I let Kenji hold the wrapped bento box with our snacks. I look at him and he looks up at me and smiles with his eyes closed.
“You’re such a good boy Kenji.” I tell him and he blushes and nods his head. “Now look straight ahead and be careful okay?”
“Hai!!!”
He goes ahead of me and I hold a small package carefully wrapped and inside it of course Yagi-san’s request. I’m surprised she had sent me a letter, asking for a play date but I understand she wants this back.
Kenshin was about to throw it away but I insisted that he bring it out. I’m a little upset he kept the events from last night quiet from me, saying, “Well Kaoru-dono was tending Kenji and it was not something Kaoru-dono would be interested in.”
Not interested!? I’d have taken a bokken and hit his head with it. What ever “It” was, and “It” happened in my home, to the people I care about.
When I first saw the tanto it had blood on it. Of course I cleaned it up. But why was there blood on this tanto? I checked Kenshin when he was sleeping and there was no injuries on him and as for Master Hiko, it’s -impossible- he can be touched.
I’ll keep my eyes open or maybe I’ll just be direct and ask Yagi-san what this was about.
“Haha-ue…” Kenji tugs on my dress. “You’ve got to knock.”
“Oh yes.” I knock and call out to the people in the house.
(OOC: Kaoru is outside you can direct them etc as needed)
“HAHAUE THEY’RE HERE!”
I smile. Makoto-chan is excited to have another child over. I still want to have Midori-chan over, but apparently, it takes a while to get letters between Tokyo and her home on the northwest coast – there’s no train yet, so it’s reliant more on boats. I don’t know how Midori-chan found her way down here from there, but perhaps there’s an Aizu connection? Maybe… she’s another connection to Hajime’s legal wife, and will be against her daughter associating with us?
Kenji-kun comes walking in very very carefully, and sets down a wrapped bento box. Once he’s free of that, he runs out into the yard and out to the treehouse.
“I cam hang upside down I bet you can’t do that!” I hear my daughter boast.
They seem to be friends. They also seem to like one-upping each other?
I get up – ever-slower these days – and greet Himura-san. “Thank you for coming – and thankfully, it’s a beautiful day for the children to enjoy playing outside.” I rub my back a little. The big little one gets heavier by the day.
Kaoru:
“Thanks for having us.”
I bow slightly and watch as Kenji scampers off with Makoto-chan. He doesn’t have many friends in school, in fact I don’t know why he’s opened up to the little girl but I’m glad that there is a friend. The boys in our dojo are a little too old for him and until he takes up the Kamiya style in earnest, there’s time for him to play.
I look at the bento box still wrapped on the table.
“Once the children are tired, then we’ll open these up.” I smile. “It’s my specialty karaage chicken. I learned from Tae-san, the proprietress at the Akebeko.”
She rubs her back and I can see she’s probably due anytime soon.
“It does get heavy doesn’t it?” I laugh softly and tilt my head. “But it seems that it’s due soon.”
I look around. It’s rude to just sit, when not asked so I remain standing up. The floorplan of this house is very old style, the receiving area is separate and leads to the living area it seems if you turn to the right, but it seems they hardly used that as it’s closed off. Instead, the corridor turns right away to the left to the kitchen, where the servants would go. But I don’t mind, we had no servants in our house and neither does this one it seems. At least they have help from that young woman, Yukiko wasn’t it?
We watch as the children go off.
Once the children are tired, then we’ll open these up. It’s my specialty karaage chicken. I learned from Tae-san, the proprietress at the Akebeko.
“Thank you so much for bringing such a nice treat!” I wonder if this was the “black rocks” that Makoto talked about the last time…?
It does get heavy doesn’t it? But it seems that it’s due soon.
“Any day now,” I tell her. “And yes, this little one is heavy.” I
Himura-san stands around a little hesitantly. “Please, come, and sit.” I smile a little. “It takes me a bit to get settled – would you be fine on the engawa? That way we can keep an eye on the children,” I tell her. I grin a little, “I think they’re both adventurous.”
It’s then I notice she has a small package? Is that my tanto? It seems a bit rude to just ask directly…
Kaoru:
I’m offered a sit and I do.
“It takes me a bit to get settled – would you be fine on the engawa? That way we can keep an eye on the children,”
“I’m fine either way. You do have high enough walls that I doubt they’d climb over it.” I laugh, besides my Kenji is a good boy. He -always- asks me before he goes somewhere. “My Kenji would probably drag me with him if he were to go somewhere.” I don’t add that I’m not sure about the little girl. She seems to be too active for her age.
Her eyes settle on the box and I push it towards her.
“I cleaned it up before wrapping it.” I say and look at it, “Kenshin had a little oil…”
I wonder if she’ll offer to fill in some missing details? I’m almost sure she asked me over only because of this because my other offer of teaching Makoto-chan seems to have been forgotten. It’s been several weeks.
“Oh, no, she’s not tried walls yet. However, I don’t think that right now she’d drag me along – I would only slow her down,” I laugh. “Makoto-chan is more likely to get her brother to go on an adventure.”
I then see that Makoto is now on the swings, and gets it high in the air before flying from the seat in a leap and landing on the ground with a great laugh. I smile, “are girls these days just more active? We ran and played… do you have other girls learning at your dojo?” I remember… we had talked about Makoto learning kendo from her.
It wouldn’t be bad for her to know how to learn to defend herself. Goodness knows that it helped me just the other day…
I cleaned it up before wrapping it. Kenshin had a little oil…
“Thank you,” I say, as I unwrap it. Clean it? Oh yes… “That was Hajime’s blood,” I say, softly, looking at the blade. “But I do thank you for bringing it back. I heard that Kenji-kun was ill the other night? He seems well-recovered.”
Kaoru:
“Makoto-chan is more likely to get her brother to go on an adventure.”
“Oh you mean that young man back in the field day. He had good form.” Of course that’s Fujita-san’s son. “I’m glad that the two of them get along well.”
Of course I heard the story of Tokio-san. I don’t think I’ve ever met her but I don’t think she’s a bad person is she? Fujita-san just really kept her “inside” the home. He even used to call Tokio-san “Kanae-sama”, which meant inside the house. I watch as Yagi-san laughs and I smile to be polite. I wonder what does Fujita-san call her?
But she surprises me at her next question. Do we have girls?
“Unfortunately, our dojo has never been that popular.” I smile, “We have a new assistant instructor, Yahiko-kun and the new students – all boys, like him.” I think for a moment, “We have all sorts of students though from many different families like former samurai, merchants even farmers.” I laugh nervously – I had made it sound we had a lot but we’re still -barely- getting by.
She takes the knife and looks at it so softly. I wonder, what is so special about an old tanto but we all have our keepsakes.
“But I do thank you for bringing it back. I heard that Kenji-kun was ill the other night? He seems well-recovered.”
“Of course. He’s a strong boy. I hope stronger than his father.” I say hopeful but then seriously I ask.
“It’s been a long time since a blade had drawn blood in my dojo Yagi-san.” I sigh, “My father Yuusuke forbade the use of blades for hurting or killing others. It’s your blade which makes me surprised that it was Fujita-san’s blood. What happened?”
Of course now she’ll know that Kenshin didn’t tell me a single thing. But that’s his way.
Unfortunately, our dojo has never been that popular. We have a new assistant instructor, Yahiko-kun and the new students – all boys, like him. We have all sorts of students though from many different families like former samurai, merchants even farmers.
What I saw of the dojo… it looked a little shabby. Well cared-for, but it needed work. I only smile at her words about her students. “It’s hard for a dojo, in this new era. Some of old friends from the Shinsengumi days, tried to run dojos but even for “famous” swordsmen there seems to be little interest,” I shake my head. “But at least the program at Futaba is popular, even if Makoto-chan is upset that there’s no class for girls.”
And she mentions Yahiko-san…
Of course. He’s a strong boy. I hope stronger than his father.
I nod – I’ve only personally witnessed his speed, but, of course, the Battosai has been known to me for years. He was one of the most notable shadows that chased after my friends, after all.
It’s been a long time since a blade had drawn blood in my dojo Yagi-san. My father Yuusuke forbade the use of blades for hurting or killing others. It’s your blade which makes me surprised that it was Fujita-san’s blood. What happened
She… doesn’t know? She didn’t hear the noise that the caped man made? I can’t help the look of surprise on my face. And if her husband didn’t tell her, then Yahiko-kun did not, either?
I stand up. “Come – let’s walk around the garden? It has the last of the summer blooms.” I’m strangely restless today. “There will be fewer little ears,” I say, softly. Both Yukiko-san and Tsutomu-kun are around today. Tsutomu-kun knows nothing, and who knows what Yukiko-san was told by Eiji-san?
I lead her back over to the lavender. “I can cut some, if you’d like – dry it out and put it in your linens and it will smell of summer through the winter.” I turn to look at her. “First, though, can you tell me – has your husband’s master truly left town?”
“But at least the program at Futaba is popular, even if Makoto-chan is upset that there’s no class for girls.”
I nod. “I heard the police is going to start a program in kendo for the lay person, aside from it being taught in schools…” It’s something I heard whisperings of – that the Keishikan will provide funding to various dojos to teach a certain way of the sword, “Apparently the Chief of Police, a Satsuma man is fond of kenjutsu.”
We speak a little more of the children but when I brought up the question on the tanto, it seems she’s weary and immediately gets up and asks me to walk with her in the garden. Is she uncomfortable in her own home? I refrained from moving to the engawa precisely because the children might hear but perhaps it’s the other people in this house. So I follow her outside without much complaint.
“I can cut some, if you’d like – dry it out and put it in your linens and it will smell of summer through the winter.”
“Oh that is a pretty color. I’ve always liked shades of blue and purple.” I nod at her offer.
“First, though, can you tell me – has your husband’s master truly left town?”
I let out a sigh of relief, “Yes, just the other day. Aside from when he demolished our dojo after Kenshin and wed, this is the longest time he’s stayed with us. As a hermit, he hardly goes out and when he does I suppose he wants to experience everything to it’s fullest potential.”
I heard the police is going to start a program in kendo for the lay person, aside from it being taught in schools… Apparently the Chief of Police, a Satsuma man is fond of kenjutsu
I had not heard that, but I nod. “It seems sensible – guns can cause a lot of collateral damage, should the police need to use weapons.” And yes, I knew the chief likes the sword. “He was a samurai, and he was in Kyoto, some, during the war.”
Himura-san seems a little put off about my offer to walk… but she does accept some lavender. My restless feeling made me want to garden today anyway, so I take a small pair of scissors from my sleeve and snip some of the plants. “Tie them up with twine and hang them somewhere dry.”
Yes, just the other day. Aside from when he demolished our dojo after Kenshin and wed, this is the longest time he’s stayed with us. As a hermit, he hardly goes out and when he does I suppose he wants to experience everything to it’s fullest potential.
I let out a breath I was holding when she said that he’s gone. I had worried that perhaps he had decided to stay – waiting and watching.
“He destroyed the dojo?” I ask, with some alarm. And she allowed him back in?
I start to walk again. “He… encountered me when I was outside of the house one day and decided from then… to pester me. It only go worse, when he found out who I’m… that I’m Hajime’s mistress. at the school that day.” After the other night, mistress doesn’t seem to convey, really, what we are to each other. It implies so much about our physical relationship (which we enjoy) than it does the emotional connection we share, the love that binds us.
“It seems that he was connected to Hajime’s wife – both in her youth in Aizu, and then, a few years ago, here in Tokyo. What sort of connection… we can only speculate.” I look up at the blue sky, with little wisps of clouds. “He started coming here. He even brought Kenji-kun with him, once.”
Kaoru:
Yagi-san gives me the flowers and some instructions. “It would be nice to have some nice smelling flowers in the house.” I laugh a little, “well on the futon at least.”
“He destroyed the dojo?”
“Oh yes. I was pissed off at first but…” I think back, “He’s part of the family and Kenshin profusely apologized to me, so it can’t be helped. Besides it’s a much better looking dojo now, the old one was falling apart.”
“He… encountered me when I was outside of the house one day and decided from then… to pester me. It only go worse, when he found out who I’m… that I’m Hajime’s mistress. at the school that day.”
“Hiko sensei has always been a forceful man, sometimes prone to capriciousness… I’ve never found him overly competitive but I think when presented with a challenge…” I spy a look at Yagi-san. “I suppose you posed such a challenge Yagi-san. I can already see it, the first time you met, you probably fended him off, then the next time, you avoided him and then later on kept telling him to stay away.” I try not to laugh softly… “I think you know those types of men, the one who will never give up.” Because I’m sure Fujita-san is likely that stubborn as well.”
“He started coming here. He even brought Kenji-kun with him, once.”
“Kenji-kun loves him. I was surprised actually because it takes a while for Kenji to warm up to someone but with Hiko-sensei.” I smile, “Hiko is a good Uncle and I think that’s made him think more about how he’s living his life as a hermit.”
“Now as for Tokio-san, I’ve never met her. But she must be quite a woman to have piqued his interest.” I wonder, perhaps Hiko-sensei and Fujita-san just have the same taste in women?
It would be nice to have some nice smelling flowers in the house. well on the futon at least
She mentions her futon so openly and I smile at that. “Ah, well, and you can use that as well when you store your kimono – moths don’t like the smell.”
Himura-san then goes on to explain about the destruction of the dojo very casually….
Hiko sensei has always been a forceful man, sometimes prone to capriciousness… I’ve never found him overly competitive but I think when presented with a challenge… I suppose you posed such a challenge Yagi-san. I can already see it, the first time you met, you probably fended him off, then the next time, you avoided him and then later on kept telling him to stay away. I think you know those types of men, the one who will never give up.”
“Yes, that describes it well.” I look out at the garden, at the roses, which are a riot of color. “But he was very… unkind to me, especially as time went on and I told him that I wasn’t interested. ” I close my eyes, “perhaps you know a different side, but I experienced a man who pushed his way into my life, trampled on me, and maligned the man I love. I understand that -many- take issue with our relationship – that we’ve yet to marry or that they were friends or fans of his wife.” I shake my head.
“Hajime counseled me to… play along. Because we know that your husband’s master is not a man of ordinary strengths. But I found myself… unable to do so, the more he came by.” I open my eyes. “To be true to myself is not to allow someone to malign the life that I find joy in. And that it’s not a kindness to feign affection just to get someone to leave me alone.” She seems amused… my heart sinks. Perhaps her and I are too different to actually be friends.
I arch my back again to try to stretch away the ache, with my hands on my lower back. I start to walk again. She talks of Tokio. Himura-san was one of the … more normal ones, back in the wilderness? But perhaps, see, too, was taken in by the legend of the Buddha wife.
(OOC: will reply tom. Goodnight)
I listen as she speaks of Hiko sensei.
“perhaps you know a different side, but I experienced a man who pushed his way into my life, trampled on me, and maligned the man I love. I understand that -many- take issue with our relationship – that we’ve yet to marry or that they were friends or fans of his wife.”
“He is pompous at times and very arrogant. He doesn’t listen to anybody.” I look at the roses she’s fixated on, “But I’ve not known him to be unfair or dishonorable. He helped us in Kyoto, helped Kenshin finally defeat the Battousai in him. I don’t know what he did but…”
I sigh, “I don’t know Tokio-san. I’ve heard of her. They said she was beautiful, quiet, mysterious… And that she would dress as a man and Saitou would be seen sometimes speaking to her as if they were “strangers” when he found her. She’d go by many names Yae, Morinosuke and Sada. I’m not sure what game those two were playing. It was bizzare.”
“Hajime counseled me to… play along. Because we know that your husband’s master is not a man of ordinary strengths. But I found myself… unable to do so, the more he came by.”
I follow Yagi-san as she walks. “Kenshin used to counsel Sano, to play along whenever Fujita-san would get to him.” I smile, “It’s not bad advice…”
. “To be true to myself is not to allow someone to malign the life that I find joy in. And that it’s not a kindness to feign affection just to get someone to leave me alone.”
I stop walking. “But Yagi-san, is that really your truth? Isn’t kindness being able to understand those who have been hurt? Affection can be many things, not just romantic. True kindness is being kind anyway to someone you disagree or has hurt you. Otherwise isn’t witholding that kindness or -avoiding- it, not really kindness at all but arrogance?”
Of course I speak because I remember Kenshin, the looks he gets up to this day for being Battousai… But I’ve also seen others who have been able to forgive him and allow him a new life. I’m sure a former Shinsengumi Captain is familiar with those things, especially one with such a -reputation-. All men makes mistakes and I’m sure even my Kenshin may make a mistake in the future and I’ve resolved that whatever that is, that I will stay by his side.
“As for Fujita-san, I understand now what happened to that tanto. You wanted to hurt Hiko-sensei and likely Fujita-san tried to stop you since you injured him.” I look down and smile, “I always believed the wolf was not as cold hearted as they said… But don’t you think that was a foolish move? Do you really think Hiko sensei can be touched? Perhaps your pride didn’t allow you to do nothing but it was also pride that made you do a foolish thing. After all, what are the chances a tanto can kill a man such as Hiko, you would’ve drawn blood -maybe- but who would need to finish it?”
And we both know Fujita-san would be left with that obligation. A moment of recklessness on Yagi-san’s part who wanted to maintain her pride and her truth… When in fact what may have been needed is humility. And through all this I wonder what he thinks.
He is pompous at times and very arrogant. He doesn’t listen to anybody. But I’ve not known him to be unfair or dishonorable
“But is it honorable to declare, over and over, that you’re set on ‘pursuing” a woman who has no interest in you? Who is already happy in a relationship, even if it’s not conventional?” I shake my head. “I’m sorry if you find me inflexible and unkind for that, but please understand my frustration – but I never saw kindness in his eyes, humility in his manner. So I could only take him at his word – and those words were arrogant and pompous.” I sigh.
I’m not sure what game those two were playing. It was bizzare
“Nobody tried to understand. He -wanted- to make it work with her. For her to have been the one… the one who supported him, the one he came home to. But she took a different path. She turned away from the outstretched hand. Those who knew him then… condemned him for it not working.” I blink. “And yes, she dressed as a boy. She left the boys with the neighbors when she did that, went wandering. And she was involved with Hiko. I don’t think that was widely known, either.” I look down and sigh. Hiko is… dear to her family, after all, and Tokio a legend. What would make her believe me?
She then… scolds me, albeit gently, for my reaction to Hiko. Why I wasn’t kinder. Why I was arrogant.
For a moment I’m angry, and then I feel utterly defeated. I’ll never be understood here. Everyone will always think the worst of me. This man was able to invade my life and now… I’m the villain.
I close my eyes… and were I not a samurai’s daughter, I would probably be sobbing at the way she so casually maligned me, and pushed me down. The -futility-….
And it’s then I realize -where- in the garden we’re standing.
It’s then I remember who I am. What I am.
I hear my daughter’s laughter.
I look at Himura-san, and then up at the summer sky.
“Don’t you and your husband want…. to find your happiness? Despite his past? That’s all we want too – the Wilderness left scars and we wanted to find a place with blue skies, so here we are. We still have to solve some of the past… but can’t we work towards what we want while we do? And fight for it, when required? I heard that when your now-husband went to Kyoto with Hajime, he said goodbye to you. And you didn’t let go, did you? Even though some criticized you for your initial inaction, and others, later, once you came to Kyoto, for taking action.” I smile a little at that. I get that too – criticized at both ends. “You followed him and supported him in the way you knew – letting him complete his training, and then head into Shishio’s lair, all while you helped to defend Kyoto, so he could focus on the fight of his life.”
“And when it was all over, he came back, battered and bruised, but there you were, with your smile, your embrace… the support and trust that he knew he would always have with you,” I look over at her. “That look he gave you let you know… that trusting in your heart was your correct path.”
I smile, slightly, softly. “That’s what I was doing the other night. Supporting the man I love. Fighting for my family. The first time you came here, you were trying then, too, weren’t you? To try to have a women’s peace, to prevent them from settling their old score? You were trying then. You’ll always be trying. Women like us always do.” I decide to sit, seeing it it will make me more comfortable, and indicate for Himura-san to join me.
“Why did I bring a blade? For what it’s meant for. For protection. And when I got there… like you in Kyoto, it turns out that I needed to be there.” I’m still piecing it together, but I tell her what I know, “Hajime went there without his sword – Eiji-san later brought it to him – but I think he was trying to…. bargain with Hiko. And it was going badly, -so- badly by the time I arrived.” My voice was down to almost a whisper, and I look around, seeing the children absorbed in their games and no sign of the other two, “by then, it was a ritual of humiliation. From Hiko to my Hajime.” I swallow. It’s not how he looked all trussed up that will haunt me, it was his eyes. It was the sound of singing…
“Did you notice your red kimono missing? Hiko had procured that, along with items he said were meant to be gifts to Tokio – makeup, a hair pin – and had Hajime dress in that.” I look at her, wondering if she will, like her pupil, find it amusing or at least interesting. Although I hope she’s better than that.
“When I arrived, he was smacking his sake jug to keep time as he sang and taunted, while Hajime danced. Hajime…” I remember the blank look in his eyes, “it was if he was enchanted. Eiji-san seemed frozen in horror; Yahiko-san… seemed to have another reaction. I… came into the room and cleaned him, spoke to him. Tried to speak to Hiko but he didn’t listen, and then, despite what he had been through, Hajime still was willing to beg to him – Hiko wanted him on the floor and confessing supposed sings – for my sake. And the peace would have only been until this child was born. What sort of bargain was that?” I rub my stomach a little – neither me or the child seem to be able to be comfortable today.
“So yes, I threw my tanto – the only martial skill I learned at the hands of some of my old friends. It probably would have bounced off him. But I needed Hiko to understand… that I act with love, and that love will make me fight a mountain if needed. Your husband intervened – he took my tanto and then dumped water on the both of them. Was I foolish?” I shrug. “Probably. It was foolish to go, nine months pregnant, to your dojo. It was foolish to walk into the situation when I saw what was happening – I could have slinked off and besides your husband, nobody would have been none the wiser to my presence. It was foolish to use words with Hiko when he never listened to me. It was foolish to use such a little blade against a man who took down a giant. It was foolish to fall for a man married to a paragon – a paragon who ignored him, but his wife nonetheless. But love… makes us foolish.” I look at her. “But I got him home. I made it in time to prevent his spirit from being broken. I was there with my smile, my embrace at the end of a battle.”
“I know nobody in the Kamiya dojo is exactly a -fan- of Saitou Hajime… but at least you, years ago in the wilderness, were kind to him. Very few there were, or at least were . So for that old kindness… I hope you forgive me for what I had to do to protect him, even if I violated the rules of your dojo.”
I stand, then, to bow, to ask for forgiveness for drawing blood and looking for a fight in a dojo meant for peace.
And that’s when I feel it. And realize… the ongoing series little pains that I assumed were fatigue… it’s all confirmed when I look down and realize that… I’m making a little puddle.
I listen as Yagi-san tries to press her point, but truly I wonder if she’s even hearing what I’m saying. If Hiko-sensei is in their lives, there is a reason for it. If she insist in her way, rather than finding the truth regardless of her truth – then they’ll go in circles.
“They said the strongest blade of grass blows with the wind.” I can only say it softly, after all, she’s older than me and seen more than I have.
She talks about Kenshin and I, our past. I’m not sure where she heard our story, perhaps from Eiji? But even he came after our parting in Tokyo.
“Of course we want to be happy and yes, we are happy. I always want for more but I know Kenshin needs his space and I…” I think of times like that night that he didn’t tell me, “That I accept him for all he is.”
I look at her, “But you know Yagi-san, I had a friend – another woman of Aizu, Megumi-san who scolded me once and told me that Kenshin is only a human being. That he maybe an extra-ordinary man, but still only a human being. That his life of battles wear on him and so I try, not to let my shortcomings become a burden. When I didn’t act or acted to late it was a burden. When I act foolishly – it is a burden.”
And she follows with the story from that night and I nod my head. I had noticed the kimono missing and the reek of sake in the dojo, which I had Yahiko promptly clean. Of course I understand now what happened. How hurtful it must’ve been to see a proud wolf like him, who never conceded to anyone succumb to Master Hiko. A Samurai’s daughter would’ve done exactly what she did, but what then, when she’s no longer so lucky and he’s dead. Would her heroics done any good? But I think telling her this is cruel and the most I could say was to be weary of what feel righteous and good – to which she seems not open. She’s too focused on the world being against them or maybe just her.
She talks of inciting violence in my dojo to protect Saitou-san and apologizes with a bow.
I do the same, “I appreciate your apology to the Kamiya Kashin style.”
She will never be my friend with the way I suppose I spoke to her. After all who would want to be friends with someone who criticizes you on the first few meetings – or rather at least tell you the truth. Her action was honorable but foolish. She may have tried to defend him, saved him even but I don’t believed Fujita-san came unarmed for no reason. It must be that this issue has been left uncontained and culminated with his humiliation because she could not bend like the wind and see beyond what’s in front of her. She only saw the trees, not the forest but at least it was only a humiliation, not the wolf’s life. Master Hiko must’ve shown mercy or his work is not done.
But as I contemplate this Yagi-san looks down and I see myself too that her water broke.
“Take your brat and go home Tanuki.” I turn around and it’s the wolf.
“Saitou-san. I didn’t mean to upset her…” I stammer unsure.
“Fool. She was due any day now.” He throws the cigarette to the ground. “Please leave so I can take my wife to the clinic.”
He motions me to leave and I see his bandaged hand. I bow slightly to the Wolf and his mate. I do wish them the best and I hope, one day she may take advice from others if she believes they have no hidden agenda, aside from making sure to take care of the person most important to them. The wolf probably heard everything.
(OOC: If you are going to write that they’re in the clinic, Saitou did have his trusty and shady carriage driver on stand by that entire week. You can assume it’s there and leave the children to Yukiko. Or they can have a scene in the carriage rather than fast forward to the clinic if you want. Just make sure to start a thread)
They said the strongest blade of grass blows with the wind
“But if the wind turns into a storm, and entirely uproots the grass?” I look down. “Is the wind then providing a kindness?”
But you know Yagi-san, I had a friend – another woman of Aizu, Megumi-san who scolded me once and told me that Kenshin is only a human being. That he maybe an extra-ordinary man, but still only a human being. That his life of battles wear on him and so I try, not to let my shortcomings become a burden. When I didn’t act or acted to late it was a burden. When I act foolishly – it is a burden.
I try not to bristle at the mention of -her- name. But if she’s used to a hectoring style of friendship, then that explains how she’s speaking to me. Her tone may be softer and she may be couching it in smiles, but… like the woman of whom she speaks, I fear that Himura Kaoru and will not end up as friends.
I don’t know why that makes me so sad. After all, she sees me as a fool. And that Hiko is some divine bringer of truth and justice.
I may agree on the first, but certainly not on the second.
And I thought… perhaps there were things we have in common, but not.
My water breaks and before Himura-san can react Hajime is there… he dismisses her, so easily. And to him, she does bend, and do as he says.
And he calls me his wife. In front of her. I look up at him. “Thank you.”
There’s a flurry, with the Himura family leaving and Makoto running over. “Chichiue! You’re home!” She then looks at me, and I see a look of alarm over her face, and she comes close with a whisper, “Hahaue you’ve had an accident!”
I kneel a little to get close to her. “The baby is coming… this is just something that happens when it’s time. Your papa and the doctor are going to take good care of me, so be a help to Yukiko-san here at home.” I kiss her forehead and embrace my firstborn to me, and she looks up at me. “I love you, and the next time you see me, you’ll be a big sister and you’ll finally get to meet someone who will be very special to you.” She gives me one of her fierce hugs, and then one to Hajime.
I straighten up and look to Hajime with a smile. He’s here with me. “I have a bag ready to go in our room – and do you think we can get a carriage at this time?”
(OOC – Close), will start new thread