"The Choshu Chronicles" by Omasu Oniwaban by The Archivist

Chapter Thirteen

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Without a field to practice in, Kenshin had to make due with the garden in the back of Komatsu’s villa. The wisteria vines, bare now in winter, marched along the side of the property by a bamboo fence. Kenshin skirted a pond bisected by stone steps leading to a bridge, a graceful wooden half circle that seemed a continuation of the steps which rose out an inch or so above the level of the water like gray lilypads. By the pond’s eastern edge he found a level area near a stand of pines, with only a few stone pagoda shaped lanterns to get in his way.

As always, he started in the pre-dawn gloom. It was a challenge, to run through the various cuts, thrusts, and parries without slicing so much as a needle off one of the pines. To do so would be to insult Komatsu’s hospitality.

When he finished, he retreated to the porch under the eaves and reached for the dipper in the bucket of water the servants obligingly left out for the Choshu men to use.

Footsteps sounded on the ceiling, the floor of a second story balcony, above his head.

“Good, Kenshin’s done practicing, so we can talk.” Shunme’s voice came faintly from above.

Kenshin froze.

“Do you not trust him?” It was Ike Kurata’s voice now.

Shunme laughed softly. “You know me, Kurata, I don’t trust anyone. How can I?”

Kurata muttered something about Shunme’s job.

The footsteps drew closer to the balcony’s railing.

“When are you off?” asked Shunme.

“At daybreak.” Kurata sighed. “Ryoma should be arriving today. I want to be at Satsuma Headquarters to meet him, and let him know how things have been going.”

“You mean how they HAVEN’T been going, don’t you? Katsura’s about ready to leave.”

“He mustn’t” Kurata’s voice became sharp. “Not after everything Ryoma’s done.”

“You know where my loyalties lie.” Shunme said.

“And you know mine.”

There was a silence.

“Ryoma is a good man.” Kurata said at last. “And I’m not just saying that because he’s from Tosa. He thinks ahead. He has a dream for Japan, and I want to be part of that dream. Takasugi is the best warrior I’ve ever seen, but after the wars are over it will be men like Ryoma who build a strong future for our country.”

There was another silence. Shunme broke it. “Come on. Enough seriousness. If you must go then let’s see what Komatsu’s staff has for breakfast. It won’t do to have you dying from hunger on the streets of Kyoto.”

The footsteps retreated.

Shunme didn’t trust him? Kenshin ladled water into a washing bowl and splashed it over his face.

On the other hand, why should he? Why should anyone trust anyone? In days like these, friends could turn out to be enemies. If the Tokugawa Shogun’s intelligence network could subvert an innocent girl like Tomoe, they could subvert anyone.

Besides, who said Shunme was a friend? Shunme behaved the same way towards everyone, except Nakamura, whom he seemed to enjoy tormenting. He shouldn’t assume anything based on Shunme’s behavior.

Pouring the used water out into the garden, Kenshin returned the washing bowl to its spot next to the bucket and ladel.

His proper place was at Katsura’s side. He was a bodyguard, nothing more. He’d pledged an oath to Katsura and he would fulfill it. Bringing down the Bakufu was all that mattered. He touched his sword lightly, and went inside.

o-o-o

January 20, 1866. Kenshin was stationed at the door outside Katsura’s chamber. Inside, Katsura and Shunme were playing a game of ‘go’ on a squat wooden playing board.

Noise came from the front of the house. Kenshin stepped across the passageway and leaned over the railing. Ryoma and Kurata were on the first floor landing, accompanied by a large man Kenshin immediately recognized.

It was Miyoshi Shinzo, carrying the spear he’d favored even back during the days of Takasugi’s training camp before Kenshin had been assigned to Katsura as an assassin.

He stepped back, and waited for Komatsu’s servant to usher them upstairs.

Ryoma, his hair rumpled as if he’d been running his hands through it in distraction, looked worried as he, Miyoshi, and Kurata followed the manservant up the steps.

Kenshin stepped back across the passageway and knocked on the doorpost of Katsura’s chamber.

“Yes?” came Katsura’s voice.

“Sakamoto Ryoma is here.” Kenshin informed him.

“Let him in.” Katsura sounded grimly anticipatory. A scraping noise told Kenshin that the ‘go’ board had been set aside.

The servant, a short self-effacing man of middle age, glanced at Kenshin as he came up, hooked his finger in the hikite, a small metal basket shape set in the wooden frame of the door, and slid the door panel open. Kenshin stepped back to allow Ryoma, Miyoshi, and Kurata to enter.

The servant bowed, closed the door behind them, and left.

From behind the door panel Kenshin could hear the murmur of voices. He tried not to listen, concentrating instead on guarding the passageway, but the murmurs grew into shouts. He heard Katsura saying that he was fed up, that he was needed back in Choshu. He heard Ryoma pleading, reasoning.

The voices grew softer again, but no less impassioned. Finally, some sort of agreement seemed to be reached.

There was movement, then the door opened. A worried looking Ryoma brushed by Kenshin without seeing him. Kurata followed, with a similar expression. Only Miyoshi gave him a start of recognition and a quick, scared grin as he gripped his sword and bounded down the stairs after them.

Katsura came to the doorway, Shunme close on his heels.

“Ah, Kenshin.” Katsura’s voice shook with some barely repressed emotion. “Pack your things. I’m giving Saigo one more day, then whether he shows up or not, we’ll be gone the day after tomorrow.”

Kenshin nodded and fell in behind Shunme as Katsura went to go discuss his departure with Komatsu.

While he was talking with Komatsu, Shunme and Kenshin remained outside the door.

“You saw Miyoshi, huh?”

“Yes.” Kenshin nodded.

“I bet you’re wondering why he’s here.”

Kenshin merely looked at him. For someone who didn’t trust him, Shunme seemed remarkably happy to share information.

Not noticing Kenshin’s reticence, Shunme happily went on. “Takasugi sent Miyoshi with Ryoma as an extra bodyguard.” Shunme laughed softly, carefully toning down his usual belly laugh so Komatsu and Katsura wouldn’t hear it. “Ryoma sends Katsura an extra bodyguard, so Takasugi sends Ryoma one.”

Shunme laughed again, this time mirthlessly. “And so it goes, then endless game of politics and one-upmanship.” He shook his head pityingly and smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

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