Rurouni Kenshin Fan Fiction ❯ A Tale of the Meiji ❯ A Tale of the Meiji ( One-Shot )

Originally this piece wasn't meant to be connected at all to Rurouni Kenshin, just something in that `feel' or atmosphere. As I began to write and revise I realized that it sounded like something I could go about to mold into something RK related. And so, Tsubame steals the spotlight… I hope you all like it, I had a lot of fun writing it! ^_^

 

A Tale of the Meiji

 

Tsubame gave an exasperated sigh as she scuffed as fast as her tight kimono would allow along through the dusty streets of Tokyo. She was heading for the restaurant district near the docks. A piece of her straight, russet colored, flyaway hair fell out of her messy bun and into her deep brown eyes. She scowled as she re-adjusted her hair for the umpteenth time that day. To make matters worse her kimono pulled at her shoulders weighing her down and threatening to topple her into the muddy ditch that skirted the road.

The kimono itself, which included the patterned outer robe, the cream colored inner robe and the silk shirt and pants under the inner robe weighed at least twenty pounds and that was without the five-foot long obi ( a long sash used to hold kimono together ) that was wrapped around her waist and tied at her back.

To top off her challenging outfit, her tall, double-heeled wooden shoes designed to keep her out of the mud were doing quite the opposite. They made it so hard to balance that Tsubame was constantly tripping over them on the tiniest imperfection in the road's surface. She had somehow managed to stay out of the mud, but she feared that sooner or later she was going to fall on her face and wreck her kimono.

She wished that she had one of those fancy wrist-clocks that the Europeans who visited Japan had these days. It would have made everything so much easier and she wouldn't have been late to her first day. She would just have to do without it for now; maybe if she made enough money working, she could save up for one.

Grimacing as her ankle gave way, she toppled over onto her backside with a muffled bump. Tsubame slipped her melancholy shoe back on, mentally scolding herself for not concentrating on the road. As she huffed, a shadow fell across her figure and she looked up to find a friendly-looking young man offering out his hand.

Tsubame took the hand and stood as elegantly as she could, a blush finding its way across her cheeks. She must have looked very awkward, a young woman in a kimono sitting on the ground in the middle of the walkway fiddling with her shoe. Mortified at her own embarrassing actions, she lowered her eyes and managed to force out a thank you.

“Pardon me for my rudeness,” She said, trying not to make eye contact for fear of widening the blush. The young man smiled and told her not to worry about it. He had light hair, the color of maple trees in the Autumn and piecing blue eyes. The strangest thing about the man was his face; a cross-shaped scar ran across his right cheek from temple to chin. “This one hopes that you are well-“ He paused, searching for something to call her.

“Sanjo Tsubame,” She said, bowing. “Thank you very much for you're your kindness.” He cocked his head to one side, smiling, “You're very welcome, Sanjo-dono.”

“I'm sorry,” She said, afraid that she had again done the man a rudeness, “May I ask your name?” The man, just smiled that mysterious smile of his and said, “This one is but a ruroni, Sanjo-dono. Just a ruroni.” And with that the strange man turned to wind his way through the bustling street and disappear into the sea of people in which he had come. Tsubame watched him as he went, noticing suddenly the sword strapped to his waist. In this day an age, you either had to be very cocky or a government official to carry a sword, neither of which seemed to fit the man she had just conversed with.

What a different and unusual man…She thought to herself. Smiling thoughtfully now, she kept walking, keeping in mind that she had to be at the restaurant where she was to start her work before the lunch rush began.

She made her way through the harbor area, marveling at all the different types of people there were. There were sailors and laborers with their coarse way of talking, well-dressed European business-men on trips with their wives, merchants yelling out goods and prices and even a stray child or two who had managed to escape the prison of their parent's arms.

Japan was so different now than it had been only ten years back; the difference between 1878 and 1868 seemed like centuries. In the period of time before 1868 there had been a struggle for power between the Shogun, the ruling leader at the time, and the Emperor. This escaladed into a full-fledged war called the Revolution. It was fought to stop the corruption and lies of the government and it eventually caused the death of the Bakumatsu period. The war ended in 1868 with the dawning of a new era, an era of life, new discoveries, and different people from all over the world. This was the Meiji era.

Tsubame rounded the corner of the last street and spotted the restaurant up ahead. Standing in front of the sign, she stood in silence for a moment, taking it all in. The building was in the traditional Japanese style with dark, wooden walls, slitted cloth drapes, and Japanese decoration. The name of the restaurant, Akabeko, was written on the sign above the door.

Taking a deep breath she stepped up to the rice paper doors covered in traditional Japanese ink painting depicting two geishas dancing. She slid open the doors and made her way through the restaurant to the back, where she had been told to meet the owner of Akabeko.

She didn't realize how hard her heart was beating against her ribs, or that her hands had become hot and sweaty until she reached the rice paper door separating her from her new employer. What if he's very strict and I say something horribly wrong? What if there was a mistake and I'm the wrong girl? Nervous thoughts whizzed through her brain like a blender on high speed.

Tsubame willed herself to slide open the menacing door, leaving her sandals outside. She bowed as soon as she entered, announcing her arrival, “Ohayou gazaimasu.” She said, bowing. Turning around she closed the screen door and then looked up. There was no man in the room; instead an aged woman far past her prime was sitting at an old desk writing.

Tsubame understood her mistake at once and apologized to the woman, who didn't seem to notice, “Gomen, I am very sorry for my rudeness!' The woman looked up and surveyed the girl, who was wringing her hands nervously. “Stop fidgeting girl, I want to get a good look at you.” The woman said. Her tone was commanding, but it was also kindly and had a hint of laughter that escaped through her lopsided smile.

Tsubame stopped moving at once and stood stock still, waiting for the woman to slap her on the hand and scold her for her rudeness. Instead the old women looked her up and down and said to Tsubame, “You'll do. You can start today on bussing the tables. Tae-san will teach you how.” At this she called out in a booming voice that echoed through the restaurant, “TAE!!”

A young woman that looked to be in her early twenties hurried into the room. Tsubame noticed that she didn't bother to bow, but she did take off her shoes. “What is it Grandmother-san? I was busy with a customer.”

Tsubame watched open-mouthed as the two women interacted. This mannerism was different from anything she had ever encountered before. Traditional Japanese manners preached that you should always be respectable to your elders and address them accordingly. This meant bowing, being quiet, not talking until you were spoken to, ect… This communication was totally different, a hybrid between traditional manners and how the Europeans acted. She liked it.

Grandmother-san, as Tsubame had decided to call her, answered, “The customers can wait Tae, I need you to show Tsubame-chan around.” Tae turned to look at the bewildered Tsubame, just noticing someone besides her and Grandmother-san was in the room.

Placing her hands on her hips and squinting her eyes at Tsubame she said, “Alright, let's get started.” Smiling at Tsubame kindly she threw the rag at her, “Come on Tsubame-chan, you heard me, we don't have all day, there are customers waiting!” Tsubame sprang up as the rag hit her in the face and hurried to follow Tae-san's retreating back.

Remembering her manners she bowed to Grandmother-san who smiled and waved her away. Hurrying after Tae-san, she took another deep breath and for the first time since she entered the Akabeko, she smiled. A breath of a new age; the Meiji era.

 

Japanese Glossary

 

Arigato - thank you

 

-San - used like Ms, Mrs. or Mr.

 

-Chan - used for young children under eighteen, equivalent to `Miss'

 

-Dono-even more respectable than -san

 

Kimono - a traditional dress-like garment worn by Japanese women

 

Shogun - military and political leader of Japan

 

Emperor - political leader of Japan

 

Meiji Era - the era after the war between the shogunate and the emperor from 1868 to 1912. This era ended the feudalistic rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate.

 

Geisha - a female entertainer trained in dancing, music and/or singing

 

Ohayou gazaimasu - `Good morning', used when addressing a stranger or someone with high stature

 

Gomen - I'm sorry

 

Ruroni vs. Rurouni- A ruroni is the actual term referring to a wanderer of sorts, the word rurouni was actually just an altered version of ruroni used by the writer of Rurouni Kenshin, Nobuhiro Watsuke