One Step Behind
--
She woke up today with a planted eagerness in her aura. She fixed her eyes on the sleeping form that was her husband. She stood up silently and hurried off towards their bath house. She took a quick bath and coughed as she almost drowned herself with the last jasmine scent she had on her perfume bottle.
--
Will you stay home tonight?
No.
Why? You've just arrived yesterday, we…
I'll be leaving for Yokohama. The government needs…
The government. Of course. She knew where to place herself. She knew what was important and what was not. And she knew she wasn't on top of the list either. She was always one step below. Something was always above her. Even now.
She gave her husband an understanding smile as she ate her breakfast. She placed down her bowl and gently chided her son to eat his vegetables. Kenji made a face unseen by the blue eyed kendo instructor.
'Will you stay for lunch at least?'
The wanderer offered her a sorry look and another promise. What was the promise again? Oh… a dinner with her and their son. And how many times has he said that?
Fourteen? Fifteen? Twenty maybe?
'Tae-chan said it's a treat, she was here last Monday and she gave Kenji a…'
'I'll be leaving after breakfast.'
She blinked… and blinked once more. Perhaps she was absorbing what her husband had just said. Considering his reasons albeit unspoken and gradually absorbing the words that meant more than what they seemed.
' ne, 'tousan. What about the kendo lesson you promised me'
The boy fidgeted as he played with his chopsticks.
'Not today Kenji..' Battousai smiled and offered his son another egg.
And that was how their breakfast went.
--
…when will you be back?
Next week.
…
I should be going now.
Hai.
Ja…
Ja.
--
'kasaan 'kasaan! I'm going to play with Youji!'
'hai…and don't try those pickles again. Okay?'
'hai!'
Kenji jumped as he sped off towards the Kamiya gate. His waiting playmates are already outside. Waving his mother one last goodbye, he was gone.
Kaoru sat on the porch. She consciously rubbed her neck trying to get rid of the perfume that clung on her like a leech. The saleswoman said it smelled lovely, but now as she inhaled the scent; the expensive perfume wasn't so nice after all.
It was no use anyway.
She sighed and got up. She made it to their room and changed her kimono back to the usual one she wore everyday. She tied her hair back to the high pony tail she was used to and straightened a wrinkled collar. Before leaving the room however she eyed the calendar on their wall…
June 22
…and greeted herself.
'Happy birthday Kaoru.'
-end-
a/n: I didn't write this I swear. sigh another disjointed fic. Meh.. This is what happens when I can't sleep.