Eiji:
I bring the next batch of ice like I promised. Just in time of course when Yukiko and the children are still at school this afternoon. As usual I let myself in, there’s no need for Yagi-san to come fetch me by the gates after all she is a busy woman.
Heading straight to the back door, I notice no one is in the kitchen but the icebox is there. I suppose no one will mind if I just place it where it should go. I’m a little late in bringing these over. I meant to come back just the following week but now it’s Monday – past the two weeks he said he’d be gone. It might as well be, after all he’d find it unacceptable that I didn’t stop by last week. Otou-san can’t complain now can he? Well it can’t be helped. I just started a new job after all.
I take a peek inside the inner part of the house along the corridors but there’s no one. Either Yagi-san isn’t home or perhaps they’re taking an afternoon nap, in which case calling out would be foolish. Well I did what I was told to do. I should leave.
(OOC: Eiji is likely to leave. If you want to RPG or rather if there’s a point in RPG’ng with Eiji feel free to drop by. Otherwise I will close the thread. Note I have no purpose for this thread aside from Eiji doing what he was told to do.)
“And another bath today for you, little one,” I’m teasing my daughter, who is clad only in a fresh diaper and towel, as I find something to change her into.
It’s then I hear something… it’s not the familiar tread of Hajime, too quiet for the children… my heart starts pounding. I pick up Ai-chan and put her in her crib, and quietly grab my tanto out of a drawer.
I make my way carefully… to the kitchen? I know Hajime said that the house was going to be watched by the TMPD, but I never actually -see- anyone so who knows? I’m certain his boss means well, but what’s a simple family to all of the criminals in Toyko?
In the kitchen… I see someone bend over by a cabinet in the unlit room. I shrink back against the doorframe… my hand tight around the handle of my tanto. Then… the sound of ice hitting the metal lining of the icebox…
“Eiji-san? Is that you?” I manage to get the words out, carefully.
My heart sinks. I guess there was someone home after all.
“Eiji-san? Is that you?”
I straighten up. “Yes Yagi-san.” She’s cowering just behind the door and I move to get a better view of her. I see she’s clutching a tanto? I pretend not to see it and smile. He does have that effect on people after all. I’ve seen it before.
“Sorry I was late in bringing you the ice.” I look down, “But it should last towards the end of the week. I didn’t want to disturb you so I let myself in.” Well of course I see that worked -splendidly-.
Yes Yagi-san
I slide my tanto back into my obi, hoping he didn’t notice it. “I was in the washroom – Ai-chan needed another bath.” I relax, and smile over at him.
“Thank you for the ice – it’s been helpful to have.”
I didn’t want to disturb you so I let myself in
I smile again. “But you’re family – you should always let yourself in, and know that this is a home for you as well.” Of course, he lives at Hajime’s old place, but it’s just temporary… as opposed to my brothers, notably the youngest, who never left home…
I look over at him. “I left Ai-chan in our room – come with me while I get her dressed? She likes to see visitors.” She is a friendly child, after all.
(OOC: will reply tom)
She puts the tanto away. She lived with those men, the Shinsengumi so perhaps she’s always on edge like that? Besides just like that night she seemed adept enough to use it. I wonder vaguely who taught her as I follow her in the room. It can’t be Otou-san, I remember many years ago when he taught Tokio-san how to shoot a pistol it left her even more distraught. Why can’t he make anyone feel secure? She protects him rather than him protecting her, like that night. That he allowed Yagi-san to when she insisted, that can’t possibly sit right with him knowing how he is. But it doesn’t matter, he’s likely back to his old ways.
She speaks about being family and I nod politely at that.
She likes to see visitors.
And of course as we enter the room, I hear rustling by the crib. It’s odd to enter the room that they both sleep in. I myself had never dared enter Otou-san and Tokio-san’s room. It was their private space and not once had I been invited by either of them. I casually let my eyes look around, it’s tidy and clean. Simple with only the crib and a table and chair at the corner but there are built-ins for storage. I always imagined that bedrooms like these would have a big mirror for when the lady of the house has to prepare. At least there should’ve been a mirror, Tokio-san always kept a mirror beside her in the house. She would spend hours looking at it and fixing her hair. But for who? It can’t be for him? And yet here’s Yagi-san her hair up most of the time, her attention fully on her children. Tokio-san liked having me around to keep Tsutomu and Tsuyoshi behaved while she goes about her day.
I look at the baby and wave a little.
He doesn’t seem to notice the tanto, but I do take it out of my obi and put it away before I get Ai-chan – she’ll be grabbing things soon, and given who her parents are… it’s probably best to keep weapons away.
I put the tanto in a drawer. “Ah, old training, I suppose, to be prepared when I’m home alone,” I say as I put it away. Not that I was rarely home alone in Mibu… well, in the later years, once the boys were grown and out and the house was silent with ghosts…
I then go to Ai-chan, and unwrap her from the towel and properly dress her. I notice Eiji-san looking around as I do this – I suppose it is terribly informal to invite him into a private space, but he is family. And he doesn’t seem to be the sort of person who minds that we live simply, compared to some samurai houses.
Then I catch him waving at Ai-chan, and I hand her over, so they can have a good look at each other. “She’s a bit easier to hold – she can support her own head now, so it’s not as nerve-wracking for people who’ve not had too much experience with babies.” Ai-chan babbles at Eiji-san. “This is your biggest brother, Ai-chan, Eiji-niisan. He brings you ice so your milk stays nice and fresh.” She waves her arms around, and I put away the towel into the basket to be washed later.
“I’m glad I have you here – Yukiko-san has been working so hard, and has been such a great help. I’d like to do something for her, as she only seems to leave the house for errands. And you, too, lugging that ice around,” I smile. “We are family, but family also makes certain that everyone is appreciated. Is there something she would enjoy doing? I read in the paper of all sorts of events, or if she’d like to eat somewhere special – I would of course cover it, for a treat for you both.” And maybe if they’re alone without the children popping in, they could actually -talk-.
Ah, old training, I suppose, to be prepared when I’m home alone,”
I guess she saw me staring. “Did Otou-san teach you?” I can’t imagine he would, not after Tokio-san. I guess I can’t help but comment after all. “It maybe dangerous to pull it out, against someone who was seriously looking to harm you.” After all I think, if it was anyone who was more skillful than her and intended to harm them, unlike Kenshin’s master – they could easily wrestle her tanto away and use it against her.
Ai-chan gets handed over to me after she’s dressed and I hold her back. I’ve not actually held a baby before and Ai-chan waves her hand around as if catching something in the air. She’s a cute baby and I let her catch my finger. It’s too bad isn’t it? That she’s being left here with only her mother. Isn’t he supposed to be excited for the new baby but I guess this is now his fourth.
“This is your biggest brother, Ai-chan, Eiji-niisan. He brings you ice so your milk stays nice and fresh.”
“Are you going to be the last baby in the family?” I ask Ai-chan, “If so, you’re special Ai-chan.”
We are family, but family also makes certain that everyone is appreciated. Is there something she would enjoy doing?
“She’s a homebody but once in a while we’d go to a night market fair. She seemed to enjoy that years ago.”
I would of course cover it, for a treat for you both.
I hand Ai-chan back to Yagi-san. “Oh I can’t possibly accept your offer to pay Yagi-san. But I’ll take her out once Otou-san comes back, though I don’t know when that is.”
Did Otou-san teach you?
I shake my head. “No. It was… a long time ago. You know of my past with the Shinsengumi, right?” I lead us back into the kitchen, where we can both be comfortable. “I don’t know if you know it all, but when they came first to my father’s house they were hardly the legends they would one day be – they were a group of “country” samurai, unknowns… and my parents were worried, with me being a young lady there.” I turn to start to prepare some tea. “So instead of sending me away, they dressed me as a boy – “Hidejiro”.” I turn back to face him, and grin a little. “I hated it – some women like the freedom of men’s garb, but I didn’t like living a lie… but it fooled most of them. Not your father, of couse,” I say, my grin softening, “but to thank my father, one of the leaders, Kondou Isami, who was the master of a dojo, decided to teach the “small and scrawny” Yagi boy. I was a poor student, but one of the captains, Okita Souji, who was smaller himself, taught me something with the tanto, that could be useful. Of course, once I was revealed and putting my hair back up, lessons stopped – he was very superstitious about women and samurai. Later on, another captain, Todou Heisuke, took over the lessons because he was concerned that I was a target. He’s the one who helped with the throwing part of it, since I couldn’t overpower anyone, after all.” The tea finished, I sit down with two cups of it.
Are you going to be the last baby in the family? If so, you’re special Ai-chan
I laugh a little, “I’m not that old, Eiji-san,” I tease, but then reply, seriously, “but I hope not. I don’t want a dozen, or anything like that, but… I’d like a son.” I smile at him, who has been “caught” by Ai-chan. “Last, or if she ends up a big sister, she is special.”
He mentions an idea about a night market, and I nod. “That sounds like a good idea.” He hands Ai-chan back over, and, as I expected, dismisses the idea of me paying. “I do want to do something for the both of you. I know how important you are to Hajime, and as for Yukiko-san,” I smile, “I like being an aunt. My brother’s girls are young and in Kyoto, and I really do enjoy her company.”
He mentions Hajime’s return, and I nod, kissing Ai-chan’s head, full of sweet curls. “I was hoping he’d be home by now… it’s hard not to worry – he’s a remarkable man, but injuries take a toll,” I say. I look up at Eiji-san, “but this is an important case, and to get it settled… it needs to happen, for him.”
She tells me about the men of the Shinsengumi. I heard from Kenshin-san that these were dangerous men, but I already knew that from living with Otou-san. He was always looking behind his shoulder and everyone elses shoulder and Tokio-san did to. At the mention of Yagi-san’s cross dressing, “Oh…” I can’t help but go a little wide-eyed. That’s exactly what Tokio-san used to do.
“I’m not that old, Eiji-san,” “but I hope not. I don’t want a dozen, or anything like that, but… I’d like a son.
I look at Yagi-san and it seems she truly does want another child but should they? “Isn’t two enough? You already have so many people to take care of.” Besides I doubt he’d want another child, much less a boy. What could the youngest child and youngest boy hope to get from a house that Yagi-san already said they declined?
She holds Ai-chan and insist to do something for Yukiko. “Well I did notice her checking out a french bakery cafe. Some of the older students go there in the afternoon, if you don’t want to take her. I can take her there too.”
this is an important case, and to get it settled… it needs to happen, for him.”
“Shouldn’t it happen for you as well Yagi-san?” I thought she said this was connected to what happened in Ito. Or is it really their way not to see what they do to each other? “Don’t worry with what I saw before he left, it would take a devil to stop him.” He told me I wouldn’t understand but I think I understand -perfectly-.
Oh…
“I know, it sounds outlandish,” I say, at his reaction to my dressing as a boy. “I think my father thought the best way to protect me in those times was to keep me clos, and I still can’t believe any of them believed it, but…” I smile a little, “I think they saw my father as good man and just took it at face value that he had a small, “delicate” son who ran at the idea of training.” It’s then I remember that Tokio dressed as a boy… well, I think every circumstance was different.
Isn’t two enough? You already have so many people to take care of.
I sip my tea. “Maybe… and if it’s just Makoto-chan and Ai-chan, we are blessed…” I look down at the tea with a smile. “But before we have another, perhaps the situation with his wife will be settled and we can truly be a family, in every way.”
Well I did notice her checking out a french bakery cafe. Some of the older students go there in the afternoon, if you don’t want to take her. I can take her there too.
“She loves Castella – I think she’d enjoy going there. But if I take her, we’d have the baby with us, so it won’t be relaxing for her,” I say, as I make sure to push my teacup back out of Ai-chan’s arms.
Shouldn’t it happen for you as well Yagi-san?
I look at him. “I was… collateral, Makoto-chan and I. Targeted because of our connection to him, so his justice is my justice. For the fear my daughter learned that night…” my mouth is set in a line, “for the years he lost with his sons because of the attack that sent him to London… for others lost to that man’s crimes.” I shake my head. This talk, to someone like Eiji-san, with his background… I reach over and squeeze his hand. “I keep saying it… but I’m glad you’re a part of this family.”
I know, it sounds outlandish,”
“Actually it doesn’t.” But there’s no need to talk more about Tokio-san. She too used it for protection and to get around. I think.
She talks about hoping for a family. I only nod. I hope. Maybe. Who knows?
“She loves Castella – I think she’d enjoy going there. But if I take her, we’d have the baby with us, so it won’t be relaxing for her,”
“Then I’ll take her.”
Makoto-chan and I. Targeted because of our connection to him, so his justice is my justice. For the fear my daughter learned that night…for the years he lost with his sons because of the attack that sent him to London… for others lost to that man’s crimes.”
I nod again. “I understand Ito…” But something she says about losing years with his sons, “Yagi-san, the ambush from a couple of years ago was with unknown assailants, at least that’s what was reported back to Tokio-san by the police.” I look at her, she seems certain she knows whom Otou-san is going after but whoever it is cannot be the same person from that time he was left to die on the street.
I stand up. The children will be back soon and it’s better I’m gone before then.
“I keep saying it… but I’m glad you’re a part of this family.”
“Thank you Yagi-san.” It’s not that I don’t think I am part of this family, but that this family in Tokyo isn’t the only family I have.
(OOC: you may end. Eiji is exiting.)
He agrees to take Yukiko-san out… good!
Yagi-san, the ambush from a couple of years ago was with unknown assailants, at least that’s what was reported back to Tokio-san by the police.
“It’s all connected,” I say, softly, shaking my head. Maybe they didn’t know then, or maybe it was early on in the Tanaka investigation.
Ai-chan and I escort him out. The children, and Yukiko-san, will be home soon.
(Close)