20:45] *** “hajime” signed off at Mon Jan 31 20:45:09 2005.
[20:47] hajime: The rooster crows, it’s still a little dark but… I shake her slightly… “Hide… Wake up…”
[20:48] hide: Waking up, blinking… “Is it morning already?” I move a little closer to him. “But I do like waking up with you,” I say, sleepily.
[20:50] hajime: “Ah you do?” Smiling at her I pull the covers up, to cover both our faces. “I particularly do not like waking up with you.” *smirk*
[20:52] SafetyGirl0: “Mmmm…. oh really?” Not believing him a -bit-, I put one arm over him and snuggle closer, keeping my eyes closed but smiling.
[20:54] hajime: “You onna… are too -confident-. I shall need to teach you a lesson -soon-.” I press her head towards my chest and stroke her hair. “You’ll get a cold if you keep sleeping in naked…”
[20:56] hide: “Too confident… maybe.” I smile, and then I realize … “I feel asleep before dressing, I think?” Ah, I was -tired-. “I’m not cold now, though…” Nice warm Hajime…
[20:59] hajime: “Bah! You are getting spoiled…” Stands up abruptly and picks her up. “Get dressed… We didn’t eat anything last night and I’m sure you’re starving.” Putting her down, I grab a fresh yukata for myself. (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/34ClothesForRyokan.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/34ClothesForRyokan.jpg
[21:00] hide: A little surprised that he gets up so quickly… “Breakfast would be nice.” Maybe. I take a yukuta, and then dig through my luggage, finding a comb and a ribbon, trying to look -presentable-
[21:02] hajime: Chuckling a bit… She -is- a woman after all… But I just find the whole affair of trying to beautify oneself quite funny. “It’s too bad you weren’t born a man Hide…” Yes that’s right.. We don’t have to go through all the hassle of dressing…
[21:03] hide: “A man?” I make a face. “No, thank you, a few weeks of dressing as one was enough for me.” Done, I smile at him. “Breakfast, then?”
[21:05] hajime: “Oh really?” Stepping up right in front of her… “Could the real reason be this?” Holding her face with both my hands I kiss her hard and deep… but brief.. Not stopping back to look at her I open the shoji door and wait out in the hall.
[21:06] hide: That kiss…. -now- I’m awake. I laugh a little to myself as I leave the room and follow him down the hall.
[21:10] hajime: There’s not much people yet… Picking a spot by the window, I watch outside (Link: http://www.g6csy.net/sunrises/sun-53.jpg)http://www.g6csy.net/sunrises/sun-53.jpg … “Do you remember what I told you before about the morning?”
[21:12] hide: “Before?” Ah… my mind blanks.
[21:13] hajime: Chuckling a bit, I take her hand. “Ah… you have a very selective memory then… Let me repeat… red in morning.. Sailors warning. ” I smile triumphantly…
[21:14] hide: “Oh yes -that-… ” Why did I think that was sunset? I squeeze his hand and laugh a little…
[21:15] hajime: “Hmmm… So it will be raining later. A bad sign?” I shake my head a little. “The food should come soon..Since we didn’t have any dinner last night… I expect you to eat a -lot-.”
[21:17] hide: “Rain is not -bad-… ” I say. “At least it is after we have traveled… and as for breakfast, I will eat.”
[21:20] hajime: “The rain is always welcome for farmers… That’s what Kondou-san used to say… But rain never comes when I want it to.” Letting go of her hand, I watch the scene again and frown. “I might be quite superstitious after all… You won’t leave me right? Even if you or as you say your sister gets married to Souji soon.”
[21:22] hide: “No… I won’t leave you. I told you that a long time ago…” I look down, then back at him. “You are the one -I- need, the one -I- love,” I say, quietly. “My sister… that is her life. Not mine. Mine is with you.”
[21:26] hajime: “It’s just hard to see you there.. It’s you and yet it’s not you. I just wish I knew who it was when we first met. It’s confusing…” I would’ve rambled on but it’s good I got interrupted with the waiter serving some appetizers. (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/16ApatizersLg.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/16ApatizersLg.jpg I frown a bit… Here in Kyoto dessert and appetizers all seem to be -sweet- and that only reminds me of Souji. I sigh and absent mindedly take an olive… that too is sweet.
[21:30] hide: “I know… ” I think of stabbing the writer later. “But here, it has been and always will be me… ” How to make him understand…. I look at the food they brought… Kyoto food! I take a bite… I suppose I am no longer so accustomed to sweet breakfasts.
[21:33] hajime: The waiter comes with another tray… Thankfully it is something rather bland, more to my taste.. bitter and bland… “There’s some crab rolls (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/17CrabRollsLg.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/17CrabRollsLg.jpg and some sea breem (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/18PieceOfSeaBreemLg.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/18PieceOfSeaBreemLg.jpg ” I pick on the food and watch again outside. I should talk to her more but I’m not sure what to say.
[21:34] hajime: After picking… I ask for some pickles… “umeboshi and some daikon and cucumber please…” the waiter comes back (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/21Pickels.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/21Pickels.jpg
[21:35] hide: I take a crab roll and pick at it a little. “Last night… what was the why you asked me?” He seems … distracted this morning. I know Kyoto holds heavy memories for both of us but him especially….
[21:38] hajime: “Eiji I think likes umeboshi… Remind me to buy some more before we leave Kyoto.” Chuckling a little, I look back at her. She just asked me a question I think, I didn’t really hear it. “Kizu a month ago told me about this ‘tv show’ she saw held in Japan… I think it was America’s top model. Apparently they hated umeboshi.”
[21:41] hide: He talks about Eiji… talking about his family is rare. And he avoided my question. “Hated umeboshi? If they were foreigners… maybe they don’t have food like that in the west?” I eat some of the crab roll, but I don’t taste it.
[21:43] hajime: “Yes foreigners…” Shaking my head a bit… I trake a chopstick and put some of the purple pickle on her plate. “Although I don’t understand why a young boy would like -this-. It’s bitter and sour at the same time. How’s the crab roll?”
[21:45] hide: “Children sometimes develop a taste for odd things,” I say, smiling. “The crab roll… it is good,” and I take some of the umeboshi.
[21:47] hajime: I think I steered our conversation again into something -inconvenient-. “Sumanai… I shouldn’t be talking about my boys right about now.” Yes it must pain her that I’m talking about my children with Tokio. Perhaps that’s why she’s being rather reserved.
[21:50] hide: “No… they are a part of your life… ” I look at him. Tokio… I can’t talk about her. I can’t understand what it is I feel there… but the boys… that’s different. “Always… I would like to know more, if you don’t mind telling me.”
[21:54] hajime: I smile a bit happily just thinking about them… “Well let’s see Eiji I’m sure you know is adopted.. He had quite a past and I think he’s doing rather well… Well behaved than my other little rascals… Tsutomu is rather quiet with little horns that pops up now and then when he’s not crying.. He’s afraid of the dark I think… And then there’s Tsuyoshi who’s a slave to Tsutomu’s evil plans.. Tsuyoshi though, reminds me of myself… and Tsutomu is like my brother Hiroaki… shrewd…” Chuckling a bit at the paradoxes… “Although now I think I’ve passed nii-san when it comes to opportunistic manhandling.” I watch her carefully in between my light chuckles, just to make sure.
[21:58] hide: I smile, watching him talk about his boys. “Ah, yes, I knew about Eiji – the writer lets me read the manga, you know…” poor boy… “I’m glad he’s doing well… and the other two… so if Tsuyoshi reminds you of yourself, does that mean that you weren’t the trouble-maker?”
[22:01] hajime: “Ah… yes when I was -younger-. The story kind of changed when chichi died… I was something like Sano back then, so my family hates me. I didn’t help nii-san at all.” *shrugs and takes the soup from the waiter.(Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/17SoupLg.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/17SoupLg.jpg . “You must finish this soup. It is the most expensive thing here… Do you recognize it?”
[22:04] hide: Ah… family. “I was always so much older than my brothers… so I’ve always been a fussing big sister,” I laugh a little, and inspect the soup. “It looks familliar… smells like I should know it…” I take a sip of it. “Hmmm… tell me?”
[22:08] hajime: *raises eyebrows* “It’s matsatake mushrooms.. they’re really not yet in season, so as you can see it is rather small and -green-. The prices should go down by summer or early fall though. Kizu tells me they go for around 70-120 USD.” Not that I know what that USD means… “I should really teach you more about Japan and Kyoto. You act like a stranger to it.. probably because you were catered to the rest of your life.” *chuckles*
[22:10] hide: “No, no… it is not that…” I laugh. “It is Safety… I keep -telling- her to do more reseach so I don’t appear so -clueless-…” I shake my head. “But yes, the soup is quite good.” I finish mine – really the best thing so far this morning.
[22:12] hajime: Ah yes your writer… *shakes head* I should gatotsu her or something… If only you weren’t tied to her… or the itachi or hide… *chuckles and narrows eyes* I really would put an end to her right about now…
[22:14] hide: “I shall -try- to keep her in line,” I say, quietly. It is her fault… no. “And you’re the one that bought her those little kitty-shaped snacks…”
[22:16] hajime: Hmmm… Kizu thought it would be a good idea. *shrugs* Although, I -really- shouldn’t be listening to my writer either. I shall have to put an end to her soon also. *chuckles, wondering why he is so bloodthirsty right about now*
[22:22] hide: “Oh -writers-….” I shake my head. “Never mind them, ne?” I smile across the table at him. “Really… it is -good- to be here with you, Hajime. Out.”
[22:24] hajime: The waiter comes for dessert… (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/20CustardWithFishLg.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/20CustardWithFishLg.jpg Taking a fork I slice it in half and take my piece and leave the rest for Hide. “Kyoto is known for different textures in food and mixing things… This one is custard – sweet and the bottom is fish – salty… I wonder why you kyoto folks likes to do this…”
[22:27] hide: “Us Kyoto folks?” I grin, before taking a bite. “We do it because it is good… the mixes… the contrasts. It brings out the best in both, I think.”
[22:29] hajime: Watching her eat dessert, her remarks suddenly strikes something very apparent in our relationship. Contrasts… “I wonder if… it blends well…” But the real question is if -we- blend well. Settling my chin on both my fist, I frown. “Kizu showed me safety’s letter today… What were you writing about?”
[22:32] hide: “I was right she shows or tells you everything….” I say. “It was… thoughts I was having… on the future.” I smile, and look at him.
[22:34] hajime: Chuckling a bit… “We’ve been -friends- for a long time… Although sometimes I think she’s got this -thing- for me… ” I start laughing a bit and shake my head. “You’ll have to forgive that ahou… But… your thoughts on the future… Hmmm… You are an impeccable optimist… and I, a pessimist. ” smiles sadly. “I saw the song in the journal. Why’d you pick that?”
[22:39] hide: “Optimist? Maybe… but maybe it’s another contrast? Your …. pessimism keeps me grounded sometimes, I think.” I reach across the table to touch his hand… “That song… is more of what I felt a couple of weeks ago…. in their time.” Time is different here, I think. “There is another song I found today… my writer just has bad taste in music. It’s all very -dark-… I should probably come raid your writer’s collection.”
[22:42] hajime: “No… I don’t want -my- pessimism to affect you. It’s more of a pain actually, makes you think of the worst scenario and plan accordingly, and sometimes.. prematurely…” Taking her hand, I look straight at her. “What did I do to you last week? Tell me.”
[22:43] hajime: Or.. I mean a few days ago.. whenever…
[22:43] hajime: i mean.. aside from… you know.
[22:44] hide: “Then you shall have to let my optimism effect you more then?” I wonder… his talk abot planning and scenarios sounds like the writer… “Last week… no, it’s been over two weeks in their time… when you left.” I hold a little tighter to his hand.
[22:46] hajime: “Yes… I need that… And…” I frown. “I need you to keep me sane. Quite a chore ne?” smiling sheepishly i play with her hand. I really don’t want to go just yet but. “You want to go meet your brothers? You must miss them.”
[22:50] hide: “Not a chore… I… like that we both give -something- to each other, that maybe we never know we needed?” I look for a long moment into his eyes… I could get lost, I think… but then, oh yes… why we came here. “I would like to see them… but a little more time with you? I just like… to spend time with you.” I smile. “And I will miss you while I’m there.”
[22:54] hajime: “Good.. then at least we should take a walk outside… Shake off all that food -pigged- out on.” I smirk and stand up, pulling her. I’ll worry about paying later. I’m not leaving here anyway. “There’s a nice river out at the back.” Pulling on her hand tighter, I lead us outside. (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/25BlurryWaterwheels.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/25BlurryWaterwheels.jpg
[22:57] hide: Following after him… my hand tightly in his. “Ah, this is a nice place….” I stand for a minute, looking at the scene, them up at him.
[22:59] hajime: I pull her closer… “Rivers… they’re long… they wind… but usually they’re calm and continuous.” I pause for a long moment. “I sound like Yamanami…” frowns… “Did you tell your brothers I am married?”
[23:02] hide: Yamanami… I smile a little at the memory of that man, and stay close to Hajime as we walk. “No… I did not tell them that you were married.” It would not be a thing to just -say-.
[23:04] hajime: Hmmm… That’s good I guess. So you mean I can walk in there and pretend I’m courting you? *chuckles and pulls them behind a tree and embraces her*
[23:06] hide: I put my arms around him and hold him close. “If you would wish… yes.” I smile up at him. A dream… a crazy dream to be with him… but I have my -reasons- to hope.
[23:07] hajime: Kissing her forehead… I chuckles… “I could do -that-… Or maybe I’ll just be my -impatient- self and climb your window and demand things of you…” Kami-sama… she does drive me insane.
[23:08] hide: “Ah… sneak into my room late at night and I shall have to be -quiet- again?” I grin.
[23:11] hajime: “Hmmm you don’t have to be…” *smirks* “I wouldn’t mind… Whatever happens… happens…” It’s quite a frightening thought to be caught in that kind of act. But in this I’ve always been sure of what to do. The only danger has always been my -own- mind but other people… “I don’t care Hide… If you told me you were sure. I wouldn’t care about -others-.”
[23:15] hide: “Then.. from now on… I will be quiet when I -want- to be quiet…” I rest my head on his chest. “I am sure. I want to be open with you… because I want to be with you.” For always.
[23:20] hajime: I’m not sure if she realizes how heavy the question was. Or what it really meant. So I’ll not place too much weight on her answer right now. She’s here for now and that’s what important. We’ll just have to see.. “Be quiet then…” I smile and kiss her forehead again. “The carriage will be here soon. I’m not coming with you. It would be hard to explain to your brothers why we came together. but I will drop by soon.”
[23:23] hide: “Soon?” Both to the carriage and him dropping by. “Then… I shall need to get my things together… but first… a little more time with you here by this river?” I hold him tight. I will -miss- him… even if for a couple of days.
[23:25] hajime: Pulling her down, I rest my back towards the tree. “I’ll take you out tonight… There’s a play that I’m sure being the unsocial creature that you are… You haven’t seen yet.” smirking a bit… “And there are a few places I have to visit like Shimabara.”
[23:27] hajime: ah… gome ne… i forgot the play does not start till tomorrow.. *chuckles* so for tonight i’ll drop by and say hello to your brothers…
[23:28] hide: I sit next to him, my head aganist his shoulder. “A play? I shall look forward to that… ” But for the comment about Shimabara I swat his arm. “Feh. Shimabara.”
[23:30] hajime: Hmm? *quirks eyebrow* You do know that if I was going to do something -inappropriate- there… I’d never tell you ne? *chuckles* But you always seem to find out about the Itachi… *laughs* I should visit the Aoiya too now that you’ve reminded me.
[23:31] hide: “The itachi -tells-…” I laugh. When I can catch her. Silly bouncing girl. “and she is in Kyoto, chasing after her Aoshi-sama and getting distracted …”
[23:32] hajime: Ah… Then she needs someone chasing after her… *shakes head*
[23:34] hide: “We shall see.” I’ve -tried- talking to her. She just tilts her head and looks at me, like a little bird. “But she has bigger things to worry about.”
[23:37] hajime: *chuckles* It was very fortunate of you to have your writer, keeping the itachi… Otherwise you’d never believe that I’m just after her for -fun-. *smirks* But I still want her to make tough decisions as Okashira… So even if you’re here… You’ll have to forgive me if I choose to associate with her in the future. And as for your sister… *frowns and holds her hand tightly* Just make sure you keep me sane…
[23:40] hide: “Fun?” I raise my eyebrows but, I’m amused. “Yes, glad she kept her as well. “As for my sister, I will… however I can… keep you sane. It is all I can do.” I hold tightly to his hand and look to the river. No… I can’t keep focusing on that… “Just come back to me?”
[23:44] hajime: I can’t answer her… I’m not sure what to do because there’s like a rock in my throat so I just bury my head into her neck. I don’t want to lose her.. and I frown just a bit deeper and bury my face deeper into her yukata.
[23:48] hide: I put my arms around him and hold him close… sometimes there’s nothing to say…. and I can only take what I can from being -with- him. “I love you, Hajime,” I whispher.
[23:52] hajime: I hate having fits… Not like this… Whatever happens.. happens… And this isn’t what I want her to see so I raise my head and remove her arms. “I won’t ruin it… Don’t worry.” Standing up, I pull her. “Your carriage, you’ll be late… Just keep me informed what happens at your house. use that journal you made… I’ll let you know what happens in mine.”
[23:55] hide: Touching his face, I smile at him. “Yes… I will. And I shall see you soon?”
[23:58] hajime: “in the journal world yes… Kizu will be busy tomorrow so I might not be able to climb your window anytime soon.” I take her back to our room and take out her baggages and wasabi. “Oh… I didn’t get to use this.. but your brother might want it.” I hand her the aphrodisiac. “I’ll be staying here so you know where to find me, if there’s any problems. leave a note though because i’ll be on the road.”
[00:01] hide: “My writer will be out as well tomorrow.” While we’re still in the room I pull him down for a kiss… “I will look forward to seeing you in journals, then…. and leave window-climbing for another day.” I smile at that. No… not just for -that- … anytime to be with him.
[00:03] hajime: “Hai hai..” Leading her outside, the carriage is there and I hand the bags to the driver. “Take care…” I whisper and help her up, then go back from where we came (OOC: exit wolf.. journals tomorrow. LOL)
[00:03] hide: Getting in the carriage I look back out at him until we turn on the road that leads to Mibu. (end scene)