I stand by the side of the house and smoke. It’s the one spot I found where I typically go unnoticed and yet afford the opportunity to observe what’s going on in the garden. I watch as my son and his now ward walks outside and years of training myself to listen, helps even if they’re a fair distance away.
“You be a good house guest while I’m away. I’ll be back by the evening.”
“Yes Otou-san.”
Tsuyoshi smiles and bows at Namuzawa a bit stiffly. Is he even used to that?
“You’re on vacation but remember, you should always act -properly- especially since this is -not- your house.” Namuzawa straightens up. “Conduct yourself with the same discipline and respect like in our home.”
“Of course Otou-san. Please don’t worry. I won’t cause any problems.”
“Of course you won’t. You’re a Namuzawa now. You belong to one of the best houses in Aizu.”
“I’m very thankful Otou-san.”
I turn away slightly. The best house in Aizu… I hear the gates close and I look back. Although there’s light out, it’s still so early. Where is Namuzawa headed off to? I suppose it’s none of my business. I watch as my son sighs and sits on the swings for a few moments before getting up and looking around and finding himself a stick.
Did he not get to sleep well last night or did he know Namuzawa was leaving and wanted to see him off? Perhaps the latter. Well I should get ready myself and go to work after I finish this cigarette.
(OOC: Anyone can drop by and spot Tsuyoshi or Saitou – though Saitou is at the side of the house and not immediately visible.
I have to do my morning chores!
Sweep out front – sweep, sweep.
Now to the front – and I run around the side of the house, where there’s no windows and I can pretend the broom is a sword or spear and I’m taking out the bad guys!
Besides there’s some old bushes here that hahaue keeps saying she wants to replace or prune or something that nobody minds if I hit! (Or they don’t know!)
“HIYAA!” I yell at the first bush I see, and crickets fly out and –
OH NO someone’s here! Did I hit them?
(OOC – up to you who Makoto attacks, lol)
It’s barely light out and I hear scuffles of feet and a sweeping sound of a broom. I throw my cigarette away just in time for…
“HIYAA!”
I don’t see where it’s coming from but I already know it’s my daughter so I block lower and just barely swipe the broom stick from hitting my waist.
“You need to be more careful brandishing that broom around.” I pull on the broom lightly and make my daughter come forward. “You might hit somebody.”
I grin and come out from behind the bush she’s torturing and lead her out in the open garden where Yoshi is entertaining himself with a much longer stick, too long to be a sword.
“Yoshi – why don’t you look after your sister who seems to be up -very- early this morning.”
“You’re already leaving Chichi-ue?”
“Probably soon.”
He looks at Makoto and tilts his head, “Is she done with her chores?”
“Probably not.”
“So should I stand guard until she finishes her chores?”
“You are older.”
“Eh?!” Then he grins.
(OOC: Yoshi was in the open garden so with Makoto going around the side of the house, i thought it more appropriate for saitou to be the one she “found”)
Oh of COURSE Chichiue can dodge the broom!
I just know he’s the best!
You need to be more careful brandishing that broom around. You might hit somebody.
“I’m sorry chichiue! I was just practicing on this bush!”
Then we go out to the front garden and there’s Tsuyoshi-niisan. Oh good, he’s not near Hahaue. I don’t know how babies come out but maybe he does! And then he’ll run off with my brother or sister!
But Chichiue says that he’s leaving… and they talk about -my- chores! And he’s going to guard me.
“Oh, I won’t be long. I’m fast at sweeping.” I tell him. Then I notice he has a stick. “Hey, do you take kendo like Tsutomu-niisan?”
Tsuyoshi:
“Chichi-ue, are you really going to go so soon?”
I look up at him. Otou-san left and now he’s going. I don’t mind being here but I just got here and I know he probably won’t be back until night time. And by then Otou-san will be back.
But then he tells me to guard Makoto. Why is she up so early?
“Oh, I won’t be long. I’m fast at sweeping.” “Hey, do you take kendo like Tsutomu-niisan?”
I look at Makoto-chan, “Well I’ll be here to make sure you do a good job… And I don’t take Kendo anymore.”
Then I go back to Chichi-ue. Who seems surprised. “Shouldn’t we at least have breakfast?”
Hajime:
“Chichi-ue, are you really going to go so soon?”
“Well Yoshi I do have work.” I tell him but he frowns.
I look at my watch and it is a little early. I probably won’t be missed but I’ve been taking too many days off.
I don’t take Kendo anymore.”
It’s my turn to look back. I’m -surprised-. He loves Kendo. Maybe more than my oldest.
“Shouldn’t we at least have breakfast?”
Should I? I probably won’t be late but…
Makoto
Tsuyoshi-niisan seems surprised that Chichiue is going to work?
Well Yoshi I do have work.
“He comes home, silly,” I say while sweeping. “Even when he’s chasing a -lot- of bad guys and it takes -weeks-.” I grin up at Chichiue.
I don’t take Kendo anymore
“Aww! Why not?” I look over at him. “You’re a boy and can take kendo as much as you want. I’m a girl and they,” I look at Chichiue, “won’t let me.” I grin. “Besides, I thought you could show me some stuff – Tsutomu-niisan won’t anymore. But that’s okay, he won the school tournament, even though he had a hurt ankle!” I’m still very proud of him, even though that was a -strange- day!
Then Tsuyoushi-niisan mentions breakfast. “Yes, Hahaue and Yukiko-san was just getting everything ready.” At least Yukiko-san is around all the time these days and helps Hahaue. She won’t let anyone sneak out the baby!
Tsuyoshi:
“He comes home, silly,” I say while sweeping. “Even when he’s chasing a -lot- of bad guys and it takes -weeks-.”
She grins up at him and I -know-. I smile back and close my eyes, remembering what Otou-san told me. Don’t cause trouble.
“Of course he works hard.” I bow, “Good luck today father.”
I nod as Makoto the chatter-bug tells me about Ani-ue and the tournament. I’m glad for him. Maybe that’s why Chichi-ue gave him the tsuba.
“I hope his ankle is now okay Makoto-ko…”
Hajime:
“Good luck today father.”
I can see I upset him. I should’ve planned better for his visit of course, maybe took another day?
“I hope his ankle is now okay Makoto-ko…”
Makoto-ko? Why so formal all of a sudden?
“Ah you know Yoshi…” I look up, “It is still kind of dark and I’m not needed until mid-morning.” I lie a little. “Why don’t we go inside instead and I’ll make you breakfast, like the old days?”
I turn and start to go inside.
“Just give me a minute. By the time Makoto finishes sweeping, breakfast will be ready. So just follow me when you two are done.”
With that I leave and find Yukiko in the kitchen starting to prepare. I go beside my niece.
“Yukiko, let me handle this morning. Can you just find me a steel pan and some oil?”
She looks at me confused since I’m already dressed in my uniform ready to go. “But Uncle…”
“It’s fine. This will only take minute.”
Quickly she gets me what I need, just in time for me to finish preparing the eggs, flour, soysauce, spring onion and cabbage. I stole some of Hide’s eggs but I was in a bind. She watches as I make quick work of the things in the pan. Making this dish takes me back to the wilderness, when my wife wasn’t up to making breakfast most mornings. And of course the couple of times I made it for Hide when I stayed till morning. The smell permeates a bit and although there’s no sauce, I hope it will do.
“Let’s see… I have to break this okonomiyaki up to…” Hmm. I’m not having breakfast I just wanted to do something for my son. “Ah, 5 pieces…”
“Plates are ready Uncle.”
“Thank you.”
(OOC: People can come in and have breakfast. Saitou will shortly exit)
(Makoto)
Of course he works hard. Good luck today father.
Why does he smile like that? Does it make him sad with Chichiue is gone? I am, too, but I know he’ll work hard and come home, and misses and loves us just as much as we do? That’s what hahaue tells me. Maybe his mother didn’t tell him that?
I hope his ankle is now okay Makoto-ko
“You should just call me Makoto-chan, niisan!” We just met and maybe he wants to take the baby, but probably not, because it’s going to be a boy anyway. But I like him! I run over and give him a hug, then pull on his hand. “Come on, I need to finish so we can eat!” I smile at him and start sweeping fast! I’m hungry!
Besides, Chichiue isn’t leaving -yet- and he said that he’s making breakfast. “Oh oh some day can you bring my brothers and me to the place we went the other day, with the sweet breakfast?”
(Hide)
I go back upstairs – Namuzawa-san already left today, -early-, and Makoto and Tsuyoshi-kun are already out and about. As is Hajime – we already said our goodbyes for the day, I recall with a smile. I remind Tsutomu-kun to wake up, and go back down to do what I can for breakfast.
And I smell… my nose twitches a little. Does Yukiko-san have some secret dish that she’s been hiding from me?
No… It’s Hajime, cooking? He’s done this a few times before. I go over to his side and steal a kiss, squeezing his arm. “Good morning, my love. I won’t disturb the cook, but that smells wonderful.”
“I can make up a sauce, quickly, if you’d like?” I don’t think we had any, but I can make an approximation that works well.
Tsuyoshi:
“Come on, I need to finish so we can eat!”
I’m pulled and I watch as she sweeps faster and faster. I guess he decided not to immediately leave after all. That’s good right? But he’s leaving soon. I guess I didn’t quite expect -that-. I just thought since it’s my turn to be here… I blink and smile at the little girl.
“Oh oh some day can you bring my brothers and me to the place we went the other day, with the sweet breakfast?”
I nod. “He’s already inside and can’t hear you.” I tell her, “It’s the sweet tofu drink right?” That was something we liked. I try to be patient, waiting for Makoto to finish and after that we go inside.
Hajime:
“Good morning, my love. I won’t disturb the cook, but that smells wonderful.”
I get a peck, “I just needed to whip something up real quick.” The truth was I didn’t quite know what to do except this.
“I can make up a sauce, quickly, if you’d like?”
“Please.” Yukiko and I set the table just in time for my oldest son to come down from the stairs and I see the other two come in from the outside.
Tsutomu takes one quick look at me and looks away and Tsuyoshi sits very properly at the table. I look at both of them, I guess this isn’t quite the morning I expected. Ah I suppose I’ll just chuck this up to experience. They’re no longer children that I can cheer them up with a half thought out dish.
“Umm Uncle. I was thinking of going to the Akabeko today.”
“Oh?”
“I thought it would be good if Tsutomu-kun can accompany me and Eiji will be there of course.”
“Why do you need to go there?”
“I was rude to a few friends of Eiji.” She looks down. “I would like to fix that if I could.”
When did she end up there? I glance at Hide. My first answer was going to be no but…
“I’ll go with you.” Tsutomu interjects, “I promised Makoto that I’ll take her to that place and since Yoshi is here, we might as well have a nice lunch.”
I give Tsutomu a -look-. He knows the trouble he got with the “friends” of that place.
As if reading my mind, he shrugs, “I’ve worked all summer so I can take Yoshi and Makoto.”
“No.” The words just came out. I turn and look for that sauce Hide made.
I quickly put together a sauce to suit the Okonomiyaki – brown and fragrant. I sit down with everyone else, offering the sauce. Covering mine, I take a bite, and smile over at Hajime (who, I note, is -not- eating), “perhaps you’ll be an excellent cook yourself one day,” I smile at him.
I was rude to a few friends of Eiji.” She looks down. “I would like to fix that if I could.
I look over at her. “Yukiko-san, as I said before… I don’t think the fault is with you, and you shouldn’t take the burden on yourself.”
I think again that my policy of allowing her space has worked as poorly as it does with any of those with Yamaguchi blood.
“But Chichiue, Tsutomu-niisan promised me, and we’re supposed to have fun adventures while our brother is here!” Makoto interjects.
I give her a -look-. She should know better than to contradict her father, but she now has a loyalty to Tsutomu-kun as well.
Makoto ignores my look. “Please, Chichiue?”
“Makoto, your father said no,” I tell her. “Perhaps we can think of something else fun for you all to do today?”
Hajime:
“perhaps you’ll be an excellent cook yourself one day,”
She tries to make the air light and I try to smile back at her. “Thanks for the sauce. It’s not quite the same without it.”
Well everyone seems to now be just focused on their plates. Not exactly the vision I had of their younger years where parts of the pancake would go flying around the table. The reason I no longer make the sauce and forgot it already.
“Yukiko-san, as I said before… I don’t think the fault is with you, and you shouldn’t take the burden on yourself.”
I hear a meek “yes ma’am” form Yukiko. So they’ve spoken about this?
“But Chichiue, Tsutomu-niisan promised me, and we’re supposed to have fun adventures while our brother is here!”
Now it’s Makoto’s turn to plead. Why does she need to go there too? The next thing you know they’ll be bringing one of those people -here-. Oh wait, they have been to my home.
But Tsutomu goes on a tirade and his eyes blaze against us.
Tsutomu:
“Makoto, your father said no,” I tell her. “Perhaps we can think of something else fun for you all to do today?”
“Why can’t we go just because -he- said no?” I look pointedly at Yagi-san. Just like my father who is already trying to get away first thing in the morning, she can’t be bothered to spend time with us so I’d rather take my brother -elsewhere-. I was about to tell her this when I remembered what he told me, that I live in -her- house. So instead I said, “There was no issue before. You both knew I was working after school at the -same- place to have money to spend.”
They’re both -unreasonable-. And she is just -always- doing what he wants. No wonder he chose her over my mother. Wait my mother was a serial liar. All these “adults” suck except for Yukiko-nee-san who they treat like a maid. I’m taking her out with me today, regardless of what they say!
yes ma’am
Ah, so she is still taking it all on herself? While I’m… a little glad she’s so worried about making good to people who are close to Eiji-san, I’m still upset that she took Yahiko-san’s behavior as -her- problem.
Why can’t we go just because -he- said no?
“He’s your father, and while this isn’t the Fujita house, he is the head of this household,” I respond.
There was no issue before. You both knew I was working after school at the -same- place to have money to spend
I look at those raging eyes, and wonder if they’re hers. “Only because Eiji-san was there, too, and I could trust him to look after you – and not get involved with any of the issues of the people who associate with that place.”
“It’s the red-haired man and his friends, Tsutomu-kun. Yahiko-san in particular is the protégé of that man. That’s fine for them, and I’m glad he never made an issue of it for you when you worked there. But he wasn’t as kind to Yukiko-san – while she’s trying to take the blame for his bad behavior, I suspect his rudeness was partially because of who she is – who her uncle is.”
“The red-haired man and your father were on different sides of the war. They were the strongest on each of those sides, and his friends take on more of the… emotional aspect of it, and for that, they view your father as a villain, even when he’s only been their ally in dealing with common enemies, and seem to enjoy insulting him.”
“Perhaps now that the red-haired man takes on a mild countenance, but you’ve felt his ‘ki’, Tsutomu-kun. And because of the trouble that still follows him, the Akebeko itself was destroyed a couple of years ago by someone out to get him.”
“I trust Eiji-san with you. I trust Yukiko-san but should Yahiko-san start being rude again, would you react calmly while he insults your cousin, in the name of your father? Or if he turns it on your younger brother, or your sister?” I keep my eyes on him. “You have the makings of a good swordsman, but Yahiko has learned much from his mentor.”
I press my hand against my stomach. Breakfast was good but… heavy. And my habit of speech-making doesn’t help. And I didn’t even mention the man in the cape… after what happened with Tsutomu-kun, I dread to see what would happen if he had the ears of Hajime’s two youngest…
Tsutomu:
“He’s your father, and while this isn’t the Fujita house, he is the head of this household,”
Of course she would respond like this. She only follows what he says. I keep my silence.
She uses Eiji-nii as an excuse and starts speaking about Myoujin-san’s rudeness to Yukiko-nee-san. Then speaks about the red haired man, the war and everything else. She knows a lot for someone who doesn’t ever bother to get to know anyone.
“I trust Eiji-san with you. I trust Yukiko-san but should Yahiko-san start being rude again, would you react calmly while he insults your cousin, in the name of your father? Or if he turns it on your younger brother, or your sister?
“Tch. It’s because Yagi-san, you don’t get to know people that you can easily accuse Myoujin-san of dastardly behavior. Myoujin-san was good to me and Eiji-nii-san. And if there was a problem with Yukiko-nee-san, then all the more to go get to the bottom of it.” Unlike her, I confront my problems. Find out the truth. “But of course I’ll take care of my siblings.”
“Tsutomu!” I throw him a glare too. Why doesn’t he just leave for his work, instead of pretending to want to be here?
Tsuyoshi:
I watch silently as Ani-ue argues with Yagi-san. But father shouts at him and for a moment I’m afraid Chichi-ue might take Tsutomu-nii by the scruff of his neck, like he used to when the fighting got bad. I can’t breathe…
Yagi-san starts holding her stomach and I’m alarmed. She may not be okay? I wanted to see ever since we got here yesterday the new addition to… to their family.
“Excuse me.” I stand up and quietly say & bow. “I was actually thinking of just going to the Tofu and Ramen shop. I don’t know what the Akabeko is but it’s been a long time since I’ve gone to those 2 shops and I’d rather go there.” I look at Yukiko-nee-san, “Gomen Onee-san?”
“Hai Tsuyoshi-kun…” She answers quietly.
Maybe we can all just… I promised Otou-san I wouldn’t cause trouble. If I let Chichi-ue leave earlier, this argument wouldn’t have happened. He wouldn’t have had to say no because I doubt Yagi-san would’ve gotten in the way had she not known what Chichi-ue wanted. I’m sure Tsutomu-nii just wanted to show me what he was doing here in Tokyo and to treat us but of course there were other considerations for Chichi-ue.
Quietly I hear him whisper “Tch. You’re such a ninny Yosh…”
Gomen ne
Tsutomu-kun seems… upset that I back up his father? But I -agree- with him, and even if I didn’t, I wouldn’t fight about it in front of the children and Yukiko-san. Parents need to have a united front. Perhaps he’s used to seeing fights between his parents?
Tch. It’s because Yagi-san, you don’t get to know people that you can easily accuse Myoujin-san of dastardly behavior. Myoujin-san was good to me and Eiji-nii-san. And if there was a problem with Yukiko-nee-san, then all the more to go get to the bottom of it. But of course I’ll take care of my siblings.
“I’ve met him, Tsutomu-kun, and irregardless, his behavior to Yukiko-san is not to be dismissed. You know her better than I – is she the sort to ever cause offense? She’s one of the kindest girls I’ve ever known. Eiji-san must not have disclosed your identity or he wouldn’t have allowed you near the Akebeko.”
I stand up, and go to prepare some ginger tea to calm my stomach.
But then Hajime shouts, and Tsuyoshi-kun tries to take the role of peacemaker, though his voice sounds… breathy? Makoto’s eyes are -wide-, watching silently between her father and brothers. And her glances to me show… disappointment. All while Tsuyoshi-kun issues apologies.
I make three cups of tea, giving cups to Tsuyoshi-kun and Yukiko-san, and the last for myself. I don’t return to sit, staying standing as it’s slightly more comfortable.
Hajime:
Everyone is at an impasse and I’m tempted to just let him do as he wishes. My youngest tries to deflect and Hide has taken on a distant air as I watch her hand out cups.
“Go and enjoy yourself at the Market and anywhere else -except- the Akabeko and the Kamiya dojo.” I tell the kids, “Yukiko – please ensure they come back before sunset. I’ll make arrangements to get back early.”
She agrees and that’s all I can hope for right now. Tsutomu shrugs and leaves his half eaten pancake and I can only watch him walk out. I turn at the people drinking tea.
“I’ll be going then.” I think of stopping by Tsuyoshi but what’s the point?
“Excuse me. I’ll just go check on Ani-ue.” I hear him say as I close the door.
(OOC: Saitou exits. You can just write close or actually close.)
(Hide)
To Yukiko-san, I say, “If you’ll let me know when you’ve leaving, I would appreciate it, I’m going to go rest for a few minutes after washing up.”
Hajime left without a word to me. I clean up, and wait until I’m alone to have a moment to myself.
(Close)