Author's note: Sorry for the delay, things got rough on my end.
Cka3ka - thank you for the compliment. Actually a bit of research went into this. I have numerous websites and some previous Japanese history classes to play upon and at the end of the story, I'll list all of my sources.
To the rest… thank you very much for the reviews. I keep trying new things so its nice to read about what works and what didn't (and what grammar needs to be fixed 'cause ummm… yeah… grammar is well and all).
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Thawing
Chapter 3 : Footprints in the Snow
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The bird's feet left tiny cross-shaped scars in the snow on the window ledge. The stalk of a long dead flower bent under the weight of icicles that had formed on it during the night. Soujirou's eyes fluttered open and he tilted his head towards the sun, the brilliant light of dawn blinding him momentarily. Tiny dust particles floated in the air above him and he couldn't resist the urge to reach up and grab one.
But he found his arms were pinned down to the ground. Puzzled, he looked down, following the outline of his body under the blanket until he got somewhere around his knees and realized the problem. Koharu and Ichiro were curled up at his feet fast asleep. His mind still fuzzy from waking up, it took a moment to recall the events of last night.
Stories… he had been telling them lots of stories. Stories about swordsmen and dark samurai, princesses and monsters. Stories that were myths but… stories that had some truth all the same.
His throat parched, Soujirou slowly slid from under the covers as to not disturb the two sleeping children and padded out of the room. The moment he did, he instantly regretted not having taken a blanket with him. The bordello was cold and the floor was spearing his feet with what felt like icicles.
Quickly, he moved towards the stairs and went down, feeling things warm up as soon as he feet hit the heated floor. Moving quietly down the hall, he wondered if he was the only one awake. But the sounds from the kitchen were about to prove him wrong.
"Look at that! A man awake before the sun has even finished rising. I never thought I'd see the day." The brothel matron laughed heartily as she picked up another vegetable.
Soujirou smiled sheepishly and walked into the small kitchen, taking a seat at the table. He was contemplating whether to ask for tea or food first when the knife slammed in front of him. He jumped almost falling off his chair and looked up.
"Figures… finally get a man who's not sleeping the day away and all he wants to do is sit around and be waited on. This ain't no fancy restaurant boy. Earn your keep and start cutting!"
A pile of radishes dropped in front of him and Soujirou smiled, quietly taking the knife in his hands and slicing at the radishes. He probably could have finished chopping them in a matter of minutes but the slow rhythmic cuts he was making were nice, almost meditative.
As Soujirou cut, the room began to fill as the brothel woke up. There were girls, lots of girls in various states of disarray and undress. Soujirou made sure he stayed very concentrated on the radishes while they rushed in and out. No sense in inviting bodily harm because of a roaming eye.
But try as he could to slow things down, the radishes were eventually all cut and he was without a job. A quick look from the old woman made him realize that sitting around was not a good idea.
"Let the poor boy eat, old woman," Toyama said, entering the room. "And get me something to drink."
A moment passed between their eyes before the woman walked away. As soon as she did, Soujirou realized that he and Toyama were the only ones left in the kitchen. In fact the entire house had quieted down.
"There will be people visiting here today," Toyama said.
Soujirou smiled and attempted not to shift uncomfortably in his seat. From Toyama's tone, he didn't think these were just normal visitors.
"They are not the sort that would like to be spotted here so I need people to keep watch around the building. That shouldn't be too hard to do, ne?"
Soujirou smiled. Not at all, he thought. It will also keep me from seeing whoever it is. But I think Saitou Hajime-san would be very interested in who was coming.
* * *
Saitou watched the last bit of snow fall before dawn broke. The candle at his desk had melted down to a small stub, barely lighting up the papers that were strewn there. Turning on his heel, Saitou walked towards the door and opened it, just in time to almost collide with his assistant.
"Gomen nasai," the young man said stumbling a bit. "I… I was just bringing you something to eat before you left."
Saitou looked down at the tray of tea and soba. He took it and walked back to his desk, pushing some of the paper work aside to make room.
"So you really are going to visit Kotaro-san today?"
"It can't be helped," Saitou said, using the chopsticks to pick up some of the soba.
"But the snow has probably made most of the roads impassable by carriage."
"I planned to walk."
"Walk? In this cold? But I hardly think…"
The assistant trailed off, seeing just the barest line of golden eyes as Saitou glanced up. He sighed. It was a useless fight, he knew that. But it didn't mean that he would stop trying to look out for his captain.
It was strange. When he was first assigned as assistant to the legendary Fujita Goro, he felt as if the Emperor himself had bestowed a personal blessing on him. But something had changed when Fujita left Tokyo and came to Hokkaido. He just couldn't put his foot on it.
"Is there any word on that dead girl's family?"
"Hai," the assistant said, snapping back to attention. "We've spoken with the monk and they said the family is staying in the area. I had a couple of men watch the temple. Hopefully they will stop by again to pay their respects soon."
Saitou nodded and stood up, drinking the last bit of tea as he did. He walked to the door and grabbed his coat, pulling it across his body and closing it shut. He placed his sword on the outside, causing his assistant to frown. Was his superior expecting trouble?
But before he could ask, Saitou had shut the door behind him.
* * *
Soujirou tapped his feet. It was an unconscious habit from all his training but it also helped to bring back the feeling in his feet. Had he known that keeping watch around the building meant standing outside for three hours, he would have dressed better.
It almost meant he hadn't gotten even a momentary glance at whoever it was that was visiting the bordello today.
"Ronin."
Soujirou smiled and turned to face the familiar face of Ichiro, the pet name still ringing the air. Any hope of correcting the boy had long since faded and Soujirou was fine with it for now.
"Ichiro and… Koharu," Soujirou said, seeing the extra pair of feet hiding behind Ichiro. "Where's your mother?"
"Sleeping," Ichiro replied.
"Ah… and your father?"
"In a meeting," Ichiro responded.
Soujirou paused. It was as if he thought. Ichiro's father, Seisuke, was not just here to visit his wife's sister. He was connected in all this somehow. In whatever way, it must have been important to warrant being invited to the highly guarded meeting.
Soujirou's mouth twitched slightly as a frown attempted to break through. But instead, he blinked and looked down at the two little children.
"I need to ask a favor of you," Soujirou smiled.
Ichiro raised an eyebrow and looked suspicious. "What?" he finally asked.
"I need you to watch and make sure no one comes too close to the building while I go get a coat, okay?"
"Like a guard?" Ichiro asked, his eyes growing large and happy at the prospect of a real life game.
"Sure," Soujirou replied.
Ichiro snapped to attention and attempted a clumsy salute. Soujirou raised an eyebrow as he attempted the complicated move.
"What was that?" Soujirou asked.
"It's something my dad does when he meets other people," Ichiro said.
Soujirou watched and realized there was something ritualistic about the moves. So he memorized them, hoping it might be helpful later on. Left hand over right in front of the chest, turn the fingers towards you so the palms face you chest with right hand on top, thumbs extended, pull them apart then clap three times. Extend the right hand and keep the left one curled and at your chest.
Soujirou patted him on the head and started back into the house as the children's voices floated in the air.
"Koharu! You can't stand guard too!!"
"Yes I can!"
"No you can't, you're just a dumb girl…"
His footsteps moved quickly across the wooden entranceway, sidestepping the place he knew would creak as he passed. He heard voices ahead of him and quickly ducked into one of the side rooms, watching a few men pass him by.
As soon as they were gone, he made a dash for the stairway but hearing the guard shuffle about there, he knew it was impossible to just walk up there. Moving back slowly, he looked for a door and quietly slid it open, stealing his way onto the porch. He grabbed the eaves that hung overhead and pulled himself up, landing softly on the roof over the balcony.
Quietly he settled into a place in the shadows and quieted his breathing, listening for conversation. The cold air bit at his face and he wished he really had gone for a jacket first. He forced himself to think warm thoughts, knowing that chattering feet or shivering limbs would draw undo attention to him.
"…fields were almost destroyed by rains this year. But we managed to salvage most of the crop and make a nice profit."
Soujirou frowned. That sounded like Seisuke's voice but how could he be sure after only hearing the man talk…
"That's good news, Seisuke. We'll need the money to cover the new expenses that these gentlemen are inquiring about…'
Well that's convenient, Soujirou thought. But not good news. He had hoped Ichiro's and Koharu's father was not involved in this. The other voice was easy to pinpoint. It was Toyama.
"How many men are you planning to send to China then?" But this… this was not a voice he recognized.
"Not too many. We're merely gathering information on the Triads."
"The chances that you will be discovered are small then."
"Small, yes," Toyama answered. "Non-existent, no."
"The Cabinet Minister is a bit hesitant about this. If something should go wrong, your men would be on their own."
"That is not a surprise."
Soujirou heard some shuffling inside and frowned. No, they couldn't be leaving already! At least not without saying what Ministry the man was from. But the sounds were definitely of men leaving and Soujirou could not waste a minute longer.
He moved quickly back to the children, sliding out of the door just as the men upstairs reached the bottom of the stairs.
"Your jacket?" Ichiro asked.
Soujirou paused, realizing his mistake. His face constricted in disappointment before he quickly caught himself. "It wasn't in my room," he said quickly.
The door opened and Seisuke stepped outside. Soujirou looked up at the grizzled older man and watched as Ichiro launched himself at him. Seisuke caught him and spun him around once before hurtling down the stairs towards Koharu. The little girl squealed in delight and took off running.
Soujirou watched the scene, remembering when he had first met the family. They seemed perfect together, everything he thought a family should be. So unlike what he had had. Jealousy… yes, he could admit that now. He was jealous.
But as he watched Seisuke throw snow at his children, there was another feeling creeping on him. Worry.
* * *
The snow crunched under his feet as Saitou moved up the stone steps of the Kotaro compound. A rich man by birth, Kotaro had probably never felt the true force of Hokkaido's winter. He hibernated in the winter and came out in the summer to annoy Saitou once more.
So a social call now, even though winter had only just begun, was enough to perk Saitou's interest. Kotaro was good, a man not easily tripped up by police plants or yakuza bribery. But every man had a weakness, Saitou just had to find Kotaro's.
The compound was more impressive then any building on the island, the guards that stood motionless outside testimony to the riches that lay behind the door. They regarded him with cool detachment as he walked passed them and waited at the door. Their look said one thing. We will kill you if you try anything.
Saitou was all to happy to respond with his trademark 'Go ahead and try' look.
But the door swung open before any more strutting could occur and a young woman looked up at him.
"Officer Fujita. My husband is expecting you," she said bowing deeply.
Saitou gave her a smaller bow in return and fell into step behind her, watching as her shuffling feet drew two parallel lines in the snow. She was young to be Kotaro's wife… at least his first wife.
Their shoes left outside, she ushered him towards the middle of the house. He felt the heated floorboards through the thin socks he wore and if he had been in any other house, that may have relaxed him a bit.
He walked into the receiving room and pulled out his sword, leaving it at his side as he took a seat. Another young girl appeared with tea and as soon as she had served it Kotaro made his appearance.
"Officer Fujita. It is an honor to have you back."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Saitou responded politely.
"When was the last time you were here…" Kotaro said thinking back.
"Last September," Saitou replied firmly. He didn't really have time for small talk.
"Ah, of course," Kotaro smiled. "I forget that you are one who likes things concise and to the point. All right, I wish to expand my mining activities further to the north but the Ainu will undoubtedly prove to be a problem. We will need to rely on your men for help."
Saitou paused and looked at Kotaro. "I am assuming the government in Tokyo has approved this already."
Kotaro's smile shifted slightly as he tipped his head from side to side. Saitou had guessed right. The Japanese government had not approved the venture yet otherwise Kotaro would have had army to help him.
"Then we have a problem," Saitou said evenly.
"Perhaps… or perhaps we can begin our expedition while awaiting government approval. It's not a question whether approval will come in. It's just a matter of when."
"And when that approval comes in, I will be happy to lend my men to your expedition," Saitou said evenly.
Kotaro blinked. "Of course… I understand. Compensating your men without government approval would be difficult."
"It is not about compensation."
"Weaponry then?"
"No."
Kotaro shifted. He had heard rumors of this man who ran Sapporo's police department and they had all just proven true. Incorruptible as they all said. He had hoped that his initial impressions during their first meetings were wrong but…
"Then I will let you know the moment I have received word from the government," Kotaro said.
Saitou nodded and finished his tea before standing up. He slipped his sword in his belt. "Thank you for the tea," he said.
The door behind him slid open and the young wife was there to escort him back. But not before Kotaro fired a parting shot.
"I heard you walked here by yourself. It would be best to be careful with the sun setting now. The Ainu are not fond of us and I heard they may have traveled down south to prove that point."
Saitou let a small smile form. A threat? How… amusing.
Saitou left the tiny wife between the two soldiers and walked down the stairs, following his footsteps in the snow back to town. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it, letting the smoke obscure his vision only momentarily as he walked.
It took only a few minutes before the first twig snapped. He heard it to his left and kept walking, not changing his pace at all. After a few minutes, he came to a stop in a clearing and drew his sword. Enough games.
* * *
Okita's sword struck three times before the opponent could blink. Neck. Left shoulder. Right shoulder. The man was dead before he hit the ground. Okita smiled as he cleaned the blade on his shirt.
"Saitou-sama," Okita said. "Do you think we'll see him tonight?"
Saitou shrugged. Three weeks and the red-haired assassin had not shown up again. The rest of the Shinsengumi only whispered about him. How five of their members were dead by his sword. And how he had almost beaten Saitou the last time they fought. To Saitou it was a non-issue, a minor annoyance he would resolve the next time they crossed paths.
"I want to see him myself," Okita said. "I want to fight him."
Saitou sighed and looked down at the street at the small river of blood flowing from the body at their feet. Okita never changed. Since the day they had walked out of the soba bar, the boy had only been energetic. It was hard to believe how high up in the Shinsengumi hierarchy he was.
But there was something about this young boy that just made him a natural leader. And an excellent fighter. And, for whatever reason, the only one who could tag along with Saitou without permission.
"Saitou-sama?" Okita said interrupting his thoughts.
"Hmm?" Saitou asked.
"Do you think this new assassin is as good as they say?"
"What does it matter," Saitou said, getting somewhat frustrated with the conversation, "how good he is. There's not a man alive that can stand long against us."
Okita smiled. "That's true. But it was almost… nice to hear that there was someone that could match us. Every man should have a nemesis, an exact opposite. Someone who pushes him to an extreme and forces him to get better."
Saitou shook his head. "You think too much about people."
Okita's smile faltered as he looked down at the body on the street. "Maybe…" he said softly. "But I suppose…" he trailed off.
Okita shook his head, the last bits of sadness moving away from his face. "I suppose I do think too much, Saitou-sama. Besides, what's one assassin to us? And who needs a nemesis when there are friends like Saitou-sama to push you to be better."
Saitou paused. Friend? He looked down at the smiling boy and suddenly he was smiling himself.
"Look Saitou-sama, it's started to snow…"
* * *
Four bodies lay in the snow, turning the purity to an ugly shade of maroon. Saitou slipped the blade in his sheath and frowned deeply. Looking at his arm, he saw the thing line of blood already forming. One of them had managed to land a blow. That should not have happened.
The rest of the walk to town was uneventful but Saitou's mind was running through the fight trying to find his mistake but only coming back to the memory of that assassination with Okita.
Every man should have a nemesis, an exact opposite. Someone who pushes him to an extreme and forces him to get better
And Saitou's nemesis was currently rotting away in Tokyo, the ex-hitokiri having given in to the thought of a quiet life of a wife and children. His nemesis was dead. And… so was his friend.
Maybe Okita had been right. Without something to push him, had his skills begun to diminish? Was it only a matter of time before he started rotting away himself, locked away in a house with Tokio and the children?
His hands clenched as he entered Sapporo. He was not going to follow the path of those before him. There was no question of that.
* * *
Soujirou looked into the steaming bowl of soba and frowned. He would have to relate his story to Saitou but… but what to do about Seisuke? To give him up as one of the member of the Genkai nada would mean execution if the secret society ever fell. And what would that do to Ichiro? And Koharu? With his wife having not risen from bed since being informed of her sister's death, what would happen to them?
There was movement at the door and Saitou walked in, motioning at the chef for the usual. He walked over to the table and sat down across for Soujirou, locking eyes with the younger man.
Soujirou blinked. "Your jacket…"
Saitou didn't move. "I tore it on a branch."
Soujirou paused for a moment before smiling. "Of course," he said, knowing very well that few things left a gash like that. As the chef placed the bowl of soba in front of Saitou, Soujirou's suspicions were confirmed. Saitou's arm twitched for a moment when he pulled apart the chopsticks and now… he was using the opposite hand to catch the noodles.
But Soujirou knew enough not to question and turned his attention back to his own bowl. A few minutes of silence passed between the two men.
"So what have you learned?" Saitou finally asked.
"Well, most you know already. They are operating out of the brothel and Toyama is recruiting men. I've seen two more come in since I arrived. There was a secret meeting today…"
Saitou's eyes perked up and Soujirou smiled. "I wasn't invited but I found a way around that," he said. And for a moment, Saitou almost smiled.
"Who was there?"
"A ministry representative but… I don't know who it was or what department they were from."
"Foreign ministry," Saitou said. "They arrived this morning."
Soujirou blinked. "That would make sense. They were telling him about sending operatives to China."
"China?"
"To investigate the Triads."
Saitou's face deepened into a frown. "The Triads are the Chinese equivalent of yakuza. If they are looking into them… considering an alliance…" He trailed off, his mind wrapping around the possibilities.
"Who else was there?" Saitou asked.
Soujirou paused. "Toyama of course."
"And who else?"
Soujirou's hands picked up some noodles. "No one else," he said calmly.
Saitou finished what he was eating. "You're lying."
"No, I'm…"
"You said 'they' were telling the ministry representative."
Soujirou tapped the chopsticks against the bowl and tried to think of a way out of it. Saitou would never let it go now. He just had to think of a way to make Seisuke seem not as important…
"Don't even try," Saitou said quickly. "Whoever he is, there's no way to protect him."
Soujirou's hands stopped and he looked up, feeling the bits of anger starting to nip away at his façade.
But what he saw there was different from what he expected. Somewhere in those golden eyes was… understanding. As if Saitou had once been in the same situation.
But as soon as he had seen it, it disappeared and Soujirou was left finishing his soba in silence, with contemplative Saitou sitting across from him. Five minutes later, Saitou left and Soujirou realized he had never pressed the issue of the third man's name.