Eiji:
As I get closer to the house, I spy Tokio-san sweeping in front. “Tokio-san!” I smile and wave.
She doesn’t seem to immediately recognize me but as I drew closer she smiles a little.
“When did you get back?”
“A few weeks ago.” I tell her, “I was surprised to see that house in Tokyo was abandoned but I thought you’d be here.” I try not to broach the subject that I’ve been staying with Fujita-san all this time. I think that’s a conversation that will need to be eased into carefully.
“We had to leave. It was getting dangerous there.” I look to the side and I see Tsutomu, watching us but not coming near.
“Well lets get you inside first.” Tokio-san gathers up the broom and dust pan, ushering me in past Tsutomu who stood by the gates.
“Tsutomu lets not talk about such things here ne?” She looks at him and he shrugs, closing the gates and hurrying on up ahead of us.
“You’re just in time for dinner Eiji.” I bow and thank her. It seems like she’s been doing much better. She didn’t seem uncomfortable carrying a conversation. Maybe this separation is working out for her. -Good-.
We eat a quiet dinner and it’s then that I noticed that Kurasawa-san is nowhere to be found. I wonder where he is? Done eating, I help Tokio-san with the dishes as Tsutomu didn’t seem to want company. I guess he’s still angry but maybe later we can talk.
“So what brings you here Eiji?” Tokio-san takes a seat and I can see she’s slightly fidgeting. It’s an old habit of hers when she gets nervous.
“Well I got Tsutomu’s letters. I’m sorry I couldn’t come back right away.” I say apologetically and hope that Tsutomu heard. I can almost feel him eavesdropping but there is nothing I will say here that I won’t say in front of him.
“Tsutomu must’ve missed you.” She smiles slightly, “Tsuyoshi moved out last year so I guess that’s why. Did you get to see him at the Namuzawa’s?”
“No ma’am. I’ve not had time to I was taking care of Ueda-sama today.”
“Ueda-sama? What were you doing there?” I could hear the change in her tone, not angry more like distressed.
Sitting down in front of her I ready myself for this conversation. “Tokio-san, I came with otou… I mean Fujita-san. We came last night and I would’ve come here straight away but he wanted to see Yoshi first.”
She frowns, “That man… Now he suddenly appears. So typical…”
I look down on the table, I wish I could say something to Tokio-san but isn’t it better that now he’s making time for them? Well his sons, not her, his wife. I decide it’s best I don’t mention that he brought Yagi-san with him. It might complicate matters.
“So how has he been?” She asks, her brows furrowing.
“He seems to be doing better. I visited his office and saw that he recently got promoted.”
She looks up, “Go on…”
I have to admit I am surprised that she would be interested in what’s happening with him. Why just before I left they couldn’t even speak each others names.
“He doesn’t seem to leave as much now. The few weeks I was there I saw him go home everyday. I suppose his job must’ve changed somewhat.” Then it struck me, earlier Tsutomu said they were in danger… “Tokio-san is something going on? What did Tsutomu mean by that earlier?” It doesn’t make sense… If Fujita-san has given up that line of work, then why all of a sudden…
“He sent a telegram from Ito, telling us to get to Aizu quickly. To be on alert as he was working on a case.”
“When was this?” I ask but it’s an odd question. Working on a case but I hardly saw him working. If he was truly working on a dangerous case…
“Just a little over a month ago.” And then it struck me perhaps he wasn’t working… Perhaps he wanted to get Tokio-san away from Tokyo so he could bring Yagi-san there. For a moment I’m angry… But then I remember for the many things Fujita-san is or is not, he would never toy with his family this way, even if he hated his wife. I let out a breath. This difficult situation is getting to me I guess.
I smile at Tokio-san, “It’s good that you moved back to Aizu. There’d be no way Fujita-san could be taking care of both you and…” I hold my breath. Oh kami-sama. What the hell did I just do?
“And who Eiji?” Tokio-san searches my eyes and I purse my lips. I shouldn’t tell her this.
“Who Eiji!?” Her voice suddenly rises and I find myself panicking.
“I’m sorry Tokio-san, please.” I stand up and go by her side holding her shoulder. “Please calm down.”
“Eiji tell me!”
I close my eyes. She’ll become hysterical if I don’t. “He’s with his other family in Tokyo.”
Suddenly she laughs softly and sits back down. I breathe a sigh of relief as she starts talking. “You do know Eiji, how he thinks he can be good for this new family of his… Why he couldn’t even look past himself… How he thinks he can be any good for them… And that woman, I feel pity for her but she deserves it.”
Tokio-san must still be very hurt by this. The way she speaks of how Fujita-san didn’t even try and I try to recall those days. There is more going on here than I can remember. Something only between the two of them but I can’t bear to think of what will happen tomorrow and I decide that the best thing to do is to get everyone prepared. I’ll have to spend the night here. I know I’ll get flack from him but one day he’ll understand. My wishes remains unchanged.
“Tokio-san I feel I must tell you. Fujita-san is here with Yagi-san.”
“His mistress you mean.”
I blink, I don’t really think of Yagi-san that way. She seems to have genuine affection for him but I’m not about to argue with Tokio-san in her state so I nod. “Fujita-san wants to take Tsutomu back to Tokyo for his last term.”
She laughs incredulously. “He really thinks Tsutomu would go with him?”
I keep quiet. I knew this wouldn’t work… On the most basic of levels there is no way Tsutomu would even consider it. He’s not even talking to me and I was closest to him next to Tokio-san.
Finally the laughing subsided and she’s fidgeting again. I wish I could do something for her. How I watched her go from a docile and frail woman, to now this harsh one… To see her swing from one end to the other. It is painful to watch. I offer to help her get to the bedroom to get some rest but she tells me she’s fine. She says she can’t imagine me wanting to stay at the Ueda’s any longer and gives me my beddings. “You should sleep in Tsutomu’s room. Maybe he’ll talk to you.” She smiles and I’m bewildered at again her sudden change.