Stealing Time Upstairs

6

saitou-gold-iconI told her I’d move this along. I look around and see everyone busy preparing breakfast. Tsuyoshi steps up to the kitchen counter standing on his tip toes to see what’s available for breakfast. He’s not tall only average but the counters are higher here. I lift him up and he looks at me, then at the ladies a little embarrassed.
“Chichi please put me down.” He whispers. I try not to chuckle. “Why don’t you make yourself useful and help Akane?”
He nods and I let him go.
“The rice and soup will still take a few minutes.” I hear Akane tell Yoshi.
“In that case, Hide can you help me with something upstairs?” I really couldn’t make up a decent excuse at such short notice but before this world goes on. I need time alone with Hide, even if just to talk. This might be our only chance after all. I’m not looking forward to seeing Tokio again and I can only imagine what will happen there. At the very least I want to make sure Hide will be alright through all this.
I wait for her by the door, hand outstretched, waiting for her to take it.

aizu

Hajime

6 thoughts on “Stealing Time Upstairs”

  1. I steal glances over at Hajime with Tsuyoshi… hiding a grin as I hear a quiet request to be put down. Ah, boys get embarrassed early, don’t they? I remember my brothers shrugging out of hugs, squirming out of kisses.
    But I love watching them together, Hajime with that vibrant young man. I see his father in him, his sister, and my heart aches a bit for the child back in Tokyo.
    All that is left is for the soup to simmer, and the rice to finish… the rest of the work has been done. I nod at Hajime’s request, finishing the last of my ginger tea, and to go him by the door.
    I take his hand. It’s amazing the warmth there is in just a few square inches of skin touching skin. How five fingers can grant such strength. I squeeze his hand, it’s been too long since I’ve enjoyed this feeling. And if things are moving again, I’m glad for this moment – we both so badly need it before what will come next.

  2. She takes my hand and squeezes it. I don?EUR(TM)t waste too much time and take her upstairs. After she goes inside the room, I close the door and lock it. Immediately pulling her to me, I give her a searing kiss, one that?EUR(TM)s urgent but not demanding. Just savoring her lips for a long moment and before letting the kiss end and her hand go. I keep her close by, holding her by the waist.
    ?EURoeWell I couldn?EUR(TM)t do that out there.?EUR? I chuckle a little. ?EURoeI also can?EUR(TM)t ask you how you?EUR(TM)ve been after all these months.?EUR?
    I touch her hair, then her cheek and cup her chin before looking her over. Tilting my head I say, ?EURoeWell at least nothing looks like it?EUR(TM)s broken.?EUR?
    I joke though I know it was probably hard being left alone for a long time, and even on our one day of the year. I do wonder what she thinks about breaking that one tradition. Maybe that?EUR(TM)s why I?EUR(TM)m not too worried at making everyone downstairs wait.

  3. I drink in that kiss… it’s something so familiar but every time it sends thrills through me, as if I’m kissing him for the first time all over again. Of all of the kisses we’ve shared, thousands? We break away and I touch his cheek, caressing the lines I know so well, finally resting my hand on his shoulder as his remains on my waist. While grey winter clouds are outside here in Aizu, I feel like in this room, spring has come again…
    I laugh softly at his comment. How time bends for us. “Well, I suppose we -could- but I think it would have been -very- confusing.”
    He -examines- me and I smile. “You seem well, too, but I’ve been worried if you’ve been eating properly all this time. I remember one summer you lived on watermelon for a few weeks.” I frown, a man like him needs good food to remain strong.
    I lean in and embrace him again, tightly. “It’s been so long,” I say, my face against his chest, “I’m so glad to be with you again.” I tilt my head back, “and when we get home, I have more than meals to make up to you.”
    Then I stand on tip-toes and kiss his cheek, softly. He’ll know who that is from, for she misses him as well.

  4. It?EUR(TM)s so hard to just be standing here and holding her like this. Don?EUR(TM)t lovers usually, when they haven?EUR(TM)t seen each other in a while indulge a little? I shake the thoughts from my head. If only, we could be in our space but we?EUR(TM)re not and I?EUR(TM)m at least grateful for the time that we do have. ?EURoeVery confusing indeed.?EUR? I agree to her comment.
    She makes a fuss about my eating but I have tried to heed her advice, because I ?EUR“knew- she?EUR(TM)ll fuss. ?EURoeI?EUR(TM)ve been trying to eat well. Actually I was afraid I?EUR(TM)ve put on some weight.?EUR? I take her hand and put it on my side. ?EURoeWhat do you think??EUR?
    She embraces me and I embrace her back. I swallow. I want so much to, just for a moment. ?EURoeI?EUR(TM)ve missed you.?EUR? I tell her honestly. It?EUR(TM)s difficult when our ?EURoespace?EUR? is so unstable and in this one, we have things to do, important yes but in this place we have responsibilities to keep up with. ?EURoeYou have a lot of making up to do.?EUR? I kiss her forehead, ?EURoeLots and lots.?EUR? Soon hopefully we can make up for lost time if we remain vigilant.
    She kisses me softly and it?EUR(TM)s a different one. I know that one well by now. I grin slightly at that. I do hope Yukiko is taking care of Makoto well. I?EUR(TM)m sure she is. She is her father?EUR(TM)s daughter too. I ?EUR“do- want to get back soon after we finish our business here.
    ?EURoeWe?EUR(TM)ll probably be leaving here tomorrow, I want to make sure the old man is taken care of. Can you go with Akane to the market, buy him a new Yukata, toiletries, towels, sheet covers and anything else you think he may need? I think Akane is doing well with perishables but some of his things although clean looks like it?EUR(TM)s time to get replaced.?EUR? I reach into my wallet and give her some money.
    Truth of the matter is, maybe the old man does not notice due to his blindness and Akane is probably busy trying to figure out how to be a new wife. Maybe Hide can teach her a few things even for a day. Akane was only 13 when Yaso died. Then of course Gonohe was an even smaller town… I?EUR(TM)m struck for a moment by the irony of it all. Shouldn?EUR(TM)t the woman of those village have sympathized with Yaso and Akane instead of shunning them? It never ceases to amaze me the monstrosity of the human spirit. No wonder she chose to come here with Ueda. It?EUR(TM)s then that I noticed I?EUR(TM)ve been standing here thinking to myself too long.
    ?EURoeI suppose we should go downstairs before they actually think something is going on up here.?EUR?

  5. “Mmm”, I murmur as I hold him. It’s funny, it’s been so long and I felt those lonely nights so keenly but somehow that all evaporates and… it’s as if I was here the whole time.
    I take his money and smile at him, ” of course,” i agree. I’m glad to help Ueda-san, and also very glad to have something to do while here talking care of business. Sitting around here would be… hard. And the man does need some things. I’d there’s time, perhaps i can show Akane how to seamlessly mend a frayed edge, i notice that his clothes show wear.
    He’s quiet again and I squeeze his hand. I’m grateful i can be here at his side for this. I kiss my Hajime again, a mirror of the one from a moment ago. Urgent, for we haven’t much time. Gentle, for its not our time right now, my Hajime must remain up and my kimono unopened. It holds a promise – not just for passion, but also comfort. Sometimes… i am not gifted with words.
    But he knows. As do i.
    “Breakfast should be ready, the young ones are probably very hungry.” I smile and lead the way back downstairs.

  6. She agrees to take care of the other things that requires attention here and I am glad. We go down the stairs together and I see all of them are already sitting at the eating table, a bit too small for five people, really it’s only for four. I sit by my son and tell him to “scoot” over as we need to make room for Hide as well. I can feel Akane’s eyes staring at us but I suppose it can’t be helped.
    “Itadakimasu!” Yoshi starts, as if he was in a race. The rice is passed around and I pass it on to Hide. I take the soup instead, as I’ve said I feel like I’ve gained weight lately.
    (OOC: End thread here. The next post of Saitou, he will be well on his way to Kurasawa’s house. You can make a new thread if you like.)

Leave a Reply