Flower Spelling - Chapter 24
Chapter 24 – Penetrating Heart
Approaching the halfway point of the year, the severity of winter had intensified.
Even indoors, it was frigidly cold, and the charcoal in the wooden brazier was consumed as quickly as it had been bought, so much so that even the charcoal merchant who often came to sell charcoal at the residence grew to be a familiar face. After exchanging the customary greetings regarding the chilly mornings and evenings, she was carrying an armful of charcoal to the Yubikan when, for some unaccountable reason, she sneezed loudly three times in succession.
Sogetsu raised up her face, blowing her nose, and in the next moment, she literally jumped up, turning bright red. At the end of the corridor, where she assumed nobody was present, there appeared the familiar figure of a man.
The man ?? Kusaka ?? made no mention of her unladylike sneeze, perhaps out of a warrior’s compassion ?? his face scrunched up as if he were holding back a laugh ?? The charcoal was taken from Sogetsu’s hand with a flick.
“Ah.”
“It would be too heavy for you to carry by yourself, I’ll help you.”
As soon as he said that, he walked off at a brisk pace.
“Excuse me.”
Shrugging at the lightness of the load, she ran to catch up with him, suddenly realizing and said.
“It has grown a lot.”
“Yeah.” Kusaka loosened his mouth in amusement.
Kusaka’s head, which had once been a smooth shaved head, was now covered with a few strands of painful-looking hair. This was in recognition of the work he had performed for the clan, which exempted him from medical practice for a generation and permitted him to grow hair. Consequently, he changed his name from Genzui to Gisuke.
“That guy, Takasugi always touches it and makes fun of it for being close?cropped head.”
“Surely Mr. Takasugi is doing it on purpose because it makes him happy.”
“You’re not very honest,” chuckled Sogetsu.
They split up and went around the room to replenish the charcoal, storing the remainder in the equipment room.
Brushing the charcoal off her hands, she said, “Thanks to you, we were able to finish quickly… Sorry, Mr. Kusaka, even though you’re busy preparing for your trip.”
Kusaka had received an order to invite Sakuma Shozan to Choshu, and was to leave for Shinshu on the day after tomorrow.
“Shinshu… I’ve never been there, but I suppose it’s a snowy place.”
??And then, suddenly, her nose got itchy, and she did it again.
“Are you sure you are okay? Take care of yourself. One minute Takasugi is recovering, the next it’s Yaji who’s in bed.”
“Yes.” Sogetsu sniffed and said. “When I visited him, he was talking to Mr. Ito with a complicated look on his face. But once he saw my face, he suddenly stopped talking.”
“… I see.”
“Um, Mr. Kusaka.” Sogetsu glanced up at Kusaka, standing tall next to her. “… What will you be doing?”
It was typical of Sogetsu not to ask “what”. Kusaka let out a chuckle deep within him.
“Um.”
Kusaka and his comrades were now planning a new expulsion policy to deal with the assassination of the British minister. They were not going to reveal this to Sogetsu, though.
“Sorry to disappoint Mr. Kusaka, but I oppose the idea of militant expulsion of foreigners. I don’t want to be assassinated or anything like that like the last time in Kanagawa, and I don’t want… But Mr. Takasugi reprimanded me for saying that. Anybody can complain about it. The main thing is to figure it out for yourself and then act on it.”
“It was the same with Teacher Shoin. Even he tried to smuggle himself out of the country to learn about it.” Sogetsu nodded approvingly.
“I want Japan and other countries to get along. So, first of all, when I inquired what the people of Edo thought of foreigners, everybody answered that they didn’t know much about them. Some people are just afraid of them, or think they are monsters or ghosts, but have no clue about what they really are. On the other hand, some foreigners think that Japan is uncivilized and barbaric… Therefore, I want both sides to be aware of each other. I think that if everyone in other countries like Japan and people in Japan like people in other countries, there will be no conflict. I know that politics and personal feelings do not coincide, but if the number of people who like Japan increases, the government of the country will not neglect the public opinion, and then it will be difficult to take a hard stance using force as a pretext. In the meantime, Japan will continue to adopt the good points of other countries and grow in strength. That’s why it should be ‘Somo Joi’ instead of ‘Sonno Joi’ ??Though I’m still in the process of figuring out exactly what to do about it… After all, would you laugh at me for thinking like this?”
“No, it’s very like Sogetsu.”
Right, quite like Sogetsu.
The familiarity of a foreign country certainly sounds like a very naive, Sogetsu’s idea.
As she put it, it would be much easier if a mutual understanding could bring the two countries together as equals.
But truth be told, the foreign powers were here for their own interests and had no inclination for cordial relations. Unless Japan can demonstrate its power, it will inevitably be swallowed up by foreign powers.
He had failed in Kanagawa, but there was one thing he had to do before he left Edo: to expel the barbarians.
For the past month, they had been preparing for it, and now all they needed to do was put it into action.
Before he realized it, Sogetsu was staring at him as if he wanted to say something.
“Um… Mr. Kusaka. Please take good care of yourself.”
Please don’t do anything dangerous.
A friend of him, who was very sincere, expressed this feeling.
“Thank you, Sogetsu.”
Kusaka could not be so unfaithful as to lie with a straight face.
??And that night.
The British Embassy, under construction on Gotenyama, was burnt down by someone.
????
“It’s all gone.”
On the second floor of the Dozo Sagami, in Hanabishi’s room, Sogetsu muttered while gazing at Gotenyama through a thinly opened shoji.
The sky was shrouded in thick grey clouds that seemed to be threatening to snow, and even though it was daytime, it was dim.
No trace remained of the elegant Western-style building that she had viewed through the same window only a few days earlier, only a pile of burnt-out rubble could be identified through the dying winter trees.
She hurriedly retracted her face from the cold wind that blew in and sat down by the brazier to gulp down a cup of hot tea.
“Ah, the tea that Ohana brewed really is the best.”
Hanabishi, laughing at the exaggeration, also picked up a teacup.
“But I’m glad you’ve come back safely. When I heard that Ohana had been taken away by the officials, I was really worried.”
“Yes, I’m sorry.”
Hanabishi was under suspicion of knowing the perpetrators of the burning, and for three days she was subjected to severe questioning at the magistrate’s office. The reason for this was the discovery at the scene of the crime of a letter which had been dropped by the criminal, and which bore the name “Hana” as its sender. Upon learning of this, Sogetsu promptly confronted Ito.
“I knew it was the work of Mr. Ito and the others who burned the place down!”
She was aware that he was going to do something but never had she imagined that he would do something of this magnitude.
“Anyway, you have to save Ohana quickly!”
“Nothing can be done! We can’t make any public moves at the moment. If we make a move, the Shogunate will find out about us. Most of our companions have already left Edo or are preparing to leave. We can’t afford to get caught in the middle of all this.”
Sogetsu glared at Ito firmly. “So you’re abandoning Ohana? It’s Mr. Ito’s fault that Ohana was captured!?What is the point of expelling foreigners if you can’t protect the people you love while you’re shouting for your country!”
“Stop it, Sogetsu.” Takasugi, who had been listening silently at the side, forcibly pulled Sogetsu away from Ito.
“Shunsuke must be suffering too. Now we just have to wait and trust in Hanabishi. Don’t worry. There are women with names like Hana all over the place. As long as Hanabishi doesn’t talk, the officials won’t be able to identify her as the sender.”
True to Takasugi’s words, Hanabishi maintained her innocence, regardless of the pressure of the shogunate officials, and was eventually acquitted.
When Sogetsu suggested that Ito should go and see her right away, he was adamant.
“I invited him to join us again for today… Mr. Ito should at least meet with you once and apologize, despite the attention of the government officials. Whose fault does he think it is that Ohana has been through so much? He’s truly irresponsible.”
“??Don’t speak ill of Master Ito!”
Her tone was fierce, which was rare for Hanabishi. Even Hanabishi herself was stunned by her own words and pressed her lips together.
“… I’m sorry. But I don’t want to do this anymore, Sou. I knew from the beginning that one day this day would come. It is hard for me to say goodbye, but I can live on with the memories of having protected Master Ito and the pride of having done so.”
The previous childishness was nowhere to be seen in the dignified appearance of Hanabishi.
“… Ohana, you’re amazing.”
The words spilled out.
“How can you go to such length? Your life could be have been at stake for all you know.”
“Because it’s for the people I love.” Hanabishi had a smile on her face. “Even you would do the same if you found someone like that.”
“Maybe.”
Sogetsu could not conceive of herself in such a scenario.
But simultaneously, she was dazzled and slightly envious of the proud profile of Hanabishi, who had defended Ito unhesitatingly.