It?EUR(TM)s alright that I was scared today? Not all the time, but a little?? A very little bit.
Maybe I?EUR(TM)ll ask Chichi later.
Okaasan walked me to my classroom (Yukiko-san and Kinosuke-san stayed at the gates) ?EUR“ there are THREE classes for each age! It Ito my school was small. This one has so many people, and boys and girls!
School here is very very different. Besides there being boys in class. They make a lot of noise but say funny things. Girls all sit on one side, boys the other. My first teacher, Fukazawa-sensei, gets mad at them a lot and one boy even had to go stand outside in the hall! We also have many teachers who teach us different things, but Fukazawa-sensei is the ?EURoemain?EUR? one. She told the class my name and they all yelled back ?EURoeWELCOME!?EUR?
Fukazawa-sensei taught us writing and I learned a new kanji but I knew the other one. There?EUR(TM)s a ?EURoequiz?EUR? Friday, and she gave me a paper with the others I have to know.
Then another teacher came in, a man teacher! They were all ladies in Ito. The boys sat quiet better then. He taught us math. Math is hard sometimes. ?EURoeNo finger counters!?EUR? he said!
After that we got to go outside to play. The girl who sat next to me showed me where. Her name is Yoshiko-chan. They asked if I could run fast, since I?EUR(TM)m tall! I said yes! We have a running contest and other games in the spring, with the other classes! Yoshiko-chan wants to beat class 1 since her twin sister is in it. I want to win because Yoshiko-chan said that parents got to come watch. Maybe Chichi can come watch?
Then we had lunch. Okaasan made everything very nice. There was the face of a cat in the rice! Kumiko-chan said it looked funny but Yoshiko-chan said that Kumiko-chan?EUR(TM)s came from a restaurant. She also has a carriage bring her to school. Then the boys came over. Yoshiko-chan said they always want food we didn?EUR(TM)t eat! Too bad I ate everything! They also asked what I could do, and I said run fast! One boy said he?EUR(TM)d race me but then Fukazawa-sensei said that there would be none of that! He was the boy that was in trouble earlier. I don?EUR(TM)t think he was being ?EUR“that- loud.
She then read us a story but we also had to go around and read it out loud. I read my part but there were no hard words!
A foreign lady with yellow hair came in for English. She has a funny sing-songy voice and had a big yellow sideways ?EURoex?EUR? necklace, and a fluffy dress. I knew all the words she taught us.
Koga-sensei came back and we learned about Japan?EUR(TM)s history! He told us about the olden days, and we have a ?EURoequiz?EUR? on Friday too.
A lady came and brought us snacks. A cookie, and milk! I know about cookies from Auntie Saya, but it wasn?EUR(TM)t as fancy.
Fukazawa-sensei walked us to another room. The girls are all learning how to sew (I don?EUR(TM)t know what the boys did). I think that?EUR(TM)s boring, but after that an old man took us outside and showed us around the garden. Okaasan already told me all of that. But those things called ?EURoeroses?EUR? sound nice. Okaasan should get one. I?EUR(TM)ll tell Chichi. Our class gets to take care of a bed of vegetables and of flowers. There?EUR(TM)s a contest for that too!
Then school was over! The big kids had to stay longer. Next year we?EUR(TM)ll also have ?EURoeclubs?EUR? some day of the week.
There?EUR(TM)s a lot to know?EUR?
At the gate there?EUR(TM)s a lot of mothers waiting. I see Okaasan standing to the side, smiling and looking around. I run to her (and past that boy from earlier!) and hug her.
(OOC:? Hide and Makoto are outside of the school gates.? Yukiko-san and Kinosuke-san didn’t come along today)
Saitou:
With -nothing- going on in the precinct I had no qualms about leaving early. The school isn’t very far from the station and I walk faster against the crowd of students and their parents. There’s so many children and it takes some effort to manuever around them. Is it really like this when school just gets out?
Finally I make my way to the gate and once I’m through there, I breathe a little easier. I sigh and dangle a cigarette on the corner of my mouth immediately lighting it. Looking up I know that the larger building is where Tokio used to work, so that’s not it and my sons building are adjacent to that building so… I head opposite the courtyard. That should be where the first graders are. Spying Hide and Makoto, I watch from a distance first before approaching. I bow slightly to her mother and grin at my daughter.
“So how did you enjoy your first day in school little lady?”
My little girl is -beaming-… She seems to have had a very nice first day and I’m glad. I reach over and ruffle her hair just a little, mindful to keep it short.
Kenji:
Mother isn’t here yet. I look around and that new girl in my class already found hers. My legs hurt, I was standing for a long time earlier. I wish -my- Okasan will come soon. I go closer to the old lady after that girl (What was her name again?) stops hugging her. Slowly I tug at her sleeves.
“Anou…” I look up, “Did you see my… uh… mother?…”
She’s the same lady from the other day right? It’s okay to ask her I think. Oh she’s with a policeman. Maybe he’ll help…
(OOC: The boy isn’t lost. He’s just impatient. :P)
There’s a lot of other mothers waiting outside, and a line of fine carriages. This must truly be an elite school… Children come streaming out and I stand to the side, my eyes scanning for my little girl… Oh, I hope today was a good day for her, and this school will be everything she needs.
A little girl walks out, and sees me, and sets to running.
Makoto gives me a massive hug, and I kneel down so I can hug her back right. I search her face but she looks… happy? I smile back at her and smooth her hair. “Did you have a good day?” She nods and launches into a tale of ALL of her teachers and a nice girl in her class and I just smile at her…
I stand and there’s Hajime, bowing to me, and I bow back. Sometimes hiding who we are to each other can be a burden, but on this fine winter afternoon with our daughter this happy, I’m glad to see him, to exchange a secret smile. “She had a good day, I believe.”
Makoto bounces over to him. “Chi – Uncle, I like my new school a lot!” She starts to give him her account of her day, and I can’t help but smile more. I’m glad he was able to make it here today…
Then I feel a tentative tugging at my sleeves. Surprised, I turn around. Who…?
>>Anou?EUR?Did you see my?EUR? uh?EUR? mother??EUR?
It’s… ah, Kenji-kun. I glance back at Hajime, does he know who this is? I look down at the little boy, and then scan the crowd. “I’m afraid not, Kenji-kun.” Well, not that -I- can see over crowds very well myself. “Maybe she’s late from the dojo?” I make sure to say this so Hajime can hear as well, and realize who this is.
?EURoeChi – Uncle, I like my new school a lot!?EUR? She
“I knew you would. It’s a good school and you’re a good dau-… girl.”
I listen intently to my daughter and kneel down in front of her, not really touching but that I can at least see her bright eyes. She met a new friend today.
“Yoshiko-chan was it?” I smile at that. I hope they become good friends just like Isuzu-chan. I truly wish Isuzu-chan was here but our life is here for now in Tokyo…
I stand up and take her hand, walking her back to her mother who seems to be talking to… a child?
?EURoeMaybe she?EUR(TM)s late from the dojo??EUR?
A dojo? I look down at the child. Unlike the battousai, he has darker hair but the shape of his face is unmistakeable…
“Your mother is probably just running late.” I frown a little realizing that I can’t stay here lest he finds out about Makoto and Hide… that we’re even related… “Yagi-san, can you wait with him until his mother comes?”
I consider taking Makoto with me but I really didn’t want anyone to see me paying particular attention to her. Who knows who might be looking? As I pass Hide, I whisper, “I’ll wait for you two down the street, on the second alley to your left.”
I leave but not too far away, just enough so I’m hidden from view. I’ll leave once I’m sure everything will be just fine.
(OOC: Sorry for the edits…i realize it wasn’t clear who he meant)
Kenji:
The policeman leaves immediately. I watch him leave.
“That’s your uncle? He’s so tall…” I say. “My uncle is tall too.”
I smile and put down my bag, opening it looking for a pencil and paper. I draw Uncle Sanosuke with his spikey hair.
“See this? I’m like him, I run very fast.”
(OOC: The contents of Kenji’s bag are once again on the ground… LOL. And Uncle Sanosuke is superman to this kid…)
Chichi is one of the best grown-ups. He really -listens- to me.
I wish I could hug him! I think he forgets about “uncle” sometimes too, but that’s okay. I will hug him a lot later!
Okaasan is talking to that boy. “Okaasan, he’s in my class.” He got in trouble but all of the boys were being loud. How does Okaasan know who he is? I don’t think he was there this morning.
Chichi says something to Okaasan and then leaves. I thought we could all go home together. I could show him my “worksheets”. Maybe he could help me with history, since he’s older than Okaasan (she told me once!).
Kenji-kun starts to draw. He says its his uncle but it looks like … a rooster? “Why does his hair stand up?” Well, Yahiko-kun has stand-up hair but it’s not all tall like that.
>>See this? I?EUR(TM)m like him, I run very fast
I grin. “I’m like my uncle, and he runs really fast, he catches lots of bad men. I run -really- fast too.” Maybe when we have that contest we can race!
Okaasan kneels down and starts picking up Kenji-kun’s things. “Kenji-kun, you should be careful, these are nice pencils you have.”
I tell him, “my uncle got me pencils that write in all the colors.” Those are a LOT of fun.
Okaasan stands back up, looking around. “Do you know where else your mother might be? Does she visit a friend? Sometimes Okaasans forget time when they’re chatting away.” I giggle. Mochizuki-san was like that sometimes.
I’ll need to write all about this day to Isuzu-chan. She would -like- the sewing class.
Kenji:
?EURoeI?EUR(TM)m like my uncle, and he runs really fast, he catches lots of bad men. I run -really- fast too.?EUR?
“My uncle catches bad men too! He’s really STRONG. I’m -strong- too.” I stand up and look to the opposite building. There are many strong people inside there. They have bokken and shinai just like my mother… But how come only boys get to play with those here?
?EURoeKenji-kun, you should be careful, these are nice pencils you have.?EUR?
Oh… My things… Okaasan is not going to be happy. I bend down quickly and start helping the old lady. My hands are a little dirty and some dirt goes in the bag but that’s okay.
?EURoemy uncle got me pencils that write in all the colors.?EUR?
Looking up I smile, “These came from Otou-san’s friend.” I show one to her. I don’t remember his name. “He draws really well. Mountains… Rivers… Many things!”
?EURoeDo you know where else your mother might be? Does she visit a friend? Sometimes Okaasans forget time when they?EUR(TM)re chatting away.?EUR?
Taking my bag, I think -hard-. “No… Okaa-san didn’t leave for work today.” I frown. So why isn’t Okaa-san here?
Kenshin:
Sessha barely made it in time to fetch Kenji from school. Sessha just finished going to the market, cooking and then doing laundry for Kaoru. Sessha feels good that Sessha was useful… But not if Sessha loses Kenji!!! I run across the schoolyard not noticing anybody and quickly looking left and right for Kenji…
I smile at seeing him talking to a kind looking lady. Going over to them I bow.
“Sessha is very greatful to you for taking care of my son Kenji.” I smile and take Kenji up into my arms. “My wife was suddenly called to work so…”
I bow again, “I’m Himura Kenshin. Sessha is truly indebted…” I look at the lady, older than Kaoru but she’s probably around my age. I wonder who she is? “Please may I know your name?”
(OOC: Since it’s been so long Kenshin doesn’t recognize Hide by face. Let me know if after mentioning her name (if she chooses to), let me know if Kenshin can recall her then… or not.)
The hair on my back starts to bristle as I feel that familiar “ki” that at one point was able to snap leaves in their intensity. Staying still I watch as he runs into the gate without even noticing me . He should’ve noticed… Perhaps this idiotic rurouni crap has made him too weak to even detect ki now? He’s grown -weak-, much weaker than before. The mere fact that he’s not conciously masking his ki is testament to this. Perhaps he’s lost the ability to do so? Or he’s grown -sloppy-.
I peer behind the window of a food store, just watching them. It’s so irritating to just be standing here and let him be near them… By instinct my hands go to the hilt of my katana… I close my hand on the handle wanting to pull it out of it’s sheath. Weak or not, he is still a dangerous man.
I should… Get rid of him…
Closing my eyes I take a deep breath… But what would fighting him right now serve if he’s this weak? And besides, as long as they don’t know who Hide and Makoto truly are, then starting anything here would just be putting Hide and my daughter at risk.
No Saitou… Be patient… Now is not the time.
Gritting my teeth, I peer behind the window again.
The children are showing off to each other, which, is almost amusing given… who their fathers are. I like it that our daughter assertive and rarely shy…
“My uncle is strong too. But girls don’t have to be strong, just -clever-, that’s what my Auntie said.” I laugh at that. Saya-san certainly did leave an impression on her, which is good – I want her to have plenty of role models.
Kenji-kun doesn’t know where else his mother could be, but suddenly…
It’s his father that shows.
I try not to blink, even if I did not have the relationship I have now, having lived in Kyoto during those times, I know this man from his description. But I bow, and tell him, “we were keeping Kenji-kun company.”
I -know- who he is but my fear runs another way. I don’t want him to know who I am, who this child is, who the man is who is no doubt watching is to us.
>>Please may I know your name?
I bow again. “I am Yagi Hide; my daughter is new to Kenji-kun’s class.” I smile slightly, and she bows as well, staring up at him. I suppose she’s never seen hair -that- color… “I’m glad to see him off well, but it was no problem.” I take Makoto’s hand. “Good afternoon, sir.”
We turn to leave, and find Hajime two alleys down to the left. I want to be with him right now.
(Hide is leaving to meet Saitou unless stopped)
(OOC: Hide may seem familiar to Kenshin, but her name plus the still-noticeable Kyoto accent may give him clues.)
Kenji:
I was just about to ask her who her Aunt is but Otou-san is back. He picks me up and talks to the old woman. I like it when he picks me up but… It’s not like when Uncle does it. I wave at Makoto-chan from up here and then pull on Otou-san’s hair.
Kenshin:
?EURoeI am Yagi Hide; my daughter is new to Kenji-kun?EUR(TM)s class.?EUR?
“Sessha is greatful that Kenji has a new friend.” I try to remove Kenji’s hold on my hair but he has strong hands that I found myself laughing a little. “Thank you Yagi-san. Sessha won’t keep you any longer.”
I move so they can pass… Although it’s not that unusual, she’s not from this area… Her accent is Kansai… The name however, I think I’ve heard that name before.
“Ouch!!! Kenji…” My son just tilts his head and looks at me funny, “Are we going back to the dojo?”
“Yes we’re going home.” I smile at my son.
Saitou:
As soon as the battousai stepped aside, obviously too distracted by his son I leave the store to go to the alley. I don’t light a cigarette, just to be sure he doesn’t detect my presence. But I do need one and -soon-.
“You didn’t tell him did you?” Who you are? Where you’re from?
Briskly we walk cutting through Ueno park. “Did he recognize you?” I ask as I walk slightly behind her.
We catch up with Hajime and I’m relieved. I take Makoto’s schoolbag from her – it feels heavier since this morning.
>>You didn?EUR(TM)t tell him did you?
“He asked my name.” I frown. “If I was evasive it would have been more curious, and Yagi is common enough.” I look back at him. “I didn’t tell him Makoto’s name.”
I notice that we’re in Ueno Park now, and I stop. I don’t want Makoto to worry about all of this, she’s already giving me a -look-.
“Makoto visit with the ducks,” I tell her, leading Hajime to a bench not six steps away. In the winter, even on a nice day it’s mostly empty. I reach up to his pocket and take out his pack of cigarettes and the packet of matches. With Makoto distracted (and now telling the -ducks- about school), I light his cigarette for him and hand it over.
“I don’t think he knew who I am,” I answer. Looking up at him I place my hand on top of his. “I’ve been… preparing myself that our paths would cross since I met his wife and found out his son would be at Makoto’s school.”
I sit on the bench and take a deep breath, the scent of the cigarette oddly calming. I feel as if I’ve been holding my breath since earlier. “Do you think he… noticed you?” I only have a vague idea about such things with warriors.
Of course I agree with her that what she did was correct. I knew she could handle it. Still… Why did our paths cross again? I had almost forgotten about him, about everything from that time…
“I was hoping only the tanuki would be the only inconvenience. I wonder why she didn’t come today. Do you think he’ll be by a lot?”” I look across where my daughter is talking to ducks. It’s not a sight to see… Later I should talk with her instead since our visit was cut short. She passes my cigarette as if she could read my mind.
?EURoeI?EUR(TM)ve been?EUR? preparing myself that our paths would cross since I met his wife and found out his son would be at Makoto?EUR(TM)s school.?EUR?
With a nod, I take her hand in mine. We’re far enough away from most people and I doubt anyone can easily recognize me with my cap on. She seems worried and of course she should be… However, I should not let my worries weigh on her mind heavily, after all our score has nothing to do with her.
?EURoeDo you think he?EUR? noticed you??EUR?
“No. I’m certain he didn’t… But I think… I’ll be more careful visiting that school.” I look at my daughter again. I saw her once already, unless it’s not important then I shouldn’t be caught there unless there’s a -reason- to be there. A credible alibi. I stare at my daughter a bit more, she’s still talking to those ducks, which she would not be if I were…
Enough!
“Makoto, come here.”
>>I was hoping only the tanuki would be the only inconvenience. I wonder why she didn?EUR(TM)t come today. Do you think he?EUR(TM)ll be by a lot?
“I don’t know. Isn’t he a lot more domestic than she is?” I sigh. “I will be polite but I intend to start meeting the other mothers, like the ones of Makoto’s new friends.” It’s nice to be in a place where everyone doesn’t know your background.
He takes the cigarette, I know him so well that that’s what he needed. He also takes my hand, I needed that as much as he probably did. My small hand in his… while I’d like to be in his arms right now this… I take strength in this. I hope he does as well, even with the past coming up again.
>>No. I?EUR(TM)m certain he didn?EUR(TM)t?EUR? But I think?EUR? I?EUR(TM)ll be more careful visiting that school.
I nod. “We were glad to see you today, though.” I smile over at him. It’s a trade-off, to ensure that Makoto gets the best. Once we’re married, though, will we be able to be seen together at that school?
—–
(Makoto)
I like the ducks, but they’re no turtles. Turtles listen better! Nobody comes to the park in winter, and that’s too bad. I think they get lonely.
>>Makoto, come here.
I run over. “Hai, Chichi.” Oops! I look around. “It’s alright I can call you Chichi now?” But I don’t want bad men to get Chichi or Okaasan so I’m good at remembering.
“Kenji-kun drew a picture of a man who looked like a rooster.” I frown. He must have been making that up. But then I remember something else. “Oh! In the spring we have contests! We get to run and Yoshiko-chan said that everyone’s parents come to cheer for us and there’s a picnic!” I bet I can run faster than all the girls.” I look at Okaasan. “We also have plant contests. You would like those.” But garden is more fun than sewing or cooking. There’s dirt and bugs and sunshine!
?EURoeI don?EUR(TM)t know. Isn?EUR(TM)t he a lot more domestic than she is??EUR?
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he is.” Clearly the Tanuki girl seems to be the more dominant one. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was doing all the laundry himself.
?EURoeI will be polite but I intend to start meeting the other mothers, like the ones of Makoto?EUR(TM)s new friends.?EUR?
I glance back at her, thinking carefully at what I’m going to say. I wouldn’t want to make this any harder but… I wouldn’t want her or I to be blind-sided in the end. “So what do you intend to tell them about me?” Or will she even? Maybe I should be telling her more about this school… Maybe but right now I’m not so sure yet.
At least she’s smiling now… After all the surprising events today.
I turn my attention to my daughter as she comes over.
?EURoeIt?EUR(TM)s alright I can call you Chichi now??EUR?
I nod and take her hand, pulling her closer. She tells me about Battousai’s son and tells me about a man who looked like a rooster-head, that can only be the ahou… But wasn’t he intent on leaving? That letter did say so… Perhaps he’s still waiting to hear back from China.
Makoto chatters on about the school. I couldn’t stand seeing my daughter talk to the ducks as if Hide and I weren’t here. That was a rather sorry sight for me to see… She talks about the contest they have in school and asks if I can come. I tell her I’ll try. What is it about this whole thing? It seems like a repeat of the past… Only now it’s with my daughter…
I’ll try? What kind of nonsense is that you idiot?
Taking Makoto I settle her on my knee and lay her back against me, shielding her from the cool wind. There’s hardly any people in this side of the park since it’s close to the water, not that there’s a lot of people galavanting around here when it’s still winter. Suddenly I’m thinking a nice hot kake soba for all of us would be appropriate. I know a place where it’s not cold and certainly more private than here.
Makoto would you like to go eat some hot noodles?
(OOC: Hide can choose to go home or not. They don’t actually have to go elsewhere. LOL)
(Hide)
>>So what do you intend to tell them about me?
I nod. “We’ll need to talk about that.” I look over at Makoto, and squeeze his hand. I am by his side, even when I cannot be. And one day… we can stand together even at that school, with our daughter.
It gets colder, but I snuggle closer to Hajime. I like Ueno Park, even if we aren’t near “our” tree.
—
(Makoto)
I hug Chichi when he gets me close, and I kiss him on the cheek, too!
I then get to sit on his lap and he keeps me warm. The boys are lucky in their “pants”. Skirts are cold! But we all sit together and Chichi says that he’ll try to come when we have contests.
I nod and smile. Yay! I know Chichi’s very busy catching bad guys so that Japan will be better. Okaasan said because of Chichi’s good work I don’t have to be scared of bad men when I go outside like when she was little. “I’ll run really fast and win, Chichi!” Okaasan laughs and looks happy.
I like sitting together but then Okaasan stands up and says it’s time we all got home and that she’ll make us a good, warm, special dinner. She said she asked Yukiko-san to go to the market and bring back shrimp for our soba that Okaasan’s making for dinner! I grin at Chichi, she’s making both of our favorites!