Saitou: That afternoon, I ask Hide to take care of dinner after Ojii-san mentioned that Akane would not be dropping by. At the very least she did leave us groceries so I decide to not think about it too much, besides this is no different than before.
“Stay with Hide and Ojii-san.” I tell Eiji as I prepare to leave.
“I was thinking of going to Tokio-san.”
“What for? We shall go there tomorrow.”
“I want to see Tsutomu right away. It will not go over well if I don’t drop by there today.”
“No I need you to stay here and guard the house.”
He tries to argue and I raise my hand as a gesture of goodbye and close the door. That fool… What does he think he can accomplish by going there first? Perhaps to report to Tokio that I am here to get Tsutomu back? No. We had an agreement that he would help bring back Tsutomu to Tokyo. I know I can’t convince that son of mine to come with me, short of tying his hands behind his back and putting him in a sack to get him to comply. But he listens to Eiji…
Lighting a cigarette I sigh and try to put those thoughts out of my head. I am meeting with Kanbee and if I start thinking too much he would try to get it out of me and irritate me to no end. But I want to ask him for a favor just in case I end up staying at Tokio’s far longer than necessary. The horse drawn cart would be useful too if I can get it.
Eiji:
Otou-san can be so stubborn at times. Actually he is stubborn all the time. But I suppose I am willful myself, after all I have no plans of obeying him right now. There is no need for me to guard Yagi-san nor the old man, this part of Aizu is peaceful, in fact most of Aizu is peaceful that people bored of their daily lives past the time either by huddling together in the afternoon to “talk” or spend their time tending to their small businesses.
I prepare to leave. I’ve been cooped up here for the entire day and as kind as the old man is, being here has left me a bit stir-crazy.
(OOC: Eiji is just about the close the door, someone can spot him or not.
Agenda
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By the time I wake from my nap – it must be a combination of the child and this trip that left me so tired – it’s well into the afternoon. Our host is not to be seen, perhaps he naps in the long hours of afternoon – older people generally do, but I wonder about Eiji-kun. And is Hajime still here?
Coming downstairs, I see the door closing and rush over to catch it – is it Hajime, just now leaving to go to Kanbee-san’s?
“Ha – ” I stop when I open it, seeing Eiji-kun, and I smile sheepishly. “Ah, Eiji-kun. I suppose Hajime has already left?”
?EURoeAh, Eiji-kun. I suppose Hajime has already left??EUR?
“Yes Hide-san. He left a while ago.” I remember to call her as she requested. It’s hard to remember what to call who. Fujita-san wants to be called otou-san by me, she wants Hide-san instead of Yagi-san and Tokio-san… Well Tokio-san always liked being called that and not Fujita-san. I suppose it would be confusing. I find calling Tokio-san, “Tokio-san” the easiest.
I look at Yagi-san from across the garden. She seems just fine but I should ask just in case… “I was just going out to visit Tsutomu.” I tell her, “Did you need anything Hide-san? I’ll try to get back before dinner.”
Ah, so he already has left…
“Did Hajime tell you we saw Tsuyoshi-kun earlier? He’s such a delightful young man.” I smile again. I’m sad he didn’t want to come with us, but maybe…
I look outside the window. “Please be back by dinner. I don’t believe Akane-san will be joining us, but I’d like you back by dark. It’s winter, so it will be early.” Something makes me shiver and I shake my head. I am being silly about -that-.
Then I remember something, “I thought you and Hajime were going there tomorrow?”
Eiji:
?EURoeDid Hajime tell you we saw Tsuyoshi-kun earlier? He?EUR(TM)s such a delightful young man.?EUR?
I nod and add. “He’s rather carefree.”
She asks me to come back by dinner and yes I do plan to beat Fujita-san back here. Not that he wouldn’t find out but I suppose I just don’t want to be dealing with him immediately.
?EURoeI thought you and Hajime were going there tomorrow??EUR?
So she knows… But I thought Fujita-san was taking her? Either way a little warning might help Tsutomu, maybe even Tokio-san. “Actually Hide-san, now that you mentioned it maybe I won’t be coming back for dinner after all. I’d like to spend some time over there.”
Before things get too unpredictable, but I don’t tell her my worries. I want to see for myself how badly things have changed… If they even changed at all. “If you can please tell Fujita-san that.” I say and prepare to leave.
>>He?EUR(TM)s rather carefree.
I nod, and smile. “Yes, that, but very kind, as well.”
>>If you can please tell Fujita-san that.
I listen to what he has to say. “I shall tell him, Eiji-kun.” I look down at some of the winter-battered bushes in the garden, if I have time I should do some trimming so they’ll bloom beautifully come spring. I turn my attention back to Eiji-kun, because what he said had… leaves me uneasy.
“Will you tell him – or Fujita-san – why Hajime is here?” I wish he would wait, but it seems that stubbornness is a family trait, even to this young man who does not share his blood…
Eiji: Yagi-san asks and for a moment I consider a lie, but no a lie will be more difficult.
“Yes that’s the reason I’m going.” I look at her. I wonder if she’ll insist that I stay.
“Tokio-san should know he’s here and plans to take Tsutomu with him back to Tokyo.”
It’s not that I like one over the other. I can’t choose like that, but a long time ago I made a wish and wishes do not come true just by doing nothing.
>>Yes that?EUR(TM)s the reason I?EUR(TM)m going. Tokio-san should know he?EUR(TM)s here and plans to take Tsutomu with him back to Tokyo.
I nod. “But shouldn’t Hajime be able to present his case as well?” I don’t know her, or Tsotomu-kun, or how they will react. I only know what I know, and I know, no matter how it’s addressed, this will be incredibly more difficult and fraught than how it was with Tsuyoshi-kun.
“I don’t want to meddle in family affairs but I am here to support Hajime. I don’t know the full story, I barely know -parts- of Hajime’s side.”
“Please, Eiji-kun,” I bow low to him, the only way I know to plead with him. “There are things here that Hajime needs to resolve, and I only wish that I have all of the answers, and I don’t.” This will always be my failing, but despite this, for the man I love, I will keep -trying-. “Not everyone in this situation is happy about it, but we are all bound, by children, into a family, even if the adults no longer are. You boys are the children of the man I love; you are the brothers to my children, and for that I care for you all as well. For the children, we have to find… someway so it?EUR(TM)s not all silence and stalemates, for everyone?EUR(TM)s sakes.?EUR? I smile slightly, ?EURoealthough I know you are well-grown now, and I should not speak of you as a child, but I know Hajime considers you as his son, and that is how I speak to you.?EUR?
“You know this situation better than I. If you think it best, then go, but you will be carrying a great deal with you.”
Eiji: “Please do not bow to me Hide-san. Fujita-san would be upset if he found out.”
I step closer and listen as she speaks. I don’t exactly look at her as I answer and instead focus on one of the bushes. “More than six years ago I came to a house that I thought was caring. I saw them happy. Maybe I was too young to notice the problems but I was certainly too blinded by my family’s loss to appreciate it.” I don’t tell Hide-san about the time Fujita-san asked me about Kenshin-san visiting the house. I didn’t know why it was so important back then and i still wonder to this day, if I had not told him about Kenshin-san’s visit maybe this would’ve end up differently.
“Maybe you know already, but Fujita-san, once he does something can be ruthless and not consider the feelings of those around him.” I look back at her. Maybe she’s seen this, or perhaps maybe he’s not shown this side to her, “If I were to put myself in Tsutomu’s or even Tokio-san’s shoes, after hearing what he has to say without warning, my initial reaction would be is to get upset… Maybe even angry. After all he was the one who chose to leave.”
“So I hope you understand why I have to go.”
(OOC: If hide is okay with him going, she can lead him out. If not well, we”ll see.).
“You found a good place to be after everything that happened, and I’m glad for that, Eiji-kun,” I say. “And… children don’t see problems. Later, they’ll realize that there were…” I shake my head. One day, I’ll have much to explain to Makoto, about why her father and I were separated for her early years.
He continues to speak about Hajime, but I do not respond. Those things are between Hajime and I; and how I understand him. How deep his emotions run… hopefully, as Eiji-kun grows up, he’ll get to know more about Hajime, and discover this for himself.
“I understand if they will be upset, but he is their father. He wants to be in their lives, no matter what happened between him and Takagi-san. Blame and fault… children exist beyond that.”
It’s not my place to stand in his way.
“I will tell Hajime where you’re going when he returns.” I walk with him to the gate. “Please take care, and come back before it gets too dark, and I wish you luck.”
(OOC: Close)