By Jade One
He lifted the lid on the small wooden box beside
the door, removing the folded papers before allowing the lid to fall back
into position. He pushed the small red flag down before opening the door
and stepping through, sliding it shut behind him.
He removed his shoes, casually pushing them aside
neatly, while calling to the occupants of the house and one in particular,
"Tadaima, Darling."
A faint response, "Okairinasai, Love," came from
the kitchen. A smile crossed his face as he walked through the house in
the direction of the call following some delicious smells. He absently
flicked through the mail focused more on determining exactly what the elusive
smell meant for dinner. Is that? Letter from Uncle Shinji. No, it couldn't
be. Catalogue from R and K's. Yes, I think it is... He stopped briefly,
unbuckling his katana and leaning it gently against the wall. Note from
Aunt Kaede. Yes. It's definitely. Subscription from Swords and You. Kake
Soba! Letter from Kamiya Dojo. Yes, my favourite, Kake Soba! Memo from
work. Kake Soba... Nani? Letter. From. Kamiya... Dojo..?
He flicked back through the mail and carefully checked
the senders address. It was indeed a letter from the Kamiya Dojo. How
did..? They do not know this address! A closer inspection revealed
that the letter had been forwarded from Tokyo Central Police station. That
was slightly reassuring. He didn't like enemies knowing where to find him
and he'd just got this house arranged to suit him. Not to mention the ten
kinds of Hell Tokio would put him through for moving her again. Worse still,
she would probably demand an explanation about who this time and she'd
probably conclude that he was not a risk. There were some things she did
not understand.
It wasn't these thoughts which drove Captain Fujita
to open the letter then. It was the faint hope that this, however unlikely
that may be, was the answer to his prayers, a formal challenge from the
Battousai. If it was a formal challenge, it would be one from Himura in
the Battousai's name since there was no way the Battousai would be able
to get the challenge past his more moderate side. He smiled. It would be
a challenge from them both. He unfolded the page.
Dear Captain Fujita-san,
Well, it was a polite beginning to a challenge letter but then Himura had probably written it.
I am writing with regard to the damage done when you and Sagara Sanosuke fought in the grounds of the Kamiya Dojo. As the result of that fight, an opening was left in the wall...
Yes, yes he knew all of this. So this was the reason the Battousai decided to fight. To make up for his followers loss? He should be thankful I left the puppy alive. Saitou skipped forward several lines. He didn't care why the Battousai wished to fight. He licked his lips in anticipation of the long hoped for words.
...the direct result of your actions and your conduct unbecoming of a police officer. You are requested to pay the sum of XXX Yen to cover the repair of the Dojo wall. Inclosed is an invoice breaking down the repair costs...
Sum of? Repair? He blinked, carefully. No the kanji had not changed. He blinked again, slowly. His hand began to shake, his fist tightening on the paper. He breathed in, his whole body stiff, tense with anger. This can't be. He ground his teeth together. Tokio did not appreciate him bringing home his problems. He breathed out, slowly unclenching his hand as he looked at the signature on the letter skipping passed several more lines of text.
Sincerely
Kamiya Kaoru
Why the nerve of that child.
There was a soft step. He looked up, his face no
doubt still showing his anger but that quickly faded as he saw the person
who had appeared. Tokio. She was so beautiful, even when she had come straight
from the kitchen, her hair slightly mussed from her days work. Her face
was alight with a smile of greeting. She choose not to ask about what had
made him angry.
"Welcome home, anata. Dinner's almost ready so please
go and wash up." She walked past him, no doubt to tell the boy, giving
him a gentle kiss as she went by.
He would deal with the letter later. Right now there
was Kake Soba to eat.
But Kamiya had not heard the end of this.
~~~ Finis
Terms
Tadaima
I'm home
Okairinasai Welcome home