With Tsurumi-chan finally settled with some family friend and NOT her mother, I’m finally free to move out of the dorm. As soon as she left after school today… she still doesn’t know who I’m boarding with. She’s not asked.. but she did come in to smugly tell me that she’ll be with some Aizu family. High-ranking, she said, but another victim of the suffering so many Aizu has had to bear, but she would rather a humble home of loyalists than her mother’s luxury and traitor or… I still don’t understand why it’s so terrible her mother remarried. Her stepfather is from Aizu as well. He seemed perfectly nice when I’ve seen him over the years.
I suppose it’s a little sad since I’ve lived here for so long – a home away from home, I guess it’s called? But it’s nice to be back to an actual home. And Makato-chan has been so excited!
I think it will be fun to play oneesan, since I was always the youngest, I think, as I walk there. Home, I try to think of it.
Tsutomu-kun has carried a little something over every day, but now I’m walking there with my last bundle – although I’m not silly, I wasn’t going to send him around with my -underwear-, nor my embroidery supplies or personal letters. I think of the last one from my mother…
We’re setting up a new factory as we added some new fishing boats and the catch has been abundant. Sales have been strong all throughout Japan and there’s talk of us getting an Army contract, but I don’t worry overmuch about that as we do not have the right -connections-. But I say all of that, daughter, to say that I cannot make a trip to Tokyo until spring. As long as the always sensible Yamaji-san gives her blessing, which she did via her own letter, you may board out as you wish. Your letters hint at trouble and you should tell me. Though I am far away I am still your mother. Please remember your manners and I will send Yagi-san a case of our best products!
I smile at that. I’m glad she trusts me, and I guess Yamaji-sensei.
I’m here. I knock on the gates. I wonder if eventually I’ll get a key?
(OOC – Midori is at the gates. It’s afternoon after school)
Yukiko:
The kids and I get home early today. There’s a knock on the door and I’m guessing it’s Auntie? But why would she knock?
Opening the door there’s a young lady and she has a bundle with her. I’m confused for a minute when I remember Tsutomu-kun has been talking about a young lady coming to live with us and Makoto too! I smile at her.
“You must be Nishino-san?” I ask and hold the gates open, “Please come in. Yagi-san isn’t back yet but Makoto and Tomu-kun is inside.”
(Midori)
The young lady I’ve seen at school walking Makoto-chan home welcomes me in, and I bow after entering. “I am Nishino-san, Nishino Midori. Are you Yamaguchi-san?” I wonder if that’s why that’s the name on the house? Maybe it belongs to her family? But Makoto-chan said she was her cousin… but Aizu families are confusing, I’ve learned -that- much at Futaba. Everyone seems to be someone else’s adopted something or the other. Us commoners keep it more simple.
“I apologize for coming without notice today, but the conditions that were causing my delay were finally lifted, and I didn’t want to be the only girl there tonight!” I say this lightly… but is it silly that I’m nervous at that idea with that guard still around, sneering at me? Hopefully the futon I ordered has been delivered.
Yukiko:
“I guess I am… Yamaguchi.” I smile. Although I am my father’s daughter it feels odd to be the last one. I don’t really think Yagi-san and the others use the name except for the front sign of the house.
Although I’m waiting for Yagi-san I lock the gates behind her. It doesn’t hurt to be careful.
“I apologize for coming without notice today, but the conditions that were causing my delay were finally lifted, and I didn’t want to be the only girl there tonight!”
“Oh I totally understand.” I say as we get to the engawa, “I too lived alone in my father’s house for a while. Being alone in a house does make one a little uneasy, thankfully for me I had our neighbor Kinosuke-san come stay in the house.” I open the door to let her inside. “It’s not a big house but please make yourself comfortable?”
Suddenly there’s another knock on the gates. “Oh that must be Yagi-san.” I tell Nishino-san, “Can you wait here for a bit?” I show her the formal receiving room. There’s lots of pillows there. I’m sure she’ll be fine.
Tomu:
I heard voices… Yukiko-nee-san’s and another younger voice… Like Midori’s?
I peak downstairs and see Yukiko nee-san leaving our guest alone in the receiving room. Well she can’t just leave her there! I go head downstairs. Makoto must be sleeping if she’s not all over Midori.
“Hey Midori!” I say as I lean by the shoji door. “Glad you finally got here. What took you so long?” I can’t help but grin a little.
(Midori)
Yamaguchi-san is nice. I know Makoto-chan calls her Yukiko-san, I should wait for her to invite me to call her such…
“I too lived alone in my father’s house for a while. Being alone in a house does make one a little uneasy, thankfully for me I had our neighbor Kinosuke-san come stay in the house
“There’s a lot of people at the school, and plenty of boy boarders, but Futaba never has had too many girl boarders.” I smile at her. “But now the girls are going to all board out. I’m looking forward to being in a real home again.” I look her over. Maybe I can start wearing things that aren’t my uniforms, since I live out now. I never much bothered… but I’d like her help, and not someone old like Yamaji-san or Yagi-san. Maybe Yamaguchi-san will… I also notice that she locks the gates behind us, and I feel relived. I promised my mother this place was -safe-.
I step inside, and look around the room that she leads me to. It has a large red flag, rather battered, with the kanji for Makoto-chan’s name. Huh. Isn’t that something from the war? The young lady leaves me while she goes back out to the gate.
Hey Midori! Glad you finally got here. What took you so long?
When someone who doesn’t smile all the time actually does, it’s really amazing how it changes their face. I can’t help but smile back. “Hello, Tsutomu-kun. Tsurumi-chan was the holdout and they didn’t want to leave her there alone,” I tell him. “But now she’s housed and I’m free to come to my new place.” I look around the formal room. “But I don’t need to take this room – I was told I was going to board with Makoto-chan.” Where is she anyway? I figure she would be my -shadow- anytime I’m at this house.
(Makoto)
Yukiko-san said I could hold Ai-chan and even feed her from her bottle! But then Yukiko-san said she thought she heard the gate and left and Ai-chan fell asleep and that was nice because she’s so cuddly! And hahaue said if the baby is sleeping you NEVER wake a sleeping baby! I hear voices and I -bet- something fun is happening and I have a baby on my lap!
Oh hee hee she sneezed in her sleep. Ai-chan is at least really really cute.
(OOC – Makoto is in Saitou & Hide’s room and rather stuck unless someone comes looking for her or Ai-chan wakes up, lol)
Tomu:
“Hello, Tsutomu-kun. Tsurumi-chan was the holdout and they didn’t want to leave her there alone,” I tell him. “But now she’s housed and I’m free to come to my new place.”
“Oh. So she’s being picky on where to live?” I go into the room and get a pillow for her and I. Then I sit and say thoughtfully, “She can be difficult though I guess if you wanted to bring her here, Yagi-san might say yes.”
“But I don’t need to take this room – I was told I was going to board with Makoto-chan.”
“No one ever takes this room.” I tell her, “My umm, “father”, wants to keep it for his use.” I nod over to the swordstand with only the short sword and then over to the flag and all that. “It’s the adult room and they greet all the visitors here.” Just like it would be in a samurai’s house but that’s likely more Yagi-san than him.
Yukiko:
I wasn’t sure what to do with our new guest. But I do know her and it would be so rude to turn her away but when I told her Yagi-san wasn’t home yet, she didn’t politely excuse herself. So here we are…
“Himura-san, would you kindly wait in this room with Nishino-san?” and I see Tomu’s made himself comfortable, “And you remember Tsutomu-kun?”
“Why yes!” She bows politely to both and sits on the tatami.
“I’ll start some tea.” I tell them all and Himura-san’s eyes lights up. “Tea would go very well with what I brought. Cake!”
Tomu’s eyes suddenly lights up, more so than it was already. But what’s the occasion? Odd that Himura-san would bring a cake in the house.
“Well I’ll be back.” I bow again. Now where did Yagi-san keep those little plates?
(OOC Poor Makoto, she’s going to miss out on cakey.)
(Midori)
Oh. So she’s being picky on where to live? She can be difficult though I guess if you wanted to bring her here, Yagi-san might say yes.
I thank him for the pillow and get comfortable. “She’s upset with her mother – she lives in Tokyo in a very nice house but they don’t get along. I think it’s because she remarried? So she’s been a boarding student all this time and was even refusing to graduate at one point,” I shake my head. “But Yamaji-sensei found a family who was willing to board her. And I think that Yagi-san is nice enough, I’m not sure if it would be comfortable for Makoto-chan.” I think she’s still a little scared, from what I saw that day she came with her other brother. I look around. “Where is Makoto-chan?” It’s a nice day, maybe she’s in that tree-house of hers…. or maybe she’s going to leap out of somewhere. I used to do that, a long time ago.
He talks about the room, and I’m glad that it’s for his father and Yagi-san and not a place they expect me to sleep. “Where do you study? Yamaji-sensei said that living here,” I switch languages, “I am to have best English soon!” I wince, slightly. I know I did something wrong there.
Then Yamaguchi-san leads in another lady, and I know of her – she’s the mother to Himura Kenji-kun, who, per the teachers, is the most disobedient student ever at Futuba. I think they’re exaggerating – the school hasn’t been around all that long. Rumor had it that she’s a kendo instructor – I’ve never heard of such a thing! I bow in welcome as I’m introduced.
Yamaguchi-san speaks of tea, but then… I thought I smelled it but Himura-san says… Cake!
(Hide)
Weary, I let myself in with my key… it’s late enough that the children should be home… I take off my zori and step inside, and in the formal room, there’s Tsutomu-kun, Midori-san, and… Himura-san? “Hello, I’m sorry I’m just home,” I say, bowing. Perhaps Midori-san is finally being released to board here? The delays seemed to be adding up and it seemed that Tsutomu-kun was getting antsy… but I was probably assuming there, too. I blink. I have to… focus on this here now.
Tsutomu:
She’s upset with her mother – she lives in Tokyo in a very nice house but they don’t get along. I think it’s because she remarried?
“It must be hard for Tsurumi-chan then.” Because it’s no good not having your actual parents with you. But Midori seems concerned about Makoto. “That was a while ago. Hopefully Tsurumi knows better now and well Makoto’s a big girl now.”
“Where do you study? Yamaji-sensei said that living here,” I switch languages, “I am to have best English soon!”
I try not to laugh but I do grin a bit, “I study in the tatami room.” And I hope he doesn’t take it over like he has been. “Oh and you should say, I will have the best English soon because I have the best teacher.” I mean -me- of course.
And we both look expectantly at Himura-san. She didn’t bring her kid? Well that’s -great-! And the red haired murderous man isn’t here either. Much better!
Kaoru:
The young girl and boy seems to both like what they’re smelling. I can do a passable cake and it’s gotten even better over the years. “I brought chocolate cake.” I tell them both.
Then Yagi-san appears and greets us all. She looks tired and for a moment distracted.
“Oh hello Yagi-san. I hope you don’t mind me dropping by. I thought Saitou would be better by now so I brought cake.” I offer up the box to her. “Hopefully he’s been released from the hospital by now.”
Then the young woman Yukiko comes in with tea and several small plates.
“Oh Auntie I’m -so- glad you came home.” She almost says relieved as she sets down everything.
“Time for snacks!” The young man rubs his hands together and I smile at him. This is Tsutomu-kun. He seems to be in a good mood, unlike the other times I’ve seen him.
“I hope you like my cake.” I tilt my head and smile. How nice of him!
(OOC: The cake is actually more like a brownie. Kaoru is in fact making cake but it’s burnt in the ends and deflated so it’s actually a slightly burnt brownie instead.)
(Midori)
That was a while ago. Hopefully Tsurumi knows better now and well Makoto’s a big girl now.
“And she’ll tell you she’s a big girl,” I say, with a smile. Her birthday isn’t until December but she’s already excited for that, and her Shichi-Go-San.
Oh and you should say, I will have the best English soon because I have the best teacher
I laugh. “Yes, yes, thank to you, teacher!” I say in English. And how nice it will be to study together. Tsurumi-chan refuses to learn English, so there’s no study partner there, and the rest, she made a big production of being my “sempai” and the work being too advanced. It’s just a year…
I do like Himura-san, though, and when she says chocolate cake, two of the best words -ever-, but offers it to the recently-arrived Yagi-san. She looks tired, and older, maybe, than the last time when we were here. But I know from my sisters that having a little baby is a lot of work.
“Oh, thank you, Himura-san. He’s better, yes, but back to working as hard as always,” she says, with a fleeting smile. Yamaguchi-san comes back with tea and seems weirdly releived that Yagi-san is back. Why would she be worried? “The cake looks wonderful, but I think that the young people will want the first try of it,” she says.
She kneels down and takes some cutlery from Yamaguchi-san and cuts four slices. “I’m going to go check on the baby and see if I can find Makoto-chan – she will be -very- cross to miss cake.” She rises. “Himura-san, why don’t you come by my room and see how she’s grown after you eat?” Ohh maybe they want to talk. And I had no idea that Fujita-san was ill – Tsutomu-kun didn’t say anything but now he’s only looking at the cake as Yamaguchi-san is passing it around and seems to be happy. But cake makes that happen, which I -entirely- understand. I take my piece.
I take a bite, and blink.
The cake has a … different taste. Sort of bitter, and hard on the ends and really dark? But it’s very, very sweet, and I’ve not been able to go out… so I’m happy to have it. I guess Western tastes are all over the place and Jacques-san was grumbling last time about a German-Austrian (or Australian, I get those confused) bakery opening up. “Is this from the new German bakery, Himura-san?” Maybe this taste is that ‘marzipan’ that Jacques-san was complaining about having to compete with.
(OOC – Hide has exited to her room, if you want to start a new thread should Kaoru follow her)
Tsutomu:
I’m given my piece and I stick it into my mouth… and chew… and chew….
Something’s a little off? But it does taste like cake. I smile. It doesn’t matter. It’s -cake-.
“Thank you Himura-san.” I say and nod over to Midori. “It’s good isn’t it Midori?” Oh it’s not great but it’s good enough in a pinch.
“Why thank you.” She takes a piece and puts it to the side. “Let’s save this piece for your father when he comes. You know he’s a -big- fan of my cake ever since having it so many years ago.”
“He doesn’t really need cake and I can tell you he doesn’t like it.” I reach out for the piece being held in reserve but Himura-san lightly swats my hand away and puts the cake further from reach behind Yukiko-nee-san.
She turns to her and says, “I’m sure you’ll take care of this ne?” I guess that’s in reference to not eating his slice! And then she leaves to follow Yagi-san.
“Oh is that Makoto’s piece?” I eye it greedily. “She’s a little girl and don’t need all that cake.” I say in English, “Isn’t that right Midori?”
Yukiko-nee-san just stares at me blankly.
(OOC: Kaoru follows Hide.)
It’s good isn’t it Midori?
I nod, as he asked me when my mouth was full. Himura-san didn’t answer my question about the bakery, so it probably -is-. I guess marzipan won’t be my favorite, but it makes me worried about what I’ll find in England…
It’s so funny to see an adult teasing Tsutomu-kun like Himura-san is! But she leaves – too bad, she seems interesting, but she seems comfortable here, if Yagi-san is inviting her to her room!
Oh is that Makoto’s piece? She’s a little girl and don’t need all that cake. Isn’t that right Midori?
“And I don’t want my new roommate to smother me with a pillow the first night!” I say, laughing. And what will happen when Ai-chan will want her share? I remember the last time I saw her, she was already such a roly-poly baby. But I see that Yamaguchi-san looks confused as he slips into English. If Yagi-san and Fujita-san know it, I guess she missed out? That’s too bad. Someone should help her out. It’s said that knowing English is helpful, or at least that’s what they keep saying at school, even if I’m the only one wanting to go there.
It’s then that Makoto-chan enters. “Oh, there’s cake!?” She sits down and takes the “extra” piece. “-I- was taking care of the baby.” She then looks at me and smiles. “So are you here now, to live, all the time, really really?”
I smile at her. “At least for the rest of this year. Both my mother and Yamaji-san have agreed for at least that long.” Although, unlike Tsutomu-kun and Tsurumi-chan, I’ll still have another year at Futaba after that
Tomu:
“And I don’t want my new roommate to smother me with a pillow the first night!”
I laugh. “You can tell her it was my fault.” Which Makoto will probably believe and it will be -true-.
Speaking of the devil… My little sister comes in and immediately spots the cake!
“-I- was taking care of the baby.”
“I hope the baby isn’t as greedy as you are though! Just a few seconds in the room and you’re already gunning for the cake.” I say oh so seriously. I take her cake and cut it in half and put that half onto my plate and give her the rest. “Here you don’t want to get fat like the baby.”
They talk about Midori living here. It’s good that her mother agreed.
(Makoto)
I hope the baby isn’t as greedy as you are though! Just a few seconds in the room and you’re already gunning for the cake.
“Oh, you know she’s greedy.” I look at Midori-san. “She’s so BIG now! She fell asleep on me and I couldn’t move her.” But I grin over at my brother, “but she now only likes Tsutomu-niisan to give her baths now!” I think that’s funny, because I hear her laughing and oniisan usually comes out with a wet shirt!
And then he cuts MY cake in HALF! “I run around all day so I won’t get fat!” I say, but I take a BIG bite of the cake before he takes it –
I swallow it. “Ummm…. why is the cake burnt?” It’s really sweet but it’s not good at all… but they don’t seem to mind. I guess nearly grown-up kids have different tastes. Did Kenji-kun’s mom make it? They brought food once and Kenji-kun ate it ALL but it looked like little rocks but he said it was chicken… but not everyone can be a good cook like my hahaue!
I push the plate back towards him. “Don’t think you can always steal my cake!” Besides, I have some yams in my pocket. I sit back and upwrap one and pop it in my mouth. Yum. Much better than burnt cake!
but she now only likes Tsutomu-niisan to give her baths now!”
I grimace a little. It’s a woman’s job to wash a baby so i hope Midori doesn’t think it’s odd. She might even think I do laundry and that I do not!
Makoto takes a big bite of the cake and doesn’t like it! She pushes the cake to me. “Ooooh! MORE CAKE FOR ME!” I gobble it up before she changes her mind.
There’s only one cake left and it’s one with Yukiko-nee-san.
“Makoto said the cake’s no good and he’s probably not coming home tonight… we wouldn’t want to waste it, right Yukiko-nee-san?” I nudge Makoto. She can help me beg!
Tsutomu-kun makes a face when Makoto-chan reveals that he helps with the baby. “Oh what fun that must be,” I say. “It will be a fun thing to remember – one of my older brothers usually got stuck helping with my bathtimes, I was told, and now it’s funny because he’s a grown-up man, balding and with a moustache!” Poor Yishinori-niisan, he’s the only one of the brothers to lose his hair. But I grin at Tstuomu-kun, “but hopefully you won’t go bald!” I -hope- not. He has really nice hair – a bit wild and untamed, which seems to go with him.
The brother-sister cake dance continues, with the brother winning. I wouldn’t go out of my way to this German bakery, now, but if it’s here… and then he pesters Yamaguchi-san about the last piece, and it’s fun, to see him this relaxed, and I can’t stop looking at that smile. “Are you always eating this much?” I ask, even though I’ve seen him demolish sweets before.
But Makoto-chan notices something else as he nudges her. “Hey, oniisan, you said he won’t be home tonight and Himura-san said that chichiue was in the hospital,” she looks worried, “is something wrong with chichiue?”
Tomu:
but hopefully you won’t go bald!
Tilting my head i answer, “You have a funny sense of humor. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you have fond memories of being bathed!” I’m going to have to make sure no one tells Ai-chan I used to bathe her! You just don’t tell that to your friends!
Are you always eating this much?”
“We get lots of traditional sweets which is fine but cakes are a real treat!”
But then Makoto starts being a cry baby about him. She asks more questions but I don’t answer her. He’ll come home eventually. He always did. Besides he’s always wanting to do what Yagi-san wants. Isn’t he? But Makoto has that look and I say, “it’s normal for policemen to be gone for days and to visit hospitals afterwards. Otherwise they wouldn’t be able to do their job okay?” And it’s not like he’s ever been injured, mother said he was a monster. A demon in fact, just like the rest of them.
You have a funny sense of humor. But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised you have fond memories of being bathed!
I shake my head. “Oh, no, I don’t remember at all – it’s the subject of family tales.” I look over at him and smile. “I think it’s great that you’re being a good big brother.” Does he think that taking care of babies is women’s work? It’s the job of whoever loves the baby, and this one is lucky to have an entire household that does. “But don’t worry, I won’t share tales from this house at school, you do have a reputation to uphold to the girls at Futaba.”
We get lots of traditional sweets which is fine but cakes are a real treat!
“Like those yams that Makoto-chan isn’t sharing with us?” I tease the younger girl. “Maybe once I’ve settled in one afternoon we can go get something – have you ever had a mont blanc? It’s chestnut season now and those are the -best-,” I sigh.
He makes light of Makoto-chan’s worries about their father. Even if he’s not right… what can a little girl do? And he does comfort her, that going to the hospital is a part of a policeman’s life. It probably is. Probably nearly as dangerous as sea-fishing. “When my father’s boat was blown off course, or late, my mother would always tell me that he must be looking for gold among the shipwrecks of one of the great Mongol fleet, blown offshore.” I grin slightly at her. That ship would have to -really- be off course but it was a distracting story when I was small.
“Oh, your father has a boat?” I nod. He has a fleet, now, thanks to my mother’s business acumen… Makoto-chan then tugs on her brother’s hand. “Did you know I’ve never been on a boat? Even when I lived down by the sea?” She gives him a biiiiig smile, and I cover my mouth as not to laugh. She really does try to both charm him and wear him down in a very obvious way, it’s funny to watch.
Tomu:
“But don’t worry, I won’t share tales from this house at school, you do have a reputation to uphold to the girls at Futaba.”
“Oh is that right?” Yukiko-nee-san exclaims, “I didn’t know you were so popular at school.”
I shake my head, “I don’t even know any other girls except her and Tsurumi.” I tell her.
Makoto thankfully buys my story or seems to. It helps a lot that Midori backs it up with the story of her father’s boat looking for Mongol treasure.
“Did you know I’ve never been on a boat? Even when I lived down by the sea?”
And then Makoto turns to me, making her eyes big like she usually does when she wants to beg.
“Well there’s no sea here Makoto.” But I know Midori also likes the sea. “Maybe once things settle down for Midori, we can go for a river ride instead.”
It’s not as exciting as a boat but we should still have fun. The only problem is money of course but my allowance should be coming up in a week or two.
(Makoto)
“Oh, lots of girls like Tsutomu-niisan,” I tell them, with a giggle. And Sakaya-san… I frown. She doesn’t bother me anymore but…. she still makes me nervous.
But that’s just silly stuff, girls! I look over at Midori-san. She’s not the sort that’s always fluffing her hair when the girls classes have to walk to the cafeteria.
Maybe once things settle down for Midori, we can go for a river ride instead
“Ooooh! That’s a good start, oniisan!” I say, giving him a big hug! Then I remember something. “Midori-san, a futon came for you yesterday, and oniisan dragged it upstairs,” I mimic him puffing and pulling it up the stairs. “We should get your room all nice and ready!” I pull on her hand. I hid my secret stash of sweets – if Tsutomu-niisan can’t find it, I bet she won’t!
Midori-san smiles. “Makoto-chan is right, I should get my space ready.” She stands up. “Please, Yamaguchi-san, tell Yagi-san that I wish to be helpful around here.” She smiles a bit, “I’m meant to learn how a house workds, instead of just a dorm.”
(OOC – Midori and Makoto will leave unless stopped. You may close)
Yukiko:
Tomu looks a little embarrassed as Makoto talks about girls. He’s not that into them it seems but then he agrees to take Makoto and Midori on a river ride which earns him a hug. It’s nice to see these siblings but then again none of them knows the pending split of Auntie and Uncle.
I’m also worried for Nishino-san, she doesn’t know what’s happening. I bow slightly, “Of course Nishino-san, Yagi-san is a very good teacher.” And I guess whatever happens to me, whatever uncle decides, at least it seems Auntie will have another helping hand.
(Ooc end)