It must be almost morning as I stir with someone leaning on my back?EUR? No. It seems I?EUR(TM)m leaning at them, I move away slowly and sit up, closing my eyes for a moment and looking down to my side, then to the person sleeping on the futon. I look at her for a long moment and decide she should rest, so I get up quietly. I head first to the a small latrine at the back and wash my face. I ?EUR“should- take a bath but I can?EUR(TM)t get the wound wet nor can I move as well as I like. Going back inside I look through the small box that contained my personal effects, rather my uniform. Looking through the pockets I shake my head at the comb with a broken tooth. Reaching into a pant pocket I pull out the fan that Yuunosuke just gave me yesterday. Last but not the least, I take out the gun that Muriyama found at the scene. It?EUR(TM)s still loaded and that might be as well. I holster the gun under my pant with the safety lock on and put the box away.
Heading out to the engawa, I see the one they call Musashi standing guard leaning at one of the wooden pillars.
?EURoeGet some sleep.?EUR? I tell him. ?EURoeI?EUR(TM)ll take over here.?EUR?
?EURoeYou are feeling better sir??EUR?
?EURoeYes but I?EUR(TM)ll need you alert.?EUR?
?EURoeAlright.?EUR? He turns to go in and I watch his back as I light a cigarette. The man looks sturdy enough and doesn?EUR(TM)t asks too many questions. Not a bad choice by Muriyama.
I look up. I will need to send word to Tokio?EUR? Someone might go after them too.
A few hours before dawn
30 thoughts on “A few hours before dawn”
Comments are closed.
I stir, aware…
Sitting up, I notice Hajime is gone, and I fell asleep.
Where did he… but I smell in on the breeze that drifts past the window, of cigarette smoke. Stepping out into the room, I see my brother, sleeping soundly, and Musashi-san asleep as well. In the other room Makoto and Saya sleep…
On the engawa I see Hajime standing there, smoking. I watch him in silence for a moment, his eyes are fixed on the sky. “Ah, I fell asleep…” I say, quietly, coming closer. “If you’re hungry, there’s some food still, and I think someone had some coffee as well.”
“Ah, I fell asleep…”
“Go back to sleep. It’s still early.” I tell her..
“If you’re hungry, there’s some food still, and I think someone had some coffee as well.”
I shake my head since I have no appetite. I wonder how long I’m going to have to stay here. I should move… Now if possible.
I look out to the east. “Morning before too long, and I got enough sleep.”
He refuses food and I look at him. “You should eat, it will help you recover. The faster you recover… the better. We have inari.” I smile slightly at that, it’s not soba but he does like it. I imagine he’s going to be restless and not take to just laying about easily… and the idea of the person who orchestrated all of this still out there, lurking in the shadows…
I reach for his hand. “And we should talk, this is a good time while we aren’t surrounded by the others.”
We have inari.”
I should eat something… “Just a couple.”
“And we should talk, this is a good time while we aren’t surrounded by the others.”
“You’re right. There are some things I have to tell you.”
He does agree to eat, I go back to the little alcove and bring out the tray from earlier and set it down.
“Tell me?” Sitting down, I look up at him.
“First this…” I hand her the fan of her mothers that has been cracked on the outer edges. “I’ve completely forgotten about it earlier. It was given to me by Yuunosuke for safe keeping but as you can see.”
I shrug. “Sumana.”
Finishing my cigarette I pop the first piece of inari into my mouth and look at her. I might as well get it all out now.
“Also, I’ve told Muriyama to release a press report, that you and Makoto are missing, possibly dead. It is necessary to lose Tanaka, until I can corner him.” I look at her, “I would suggest that you play along and not contact your friends here. Unfortunately, I still do not know where I should leave you.”
I look at the fan… I’m surprised, I’ve not seen it since I was a little girl. It was the fan she carried, and my grandmother before her, and further back, in their obi on their wedding day. Yuunosuke gave Hajime -this-?
“Ah… but it’s in good shape, considering…” I gently touch the fine material, “the silk is still strong and fine, and the little wooden parts can be repaired.”
He tells me what he told Muriyama-san to report. I nod. For the Mochizukis I feel regret, they have been good friends… but to contact them might bring them danger as well. And that’s the last thing I want for them, they are good people… and anything to help Hajime find that man.
As for where we should go… “I’ve been thinking about that,” I look back at him. “It’s impossible to stay here… someone will noticed Makoto or Saya or myself before too long.”
“I think we should go to Tokyo when you have to leave. We can blend in better there, I think, than going to another small town.”
She doesn’t seem angry about the fan. I’m slightly relieved but still disappointed.
“It’s impossible to stay here… someone will noticed Makoto or Saya or myself before too long.”
“It is. Saya will soon go back to Kyoto, we were supposed to go back this week so she can testify in court…” I sigh, “I would like to keep her near but I doubt the imbecile is in Kyoto. He has no connections there.”
“But are you sure you want to stay in Tokyo? That might not be the safest place…” Although to be quite honest I would want to stay by her side but I cannot leave Tokyo again while my sons are there as well. I can already guess that Tokio will not believe my warning and even if she did, she will not leave -that- school.
I put the fan in my sleeve, “I’ll hold onto this until you get back… otherwise you’ll need to keep your promise to Yuunosuke.” I look over at him. I know the signifigance of him giving Hajime this family treasure… one day, but now there are issues beyond ourselves to think about.
But are you sure you want to stay in Tokyo? That might not be the safest place…
I nod. “It may not be the safest but it’s the best place. A small town will be like this one, in Tokyo we can remain fairly anonymous.” I thought about this… “Kyoto… I don’t want to get Tamesaburou involved, with the children… Tokyo is also the center of transportation, it’s easy enough to leave if we must. In a place like this, with two or three trains a day… moving fast isn’t always an option.” I know what else is in Tokyo as well… he can’t be all around, thinking of people scattered all about Japan when he’s working.
She talks about Tokyo and I of course agree. I’m glad she had thought this out thoroughly and -quickly-. However her earlier comments catches much of my attention.
“I’ll hold onto this until you get back… otherwise you’ll need to keep your promise to Yuunosuke.”
“Otherwise?” I look at her and grab her close, “You don’t need to resort to that… I told you already.”
The I realize, they were just words and my promise keeps getting pushed back. I let her go and turn my attention to another piece of inari. “Suma.” How many times must I apologize to her? It is getting tiring. She must think I’m a dolt, an insincere one at that.
He agrees on Tokyo, and I think of more plans to make… how to -not- get on the train in Ito.
You don’t need to resort to that… I told you already
He holds me close for a moment before letting go, and apologizes. How I wish he wouldn’t… “Hajime…” I move closer, saying his name softly, sliding my arm around his waist as he eats an inari.
“You don’t need to apologize, I’m not angry. When it’s our time, then it’s our time… but the things that -truly- matter don’t need fans or papers. I look forward to the day when I can kiss you and know… that in every way you are -mine-… One day.” I look out to the skies, “but first… you have to find that man and make sure he never does this to anyone else.”
“But first before -that- you need to get well. Less inari and soba and more fish and protein… and are you running a fever?” I place my hand on his forehead, checking. Grinning slightly, I -am- fussing but I’ll take care of him as long as he’s in my sight.
When it’s our time, then it’s our time…
Funny there was a point in time that I did not want it to come to that point, because when it’s our time could probably the end. But I’ll not think about that right now.
you have to find that man and make sure he never does this to anyone else.”
“Him and the other…” I light a cigarette. She fusses at me and once again checks for fever. Why does she keep doing that?
“I have no fever Hide, however my side is -uncooperative-.” I frown. There’s not much she can do about that and all I can do is slouch a bit so the damn thing won’t hurt as much.
I have no fever Hide, however my side is -uncooperative-.
“I was told to watch for fever by the doctor, it would be a sign of infection… and I know you don’t have time to get sick right now on top of this.” I look to his side and pull up his shirt, investigating the bandages. They’re not soaked in his blood, as they had been. “Uncooperative… are you uncomfortable?” He -is- sitting strange. “When the others wake in a few hours I’ll see to changing out the bandages… and if you need to lean, then let me be useful while you keep guard.” I scoot under his arm.
She tells me about the doctor. I never did like them, always a sour lot that likes to tell people what to do. However, they are a necessary evil.
She pulls up my shirt and I just let her take a look at it. Does she really have to ask me if I’m uncomfortable? I sigh and just light up a cigarette. My fuse seems to be rather short the past two days.
“Tell me, how did you meet Soujirou? He mentioned something about you.”
He sighs as I look… satisfied that he is on the mend, I let his shirt down and drop a quick kiss on his cheek. A strong man like him… how he must hate this. I remember the last time he was shot, he didn’t take to being a patient so well then either…
Tell me, how did you meet Soujirou? He mentioned something about you.
“Last night, when you dropped me off at the preceint… the safest place I could think of was to lock Makoto and myself in a cell. He was next to us… at first I thought he was Souji. It was simply uncanny… he was kind to Makoto and offered her manju.” And that smile… for a moment…
I had feared that Souji might have come to take Hajime with him.
“I told him of what had happened… he left his cell and went to go find you.” And by then I knew that he wasn’t Souji but I wondered what forces sent him to be in Ito, of all of the places in Japan to be…
I listen keeping my eyes roaming around the dark spaces fronting this small house. She speaks happily of the Tenken.
“It was a good idea to lock yourself in a cell but perhaps next time you’d not chose a dangerous man.”
Even if he did look like Souji, he was not. I’m not really sure who’d I’d hate for her to see more but it doesn’t matter perhaps.
“Did he say where he would be going next?”
Did he say where he would be going next?
I shake my head. I know that Seta Soujirou is dangerous. “He came back with you and the others… Muriyama-san spoke to him before he left to bring Makoto and I here, but I didn’t see where he went. He spoke of wandering, but wasn’t specific.”
For some time as I’ve had my arms around him, I’ve noticed… I put my hand on the handle of the gun. “You or Saya… need to show me how to use one of these.” A weapon cannot lull me into a false sense of security… but it would be something.
She changes the subject. Is she protecting him? I free myself from her arm and stand up, flicking the cig out to the dirt.
“You or Saya… need to show me how to use one of these.”
“No. There’s no need for that and do not ask again.”
Just because she pranced around like a man before doesn’t mean she knows what she’s doing. Why is it that people think it’s that simple? Don’t they regard their lives important enough to not stain it?
I say nothing else and go inside. Tanaka, I shall get rid of him and then I shall capture the Tenken for killing Okubo. It might take a long time to do it, she might not like it, but in this regard, she is of little consequence.
(OOC: Saitou goes inside. Assume that some has stirred awake. Reply here tomorrow if you want to continue)
He pulls away and gives me an angry response.
I stop him inside the door.
“Hajime…” I slowly meet his eyes. Wishing I could say the right things to ease his mind in these times. I want to ask him to believe in me, to trust in me, just as I do him, even though I say the wrong things. But to give him back just words… Saya is right, he needs to -see- things.
I begin, “I – ” only to be interrupted by a knocking on the door outside. “Breakfast!” a voice calls out. I slide open the door, cautiously, it’s only an older woman with a tray. I look it over… miso, rice, pickles… traditional but we need more than that. “We also need some fish… whatever you have, could you bring that, and tofu?” Protein, for two people that lost a lot of blood… She nods and says that she’ll be right back.
She gave him her own blood… I shake my head slightly, it’s easy to fall into feeling sorry for myself but I can’t just blithely forget it and move on. I want to be brave and loyal for him, so that he can leave and not worry about Makoto and I. I wish… I wish I had someone I could talk to. I wish I could talk to him… I don’t want to fall into silence, but I feel so constrained here in this place.
Setting down the tray on the counter, I turn back around to look at him. “I’ll wake the others, meet me outside at the bathhouse? You can clean up and I’ll see to your bandage.”
“I’ll wake the others, meet me outside at the bathhouse? You can clean up and I’ll see to your bandage.”
“Wake the others but… Let them take care of themselves.” With the exception of Makoto, the other two should be able to manage breakfast. “Go eat with Makoto at least. I’ll meet you out back.”
Leaving I decide to walk around the perimeter. What’s interesting about this place is, there are high wooden walls surrounding the detached houses. I wonder if this is really the same place she stayed in. I was told she was able to find peace here a long time ago.
(OOC: Saitou is walking around the ryokan inspecting things, he’ll be back to the bath house once breakfast is done.
Wake up
I open my eyes and Okaasan is kneeling next to me.
“Already?” I sit up a little slow. My arms still hurt a little.
“Hai. Breakfast is ready.” She helps me get dressed. I go over to Asuka-san. I remember from when she stayed with me that she didn’t like mornings too much. “Asuka-san, wake up…”
Okaasan goes to the other room and I wait for Asuka-san.
“Asuka-san, wake up…”
I open my eyes to Makoto leaning over me. I turn once hugging the pillow but when I took another peek, Makoto hasn’t left. *sigh*
“Ohayo Makoto-chan.” I say and get up slowly. I’ll fix the futon later. Taking a deep breath I smell breakfast but before that, I go over to a basin of water set by the window and some fresh towels. Wiping my face. I look back at Makoto, it looks like Yagi-san has already taken care of cleaning her up.
“There much better.” I tell her and take her hand, “I wonder what’s for breakfast today…”
Musashi-san comes in, gulps down a cup of tea and grabs some leftover riceballs. “Ma’am, I’ll return to my post.” Muriyama-san did very well in chosing him…
Yuunosuke arrives a moment after Makoto and Saya, and
To my surprise Yuunosuke makes coffee for himself, and sets down a cup in front of Saya, and the old woman comes back, and I set down the grilled mackeral on the table, along with tofu.
I give Makoto a portion of it all, including pickles. She makes a face and tries to slide them over to Yuunosuke’s plate. I stop her. “Eat them, they’re good for you.”
I look over to my brother and Saya. “You slept well? Asuka-san, how are you feeling?”
I laugh a little when Makoto tried to slip those pickles to Yuunosuke-san. I look at him and I think, if her mother did not stop her, he’d gladly fall as her helpless victim.
“You slept well? Asuka-san, how are you feeling?”
“Hmmm… Quite well. Thank you.”
Now that’s surprising. This place and our circumstances aren’t exactly “ideal”. It must be the bath then. I look around, I don’t see Hajime-han anywhere.
Makoto tries to “give” me her pickles and I try not to chuckle. “Eat them, but don’t eat them like your uncle Tamesaburou. He dips them in wasabi.” Of course, my brother would gladly coat -everything- in it.
She makes a face at that. Lucky girl, she’s never had to -smell- any of his experiments…
Asuka-san says that she slept well and I’m glad to hear that. “Perhaps it was someone reading to you?” I whisper over to her and wink as Hideneesan tries to get Makoto to eat more.
She looks up at me. “Yuunosuke… would it be possible for you to stay with us a few more days?”
I agree readily, I would have even if Asuka-san hadn’t told me that it would be a good idea as well.
Yuunosuke agrees easily… good… and I’ll speak to Hajime before I see if he can see to some things. And he gets along with Makoto and Saya.
I see Saya glance around. “He’s outside, he’s recovering well, no signs of fever.” I look at her plate. “Do eat some of the fish or tofu though?”
Makoto is about done eating, and I stand. “And now I said that I would meet Hajime at the bath and see to his bandages.”
(OOC – Hide will exit unless stopped.)
“Perhaps it was someone reading to you?”
He winks… Quite suave of him… At least that’s what he thinks. I just smile and nod. One of these days, maybe I should pull my old tricks at him. It would be fun as long as Hajime’s not looking… I nod to myself. Yes, yes… Let’s see how he does with -that-. It’s a good thing he agrees to stay.
Yagi-san leaves to meet with Hajime. Well I have to take care of two children here so… I’ll let her be, I guess.
She smiles back. Hmm… there’s something behind that smile, I think.
“Well…” I look at the table. “Let’s clean up breakfast, and then…” I think. How can I keep them both occupied? I grin slightly… what else would I be doing if I weren’t here? “I hear we have two young ladies that are working on English… let’s have some lessons.” I look at Asuka-san… things must be strange but I’ll do what I can. Even if all I can do is offer some distraction.