24.
"Gi" (Justice/Rectitude) ……. Be
honest in all dealings and do the right thing.”
“Yū (Courage)... Face danger and death
without hesitation.”
“Jin (Benevolence) ……. Show mercy and
compassion.”
“Rei (Respect)…. Be polite and respectful
to all, including enemies.”“Makoto (Sincerity) ……. Keep your word and act
honestly.”
“Meiyō (Honor)… Maintain your reputation
and dignity above all else.”
“Chūgi (Loyalty)... Be loyal to your
master until death.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata bowed his head. He had just said
the codes of Bushido. He had acted as the second for Hiroshima-san, who had
committed seppuku to restore his honour. He had committed his dishonour when he
betrayed his Lord.
“Hiroshima-san, your honour is restored.”
Doctor Mitsui placed the head of the samurai into the box he had brought. He
reflected on his own honour; he was a ronin when his lord, Age Yomiuri, died.
He recalled his battle with Sukimora. The katana he had used to commit the
second was placed before the dead man.
“Sensei, I cannot do this.” Sukimora
stopped his fight. He had attacked with the ‘Shako Ken’ strike, aiming to
incapacitate the other.
“Sukimora, I taught you better than that.”
Doctor Mitsui Ogata retaliated with the ‘Kiten Shuto’; the right-hand fingers
firmed up to form a sword. He aimed at the left elbow but impacted the forearm.
“Sensei, I came to warn you. The Yomi
demons are onto you.” Sukimora stepped back, nursing his forearm. “You sent me
here to check on them. I did and found Ito Matsuke is the senior here. There is
one other who oversees them.”
“I did, and did you not join them later?
Why, Sukimora?” Doctor Mitsui moved in on the next move. The move was fast; the
doctor had the other in an offensive manoeuvre. Sukimora had struck out with
the Mikazuki Sokushi Geri (Crescent Kick), a kicking technique aiming to
knock down an opponent. The doctor had anticipated that and did the Oni
Kudaki (Shoulder Lock), a common, effective joint lock.
“You are predictable, Sukimora. I had a
counter to that kick many times from you.” The doctor had moved in to deflect
the kick and applied pressure on the right heel. He heard the bones there cracked.
Sukimora fell backwards onto his knees.
“My apologies, Sensei. I was weak.”
Sukimora bowed to the Sensei. “He caught me with some military papers of ours.
Germany was keen to trade. I was to trade them for more updates, but Ito
Matsuke had me framed. I had to comply with him.”
“For money, Sukimora. You sold out the
country.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata went for the kill blow, the Shotokan blow on the
forehead, a deadly blow focusing the strength on the knuckles aimed at the
head. The young exponent fell to his side there on the flooring. Doctor Mitsui
Ogata had then examined the bag brought by Sukimora. He saw the timer there and
exited by the window, taking the grappling rope he had kept by it. He barely
made it when the bomb exploded.
“Your timing is impeccable, Ito Matsuke.”
Doctor Mitsui Ogata became aware of his surroundings then. He was still in the
living area of the chamber of Hiroshima-san.
“Step forth, my disciple.”
Ito Matsuke appeared from the dark corner,
dressed in black, and had the ‘ninjato’ on his waist belt.
“I came upon getting the report
that..."
“You have me followed. I am aware.” Doctor
Mitsui Ogata smiled. “I made myself known before I arrived here.”
“Ito, the Yomi Demons seem to be wide in
their network. You have even the ‘gaijin’ in your employ.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata
looked at his disciple. “I need you here to see the avenue to your betrayal;
the way to redeem your honour.”
“I deem not my honour tarnished here,
Sensei. I am … fulfilling another destiny of mine.” Ito Matsuke took his left
foot back in the striking stance. It was the Renoji-dachi stance from the
Shotokan art, with weight on the back leg for momentum to push forth. Ito had
his right hand rested on the hilt of his sword.
“If it is honour, do not come with your
lackeys as you also did at the forest.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata called out. Two
other dark figures appeared from the dark corners. They were similarly dressed
and held the long katana.
“More of mine or yours, Ito?”
“Mine actually. I had them come over a
year ago. They are all ex-military and were once of the samurai class,"
Ito Matsuke replied. “The upheaval of the Meiji era: Japan was forced to open
to the West, questioning the shōgun's political authority over maintaining
Japanese sovereignty. The emperor’s rebuke of shogunal actions led to the
emergence of an ideological divide within the samurai class concerned
with their feudal obligations to both the shōgun and the emperor.”
“Some……"“Some
samurai became shishi ("men of spirit") who were
committed to the emperor’s proclamations to expel the barbarians.
Factional disputes within the domains led some domains to conflict
with the Tokugawa. In 1868, Emperor Meiji declared political power to be
restored to the Imperial House, materialized in the Boshin War and
the short-lived Republic of Ezo, but by the 1870s, the emperor's authority
was practically unquestioned. The new government changed the strata of society,
abolishing the old currency, the domain system, and eventually the class
position of the samurai," Doctor Mitsui Ogata said. “I was there. I
got most of you to train as warriors in the Oni Society.”
“We are glad, Sensei. The evolution did
not stop there. We had to begin another.” Ito Matsuke bowed to his sensei. “May
I request your guidance to join us?”
“I am a samurai, by honour and by
service.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata replied. “My blood oath (Kishōmon) is within the
Oni Society, although I serve no master now but my own.”
Historically, samurai often solidified
their commitments to a lord via a kishōmon (written oath), signed
with their name and often sealed with a blood thumbprint.
“I may be a ronin, but my last unfulfilled
task makes void of my new direction. I will fulfil my task before I am to take
on the new journey.”
“You leave me with no choice, Sensei.” Ito
Matsuke held up his left hand.
“We will battle, but not that day and not
today.” Doctor Mitsui Ogata held up his right hand. “I am to find out the
leader of the Yomi Demons, and today is also the day of mourning for a good
friend. Two friends I lost; the second faded away. We will battle soon, Ito
Matsuke, but not today. I will leave now.”
Doctor Mitsui Ogata took his leave of the
chamber, unharmed. It was dusk, and with the smog, London turned dark fast.
Meanwhile, Sherlock Holmes was settling
down to his supper with Doctor John Watson. They were having roast dinner with
Yorkshire pudding; roast features roasted meat (often beef), crispy
roasted potatoes, vegetables, and savoury gravy, accompanied by light, puffy
Yorkshire puddings. Yorkshire puddings are made by baking a batter of eggs,
flour, and milk in hot oil, while gravy is created from meat pan drippings.
Sherlock was playing with his vegetables,
assembling them across his plate like kids do when they do not want to eat.
Piles of telegrams and messages were at the side of the table.
“I doubt you could create Waterloo there.
Napoleon does not look like a green pea, and I am sure the French finest looked
like pudding.” Doctor John Watson sliced the pudding in half. “Are you back to
your cocaine? Your pupil looked dilated, and even when I looked closer, the
blood vessel constriction could be seen.”
“Please, Watson. You are not my
physician," Sherlock snapped out.
“I am not. I am just a busy parker
(busybody for cockney slang), gaffer.” Doctor John Watson, in his irritation,
makes up his words in cockney slang. “On me, Jack, I would prefer to treat the
sows in the countryside rather than you.”
“Do not hitch on the horse just yet,
Watson. I need you here.” The rare moments Sherlock pleaded with the doctor. “I
did take a jab of the cocaine… it is a seven percent level. It is
normal……"Then at that era, cocaine was being hailed both in Europe and the
United States as an effective local anaesthetic and a treatment for morphine
addiction.
“Cocaine is normal for the sick. And you
are not sick. You are mentally challenged in your deductive logic. I drew that
to mean you are still sane but intensely focused on the issue at hand; that
insanity may follow on.” Doctor John Watson looked at the man; he shared a unit
in London.
“Yes, you are insane, well, not thoroughly
there, but your…… Holmes, if you persist, you will develop a pernicious behaviour
that may……"
“Gall at you? Was that why you left for
the countryside?” Sherlock took offense to the words. Doctor John Watson stood
up and dropped his napkin.
“Leaving now? Are you?” Sherlock called
out. It was then Mrs. Hudson appeared.
“If I had known the roast was overly done,
I would not have served it to the both of you.” Mrs. Hudson looked at the
spread prepared by her.
“Do
not squabble on. You got a guest.”
“I am not seeing anyone tonight.” Sherlock
pushed the plate to the side.
“You will see me.” Lord Greystokes stood
at the doorway. “I came to see you on some matters of mine.”
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