(Makoto)
AUNTIE SAYA IS COMING TO STAY!
I’m very very excited. She said that she wants to stay longer and spend some time with me.
Also in good news, Hahaue quit her job. She said that it wasn’t for her and she’s right, mothers should be at HOME. It was strange Monday to come home and nobody was here. Also, the baby shouldn’t be out in the cold so much, walking back and forth to school! Oniisan said that and he’s right. Ai-chan is so lucky to have a big brother taking care of her from the -beginning-.
“So can we go and get cake?” I ask Auntie Saya after we’re told the news. More good news – Uncle Yuunosuke is NOT staying, he has to get back to work. He seems very unhappy to be leaving Auntie Saya behind. I like him -okay- but he’s still not cool enough for her, even if he can speak six languages. It is too bad he’s leaving, a little. My new teacher said I could bring him to class and he could talk for us. German sounds like a shouty sneeze! But at least he is staying for dinner.
Oh, it’s time for dinner. Now hahaue will have time to teach Midori-san to cook. She’s even more helpless in the kitchen than Yukiko-san was, and look at her now!
Saya:
So we’re now all at the round dinner table just about to finish tonight’s dinner. And there’s a strawberry short cake that Makoto and I bought from the “Fraisier Bakery”. Makoto seems very happy after she heard from Yagi-san that she quit her job but it doesn’t look like Yagi-san is any happier with the decision.
Yuunosuke is with us just for tonight he’s leaving tomorrow morning. He’s never able to get away from his job very long. I suppose the academic life is less forgiving? We haven’t even been able to spend time talking about the problem here. But I suppose from his point of view, what were we to talk about?
“Thanks for the dinner Yagi-san. It’s excellent as I remember it.” I say and put on a light air for the children. The oldest one seems to read through me though and he right about rolled his eyes at me! I saw that you twerp!
I go ahead and reach for the cake and put it in between Makoto and I, far from that boy! And I cut a piece for Yuunosuke and offer it up. I suppose it’s more of a peace offering?? For leaving him so much while we were in Tokyo.
“It’s good.” I think… I tell him. “Have some?”
Then I cut some for the two girls and one for Yagi-san who’s now tending to Ai-chan who’s on the tall wooden rocking crib beside her. It’s nice that they don’t just leave the baby in the room all the time. It seems that the heart of this home is in the kitchen. Such… A perfectly normal and if Hajime had been here, I’d say perfectly normal and happy life they have. But I know the problems…
“Ah Yukiko-san, I forgot to thank you as well. I just remembered you help out a lot in the kitchen now don’t you?” I smile at her. “Once Yuunosuke leaves tomorrow I guess it will just be us, -mostly- girls.” And that boy who doesn’t seem to like me for some reason, but he’s much like his father. Afraid of strangers!
Yukiko just smiles sheepishly at me and nods her head. Well I guess she’s another one, all quiet and all.
(Hide)
Dinner goes well, even though Tsutomu-kun does not seem happy about having someone else here. He eyes Saya-san warily. And she skips giving him cake! Since I don’t care for sweets, I pass him my slice. The guilty look goes away from Makoto’s face – I know she was struggling with the idea of him not getting cake – and she beams a smile at me.
But this dinner has some lightness to it. Last night I was tired after the long walk home, and dealing with the day at work and coming home to what needed to be seen to here. I’m still rattled over what happened with Hajime today, the way I just melted down and clung to him. Aioi-san is probably more in control of her emotions.
Ah Yukiko-san, I forgot to thank you as well. I just remembered you help out a lot in the kitchen now don’t you? Once Yuunosuke leaves tomorrow I guess it will just be us, -mostly- girls.”
Makoto speaks up, “oh, but my pet turtle is a boy. At least we think it is, it’s hard to tell because their butts – ” and then Yukiko-san suddenly stands up. “Makoto-chan! Help me clean up the plates!” I cough to cover a laugh at the turn in conversation, because a discussion of turtle gender and anatomy isn’t ideal dinner conversation…
I stand up, too, and scoop up Ai-chan. “Bath and bedtime for you!” I tell her, and she starts lunging for Tsutomu-kun. She’s getting to where he, and only he, can give her a bath, even she seems to understand that there’s something missing at this house. Well, someone.
I nudge my brother. “It’s not cold tonight, go out and talk to Saya-san.” I know he doesn’t want to leave. His job isn’t much but it’s the best school he can land right now.
Saya:
I smile as I realize that Yagi-san gave her cake to the boy. Well can I really blame her? She probably thinks he’s her son after all, though I do wonder what the boy thinks. I mean he doesn’t even know anything about me and he’s already decided he doesn’t like me. I bet it wasn’t as easy going as it was when Hajime first brought him here.
And Makoto starts talking about anatomy and Yukiko is sufficiently embarassed about it. And in no time everyone seems to have gone to their respective places upstairs after quickly cleaning up tonight’s dinner. Even Yagi-san is going so I go and open the back door out the kitchen and sit outside.
I’m not sure what to do to fix this, eventhough I now know most of the involved parties. Yagi-san seems to have recovered though after whatever Hajime did to her, so I guess that’s good?
(Hide)
As Saya-san starts to go outside, I touch her arm. “I’m setting up your futon in the formal room, unless you want to share with the turtle,” I smile. “we’ll talk more later.” We’ll have another couple of days, but Yuunosuke leaves tomorrow. “And… thank you for today.”
Tsutomu-kun takes Ai-chan from me, and she makes those charming, delighted, burbling sounds that happy babies make. “I’ll get the water started,” I tell him, as we head back to the bath.
(Yuunosuke)
I’m waiting on the back engawa. “She’s growing vegetables,” I muse. Maybe she is worried about money, to put those in among her flowers. I look over at Saya-san and offer her my hand to help her sit.
“Thank you for staying, to look after the family…” I can’t help but look at her. She’s so pretty, but it’s those eyes that catch me. Right now… they look far away. I grin a bit, “it won’t be the same, though, coming home without getting more drool on my shoulder.”
She’s growing vegetables
I nod. “Maybe it’s so she and the children can have something to do together?” But the truth was the vegetable garden looks it hasn’t been touched for weeks with the some weeds making its way in between the vegetables. How… apt.
I take his offered hand and we sit down on the engawa. It’s a nice cool night. Very peaceful one would think…
“it won’t be the same, though, coming home without getting more drool on my shoulder.”
“So why are you leaving so soon then? Surely you don’t think your sister will be alright?” I frown. He’s being nice i know but shouldn’t he show his moral support at least? I sigh. I shouldn’t judge him. I don’t know his relationship with his sister. “Ah sumana. I won’t be staying long just as soon as that -idiot- get the guards to watch this place.”
Which knowing Hajime should be as soon as tomorrow, but the truth is I just don’t know anymore. He’s been unpredictable lately.
Maybe it’s so she and the children can have something to do together?
I look out at it and smile, thinking back. “Kondou-san, who was of farmer stock and not samurai, insisted on putting in vegetables in our garden. My father moaned and complained about our status as samurai, but my mother – who was of a higher family background – understood how -practical- it would be, feeding more mouths. Hide-neesan of course jumped in to help, tending it, but otousan forbade my brother and I from helping.” But I did, at least, crouching next to oneesan, smelling the earth, running out at dawn to see what had sprouted from the night before. But I can see in the moonlight that it’s not as meticulously tended as one of her gardens should be.
So why are you leaving so soon then? Surely you don’t think your sister will be alright?
I can sense some… disapproval? in her tone. “I have this job which, sadly, as unfulfilling as it is… it pays well so I can make plans for the future.” I take the hand that’s still in mine. “So I should get back to that. But as for… being a good brother… protecting his sister in her hour of need…” I sigh. “I offered to stay with her, when she moved out to Tokyo. She shooed me off, even though she’d never lived alone before. Had I insisted… who knows how things would have turned out?” Would she have met Saitou-san? Or just gone on to her old destiny of an old maid?
“I did ask, you know, this time, when I was here yesterday. If she’d like me to stay, to help out. But she turned me down. I’m glad she’s not working anymore, I think it helped her with this… wall she was building. She did it back in the old days, when everything fell apart and everyone was dying. Just worked constantly, took it all on. It wasn’t saintly, it was… -stubborn-. And a way of avoiding how terrible everything was.” I look at my companion, trying not to be distracted by her. “Mother used to say, just let her do her thing, let her figure it out. I think she would have done better – then and now – had she not been left alone so much.” Okaasan was a wonderful woman, but different from oneesan. Oneesan is more like Obaasan…
What is Saitou-san doing, to take care of this house when there’s danger? What she wasn’t helpfully here to step in before he can get official protection? Leave oneesan to get hurt, -again-? Or the children this time? My sister is a stubborn fool but this man…
I think for a minute. I could telegram the school, and they won’t fire me – I’m the entire foreign language department, after all. That, and the house has -at least- three of Hanako-san’s sisters there right now, and that’s… a -lot-. “I could stay a few more days, if I won’t be in your way. It’s hard enough to protect a house with this many people, coming and going. But I can help keep an eye on things.” I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, the one that always escapes. “It’s a lot to put on you, as remarkable as you are.” I get stuck looking into her eyes again…
Saya:
“Kondou?” I ask then realize it must be one of the Shinsengumi who stayed at the Yagi house. “Well appearances are important to a Samurai. Your father probably wanted to make sure the Yagi house would be respected so that’s why you and your brother weren’t allowed to work.”
He tells me about his job. I didn’t think educational institutions paid that well. But Yuunosuke-san is a -special- sort. He’s smart but not street smart, more like book smart.
I offered to stay with her, when she moved out to Tokyo. She shooed me off, even though she’d never lived alone before. Had I insisted… who knows how things would have turned out?”
“Well that was many years ago right?” I smile slightly. It’s good to have siblings. I… don’t know where mine is anymore. “You were probably so young back then and still clinging to you “onee-san”. She probably was doing both of you a favor.”
He tells me more about Yagi-san, what happened to them back then during the war. About her mother (and his!) being more hands off, letting others figure it out for themselves. Maybe it’s from his mother that he gets it from? To leave alone and give space and -hope- it gets better. But sometimes it doesn’t get better.
And I see a slight flash of concern in his eyes. Concern and anger maybe? He would be right to be angry but he was trying not to. Maybe that’s the way it should be? After all what good would getting angry do especially if it changes nothing?
could stay a few more days, if I won’t be in your way. It’s hard enough to protect a house with this many people, coming and going. But I can help keep an eye on things
I shake my head and lean a little into his hand that touched my cheek. “No… Go back to your job. It will only be a day or two I’m sure that he needs me here.” Suddenly I realized I -was- leaning forward and pull myself back to straighen up! “You said it yourself, it’s for your -future-. So you need to treat it carefully.”
I smile a little. Suddenly I feel much better for some reason. I was so upset with Hajime before, that I didn’t realize I was taking it out on Yuunosuke-san – saying he’s not doing anything, when in fact it was I who couldn’t make Hajime turn back to the person I once knew. One who I thought I once loved but ended up admiring instead but that image of him is gone. And I maybe powerless to stop it.
(Yuunosuke)
“Kondou Isami, the leader of the Shinsengumi. A good man. -Complicated-, as they all were, unlike what the ukiyo-e-print sellers would have you think,” I laugh a bit.
Your father probably wanted to make sure the Yagi house would be respected so that’s why you and your brother weren’t allowed to work.
I nod in agreement. “It was a time of change… and what a samurai would be was… I think what did happen was incomprehensible to a man who expected to live as his father, and grandfather did. Wear swords, protect the village, marry, have sons. And then… it’s all changed and his garden suddenly has -vegetables- in it.”
You were probably so young back then and still clinging to you “onee-san”. She probably was doing both of you a favor.
“It was good. She needed the space, when Tamebo married Hanako-san they got along badly, but I think we were all surprised that she came all the way to Tokyo.” I play with Saya-san’s fingers, they’re not smooth but I like that… I look up, “you’re right, I did cling to her. She took care of my brother and I when we were little, it took a lot out of my mother to have us, and in some ways… she was like another mother to me. So it was time to let go.” Ah, perhaps I shouldn’t admit that!
It’s still hard to let go of my anger… “If something happens – to her, the children, to -you-, when he knows there’s real danger yet stays away… even if this isn’t his home anymore… it -was-, and they’re all still here.” I hold her hand tighter… I -am- staying. Maybe I can’t fight, but maybe the presence of an adult man will deter trouble, in a house that’s just women and children? I have to protect Saya-san… since her old “friend” put her in this position.
No… Go back to your job. It will only be a day or two I’m sure that he needs me here. You said it yourself, it’s for your -future-. So you need to treat it carefully.
She leans into my hand, that soft, warm cheek… and I lean forward, but she pulls back, but her eyes… “This is where I need to be. And I’m your escort, right?” I grin a little, I have to admit, I do want to see if she falls asleep against me again… “I can handle work, I’m three teachers in one there and they’re too cheap to replace me…. so I can keep them happy, even if I’m gone a little longer. I’ll tread carefully, though, as what I’m saving for isn’t just my future.” I look into her eyes, in the dim light, and lean forward to lightly kiss her.
Wear swords, protect the village, marry, have sons. And then… it’s all changed and his garden suddenly has -vegetables- in it
I laugh a bit. “That poor man! But it’s funny now when you tell it. That must be a good thing.”
She took care of my brother and I when we were little, it took a lot out of my mother to have us, and in some ways… she was like another mother to me. So it was time to let go
I knew it! But I don’t tell him but I’m sure my eyes must be twinkling somewhat in amusement.
If something happens – to her, the children, to -you-, when he knows there’s real danger yet stays away… even if this isn’t his home anymore… it -was-, and they’re all still here
He’s upset. I know because he’s holding my hand so tight! I smile softly. “Nothing will happen. That’s why I was asked to stay here.” It’s then that I realize Hajime still trust me even through my disability. And I know how difficult it is to procure police resources. “He’s probably having to go through some red tape.”
I can handle work, I’m three teachers in one there and they’re too cheap to replace me…. so I can keep them happy, even if I’m gone a little longer. I’ll tread carefully, though,
“Alright. If it won’t be be troublesome. It would be good to have an able bodied man here.”
And in the low light he leans in. I know what that is… I can’t move though i think i -should-. His lips are soft and not intrusive or demanding unlike others. Finally I’m able to will myself to move and put a little distance between us.
“Thanks for staying. ” I say a little embarrassed, though I don’t know why. I’ve been kissed by others before. Suddenly i smile back at him! “But if you’re going to be the man of the house you need to get some sleep!” And me too! So I stand up and pull on his hand to go back inside.
(Ooc you may close or can consider this closed)
(OOC – close)