CHAPTER 14- SPRING VISIT
Spring was finally coming to the Kyoto countryside. It was on one of these warming days that brought some unexpected visitors to Tokaji and Hotaru's door.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
Hotaru paused in her cooking, threw off her apron, and dashed for the door. "Coming!" It was probably the kids again. They came around this time anyway.
But no, it was Himura and Tomoe!
Hotaru's mouth dropped open at the sight of them. "Himura! Tomoe-san! Oh my!"
Himura smiled cheerfully, something so odd for the deadly Hitokiri she once knew. "Good day, Hotaru! It's been a long time!"
"You look well." Tomoe complimented softly.
And so, Hotaru welcomed them inside and had them sit down. "Just a moment! I'll make tea!"
In the kitchen, she was giddy with delight. She hadn't seen the couple since their departure in Kyoto! It was great to see some old friends again!
In under a minute, she had the tea ready and zipped back out to the parlor where they waited. Kneeling, she served them before taking a cup for herself.
"So where is Tokaji on this day?" Himura asked.
"He went to the market this morning," Hotaru replied with a smile. "He should be back around now though."
"Hotaru, that is a lovely kimono." Tomoe complimented. "Did you make it?"
Hotaru blushed. "No, not this one. Tokaji bought it for me actually."
It was her favorite kimono of all for that reason.
"HOTARU! I'M HOME!" Came a voice outdoors.
The shoji slid open and in came Tokaji. His eyes widened at the sight of unexpected company, but soon, the shock was replaced with glee. "Ah! It's the Himuras!"
'Oh that's right,' Hotaru thought. 'Himura and Tomoe are married! I wonder what it's like for them.' Back in Kyoto, they certainly didn't seem to mind each other. But did they love each other?'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Tokaji's holding something out to her. "Here," he said cheerfully. "She was finally old enough to leave her ma."
It was a kitten! A beautiful tortoiseshell with blue-green eyes and a cream blotch over one eye. And as soon as she wriggled her way into Hotaru's arms, she began to purr.
Hotaru was astounded. "How did you know?"
Tokaji blushed. This exchange wasn't supposed to have occurred in front of guests. "Well, you seemed to like little Arisu's cat so much, it just kind of worked out."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Hotaru hugged the little creature close. "I will name her.Ami!"
That evening found Tomoe and Hotaru sitting outside, taking turns holding little Ami. However, Himura and Tokaji talked quietly in the parlor.
Himura smiled. "Hotaru has truly blossomed in these few months. I didn't know she was already 15."
Tokaji nodded. "Yes, it was a shock for me too. She'll be coming of age before we know it."
His voice seemed to trail off as he said that. Himura nodded to himself. His own suspicions appeared correct. But then, his smile faded. "Anyway, there's another reason we came to see you."
Tokaji nodded again, but his expression had darkened. "I figured. What does my pa want now?"
Meanwhile, Hotaru passed the kitten over to Tomoe. "So how's Himura doing? He looks pretty happy."
Tomoe nodded. "Yes, he has changed a bit since leaving Kyoto. Back in Otsu, he's very popular with the children."
"What about you? Are you doing okay?"
The young woman of white plum perfume paused for a moment, as though thinking of the right answer. Then, she replied. "I get by."
Hotaru didn't know what to think of Tomoe. She liked her, sure, but there was something about her. It was something almost cold and distant, something that was only expressed by her sad, pale face.
'I was like that not long ago,' Hotaru thought. 'In fact, in the very back of my mind, I still am somewhat. But Tomoe-san's been like that all along.'
She wondered if there was any kind of salvation for her friend. If there was, then Himura would be the one to save her.
"Tomoe-san?"
"Yes?"
"What is Himura's real name?"
Silence. Then came the reply.
"Kenshin. His name is Kenshin."
'I will remember that name.' Hotaru swore. 'For when and if we meet again some day.'
Himura and Tomoe departed that afternoon without much word. Now, Himura seemed much quieter than before, as though sad. Hotaru wondered why as she waved farewell, but didn't ask. Tokaji wore a similar expression.
Spring was finally coming to the Kyoto countryside. It was on one of these warming days that brought some unexpected visitors to Tokaji and Hotaru's door.
KNOCK, KNOCK!
Hotaru paused in her cooking, threw off her apron, and dashed for the door. "Coming!" It was probably the kids again. They came around this time anyway.
But no, it was Himura and Tomoe!
Hotaru's mouth dropped open at the sight of them. "Himura! Tomoe-san! Oh my!"
Himura smiled cheerfully, something so odd for the deadly Hitokiri she once knew. "Good day, Hotaru! It's been a long time!"
"You look well." Tomoe complimented softly.
And so, Hotaru welcomed them inside and had them sit down. "Just a moment! I'll make tea!"
In the kitchen, she was giddy with delight. She hadn't seen the couple since their departure in Kyoto! It was great to see some old friends again!
In under a minute, she had the tea ready and zipped back out to the parlor where they waited. Kneeling, she served them before taking a cup for herself.
"So where is Tokaji on this day?" Himura asked.
"He went to the market this morning," Hotaru replied with a smile. "He should be back around now though."
"Hotaru, that is a lovely kimono." Tomoe complimented. "Did you make it?"
Hotaru blushed. "No, not this one. Tokaji bought it for me actually."
It was her favorite kimono of all for that reason.
"HOTARU! I'M HOME!" Came a voice outdoors.
The shoji slid open and in came Tokaji. His eyes widened at the sight of unexpected company, but soon, the shock was replaced with glee. "Ah! It's the Himuras!"
'Oh that's right,' Hotaru thought. 'Himura and Tomoe are married! I wonder what it's like for them.' Back in Kyoto, they certainly didn't seem to mind each other. But did they love each other?'
Her thoughts were interrupted by Tokaji's holding something out to her. "Here," he said cheerfully. "She was finally old enough to leave her ma."
It was a kitten! A beautiful tortoiseshell with blue-green eyes and a cream blotch over one eye. And as soon as she wriggled her way into Hotaru's arms, she began to purr.
Hotaru was astounded. "How did you know?"
Tokaji blushed. This exchange wasn't supposed to have occurred in front of guests. "Well, you seemed to like little Arisu's cat so much, it just kind of worked out."
"Thank you! Thank you so much!" Hotaru hugged the little creature close. "I will name her.Ami!"
That evening found Tomoe and Hotaru sitting outside, taking turns holding little Ami. However, Himura and Tokaji talked quietly in the parlor.
Himura smiled. "Hotaru has truly blossomed in these few months. I didn't know she was already 15."
Tokaji nodded. "Yes, it was a shock for me too. She'll be coming of age before we know it."
His voice seemed to trail off as he said that. Himura nodded to himself. His own suspicions appeared correct. But then, his smile faded. "Anyway, there's another reason we came to see you."
Tokaji nodded again, but his expression had darkened. "I figured. What does my pa want now?"
Meanwhile, Hotaru passed the kitten over to Tomoe. "So how's Himura doing? He looks pretty happy."
Tomoe nodded. "Yes, he has changed a bit since leaving Kyoto. Back in Otsu, he's very popular with the children."
"What about you? Are you doing okay?"
The young woman of white plum perfume paused for a moment, as though thinking of the right answer. Then, she replied. "I get by."
Hotaru didn't know what to think of Tomoe. She liked her, sure, but there was something about her. It was something almost cold and distant, something that was only expressed by her sad, pale face.
'I was like that not long ago,' Hotaru thought. 'In fact, in the very back of my mind, I still am somewhat. But Tomoe-san's been like that all along.'
She wondered if there was any kind of salvation for her friend. If there was, then Himura would be the one to save her.
"Tomoe-san?"
"Yes?"
"What is Himura's real name?"
Silence. Then came the reply.
"Kenshin. His name is Kenshin."
'I will remember that name.' Hotaru swore. 'For when and if we meet again some day.'
Himura and Tomoe departed that afternoon without much word. Now, Himura seemed much quieter than before, as though sad. Hotaru wondered why as she waved farewell, but didn't ask. Tokaji wore a similar expression.
