Back to Mibu
After leaving Hajime, I settle back in the carriage as we make our way towards Mibu… passing through the places I’ve known since I was a child… suddenly I’m glad to be back. Before too long, I come to a familiar place.
The gates are open and I walk through, and see Yuunosuke, sitting on the engawa reading a book. He hops up when he sees me. “Onee-san!” Smiling, I look over at him. It’s strange that my brothers are grown now – I keep expecting to see them as boys, Yuunosuke always following Tamesaburou around, getting into something… and it’s also sad and strange that my parents aren’t here.
No… time passes. They are gone… but now Tamesaburou has a wife here, and another generation of Yagi children were born here. “Ototoh… it is good to see you…”
“How was your trip? Do you have luggage?”
“Very well, thank you…” I think back to resting against Hajime most of the way… “Luggage? Yes, yes… back in the carriage…” As he goes to retrieve that, I see a little girl walk unsteadily from the house onto the engawa. “Kioko-chan! How you’ve grown!” I walk over to her, and she looks up at me, mouth open and looking at me with questioning eyes.
“Kioko-chan! Have you forgotten your aunt so quickly?” I look up, and there is Hanako-san, with Hiroshi in her arms. She hands Hiroshi down to me before stepping down. “Hide-san… welcome back.” I look at her for a long minute… is she really happy to see me? Ah, I won’t be here long enough to try to take the house back over, so she might be. I wish things were better between us… but maybe now that I don’t live here, they will be.
Yuunosuke and a servant bring my things over, and I amuse myself with Hiroshi’s baby talk as Kioko-chan, who now seems to remember me, grabs a hold of my sleeve. I am still covered with children when Tamesaburou comes outside.
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Tamesaburou
misc_sorchid
2005-02-02 05:14 pm UTC (link) Select
“Ah how did you travel with so many luggage?” Hauling the bags out, I half drag them inside. “You should be careful onee-san, traveling alone and with so many baggages.”
Placing her things directly to her room as if it was the most natural thing, I go out and laugh as Hiroshi gets acquainted with her aunt. Taking Hiroshi into my arms, I lead the children towards the inner garden so Onee-san and I can catch up.
“How are you onee-san?” I ask as I watch the children. I’m just a little worried yes… She’s so far away from Kyoto and even if we did -agree- on this. “I’m glad to see you though. I thought you forgot all about us here. You barely wrote.” I smile and half teased.
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Re: Tamesaburou
hime__sama
2005-02-02 06:50 pm UTC (link) Select
“Forgot?” I laugh a little. I suppose I’ve not written as much as I should have… but when my daily life veers between what I’m certain would be boring for them to read – say, gardening – and what I would not want them to read – say, what I’ve -done- in the garden… But since I arrived in Tokyo last fall I went from daily to weekly to … probably every other week in writing.
“Ah… now that I’ve settled down…” I smile and shrug a little. “there’s not so much to write about, I suppose. But I am doing well. I am quite happy there, but a visit home… “I look out at the famillair scene of the garden, where so much of my life seemed to have played out, “is always nice.”
Kioko-chan comes back over and looks at me, with a big smile. I whispher to my brother, “I wonder if they know that I have candy from Tokyo in my bags for them…” Ah! And the wasabi Hajime bought. He will be -delighted- at that, I’m certain.
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Re: Tamesaburou
misc_sorchid
2005-02-02 11:18 pm UTC (link) Select
It is true. She did write, she just didn’t write enough to Yuunosuke. “Yuunosuke was giving me a hard time.” I laugh a bit. It’s true I’ve been busy with my own wife and kids that I probably would not have noticed how her letters slowed considerably, had it not been for Yuunosuke.
My wife is standing off to a corner just watching and smiling. I’d ask her to come closer but I think there is a weird air I cannot place between them. “Hanako took good care of us here, just like you did to us back then.” I stand up as she takes out some packages and Kioko just starts unwrapping them. I smile sheepishly at my sister and lightly scold the child for being so forward. Then Onee-san hands me the wasabi root and I look at her… “You always did take care of us… Don’t tell Yuunosuke I have this, he doesn’t know how to make good wasabi.”
With that I show her into her room. She and Hanako can talk hopefully but right now I’ve got some “root” extracting to do. I’m sure Yuunosuke is out there somewhere, probably preparing onee-san’s bath or maybe starting to cook lunch.
(OOC: Hmmm… LOL! The wolf is making me fast forward.. Hmmm.. But heh he can stew for a bit more I think)
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Re: Tamesaburou
hime__sama
2005-02-03 03:35 am UTC (link) Select
“No, I won’t tell Yuunosuke…” I shake my head. They don’t change in some ways. They both claim the other one can’t make wasabi “right”. By right, of course, they mean so strong that being in the same room with it makes your eyes water…
Back to my room. It’s as it always was, and I wonder why they’ve just left it as it is. It would be a wonderful room for Kioko-san, with the view of the garden…
Hanako-san follows me there. Maybe she wants to talk? I would like to get along better. It’s my fault… no, both of ours. When Tamesaburou married her and brought her home I didn’t anticipate the domestic power shifts that would take place. But as the wife of the head of the house…
I had a hard time giving up running the household. Not because I’m bossy, but I was afraid of feeling useless. Running everything didn’t only give me something to do – I like to be busy – but it kept me occupied when I needed it most. It was tense between us for a long time. By the time I left we had found an unspoken truce, but I thought we’d never be friends. Now, though, she seems -glad- to see me. Maybe because I’m only here for a visit? Of course, I don’t need to keep myself busy just so I won’t dwell on things. And she was so young then…
Maybe we’ve both changed for the better?
“Did you get this kimono in Tokyo?” she asks me as I hang up the one Hajime gave me.
“Yes…” I smile, looking at it. She comes over and touches the soft material.
“It is very pretty!” She smiles. “Yuunosuke-san is making lunch… he’s been planning this, you know. He’s making sure you will have all of your favorites while you are here.” She makes a face.
Kioko-chan pokes her head in. “Time for lunch!” she calls out. She heads over to me, her hands sticky with candy, and her eyes on the kimono. I scoop her up. “Let’s get you cleaned up first, ne?” I grin at her, as we leave my room.
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Yuunosuke
misc_sorchid
2005-02-03 04:15 am UTC (link) Select
I lead onee-san to the best seat or rather best cushion. It’s been so long since we’ve been like this and ever since she left, well it’s not been the same. With Tamesaburou married and his family living here, well I kind of felt left out. And to be honest I’d rather read than pursue a wife right about now.
Each one of us has the perfect meal. I’ve prepared it myself… Catering it at least… Hehehe! That ojou-chan down the street, makes great home made kyoto dishes… Her Kaiseki menu is cheap too!
Wasting no time, I start eating. I watch onee-san carefully. I wonder if she’s tired…
“Kyoto’s changed a lot ne? It’s much peaceful now unlike back in -those- days. Too bad we don’t receive word anymore from our old friends.” She knows of course who I’m talking about. Then I see Tamesaburou give me a wry look. Drats! I forgot onee-san left because… of -him-. Okita-san’s passing really affected her for a long time.
So I eat quick and quiet… Trying to think of another thing to say. To pacify both nii-san and nee-san…. Ah yes.. Keiko-chan got sweets… I wonder if?
“Ne onee-san… What did you bring for -me-?” Smiling brightly I know she brought something and I’ll make Tamesaburou all jealous. She -always- remembers me, Tamesaburou is just unlucky in -this- respect.
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Re: Yuunosuke
hime__sama
2005-02-03 05:12 am UTC (link) Select
Lunch looks delightful. “Thank you, Yuunosuke, this looks wonderful.” I watch as Hanako-san tries to get Kioko-chan to eat – something about her when she looks stubborn reminds me so much of my father.
“Kyoto… it’s changing, I think, but slower. Not like Tokyo… things change there so quickly. A lot of western influences.” Then he mentions old friends and they exchange a look. Ah. They were always so kind to me about … everything. “But peaceful… yes.” They were both just boys when everything happened – I wonder how much they remember? They were of course fond of Souji, he loved children and would make time to play with them.
Tamesaburou really looked up to Kondou-san as well, and they both adored Harada-san – he would pick them both up and throw them over his shoulder like bushels of rice and run around the grounds. Hmmm… I never remember them saying anything about Hajime. Would it be too obvious if I asked and then he shows up later?
“Yes, it is too bad we don’t hear from them… but I’m -certain- that some are still around.” I try not to smile at that.
Presents… “I brought you something from Tokyo, it’s still with my things.” I hope I found something he would like… and we should have a talk soon. He’s still so -young-. “Although your brother could be nice and share his.” I raise my eyebrows at Tamesaburou, and continue eating my lunch.
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Tamesaburou
misc_sorchid
2005-02-03 06:02 pm UTC (link) Select
“Some of them? Yes I’ve heard rumors but they were never confirmed nee-san.” I finally finish the meal and reach for the green tea. Pouring some for myself then Hanako, then onee-san I settle the teapot down.
“I would really like to write about the events someday, through someone elses eyes. As you know Nagakura is alive somewhere in Hokkaido, I wish he’d write at least.”
Bah! Enough talk of the past… And here I was eyeing Yuunosuke about bringing it up… And now here I am expounding on it.
Nee-san mentions something about her present to me… And that if I’d share, I just give her a brief -look- and shrugged. “Betsuni. You gave it to me so Yuunosuke will have to find his own -wasabi- root.” I smile triumphantly at that. Yuunosuke doesn’t know where I keep all the little treasure I have and good… It’s having the right effect, Yuunosuke is turning red…
“If you will all excuse me, I have some “preparations” to do.” Lunch is over for me… But now I’ve got to prepare for dinner… That wasabi will go great with the rice and some tuna.
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Re: Tamesaburou
hime__sama
2005-02-03 10:57 pm UTC (link) Select
“Yes, I had heard about Nakagura-san… but if he doesn’t wish to…” I glance down. “Some people might not wish to be reminded.” I smile back over at Tamesaburou. “But maybe one day, yes, writing something would be good. We want to make sure our friends are remembered, ne? Or at least remembered for the men they were, and not what… they are taken to be now.” It’s strange, the Yagi connection to the Shinsengumi. A month that became two years…
Tamesaburou and Yuunosuke are still so much like they were… “Lunch was wonderful, thank you.”
I notice that Kioko-chan is already yawning and drooping. “Time for a nap!” Hanako-san smiles. Kioko-chan begins to protest a little “but I want to play!” but she’s led off by her mother, who pries the bag of sweets from her hands, leaving it on the table.
Tamaseburou leaves, and I see Yuunosuke eyeing the bag of candy. His hand inches towards it – I get up and swat at him. “That’s for Kioko-chan!” I scold, and he grins at me. “Then give me -my- present!”
“You’re as bad as ever!” I fuss, shaking my head but not able to hide my smile. “Come on, it’s in my room.”
Once there, I go through my bags and pull out a book. “Hopefully you’ve not read this, I was told that it’s only been recently translated into Japanese. It’s western history.”
His face lights up as he flips through the pages. “Oh, this is much better than nii-san’s wasabi!” He says, with a big smile. He looks so much like he did when he was little that it’s hard not to reach forward and ruffle his bangs. Yuunosuke is so much younger than me that I was as much of a mother to him as our own mother, if he wasn’t following Tamaseborou around like a shadow it was me. Always so bright!
“So how is teaching?” I ask. I wait a moment. Oh, he’s already lost in that book. He looks up at me. “Oh, sorry, nee-san…” I shake my head and laugh. “Go, go, read your book. We’ll catch up later, okay?”
He leaves and is still unpacking when Hanako-san comes in. “The children will be sleeping for a while… I could use your advice in the garden…” she says, shyly. Surprised, I agree, and tying an apron on over my kimono, we go outside.
“I’ve not changed things much…” she begins. “It is so lovely here, really, and it’s been a pleasure to keep up.” I nod in agreement. So many memories here… it used to be that I could hear the voices still… ghosts? No… but it’s not so haunted now… but for a moment I scan around, looking for a man with amber eyes who I used to catch watching me.
Silly Hide…. don’t think about that -now-… I kneel next to Hanako-chan and help her prune the camellias. We chat about Kyoto and village gossip and the children until late afternoon.