Botan -Peony- Vol.2

11

"60 ryo?! How on earth do I find the money?" It was beyond my expectation. I expected that Kawai Kisaburo would ask for money again but I did not foresee the number. It was approximately two weeks of meal for two hundred men of Shinsengumi. The amount I had hoped Hijikata would have given instead of just 4 ryo for a day which could barely give satisfying meals for the fierce food-fighters in Shinsengumi. Considering that Shinsengumi was sponsored, they should be well-fed. There was no reason for Hijikata to hold onto so much money. Didn't those men always say 'we can't fight with empty stomach'?

Calculating too deep into the financial affairs, I forgot that I was dealing with a crisis myself. Kawai smiled nervously at me for a long time, waiting for my response. However, there was no way I could lend so much money to him, I had none after all. I had probably a few ryo left.

"Please..." Kawai pleaded as his smile faded into hopeless tremble of lips. "It would be great if you have it now." His complexion turned bloodless and he was sweating profusely.

"I have none, Kawai-san. At the very least I can only lend you 5 ryo." As much as I wanted to help, I couldn't. Far behind Kawai, men came approaching in quick pace. At the front was Hijikata.

"Please, Sayo!!" Kawai grasped my shoulders, shaking me violently.

"Capture him." Hijikata ordered and men rushed to Kawai's side to hold onto his arms as if he was a criminal.

"Please, don't kill me!" Kawai dropped onto his knees, begging for his life.

"Hijikata-san, please wait! There has to be a misunderstanding!" I attempted to intervene but Hijikata strode forward to stop me. With his eyes staring intently on mine, he said, "Kawai Kisaburo, you are condemned to die honourably through seppuku."

"Hijikata-san!" Again, he nonchalantly condemned someone to die. Again, he showed off his power while the commander was absent. Again, someone would die like of Sannan with no proofs to show their sins.

"This is not your business, woman. Know your place." Hijikata growled. "He is responsible for the financial record. If we have financial shortage, it's on his neck."

"Kondo-san is not here! At least wait for his return!" I pleaded, taking a bold step forward to look up at Hijikata's ice face.

Without batting an eye at me, Hijikata spun and left as he passed down his next order. "Lock him up and take Sayo to my office. I'll interrogate her myself."

"Interrogate? Don't touch me!" I attempted to free myself from two men who took me by my arms to no avail. They treated me like how they treated Kawai with different destination. In his eyes, I was an accomplice; a criminal.

Separated from Kawai, I sat in Hijikata's room facing him with my hands tied behind. Was I frightened? No. I had no reason to be afraid. If situation enforced, I had my card up my sleeve although I preferred not to use it. Still, bringing up my father's death should make him falter.

"You had an engagement with Kawai recently, yes?" Hijikata questioned. His eyes were cold and I could sense that he was merciless when it came to the organization.

"Yes." I answered as I stared back at him.

"What did you two talk about?" He continued.

"He asked me for money and I lent him 5 ryo—"

"—Alright."

"—It's not alright. He returned the money the next day." I emphasized my tone at the word 'returned'. I thought it would clear up the misunderstanding but I was half correct. After that, Hijikata dismissed me and released me.