A different Toudai, Chapter 5
Mutsumi smiled to herself as she pulled out the lacy pink and white dress she had worn to Hinata Inn once a few years ago, the day that Naru's precious Liddo-kun had been accidentally boiled. Keitaro hadn't been here last year-Mutsumi knew he wouldn't this year either. She always knew these things, but she new that she was probably the only one that always believed her instincts.
The girls at Hinata Inn hadn't taken the trouble to invite her; they always knew she'd be coming. From what she'd heard, Kitsune was coming back from Osaka, and Naru from Toudai. No mention of Keitaro.
Mutsumi put the lacy dress back-it was much too cold for a strapless, low- necked gown. Another simpler, sea green dress emerged into view beneath her rummaging hands and she smiled to herself. The velvet gown was perfect, and if she did some more searching, she was sure to find the perfect coat for it.
For the others she'd purchased the exact same thing-boxes of Christmas candy, but for Naru, she'd happened to come across something she simply couldn't give up. Mutsumi was not the kind of girl who would see something and declare that she just had to have it, but it was the perfect gift for Naru-a brand-new, perfect condition Liddo-kun. The show had been canceled some ten years ago and the younger Japanese children of today had no idea who Liddo-kun was, so the show's merchandise had been disappearing from the market rapidly. Ever since the boiling, Naru's precious Liddo-kun had never been the same; no amount of scrubbing would get all the salt and sauces out. The toy remained a dark shade of yellowish-orange, while the soft fabric had been worn-paper thin. Naru had refused to give it up, however, and within a few weeks the skin had split. Shinobu had dutifully sewed it back up, though a three-inch seam remained on the side.
When Mutsumi had purchased the toy, she'd specially ordered that Naru's name be embroidered into the side.
Mutsumi counted the number of identical boxes again to make sure she had the right number, and stacked them into a bag. In her other hand she would carry the specially packaged Liddo-kun.
"Ara ara," she murmured to herself as she stepped outside, "It's so beautiful."
Hinata Inn had always been the most beautiful in two seasons every year: the dead of winter and the beginning of spring. Ever since she was a child, Mutsumi had loved the sight of snow falling down on the cold, desolate world, with the moon acting as a spotlight, casting light blue shadows on the snow.
The dark-haired girl placed the bag of candy boxes on the ground and squatted down, pressing one finger deeply into the cold snow. There was only about an inch of snow, but from experience, Mutsumi knew that it would snow through the night and possibly through the next day.
If Naru were here, she thought, she'd be yelling at her to go inside before her presents were soaked. Since she still had a short walk until she reached Hinata Inn, Mutsumi dutifully obeyed the Naru in her mind, picking up her packages and walking on.
Ten minutes later she slipped into Hinata Inn unnoticed, as usual, and brushed all the snow off of her clothes and hair before taking off her coat and shoes. No one took note of her silent entry into the dining room, so Mutsumi hovered for a moment in the doorway, observing everything. Decorations had been hung up haphazardly all over, looking rather incomplete. Shinobu and Haruka-san were undoubtedly in the kitchen cooking up the feast that was to be served, and Motoko was nowhere to be seen. But the most interesting subject by far in Mutsumi's sight was Kitsune.
The poor girl was soaked, dripping water even as Su hurried to remove the coat. Kendo girl appeared a moment later with a set of dried clothes and some towels. Kitsune took them from her, muttering, "Arigatoo."
The three were much too busy to take note of Shinobu, who was coming in their direction. She carried three plates from which were wafting delicious scents-one in each hand, and the third balanced upon her head. As she made her way quickly, the youngest girl slipped in a puddle of water left on the floor by Kitsune's clothes.
"AIEEEEEEEEEE!"
Shinobu skidded on the wooden floor, stopped only by the ancient wooden cabinet. By then there was only one plate of her excellent cooking in her hands, and she got up frantically, looking around in desperation for the others.
All four Hinata Inn residents stared in surprise as Mutsumi made her way calmly to the table and placed the other two plates on the table without spilling a drop of sauce. She stood back and smiled.
"Merry Christmas!"
"How'd you get in here?" asked Su, while Kitsune exclaimed, "When'd you get here?"
"Just a moment ago." She turned to Kitsune, who was still dripping water. "Okaeri nasai."
Kitsune colored and fumbled around her for the towel. Motoko picked it up and handed it helpfully to her, then bent to wipe up the rest of the water. Shinobu did the same, first taking off her worn and faded apron. Mutsumi caught Motoko's hand hesitating for a split fraction of a second at this action, but didn't know why.
"All we're waiting for is Naru," said Motoko. "Kitsune, you should go and take a warm shower. Naru won't be home until later."
Without invitation Mutsumi swept gracefully over to the table and placed her gifts on the growing pile. Haruka-san poked her head out of the kitchen to say hello before quickly turning back to her pot.
Su jumped into Motoko's arms and pumped an energetic fist into the air, yelling, "Now let's finish the decorations!"
Motoko put Su down gently and Mutsumi followed them-uninvited but expectedly-into the main room where last year's fake Christmas tree stood proudly, only half decorated. Su clambered onto a chair, clutching the gold star in one hand, clearly intending to place it on the top bough.
"Su, no!" exclaimed Motoko.
The chair on which Su was standing on toppled over, throwing her into the tree, which fell over promptly as well. Several glass ornaments shattered and the lights were instantly unplugged, veiling them in all in darkness. There was a moment of shocked silence.
"Ara ara," said Mutsumi. Motoko looked very down.
"Standing on the back of a chair is never a good idea," she told Su, striding over to pick up the remaining ornaments.
"Ne," said Kitsune by way of greeting. The three girls turned to see her in the doorway. "I don't remember our Christmas tree being in this shape last year."
"I. . . fell on it," Su admitted.
Instead of scolding her, as one might have expected, Kitsune burst into laughter. Mutsumi saw that Motoko looked relieved; Kitsune had been so quiet earlier that they'd all wondered what was wrong with her. Now, her true self was coming back.
Kitsune stepped over and helped Su off of the tree. By now, the darkness didn't seem so dark anymore.
Mutsumi smiled to herself as she pulled out the lacy pink and white dress she had worn to Hinata Inn once a few years ago, the day that Naru's precious Liddo-kun had been accidentally boiled. Keitaro hadn't been here last year-Mutsumi knew he wouldn't this year either. She always knew these things, but she new that she was probably the only one that always believed her instincts.
The girls at Hinata Inn hadn't taken the trouble to invite her; they always knew she'd be coming. From what she'd heard, Kitsune was coming back from Osaka, and Naru from Toudai. No mention of Keitaro.
Mutsumi put the lacy dress back-it was much too cold for a strapless, low- necked gown. Another simpler, sea green dress emerged into view beneath her rummaging hands and she smiled to herself. The velvet gown was perfect, and if she did some more searching, she was sure to find the perfect coat for it.
For the others she'd purchased the exact same thing-boxes of Christmas candy, but for Naru, she'd happened to come across something she simply couldn't give up. Mutsumi was not the kind of girl who would see something and declare that she just had to have it, but it was the perfect gift for Naru-a brand-new, perfect condition Liddo-kun. The show had been canceled some ten years ago and the younger Japanese children of today had no idea who Liddo-kun was, so the show's merchandise had been disappearing from the market rapidly. Ever since the boiling, Naru's precious Liddo-kun had never been the same; no amount of scrubbing would get all the salt and sauces out. The toy remained a dark shade of yellowish-orange, while the soft fabric had been worn-paper thin. Naru had refused to give it up, however, and within a few weeks the skin had split. Shinobu had dutifully sewed it back up, though a three-inch seam remained on the side.
When Mutsumi had purchased the toy, she'd specially ordered that Naru's name be embroidered into the side.
Mutsumi counted the number of identical boxes again to make sure she had the right number, and stacked them into a bag. In her other hand she would carry the specially packaged Liddo-kun.
"Ara ara," she murmured to herself as she stepped outside, "It's so beautiful."
Hinata Inn had always been the most beautiful in two seasons every year: the dead of winter and the beginning of spring. Ever since she was a child, Mutsumi had loved the sight of snow falling down on the cold, desolate world, with the moon acting as a spotlight, casting light blue shadows on the snow.
The dark-haired girl placed the bag of candy boxes on the ground and squatted down, pressing one finger deeply into the cold snow. There was only about an inch of snow, but from experience, Mutsumi knew that it would snow through the night and possibly through the next day.
If Naru were here, she thought, she'd be yelling at her to go inside before her presents were soaked. Since she still had a short walk until she reached Hinata Inn, Mutsumi dutifully obeyed the Naru in her mind, picking up her packages and walking on.
Ten minutes later she slipped into Hinata Inn unnoticed, as usual, and brushed all the snow off of her clothes and hair before taking off her coat and shoes. No one took note of her silent entry into the dining room, so Mutsumi hovered for a moment in the doorway, observing everything. Decorations had been hung up haphazardly all over, looking rather incomplete. Shinobu and Haruka-san were undoubtedly in the kitchen cooking up the feast that was to be served, and Motoko was nowhere to be seen. But the most interesting subject by far in Mutsumi's sight was Kitsune.
The poor girl was soaked, dripping water even as Su hurried to remove the coat. Kendo girl appeared a moment later with a set of dried clothes and some towels. Kitsune took them from her, muttering, "Arigatoo."
The three were much too busy to take note of Shinobu, who was coming in their direction. She carried three plates from which were wafting delicious scents-one in each hand, and the third balanced upon her head. As she made her way quickly, the youngest girl slipped in a puddle of water left on the floor by Kitsune's clothes.
"AIEEEEEEEEEE!"
Shinobu skidded on the wooden floor, stopped only by the ancient wooden cabinet. By then there was only one plate of her excellent cooking in her hands, and she got up frantically, looking around in desperation for the others.
All four Hinata Inn residents stared in surprise as Mutsumi made her way calmly to the table and placed the other two plates on the table without spilling a drop of sauce. She stood back and smiled.
"Merry Christmas!"
"How'd you get in here?" asked Su, while Kitsune exclaimed, "When'd you get here?"
"Just a moment ago." She turned to Kitsune, who was still dripping water. "Okaeri nasai."
Kitsune colored and fumbled around her for the towel. Motoko picked it up and handed it helpfully to her, then bent to wipe up the rest of the water. Shinobu did the same, first taking off her worn and faded apron. Mutsumi caught Motoko's hand hesitating for a split fraction of a second at this action, but didn't know why.
"All we're waiting for is Naru," said Motoko. "Kitsune, you should go and take a warm shower. Naru won't be home until later."
Without invitation Mutsumi swept gracefully over to the table and placed her gifts on the growing pile. Haruka-san poked her head out of the kitchen to say hello before quickly turning back to her pot.
Su jumped into Motoko's arms and pumped an energetic fist into the air, yelling, "Now let's finish the decorations!"
Motoko put Su down gently and Mutsumi followed them-uninvited but expectedly-into the main room where last year's fake Christmas tree stood proudly, only half decorated. Su clambered onto a chair, clutching the gold star in one hand, clearly intending to place it on the top bough.
"Su, no!" exclaimed Motoko.
The chair on which Su was standing on toppled over, throwing her into the tree, which fell over promptly as well. Several glass ornaments shattered and the lights were instantly unplugged, veiling them in all in darkness. There was a moment of shocked silence.
"Ara ara," said Mutsumi. Motoko looked very down.
"Standing on the back of a chair is never a good idea," she told Su, striding over to pick up the remaining ornaments.
"Ne," said Kitsune by way of greeting. The three girls turned to see her in the doorway. "I don't remember our Christmas tree being in this shape last year."
"I. . . fell on it," Su admitted.
Instead of scolding her, as one might have expected, Kitsune burst into laughter. Mutsumi saw that Motoko looked relieved; Kitsune had been so quiet earlier that they'd all wondered what was wrong with her. Now, her true self was coming back.
Kitsune stepped over and helped Su off of the tree. By now, the darkness didn't seem so dark anymore.