The light is still grey when I awake in this sparse and empty apartment.
But he’s here.
The grey light and the barrenness of this place make it look like a world without color, but there he is, vibrant, his beautiful skin against the dark sheets and his dark shirt, even his inky-black hair with glints of purplish-blue. Even though we lay apart, I’m close enough to feel his warmth and I feel drawn to like a flower seeking the sun. I roll gingerly onto my right side. Just to look.
But it’s all still so fragile.
My bandaged left hand reaches out for his. Due to the bandages I can’t feel it, but I’m certain it’s as I know so well. Strong, capable. A little rough, with calluses in the place that a samurai ought to have them.. If I had the dexterity, I’d trace the ring that I put on him last night.
His chest moves up and down as he breathes. He’s always been a quiet, -tidy- sleeper – no snoring, or drooling. His eyes twitch, just a little. I look at those eyelashes, and wonder what he dreams? Good ones, or nightmares?
I move over, to be closer. He’s here and I’m here and in some ways, this shouldn’t be but here we are. I said we could go back, to Osaka, where we left off. So that I can heal, he can heal, and finish carrying out the justice that he started, and we can get back to our family and home.
I want him back in our garden, on the engawa with the children. I want him in my bed. For many mornings like this one, but, eventually, sleeping entwined again. Where hands will trace scars and remember these days, sometimes. We don’t get to forget. We shouldn’t.
Miracles are sometimes big things, like lives pulled back from the brink, or death being told, thank you, I’m not needing you right now, despite what I said earlier.
And sometimes… it’s something as simple as hearing the sound of the one you love as he breathes.
I kiss his shoulder. There’s bandages there that weren’t there before. Neither of us made it out of this unscatched.
But I’ll take the miracles, imperfect as they are. After all, he takes me, and I’m highly imperfect.
I nudge him, a little. “I’ve spent some time looking at you, you know.”
It’s then I feel something rub against my hand, light to the touch but clumsy in their movement. My fingers more able, find the tips of her unbandaged hand, just to touch her fingertips. Lightly she probably doesn’t even notice.
I’m awake but I like the feeling of her lips on my shoulder so I pretend to still be asleep. Maybe she’ll kiss me on the lips?
Ah but she doesn’t and instead, like the demanding princess that she is nudges a sleeping man and starts to let it be known…
“I’ve spent some time looking at you, you know.”
I open my eyes slowly and see her. Beautiful in the mornings.
“You’re supposed to kiss the prince so he wakes up -properly- or so I’ve heard.”
But the truth was that, I’d like to test the last of the senses. See if I’m truly alive…
I wonder if it’s my imagination that I feel his hand responding to mine?
But then his eyes open, those captivating eyes, the ones he passed down to our youngest one
You’re supposed to kiss the prince so he wakes up -properly- or so I’ve heard.
I grin softly. “Prince, eh? Well… I do want this man awake, no matter if he’s a prince or ookami or a samurai.”
I lean against him to press my lips on his. Stealing his warmth, giving him my own. Tasting him… the cigarettes and coffee that always seems to be there, even hours after the last stick or cup. Something else that’s just purely him, in a combination that I’ve craved for many years now and that calls to me just as it did before that first kiss.
“Is my prince awake now? The princess likes looking at him but prefers him awake.” And alive…
“Prince, eh? Well… I do want this man awake, no matter if he’s a prince or ookami or a samurai.”
“You don’t want a prince?”
Then I get what I wish for. A kiss one that feels familiar and yet not. I wanted to get a taste of those lips but I wanted it given freely.
“Is my prince awake now? The princess likes looking at him but prefers him awake.”
“Now I’m awake.” I look up at the ceiling wishing we could but -no-. There’s more important matters and I remind myself she’s not in the condition for it.
“So do you want to discuss the terms of our return? I only have maybe two or three things.” I reach out to touch her hair, it’s short. “One of them is when you wake-up in Osaka I’ll be there beside you and likely your bodyguards too..” Meaning her brothers of course. But will the weasel make an appearance? I hope so.
You don’t want a prince?
I grin, “it’s what a princess is supposed to have, right?” I steal another soft kiss on those lips, and then scatter them here and there across his face – the tip of his nose, the place between his eyebrows where there’s lines, his cheek, his chin, his earlobe. “Ah, my Oji-sama… who came to the rescue of his hime-sama.”
I feel something stir, as I’m close to him… another reminder that I live and I try not to groan. “When we’re all recovered, oji-sama, your princess will have to plan something special to reward you.” I smile, brushing his bangs back. “But, you know, I have my -standards- to live up to. And right now…” I shake my head.
He touches my hair, and speaks of Osaka. “Yes, I think we’ll have plenty of company there,” I smile, and look over at him, “which includes your favorite ninja girl.” I’m glad she appeared, not just to help with the case but as someone would could support him in other ways. I nuzzle his shoulder before deciding that it needs a kiss as well. “What else for you? Mine is mostly focused on getting us back home, as soon as my health allows it. Oh – and has word already been sent to Eiji-san and Yukiko-san, so they can let the children know that we’ll be back soon?”
“Also… anything that I need to do to support bring this to justice- statements, coming back to testify – anything. Two of them are dead and I that’s enough, but Kato I suppose survived.” I frown, I think I last saw him blubbering on the ground? “And his ‘mama-sama’ shouldn’t be allowed free, just because she’s old. She’s just as vile – she was the one that had my ankle broken.”
Once I wouldn’t have told him this, to shield him from the pain he will no doubt feel – not just what I endured, but because he didn’t stop it. But he needs to know – not just because I’ve promised more openness, even if that does lead to pain, but because in knowing everything, justice will come.
I’m kissed all over and I almost groan. She knows right? I’m going to want to but I see that bandaged hand and thankfully that desire is tempered.
“Ah, my Oji-sama… who came to the rescue of his hime-sama.”
I smile wryly. “I’m not sure I like the way Oji-sama sounds.” but end up chuckling, “It sounds too much like an old man and the weasel already drove that home earlier.”
“Yes, I think we’ll have plenty of company there,” I smile, and look over at him, “which includes your favorite ninja girl.”
“What favorite?” I ask and touch her hair again, “I have the one I want right here…” I twirl a strand of hair around my fingers, “You know it seems I might not mind you having short hair. That weasel girl wears her hair in a ponytail but the front is short like yours.” I muse.
“What else for you? Mine is mostly focused on getting us back home, as soon as my health allows it. Oh – and has word already been sent to Eiji-san and Yukiko-san, so they can let the children know that we’ll be back soon?”
“Don’t worry about the logistics. By the time you wake up, that would be taken cared of. Hanako already prepared us a room for when you get back to Mibu, if you want to stay there temporarily instead of the hospital?” I try to assure her. Of course I would inform the house right away, after all I know they’re anxiously waiting for news. “As for what else for me… Unfortunately I admitted to Ojii-san that I had died when I went to him to deposit a certain box. He’s one that I’m not sure will forget our meeting.” Of course I don’t give her too much detail, the old man was quite upset about the entire thing.
She asks about support and I shake my head, “This isn’t modern day Japan. I think we have enough to pin Kato down.” Of course I don’t tell her, I don’t think him being in jail will be enough justice. It’s quite easy to bribe somebody especially if they jail him here in Osaka.
his ‘mama-sama’ shouldn’t be allowed free, just because she’s old. She’s just as vile – she was the one that had my ankle broken.”
“Is that right?” I sit up and finally light a cigarette. I glance at the ankle that’s wrapped right now. “I’ll have to look into her.” Would she deserve the justice I plan to levy on Kato? Can she herself create the same evil enterprise the way her son did? I’m quiet. “How is it feeling right now? Do you think you can stand up and take a shower while I cook us some eggs?” I’d offer her more but that’s all I have left and some beer.
I laugh, as he’s right about what oji-sama. “We are getting older, but you’re still so handsome,” I tease. But yes… he is my prince.
I have the one I want right here…
I know that, but I smile, my eyes glowing softly, just to -hear- that. “Even if I don’t have the legs for short pants?” I grin at him. But he talks about my hair. “I’ll give it a try – have it trimmed up.” I smile, “Makoto will be -pleased- she’s wanted me to have short hair since she cut hers.” I roll back to my side, keeping my eyes on his. “Also, you’ll be able to sneak up and kiss my neck much faster.”
Hanako already prepared us a room for when you get back to Mibu, if you want to stay there temporarily instead of the hospital?
“That would be better,” I agree. Hospitals… well, the clinic that I had Ai-chan in was almost luxurious, but I don’t know if I’d be so lucky the next time. “But the girls are in my room, and it was upstairs anyway….” My eyes open wide and I -giggle-. “I wonder if Hanako-san will give us the honor of Hijikata-san’s room? She’s very protective of it.”
Unfortunately I admitted to Ojii-san that I had died when I went to him to deposit a certain box. He’s one that I’m not sure will forget our meeting
I’m quiet, and think of that kindly old man. “Then we’ll need to go see him, when I’ve recovered. And bring the girls this time. Aizu isn’t just Tokio… it’s important to you, as well” I look over at him. “I think I spent a lot of time denying you connection to Aizu because of her, but I’m not going to let that happen anymore. Your family connections… and you bled for it… and it’s also where Yaso is from. There’s some very good people there.”
He speaks of having enough for the Kato situation, and I nod. “Good. I sit up, slightly, to meet his eyes firmly. “He is evil – even if the imposter did the deed, he was the mastermind. At least I had you to come after me – but what if his obsession had gone to Kondou-san’s daughter? Or any other woman who fit his goal of Shinsengumi ‘blood’?” I know what Hajime is likely to do with him, just as I understood with Kano back in the summer.
I’ll have to look into her
“She seemed to run the domestic side of his empire, and she seemed to run him as well.” Maybe she’s not behind it all, but she’s a monster, too.
He asks after my ankle. “It aches, but I need a shower – I’m a Japanese woman so I want to be -clean-” I say, stretching out, even if it makes my side ache. The sun is up now, coming through the windows, and I feel like a content cat, even if I’m not curled up on my favorite lap. “If you’ll help me in, I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
“We are getting older, but you’re still so handsome,”
I just snort at that. She must mean to my -mother-.
“Even if I don’t have the legs for short pants?” I grin at him. But he talks about my hair. “I’ll give it a try – have it trimmed up.” I smile, “Makoto will be -pleased- she’s wanted me to have short hair since she cut hers.”
“The weasel said she might go to Tokyo. If so you two can “exercise” that stubby leg of yours.” I grin but then add, “Well short hair is fine but eventually your hair will grow back. No cutting it then even if it is for Makoto.”
I can only look at her. “I’d like that. Aizu is a beautiful place in… doses.”
“He is evil – even if the imposter did the deed, he was the mastermind. At least I had you to come after me – but what if his obsession had gone to Kondou-san’s daughter? Or any other woman who fit his goal of Shinsengumi ‘blood’?”
She confirms what I already know but I sigh, “You know in order to get to you, I let it be known that Kondou’s daughters are in Tokyo.” Well that’s definitely one reason to wrap this up. Not that I needed any reason at all to kill him.
“She seemed to run the domestic side of his empire, and she seemed to run him as well.”
I only nod at the mention of his mother. So the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’ll have to be careful in how I go about this, especially now that the Osaka police already have them in custody. But for now that will have to wait, until she’s back home.
“If you’ll help me in, I’ll let you know when I’m done.”
And so I help her in the shower. “Well hopefully your wanting to be clean will translate to you being in clean there -mostly-. Ready to be taken to your home in Mibu.”
I cook some eggs for us but while I do so I wonder, what will happen. Do we just wake up there? I imagine the time would be the same which is a little bit after morning but a full day after. The phone rings and it’s the damn realtor again. This time I tell him, I’m no longer interested to sell this place.
(OOC: You can close. The next scene is likely Saitou’s thread to start)
I laugh as he talks about Misao-san leading me in exersize. “Even if I did wear shorts I don’t think I’d make it out of our room,” I say, stealing one more kiss. The crinkling of bandages coming from both of us, though, dampen -those- sorts of fire. For now.
Well short hair is fine but eventually your hair will grow back. No cutting it then even if it is for Makoto
“Alright, then you break that to her when I let it grow back.” I flick it back a little. “And thank you… I’ve not felt beautiful in a long time.” After all, at the Judgement it was said that my hair was targeted -on purpose-.
He agrees about Aizu, which makes me glad.
I’m helped into the shower, and marvel at the healing power of hot water and soap. Carefully scrubbing off the dirt that I carried from elsewhere.
It’s -almost- as good as the love of a wonderful man.
(OOC – close)