1864, Kyoto, Mibu headquarter before Ikedaya Affair
Furutaka Shuntarô composed his perturbation so as not to acquiesce the opposition any sign of affliction. The barrack was a vast space but reckoned the location operated for interrogations.
The miffed male could not budge from the constricted rope farther abraded his skin raw: both wrists were constrained and suspended by the ankles.
Shuntarô recalled the early morning incident at his quiant store: Masuya; in which parenthetical to be his alias name as, Masuya Yuasa Kiemon. The shogunate officer's all at once descend upon his personal avenue and physically hauled him to the mibu headquarter.
The locals gave them a wide berth but Shuntarô had caught glimpse of detest and remorse for his state. If only the whole crowd intervened in order to release from the grasped of the officials.
The wide door slid open as several men cascaded from late afternoon heat, into the dim room since only a lone lit candle was hung at the far corner. Shuntarô's slitted gaze roamed at the force of nature; a man of tall stature with green bandana poised by the side of another man who was clad in a jet-black kimono.
Their upper body hidden in the depth of shadows, but Shuntarô sensed their burning gaze firm onto him. The leader of the wild pack position in reserve just as another figure strolled in. He halted to slid the shoji shut before resumed forward.
The newcomer had long onyx hair tied in a ponytail; Toshizo Hijikata.
Still, Shuntarô was not fazed by the ominous-looking samurais. He was mentally prepared for the onslaught and vowed to remain mute as a dedication to the ideology he had learned from Umeda Upin.
"Shuntarô Furutaka," Toshizo acknowledged his name.
In defiant, the prisoner spat on the floor due to the constricted and awkward post, sticky drool tracked down his lower chin.
Agony coursed through his body from the tight leash as well as from the rough treatment.
His keen gaze trace every movement to pause at the table situated to a corner; sharp objects set in a neat row: spikes.
"You have been secretly amassing weapons?" Toshizo enquired in a grim tone.
Shuntarô glared daggers when his spiteful vision was occupied by a spike in the commander's loose grip. But the culprit had been taught not to reveal any sensitive confidentiality.
Mayuri store; from outside was a harmless province outlet became a focal point for meeting sessions to plot against the Aizu and Satsuma. He was a server to pass communication between Loyalists.
Pregnant silence ensued on the tense atmosphere.
Both Toshizo and Shuntarô's eyes connected; he observe neither sympathy nor mercy when the first struck from the aciculate spike nailed on the heel of his vulnerable feet.
A shrill cry tore from Shuntarô's gaping mouth and his body twitch in response by the lacerating ache. He sensed wet liquid coat his feet and trailed down to dot the floorboard.
"Shuntarô, tell me about yourself," Toshizo's thin lips formed into a cruel smirk.
"F.. fuck you... Sho-Shogunate dogs..." Shuntarô hissed.
Another impact of the weapon against the injured area and he elicited a guttural yell. His feverish body accustomed with the mind numbing woe. The anguish man experienced another wave of convulsion when droplets of hot wax hit on the sensitive spot.
"Are you willing to share information now, Shuntarô?" a faint voice drifted in and out to his ears. "Or we can continue this, I am free from duties to look after your precious body."
Doggedly, Shuntarô kept mum but his entire frame begun to tremble from the pressure. A new spike dug into another heel which connected with the inner bones. Rivulet of sweat coated his flushed body.
The rest of the men in attendance analyzed his impalement procedure with straight countenance. Shuntarô's tear glistened gaze collided with eerie navy shade eyes; cobalt hair covered a section of his stony feature.
Initially, the captive passed out on multiple occasions as the event dragged on, but quickly regained composure only to experience more merciless pain. Bile rose internally to sullied the front of his crumpled kimono.
"Now," a soft whisper yet audible to apprehend. "Tell me whatever information that you know about your pitiful company."
"I... won't.." he rebelled in a wavery voice. "Sho.. gunate.. will... lose.."
The vice commander reared back before he twisted the imbedded reddish spike and heard the crack of a bone. The forearms were covered in Shuntarô's blood.
"Toshizo," Kondou cautioned from his stance. "Do not kill him, we need information."
"I know," the other replied with a single nod. "Don't worry, this bastard won't have a quick death."
Hot wax poured into the damaged meat; ear-splitting scream bounced against the thick wall of the empty room. The crude scent of discharge assaulted his nose.
"I.. I am the.." he finally relented under the harsh tactic. "I am.. Imperial Loyalist.."
"Continue," Toshizo stepped back with resolute gaze directed at him.
"I am adopted by a fellow Loyalist named.." he choked yet flinched violently when his captor came forth. "... Yuasa Kiemon.. thus I changed my name to.. M-Masuya Yuasa Kiemon.."
Even as he obeyed their request, the spike dangerously came close in contact with his torn muscles; a silent warning.
"They are meeting.. at Ikedaya Inn on.. July 8th," he continued to stammer due to consciousness.
He caught sight of the mibu demons exchange glances and returned their focus upon his dishelved figure.
"Why?" Toshizo snapped in a callous voice.
"B-because... the shishi plan to assassinate," he hacked a phelgm cough. "Kyoto and capture.. Matsudaira Katamori-"
"The daimyo of the Aizu clan?" Toshizo cut short his faltered sentence. "The cowards plan to create chaos under our watchful gaze?"
"We.. planned to retaliate.. Satsuma.."
"Toshizo," the commander's dire tone caught the attention of everyone in present. "We must relay this news as soon as possible."
"As you wish, Kondou san," Toshizo sauntered off but paused to stare over a shoulder.
Finally, Shuntarô was able to doze off fitfully even though he figured there was no possibility for him to walk in the future.
Shuntarô had no idea of his bleak future except he was under supervision by the soldiers. Mayuri store ran smoothly by an undercover so as not to arouse any suspicion.
The Loyalist had no other choice but to aid the Shogunate in fear of reliving the hellish nightmare within the barrack.
But Shuntarô vowed to retaliate at an appropriate time but for now, he kept a low profile.
On the day of Ikedaya Incident a month later, he received grim news about the deaths of many shishi during the heated clash. Shuntarô was able to walk free soon after.
But heart heavy with blind rage; the inner clock of his brain overworked and flitting memory of his torture when he was fully conscious assailed in colourful pictures.
The seed of embarrassment because he had begged for release. He yearned for the day when shinsengumi would suffer catastrophic results.
Revenge will be sweet, he mentally whispered.