“Where’s Tsutomu-kun?” hahaue asks.
“Practice!” I say. I wish they’d let me stay because I can help and bring water and stuff but that other boy has a little brother and he said that brothers -belong- and sisters DON’T. NOT FAIR. He’s in my class and he’s super lazy and always talks about how his old school was better because it was boys only.
“Do you want to help in the garden?”
I nod. Why does she look tired? I thought she was getting all better after Osaka. But the other night Ai-chan stayed with Yukiko-san, and now she’s back in her room. Yukiko-san said that it’s what she wanted.
I follow her. There’s a lot I can do to help. She’s walking without her stick but she sometimes stumbles outside. But I’m happy she’s cooking again!
I help her weed. “If the soil is good enough for this many weeds, hopefully that means our crops are doing well!” And there’s a lot, even though we just weeded.
She smiles at me. “You think so? You’re probably right.” I help her get up from where she was kneeling and I see the faces she’s making. “Hahaue you can’t do that yet!”
“I can’t be disabled forever, Makoto.” She stands up, and looks around, her eyes are funny. “What is it your brother says? We have to persevere.”
That word again! But she does sit down! I go with her.
“Makoto… are you okay?” She looks at me. “Really okay?”
“I miss Chichiue,” I say, looking down. “He only comes home after I’m in bed.”
“He’s been busy at work,” she says, quickly.
I sigh. “I …. had a weird dream. I think… I just want to see him.” I should stop being a silly baby about a bad dream but I can’t -forget-!
Her hand goes around my shoulders. “Can you tell me about it?”
I look down. “It doesn’t make sense, hahaue. I was in a strange place – everything was glass! And then…” I close my eyes. “I forget,” I lie, biting my lip.
She looks at me, then away. “One day, you should tell me.” She then grins a little, “I can believe a -lot- of strange stuff.”
I just sit and lean against her. It used to be just the two of us, and now we have a whole family. But sometimes it’s not as happy feeling as I always thought having a family would be. Oniisan and chichiue don’t always get along, for one…
After a while, she moves her arm. “Come on, let’s water the garden before it’s time to start dinner. I want to start teaching you more cooking.”
I run off for the watering can. I don’t like cooking, but she looks so tired, so I can help more!
(OOC – Hide and Makoto are in the back garden if anyone wants to interact)
Sanosuke:
“Hello!” I look at Kenji with a “let’s bang on the gate” sign.
“Helloo!!!!” Both Kenji and I call out. “We’re looking for Fujita-san!”
“And Makoto-chan!” He adds.
I grin at the cute boy that calls me “Uncle Sanosuke the Greatest”.
“Are you sure this is where your friend lives?” I ask. But I know he won’t lie to me. Get it wrong maybe but not lie.
“Yes!” He knocks again. “I play here a LOT!”
(Makoto)
I put down the watering can. Someone’s calling my name!
I run (I run FAST) past hahaue and to the gate. Of course it’s Kenji-kun. But I don’t know the man – but his hair makes him look like a rooster and it’s hard not to laugh!
“This is Uncle Sanosuke the Greatest!” Kenji-kun tells me.
Now I know where I’ve seen him. But I thought the hair was like that because Kenji-kun is really bad at drawing.
“Oh yeah you used to like to draw him. But my chichiue is still better!”
“No he’s not! Let’s go to the treehouse!” And off we run!
(Hide)
Before I can tell Makoto to be careful about people at the gate she’s off. And while I’m pushing myself to walk more, I cannot run. Well, maybe I could, should a fire break out, but I’m still slow moving. I see then Makoto run by, followed a half-step behind by Kenji-kun.
Oh, Himura-san is here! It would be nice to see the closest person I have to a friend.
But as I go around… it’s definitely not Himura-san, or her husband. My sister never met him, I don’t think (and had she, she would have complained that it was a “pity” interaction), but I know who he is, from my -other- knowledge.
“Hello,” I bow. “I’m Yagi Hide. Was that Himura Kenji-kun you brought with you?” I thought he was overseas? Does Hajime know he’s back in town?
I grin -wide, put out my chest and place my hands on my waist as I’m introduced by my favorite newphew as “The Greatest”. But the little girl says her chichi-ue is better?
And before I can even introduce myself and Kenji forgot to introduce his friend, they’ve run up a treehouse.
“Hoy!” I call after them but it’s like they couldn’t hear me as they climb up. I sigh and shake my head. I can probably climb up that treehouse myself. I’m pretty good at that. I smack my fist and was about to when a woman appears.
“Hello,” I bow. “I’m Yagi Hide. Was that Himura Kenji-kun you brought with you?”
“Ooooh! So you’re the woman everyone in the dojo was talking about.” I go up to her, “The one who needed protection from an old beau?”
I look her over. She’s rather short. I wonder if Saitou has a fetish for short women? Maybe cute women even? That dog!
I hold out my hand as a form of greeting. “I’m Sagara Sanosuke! And Kenji is my favorite nephew! Nice to meet you!”
My eyes sweep the grounds. “Pretty nice and open space you’ve got here.” I say. “The house ain’t bad either.” I laugh, “I guess I shouldn’t be surprised Saitou lives in a nice place.”
Ooooh! So you’re the woman everyone in the dojo was talking about.” I go up to her, “The one who needed protection from an old beau?
I smile, a bit awkwardly, at that – but I remember they all used to know everything about each other, and tried to about everyone else. “Yes, that was me – thankfully Himura-san was able to offer protection, if needed – she is very kind.”
He holds out his hand and thankfully I know how to shake back. “That was Makoto-chan, our older daughter. She and Kenji-kun are schoolmates.” I don’t miss that he looks at me curiously. Well, Tokio was such a figure of mystery… I suppose I’m of interest, too, for similar reasons.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised Saitou lives in a nice place
I thank him for the compliment to our home, and answer as well, “he provides for us very well.”
Makoto and Kenji-kun comes running back over to us. “Hahaue – Kenji-kun didn’t bring snacks so we have to provide refreshments today!” She tugs on my hand. “Can I ask Yukiko-san to get down the box of Daifuku?” I nod, and as they run off I turn to the tall man. “Could I bring you some tea?”
Sanosuke:
“Yes, that was me – thankfully Himura-san was able to offer protection, if needed – she is very kind.”
“Oh Ojou-san is the best but you know back then, I thought she was a tomboy!” I laugh, “But I guess it makes sense she and Kenshin are hitched now because Kenshin is a very good swordsman. Better than her!”
She shakes my hand -finally- introduces people more properly. “Heh. I could’ve definitely figured that out.” I take my fingers and make a squinty eye, “Does that remind you of anyone? With such squinty eyes, you know it’s difficult to know what Saitou is thinking. Hopefully you don’t have -that- problem with you daughter eh!”
I walk back with her to where the engawa is.
“he provides for us very well.”
“I guess that’s Saitou, but I bet he’s never home.” I grin. “I bet he’s not home now! See I told him this morning I was going to find out what’s happened to him in the past few years. And I guess I just didn’t want my coming back to Japan to help Kenshin be for nothing…”
And we’re interrupted for mid-afternoon snacks! “Yes I don’t mind tea as long as there’s free snacks!” I rub my hands together and Kenji-kun does the same. He’s such a great kid.
“So Yagi-san, how is that old man. I kind of remember you and yet not but you’re certainly not the one I heard who was tall and had long black hair…”
But I guess it makes sense she and Kenshin are hitched now because Kenshin is a very good swordsman. Better than her!
“Well, it’s a good thing he’s a swordsman himself – few men would support their wives teaching it.” I smile a bit. “Despite what some stories may say, there weren’t really any fighting women during the war, save Aizu’s Jōshitai. She’s rare in what she does.” After all, the women of Kyoto were mostly there for recreation… like Hajime’s woman. The one he goes back to, over and over. His pure woman. I realize that I’m frowning and move on.
Hopefully you don’t have -that- problem with you daughter eh!
“She’s young, still, and besides, I’m her mother. We have our ways,” I say, smiling. “Both Makoto-chan and the baby bear strong resemblance to their father – Ai-chan has his golden eyes.” At least he’s never questioned their paternity. Of course, I probably had them just to trap him, or control him, or something like that. I’m frowning again…
“Hajime isn’t home, his work keeps him busy.” I pause as he mentions coming back to help Himura-san. “Were you called over because of Okita Souji? I heard you were on the mainland, in China?”
Yes I don’t mind tea as long as there’s free snacks!
I had heard he was a moocher…. well, that was accurate. “Then please allow me.” Kenji-kun, over in the treehouse, must have been listening because I hear a “Yippee! Sweets!” come from the branches…
So Yagi-san, how is that old man. I kind of remember you and yet not but you’re certainly not the one I heard who was tall and had long black hair…
“That would be Tokio-san, his wife -she’s tall, still has her long hair,” I touch mine, unconsciously. He liked that hair. She probably has that hair, too. Probably wraps it all around him, cascading down her body as he plows into her… “she’s also very beautiful. If you’ll excuse me? I’ll go and fetch the refreshments.”
(OOC – Hide will go inside briefly)
“Well, it’s a good thing he’s a swordsman himself – few men would support their wives teaching it.”
“Well I don’t know Yagi-san. I kind of think Kenshin is a pushover.” I laugh, “I mean wouldn’t a good swordsman rather show off to his wife or girlfriend instead? I’m telling you when Ojou-san comes from teaching you’d think the girl was a man!”
Oh she’s frowning? I hope she’s not going to tell on me with Kaoru!
“Both Makoto-chan and the baby bear strong resemblance to their father – Ai-chan has his golden eyes.”
“Oh a baby huh? Yeesh! Saitou was just so mum about it all this morning.” I form a first and shake it, “I thought we were finally closer. He could’ve told me all of this news!” Again he’s not my friend but I’m probably his -only- friend.
“Were you called over because of Okita Souji? I heard you were on the mainland, in China?”
“I was but you know I owe a lot to Kenshin and the Ojou-san. So I came running. I mean it’s Okita Souji the first captain of the Shinsengumi, their deadliest and I wasn’t sure if Saitou would fight Okita seriously but I know Okita would fight Kenshin – so I can’t leave that alone you know.” I smile “And of course I protect innocent women!”
She seems far away as she tells me about Tokio. “I only know the name. He tended to wave her off. But you! He wouldn’t breathe a word about!”
But she leaves me with Kenji and so we dig in for the snacks and wait for refreshments.
“Hey Kenji, this was a good idea. I can get used to this.” I hold out my hand in the air and he slaps it back. I taught him that, a “high five”.
I mean wouldn’t a good swordsman rather show off to his wife or girlfriend instead?
I smile. “I heard that he’s mostly retired, and even if not, it’s a reverse-blade sword he uses. But to teach a lot of unruly boys kendo? She has to be strong and determined.”
I thought we were finally closer. He could’ve told me all of this news!
Closer? I didn’t think that Hajime could even tolerate this man too much, but we’ve never discussed him, unlike some of the others associated with the Himuras. “Ai-chan was born back in September,” I tell him. “And he’s protective of us, so that’s why he keeps these things to himself.” That day she was born… that was a nice day. One of the best, really. That was real, that day? As I pushed and strained, the things he whispered in my ear…
So he was called here to fight Souji. I wonder how he would have done, unarmed. Souji was of course taught that, but his genius was with the sword.
But you! He wouldn’t breathe a word about!
Of course not. Someone else was in the Wilderness, after all. And that there was me, hiding out in the shadows… not something he could speak of, given what I wouldn’t do for him. What a waste… she still wasn’t happy, was she? She got to stay there, Hajime and I parted, she still lost her place there and… now she’s judged me and calls for my death.
“Again, he keeps his private life quiet – after all, his work is dangerous.”
Inside, I thank Yukiko-san for preparing the tea and carefully carry the tray on my right arm, with my left to balance it as I can’t quite grip the tray with confidence. I managed with the small ones when Sir Howard was here… I put down the tray a bit hastily, and the empty teacups tip over and roll off the tray, towards Sagara-san, where he and Kenji-kun are exchanging a series of hand-slaps, with Makoto now over there, begging to learn…
Sanosuke:
There’s been so many changes! Ever since I left from the mainland I’m just wanting to catch up on everything and everyone. And Yagi-san seems to want to tell me about Saitou’s private life which is great! Two girls huh and the latest one just this september. They really get it on huh? But she says he keeps things private well that’s why I’m here to investigate!
But she leaves and Kenji and Makoto and I all practice our high fives. I’ve missed this. Being a bandit didn’t give me time to enjoy the simpler things and here in Japan now it’s rather simple.
The refreshments come but cups come rolling towards us. “Oh careful there.” I go and pick them up right away and it’s then I notice she’s not moving very well is she?
“Thank you for your hospitality Yagi-san.” I say and start pouring refreshments for the rest of us. “How about just sit down?”
The kids drink quickly and is now playing in the middle of the garden. I look up in the sky that’s now a turning to a darker blue. Soon it will be nighttime.
“Well I’m going to be here for a while…” I say more to myself as I take some of the daifuku. “Everyone’s found something… Someone… Even Saitou – imagine that.” I smile at Yagi-san, “That’s nice.” Because even I knew and saw the runaway wife he had and then Megumi left and of course… Sayo.
(OOC: Sanosuke is pretty much done. Unless Hide asks anything of him, in the next reply he’ll take Kenji home.)
Thank you for your hospitality Yagi-san.
He also rescues the roll-away teacups, and he, and the children, gobble up the snacks eagerly. “Kenji-kun likes to come see Makoto-chan,” I say, smiling as they go back to playing.
Well I’m going to be here for a while… Everyone’s found something… Someone… Even Saitou – imagine that. “That’s nice.
There’s something that seems to cloud his smile a bit. “Was there someone for you, Sagara-san?” I ask. I remember that -they- had wanted to pair him with Misao-san, which seemed… perplexing, And I don’t correct him about Hajime. He found me but I lost him, but he’s found someone else now. And she gets to live in the machiya, without a care in the world, as he escorts her around.
I once had it that easy.
Kenji-kun likes to come see Makoto-chan
“Yeah he wanted to introduce her to m right away.” I grin watching the kids play. Imagine that Kenshin and Saitou’s kids are friends.
Was there someone for you, Sagara-san?
I grin. “Yeah that’s why I had to leave Japan for a while.” I look up seeing her face, “A Christian woman named Magdalia but her real name was Sayo.”
It was curious why Saitou didn’t appear during the fake Battousai incident and the stand-off between the military and the Christian followers. Maybe because it was because it was the Japanese Christians that needed protection, salvation even. I hope Shogo is doing well in Holland. “You know all that women stuff makes a man weak and so I had to go to the mainland to get stronger.”
I smack my fist together. “It’s too bad I wasn’t able to show Saitou what I learned! Maybe I’ll challenge him for not helping us out in Shimabara!”
Yeah that’s why I had to leave Japan for a while. A Christian woman named Magdalia but her real name was Sayo.
Hajime wasn’t there for that, and I never asked why. Unsure of how those stories fit into our timeline. I can’t miss the sadness around the edge as he says her name – both the one she used and her real name.
You know all that women stuff makes a man weak and so I had to go to the mainland to get stronger
“Do we? Probably, if weakness is… love, needing someone…” I smile a bit. “As a woman, it’s not a weakness that I’ve minded, but a man who is a warrior may feel differently, but… even a great warrior can’t live on that alone.” I look at him. “And did you? Get stronger, I mean?” I shake my head. “I would prefer you -not- test it out on Hajime but trouble always seems to lurk around here, so perhaps you’ll get your chance?” Although he seems hot-headed and impulsive, he’s entirely entirely without malice.
I hear the banging of the shoji door that’s Tsutomu-kun’s trademark of returning home, and the sky shows that winter will be here soon, as the sky starts to darken earlier. I stand, and bow. “Thank you for bringing Kenji-kun today, Sagara-san. Please give my regards to Himura-san?”
Well she certainly is a woman! Of course it’s a weakness in a man, but it is one that is usually welcome. We can’t all be fighting -all- the time.
“And did you? Get stronger, I mean?” “I would prefer you -not- test it out on Hajime but trouble always seems to lurk around here, so perhaps you’ll get your chance?
I grin a wicked one. I’ve learned something from my travels. “You’re right Yagi-san! He hasn’t given up that aku soku zan speech yet so I just need to hang around here long enough.” Preferably without kenshin so I can show off to that man whose shown me his back!
Thank you for bringing Kenji-kun today, Sagara-san. Please give my regards to Himura-san?
“Oh I will. I’m sure they’ll have a good dinner ready.” I rub my stomach, sweets are good and all but I need meat! I shake Yagi-san’s hand one last time. “I guess I can see what that Yarou saw in you. You’re very kind Yagi-san.” Because she is, having fed a stranger. When I met saitou’s runaway wife before she didn’t even spend a minute speaking to me at all. Not that I cared!
Taking kenji we go home.
(End for sano)
I watch them leave, and get Makoto. “We’ll water tomorrow,” I say.
Sagara-san said I was kind? Am I really? I go to the kitchen and start to get out things to make dinner tonight.
I feel like a boat now, one stuck out in the middle of the ocean, without any wind behind it. The wind I miss is the assurance that Hajime loved me and that I was actually -good- for him. Without it… will I sink, or just be -lost- forever?
I can be kind to others. Why not him? Sagara-san said that must have been what Hajime saw in me. I didn’t correct him that those days were long past. I look down at my hands. The bad one shaking a bit, so I wave it hard a few times. That helps with the numbness, too. I know I’ve been pushing myself hard but… I have to, now.
I sigh. I have dinner to cook. I can over-think later.
(OOC -close)