I’m trying not to go to work on Sundays. I heard from an old acquaintance familiar with Western practices that Sunday is a day of rest, normally dedicated to worship. But there’s no such thing in Buddhism and I am not sure I can call myself a Buddhist having done what I’ve done not followed the precepts of such belief. My children however I would like to see find a path of enlightment or belief themselves. My sons are not so much a problem, I know Yoshi will grow up surrounded with people and influences that will allow him to naturally grow in this path while my other son Tsutomu, naturally takes to his mother’s beliefs – though living with us, has diminished his practice somewhat. And my daughters? Maybe I should speak to her? She in Kyoto would know but I simply can’t seem to find the time. Soon… Ai-chan is still too little anyway. I shovel the last of the dirt back into the raised garden beds. I made two in the sunny part of the yard, away from the treehouse’s shade.
“Here’s the water you asked for uncle.”
I smile at my niece and indicate to her where to put it, right beside the bag of manure I intend to fertilize the beginnings of our garden bed. I put my shovel down and straighten up.
“Yuki-ko.” I start, “You’ve been with us a while. How are you doing?”
She smiles at me, “Things are going fine Uncle. Auntie has been very welcoming to me and I hope I’ve not been a burden to you.”
I shake my head and remove my now dirty gloves. “Not at all. I actually wanted to catch up with you, to thank you for all the help and support you’ve been providing my children and your Aunt.” I light a smoke, “And to me of course.”
She smiles brightly and I can’t help but only return that smile.
“I haven’t seen you look so happy in the many years I’ve known you Uncle.” She clasps her hand together, “I wish father could see you now.”
“Ah I was a rather boorish man back then.” I chuckle and blow out a smoke.
“Well my father was rather intrusive and stubborn.”
“All with good intentions of course.” I look up suddenly missing Hiroaki. Then I look back at his daughter and think, even she needs this world. So I must try harder. “You’ve been so good with my children and now even with Ai-chan. Hide and I are very appreciative that we’re able to leave her in your hands on occasion.”
“Well Uncle, I think couples do need a little time together don’t they?” I watch her blush and look away slightly. “To get a break.”
I nod. “And how about you? You’ve been here several months and although I’ve heard and seen you’ve done well under your Aunt’s tutellage… Do you need a break yourself?”
She shakes her head, “Oh I don’t.. Especially not right now that Auntie just had her baby.”
“Alright. We still do need your help.” That’s true but I am concerned about her own happiness so I decide to ask. “Has Kinnosuke contacted you since he left?”
She looks down and shakes her head.
“Do you miss him?”
“I don’t know Uncle.”
“Well I hope Eiji’s been keeping you company.” I watch her carefully. I know that other son of mine can be clumsy.
“Oh he’s always been dependable.” She looks at me. “But he hasn’t been around lately. He too must be busy.”
I slowly nod. That wasn’t it but I still haven’t decided if any of them would be good for her. One ran away… And the other is not as dependable as she seems to think. I wish there was something we can do for her, just to make her happier even without those fickle men.
And you are one to judge wolf? You too are fickle.
(OOC: Eventually Yuki-ko exits back into the house. If any character wants to interact with Saitou, he’s here for a few before he starts moving again)
I am DONE with my chores! So I go out back and Chichiue is… digging.
I run over to him and give him a hug, even though he’s sweaty. “Is this for the new plants hahaue got?” She showed them to me but they’re plants? She said some are ones we’ll get to eat, one day… and I didn’t know them all!
“Can I help?” Besides, I want to stay outside and keep watch – Midori-san might be coming – and that means cake!!
“Is this for the new plants hahaue got?”
“Probably. I didn’t see what she has yet.” I open the sack containing the manure, “The garden bed needs to be prepped first before we can plant anything.”
“Can I help?”
“You can put water on the flower bed after I put the horse manure.” I grin at her, “unless you want to get your hands dirty – in which case you can use my gloves.”
“She has… ” I think. “What is a ‘broco-lilly’? Is that a flower? And oh, mizuna and tatsoi,” but that makes me frown because those will -probably- become -pickles-. “Oh! And carrots! And potatoes! Those will be good in nikujaga this winter, she said! And leeks for leek soup!”
unless you want to get your hands dirty – in which case you can use my gloves
“Oh but I do chichiue!” It’s stinky but that’s okay! I am NOT a fussy girl!
“Oh really? All that huh?”
I ruffle her hair, “Brocolli is not a flower, it’s a vegetable and I want you to eat lots of it. It’s good for you.”
She talks about tubers and I smile. “I’d like to plant some sweet potatoes as well.” I go over to her and put the gloves on her.
“Now you can take that shovel and put the horse manure inside the bed. And I’ll follow it up with a little water.”
“I don’t think she can lift that shovel.” I turn and it’s Tsutomu.
“Well we’ll see.”
“Besides, we’re not farmers.” He looks at me, “We’re shizoku… And much more than that, we’re from an Aizu Samurai family.”
I raise an eyebrow at him.
Brocolli is not a flower, it’s a vegetable and I want you to eat lots of it. It’s good for you
“It can’t be pickled, can it?” I ask…. not another one!
He puts his big gloves on me and I pat my hands together. I don’t even notice Tsutomu-niisan is there!
“I can lift it see?” I get the shovel (it is heavy!) and try to scoop up some of the stinky stuff… Ugh. But I get -some- of the manure over to the bed. “See!”
We’re shizoku… And much more than that, we’re from an Aizu Samurai family.
“But we all like good food?” I’m confused. Shouldn’t we all make nice things to eat? We’re growing children and need a lot of food.
(OOC – it’s not much – and she spilled as much as she got in the bed, lol)
(Midori)
The nice cousin let me in, and tells me that they’re all out back. I go to the backyard where there seems to be some gardening going on…
Besides, we’re not farmers. We’re shizoku… And much more than that, we’re from an Aizu Samurai family.
I try not to sigh. Maybe he’ll do well, married to Tsurumi-chan, because she thinks the same way. I agree with Makoto-chan – we all have to eat. We didn’t keep a garden, but we’re fish people – we make our living from the sea instead of the land.
“Good afternoon,” I say to everyone. I bow first at Fujita-san. “Sir,” I say. “Tsutomu-kun said that he would help me with my English today.” I have a box from a bakery that Makoto immediately spots…
Of course Tsutomu’s right about Makoto not being able to handle the shovel well. But that’s fine, I can clean up. I just wanted to see her try to work with something much bigger than her.
“I can lift it see?” “See!”
“Yes and good job little one.” I smile and then water the parts where she did successfully place some manure. “This will help fertilize the soil.”
“Spoken like a true -farmer-.” My boy says and I’m tempted for a minute to address him, but I know words won’t matter to him, especially coming from me. If only there was a way for him to see.
“But we all like good food?”
“That’s right. Everyone likes good food.” I grin, “I used to sell vegetables in an Aizu settlement up north Makoto-chan. After the war, we had to find new ways to make a living.”
Tsutomu shakes his head. Openly disagreeing with me, “Makoto is with the Shizoku class. The Shizoku do -not- farm and sell vegetables for a living!”
I frown at Tomu but we’re interrupted by a guest. It takes me a moment to realize who this girl is. The one from the dorms. Well this is unexpected.
“Good afternoon,” “Sir,” I say. “Tsutomu-kun said that he would help me with my English today.”
“Nishino Midori-ko isn’t it?” I say and turn to her. She’s carrying a box. Hide was right she does have some manners. “Sorry you’ve caught us in a little bit of a mess…” Of course I speak about the raised garden bed, but if she took it as me and Tsutomu arguing, I can’t really blame her. “Tomu why don’t you show the young lady inside, let Hide know?”
I kneel down to Makoto and remove the gloves from her hand. “Makoto hold out your hand and we’ll wash it.” I say and start pouring the rest of the well water on her tiny hands.
(Makoto)
Why is Tsutomu-niisan so grumpy with chichiue? It will be nice to have our own food, right here.
“What’s so bad about farming? Hahaue said that people from samurai families have all sorts of jobs now, and besides, we’re growing for fun! And for special foods. Have you ever had a broco-lilly?” Hahaue -really- wants to grow tomatoes but she said it was going to be too cold soon.
Ooh Midori-san is here! And she brought a box! “Hi!” I wave at her. Oh! But I should put the shovel down first.
(Midori)
I’m not certain if Fujita-san remembers me…
Sorry you’ve caught us in a little bit of a mess…
“Oh, please forgive me – we didn’t have a set time.” I simply came once Tsurumi-chan went out to meet up with some other Aizu family. They’re probably talking bad about people who farm, too. And since I’m here to work on English, a language she’s set against learning…
I hold out the box. “I brought some cookies,” I say, waiting for Makoto-chan’s hands to be washed before giving it to her, and looking back at Tsutomu-kun. “But for Makoto-chan – you’ll have to bargain with her.” Maybe then he won’t be so obsessed with owing, but… I know he’s proud. It’s not a bad thing.
I open the lid. They smell amazing. They’re the newest thing from America, something called “chocolate chip”.
I see Yagi-san passing by on the engawa, the baby strapped to her front, and she carries a basket of laundry. I turn to bow to her. Poor her – I remember my mother saying that babies mean a lot of washing… “Can we work out here, Tsutomu-kun?” I spend too much time in my room.
Tsutomu:
“What’s so bad about farming? Hahaue said that people from samurai families have all sorts of jobs now, and besides, we’re growing for fun! And for special foods. Have you ever had a broco-lilly?”
I throw him a look. “Shizoku do not do farming.” I have to set Makoto straight, since he won’t and he’s lost all his pride. “For Shizoku, you can do gardening like flowers because it’s beautiful – like how your haha-ue does your flowers, so does -my- mother. Vegetable gardening -is- farming, that is not our role as Shizoku. One day you’ll understand Makoto.”
Again I give him a look but he’s obviously ignoring me and instead is cleaning Makoto up. He should not let her be handling manure of all things!
“Oh, please forgive me – we didn’t have a set time.”
“Don’t worry about it. We don’t get a lot of visitors. So it’s good to see new faces.”
He makes light about it and although I’m very upset at what he’s doing, Nishino-san is here so I leave it at that. She gives Makoto the box and I can smell it, something so sweet. I sigh. I can’t have that otherwise I’ll owe her even more!
“Can we work out here, Tsutomu-kun?”
“Umm, the light is good but it’s too distracting. I can open the tatami room to the engawa. That should give you enough light and a good breeze. Here just follow me.”
I’d like to get away from him. It’s not a good look for us. Nishino-san must not think we’ve given up our status, our way of life and values.
(OOC: you can get them to the room)
(Midori)
He has that -stubborn- look, and I wink at Makoto-chan. “Oh, come on now, Makoto-chan. You aren’t going to share -your- gift?” She pops one in her mouth.
“Oniisan! These are the BEST thing ever!” She says. I have to agree, they’re now in my top ten.
“And if you don’t share, you’ll get a stomachache, and miss school tomorrow…” I shake my head, and she giggles. She uses some of the lining paper in the box to take out two and hand them to her brother. “Please? So I don’t get sick?” She then fake-coughs, -dramatically-… well, it’s still funny.
“Well, with that settled, let’s go study.” I go follow him to another room.
(OOC – exit Midori and Tsutomu)
(Makoto)
“What else can I help with, chichiue?” I ask, after eating another cookie. “Oh! Do you want one?” I hold out the box.
Hahaue and Ai-chan come over. “Hi! Hi baby!” I say, to my little sister. I then look at hahaue. “Is she doing it yet? Saying ‘ane’?” I’ve been making her practice but she doesn’t make any real noises that sound like words yet.
Hajime:
Tsutomu gives his sister the same look he’s been giving after she “coughs” on the cookies. But the stubborn boy takes it! I’m surprised. He must’ve really wanted to taste them or is it because the girl brought it? I watch surreptitiously as they walk away towards the tatami room.
I can’t help but think, of all the times Hide and I… Made memories.. In that tatami room… I must be an idiot if I think that son of mine and that girl will ever get anywhere. I think Hide told me she was from a merchant family? And here he was going on and on about being from the Samurai class…
“What else can I help with, chichiue?” I ask, after eating another cookie. “Oh! Do you want one?”
I look down at my little girl. “Nothing else for you to do today. I’ve got it.” I pat her head, “Next week every Sunday we’ll work on our garden.”
She holds out a cookie and I shake my head, “How about giving some to your Yukiko-nee-chan instead?”
It’s then that Hide comes over with Ai. I do a quick wash of my hands and then hold one of Ai’s little fingers. I grin.
er. “Hi! Hi baby!” “Is she doing it yet? Saying ‘ane’?” I’
I catch Hide’s eyes. Really? My not so little princess is wanting to be a big sister so soon?
(OOC: Will Tsutomu and Midori be doing a separate thread for the English tutorial session which or is this one of those “assumed”? If it’s assumed I’m not sure if they will get to actually know each other – so i would classify it as a meeting purely for tutoring purposes.)
Hajime’s eyes follow his son…. “Oh dear…” I say. I know that look in both of them – Tsutomu-kun like a thundercloud, and Hajime has a certain look when he’s at odds with him. “What didn’t he like? This?” I nod at the fresh earth.
Makoto takes the news that gardening will be a weekly activity as expected – by jumping up and down. I smile at her excitement. “Remember, there’s always something to do, when you take care of living things. That’s what an old friend of your father and I told me, when he turned part of my father’s garden over to growing food…” I smile, thinking back to Kondou-san’s pride, and my father’s own reaction, at having food grown in his garden… “You’ll know how good food tastes, when you didn’t just cook it, but actually make it grow from the bare ground.”
I smile at Hajime washing up so he can get to touch Ai-chan. She looks at him with those eyes, and babbles happily.
He gives me a look at Makoto’s efforts to teach Ai-chan to speak. “It will be a while before she starts talking, but I’m certain she already knows who you are and why you’re special to her.” She’s a bit more restrained since I have her tied to me in a sling, but Ai-chan still makes herself be noticed.
“I’m going to give Yukiko-neesan some cookies, good idea!” Makoto says, running off with the box. I can’t help but notice that she’s eating another one…
(OOC – yes – they’re in a new thread)
“What didn’t he like? This?”
I sigh and close my eyes in affirmation but don’t say much else. I think Makoto’s heard enough after all.
“Remember, there’s always something to do, when you take care of living things. That’s what an old friend of your father and I told me, when he turned part of my father’s garden over to growing food…” “You’ll know how good food tastes, when you didn’t just cook it, but actually make it grow
I wish my son heard that. Maybe then… “This old friend was Kondou-san.” I tell my daughter, “He was a farmer but became one of the great generals of the Shogun.” Now I wish I had said that to him earlier.
But my worries are swept away by my youngest daughter who now babbles and squeeze my finger. “You’re keeping your mother busy little-Ai? Don’t keep her all to yourself.” I whisper.
Hide advises Makoto about being a big sister and I’m glad my daughter is now looking forward to it compared to just a month or two ago. She does as she’s told and runs off to Yukiko. Straightening up from playing with Ai, I look across at our eldest daughter. “She’s a good daughter, she shared with Tsutomu earlier and now with Yuki.” I look at Hide and grin, “You make pretty good children.”
Hajime’s sigh tells me that I was right… I wish that they weren’t so… well, they’re so much alike.
He does guess correctly that I’m speaking of Kondou-san, but who else could it be? And at a time where some rigidly stick to the past, of roles and honors and pedigree, we knew a man who had great ambition but still proud of where he came from.
You’re keeping your mother busy little-Ai? Don’t keep her all to yourself.
“Oh, now, she’s a good little girl. Always hungry…” I smile, she dined before we came out so she’s sated for now. “But she still listens to Chichiue better than Hahaue.” I step over so I can kiss his cheek – I’ve not yet greeted him as such today.
We both watch our daughter go.
You make pretty good children
I grin back at him. “Oh, but you see… I had some help.” I reach for his hand. “They’re almost as fun to raise as they were to make.”
“They’re almost as fun to raise as they were to make.”
“-Almost-.” I squeeze her hand and lead mother and child to a shadier part of our garden where there’s the stone bench.
“We don’t have a river running behind us, but I think the stone bench became real.” With a chuckle I light a cigarette and pat the bench, wanting her to sit. Carrying a child in front can’t be easy on her back.
“What do you think those two are doing in the tatami room? We can’t see them from this vantage point.”
We don’t have a river running behind us, but I think the stone bench became real.
I laugh. “We need something sturdy… we’re rough on furniture.” I look back… maybe there’s room for a “stream” of rocks that I could weave through the flowerbeds and grass…
He lights up and I sit next to him. Ai-chan, having enjoyed her audience, snuggles against me and closes her eyes, her mouth open a bit. And I… snuggle against her father, but I can stay awake…
What do you think those two are doing in the tatami room? We can’t see them from this vantage point
I giggle, both at the situation and his interest. “I’m worried they’re both too… unaware of each other like that.” I saw him glancing at her. She’s pretty, and that hair of hers… it’s not just straight-hair envy, but it’s heavy and lustrous like silk. And the way she cajoled Makoto into getting Tsutomu-kun to eat…
“But the sofa has powers.” I grin.
Ai-chan finally goes to sleep and Hide snuggles into me and I place an arm around her as she talks about how we tend to punish our furniture.
“I don’t think we do that anymore don’t we?” I say innocently and take a short hit of my cig.
“I’m worried they’re both too… unaware of each other like that.”
“Oh good. Then I don’t have to worry.” I let out a breath, “It’s bad enough I can’t figure out what to do for Yukiko.”
“But the sofa has powers.”
I groan and look at her, “Maybe you should go inside? Chaperone them?” I take a deeper drag on my cigarette, “Or should I kick her out now?”
I don’t think we do that anymore don’t we?
“Hmmm…” I say, “remember, my love… it’s about -household- appreciation. Not just futon-san or sofa-san. I remember one time back in the summer when we gave the wall in the new bathroom a try,” I grin, gently touching his cheek.
It’s bad enough I can’t figure out what to do for Yukiko
“Kinosuke-san hasn’t written, has he? How could he…” I shake my head. Even if he’s moving on, he still should have left her with something. “She thinks she did something wrong there,” I tell him. “And I guess Eiji-san is going to keep waiting it out?”
Maybe you should go inside? Chaperone them? Or should I kick her out now?
I shake my head. “She’s a good girl, and Yukiko-san and Makoto are both inside the house. And besides… he needs friends, and I think she does too. She’s a boarder, and she has something of a northern accent. Maybe she’s far from home?” Besides, they’re both, what, fourteen?
I remember one time back in the summer when we gave the wall in the new bathroom a try,”
I can only smirk at that.
“Kinosuke-san hasn’t written, has he? How could he…” I shake my head. Even if he’s moving on, he still should have left her with something. “She thinks she did something wrong there,” I tell him. “And I guess Eiji-san is going to keep waiting it out?”
“It’s hard for me to speak with her about these things.” I look down. I know those two men, their failings. Maybe she’s better off without them? But I don’t want her to not live out her life – that’s not what my brother would want even if it does mean the Yamaguchi line dies out.
She tries to calm me about the girl and the boy in our house. “One more year and he’ll be a man Hide.” I look at her, “What were you doing when you were 14 or 15? I bet your parents were already making -plans-.” Like they did of course with Okita, when she was what? 16 maybe 17?
It’s hard for me to speak with her about these things.
“She… politely defers me as well.” I say, knowing I should try harder. Women can talk easier, after all.
One more year and he’ll be a man Hide.
“But what does he know about… what happens?” I look at Hajime, “at fifteen they may -say- they’re a man, but is it really, in this era?”
What were you doing when you were 14 or 15? I bet your parents were already making -plans-
“My father was going… slowly. Mother later told me, that he didn’t want to marry me off and lose me, if I married into a family that switched allegiances away from the Shogunate. It was… common during those years. A girl does leave her father’s house and go to her husband’s when they marry… but they don’t become strangers. But the unrest changed all of that.” I sigh.
“Then, when our ‘visitors’,” at this I grin up at him, “were coming, I wondered if it wasn’t easier to have married me off quickly instead of dressing me like a boy, but… the cross-dressing fooled -most- of you,” I say, giving him a little poke in his side. Of course, he could always see me.
OOC: will reply tom
“But what does he know about… what happens?” I look at Hajime, “at fifteen they may -say- they’re a man, but is it really, in this era?”
“He’s my son.” I look serious, “And he will have a lot on his shoulders.”
Mother later told me, that he didn’t want to marry me off and lose me, if I married into a family that switched allegiances away from the Shogunate. It was… common during those years. A girl does leave her father’s house and go to her husband’s when they marry… but they don’t become strangers. But the unrest changed all of that.
“Your father was a wise man. After all once you marry, you’ll have to be loyal to your husband.” I look at her and wonder, “But if you did marry someone on the other side, I think you’d have a good life too. Your husband would’ve been a samurai aligned with the emperor and likely hold some political or important position today.”
I wondered if it wasn’t easier to have married me off quickly instead of dressing me like a boy, but… the cross-dressing fooled -most- of you,
She pokes me. “Too bad he kept his mouth shut.” I grin, “Then you two could’ve married instead of him watching you looking like a boy and being manhandled. Though I do wonder if you minded it.”
I grin wryly. “But that’s all in the past, how about making soba instead?”
He’s my son. And he will have a lot on his shoulders
“He’s so much like you…” I smile at him. “And he’s a good young man.” I don’t know what he has planned for his future after graduation next spring.
He speaks of the potential marriages I could have had and oh… when will this man stop matching me off with everyone else? He has two -actual- wives before me… well, I -like- Yaso-san, even if I’ll never know her, and I have many, many issues with Tokio… but I don’t like to consider him with anyone else. I’m not perfect… but I know that we do well together.
“Or I could have married someone who joined the Satsuma rebellion,” I say, “and either way, they would have had to -survive- it all.” I lean over and kiss him, gently. “But I’m very, -very- fond of my Shinsengumi captain-turned-cop. Blue uniforms suit him well.”
He asks for soba. “Yes, of course!” I look down to our sleeping daughter. “One day, I will teach you this very important skill of making your father’s favorite… but for now…” I grin up at Hajime, “should I put her down in our room, or do you want to wear her?” I may do clean-up or prep work with her on me, but not cooking… and I think I’ll need to make some tempura to tempt Tsutomu-kun to eat. He doesn’t seem to share his father’s affinity for soba, or at least in having it as often as we do.
“Or I could have married someone who joined the Satsuma rebellion,” they would have had to -survive- it all.”
“If you ended up a widower, would you have let me uh…” I stop, she -was- a widower once.
“But I’m very, -very- fond of my Shinsengumi captain-turned-cop. Blue uniforms suit him well.”
And she kisses me softly. I wonder what’s with the comment on the color of my uniform. “You don’t think I’d look good in other colors?”
She agrees to make soba today but then tells Ai she has to learn it as well. I remember when she was trying to teach Makoto this skill. My daughter is a good daughter but I don’t see her as making soba or being much of a cook in the kitchen… So perhaps Hide is hoping this one will be…
“should I put her down in our room, or do you want to wear her?”
I put out the cigarette, “I’ll wear her until it’s time to eat. Then we’ll put her in the room.”
If you ended up a widower, would you have let me uh…
“A widow, and -yes-.” I rub my cheek against his chest. “Didn’t I say that you’re irresistible?”
You don’t think I’d look good in other colors?
I laugh, and say in a quiet voice, “well, I’m hearing that someone is supposed to conjure an image of you in a yellow space uniform… so…” I grin. “But save, oh, pink polka-dots, I can’t think anything wouldn’t look good on you.” I give him a look, letting my eyes settle here and there as I look him over.
I stand, and carefully unwind the fabric that holds Ai-chan to my chest, and place it around him, and she, miracle of miracles, stays asleep, snuggled against his chest as I secure the cloth back around him. I smile. “Now this… is a good look for you too. Loving father.” I take his hand. It’s time for lunch.
(OOC – you may close)
She answers yes and I’m relieved. Whatever visions I had, real or conjured, -she- would still have me, well at least as a widower. The jury is still out on the -other- situation.
She laughs as we talk about my uniform. “A space uniform?” My eyebrow shoots up, “That little imp… This is that “Starfleet” thing that she goes on and on about. Some Captain Pike that she likes…” I shake my head. But if the ahou likes that doomed Pike, why is she… Typical of people of -that- world.
Standing up we get Ai wrapped against my chest. She doesn’t stir. “This one is just like you, a -heavy- sleeper.” I say.
“Now this… is a good look for you too. Loving father.”
With a chuckle I add, “You just like to domesticate me like that Rurouni, one day you’ll make me do the laundry too.” Oh I know she hates doing laundry but that’s a woman’s job isn’t it? Maybe when Makoto is older she can start that chore for her mother. I grin and follow Hide into the house. Maybe Sundays at home won’t be so bad after all.
(OOC: END)