By Daniel Lam
PART SEVEN: THE DAIKON FIELD
"THIS was supposed to be a simple, private affair," Sanosuke grumbled, arms akimbo, glaring at the eager faces.
He stood at the edge of the Higashidani daikon field. In the light of the afternoon sun the field looked even more desolate. Seated at the edge of the field, some on stools, were people who had turned up the night before to see him.
The Shizuka twins were there too. From the way things looked, the entire young male population of Shinshu town must have turned up.
"You know how it is, son," Kamishimoemon remarked. "You are a hero here."
Sanosuke shook his head. He scanned the crowd for Ling and his senior brother, whoever he may be. But they were not to be seen.
After the fight, he thought, I'll have to go look for Uki again. Maybe she'll be at the doctor's clinic.
There was a hush just then, and Sanosuke turned to look. It was Ling, with another man who was about the same height and build. But, unlike Ling, the other man did not wear a hat.
"Mr Sagara," Ling began, bowing at the same time. Then: "This is my senior brother."
"Does he have a name, or do you expect me to call him 'senior brother' as well?" Sanosuke stated with a smile.
That seemed to have caught Ling off-guard, for it was a moment before he answered.
"My senior brother is nameless, Mr Sagara. He-" Ling hesitated. "-gave up his name years ago."
"Oh?"
Kamishimoemon came near just then. "Mr Ling."
Ling bowed. "Mr Higashidani. This is my senior brother."
Kamishimoemon eyed the nameless man. "He's taking on my son? Doesn't seem fair to me," he said, patting Sanosuke on the shoulder.
The nameless man said something just then, to which Ling nodded in response. Sanosuke noted the thick accent, too thick for him to follow. But he understood enough.
"Your witness isn't here yet?" he asked.
Ling nodded. "You speak our language, Mr Sagara?"
"Just a little. I was in the mainland, mostly along the coast, for a year," Sanosuke told him. "I know enough to get by ... yours is the language used in the north."
Ling smiled. "I shall act as a go-between, then ... my senior brother knows very little Japanese."
Sanosuke nodded. "He doesn't look much of a conversationalist anyway." Indeed, the nameless man seemed to have a grim expression permanently fixed upon his face. "Let me guess ... Bo Mia, right?"
"Bo Mia?" both Chinese men repeated, puzzled.
Then Ling chuckled. "Bo Mia ... 'nameless' in Fujien language," he told the nameless one.
Sanosuke nodded. "I don't know enough of the language you speak to-"
"It would be Wu Ming in our common language," Ling said.
Then both he and his senior brother turned then at the direction of town.
"The witness ... he is here," Ling stated.
A horse-driven coach turned the corner. Sanosuke frowned as he noted that the driver was in police uniform.
"Your witness is a government official?" he asked Ling. This could mean trouble!
"I do not think so," Ling replied, his eyes still on the approaching coach. He added: "But he may work with the Meiji government."
It came to a stop at the edge of the field, not very far from where everyone was. The driver looked as if he was getting instructions from whoever the passenger was, then got off and approached Ling.
"Mr Ling?" the police officer asked.
"Yes."
The officer then whispered something to the Chinese man's ears, too soft for Sanosuke to hear. Ling simply nodded as the officer spoke. The latter then handed something to Ling.
Ling then approached Sanosuke, holding up the item. It was metal, and looked like the handle of a crank.
"What is this?" Sanosuke had to ask.
"Our witness wishes to merely to know if you recognise this," Ling asked. Seeing the puzzled expression, he handed the item back to the officer and shook his head.
The officer bowed and returned to the coach.
"So," Sanosuke asked. "What was it?"
Ling shook his head. The nameless one said something, after which Ling turned and addressed the crowd.
"The bout between Mr Sagara Sanosuke and my senior brother shall begin soon," he declared. "Those with no business here are advised to leave, or at least maintain a safe distance."
There were murmurs and grumbling from amongst those gathered.
Then to Sanosuke, Ling said: "Mr Sagara, this shall be a battle without the use of weapons. There are no rules save those that separate man from beast."
There was a pause. It was a moment before Sanosuke realised a response was expected.
"Yes," was all he said.
His eyes were on the nameless man, sizing him up. Like Ling, he did not look like much of a challenge. And similarly like Ling, Sanosuke could sense great inner strength.
Maybe I shouldn't have left the chainmail behind, he thought. Nahh ... that wouldn't be fair.
Ling continued. "There are no points, no judges. Those here are to witness that it is a fair fight." A pause, then: "Our witness is the man in the coach, who has requested anonymity until the fight has ended."
All eyes turned to the coach. The horses seemed to neigh in response to the attention.
"Who are your witnesses, Mr Sagara?" Ling asked.
"My father, Higashidani Kamishimoemon," Sanosuke stated. "And ... practically everyone from town."
The Chinese man nodded. "So be it. The reason for this bout is revenge."
"Revenge?" some of the spectators could be heard repeating.
"I'm curious about that, actually," Sanosuke said. "What exactly did I do?"
"Wait," the nameless one said suddenly.
"Tse shiung?" Ling asked.
"Bigger space needed," the senior brother said, gesturing at the spectators. "Too many people."
Sanosuke turned to his father. "You heard the man."
Kamishimoemon grinned. "I'm feeling a little hungry, son. Hurry up and get this over with and we'll do lunch." He then proceeded to get everyone to take a number of steps back.
Just then a mounted officer rode up, and everyone turned to look, including Sanosuke and the Chinese men.
"More witnesses?" he asked Ling, who shrugged.
The newcomer stopped by the coach and handed what looked like a message scroll to the driver, who read it and frowned. There was a cry of exasperation from within the coach after the driver handed the passenger the scroll.
The driver then motioned at Ling, who obliged. He said a few words to Ling, who nodded slowly.
"Mr Sagara, our witness requests that we move this bout elsewhere, away from the crowd," he said.
"Elsewhere?" Sanosuke repeated. "Well, as long as we can get this over with ... I have lunch to take care of, and a sister to look for, after this."
Ling smiled. There were further exchanges between the men. Kamishimoemon was at Sanosuke's side now.
"What are they talking about, son?" he asked.
Sanosuke shrugged. "Something about moving the bout elsewhere." He remembered the clearing in the forest.
"Hey, Ling!" he called out.
"Yes, Mr Sagara?"
He told the Chinese man about the clearing where they had met just the day before. The officer seemed to be in agreement, and after discussing it with the mystery man in the coach, it was settled.
"How do we get rid of the others?" Kamishimoemon asked. "They came here expecting a good fight."
"They are right to expect a good fight," Sanosuke remarked. "But we wouldn't want others to get hurt, or for them to lose face in front of so many people."
His father nodded. "Alright, then," he declared aloud. Everyone turned to him. "Tomorrow we continue this, you hear? And no running away!"
With that he tugged at Sanosuke's sleeve. "Let's go, son."
Sanosuke nodded. "Be at the clearing in half an hour," he whispered to Ling.
"We will be there, Mr Sagara," the Chinese man responded, bowing to father and son.
On a whim Sanosuke strode over to the Shizuka twins' side and whispered: "We'll be going to the clearing where my dad goes to wind down."
One of the twins asked: "The fight is taking-"
"-place there?" the other twin interrupted.
Sanosuke merely shrugged. "Go help my dad send everyone home."
"Yes, sir!" the twins responded and went off.
He watched the coach drive off, and wondered about the significance of the metal crank handle.
PART EIGHT: THE BOUT
"SORRY to keep you men waiting," Kamishimoemon said as he entered the clearing. Ling, his nameless senior brother, a thin, bespectacled man in a Western suit and the police officer were already there.
"Yeah, we were ... detained," Sanosuke stated as he came into view. "Couldn't refuse the offer of a free lunch," he added with a grin.
Ling simply nodded, as did the nameless one. The bespectacled man was visibly angry.
"Let's start this fight," he hissed to Ling. "I have to be back before dusk."
"Yes," was all Ling said.
Sanosuke frowned as he set eyes on the man in the suit.
He looks familiar ... but I can't quite place him, he thought as he strode past the man. The man's eyes never left Sanosuke's, and there was great hatred in those eyes ... they seemed to be challenging the former streetfighter to recognise him.
Arghhh! I give up! Sanosuke shrugged before spitting out the fishbone he had been sucking on and slammed his fists together as he turned to face the nameless one, who had taken his place on one side of the clearing.
"What about these?" Kamishimoemon asked no one in particular, gesturing at the logs strewn all over. No one responded; all eyes were on Sanosuke and the nameless one.
"Now we can speak," the nameless one stated in a low voice. "Tse ti," he addressed Ling.
To Sanosuke, Ling said: "Nearly twenty years ago, a monk from our Order, by the name of Sei-kai, came by a man who had wandered from the East ... from Japan. This man was a Buddhist monk as well, but he was lost.
"Sei-Kai took him to the monastery where he lived and meditated with other monks and disciples of our order. There, this man met the chief abbot. The chief abbot saw that this man had suffered greatly, and had come to the mainland in search of answers.
"This man was accepted as a brother, and soon he became ... one of us. Even early on, the chief abbot knew there was great darkness and anger in this man's heart. But he believed the hatred could be suppressed, and in time, replaced with love and compassion."
Sanosuke frowned. This man ... this monk...
Ling continued: "He learnt of a technique that only the monks of the highest order and discipline were taught. He beseeched the Chief Abbot daily, wishing to be taught this technique. Knowing that the darkness remains, the Chief Abbot naturally refused.
"No one knows how it happened, but this man did manage to learn the technique. Perhaps he spied on the senior monks as they practised. Or perhaps he read the ancient scrolls on the sly. What happened next was a tragedy of such proportions that our Order never recovered from it.
"What he learnt was a minor technique ... small steps towards a major technique. But what he did - albeit small steps - he modified the technique and came up with his own. The apex of destruction, he called it. A technique to destroy the world."
"Anji," Sanosuke stated. "This man you speak of ... is Yuukyuuzan Anji."
Both men looked him straight in the eye. Anger in Wu Ming's eyes ... and pity in Ling's, Sanosuke noted.
"He was discovered practising his technique by one of the junior monks. He did not bother to hide it ... when summoned by the senior monks and the Chief Abbot, he turned up as instructed.
"The Chief Abbot asked that this man cease using the technique ... one that has no other purpose than destruction, unlike the true technique which could be used to heal as well as to harm," Ling continued.
"This man refused. Presented with an ultimatum, he turned to go. The monks could not allow this ... the perversion of the true purpose of the technique must not be allowed to leave. But they underestimated how powerful this man had become.
"We who were not present at the meeting cannot say what transpired next. Only that the very ground shook, again and again. His anger seemed to have no limits. Faced with such power, the monks-"
"Died," the nameless one finished. "I saw it ... happen. Brothers ... under stone and ash. Broken. Crushed."
Ling nodded. "My senior brother was outside the Chief Abbot's inner sanctum when it collapsed. He and I were performing cleaning duties, as is required of child-monks. When I woke up, this man was standing over me. I could see hatred in his eyes."
"But he didn't kill you," Sanosuke said.
"Yes, he spared me. As he did, my senior brother. He looked upon us, as if we reminded him of someone else, then he walked away," Ling said. "There is naught left of the monastery now.
"We searched for survivors, and found but one. The Chief Abbot was alive, but barely, for he lay under a pillar. It was his last words that have led us to these shores.
"'The art of destruction must not be allowed to roam free!' ... those were his words."
"What has this to do with me?" Sanosuke asked. "Also ... Anji is a changed man now. He is atoning."
Ling shook his head. "When we were ready, we followed the trail of a man who used this destructive technique. Across China we travelled, always arriving too late."
"That might have been me," Sanosuke conceded. "But you should go to Hokkaido and have a talk with Anji. Then you will see for yourself that he is no threat to the world any more."
"I understand," Ling said sadly. "But ... for some of us-"
"The Chief Abbot's words were such ... and I swore to perform my duty," the nameless one declared to Sanosuke's surprise. "All who know the Futae no Kiwami ... must die."
"Wait-!" Sanosuke, Ling and one other voice shouted as the nameless one lunged.
The nameless one stopped at his tracks. The other voice was the bespectacled man's.
"Mr Takeda?" Ling asked. "Is there some-"
"Before you begin, I want this man to know who I am," the man interrupted.
Something in his tone of voice, his mannerism ... jogged Sanosuke's memory. He remembered now.
"Takeda-" he clenched his fists "-Kanryuu!"
Kanryuu smirked. "Now you remember? And you didn't remember the Gatling gun crank handle? Thick as ever."
Sanosuke chose to ignore the insult. "So you got these two to fight me?"
Seeing the pained expressions on the Chinese men's faces, Kanryuu burst out laughing.
"Who is he, son?" Kamishimoemon asked.
"No, you idiot," Kanryuu said while wiping his tears with his right sleeve. "Because of some trace of honour still left in the minds of certain senior people in government, I am prevented from hiring people to perform the necessary-" he paused for effect "-punishments for my time and suffering in prison."
He sighed, the expression on his face having changed to one of disgust as if remembering unpleasant events.
"Enough talking for now," Kamryuu said, turning to address the others, including Kamishimoemon. "I am here as witness, and a witness only. These two," he gestured at Ling and the nameless one, "-are not my men. I merely helped them find you." His eyes were on Sanosuke.
The nameless one then muttered something that Sanosuke could not catch. Ling just nodded.
"Mr Sagara ... are you ready?" he asked.
Sanosuke's eyes were on Kanryuu. "Yeah. Let's get this over with." He faced the nameless one. "Okay, Bo Mia, Wu Ming or whatever ... bring it on!"
The nameless one nodded. Ling gestured for Kanryuu and Kamishimoemon to step back.
The Chinese man whispered to Kamishimoemon: "Mr Takeda works for the government ... for the Army Ministry. That is all I know, I fear."
The older man nodded gratefully.
"I come," the nameless one declared. Before Sanosuke could mutter that this bout was taking forever, the Chinese man dashed forward.
"Crazy stallion shatters stone!" the nameless one roared as he threw two quick punches at Sanosuke.
He was fast, but not so fast that Sanosuke could not jump aside to avoid the attacks.
The nameless one then threw a flurry of blows - "Greying Skies, Raining Hail!" he cried - none of which hit as Sanosuke alternated between blocking the punches and kicks, and dodging them altogether.
This went on for a few minutes.
If this keeps up, Wu Ming's going to tire himself out! Sanosuke thought. He remembered a similar incident - with a certain police officer - on a street in Tokyo years ago. I was the one throwing all the wild punches then!
"At this rate, my son's gonna be fighting a punching bag," Kamishimoemon declared to no one in particular.
A few more minutes passed, and Sanosuke had yet to throw his first punch. The nameless one did not look at all winded.
Then, the nameless one dropped low, and sprang like a cat. "Hidden Cub, Pouncing Tiger!" he mouthed as he aimed a blow at Sanosuke's stomach.
The speed of the attack took Sanosuke by surprise, for it was faster than he had expected, and was more powerful by far, knocking him off his feet and into the air.
But just before he was thrown back, he swung in a double-fisted blow to the nameless one's back. It missed, but he didn't think it would have hit anyway.
Sanosuke landed on his feet, just before the pain hit and he fell to his knees.
Instinctively he raised both hands to ward off any follow-up attack, but none came.
"What?" Sanosuke muttered as he looked up.
The nameless one stood silent, in a stance Sanosuke vaguely remembered having seen before: both feet slightly bent, the right foot in front with only the tip touching the ground, the main body straight, the fingers clenched save for the fore and middle fingers, which were straight.
"Ready?" the nameless one stated.
Sanosuke stood up. With a nod, he dashed forward with his right fist pulled back. At the last moment however, he threw a quick punch with his left, catching the nameless one in the jaw. And followed it up with the right.
If Sanosuke expected the Chinese man to reel from the shock of being hit twice in quick succession, he was sorely disappointed.
The nameless on reached out and caught his left wrist just as the impact of Sanosuke's second punch sent him backwards.
"Sudden Whirlpool Throw!" the nameless one declared, and the man formerly known as Zanza found himself pulled along, and in mid-air the positions switched and he crashed onto the ground with the nameless one on top and immediately rolling off.
Sanosuke cursed. He jumped up and threw another punch before his feet had touched the ground. The nameless one parried the punch and returned it.
Time to return the favour! Sanosuke thought as he felt the punch land on his shoulder and glanced off, an instant before he grabbed the offending hand.
With his feet firmly planted on the ground, it became a test of physical strength, and Sanosuke was evidently superior. The nameless one attempted to break his hold, but only managed to dislodge one hand.
With his left hand alone Sanosuke lifted the nameless one off his feet and threw him hard on the ground.
"How's that? Sanosuke's Grinning Throw!" he said, affecting the expression as the Chinese man rolled to his feet.
In the corner of his eye Sanosuke could see a nod of approval from Kamishimoemon.
The nameless one grimaced, then lunged towards Sanosuke, who charged forward to meet him.
Punch met with punch, kick with kick, holds were lodged and grips were broken; as they traded blows, Sanosuke sensed that the nameless one was tiring.
"Hey, Wu Ming," he called out after breaking off another hold by flipping his opponent over his
shoulder. The nameless one had landed on his feet. "It is getting late, you know?"
The nameless one dropped into stance again.
Sanosuke sighed. "Look ... how about we call it a draw?"
"No."
"Okay, you win, then," Sanosuke declared. He dusted himself. But he did not turn his back on the nameless one.
"It must end here," the nameless one said.
"Yeah," Sanosuke agreed. "But this is your fight, not mine. And I'm tired of fighting you."
"So be it."
With that the nameless one attacked, and instead of with clenched fists, he seemed to be trying to jab Sanosuke with his fingers.
Snakelike the nameless one seemed to be, and his quarry was struck a number of times on the trunk of his body. But aside from the initial surprise, Sanosuke was unhurt.
"Sheesh ... you're just gonna keep jabbing at me?" he remarked after he hit the nameless one in the face, hard enough to draw blood. "You can't expect to win like that."
The Chinese man wiped the trickle with the back of his hand and smiled grimly. "I have already won."
"What are you talking ab-" Sanosuke stopped mid-sentence, and looked down at his feet. They were numb.
"What's this?" he demanded.
The nameless one gave the barest of smiles, then the slightest of nods at the direction of Ling.
"Our art," Ling explained, "-involves the use of ki for both healing and harming. Used to harm, tse sheung's strikes slowly poison your positive ki, turning it into negative ki."
He added after some thought: "You are very strong, to still be able to move after the first strike. But ... if you cannot master your own ki, Mr Sagara, you will-"
"Die," the nameless one cut in, and moved in for the kill, again with the only two fingers of each hand extended.
"My son can do it," Kamishimoemon was heard muttering.
Sanosuke tensed, then brought his fists together striking the ground, an instant before the nameless one jabbed at him.
His sudden movement made the nameless one miss, and the two-fingered strike landed on his shoulder, just as he felt the earth respond to his version of the Futae no Kiwami.
The very surface they stood on exploded, throwing both men up and falling down with simultaneous crashes.
Sanosuke felt his left arm go numb. With just his right hand he manoeuvred himself to his feet. The nameless one was already on his feet, and watching as the dust settled.
"How was that?" Sanosuke muttered. "Tougher than you thought, huh?"
Kamishimoemon was smiling from ear to ear. "That must have been the move he pulled on Fudozawa," he said proudly, referring to the failed Sumo wrestler who tried to help his uncle - an Ishin Shishi patriot turned government official - take over Shinshuu town a number of years ago.
Again it was Ling who obliged the old man: "Perhaps one day you can tell me of this fight with Fudozawa, Mr Higashidani."
"Sure!" the older man laughed and slapped Ling on the back so hard that the Chinese man nearly toppled over.
If Ling said anything about the bruising, albeit friendly gesture, Kamishimoemon heard none of it, for his attention was again on his son and the nameless one.
Sanosuke stood waiting for the nameless one to make his move. For what seemed like an eternity, his opponent made no move. He just stood there, legs slightly apart, right foot in front, fingers held aloft in an unusual manner.
Like a ... praying mantis! he realised suddenly. I've heard of this style, but this one is different-
The nameless one moved fast, this time closing in with two steps what should have been ten paces away. Sanosuke barely had time to raise his right arm to parry the first strike.
But the second strike came almost immediately. The Chinese man slammed his elbow into Sanosuke's side and followed up with another jab with the fingers.
He felt his left side go numb almost immediately. The nameless one had backed off before Sanosuke could counter-attack.
This isn't going too well, his mind raced. I can't fight when I can barely move. He clenched his right fist. At least I still have this. One last punch.
"Hey, Wu Ming ... what are you waiting for?" he hollered. "Stop wasting time and finish this."
Then, Sanosuke felt some feeling return to his limbs. That gave him some hope, and an idea.
"Yes," the nameless one said in monotone. "Die."
Sanosuke launched himself forward to meet him. For an instant, the nameless one's eyes betrayed his surprise.
He twisted his torso at the last moment, pain shot up his body, but the deed was done. The nameless one's jab met with thin air.
Here it goes! Sanosuke roared mentally as he swung his fist.
Time seemed to slow down. He could see Wu Ming's left hand moving up from the waist, slowly towards his neck. With his peripheral vision he could see Kanryuu gasp. Kamishimoemon was shouting. Ling stood motionless, watching. The police officer's jaw was dropping.
Sanosuke saw something else too, in that short time. Someone - two of them - on horseback, entering the clearing. But he could not make them out for they rode out of sight.
Futae no Kiwami! the name screamed in his mind as the punch connected with the nameless one's chest, just as that left two fingers struck him in the neck.
He could see the individual drops of blood as it sprayed from Wu Ming's mouth. The nameless one's eyes were wide open as he was thrown back.
Suddenly, time sped up.
Sanosuke fell to his knees. He heard Wu Ming fall to the ground in a loud crash, just before he spilled onto the earth himself.
"Sano!" someone called out. A man's voice, but not Kamishimoemon's, not Ling's nor the nameless one's. Neither was it Kanryuu's nor his police guard's.
Sanosuke's eyes saw only darkness now - it seemed to be reaching for him. He could hear plenty of movement around him.
"How did you find us?" It was Kamishimoemon.
"The twins, they told us," a woman's voice responded.
"Kill him, now!" Kanryuu was screeching. "And you ... YOU shall watch him die, the way Aoshi's men fell!"
More movement. It could only be Wu Ming.
"No!" Kamishimoemon and the woman protested.
"It ... must ... be ... done," the nameless one declared weakly.
Someone came near. Stopped by his side. "You will not harm Sanosuke," a man said.
"Step ... aside," Wu Ming growled.
The woman was sobbing.
"You would ... die for him? You ... I can sense ... one who can ... no longer fight?" Then: "So be it."
"Tse sheung, no ... it is over!"
"I will NOT ... be thwarted!"
"NO!" a different voice yelled.
Sanosuke felt a surge in ki ... all around. It was a familiar sensation. Pleasant.
I know that voice, Sanosuke managed to think before the darkness claimed him.
PART NINE: THE AFTERMATH
THE WOMAN heard the door slide open and sat up. It was the doctor, and after him were two others.
"Dr Hanzo?" she managed.
"These two gentlemen would have a word with you and the young man, Miss Uki," the old man stated, and stepped out, closing the door as he did.
One of the men went straight to Sanosuke's side and held his wrist.
"Can it be done, Mr Ling?" the other man asked, concern clear in his eyes.
The Chinese man looked up. "I can try ... we were all taught how to heal before learning how to harm. But-" he hesitated, "-tse sheung was very much my superior in the arts."
The other man nodded. He turned to Uki and said: "We should leave Mr Ling with Sanosuke, I say."
She took one last look at Sanosuke's still form.
"Thienren," Uki began, using Ling's personal name, "-thank you."
Ling only smiled.
"I understand that it must difficult for you..."
His expression did not change.
"Perhaps ... later," Uki said finally, and stepped out. The other man sighed and followed suit.
"I cannot promise success," Ling said without looking, just before the door closed, "But I will try my best."
The man said simply: "That is all we can hope for. For that alone we are grateful."
The Chinese man smiled. Then: "What of Mr Takeda?"
It was a moment before the other man answered: "There is nothing this one can do about Takeda Kanryuu. The Meiji government has use of him. To what end..."
"Mr Takeda is an arms dealer," Ling said simply. "One day our paths may cross yet..." He hesitated, as if pondering how to word his next statement. Then, turning slowly: "Mr Sagara is a very lucky man. If you had not turned up with Miss Uki..."
"If this one's former comrades in government had revealed earlier of Kanryuu's hurried departure ... if this one had known earlier..." his eyes glanced at Sanosuke's still form. "We have ... time?"
Ling touched Sanosuke's forehead and nodded. "A little longer. Just one last question, if you please..."
"Yes?"
"My tse sheung would have slain you where you stood," Ling stated. "You, in your present condition, and unarmed, were no match for him. Would you have died for Mr Sagara?"
The answer was firm: "Yes."
Ling smiled. "I thought so. I felt it - your ki ... your will to live, to protect Mr Sagara - just as my tse sheung must have, too." After another pause, he stated: "It is time."
The other man nodded. "This one shall take his leave now, Mr Ling."
"You are a good man ... and a good friend," the Chinese man said.
And the door slid shut.
PART TEN: MANY PARTINGS
IT WAS the smell of food that woke him up. That, and the bright light streaming through the open window.
Sanosuke stretched his limbs, then realised that he was under-dressed. His shirt and pants hung neatly over a rack, as were his undershirt and chainmail vest.
Memories of the fight with Wu Ming, of Kanryuu, of Uki and others came flooding back and he winced; it hurt his head.
How long have I been out cold? he wondered as he threw on his clothes; he decided against putting on the armour. Too long! he decided when his stomach growled to indicate what time of day it was.
He slid the door open and peered out into the courtyard. The surroundings were unfamiliar, but Sanosuke wasn't worried; he knew which direction to go.
Guided by his sense of smell, he eventually found himself approaching the kitchen, which he decided against stepping into. He tapped on the doorframe and hollered: "Good day!"
There was some movement within, followed by the pitter-patter of feet. A small woman came out and beamed.
"Mr Sagara, you are awake!"
He managed a smile and rubbed his rumbling stomach. She took the hint.
"Ahh, yes! I'm just starting to cook lunch, but for you," she ran off "-I have some riceballs left over from breakfast." He heard her ask: "You don't mind?"
"Oh, not at all!" he replied. "I'm so hungry I'd even settle for the little missy's cooking!"
The woman returned with the food. "Little missy?" she asked.
He took a bite and received instant gratification.
Then he shook his head. "It's nothing ... just someone I know," he said. "Her cooking was pretty bad ... but then, that was years ago. Now that she's married and a mother and all, it's probably improved. At least a little."
Sanosuke finished the riceballs under the woman's watchful eye. "Uhh, I don't believe we have met..."
She expressed mock horror at that. "Oh, but of course! You have been out cold all this time! I am Mrs Kojiro ... Dr Hanzo's assistant."
It took him a while to register that name - he had heard it before.
"Where is Uki?" he asked finally.
"Misss Uki?"
"Yes ... my sister."
Mrs Kojira looked away. Then: "I'm not sure I should be the one to tell you, Mr Sagara."
"Tell me what?" he demanded. "What has happened to Uki?" His head was hurting again, and he felt weak all over. Somehow he knew the weakness was not physical, but something else.
He leaned against the doorframe for balance.
"Please wait, Mr Sagara," Mrs Kojiro said after ascertaining that he was not going to collapse on her. She went to the stove and removed a pot from the fire.
"I'll get someone to help," she said when she returned, wiping her hands on her apron.
Before he could answer, she dashed off.
Mrs Kojiro came back a moment later with the Shizuka twins, who were evidently happy to see him up and about. With one on either side, they helped Sanosuke to the courtyard, where she said "a little sun" would do him good.
"I have to go back to the cooking," she said. "Kenzo, go fetch Mr Higashidani." The youth did so. "Genzo, if anything happens, call me."
"Nothing's going to happen," Sanosuke stated, somewhat irritated. Mrs Kojiro said nothing and returned to the kitchen.
He turned to the remaining twin. "Genzo, is it?"
The youth nodded. He looked uncomfortable.
Sanosuke waited for a long time, just watching the twin, who just sat there, looking at his feet. I know what must be going through his head, Sanosuke thought. Must be wondering what to tell me and what not to. All I have to do is wait. And wait. And wait.
Then: "Where's Uki?"
It worked.
"She's gone," Genzo blurted out.
"What?"
"I'm sorry, but I can't tell you more-"
Sanosuke got up and grabbed the youth by the collar of his shirt. Then in a very menacing tone: "Where is Uki?"
"That is not necessary, Mr Sagara," a older man's voice stated.
It was Dr Hanzo, followed by the other Shizuka twin. Sanosuke released Genzo, who was visibly relieved.
"Help him to the waiting room," the doctor instructed the twins.
Sanosuke raised his hand in protest. "There's no need for that," he said. "I can walk." Then, he added: "Just show me the way."
Once there, the doctor insisted that Sanosuke sit down, which he did.
"Mr Sagara," Dr Hanzo began slowly, "Your sister - Miss Uki - left Shinshu two days ago with Mr Ling."
"What?"
"It is true," the old man said. "After Mr Ling healed you-"
"He healed me?" Sanosuke interrupted.
Dr Hanzo nodded. "Your injuries were not entirely physical, which I was able to tend. The unseen ones, Mr Ling healed."
Seeing that Sanosuke was absorbing this, Dr Hanzo continued: "After you had been healed, Miss Uki joined Mr Ling on his journey."
"Why?" Sanosuke asked. "Was it ... out of gratitude?" Or perhaps ... spite? he wondered.
Dr Hanzo shook his head. "We do not know. We asked, but she declined to say why."
"What about Dad - Kamishimoemon? Didn't he try to stop her?"
The doctor turned to the twins at this point.
"Mr Higashidani did try to speak to Miss Uki, Mr Sagara," one of the said. "We couldn't hear much-"
"-but we did hear Miss Uki mention her duty-" the other continued.
"-Mr Ling. Mr Higashidani even tried to-"
"-stop her by asking that she stay until you-"
"-were better," one of the youths finished, and sat down.
"But she didn't anyway," Sanosuke concluded.
Dr Hanzo sighed. "I'm sorry, Mr Sagara."
Sanosuke stared into space. Then: "What about Dad? Where is he now?"
"Mr Higashidani has left, too," one of the twins offered.
"For Tokyo," the other added. "With Mr Himura."
"Tokyo?" Sanosuke repeated. "Himura?" He remembered the familiar voice, the pleasant sensation of flaring ki. "So, Kenshin turned up after all," he muttered.
The twins nodded. "Mr Himura came on the afternoon of your fight-"
"-on horseback, in a hurry. He asked everyone in town about you-"
"-and Miss Uki came out and told him about your fight with the Chinese man."
"And?"
"Then we told Miss Uki and Mr Himura about what we saw earlier at the daikon field," the seated youth recounted.
"Mr Himura became very worried when we mentioned the Chinese men's witness, who came in coach driven by a police officer," the other twin said.
Dr Hanzo got up then. "I'll see to some tea." After he had left, Sanosuke urged the twins to continue.
"He said he had to get to you quickly, that your life could be in danger, so-"
"We told him what you told us."
Sanosuke nodded. That must have been how Kenshin turned up with a woman - Uki! - probably in time to see me fall, he thought. "And then?"
The twins shrugged. "Mr Himura told us to get Dr Hanzo, because there would be someone hurt. Then he left with Miss Uki."
The doctor returned with Mrs Kojiro, who was holding a tray. Tea was promptly served.
Sanosuke asked Dr Hanzo about what transpired next.
"I do not know," the doctor said, shrugging. "Your father, Mr Higashidani, Mr Himura, Miss Uki, and Mr Ling came to the clinic with both you and Mr Ling's brother-"
Wu Ming! I'd forgotten about him!
"-in need of medical attention." He added: "More him than you. As I tended the wounds, Mr Ling recounted the fight. You must have hit Mr Ling's brother very hard."
"How is he?" Sanosuke asked.
"Mr Sagara ... his injuries were physical, but were so extensive that I was amazed at how he could still walk," Dr Hanzo said. "Triumph of mind over matter."
After some thought, Sanosuke asked: "Then where are they headed? Uki and Ling? And you did not mention Wu Ming going on a journey earlier."
"Mr Ling's brother passed away two days ago," Dr Hanzo said grimly. "Miss Uki and Mr Ling ... are heading home to inter his remains."
"China," Sanosuke whispered. "That's where they are headed."
Dr Hanzo saw the look in the younger man's eyes and sighed. "There is one other thing," he said then, and handed over two letters. "One is from Mr Himura, and the other written on behalf of Mr Higashidani."
Sanosuke took them and retired to his room.
PART ELEVEN: LETTER TO KENSHIN
"MY FRIEND Kenshin,
"I am not one to write at all, so this letter will be short. By the time you get this, I would have left Japan again, for the mainland.
"I will probably never forgive you for saving my life in Shinshu. Then again, when you fell to Shishio, I didn't keep my word not to interfere either. So I guess we're even now.
"Thanks for the warning … I heard the officers came not long after I left. I guess the Ishin Shishi are still smarting after what I did to the pork bun.
"I still have things that need doing. For one thing, the souvenirs I collected from my journeys.
"The windchime is for you and Kaoru ... I got it from India. Hang it somewhere where there'll always be a breeze. It should bring good luck ... or at least remind you of me.
"The necklace of teeth is for Yahiko. One of the teeth comes from a lion. He knows about it, and I think he'll like it.
"The book is for Outa ... it is the famous Le Tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours, written by a Frenchman by the name of Jules Verne. I know Outa can't read it, but it should get him interested in learning about the world. The book's title means 'Around the world in 80 days'. I even got the author to sign the book for me.
"I know my Dad's with you, so please hand the picture of me to him. It was taken in Madrid, a city in Spain. Do you see the big bull charging right at me? And all I had was a piece of cloth. I didn't know then that I was supposed to just dodge the bull until it is time to stab it with a sword, so I just used Futae no Kiwami on it.
"I don't have anything for little Kenji ... I didn't know about him until I first set eyes on him. Hope he doesn't mind ... I didn't think he liked me very much anyway.
"That's about it. This letter is turning out to be longer that expected. My hand is now trembling from all this writing; I guess my hands are meant for other purposes.
"Send my regards to the little miss, the kid, Outa, Dad and little Kenji. And tell Dad I will find Uki even if I have to search to the ends of the earth.
"Take good care of yourself and your own, Kenshin.
"May our paths cross again in the future.
"Thank you, Kenshin.
"Your friend, Sanosuke."
EPILOGUE
THE TALL man had wandered the streets for days, asking everyone who would care to listen. This was a last resort.
"Welcome, welcome!" the old woman greeted as he approached her tiny stall at the corner of the market area. On her table were containers of sticks, small cages with pigeons in them, and a huge book with old writing on the cover.
He sat on the stool offered. "You can see things?" he asked.
She chuckled. "I can see things, fortunes, the future..." she said in a mocking tone. "But what I see depends..."
The man fished out some coins and placed it on the table.
"This is foreign currency," he said.
"I can tell from your speech alone," the fortune teller stated. "I will accept your payment." She took the coins.
"I have questions," he said.
"We all do," she replied. "But what I tell you may not be what you expect for your questions."
"Very well," the man said grimly. "Tell me what you can."
She handed him one of the containers, and gestured that he should shake it. He did, and after a while a stick fell out.
"You seek a woman," the fortune teller said, reading the writing on the stick and referring to the book. "A woman who is related to you in blood."
"Will I find her?" he asked. "Where?"
She looked up sadly. "You should head West ... but it is not stated if you will find her. But it does say that you have made many journeys in your life."
"Journeys?"
"Once, you left home. Then you returned. And left again. And back. You are now on your last journey."
"I will not see home again?"
She shook her head. "These things ... are never certain. But ... yes."
There was a long silence. Then he got up. "Thank you," he said, and made to go.
"Wait!"
He stopped.
"You will meet a friend from home ... for one last time," the fortune teller declared.
The tall man nodded, and went on his way.