(Yagi Tamesaburou)
Finally a quiet morning… I have no clients to see, Yuunosuke is at work, the children in school, and Hanako is spending the week with her sister… Momoko-san had another baby. I wondered if it would be for the best, since she’s still recovering, to be around an infant.
Of course, there’s still Sachiko here… I hear my youngest daughter stirring in the other room. A miscarriage after Hiroshi, then we had this little one… and then we lost another one in March, not too soon after she told me. It’s been hard on her… on all of us. She’s even suggested that we stop trying for more… after all… isn’t three children enough? Hanako just needs time. After all of these years, she still has that mischievous smile and forceful nature of the little five year old girl who announced that she was going to marry me when we grew up. Of course, I recall with a smile, she made similar declarations to half of the Shinsengumi!
I go and get Sachiko-chan, she doesn’t seem to be hungry yet. I settle down to look over papers as she plays beside me, with toys that her brother and sister enjoyed… and that Yuunosuke and Hide and I…
Hide-neesan. Looking at the calendar, I realize that it’s almost her birthday. I wonder… I send her money, it’s about time to send a little something to her account in the bank in Atami, and Yuunosuke is getting books together to send them more. It was our agreement – he could send them books but he was not to go down there.
It was one night in April that Yuunosuke looked up from his sake as we sat on the engawa and asked, “I was thinking… I saw the children this morning, it’s time for school to begin; I thought – is our niece starting school yet?”
I didn’t answer him. She must be, oh, five now, it would be the right age? Hide-neesan didn’t even tell us her name… just as she told me nothing when she came to tell me that she was having a child. I should have demanded she tell me who the father is, or that she not leave. It doesn’t have to be like it is.
But after I wrote her, telling her about the possibility of adopting her daughter out to someone so she could return home… I heard nothing. Was she angry at me? So many times I’ve wanted to go down to Ito to see her, just to see her and make sure that she’s alright. It’s hurt all of us that she’s never written… it took a long time for Yuunosuke to stop -expecting- her to just come back. He was always a very hopeful person, like oneesan. He has his own interests now, and as long as he’s quiet about it… it’s not like the old days, when such things were known to happen between samurai. These western influences have changed many things in subtle ways…
But I do prefer this coffee of theirs to tea! It’s so invigorating! Taking a sip… it is good in the mornings.
From a stack of papers a card falls out. Fujita Goro. Ah, yes, Saitou-san. He did come here last fall, and asked about Hide-neesan. I begin to think… he knows her, he knew her from the time when she was in Tokyo. I could write him, and ask him to look for her. The address I had for her in Ito is to the post office, nothing concrete… it’s a bit too large just to go and start wandering around.
But Saitou-san is in the police… he could know of a way to find her, I could write him and ask… If she doesn’t want to see us, fine, I just want to know… I shake my head. Hanako wouldn’t like me involving others in family business. It was her idea to say that Hide-neesan was traveling, a story to tell our friends and neighbors.
I look over to my Sachiko-chan. Kioko and Hiroshi look more like their mother but Sachiko resembles the Yagi family very much so, in looks and temperament – one of the old servants say that she looks just like oneesan. “Let’s get us some lunch, ne?” I ask her as I pick her up. She smiles, “hai hai!” Lunch is leftovers of the fish that Yuunosuke cooked last night. Thank goodness that I still have a decent supply of fresh wasabi to cover the attempts he’s made at cooking. “I hope your mother is back soon,” I tell Sachiko.
June 1st, 1885 – Yagi House (All Day)
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After leaving the school I go to the market. Since Hiroshi-kun goes to my school, he comes with me. “You shouldn’t cook tonight,” he tells me with his usual honesty. Really! “Then who should cook?” I laugh. Hanako-san should be home soon, right? I need to ask Tamesaburou about that…
We have dinner – we all have some nice salmon, Tamesaburou has a pile of wasabi with fish somewhere under it. The kids to bed and we’re stuck cleaning up the dinner.
I look over to my brother. “It’s a nice night for sake, ne?” I grin at him. It’s -always- a nice night for sake.
Tamesaburou pulls out the bottle, and shakes his head. “Sorry, we’re out.”
I go outside and sit down anyway. “When will Hanako-san be back?” This place really needs a woman!
After checking out a few things in Shimabara, I found myself heading back to Mibu. It’s hard to walk these streets still… But that’s to be expected.
Mibu…
The Yagi’s live a few streets down. I should visit them… And ask what has happened… Six years is a long time to be parted from family. I should know, I exiled myself from Katsu and Hiroaki for at least ten years.
Ito…
That place… It gives me the chills but isn’t Ito a quiet place? Why does it… Bah! I stomp and turned the corner leading to the Yagi’s. I do not have business here and it’s not like I can do something for an old friend. Family matters are not something I handle well, especially family matters of -others-. Maybe I’m just guilty… I did leave Hide to be on her own in Tokyo while I tried to get things somewhere with my work. Had it not failed miserably…
My hands knock on the door and I frown. I didn’t even bring anything… But why the hell do -I- care?
I realize that maybe I should go out and buy some sake -somewhere- as Yuunosuke prattles on about some book he’s read. It’s interesting to be sure, but he usually only wants to discuss English books I can’t read… I think that’s on -purpose-.
Then I hear a knock at the gate. I hop up and go, “Saitou-san!” I say upon seeing our visitor. “Come in, come in…”
“Come in, come in…”
I look him over and bow slightly.
“It looked like you were headed somewhere…”
Perhaps it’s because I’m uncomfortable in this place, which is why I’m already plotting my way out. Standing idly, I remove my gloves and searched my pockets for a match.
It looked like you were headed somewhere…
Perceptive as always! “I thought it would be nice to have sake on this summer evening, and we don’t have any.” I would like to speak to him… this will save me writing a letter. But not in front of Yuunosuke, since it is about oneesan.
I go over to my brother. “I’ll be back in a little while. Stay here with the children?” He agrees and I turn back to Saitou-san. Yuunosuke is the type who would rather drink at home than go somewhere – that, and he’s probably in the middle of some book.
“I know a place not far from here. It’s rather new but they have very fine sake.” I lead him out and down a few streets to a small building, a quiet sake bar. Nothing rowdy or… heh heh… I’ve not been to Shimbara since before I was married. This place suits me well enough when I need to drink away from home.
We’re lead to a table and the girl comes to take our orders. “Ah, so what brings you to Kyoto, Saitou-san?” I ask.
Tamesaburou knows I drink, he’s seen me a few times on the engawa when everyone else was sleeping. I’m still fond of sake of course, if you do not like sake there is something wrong with you. Sake is as Japanese as you can get…
“Ah, so what brings you to Kyoto, Saitou-san?”
“Work…” I take the bottle that was brought and poured for him and myself. I hesitate to start a conversation about him and his sister. It would be prying, but maybe after a few drinks…
I drown my first cup.
Work
I drink some of my sake. Very good…
“Ah, you will find things haven’t changed much here since you last visited…” I frown slightly. It’s a big favor to ask, and again I could hear Hanako scolding me for getting others involved in family business.
But Saitou-san has known our family for a long time, and I know that he knew oneesan during the time she lived in Tokyo.
“Work… you’re still with the police?” I ask.
“Ah, you will find things haven’t changed much here since you last visited…”
The sake is indeed fine… But what is this last visit? The last time I was here…
“On the contrary, it’s much better than the last time I’ve been here.” Which was at least a few years ago to check up on the same person, I’m here for now.
“Work… you’re still with the police?”
I chuckle. “I’ll never quit.”
Calling for the waitress I ask for some yakitori, that soba I had earlier has lost it’s effect. It’s been quite a few hours already after all.
I’m glad he orders the yakatori. Anything is better than what Yuunosuke called dinner tonight.
“Today – earlier – I was thinking that I’d like to find Hide-neesan. She’s not traveling.” I remember the story we told him earlier, hopefully he won’t be too angry over that. “We think that she’s in Ito, but we don’t know where.”
I take another sip of the sake. “Could you help us find her? And … she has a child, as well.” The girl brings the yakatori. What was it Kondou-san used to say? Yakatori was best when drinking? I was so young then I had no idea what he was talking about. “I just… want to know if she’s doing alright.” And about my neice…
“Today – earlier – I was thinking that I’d like to find Hide-neesan. She’s not traveling.” “We think that she’s in Ito, but we don’t know where.”
“Sou ka…” I frown remembering that these people had not dared see Hide for quite a few years, but I look up a bit puzzled why Tamesaburou would want to see her now. I’d ask, but there’s no point. What’s important it, he -is- looking for her.
“A few weeks ago she visited me in Tokyo, probably to visit Souji.” I’m struck at how strange that sounded. Souji seems very alive for some reason but I -know- he’s dead. “She is doing well and her daughter, Makoto.”
I grin at this and shake my head. I still can’t over that name for some reason… It highly pleases me.
Taking another drink, I watch the window and stare at the waning moon. Old times, it reminds me of old times.
“She is indeed in Ito but she was in such a hurry to leave, she did not leave me an address of where I can find her.”
I decide not to tell him of what happened in the train station. Somehow I feel that it is a private matter between Hide and I. I’m sure they won’t appreciate the fact that I did not take care of their sister while she was in Tokyo.
A few weeks ago she visited me in Tokyo, probably to visit Souji.
Of course… his death effected Hide-neesan so. And Saitou-san was his closest friend – maybe that’s why he looked out for her when she was in Tokyo. I had wondered when she would write me about him coming to have dinner with her…
She is doing well and her daughter, Makoto.
My eyes widen and I smile. “Makoto? Her daughter’s name is Makoto?” Strange name for a girl yet somehow I can see oneesan liking that name. “She never told us… just that she had a daughter.” I shake my head.
She is indeed in Ito but she was in such a hurry to leave, she did not leave me an address of where I can find her.
“Ah… my brother sends her books on occasion but just to the post office there. But…” I think for a moment, figuring out how to say this, “when you have time, could you go check on her? I can of course cover your expenses.” This matter will stay between Saitou-san and I – I do have a little of my own money set aside, and if Yuunosuke had an actual address… he would be on the first train. Hopefully he won’t think I’m asking too much.
“Ito… it’s by the sea, ne? She always wanted to see the ocean…” I say, remembering something she said once when we talked a long time ago, before she went to Tokyo.
“Makoto? Her daughter’s name is Makoto?” “She never told us… just that she had a daughter.”
Obviously something horribly wrong happened here. Of course, whoever her lover was ran away and left her to face the consequences in Kyoto. But this talk reminds me of my own children and how I want to be back in Tokyo. My eyes narrow angrily and I drown the sake like it was water. Tokio and I can never work things out it seems, I’ve stopped by the house a few times this week and her workplace… Someone was visiting her.
“Well you know how protective parents are of their children but I can understand that I am a parent myself. But tell me, do you even have an idea of who ran out on her? She told me she was looking for him in Tokyo.”
“Ah… my brother sends her books on occasion but just to the post office there. But…” “when you have time, could you go check on her? I can of course cover your expenses.”
I was about to reply that I’m on assignment and can probably not do anything for a few months, when I realized… Ito might be the place I am looking for to hide Saya and money is -always- good. With the remittance to Tokio and supporting myself…
“I would be glad to.” I smirk. Now why didn’t I think of that?
“Ito… it’s by the sea, ne? She always wanted to see the ocean…”
“I don’t know to be honest. I’ve been to the place before but only for a night and I returned to Tokyo immediately.” I pause and pour another cup, “When I find her, will you visit?”
But tell me, do you even have an idea of who ran out on her? She told me she was looking for him in Tokyo.
I shake my head. “She told me -nothing-…” I think back to that day. “She came all planned what she was going to say, it seemed, and what she needed from me, and I was too surprised to ask the questions I should have. All I know was that she was in a hurry, and that she was very resolved that she was leaving Tokyo.”
“She wrote us that you two knew each other back then – you don’t know who…” it’s very uncomfortable, asking about the man who…
I would be glad to.
“Great!” I grin. “Come by tomorrow – I’ll be home in the afternoon and I’ll give you the money.” Then I say, “but not too late. I’d rather this be a matter between us, and not involve my younger brother.”
When I find her, will you visit?
I think for a minute. “Perhaps. My wife would rather leave things buried, since it was Hide-neesan who was so adamant about leaving; but… we’ll have to see what you find. She didn’t say, when you saw her, if she had married or anything?”
If that was the case then she would have come home. Maybe. I down a cup of sake. I can’t quite keep up with Saitou-san…
Well there’s not much to go on what Tamesaburou tells me. Basically he doesn’t know anything and wasn’t told anything. For a moment I wonder if Hide did this as protection for that man. I drink a bit more. So there’s a Souji and an unnamed man she’s been looking for. I smirk slightly. If I had waited for her to come along, it looks like I’d -still- be waiting. Ah but of course, I’m over her… It was rather easy to marry after all since it was arranged by the Daimyo himself and Tokio was a desirable woman.
But things change…
I chuckle out of the blue. Yes they have changed and I’ll be damned if she thinks she can take my son away. I didn’t give her a chance with my work… Much less with Tsuyoshi. I’ll stay married to her till the day I die and she can’t re-marry whoever that fool was.
“Great!” “Come by tomorrow – I’ll be home in the afternoon and I’ll give you the money.”
I’m brought out of my thoughts… Tomorrow? AFTERNOON? What the hell am I going to do here in Kyoto -that- long? I have other things to do… But I do need the money so I agree.
She didn’t say, when you saw her, if she had married or anything?”
I start lighting a cigarette and thought about our conversation in the carriage, but my mind drifts again to that one moment on the platform. A married woman doesn’t go hugging friends like that, but she did tell me she wasn’t married…
“Not married…” My eyes stare hard at the sake. Mistakes… They have been too many and on important matters. Suddenly the sake tastes -very- bitter.
One thing I get from this conversation (besides my niece’s name) is that Hide-neesan was in Tokyo looking for that man… somehow that eases my mind. I never had spoken of the fear I had had to Yuunosuke or Hanako that something terrible had happened to her… perhaps it was someone she cared for if she’s looking for him?
“Ah, not married…” If she had she might have come to see us. I don’t know why Saitou-san is so quiet. He spoke of children – so he is married? I wonder if it was to that woman he brought to dinner that night?
I drink another cup of sake and finish the last of the yakataori before me. “Thank you, Saitou-san, for your help on this matter.” I take out my card. “Here, this is my address at work – send the information there.”
I stay for a few more hours after Tamesaburou left. Staying in Kyoto another day wasn’t part of the plan. As the customers finally dwindled, I head out to find a place to spend the night.
(OOC: Ends thread)