primary concern was her first attack." Toshizou detailed for Hajime what they had been able to piece together, including Tokio's tactical setup, lure, and distraction. Toshizou saw Hajime grip the futon covers. "I viewed the corpse myself. The man would have died quickly enough with the first attack, and although both strikes would have been fatal the second was a clumsy hack. I'm of the opinion the second attack would not have been successful against a fighter of any experience without the first. She knew that too."
"Tokio!" Shame and anger coursed through his body.
"That is the worst of it, although there is more," Toshizou allowed himself a little smile at the thought. "The kago porter hadn't wanted anything to do with the two of you but she held him at blade point and threatened him with Shinsengumi retribution if he didn't get you back here for medical treatment."
Hajime heard him but was focused on the more serious aspects of the evening and had not taken his thoughts off of her disappearance. "Who knows about this?"
"I'm afraid the kago porter story is already legend through the ranks. Tokio is somewhat of a heroine, and the men have declared her another Tomoe Gozen," the commander smiled briefly before getting a bit more serious, "everyone knows that she came in with you and that she was barely clothed, covered in blood, and clutching your katana." Toshizou continued, "However, only Harada, who did the investigation last night, and ourselves know about the manner in which the man was dispatched. I gave out a story that she was attacked and that you killed both men but were wounded into insensibility."
"Why was she allowed to leave by herself?"
"She wasn't," Toshizou's annoyance was apparent, "and I have a few questions about that myself. Before Harada's investigation I attempted to question her, and for some reason she wouldn't tell me the entire story."
"Do you blame her?"
"It had nothing to do with her shame…"
"She has nothing to be ashamed of," Hajime's shoulders came up off the futon. His mind howled, "I'm the one who failed to protect her!"
"Fine then, it had nothing to do with her suffering, is that better?" Toshizou waited for Hajime to exert that all encompassing willpower of his. "I had the distinct impression that she was protecting you from punishment but for what I'm not exactly sure."
"Punishment?"
"She questioned me about my role in authoring the Shinsengumi Laws, practically accusing me of orchestrating the evening's woes second hand. Whatever her reluctance I'm sure it's tied up with this. What exactly does she know, or think she knows, about our rules?"
"Nothing," Hajime said flatly. "No, wait, Nagakura told her that afternoon that breaking any law meant death."
"Is that all? She seemed determined to tell me that both of your attackers were dead, but wouldn't tell me any details. However, she kept implying that you had killed them both. I might understand it if one of them got away but…"
"I let my enemy get away."
Hajime tilted his head back against the futon in wretched understanding "She thinks I'll be punished for letting my enemy get away."
"…but he's dead."
"Yes, but I didn't kill him."
Now Toshizou understood, "…so…not wanting to be questioned she pretends to faint, once in a room by herself she escapes." He gave an affirmative shake of his head to Hajime's questioned look. "Yes, and if you can't remember anything then we are forced to accept what she's given us at face value. I think it's safe to assume that she didn't go to her Aunt's or any other openly stated destination. Gods, she's clever."
"Clever!" Hajime looked at him furiously. "When I get that little fool in my hands I'm going to…"
"I think I appreciate resourcefulness more than you," Toshizou said with vague thoughtfulness.
Hajime glared at him. "I'm getting up and I'm going to find her."
"Since I know it will do no good to say otherwise, I'll just insist that you take Okita and Nagakura with you… in case you run into any more of Tokio's well-wishers."
"What, not Harada?" Hajime said sarcastically.
"No, he was up all night, first with backtracking - trying to get her story, and then trying to track her down later. You might remember that the next time you see him."
"I wouldn't count on it"
***
Mounting up in the Guard stables, Sanosuke came in and started readying his mount.
Hajime cast him a dark look, "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm joining you."
"I don't think so."
"Well, think again."
"The Commander said you were up all night."
"I took a nap," said Sanosuke flippantly.
Hajime shrugged, "Ahou," but it lacked bite.
Once on their way, Hajime set a fairly fast pace. They didn't gallop through the city, but a fast trot ate up ground. By the time they reached the Takagi compound Hajime had a headache from gritting his teeth all the way.
When he dismounted he noticed some blood had begun to seep through his bandages.
"You know it won't do her any good if you die in the attempt to find her," Sanosuke pointed out.
"You wanted to come, but I suggest you keep quiet," said Hajime.
Sanosuke threw up his hands and walked up to the main house. The others followed.
Kojuurou Takagi was obviously surprised to see them and doubly so because Captain Saitou was among them. Maybe the stupid girl didn't ruin all his hopes after all.
They all sat down in the main room, and Sanosuke said, "When I was here this morning you said Tokio had gone to stay with her Aunt, but her Aunt says that she hasn't seen her."
Kojuurou looked taken back, "The woman must be mistaken. I assure you that's where Tokio went. Her mother didn't consult me," and at this he gave a somewhat black look in his wife's direction, "but thought it best to have the girl out of the commotion of the marriage arrangements." With that conversational lure Kojuurou let his gaze drift to Saitou.
The Shinsengumi captain knew that Kojuurou was lying about something but it was the reaction, or rather the lack of one, from Tokio's mother that claimed his attention. For a loving mother she seemed very unconcerned that her daughter had not shown up at her destination. He looked at her downcast face, and then back to Kojuurou.
Hajime let some of the concern he felt color his words, "This is most disturbing. An attack was made on Tokio last night by someone who was specifically seeking to do her harm and now that she is out in the city by herself I'm beset with concern for her safety."
That did it. The woman's face was awash in worry for her daughter's safety, and her bruised cheek did not go unnoticed by Hajime.
Standing up, the others got to their feet as well, "We will be going. We must retrace her steps to her Aunt's house and see if we can pick up a lead. I'll let you know if we…find anything." The sharp edge was driven in.
Once outside Takagi's wife lost no time in approaching him, and he had expected nothing less. "Please Captain, are you sure about this threat to my daughter?"
"Madam," and with this he pulled his Shinsengumi haori to one side, allowing her to see the blood staining his kimono, "this attack was meant for her," he said austerely. "Her enemies called out her name. I've never been more sure of anything." He looked at her with unrelenting fire, "If you know something I urge you to speak now before it's too late."
"She did not go to her Aunt's," Tokio's mother looked ashamed for her part in the lie.
Knowing that much, Hajime's allowed his silence to compelled her further. "She said that she represents some danger to your life, and I'm sure that she believes that, but I can't help believe you when you say her life is in danger too. It would be just like Tokio to put another before her, and forgive me, but I'm not willing to trade my daughter's life for yours even if she would wish it." The older woman paused and looked at Hajime evenly, "She said she was…that she had lost honor, and that she could not marry you, but you could still find her and bring her home safely, couldn't you?
"She has not lost her honor," he ground out, and looking very severe he said, "and I assure you she is wrong on two counts. I will live, and she will marry me. Now where is she?" His eyes and voice were both chillingly cold.
The older woman thought her daughter might have caught a tiger by the tail with this man. "She was going to the Ohoshi Pottery." He raised an inquiring eyebrow, and she said, "It's just north of here; Tokio has a few women who make small glass objects, which she then fronts to her father. He doesn't know anything about her added involvement. I hope you won't say anything."
He frowned, this was the least of his worries but he would make a mental note to have a discussion with Tokio about keeping secrets. "I see no reason to mention it. I'll send you word as soon as we locate her. She will not be coming back here," he said firmly, "but will stay at the Guard Station for her safety until the wedding."
After getting directions to the Ohoshi Pottery the small group headed out.
***
Author's Notes:
Tomoe Gozen: In this chapter the rank and file of the Shinsengumi
have lightheartedly likened Tokio to a modern day
Tomoe Gozen. Gozen was a
famous woman warrior. She actually took control of Kyoto after winning the Battle of Kurikawa
in 1584. She also fought in many battles with her warrior husband (Yoshinaka) and "Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain, equipped with
strong armor, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow; and she preformed more
deeds of valor than any of his other warriors."
(Tale of the Heike, McCullough, pg. 291)
I would like to thank everyone who has reviewed my chapters thus far. I've gotten a lot of really good feed back, both in reviews and in email, and I appreciate every single bit of it!
