I retired to the tatami room after dinner. When Tsutomu made the mistake of entering the room earlier, I had sent him away. He can study in his room, that’s why he has a desk there… Besides I’m not ready yet to speak to him. I need more… information.
But I wasn’t in the mood to speak to the rest of the people in the house. I’d like to do some paper work, now that it seems like we’re short on the rank and file again in the precinct. I’ll be going around town and that means I won’t be able to finish the administrative part of my job. So I light up and arrange the papers on the table.
Let’s see… which one first?
(OOC: Saitou is in the tatami room. Anyone can interact with him if they wish.)
(Makoto)
I’m thirsty, and then hahaue always said to go to the washroom after drinking just in case… but I don’t wet the bed I’m a big girl and a big sister!
Then I see chichiue is in the tatami room. I look at him. My dreams the other night seem silly. I just miss him, that’s all! “Hi chichue!” I say, walking over to him and giving him a big hug. “Are you working hard?”
Saitou:
“Hi chichue!”
I can’t help but groan as my train of thought was interrupted. I close my eyes and before I can look up I’m hugged.
“Are you working hard?”
“Always.” I answer my child and lightly pat her hand that’s on my waist but more seriously I add, “Makoto it’s rude to just barge in a room. You should always knock first.”
I put down what I was reading and look at my child. “How about you? Are you doing well in school?” I don’t have to ask Takimi already told me.
He doesn’t really hug me back… but he pats me so I giggle. I think he was working hard because he makes the same sound Tsutomu-niiisan sometimes makes when I go into his room!
“Oh, I’m sorry Chichiue!” I have better manners than that. “I was very excited to see you!” I rest my head on his shoulder. I wrinkle my nose a little. He smells like flowers, but different flowers than hahaue. Funny!
How about you? Are you doing well in school?
I nod. “Chichiue I got all of the answers right on my English test, and most of them right in math!” I grin. “Oh! And Kenji-kun came by this afternoon, with his uncle!” I think. “I can’t remember his name and he’s very tall and has hair like a rooster. Kenji-kun said that he was cool but I told him, no, no, -you- are!”
My daughter seems to want to get close as she lays her head on my shoulder. Well it’s about time I take a break anyway. I reach into my pocket and light a smoke.
I was very excited to see you!”
“Really? This old face?” I jest but it is nice to have someone excited to see me. She tells me about her test and I nod. She does well in English… “Maybe next time you can speak to Sir Howard then. Test out that skill.” And she’s good in math? That’s her mother’s side.
“Oh! And Kenji-kun came by this afternoon, with his uncle!” I think. “I can’t remember his name and he’s very tall and has hair like a rooster
Well that was quick. And for a moment it bothers me that anyone can just drop by this house. But what am I fretting about? I was never able to secure this house… no. No. -He- was never able to secure these grounds. -I- got everything sorted out. “It would really be best if you had other friends other than that boy.” I sigh and ash the cig, “I’m not fond of his father nor that roosterhead.”
Really? This old face?
“Yes of course, silly chichiue!” I giggle. Then I look at him. “Who’s Sir Howard? Is he the English-man hahaue told me came to visit?” I can’t remember his name, but foreign names always sound kind of funny.
Chichiue frowns as I talk about Kenji-kun coming to visit. “I’m not sure if we’re friends like I am with girls,” I say, thinking. “We just like to play together, because he’s the only one who can run as fast as me!” And we argue a lot! “Also, his mom is -cool- and she teaches swords.” He didn’t say that he -didn’t- like her, so maybe, maybe….? But I don’t know his father much. He’s short (as short as hahaue, almost!) and he’s quiet. Kenji-kun pulls his hair every time he sees him!
Who’s Sir Howard? Is he the English-man hahaue told me came to visit?
I nod and would’ve added he’s a pain. “He’s an acquaintance of my boss. He’ll be mighty impressed if you can keep up a conversation with him in English.”
We just like to play together, because he’s the only one who can run as fast as me!” Al“Also, his mom is -cool- and she teaches swords.”
I blow a smoke up in the air. I guess it can’t be help. Those people have a way of crossing my path whether I like it or not. “Well try to have more friends…”
It’s a losing battle with Makoto, just like Eiji or even Hide. But that’s how it is after all the who else would she trust but the wife of my enemy. She probably thinks the Battousai would protect her from me, like that “wife” of mine.
It’s then that I realize I’ve been quiet. I finish my cigarette. “Well my break is over. Time for you to clean up and go bed.” I look my daughter over it’s been a while since I’ve seen her,, “Also call your mother i wish to speak to her.”
He’ll be mighty impressed if you can keep up a conversation with him in English
My eyes go wide. “I don’t think I know enough words to talk to a real English-man!” It’s easy for me, but there are SO MANY words to learn and some of the sounds are -tricky- like “th”. “But chichiue, I’ll persevere!” I grin. If he’s a friend of chichiue’s boss, that’s helping, right? I want to help so much!
Well try to have more friends…
“Not all of the girls like me…” I say, with a little sigh. They like to sit still at recess. “Oh! A big girl is my friend! Midori-san! She’s Tsutomu-niisan’s friend too! She’s even been over!”
He tells me it’s bedtime and I sigh… “Oh, then goodnight, chichiue.” I give him another big hug and a kiss!
Also call your mother i wish to speak to her.
“Oh, she’s in the bath room, with Ai-chan. She has a cough and hahaue said the steam helps.” She has been a fussy baby lately. I asked if she wanted Chichiue, but she only looked sad and said that he wasn’t home yet. Silly hahaue, he works hard! “But I’ll go get her!”
(Makoto will exit unless stopped)
Oh! A big girl is my friend! Midori-san! She’s Tsutomu-niisan’s friend too! She’s even been over!
I’d tell Makoto to avoid her too but for now I refrain. Not until I know whats going on here. And as for the other girls, “Well not every dislikes you.” I remind her. “Maybe try to do what they like? After all being friends doesn’t mean you only do what you like.”
Then she tells me about Ai and Hide. That the child is not feeling well. “In that case Makoto, just let your mother take care of Ai.” There’ll be other times i can speak to her. She must tend to Ai first.
(Ooc: saitou will stay in the tatami room whether hide comes or not, to eventually leave in the morning as per his usual schedule)
(Hide)
Ai-chan had developed a runny nose, and a fever by dinner, and by bedtime… a cough started. A distinctive one. So I go into action. Hajime’s not home yet…. and I long for him by my side, not only as the man who loved me, but… for everything else he brought into our lives.
I get the bathing room all hot and steamy, and hold my wriggling daughter upright in the steam. “Shhhh….” I say. “Just relax and breathe.” The steam is said to help, and I sing softly, not just the songs my mother sang me to sleep with, but ones of another time… While my brothers missed this childhood illness, my nephew and nieces did not, and thankfully, Hanako-san’s sisters were there, full of motherly knowledge. And the things I snuck over from another time won’t help Ai-chan tonight.
Makoto comes and goes and wishes me a sweet goodnight, and I can see it helping, but she’s just fussy and agitated. It must be late… I bundle her up and leave the steamy room, sweating, and go out to see if he’s home. If not, I’ll have to go and wake Yukiko-san….
The light is on and I knock on the shoji door, but Ai-chan’s barky cough also announces our presence. “Hajime? I need some help,” I say, closing my eyes and leaning my head against the cool wood.
I know I said I’d use the bedroom but I suppose I’m too busy and the light would just disturb their sleep. But no sooner had I thought that when I hear some coughing and then Hide knocking. I put out my cigarette and go open the door to find her leaning on the wood, her eyes closed while holding the baby.
I decide it’s probably better if I hold the baby so I take the bundle from her. “You can sit if you want.” I motion to the sofa.
“So she’s been sick? How long?” I look the child over, warm, sniffling and then coughs right at my face. -Great-.
Reaching into my pocket for some cloth, I realize I don’t have a handkerchief so I go ahead and unwrap the edge of what she’s wrapped in to dry the spit and the snot that’s come out of her nose. “She probably needs to be taken to a doctor.” It’s late but the medical building even though further from us is open at all times. “I can taken her.”
So she’s been sick? How long?
He takes Ai-chan, who coughs right in his face, which doesn’t seem to make him happy… but it’s probably been a while since he had to deal with a sick baby.
“She’s been fussy for a day or two, but the cough and fever started tonight. The sound of her coughing indicates croup, which is common in little ones.” I sit as he said, worn out and sweaty after a couple of hours in the bath.
He fumbles for his handkerchief, I need to return Yaso’s cloth to him, now that it’s clean. When he wipes her face, Ai-chan stops fussing and looks at him, her golden eyes staring, and then grins at him for a moment.
She probably needs to be taken to a doctor. I can taken her.
“The best treatment in this time is to keep her upright in a steamy room – her breathing is better, even if the cough isn’t. It relaxes the airways…” I stand and look at him. “This is the first time she’s perked up all night – could you hold her in the bath for a bit? She’s tired and fussy and squirmy, and maybe she’ll calm down if you hold her.” I look over at her, placing the back of my hand against her forehead to check her temperature. “But if she doesn’t improve more in an hour or so – then to the doctor.” Although with no steroids in this era, there’s not much they can offer.
Ai-chan lays her head on his chest, coughing again.
“She’s been fussy for a day or two, but the cough and fever started tonight. The sound of her coughing indicates croup, which is common in little ones.”
“Croup huh?” I look at Ai again who has temporarily stopped barking and instead just stares back at me. I look towards the doors leading outside and then back at Ai and did she just grin?
“The best treatment in this time is to keep her upright in a steamy room – her breathing is better, even if the cough isn’t. It relaxes the airways…” “This is the first time she’s perked up all night – could you hold her in the bath for a bit?
“Well you’ve already tried the steam bath.” I look at the child again after she checks Ai’s temperature before placing the child against my chest, her head laying against my shoulder. “When I have a hard time breathing…” I go to the front of the tatami room and open the doors there leading out to the engawa. “The cold night air usually helps.”
I sit down on the engawa, resting my back against a wooden column and place Ai upright against my knees. I fix the cloth back so it covers most of her head except her face. “Now start breathing slowly but deeply, like this.” I show the baby by inhaling slowly, pausing mid breath and then letting the air out. I do this a few times hoping my child understood. It’s a method I use when I’ve overdone the smoking back in the day.
When I have a hard time breathing…
I look at him with some alarm – when does this happen?
But he opens the doors, bringing in the cool, crisp fall night air.
Hajime starts talking to Ai-chan like she can understand, but aside from a few small coughs, she watches him with furrowed eyebrows. I come over and sit next to him, pressing on her chest with a gentle hand to encourage her to breathe slowly, and then, not thinking about the action until I’ve done it, reach for his hand and replace his with mine on her chest. “Listen to your chichiue, Ai-chan.” She blinks over at me, and then back at Hajime. “Brrr!” I smile a bit, it’s the first non-fussy sound she’s made all night… it’s followed by a series of coughs, but this time she settles back to breathing without much fussing.
“Keep talking to her,” I say in a low voice. I don’t know what she understands – all of his children are intelligent, after all – but I can feel the change in her. I wipe her nose with a bit of fabric stashed in my sleeve and sit back a bit.
She comes over and tries to help the child. Pressing lightly on her chest but then takes my hand and guides me to do the same.
“Brrr!”
I smile slightly at that. So my child remembers me. But she coughs again with less of a bark. “Don’t over do it child.”
“Keep talking to her,”
“Well what do you tell a child?” I sigh. It’s not like it can talk back. She cleans up Ai’s nose and I’m glad for that. I didn’t want to soil her wrap.
“Get better soon child. Otherwise we will have to cancel your Okuizome and all those plates would be for nothing.” I tell her. Then I grin, “But you don’t really care about that don’t you?” After all I doubt babies remember much in their first few months.
Don’t over do it child
He smiles a bit, even though she still coughs. But some of the bark is fading…
Well what do you tell a child?
“She’s always liked your voice, and she had to put up with me singing earlier,” I say, leaning over to get my ear close to her mouth and chest, to hear. She’s obviously more relaxed… which in a little baby, is so much of getting her comfortable to rest so her body can fight it…
But he talks, about her Okuizome. Those red dishes he brought back from Aizu… it will be here before we know it. Ai-chan stares at him, and then goes “brrr! brrr! grrrr!” with a proud smile.
And then… she rubs her eyes and tosses her head. A cough, then another but a quiet one. I go back close to listen again, aware that my cheek is almost touching the back of his hand. I sit up, in time to see her eyes close and her breathing take on the even pace of sleep. I touch her soft hair. “There, there, Chichiue made it all better, ne?” I say, as I kiss her forehead.
She’s always liked your voice, and she had to put up with me singing earlier,”
I’d tease her a bit about her singing but it’s been so long i don’t even remember how it was like. We had songs but singing it out loud was rare. And today certainly not necessary.
Ai makes those amusing noises babies make and I simply smile at her, watching that plump baby face. She is of course my child. No one else’s.
Hide checks in on her, leaning in to listen to her breathing. She is a caring mother. Not all mother’s are and nor are all fathers.
There, there, Chichiue made it all better, ne?”
So I’m chichi-ue in front of the children? Likely how she uses Hajime and Goro, by the situation. I touch the child’s cheek as Ai closes her eyes. This one probably recognizes me. Maybe.
“It’s probably time to let her sleep in her crib.” Carefully I stand up.. I consider handing back Ai to her mother but she doesn’t have a straight gait. “You can follow us to the room and get some sleep yourself.”
After getting Ai into the crib, I wait for her mother to tuck her in and go by the door to leave.
(Ooc saitou will exit unless there’s something else.)
As Ai-chan settles down, he carefully stands and carries her to our room.
She makes a soft, contended noise as she’s set into her crib. I tuck her blankets around her, and watch her as she sleeps. Quietly… I wonder if babies that young dream? I look back over at him, he was… as caring as a father as I know him to be. That’s not changed, at least, no matter what has between us.
“Thank you… and please get some rest yourself,” I say, getting into the bed. It’s been a long night, with only a precious few hours until dawn. I look down at one side of the bed, and then him. “This is more comfortable than the sofa, you can always sleep here.” He probably won’t, and I’ll get one of his stinging rejections… but tonight isn’t about us or the past or the future, but that… even this man needs sleep.
(OOC – you may close)
The child finally goes to sleep. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.
Her mother does the same but then offers up the other side of the bed. I’ve not had sleep as I only took a quick shower at the machiya.
I will likely have to help in patrol again tomorrow and need a proper bed to sleep in.
“I’ll just finish up a bit more in the tatami room and later I’ll come to bed.”
(Ooc end. Saitou does an hour of work and retires in the bedroom on his side of the bed)