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Lessons Of The Purgatory
A Sequel To "Fire And Rain"
By
Karen
"Tell me something, Yumi, did you fall in love with me because you liked how I looked on the outside?. You fell
in love with what you found on the inside, so why don't you do that with this ship too?. This is our trump card, it's called
the Purgatory. Well, Yumi, have you fallen in love with it yet?."
(Shishio Makoto)
(Outskirts Of Fujisawa City.
November, 1880)
"Well, this is a quite a surprise. I must say, I never expected to see either of you again," Soujiro
smiled at two of his old friends. Well, maybe not friends, as he had never been very close to either of them, and he hadn't
heard anything from them since the Juppon Gatana had been defeated two years ago, but certainly acquaintances.
Chou
and Kamatari laughed. As surprised as Soujiro claimed to be upon seeing them, they knew he'd been aware of them since this
morning!.
"Yeah, well, since I've just been transferred back to Kyoto, and Kamatari here's going back for his new assignment,
thought we may as well tag along with ya'," the broom-headed sword hunter answered with his characteristic squinty eye and
lopsided grin.
Kamatari put a hand to his mouth and giggled. "Hope you don't mind us coming along with you, kiddo.
It's been such a long time."
"Of course I don't mind," Soujiro answered cheerfully, though he wasn't sure exactly what
everyone at the ryokan would think of seeing more Juppon Gatanas. "In fact, a little company on the way might be nice." He
tapped one foot, then the other, on the cold ground, not to prepare for any fight, but to keep the feeling in his feet.
Chou
nodded. "Sure thing, so let's get this show on the road, pardners." And with that, the three Juppon Gatanas continued on their
way together…
Soujiro noted the change in both of his former comrades... The madness of someone who not only
collected swords, but loved to kill with them, was gone from Chou's eyes… And Kamatari... Well, he was no longer dressed
in the Japanese furisode as he had once been, but in a Western lady's dress and coat. From what he had heard, Chou had taken
a job with the police and the former large scythe was now working as a spy overseas…
"So, where are you planning
on staying, kiddo?," Kamatari asked. "Anywhere good?."
Soujiro nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, the Sakura Ryokan," he
smiled. "My friend, Kita Hoshi owns it."
At this, Kamatari laughed. "Oooo, a sweetheart already!. See, Chou?. I just
knew that kid would turn heads!."
"Oh no! No!," the boy blushed, waving his hands sheepishly in front of him. "Kita's
a friend! Just a friend!. We've helped each other through allot of hard times!." He grinned as he said that. What an understatement!.
The
sword hunter smirked. "Don't mind him, Kid. Kamatari's just jealous cause' he ain't been' see'n nobody since the Juppon Gatana
split up."
"That's true," the former large scythe admitted with a grin. "That is, unless I can talk you two boys into
crossing the line while you're here," he joked.
"Well if that's your idea of seduction, no wonder you're so darn' desperate!,"
Chou snickered with a wink.
At this, Kamatari rolled his eyes with a good natured scoff. "Heterosexuals! Hmmph!."(1)
Soujiro
shook his head with a chuckle. No matter how they may have changed, Chou and Kamatari were still Chou and Kamatari!.
**********
Kita
and Taro were in the middle of preparing dinner when they caught sight of Soujiro and the other two through the shoji, opened
to let out steam from the cooking food…
The moment Kita saw Soujiro, she stopped everything she was doing and
raced out of the kitchen. "Anji! Lieko! Jiro's come back!," she called up the stairs.
Taro, in the meantime, had slid
open the fusuma, barely taking the time to put on his zouri, and ran outside. "Niisan!."
"Hello, Otouto!," Soujiro
greeted him, tousling his hair fondly, and he boy grinned happily up at him, pleased that his surrogate 'big brother' had
kept his promise!.
"Have you gone all across Japan yet?," Taro asked, not yet noticing that Chou and Kamatari were
there. "Did you climb Mount Fuji?. Did you go across the sea?."
The young man laughed warmly, but before he could indulge
Taro's curiosity, Kita had come smiling out from the kitchen…
"Hello, Shaiming," she greeted him with a hug,
which he eagerly returned.
The young man stroked her hair once, very lightly. "Hello, Aiko."
Kita was the first
to step away from the embrace. "It's been lonely around here without you, you know," she smiled, brushing a few loose bangs
from his eyes.
"Awww, you flatter me!," he teased, playfully tapping her nose. Then he gestured towards his two companions.
"Kita, Taro, this is Chou Sawagejou and Kamatari Honjou. Chou's with the police and Kamatari works for the government."
"Hello,"
Kamatari waved cheerfully.
Chou nodded. "Howdy."
Kita smiled and nodded politely. then she turned to Soujiro
with a questioning look… Police?... The government?... But Soujiro was on the run from the police, and there was no
way he would have anything to do with the government…
The young man gave her a private wink... "They're old acquaintances
of mine," he assured Kita…
The young woman nodded slowly as she realized what he meant… Soujiro had mentioned
that certain members of the Juppon Gatana had been offered special under-the-table deals by the government…
It
was then that Anji and Lieko appeared… "Chou?… Kamatari?..." the former osha's eyes widened in surprise…
"Well
now," the sword collector crossed his arms with a grin. "If it ain't Anji Yukyuuzan. Thought you were doin' time in Hokkaido?."
"Mmm,
I guess he decided he'd leave early," Kamatari chuckled. "But breaking out of the slammer must have been an awful neussance,
even for you, Monk."
Lieko smiled and shook her head. "No, Monk Anji never escaped. He's doing the rest of his sentence
here."
At this, the sword hunter's and the former large scythe's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets!.
"It's
a long story," the hakaizou smiled, touching the cloth on his shaved head.
"Hmmm, wouldn't mind hearing it. Didn't
think those guys'd let Anji The Destroyer out of the clink for anythin'."
Leiko put her hands on her hips in indignance.
"He's no destroyer, not anymore."
"That's right", Kita answered, cutting in before an argument could be started. "So,
Jiro, why don't you show our new guests inside and we can all talk about it over dinner?. It's almost ready."
Soujiro
nodded cheerfully. "Sure thing, Kita," and with that, he lead Chou and Kamatari inside.
Kita, Taro, Lieko and Anji
all stayed behind…
"Anji," the mistress of the ryokan looked at the former osha with concerned eyes. "Are you
sure about them?. I mean... I know you and Jiro... but..."
The hakaizou nodded. "I understand, Kita. but I doubt they
would do anything to endanger their freedom, or their jobs. And with Shishio gone besides."
Kita and Lieko both looked
at each other... then nodded in reluctant agreement…
"I guess you have a point," the mistress of the ryokan said
as she hoisted Taro onto Anji's strong shoulders. Then she, Lieko and the former osha all turned to Join everyone inside.
"After all, I've had two Juppon Gatanas living under my roof already, so what could two more hurt?."
**********
Dinner
was pleasant enough… Both Chou and Kamatari were almost uncharacteristically easygoing and polite... Chou chatted easily
with Anji and Lieko, and Kamatari, Taro and Soujiro joked around good naturedly… but Kita found it difficult to shake
off her earlier feelings of discomfort… Maybe it was the fact that the sword hunter still carried around his swords,
and legally at that!, or maybe it was the way most of the men in the serving area had admired Kamatari's graceful form and
lovely face earlier… Not that she was jealous or anything… after all, she did trust Soujiro's judgment... but…
That
night, almost everyone had retired to their rooms early. Chou and Kamatari, who had both accepted the invitation to stay until
the end of the weak, were given rooms, and this time Kita would take no refusal from Soujiro. He was to have a room of his
own now instead of the storage shed, no matter how much he protested.
Soujiro was just finishing cleaning the serving
area for the night. He slid open the fusuma into the kitchen, only to be greeted by Kita, who was sitting on the zabuton,
enjoying a cup of fresh ocha.
"Well, you're certainly up late," the young man smiled, leaning the broom against the
wall.
She took another sip from her cup. "Hmmm, so are you, Shaiming. Care to join me?."
"Of course", he agreed
with a chuckle, and sat down on the zabuton next to her. "This is the first time we've had a chance to talk alone together
since last spring, Aiko."
She smiled as she poured the tea for him. "So, you've been as far as Hokkaido in your travels
I hear."
"Yes," the young man answered eagerly. "It's a beautiful place, really, but much colder then here."
"That's
what Anji says to," Kita nodded… Then her eyes grew a little sad... "It was sweet of you to visit the site and leave
flowers where the temple used to be... He really appreciated that…”
"Yes". Soujiro nodded back. "Anji and
I… We've both suffered allot…” He remembered thinking allot about the hakaizou during those past months…
He'd often wished the past had been different for the two of them… He looked down at the murky green tea in his cup...
then he looked back up at Kita. "I didn't want to tell everybody at dinner, but I visited another memorial too."
Surprised,
the young woman put her cup down on the kotatsu. "Where?."
"Mount Hiei… Kyoto…”
"You went
there?," Kita's eyes widened. "You shouldn't have, Jiro. You might have been recognized or caught."
"I know," he agreed.
"But I had to see the place where Mister Shishio and Miss Yumi died… I'd avoided it for two years already... I believe
it was worth the risk…”
Kita tucked a loose bang behind her ear. "I see… What did you find there?…”
"Not
much," Soujiro answered quietly. "I almost didn't recognize our old headquarters, it was so damaged. There were some beads
that Miss Yumi wore in her hair… my broken sword..."
"It must have been sad for you, not to mention difficult,"
the young woman gave him a look that was full of sympathy… She recalled her friend's reaction when he'd visited his
father's grave last spring, along with the memorials to the rest of the Setas…
Soujiro closed his eyes for a
moment… Then he opened them again... "Yes, it was.” He put down his cup and rested his arms on the kotatsu. "All
those years together… the three of us... Instead of trying to take over this silly country we could have… could
have…”
"Gone away somewhere together?," Kita nodded understandingly. "Made a new life and a home for yourselves?,
lived like a real family?."
The young man smiled softly. "How in the world did you gain this amazing ability to read
my thoughts, Aiko?."
Kita smiled back. "I'm psychic," she teased. "Besides, even though I haven't seen you since last
May, I think I know you well enough by now."
"You do," Soujiro chuckled softly, giving her hand a squeeze across the
kotatsu. "Almost better then I know myself at times," he added thoughtfully.
She took another sip of her ocha. "Speaking
of that. You're sure we can trust Chou and Kamatari?."
Soujiro gave her a knowing smile. "Why do you ask?. Is it because
they were Juppon Gatana, or because they work for the police and the government?."
"Ay ya!. Now who's the mind reader?,"
Kita grinned. "It's a little of both actually."
"I see," the young man nodded. "Well, as I believe Anji told you earlier,
with Mister Shishio gone and the rest of the Juppon Gatana defeated, they aren't much of a threat, and they're to grateful
for their freedom and their lives anyway."
"They won't tip the authorities off about you, will they?."
Soujiro
shook his head. "That's even less likely. I'm still considered Mister Shishio's right hand. Besides, they know the police
wouldn't be able to catch me even if they did tell them." He wasn't boasting, just stating a fact.
"Mmm," Kita responded
as she let the warmth of her cup spread to her hands. He was probably right. Just the same, she'd be keeping an eye on them,
especially that Kamatari woman…
**********
The score was two to one. the bases were loaded… The
tension could be felt all around the ryokan's courtyard which served as a makeshift playing field…
"Plllaaayyy
baaalll!!!," Kamatari shouted, announcing the second inning.
Soujiro grinned to himself as he stepped up to the plate.
Just when he was beginning to think the strange ways of the west no longer surprised him, the former large scythe had introduced
this game, which he claimed was all the rage back in America!.
"Okay, Seta's up next!," Chou announced. "Now remember
what Kamatari told ya', kid. Eye on the ball."
"And for Heaven's sakes, don't try to run away with one of the bases
like that Hoshi girl did!," the transvestite added, eyeing Kita. "When we say 'stealing second', we do not mean it literally!."
Kita
shot Kamatari a dirty look. Bad enough that Soujiro's 'old friend' was more attractive then her, but she was well traveled,
and knew even more about western customs then she, who came from a country that was almost completely dominated by it, did!.(2)
"The
nerve of her, rubbing it in your face like that," Lieko said under her breath.
The mistress of the ryokan bit her lip
to keep from saying something less then tactful, but the truth was she had never agreed with her friend more!.
"Batter'
up!."
Soujiro recognized this as the signal to begin… He raised the long, thin block of wood that served as a
bat in the way Kamatari had told him…
"And there's the wind up... The pitch…"
Chou threw the ball...
Soujiro raised the bat, and with one firm swing, as accurate as when he did it with a sword, hit the ball, sending it flying
across the courtyard…
"It's a hit!," Kamatari cried.
Grinning, Soujiro took off from a standstill. Using
his Shukuchi(3) speed, he accelerated across the entire courtyard before the ball even landed!.
"Ay ya!," Kita cried.
"The Tenken steals home!."
"Soujiro should play for the White Stockings!,"(4) Kamatari cheered. "Way to go, kiddo!."
"Atta'
boy!," Chou laughed, slapping his knee. Then he scratched his head. "Ummm. There's no rules that say anythin' about the kinda'
speed beein' used, is there?. I'm still pretty new at this here game ."
The transvestite put a finger to his mouth
thoughtfully. "Hmmm. No, I don't think so. I'm sure Soujiro's using Shukuchi speed doesn't qualify as cheating."
"Thank
goodness," the young man chuckled. "Now I've finally found a use for it!."
Kita grinned at that... but her grin faded
when Kamatari called her up to bat. "Hoshi?. Come on, doll. We don't have all day."
The young woman rolled her eyes
as she got up and accepted the bat from Soujiro. "I never make the same mistake twice, Honjou," she muttered under her breath.
"Huh?,"
Soujiro turned to her.
"Nothing, nothing," Kita shook her head with a grimace. She then approached first base and raised
her bat, determined not to screw up again.
"Stiiirrriiike one!."
"Stiiirrriiike two!."
"Stiiirrriiike
three! You're out, innkeeper!."
"Hey!," the mistress of the ryokan kicked at the ground with the toe of her shoe. "That's
not fair!. That last one was a hit!."
"It was a foul," the former large scythe crossed his arms with a satisfied smile.
"You didn't even hit it halfway across the courtyard."
Kita crossed her own arms and glared at Kamatari. "So, what
does that matter?. I still hit it!. I should be allowed to run too!."
"Run? Run?," Kamatari smirked, eyeing her critically.
"Sweetheart, you look like you'd die of a heart attack if you even tried to walk to the next base!."
It was all Kita
could do to keep from ringing Kamatari's perfect, slender neck!. "Look, you little hussy!. In case you haven't forgotten,
this is my inn!. I would throw you out myself right now, only there wouldn't be much point since you're leaving in two days!."
"Hmmph!,"
the transvestite primly smoothed the front of his kimono. "You're just jealous because I've known Soujiro longer then you
have, and I'm ten times sexier then you into the bargain!."
Soujiro knew it was time to intervene when he saw his friend's
face turning bright red, even redder then Yumi's used to when she was mad. He could almost swear he saw steam coming out of
her ears!.
"Umm… Kita," he gently took her arm and gave her what he hoped was his most charming smile. "Why don't
we let Taro have a turn with the bat now, alright?."
Still miffed, she never the less let him guide her to the back
of the line so Taro could have a turn…
**********
That evening, after dinner, found Soujiro washing the
last of the supper dishes. Dinner had been pleasant enough, but, unfortunately, Kita and Kamatari had said barely one civil
world to each other. The young man shook his head with a rueful chuckle. Those two!. It was like watching Kamatari with Yumi
all over again!. He couldn't even begin to count how often they would give each other the silent treatment, or get into squabbles
over who would win Shishio's heart!.
As if the former large scythe had read his thoughts, Kamatari suddenly wandered
into the kitchen. "Hey, kiddo!. Need some help with that?," he greeted cheerfully, eying the dishes.
"Sure," Soujiro
agreed, tossing his old friend a towel. "You can dry, okay?," he smiled.
Kamatari nodded, and at once set to work drying
the dishes. "Hmm, you'd think that ugly Hoshi girl would be doing this. It's her inn."
"And she's letting you and Chou
stay in exchange for helping out, because you're my friends," the young wanderer reminded him, still smiling, but with a warning
look . "Besides, I don't think she's ugly at all."
At this, the transvestite laughed. "Ooo, knew it!. You and her really
are an item, aren't you?. I have to admit, she has pretty darned good taste for an innkeeper, but I can't say much for you
though, kiddo."
Soujiro's cheeks turned bright red and he waved his hands in front of himself again in denial. "Oh
no no no no!," he protested with a sheepish smile. "I told you before, Kamatari. Kita and I are best friends. We're just…
ummm… really close... that's all..."
"Really?," the former large scythe gave his one time comrade a knowing grin.
"People don't blush like that when they talk about their 'friends', sweetheart."
Much to his amusement, the young man
continued to protest. "Oh... Ummm… that's just the hot dishwater…" he answered with a rueful grin.
Kamatari
just rolled his eyes and chuckled. "Sure, kid. Whatever."
"Hey!," Soujiro put his hands on his hips in indignance.
"What do you know about it anyway. That is unless… " His voice trailed off as he saw his old friend's cheeks flush.
"Kamatari Honjou!," he suddenly chuckled. "Are you keeping something from me?."
At this, the former large scythe laughed
nervously. "Oh no! Looks like the jig's up!. You always were to smart for your own good, hon!."
The young man finished
washing the last of the dishes and grinned, eager to hear about Kamatari's new love interest. "So, tell me. Who is it?. What
happened?."
"Well. I didn't realize it myself until a short while ago," the transvestite's cheeks flushed as he started
drying the last load of dishes. "But… well... before we ran into you on the way here… we were holding hands…”
Soujiro
stared at him in disbelief for a moment. Then a huge smile spread across his face!. "Kamatari! Are you telling me that you
and Chou are an item now?!."(5)
The former large scythe gave him a shy smile. "I don't know for sure. It's been so
long since the death of Lord Shishio. I never would have been able to survive if it hadn't been for Chou… but... what
if he doesn't feel the same?."
The young man laughed warmly and took his old comrade by the shoulders. Kamatari and
Chou! How right! How perfectly and utterly right!. "That didn't stop you from pursuing Mister Shishio, did it?. Anyway, if
you were both holding hands, then he must feel something for you!."
"You think so?," Kamatari asked, eyes hopeful.
Soujiro
nodded happily. "I'm sure of it!. You should tell him how you feel! Then you'll know if he feels the same about you!."
Meanwhile,
Kita had just come downstairs, having finished cleaning and sweeping out the unoccupied rooms… As she passed by the
kitchen, she could hear the sounds of Kamatari's laughter, soon joined by Soujiro's…
Curious, she stopped by
the partly opened fusuma and looked inside… What she saw made her teeth and hands clench in irritation. That know-it-all
priss and Soujiro were hugging each other, practically jumping up and down with laughter!.
"Oh, Soujiro! You don't
know how happy you've made me!. You really believe there's a chance for us?!."
Kita's hand went to her mouth, stifling
a gasp, and her breath practically caught in her throat!.
"Of course!," the young man answered with a bright smile.
"This is a perfect match!. I was never happier to hear you say those words!."
It was all the mistress of the ryokan
could do to keep her legs from giving way underneath her!. "Jiro, how could you!," she screamed in her mind.
Kamatari
gave Soujiro a warm hug and a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thank you so much, sweetheart!. I only hope we can be happy together!."
Kita's
heart sunk. She couldn't bear to watch or listen to any more of this!. Blinking and rubbing her eyes with one hand to force
back her tears, she swallowed back a sob and hurried quickly and quietly past the kitchen before either Soujiro or Kamatari
could realize she was there…
"So", the young man smiled as he began putting the dishes away. "Do you know how
you're going to tell Chou how you feel?."
The transvestite crossed his arms, gazing out the opened shoji with a whistful
smile. "Not really. I'm sure I'll think of something though…”
**********
Later, after seeing to
the closing down of the ryokan for the night, Kita washed and changed into her nemaki. After combing her hair and tying her
robe over her sleeping kimono, she glared angrily at her closed fusuma. She'd been purposely avoiding Soujiro and Kamatari
ever since she'd heard them practically throw themselves at each other earlier that evening. If he was in love with that obnoxious
flirt, why hadn't he let her know before?. Or maybe he hadn't realized it before... but still…
The young woman
sighed and frowned, running her fingers through her hair. What on Earth was getting into her?. Why was she so jealous?. After
all, it wasn't like she and Soujiro were engaged or anything like that… True, he called her 'Aiko', but he meant no
more by that then she meant when she called him 'Shaiming'…
"Ay ya," she muttered, standing up and closing her
shoji against the chilly night air. She was starting to act like Lieko!. Not that that was a bad thing necessarily. Her friend
often teased her about her lack of interest in men or romance, and had scolded her endlessly for letting Soujiro leave last
spring… but Kita had no control over it. If Soujiro wished to remain a wanderer, then there was nothing she could do,
and if he was as good as engaged to an old flame from his Juppon Gatana days… well…
The mistress of the
ryokan shook her head with a scowl. As much as she'd prefer to stay in her room and sulk about this, she knew it wasn't going
to help. Besides, it was time to check on Taro and tuck him in…
She left her own room and made her way down the
narrow hallway to Taro's room... As she came closer, she could hear voices and light laughter coming from behind the fusuma…
Kita bristled when she recognized one of the voices as Kamatari's…
"Oh, yes, kiddo!. My Lord Shishio was the
most noble, courageous and honorable man in all of Japan!. Maybe even the world!."
Kita had to put her hand on the
fusuma to keep her balance!. Shishio Makoto, noble, courageous and honorable?!. Her eyes widened in shock. Was Kamatari mad?!.
"He
almost succeeded in ruling the country too, didn't he?," came Taro's voice.
"That's right, he could have taken over
all of Japan, with me as his right hand lady, but he and the Juppon Gatana were defeated."
"He died a heroic death
though, didn't he?."
"He did indeed, and he lives on in the hearts of all the remaining Juppon Gatana, especially me!."
"Really?!."
"Yes,"
Kamatari answered proudly. "Before he died, the great Lord Shishio gave me the task of spreading the word of his glorious
conquests!. And someday, all of Japan will know of his greatness!."
Kita clenched her hands and teeth in rage!. After
all that bastard, Makoto, had put Jiro and her through!. The fire!. Trying to make Jiro kill himself and take both their souls!.
How could this scrawny bimbo talk of him like he was some sort of martyred hero?!.
Furious, the mistress of the ryokan
flung open the fusuma and stormed right in!. Kamatari barely had any time to react before a blow from Kita's fist sent him
flying into the wall!.
"Kita!," Taro cried out in shock. He had never seen his guardian so mad, or strike anyone, ever
before!.
But the young woman's attention was focused on the figure who was just getting to his feet and rubbing his
bleeding, broken nose. "What the hell was that for?!," he demanded.
Kita didn't dignify that with an answer. "Get out!,"
she hissed, her hands still clenched.
"Sorry, doll," Kamatari crossed his arms. "Not till' you tell me what's going
on here!."
This was unbelievable!. "I've had just about enough of you, Kamatari Honjou!. Trying to destroy Kyoto!.
Attacking innocent people!. Turning my best friend's head with your whiles!. And now, telling fairy stories about that…
that monster to Taro!."
At this, the former large scythe sprang to his feet angrily. "Lord Shishio was no monster!.
Take that back, Hoshi!."
"Why should I?. It's the truth!."
"Ooo!!! If I only had my scythe!," Kamatari growled.
"But
you don't have it, do you?," Kita shot back. "How can you stand there and defend that madman?!. Don't you know what he would
have done to Japan?. What he did to Soujiro and I?."
At this, the transvestite smirked. "Whatever he did to you, sweetheart,
I'm sure you deserved it, tenfold!."
Kita clenched her fists in rage, trying her best to restrain herself. It wouldn't
do for poor, innocent Taro to see her commit murder right here in his room. "And your precious Lord Shishio got what he deserved
as well!. It's a shame the bastard could only be killed once!."
"How dare you say that?!."
"Like I said, it's
the truth!. That's why!." Then she gave Kamatari a smirk. "You weren't even Shishio's so-called 'best woman' were you?. You
were just some mindless flunky he used to do his dirty work!."
At this, the transvestite became enraged!. "You!. You
ugly cow!. I'll kill you for that!."
"Hah!. You and what army?. Look, you're probably just out-of-sorts because you
haven't had dinner. Ever!."(6)
Instead of answering, the former large scythe leapt at Kita in a fury!.
"Lieko!
Anji! Soujiro!," Taro cried rushing out of the room and down the hall. "Help! I think Kita and Kamatari have gone crazy!."
Kamatari
was an accomplished martial artist, able to take down even Hennya and Chou in a fair hand-to-hand spar, but this time his
anger was able to cloud his judgment. Kita might not have been trained in the martial arts, but she weighed almost twice as
much as the transvestite. The innkeeper was able to get in a few punches of her own before managing to shove Kamatari off
and pinning him to the floor.
It was then that Soujiro, Anji, Lieko and Chou all burst into the room with Taro leading.
"Kita!
Stop! Stop!," Soujiro cried!. He and Lieko seized her by the shoulders and pulled her off Kamatari while Anji and Chou grabbed
the transvestite and pulled him away from innkeeper.
"Calm down!," the hakaizou gently restrained Kamatari. "Calm down,
please!."
"What in the world is going on?!," Lieko cried, looking back and forth between the two of them as they reluctantly
settled down.
Kita shook her shoulders free and shot Kamatari a chilling glare, which he readily returned. "Nothing!,"
she snapped. "You just tell this minx of Shishio's to stay away from me!." With that she brushed past Soujiro and out of the
room. "I hope you and her will be very happy together!," she called back over her shoulder. "You deserve each other!."
"Hmmph!."
Kamatari crossed his arms in a huff.
Soujiro, Anji, Lieko and Chou all looked at each other, neither of them sure what
to make of it all... Finally, Chou spoke up. "Soujiro, I think you'd better go after that missy of yours. I'll talk to this
here lunatic." He gestured with his thumb towards Kamatari.
The young man nodded, a confused smile on his face. He
didn't know what had caused this outburst, but Kita was the last person he thought would just attack someone at random. "Good
idea, Chou. I'll talk to her." And with that, he, Anji, Lieko and Taro left the room after Kita…
Once they were
gone, Chou crossed his arms and looked at Kamatari. "Now, what in tarnation was that all about?," he demanded.
"Hmmph!
Whatever do you mean?," the transvestite sat primly back on the futon. "That ugly innkeeper has a temper worse then that ninja
brat at the Aoiya!."
"You know what I mean!," Chou answered. "From what I've heard, that Hoshi gal ain't the type to
hit anybody without a darned good reason!. What'd you do?."
Kamatari crossed his arms and glared back at the sword
collector. "Me?!. That frumpy cow insulted my Lord Shishio!."
The broom headed man rolled his eyes. He might have guessed!.
"Your Lord Shishio?. Gimme' a break, Honjou!. You know better than that!."
"He was!. He was my Lord Shishio!. Or at
least he would have been if it hadn't been for that witch, Yumi!."
Chou shook his head in disbelief. "Pardner, you're
even crazier then I thought!."
"Oh!," Kamatari scoffed. "Look who's talking, hmmm?. Is this the same Chou Sawagejou,
the Sword Hunter of the Juppon Gatana?."
The former sword hunter clenched his fists and took a breath before answering.
"No," he said, his voice dangerously calm. "This here is the real Chou Sawagejou!. The Sword Hunter of the Juppon Gatana was
nothin' but a bloodthirsty varmint who'd threaten an innocent baby's life for a worthless piece of reversed metal!."(7)
The
former large scythe blinked, wide-eyed. In all his years in Shishio's service, he had never seen this side of Chou, nor heard
him speak words like this!.
"Kamatari," Chou continued. "I never thought I'd have to tell you this, but since you still
insist on bein' more hung up on Shishio Makoto then what's good for ya', it looks like I'm gonna' have to."
"What are
you talking about?," the transvestite tilted his head in confusion.
"Kiddo, you remember Makoto's plan to set fire
to Kyoto?. How Usai accused him of disposin' of us all as pawns while he, Houji, Yumi and Soujiro stayed safe and sound on
that ship, The Purgatory?."
Kamatari nodded. "Yes, but Houji himself admitted that it was all his idea!. You can't
blame Lord Shishio for that!."
"Ugghh!," Chou threw up his hands in frustration. "When're ya' gonna' get it, Honjou?.
Houji was even more obsessed with that maniac Shishio then you were!. He'da said anythin' to keep him from bein' blamed!."
The
former Large Scythe bit his lip. "I… I don't believe you, Chou…"
"Ya' don't have to believe me, just go
to Soujiro and ask him who's idea it was!. You know he ain't a liar. Ask him about what happened to Yumi on Mount Hiei!."
"Now
what are you talking about?," Kamatari sighed. "It's obvious what happened. The Battousai ran his sword through her to wound
Lord Shishio."
Chou nearly laughed out loud at this!. "Is that what you think, kiddo?. I hate to shatter that lil'
ol' romantic illusion you've got, but it was the other way around!."
"What?!," the transvestite cried, bringing a hand
to his mouth in shock…
"Uh huh," the broom headed sword collector nodded. "Yumi got in front of Shishio to stop
ol' Battousai from hurt'n him. Now Himura's as pacifist as they come, so it weren't to hard to soften him… Shishio on
the other hand…”
Kamatari brought his hand to his heart... "Miss... Miss Yumi…”
"Well,
that's love for ya,” Chou sighed, shaking his head. "Still wish you were Makoto's right hand lady, Honjou?."
But,
in spite of this revelation, the former Large Scythe was still determined. "Soujiro was still his best guy though!. Lord Shishio
still created the most invincible warrior of the Juppon Gatana!."
Created an invincible warrior?!. Chou clenched his
hands angrily. "An invincible warrior?!. Dagnabbit! He created a schizophrenic!. That bastard should've raised cobras not
children!."
Kamatari blinked at the harsh bitterness in Chou's voice... Finally, he lowered his head sadly in defeat.
"I... I suppose. if all this is true... then Lord Shishio never really cared about me… and he never wanted me to be
a story teller for him, did he?…”
Chou's awkward silence was all the answer he needed…
"If
all this is true, then why?…" he asked, still staring brokenly down at the floor. "Why did you let me believe all of
those good things about Lord Shishio, that he actually had feelings for me?… Why did you stop me from killing myself
back in Kyoto?…”
At this, Chou knelt down by Kamatari... Gently, he placed his hand under his chin and
lifted his head up to meet his gaze… "Why, darlin'," he said softly, "I thought the answer was obvious.”
**********
Soujiro
didn't have to look very far or very long to find Kita. She was sitting on the engawa steps, her arms around her legs in an
almost childlike position…
"Kita?," the young man spoke softly from the fusuma doorway…
Without
even turning to look at him, she answered, "Hello, Jiro…”
Awkwardly, the former Tenken approached her...
"May I sit down?…”
"Well, this may not be America, but it's still a free country."
"Thank you,"
Soujiro drew closer and softly sat down beside her on the steps... They remained that way for the next few moments…
neither of them speaking or looking at the other… Finally, the young man spoke up again. "What happened between you
and Kamatari, Aiko?…”
Kita scowled. How dare he call her Aiko again, after he'd all but proposed to that
undernourished little hussy!. "I know I normally have better hold over my temper then that… but when I heard her corrupting
Taro's mind with those lies about Shishio being some kind of ultimate Buddha…" She clenched her hands in anger as she
remembered the scorching flames surrounding them, and Shishio's cruel laughter…
The young man's eyes widened...
So, she did not know Kamatari was a male transvestite?…
The mistress of the ryokan sighed and ran a hand through
her bangs. "But it wasn't just about that… I hate to admit this, Jiro, but I... I was jealous…”
"Huh?,"
Soujiro tilted his head in surprise and confusion. Jealous of Kamatari Honjou of all people?.
"Ay ya!. I know!. I know!,"
she cried, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Anji says jealousy is a terrible thing, but I couldn't help it!. It's women
like that who make women like me look bad!."
At this, Soujiro could only scratch his head and smile in confusion…
Kita
adjusted her jacket against the clear, but chilly winter night. There would be allot of frost on the ground tomorrow. "Jiro,
do you know why I was sold as a servant back in China?. It was because I was to young and to ugly to be married off, or sold
for a good price to… anywhere else…"
"Ahhh, I see," he nodded understandingly. "But maybe that was a blessing
in disguise, Kita.” He'd heard all kinds of stories about the okiyas(8) and pleasure quarters from Yumi, and none of
them were pleasant…
The young woman laughed bitterly. "Oh I know, and believe me, it was a blessing!. When I
first got here, to Kanagawa, I thanked the gods for that!. I'm happy to be making an honest living, and to still have my pride.
I'm glad that I don't need to marry for any reason." Here her voice trailed off sadly. "It's just that… when I see women
like Lieko and Kamatari… how men look at them and always want to be around them…" Then she sighed. "I don't know
why I'm telling you this, Jiro…”
Soujiro smiled and rested his arms on his lap. "Because you know you can
trust me, just like I know I can trust you," he answered. "Kita, have I ever told you about Mister Shishio's plan to attack
Tokyo?."
"No, I don't think so", she shook her head. "But it doesn't surprise me that devil would do something like
that."
"True," the young man chuckled ruefully. "But that's not the point of this story. Mister Shishio purchased an
old civilian ship to take us to Tokyo. Well, Miss Yumi, being rather used to the finer things in life, asked him if
we were really going all the way to the capital city in that beat up old boat."
Kita smirked. "And what did Mummy Boy
say to that?." Knowing Shishio, he probably had her run through on the spot!.
Soujiro shook his head and clicked his
toung at her. "Tsk tsk, Aiko," he scolded, wagging his finger at her playfully. "A little more respect for the dead, if you
please. Anyway, Mister Shishio lead her up the gang plank and asked her if she'd fallen in love with him because of how he
looked on the outside."
"Obviously not," the mistress of the ryokan commented.
"That's very true. Miss Yumi
loved Mister Shishio for who he was on the inside, and he advised her to do the same with the ship... and do you know what
was inside that beat up old boat?... a superb, advanced battleship purchased from China. It was called The Purgatory.(9) Miss
Yumi fell in love with it at once!. So, you see?," he concluded cheerfully. "The story of The Purgatory proves that we shouldn't
judge things for how they may appear on the outside. It's what's on the inside that really matters!."
"Mmm hmm," the
young woman nodded, then she raised an eyebrow. "But it sounds to me like this Miss Yumi was in love with power, not Shishio
Makoto." Almost before the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them... "I'm sorry, Shaiming," she apologized, putting
a hand on his shoulder. "I have no right to judge someone I've never even seen before."
Soujiro closed his eyes for
a moment… then he rested his hand upon Kita's. "It's alright, Aiko… You may even be correct about that…”
He gave her a sad smile. "But... I do believe at least a part of her loved him for who he was... with or without power…”
Kita
rested her chin in her hand thoughtfully. "I see," then, desperately wanting to change the subject, she asked "And what exactly
happened to this fantastic battle ship of theirs, Jiro?."
At this, the young man put a hand behind his head and gave
her a sheepish grin. "Well… ummm… ahhh…" he stammered. "You see... The Purgatory... in spite of our efforts...
sort of… ahhh… went up in flames..."
"Ay ya!," Kita buried her face in her hands and shook her head. "It
figures!."
"But there's a good side to that!," Soujiro protested, waving his hands in front of him. "Mister Shishio
learned not to underestimate Mister Himura and his companions after he lost The Purgatory!."
"Oh, I'm so happy for
him," the young woman muttered with a sarcastic roll of her eyes.
The former Tenken chuckled softly. "Alright, maybe
the ending wasn't the best example, but, Kita, you shouldn't be so concerned about how you look, and you shouldn't be jealous,
or treat Kamatari so unkindly." He then gave her a sly grin. "You know, you attacked a very handsome fellow!."
A fellow?!.
At this, Kita stood up with a gasp, her eyes widening in shock!. "What?!," she cried. "Ay ya!. Kamatari's a guy?!. You mean
to tell me that all this time I've been jealous of a... a cross dresser?!."
"Well, it's an easy mistake to make," Soujiro
laughed warmly. "Even Miss Yumi admitted she was jealous of Kamatari, and she actually knew he was a man!."
In spite
of her shock, a wave of relief washed over the young innkeeper. "So, Jiro. This means that you and Kamatari… aren't…"
her voice trailed off…
Now it was the former Tenken's turn to be shocked!. "Kita!. Is that why you were jealous,
because you thought that… Kamatari… and I…" The thought was almost to strange for words!. He slapped his
hand on his knee and burst out in uncontrollable laughter!.
"Hey!," Kita grinned as she punched him playfully in the
arm. "It's not that funny!. And after hearing you two talk in the kitchen this evening, what was I supposed to think?."
Still
chuckling, Soujiro nodded understandingly. "I see, but believe me, Kita, there is nothing more then friendship between Kamatari
and I… but I'm not so sure if the same can be said for him and Chou!," he added with a wink!.
The young woman
laughed as she sat back down on the steps. "You're kidding?!. So that's what you two were talking about!." As unusual as she
thought the idea of two men in love was, it really made no difference to her as long as it was Chou who was with Kamatari
and not her Jiro!.
"Mmm hmm," the young man smiled as he reached out to touch her face... "My heart is yours, Aiko,"
he thought as he tenderly brushed the bangs from her eyes. "It's black... and broken... but it's yours."
Kita smiled
back, taking his hands in hers. "Let's go back inside, Shaiming. I think I owe Kamatari an apology, besides, it's getting
cold out."
Soujiro nodded, and together they got to their feet and went back into the inn, sliding the fusuma door
closed behind them…
Owari (The End)
Now that she's back in the atmosphere
With drops of Jupiter in
her hair
She acts like summer and walks like rain
Reminds me that there's time to change
Since the return
from her stay on the moon
She listens like spring and she talks like June
Tell me, did you sail across the sun
Did
you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that Heaven is overrated?
Tell me, did you fall for
a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself out there?
Now
that she's back from that soul vacation
Tracing her way through the constellation
She checks out Mozart while she
does tae-bo
Reminds me that there's room to grow
Now that she's back in the atmosphere
I'm afraid that she might
think of me as plain ol' Jane
Told a story about a man who is too afraid to fly, so he never did land
Tell me, did
the wind sweep you off your feet
Did you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back to the
Milky Way
And tell me, did Venus blow your mind
Was it everything you wanted to find
And did you miss me while you
were looking for yourself out there?
Can you imagine no love, pride, deep-fried chicken
Your best friend always
sticking up for you, even when I know you're wrong
Can you imagine no first dance, freeze dried romance, five-hour phone
conversation
The best soy latte that you ever had, and me?
Tell me, did the wind sweep you off your feet
Did
you finally get the chance to dance along the light of day
And head back toward the Milky Way?
Tell me, did you
sail across the sun
Did you make it to the Milky Way to see the lights all faded
And that Heaven is overrated?
Tell
me, did you fall for a shooting star
One without a permanent scar
And did you miss me while you were looking for yourself
out there?
Were you lonely looking for yourself out there?…
("Drops Of Jupiter", performed by Train)
E
Mail the author at karenjade@shaw.ca
"Rurouni Kenshin" is a copyrite of Watsuki Nobuhiro and the many companies associated
with the manga and anime, while Kita Hoshi, Lieko Takara and Taro Machiko are my own creations.
(1) After watching
the anime, I was actually confused about Kamatari. Man or woman?. It also didn't help that the character was referred to as
both He and She. Fortunetly, I looked up the manga transcripts on the net and learned that Kamatari is actually a male transvestite.
(2) China before the 1840s and 1850s was completely closed, isolated from the rest of the world, except for the limited
foreign trade in the city of Canton. The Western countries that wanted to penetrate the huge Chinese market, used the opium
incident to wage the Opium War. China was soon overwhelmed and signed the Treaty of Nanjing. According to the Treaty, China
opened its ports and markets to Western merchants, concessions were created in major cities and China became a semi-feudal
semi-colonial state.
(3) "Reduced earth", The Shikuchi is a body technique in which Soujiro springs from his initial
speed directly into their top speed within an instant, through the strength of the legs, penetrating the range of the opponent
in an instant. To any ordinary person, it would look like the distance between the two fighters has shrunk.
(4) In
the history of baseball the National League was dominated by the Chicago White Stockings who won championships in 1880, 1881,
& 1882. In 1884, they played the winner of the American Association, another league that had just begun, in the first
World Series.
(5) Some might disagree with me, but after watching that scene where Chou of all people stops Kamatari
from killing himself I can really picture Chou and Kamatari as a potential couple.
(6) A little mean spirited, I know,
but, as an overweight person myself, I couldn’t resist that shot at skinny people!.
(7) This might seem out of
character, but, judging from Chou’s behavior at the end of the Kyoto Arc, I can see him becoming a tad calmer and more…
well… stable, especially now that Shishio is no longer there.
(8) Geisha houses.
(9) In the manga and
Japanese sub the battleship was called Rengoku.
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