Kyoto – When Light turns to Dusk
I’m looking forward to seeing Hide. Hopefully her brothers won’t be a problem… I’m starting to feel glad Saya came along and here I am heading to Shimabara first, to thank her and -plan- for tonight’s raid in the Asuka-ya. I’ve already contacted the Kyoto police for reinforcements. It’s cutting it short but Hide and I should have enough time.
Again, I am let into the teahouse however I do not find Saya there. I frown a bit as I take the note she had left tucked under her make-up case. We’ve done this so many times, it’s second nature to just look there. Apparently she’s gotten more information… 9:00PM huh? This works out perfectly… Well not perfect, I might not be able to walk Hide back at the Yagi’s but the theater is not too far, it is near the Mibu temple and if I can get her a carriage she will be back home in less than ten minutes.
I take my leave and thank the madame. She tells me Saya should be back later tonight because she went ‘out’. That only tells me she was out with the arms group of Hachimaru. I won’t complain.
Briskly I walk back towards the Yagi’s. I didn’t bother wearing a hakama nor a kimono today. I’m not used to it -anymore-, so I chose a blackshirt and blue pants. A nice shining black boots to complete the look… Now all I need is my Police jacket… But with tonight’s event… That might be too obvious. The sun is still up with it’s golden hue by the time I reach my destination
Session Start (hide:hajime): Fri Feb 04 19:47:45 2005
[20:24] hajime: Taking a deep breath I knock at the gates of the Yagi’s…
[20:25] hide: I hear a knocking on the gates as I’m walking across the garden. I open the gate…
[20:26] hajime: (OOC: is this hide?)
[20:26] hide: (OOC – yes. Will state if it is someone else)
[20:27] hajime: “You don’t look like you’re ready Hide-san.” I say as nonchalantly as possible. It’s better this way, I can’t see who is listening to us.
[20:29] hide: Yes… Tamaseborou had told me that Hajime would be coming for me tonight. I smile, quickly, a real smile. “Ah, just a few moments, Saitou-san?”
[20:30] hajime: “Alright… I better wait out here.” I stand to the side and search for my matches. It is discomforting, this feeling of not wanting to go into the Yagis. It was and still is uncomfortable in there.
[20:31] hajime: Lighting up… I wait and sigh.
[20:32] hide: I run back inside, finish getting ready, admiring my new kimono… keeping my face and voice as neutral as possible, I tell my brothers that Saitou-san is here for me and that I’m leaving. I come back outside to see him standing outside the gates, smoking. “I am ready now. Thank you for waiting.”
[20:34] hajime: I quirk an eyebrow… A new kimono? But decided not to comment… “Let’s go.” I walk ahead of her slightly. It’s not too far to the theater probably fifteen minutes of walking… Actually the yagi estate is not too far from the temple either… nor my destination later.
[20:36] hide: I walk behind him, as always, trying to keep up. “Hajime,” I say softly, “I am glad to see you.” My fingers brush his hand as I catch up with him.
[20:40] hajime: I’d hold her hand… but we’re not far enough and who knows when one of her brothers will suddenly decide to follow us. Not turning, I continue. “So am I. Have you ever seen the Miyako Odori Hide?”
[20:42] hide: “No, no, I’ve not. ” I answer, smiling a little, looking up at him a little.
[20:44] hajime: Looking straight ahead, I keep my eyes held to the bend at the corner. “When they moved the capital from here… They started the event. It’s very recent actually, just a way to distract the people of Kyoto and curb their unrest for losing the capital to Tokyo.” I watch her from the corner of my eye. She’s smiling… I wonder if what Saya said was true… or if this is just Hide… as usual carefree.
[20:47] hide: I nod, listening to him. “I think I’ve heard of it… I’ve not been to the theater all that much.”
[20:50] hajime: “Ah… well of course the government isn’t telling the people the real reason for this event. however, you should read a bit more hide.” We pass a few women gossiping (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/regularkyotowomen.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/regularkyotowomen.jpg and as we turn the corner I turn my head slightly, to see if we were being followed. No one… Good. I smile a bit at that and slid my hand in hers… “sorry for last night.”
[20:53] hide: Holding tight to his hand that has found mine… “I do read…” It’s my writer that doesn’t do her -research-. “Ah. Last night.” I try to find the words. “It was … strange.”
[20:57] hajime: She holds to my hands tightly and I squeeze it as we walk along. “I should reprimand her…” I flick the cigarette towards the gutter. Strange? “Don’t mind saya she is a good friend… and I think… she was just up to her usual tricks.” Changing the subject, “So what did you do while you were away?” thinks: from me.
[20:59] hide: “I… I had wondered.” Out on the streets I can’t say that I thought it had something to do with his work. “She was kind. Please do not trouble her.” I smile up at him as we walk along. “Today… Hanako-san and I went shopping. This,” I indicate my kimono, “was an early birthday present, since I will be back home by then.”
[21:02] hajime: It’s better we don’t talk about Saya. There are things that Hide should not know about and this is one of them… “Ah yes… your birthday… I don’t know when it is…” It’s true… I’ve ignored it the time the Shinsengumi stayed at the Yagi’s. I still had ties with the Yakuza back then.. and someone else was more interested about it, talked about it so much among -us- that I just rolled my eyes and left.
[21:05] hide: “Soon….” I grin. No, I shouldn’t tease. “June 30th.” It’s a little silly that my family makes such a fuss over my birthday, presents and such are really for the little ones… but I don’t mind, really.
[21:07] hajime: I nod and make a mental note of it… It’s the third week of may… soon enough. “What do you want for your birthday Hime-sama?” We walk along and I lightly grin.
[21:09] hide: “Oh, -surprise- me…” I grin. “I surprised you on yours, ne?” Ah yes.
[21:11] hajime: Ah -that-… That was the time that… I don’t know, what happened back then. “Alright…” I answer her as I let go of her hand when a few geisha and women pass us. (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/geishaout.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/geishaout.jpg . I glance briefly at this stone bridge.. I killed a man here once… just towards the right. “Just a few more… We’ll be there soon.”
[21:15] hide: I nod, walking with him, and after we pass the women I take his hand again. As always…. I feel more right just being with him.
[21:18] hajime: We’re getting into a more populated part of town.. I’m not sure if she realizes this but she slid her hand in mine so I take it. Let’s see if she’ll let go… “Did your brothers say anything after I left?” I look at her now… To be honest I’d rather not go to this play, but it’s close to where I need to be later… and i already told her.
[21:21] hide: “No, no… at least, not to me.” No, they decided that a nice night was perfect for drinking sake outside. “However… Hanako-san figured out that there was -someone- back in Tokyo that was making me happy.” I smile, looking at him from the corners of my eyes.
[21:25] hajime: I turn abruptly towards her… Not from the fact that someone found out… but rather she said something about… happiness. I wonder if she’s talking about me? Would it be presumptious to think that? I did it once before and landed flat on my face… I decided to settle for a smirk. better be safe than sorry on this one… “Oh really? I’m glad to hear that hide…” stepping up the pace we reach another crowd of people. we just passed mibu temple and the theater can clearly be seen just a few ways down.
[21:28] hide: “Of course… I didn’t mention you by -name-…” I laugh a little.
[21:31] hajime: Well she didn’t let go.. that’s a good sign… I smile at that and the fact that she did meant… myself earlier… I want to hold her… right in the middle of all these people. I turn to her while she laughed… “I’m going to hold you. you can run right now. I won’t follow.” I warn her… a very serious expression i’m sure is on my face
[21:33] hide: I put my hand on his arm, and look up at him. “No… I won’t run.”
[21:36] hajime: Sliding my arm on her waist, i know is not conventional here in kyoto.. but i think she’s telling me it’s fine so i just do so. “Thank you.” It’s only been a day or so… and I’m already like this… I’ve been thinking a lot and I’m tired thinking to be honest… and all i really want is -this-. I walk along with her silently…
[21:39] hide: I walk with his arm around me… it is -here- I always want to be. He thanks me… “Ah… I need you to hold me, you know, about now.” I don’t care who sees us. I’m tired of hiding … I just want to be with him.
[21:42] hajime: I draw her closer… If only I can tell her but things… no matter if i say it or not… it will never be right. I want to talk to her but the words just don’t come out… it’s too bad we’re now at the theater and I let her go as I go and buy us some tickets. I hand her one (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/tickets_thumb.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/tickets_thumb.jpg . “There’s still time for tea… I know you -like- it.”
[21:45] hide: “Oh tea….” I smile. “Yes, I do -like- it a lot… I would like that, though.”
[21:48] hajime: I lead her to the room, separate from most guest. Here maybe we can talk a little. I can’t of course blabber while the play goes on. “You are of course familiary with the tea ceremony?” (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/tea.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/tea.jpg Most kyoto women are… and there is one special tea ceremony that i hope to do with her someday… if that ever comes. I shake my head of the thought and seat us to a corner.
[21:51] hide: I follow him, “yes, of course… ” I sit down, looking up at him. “I’ve not done it in a long time… life is not so -formal- now…”
[21:55] hajime: “Formalities are sometimes good.” I look deeply into her eyes… Yes, there is that formality that we’ve never done and can never do… I don’t think. What the hell is wrong with you ahou? Taking a sudden breath, i blink a few times… saya said I should stop being an ahou… I think of something else to talk about but my mind is just -blank-.
[21:57] hide: He seems… as if he’s trying to say something. “Saya gave me a note, did you know that? She said… to be kind to you, that you love me.” I reach over and take his hand.
[21:59] hajime: “She just can’t keep her mouth shut couldn’t she?” I blurt out and shake my head. She takes my hand and I grin. “You know… all that was just… a ruse… not mine of course.” I chuckle a bit. not sure to be ashamed or amused that I let it go on.
[22:03] hide: “A ruse? I had wondered…. but it was very hard to see you with someone else.” I look down, at my hand in his, and I lace my fingers in between his. “But I … knew that it wasn’t so … and when you touched me, just a little, when I gave you my address… I knew that it wasn’t so… those things she was saying.”
[22:08] hajime: I pull her close to me… “I’m sorry… But don’t get mad at Saya. She’s a good friend and we’ve worked together on assignments. She knows though.. about -us- and… she’s always been the playful type.” I tell her part of the truth… that’s not lying… when you omit a few details I think. “She’s the closest friend I have here in Kyoto.” There’s a lot of truth to that. After everyone else disappeared and before Hide came…. Squeezing her hand I see a lady coming and I sigh.
[22:11] hide: “I’m not mad at her… ah, well, I was a little. Octopus… ” I laugh at that. I can always be -honest- with Hajime… Resting my head against his shoulder as he pulls me close, I say, “I am glad that you’ve had someone, though. Really.” It is not good to be alone…
[22:14] hajime: I smile at that and kiss her forehead. “You know that…” I look up for a moment. “I can’t compare you two because…” Ah… the lady comes with our tea and snack (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/teamochi.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/teamochi.jpg and i couldn’t finish. Well that might’ve been better actually. “Drink your tea.”
[22:18] hide: Because why? I wonder as I sip my tea, leaning against him a little. “Too bad you didn’t get to see the children much… Kioko-chan just for a moment…”
[22:21] hajime: “Ah… yes… but… i wansn’t really there for the children.” I break the mochi in half and hand her the half. Chuckling a bit, “I think though, you might need to take lessons on motherhood.” Ah yes… -that-… i shouldn’t think these things… i really shouldn’t it… “Kioko-chan is a little headstrong ne?”
[22:25] hide: “Lessons?” I smile at that… I should maybe – no, not – “Kioko-chan is easier to handle if her nice aunt had not given her some of the sweets that she got in Tokyo…” I laugh. “She reminds me of my father, somehow… when she’s being stubborn. She makes the same face.” I take the half of the mochi he offers me.
[22:29] hajime: “Children… are unfortunate blessings…” I chuckle at that. “Children are hard to handle sometimes but the best thing abou them… is that they either are ‘unique’ or they remind us of people.” I could go on and urge her again about our -own- but forget it… It’s going to be troublesome for us, I think. “That’s good though that you see Yagi-san in her.” Pausing for a minute I think about the note earlier. “Hide… Will you start writing your brothers of my -future- visits?”
[22:33] hide: “I hope… that if we have children… they will be the best of both of us, yet very much -themselves-.” I look up at him before taking another sip of tea, “And yes, I will write and tell them… I can say that I know you now, ne?” Maybe… maybe it can set… some kind of foundation, at least in their minds.
[22:36] hajime: I think this is the first time she’s initiated a conversation about this subject… Is she finally? Ah it does not matter. Grinnning, I finish her tea. An indirect kiss I think… “Whenever you are ready Hide.” I tell her… An answer to all of her statements earlier… But hidden by the fact that I stand up and hold out my hand. “The play will start in a few.”
[22:39] hide: That he seems to -want- children with me… he’s said as much before… but I like to hear it. I smile at his grin. “And I thought that you didn’t care for tea…” I tease, as I take his hand and stand up.
[22:42] hajime: “Did I ever tell you how slow you were?” I smirk at her while taking her hand… Our seats are not the best but good enough and in a few more minutes the place darkens. I take the moment and give her a brief kiss, just long enough before the stage itself lit up and we were once again exposed. Smiling at her, I motion her to sit.
[22:44] hide: I wish I could kiss him more… no, there will be time for that -later-. “You constantly remind me of my slowness… yet I have the idea you do not mind -so- much… you put up with me, after all.” I sit next to him.
[22:46] hajime: “Yes that’s very true… The ‘putting up’ part.” I tease her and seat myself beside her. From now on I’ll have to speak more softly, or else we’ll get thrown out. I reach out for her hand and clasp it in mine and settle it on my knee that’s lightly shaking for some reason. “I suppose I shall have to guide you through this? Since you’ve never seen it before?” I smirk.
[22:47] hide: He puts my hand on his knee and I must will it to -behave-… “Yes,” I whispher. “you will have to guide me…”
[22:51] hajime: I turn to her… and I look away abruptly… otherwise I’d just demand of her -here-. “The play is divided into four parts… rather 5 since we already did the tea ceremony.” I hold her hand quite tightly and push down on my knee that is now badly shaking. “The four parts are actually the four seasons… and this play should be over around 9 I think…”
[22:52] hajime: (OOC: pretend he is whispering from now on… i’m lazy to type whisper etc. hahaha)
[22:54] hide: His knee is shaking… I place my hand more firmly on it… “Ah… ” I answer, looking up at the stage after glancing back at him.
[22:59] hajime: How embarassing… Ugh… I stare straight on as the play begins… “The first that you’ll see of course is spring.. Those in front are maiko (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/GDancing0.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/GDancing0.jpg , not geishas… They are geishas in training… Those to your right are geisha’s playing the drums (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/102fukunami.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/102fukunami.jpg and to our left are also geishas playing the shamisen (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/103kimiya.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/103kimiya.jpg (string instrument).” I think for a moment why they’d start off like this… fully aware that hide is holding my knee into place. “Maiko i guess is another symbolism…”
[23:02] hide: I nod, listening to him, watching the maiko. I settle in a little closer to him as I look and pay attention.
[23:07] hajime: Slowly I start calming down… My knees started to relax… The song of the geisha finishes and the set is now changed to what is called the imperial court… “I still think this is part of the spring act… You should know this one though..” I lean in just a tad closer to her. “This is the telling of Lady Murasaki’s life. As you know she was a famous writer during the Heian period… And was quite advanced for her time, since her father allowed her to study. She lived in the imperial court and kept a diary of her thoughts about the blunders of the aristocrats… but to most lay men, her best work is the tale of the genji.. of course you know that I disagree with that… the best work IS the diary.” (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/murasa2.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/murasa2.gif (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/murasa3.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/murasa3.gif
[23:09] hide: “I’ve read some of her diary… ” My cousins and I poured over it that summer… such stories! I feel him start to relax and I loosen my grip on his knee, but leave my hand there.
[23:12] hajime: “Ah good.” I look back at her then at her hand on my knee. “If I didn’t have -plans- tonight… I’d ask you to come back with me to the Ryokan.” I have to admit that my attention is quite divided… It would be interesting to see if I actually finish this play.
[23:14] hide: “I would like that… ” I whispher, as my finger traces his kneecap. “But work… you know I understand.” Soon… soon we can go back home…
[23:18] hajime: I stop her finger half way. “Don’t… It might start again…” I’m sure she knows what I’m talking about. “Even if I didn’t… I wouldn’t know how to explain your disappearance for the night.” I stare at her then suddenly noticed that the set has changed once again… “You’ll like this one… It’s your -favorite-… This act is “Uji Chatsumi Uta”, a song for picking tea leaves… Watch and you might learn something.” I tell her but my eyes are locked on her left earlobe… (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/uji2.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/uji2.gif (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/uji3.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/uji3.gif
[23:20] hide: My hand stills. “Ah yes tea…” I feel his breath at my ear and shiver a little. “If I cannot go to you…. then you shall have to come to me, then… I -can- be quiet, you know…” I smile, looking forward.
[23:25] hajime: “I know…” I whisper and try to pay attention at the geishas on the stage. My hand though is tightening around hers and I gulp for a moment… FInally the stupid tea song is done and the set darkens. I lean over to her earlobe and trace my tongue from top to bottom quickly. “That tasted well.” I smirk as the lights turn on again to reveal the next act.
[23:27] hide: “Hajime…” I whispher, shakily. I can’t take too much of this…. but I want every moment I can have with him. I go back to watching the stage. “And what will be the next part?”
[23:31] hajime: I think she stuttered a little… I can barely hold the chuckle back in my throat.. nor anything else right about now. “The next part is…” I should tell her we should just leave and get an inn… No… Treat her properly ahou… ” It is a fairy tale during summer… called “conquest of the giant centipede.” I close my eyes and turn towards the stage… We’re half-way now… And soon.. she’ll have to go. (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/centi2.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/centi2.gif (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/centi3gif.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/centi3gif.gif
[23:35] hide: I watch the scene in front of us…. my eyes are there but my mind is not. I hold on to Hajime’s hand, sitting as close to him as I can and actually still be in my sear. “Giant centipede, I see… ”
[23:38] hajime: I am overwhelmed I want to bury my face somewhere on her… Her neck? Her breast? her bossom? The stupid play is slow enough as it is and it is too bright to do anything worthwhile here… Stop… Must not entertain such thoughts. Sitting there in agony waiting for another change in sets… My knees started shaking again. “Suma.. Hide-san…” I grin… it is weird to call her hide-san… but i like her name even if i were for instance to say hide-kun.
[23:42] hide: His knee start to shake again… I turn my hand to hold on to him there, and say, “Hide-san? That indicates a certain lack of intimacy, ne, Hajime?”
[23:46] hajime: “It’s because… You’ve been awfully distant tonight.” I smirk back.. It’s not true.. Oh hell not true at all… As the room darkens I grab her face lightly and plant a kiss.. finding her tongue, playing with it… I’ve been keeping time of course earlier… of how long the stupid lighting comes on again. I let go of her in the exact moment and lick my lips… “The next of course is Autumn…”
[23:49] hide: That kiss ends too soon and I’m left a little dazed. “Distant… ah, but I couldn’t get any closer unless I was in your lap.” That’s about true. Autumn. This is almost over… too bad… he is working tonight.
[23:54] hajime: Lifting her hand from me, I settle both our hands on hers. Both my knees are shaking now as we watch the play.. and I’m sure my arm is too… and if this doesn’t stop soon. I must find a way for this to stop… “This is the play about Mt. Inari…” I whisper a bit panting a bit… I could of course expound more.. but if I talk any longer… she’ll know… yes.. ahou.. it’s not like she doens’t -know- now… (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/inari1.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/inari1.gif (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/inari3.gif)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/inari3.gif
[23:57] hide: I am intensly -aware- of him next to me. His breathing, his smell… “Ah, Mt. Inari,” I nod. Focus on the play, focus on the play… My hands hold on tight to his hands.
[00:02] hajime: I can’t do this anymore… “Hide… I have to smoke… Finish the play. The next one is a good one… Winter Snow Dance in Koudaji Temple. m intensly -aware- of him next to me. His breathing, his smell… “Ah, Mt. Inari,” I nod. Focus on the play, focus on the play… My hands hold on tight to his hands. ” Releasing her hand, I get up in the middle of the third act and leave quickly. Yes a smoke is what i need to calm this. (OOC: hide can chose to follow or not. Saitou will not be in -view- but he will be outside.)
[00:03] hajime: (OOC; act.. wrong.. let me try this again)
[00:03] hajime: I can’t do this anymore… “Hide… I have to smoke… Finish the play. The next one is a good one… Winter Snow Dance in Koudaji Temple. (Link: http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/winter.jpg)http://www.geocities.com/mg_batt/winter.jpg ” Releasing her hand, I get up in the middle of the third act and leave quickly. Yes a smoke is what i need to calm this. (OOC: hide can chose to follow or not. Saitou will not be in -view- but he will be outside.)
[00:06] hide: He leaves… maybe we took this too far… but even without him there, I cannot concentrate on the play… and I would rather be with him. I go out to find him smoking.
[00:10] hajime: Running out of the theater I lean at the wall and light up. After only a fe moments, I see Saya running towards an alley. What the hell is happening? It’s not yet 9 and why is she not at the Asuka-ya? From a farther end from where she came, three men emerged. And I narrow my eyes… Until they turned the corner where Saya darted off to. I run after them as fast as I could while at the same time taking the hidden katana off my back.
The streets are quite barren right now… That is at least fortunate, the play must be the reason since it is not yet done. I stop before turning the alley. The fourth man is missing, where is he? I’m sure those three are the one described from Saya’s previous reports. Gun smuggling is a lucrative business in this day and age where katanas are being phased out. Not finding the fourth, I hear a loud ‘bang’, my heart beats wildly as I jump from where I stood hidden. (OOC: Hide still has a chance to turn back fyi)
[00:13] hide: I step back into the shadows, seeing Hajime go running off. Ah. Work? Then a bang…. my heart beats wildly but I stay where I am… hoping… that it is not…
[00:14] hajime: (OOC: This will be in the journal ^__^ ) <-- end IM