Date: 2009-02-22 22:28 Subject: DVD commentary 2 Security: Public Tags: meme, pmk

Commentary requested by that_oneill_guy for Different Strokes

Tetsu spends a substantial portion of the PMK anime wanting to fight with a sword, and being told why he can't - of course, when it is necessary for him to wield a blade, the circumstances are completely unexpected and Tetsu realizes what his brother and Okita (and Hijikata) were trying to tell him.
I don't think Tetsu and Suzu are "diff'rent folks" - in fact, to paraphrase one of my favourite books, there but for the grace of whatever circumstances - upbringing, older brother, friends, a higher power dumb luck - goes Tetsu through the streets with the gory head of his master tightly clutched to his chest.

Sometimes Tetsu thinks that the only reason he is being kept around is for entertainment value, as Shinpachi, Heisuke and Sano are again reduced to fits of teary laughter after an incident involving freshly mopped floors, spilled tea, and an eye-level hole in the sliding paper door.

Someday, if my imagination gets the better of me, I may tell the story of that particular incident. Suffice to say that for once, Shinpachi wasn't the one who started it and left Tetsu to take the rap.

Their main source of amusement remains his regular requests for a sword.

Up till now, Hijikata’s usual response to his impassioned appeals has been a grunt without taking his eyes off the paper in front of him; if the Fukuchou is in a tolerant mood, he will dismiss his page with a summary wave of his hand. If Tetsu has chosen a bad moment (which is increasingly frequent nowadays) to ask, his answer will be another round of laundry or cleaning out the pigpen, “to train you up so you can actually lift a sword”.

Tetsu has decided against reminding the Fukuchou today after sensing the waves of disapproval radiating from the man even before he has approached within six feet of him, consequent to another perceived lapse in his pagely duties, though why on earth a Shinsengumi recruit should be expected to be able to categorise in chronological order the works of the major haiku poets is quite beyond him.

Just any Shinsengumi recruit would be expected to know the sword better than the pen, but library duties take precedence for Hijikata's page, especially when his master is reading (and composing) poetry to relieve the stress of the escalation of Choshu-Bakufu hostilities.

Okita-san has kindly given him a holiday to get him out of the house (and he suspects, out of Hijikata's way), so Tetsu ambles down to the market, whistling and not looking for anyone in particular.

Suzu is sitting on the steps of a public house, as he often seems to be found nowadays. Tetsu has only glimpsed his master from a distance: from the coldly commanding profile of the man’s face, and Suzu’s effusive admiration for his Yoshida-sensei, Tetsu does not think he is the sort of man to indulge in drink, but then times are bad for most masterless samurai. Perhaps there might be an opening for Yoshida-sensei in the Shinsengumi, and Tetsu would have a companion, but he has been unusually tactful about the matter thus far, and only mentions this time that perhaps Suzu would like to come with him around the stalls while waiting for his master.

Tetsu is in luck - Suzu has been informed by Yoshida-sensei that as this Choshu meeting (to discuss measures to counteract the increasing threat posed by the Shinsengumi, though Suzu does not need to know that) will take longer than usual, he is free to go where he wants, as long he returns to the pub by mid-day. Of course, Suzu seldom wants to go anywhere other than with his master.

Surprisingly, Suzu gets to his feet at once, and Tetsu’s eye is drawn, as always, to the small sword which never leaves Suzu’s side.

Tetsu buys them both a snack and they walk along, chatting amiably, until they spot a particularly handsome blade on display in a shop window.

“I know this is a bit awkward, but why doesn’t your master allow you to carry a sword?”

Tetsu has often asked himself this and never found a satisfactory answer.

“Because I’m not big enough.”

Keep telling yourself that, Tetsu, and they'll believe you too.

Suzu frowns, looking at the shorter boy appraisingly.

“You’re my age, and you’ll catch up soon, so shouldn't the page of a samurai be outfitted in appropriate fashion? After all, you must have started your training by now.”

Tetsu chooses that moment to take a large bite of his taiyaki, so his reply is muffled by red-bean paste; he swallows and changes the subject to the merits of their respective masters, which Suzu is only too happy to elaborate on.

During the course of which he asks if Suzu is going to finish the rest of *his* taiyaki. (Suzu: Oh, you can have it. I'm eating with Sensei soon.)

The longer he listens, the more he wishes that their places were exchanged, or at least that he were Yoshida-sensei’s page as well: Hijikata and Suzu’s sensei appear to be cut from the same cloth – believers in the ideals of bushido, able to intimidate enemies with a look or word before cutting them down effortlessly, and as exacting of themselves as those who serve them.

Tetsu is slightly mistaken in the last respect: Yoshida asks more of himself than from those around him, and they all know it.

The difference is that Hijikata will never trust him with as much responsibility, and he knows that Suzu would not want to share.

Suddenly, Suzu smiles and jumps up from the steps where they have been sitting, and Tetsu waves goodbye to his friend as Suzu runs to join the solitary figure in the distance.

Suzu doesn't look back. Yoshida does; if Tetsu had seen the look on his face, he would have found the epithet used for his master to be equally appropriate for Suzu's.

When Tetsu reaches the Shinsengumi compound, it is time for the Fukuchou’s afternoon tea. He sets the tray carefully before Hijikata, waiting on his knees for the signal for dismissal, and looks up when the Fukuchou makes a surprised sound.

“This is actually drinkable, Tetsu-kun. At least you’re taking your duties more seriously now.”

If he hadn't remembered that a page is obliged to maintain his poise no matter what his master calls him, he would have fallen over at that ~kun.

Tetsu bows and withdraws, remembering to keep his back to the door, when he is arrested by Hijikata’s casual voice.

“Oh, by the way, starting tomorrow you can join the men in their training sessions, but I expect you to keep to the schedule that Okita-san has drawn up for you.”

At the last moment, Tetsu recalls where he is and refrains from laughing and jumping Hijikata, contenting himself with the wide grin spreading across his face and a happy bow of assent, as he shouts,

“Hai, Fukuchou! You won’t regret this!”

“Do not give me any reason to do so.”

He's already starting to regret it, but what can one do, with such an eager recruit? Especially when someone casually mentioned that the piglet has developed the habit of following Tetsu (who feeds him) "everywhere, and I mean *everywhere*, Hijikata-san - and you know I couldn't *possibly* keep an eye on him at all times, being the First Captain..."

As Tetsu half-skips down the corridor to his brother’s quarters, he does not realize that he has forgotten to ask about the sword.