At first I just stood there watching, looking for tell tale signs of intruders but there was none. How quickly time had passed here in Ito, although the ones I remember most was probably the first few weeks of trying to get back into her life and Makoto’s. I realized I’ve been hiding behind this tree for a while now, watching this small house on the hill is like watching her old one in Tokyo. Empty…
Shaking my head, I cross the street quickly and scaled the back wall. Earlier I heard from Muriyama that Isamu was here the other day, I regret it has come to this. This place was good for her. Someday perhaps things will fall into their rightful place but for now I slid in through the kitchen door and head straight upstairs. The door to Makoto’s room is wide open and the futon in disarray. What a horrible turn of events… To the side is a row of books and I remember an old promise. Taking a couple with me, I head for Hide’s room to get some clothes and the old music box. An old memory comes to mind, the time when I caught Makoto tinkering with it. Shaking my head I take a bag made of straw and placed some change of clothes, the two books, the music box. I was just about to leave when I remembered an old green kimono she made for me, so I took that too.
Wasting no time I leave the same way I came, but I can’t help but look over my shoulder. We’re not just leaving a house or a place… It has never been that way. And I wonder why is it that she can easily leave. Even I… When I left my home or even Tokio’s, it was not as simple but I suppose it shall have to be for all our sakes.
It is already after lunch time and I found myself running down to the Hanafubuki. Someone else is leaving today. Saya… But I see a carraige pull away from the curb of the Ryokan. Quickly, I cross to the other end of the street, hoping to cut them off there.
“Wait!” I shout and drop the straw bag.
“Woah… What are you doing sir?” Asked the driver but I ignore him and go to the passenger window where Saya was sitting.
“Hajime… Goodness, you could’ve gotten trampled you know?” She rolls her eyes and I can’t help but grin. “What do you want?”
“Make sure you send word when things settle down.” I tell her and look over to Yuunosuke. “And don’t be too hard on the -boy-.”
She grins and doesn’t answer, instead she takes a fan and hit my fingers on the window. “We need to go now.”
“Wait.. One more thing.”
“Yes Hajime-san?”
“You did well Saya.”
“And?”
“Huh?”
“You’re welcome Hajime.”
I nod and watch as the carriage pulls away. I am certain she is safe. Hide was right. This was something I had to do. I’ve been fortunate to have kindness. Entering the Ryokan with the bag in tow I ask the receptionist if a note had come for me. She nods and hands me a note which I inspect quickly. Train tickets, a bank account, identification and a note from Kawaji..
Fujita-kun,
I have someone investigating, but keep a low profile. Get settled in Tokyo and then we’ll talk. Your mandate right now is to keep your wife and child safe. That is an order NOT a request or manipulation on my part!
signed
Kawaji
He and Saya is about the only ones I trust in the Keishikan, everyone else is suspect… Once Hide and Makoto are settled in that house, it’s good at least that my lodgings is only at the back. It should be easy to spot trouble, plus I still do not know where Tokio had taken Tsuyoshi to… Probably to the Namuzawa’s…
“Sir… They left.” My thoughts are broken when Musashi suddenly appears.
“Ah… Yes good work Musashi.” Stopping by the door, I look back, “The primary objective is done Musashi. Your work ends here. I’m sure Muriyama would be glad to have you back.”
“Well uh… So does that mean I’m dismissed?”
“Yes. You’re not expected to go back to the Precinct till tomorrow.”
“Ah.. Sou ka. I’ll go back to my post then.”
With a raised eyebrow I continue, “The work is done. Go, I’m taking over.”
“But sir!”
“Don’t you have…”
“I do…”
Not answering, I close the door behind me. That should be clear enough. I feel like that old sake vendor….
“Tadaima…” I call out.
(OOC: She can respond or not. if not post a quick note and I’ll move them to tokyo)
Leaving Ito Shizuoka
18 thoughts on “Leaving Ito Shizuoka”
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Makoto is quiet after Saya and Yuunosuke leave, and I do my best to console her. “We’ll see her again, dear.” I also promised to let Yuunosuke know what I -can-, given the situation.
I clean us up, brushing Makoto’s hair until it shines, just like her father’s.
I hear Hajime dismiss Musashi-san, and I realize that the time is coming.
Tadaima…
Hajime enters our room with a bag, and it’s small. Is that… five years of my life? The things I worked for? Suddenly I long for that house on a hill, and realizing that I’ll never stand on that engawa and enjoy the sunrise again. How strange… that I’ve come to enjoy sunrises, when I used to sleep right through them. Or hear Mochizuki-san singing, or show Hiroku-san how to cook as our girls played in the yard. Makoto and I were lucky to have them… but I regret my daughter’s loss of a friend more than my own. Isuzu-chan was a good compliment to her.
Makoto runs up and gives her father a hug, delighted as always to see him as she tries to poke her face into the bag to see what he’s carrying. But I feel my chin start to tremble and I stand suddenly, and pull Hajime into the other room. “I need to talk to Chichi for a minute.”
There, I bury my face in his chest and let it out… much in the way that I cried in his arms the first night he came to Ito. So much of the whirlwind of the past few days, I need this, need him, need the comfort that only he can provide me. I know he hates to see me cry but I know he hates it more when I keep myself bottled up or covered in a smile. So for now… I cry.
I’m surprised as Hide pulls me aside abruptly. I was just about to speak with Makoto. I almost drop the bag when she starts to sob on my shirt right after I closed the door.
Wrapping my arms around her, I stroke her hair. I had thought that she would part with this place well. It certainly seemed like it the past days. Perhaps I am wrong and this is not about Ito but there’s none other I can think of.
I lead her to the window and sat her down at the edges.
“Is there something I can do?” I ask, “I can give a note to the Mochizuki’s… Or make other arrangements.”
He gives me the comfort I need, and in his arms, his hand on my hair, for a few more moments I let it out, but I start to calm down.
Is there something I can do?
I look up at him. “Just what you just did,” I answer, how he gives me strength, just through his support and understanding. I look at the bag he still holds. “There are things I’ll miss… it was a wonderful little house, and the Mochizukis were good friends… as much as I look forward to having a home with you, it just… overwhelmed me for a moment.” I nod at his offer. “I would like them to know that we are at least alive, and safe, even if I can’t tell them any details. They’ve been too good of friends… they will worry and I owe them more than disappearing in the night.”
“I saw the bag and thought… more of the people, the things I’ll miss over the things that drove me crazy about this place. How a small town can be so stifling and insular…” I frown, thinking of how the other children treated Makoto, and how even Sugiyama-san came to treat me at the first sign that I had done something “wrong”.
I look up at him, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “But the life I had here isn’t the life I want, the one I’ve dreamed of. There was something missing in all of those lonely years, and someone Makoto was missing as well. It has been about surviving, in this little town by the sea. I’m ready for something more. I’m ready to thrive… all of us, together.”
I take his hand. “We should let Makoto know.”
“There are things I’ll miss… it was a wonderful little house, and the Mochizukis were good friends… as much as I look forward to having a home with you, it just… overwhelmed me for a moment.”
I nod and straighten up. “It is a wonderful place.” The truth was, I’ve grown fond of it. The slow afternoons, but it seems as before it’s not until it’s gone that I realize it. “I would like to come back some time, even if it isn’t the life you had wanted.”
I wonder though, perhaps this place was probably the best place we could’ve settled in. Moving to Tokyo and elsewhere unnerves me in that things -will- change.
“We should let Makoto know.”
“Yes and…” I pause by the door, “How much should she know? Both you and I are moving on with other things. Tokyo would be nothing more than a safe house, if even that.”
I would like to come back some time, even if it isn’t the life you had wanted.
I nod, and move my hand to cradle his cheek. “I agree. It’s still special. Makoto was born here… you came back to me here, twice. And we’ll have the Mochizukis to visit, so we’ll come back some day.”
How much should she know? Both you and I are moving on with other things. Tokyo would be nothing more than a safe house, if even that.
“Safe house?” I think for a minute. “She’ll be with her Chichi, even if she understands that you’ll be working a lot. And even with other things… it will still be a home for us.”
I lay my head on his chest, so I can hear his heartbeat. “Change is a part of life, people and places around us… but the woman and the little girl that love you, that won’t change.” Just as I know, as I said long ago, with him I needn’t doubt that I am loved. The realities, the complexities will always be there… but I’ve seen our love in other times and places, from a city of glass and steel to teenagers in school. I look up at him, with eyes that are clear and sure, and kiss him, even I must look a mess and I’m still trying to catch my breath after letting out my emotions. “Thank you,” I whisper as I embrace him, hearing little footsteps impatiently moving in the other room.
“Change is a part of life, people and places around us… but the woman and the little girl that love you, that won’t change.”
She says the things I needed to hear. The past few days had bedraggled my thoughts somewhat, causing rather unsleepless nights. She kisses me and I return it deeply, how I do wish things would not change, like this one long and lingering. Squeezing her waist one last time, I turn and open the door, looking at Makoto as she paces and hops just a few feet away. I wonder if she was listening…
I sit by the low table and pull up a small pillow. “Come Makoto. Sit down.”
I poke my head in the door. They were pretty quiet and I couldn’t hear anything… I wonder if they were kissing -again-?
Come Makoto. Sit down
“Hai!”
I walk in to the kitchen and Okaasan is washing her face and sit down in front of Chichi, but not before giving him a kiss on his cheek since I can reach it. I look up at him. What is going on?
It’s been so long since I’ve seen my daughter, I’m relieved somewhat that she does not hesitate.
“How would you feel about living in Tokyo?” I know this was a change in plans… Different from what I had once told her before, to visit Hokkaido where there was snow. I wouldn’t even dare to tell her that Tokyo might not even be our permanent home. “I would also want to change your name to Yamaguchi.”
I scoot closer, and Okaasan sits down with us too. She smooths my bangs.
How would you feel about living in Tokyo?
Tokyo? That’s where Chichi lives! I nod, happy. “I would like that!” But that means leaving here… Isuzu-chan, and my base… “Will we still see the Mochizukis?” She’s my friend… not like the other kids at school. “I can write her letters…”
I would also want to change your name to Yamaguchi
I smile again… we’ll have the same name? “Then I can call you Chichi all the time?”
“Will we still see the Mochizukis?” “I can write her letters…”
“Someday we will visit here. When things are settled down there.” I pause and light a cigarette. I’m not sure how to answer her other question… “As for letters, no not yet.”
Reaching over, I pull the ashtray closer and tap on it. Will I even explain? How to explain to a child? But she asks another that is even harder to answer than the first.
“Then I can call you Chichi all the time?”
Puffing on the cig I cross my arms. Wasn’t it what I wanted for us was a normal life? How can it be if I have to set conditions? I sigh at a loss for words.
Hajime seems to hesitate in answering… how to explain this to a child? I take her little hand in mine.
“Makoto-chan, remember your papa told you that he was a policeman?” She nods, “hai! He’s a good one.”
I nod back, trying to think how to tell her about everything. She is bright but she’s still only five, and I keep it simple. “He is one of the -best- policemen, and he works very hard. But sometimes, bad men, like the ones that came after us the other night. Bad men don’t like being caught and they might try to hurt Chichi, or hurt the people he cares about, because they’re angry.”
Looking at Hajime before back at her, “And that’s why when we have to be careful.” I smile at her. “Chichi at home, but even if you call him something else around other people, you’re still his little girl, ne?”
“That’s also why it will be a little while before we can write the Mochizukis. They’ll know that we’re alright, and later, you can write. You’ll have time to practice your writing…” I watch her, carefully. Will she understand? Will she accept it that we’re not going to have a normal life like she saw the Mochizukis had, but that she’ll still have what’s important?
Okaasan tells me about the bad men, and for a minute I’m scared. I don’t want them hurting them again.
And I can’t write Isuzu-chan? I’m quiet. Why not? Would the bad men come after her?
Chichi at home, but even if you call him something else around other people, you’re still his little girl, ne?
I move over and sit on Chichi’s side where he’s not hurt, taking Okaasan’s hand with me. I look up. “I’m still your little girl.” I nod. -That- makes me happy, and even saying it, I feel all like I’m jumping really high, like when he told me. “And I promise to be careful.”
She moves to my side and I pull her close, glancing a look at Hide first before looking back at Makoto. She explained it so simply, I’m amazed when it had been so complicated earlier.
“You see in Tokyo my name is Fujita Goro, so you can call me that.”
I kiss her forehead, just like I do Hide. “We’ll find you a nice school and I brought some of your books, it’s been a long time since I read you a story ne? Then we’ll practice your English.”
I look over Makoto’s head and grin, “Although I think your mother now has surpassed me in that regard.”
“Fujita Goro,” I repeat his name, even though I like Yamaguchi Hajime better.
He talks about school and reading and books and I feel better. “You will read to me tonight? And someday you’ll take me to the zoo, too.” I grin as he kisses me, it feels warm on my forehead and -much- better than Okaasan passing his kisses to me.
I look at Okaasan confused when Chichi talks about her speaking English and giggle. “She -can-?” She only laughs, and looks at Chichi. This must be them being funny from when they’re in their secret base.
You will read to me tonight?
“Yes of course since I have to put you to bed early, we have a long way to travel tomorrow.”
I grin at Hide. That was just a partial reason.
“She -can-?”
“She’s been studying in secret. I think it’s because she wants to know what we talk about.”
Putting out the cigarette, I reach into my pocket and hand Hide a few things, the train ticket for her and Makoto, the bank account under her name and a family register listing her as the wife and Makoto as his daughter.
“I told Kawaji about us. He’s a hard one but is reliable. Of course, -he- does not exist yet but Kawaji did him a favor.” She should know whom I’m talking about, the head of that register legally does not exist. I suppose there are only two ways to go about dealing with Tokio, we shall see. “I hope you do not mind, a name change would be more secure even if unconventional.”
“Sleep early?” Makoto sighs but grins, looking outside to see how late it was. “Alright, Chichi.” I catch his grin and smile.
She’s been studying in secret. I think it’s because she wants to know what we talk about
“Hai hai… so I’m afraid you two will have to take up another language to plan out surprises for me. You have a year before my next birthday.” I reach over and touch Makoto’s cheek… how I love to see her all snuggled close to Hajime, his arm around her.
I told Kawaji about us.
I look at him, surprised. He’s not the type of man to go sharing his personal life with others. But at least someone does know about Makoto and I, and it’s someone that Hajime trusts, even if he doesn’t always speak -fondly- of the man…
I look over the papers and nod, a grin slowly crossing my face. “Yamaguchi Hide… I like how that one sounds.” This is unconventional, and there are things that still remain to be taken care of, but this is our new start. “Tomorrow on the train, Makoto… we’ll show you how to write your name.”
Her eyes widen slightly. Why is she surprised? “Do not worry. As I told you Kawaji can be trusted and given that I could not procure what we need by myself here in Ito…”
It’s then that I remember the issue of money, “I’m afraid that will only last you a few months.” I cough slightly, “Transfer what you have in safe-keeping, until I can pay it back.”
“Yamaguchi Hide… I like how that one sounds.”
I nod. It’s been such a long time since I promised her, even now it’s still not complete and seems to just inch it’s way forward. On impulse, I reach for her arm and pull her, Makoto in between us, quickly I kiss her lips, to let her know that I still and always have. Letting her go I stand up and stretch lightly.
“I’m going in the kitchen for a quick bite. Then it’s off to bed for you princess.”
(OOC: you may close)
As I told you Kawaji can be trusted
“I know you wouldn’t have told him otherwise.”
He speaks of money… I do have some saved up, most of what my brothers have sent me I’ve left as untouched as possible. This is just such a time for such things. “I already spoke to Yuunosuke to have Tamesaburou to have my money transfered to Tokyo.”
Makoto giggles as she’s caught between Hajime and I as he pulls me forward for a kiss. As the kiss ends, I keep my eyes fixed on his golden ones, drinking in the unspoken message I see there. Mine answering back that I know… and that I always will.
Standing, I take our daughter by the hand. “Let’s set out the bed for us tonight, Makoto-chan.” After finding the dinner I left for him, of rice, steamed fish and vegetables, and two -large- tempura shrimp that Makoto declared were for him, we settle in for the night.
(OOC – close)