I returned the dress today and came home a little… well, what seemed to be going on was more or less confirmed by Frau Susannah. Some of the Western men see the Japanese women as “available”, no matter their marital status…
I sigh.
I also returned with two magazines of fashion – one more typical, another outlining the “Japonisme” style. “It’s easier for either side to adapt to,” she tells me, with a smile. But I think what she’s wanting is to understand the new customers she’s anticipating better – after all, there’s a new rule requiring all women who appear before the Imperial court wear only Western clothing…
Although I’m hardly a fashion plate, and I don’t have the resources for it.
But I did confirm that we shared something in common. Gernot van Lindenberg is to her as Hajime is to me. And the situation is even less resolvable in his aristocratic marriage, due to cultural practices in their own country.
With Ai-chan sleeping, I flip through the book. It would be a waste to not use the corset again, but…. would I only attract the attentions of men like Howard who use good women as currency?
It’s later than I anticipated. I didn’t mean to waste so much time at the lair but I’m glad to know the state of affairs. I hope the situation doesn’t deteriorate but who knows. That’s why I must move quickly, while I know where he is.
I can’t help but be annoyed with Aioi however, it used to be so easy to get information out of her. But what’s changed? I throw the cigarette to the ground as I get inside. Trades… That’s what has changed.
Going straight to the washroom first, I clean up. The last thing I want is for Hide to smell her on me and besides I don’t even like the scent she uses. That done, I go into the bedroom to find a shirt and hopefully go straight to bed. I have lots of things to do tomorrow.
I see Hide reading a book. I greet her with a low “Tadaima” and get a change of clothes.
(OOC: Saitou goes straight to the closet looking for a shirt.)
I hear him come in, and he goes straight to the washroom, and then back to our room, shirtless.
Oh dear… what sort of day did he have?
Tadaima
I put down the magazines and go over to him, looking through the closet. I wrap my arms around him, and I can see that he has that “absorbed by work” face. Which goes with the shirt… “Good evening to you, Hajime. Did you have dinner? If not, I have some saved for you.” I smell something faint on him that I can’t place under the smell of the soap from our washroom.
It’s nice that we have a small table in this room, so we can share quiet meals when he comes in late. “Or just coffee?” I stand on tip-toes to kiss his cheek.
Thankful I found something more comfortable to wear, I face the person who greeted me. Not that I could avoid her of course.
“Good evening to you, Hajime. Did you have dinner? If not, I have some saved for you.”
“I’m not hungry.” I reply as she kisses my cheek.
I spy the book that she’s reading and notice it’s not Japanese. “I see you’ve returned your dress. Good.” I let her go and just quickly look over Ai-chan before sitting on the side of the bed. I want to lay my back.
He says that he’s not hungry, but looks tired. I put down my book, and take off the wrapper I put on over my sleeping yukata. As he sits on the bed, I lower the lights before joining him on the bed.
“Yes, I took it back. Frau Susanna is a kind lady,” I tell him. I lay down and tug on his hand for him to lie with me. “Long day?” I ask.
She pulls on me to lay down and I don’t protest much and get in bed. I close my eyes.
“Yes, I took it back. Frau Susanna is a kind lady,”
“Maybe she’ll be your friend.” I say but I don’t dare ask for more information on that. “Get out. Get around.”
I sigh a little, “I’ll be leaving soon, maybe in this weekend or next week – depends if I can get the information I need or not.. How is everything or rather everyone?”
Maybe she’ll be your friend. Get out. Get around
I smile at that. “Maybe,” I say, to all three. I lay on my side, my arm over his chest. “But only when things are taken care of here, and I don’t want to burden Yukiko-san.”
I’ll be leaving soon, maybe in this weekend or next week – depends if I can get the information I need or not.. How is everything or rather everyone?
I move my head to rest on his chest. “Take care of yourself. I need you to come home when it’s all over, after all.” I look up at him and kiss him, softly, and this time leave my head on his shoulder. “Ai-chan is lifting her head up… Makoto is good… and…” I sigh, “Yukiko-san reports that Tsutomu-kun is starting up his job at the Akebeko again.”
“But only when things are taken care of here, and I don’t want to burden Yukiko-san.”
I nod. Of course a baby is a lot of work still and she’s not even 3 months yet. But she doesn’t have much choices in friends. The Tanuki is a good girl but she’s with them and they are with him.
“Take care of yourself. I need you to come home when it’s all over, after all.
“Of course.” I let my free hand run through her hair as she settles on my shoulder.
“Ai-chan is lifting her head up… Makoto is good…
“Ah that’s very good to hear.” I’m glad my daughters are doing good and Ai-chan is progressing.
“Yukiko-san reports that Tsutomu-kun is starting up his job at the Akebeko again.”
I’m quiet for a long moment. “Did she mention why?” I have an inkling on why, I was already expecting something like this. It was actually much more surprising it took this long and surprising that those people allowed him back in.
I smile as he touches my hair, it’s… one of those simple gestures that I love.
Did she mention why?
“He told Yukiko-san that he was no longer getting a stipend from Aizu. I’m not certain what he needs money for… I suggested perhaps that nice young lady who visited here, but she didn’t think that’s the case.” I reach for his free hand, and take it in mine. “Certainly there must be other part-time jobs for young men? And with his kendo tournament coming up…” I shake my head. “Yukiko-san said that Myoujin-san assured her that he wouldn’t be out late. She plans on picking him up – but shouldn’t I do that? I don’t think it’s safe for a young woman, and that I should be helping more outside of the house.”
“He told Yukiko-san that he was no longer getting a stipend from Aizu. I’m not certain what he needs money for… I suggested perhaps that nice young lady who visited here, but she didn’t think that’s the case.”
“He’s so stubborn.” I say, staring up at the ceiling.
“Certainly there must be other part-time jobs for young men? And with his kendo tournament coming up…”
“There are, but… I stopped sending money to his Mother…” I shrug, “Rather his Uncle Morinosuke in Aizu, thinking he lives with us now. He should come to you or I if he needs something.”
Of course with that stopped that also meant I no longer supported his mother either. I’m sure she’ll get by somehow.
She plans on picking him up – but shouldn’t I do that? I don’t think it’s safe for a young woman, and that I should be helping more outside of the house.”
“That’s up to you or I could just forbid him to keep the job.” I say, “My agreement with him didn’t extend indefinitely.” It’s true I don’t plan to be away for months this time but I’m not sure if I can rely on my oldest. “Eiji could possibly help but he ah… The last time I saw him, he doesn’t seem up for much lately.”
He’s so stubborn.
“Just like someone else I know,” I say, squeezing his hand.
So he’s not sending money to Aizu… does that include Tokio? Is this a new strategy?
That’s up to you or I could just forbid him to keep the job. My agreement with him didn’t extend indefinitely
“To forbid him…” I sigh, “would that have worked with you at that age? He sees a problem – that he doesn’t have pocket money and is too stubborn to ask you or I – and took steps to solve it.” I look over at him. “I’ll let Yukiko-san walk him for now – but once it starts getting dark as fall continues, -if- he’s still working there… I’ll take over then.”
Eiji could possibly help but he ah… The last time I saw him, he doesn’t seem up for much lately.
“I’ve not seen him since… we brought Ai-chan home, and then the family picture?” I’m surprised that it’s been that long. He never came by as much as I’d like, even with an standing open invitation, “but what’s wrong with him? Is he still trying to figure things out?”
Hide doesn’t say anything about my refusing to send monetary support to Aizu, obviously his mother is included in that. Besides, why do I have to send that woman anything? I was a fool for doing so for many years. Maybe now my son will actually believe where the money came from. His mother made money but not much and I gave that woman the handle of finances just like any samurai house is supposed to be run.
“To forbid him…” I sigh, “would that have worked with you at that age? He sees a problem – that he doesn’t have pocket money and is too stubborn to ask you or I – and took steps to solve it.
“It was to make a point to the boy.” I say. “His mother nor that Uncle in Aizu is not his source of support. But do as you wish.”
“but what’s wrong with him? Is he still trying to figure things out?”
I shrug. “Another obstinate young man. I’ll deal with Eiji when I come back.” I need to do something useful first, prove that it’s fine to be here. Otherwise my sons will think, i’m just as useless just as her brothers do.
I let her go. We should try to get to bed, rather than talking about -useless- things. “Go to sleep. None of these things will get resolved tonight.”
It was to make a point to the boy. His mother nor that Uncle in Aizu is not his source of support. But do as you wish.
I sigh. I’m not going to waste one of our rare times together arguing, but it’s clear that I didn’t understand the point of it earlier.
Go to sleep. None of these things will get resolved tonight
“Can you tell me about what you’re working on?” I ask. “Is this part of what took you away back over the summer – and the work that goes all the way back before that?” I ask. I kiss his cheek. “In our writer’s time, at least on “shows”, cops always have “partners”, you know, who not only help then out on the streets but also serve as sometime to go over the case with. With Shindou-san still gone… well, I’m here to listen, if you want to talk.” I grin slightly. “I am trustworthy, after all… and you know I know of things, from the old days.”
“Can you tell me about what you’re working on?” cops always have “partners”, you know, who not only help then out on the streets but also serve as sometime to go over the case with. With Shindou-san still gone… well, I’m here to listen, if you want to talk.”
She grins and I know she wants to be involved but what can I tell her? The truth was I didn’t want to talk but I know how this game is played.
“I know where Tanaka is.” I start, “But he won’t be there for long. I was hoping to get more info from an informant…” I sigh, “We were finally able to extract her, Aioi. But she’s not giving up her secrets easily so I… I plan to go in anyway.”
That wasn’t the plan. I know there’s more behind Tanaka but it’s either that or this feeling of utter uselessness ever since those events made me realize I didn’t deserve to be here.
“That enough for you?” I really shouldn’t have told her anything but I know if I didn’t tell her anything she’d just take it differently. Exhausted and knowing I have to deter that son of mine tomorrow afternoon at the latest, I decide to just cut it short. “Now let’s go to sleep.”
(OOC: End.)