After returning home, I go to look for Yukiko-san. I’ve not been able to talk to her since she went to Eiji-san’s, and I would like to warn her about the man I met today. I go around the house looking for her – I can hear Makoto and Kinosuke-san in the back garden.
(OOC- Yukiko can be available or not)
Looking for Yukiko-san
14 thoughts on “Looking for Yukiko-san”
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I’m just about to go outside when I see Yagi-san seemingly looking for something or someone? It will get cold out soon, I should ask her to come in.
“Yagi-san. Please come in before it gets cold.” I call out to her. “I’ll make us tea.”
It’s a quiet night and I wonder how the conversation at the machigaya is going? I can only hope…
Ah, there she is, and offering tea. It’s surprisingly cold for a spring night.
I settle in at the table. “Did it go as you wished yesterday?” I smile, “Eiji-san came to get Tsutsomu-kun for the day, and to also stay the night, so I took that as a good sign.”
“Eiji has always been easy going.”
For a moment I wonder how much does Yagi-san really know about Uncle’s sons. Or if she even knew that Eiji wasn’t his.
“I hope it goes well. I know Eiji has a hard time telling his story. ” was i out of line to ask that of him? “He thought it was a -bad- idea.”
Eiji has always been easy going
I nod, sipping my tea. “I’m glad he’s here. He’s a good young man. Your uncle is proud of him.”
I hope it goes well. I know Eiji has a hard time telling his story. He thought it was a -bad- idea.
“His story? I know that he was brought into the family, but not the specifics,” I tell her.
“I’m glad he’s here. He’s a good young man. Your uncle is proud of him.”
I nod at this. “Even my father was. He would stay with us almost every summer and some other days. He would cook too! I being the girl of the house shamefully took advantage. ” I look down and smile at those old memories.
His story? I know that he was brought into the family, but not the specifics
And I wonder how much I should tell her. She’s part of the family but I also know uncle might not anything and Eiji doesn’t want to tell.
“I only know a small portion of it, ” I begin to Yagi-san, “several years ago uncle was working on a highly dangerous case. Apparently the criminals he was after had subjugated a small village called Shingetsu where he had sent a police spy. His name was Eichiro, Eiji’s older brother. It did not end well for his brother nor his family and Eiji was all that was left.” I don’t add much detail about another swordsman who seemed to have helped Eiji since Eiji seems to avoid mentioning him.
“He was taken to the Fujita household then but…” i wonder if I should continue. I wait for a moment looking for signs, whether what I was doing was the right thing…
Even my father was. He would stay with us almost every summer and some other days. He would cook too! I being the girl of the house shamefully took advantage
“Those summers sound wonderful,” I smile. But he was only there for summer, who cooked for the rest of the year? Well, she’s come a long way already. “One day, when you wish, tell me about your parents – I’d like to know them as you did, since I did not get to meet them.”
It’s strange to think of Hajime being a -younger- brother. Even though he was one of the younger members of the Shinsengumi, he was never treated as the “kid”. Did they scrap and tussle like my brothers?
She outlines Eiji-san’s story, it’s… this is why Hajime can’t rest. “I see. I could tell that he was strong; but I didn’t realize how deep it went, to have had so much loss as a child.”
He was taken to the Fujita household then but…
I nod, “he did well there?” We’ve drank through one pot of tea, I get up to make another.
One day, when you wish, tell me about your parents – I’d like to know them as you did, since I did not get to meet them
“There’s not much to tell Yagi-san.” I say because it’s true. I hardly knew my mother and my father was busy raising me, keeping tabs on his younger brother and then Eiji came. “If only my father back then could reach his brothers heart, much like he did Eiji’s.” I realize I’ve said my thoughts aloud so I continue about Eiji instead of my father’s wish.
I see. I could tell that he was strong; but I didn’t realize how deep it went, to have had so much loss as a child.”
I shake my head. “He wasn’t strong then. You see Eiji was very troubled. He lived with the Fujita’s for a while but he was taken to us at first just for the summer, but later on it seemed he was mostly left with us. I wasn’t sure what was going on in their house.” Its then that I wonder about Yagi-san, the dates would make sense. But this is about Eiji so I continue… “He would hardly speak to anyone. Uncle left him with us for a while saying he can’t do anything for him.”
I sigh, “Its only later on, that my father found out that Eiji’s brother was killed while under Uncle’s command and what’s worst than that he called, Eichiro-san foolish for getting himself killed. At least that’s what Eiji told father.” I don’t add that I was only eavesdropping that night as Eiji bawled in front of my father. He held him so gently that night. “After that Eiji seems to have gotten better and he only came back for the summer. ”
I take a sip of the now cool tea. “Being an only child, Eiji is like a brother to me.”
I bring over a fresh pot of tea, and pour for Yukiko-san.
There’s not much to tell Yagi-san. If only my father back then could reach his brothers heart, much like he did Eiji’s
I’m quiet, it’s an echo of the conversation only recently had.
He wasn’t strong then. You see Eiji was very troubled. He lived with the Fujita’s for a while but he was taken to us at first just for the summer, but later on it seemed he was mostly left with us. I wasn’t sure what was going on in their house
I think, trying to make sense of the dates. I knew there was trouble with Tokio prior to me, and only got worse around the time we came together.
She speaks of Hajime calling Eiji-san’s brother foolish, and I remember him using the same language before. “I’ve heard him say that before, about others. He takes the lives of the men who serve under him and with him heavily; I think it’s a word used out of anger and frustration about the situation, and not the victim.” I look down at my tea, and refresh it from the pot, “He… can sound harsh, but he’s not cruel. But I hate it that Eiji-kun had to hear him say it.”
It’s strange as I did the other night, to speak freely of Hajime. She’s just a girl, but she knows sides that I’ve never seen. Such as his domestic life.
Being an only child, Eiji is like a brother to me.
“That’s good – after what you’ve told me, he needs all of the support he can get. And perhaps he can help Tsutomu-kun, now.”
I smile ruefully. “I sometimes wonder if I’m handling him right. He has a mother, and he’s loyal to her. To be left in a house with another woman…” I sigh, “I try to take care of him as much as he’ll let me, but also not push, because he’s as stubborn as his father, when he’s hurt.”
“He… can sound harsh, but he’s not cruel. But I hate it that Eiji-kun had to hear him say it.”
I nod. “I understand Yagi-san. I know of…” There’s no need to add the details here. “Uncle can be harsh.”
“That’s good – after what you’ve told me, he needs all of the support he can get. And perhaps he can help Tsutomu-kun, now.”
I smile a little, “I think Eiji’s grown up to be a great guy. He always told me so.” I stop a little, “As for Tsutomu I hope so but Eiji told me that it probably won’t help. But if Eiji can’t reach him who can?”
“I sometimes wonder if I’m handling him right. He has a mother, and he’s loyal to her. To be left in a house with another woman…” I sigh, “I try to take care of him as much as he’ll let me, but also not push, because he’s as stubborn as his father, when he’s hurt.”
“My father used to say, the Yamaguchi’s have a curse.” I look down and smile softly, “That we all hate the quiet but are quiet ourselves. Never really saying what we’re thinking, even when we are speaking.”
I wonder if this applies to me as well. After all I still… I think about Tsutomu instead, “I guess Tsutomu is like his father. If you know how to reach Uncle, maybe it will be the same with him, though of course as is already obvious to you, he harbors ill feelings towards you both so softly broaching him probably won’t work.” I know, I’ve seen that is why I thought our stay here was a burden to Yagi-san. Between Uncle and Tsutomu, one was already an open heart but Tsutomu’s shut close.
“But then again, maybe it’s better you don’t do anything Yagi-san. Let Uncle handle him when he comes back.” Somehow I doubt that will end up well, after all I doubt Uncle haven’t tried.
I try to smile for her, “Well see ne Yagi-san? On Monday it’s my turn to pick up Makoto and Tsutomu from school. I’m sure you’re exhausted and need to take a rest from all of us.”
My father used to say, the Yamaguchi’s have a curse. That we all hate the quiet but are quiet ourselves. Never really saying what we’re thinking, even when we are speaking.”
“Ah, so that is an actual family trait.” I look up at her with a smile.
I guess Tsutomu is like his father. If you know how to reach Uncle, maybe it will be the same with him, though of course as is already obvious to you, he harbors ill feelings towards you both so softly broaching him probably won’t work.
I nod. “I’m… still figuring out my footing. In being gentle and hands-off, he may feel that I’m not giving him any attention. I’m able to reach Hajime, but it’s harder with a child who probably wants nothing more than his family restored.”
I bow my head. “Thank you for being here, Yukiko-san. You give me strength and guidance to help me. I can see how much you care for your cousin. I just hope in time that he can see that I care as well, and how much his father does love him.”
Well see ne Yagi-san? On Monday it’s my turn to pick up Makoto and Tsutomu from school. I’m sure you’re exhausted and need to take a rest from all of us
Ah… “That’s another thing I wanted to tell you – there’s a large man, who wears an outlandish cape, who was trying to bother me today. Thankfully, the police were nearby and were able to send him on his way.” I frown. “Please be careful.”
Of course she’d notice. Aside from my father, uncle is probably the most guilty of that.
He may feel that I’m not giving him any attention. I’m able to reach Hajime but it’s ahrder with a child who probably wants nothing more than his family restored.
I nod and suddenly I have this incredible urge to ask her, “Yagi-san, if it ever came down to it. Would you?” I don’t finish my question but she should know what I’m asking. I think I know what her answer would be but I have wondered being the other woman, what is it like for her?
“Thank you for being here, Yukiko-san. You give me strength and guidance to help me. I can see how much you care for your cousin. I just hope in time that he can see that I care as well, and how much his father does love him.”
“I’m not sure I’ve been much help. I don’t know many things after all except to say how I observe things to be. I can’t predict what Tsutomu would do, he’s still a child but at times I don’t think he is.”
That’s another thing I wanted to tell you – there’s a large man, who wears an outlandish cape, who was trying to bother me today. Thankfully, the police were nearby and were able to send him on his way.” I frown. “Please be careful.”
“Oh Yagi-san!” My hands go to my mouth, “I’m so glad you got home safe. I’ll be careful with the children.” And I think I’ll ask Kinosuke to come just to be sure.
Yagi-san, if it ever came down to it. Would you?
I look down at my hands and smile softly at her question. “I tried to urge him back, very early on. But by the time I came in, the damage was already there, and would have happened irregardless. Some couples can perhaps keep it together for the sake of the children, but I don’t think it would have happened for them.”
I look up at her. “We found each other in a lonely place, and we’ve had times where we struggle – but we work at it, and find each other again.”
I find myself blinking, and let out a shaky little laugh. “There’s many reasons I can endure these waits for him.” It’s strange to speak so freely of something so personal, and at a time when my wait has been longer than they’ll ever know, and when my paths to him -elsewhere- have been blocked.
I take a deep breath and regain my composure. “Thank you for the question, Yukiko-san. You need to know what kind of woman I am. But I didn’t take to loving a married man lightly, and I know Hajime bears the burdens of it as well.”
“And you’ve been much help, and I think another Yamaguchi talent is one of observation,” I smile.
She takes the threat of that man seriously, as I’d hoped. “Take Kinosuke-san with you. The man seemed like the sort who likes to bother women who aren’t being escorted.”
“I tried to urge him back, very early on. But by the time I came in, the damage was already there, and would have happened irregardless. Some couples can perhaps keep it together for the sake of the children, but I don’t think it would have happened for them.”
I nod. I -knew- because I heard him and my father argue. I’ve never met Tokio-san but father was adamant she was the wrong person for him. I was too young then to make sense of that argument. It was a few years before Uncle came back to visit after that fall out, only when Aunt Katsu died.
“We found each other in a lonely place, and we’ve had times where we struggle – but we work at it, and find each other again.”
“In a lonely place.” I know of that feeling but perhaps not to the extent that Yagi-san is saying. “I suppose you can say you healed each other?” Though I don’t know if that was true for Yagi-san, I don’t know her story.
“Thank you for the question, Yukiko-san. You need to know what kind of woman I am. But I didn’t take to loving a married man lightly, and I know Hajime bears the burdens of it as well.”
I look down at my hands. I’m young I don’t know what it’s like to truly love like that. I think of Kinosuke and I’d like to think that it’s the same. I hope I’m not out of line father when I say, “Yagi-san, I…” I search for the words, “If my father was alive today, I’m sure he would’ve liked you. At least I think you would ask Uncle to visit us a bit more.” I laugh softly.
She thanks me and I accept it this time.
“Yes I was thinking of bring Kinosuke.”
It’s gotten late. I didn’t mean to keep Yagi-san up. I take the cups and start cleaning before going to bed.
(OOC: Yukiko will exit).
I suppose you can say you healed each other?
I smile. “In a way.”
Yagi-san, I…” I search for the words, “If my father was alive today, I’m sure he would’ve liked you. At least I think you would ask Uncle to visit us a bit more
And then I’m blinking away tears again. I can’t blame my state – but to be welcomed by this girl is a treasure that I won’t take likely.
I go up to bed, thinking of the days ahead. Of Tsutomu-kun, and how I need to get to the school to find out more about what happened with Makoto, and make sure that it doesn’t happen again. I blow a kiss to the night sky for my beloved, and go to rest to face the next day.
(OOC – End)