“So she wakes up, and we get sent off, and by the time we’re back, she’s sleeping again…” grouses my brother.
“Firstly, this is -sleep- and not a coma or drugs or whatever. So that’s a step forward,” I say. “Secondly, I don’t even know that she was aware we were here – she only had eyes for Saitou-san,” I chuckle. But watching them… I don’t even think she knew that we were here… or when Makimachi-san came in!
I look over at her. She’s resting well… and looking better than from when we first got here. I pat Yuubo on the shoulder. “But you heard, right? She’ll be coming to Mibu to recover before going home to Tokyo.”
He nods. Then he does what he’s been doing – taking out a book, staring at it for a few minutes, shutting it and sighing.
(OOC – anyone can enter)
It’s the afternoon and I just got back from speaking to the doctor again. I wanted to see if we can have transferred to Mibu now that she seems to be recovering. The doctor gave a couple of options one with the use of a horse drawn ambulance and the other a more luxurious type via a train carriage known as a pullman. I’d have to rent the entire train car though and that would be expensive.
I sigh a bit when I enter Hide’s room, remembering I basically gave away years of my saved money to the old man in Aizu though I still do have this month’s salary to spend. I could of course just sequester the train car for use of the Central Police, she’s still after all under our jurisdiction correct? Or maybe not…
Her brothers are there when I came in and I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised.
“She’ll wake soon.” I tell them and look at Hide. I’d like to get her somewhere more comfortable. “The doctor says she can be discharged this afternoon if we want to take her.” I go over by Hide’s side and can’t help but brush back her hair again.
We could possibly wait until morning, a horse drawn ambulance can be used then but that would take close to 5 hours and jostling like that? While the train itself could only take less than 2 hours. “I want to take her by train.” I say out loud even though I don’t know how much that would cost. It can’t be -that- much could it?
(Tamesaburou)
Saitou-san enters with a sigh, and I’m worried at first that it’s some bad news. But… she’s to be released. And I agree. The hospital is no place to recover.
I want to take her by train.
“But the only way to go comfortably, would be in a hired rail carriage,” I say, thinking. “That’s… as I understand, not a cheap way to go.” I’m quiet, again, before standing up. “I’ll pay for it.”
I can -see- the lines starting to form on Saitou-san’s face before I finish speaking. “Before you say no, or worry that you’ll owe me, please listen. About what I owe my sister…”
“Hanako and I were childhood sweethearts,” I smile, “but that’s a story she tells better. We always intended to marry, but at the right time, when we were old enough – but it looked like the right time was going to escape us. She’s the youngest of seven, and her father is…” I shake my head. “He’s a samurai, of a good family, but he enjoyed gambling. When it went well, his family lived in luxury. When it didn’t… it was a very unsettled childhood. All of her sisters are pretty, and the first few married well – they were pretty enough, and despite their father, had good family lines so a lack of a dowry could be overcome. But after the war ended, and Kyoto emptied out of young samurai with a little coin in their pocket that he could hustle… times got really hard. So he turned to his last resource – his three youngest daughters,” I say, grimly.
“Hanako’s fifth sister was married to an old man who was willing to pay a bride price for a fresh, pretty girl. It went as well as… about as one would expect. With his sixth daughter, Umeko-san, he gave up all pretense of finding a good life for his daughter, and instead, sold her into prostitution – and got even more money than he had for marrying off the last one. Which, of course, he squandered. And then it was Hanako’s turn, she was fifteen. He knew of our long-standing attachment. So he offered me a price….” I sigh, remembering the desperation I felt, how overwhelming… “We didn’t have much of anything – we had enough to live on but no extras. Otou-san was mostly reimbursed for the expenses related to the Shinsengumi, but the devaluation of gold, the unrest that interrupted our tenant farmer’s cycles… we didn’t have much cash – most samurai didn’t, even before the war. And Otou-san was gone, of course. Okaasan was ill, and I was the -head- of the family. And about to lose the girl I love to a life that filled both of us with terror. I even considered abandoning the family, running away….” I remember the clandestine meetings, her father’s leering jokes, and her pleading eyes…
“But it was Hide-neesan who found the solution. One day she went to the market, and came back instead with a sack of money. She said, go get Hanako-san and marry her before he thinks we have more. And that it was time that I got a job, and she had that for me, too.”
I shake my head. “She had the properties that she inherited. Not the ones from our mother, yet, which were fairly worthless at that time, but the ones from our grandmother. A machiya here, a bit of farmland there – but one little strip of shophouses had suddenly become important. I didn’t even know… but they were across the street from the land where the government announced that Kyoto station would go. So they were suddenly very, very valuable. So she went to one of the new ‘lawyers’, and arranged the sale. And his office was a disaster, so she told him that he needed a clerk – me. So in one afternoon, I had a wife and a job…” I smile, “which turned into the career I love, as the old man took me on as his apprentice, and I took over his practice when he retired.”
“She never has let me speak of repayment. So… while she’s sleeping and can’t object at least let me do something for her.”
I hear a noise from the bed, a groan. “Oh, Tamebo… you know I was happy to.” How long was she listening?
I look over to her, where she’s holding Saitou-san’s hand as she blinks her eyes, coming out of sleep. “And I’d be happy to do this, if Saitou-san agrees – I’ll go now and see what can be arranged as soon as possible.” I go over to her. “She’s under your protection, now, Saitou-san, but family still takes care of each other.” I bow to him.
He saved her life, after all. Makimachi-san told us, how he went into the flaming building after her, after relentlessly tracking those two across Japan. But most importantly… my sister is where she’s supposed to be.
“But the only way to go comfortably, would be in a hired rail carriage,”“That’s… as I understand, not a cheap way to go.” “I’ll pay for it.”
Did my face betray that money would be hard up? I’m about to tell him no but he goes into a long story about him and Hanako. I’ve heard parts of this story before I think, it very -little- detail. I try not to jump to the first instinct that I have which is to provide for the woman I’m calling my wife. But I try to listen as I know I’m a prideful man but her brother deserves my courtesy of listening so I do.
It’s a story of the times. Many people have gone through similar hardships, the Meiji era displaced many but the father described here created his own demons and had his daughters pay for them. He could’ve run away but what would a naive man like him do in the world that had no need for him?
“But it was Hide-neesan who found the solution. One day she went to the market, and came back instead with a sack of money. She said, go get Hanako-san and marry her before he thinks we have more. And that it was time that I got a job, and she had that for me, too.”
“Is that right?” I say and feel Hide’s hand grasp mine. She wants me to say yes doesn’t she? But she remains quiet and lets him finish.
“Oh, Tamebo… you know I was happy to.”
And there she goes, unable to remain quiet. I hope she doesn’t start crying. I never know what to do when she does.
“And I’d be happy to do this, if Saitou-san agrees – I’ll go now and see what can be arranged as soon as possible.” “She’s under your protection, now, Saitou-san, but family still takes care of each other.”
“Fine.” I glance down at Hide and give her a wry smile, “I just want her out of this place.” I could’ve gotten her out, used some more resources I’m not sure I’m still allowed to. It is better this way. But as for being under my protection? Perhaps, in certain ways but not yet completely. Maybe something can be done about it?
“Well now that’s settled.” I kneel down to my wife, “How are you really feeling? We can leave in the morning or this afternoon. Your choice.”
Tamesaburou tells that story, of long ago. Of course… it’s what a big sister would do. I smile a little. What did I tell him, when he asked about repaying me? That filling our parents home with happy memories with their grandchildren was the best repayment. That we’d make their spirits happy, if they still lingered in the old house.
But he wants to do this… and the set of his jaw, his mouth… has a bit of the “frog” look of my father. And Hajime agrees. My brother is famously cheap about some things, but in something like this… he’s generous. And this is his pride as a man, as well – to do something for his sister, even though it’s been so long. And I think, in his way, he’s trying to show his approval to Hajime.
How are you really feeling? We can leave in the morning or this afternoon. Your choice.
“I’d like to try to eat something.” I move my shoulders, I’m a bit stiff from so much time in bed… but I know this is important for my healing. To rest, before the work begins. “And try to stay awake for a bit longer.”
“Then that’s settled! Yuubo, let’s go to the train office and see what we can arrange.” Tamesaburou says, beaming. Yuunosuke nods at us, and they both leave.
“Thank you for that,” I say, using him to pull myself up to sit. “Better… every moment -better-. Still sore, where it’s to be expected, but…” I meet his eyes. “I do have my loving husband here to take care of me.” I take a deep, full breath. “I’d like to leave today, if it can be arranged. It would be more relaxing… after my private train car,” I laugh softly, then pull him closer to me. He must know that it’s my turn to kiss him, and we’re alone now, after all…
Hide seems pleased with the development. For a moment she has that very thoughtful look, which means she’s recalling something from the past.
“I’d like to try to eat something.” “And try to stay awake for a bit longer.”
I help her again to sit up. They said that if one stays in bed too long they actually lose even more strength. “Yes try to stay awake and maybe move your shoulder and neck every few minutes.”
“I do have my loving husband here to take care of me.” “I’d like to leave today, if it can be arranged. It would be more relaxing… after my private train car,”
“Well it’s hard to take care of you with your brothers around but I guess it can’t be helped. They -are- your brothers.” I stifle a groan. “But as for leaving today, yes. I want you out of here. It’s so austere. How can anyone recover…” But then I realize this room is very similar to the ones I used back in Tokyo. I just shake my head. “I want you on a nice tatami room on a comfortable futon with lots of pillows. ”
She pulls me close and I give her a knowing look. “Wait, it’s not fair that you’d only kiss me in private.” I half scold her but bend down anyway and take those lips in mine for a moment. “Really unfair you know?” But I go back to kissing those lips and removing my gloves, I go ahead and touch her neck with my bare hand.
Not the place nor the time.
“You said you were hungry?” I stop doing what I was doing but remain inches from her face. “I bought some meat buns for your brothers but they’re not here.”
Yes try to stay awake and maybe move your shoulder and neck every few minutes.
“And you be careful with your shoulder, too,” I say, softly touching it. “I’m going to need your strength, after all.”
Well it’s hard to take care of you with your brothers around but I guess it can’t be helped. They -are- your brothers.
“Back in Kyoto they’ll go back to their lives, somewhat, I suppose – Yuubo to his school and Tamebo to the office. Hanako and the children, though….” I grin. “But the older ones are in school, so it may be quieter than we thought.” I really have no idea about the day-to-day there anymore…
“I want you on a nice tatami room on a comfortable futon with lots of pillows.
“-That- at least I know we can get… besides, I’ll rest better next to you. I was spoiled by the clinic where we had Ai-chan,” I laugh.
He -complains- about when I’ve chosen to kiss him! “Maaa… you will get kisses here, and there, and anywhere that I want to give you one,” I say, nipping at his lips but not quiet -connecting-, as I smile. “And I’m very willing to take my share, as well.”
I feel his bare hand on my neck and I start to -melt- at his touch, kissing him back. I can’t seem to get enough of him, and each one seems to restore something. Not just of my health, but of -myself-….
But he stops, that hand not going further… but staying close. So I wrap my arms around him. These still work, after all. I nuzzle his neck, enjoying his smell… “soon,” I whisper into his ear.
I lean back and just look at him, with what is probably a goofy smile. Sometimes he makes me so -delighted- that I can’t be the charming lover and I’m just a woman caught in the joy of love. “I don’t -love- meat buns, but I do need my strength to return….” My smile changes, “after all, hime-sama has -much- she wants to share with her oji-sama…”
“But the older ones are in school, so it may be quieter than we thought.”
“Quiet is good. That’s what a recovering patient needs.” And partly why I decided not to bring her home right away to Tokyo. She’ll try to run the house in one shape or form and she shouldn’t. Not yet.
“And I’m very willing to take my share, as well.”
My eyes just laugh at that and a smirk escapes me, “Sure as long as no one sees.”
I enjoy her for a moment and she whispers “soon”. I swallow. We don’t know what that means, all I know is that it’s not now. But I remain in her arms, embraced. I’m surprised she can even move this well now.
“I don’t -love- meat buns, but I do need my strength to return….” My smile changes, “after all, hime-sama has -much- she wants to share with her oji-sama…”
I’d quip that I like a particular set of buns but I hear the door and I grimace a little.
“Fujita-san, I believe it’s time to check in on -our- patient. I’m sure you’re -excited- to take her home.”
Slowly I remove those arms around me and shake my head. I guess this is what they call “caught red handed”?
“Of course doctor.” I get out of the way and place the meat buns on the table within her reach.
(OOC: you may close)
Sure as long as no one sees
I kiss him back. “I think we’ve engaged in what is called ‘PDA’ quiet a few times,” I laugh, kissing the tip of his nose.
The doctor comes in and our moment ends, but we do take our time extracting from one another. The doctor nods. “Good, good, she’s feeling much better.”
I let him check me out. Head, hand, ankle and finally my side. “Your head wound is no longer a concern, and you’re fine to wash your hair once you’re in Kyoto,” he tells me. “I also like how the gunshot wound is healing, but no long soaks until it’s fully closed…. same for the hand. If you want to try to get around with a stick until you’re home in Tokyo with this “physical therapy” regime, that’s fine, but your main goal is to rest…” he looks at the meat buns on the table. “And good one – just the sort of restorative protein she needs.”
“I’ll be preparing the notes for her release later this afternoon, and have the nurse give you fresh wrappings,” he says, leaving the room.
I take one of the buns. It’s not bad, really. And every bite gets me back to where I need to be…. I nudge the plate to him, “you eat too. We both will need our strength.” I meet his eyes as I take a big bite…
(OOC – Close)