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October 4, 1878 Friday
First posts for: Okina and our new Saitou are marked in BOLD
(Posting for Oct 4 began on April 28 and the last new thread was posted on June 21 – seven weeks, 71 threads.)
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Tae has the day off from working at the Akabeko and she does what most of us do: go shopping! Telling her father about her attack was not as horrid as she feared, so donning a new beautiful kimono and a lovely haircomb, Tae is out and about in Tokyo. Megumi joins her, fox ears fully operational. First, she quizzes her about meeting a matchmaker, then asks how Tae likes Susumu. Tae tells her she has no interest in Susumu, so of course Megumi decides she’s in love. After a brief run in with Ika (Takasugi), they decide to go to an onsen: Tae, Megumi, Ayame and Suzume.
Sano sleeps through the night and gets up to go find some food in the kitchen. Does he ever follow Doctor’s orders? (Only when he’s hit with the Medicine Box of Doom!)
Ika (Takasugi) and Yoshi come to Tokyo. Takasugi muses on Yoshi’s similarities and differences to Kenshin. Shiro, also out this morning on the streets of Tokyo, inquires after the new Yamazaki shop.
Kenshin gets up early to do the Vast amount of laundry generated by the overload of guests at the Kamiya Dojo. The ninjas may have cleared out last night, but they left all their laundry! He and Sano are chatting when Kaoru – hiding clumsily behind a parasol – runs out of the dojo without so much as a good morning. Kenshin is not happy, but wants to trust that she is not ignoring his pleas for her safety and must have a good reason for leaving. Sano is astonished that Kenshin is not following her. Kenshin tries to explain, wondering all the while if he is making the right decision.
Sano and Kenshin discuss the attack on Sano the day before and how to find Anji and whoever might have been responsible. Kenshin starts to tell Sano something, but is interrupted by – a pig? Hiko blows by on his way out into Tokyo. Sano goes into angst mode.
Seta wakes up with a brand new plan. He dresses up in some fresh clothes he “borrows” from Kamatari and goes out on the town. Wonder if he realizes they are women’s clothes?
Enishi hides out on a rooftop in Yoshiwara to get a little sleep. He’s a new man with a new plan. He’ll use his contacts and skills for merchandizing this time instead of arms. For the moment, parts of it sound much like the last one…with no room in it for Oibore.
Hiko bathes. ‘nuf said.
Tae, Megumi, Ayame and Suzume go to visit an onsen. Yes folks, this is the Official: The Women of Himuragumi Get Drunk at an Onsen Thread. Enjoy! RP doesn’t get much better or funnier than this. Thanks to the fine contributions of nonsense and idiocy from Kaoru, Enishi (who seems to intend to make visiting this onsen a regular business expense) and Aoshi (who gets a special award for suffering the first Ninja Angst in a Tree.) No one outdid Ayame. Give that girl a round of applause, or at least a towel. Special thanks to Enishi for his “towel placement”. No extra credit points to Aoshi – we now know the Tokyo Oniwabanshuu spied on Megs naked at Takeda Kanryuu’s. Tsk, tsk.
Megs and the girls left with Aoshi. Megs got a ride for Kaoru and Tae – but it wasn’t quite what they were expecting….
Ayu angsts over the mysterious shinobi as well as her missing (AGAIN!) brother. Hide offers to help out a the store, which Ayu gratefully accepts. Susumu returns home, slightly injured from his fall off the Oniwabanshuu roof. He agrees to train Hide to defend herself. Hide and Susumu agree to meet Ayu at the dojo later.
Susumu takes a run on the rooftops of Tokyo to work out his awful feelings of betrayal about Ayu and her friendship with Battousai and relationship with Takasugi, Shinichi’s father. His foray into the night takes a bad turn when he lands on the Oniwabanshuu bookstore roof – and then promptly falls off. Both Shiro and Aoshi discover him – Shiro recognizing him from Sato-san’s food stand the previous day.
Meanwhile, Anji has been incarcerated in a cell and probably drugged. He’s unclear on his location, but his captors have decided his special talents require him to also be held in chains. Of course, he co-operates. That’s his way, ne?
Aoshi is unsettled by the dawn visit of Yamazaki Susumu, but heads for the clinic to
Hiko heads out to sell some pottery, order mass food quantities for the Kamiya Dojo kitchen, and garner his usual adoring attention. Imagine his surprise to run into both Seta Soujirou and Fujita Tokio. He’s a lot happier to see one of them than the other – guess which one!
Seta appears to want training from Hiko, and knows all about Tokio and where she lives. Interesting….and possibly life threatening! Tokio appears to want nothing from Hiko (or Michi, as she calls him) – now. As to their past? Who can say?
Tokio decides she needs a change of scenery. She drops off the children with her friend, Hanaoke and heads for the shopping district.
The Chou makes his favorite owl onigiri for breakfast and then gets two important messages. First, he finds out that Anji has gone missing from the temple where he was staying. Second, he gets a lead from his buddy Wantanabe.
Aoshi picks up Megumi and the girls from the onsen, carefully forgetting to mention his earlier spying on them and indulging in quite a lot of internal self flagellation. Hey, if he’s into it, he’s got the right woman – she can introduce him to her Medicine Box of Doom. Ayame, ever the crowd pleaser, thinks Mr. Aoshi is hot. Well, get in line, girl! We all share that opinion. Oh. Turns out she really meant “warm”. Sure, sure she did. That’s why they call him Mr. Warmth. Suzume helps by hollering out “’NEESAN’S GOT A BOYFIREND!” after she sees Megumi and Aoshi holding hands briefly. Aoshi’s not gonna get anywhere with the girls around, ne?
They stop at a store to buy supplies for a doll the girls want to make for Kaoru as a wedding present. Aoshi carries Suzume, Ayame gets new ribbons, and Megumi and Aoshi don’t seem to see eye to eye on everything…but they do agree to have lunch at the clinic.
Shiro, Okon and Misao enjoy breakfast at the bookstore as they plan out what they need to do. Shiro takes care of the food and Okon offers to order the furniture they decide on. Misao goes off to find Aoshi.
Some girls just know how to party – and then there’s Tae and Kaoru. Turns out equally drunk Megumi arranged for a single rickshaw for both girls – and didn’t give the driver any directions (or money). That leaves our less than responsible inebriated lasses making a singular spectacle of themselves as they try to remember who they are, where they are and where they are going. When Kaoru stops the driver for a barf-by, he makes like a banana and splits. This leaves our ill-equipped girls drunk and disorderly on the mean streets of Tokyo.
The pouring rain seems to sober them up, but only a little. They hope to find someone to give them directions. Unfortunately they find someone who wants to give them something else. Shiro arrives, but even a drunk Kaoru knows how to keep her virginity intact. Too bad about her dignity. Shiro leads them off, promising to find a nearby Inn where they can dry off and dry out. Kenshin, searching for Kaoru, finds the thug and learns what happened there.
Morning at the STILL UNNAMED Yamazaki Ayu shop full of cute stuff for women and FOOD. Mostly food and tea. Hide holds down the fort while Oibore turns up and is pleased to get fed. Susumu drops by to see Hide, then leaves to meet his sister at the Kamiya Dojo.
Kenshin and Sano head for the dojo kitchen and an early lunch when the rain begins. Ayu brings Shinichi and Eiji for their lesson with Kaoru. Ayu tells Kenshin about Takasugi and Kido. Kenshin suggests the pig might be happier with Ayunee. Ayu tells Kenshin that Shinichi’s father is alive, and gives him a small top that Takasugi had intended to give him at his genpuku. Kenshin is Very Startled by this news. He is also concerned that Ayu does not wish him to be called Takasugi – since Kenshin had already spoken with Shinichi and Karou about Takasugi. Kenshin surprises Ayu by telling her that he and Kaoru are to be married. He invites Ayu and all of her household to the wedding.
Everyone gets excited by the appearance of Ayu’s brother: Susumu. Kenshin and Susumu know each other from the Bakumatsu – and Susumu harbors great hatred for him as an enemy of the Shinsengumi. Susumu barely keeps his cool, Kenshin tries to keep calm, and Sano tries to cover Kenshin’s back – despite the fact that he can barely stand. Ayu takes her entire brood out of there and Kenshin starts to regret his decision to trust Kaoru. She has been gone TOO long. He wants to go after her, but stays long enough to get lunch started for Sano before he heads out into the pouring rain.
Susumu shepherds Ayu and the boys back towards the shop. He advices Ayu to distance herself from Battousai, and asks about the Oniwabanshuu – telling her about meeting them at the squid stand and on the roof. Ayu tells him she has already met several of the clan at the dojo: Aoshi, Misao and Omasu. She also lets Susumu know that the Oniwabanshuu are friends with Battousai, and so is she. The two siblings part ways as Susumu heads to the Gensai Clinic. Ayu and the boys head for the shop.
Misao, out and about in the streets of Tokyo, runs into Seta, dressed in one of Kamatari’s kimonos. They see Ayu and the boys headed for the shop and Seta and Misao recognize Eiji from his home village, Shingetsu.
After Kenshin leaves, Sano hangs out on the dojo engawa – just in time for the arrival of the TONS of food and supplies that Hiko has had delivered to the dojo. Sano puts things away in the kitchen – in a Sano kind of way, as Chou and Shura arrive to interview him about the attack. Shura keeps them from attacking each other, but barely. Chou is not thrilled when Shura and Sano know each other. They have just enough sense to go in out of the rain, and then Shura changes Sano’s bandages for him.
Chou tells Sano about Anji and Sano tells Chou about the attack, and Anji’s warnings that someone was trying to get him because of the Futae no Kawimi and they would be after Sano, too. Okon arrives, Chou drools, and Chou and Sano exchange a bit more information. Then Hiko graces them all with his presence. The Chou asks for directions to the bookstore and splits, taking Shura with him. Hiko and Okon go off to the kitchen for some lunch and Shura comes back to ask Sano to come identify the men Fujita has been holding down at the station.
Kenshin heads off to search for Kaoru, taking to the rooftops as he speeds on his way. First stop is the Gensai Clinic – Dr. Gensai tells Kenshin Megumi and the girls went to an onsen. Kenshin goes off towards the onsen, checking on the Fujita residence on the way. Yamada-san paints an interesting tale of sake and silliness, describing the man Megumi and the girls left with. She does not know where Kaoru and Tae went, so Kenshin goes back to searching.
He heads for the Akebeko, but it is Tae’s day off. He sees Tokio and Hiko, but does not take the time to satisfy his curiosity there. He is getting more worried about Kaoru by the minute. Finally, he heads toward the seedier side of Tokyo, moving with god like speed to find his missing fiancée…
Megumi, Ayame, Suzume and Aoshi arrive at the Clinic and Megumi starts to prepare some lunch while the others change into drier clothes. Susumu arrives – just as wet – and Megumi gives him something to change into and sets him to work mopping up the rain they all brought in with them. Misao arrives, and Aoshi seems to be wearing a yukata that is Much Too Small! Susumu and Misao spy on Aoshi and Megumi sharing a moment in the Very Public Gensai Clinic kitchen. Aoshi separates the two with a knife. Tut, tut, two ninjas in the clinic is obviously one too many. Megumi lays down the law: unwarranted use of shinobi tactics will be punished. Get the Medicine Box of Doom, girl!
Ayame, our anointed Princess of Comic Relief comes in and hollers that Mr. Aoshi is Naked. She really shouldn’t voice his deepest desires right there in the kitchen, now should she. Maybe she saw him in that tree.
The girls, including Misao, go off to play with (and Adore) Susumu. Leaving Aoshi the opportunity he needs to whisk Megumi off for a private moment or more….
Shiro rescues our two drunken damsels in distress and takes them to an Inn to dry off (and out). He gets the Innkeeper to give them tea, soup and dry clothing. Tae changes and goes downstairs to chat with Shiro, leaving Kaoru to suffer from drunkard’s remorse. Well she should, as Kenshin has found the Inn, and is on the roof above her room.
Tae and Shiro have a nice heart to heart. He assures her of his discretion and she gives him a brief run down of the escapades of the morning. Tae goes back up, but realizes Kenshin is with Kaoru. Shiro senses someone else – someone very intense. When he goes to see, he finds Tae as she falls down the stairs. Kaoru comes down and gets tea and a dry yukata for Kenshin, assuring the other two that everything is all right. She hopes.
Tae and Shiro enjoy the tea he was bringing to Kaoru as a gift, and hope that things will go well for Kaoru and Kenshin. When Kaoru brings down Kenshin’s clothes, the Innkeeper makes some rather pointed suggestions about her behavior, not that Kaoru takes her point. Shiro wonders at her innocence but then quizzes her about the Yamazaki’s, telling her that they are shinobi. Shiro takes Tae to the Gensai clinic to see about her hand, and possibly an injury from her fall.
Ayu, the boys and Saizou III return to the shop, where Hide tells them all has been quiet. Oibore comes and enjoys lunch at their invitation. They discuss possible names for the shop (without chosing one!) and then Ayu asks Oibore to help her out with her shopping.
Enishi and Seta (now accessorizing his usual garb with Kamatari’s geta) have a conversation, after a fashion. Once Seta identifies himself from his relationship to Shishio, Enishi tries to hire Seta to work for him in Yoshiwara. It seems that Enishi seeks to become an entrepreneur.
Kaoru, resting in a room at the Inn where Shiro led Tae and Kaoru after their foiled attack, is feeling better after changing into a dry yukata and having soup and tea. Kenshin, drenched from the rain, startles her by entering from the rooftop. K & K try to sort out their relationship – with about the usual results. (Can you say “missed opportunities”?)
Chou heads for Fujita’s office, ready to get some answers to the many outstanding police issues. Shura turns up, reporting for work, and they read Fujita’s notes, saying he has gone to tend to something from Yukishiro. He wants Chou to investigate the attack on Sagara and Misao. Kamatari is not around, so Chou takes Shura with him to the dojo to see Sano.
Ayu, Hide, Oibore and the boys lunch at the shop. Ayu bolts when she sees someone she recognizes outside…
Okina is on the train from Kyoto to Tokyo – an unexpected surprise for our Oniwabanshuu ninjas, ne?
Megumi and Aoshi enjoy a private conversation in one of the examining rooms at the Gensai Clinic. Aoshi checks the wound on her shoulder and says it is better, she should use it. They exchange kisses and sweet words…..right up until Megumi utters those three little words: “Let’s get married.” Is our Aoshi one of those men who just can’t commit? Could be…. Misao
Meanwhile, in another examining room at the clinic, Susumu and the girls chat, Ayame entertaining Susumu and Misao with the fact that Ken-ni and Kaoru were going to be busy doing important secret things….or maybe not. Out of the mouths of babes…
Anji, incarcerated, is allowed outside of his cell for a bit ……or is he?
Chou and Shura leave the Kamiya Dojo, headed for the Oniwabanshuu bookstore and a conversation with Makimachi Misao. Chou asks Shura why she wanted to work for Fujita, increasing her ire at him. Shura, frustrated by Chou’s idiocy, breaks her umbrella over his back. The Chou is totally clueless as to why she is so angry, but goes off to get her a new umbrella. Kamatari, finally escaping from the endless Meiji paperwork, turns up and they head for the bookstore – but Misao is not there. They decide to split up. Shura goes back to the dojo to ask Sano to come and identify the prisoners. Chou and Kamatari head for Police H.Q.
Hiko and Okon head for the Kamiya Dojo kitchen, where Hiko makes lunch with some of the ENDLESS provisions he had sent to the dojo. Megumi arrives and is Extremely Irritated to learn that Sano left the dojo. Okon wonders about any future with Hiko, since she saw him with Tokio.
Okina arrives at the Tokyo train station in the pouring rain. He and Ayu collide, spilling packages, pigs and other assorted information with another person looking for a carriage: Tokio. She and her boys Tsutomu and Tsuyoshi are drawn by the Buki. She introduces herself to Okina as “Shinoda Tokio”, carefully hiding her identity as Saitou has requested. Okina introduces himself to her as Kashiwazaki Nenji.
Sano and Shura go to Police HQ. Sano enlightens Shura as to Fujita’s former identity as Saitou Hajime. He also bad mouths Chou and Kamatari. Heh. And Kamatari fills out that kimono So Well!
Susumu takes a moment for himself on the engawa at the clinic and is joined by Shiro and Tae. After a few snarky roof remarks, they go inside and Susumu looks over Tae’s hand, showing Shiro that he is Dr. Gensai’s assistant. Then Suzume and Ayame come in to visit. Ayame isn’t feeling too well, so Tae and Susumu take her to her room to change.
Chou and Kamatari return to Fujita’s Office, and the Officer’s on duty decide to mess with him by sending him a kid with a missing duck. Nice. Of course, Shura and Sagara arrive just in time to enjoy it all, making the Chou crazier than usual. He gives the Officers a list of temples to check for Anji when he takes the boy back out to them. Shura must have a thing for Sano’s chest, the way she keeps after those bandages. (Unlike some fiancées I could name….) Chou interrupts and he, Sano and Kamatari head down to the holding cells leaving a fuming Shura in their wake. She bolts, finds out about the temples and goes off to search half of them herself.
Later, Chou, Shinomori and Misao head to the office for a brief interview after Misao has identified the prisoners. She has little more to add, and Shinomori seems anxious to leave, so they do.
The Chou writes a summary for Saitou, and Kamatari finally finishes her paperwork. Tae shows up, with Fujita on her heels. Shiro spied on Tae and after seeing Fujita enter after her, leaves her safely at)Police HQ. Chou and Kamatari leave to take Tae down to the holding cells to identify her attackers. They have barely left when Raidon arrives, frantic about Kido Matsuko going missing. He is taken up to Fujita’s Office and Fujita interviews him for information before they leave so Raidon can show Fujita where Kido disappeared.
Kido, out with her bodyguard Raidon on the streets of Tokyo is drugged and kidnapped! Her attacker loses his hat….which is spotted by Takasugi, who picks it up as a reminder of the past.,..
Kido awakens in a very unfamiliar place, saddened by the loss of her tanto – a gift from her late husband, Katsura. A serving girl, Oko, brings food and Matsu realizes her captor is Yoshida Toshimaro, a Choushuu patriot killed in the Bakumatsu. (The revered Yoshida Shoin was his master and he took his name to honor him.) Yoshida comes to see her, bidding her to leave her idle ways behind and continue Katsura’s work. Matsu states that would be difficult and Yoshida inquires about her attempts. Matsu, recognizing a request for information she is not willing to give for nothing, declines, with less politeness. But Yoshida has something to offer that Matsu wants: Katsura’s swords and some letters. For these, Matsu will yield, gladly – if Yoshida will treat her as an equal, not use her as a pawn.
Yoshida stuns her with an offer of the Koryusen – Katsura’s sword he had gifted to another. Matsu is left wondering how Yoshida obtained it. They speak briefly, but Matsu’s questions go unanswered. Later, she has tea with Oko and passes out.
Takasugi buys karuta, a poetry card game, for both Sayuri and Yoshi. When Yoshi asks Takasugi (“Ika”) who he is, he answers: A Ghost. Then they head for Ayu’s.
Ayu returns to her shop, collecting Hide, the boys and Oibore as they head for home.
Dinner with Ayu. If you are invited, don’t miss it! The mud wrestling after dinner alone is worth the price of admission. Ayu was expecting a warm family reunion? I. Don’t. Think. So.
Takasugi arrives with Sayuri and Yoshi in tow, followed by Susumu who basically says Hi, sis – wanna step outside “Ika”? Smooth. “Ika” and Susumu fight the mini-Bakumatsu in Ayu’s yard until some piggy hoof prints and duckie webbed prints on their muddy selves seem to bring them to their senses, and they go to clean up before the children can see them and be upset. Not to mention Ayu.
Chou takes Sagara down to the holding cells in the basement, where Sano identifies the two guys he and Misao left unconscious on the street after he was stabbed. Sano leaves immediately, and Misao and Aoshi arrive before the Chou can even go back upstairs. Misao identifies the guys and the three go back upstairs to Fujita’s Office so Chou can ask Misao a few questions.
Shiro takes an upset Suzume to the kitchen at the Gensai Clinic while Susumu tends to Ayame. He lets her go see her sister, and Tae comes back to the kitchen. They have tea and Shiro tries to cheer Tae up, taking her hand. Megumi surprises them, and startles Tae into realizing what that scene must have appeared to Megumi. Shiro asks Tae about Aoshi, and Tae tells him that Megumi told her she and Aoshi were seeing each other.
Dr. Gensai enters and asks about Tae’s hand, introducing himself to Shiro. Shiro asks about Aoshi, says Susumu is putting Ayame to bed and inquires about a “friend” that might have hurt her back. Tae, fearing more doctoring, bolts. Dr. Gensai tells Shiro his “friend” should consult a physician and asks after Ayame. When Shiro tells him she fell ill, Dr. Gensai excuses himself to go check on her. Shiro, unhappy that Tae bolted and Dr. Gensai didn’t answer his question about Aoshi, takes Tae’s kimono and comb and leaves.
Raidon, Kido’s retainer and bodyguard, spends time looking for Kido or clues to her disappearance, aided, or at least joined by Seta. He leaves to report the disappearance and returns later to Saitou where the attack took place. Saitou is surprised to find Seta there, wondering about his odd presence. They find nothing, and leave shortly thereafter.
Shura heads out to search for Anji and Sano catches up with her as he leaves the Police Station. First, they decide to go to the temple where Chou told them Anji was staying. They speak with the brothers there, but find nothing – until Shura’s astute questioning leads to the fact that Anji is not the only one missing. One brother Miroku (coughinuyashacough) is also missing. The request to search his room and find it disheveled as if he left in a hurry. They also find a note, suggesting this brother was acting for or with the mysterious attackers and that they now have the “Bright King”.
Feeling certain someone must have seen Anji leaving, they begin asking questions in the neighborhood, and finally find a youngster who saw some “scary people” take away a huge man after a loud noise. Shura and Sano feel certain Anji has been shot and captured. Shura promises Sano she will find Anji.
Saitou brings Hyouko into the precinct – a gift from Enishi as previously agreed. He retrieves the diary, but decides to let Enishi come to claim it instead of delivering it. Out on the streets, he runs into Kenshin and Kaoru returning to the dojo, is seen by Susumu and Megumi, and treats Oibore to some dinner, asking the old man if he has seen his son. Unfortunately, Oibore has not.
Aoshi escorts Misao back to the bookstore, returning her kunai that he found at the scene of Sano’s attack. They engage in a little clan bonding, and have some food from a street vendor along the way, but Misao’s not feeling well, so they return at once to the Bookstore.
Kaoru bathes her body while her mind takes flights of fancies. At least she seems somewhat interested in Kenshin when she gets naked. Too bad he was no where around. Heh.
After lighting much more of a fire for Kaoru than he realized, Kenshin goes to the kitchen to make some dinner. Finding the leftovers of Hiko’s delicious lunch, he improvises. Hiko joins him, helping himself to dinner. Kenshin wastes no time in serving him sake and letting him know who Tokio is married to – after seeing them together he believed this would be of interest to Hiko. Hiko admits to knowing her in the past, and Kenshin realizes that Hiko was not reluctant to leave his “home” when he begged him to join in the revolution, but that Hiko, like Kenshin now, was connected to that place by the people he cared for – including Tokio.
Sano returns to the dojo, exhausted. Kenshin offers food and Sano tells him about Shura and Anji. They are wondering if Shura can share more information with them when Aoshi joins them. Kenshin offers him dinner and retrieves the lantern from his room, wondering if any of them might recognize it. Hiko and Aoshi do – Sano was too young then. Kenshin tells them it was a Ishin Shishi code, and he found it hanging on the left side of the Kamiya Dojo gate – a sign it was not safe within. He passes around the note attached and the men discuss it briefly. Kenshin says the note, proclaiming his loyalty belongs to the Choushuu, appears to be in Katsura’s hand.
Kaoru comes in to eat, and notices the lack of continued conversation. Well, duh. Aoshi asks about refreshment for the wedding, offering to provide beverages. Kenshin and Kaoru gladly accept. Aoshi leaves. Kaoru offers to clean up. Kenshin finally accedes to Kaoru’s wishes and leaves to lock up the dojo and bathe, taking the lantern and note with him. Hiko leaves. Kaoru cleans up the kitchen and wonders a lot about what their marriage will be like.
Okina takes a carriage to the bookstore, arriving unannounced. He hides while Megumi knocks and Shiro comes to greet her, having just arrived home. Megumi offers to help carry in the bags – and Shiro realizes just who is somewhere about. Not a very warm welcome for our crafty B & E expert, Okina! Megumi wonders at Shiro’s loud behavior, and then enters the bookstore. Okina, pissed as hell, gives him a smack and enters the bookstore. Shiro, follows.
Megumi returns home from shopping with a lot of parcels. Sano and Shura, just arriving, help her with the gate – earning an earful for Sanosuke when the foxy doctor sees just how much he has disobeyed her orders to stay at the dojo. She insists he must take a carriage back to the dojo. She goes off to fetch one for him and Sano gets his wound seen to by Dr. Gensai – who gives him an earful, two containers of the Takani salve, and instructions to have Kenshin get himself over there to properly request Kaoru’s hand in marriage. Shura and Sano take the carriage back to the dojo.
Tae arrives home after fleeing the Gensai Clinic, and finds Chou’s note asking her to come and identify the prisoners. Shiro followed her home and follows her when she leaves.
Anji is enjoying his time outside when he is introduced to Niiko, a woman who is taller than he is – make that twice as tall!
Chou and Kamatari take Tae to the holding cells in the basement of the Keishikan to identify the men who attacked her, sending her home in a carriage after she does. Then Chou and Kamatari start the “questioning”. Kamatari starts with the miserable perps who attacked Tae – schooling them gracefully in the proper manners towards a lady. (She musta learned that crap in France, right?) Then they move on to the main event – questioning the two losers who attacked Sano and Misao. Chou starts in on the hired thug, Higarashi (coughinuyashacough) Manabe, removing a fine blade from his boot to threaten him with great bodily harm if he doesn’t give up the info on the other thugs. Kamatari, bored watching Chou have all the fun, starts in on the uniformed guy, Mitsukake (coughfushigiyuugicough) giving him a new piercing. Don’t think this one will be very popular with the girlies here at Himuragumi though.
Manabe, bleeding more than a little, tells Chou he overheard references to the Bright King and Mt. Fuji, showing Chou all the locations he met the perps at on Chou’s map of Tokyo. Mitsukake agrees to play “lets make a deal” with Kamatari’s boss. Heh. He shoulda taken what was behind door number two. Saitou might very well start up where Kamatari left off – more free piercings!
Shura arrives just as the two are heading out, and agrees to join them for a drink.
Inside the Oniwabanshuu bookstore, Megumi puts on her fox ears and gives it to both Okina and Shiro. Information that is – about Aoshi being sick, K & K getting married, and Shiro holding hands with Tae in her kitchen! Heh.
Aoshi goes looking for refreshments for K & K’s wedding. Okina walks Megumi back to the clinic and she tells him she and Aoshi have started a relationship. Okina assures her that Aoshi is trustworthy and that Okina approves of the relationship.
Kaoru goes to her room to dress after her bath, then heads for the kitchen. After eating and cleaning the kitchen, she returns to her room and falls fast asleep.
Seta heads back to Kamatari’s house after seeing Saitou and Raidon in the alleyway. His mind is full of Saitou, Enishi’s offer for them to help each other, and Shishio. Our Seta has about as much direction as a butterfly in a storm. Let’s all hope he doesn’t find a sword, ne?
Saitou returns to his office and has even more visitors. Shura reports in, telling him about her search for Anji and showing him the note to Brother Miroku. Enishi arrives on her heels – giving Saitou more food for thought about the two of them. Shura leaves and Enishi comes in to demand the return of the diary. Saitou hesitates, questioning Enishi’s sanity and then gets it out of his desk. Enishi simply waits, telling Saitou he has to make his way in Tokyo. Saitou slides the diary towards him, but keeps a finger on it, suggesting that perhaps Enishi’s brother could suggest a job or two….
Ayu cleans up after dinner, after the children and after the “big boys” who like to play in the mud. She puts the children to bed and falls asleep a lonely woman once more.
Sano gets some sleep.
At the Bookstore, Shiro finally gets to cook dinner! Omasu and Misao are asleep, so it’s Shiro and Okina until Okon gets home. They each discuss their day and share information about Hiko, the attack on Sano, rebuilding and furnishing the bookstore, Misao’s school, the Yamazaki’s, Aoshi and Megumi.
Anji returns to his cell, reflecting on the events of the afternoon. His captors are trying to duplicate the explosives Sano used against the Rengoku. One of Niiki’s instructors died in the attempt. Their motto: The strong live, the weak die.
Aoshi learned a lot in that tree by the onsen. He’s back at the Gensai Clinic, trying to do a little more “peeking” at the sleeping object of his affections. At least Megumi will have flowers as a “thank-you”.
Kenshin bathes and has his own attack of pre-wedding jitters – maybe it’s the bathhouse? I doubt it. Setting his doubts aside, he re-checks the dojo again, relieved when there is no new lantern bearing another message from the past. Once certain of the dojo’s security, he returns to his new room for the night.
Aoshi returns to the bookstore, absolutely delighted and filled with joy to find Okina in residence. Or as Aoshi lovingly refers to him: He Who Shall Remain Unnamed. Aoshi obliterates that unwelcome guest with recalled visions of Megumi – clothed and not. Still, her words seem to have made a strong impression, too. Aoshi, the Iceman of RK, seems to be contemplating a serious relationship….must be really WARM in that bookstore! Drip….drip…..drip….
October 5, 1878 Saturday
Early Morning - Bamboo Forset As Susumu broods about the recent events, Oibore passes through with a song of hope, lifting Susumu's spirits.
Morning - Yamazaki Shop Soujirou passes by the shop and has a rather memorable encounter with Sayuri-chan, much to the amusement of Ayu and Sano. After Soujirou runs off, Sano asks Ayu about the proper gifts to give for a wedding, and has a passing encounter with Toki. Susumu shows up as well and begins flirting with Toki in earnest. Meanwhile, Oibore tries to sneak past Ayu into the back of the store, but she follows him, leaving Susumu and Toki alone together.
Morning - Back of Yamazaki Shop after making sure that Oibore was all right, Ayu sends him off shopping for supplies and food. Touched by her trust in him, Oibore is determined to do a good job. After he returns, they have lunch, and Ayu invites Oibore to dinner.
Morning - Shopping Oibore buys the necessary supplies and does a little advertisement for the Yamazaki store.
Morning ~ Noon - Manju Stand Tae meets Soujirou and is so impressed by the manju that she buys an entire box's worth and leaves a bit of extra. Unfortunately, this may be the last day Soujirou ever works here, because he runs off before his shift is due to end to join Kamatari's carriage.
Morning ~ Afternoon - Traveling to FujiYoshida Soujirou hitches an impromptu ride with Kamatari, freaking her out to no end. Without any real idea of what's going on, Soujirou has joined up with the rescue attempt, and falls asleep on Kamatari's shoulder. Everybody say aww. (Aww.)
Afternoon - Gates/Courtyard of Kamiya Dojo Oibore breezes by with another congratulations (and a sneaky reference to the impending wedding night). The dojo becomes a very busy place, with people passing in (Dr. Gensai, Suzume, and Ayame) and out (Kenshin, Sano, and Okon) as Kaoru tries to explain why she wasn't there to teach Shinichi without having to actually relate how she got plastered drunk. Ayu also relates the Owanibanshuu's interest in her brother, and voices her displeasure. After Ayu leaves, Kaoru and Dr. Gensai head out to find a suitable shrine for the wedding.
Afternoon - Streets of Tokyo While Enishi and Yutaro make small talk at a noodle shop, Oibore passes by from the outside with a poem about the brevity of life and saves some fruit from a cart, only to have his honesty rewarded.
Late Afternoon ~ Evening - Marketplace While Oibore drops by with a cheerful song about wooing a beautiful maiden, Shirojo and Tae run into each other with much more dramatic results. Both find themselves fighting conflicting desires of wanting to be loved and yet fearing rejection. Finally, they come to some sort of agreement, as Shirojo offers his skills as a cook and takes Tae's haircomb instead of the haori she got for him.
FUJIYOSHIDA
Late Afternoon ~ Evening Chou, Kamatari, and Soujirou come to town and question the locals. After getting some clues, they start looking around. The minute Soujirou has a sword in his hands he takes his worries out on the shrubbery, much to Chou's dismay. Worse, Kenshin's group has joined the party...
Anji's Rescue, Kenshin's side Tempers fly as the two groups clash - Chou bickers with Sano, Okon insults Kamatari (who is ignoring Kenshin), and Shura tries to keep the peace while and oblivious Soujirou is still trying to find a path through the trees. Confusion reigns as everybody tries to talk, fight, and even flirt at the same time. Finally, focus is restored as Anji sends a Futae no Kiwami into the ground, sending everyone running to the rescue.
Night - Into the Woods As Soujirou cuts a bloody swath through the bad guys and faces a gunman holed up in the house, the battle rages on the ground, too. Chou is the first to spring into action with some smack talk along with Kamatari, while Okon faces a trio of ninjas and Shura's no slouch, either. Sano contributes his share of unconscious minions, but he soon runs off with Kenshin to deal with the warehouse full of explosives. Of course, no battle can be fought without both sides getting wounded: Soujirou takes a bullet to the shoulder, Okon a ninja star to the arm, and Kamatari a nasty cut in the backside. Kamatari also scores the first (but probably not only) casualties in the process. A few more rounds later, all the bad guys that were stupid enough to stay around have been taken out, and Soujirou gets a generous look at Okon's chest. One flying atomic brain freeze later, Soujirou is lead by Kamatari to find Anji; Kamatari returns a brief while later to dispose of the bodies.
Alone in the Dark Niiko returns to Anji briefly and lets him know that he is believed dead, and that she is heading north to seek her brother Fuji. Shura is the first to arrive on the scene afterwards, and Soujirou breezes through to check on Anji, only to run off again towards town. The others arrive in various states of injury, and the woods becomes an impromptu first-aid station. Okon scandalizes everyone by arriving in Chou's arms, while Sano's arrival puts Shura in a much better (i.e. bossy) mood...until she passes out from a lack of food and drink.
Warehouse in FujiYoshida While Kenshin goes all ninja on the rooftops, Sano fights a desperate battle on the ground, only to be saved by Chou. Fortunately, Chou doesn't have long to gloat before Sano returns the favor, breaking the masked man's leg before he can shoot Chou. Chou ties up all the perpetrators and helps himself to a few explosives. Soujirou arrives fashionably late and exchange a few insults with Sano. When Kenshin, Sano, and Chou depart briefly to check on Anji, the masked man unsuccessfully tries to 'talk' Soujirou into killing him. After a warning to Chou, Soujirou runs off to get a carriage and some food.
Getting the Heck Out of Dodge Anji, Kamatari, and Soujirou are in for one cramped (and slightly awkward) ride back to Tokyo. At first, it starts out normal enough: Kamatari and Soujirou eat their bentous and discuss their lives. Then Soujirou 'kisses' Kamatari on the nose when he notices a bit of rice there. Then Kamatari questions on Soujirou about his fashion sense, or lack thereof. Finally, Soujirou falls asleep on Kamatari (again), and no more weirdness can come of this thread, at least.
October 6, 1878 Sunday
Gensai Clinic - Early Morning The carriages arrive and Chou makes a questionably helpful racket while the injured are bleeding all over the place. Dr. Gensai and Megumi wake up and quickly shuttles everyone off to be treated. Anji is helped in by Kamatari, Chou, and Soujirou, Kenshin heads home, and Shura waits outside with nothing to do. When Susumu shows up, he greets her with his usual charm before heading in. Then Sano, stitched up again, takes Shura out for breakfast. Saitou also passes through and notes with displeasure the amount of civilians present at the clinic.
Clinic Area C While Soujirou worries himself dizzy over Kamatari, Anji wakes up and accesses his injuries. Susumu arrives, and his soft features combined with his ninja movements causes Soujirou to think that he might be a she under those clothes. (Much uncomfortable staring commenced.) After making his diagnosis on Anji, Susumu turns the charms on Kamatari, making Soujirou mightily jealous. Dr. Gensai also arrives to check up on everyone, but Anji decides to head outside for some air and Soujirou loses his nerve and escapes into the unknown.
Streets of Tokyo - Morning The plans for the teahouse moves another step forward. Enishi has a chance encounter with Megumi, and while they exchange pleasantries Soujirou shows up armed, shoeless, and bleeding (and also hungry and penniless). Enishi leads them to a friend's store, where Megumi patches Soujirou up and has a few choice words about his physical state. After Megumi goes on with the rest of the day, Enishi invites Soujirou for food, and he accepts eagerly.
The "Kite" Teahouse, Yoshiwara...Afternoonish After arriving at the new teahouse, Enishi introduces Soujirou to his staff, who eagerly shuffle him off and dress him in new clothes. Unfortunately for Soujirou, they decide that he'd look really cute as a girl and doll him up with full geisha makeup, too. Amused, Enishi decides to test Soujirou's "hostess" skills. Soujirou, spacing out to a flashback of when he first met Yumi, fails rather badly. This makes Enishi laugh--that thumping sound you hear is the Himuragumi players fainting. Anyway, one correct set of clothes later, Soujirou is eating heartily with Enishi and getting his second interview. Still not entirely decided on his career path, Soujirou finishes up and goes to get Mou-chan a panda-checkup.
Late Afternoon/Early Evening – Gensai Clinic Front Entrance-Engawa Megumi ponders the solvency of the Gensai clinic and grumps about Ayame's lack of DangerSense, while the kids go off into their own world and chat about stuff, such as the doll Suzume and Megumi made for Kaoru, Okita, and lessons with Toki. Ayame and Suzume are very excited about the prospect of a new teacher. Megumi leaves the kids to chat among themselves, which makes Yutaro rather nervous because he's now the sole male. This changes when Soujirou shows up on top of the wall (again) and asks to see "Takani-sensei-san". Yutaro's WeirdoSense goes off like mad, but he invites the strange boy in anyway. Ayame goes a little panda-crazy upon seeing Mou-chan, and introduces Michiru, her own panda. Meanwhile, Soujirou's mood goes from cheerful to morose as Mou-chan starts to look even worse from the stress of being handled by a hyperactive kid, and Megumi only passes by to say goodbye. Yutaro, worried about Soujirou's sanity (what's left of it, anyway), asks Toki to assist with some emergency panda surgery. Soujirou tries very hard not to freak as the Sharp Pointy Needle of Doom goes to work. Ayame and Yutaro try to distract him with snacks, to limited success. When the panda is finally repaired, Soujirou's mixed emotions cause him to run off.
Late Afternoon/Evening: Back of the Yamazaki Shop In the midst of dinner and escape preparations, Ayu meets Tokio and accidentally stabs herself with a poisoned pin. (Ouch!) Saitou passes through and finds evidence of Tokio's presence, as well as the pin. He leaves Saizou to fend for herself as he continues his search for his wife. As evening wears on, Oibore shows up for dinner and is surprised (and worried) to find the store abandoned. Saizou's irresistible cuteness cheers his spirits, though, and the two of them share an impromptu meal of chopped vegetables for the piggy and a bentou for the old man.
Evening: Random Rooftop Nightfall brings hallucinations, thoughts that wander in circles, and lots of angst for Soujirou. He wakes when he senses Hiko on a rooftop search, and notices that a lot of other people are also not where he'd expect them to be. As he waffles on which way to go, he notices Enishi and decides to follow him. Using his super-tenken-ninja skills, Soujirou sneaks off.
Evening: Yamazaki Shop Oibore worries some more, then locks up and heads out to check on the Yamazaki residence. A while later, he returns with Tokio in tow, giving her a massive sense of deja vu. She informs Oibore about Ayu's poisoning, causing him to nearly panic, and doesn't help reassure him any when she leaves. Resigned at being mostly useless (again), Oibore tidies up and goes to bed.
Oct. 6, 1878 - Late Evening to Night: In the Twilight Kingdom As Tokio begins to lose her grip on reality, Oibore passes by and lingers, sensing a person in need. Tokio stumbles him, a little startled that fact seems to be stranger than fiction. Worried about her, Oibore offers his companionship and a place to stay, and Tokio accepts. Together, they first check on the Yamazaki household, and finding that empty, head back towards the shop.
Late Night, October 6, 1978: A very dark and lonely corner of Tokyo Enishi, having "picked up" Megumi in a rather unorthodox fashion, brings her to a quiet corner of town and demands an explanation on why Kenshin gets all the breaks in life. (Because he's the main character, silly!) When Enishi becomes furious and further loses his grip on reality, Megumi attempts to relieve some of Enishi's guilt by relating her own experiences. Meanwhile, Soujirou has his first taste of empathy, but it only makes him wonder if he's got his signals crossed. Aoshi's arrival into this strange conversation moves the time forward into the next day.