Flower Spelling - Chapter 27
Chapter 27 – To Kyo
At the end of February, just as the cherry blossoms were drawing to an end, Shido made a surprise appearance at the Edo residence.
“You’re looking as carefree as ever.”
“You seem to be in a bad mood, Mr. Shido. Did you get chased out of Kyo because you messed around with women excessively?”
Instead of greetings, Shido announced his intention of visiting, after exchanging the customary sarcastic remarks.
“Excuse me, but I don’t have much time for idle chatter today. I’m on a mission.”
With a pang, he swiped off the dust from his hakama.
“I’ve come to get Takasugi.”
??
Is he a messenger from Master Seishi?… I wonder if they want Mr. Takasugi to come to the capital so badly that they sent Mr. Shido to pick him up.
Indeed, the center of political affairs has now shifted from Edo to Kyo.
Kyo was flooded with samurai and ronin from the Choshu, Tosa, and other expulsionist clans, and the most militant of these were known as the “Heaven’s Punishment”, who assassinated one after another those involved in the opening of the country to the outside world and those involved in the Ansei Purge.
She had no doubt that Kusaka, Terashima, and the others were not a part of it, but the more she heard about the devastation in Kyo, the more she feared for their safety… However, they seemed to be as active as fish in water, and in the letters sent from time to time, they proudly wrote that they were visiting the houses of nobles in Kyo to work on the affairs of the imperial court, and that, thanks to their efforts, they had finally obtained an imperial decree for the Shogun to come to Kyo.
In the midst of all this, Takasugi was the only one still languishing in Edo. Ignoring repeated requests to come to the capital, he simply claimed that he had things to do in Edo, and showed no sign of stepping up.
Speaking of what he did, in the previous month, he abruptly reburied Teacher Shoin’s grave! Declaring that, and he did it, in broad daylight, with Ito and Hori and the others, and no matter how much recklessness he possessed in his mind, on the surface, he merely spent his days in idleness.
I don’t think Mr. Takasugi will obediently go through with it though.
As was expected, a fierce exchange of words could be heard from the guest room all the way to the end of the corridor, and even when Sogetsu stepped into the room with the tea, it seemed as if she was invisible to them.
“How long are you planning to stay in Edo without a purpose? Even as we speak, the times are changing. The focus is now on Kyo. I am clueless as to what is bothering you, but why aren’t you making a move!?”
“Even if I go to Kyo, what action am I supposed to take? It’s not in my nature to use wealth to gain favor with the nobles.”
“Don’t talk to me about your nature! It’s concerning Master Seishi’s life! You don’t have any idea what Master Seishi intended when he sent me here. Enough of this self-indulgence.”
“…”
He did not answer Shido, who had a blue streak on his forehead, instead, turning his head towards Sogetsu.
“??Sogetsu, you should go together with him.”
“Huh?”
Sogetsu was abruptly thrown off, and in her posture with her hands on the sliding door, she made a silly sound as she prepared to exit.
“??Takasugi!”
Ignoring Shido’s voice, Takasugi stared straight at Sogetsu.
“Kyo is the place where your homeland lies. And, as Monta said, if you want to continue studying the current state of affairs, now is the time to go to Kyo rather than staying at Edo. If you want to go, I will take you to Kyo.”
“Don’t be absurd! You can’t bring this little girl to Kyo! Things are not as easy in Kyo as in Edo. Even the Shogun is scheduled to go to the capital, and this is an important time. We have no time for her.”
“I know that. But I owe it to Sogetsu. What are you going to do…?”
His eyes were fixed firmly on Sogetsu.
The rest is up to you, that’s how she felt like she was told by his gaze.
“??”
It was a moment of hesitation.
Running out into the corridor, she grabbed a small wooden box from his room, brought it back into the room, and thrust it in front of a stunned Shido.
“I have a little over five ryo. I’ll work hard to pay you back for the lack of funds. I understand that this is an important time and that the situation in Kyo is not safe. Still, I want to go. I promise I won’t cause you any trouble. Please, please let me go too!” She bowed her head.
“… As usual, you’re all high and mighty.” After a while, Shido snorted. “I’ll only look after you on the way. Once you reach Kyo, you’ll have to take care of the rest yourself. Is that clear?”
“Yes, thank you very much!”
“It’s settled then.” Takasugi opened his fan and fluttered it happily.
??
Once a decision was made, Takasugi was quick to act. He immediately approached the clan and obtained permission for Sogetsu to accompany him, and without a moment’s rest, he made preparations for his journey.
“Candles, lanterns, a map, a change of clothes, an arrowhead, medicines, hand towels, and a change of sandals…”
“There are so many!?”
“These are the basics, the basics. Oh, and better have a flintlock… and needle and thread.”
Alongside packing up, tidying up the tenement, and addressing the people who have been looking after them…
In the blink of an eye, the day of departure arrived.
Sogetsu was dressed in her travel clothes: leggings, handkerchiefs, bamboo hat, divided luggage, and a walking stick in her hand. She rode in Kinzo and Ginji’s palanquin to Shinagawa inn.
“Allow us to send you off in our palanquin for the last time!”
That’s what they told her.
It was still early in the morning and the sea breeze caressed her cheeks. Even at this hour, when most of Edo was still asleep, the inn town of Shinagawa was crowded with travellers, those seeing them off, and merchants eager to do business.
Among them, Hanabishi found Sogetsu and rushed to her. She squeezed Sogetsu’s hand and said.
“Sou, goodbye. Take care on the road.”
“Take care of yourself too, Ohana. When things settle down, I’ll write to you.”
“Definitely. I will certainly write back to you too. Lots and lots of stuff about everyone over here??”
Hanabishi’s face suddenly contorted, and her words trailed off. Large tears trickled down her cheeks.
“Sorry… Even though I swore not to cry.”
“Ohana…”
Sogetsu’s eyes had gone bright red too. Her chest tightened up to the point where she was unable to form words.
Edo and Kyo are too far apart.
They would probably never be able to meet again. Apart from everyone at Tatsumi Residence who was like family to her, Hanabishi was the first friend she made in Edo.
“Thank you, Ohana. Until now, you have been a good friend to me… Shopping together, eating sweets, watching plays, I had great fun. I’ll never forget you.”
“Me too, I’ll never forget you.”
The two vowed to each other adamantly, and beside them, a voice like a heroic cry sounded. Ginji was weeping intensely as he was unable to control his emotions.
“You fool, Ginji. What kind of man cries! You’re a man!”
“Because, because, big brother! If you see this heartbreaking farewell…”
“No! Men are supposed to hold their tears and send them off in silence!”
“Then, big brother, what’s that thing coming out of your eyeball?
“This is, you??” Kinzo rubbed his eyes.
“It’s a snot!”
“Oh, big brother, does snot come out of your eyes?”
“Shut up! You better do something about your goddamn face!”
As always, Sogetsu and Hanabishi retracted their tears and giggled at each other.
“Ah??” Hanabishi made a small sound as if she realized something.
“What’s wrong, Ohana?”
“Sou, that…”
She followed Hanabishi’s gaze.
A figure stared at them by a tree, slightly out of the crowd.
“… Landlady?”
Even though she couldn’t see her face clearly, she recognized her immediately.
Seeing the landlady for the first time in a year and a half, she looked exactly the same as before. She had a dignified bearing that naturally made her back straighten.
... You are here.
The landlady gestured to Sogetsu, clinking the stone.
A cutting fire.
… I am off. Ma’am.
Sogetsu lowered her head deeply.
By the time she lifted her head, the familiar figure was no more.
?
Eventually, she joined Takasugi and Shido, who had caught up with her, and with her close friends seeing her off, Sogetsu left the city of Edo where she had spent two years.
When I first came here, I never imagined that it would be so hard for me to leave Edo.
Throughout the course of time, she has encountered many people, been to many places, and had many experiences. At times it is difficult and frightening, yet now it is a cherished memory.
Turning around only once, she gave a big wave to Hanabishi and the others, who had shrunk to size. With all of Edo etched in her eyes, Sogetsu started heading for Kyo this time.