Heroes Return VI: Book One London Chapter 20

 

20.

 

Epping Forest is a huge area of ancient woodland and other established habitats, which straddles the border between Greater London and Essex. It lies on a ridge between the valleys of the rivers Lea and Roding. It contains areas of woodland, grassland, heath, streams, bogs, and ponds, and its elevation and thin gravelly soil (the result of glaciation) historically made it less suitable for agriculture. It was designated a royal forest, meaning that only the monarch had the right to hunt deer.

“I would expect this to be Sherwood Forest, as we cannot hunt deer here.” The man approached the other, who stood by the tree lines there, canopied by the thick leaves above on the branches. The one addressed turned and did a bow to the one who approached him.

“Sensei, I am relieved to see you.” Ito Matsuke bowed to the Senior Member of the Oni Society. “I thought you had…"

“As I am relieved to be alive.” Doctor Mitsui Ogato smiled. He was dressed in the tweed three-piece and had on the black leather shoes. His face was partially covered by the homburg that he wore there.

“They found a body in the chamber. Who was it in the chamber?” Ito Matsuke asked. He was dressed in the dark Manchurian-design jacket, buttoned to the neck, and matching pants with dark shoes. He also carried a dark blue duffle bag that was lengthy.

“I am surprised that you want to know. I will tell you anyway. It was the military attaché, Kataka Sukimora. He was a disciple of mine, sent here two years ago to check on the rebels within the Oni Society. They called themselves the Yomi Demons.

“He met me there with that concern. I also queried him on the three missing disciples, whose deaths he told me were unclear, but it could be the works of the Yomi Demons. I assumed it was the local crime lord, but Professor Moriarty denied it.”

“I will avenge their deaths.” Ito Matsuke voiced out.

“Ito, we are in London, and we must respect the local laws and culture. We cannot declare ourselves like a wild fire.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata took a few steps to stand beside the local emissary. “How long were you posted here?”

“Three years, ten months. Short of four years here. Every day, I crave to go home," Ito replied. “London is not like Osaka. The everyday commotion is all rushing, and no one tells you sorry for knocking into you.”

“You are well remunerated, Ito?”

“Yes. I was. I am also made to keep an eye on the Oni Society’s interest.” Ito smiled. “It was not much then, but of late, the interest has become diverse. The Yomi Demons ……"

“The treasury functions and the numerous transfers of money to the banks. It raised queries.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata stood there. “The last were the mining reports. It represented great interest to us, even back in Tokyo.”

“The geologist, Edward Thorne, and Ian Kingsley from Thames University. And Daniel Jones. They were our recruited members. The rebels may have gotten to them to stop them from reporting, and Ian Masterson was mine. He was a good friend and was with Minister Leeson when they were in Africa. He got news on the mining reports while in Shanghai, intercepted it, and was to report to London. He was a double agent.”

“The three were killed by whom, and our operatives were sent, and yet they were deemed dead. The only operative sent to kill Ian Masterson was on my instruction, and more deaths were assumed when the steamer he was on sank in open seas.”

“I pray for their deaths. They may have died for the society." Doctor Mitsui Ogata sighed. “Ian Masterson was a good friend, but still a Gaikokujin (外国人, "outside country person"), the Oni Society comes first. The mining intrigued me, and I decided to come to London on the pretext of discussing treasury functions, which I am well versed in. But my other intention was to find the killers. They are linked here to London.”

 

 

 

 

“Everything happened so fast. The minister was killed, which was baffling as it happened the day I was in London. And then Mindy Kewala went missing; she was the key to the mining rights. Apparently, she had the know-how and data on the mining there. Doctor Mitsui Ogata sighed. “I was equally surprised to meet Sherlock Holmes there. His brother, Mycroft, was expected as the Foreign Office liaison, but why Sherlock? I did not know who invited him.”

“Could the mining reports linked them all?” Ito Matsuke asked.

“It does, but how baffles me. And then I got to meet Professor Moriarty. He is the local crime lord. He told me more baffling news.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at the trees. “Beautiful forest, like the Sea of Trees in Aokigahara. Have you been there? We had a training there once, you and me with a few others.”

The other remained silent.

“The forest has a historical reputation as a home to yūrei: ghosts of the dead in Japanese mythology. You may not be familiar with that. I took yearly visits there to improve on my wisdom and skills.”

"この世に偶然なんてないわ。あるのは必然だけ。" ((Kono yo ni guuzen nante nai wa. Aru no wa hitsuzen dake." Doctor Mitsui Ogata said. "There is no such thing as coincidence in this world. There is only inevitability.”

“Yes, you taught me that, Sensei. Everything happens for a reason, and events are connected by fate or karma.” The disciple spoke then. “I am forever grateful.”

“Then tell me what I may know but not say." Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at the disciple.

“I, Ito Matsuke, am thankful to the Sensei for this guidance and teaching. However, I ……”

"Have I learned to be a better man than myself?” Doctor Mitsui Ogata continued his stare at the disciple.

“Yes, 'Oubaitori' (桜梅桃李) (a Japanese concept inspired by the cherry, plum, peach, and apricot trees, reminding that everyone has their own timeline to bloom and should not compare their growth to others). “I have become my own when I left your side.” Ito Matsuke replied. “I saw a new vision for the nation, the people, and for ……"

“And for yourself, Ito.”

“Yes, the Meiji Empire. It needed a new…. Generation to grow.” Ito Matsuke looked at the trees. “The trees here are old, and one day they will need to make way for new growths. Maybe our cherry blossom will be here.”

“There is a reason why the cherry blossom is not grown here, Ito. It is our heritage; as we do not grow as White Ash is to this country, we have our own ash tree. They may not look the same, but they held their own features.”

“Yet, we are here to learn from them treasury functions?” Ito challenged back. “And our mining wealth too?”

“No, we are not. We are sharing our knowledge, and while we learn, they do from us. It is called education," Doctor Mitsui Ogata replied. “As I have spoken, I am here not for the mining but to investigate the deaths of some of our operatives. Namely the rebels who are here. Which is the matter here.”

“My apologies, Sensei.” Ito Matsuke bowed to the other.

“Ito, why was Kataka Sukimora killed?” Doctor Mitsui Ogata's tone was direct. “Be true, my young protégé.”

“He was to tell you about me.” Ito Matsuke replied. “Sukimora…"

“He was sent here to assist you.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata cut in. “He was my…"

“Your informant on us is the Yomi Demons. I knew when he was keen to join us, the Yomi Demons. That is those among those who were from the Oni Society.” Ito Matsuke looked at the man he regarded as his sensei. “You placed another to oversee me when I am the senior. And he was to tell on my involvement with the Yomi demons."

“I knew you were a member of the Yomi Demons. However, Kataka Sukimora was my student and a member of the Oni Society, but he does not report to me.”

“I do not understand, Sensei.” Ito Matsuke was baffled.

“Within the Oni Society, I am seen as a threat to some, for I am the senior. I am the protégé of Lord Age Yomiuri, and we saw this rebellion building up, and I took the opportunity to come here to find the Yomi Demons members here, and yet they found me instead. They had acted after I left Osaka. Lord Age Yomura was dead the day I left Osaka. I am also marked and deemed to be a ronin now.”

“Lord Yomiuri dead? We were not informed.” Ito Matsuke bowed to the news.

“Unimportant now. I was given a task to find the Yomi Demons here by my Lord.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at the man he regarded as his disciple.

“I understand, Sensei, but let me explain some things that you missed.” Ito Matsuke looked back at the man. “Kataka Sukimora did not know of the bomb that was in the bag. He only knew that he was to bring it there and leave after handling the message.”

“That means I killed the man in anger.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata bowed his head. “Atonement (Shokuzai)……” The concept of taking responsibility for actions is frequently seen in voluntary apologies and public humiliation to make amends. “I will do it after I have done my task.”

“It was I who detonated the bomb set at twenty minutes soon after he was to enter your chamber.” Ito Matsuke looked to his waist pocket. “I told him there was a grappling rope to the chamber below. He was to exit there and from there to the next meeting place. When he reached there, I was to kill him and place the fault on him as a traitor.”

“And I killed the man who was still loyal to the Oni Society.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata sighed. “In war, we cannot contain all the killings.”

“Yes, it is what you told us then.” Ito Matsuke bowed to the sensei. “Why did I have the agents killed, which you did not ask of me? But Sukimora was not sincere. He was working with the Germans against us.”

“In our line of works, we are all expendable. And greed over our loyalty.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata nodded. “As the need for the treasury to accumulate, it does not matter how it can be done.”

“Treasury?” Ito Matsuke asked.

“The nation and sometimes our own. For the nation. The mining option in the Congo was too far for us to exploit. It was a diversion for me to meet Minister Leeson. We were already focusing on Manchuria and the northern lands of China. Why would we exploit something so far away? I came here on my task to check on the rebels.”

“What about Moriarty?” Ito Matsuke asked. “You did not ask.”

“Moriarty, yes…. Tell me there. That was one unsolved riddle. And why Sherlock?”

“Sensei, the man was placed there because of me. I got my informant, who told me that the PM’s office was to send the telegram and place M’s name there. He may think that Moriarty is involved. A diversion there.”

“The fog is lifting, but the trail ahead is still unseen clearly.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata smiled. “Your diversion may be your downfall. Mr. Holmes is a formidable opponent.”

“Anyway, I thank you for telling me of your involvement with Yomi Demons. You hold the right to your cause as I taught you to think independently.”

“I am obligated, Sensei.” Ito Matsuke bowed to the other. “The river stream may make its own flow where the water may flow. Join your flow with mine, Sensei, and offer me your guidance.”

“I am masterless now, Ito Matsuke. I am a ronin, but in my heart, my task for my master remains.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata looked at the trees. “Like the forest, the spirits here are free of their shackles, but they remain here, for this is their obligation. I have mine.”

“Are you to challenge me, Sensei?” Ito Matsuke stepped back holding the bag.

“No, Ito Matsuke. I am unarmed. You may keep your katana in the bag. I now know some of the puzzle pieces. I will find out more on the puzzle pieces. Our duel is delayed.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata turned and walked away.