Tuesday – After the Appointment
Feeling bad about skipping out on therapy yesterday, I instead went today after Yukiko-san returned from taking Makoto-chan and Tsutomu-kun to school. As the weather was fine it wasn’t too hard to get a rickshaw. And the doctor accommodated me easily – with minimal fussing as he is pleased about how well I’ve started walking.
But that didn’t save me from new exercises – ones for my mid-section and then for my hand. The mid-section one – ones I know will one day be called sit-ups or crunches – are -brutal-. But it’s the hand ones that make me confront the injury that I may have the hardest time overcoming – my hand.
“Doctor, about the scars, on my hand and side – is there any way to improve those?” He shakes his head. “Oil, keeping it supple while it heals, but, there isn’t much. They say that, as we call it, taking the waters at some hot springs resorts can help… but I don’t know how much of that is true.”
I know another way to help, outside of this time. It would do better than anything this good doctor could offer, but…
As long as I have scars it’s a reminder to Hajime about it all… I sigh. Not the man who pursued me across Japan and saved me, but the one who let me slip away.
After therapy, it began to drizzle. I stand under the awning of a building at the edge of campus, trying to hail a rickshaw or even an expensive hire carriage… no luck. Were it not the matter of nearly 2 miles, I could just -walk- but… I’m not able to do that yet.
Watching the rain… he came home last night. It was him, at least, even if he came in late. Not smelling of that woman. I frown without realizing it, at the thought. Maybe it’s a work contact, maybe… a friend. Maybe a woman he’s turned to in order to lament. Once, he lamented about his wife. Now… am I the one that drives him to another woman, for such comfort? Even if “nothing” happens… I look down at the ring on my finger. I trust him, not to cross a certain line. A line of physical contact is fairly… easy to see, or at least as I would imagine. But one for emotional intimacy? Ah… that’s something I’m more afraid of losing.
And terrified that I’ve already lost it.
“Better be quick if you want a ride today, missy!” An old woman pushes past me, onto a single-rider rickshaw. Dammit! I just want to be -home-, as incomplete of a place it is without him being fully there.
(OOC – Hide is waiting in the rain. Anyone can run into her. If none of your characters will, pls reply as such. Thanks)
(OOC: Finishing up a previous night post. Someone will enter this thread.)
Yagi-san wasn’t home when I got back from the market. I don’t want to ask Yuki because I didn’t want to worry her either. I’m very concerned because what if… What if someone’s taken Yagi-san again? But now that I think of that, I’m worrying about Yukiko whom I left clueless in the house. I didn’t realize the weight of responsibility that Otou-san placed on me. Calm down Eiji. Calm down! If I don’t find Yagi-san in that clinic, I’m heading straight to the Precinct!
I almost jump out of the rickshaw but tell him to wait for me… Because what if I have to go to police! I run to the entrance since I didn’t have an umbrella.
“Yagi-san!” I shout. Oh I’m so relieved! I finally get to catch a breath as I stand under the awning with her and motion to the rickshaw to get closer to us.
(OOC: Eiji is a bit uncharacteristically jittery today and didn’t ask Yukiko about Hide. If he did he could’ve avoided all his worries.)
I’m watching the street intently that I don’t notice the rickshaw coming from the other way, a bit haphazardly, and my heart leaps – he’s come for me!
But it’s Eiji-san and I try to keep my smile on. I did leave a note…. but he looks worried. It’s then my heart almost stops at the look on his face.
I go to him as he comes under the awning. “I left a note – I missed yesterday’s session – is Hajime alright? Or is it one of the children?” He’s out of breath and getting the rickshaw to come over with urgency!
I shake my head finally catching my breath. “No Yagi-san, everyone’s fine.”
I look at her. I guess I did drive myself in a panic. “I missed the note and Yuki and I didn’t have a chance to talk.”
Straightening up, “Otou-san had given me your schedule so I can go with you on appointments so when I didn’t see you at home… I guess I jumped the gun.” Well more than jumped the gun.
“Well at least you can go home now.” I offer to help her up on the rickshaw. There’s only space for one but I can walk back.
Everyone’s fine? But then why is he here? But I guess it would be strange not to find me at home these days, since I’m mostly -stuck- there…
Otou-san had given me your schedule so I can go with you on appointments
I look at him, and sit back down on the bench under the awning. “Why… why isn’t he coming anymore? He’s been bringing me himself, so he can hear it from the doctor, how I’m recovering.” After all, I’m sure he finds my self-prognosis too improbably sunny.
I look at Eiji-san. “When did you last talk to him?” I see the rickshaw man shrug, as a University student hails him down and waves money at him, and they roll off.
Eiji:
Yagi-san asks… but isn’t it obvious? “He said his work was unpredictable and someone needs to make sure you’re going to your appointments.” Well that’s what he said but maybe Yagi-san is right to question, after all he basically makes his own hours now. He could come himself, barring any true emergencies.
“Well he came to me last night. We spoke and drank a bit then he asked for Tomu.”
And I watch as the rickshaw abandons us. That jerk! Didn’t he see she’s going to need transport?
Eiji-san cites Hajime’s unpredictable job but I… “What else did he tell you last night?” Drinking and then Tsutomu-kun? I start to feel nervous. Very nervous.
I watch as the rickshaw just… leaves. While it wasn’t ideal, as there would be no room for Eiji-san, it was a ride. I lean my head against the wall behind the bench, for once not missing the hairpins that once kept my hair up when I was out. Trying to breathe. “Did he sound… different?”
Different? “No. Not at all Yagi-san.” I laugh a little. “He even brought some Umeshu. But it was too sweet. It was obviously for Tsutomu.”
Yagi-san looks tired. It must be from her therapy. I wish that rickshaw didn’t do that. But the rain is starting to let up and I’m seeing more rides.
“And I wouldn’t worry too much about Tomu. I’m sure he just gave his father the cold shoulder treatment as usual.” I’m not making light of it. “Otou-san probably wanted to just start showing him how men drink.’
Eiji-san of course waives it off. Or is he? I just don’t know how observant he really can be. He’s used to seeing a lot from Hajime over the years.
Otou-san probably wanted to just start showing him how men drink
I look at him with some alarm and dread. “On a night before school?” -Men- can drink and still be functional… well, to be fair, Tsutomu-kun was his usual quiet self, and he’s not a morning person -at all-. My mind whirls with thoughts as I try to put it all together. To see what I’m missing, what I don’t understand, in this – “Why would be be in such a rush? To show him how to drink?”
I think of the last time I saw Hijikata-san, how he rushed in to keep an old promise to my father – to take my brothers out drinking for their first time. The caped man, of course, stole that first from Hajime…
Ooc reply tom
Eiji:
“On a night before school?”
“Well… I guess.” I think back. Was there anything odd about him? I shake my head. “He seemed talkative, spoke to me about my time in the old house. But he -sounded- like himself Yagi-san.”
“Why would be be in such a rush? To show him how to drink?”
“Maybe he needed to tell Tsutomu something?” But she’s right, that could’ve waited.
I try to smile. There’s no sense spinning our wheels here nor worrying about it now. Otherwise Yagi-san will just end up as I did in a panic. “Now Yagi-san let’s get you home. They’ll be home this afternoon and you can ask your questions then. I’m sure everything’s alright.”
I’ve been saying that tune a lot lately first to Yukiko and now I guess to Yagi-san. The rickshaws are all still full but the carriages are not so I flag one of them down and it stops right in front of us.
Holding out my hand, “Come on Yagi-san. Let’s get you home.”
(OOC: you can close)
He talked about the old house?
But Eiji-san is full of assurances. I don’t… have that optimism right now. Looking at the smile he offers me, I wonder what he knows, or suspects.
I let him lead us onto a carriage. We should get home.
(OOC – Close)