My boyfriend was so nice to translate this fanfiction of mine for me. I hope you enjoy. He isn´t an native english speaker either, so some sentence maybe sounds strange..
Matsuri
Edo 1853
"Hijikata-saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!"
Souji was standing in the entrance to the Shieikan. He smiled all over
and could barely wait to tell the news.
"Hijikata-san, you wanna know something?" Souji asked, breathless,
"Kondo-san will take me to the celebration at the temple tonight!" he
declared, proudly.
"Sososo" Hijikata replied, his mood already dropping. He had finally
sold all the Ishida-powder he had had with him and had already been
looking forward to accompanying Katsu - not Souji - to the temple and
maybe get to know a girl there. Well, that was out of the question now...
Souji soon realized Hijikata-sans bad mood as they went to the main
house together. Toshi deposited his backpack and sat down on the engawa.
Souji felt bad for Hijikata-san. He seemed exhausted. Suddenly, Souji
had an idea.
"Hijikata-san, if you want to, you can come along tonight!", he offered.
Hijikata raised an eyebrow and looked back irritably
"You can count on that..."
Souji was smiling gladly.
"I've got to prepare some firewood." he declared and disappeared around
the next corner
Toshi watched him go, deep in though. Souji had changed considerably
over the course of the last few months. He was laughing more, was more
relaxed and sometimes even daringly impudent.
Kat-chan tried to help him in any way possible. Since Souji had wound of
at Shiekan and especially since that one night half a year ago, he did
everything possible to make Soujis childhood into one a child could
actually enjoy. For three months now, Souji was even taking part in the
training excercises in the Dojo. Of course, none of the other students
were aware that Souji could already beat them in a duel, but they would
find out soon enough.
"Souji, stay close to us. There will be many people around." Kondo told
Souji while they were of their way to the temple.
That was something else that had changed over the last weeks. At first,
Kat-chan had been angry at Hijikata for calling the boy "Souji"1, but
in the end he had given up and accepted that what had started as
namecalling had turned into a friendly name.
"Haaaai!", Souji answered happily. In the distance, he could already see
the many laterns around the temple. The sun was already setting and
everybody on the street seemed to be moving in the same direction. Soon
enough, Souji could no longer see the laterns but only saw large people
all around him.
"Souji, should I take you up on my shoulders?" Katsu asked.
"Haaaai!" Souji answered, already happy, but his happiness was cut short
already
"Get real, Kat-chan. He is not a baby anymore!" Toshi said and shook his
head.
"Now don't be an meani, Toshi!" Katsu replied and took Souji up. Souji
was glad, while Hijikata frowned, turned around and walked on.
'Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to invite Hijikata-san.' Souji thought
to himself.
As they arrived at the temple entrance, Katsu let Souji off his
shoulders and took his hand so the boy could get a good look at
everything. Even though it was only late afternoon, there were many
people around already . The celebration, with it's stands and
attractions was drawing in people from all over Edo and the surrounding
areas.
They had walked but a few meters as Katsu met someone he knew from
another dojo, while Toshi was waiting to buy fried octopus.
Souji was waiting for them to go on, more or less impatiently. Kondo-san
and the other man spoke of persons he didn't know and Hijikata-san was
still waiting at the back of a long line. All around it was loud and
joyful, everywhere were people whos conversations mixed with the drums.
It smelled like smoke and any possible kinds of food.
Souji had no intention to wait any longer and at once he heard a little
girl right next to him exclaim "Mommy, let's go to the puppettheater
over there!"
Through the crowd, Souji could see a glimpse of the theater on the other
side of the road. Kondo-san was deep in conversation, so Souji decided
not to disturb him and to go take a short look at the puppets. He made
his way across the street and stood right next to the girl, who was
already watching.
Toshizou Hijikata was on edge already. He disliked the way Kat-chan
allowed Souji everything and the boys smiling face was hardly bearable.
Now he had to stand in line for half an eternity for nothing but a
prtion of octupus. At least he got that last portion, the salesman had
to go and get new octupus afterwards.
As he had finally made his way back through the crowd towards Kat-chan
and Souji, he nearly dropped dead. There was Kat-chan talking to his
friend.
Souji was gone.
"Where is Souji?" he asked and immediately realised from the expression
on Kat-chans face that he had no idea.
Angrily, he gave Kat-chan the octupus and growled
"Wait here, I'll go look for him."
Souji was fascinated by the story. All kinds of animals appreared, he
liked the fox-puppet best but the racoon was cute as well-
He got yanked around, hard.
"SOUJIRO OKITA"
Frightened, Souji looked up in the angry face of Hijikata-san.
"What did you think to simply vanish like that?"
"I..." Souji was still frightened.
"Did not Katsu tell you, not even half an hour ago, not to run away on
your own?"
"Yes, but..." Souji tried to answer
"No 'but'. If it were for me, I would take you home right here and now"
Toshi had become so loud by now that the mother of another child looked
at him in displeasure.
"But I was only on the other side of the road!" Souji defended himself.
For nothing in the world he would go home right now, not just after they
had arrived.
"That's completely beside the point. You-"
"Toshi, for heavens sake! You're so loud the whole street hears you!"
Katsu came up next to them and was looked at Hijikata in displeasure as
well.
"Kondo-san!" relieved, Souji fled Hijikatas grip and took Kondos hand.
"I am sorry Kondo-san. I just wanted to watch this and I did not want to
disturb you" he exclaimed.
"It's okay, Souji." Katsu said in a soothing voice "Next time you tell me,
will you?"
Souji nodded and tightened his grip around Kondos hand.
"Well, let's go on then" Katsu said and they walked on.
It took Toshi a moment to follow them. He had brought the boy home
immediately. Did Kat-chan have to allow him everything?
"Souji, will you go fetch us some mochis over there?" Katsu said and put
a few coins in Soujis hand "Toshi and me will wait for you here."
As soon as Souji was out of earshot, Kastu asked "What in the world was
that about, Toshi? You acted like an idiot. Souji was but a few meters
away, what are you getting upset about?"
Toshi sighed. "It's not about where he was, but about the principle. He
was to stay with us and simply walked away. Isn't it understandable that
I'm angry? You're much too forgiving!"
Katsu watched his friend intently "You know... if I didn't know better,
I'd say you were simply worried about Souji."
Toshis reaction was unmistakable. "Don't be ridiculous! I'm not worrying
about that kid, he can watch after himself quiet well, thank you."
Katsu shook his head. He knew his friend too well.
"Why don't you simply admit that you have grown fond of him?" he asked
and went over to where Souji was waiting.
The sentence kept going though Toshis head all evening. They could only
move though the crowd at a snails pace and they also had to stay at each
shop to make sure Souji wouldn't miss anything.
Souji had already forgiven Toshi for his earlier rudeness. He was even a
bit sympathetic for Toshi, but only a bit. After all, there was none
but Toshi to blame for getting all worked up.
Finally, they reached the temple surroundings. There, the many people
spread out more. There were even more shops and foodstands around the
yard and even more food and tea stands in the middle of the temple yard.
They walked along and came to stop in front of a ringthrowing game.
"Would you like to try it, Souji?" Katsu asked and bought six rings from
the owner.
"First, you've got to choose something you want to have." Hijikata directed.
Souji looked over all many the small things, excitedly. There were small
puppets, fans, toy animals and much more. Souji thought about what he
wanted.
"I want that toy piggy!" he declared and pointed at a small, wooden pig
that stood on a small column in the middle row to one side.
"Then give it your best shot." Hijikata commented dryly.
Souji threw the first ring, a highly concentrated look on his face.
Missed.
The second ring hit close to the column.
The third hit the pig itself and fell to the floor as well.
"Ah, this will never work!"
"Toshi!"
Pressing his lips together, Souji threw the fourth ring.
Missed.
Hijikata-san rolled his eyes.
Despairing, Souji took the last ring and took careful aim.
He threw -
missed again.
"That can't be that hard! Give me three rings." Toshi exclaimed.
"Now take a look at how it's done!" He said to Souji, while Katsu only
shook his head.
Toshi took aim, threw - missed.
"The first one is only for getting used to it." he said with a shrug and
threw the second ring - missed again.
Katsu smiled at Souji "See? He can do no better either."
Even the owner was pretty much amused and could hardly hide a grin.
"Now!" Toshi growled and threw again.
The ring hit somewhere behind the column.
Katsus grin went from one ear to the other and Souji was giggling.
"Another three rings!" Toshi exclaimed.
"Toshi, let it be." Katsu said in a soothing voice, trying to help.
"I just had to warm up." Toshi said and took a deep breath. He wouldn't
make a fool out of himself here. He focused on the pig, threw and-
He stomped with his foot, angrily.
"That's impossible!"
Missed again.
"That won't work today" Katsu said dryly.
The second to last ring. Toshi threw and just like Soujis before, the
ring hit the pig itself and fell to the floor.
"Damn pig!" Toshi was angry. It usually worked, but not today of all times?
"Toshi, just admit that you can't do any better than-"
"Katsu, if you can talk so well, just try it yourself!" Toshi growled
and pressed the last ring in Katsus hand.
Katsu shook his head. He knew it would be useless trying to argue with
his friend now.
He took a step closer, took aim and threw the ring.
Hit.
End of part 1
1 Soji (o shimasu) means to "clean up"
