Chapter 47: Silver Soul (Earth Chapter)

“Miss Okakura, I’m sorry—are we troubling you?” Shinpachi asked anxiously.

“It’s nothing. Those guys have never liked me. Even without you, they’d have found an excuse to bother me,” Okakura Take replied nonchalantly.

“It’s tough being the leader; subordinates never listen,” Kagura remarked.

“That’s right, Kagura-chan,” Okakura Take replied with a laugh.

“All right, let’s not worry about that. Let’s keep eating.” Okakura Take set the tone by sitting down first, and Shinpachi and Kagura followed. Gintoki took the last seat beside Okakura Take.

While Shinpachi and Kagura happily resumed their meal across from them, Gintoki seemed to have lost his earlier enthusiasm for snatching food.

“The path you chose is a difficult one,” Gintoki said quietly, his voice low enough that only Okakura Take could hear.

She glanced at him in surprise, then smiled. “But the pay is good.”

“Do you always have to endure so much?” Gintoki asked.

“Not always. I fight back sometimes. But today, when you and your friends helped me teach those guys a lesson, I was even happier,” she said.

“I see.” Gintoki let out a soft laugh, as if relieved. “Kagura was right—being a leader isn’t easy. If you ever run into trouble, you can always consult me, a successful leader. After all, my two subordinates respect me greatly.”

“All right, next time I’ll come to you for advice, President Gintoki,” Okakura Take replied, putting extra emphasis on ‘President.’

The fighting prowess of the Odd Jobs trio was astonishing; they managed to eat half the kitchen’s supplies. But the kitchen staff were delighted, feeling their culinary skills had been appreciated. Even when Shinpachi asked to pack up leftovers, they happily obliged, filling a large food box for him.

Shinpachi really does have the air of a housewife, Okakura Take thought.

When lunch break ended, Okakura Take handed the Odd Jobs trio over to the logistics department, assigning them to work.

The trio changed into cleaning uniforms, donned masks, and prepared to begin.

“Gin-san, Kagura, Shinpachi-kun, do your best! I’m heading back to work,” Okakura Take said.

“Don’t worry, we’ll finish all the tasks you’ve assigned us, Chief,” Gintoki replied lazily, mop in hand.

Okakura Take thought to herself, Actually, you’re the one I trust the least.

She decided she’d better give instructions to Shinpachi. She waved him over, and he approached, puzzled.

“Is there something else, Miss Okakura?”

“Listen, Shinpachi-kun. There’s an Amanto in the logistics department who looks like a pig. Whatever you do, don’t provoke him. He’s the son of a powerful noble from the Fakaia planet. If you see someone not in uniform, surrounded by beautiful women, that’s him. Just avoid trouble with him, and you’ll be fine here,” Okakura Take instructed. The logistics department only had that one difficult character; the rest were manageable.

“Understood, Miss Okakura, we’ll be careful.”

“Payment is daily. Once you finish cleaning, you’ll get your money. I’m off. Do your best.”

“Gin-san, Kagura-chan, goodbye,” she said, bidding farewell to the two troublemakers after advising Shinpachi.

“Goodbye! If you could bring me a cake after work, that would be perfect,” Gintoki chimed in.

“Ah, Gin-chan, you’re sneaky! I want a basket of vinegar kelp too!” Kagura added.

“Sorry, none of those will be coming your way. Get to work, both of you,” Okakura Take said, then left.

Back in the office, Okakura Take asked Orsay, “What’s on the schedule this afternoon?”

Orsay consulted the calendar. “Minister Okakura, there’s a shogunate-hosted meeting this afternoon and a dinner engagement this evening.”

“I see.” Okakura Take stood and walked to the full-length mirror. After a busy morning, her clothes were a bit disheveled and needed straightening.

A silver-gray high-collared coat, layered over a white shirt and gray tie, with gray trousers and pointed leather boots—Okakura Take inspected her reflection.

Good. Ready to go. She couldn’t afford to overlook any detail when dealing with those people.

“My car is ready, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yes,” Orsay replied.

“Then let’s go.”

The afternoon meeting was held at the National Diet Building, focused on customs issues.

Earth no longer held absolute autonomy; the main interstellar transit hubs were all built and controlled by the Amanto. Though the shogunate was officially hosting the meeting tonight, real power still rested with the Amanto.

Today, the attendees were all diplomats from various alien planets and leaders of major organizations.

Okakura Take smiled. There were plenty of people eager to carve up the customs business—whoever seized control could further tighten economic grip on Earth.

Such a juicy prize—many would fight for it…

Upon arrival at the Diet Building’s parking lot, Okakura Take saw it was already full; many had arrived.

After getting out of the car and heading for the main entrance, she noticed a group of men in black uniforms standing guard—the Shinsengumi. Clearly, they’d been assigned to ensure the meeting’s security.

From a distance, Yamazaki had already spotted Okakura Take. He waved at her enthusiastically, and she returned the gesture with a small wave, making Yamazaki’s face flush red.

“Yamazaki, what are you doing? Your face is as red as a monkey’s backside,” Okita asked from the side.

“Captain Okita, I saw Miss Okakura,” Yamazaki replied, barely containing his excitement.

Okita glanced in the direction Yamazaki was looking and spotted Okakura Take. “Oh, it’s that woman.”

“Ah, Miss Okakura is so beautiful and capable—she’s the perfect type,” Yamazaki sighed dreamily.

“So that’s your type, Yamazaki. But I should remind you, Vice Chief Hijikata has called your name several times already,” Okita said, eyes narrowing slyly.

“What?!” Cold sweat broke out on the back of Yamazaki’s neck.

“Yamazaki! You bastard, I’ve called you several times and you dare ignore me!” came the vice chief’s furious shout, accompanied by the cold gleam of a katana pressed to Yamazaki’s neck.

“I’m sorry, Vice Chief! I really didn’t hear you just now!” Yamazaki pleaded for mercy. The vice chief was terrifying.

“The Shogun wants okonomiyaki. Go buy it. And I’m out of cigarettes—get me a pack of Mayonaka. If you’re not back with both in ten minutes, you’ll regret it,” Hijikata said, pressing the blade closer.

Demon! Demon! Demon! Yamazaki didn’t even need to look back to know how terrifying Hijikata’s expression was right now. He dashed off to buy okonomiyaki and Mayonaka cigarettes.

“No wonder he’s called the Demon Vice Chief. Even his threats are terrifying,” Okita remarked sarcastically.

“Hmph. Lazy subordinates need to be dealt with by force,” Hijikata replied.

“Mr. Hijikata, Okita-kun, hello,” Okakura Take greeted as she approached.

“Minister Okakura, hello,” Hijikata replied.

“Hello, Minister,” said Okita.

“Thank you both for your efforts today,” Okakura Take said formally.

“It’s our duty to protect you distinguished guests,” Hijikata replied, equally diplomatic.

“Is Kondo inside?” Okakura Take asked, glancing at the building.

“Yes, the Chief will be at Chief Matsudaira’s side tonight, protecting the Shogun,” Hijikata answered.

Matsudaira? Matsudaira Katakuriko. Okakura Take recalled how many died in an assassination attempt against that man. Now she could approach him with ease.

“I see. Mr. Hijikata, Okita-kun, goodbye.”

“Minister Okakura, goodbye,” said Hijikata.

“Farewell,” said Okita.

Okakura Take entered the Diet Building.

“Hijikata-san,” Okita called.

“Hmm? What is it?” Hijikata asked.

“That woman… she reminds me a lot of you,” Okita said, smiling.

“How so?” Hijikata asked, puzzled.

“In every way. She’s the kind of person who makes you really want to—” Okita grinned, his face taking on a devilish look.

…Hijikata recognized that expression all too well—every time Okita smiled like that, he ended up getting tricked.

The meeting room was on the fifteenth floor. Okakura Take entered the elevator, and as the doors were about to close, someone strode up quickly.

“Excuse me.” The newcomer blocked the closing doors and stepped inside.

He stood motionless and immediately pulled out his phone, engrossed in it.

Okakura Take glanced at him lightly. He was tall, with ash-blond hair, a longish face, and wore gold-rimmed single-frame glasses. Most notably, his uniform closely resembled the Shinsengumi’s—but it was white.

He was from the Mimawarigumi, the shogunate’s newly established special police.

At the fifth floor, another person entered—a rather fat middle-aged man. As he squeezed in, he accidentally knocked the man’s phone from his hand.

With a soft clatter, the phone landed near Okakura Take’s feet.

“Ah, sorry, I knocked your phone down,” the middle-aged man apologized.

“It’s fine,” the man replied, bending to retrieve it—only to see that the lady in the corner had already picked it up.

Okakura Take handed him the phone. “Sir, your phone.”

He glanced at Okakura Take, a flicker of admiration in his eyes at her beauty. Then he noticed her uniform—he recognized it as the Earth Auxiliary Police Alliance.

“Thank you, miss,” he said, reaching for the phone.

“You’re welcome,” Okakura Take replied.

“Miss, I’m Sasaki Isaburo, Chief of the Mimawarigumi. Here’s my card.” He handed her a business card.

Okakura Take accepted it. It bore his name, title, a phone number, and email address. Oddly, under the email was a line: ‘Feel free to write often! o(≧v≦)o~~.’

That playful emoticon made Okakura Take sweat a little. Who would have thought a man who looked so serious would add something like that?

“Ah, nice to meet you, Mr. Sasaki. I’m Okakura Take, Minister of the Earth Auxiliary Police Alliance,” she replied, fishing out her own card and giving it to him.

Sasaki took the card and noted it didn’t have an email address.

“Miss Okakura, may I have your email address? I prefer communicating that way,” he said, adjusting his glasses.

A bit forceful, Okakura Take thought, but it never hurt to know more people, so she gave him her email.

Sasaki quickly entered her address into his phone at a speed that surprised her.

It took Okakura Take several seconds to save his address in return.

“Done. From now on, we’re email friends,” Sasaki said, showing her his screen.

On the screen, her contact name was ‘Take-chan.’

…Okakura Take was speechless. They’d just met, yet while he’d addressed her formally in conversation, he’d labeled her ‘Take-chan’ in his contacts.

Just then, her phone chimed.

[Take-chan, from today we’re email friends—so happy~(≧▽≦)/~
Saburo.]

…Why? She was standing right here—why bother with a message?

She was about to say something when her phone buzzed again.

[What did you put as my nickname? I’m curious (⊙o⊙).
Saburo.]

Okakura Take gave up trying to speak and replied by email.

[Mr. Sasaki, I’m standing right next to you. Isn’t it troublesome to send emails like this?
Okakura Take.]

She’d barely sent it when her phone chimed again.

So fast… She’d only just sent it.

[Because I’m happy to have a new email friend. From your message, I can tell you probably saved me as ‘Sasaki Isaburo.’ I think it’s fine if email nicknames are a bit more friendly, hehe.
Saburo.]

He’d guessed right—she’d saved him as ‘Sasaki Isaburo.’

As Okakura Take was about to type a reply, the elevator reached the fifteenth floor.

“Miss Okakura, shall we go in together?” Sasaki invited, exuding an elite manner.

“All right, let’s go, Mr. Sasaki,” she replied with a smile.

After the middle-aged man exited, they left the elevator one after the other.

“Miss Okakura, what are your thoughts on today’s meeting?” Sasaki asked.

She was just tall enough to reach his shoulder. Tilting her head slightly, Okakura Take answered, “No particular thoughts. I’m just here to see the excitement—maybe I’ll even fall asleep.”

“I feel the same. I’m just here to make up the numbers,” Sasaki replied.

They reached the meeting room, where a Mimawarigumi officer in white opened the door for them.

Looking around, Okakura Take realized there were no Shinsengumi inside—only Mimawarigumi.

Shinsengumi guarded the outside, Mimawarigumi the inside…

Two forces pulling the strings behind the shogunate’s dying beast.

The Hitotsubashi faction and the Nanki faction.