Going around Tokyo yesterday was great! Makoto-chan showed us the ramen place with eggs and they -do- have good ramen but didn’t have the dry sweet kind. The owner even looked at me funny.
Then we ended our day running around that big sakura tree that no longer had flowers. Makoto-chan has endurance but I think I’m -better-. Ani-ue just laughed, saying I only won because Makoto has shorter legs than I and she is only half my age. Feh. Who cares? I -won-. No one beats me running around that tree. No -one-.
Otou-san was gone yesterday and today. I wonder where he went off to? He should’ve tried to get to know Chichi-ue’s new family but he told me he knew “enough” and asked if I knew of a Hiko Seijurou, a neighbor who had a nephew named Kenji going to the same school we all went to. I told him no. Maybe Tsutomu-nii knows? Should I ask him? Or maybe Makoto? But she wouldn’t know anything. She’s still a kid.
I didn’t try to stop chichi-ue when he left this morning. I just didn’t want a repeat of last time. At least Tsutomu-nii lightened up by the time we were eating sweets for breakfast or was it lunch? Brunch he called it! But Yukiko-nee-san was still quiet even after we got back. I hope no one fights anymore.
I look around again in the yard for a longer stick. I want to practice.
(OOC: Tsuyoshi is out in the garden. It’s later in the morning. Tsutomu is likely going to join later. You can direct Yukiko in the house or just leave her sparse in her own room.)
We’re getting a bit of late summer housekeeping going, with a mind to making sure all is -set- and ready for the upcoming event. Makoto and even Yukiko-san seemed to have a great deal of fun yesterday and there was no visiting of dojos or beef pot restaurants – well, I suppose, that danger came to -me-.
I’m downstairs, and I see Tsuyoshi-kun out in the garden. Namuzawa-san is out -again-… but at least we’re getting time together.
He’s practicing … “You have pretty good form,” I tell him, coming out onto the engawa. “but watch your shoulders – you have them too stiff.” I grin a little – that’s one of the few things I know from personal experience. The rest I learned by watching.
Tsuyoshi:
“You have pretty good form,” I tell him, coming out onto the engawa. “but watch your shoulders – you have them too stiff.”
“Oh okay Yagi-san!” I straighten up and try to relax my shoulders. This long stick with the curve end is almost perfect. I twirl it around in my hand.
“Hey Yagi-san! Where’s Makoto?” I’ll show her some of the new moves I’ve learned!
Tsutomu:
I hear some ruckus outside and go out to the engawa. There I hear Yagi-san giving out instruction to Yoshi. What -is- she doing? Doesn’t she know what -that- is?
I cross my arm and lean on a column a slight distance away from her and watch Yoshi. But he starts calling out for Makoto and I roll my eyes at that.
Oh okay Yagi-san!
“Tsuyoshi-kun, isn’t that a bit long for a sword or shinai?” I smile. “I can’t say I know much about spears – in the Shinsengumi the 10th troop had a lot of spears as the captain was excellent with it, but I didn’t watch much of that.”
He does a twirl. What sort of weapon is he mimicing?
“Hey Yagi-san! Where’s Makoto?
“She’s finishing her chores,” I tell him. “She’ll be done soon.” She is upset that she still has to do chores, even with her brother visiting, but things still have to get done. I should go inside and take over… but that’s not a good lesson for her, and I would be breaking my promises to Hajime should I start moving around futons.
From the corner of my eye… “Tsuyoshi-kun, did Tsutomu-kun tell you about the kendo tournament at school? He won, despite facing a much larger boy, and he had a twisted ankle?”
(Makoto)
From the open window I hear Tsuyoshi-niisan outside asking about me! I want to go play!
“You won’t leave me alone with all this work now, would you, Makoto-chan?” Yukiko-san smiles a little.
“No! I won’t!” I tell her. She’s been sad lately, even while we were having fun yesterday. “But can we do it faster?”
Tsuyoshi:
“Tsuyoshi-kun, did Tsutomu-kun tell you about the kendo tournament at school? He won, despite facing a much larger boy, and he had a twisted ankle?”
“Yeah but I don’t do Kendo anymore. So it’s only natural Ani-ue wins these days.”
I point the stick to the air and do a large sweep down. I’m showing Ani-ue, I’m sure he knows what i’m doing.
“Hurry up Makoto! I’m going to show you a move my mother used to make!”
Tsutomu:
Feh. That idiot. He’s too short to do that. And anyway, mother never did that move. She’s a liar.
I go inside and get my shinai. So he wants to do her move huh? Let’s see how good that is against a shinai. “You heard Yagi-san. I won the kendo tournament with a broken ankle.”
Those false moves by mother is nothing compared to the kata I practiced many times over. My kata is -real-.
Yeah but I don’t do Kendo anymore. So it’s only natural Ani-ue wins these days. Hurry up Makoto! I’m going to show you a move my mother used to make!
Mother.., so that’s what he’s doing. He seems a little short for a long weapon like that – he would be for a spear. There’s a reason that the 10th had some of the tallest men…
Then Tsutomu-kun comes out.
You heard Yagi-san. I won the kendo tournament with a broken ankle
He looks… serious. Is he upset that Tsuyoshi-kun quit kendo? Was it something they used to do together? Or is it something to do with his mother…?
Then I hear a flurry of footsteps. “Yukiko-san said I could come down!” I hear, as Makoto blurs past me and out into the garden.
“Yukiko-san said I could come down!”
I look across from me and there comes Makoto. I grin at her.
“Hey Makoto-chan, just stay where you are.” I point my stick towards my brother. It’s a little unfair he has a shinai and all I have is this long stick with a curve at the end but that’s okay. “See my long stick Makoto-chan? It’s a Naginata, women warriors of Aizu and samurai like our father defended the castle using this weapon!”
I twirl the stick in one hand and bring it to my side and stretch out my free hand to distract Ani-ue. It’s kind of like wagging the tail but only with my hand.
*SMACK*
OUCH! He really hit my outstretched hand hard. I grimace but don’t move my left hand, just like mother said.
“Put your hand away Tsuyoshi or I’m going to hit it harder.” He says quietly.
“No! This is the warriors way of distracting the opponent and -you- are only playing mind games!” I bring the Naginata to the front and in one hand do a thrust, which he easily dodges. My eyes go wide as he goes to my left side now hits my arm and I grab it. That really hurt.
“Hey hey are you serious?”
It’s not like I didn’t warn him. Only a fake technique puts out an unprotected hand and arm like that. And only a fool believes every story they’ve heard. Like you?
“Hey hey are you serious?”
“I’m always serious.” I point my shinai at him. “Now why don’t you stop pretending you’re some girl wielding a Naginata around.”
“Mother said, boys too can wield Naginatas!” He charges at me with that flimsy stick.
“Not you!” I shout at him. “And not her!” I grip my shinai tightly, I’m going to show him a -real- lesson. No holding back!
(Hide)
Hey Makoto-chan, just stay where you are
“Remember, Makoto-chan, that’s what you do if it’s not your fight,” I tell her. I’ve yet to have the opportunity to really teach her how to watch sparring matches. I urge her to sit –
But this is not a brotherly sparring match! That much is obvious as Tsuyoshi-kun reacts, silently, to a hard hit from Tsutomu-kun.
Hey hey are you serious?
Tsuyoshi-kun seems surprised at Tsutomu-kun’s ferocity. Makoto tries to get up but I hold her down – I can’t let her –
And then Tsuyoshi-kun mentions their mother, and Tsutomu-kun – he’s so angry –
(Makoto)
Oh no
Oh no
My brothers are really fighting!
I want to make them stop but hahaue won’t let me –
Then she’s up and running at them, and in the middle as they each strike.
“Hahaue!” I yell! “Brothers, stop!”
They’re too fast…
He’s such a moron! “Your mother is a liar! She was no warrior!”
I shout and raise my shinai high. I’m going to bring it down on his head until he understands!
“No she’s not!” He answers back as he rushes me and waves that flimsy stick around. I grin. So -stupid-. Just running straight into my trap.
HYAA!!!! I shout.
“Hahaue!” “Brothers, stop!”
NO!
I bring down my shinai and I feel something crack. I look straight and I see my shinai land squarely on a smaller hand against Yagi-san’s back, shielding her from the full force of my strike.
“Ani-ue! What are you doing?” Tsuyoshi. Suddenly I see my brother crying, and I remove the shinai from his mangled hand. “You could’ve hurt Yagi-san and our sister!”
I look at him grimly. “It’s because you wouldn’t shut up about all of -your- mother’s lies!” I throw my shinai to the ground. I gave him a warning. I look at Yagi-san but then tear my gaze away and turn to go back into the house.
(OOC: Tsutomu is going back inside unless stopped. hehe i meant sister. he wants sister)
(Hide)
The fury –
I brace for the blows, and feel the force of the shinai against my back, as I’m pushed somewhat and turned, and realize that a hand is there, moving me.
Ani-ue! What are you doing? You could’ve hurt Yagi-san and our sister!
I hear Tsuyoshi-kun’s voice, and I straighten up to look at my sons – Tsutomu-kun is still in a rage.
It’s because you wouldn’t shut up about all of -your- mother’s lies!
So… that’s it.
“Sparring is one thing but fighting is another.” I tell them both. Tsuyoshi-kun is crying…
But Tsutomu-kun isn’t listening – he’s heading back into the house with Makoto following after him, calling his name.
I have to deal with the physically injured first. Gently prodding his injured hand. “What will your father say about this?” I mean, of course, both of them, but one would be merely upset. The other could take him away from us forever.
“Tell me what hurts. And don’t be like your father – -tell- me.” I start to slowly move each finger, to see if it’s just bruising or if it’s something more serious. Tsutomu-kun had so much force in his strike.
(OOC – Makoto has followed Tsutomu. New thread for them?)
OOC: i’ll continue tomorrow. New thread for them if Makoto has something to say.
Tsutomu:
“What will your father say about this?”
I inhale and try to dry my nose with my other hand. “Please don’t tell Chichi-ue.” I look at Yagi-san, “He’ll get angry at Tsutomu-nii like he used to.” I blink rapidly as I feel another tear coming out, then I turn away and blow my nose again.
“Tell me what hurts. And don’t be like your father – -tell- me.”
Maybe if I follow Yagi-san, she won’t tell chichi-ue. I hold out my left hand and as she move my fourth finger I end up in a slight yelp. Then I point to where my fourth finger is from the 2nd and 3rd knuckle up to the middle part of my hand. “I can’t move my finger. I can’t curl it.” I show her I can move the rest like my middle and my pinky and my thumb.
“Don’t tell Chichi-ue?” I look at Yagi-san and -plead- with her. “He’ll get really angry. I don’t want it to be like back then. Tell Chichi-ue and Otou-san, I broke my finger in practice. Besides Tsutomu-nii didn’t mean it.”
(OOC: The finger joint is dislocated in his ring finger, the middle part of his hand (top, not the palm) is swollen. Probably will need a splinter on that finger)
Please don’t tell Chichi-ue. He’ll get angry at Tsutomu-nii like he used to.
I look at his urgent, pleading eyes. A tear… and I want to. I really do.
But he needs to know that things have changed. Softly, I tell him, “he needs to know. Your brother has had some… shocks in the past few weeks, and he’s had a rough time of it. He wasn’t trying to hit you… he was fighting his pain.” I pull a cloth from my obi and dry his tears. “He needs to know so he can help him, and not punish him. And lies… -always- have a way of getting out.” I smile at him, and wipe those eyes again. Then I add, in a quiet voice. “You don’t need to take the burden of being the peacemaker for your family anymore.”
He does show me his hand… I feel around, carefully, this is an area I have experience in. As I check, I talk to him, to distract him. “Your brother first hurt his ankle, I think, coming down from the treehouse. He’s stubborn, and didn’t want me to do anything, but I just knelt by his foot until he agreed to be treated.” Ah… the fourth finger took the most damage. “Be brave, Tsuyoshi-kun, this will hurt for a moment.” With practiced moves, I move the bone back into place, but keep talking. “He wouldn’t look at me – he just started at the sky and tried not to react,” I chuckle a little. “Stubborn, just like your father. Second time, it was a mysterious girl that came to his rescue – she found ice somewhere and brought it to him.”
I take the cloth I used on his tears and wrap it around the finger. “I’ll need to do a proper splint inside, but nothing feels broken. It’s going to hurt a bit more before it gets better, but you’re a brave boy. Your father would be proud of how you protected me.”
“And Tsuyoushi-kun… you know your brother loves you. That’s why I invited you to come. He’s missed you terribly. He’s just trying to make sense of things, and will feel -terrible- about hurting you once the shock has worn off.”
Your brother has had some… shocks in the past few weeks, and he’s had a rough time of it.
“About mother? Why?” I tilt my head and look at Yagi-san.
“He needs to know so he can help him, and not punish him. And lies… -always- have a way of getting out.”
I’m quiet. “I don’t want Chichi-ue to know nor Otou-san.” I look down. I know what Otou-san will say. “As long as you don’t tell Otou-san?” I look back at her hopeful. It’s OK I think for Chichi-ue to know if it’s true what Yagi-san says about helping my brother.
Then she starts pulling on my finger and I wince and breathe in deep and purse my lips tightly. Oww…. But I didn’t make a sound. She said to be brave and I listen as she tells me about my brother.
He wouldn’t look at me – he just started at the sky and tried not to react,” I chuckle a little. “Stubborn, just like your father. Second time, it was a mysterious girl that came to his rescue
I let out a breath after she’s done and blink a bit because that -hurt-. But now my finger isn’t so tight. “Chichi-ue loves Ani-ue the most.” I say, “Oh and girls do like him at school. He just doesn’t know it. I bet that Midori girl does too.. the one who sent him a letter yesterday.”
It’s going to hurt a bit more before it gets better, but you’re a brave boy. Your father would be proud of how you protected me.”
“You think so?” I smile a little, “Well I had to. I’m getting a baby sister soon right?” I look at her tummy. “Makoto-chan wants a boy but I want a sister.”
And Tsuyoushi-kun… you know your brother loves you. That’s why I invited you to come. He’s missed you terribly. He’s just trying to make sense of things, and will feel -terrible- about hurting you once the shock has worn off.”
I nod. “Yeah I know he loves me. He didn’t mean it.” I look up to the second floor and wonder, what can I do? Only a few more days and we have to go back to Aizu.
About mother? Why?
I sigh a little. “For that… I’ll refer you to your father. But I think he’s seeing his mother for the first time, as a person, and people aren’t perfect. And he adores her. So it’s been hard. But he wanted to find out the truth, and sometimes that leads to a hard place.”
I don’t want Chichi-ue to know nor Otou-san. As long as you don’t tell Otou-san?
“I’ll let you handle Namuzawa-san, then. But, I won’t lie if he asks.” I smile a little. “I’m a -terrible- liar, but I don’t want him to think the worst of Tsuyoshi-kun.”
As I fix his finger he’s so -brave- and my heart just breaks at his strength. I don’t realize that I was holding my breath until he lets his out, and I can breathe again too.
Chichi-ue loves Ani-ue the most.
I smile. “And children will fight over that until the end of time,” I tell him, lifting up his chin. “But he does love both of you boys. Even if he’s reserved about it.”
Oh and girls do like him at school. He just doesn’t know it. I bet that Midori girl does too.. the one who sent him a letter yesterday.
Ah… Midori, is it? I make a note to ask Makoto about her late…
Well I had to. I’m getting a baby sister soon right? Makoto-chan wants a boy but I want a sister
“Well all I want is a -healthy- baby – and, as I tell your father, you can’t put in an order for one or another.” I grin a little. “I’ll make sure you know once the baby is born.”
Yeah I now he loves me. He didn’t mean it.
“He’s a lot like your father. Stubborn. Prone to be quiet when there’s too much on his mind. Not always the best at showing love.” I smile a little. “And for those of us who aren’t like that, who love strongly and are just a little stubborn… we have to work to get through that shell.”
“Come on to the kitchen – I can work up a splint for you there.
For that… I’ll refer you to your father. But I think he’s seeing his mother for the first time, as a person, and people aren’t perfect.
She sighs. Why? “Oh in that case I’ll never find out. Besides Haha-ue -IS- a person. She’s not a doll you know.”
“I’ll let you handle Namuzawa-san, then. But, I won’t lie if he asks.”
“Okay!” I smile back at her. I’ll have to think of an excuse, otherwise he’ll find out and he’ll remind me again why it’s best to not think about my old family especially chichi-ue.
“And children will fight over that until the end of time,” “But he does love both of you boys. Even if he’s reserved about it.”
I shake my head, “Oh no you’re wrong Yagi-san. He really does love Ani-ue the most, he gave him his tsuba and he gets to stay here.” Amongst other things but I don’t say anything, “It’s okay Yagi-san.”
“Well all I want is a -healthy- baby – and, as I tell your father, you can’t put in an order for one or another.”
“Why? Can’t you tell by touching your tummy? Girls are smaller than boys you know.”
He tells me about tsutomu-nii and chichi-ue and I nod. “I know all about them. I’ve lived my whole life with them. For a long time they didn’t talk.” With that I follow Yagi-san to the kitchen.
(OOC: You may close and direct tsuyoshi unless there’s something else)
“Oh in that case I’ll never find out
“You will,” I say. I can’t believe that Tsutomu-kun hadn’t yet… but perhaps that hints at why today escalated the way it did.
Oh no you’re wrong Yagi-san. He really does love Ani-ue the most, he gave him his tsuba and he gets to stay here
“He got the tsuba as part of becoming a man. I’m certain he’ll make that time special for you to, when that happens for you.” I find the right sort of material and start to set his finger. “And as for that – it wasn’t about loving one of you more than the other. It’s not that, not at -all-.” I briefly hug his shoulders. “I know he misses you more than he can say. And he’ll tell you more as you get older.”
Why? Can’t you tell by touching your tummy? Girls are smaller than boys you know.
I shake my head. “Not at all, and that’s not always true!” I grin. “But how’s this – next time the baby is active, I’ll let you know and you can touch my tummy and make your best guess!” I tousle his hair. It’s cut short, but it’s more like Hajime and Makoto’s, straight, than Tsutomu-kun’s which is thick and a little wild at times.
I know all about them. I’ve lived my whole life with them. For a long time they didn’t talk.
I nod. He is very perceptive. “Well, I’m here to help now,” is all I say, simply.
“Now, do you think some sweets would help with your finger?” I reach for the one tin that I -hope- the other two haven’t found yet… and success!
(OOC – Close)