Author: Hide
June 19, 1885 – Back at the Ryoken
After Hajime leaves to attend to his business, I go back to sleep for a while, and I take a long bath, a nice luxury…
June 18, 1885 – Afternoon in Kyoto
We leave the ryoken and I lead us through the streets of Kyoto on this early afternoon in summer. Warm but there’s a good breeze.…
June 18th, 1885 – Back at the ryoken
Hajime leaves for food as soon as he drops me off here. I stand awkwardly for a moment in the middle of the room. That…
Jun 18th, 1885 – Tamesaburou at work
“Are you certain that I didn’t miss her earlier?” I ask my clerk again. Shinohara-san shakes his head. “No, Yagi-san. Nobody has come by the…
June 18th, 1885, morning – Visiting the past
I bid the carriage to stop. “This is fine, thank you,” I tell the driver, paying him. Stepping out I look around. Not much has…
June 18th, 1885 – Morning
Hajime is gone by the time I wake up. I’m here for a reason I remind myself. Although I wonder where he’s off to. After…
Wednesday, June 17th, 1885 –
Hajime and I exit from the carriage as it comes to a stop in front of the gates. Those gates… it looks unchanged as -always-……
Wednesday, June 17th, 1885 – Morning
I want to follow Hajime as he leaves for the bath… just those thoughts of him, all… Focus, Hide… I think, shaking my head. The…
Tuesday, June 16, 1885 – Evening in Kyoto
After the long train ride we’re finally here… we gather our things and get off the train. I look around but a train station at…
Monday, June 15th – Yagi House – Late Afternoon-Evening
Makoto-chan plays outside as I work in the main room, getting my things together. I’m not taking much, really, but I have more room to…
Sunday June 14th
I give Makoto-chan a conspiratorial wink as we go through the gate that’s marked, “Private Property”. “Are you sure it’s alright that we come here?”…
Saturday June 13th 1885 – Evening
The day passes with a lot of activity – seeing to laundry, running Makoto around, going to the market, and I’m stopped on the street…
Friday, June 12, 1885 – Dinner at the Yagi House
After Hajime leaves I go inside and change, since my kimono did suffer slightly from climbing over the fence. I shake my head as I…
June 12th, 1885 – Noon
Today I work like a -fiend- and even Sugiyama-san notices as I have the staff hopping. My tea sits cold and untouched from when it…
June 11th, 1885 – Very Late Evening
Makoto-chan goes to bed without too much protest tonight. Of course, after that note from her teacher… I shake my head. It would be unrealistic…
June 11th, 1885 –
I hold onto the piece of paper from sensei… I don’t want to show this to Okaasan. Isuzu-chan has one for her mom too. “Let’s…
Wednesday, June 10th, 1885 – Mid-Day
After leaving Asuka-san, I go back to my house, putting away the things I had bought at market. Perhaps the job will work out for…
Wednesday, June 10, 1885 – Morning at the Yagi House
I get the girls to school and come back as quickly as possible. I was glad Isuzu-chan was ready to go, sometimes she’s a little…
June 9th, 1885 – Evening – The other house
I take the smaller of the lights with us, leaving the larger one for Saya. I step outside the gates with Hajime, locking them behind…
Comments Off on Monday, June 8th, 1885
Monday, June 8th, 1885
Nothing had panned out… I sit at my desk at the Sugiyama onsen still stuck on the issue of finding Saya a job, or at…
Comments Off on Friday, June 5th, 1885 – Ito
Friday, June 5th, 1885 – Ito
After work I go see Hamada Yasuo, who runs a small but elegant ryoken in the older section of town, near the river. He knows…
Comments Off on Wednesday, June 3rd, 1885 – Afternoon and Evening
Wednesday, June 3rd, 1885 – Afternoon and Evening
Makoto-chan comes into the kitchen when she comes home. “It smells like Yamaguchi-san!” she says, and her eyes light up. For a moment I consider…
Wednesday, June 3rd, 1885 – Morning
The rain from last week has brought summer into full bloom, the hydrangeas bloom blue and pink along the left side of the road as…
Comments Off on Saturday, May 23rd, 1885 – Sugiyama’s Evening in Atami
Saturday, May 23rd, 1885 – Sugiyama’s Evening in Atami
With some friends I traveled up to Atami this morning – Matsuo-san is in Tokyo for a week, and agreed to meet me here. Of…
Friday, May 22nd, 1885 – Afternoon at the Beach
I hear voices from the room next to mine, the room that Sugiyama-san uses to receive guests. Hers raised in anger, and her father’s. He’s…
Wednesday, May 13th, Morning – Tea with Mochizuki-san
Wednesdays are still my day off… I take the girls to school as usual and see to some marketing. As I walk home I see…
Comments Off on May 8-10 – That Weekend
May 8-10 – That Weekend
Friday my life resumed its normal patterns, although I am so tired, and it’s not just physical. Sugiyama-san fussed at my work and made a…
Comments Off on Thursday, May 7th, 1885 – Back in Ito
Thursday, May 7th, 1885 – Back in Ito
It’s already dark by the time I arrive in Ito, and I head straight to the Mochizuki’s. There, Hiroku-san answers the door, a smile on…
Wednesday, May 6th, 1885 – He Who I Once Was
I take the girls to school, and hold Makoto-chan back before she runs off. “I’ll see you Thursday night.” She nods, and then looks up…
Monday, May 4th, 1885 – A Normal Life
I rise just as normal. Rain beats against the roof. I get Makoto-chan ready, breakfast and lunch. Go to get Isuzu-chan. Scurrying under the umbrella,…
Comments Off on Sunday, May 3rd, 1885
Sunday, May 3rd, 1885
Irises… It’s been said they stand for memory. I’ve never been one much for the language of flowers; I thought it was a rather coy…
Saturday, May 2nd – Evening
Leaving Hajime and Makoto upstairs, I go to the kitchen. I did leave it a mess… They need time for each other. When he is…
Saturday, May 2nd 1885 – Evening
I wake Makoto-chan from her nap and lead her down to the kitchen. We kept busy all afternoon. Busy is good. I have Makoto help…
Saturday, May 2nd, 1885 – Late Morning-Midday
Leaving the Takikawa nurseries, I walk briskly to the market, and buy what I need. Low on coffee. Makoto has been drinking more milk lately…
Saturday, May 2nd, 1885 – Early Morning
Light starts to slowly cross the horizon, as I sit by the window in the room where Makoto-chan sleeps. I’ve been here for a while…
May 1st, 1885 – Yagi House – Evening and Night
Walking home I pull Makoto-chan along, trying to move quickly, my eyes on the shadows being cast by the setting sun. Only a few feet…
Friday May 1st, 1885 – Afternoon
My mind veers between topics very practical yet those… which are not. I make sure I look as I usually do… and wrap my wrists.…
Thursday, April 30th, night, to Friday, May 1st, morning
(OOC – Not all of this post is suitable for all ages. You’ve been warned. Thank you.) I of course got up last night to…
Comments Off on Thursday, April 30th, 1885 – Morning at Work
Thursday, April 30th, 1885 – Morning at Work
“Yagi-san,” Sugiyama-san comes in with her most charming smile, which usually means… something is afoot. “Yes Sugiyama-san?” I ask, turning and putting down my pen.…