Saitou:
I slept enough so I got up and decide to start my day. After cleaning up I take my borrowed sword and was just about to leave when it just so happened Yukiko was coming down the stairs.
“Oh Uncle good morning.” She smiles at me.
I nod.
“Leaving so soon?”
“I might as well start my day.”
“Did you have breakfast yet? I can prepare something.”
“No. I’ll stop by one of the stalls on the way to work.”
She gives me a doubtful look.
“You really should let us…” She looks down, “We hardly see you anymore.”
“Now why would that be needed?”
She sighs and looks up at me, “Well I’m sure the children wants to be with you sometimes.”
“Oh that?” I grin, “Duty done. I spent some time with Makoto last night and Hide’s gotten Ai to calm down – but do make sure the child is comfortable until her croup is gone.”
Yukiko:
I can’t help but look at him. He’s grinning and I should take it for what it is right? Did he really spend time with them willingly? But he didn’t say anything about Eiji or Tomu. Nor have i really seen him commune with us. As if he’s there but not really there. But today he does seem a little more open. Maybe. So I smile a little.
“I was going to tell you about something yesterday.”
“Oh what is it?”
“We had an unexpected guest. A man with wild hair and very loud.”
“Oh him? He’s Sagara Sanosuke. Makoto told me about it.”
Makoto did? Why her and not Yagi-san? It was Yagi-san he spoke to at length.
“Oh. Then is he a friend of yours uncle?”
“No but… He’s not someone I’m worried about.” He answers so casually. Isn’t he concerned anymore as to who visits this house?
“Also about Tomu. He’s really not been himself lately.” I try to prod him.
“Yes. Takimi the principal told me Tomu had some problem with Hide and ran away from school the other day.” He says almost as an after-thought.
I stare at uncle surprised. I don’t know Takimi-sensei but again I’m struck. “I didn’t know about that.” I say now more concerned, “Did you speak to Yagi-san about it?”
He shrugs, “I didn’t have time to and she hasn’t brought it up.”
That’s… I don’t know what to think about that. I look down. Don’t they talk?
“Is that it? I have to leave.” He says a bit impatiently.
I swallow, I might as well tell him since I doubt I’ll easily see him again.
“On my way back home yesterday, I met someone who looks exactly like Yagi-san.”
He lights a smoke, “Oh really?”
“Yes uncle, but they were dressed up as a boy. She even tried to disguise her voice and made it deeper.”
“Did she or he have a name?”
“No. I was just so stunned that I let her go pass.” I say with some concern.
He chuckles. “Nothing to be worried about. Just some doppel ganger then.”
“But Uncle…”
“You can tell your Auntie about it, maybe it will make for an interesting conversation.” He tips his hat and leaves. I can only follow him with my eyes.
(OOC: Yukiko will be preparing breakfast after this. If anyone wants to speak to her. If no one does, it should be assumed that Yukiko tells Hide of Hidejiro. Unless told otherwise Yukiko will not know who Hidejiro is unlike Eiji who knows about the sister.)
(Hide)
He leaves so early. And despite spending a couple of hours, at least, sleeping on the other side of our bed…
But Ai-chan seems to have done well. She’s still sleeping, but breathing well. I’ll let her catch up….
Last night, though, he was a great help to her. I was exhausted, and he was able to get her relaxed and calmed… he still loves his daughters, right? At least that…. he didn’t forget them, unlike that other time. I close my eyes. At least that. At least that. It’s all I can get, now. But has he even spoken to Makoto, since…?
Getting dressed… I have things to do. If I sit here to long I’ll… only think too much. Trying to solve a problem… that cannot be solved. How can genies be put back into bottles? If this one sees me for who I am, that means… he does as well. No wonder he gave up and took over.
I think of those who tug at my sleeves… the sister and the shadow. Would a takeover be the same? My sister has a different body, so I guess murder is her answer, but the shadow? I look in the mirror, at the ugly hair, and eyes with dark circles. She was the good one. Maybe she didn’t love him. But -he- was content to leave her sleeping, and she’d do as he wished. Go back to Souji. To Kyoto. Or whatever ghost she would be assigned to. Give him the ending he wanted, everything neatly wrapped up, with him giving up his love for -her- “dream”, but with his honor restored – that he did the best for a good woman.
If only I could have given him what he wanted. If only I could have been that good woman he thought he had. He was wrong about his honor – he did not tarnish it. It was me. I narrow my eyes at the face in the mirror, resisting the urge to throw the brush at the glass and shatter it.
I do what I can with the hair, and wash my face, and go to the kitchen.
Yukiko-san is already there, making breakfast. “Oh, good morning, Yukiko-san – I’m sorry that I’m late in getting breakfast started.” Late? She’s halfway done… I make a smile and start setting out the dishes, and the pickles.
Yukiko:
“Oh, good morning, Yukiko-san – I’m sorry that I’m late in getting breakfast started.”
“Oh don’t worry about it Auntie. I hope you had a good night’s sleep? Uncle said you were taking care of Ai all night since she had croup.” I try to smile for her. “Is there anything I can help with Ai when I come back from school?”
I’m not sure if I should tell her about the woman from yesterday. It’s so out of place and uncle was so blasé about it, making it into a joke even. But what would we talk about then? I finish the rest of the tamago and check the rice. All that would be left now is to cook the fish and make rice balls.
Uncle said you were taking care of Ai all night since she had croup
“Yes, it was a long night. She’s sleeping well now, and I thought I’d let her go a bit longer.”
Then she’s… quiet. And not busy-with-cooking quiet, but… the other kind. As she turns away, I shake my head. I cannot disconnect from those I care about. -I’m- still here, for some reason.
I stand next to her at the stove, and ask, quietly. “Is something the matter, Yukiko-san?” Was Hajime harsh with her?
Yes, it was a long night. She’s sleeping well now, and I thought I’d let her go a bit longer.”
“Oh I hope she gets well soon. She’s such a good baby.”
I start to cook the fish and it doesn’t take too long.
“Is something the matter, Yukiko-san?”
I take a while to answer. I wasn’t sure what to answer with. “Oh it’s probably nothing. Uncle certainly thought it was more amusing than anything.”
I sigh. I’m not making sense. I take the fish to let it cool along with the rice. “Yesterday I met a person who looked like you Auntie but they were dressed in man’s clothing. She even tried to deepen her voice like a man.” I shake my head, “Uncle found it amusing but I did not…”
Yesterday I met a person who looked like you Auntie but they were dressed in man’s clothing. She even tried to deepen her voice like a man
So…. she -is- around. I look down, for a minute. “She – and yes, she’s a woman – is an associate of Okita Souji. Likely looking for him. Is she dangerous….” I look at her. “It’s best if you avoid her. But, knowing her…” I put a hand on Yukiko-san’s shoulder, “she’s not looking for you.” I then look at her, carefully. “But seeing her, I’m certain it’s… unsettling. And left you with questions?”
I check the soup – it’s ready. “I’ll have to leave the riceball making to you – I can’t quiet get the left hand to hold it right, yet.”
“And you said that Hajime found it amusing?” Of course he did. He probably thinks it’s some plot, to get Souji free for one or both of us. Or some other game I’m playing. “How so?”
Auntie assures me that this woman is not looking for me but Okita? I’ve heard of Okita from Eiji and this Okita posed a threat to her and Uncle…
But seeing her, I’m certain it’s… unsettling. And left you with questions?”
“I don’t need to know who she is Auntie but is she really not a threat? Maybe not to me but how about you or Uncle… or even the children?”
She directs me to make rice balls and I do.
And you said that Hajime found it amusing?
“Well he chuckled but I’ve been telling him of other things… most of which he already knew about…” I pause and glance back at Auntie, “from others I guess.”
I don’t need to know who she is Auntie but is she really not a threat? Maybe not to me but how about you or Uncle… or even the children?
“She’s a threat to me, Yukiko-san,” I say, and then I wonder what she does know of Okita. “I don’t know how she feels about Hajime, now that he’s put Okita in jail. As for the children…” I sigh. “I’d like to think… she’d never hurt them. How was she with you? Did she seek you out?”
I watch her carefully make the riceballs, getting them packed nice and tight.
I’ve been telling him of other things… most of which he already knew about… from others I guess
Eiji-san, of course… he’s very loyal to him, and I cannot fault Eiji-san for that. “How does he seem to you, these days? We’ve had difficulties – ”
And with that I hear footsteps on the stairs. “Hahaue! Is Ai-chan better?” She peers around me. “Oh, Yukiko-san made a yummy breakfast!” She beams at both of us. “I told Oniisan to come get his breakfast before I eat it all!”
I don’t know how she feels about Hajime, now that he’s put Okita in jail. As for the children…” I sigh. “I’d like to think… she’d never hurt them. How was she with you? Did she seek you out?”
I smile relieved at hearing that Okita is in jail. I don’t know him but Eiji was worried enough and obviously uncle would never have placed us in the headquarters for nothing. “I just bumped into her on the street. She tried to hide her identity by lowering her voice.”
How does he seem to you, these days? We’ve had difficulties – ”
I’m not sure how to take her question, much less the revelation. “He seems a bit more detached and he doesn’t speak to us much anymore… it’s almost like he’s far away but…” I pause thinking, “He’s still Uncle or at least I believe he is.” After all I’ve seen him like this before with my father. Withdrawn.
But we’re interrupted when Makoto comes in. I smile at her.
“Don’t eat it all otherwise you’ll be sleepy in class later.”
I’d ask Yagi-san more about her difficulties but that’s not a conversation for when children are around.
(Ooc you may end)
I just bumped into her on the street. She tried to hide her identity by lowering her voice
That never worked for either of us… but she seems happy hearing about Okita. I, too, am glad that he’s in jail.
He seems a bit more detached and he doesn’t speak to us much anymore… it’s almost like he’s far away but… He’s still Uncle or at least I believe he is
That last part… is interesting, coming from someone who is unaware of the stranger aspects of this place. “We’ll talk more, later,” I say. Although what to tell her?
“Ai-chan is much better. And save some for your brother!” I say, smiling. Her bright self lifts my spirits, which so -badly- need it. I hear the boys coming downstairs…
(OOC – close)