(Saturday Morning)
I wake up and Yukiko-san is still asleep. Is it early? Daylight is just started and I don’t smell breakfast
(Flashback)
“There’s no such thing!”
“There is an it’s in my backyard!” I stomp my foot. “It’s high up in the trees and you can see the birds and the sky and everything!” I mean, I think they are. Tsutomu-kun has been working -all week- so I’ve not gone up there, but it has to be
“Then let me see it!” He grins. “Or I’ll tell everyone in both classes that you’re a liar and houses can’t go in trees!”
I think. Hahaue said that the man with the cape wasn’t “safe”, but I can still be Kenji-kun’s friend? I mean, he’s not really my friend, but he hangs around. “Okay. Let me show you where I live.” I get out some paper and a crayon. It’s easy to walk over and I know exactly how to get there – after all, I’ve had to help remind Kinosuke-san how to get back and forth when it’s just him walking us! I think Tsutomu-kun thinks it’s funny and wouldn’t help so I had to! “Oh, but don’t bring the cape guy.” There. That should do it!
He blinks, then shrugs. “Oh, okay. Hiko-sensei doesn’t like children’s games anyway, he says.”
“You can come Saturday morning.” I grin. “Bring snacks!”
(End flashback)
I guess I should tell hahaue that I told a friend to come over? Isumi-chan used to just come over whenever back in Ito. But first, I go into the boy’s room and shake niisan. “Wake up, I want to go to the treehouse!” I whisper.
(OOC – Makoto is trying to wake Tsutomu)
Treehouse Time (Second Try!)
19 thoughts on “Treehouse Time (Second Try!)”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I push the face away from me and mutter. “I’m still sleepy and you’ve got bad breath.”
Turning I go back to sleep. I’m tired, my body is still aching and I don’t know if it’s from work.
“shoo…” I tell the shadowy figure.
!!!!! No I don’t!
“Niisan, I’ve been waiting for you -all week- for the treehouse while you’ve been out being a man with a job! Come on!”
But he’s not a lazy boy. “Oh no, are you sick? Should I get my mom?” He’s been working hard!
I’ve been waiting for you -all week- for the treehouse
*GROAN* “Fine.” I get up slowly and sleep walk to the dresser to find -something- to wear. Pants. Shirt.
“Go I’ll follow you after I get dressed. Smelly breath.”
Sniffing the air, I should brush my teeth too. My body hurts. *internal groan* *groan*
“Don’t tell your mom.” I tell her. It’s probably nothing. I’m just tired. Sleepy?
“My breath isn’t smelly! And I’ll get breakfast!” But I think I am going to brush my teeth? He tells me not to tell hahaue that he was tired this morning.
I leave the boys room (Kinosuke-san is still snoring!) and go downstairs. Hahaue is already downstairs, working on breakfast.
“Can I get some onigiri for Tsutomu-niisan and me? We’re going outside!”
She nods, and I look around. “Where’s Chichiue?”
“Work. Very early,” she says. She’s making the riceballs.
He’s been working a lot this week. “But it’s Saturday!”
She smiles a little and touches my nose, “his work never stops, Makoto-chan.”
I guess that’s why I’ve not been in trouble because he knows the trick I did… I look and hahaue is wearing that yukata! I grab the box of onigiri and go. “Oh and I have a kid from school coming over later!”
Now she knows! I go by the tree to wait for Tsutomu-niisan.
OK I think I’m ready.
Heading downstairs I go outside. There’s light out already? Was I sleeping that long? It can’t be more than 10AM? I look up at the treehouse. I can’t believe it actually got done and -he- put up the ladder. Once Kinosuke-san gets up I can pay him.
Oh wait but didn’t I tell Makoto-chan I’ll have her eat at the Akebeko once I get paid? Hmm…
I go up the ladder and up the treehouse. It’s only the two of us. I should’ve invited Kai over but wait doesn’t Makoto have -friends-? Maybe I should get Yukiko-nee-chan.
“Okay I’m here.”
And I look around.
“Look, look!” I say. It’s a pretty day with blue, blue skies. “This must be what birds see!” I give him a big hug! “THANK YOU!” I sigh, happy, looking out the window. “This is exactly what I dreamed about!” Then I remember what hahaue told us the other day. “And there’s room for Tsuyoshi-niisan too!” Maybe we can bring games? OH maybe we can sleep out here one day!
I open the box and present the riceballs. “Ta-da, breakfast!”
“But wait!” I go back down and get the paper wrapped package. “This is a gift for our treehouse, I made these!” I pull out the cushions, and put one down for him. “Please enjoy!” I say with a bow.
Makoto-chan hugs me and is really energetic and looking out the window.
“Oi. Don’t go falling out the window or the ladder.” I say as she goes back down first for the food and then for the present.
“This is a gift for our treehouse, I made these!”
I hold up one of the cushions. “So this is from your sewing class?” I poke it a little and pieces of cotton falls out the seam. “Umm…” Well she didn’t like sewing class.
“So am I supposed to sit on it?” I guess i can but I have to tuck the cotton padding in.
Sitting seiza, I put it under my knees. That will hold the padding in place. It’s not very comfortable sitting this way though.
“Oi. Where are all your friends I thought you told them to come?” I stare at the riceballs. Don’t we have sweets?
So this is from your sewing class? Umm…
Oh no why is there cotton coming out? “We did this on the new machine!” I say, looking at my cushion. “I can’t use it but I had to put in one hundred pins to make it stick. I tested it and -everything-…” my mouth is turning upside down and I can’t help it! I worked hard! “Where did the thread go? It’s all cut up!”
I gulp. I’m really really upset about the cushions. I take the other two and put them in the corner. “You don’t have to sit on it, they’re all wrong.” I look down. I was supposed to be in charge of decorating and it’s all wrong!
Oi. Where are all your friends I thought you told them to come?
I look out the window and hear a knock on the gate and Kenji-kun’s voice. “Only one kid. He didn’t believe me that we had this.” I go back down the ladder to the gate to let them in.
(OOC – Makoto is out of the treehouse to meet Kenji and whoever has escorted him, lol)
All of a sudden that bright smile is gone.
“Oi Makoto. You wear your emotions clearly on your face.”
“You don’t have to sit on it, they’re all wrong.”
I flick her nose, “Of course I’ll sit on it. It’s better than the wood floor. I refuse to give my cushion back.”
Then I have an idea. “You can have your mother show you how to fix it later. You must -persevere!-”
“Only one kid. He didn’t believe me that we had this.”
She goes down and I follow. You never know what might come up on the gates.
So we’re a little early. Kenji was too excited and I was too worried after I hear we’re going to Makoto-chan’s house. I didn’t tell anyone, not even Kenshin and certainly not Hiko-san. But I thought there’s no need for the children to suffer a friendship just because their parents don’t get along. Well Saitou-san doesn’t get along with any of us. But maybe Yagi-san will be different, after all she was always “polite”. I suppose people from Kyoto are always a bit more formal, not as friendly as us in Tokyo.
“Haha-ue. I think it’s that house at the end of the street.”
He runs ahead of me. “Hurry I bet there’s no tree house!”
“Hoy! Be careful!” I run after him but it’s not easy carrying a boxful of daifuku. Store bought but I did also make my own chicken kaaraage. I’m sure the children will like my cooking. Kenji always does.
The door opens and I half expect Yagi-san or an adult of the house but all I see is Makoto-chan and her brother. Did anyone know we were coming?
“Umm Hello Makoto-chan. Tsutomu-kun.” I smile brightly at them. “Kenji and I brought snacks and lunch.”
(Makoto)
Of course I’ll sit on it. It’s better than the wood floor. I refuse to give my cushion back. You can have your mother show you how to fix it later. You must -persevere!-
Slowly I lift my head up. He always says that but he means it. “Hai! Just like you persevered even though you hurt your ankle!”
I’ll have to talk to the girl at school who helped me – oh, or maybe Midori-san? She’s the best at sewing, and isn’t mean to me.
Then we get to the gates and there’s Kenji-kun and his mother! I don’t see her much and I want to ask her more about girls and kendo. “Welcome to our home!” I tell her, with a bow. I hope hahaue or Yukiko-san comes out so she has someone to talk to or whatever grown up ladies do.
“Come on, Kenji-kun, it’s out back!” I grab niisan’s hand. -He- can use the cushion because he’ll be careful but Kenji-kun breaks things.
(Hide)
I hear voices out front. Makoto said she had a friend coming but since she’d not said anything about it… I put up the last of the breakfast dishes, take off my apron, and go to the front door and it’s…
My face goes pale and I grip the doorframe. Who else is with them? In -my- house? Is the Battosai invading my home like he did -hers-? Or worse…
Himura-san closes the door behind her so maybe it’s just mother and child? But now they know where we are – our sanctuary, our safe place… But I let my training, from childhood, in good Kyoto manners push me forward, and I bow. “Ah, good morning, Himura-san, Kenji-kun. Did you come to see the treehouse?” I see Makoto eager to go in that direction, but she’s also eyeing the boxes.
Tsutomu:
Oh it’s Kaoru-san. I smile at her. She’s neat and she brought boxes. The colorful one looks like it’s going to be sweets!
“Kaoru-san I can help you with a box.” I say and take the colored one for her. Jackpot! I bow and say “Thank you.”
Kenji:
I see the tall boy take the box of sweets but the best is haha-ue’s cooking and Makoto and I will have that!
“I’ll take the fried chicken haha-ue!” I grab the box and grin at Makoto-chan.
“So where is this house in the tree?”
She points to the other side of the yard and I see it! “Wow that’s big!”
We run together to the ladder. Up the ladder! No one can see us.
Kaoru:
And there we were… All of a sudden I’m left empty handed and staring back at Yagi-san.
“I hope you don’t mind Yagi-san. I didn’t want Kenji walking here alone. This is a bit a ways from our house.”
It’s odd being here especially since just earlier this week, Saitou-san was at my dojo threatening Kenshin and Hiko-san. Is he inside? Will he want to know whether I delivered his message. I did not. But I try to forget about that. I didn’t come here for that. So I just smile. “I hope we’re not intruding. It will only be for a little while.”
(OOC: Should this thread be split? one for adults and one for children. Children continue here? if so you can make a new thread with an exit from here)
(Makoto)
“So this is a secret base and grownups can’t come in!” I remember taking chichiue to my secret base in Ito, but he seemed to -understand-. “My mom couldn’t climb the ladder right now anyway,” I tell Kenji-kun, reminding him again, “I’m going to have a baby brother.” Hahaue said that it would be okay if it is a girl, but why take a chance? A boy would be -better-.
I point at the cushions in the corner. “Those were broken.” I hope he knows not to sit on them! Maybe I can -perservere- and fix them.
Then I look at the colorful box that Tsutomu-niisan has. “What’s in there?” It smells like sweets. The box Kenji-kun has smells like food, I think. “And that?” I giggle. “Oh, and we have riceballs.”
Do the moms want food? I look down and hahaue is bringing tea -of course-.
(OOC: Adults to their own thread)
Kenji:
I’m going to have a baby brother.”
I start on the fried chicken. Soooo good! “Here Makoto.” I offer some to her but not the tall boy. He’s got our sweets.
Munching I think, “A baby brother would be good. My chichi-ue was very happy when they got me, a BOY!” I smile and stuff my face with fried chicken. I love the way haha-ue makes it with dark bits here and there. “Boys are the best. That’s why father’s always want a first born son! like me.”
Tsutomu:
I’d agree with that Kenji but something tells me it’s not a good idea.
Instead I open the box and start on the daifuku. “It’s just mame daifuku.” I say and start eating as many as I can. “It’s store bought so it’s not that good. You’re better off with the fried chicken.”
Yikes! That fried chicken looks like it’s burnt all over! I wouldn’t want it.
I roll my eyes. “Boys aren’t better, we just have enough girls in my family.” One, and that’s it and that’s me! “And my chichiue already has a firstborn!” I poke Tsutomu-niisan. Well, Eiji-niisan is older but he started with another family, hahaue told me. “Only daughter, only sister!” I say, grinning. “That’s the best!”
There are two boxes of food. There are rocks… wait I think that’s karaage? That doesn’t look like what hahaue made the other day! So I check out the other box
“Hey, give me some of that!” I tell my brother, grabbing one and eating it up! Oh… just mame, which is not my favorite. That’s -okay-. I look over at Kenji-kun. His family has different taste in food.
Wait, I have riceballs. MUCH better than burned chicken! “Oh, but here, I have rice too,” I say, remembering to be polite to our guest. It’s hard to remember everything.
“So Kenji-kun, now you see, there CAN be a house in a tree!” I nod, “so I wasn’t lying. And it’s the best place.” I get back up to look out of the windows – I love seeing everything! “Oh, and there’s a swing, too.”
Kenji:
“Boys aren’t better, we just have enough girls in my family.”
I turn to Makoto-chan and pop a piece of chicken in my mouth. “I guess.” I turn to look at the big boy Tsutomu. “I used to have a big brother. Yahiko-kun. But he doesn’t live with us anymore. It was fun having a big brother though.” I smile up at her brother, “When you grow up will you also leave?”
Makoto-chan offers me the rice ball and I take one. It’s good too. I like salty things but she goes and becomes grabby with her brother. “Makoto-chan… My haha-ue says it’s not nice to just grab things.” Of course it’s different when I’m grabbing otou-san’s hair.
Tsutomu:
“When you grow up will you also leave?”
“I’m already grown.” I look down at that chicken he’s eating and wonder if his teeth will be okay. Those look hard. “I’m here only for the school year.”
So Kenji-kun, now you see, there CAN be a house in a tree!” Oh, and there’s a swing, too.”
What’s up with these two? They’re more like frenemies… Looking down on the box there’s only 4 left. I pop two in my mouth.
When you grow up will you also leave?
I’m already grown. I’m here only for the school year
“No no no you can’t go!” I look at Tsutomu-niisan and grab his arm. “You have to stay with me!” Who else will play with me when the baby comes and chichiue goes back to working all the time?
Makoto-chan… My haha-ue says it’s not nice to just grab things
“You have to be -fast- with my brother and sweets!” I laugh, “he’s the Futuba School kendo champion so he’s very good, and also, he really likes sweets!” There’s only two left now! “See, Kenji-kun?” But I don’t mind all of these sweets being gone. Hahaue had Yukiko-san pick up sweets yesterday and I know she got my favorite, momo daifuku!
But he didn’t tell me the important thing. “So do you like our treehouse?” But I guess I can’t trust Kenji-kun’s taste – he’s eating up all of that burnt chicken!
Tsutomu:
No no no you can’t go!” “You have to stay with me!”
I’m surprised as Makoto-chan grabs my arm but I don’t say anything. I’m sure he mother or maybe he told her already right? That this isn’t my home. It’s not where I belong.
You have to be -fast- with my brother and sweets!” “he’s the Futuba School kendo champion so he’s very good, and also, he really likes sweets!” “See, Kenji-kun?”
“Oh? But I left you two exactly two pieces.”
I hold it out for the two of them. “My sister is right though, if you’re slow in going to eat it all.”
Kenji-kun just makes a face at me and turns his attention to Makoto-chan.
“I think your tree house is nice.” He smiles at her. “Can I come every few weeks? My mom will be ok with it and we can play swords!”
My eyebrow shots up. I’m not sure its a good idea and I don’t like my sister playing with swords, next thing you know she’ll want to be in the kendo club! And that’s for boy’s only! Besides i don’t like kenji’s father!
But he offers me sweets, “oh, you can eat it, niisan,” I smile. If I let him have lots of sweets he’ll want to stay.
Kenji-kun finally tells me that he likes the treehouse.
Can I come every few weeks? My mom will be ok with it and we can play swords!
I nod. “Of course! And I can come to your dojo too, okay?” I go halfway down the ladder and grab a branch that hangs out just right so I can skip the last few steps and get right down! I see hahaue and Kenji’s mother still talking. Why do moms do that? I run over to them. I have to tell them about all of the good ideas Kenji-kun and I have.
Well, my treehouse is better than a dojo. Even if there are swords there.
(OOC: and Makoto runs right into the other thread)
Makoto runs out and leaves me and Kenji behind.
“I don’t think Makoto will be able to go to your dojo.” I tell Kenji. “No one’s going to take her.”
Because I know I’m not and if he’s related to the red haired man… And then there’s the man with the cape.
Kenji frowns and leaves the empty box of chicken behind him and follows Makoto. I sigh and leave the empty box of sweets to follow the children.
I -hope- Makoto’s mother say NO!
(OOC: Close)