Akane:
“I’ll be making breakfast.” I say as I remove my zori to shake off the slight dusting of snow as I enter the house but stop in my tracks. Why is -he- here?
“Good morning Akane.” He says and I can’t help but glare at him. So he’s recovered…
I go past him. It’s early in the morning the sun is barely peeking from behind the mountains. I bow to Ueda-sama and start taking out from my basket this morning’s ingredients for breakfast.
“I’ll be heading out and likely won’t be back until tonight so…” He says.
“Alright. We won’t bother.” I answer and Ueda-sama’s head just tilts slightly that I know he didn’t like my answer to this man. But why is he here all of a sudden?
“Well I’ll be off.” He bows to him and gives me a nod so I avert my eyes. I’m glad he’s not staying. So so very -glad-. They can’t see each other.
“Well well.” Ueda-sama stands up, “I’m glad you brought all this Akane. Even if Goro isn’t here, Yagi-san is so we should prepare breakfast.”
“Oh.” I simply nod. I’m surprised. Wasn’t Ueda-sama pretty upset with Yagi-san and come to think of it, so should I… But I suppose it’s hard for me to get upset over some issue about a man who abandoned us. “I’ll prepare right away.”
“Are you staying today?”
I nod again. “Anou, Ueda-sama we may have a visitor for lunch.”
“Who is it?”
With a sigh I turn to Ueda-sama. “I know you wanted to see him and I didn’t ever imagine we would see Goro-san nor Yagi-san.”
He suddenly turns pale and turns back to the table to steady himself as he sunk into a chair. “Akane can you stop him from coming?”
I bow my head slightly, “I’m sorry but he’s been in and out of Aizu. I thought it was a good thing that he finally left Aomori, even if it was just to visit other places.”
“Well Goro said he would not be coming back until tonight. Akane, do -not- tell him about Yagi-san.”
I shake my head again, “Unfortunately Ueda-sama, I already told him about her. A long time ago in my letters.”
“Akane!” His voice shakes. I go near him and get on my knees to implore, “Naito-kun is a good man. I -know- this. Please Ueda-sama, please believe in him and he -wants- to see you.”
(OOC: Hide can hear this conversation or not between Ueda and Akane. She can reveal herself or not. Also if it’s not obvious Saitou has left for the day.)
(Hide)
I slept too late and missed Hajime… off to his business.
Well Goro said he would not be coming back until tonight. Akane, do -not- tell him about Yagi-san.
Unfortunately Ueda-sama, I already told him about her. A long time ago in my letters.
Akane! Naito-kun is a good man. I -know- this. Please Ueda-sama, please believe in him and he -wants- to see you.
Naito… Naito…. that name was stuck in my head. Yaso-san’s brother. A real brother, maybe, and not one of the layers of adoption that seemed so common in Aizu. But if he’s a good man, as Akane-san insists, then why does Ueda-sama’s voice sound as such?
I step into the kitchen. Ueda-sama will know I heard, even though I didn’t mean to. “Please, I don’t want to cause any trouble for you, Ueda-sama.” I bow briefly to Akane-san, who is getting up from the floor. “Good morning, Akane-san. Is this the same Naito-kun that’s Yaso-san’s brother?”
Akane:
“Good morning Yagi-san.” I stand up and wipe my hand. “Yes he’s been living in Gonohe for many years and I’ve finally been able to convince him to come visit us. We grew up together in Sannohe.”
Ueda-sama puts up his hand, “Yagi-san, he is Yaso’s younger brother and was very close to her. As you can imagine Yaso was his last living relative after his father and brother died during the war.” Ueda-sama shakes his head, “I imagine he is not in good terms with Goro.”
I give Ueda-sama a long glance. Well isn’t that obvious? If I felt that, that man was in the wrong, wouldn’t Naito-kun feel the same? “Still Naito is a good person Yagi-san.”
“He is but…” Ueda-sama just shakes his head, “He may come to visit. Just make sure he leaves before the evening before Goro gets back.” Then he looks at Yagi-san, “You said so yourself that you and Goro are no longer together, it maybe best for now to make this -clear- to him, for your sake and Naito’s who is also like a son to me. Please none of your -hopes- or intentions.”
“Don’t worry I’ll tell him right away, that Yagi-san is no longer with Goro-san.” I add quickly.
“Really Akane, you should’ve told me about this before.” Then he looks at Yagi-san, “Yagi-san if you want to stay upstairs until he leaves then that’s probably for the best.”
Akane-san and Ueda-sama seem to disagree about Naito-kun. That he’s a good person, but carries much grief. “I’ve seen many like him, over the years. Many came to Mibu to relieve the glory days, or to lament lost friends. Others… and the ones they left behind – came to vent their grief, their anger. They were good people, too… but pain is strong,” I say. I think, too, of another I know of, but never met, another brother. But does Naito-kun blame Hajime, the same way that man blamed Himura-san?
You said so yourself that you and Goro are no longer together, it maybe best for now to make this -clear- to him, for your sake and Naito’s who is also like a son to me. Please none of your -hopes- or intentions
I…. I’m taken aback, as I want to argue. But for Ueda-sama…. I will. For the man who took in children who had no other place, who is as a father to the man I love. I take a deep breath, and nod.
Then I look at Akane-san, almost curiously. She’s been writing him? And she defends him… is there something there?
“I’ll stay downstairs – if Akane-san is occupied with your visitor, someone will need to see to the meals,” I offer. “I’ll remain in the kitchen.” This isn’t a large house, and then I can remain close – should things get heated.
Akane:
Yagi-san speaks about other people’s pain but she misunderstands, “You’ll see Yagi-san. He’s a perfectly nice guy. Ueda-sama is… he hasn’t seen him in a while so he…”
“Akane please.” He interrupts me again, doesn’t he like Naito-kun anymore? Just because he never visits but i let it go. He’s going to visit now. They’ll be able to catch up and feel better with each other again.
Ueda:
Yagi-san agrees not to make it appear that Goro and her are still together. I hated to ask since I know her intentions and wishes, but simply the truth is they are no longer together and I don’t want to agitate Naito-kun.
“Thank you Yagi-san for your help.”
I can’t help but feel a lot of unease and trepidation. Now that he’s chosen to appear and things being as they are, is this the time?. Yagi-san said she felt she had no time and now neither do I. But what is Goro going to do once he finds out he’s returned? Suddenly I regret telling Yagi-san to take it more slowly with approaching Goro.
“Well I’m going to get prepared then. Thank you both.”
(Ooc: hide can start a new thread tomorrow and naito will come at lunch time)