(Mochizuki Isamu)
Today I’ve let my assistants run the shop. It’s a good day to spend with the family but Takeshi ran off early with his friends, so I decide to see to the roof – a storm last week blew some tiles off.
Best I see to this before it rains or it starts getting really hot. I stand on top of my house, looking out across Ito and back out to the sea. I see Yagi-san and her daughter on the engawa. I wave at them but they don’t see me.
Back to work!
April 12th, 1885 – Sunday – Mochizuki House
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“Hoi! Isamu-KUN!” I call out to my husband. If he falls down from the roof like he did a few months ago, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself… But he is a good man ne? I think so… For him to fix the roof before it rains, unlike some other husbands who spend their time drinking… He makes himself -useful-. I smile slightly and look up at him.
“Anata… Please come down! I’ve made some rice cakes and plum juice!” That should do it. Always tempt a man by his stomach and he shall listen to this wife.
I make my way back into the house to prepare that which I have promised him. Hmmm. I should call the children as well…
I hear my wife’s voice and almost stumble, but catch myself in time. If I feel again I’ll never hear the end of it. A man shouldn’t be made to spend a week in bed.
“Rice cakes? Plum juice? In a moment!” Two more tiles… there! It’s not been a big repair job but she’ll be happy to see that I got it done.
I get down from the roof and head into the house. I walking into the kitchen, I kiss on the top of her head as I go to the counter to steal a rice cake.
“Takeshi-kun already went out with his friends.” I glance over to the doorway where I hear a giggle. She must have seen me and her mother… “but our little Isuzu-chan is right there.” I grin over at her. “Your mother’s just made some rice cakes and plum juice… hungry?” I ask her, knowing she will be.
I knock on the gate of the Mochizuki house, and as usual the gate is open. Takeshi-kun… I shake my head a little, knowing how many times H. Always running out somewhere. Ah, that is the different between Ito and Tokyo. Up here away from the tourist areas it is almost like being in the country.
I wait for one of them to reply. Makoto-chan looks eager to see her friend, as always.
I wonder what Makoto is like with her friend? Just like every child she is eager. I’m glad that it is now much more peaceful in Japan that children like her can actually enjoy being -children-.
“Hide, it better you give this. It’s just some Ohigasi and a kokeshi doll for Isuzu-chan.” Bah. I’m not used to this visiting the neighbors. I’ve never really visited anywhere else except to call on business… The closest has been with Nagakura up in Hokkaido a few years ago… And my brother Hiroaki, but that’s not really a visit. A sigh escapes me.
I’m just about to start on another rice cake (and tell my wife what a great job she did) when I hear voices out front. I go to the door.
“Hi Yagi-san! Makoto-chan!” Isuzu-chan pops around me as she hears her friend’s name.
Who’s the man with them? I know Yagi-san lives a very quiet life and if there were someone to know about, my wife would know and would tell me. We watch out for Yagi-san, after all.
I walk out, Isuzu following behind, and go ahead to introduce myself to the tall man. “Hello! I’m Mochizuki Isumu.”
I think for a moment… I could brush him off, things earlier had got me started in a tissy but it would not look well. Straightening out my back, I bow slightly… I wonder if Isamu was learned of the proper traditions? To not bow, if he had not been a good friend of Hide…
“Sai… Yamaguchi Hajime desu. Dozo…” I tower once again above him and try not to look too menacing, “Hajimemashite.”
Trying not to frown is -difficult-, so I put on a wide wide grin, that of a dogs. “I’m a far removed relative of Yagi-san.”
Heh… I forget myself. I bow back. I was raised better than that, and if Hiroku saw me being this casual…
“A relative of Yagi-san, you say? That’s good to hear.” My wife told me something about Yagi-san being estranged from her family.
Isuzu-chan looks up at the tall man, and I bring her forward. “Yamaguchi-san, this is my daughter, Isuzu-chan. She’s a good friend of Makoto-chan’s.” She bows, very politely. I smile down at her, her mother does a great job with her. Now if we could only work on Takeshi…
“My wife just made rice cake and plum juice. Would you like to join us?”
I glance back at Hide, she’s been quiet for most of the walk. It looks like I’ll have to step up, she didn’t seem to hear me when I asked her to give the package as it’s still in my hands.
“For your household Isamu-kun.” I hand him the box and then turn to the little girl. I think it is easier to speak to children, but had it been back in the days of Kyoto… I would never have anything to do with them. Fortunately enough the girl does remember her manners unlike her father… Something about him reminds me of someone back in the Bakumatsu… It is unsettling, I wonder if it is Harada?
I shrug the thought aside and bend down slightly.
“Here you go little one. It’s a wooden doll, very popular in the prefectural regions up north.” I can’t help but smile at her, she’s adorable and acts like a girl. I hope she’ll be a good influence to Makoto, instead of the other way around… A good balance after all is needed in children.
“Yes I wouldn’t mind some rice cakes.” I step in and glance back at Hide waiting for her. I could hold out my hand but that would look silly for two grown -relatives-.
My eyes open wide as I see the doll, and I smile. I bow again to the tall man. “Thank you very much, Yamaguchi-san.” I look over to Makoto-chan. She’ll tell me all about him, I didn’t know she had any family aside from her mother.
I’m also very happy that there are sweets! I follow the others into the house, letting Makoto-chan see my doll and looking at the book she has with her.
I don’t get to say anything or even reply to Hajime’s request before Isamu-san comes out, a bit… -forward-, as always, introducing himself like that. It’s amazing at home around friends that he’s so informal when at his store he shows an entirely different face… but he does thank Hajime for the sweets, I’m glad he remembered to do that much.
Something about Hajime having to introduce himself as a relative still sticks at me, just as it does that Makoto-chan only knows him as that.
“That would be wonderful, Mochizuki-san,” I reply, following the others in, glancing over to Hajime with a small smile. I’m glad he wanted to come here, to get to know the people who have been the biggest supporters of Makoto and I here in Ito, aside from Sugiyama-san.
Oh Yagi-san is here and who is -that-? My heart stops for a moment… I wonder if it’s a new suitor of Yagi-san? I take another peek from behind the wall that separates the kitchen from the whole house… Ah well, I’m sure if he is she’ll tell me!
I gather some more rice cakes and plum juice. Thank kami I made extras! I come out balancing both trays in my hand and set them on the low table in our tatami room. This faces the ocean so the sea breeze is always a welcome thing.
Hmmm… Isuzu-chan has a new toy… I wonder! Oh it’s always so fun to have a new suitor. I remember when Isamu used to do sweet things for myself. Of course now that he’s got me… I roll my eyes at the thought, but he has been a faithful man to myself and a good provider.
“Children, why don’t you play in the adjacent room. I’ve placed some crackers there too!”
I go over and take the package of sweets from Isamu and divide them between ourselves and the children. I’m sure Isuzu-chan will behave because we have guest…
“Minna-san! Come let’s all sit down here.” Perfect! Four cushions for us adults.
The girls go running off to the other room, and I hear Makoto-chan saying something about “a monkey”. I’m certain before too long Isuzu-chan will know the story that Hajime told last night.
I go ahead to make introductions before Isamu-san jumps in again… he means well but there are formalities that must always be seen to.
“Hiroku-san, this is Yamaguchi Hajime, a relative of mine. Yamaguchi-san, this is Mochizuki Hiroku, my neighbor.” The lie doesn’t sound any better, but I am getting sadly adept at telling it.
We settle in the Mochizuki tatami room, and I sit across from Hiroku-san and Isamu-san, waiting on Hajime.
I enter the tatami room last. This is about the size of my rental place in Tokyo, great it just shows me how pathetic my stupid life has been the past year. Smile Yamaguchi Hajime, I chant the stupid words in my head. I wish I could smoke here, but appearances must be kept.
I see all of them are seated and I can feel their eyes all staring at myself. I wonder if they are buying our story, I see no reason for them -not- to so I go ahead and sit by Hide.
“It’s nice to meet you all.” I almost choke from the lies of this day. This is the last place I want to be. Sitting in Seiza to keep my legs from cramping I watch them carefully, still with that stupid smile on my face.
Oh how nice! He’s smiling and seems to be as light as my Isamu-kun! I bow politely to the gentleman.
“Thank you for the sweets and I guess the doll I saw Isuzu-chan holding earlier?”
“It’s starting to get hot so please try some plum juice! I made those myself! Although I didn’t realize that Yagi-san would bring one of her relatives here! For a moment I thought you were one of her suitors!”
I laugh and cover my mouth for a minute. It’s disappointing a little to know she is related to Yagi-san, she really could use someone like my Isamu. But I guess having one of her relatives actually be there is much better. I thought her whole family gave up already on seeing her and Makoto-chan. I’m glad they didn’t.
I know Hajime doesn’t enjoy these formalities… As he sits next to me I move as if I am shifting into place and take the moment to touch my hand to his under the table. This won’t last too long, Hajime… I wish I could tell him.
But it is good that he knows the people that help me care for our daughter. That they are good and trustworthy people.
For a moment I thought you were one of her suitors!
Hiroku-san… I try not to glance over at Hajime. Instead I look over to Isamu-san, who’s making quick work of his rice cakes and sweets, complimenting his wife before reaching for more.
“Ah yes, plum juice, refreshing indeed.” I take a sip. For a tea farmer’s daughter she tends not to serve a lot of tea. “Excellent as always.”
“I was telling Yamaguchi-san some about the school that the girls are attending.” Well, I did tell him -some- last week. “How it is rather progressive, not only in educating girls so young but exposing them to Western subjects and languages. Has Isuzu-chan enjoyed her first week?”
Oh I’m so -glad- they are liking my plum juice! I take a sip at mine and hmmm! Not bad at all. I smile, this is so much better than just serving tea… It reminds me vaguely of how I sew kimonos and yet I really am more interested in western dresses. Now if only someone will commission my work, too bad in this town of Ito there’s not as many western establishment.
Yamaguchi-san seems to be keeping to himself. Ah I should let him be so I turn to Yagi-san.
“I was telling Yamaguchi-san some about the school that the girls are attending.” “How it is rather progressive, not only in educating girls so young but exposing them to Western subjects and languages. Has Isuzu-chan enjoyed her first week?”
“Yes I agree, it might be rather expensive but Isamu and I have already decided long ago that there would be nothing less for our Isuzu.”
I glance over to the other room, where the shoji door is slightly ajar. They’re still playing. That’s good!
“Oh she loves the school! Well she’s a little shy so she hasn’t met as many friends, which is why I’m glad Makoto goes there.” I smile and sip some more juice. There’s no point telling Yagi-san that Isuzu-chan complained earlier that the kids were avoiding them for some reason. Those people, they should just keep their mouths shuts. It’s been so long already that Yagi-san has been living here in Ito. I’m sure she is a good woman. A hard-working one at that too. She might’ve stumbled one but they need to learn a thing or two from Confucius.
I grin over at my wife. She’s so passionate about making sure our Isuzu gets a good education. I didn’t think it was so important for girls, but she insisted and dragged me over to that place…
Even the expense she bears most of herself, with her sewing.
“Great rice cakes.” I tell her. I remember the first time she cooked for me… I wonder what else I can do around the house for her today. It’s rare I have a whole day like this for my family, business has been good, both locals and tourists.
I look over at the quiet Yamaguchi-san. They -must- be related. Yagi-san is pretty quiet too.
Hajime is quiet, so I answer Hiroku-san. “It is good our girls are enjoying it. It’s good they’re going to the same place, they seem to do well with each other.”
Even if sometimes they are trouble together. I’m not sure who -instigated- the hair-cutting event, but I have my ideas… I hide my sigh in a bite of the rice cake.
I can hear them talking away in the other room. A discussion on what exactly a banana must be like, and how clever the tortise is.
I look back over at Hajime. Since this is only a brief social call I don’t want to stay too long. Makoto-chan sees Isuzu-chan every day. I would like it that she spends time with Hajime as she can when he’s here.
So she’s had suitors? As I expected… I’m fine with that correct? I take a rice cake and bite into it and chew slowly, keeping my mouth and hands pre-occupied. Eating, chewing… That’s right. I think if I go a little faster I’d be as good as this Isamu…
Now I remember, he looks like Kondou-san when he was younger… Bah and he even has the same disposition too. Kondou loved his family, I was only there for a few days but he loved O-tsune. Isamu-kun compliments his wife. He must be rather proud of her and his wife, how lovely and sweet she is to her husband. Somehow this whole event is sickening… I wonder why I resent this… This is abnormal. I need to get my head back together…
“Yes school is good. A progressive one… I even proposed to Hide that Makoto could go to Tokyo since I live there.” Yes in that apartment like a good old bachelor but not with it’s privileges. I frown slightly… It’s then that I realized I did not chose my words carefully. I smile. “But Yagi-san could not bear to part with her daughter… As any mother could not. She is a good mother…”
Bah… I need a smoke now…
I nod at Hajime’s compliment about being a good mother. His comment about taking Makoto to Tokyo… doesn’t scare me like it did the other week. He wants the best for her. We both do.
We’re finished with the rice cakes and sweets and plum juice. I bow slightly to Hiroku-san. “I’m sorry to make this such a short visit, but I did want Yamaguchi-san to know the people that have shown such kindness to Makoto-chan and I here in Ito. As always thank you for your hospitality.”
I rise, looking over to the room where the girls are. “Yamaguchi-san and I need to discuss family business before he returns to Tokyo, could you let the girls play for another hour and send her over then? She will want to see him before he leaves as well.” I look over to Hajime, hoping that he will find this agreeable.
I may be selfish… but I want to clear the comment up about -suitors-. I don’t want him going back thinking I am a fickle woman… either as the woman who loves him or as Makoto’s mother.
“Oh I would be happy to! And it’s not like our little Isuzu would let Makoto off yet.” I shake my head looking at the girls and get up. “Those two are inseparable sometimes.”
I grab Isamu by the arm to make him stop eating. If he eats too much he’ll get fat and… Well I don’t like them fat. I’ve tried my hardest to keep my figure after the children were born.
“It was nice to see you Yagi-san…” I look over to Yamaguchi-san, he seems quiet and what was that earlier? I think he and Yagi-san are close, imagine calling Yagi-san so casually. But of course he’s here, so they must be close…
“You as well Yamaguchi-san. Do come to Ito more often.”
I walk them outside and hand some rice cakes to Yagi-san. “Do take these and take care ne? I’ll bring Makoto over later.”
I exchange pleasantries with Isamu-kun. He’s a lucky man I think, unlike the Kyokuchou. Most of us would’ve done anything for the life he has found. For some of us… It is just too late to do so.
“It was nice to meet you as well Hiroku-san.” I nod slightly and stand by the gate to smoke.
(OOC: Ends thread)