Chapter 6

Pieces of you

Kenji stood in front of the gate of the Asakusa police station, letter in hand. Sanosuke bumped in him and almost toppled over. Kenji turned around and glared at him.

"Watch where you're going," he grunted.

The tall man ignored him and just walked past him making his way to the door nonchalantly. Kenji clenched his teeth. The more time he spent with that man the more he despised him. Not wanting to be left behind, he still hurried to catch up and walk slightly ahead of him. He could have sworn he heard Sanosuke snigger.

As soon as they stepped into the brick building, they were greeted by Kawaji who happened to be on his way to a crime scene. He bowed deeply and renewed his condolences to Kenji.

"A great man, if there ever was one, your father. It is a great loss for Japan. And your mother, a woman of such mental strength! I am very sorry for your loss. If I remember correctly..."

The police officer was interrupted by one of his colleagues calling him. He apologized and left them after telling them the way to Fujita's office. As they walked the long wooden corridors, Kenji pondered what the police officer had said. A great lost for Japan. Why was it always about the country? Had these people only thought of his father in terms of his contribution to the government? Without really knowing why, this upset him. They luckily reached the door of Fujita's office before he had time to swim in the troubled waters of his mind.

Getting himself ready to see face to face the man who had petrified him, Kenji took a deep breath. Unfortunately, Sanosuke was working a different agenda and swung the door open before the young man could even think of knocking. He sighed. That man was playing a dangerous game with his patience. After the funeral disaster, Kenji had decided that he would follow the established protocol in all matters. Sanosuke was not helping him reaching his goal one bit.

The wolf's den was surprisingly devoid of the personality of its occupant. The walls were bare except for a few maps of the city pinpointed with red needles. Two simple wooden chairs had been pushed against the wall to leave more space around the massive oak desk that sat in the center of the room. You could barely see Fujita's head over the piles of documents and reports. Kenji had expected to see the lugubrious shadow of a man sitting against the sun waiting for them in his mysterious den. He was surprised to see a man at work.

Fujita gave them an uninterested look and pointed the chairs without even uttering a word. Clearly, this man had no manners. Sanosuke and Kenji dragged the chairs in front of the desk and sat down. The older man stretched his arms and started to hum a tune as if he was enjoying a nice sunny day. The police officer didn't even seem to care. It seemed to Kenji that his parents' death had thrown him into a world inhabited by socially inept beings. He looked at Fujita and decided to wait nevertheless. There was something about him that just chilled him to the bones.

Finally, after what appeared to be an eternity, Fujita got up and pinched the bridge of his nose before cracking his neck.

"You wouldn't know anything about that new gang?" he asked offhandedly.

Sanosuke raised an eyebrow.

"You mean the one hanging around Ochanomizu?"

"Yes. We sent a mole but we haven't heard from him in ages. He's probably dead by now. Their leaders remain a mystery..."

Sanosuke and Fujita started to discuss the street gang, the yakuza looking man helping the murderer looking cop. What the hell was going on? Kenji clenched his fists, trying to contain the hanger he felt building in his chest. He had to remain civil... Suddenly, he stood up, his chair toppling over in a loud crash. Both men turned to look at him as if noticing him for the first time.

"Excuse-me, I do not mean to interrupt but I believe you have something to give me."

The dryness of his voice made Fujita raise an eyebrow.

"I see you do have a little of your father in you after all. Always straight to the point. However, he was better at hiding his anger."

His smirk enraged Kenji who fought even harder to contain his anger.

"Please, sir. May I have what I came here for?"

Seeing the efforts the boy was making, Fujita suddenly became serious. Without a word, he walked to his desk and opened the lowest drawer. When he straightened up, he was holding a parcel wrapped in brown paper and about the size of a hanshi. He held it out to Kenji over his desk. Slowly, the young man raised his right arm and grabbed it. He was surprised at the heaviness of the object when the police officer let go and had to use his other hand to avoid dropping it. Before he even spoke, the man interrupted him.

"Don't bother asking me what's inside; I have no idea"

Kenji looked at the man in the eyes.

"The only thing I can tell you is that he brought me that book last year before he left for China and told me to give it to you when both he and your mother had passed away. I must say I didn't expect to pass it on to you so soon."

He leaned on his desk. Kenji took a step forward.

"Don't even think about it. I'm not telling you how your father and I are connected."

Kenji bit his lower lip. The man was reading him like an open book.

"Let me just tell you this: we walked different paths but had a lot in common. Now leave, I have work to do. Chicken boy, I may call on you in the next few days; you're still staying at that dojo?"

Sanosuke nodded and they both took their leave from the wolf. He went back to his work and totally ignored them from that point on.

Once outside the precinct, Kenji ripped the paper to see what his father had gone to such extent to give him. The heirloom was in fact a book the size of a ledger. The binding was made of dark brown leather and the cover and back lined with thick green fabric. It didn't really look Japanese. In fact it looked quite foreign and it reminded Kenji of that chest he had found in the souko. Maybe he would find something in there to explain the pictures. Withtout waiting any longer, he opened it.

Sanosuke whisled, impressed.

"We're going to have a hard time deciphering this!"

Kenji jumped. He had forgotten about the tall man. He looked at the book. The pages were covered in very fine characters. Foreign characters. Kenji sighed loudly, feeling the frustration well inside him again. He turned to face Sanosuke.

"First of all who said there was a we? This has nothing to do with you. Second, this must be some kind of sick joke my father is playing on me from the grave."

Closing the book shut with a loud snap, he started to walk home and a furious pace. Sanosuke, undeterred by the youngling's imprecations, hurried to his side.

"You know sometimes you remind me of Kenshin, but like one of these deformed mirrors I've seen once in China. You act like your father would, but for the wrong reasons."

Kenji decided to ignore the man. He was sick and tired of being told he looked or acted like his father. However Sanosuke wasn't done and his long legs helped him keep a steady pace.

"Too bad there can be no we. Coz I could tell you where to go to have this thing translated."

Kenji stopped dead in his tracks. Sanosuked grinned.

The two men stood in front of the gate of the Netherlands embassy. The two armed guards were looking at them suspiciously.

"Are you sure this is… Dutch?"

"Affirmative. Yutaro taught me a bit a few years ago in Hong Kong."

Kenji, not trusting Sanosuke one bit, didn't even bother asking who was Yutaro and, opening the book at a random page, decidedly walked towards one of the guards.

"Excuse-me, sir, could you tell if this is Dutch?"

The guard didn't flinch and remained straight as a stick. Kenji tried addressing him again but to no avail. He was about to give up when the sound of a carriage approaching made him turn around. A four horse drawn black coach was making its way toward the closed gate. When it stopped, Kenji was surprise the see the occupant poke its blond head out the window.

"Himura-kun?"

Kenji looked around while the blond man's female secretary poured them tea. He had never been in a room so richly decorated. The walls were covered with flowery white, green and pink wallpaper which contrasted a lot with the dark oak of the panelling. The wooden floors were covered with huge thick rugs and Kenji would've definitely liked to lie down on them for a little nap. As for the furniture, it was the first time he was sitting on an upholstered recamier. The table in front of him was also fascinating. There were so many details carved into it. Finally, the fine porcelain cup he was about to drink from was also a marvellous piece of art. He had never seen anything like it.

The blond man smiled at the boy's interest and even more at Sanosuke's visible discomfort at being in such refined surroundings. He took a sip of tea then cleared his throat. Kenji and Sanosuke both looked at him.

"Himura-kun, I am sure you've been told this countless times but I want to tell you that I am very sorry for your loss."

Not sure how to react, Kenji looked down at his cup.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

Sanosuke chose this moment to drop his cup on the saucer. Kenji jumped and the blond man laughed. The tall man apologized and tried to clean up his mess, only making it worse.

"You are too nervous my friends. Sagara-kun, Himura-kun, please relax and enjoy yourselves."

Kenji looked up at this strange gaijin who spoke perfect Japanese.

"I'm sorry sir but although you know our names I don't have the pleasure of knowing yours."

The man laughed again.

"Please forgive me. I am Petyr Van Dyke. I am the embassador of the Netherlands in Japan. I have known both your parents for many years, and I believe we have met once or twice, Sagara-kun."

The tall man didn't seem to remember and shrugged. Van Dyke laughed again then his face darkened.

"Now let me not waste more of your time. This book you have here is written in Dutch, I confirm it. You father told me that one day you would come to me with something of his and that when you did, I should give you this."

The Dutch man gestured to a majordomo who handed him a small envelope. He put it down on the table and pushed it towards Kenji. The young man delicately took it between his fingers. This, too, was of foreign origin. The paper was yellowed and dry. He looked at Van Dyke, as if asking if he could open in. The older man nodded.

Slowly, he ripped it open from the side and tipped it to the side. A golden locket fell out in the palm of his hand. Putting down the envelope, he took a good look at the small object. It was carved with many minute patterns. There was a minuscule hinge at one side. Kenji tried to open it but failed. Sanosuke, who had been following the whole thing, tried to grab the locket from the boy's hand but Kenji turned his back on him. Finally, he managed to slip his thumbnail between the two sides and opened it. The secret the locket revealed to him was quite disturbing. It was a miniature of two red headed children. The rendition was perfect and troubling. These two little children looked just like the ones he had seen in the picture in the souko. Suddenly remembering something, he searched the folds of his obi and took out the old picture. He then put both on the table, next to one another.

There was no doubt about it. These were the same children.