Tales From Edo High - A Modern Retelling of Bakumatsu Era Japan

Chapter Four - The Exposure

After talking with Okubo, a brief alliance between the Satsuma and the Choshu was brokered, although on rather loose terms. 

Kusaka and Okubo organized a plan, we were to expose Ii that Wednesday, by posting copies of the expulsion documents Yoshiwara had given us across the school. 

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"Kusaka." Okubo grunted, "You are aware of how much you're risking with this plan, yes?"

We'd found ourselves in the Choshu clubroom once again, this time a few members of the Satsuma had joined us. 

Toshimichi Okubo stood at a rather menacing height of six foot four, with long, cascading hair down his back and torso. On his face I could see faded scars and the shadow of facial hair. It was clear that whatever the Satsuma had preferred, it was a lot rougher than that of the Choshu. 

Kusaka could only brood, leaning in his chair, "Yes. I'm fully aware." he scorned, "The plan is foolproof, not even Yoshinobu Tokugawa himself could foil it. After this week, Ii will be nothing but dust in the wind of Edo High."

"Hold on." I intervened, "We're talking about not only destroying Ii's reputation but the man's whole future." I could feel a glare coming from Kusaka, and another from Okubo. "He's done some bad things, sure, but does he deserve this?"

Nakaoka stood up, "He does have a point." he gave me a light nod, "Then there's the question if Yoshida would've wanted this..."

Kusaka let out a low growl, "I thought you two believed in our cause." he grumbled, "Yet you question us. Has it not crossed your minds that the ends may justify the means?"

"We are on your side, Genzui." I reassured him, "I just wonder if we're stooping too low..."

To a degree, I understood his mindset. Katsura had filled me and Nakaoka in on the romantic affair between Kusaka and Yoshida after we visited the latter. I'd never seen Kusaka as the type to be a romantic, but apparently, I'd seen wrong. 

Okubo huffed, "He expelled fifteen students personally. Not to mention, he did the exact same to Yoshida..." he turned to me, "If you're asking me, he deserves a lot worse."

"But we can't keep moving to his level." I said, recalling my past with the White Fang, "Trust me. The only thing it leads to is fire." 

As Kusaka motioned to get up from his chair, Katsura stepped in, "Enough. Ryoma and Shintaro." he looked at us sternly, "You knew what you were getting into when you joined with us." 

The two of us were quiet for the rest of the meeting. 

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It was as if the ground shook. The rush of students to lunch, as they flooded the halls, they saw that on each classroom's door was a document that, in big bold letters read:

REVERE THE PRINCIPAL. EXPEL CORRUPTION. 

what followed were copies of the expulsion documents that Yoshiwara had given Kusaka and Katsura. Testimony proving that the student body's corruption started with Secretary Ii.

Walking through the halls, it was utter silence. As if someone had taped the mouths of each student shut. 

Until I'd gotten to the cafeteria, where a rather familiar face had been waiting for me.

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"It seems you rats didn't learn from last time." Ii clicked his tongue, smirking as his blonde locks of hair shimmered in the natural light radiating from the windows. "I'd have thought that my little purge would've told you that the student body is not to be fucked with." his smirk turned to scowl, "Tokugawa and Katsu... don't need to hear of this, because it seems apparent that I need to take matters into my own hands."

Ii removed his white gloves, the ones that had adorned his hands from the moment I'd first laid eyes on him and pocketed them. He clenched his fist, and stepped back, throwing a punch to my nose.

"You sent us a message alright..." I wiped my nose, feeling only what appeared to be the beginnings of a bruise. "You struck fear into the people you swore to lead!" I readied a fist of my own, landing a blow on Ii's jaw, knocking him to the floor. "True leaders, don't lead through fear! they lead through unity!"

Ii coughed, getting up from his feet and growling like a rabid dog, "People like you...inspire anarchy." he threw a hook to the side of my face, "People like me...we create order from chaos!"

"Order is nothing, if those who deliver it are out only for the benefit of themselves!" I cried, coughing lightly. 

Ii laughed, "Ah the Choshu rhetoric! Nonsense spouted by the boyfriend of a social reject!" he threw another punch to my gut, sending me to the ground "You won't be saying much of that after today!" he seethed, pining me to the ground. 

he landed blow after blow to my face, I could feel myself letting go, my mind flooded with everything that had happened since I'd come to Edo...

Meeting Nakaoka and Katsura...

Joining the Choshu...

Being attacked by Ii...

Meeting Shoin...

In what felt like the blink of an eye, I'd gathered the strength to knee Ii in the balls and turn him over. 

"Your tirade...ends today." I stood up, towering over Ii, as a rush of students arrived to see what had happened. 

Takasugi quickly rushed into the fray, "Ryoma!" he called, "Are you alright?" 

"Yes! I'm here!" I called back, walking slowly toward him, "I'm a little bruised but alright nonetheless!"

Takasugi chuckled, "he must have beat you pretty bad, I'm surprised you even won the fight."

I coughed, "Yeah, tell me about it. I wonder what Genzui will think after all this."

"I've already heard." from the corner of my eye, I made out the face of Kusaka, who had a smile as wide as the ocean, "Ii's bound to be expelled after today. I don't think he can get past attacking a fellow student."

From across the room, I could see Yoshiwara, who nodded in a manner I could only assume was approving. 

"I doubt it." Takasugi added, "It'll be nice, not having to worry about random expulsions what appears to be every week."

Kusaka added, "Yes. but there is still much to be done." he looked on into the crowd of students, "We'll finish what Shoin started, piece by piece."

After I'd spent a few hours being patched up by the school nurse, the Choshu decided to spend a night on the town. Kusaka's fake ID had been able to buy us a few rounds of sake, and more than enough food to feed the five of us. 

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The incident, like the previous one, was quickly covered up, and Ii was quietly expelled after the year ended. Little did we know...

 that there were greater dangers than Ii that laid ahead.