I want to follow Hajime as he leaves for the bath… just those thoughts of him, all…
Focus, Hide… I think, shaking my head. The kimono I hung out last night reminds me of why I’m here.
I’m suddenly just -anxious-. Why? Tamesaburou has been looking for me, asked Hajime to find me. And both him and Yuunosuke have been giving their support over the years… and even if Hanako-san doesn’t welcome me… it’s not as if we had ever been -that- close.
It’s such a strange thing. It was not only because I know how the world works… how it is to be a woman, unmarried and with a child. But there was also a good deal of pride that’s kept me silent over the years. And then that last letter, the one that offered me a way out. How I -resented- that offer, even though it was meant in all kindness.
I’m not here to show them that I’ve done alright on my own… no, it’s not pride now. Simply… a wish to reconnect… and a path that I must take to find things that I lost.
Fumbling with putting my hair up, in the knot that I can do in my sleep… Maybe I should give up on this dressing and go join him in the bath. I take a deep breath and try to regain that sense of calm that I felt in the early hours of this morning.
Wednesday, June 17th, 1885 – Morning
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I soak in the bath. How the warm water feels good and I find myself closing my eyes. Back in our days here in Kyoto there was no time to even indulge in these things. It was always get up, be ready for battle. Scrub yourself, eat, sleep… Over and over again. But most of us did find time for women… Which I found rather interesting.
My breathing slows down and I let the warmth envelope my entire body and my muscles relax as I drift off to sleep.
This hot spring sure could use more privacy…
I look around and Hide still hasn’t come back from the bath. I’m rather anxious I suppose for many reasons… This is Kyoto… The place brings bad memories to myself… And we are to meet her brothers, I wonder if she’ll say anything about us to them? Probably not because, we’re both just using each other…
My eyes narrow. Using? There’s some truth to that. My wife was never around and my pride was hurt first as her husband for she did not trust me and second by questioning that which I have built my entire life on… And Hide…
I shake my head and splash some water on my face. Souji was cheating on her… I stare at the now still water. She’ll be back soon and I know I will take her even with these atrocious reasons… And just like before it escapes me how one man can feel happiness nad pain all at the same time.
*CHOKE CHOKE*
What the hell?
I emerge from the water spitting out some water.
I must’ve drifted off to sleep… What a strange dream. Souji is dead.
Quickly I get out and dress myself in a yukata. My nose and throat hurting from all the choking earlier. Grabbing a towel I leave that damned place and head back to our room where I see Hide fixing her hair. I let out a sigh of relief and chuckle as I go over to where she’s at.
Yes… I am not insane. It was just a dream…
“Is there someone you’re being all pretty for?” I tease, “It’s only your brothers…”
Is there someone you’re being all pretty for? It’s only your brothers…
I turn to find Hajime standing behind me. I find a smile and look over at him, finally getting the last part to go where it should. “Ah…”
I try to say something clever to what he said to me, but it escapes me. Instead I just go to where he stands and put my arms around his waist. With my face close to his chest, I say, “mmmm… I had a good idea with the bath. You do smell better.”
mmmm… I had a good idea with the bath. You do smell better
I’m a little surprised with her reaction. I was expecting a better come back than that. She’s clinging for some reason and I narrow my eyes. “Good idea with the bath yes.” I brush a strand of her hair from the side of her face. I was going to comment at how it’s not perfect to get her into a tissy, but it seems out of place.
“Hmmm… Neko-chan… Let’s stop by a store and get some tea and mochi. I sure could use something sweet.”
Well not really… But sweets do make people feel better, at least that’s what the ahou told me once.
I smile as he brushes my hair back, that little thing… it’s strange sometimes what it takes to set me back again, even though he looks rather annoyed there for a moment… but I -did- leave him to the bath alone… “I’ve done better with it, ne?” Letting go, I pull the pins out to try again. “I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to me being rather -slow-…” And of course we’re both still in our yukata…
Hmmm… Neko-chan… Let’s stop by a store and get some tea and mochi. I sure could use something sweet.
Something sweet? I give him a puzzled look. Mochi? “Tea would be good but what I have a taste for…” I laugh, shaking my head, my glance at him showing too much.
“I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to me being rather -slow-…”
“Yes… You know you should’ve come with a disclaimer tag… Had I known…”
I give her a smirk.
“Tea would be good but what I have a taste for…”
She laughs. I swear some oni put a curse on me because if she doesn’t stop… I turn my back and get a shirt and pants. I should dress in a kimono but.. Forget it.
“Should I take you to Mibu and wait? There’s a soba place there that is just a few streets down.”
I finish dressing up and listen carefully. I wonder if she wants to… IF she would like me to…
Yes… You know you should’ve come with a disclaimer tag… Had I known…
I grin back. “But I assure you that the wait -is- worth it.”
I turn to take my kimono off the rack. It’s still early… I look over at Hajime pulling out his clothes.
Should I take you to Mibu and wait? There’s a soba place there that is just a few streets down.
I go over to where he is and stand in front of him. “It’s still early for soba, not quiet lunchtime… We should spend some time…” with that I tug on the front of his yukata to bring his lips close enough to where I can reach them.
I’m a bit puzzled by all this. I know I want her and I think the feeling is mutual however… There are things that she’ll have to do later. I don’t want this to confuse the matter.
I kiss her back and guide her to the futon and lay both of us down. Quickly I turn her over, her face away from me. Both of her arms pinned close to her waist as I hold her in a tight embrace.
Bringing my lips close to her ear, I can almost feel myself pant trying not to run my tongue along her earlobes. We have time I know this, but it just doesn’t seem right. Maybe she is looking for some sort of escape?
“Don’t take this the wrong way Hide.” I start slowly in a hoarsh whisper, “I’m a man, I -will- always want to bed you… But..” I stop and consider carefully if I should even say it… “I don’t know why but it’s abnormal the way I want you.”
Ahou… Just say it…
“So… Let’s not do this right now. Later when you have nothing on your mind… Because I don’t want it to be marred by weakness on your part or mine” I kiss the back of her neck and the words just poured out without proper reason but again I don’t need those for now, “I love you.”
I don’t know why but it’s abnormal the way I want you.
I want to turn to face him but he holds me. “It feels so right… doesn’t it… like when I kiss you I want to kiss you forever, or when you touch me, how it’s so much deeper than passion…” I say quietly. That’s always been true… ever since the first time, so long ago.
“So… Let’s not do this right now. Later when you have nothing on your mind… Because I don’t want it to be marred by weakness on your part or mine
“It’s not weakness that I want this with you… even now,” I say, but I know what he means… that he wants to be certain that I want him for him… and not just for comfort. “I’ve wanted you…” His breath on my neck makes it hard to think rationally. “You’re rather irresistible, you know…”
I love you.
I’m stunned… simply… that he’s said it. Is this for now or something old coming up? Even though he holds me so tight I turn my neck around to try face him. “Oh, Hajime…” my eyes seek out his… my eyes that are overcome with joy that somewhere… what is true within himself still feels that way. “I love you.” Telling him that… even though I told him the other day, it simply comes out again now.
“It’s not weakness that I want this with you… even now,” “I’ve wanted you…” . “You’re rather irresistible, you know…”
The way she answers worries me. I can’t quite place my finger on it, if only I had known her a bit longer my suspicions would be confirmed. A deep frown tries to plaster itself on my face but I caught it in time and placed a mask instead. I turn her now so we face each other.
“I love you.”
I smile slightly at that. “Thank you neko… Now tell me the answer to my question before. Do you want me to wait or should I go with you there?”
I’ve been thinking about it since I got back. It is a family matter and a delicate one that, she needs to decide what is more comfortable. I don’t eve know IF she wants me to -go- to Mibu…
He turns me finally so I face him and I put my arms around him, looking at Hajime, with so much affection and longing…
Thank you neko… Now tell me the answer to my question before. Do you want me to wait or should I go with you there?
I think at that… it’s strange to get him involved… “Would you go to the house with me? It’s a lot to ask…” I pause. Asking is still hard… but I smile at him, softly, “I’d like you there… and then we’ll go find you some soba.”
I pull closer to him. “And then later…” I move to find his lips once again. Breaking the kiss after a long moment, I grin, and touch his face. “When we have nothing on our minds… just each other…” I promise.
I’d like you there…
“Alright then I’ll go.” Of course I don’t know if at all she will say anything to them. Probably not… I think of the dream I had earlier of how all this seems so familiar.
But I have no time to think as I find her lips on mine again and I indulge myself. It’s easy of course to just do what I want but thank Kami there’s enough presence of mind left in me even if my head is still slightly swimming from the alcohol.
“And then later…”
“And then later…” A thoughtful look passes over my face, “I should get myself some of those lizard tonics. I heard it’s a good aphrodisiac…”
I’m glad that he agrees to come with me… “Thank you,” I tell him.
And then later… I should get myself some of those lizard tonics. I heard it’s a good aphrodisiac…
A lizard tonic like… I’m able to hide my laugh as something else. “Mmm… and this was the man assuring me earlier that he wasn’t -that- old yet?” I grin. “Get that if you think so… but I promise you that I will be quite enticing.”
With one last kiss to the tip of his nose, I slowly remove my arms from around him.
“BAH! Stop laughing…” I frown, “I was -simply- trying to make sure our night would be perfect.”
“Get that if you think so… but I promise you that I will be quite enticing.”
“Oh really… Onna I worked last time.” A devilish smirk escapes my face, “Even if you are enticing you might need to work a bit.”
She leaves my side and I’m tempted to just pull her down but… Gah.. I stand up and roll the futon over and smirk.
“Do you think we should get a bigger and thicker futon for tonight?” I can’t help but jest as I put the futon away.
BAH! Stop laughing… I was -simply- trying to make sure our night would be perfect.
I’m so touched by that… that he wants it to be perfect. “Hai. But I have all confidence in your abilities… and in mine.” I reach for the pins I need.
Oh really… Onna I worked last time. Even if you are enticing you might need to work a bit.
“Ah… I would like a dessert as well… the little tastes I’ve had so far of you only makes me want -more-.” I start to put up my hair, finally, but my eyes are fixed on him as he lays on the futon, “but you’ll need to do -something- if you want to live up to that promise you made that I would be screaming your name.”
Do you think we should get a bigger and thicker futon for tonight?
I raise my eyebrows and grin. “-If- you think we’ll even -make- it to the futon…” I lean down, tracing a finger from his jawline to outline his lips.
I sigh…
“It seems you know me too well.” I catch her hand and my lips start to taste the tip of her finger. I play there with my tongue and how I went from there to the side of her neck… I blink a few times and turn abruptly.
“I should finish dressing. I don’t think your brothers would want a half naked man in their home.”
But really now ahou… You want it over ne? So you can have her all to yourself?
Stupid voices…
(OOC: Saitou will dress and wait for Hide to go to Mibu. Start that whenever)