Disclaimer: I do not own Peacemaker Kurogane or Ruronin Kenshin.
SailorEarth13: Saitou pulls a quick one on poor Tokio in this issue. Dun think the Ichimuras read the ad from Ryouma. Anyhow, they have more things to worry about. (SPOILER!) In volume 4 of PMK, Tetsu did meet Ryouma by chance when he was trying to ask Saitou his reason for defecting. And Ryouma did have a talk with Tetsu. Saitou was not interested in arresting Ryouma at all but chose to ignore him. (?) Buddha knows what the man was thinking.
M.Kasshoku: What makes you think Aoshi'sthere to meditate? He was most likely there to observe certain persons in the group, since Yamazaki's the doctor now. Needless to say, Aoshi's tendered his resignation as Shinsengumi shinobi after this. Yes, katana weddings existed. Especially if a lady of noble blood is involved. Okita, being distantly related to the bride, would have marched Saitou down the aisle at katana point if it weren't for certain incidents.
The breakaway. Yep, it is coming… Okita is haunted by Kichi's past activities. Saya writes in for advice over a particular customer at her workplace. Tetsu, PANIC!
New Kyoto Post
Working for a Brighter Future!
Issue 24
SHOCK! Shinesengumi breakaway
Military Advisor Itou has announced his sudden resignation form the Shinsengumi as a result of numerous disagreements with the Vice-Chief Hijikata. In addition, Itou has announced that he is taking several men from the Shinsengumi, rumored to include Captains Toudou and Saitou.
Surprisingly, Hijikata did not insist on enforcing the group's strict code of seppuku for leaving. Kyoto citizens were surprised to see Itou and his followers actually walk out of the compound alive and unharmed. Our paper warns Itou-san and gang to be wary of any future attempts on their lives.
WEDDING SHOCK! Groom defects on Big Day
The long awaited union of Saitou Hajime and Takagi Tokio, the only daughter of the daimyo of Aizu, was delayed yet again when the groom failed to show at the local Kyoto community hall for the nuptials. Instead, a page delivered a letter of apology to the bride-to-be. It is rumored that Saitou has defected along with Itou, the Shinsengumi's former military advisor. The bride was inconsolable at this news. She was seen sharpening her naginata.
Her distant cousin, Okita Souji, was outraged by Saitou's actions and had to be restrained by the Shinsengumi Vice-chief Hijikata Toshizou. He was seen coughing up blood later from aggravating a previous injury and had to be escorted back to the barracks by the concerned vice-chief. It was whispered that Okita has been harassed in a certain manner (cough) by the bride's brother prior to the ceremony. His young lordship was seen trying to persuade Okita to wear what appeared to be a bridal kimono. But no one has confirmed this.
NOTICE of CLARIFICATION
Contrary to those rumors being spread, Kameyama Shachu does NOT run guns! We are purely a legitimate export business dealing in silks, fabrics and women's cosmetic products. Please desist in spreading those lies! Constant raids by local authorities are seriously ruining our reputation in the eyes of our foreign trading partners.
Saigo-san, your goods have arrived. Please send your men to pick them up at the usual place, Yodo, after dark. We apologize for getting the powder wet in the last shipment. We assure you that this batch of goods will meet your requirements.
Spokesman, Yodo Branch Office
Umeko's Kitchen
Umeko-san has suffered a severe emotional breakdown after discovering that her platonic male friend is cohabiting with a blond bimbo and got the gall to send a Western-type picture of them together to her with his letter. I, Takagi Tokio, will be answering your letters. Yes, all men are pigs! My fiancé ran off with a pack of men on our wedding day!
Dear Umeko-san,
I am a mute girl working in Shimabara. I have a special someone. I try going all out to get him despite the differences in our stations. He is sweet to me but lately, he seems pre-occupied.
Recently, there's a new patron at the teahouse where I work. I know him by sight from sometime ago. He was once a friend of Tetsu's but I gather there's some bad blood between them now. Anyhow, he appears to be trying to buy me out. What's a girl with no say to do?
Saya
Dear Silly Girl,
You have an ardent admirer who is willing to buy you out of Shimabara and you're not satisfied! Try having your baka fiancé ditch you seven times!
Takagi Tokio (fume!)
Dear Umeko-san,
Help! I am being harassed by a distant relative! He insists on playing certain 'games' with me that I do not care for, at least not with him. He claims that we have played them before at a certain Shimabara teahouse, and that I enjoyed them!
The last time I recalled playing a game with him was at age nine at the Takagi place. And he was playing "Dunk the Runt in the Koi Pool". I nearly drowned! Then I got packed off to the Kondo place... Normally, I would have made it clear to him with my sword, but his dad is sponsoring my peacekeeping group! Help! I'm afraid Toshi will zan him soon for harassing me. Then I'll really have to work in a teahouse…
- No-More-Games (Argh! For the last time, I don't want to play Frisk-in-the-Futon! )
Souji-chan,
You poor thing. Are you malingering again? Wait! This 'relative' sounds like my no-good brother. Rest assured I will see to your problem personally. After all, what are cousins for? A letter to Papa should suffice. Papa will be very interested as to where my wedding funds went…
Takagi Tokio (must get Papa to disown that no-good brother of mine… then I can use my naginata on him.)
Dear Umeko,
I have to postpone my wedding due to reasons pertaining to work. I think my bride doesn't get it. It's a hush-hush kinda thing… you know… How should I explain?
S.H.
HAJIME!
I DON'T GET IT? Work, work, that's all you think about! FINE! Go marry your boss or something! BAKA MIBUROU!
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Advertisement:
Aoiya is proud to introduce their 24-hour home delivery service. Now you can sate your ramen cravings even late at night. Bet you can't match that, Umeya! I, Okina, will personally handle late night deliveries to lonesome females if they are pretty.
Reply from WAJ:
You lecher Okina, keep away from us. You make us lose our taste for ramen. Note that we will be forced to obtain a restraining order against you if you do not stop your nonsense. If we see you under our windows at night, we will not hesitate to use our naginatas on you. After the boiling oil, of course.
Personal Ad:
Itou, congrats on your career move. Surprised you got that Saitou and Toudou to move with you. I strongly advise you to be wary of the Demon's next move. Come by my usual room at the old teahouse same time for a treat on me. Got a pretty little shamisen player to provide the evening's entertainment. I'm kinda of interested in meeting the elusive Saitou Hajime myself. Can you get him to come too? Do you want sashimi or soba?
Personal Ad:
Suzu, we need to talk. I think the death of your master has really pushed you over the edge but you settle this with me and only me alone. Leave everyone else out of it, do you hear? You didn't sabotage the wedding of Okita-san's cousin, did you?
Author's Notes:
I cooked up the bit about Saitou and Tokio. Takagi Tokio's from Aizu and a daimyo's daughter. I don't know whether Itou broke away from the Shinsengumi in1866 or 1867. I also don't know when Saitou was ordered by Hijikata to take steps to neutralize Itou and followers.
(Historical Fact) Sakamoto established his Kameyama Shachu, Japan's first modern company, in the Kameyama Hills, in the east of Nagasaki, overlooking the bay in the spring of 1865. Kameyama Shachu was the precursor to the Kaientai, established by Sakamoto in Nagasaki in April 1867. Through these trading and shipping companies, Sakamoto and his men ran guns for the Satsuma and Choshu revolutionaries, which they procured through foreign arms dealers in Nagasaki.
About Saya's customer, in the manga, there's no mention whether Suzu visited Shimabara after the Ikeda-ya incident. But if he's out to make Tetsu miserable… As I said, Tetsu, panic.