"Why are you investigating this drug, Shinomori-san?" Megumi asked quietly. "I thought you had...changed...that you were not going to get involved in other people's affairs..."
"I've learned that old habits don't always leave," he murmured.
"But why? You don't seem to have Ken-san's heroic attitude."
He arched a brow at her blunt tone.
"Or maybe you're doing this to avoid being in Kyoto..." Megumi mused. "Or being around someone in particular..."
His eyes met hers for several seconds before he turned to put the files away, indicating the end of their discussion.
"Am I right?" she asked softly.
No response. She wasn't surprised.
"Shinomori-san-" she began.
"It's late," Aoshi interrupted. "I should leave..."
Megumi noticed that he was cleaning as fast as he could. She sighed as she began to put files away as well. Within a few minutes, the room was clean and she was seeing him to the door.
"Thank you, Takani-sensei," he bowed his head slightly as he turned to leave.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"Visit the families of the patients who died recently," Aoshi admitted.
She nodded. "It may give you an idea on what might have caused them to pass away," Megumi added. Then with an arched brow, she said, "But I doubt some of them will welcome the okashira of the Oniwabanshu..."
"Not all of them know who I am..."
"But some might," she insisted. "I may be able to assist you. A physician asking questions about patients who have passed away is not suspicious at all."
Although she had a valid argument, he didn't think it was a good idea. "No," Aoshi replied. "You're already too much involved as it is."
The lady doctor crossed her arms over her chest and regarded him steadily. "I became involved the moment you stepped into my clinic..."
He had to admire her tenacity. Her strong desire to help others no doubt influenced her attitude towards his investigation. "Thank you, but Jiro and I will deal with this matter."
She studied him for several moments. "Then will you inform me as soon as possible anything you learn? Anything at all, no matter how insignificant it may seem. I may need it for future reference."
"Of course."
"Good night, Shinomori-san..." Megumi then closed and locked the clinic door.
***
"You woke late this morning," Jiro commented casually at lunch the next day.
Aoshi looked up and shrugged. "I worked late last night."
"Somehow I do not believe that..." Jiro responded, laughing. "An attractive woman, no matter how intelligent and focused, can easily distract a man..."
The okashira shook his head mentally. Jiro really was an old friend of Okina. They had the same twisted sense of humor. As if he would engage in self-indulgence with the lady doctor. Aoshi decided not to affirm or deny that statement, Jiro would still think the same, regardless, if he voiced his opinion.
Instead, he replied, "I went through many patient files last night and came up with a list of those patients. Interviewing their family members seems to be the correct course of action right now..." He showed the old man the list.
Jiro's eyes widened. "All these people?" He sifted through the sheets. "Incredible. You must have spent hours locating these files and recording notes..."
Aoshi hid a smile. People always perceived actions better than words. "I need you to tell me if their relatives still live here..."
Jiro scanned the list, promptly picking up a pen to lightly mark each applicable patient. "I will accompany you."
"It's best if I go alone," Aoshi insisted.
"Are you worried that someone will find out that we're inquiring about this?"
Pause. "Someone already does know."
Jiro sighed. "Stranger in town, spending time around talkative individuals...someone probably does know."
"I'm prepared for that," Aoshi assured. He didn't become a strong warrior and excellent swordsman without seeing a situation from different angles.
***
Aoshi gave the woman who answered the door a small smile in greeting. His investigation was underway.
"Konnichiwa," he greeted before launching into his practiced speech. "I'm Minoru Shinjiro, an aspiring medical student. During my time at the clinic library, I came across information regarding Natsu Teshi. Would it be all right if I asked you several questions?"
"Of course." She opened the door to let him inside.
They sat at a low table, and she stared at the table surface, clearly unable to meet his gaze.
"What do you wish to know?" she asked softly.
Pulling out more paper and a pen, he said quietly, "First I would like to know your name."
"Natsu Akiko. He...was my husband."
"Could you tell me more about your husband?" Aoshi asked gently.
She sighed, playing with the sleeve of her kimono. The woman was probably at most ten years older than him. In the short amount of minutes he had spent in her company, he could see a heavy burden on her shoulders.
"We used to live in Tokyo...He was a guard for one of the European noblemen who came to the country nearly twenty years ago. Teshi was several years older than me...I grew up in the European house...my mother was a maid there and my father took care of the horses and the carriage that provided transportation. My parents were farmers, but...well...Teshi and I met while he worked for Schroeder-san..." Akiko smiled fondly. "Teshi was a kind man...very strong...I always thought nothing could destroy him. He was pleasant...when a person was upset and let out their frustrations on him, he refused to get upset. Teshi and I married fifteen years ago..." She glanced at him before looking away. "Forgive my curiosity, but how old are you, Minoru-san?"
"Twenty-one," he responded smoothly. So he was lying. Aoshi hadn't been a spy/protector of the Edo castle by being completely honest. If he wanted information, he lied to get it.
"So you wouldn't fully be aware of the chaos this country had been in during the transition of the new government." She nodded. "Well, it was a lifestyle many had to adapt to. Otherwise, they could not survive. We found meager jobs...but we mostly wanted to get away from Tokyo. The area was full of bad memories for us...Shortly after our wedding, during a riot, Schroeder-san's house was burned to the ground. He was very kind to us, and we missed him terribly." She swallowed, her eyes taking on sadness. "Seven years ago, we moved to Aizu. And...four years ago, Teshi died. The doctors hadn't been able to find out what was wrong. He was fairly young, so it made no sense for him to die so soon."
"I know that it's been a long time...but do you remember anything unusual happening prior to him...?" Aoshi trailed off, uncertain on how to articulate his words.
Akiko sighed, her brow furrowing. "No..."
"It's very important," he explained. "If you don't remember anything, that's all right, I-"
"Well..." Akiko looked up. "I remember one night, hours later than his afternoon walk, he was feeling sick. I thought his food didn't settle well, but he was feeling worse the next day. And then he became seriously ill. He was perspiring, coughing...it was the most painful experience he went through...and that I had to witness..."
Aoshi's eyes softened slightly. "What happened?"
"I asked the doctor to visit. He didn't know what to do. So he gave something to Teshi to ease the pain. It didn't help. So he gave him something to make him fall asleep. Teshi slept for two days before he passed away," Akiko said softly.
The okashira wrote as she discussed her memories of her husband. "I see. I'm very...sorry that you lost your husband..."
"Thank you for your condolences..." she murmured before suddenly asking, "Is this research?"
He nodded slightly. "Yes."
"Well, I hope no one else suffers like my husband did."
Unfortunately, twenty and more did... he thought. "Same here," he murmured, rising to his feet. "Thank you very much, Natsu-san."
"I'm not sure if I was very helpful...Do you know why he passed away?"
"I'd like to find out," Aoshi said frankly. "And perhaps use the knowledge for future patients..."
A small smile crossed her lips. "It is my greatest wish that you find out what happened...It's been a mystery that I want solved." Her lips trembled. "I've lived the last several years wondering why he passed away...Perhaps...finding out why will put a sense of closure..."
"If I find anything, I'll let you know," he assured softly.
"Thank you..."
As Aoshi left the Natsu residence, he had more questions than answers.
And every household he went to produced the same results. More questions. More mystery. More scenarios that made no sense...
Note: I'd like to thank all those people that are reading, reading/reviewing this! So the plot thickens...What's going on? Does ANYBODY know what's going on in Aizu? ^_^ 'Til next time...
"I've learned that old habits don't always leave," he murmured.
"But why? You don't seem to have Ken-san's heroic attitude."
He arched a brow at her blunt tone.
"Or maybe you're doing this to avoid being in Kyoto..." Megumi mused. "Or being around someone in particular..."
His eyes met hers for several seconds before he turned to put the files away, indicating the end of their discussion.
"Am I right?" she asked softly.
No response. She wasn't surprised.
"Shinomori-san-" she began.
"It's late," Aoshi interrupted. "I should leave..."
Megumi noticed that he was cleaning as fast as he could. She sighed as she began to put files away as well. Within a few minutes, the room was clean and she was seeing him to the door.
"Thank you, Takani-sensei," he bowed his head slightly as he turned to leave.
"What are you going to do?" she asked.
"Visit the families of the patients who died recently," Aoshi admitted.
She nodded. "It may give you an idea on what might have caused them to pass away," Megumi added. Then with an arched brow, she said, "But I doubt some of them will welcome the okashira of the Oniwabanshu..."
"Not all of them know who I am..."
"But some might," she insisted. "I may be able to assist you. A physician asking questions about patients who have passed away is not suspicious at all."
Although she had a valid argument, he didn't think it was a good idea. "No," Aoshi replied. "You're already too much involved as it is."
The lady doctor crossed her arms over her chest and regarded him steadily. "I became involved the moment you stepped into my clinic..."
He had to admire her tenacity. Her strong desire to help others no doubt influenced her attitude towards his investigation. "Thank you, but Jiro and I will deal with this matter."
She studied him for several moments. "Then will you inform me as soon as possible anything you learn? Anything at all, no matter how insignificant it may seem. I may need it for future reference."
"Of course."
"Good night, Shinomori-san..." Megumi then closed and locked the clinic door.
***
"You woke late this morning," Jiro commented casually at lunch the next day.
Aoshi looked up and shrugged. "I worked late last night."
"Somehow I do not believe that..." Jiro responded, laughing. "An attractive woman, no matter how intelligent and focused, can easily distract a man..."
The okashira shook his head mentally. Jiro really was an old friend of Okina. They had the same twisted sense of humor. As if he would engage in self-indulgence with the lady doctor. Aoshi decided not to affirm or deny that statement, Jiro would still think the same, regardless, if he voiced his opinion.
Instead, he replied, "I went through many patient files last night and came up with a list of those patients. Interviewing their family members seems to be the correct course of action right now..." He showed the old man the list.
Jiro's eyes widened. "All these people?" He sifted through the sheets. "Incredible. You must have spent hours locating these files and recording notes..."
Aoshi hid a smile. People always perceived actions better than words. "I need you to tell me if their relatives still live here..."
Jiro scanned the list, promptly picking up a pen to lightly mark each applicable patient. "I will accompany you."
"It's best if I go alone," Aoshi insisted.
"Are you worried that someone will find out that we're inquiring about this?"
Pause. "Someone already does know."
Jiro sighed. "Stranger in town, spending time around talkative individuals...someone probably does know."
"I'm prepared for that," Aoshi assured. He didn't become a strong warrior and excellent swordsman without seeing a situation from different angles.
***
Aoshi gave the woman who answered the door a small smile in greeting. His investigation was underway.
"Konnichiwa," he greeted before launching into his practiced speech. "I'm Minoru Shinjiro, an aspiring medical student. During my time at the clinic library, I came across information regarding Natsu Teshi. Would it be all right if I asked you several questions?"
"Of course." She opened the door to let him inside.
They sat at a low table, and she stared at the table surface, clearly unable to meet his gaze.
"What do you wish to know?" she asked softly.
Pulling out more paper and a pen, he said quietly, "First I would like to know your name."
"Natsu Akiko. He...was my husband."
"Could you tell me more about your husband?" Aoshi asked gently.
She sighed, playing with the sleeve of her kimono. The woman was probably at most ten years older than him. In the short amount of minutes he had spent in her company, he could see a heavy burden on her shoulders.
"We used to live in Tokyo...He was a guard for one of the European noblemen who came to the country nearly twenty years ago. Teshi was several years older than me...I grew up in the European house...my mother was a maid there and my father took care of the horses and the carriage that provided transportation. My parents were farmers, but...well...Teshi and I met while he worked for Schroeder-san..." Akiko smiled fondly. "Teshi was a kind man...very strong...I always thought nothing could destroy him. He was pleasant...when a person was upset and let out their frustrations on him, he refused to get upset. Teshi and I married fifteen years ago..." She glanced at him before looking away. "Forgive my curiosity, but how old are you, Minoru-san?"
"Twenty-one," he responded smoothly. So he was lying. Aoshi hadn't been a spy/protector of the Edo castle by being completely honest. If he wanted information, he lied to get it.
"So you wouldn't fully be aware of the chaos this country had been in during the transition of the new government." She nodded. "Well, it was a lifestyle many had to adapt to. Otherwise, they could not survive. We found meager jobs...but we mostly wanted to get away from Tokyo. The area was full of bad memories for us...Shortly after our wedding, during a riot, Schroeder-san's house was burned to the ground. He was very kind to us, and we missed him terribly." She swallowed, her eyes taking on sadness. "Seven years ago, we moved to Aizu. And...four years ago, Teshi died. The doctors hadn't been able to find out what was wrong. He was fairly young, so it made no sense for him to die so soon."
"I know that it's been a long time...but do you remember anything unusual happening prior to him...?" Aoshi trailed off, uncertain on how to articulate his words.
Akiko sighed, her brow furrowing. "No..."
"It's very important," he explained. "If you don't remember anything, that's all right, I-"
"Well..." Akiko looked up. "I remember one night, hours later than his afternoon walk, he was feeling sick. I thought his food didn't settle well, but he was feeling worse the next day. And then he became seriously ill. He was perspiring, coughing...it was the most painful experience he went through...and that I had to witness..."
Aoshi's eyes softened slightly. "What happened?"
"I asked the doctor to visit. He didn't know what to do. So he gave something to Teshi to ease the pain. It didn't help. So he gave him something to make him fall asleep. Teshi slept for two days before he passed away," Akiko said softly.
The okashira wrote as she discussed her memories of her husband. "I see. I'm very...sorry that you lost your husband..."
"Thank you for your condolences..." she murmured before suddenly asking, "Is this research?"
He nodded slightly. "Yes."
"Well, I hope no one else suffers like my husband did."
Unfortunately, twenty and more did... he thought. "Same here," he murmured, rising to his feet. "Thank you very much, Natsu-san."
"I'm not sure if I was very helpful...Do you know why he passed away?"
"I'd like to find out," Aoshi said frankly. "And perhaps use the knowledge for future patients..."
A small smile crossed her lips. "It is my greatest wish that you find out what happened...It's been a mystery that I want solved." Her lips trembled. "I've lived the last several years wondering why he passed away...Perhaps...finding out why will put a sense of closure..."
"If I find anything, I'll let you know," he assured softly.
"Thank you..."
As Aoshi left the Natsu residence, he had more questions than answers.
And every household he went to produced the same results. More questions. More mystery. More scenarios that made no sense...
Note: I'd like to thank all those people that are reading, reading/reviewing this! So the plot thickens...What's going on? Does ANYBODY know what's going on in Aizu? ^_^ 'Til next time...