I tap quietly on the tatami room door before sliding it open – until Hajime comes home (very late) Tsutomu-kun still uses the room as his study space. Sometimes with Midori-chan, sometimes without.
“Tsutomu-kun – I was going to give Ai-chan a bath, if you’d like to help?” I ask. He still looks at me with some alarm when I carry my youngest daughter. She waves her arms at him, making baby noises as she drools. I laugh. “Although she’s getting herself pretty wet on her own!”
“Here, let me carry her.” It’s better I do, even if she thinks she can handle Ai, I’m not about to take a chance on Yagi-san. I wouldn’t be surprised if there still something wrong with her that I can’t see.
I follow Yagi-san to the bath. “Ai-chan is getting heavier, you should call me if you need help. We can’t really trust Makoto with Ai since both are just babies. “
I hold back a laugh as Tsutomu-kun continues to be protective of his baby sister. But she goes to him eagerly, squealing and holding out her arms in a way shifting her weight so I have to have quick hands to handle her. “Oh dear, just imagine when she can move on her own, if she’s like this now.” But she’s content, patting her brother’s face. And then trying to stick her hand in his mouth. I can’t help but giggle at -that-…
Ai-chan is getting heavier, you should call me if you need help. We can’t really trust Makoto with Ai since both are just babies.
“Thank you – I’m glad I can rely on you.” I smile back at him over my shoulder. “I -am- better now, and I’d like to enjoy carrying her while I can – it’s such a short time, and this one will be even shorter since she’s heavier than her sister.” I open the door to the bathroom. “If Makoto-chan heard you call her a ‘baby’…. she’ll remind you about her birthday this weekend!” She’s done so to me about once an hour, as if I would forget! “I ordered the cake today, by the way. I made certain to get a good-sized one, I think Midori-chan is about as bad as you two with sweets.” I smile at that. She’s a bit reserved and very polite, but when there’s sugar you can see that she’s still just a young girl.
I start the water, making sure it’s the right temperature. “I think it’s ready.”
Oh dear, just imagine when she can move on her own, if she’s like this now.”
Ai tries to stick her hand in my mouth. “Shoo. Shoo. We don’t know where your hands has been Ai!.” I tell her and the reply to Yagi-san, “You’ll have to teach her to be still. She can’t be like Makoto-chan running around like that.”
I’d like to enjoy carrying her while I can – it’s such a short time, and this one will be even shorter since she’s heavier than her sister.”
“Mmm. I guess Yagi-san thinks you’re going to be fat Ai-chan. Hehe.”
“If Makoto-chan heard you call her a ‘baby’…. she’ll remind you about her birthday this weekend!”
“Well she’ll always be a baby compared to Yoshi and I.” It’s too bad Yoshi has missed everything even Ai. I look at the baby he wanted Ai to be his I think. “Thanks for ordering a big cake, the girls tend to eat it all.”
She says the water is ready and after removing Ai’s towel I lower her to the water.
He removed Ai-chan’s hands, and she fusses and squeals at him. “She’s pushy with you because she likes you,” I chuckle a bit. But it’s obvious she adores him. “Correct her like you did, she’ll keep doing it otherwise.” But it’s easy to spoil this sweet-tempered child.
Mmm. I guess Yagi-san thinks you’re going to be fat Ai-chan. Hehe
“We’ll have to see how it turns out, ne?” I tickle my girl’s double chins. “I won’t say fat I’ll say healthy and happy.” She tries to pull at my hair and I gently move her hands. “No, no, not hair, Ai-chan.”
Well she’ll always be a baby compared to Yoshi and I.
“I saw him, when we were in Aizu. He was at kendo practice at school,” I say, quietly, as Ai-chan squeals again at being in the water, splashing him.
Tomu:
I won’t say fat I’ll say healthy and happy.”
“That’s what fat people would say.” I speak to Ai-chan, “don’t listen to her, make sure you don’t get fat or they’ll tease you. Now be a good baby and stop playing with the water.”
She says she saw Yoshi. “Oh that’s just like him. He’s in Aizu now and everyone there loves kendo.”
I try to hold Ai-chan who is splashing everywhere. Well babies are always like this in the water or anything wet even. Yoshi used to dig his hands in the mud after all and then we’d have to clean him up and. *Splash!* the water wets my entire shirt and some gets on Yagi-san’s kimono. “Why don’t you listen to us Ai?”
That’s what fat people would say.
I raise my eyebrows at that, amused at him instructing Ai-chan and I. “She’s still young – some babies all folds and extra chins but skinny by the time they’re Makoto-chan’s age.” Of course, I carried Ai-chan for -years-, so much longer than Makoto.
He speaks of Aizu, his brother… “his form was good, but it was a very rigid style.” I reach down into the bathwater to touch Ai-chan’s curls. “He wants to see this little one, someday. Do you think she’d behave for him?” Our parting… I told him I would try. And try I have, and while things have improved between Hajime and I… the end is still coming. I look at our little girl’s eyes, golden like his. How much of her family will she miss out on, because her father and I are idiots?
But it’s Ai-chan’s splash that breaks me from my thoughts, and she squeals. “Thank goodness this is just water, and not mud or something messy,” I laugh, as my kimono isn’t safe this time around.
“How is Midori-chan settling in? She tells me ‘fine’ but she’s a well-behaved girl who probably doesn’t want to cause trouble. Is she comfortable here? Makoto-chan isn’t pestering her too badly, is she?”
Tomu:
“She’s still young – some babies all folds and extra chins but skinny by the time they’re Makoto-chan’s age.”
I hold up Ai-chan out of the water for a minute looking at her face. “She is all folds and you’re right, but I just don’t want other kids making fun of her if she can’t run as fast or climb things like Makoto does.”
Ai-chan spits some water out at me and I grimace a little putting her back down.
“He wants to see this little one, someday. Do you think she’d behave for him?”
I shake my head, “Maybe? People behave more when they’re around strangers.” Thinking about Yagi-san said about being rigid, “But that’s Aizu’s way, you call it rigidity but we call it discipline.” I do hope Ai-chan is more disciplined rather than more carefree.
We’re both wet and Yagi-san says something about mud and I only nod.
“How is Midori-chan settling in?
“I don’t think she dislikes Makoto. She seems like she had a big family so maybe she’s okay with the pestering if it’s happening.” “I think Midori missess her family but they’re at the other side of Japan, they might as well be on whole different continent. But you know, it’s probably a good thing she -perseveres- because she wants to live overseas. It must be more interesting for her there.”
Then I remember tomorrow I need to go to the market and get my gift and then -hide- it somehow. “Oh and Yagi-san, I’d like to invite Tsurumi to Makoto-chan’s birthday.” She’ll likely say no but I don’t think Tsurumi is a bad girl.
Ai-chan kicks her legs as she is lifted out of the water and inspected, splashing us more. I hand Tsutomu-kun a towel. “She’s having fun tonight, but Ai-chan, if you want Oniisan to keep giving you baths you can’t get him as wet as you!” But he’s right, I don’t want her being left behind, or an object of fun. But she seems active enough…
“Ai-chan! You’re being -naughty- tonight, no spitting on oniisan!” I scold her, lightly. I wipe off Tsutomu-kun’s face.
But that’s Aizu’s way, you call it rigidity but we call it discipline
“Your style isn’t as rigid- it has some personality to it, while staying close to form.” I’ve been trained to watch for these, after all. As the possible bride of the possible heir of a would-be-famous dojo. Heh…
I nod as he tells me about Midori-chan, that she’s settling in with Makoto. “Sakata is way up north, right? It does seem to take a while, but her mother seems to trust her judgement.” To have your child, so far away. But I look at the boy next to me, also apart from a beloved mother. “Makoto-chan will have to persevere, as well,” I say, quietly.
He asks about bringing a friend… and it’s that one girl. I’m quiet for a moment, helping to support Ai-chan as she plays while Tsutomu-kun washes her. “Yes, that’s fine, but if she acts out against Makoto-chan, she’ll have to leave… not only do I not allow such things in this house, but it’s her day. Children have to accept things… but she’s still young. Let her birthday be a day of joy.”
“Your father and I…. well, things will be changing around here. I know you’ll look out for your sisters, but this will be an adjustment., even though he’s away a lot.” How much will Ai-chan notice?
Tomu:
Well at least Yagi-san seems to see where I’m coming from. Maybe. The spit is cleaned and I thank her.
“Your style isn’t as rigid- it has some personality to it, while staying close to form.”
“But that’s not what I’m aiming for.” I remind Yagi-san but she’s related to Okita, so she thinks she’s right. “Kendo isn’t the same as what’s taught in your time or in the old Edo dojos. My sensei is -never- happy enough with my form.” But i’ll persevere… If Yoshi can do it in a -pure- Aizu school, I can too. Probably.
“Sakata is way up north, right? It does seem to take a while, but her mother seems to trust her judgement.”“Makoto-chan will have to persevere, as well,”
I nod at that. “They’re good girls. It will work out.” I reassure her.
Yagi-san doesn’t seem happy with my proposal about bringing Tsurumi over. She certainly didn’t say yes right away and her conditions… I’ll have to make it clear to Tsurumi. I’ll stop by her boarding house tomorrow.
Children have to accept things… but she’s still young. Let her birthday be a day of joy.”
I only nod at that. The truth was that 7 is not too young anymore, Yoshi was about her age when it all became clear to us but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t enjoy her birthday. “I’ll chaperone Tsurumi home myself if she causes trouble to Makoto.”
“Your father and I…. well, things will be changing around here. I know you’ll look out for your sisters, but this will be an adjustment., even though he’s away a lot.”
“I don’t think things will change much Yagi-san.” I shrug, “I’m sure you’re used to him not being around and I am too. And Makoto all you have to tell her is he’s working hard and for Ai?” I look at the baby and pat Ai-chan’s head, “She won’t remember a thing.”
Standing up, I straighten my half wet shirt. “Back then, it was -better- for everyone that he was away.”
“Did you need anything else Yagi-san?” I wait for her to answer me just in case there is anything else.
Kendo isn’t the same as what’s taught in your time or in the old Edo dojos. My sensei is -never- happy enough with my form
“You’re right,” I agree. “You’re not being taught to kill, because the world turned upside down, as they did in those days. For that… I’m glad.” I touch his hair, as I would if he were really mine. Souji once spoke, somewhat -bitterly-, in one of his more candid moments, that he was rarely allowed -fun-… but then he added with a grin, that at least Hajime was always fun to fight.
He agrees to my conditions about Tsurumi-chan. He is a loving and protective brother, but Tsurumi-chan was close to his mother and pretty.
I don’t think things will change much Yagi-san. I’m sure you’re used to him not being around and I am too. And Makoto all you have to tell her is he’s working hard and for Ai? She won’t remember a thing.”
I put a diaper on Ai-chan, -quickly-, now that she’s done with the bath. “I wanted better for her, to have her parents together this time,” I say, quietly. “And while I was -accustomed- to not having him around, I was never quite used to it.” Of course… he professes to being fine with it.
“Was it better?” I ask, looking at him. “As one who took him away I…” I shake my head. “He had hopes for better, once, for all of you. To have a home, a family… a place where he could bring his friends, in this time of peace. He loved you, and loves you still.” He won’t believe me, like his father he wants actions over words but what actions will reach this boy?
Did you need anything else Yagi-san?
“Thank you for helping. Your sister has a wonderful time,” I smile, softly. “Before Monday… see you father. After this, weekends you’ll have Makoto-chan with you, and Ai-chan when you see him.” And then, after he graduates this upcoming spring? Their time is running out too. Will either realize this, and if so, make use of it?
(OOC – you may close)
Tomu:
Yagi-san has a weird thing about touching. She did that too back then. I stand there stiffly.
She dresses up Ai and says she wanted better, like something from a fairy tale book. I wonder what kind of family she grew up in? But I heard from him that she was from a prominent and respectable samurai family in Mibu Kyoto. It must be why she has these fairy tale things in her head.
He had hopes for better, once, for all of you. To have a home, a family… a place where he could bring his friends, in this time of peace. He loved you, and loves you still.”
I merely shrug. “I don’t know his friends. He never brought nor invited his friends here did he? ” I chuckle a little. “I know that red headed man who smells of murder and that strong man Hiko who my mother ran after, but not any of his friends. ”
She tells me to see him alone without my siblings. “He already told me everything before he left for Aizu. What else is there to say? Good night Yagi-san. ”
(End)