"Tomoe, I'm going to work. I'll be back later." Hideo said to her as he went out the door.

"Goodbye, 'tou-san." Tomoe said softly and returned to cleaning the dishes.

For the past couple days, Enishi watched the exchange between his sister and father. They had become more talkative around each other and Hideo had been telling Tomoe where he was going everyday. His eyes were locked on his sisters back as he sat leaned against the wall. Her presence was so much more warmer the past couple of days. He just assumed that the change was because of Kiyosato. The night Tomoe went out, Enishi couldn't sleep. When he heard the gate had opened, he sat up in bed and listened as he heard the rustle in her room. She heard the rustling of clothes and Kiyosato and Tomoe's exchange of words. They had barely done anything, yet he still felt something gnaw at him because of Kiyosato's presence. Tomoe had never really snapped at him about his attitude towards Kiyosato. He just presumed that she knew it wasn't a battle she could win, but she didn't know what kind of affect she had on him.

"Enishi, what keeps you so pensive?" Tomoe's voice was heard.

"You seem happier lately."

"Should I have no right to be happy?"

"No. It's just that it's curious, that's all."

The two stayed in the same room in silence. Tomoe's eyes were on the dishes, but her thoughts were elsewhere. It was on Kiyosato.


A Moment's Memory

Romantic Tales Before the Meiji Era


Act V: Departure


"Akira, pay attention! What is wrong with you lately, boy? Have you lost your head with all that drinking?" Etoro berated, as she put down her tea cup.

"No. I've just been tired." he said with a sigh and stood up from his seat at the table.

"Akira, you are obviously bothered by something."

He opened the shoji door as she spoke, revealing the white outdoors. He held his hands at his back as he stared at the sky. It was so gloomy and gray.

"Aunt Etoro, you over-analyze." he stated.

"Well, your parents seem to think that you are worried over something and you've been awfully quiet these last few days."

The close contact with Tomoe that night was replayed in his mind. He had the chance to change what they had that night, yet he chose not to. He knew that she had never drank before and that she was only doing this to please him. But what confused him was if her intentions were as a friend or possibly someone who wanted more.

"Akira!" Etoro snapped and his thoughts were interrupted.

"Hai?"

"You're not answering me. You must answer when I address you of concerns."

He sighed and thought of Tomoe's distraught look that night when she was on the ground.

"I'm just tired."

He walked away from the room leaving the winter chill to sweep over Etoro. It was then that Urara entered and closed the door, leaving her and Etoro in the room alone. Urara gently kneeled down.

"You lack of tea." she said softly as she took the kettle into her hands to pour the warm liquid into the cup.

"Urara, do you believe that maybe Akira is a shy boy?" Etoro inquired.

"Not really. He's never had a problem with friends." Urara responded.

"You know what I'm talking about." Etoro deadpanned.

Urara didn't answer as she put the kettle on a tray and collected herself up from the floor.

"I'll go check on lunch." Urara said as she got to her feet and exited the room.


*** *** ***


"How are you feeling today?" Kiyosato asked with his usual good nature embedded in every word he spoke.

Tomoe's head shot up in surprise from her sowing and she pricked her finger. She whimpered and brought a small cloth to her small wound, hiding it in her lap. With calm ease, she turned to him and put her hands behind her.

"I'm fine. Why do you ask?" she asked curiously.

"I haven't visited you since that night and I was just worried."

"You have nothing to be worried about. I was just slightly ill in the morning."

"You're not one to embellish, are you?"

"Kiyosato..." she said in a warning tone and he gave her one of his boyish smiles in return.

He turned his back to her and looked at the winter outside.

"I miss spring..." he said wistfully.

Tomoe watched him as he continued on.

"Do you remember when I'd climb that tree right there when we were little?" Kiyosato asked as he gestured to the big cherry blossom tree outside.

She smiled faintly at the sweet memory that popped in her mind.


***


"Tomoe!"

Faint calls were heard as a young version of herself ran out of her house and looked up. She gasped with her hand placed in front of her mouth and her eyes were wide with horror.

"Kiyosato! Come down! Your parents will be angry with you." Tomoe whispered as loudly as she could.

Kiyosato was leaned on a branch, his arms barely gripping his stance.

"Tomoe, it's so beautiful up here! I can see the rooftops."

"No, you can't, Kiyosato. Come down." she deadpanned.

There was a silence as he looked down at her with a serious facial expression.

"Tomoe?"

"Yes."

"Your father's back."

That's when Enishi's infant cries resounded throughout the neighborhood.


***


"Tomoe?" Kiyosato called.

"Yes?"

"You weren't responding for a moment. I was wondering where your mind went to."

"I wonder when my father will leave again. So far for the past two years, his business has been within Edo and the longest he's been gone is two days. But I hear of the troubles in Kyoto. I wonder if my father will have to leave again."

"Your father will come back alive if he leaves to Kyoto."

"Are you so sure?"

He looked at her with concern and padded over. Her head hung as she started to worry. He bent down and grazed her hand with his fingers.

"'tou-san has always been gone most of Enishi's life. That's why they lack a relationship. If the troubles with this revolt arises, my father may never come back. Or even worse, we could lose our income."

"I wouldn't worry about it so much. Just live your life day to day."

Tomoe looked up to Kiyosato's comforting smile. He was so kind and sincere.

"Think of the good things that are to come." he suggested.

"Ayumi and Toson's wedding is in the spring." Tomoe added.

"Exactly, and we need to support her."

They were interrupted as they heard the wood creak behind Kiyosato.

"Enishi!" Tomoe gasped in shock.

Enishi trudged in scuffed up and bruised. His gi was hanging off his limp shoulders and his clothes were covered in wet dirt. Kiyosato's jaw dropped in surprise.

"Enishi, what happened to you?!" Tomoe asked as she quickly rushed to his side.

Her eyes scanned his face with her hands tracing every curve of his face. On his forehead was a cut. The blood trickled down the side of his cheek and his lips trembled from the cold.

"Nothing happened." he stated coldly as he walked out of her grasp.

"ENISHI!" she cried, but he did not stop.

Kiyosato placed a hand on her shoulder as he looked to the young boy. What was going on with him now?


*** *** ***


"The girl is so cold." one girl chided.

"I agree. I think winter suits her." another added.

Etoro laughed with the rest of the females of the neighborhood that were gathered in front of her house.

"That Yukishiro girl's brother is a delinquent, too. He never plays with the children. He's always by himself or with his sister."

"She wasn't a really good mother if she couldn't raise him to be normal like other children."

"I agree."

"And what of her and my Akira?" Etoro asked.

"The word going around is that he's had his eye set on her since the day she met him."

"Isn't that sweet..." one girl said bitterly.

"Jealous, Chisato?" another teased.

"Don't be. If I say that the Yukishiro girl isn't worthy, Akira will listen to me. I'm sure he will choose you with my blessing."

The girl's face lightened up and Etoro basked with the thought of a good match in her mind. Etoro's smile faded when all the other girls' faces paled. She turned around to see where all the others' gazes were held. Ayumi stood with a serious expression on her face.

"Good day to you. You must be Etoro, Akira's aunt." Ayumi acknowledged.

"And you must be Myoujin's fiance. I've heard so much about you." she said with a fake smile pasted on her face, the lines at the corner of her eyes wrinkling.

"We must get back to our business, Etoro-san. Have a good day." one of the girls said with a polite bow.

The other girls bowed politely and went in their own directions. Etoro turned to Ayumi whose eyes challenged her.

"Etoro-san, don't you think it unkind to talk behind a girl's back?" Ayumi asked with anger edging at her tone.

"I only wish to find out more about the girl that my nephew is friends with." Etoro responded.

"Then why don't you talk with her, not the neighborhood gossips and old maids."

"You're taking quite a tone with an elderly woman. Have you any manners?"

"Don't talk about Tomoe. You don't know her!"

"Oh, but I do. A beautiful girl she may be, but is there any heart behind that pretty exterior? She is not worthy of my Akira. He deserves better than a cold, heartless, incapable woman."

A hand shot out from the side and Etoro clutched her reddened cheek.

"How dare you..." Ayumi muttered through clenched teeth as she clenched the fist of the hand she had just striked Etoro with.

"Why, you little wench..." Etoro muttered angrily.

"Call me what you want, but if you dare to talk about my friend again, I will not be responsible for the consequences of your actions. Both my friends, Akira and Tomoe, have been through a lot together. And if they find happiness in each other's presence, then who am I to let anyone interfere?"

"You talk of happiness with marriage, but what of you and Myoujin-san? I can see it apparent in your eyes that some marriages are just convenient, am I not right?"

Ayumi bit back the urge to slap her and dropped her hand to her side.

"Goodbye, Etoro-san." she said bitterly and walked gracefully away.


*** *** ***


Tomoe closed the first aid box and looked to her little brother who was seated before her, his gaze downward.

"Enishi, how did this happen?"

He was silent as Tomoe pleaded for an answer.

"Enishi..."

"Forgive me, 'nee-san."

"Tadaima!" their father bellowed.

The two looked up and got up from their seated position to greet their father upon his return. With two smiles to greet him, he approached with his own smile. Enishi was surprised to his father so welcoming.

"You seem to be in great spirits." Tomoe commented softly.

"In fact, I am in the very gravest of spirits." he countered with his smile never fading.

"Yet you seem surprisingly up-beat." Enishi added with confusion.

Hideo looked to his daughter and the two exchanged glances. Enishi was still curious, but his face turned serious.

"You're leaving again, aren't you?" he asked almost bitterly.

Hideo nodded regretfully. Tomoe's gaze went down to her feet as she fumbled nervously with her hands.

"I'm going to Kyoto." Hideo replied.

"When do you leave?" Enishi asked.

"Tonight."

Tomoe stepped forward on the wet, snowy ground and nodded in understanding.

"Then we will greet you when you get back." she said with a faint smile.

He nodded in understanding and Enishi followed suit. He stepped up and nodded as well.

"Like we always have." Enishi said with a slight smile.

Hideo's hand reached for Enishi and his fingers brushed againt the cut on his forehead. He gave him a worried glance and looked up to Tomoe, who gave him a reassuring look.


*** *** ***


Tomoe finished writing in her journal before closing it up for the night. The night air brought a chill to the room and she clutched the yukatta closer to herself. She looked up to the side to hear the soft footsteps of her father. She stood up and ran to the shoji, sliding it open before her to see her father looking up at the late winter's moon.

"Where's Enishi?" he asked almost inaudibly.

"Asleep." she answered just as softly as she slipped into her slippers to reach him outside.

He turned to her with a smile and she returned it.

"'tou-san." she called to him and he looked to her curiously.

"What?" he asked.

"Return safely." she said as she hugged him.

His eyes were full of surprise and he hadn't reacted to her affectionate embrace. His arms went slowly around his daughter and he felt so warm. White plum filled his senses and he couldn't help but feel that finally he had his daughter back.


***


Tomoe watched her father as he walked away into the dark of the night. With saddened eyes, a single tear fell and dripped down her cheek.


*** *** **


"Enishi was actually attempting to talk to father." Tomoe informed.

"That's good." Ayumi commented, "Maybe Enishi really does love his father deep down. It's just that he hasn't been given enough time to know him as you have."

Tomoe stopped with an impassive face, but her eyes were locked on a scene in front of her. Ayumi gasped. There was Enishi duking it out with a group of boys his age.

"So how's your sister, the old maid?" one boy taunted.

"Shut up!" Enishi countered angrily as he wiped some my off his cheek after picking himself up from the ground.

"Everyone talks about her. My sister says that she will never get a husband with such a cold attitude."

Ayumi looked to Tomoe, who's eyes were worried and if not mistaken, a glint of saddness.

"Shut up!"

"What's wrong, Yukishiro? Can't stand the truth?"

"Tell your sister to not stand in the way of Chisato. She is the only one for Akira."

"SHUT UP!" Ayumi yelled.

The boys, including Enishi, and Tomoe looked to her in shock as she stomped over to them. She towered over the leader of the boys, who was the last to speak, and she placed her hands on her hips.

"You stop picking on Enishi, you hear me? If not, I will make sure that you will pay for it. And as for your sister, tell her to do her own dirty work. If she wants to fight for Akira's affections, then do it by herself. Tell her not to resort to torchering Tomoe's little brother with her own brother!" Ayumi scolded in a calm yet challenging voice.

The boy nodded mutely.

"Now leave!" Ayumi barked and the boys ran away with smirks.

The snow began to fall and Enishi stood, watching in awe of what had just happened. Ayumi turned to him and her gaze softened. Tomoe ran towards her brother and held him tightly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she cried softly.

Enishi didn't answer as he looked to Ayumi. She knew. He was protecting his sister.


- End of Part V -



Author's Note: In this chapter, I was trying to show that Enishi and Tomoe didn't really have a father around. In this one profile on Oibore, I read that he left shortly after Enishi was born and wasn't around a lot. So I put that he was away because of his job. His government is struggling with revolt, what's a guy to do? Anyway, I tried to show that even the Hideo "Oibore" Yukishiro was rarely around, Enishi still cared for him. But he didn't really because he was rarely around and it was his sister he had to get close to. You understand, right? Anyway, I'm still stuck on what that stick thingy is that she had on her journal in this one scene in the OVA. I have no idea what the flowers Kiyosato gave her were either. I heard it was red plum. But I don't even know if that exists! *.* So hopefully, you liked this chapter. And as always, please read and review! ^.^