Shit. The Chou is standin’ here in front o’ Sekihara-san’s house, wishin’ he’da had hisself at least one more freakin’ hour! I got all the right ‘gredients ta make Sekihara-san the nicest damn down home Osaka dinner you’d ever wanna see like. Not that I had time ta make the freakin’ meal after poor Sou-chan had his freakin’ meltdown right out on the freakin’ street.

( The Perfect Dinner: Sushi, Sake and Sex )

The Chou goes through the freakin’ gate right ‘bout seven. Here’s hopin’ Sekihara-san is ready for a nice dinner at the Chou’s!

Before long the three of us make our way through the busy streets, finally arriving at my house. For a woman living alone it's a tad large, but I love it all the same...for the storage space and training space.

Safely inside and with the gate securely locked, I turn to my two companions.

"Now then, ladies, if you'll follow me, I'll show you my collection."

I lock the gate after Kaoru and Sano step out into the street. I wonder if Sano is still gagging on that……soup…..too. I only know it was soup because it was liquid – or at least had liquid in it. And it was in a bowl. What else could it have been? Kaoru is not trying to poison me already, is she? Then, I notice she did not have any “soup”. Note to self: hide the daikon.

Once the dojo is locked up, I turn to speak to Sano. “Where shall we start our search? Do you know where Shura is living in Tokyo? Perhaps we should check there again in case she returned home?”

After leaving Shura, I head to the only place I know that can help her… the Gensai Clinic. However, once I reach the gates, the quite stillness lets me know that there is no one there and I wonder if maybe, just maybe I really can come back to this place. Being a doctor was something that—never mind, such frivolous thoughts would get me killed.

If Gensai-sensei and Megumi-san were not here, then there should be someone nearby that can help right? But who is someone that Shura trusts? I do not know her well enough to even know what her problems are and if I left a note here, would those chasing her find her easier?

Ugh… I’m going to have to leap the gate. How bothersome…

I walk around the clinic so the neighbors do not think that someone odd (me) is trying to break into the building, even though that was exactly what I was doing. Still it would give the good doctors a bad reputation if something shady were happening around this place, so I have to be extra careful in my entrance.

I choose a spot where there were less chances of me being seen and quickly scale the wall into the yard of the clinic. I rush towards the kitchen, where my original note still lay untouched, and left another note to be found.

I ran into a woman named, Shura, who was injured. I fixed her up as best as I could with my limited supplies, but left her in a secluded cabin off the river, not far from here. It seems that she is in some sort of trouble, so I did not wish to bring her here and have her troubles come towards you. However, if you can stop by and assist her somewhat, that would be wonderful if not… I might as to purchase some supplies from you to use on her.

I hesitated signing the note this time. A few more seconds passed before I scrawled my sur name on the note and leaving the same way I came in.

((Susumu exits.))

"Irasshaimase, Yukiko-dono!" the old shopkeeper chimes. He's a former samurai of the Kaga domain, and he knows just what I like-- "antiques".

"Murai-san, good morning!" I tug briskly at my haori as I bow. The weather makes me wish I'd worn one of my new French dresses, but...when I'm out collecting, it doesn't feel right to wear anything but Japanese clothing. "Got anything good today?"

"Today, Yukiko-dono...I have something *very* special..." Murai-san leans into a cabinet and withdraws a dark-colored bundle. "My friend Kajiwara in Hakodate sent it just recently...and you seem to be the right person to sell it to."

With his big, tanned hands, he slowly opens the bundle. There's no mistaking that red flag...the bullet holes (and blood stains) have marred it, but I can still make out the kanji as Murai-san unfolds it and holds it up for me to see.

"A Shinsengumi banner..."

(OOC: *waves* Hi everyone!")