Disclaimer: I do not own Peacemaker Kurogane or Ruronin Kenshin.
Sakura-Shinguji: Yeah, Shishio HATES his job as advice columnist. As for Kenni & Sou-chan, the next time they 'play' will be a duel to the finish in a dark Kyoto street.The infamous fight between the Miburou & Battousai... Any chance Sou & Kenni's friendship can be salvaged? Let's wait and see...
A-chan: Sadly, Shishio will not be around to do the advice column for long. Don't worry, Umeko does take time off once in a while to allow someone else to take charge of her column.
New Kyoto Post
Working for a Brighter Future!
Issue 9
MORNING LATEST:
LOCAL STORE RAIDED
Masuya Provision Store was raided early this morning by the Shinsengumi. Several innocent store assistants and customers were killed in the raid. Store owner Masuya was hauled off to face interrogation at the Shinsengumi HQ.
The motivation for this raid, like so many before, is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to justify the existence of the Miburou. Citizens of Kyoto, are we paying taxes to fund a pack of hooligans to kick in our doors and demolish our businesses? We can only offer our deepest condolences to the families of those killed or captured in this raid.
MORNING LATEST:
Fire
A fire mysteriously broke out at an abandoned shack. Firemen rescued a young red-haired child in a deep state of shock from the scene. The child was later whisked off by an older man who claimed to be his brother.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a tall, dark and handsome samurai dragging a white-haired youth with a dark complexion away from the scene as the shack blazed. Authorities would like the said persons to come forward and assist in investigations.
Bids for New Kyoto Cemetery
Kyoto town council is currently seeking land for a new public cemetery as the current one is filling up at an alarming rate. The ideal land parcel should be located near a temple or shrine with tranquil surroundings befitting a final resting place. Interested parties please contact the town council.
Funeral at Shinsengumi HQ
Tongues are wagging after the Shinsengumi held a simple funeral for an unknown female. The woman was understood to be a hairdresser who was attacked by persons unknown. Her mutilated corpse was discovered by these same men in a back alley. A child weeping outside the gate identified the said woman as a cook but we know better, do we.
The turnout by the boys was tremendous. Many were openly distressed by her passing. It is clear that the woman was well-liked in life by the boys of the Shinsengumi and we of the New Kyoto Post will like to offer our heartfelt condolences at their loss. However, we also remind them that there's still Shimabara for their day off.
Personal Ad:
Yoshida. Come for the meeting at the same place at the time agreed.
Personal Ad
To Katsura & Yoshida, both of you seem to be having difficulties with assigning suitable 'page' duties to your pages from what I've heard. May I remind you both that the YMSA's page benefits only apply if the pages are real pages and not hitokiris or personal 'pets' (sweat-drop). You are not to claim YMSA discounts when your pages buy swords because real pages normally don't carry those things! If your page is above 15 yrs of age, we may consider recognizing them as adult members.
- Okubu
Personal Ad: All you rumor-mongers
I never had any illicit relations with my page, or his late brother. The only extra duty my Suzu has besides his usual page duties is his part time job at this paper. As for his katana, he inherited it from his brother. He bought his wakizashi with the pocket money he saved.
- Yoshida (Suzu! Get your ass over here! I need some serious stress relief!)
Ask Shishio
As of now, I'm not answering any letters addressed to "Umeko".
Dear Shishio-san,
I live in a well. Sometimes, I like to crawl out of it and look at people. But, people don't seem to like that very much. Usually they scream and fall over, and I don't see them again. Should I take this as a hint that they're not interested in my company?
-Sada
One word for you, FREAK!
SHISHIO!
I just recovered from being retrenched by a fire but you ruined it all for me! You bastard! After I escaped being burnt alive, I landed a job at a local security firm. Then on my first day at work, someone lopped off my nose! I understand it was thanks to your frigging advice that my boss' page tried to skewer me!
It's bad enough I happen to resemble Okita. My new boss explained things in the office when the page was out. I have a bit of a past I want to get over. When my new colleagues reminded me of my past, I was obliged to explain to them with my sword. Then a redhead brat of a page tries to kill me! The page has apologized… but I'm disfigured for life!
Since I can't pick on my boss' page for certain reasons, I want to see your blood on my sword! Burn in hell!
- Kichi-not-Okita
Kichi
I'm so pleased you wrote to me. To show my gratitude, I'll duel with you at Kyoto Public Cemetery tomorrow at dawn. I believe there's space for another unmarked grave, namely yours.
- Shishio
Employment Opportunity
Female assistants wanted at local inn. Must be agile and willing to work nights outdoors. Uniforms provided. Contact us c/o Ikeda-ya.
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Author's notes:
The Choushu Ishii has a real biased view of things & the Shinsengumi suck at subtlety. Hijikata-san stressed on a simple funeral, but I guess things got leaked. Sorry Ayu-nee. I'm sure your brother will not let this go unpunished.
Page duties? Katsura's getting taken to task by Okubu over his hitokiri page. Wonder what Yoshida's stress relief is… (Evil grin) Maybe it's just a massage.
Umeko-san will be back to fill in as interim editor of this paper and regain control of her column. We will NOT be shutting down! (Will run in tandem with the later PMK manga developments & the RK OVA.)