I take the smaller of the lights with us, leaving the larger one for Saya. I step outside the gates with Hajime, locking them behind me.
We walk towards the other house. “I know the former owner’s son – Hamada-san owns and runs a small ryoken in town; he didn’t have time to see to renting it before he got busy and he doesn’t wish to sell,” I say in a quiet voice, aware of the late hour.
Getting to the gates of the other house, I tell him, “you don’t face the ocean as I do, but the small forest it backs up to is nice, and there’s a good path into the main part of Ito. Makoto-chan and her friend like to play in those woods as well.”
I go to unlock the gates.
June 9th, 1885 – Evening – The other house
18 thoughts on “June 9th, 1885 – Evening – The other house”
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“Hamada-san… Alright, I suppose by now he knows that Saya and I are living in together.” I laugh at the ruse, “An old couple trying for a second chance ne?”
Not that I think Saya is old… I still think she might be at least six years younger and I’d even dare say ten years younger.
you don’t face the ocean as I do, but the small forest it backs up to is nice, and there’s a good path into the main part of Ito. Makoto-chan and her friend like to play in those woods as well.”
“I see. So your child has many friends in the neighborhood?” I ask as I follow her inside.
old couple trying for a second chance ne?
I smile softly at that. Hopefully it’s not the two in this house… but another old couple.
I see. So your child has many friends in the neighborhood?
“Yes, her best friend, Mochizuki Isuzu, lives right next door to us. They’re rather inseparable.” I lead him through the small garden area out front and step onto the front engawa to unlock the front door. “The Mochizukis have been good friends to us here, Mochizuki Hiroku watches Makoto for me after school in the afternoons until I get home.”
It’s strange to go over this information again. I get the door open and step inside, holding up the light so that he may see inside.
It’s rather dark and I cannot see much that is not muddled in shadows. I take the lamp from Hide and go around.
“It’s good enough.” I tell her and put the lamp down, sitting beside it.
Mochizuki Hiroku watches Makoto for me after school in the afternoons until I get home.”
“Ah! Maybe Saya can help you in that respect. I’d offer my services…” Suddenly I burst out laughing, “But I’m a rather bad father to my sons, so it’s best not to trust your child with me.”
I look up at her. It’s too bad we never got very far back then. Or rather I didn’t even try. Maa… That’s how life is sometimes.
It’s good enough
I nod at that. He will see more by day. It’s certainly cheaper than a ryoken, and will allow them to blend in better.
But I’m a rather bad father to my sons, so it’s best not to trust your child with me.
Something in that hurts terribly to hear it, that he says that.
For a moment I’m struck by what must be the enormity of it… memories. I lost just one and it effected me so badly… but to lose so much…
I sit down next to him. “Ah, Hajime… don’t say that. I’m sure you’re a devoted father… but your work keeps you away, ne?”
Smiling softly at him, “I would trust Makoto-chan with you. I think she will take to you well. Tell her stories, or to look for turtles.”
“Ah, Hajime… don’t say that. I’m sure you’re a devoted father… but your work keeps you away, ne?”
I grin and lit up. It must be because she saw us back then during the Bakumatsu that she can understand. I’m thankful for that, there’s some comfort I find in it.
“I don’t know if I am that Hide.” I smile but that of a dog’s I think, “Kondou-san, now he was a good man and even when he was away, I believe his wife Otsune was very patient with him. And your mother was with your father as well.”
I look down for a moment, even in those days there was some peace to be found. I wonder why things ended up so badly for Tokio and I… No I know why, I just wish it didn’t have to be.
I would trust Makoto-chan with you. I think she will take to you well. Tell her stories, or to look for turtles.”
I nod my head but do not tell her how wrong I think her opinion is, instead I take a long drag on my tobacco.
I don’t know if I am that Hide. Kondou-san, now he was a good man and even when he was away, I believe his wife Otsune was very patient with him. And your mother was with your father as well.
“Ah patience…” I nod my head. “Okaasan was, yes. Especially when Otousan told us that a group of samurai would be coming to stay with us.” I grin softly at him. One or two months that turned into much longer…
He speaks of patient woman and it makes me wonder… “May I ask… are things still not good between you and your wife?” I look over at him.
“Okaasan was, yes. Especially when Otousan told us that a group of samurai would be coming to stay with us
“Those were the days I suppose. Working in the Keishikan which is a rather large and impersonal organization is quite different.” I tap the ashes.
“May I ask… are things still not good between you and your wife?”
I’d tell her it’s rather hopeless and I should just give up. What I did the other day, I think I’ve made it worse. I shake my head, “I never did take you to meet Tokio did I?” I grin, “She’s a very lovely woman, well learned and is quite a forward thinker… Matsudaira wasn’t lying when he told me that I’d be the envy of most men… But I moved out of the house already for many reasons.”
I never did take you to meet Tokio did I?
“No… you never did.” My sister met her that one time in the shop, but didn’t know who she was.
But I moved out of the house already for many reasons.
“Ah…” I say. “I am sorry to hear that it’s not going well.” There was a time when I was so angry and jealous of the woman. But at this point I feel almost sorry for her… unable to see the man that at one time wanted to make things work for them. Or did she never see him?
The irony is not lost on me. I can only hope for something better for the two of us.
I touch my hand to his arm. Remembering some of out early conversations about her. “Forward thinker or no… a woman should support the man she’s married to.”
“I am sorry to hear that it’s not going well.”
I smirk, I think there?EUR(TM)s still that very bitter part of me that condemns this whole situation. Sometimes I wonder if it?EUR(TM)s just because I lost?EUR? I hate losing after all.
?EURoeSore loser I guess is what people would call it.?EUR? I look back at her and grinned. Why I feel like I can speak to her eludes me, maybe because she is one of the few who is are left and she understood Souji well?EUR? And Souji was the one who did not give up speaking to me. That ahou?EUR?
“Forward thinker or no… a woman should support the man she’s married to.”
I shrug?EUR? ?EURoeMaybe it is because I am rather conventional ne? Maybe it is just pride?EUR? that I cannot hear her back then. But it?EUR(TM)s my sons who are being hurt more in this.?EUR?
Then all of a sudden something about this whole conversation felt so wrong and I realized, for all purposes?EUR? This has only been a matter between Tokio and I. I furrow my eyebrows at Hide, ?EURoeHow did you know of my situation??EUR?
Maybe it is because I am rather conventional ne? Maybe it is just pride… that I cannot hear her back then.
“Pride goes both ways, Hajime.” I drop my hand from his arm and place it with my other hand in my lap. “And no… it’s not conventional to want that.”
How did you know of my situation?
I realize I spoke too much…
“A long time ago we did speak, a little, of these things.” How we did used to talk about his problems… and I could confess my fears to him as well. “You are someone, when you speak of something… sometimes there are things you -don’t- say directly that had a lot of meaning.”
“You spoke of patient women – Kondou-san’s wife, my mother – in a way…” I smile at him, for a moment my gaze . “That is not to say that you’re transparent… I have known you for a long time, ne?”
I do not remember speaking to her, only a few times trying to track down old friends through her brother. She was always too proper for my tastes which puzzles me now why she is rather forward. Her hand earlier and -now-… But who knows? My whole existence back then is cloudy at best.
“Suma…” A chuckle escapes my lips, “Just bear with me if I don’t remember. I don’t even remember specifically why I decided to move out of the house.”
Looking back at her, “It’s been so long… So what have you been up to lately?” It’s forward as well to ask but I need to know. “That man you were looking for in Tokyo, are you still looking for him?”
Just bear with me if I don’t remember. I don’t even remember specifically why I decided to move out of the house.
Oh, I -will-…
It’s been so long… So what have you been up to lately?
“Lately? Seeing to getting you and Asuka-san settled.” I grin at him. “In some ways I’m much as I was – I still love my garden. Of course work keeps me busy… and Makoto-chan.” I laugh softly. “Tonight when you came… I was trying to study English. She’s learning it in school and I at least need to know the basics.”
That man you were looking for in Tokyo, are you still looking for him?
For a moment… my heart stops as I look at him in the low light, his eyes look gold by the glow of the lamp. “In a way… But I do know where he is.” It’s only a matter of him finding himself again.
“Lately? Seeing to getting you and Asuka-san settled.”
Seeing her grin like that… I don’t think I’ve ever seen Hide grin… Only smile softly or innocently. I much prefer the grin though. I chuckle and have an uncontrollable urge to… What am I thinking? I look away and suck on my cigarette more.
“Tonight when you came… I was trying to study English. She’s learning it in school and I at least need to know the basics.”
“English is not that hard. There’s only 26 letters in their alphabet compared to our almost 2000 jouyou kanji.” I chuckle and look back, “Took me only half a year of boredom in bed.”
“In a way… But I do know where he is.”
“I see…” She’s still pretty much caught up with him I suppose… Well he is Makoto’s father so that is to be expected. Funny, I am a risk taker but in matters as these… I stand up and take the lamp. “I hope you find him. In the meantime I need to fetch the octopus.”
English. I shake my head. “But the sounds they make…” I laugh. “How did they ever come up with them?” He speaks of how he learned English. “Oh, you know it? Then you should help me -and- Makoto.”
I see… I hope you find him.
Standing up with him… one think that will never change is how he is so much taller than I. “We’ll have to see, ne?” I tilt my head slightly as I smile at him.
Then I remember… “Oh, you know last time you left your gloves here…” I pull them from my obi and press them into his free hand, but not taking away mine this time. “I kept them safe for you.”
“Oh, you know it? Then you should help me -and- Makoto.”
“I’ll try. I don’t think there’s much to do in this town…” I sigh, “Earlier I was looking for a soba and a coffee place. It’s so different from Tokyo.” Shaking my head I scowl and throw the butt of the cigarette out the window.
“Oh, you know last time you left your gloves here…” “I kept them safe for you.”
“I was wondering where these went.” I grin and looked down, noticing the lines and crevices on her hand. Suddenly I’m struck with a vision from someone’s garden and looking at much younger hands that were soft and supple to the touch. I must be thinking again of my wife… It would not make sense if it had been anyone elses hand, but then again it doesn’t make sense either because I don’t remember doing that to my wife.
“Let’s go.” I let go and proceed outside.
(OOC: You may close)
Earlier I was looking for a soba and a coffee place. It’s so different from Tokyo.
“Ah soba… hard to find good soba here. Except for my house.” I smile at that. “It’s something I can make -quite- well.”
“As for coffee, if Asuka-san gets the job at the one place I found, perhaps she can convince the owner to serve coffee, as she seems to be a fan of it as well. Even in Shizuoka it’s catching on.” The “shop” portion of the Miyake-san’s place is very lacking… it could use some attraction, even if she wishes to focus on selling to large customers.
I lock up behind us and hand Hajime the keys – two sets of each. “I went ahead and had another set made for Asuka-san.”
As we walk up the hill, I tell him, “I didn’t do much in the way of food shopping for you – come by in the morning for breakfast, and then we can go with Asuka-san to see about her job.”
We get back to my house, and I watch as Hajime and Saya leave.
(OOC – end thread)