Makoto-chan plays outside as I work in the main room, getting my things together. I’m not taking much, really, but I have more room to work down here and it’s cooler…
The talk with Makoto’s teacher went well. She confirms that the other girls are being nicer to Makoto-chan and that she is doing well in school… but that she should leave her toys at home. I have the little colored stones that Hajime gave her back, but I will wait to give them back to her until we can have a talk about such things… I had thought she knew not to take such things with her to school…
And then there was Sugiyama-san. “I wish you would provide more -notice- before you flit off somewhere,” she snapped. “We’ll be fine…” It wasn’t until I told her why… that I was going to try to reconcile with my family that her mood softened. That’s one thing I told her, a long time ago, was about that estrangement. “Do take care of that,” she sighs, her eyes looking distant. “But I need to know I can rely on you as an employee.” I assure her that I still can and work a little later than usual, setting things up. Depending on when we return I will probably be here during the weekend… but I’m not going to miss this chance to go to Kyoto when I’ll have Hajime with me… I need his support, even if he doesn’t really know why… so that I can be strong enough to do this.
I continue to work on getting everything together, wrapping up the little presents that Makoto-chan helped me select to take with me. From my bag I take the picture of Makoto I keep on my office desk… I’ll give that to them and get another print of this one later for myself, along with the one I have of her as a baby. Looking at it I think of all of the time that’s passed… but that it’s never too late.
(OOC – may enter anytime)
Monday, June 15th – Yagi House – Late Afternoon-Evening
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I look at the bend in the road where Hajime is just standing, keeping watch and I shake my head. Why he doesn’t want to come inside when he’s been at the Yagi’s several evenings already…
They’re going to Kyoto…
Turning my back, I proceed and knock on the gates.
I hear the knock and set down the items I’m packing.
Opening the gates, I say, “Good afternoon, Asuka-san.” I lead her towards the house, “would you like anything? Coffee?”
I look her over.
“No thank you.” I take the package of truffles from my bag and hand it to Yagi-san. “Here a little something for the two of you.”
I take the box and smile, “oh, thank you, Asuka-san,” I open the box and remember another time with chocolates… “I had no idea that Miyake-san’s shop did so much with Western sweets… I’ve not seen anything like this since I lived in Tokyo.
I settle down and invite her to sit as well. “I’m sorry for the mess; I’ve been seeing to packing…” I look over at her. “Have you been well? Settling into Ito and your job?”
“The madame is trying out different samples and I recommended to her that she should order that from Tokyo.”
Originally I was going to surprise Hajime with it but I had no time earlier to get something else. I sit across the table from her. How uncomfortable to be alone with Yagi-san. I wish Hajime came in, instead of making me come here alone.
“How is your Makoto Yagi-san?”
I take a piece of the chocolate, surprised to taste something aside from chocolate in the middle. I offer the box to Asuka-san. I wonder if working around sweets all day lessens her wanting to eat them so much?
“Ah Makoto… she does well. I had to speak with her teacher this morning, she had taken something to school that she hadn’t.” I smile, shaking my head a little. “And yesterday we went out, I’m teaching her to swim. And… I did want to thank you the other day, whatever you did to step in when she was having problems with Takeshi-kun.”
“Did Hajime did tell you, about going to Kyoto?” I ask.
I raise my hand, “No need to thank me. I am a Keikan after all.”
“Did Hajime did tell you, about going to Kyoto?”
“Yes he did. You are going to see your family but how will you explain to them Hajime’s condition?”
Looking at her intently, I try to get my point across. Just because things might be going better than fine, I don’t want my friend being forced into something he has no idea of.
You are going to see your family but how will you explain to them Hajime’s condition?
I meet her gaze. She cares so much for him I can see… “He’s already seen my brother once since…” I think back to the first time that I saw Hajime again in Ito, and how surprised I was at Tamesaburou’s request. “And they don’t know -who- Hajime is. I never told them who Makoto’s father is.”
Hmmm… So her brother knows… But how about the rest?
Clearing my throat I continue.
“I must tell you now Yagi-san, he does not remember when the two of you were in Kyoto, for some reason all he remembers was the work we did there.”
In a way I’m still angry of course. I wouldn’t be questioning her if I wasn’t.
“I can’t take care of Hajime all the time, if he was… He is self-sufficient but I don’t want him to go through whatever it was that happened.” I frown, “So again Yagi-san, I will leave him to you at least while you are in Kyoto. In exchange I will take care of your daughter like she was my own.”
I pause suddenly sad at what I just said. If only I was in her shoes…
He really is a fool…
I must tell you now Yagi-san, he does not remember when the two of you were in Kyoto, for some reason all he remembers was the work we did there.
I nod. That trip had been such an important time for the two of us back then.
So again Yagi-san, I will leave him to you at least while you are in Kyoto. In exchange I will take care of your daughter like she was my own.
“I will take care of him without having to strike such a deal… because I -do- care about him,” I tell her. “So much…” my voice is softer at that, admitting it out loud to another person. I look back at her. “And I would appreciate you looking after Makoto. Hajime has all trust in you so I do as well.”
Hajime has all trust in you so I do as well.
I could scoff at that. I could but the first phrase meant a lot more than the latter. “Trust is something that is earned not given away freely Yagi-san, otherwise it loses it’s meaning.”
Those words were borrowed of course. When I couldn’t have faith and trust anyone in Shimabara… Just like it took a while for me to trust Hajime, it shall take a longer time for me to trust this woman after she broke my confidence. But in this case, I have no choice.
Standing up I decide it’s time to leave. There is someone waiting for me outside and I smile softly at that.
“Hajime and I will come by early so you can catch the first train out.” I bow. “Goodnight Yagi-san.”
(OOC: Saya will exit unless there’s anything else. You may close)
Be kind to him… He loves you.
Old words of hers come back me; I remember how shaken I was that night by her presence, how she hung on to Hajime. One day she’ll know… how I will live up to what she’s asked of me, then and now.
“I’ll see you in the morning, thank you,” I tell her as I see Saya to the gate and lock up behind her. I have much to do and I need to write out some things…
(OOC – end thread)