Disclaimer: I do not own Ruronin Kenshin or Peacemaker Kurogane.
Sailor-Earth13: Don't be too sure about Umeko. But be assured Saitou will return after the Kyoto incident. Umeko does seem to attract the wrong type of visitors, doesn't she? Well, she used to give out advice to her customers at Umeya, including some Shinsengumi members. In this issue, Kenshin writes in to Umeko for advice.
M.Kasshoku: Liked your letter. Umeko will answer that much later in this fic, like post-Aoiya demolition derby and Saitou has to leave his post as columnist again to arrest a white-haired punk.
YamiChikara: Our future samurai's letter will be answered soon.Umeko has some problematic visitors in this issue.
SakuraShinguji: Glad you loved it. I'm continuing on the other fic. More nostalgia coming up. Remember the Kenni-Sou friendship from ten years ago?
The Japan Bulletin
Official Meiji Government Flagship
Issue 8
His Excellency Lord Okubo Assassinated
Secretary of Internal Affairs, His Excellency Lord Okubo Toshimichi, was foully assassinated by a group of dissidents. He was on his way to an important meeting when his carriage was attacked. The nation is shocked and stunned by the audacity of the assassins. We of the police will NOT let this crime go unpunished. We mourn the passing of the last of three great patriots.
Lord Okubo's funeral and wake is slated to be held at his residence in Tokyo. His body will be interred on his family estate in Satsuma according to the wishes of his lordship. Citizens are to pay their last respects if they wish at his residence.
His lordship was an Ishin patriot based in the Satsuma region during the Revolution. His compatriots, Katsura Kogoro and Saigo Takamori, have passed on during the Seinan war. In recognition of the contributions of these three great men, Tokyo city council will be unveiling a statue in their honor in the central park on the first of the coming month. Lord Okubo was to unveil the statue. Defence Minister Yamagata will now oversee the unveiling.
We strongly deny that his lordship's death was the work of a professional assassin in the employ of a former Ishin hitokiri.
Latest Amendment: Unveiling Postponed due to Statue Theft
The statue slated to be put up has gone missing all that is left is a pile of granite dust on the pedestal. Frantic officials appeal for leads on the whereabouts of the statue.Witnesses reported seeing a burly monk leaving the park before the statue's loss was discovered. .
NOTICE on Death-duels
We deny that there was a showdown to the death at Kamiya dojo. We stopped both combatants in the nick of time. They will face suitable disciplinary action. We remind all citizens that death-duels are all outlawed!
- Tokyo Police
NO SILENCING POLICY
The Royalist army denies charges of silencing potential troublemakers in our employ. No one was killed to prevent info on non-existent conspiracies from leaking out during the Boshin War. What witnesses saw was simply the cremation of a dead soldier in the best way we could under those circumstances. As to charges that the said man was burnt alive, we assure you that he can't possibly live after being bashed on the head.
Please do NOT be deceived by that sleazy tabloid headed by a disillusioned wood-print artist with no talent to speak of and lesser integrity than his ahou street fighting buddy…
NO BATTLE AT MT HIEI
The government denies that an army was sent to squash a rebellion at Mt Hiei near Kyoto. The troop movements observed by the public was part of a routine military exercise. The numbers of dead reported were grossly exaggerated and the men were not killed in a fierce battle but a freak accident involving ammunitions.
Advice Segment:
Funny thing happened. The Shinsengumi spooks decided to hold a Congrats-for-besting-Battousai party for Saitou. Then the guy walks right through them, literally. I had to console Souji. Poor boy's a bit cut up his buddy stepped through the ghost cake that he baked himself.
Then they learn that the duel with Battousai ended in a draw, which explains the man's foul temper. Saitou had suffered the loss of a tooth, many very painful bruises and a broken katana. Thank goodness. Okita's mood improved as well.
Thankfully, the party didn't go to waste. My brother showed up with Okubo-san. Okita talked his fellow spooks into having a welcoming party for the newly dead Okubo and called our dearly departed friends. Then Yoshida makes the unforgivable gaffe during his welcome speech by saying that Okubo had the decency to die like a samurai without being done in by some dumb disease. His gaffe earned him three swords through the gut. Okita's, Takasugi's and my brother's. No, four. Hijikata took offence as well over Souji.
Here's a letter.
Dear Umeko-san,
My former employers want me to help them out of a mess. It concerns the future of our nation yada yada… you know. Thing is, they want Battousai to kill a former colleague who has gone over the edge and wants to burn Japan or something. I've sworn a vow never to kill again. Should I take the job?
- Kenni the former page
Dear Kenni,
Did a vote here, democracy and all. It's 50-50. Okubo-san and the Ishinshishi want you to do something about him. The Shinsengumi lot decided you better not go as you have definitely lost your killing edge. Okita says he doesn't want to throw a welcome party for you that soon. Have you tried talking to the guy yet?
Er, the guys decided it will be fun to re-enact some old-fashioned sword battles in my office-cum-cell. In the end, they shredded all my letters in the process. Sorry, folks. By the way, Okita strongly denies that he has any blood relation to the smiling lad who killed Okubo. San-nan! Tell Kondo and the others to keep their heads on! I mean it!
(That's it! Umeko's mind's gone! Sir, how to explain all those bloodstains and sword cuts on the wall? Was that a head that just rolled through the wall! GHOSTS!)
Exorcist Wanted Urgently. Apply to Tokyo Police HQ. We have a MAJOR haunting in a certain lock-up cell.
Tokyo-Kyoto Ferry Running
We are pleased to announce that we will be running a direct ferry route between Tokyo and Kyoto as of the14th. Sail in the relative comfort of our steam-ferries. Prices are reasonable.
PRODUCT RECALL! General Carriages will be recalling their Imperial-class carriages after consumers complained that the doors do not lock properly and are liable to pop open when traveling at high speed. Carriage owners can approach your nearest General Carriages garage for installation of upgraded doors.
NOTICE: Kamiya dojo will be closed until further notice as someone's been sitting about waiting to grow mushrooms. We still need someone to repair the damages.
Personal Ad
Stupid kami-damned editor of the official newspaper to quit slandering us small-time papers. Government dog! Free Aunt Umeko! Free Aunt Umeko!
Author's Notes:
Got the inspiration for a welcome party from Marie Nomad's fic Welcoming Party. Takasugi and Okita died from TB. Katsura Kogoro died from a brain disease. Yoshida was killed in the Ikeda-ya incident. Kondo Isami, the Shinsengumi Chief, was executed. Just blame that little bit in the cell about the spooks on Harry Potter's Headless Hunt. RK Saitou has lost his psychic powers from PMK. Otherwise, he'll be doing the exorcism.
Katsu and Sano know Aunt Umeko from their time with the Sekihoutai. They used to stock up rations from her place. Another thing, Okita knew Kenshin from back then.Well, they weren't really sworn enemies. In a strange way, they were friends for a while. See New Kyoto Post for the details. Blame it on a community project stint at the Mibu Orphanage.
