Standard disclaimers apply.

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Many thanks to Firuze Khanume for enduring my clumsy attempts and for
her preciousn corrections and suggestions.

Also many thanks to Kamorgana for spotting the -hopefully- last grammar and
vocabulary mistakes.

You two are the best! =^^=

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CHAPTER 4: LESSONS

1853, Edo

As they reached the main street, Takagi indicated his carriers discreetly
to vanish into thin air, and to take care of Yamaguchi.
They obeyed his orders immediately, unnoticed by the young boy 
by his side, staring wide-eyed up to him.

"Do you really want to take me with you?"
The wondering in the little one's voice was undeniable.

"Yes, you'll be living with me and my family now."

"You have a family?" Now concern swung in Hajime's voice, completely
understandable when Takagi considered the family-relations the boy 
had experienced so far.

Calmingly he ruffled Hajime's hair, and he had to snicker about the child's 
concern. Surely Karla and his daughters would greet him with open arms.
"Yes, I am married to a wonderful woman and I have two lovely daughters."

From now on the boy wouldn't be the lowest member of a household, and yet
he didn't have one clue about what was lying ahead of him. Not to think of 
another, meaningful destiny calling him.
"Karla-san, my wife, can take care of your arm when we are at home."

But first Hajime urgently needed a bath, Takagi resumed after he retreated 
his hand from the boy's head. Hajime's personal hygiene hadn't been the 
Yamaguchis first concern, so much was sure. 
Karla would immediately place him into a bath-tube before treating his 
broken arm.

The boy's eyebrow's furrowed -perhaps he was thinking about the unusual 
name of his wife- and, satisfied, he observed how Hajime tried to copy
his posture.
"My arm doesn't need treatment, Takagi-sama."

Right in the middle of the street Takagi stopped, forcing Hajime to do 
the same. Seriously he grabbed the boy by his skinny shoulders.
"Hajime-kun, listen to me. I really appreciate your toughness, but there is 
one lesson you have to learn first of all. If you are worried for the money 
the treatment will cost: don't bother for it. You belong to my family from now
on and I'll care for everything you need, no matter how expensive it is. It 
is brave not to show that you are hurt and it is honourable to endure your 
injuries without complaining, no matter how serious they are. It is part of 
your pride. But..." He raised his voice to emphasise his words. "You should 
ALWAYS value your health. It isn't very wise not to have your wounds treated 
in time. Did you get that?"

Sternly, Hajime nodded and inwardly Takagi sighed. It wouldn't be an easy task 
to educate this stubborn and proud boy... he would need all his patience and 
tolerance, so much was sure.

On their way home, Takagi stopped shortly at a shop offering clothing.
He had estimated what was worse: Hajime's hurt arm or Karla being upset
when he appeared with an unannounced guest. 

The boy seemed to endure the pain, but his wife being upset with him? 
Shuddering he remembered her last sweet revenge... and determined he pushed 
Hajime into the shop.
"I'll buy you some new clothes, Hajime-kun. We have nothing that would
fit you at home. Please feel free to choose what you want."

Hajime firstly stared at him, but after he gave him a second invitation, 
the boy pointed to a yukata for himself. Takagi picked it up and encouraged 
him to take two more and shoved him over to the kimono and hakama, indicating 
him to choose what he wanted. 

Reluctantly at first, but feeling more and more secure, the boy made his 
choice under the suspicious, furtive glimpses of the shop-keeper. The man only 
stopped his mistrusting glances as Takagi took his purse out and paid him.

Hajime seemed to be dizzy while carrying his new belongings, Takagi resumed,
smiling inwardly. 

What would he say when he saw the house itself and the horses?

"Where will I sleep, Takagi-sama?"

"We have enough rooms, Hajime-kun. You'll get the room beside mine, I'll 
instruct my wife to prepare it for you. Ah, and please drop this 'sama'.
You belong to my family now." How often would he need to tell Hajime? Maybe 
he should make a litany out of it.

The boy swallowed beside him, he would need a few days to digest the latest 
development.
"I'll have my own room?"

"Oh, yes." Takagi stopped in front of an impressive gate.
"Here is your new home." Wickedly a smile creped on his face. "Do you 
mind surprising my family?"

Hajime did nothing but staring wonderingly at the gate.
"This is a gate for a HOUSE?"
It seemed more appropriate for one of the most important shrines he had seen.

"Yes, it is. Please stay closely behind me, I want to surprise them."

Wordlessly, the boy obeyed his orders, he was too impressed to do anything 
else. Takagi opened the huge gates and closed them securely directly behind 
them.
"I am home!"

"DADDY!"
All Hajime noticed from behind was a little whirlwind wrapped in a pink
silken kimono running towards Takagi and jumping at him, hugging him.

A laugh escaped Takagi's throat.
"Maa, maa, Tokio-chan! I was only a few hours away."

"But I missed you!" The little girl's voice sounded sulky. "Did you 
bring something for me with you?"

Now Takagi laughed loudly.
"Tokio-chan, you are a greedy little lady."

"But Daddy..." Takagi had picked her up and as she looked over his
shoulder, she stopped talking in mid-sentence upon seeing him.

She was looking... strange, Hajime couldn't help but stare at her and her
odd appearance. He had never seen someone looking like that before.

"Who is this child, Dad?"

Grinning over his whole face, Takagi set the girl back on the ground,
laying his hand on her shoulder.
"Haijme-kun, this is my daughter Tokio-chan. Tokio-chan, this is Hajime-kun,
he will live with us from now on."

"Live with us?" The girl's *green* eyes dominated her face, even more
when they widened in astonishment. Green? Hajime blinked, but she looked
already to the ground.

"Yes, he will be part of our family."

The girl wrinkled her nose and whispered to her father.
"He smells funny."

It was just loud enough that Hajime understood every word she said.
Smelled funny? What did she mean?

"Tokio-chan! Mind your manners!"
A gentle push of her father startled her and she quickly knelt down,
bowing deeply in front of him.

"Welcome, Hajime-sama. At your service."

Quickly Takagi grabbed her by her collar and lifted her, apologetically 
looking over to Hajime.
"She still needs some education, Hajime-kun. I am afraid we both, my wife
and I, are a bit too lenient with her."

Hajime didn't answer, just stared, taking in the new surroundings. After
Takagi had stepped aside, he had a better view on the estate. He had never
thought that ONE family could own such a large area, maybe here was living
more than one family. 

He realised he had to say something to Takagi's daughter in return, who eyed 
him without reservation. Was he imagining things or did she really have green 
eyes? Green eyes? Who had ever heard of such a strange thing before?
"Thanks, Tokio-chan."

"Takumi! You are back! Did you get the reports from Irie-san? We need to
discuss the matter about the wi..."

"Karla, I have a surprise for you." Takagi interrupted rather abruptly a
woman coming from the house with a small girl closely behind her.

Even from distance she looked strange, even stranger than Tokio and 
Hajime was taken aback. Everything seemed to be in place with that woman...
but she had such a pale skin! And her features! He had never seen someone
like her before, he couldn't divert his eyes from her, he stared openly.
The girl behind her looked like a chibi-girl-version of Takagi...
but the woman and Tokio?

Takagi stepped behind him and laid his hands on his shoulders,
he twitched from the contact, but was too astonished to evade the touch.
"Hajime-kun, this is my wife Karla and my elder daughter Tomoko."

Both bowed deeply before him, an odd feeling. Never had someone bowed before 
him, ever.
"Karla, Tomoko, this is Hajime-kun. He will live from now on with us, I
adopted him as a son."

Tomoko eyed him curiously as it seemed.
"Is he the one you were talking so much about?"

Takagi had talked about him with his family? Hajime felt his chest swelling,
this important, influential man seemed to really care for him.

"Yes, Tomoko. He belongs to our family." Reassuringly Takagi squeezed
his shoulders and turned to the strange woman he had called his wife.

Attentively, Karla eyed him and unconsciously suspicious about the weird
woman Hajime stepped back, only to be stopped by Takagi. But she had noticed
his injury.
"Oh, my Gods, Hajime-kun! What is wrong with your arm?"

If Takagi didn't stand behind him, he would take some more steps away
from this woman. Was she a ghost? A demon? But such a rich and mighty
man like Takagi wouldn't take a ghost or demon as wife, would he?
"It is nothing, it doesn't hurt!"
Stubbornly he bit his lip.

He felt Takagi tensing behind him, indicating clearly that the answer
didn't please him. Mentally he prepared for a hit of his fist, but
nothing like that happened. Instead he heard him speaking.
"Of course something is wrong, his arm is broken." Karla and the two girls 
ripped their eyes open, visibly shocked. "Could you please look after it?"

"Of course." Compassionate, she looked at him. "We have to go to my room,
the equipment is there."

She hurried away, the girls high on her heels, Takagi guided him by his 
shoulders.

The women were already waiting them in one of the many rooms, Karla was 
instructing them. Takagi had explained him the surroundings, therefore they
had needed much more time.
"Tokio, give me the red box with the marpletree-leaves on it. Tomoko,
look for sticks in the right length. They should be just as long as
his underarm."

There was a pot with boiling water and Karla gathered her daughters around 
her, explaining everything she was doing, the girls eager to learn. 
"Look, you need about two spoons of the herbs per cup, pour hot water on it 
and wait about ten minutes, then it is ready. It will help to endure the pain,
subsiding it. It is similar to opium, but the opium should be reserved for 
more serious injuries."

While they were waiting, Karla had a closer look at his arm, Takagi always 
by his side.
"Luckily it is not an open wound, but it will take some time to heal."

She offered Hajime the cup with the tea and Takagi nodded encouragingly to him 
to sip it.

It felt warm running down his throat and Karla kept touching slightly his arm 
while Takagi eyed him closely, noticing every little twitch. Strangely enough 
he felt the pain subsiding with every second and even Karla's touch didn't 
hurt anymore. Finally Takagi was satisfied with his reaction.
"You can start now." He instructed his wife while preparing the sticks.

Fascinated Hajime watched how they fixed his arm between the sticks
with bandages, putting some moss between them. To him his arm felt
bolstered and both, Karla and Takagi nodded to him encouraging. 
"You will have to keep it quiet for some time. You should drink one cup
of the tea every day, it will speed up the healing process and help
keeping the pain to a minimum."

Karla nodded underlining to every of Takagi's words and he felt his oddly light
feeling head bowing in response.
"Yes, Takagi-san."

Smiling warmly at him, Takagi turned to his wife.
"Can you prepare the free room beside mine for him?"

Agreeing to her husband she cleaned his arm, and as he looked up, he saw her
equally smiling heartfeltly.
"It should be no problem." As Tokio before, she also wrinkled her nose.
"What about you show Hajime-kun his room, meanwhile I'll heat the bath-tub."

He felt Takagi nodding, indicating him to stand up and guiding him deeper
into the house. Tomoko stayed with her mother while Tokio
followed him and Takagi high on the heels as if hypnotised.

"Do you like riding, Hajime-san?"
Obviously she didn't only want to follow them.

"I have never sat on a horse, Tokio-chan."

"Oh, really?" Bewildered the little girl looked up to him, this didn't 
fit into her view of the world. "Daddy will give you one, right, Daddy."

"Yes, Tokio-chan." Takagi patiently answered the lively girl, who was 
excitedly running between them.

What? Did he hear right?

"I don't like horses very much", Tokio blubbered unmoved. "They are so 
ugly. Right, Daddy?"

"Yes, Tokio-chan."

He would learn to ride?

"Will you train fighting together with Daddy?"

He could have his own horse?

"Yes, Tokio-chan, he will."

"OHOHO" The young girl got excited more and more with any second, moving
from one foot to another. "You know, Hajime-san, Daddy is a master swords-man, 
nobody can beat him. But he is even better with spells, he defeated a mighty 
wizard once who..."

He would have an own room and a horse? He was really at the 
Takagi-estate? He was really adopted? His arm had been expertly treated?
His father hadn't just sold him into slavery? This tea hadn't drugged him and 
he wasn't only sleeping, dreaming?

"Tokio-chan, why don't you join Mum and Tomoko preparing the bath?"

He registered subconsciously how Takagi interrupted his daughter in the 
middle of her sentence, and -much to his surprise- the girl stomped her feet 
in the ground. She bit her lip, and displaced her sulking openly. She really 
still needed some education and modesty.
"But I want to come with you."

"Tokio-chan, help your mother. You've got to learn how it works."

"But..."

"Tokio-chan!" Takagi hissed his voice and strolling, slowly on purpose, 
Tokio walked to over to where he assumed the bath-house was. An own house 
just for bathing? He had heard of this before, but he couldn't imagine 
to ever see one.

Takagi frowned, observing Tokio strolling away. Why wasn't there a 
spell that prevented his Tokio from speaking? Not that he would use it then...
not on Tokio. And Hajime's mind was too occupied to notice what she just said.

Hajime tried to get his swirling mind under control. To him, this mansion
seemed to be like a labyrinth. Because he didn't want to give the bareness of 
not finding *his* room later, he soaked up his surroundings.

Suddenly Takagi stopped and shoved the door to one room aside.
"This will be your room, Hajime-kun."

Marvelled, Hajime looked inside. He wouldn't call this a room, it
seemed more like a hall to him. Pressing the bundle with his clothes
against him, he hesitantly stepped in. He surely wouldn't show his
uncertainness in front of Takagi, but he felt more and more like being drugged.
"I'll have THIS room as my own?"
It was three times bigger than the largest room in the house of his parents.

Inwardly, Takagi was amused about the young boy who tried to hide his
astonishment and insecurity rather well. A talented boy, not one to 
display his emotions openly.
"Of course it is still bare, we will look in the other rooms for some 
furniture."

Hajime still stood in the middle of the room, his new clothes 
pressed against him, the broken arm nearly forgotten. Why did Takagi
do this?

Takagi noticed that boy looked utterly lost and confused at the moment,
there was still something he had to explain. He tried to lay his hand
on Hajime's skinny shoulder, but by reflex, the boy turned away.

With every passing second Takagi confirmed that his decision to 
take care of Yamaguchi had been right. The boy didn't tolerate human
contact and there was nothing he could do about it, besides being patient.
Takagi made a second attempt to grab the boy by his shoulders, this
time he was quicker. Seriously he bend over to be on the same eye-level.
"Hajime-kun, there is something I have to explain to you."

Hajime was suspicious again, there had to be a trick behind, this simply
couldn't be real.
"Yes, Takagi-san?"

Taking a deep breath, Takagi sorted his thoughts. He had always known,
that the day would once come when he would take this boy into his
household... though he had never given a second thought about how to 
explain him the odd circumstances here.
"Look, Hajime-kun... Surely you have noticed that my wife looks different." 

Sternly, Hajime nodded, what was coming next?

"That is, because she comes from a foreign country, far away from here."

A gaijin in this house? Married to one of the highest members of the Bakufu? 
Weren't these barbarians people with no culture and manners?

"She is a very special person to me and very different from the other
gaijin you might have heard of. Besides her outer appearance there
is no difference between her and a Japanese woman. You'll get along with
her finely, I am convinced you will like her after you got to know her
closely."

Again Hajime nodded seriously, all at once this was really much to bear,
and Takagi realised that it would be better to leave the boy 
some time to mentally digest everything.
Furthermore the bath was calling and they all could need a relaxation.

For now, much to his surprise, the boy set his package down on the
floor and started to open it.
"What are you doing, Hajime-kun?"

"I want to change into one of my new yukata."
He glanced at Takagi, just to make sure that this were really HIS clothes.

To say that Takagi was shocked was an understatement.
"But... Hajime-kun! You can't change NOW into the new clothes!"

Defiant and aggressive Hajime looked up. This were HIS new clothes, right?
"Why not?"

Takagi was completely taken aback. Hadn't Yamaguchi taught his children
ANY hygiene?
"Because you need to have a bath first. You will feel wonderfully refreshed
afterwards and the yukata won't get dirty then. It is better to put it on
after bathing."

"oh."
Obviously Hajime hadn't considered this.

"Just leave your package here, Karla will prepare everything while
I show you around."

Reluctantly, Hajime laid his new clothes back on the floor and followed
Takagi.

"Here, right beside you is my own and Karla's room, Tokio is still sleeping
with us, but will get her room besides Tomoko's, which is right here."
He had to speed up to keep pace with Takagi who pointed to the rooms
while they passed them, explaining their use.

"In this room we have our meals, here we greet our guests, here is
our forefathers-memory-altar, and here is the kitchen."
In front of the kitchen, Takagi turned to him, remembering Hajime
being send into the kitchen to help his mother. A bad custom he wouldn't
tolerate here.
"Karla and my daughters take care of the meals, if you want something,
just call them. You are the second man in this household after me,
everyone here will listen to your command and fulfil your wishes."

"The second man?"

"Yes. Since you belong to our family now." Takagi walked behind the house,
where a small wood started. Under the trees, gently swinging in a cold evening
breeze, Hajime could see the shadows of a small shrine, a large pond beside 
it. Through the surface of the water he could see the golden, silver and 
copper backs of kois shining. He had never thought that they could get THIS 
big. His father once had bought one, but it had been just as big as a finger 
of his hand and it had cost so much that he didn't have real food for one 
month.

The wood parted and made place for a larger clearing. He couldn't help
but stare at it... there were horses, five, six horses, black and brown ones
peacefully browsing around.
"You can choose one that you like, Hajime-kun. Nevertheless, I would
recommend you the brown one over there. It is a bit smaller and it is
tranquil, making it the perfect choice for a beginner. Later we can
buy you one that fits you better."

"ha... hai, Takagi-san."

"We can start with the lesson tomorrow, there is still the dojo I have 
to show you."

They had their own dojo? It had to be the large building he had seen
left-handed when entering the area.

He had been right, it had been the dojo, it was impressive, nearly over-sized
as everything else he had seen within the walls of the estate.

Quickly they had a brief look inside, much to his surprise only a few
tables indicating who trained here. It seemed to be an exclusive selection
of ken-jutsu.

Soon enough he found himself in front of the bath-house. Takagi encouraged 
him to take off his clothes inside, and Hajime dropped the ragged kimono on 
the floor. Immediately Tomoko picked it up, holding her nose with one hand and 
holding it as far as possible from herself.
"I'll burn it, Daddy."

Hajime wanted to hold her back, but than he saw one of his new yukata lying 
neatly folded on the floor, a new pair of sandals as well. 
Takagi waved her away.
"Take also his sandals."

"I'll come back for them."

Takagi directed him deeper into the bath-house, but... what was this?
There was Karla with a swam in her hand, Tokio had a cloth around her 
hair and was lying with closed eyes in the steaming hot water.

Takagi must have felt his hesitation, he shoved him forward, whispering
in his ear. "There is no need to be ashamed, Hajime-kun."

He placed him in front of Karla and shocked, Hajime observed how Karla started 
to wash Takagi thoroughly. As she finished, she turned to him and horrified he 
realised that he would get the same treatment.

Takagi laid his hand on his shoulder, sensing his awkwardness.
"Really, Hajime-kun. This is very relaxing, I'll take care of washing you."
Maybe this was really too much for the boy at the moment.

Tokio in the bath-tub came back to life, interestedly giggling, and leaning
forward.
"Daddy, I've never seen you do this."
Wide-eyed she stared over, this was nothing she wanted to miss. Obviously.

Karla only smiled knowingly, brushing briefly over Takagi's cheek.
"You should have some skills with it. Right, Takumi?"

Very quietly, barely understandable for Hajime, Takagi grumbled
under his breath.
"Annoying, impertinent women. What a luck to have finally *some* male support."

"Takumi! You know that I have a good hearing!"
Her bright smile and warm eyes betrayed her scolding under-tone.

Hajime didn't know where to turn his eyes. Takagi was scrubbing him, Karla 
was sitting beside him and in front of him Tokio was staring at the scene.

Just in this moment Tomoko came back, Karla immediately addressing her.
"Did you burn it?"

"Yes." 
Much to his shock Tomoko started to undress herself behind him -he could
tell from the shuffling- and began to clean herself.

But soon the embarrassing scene was over and he felt the hot water
relaxing his tired muscles.

****

Only one hour later he found himself sitting in the eating room, together with 
Takagi and an old man who had been introduced as 'Irie' to him. 

Before he had had a look into his own room and as if done by witchcraft.
A table had been placed inside, his clothes had been securely
stored in a drawer and a futon had been prepared, ready for the night.
There had even been a hot-water-bottle under the blanket to keep the 
bed comfortably warm until he would go to sleep.

It was then when he realised what startled him the most in this house.
It was quiet. There was no shouting, running and yelling. Everything was quiet.
He could hear the rustling of clothes and the shuffling of feet on the
floor. It was so quiet that it almost hurt his ears in the beginning.

He shook his head, he had to follow the conversation Takagi and Irie
made while smoking their pipes. Surely Takagi wanted him to listen, but 
most of the things they talked about was shallow small-talk. Just now 
they discussed the possibilities of tomorrow's weather.

Clapping hands announced a presence outside the door.
"You may come inside." Takagi said without turning around.

Furtively Hajime glanced from the corner of his eyes aside, and he saw
Karla entering with a pile of trays in her hands, Tomoko behind her with
the rice. Apologetically, she greeted into the round.
"Good evening, Irie-sensei. I am sorry it took me so long, but due to the
delicate matter at hand I sent everyone home except for the guardians."

"It is fine with me." Irie waved his hand casually, quickly
Tomoko and Karla had set a tray in front of everyone.

Hajime didn't believe his eyes... there was a full bowl of rice only
for him, some soup, noodles, fish, vegetables... even a sweet for 
dessert. With his whole self-control he managed to keep an impassive
face and waited for the others to start eating.

They picked up their chop-sticks, and he looked around on his tray.
Really, there were some for him. He had only used his fingers at home,
his parents didn't bother to give him chop-sticks, but secretly
he had tried to use them. Clumsily he picked them up and started
his meal. How would the fish taste? The others in the room didn't
look into his direction as he inexpertly handled them, maybe they
did this on purpose, not to embarrass him.

"Karla-san, this is excellent, as always." Irie ate with incredible
speed, as if he was on the edge of starving, and Hajime meant to
spot a knowing smile on Takagi's face. 

The fish was really excellent, but the noodles had his personal vote. Never 
before he had eaten noodles, his mother saying this would be too much effort 
to prepare.

Takagi's smile turned into a grin.
"A good brewer doesn't always make a good cook, Irie-sensei. I think your wife
has been concentrated on the wrong issue." 

"Some sake?"

Karla poured Takagi and Irie some sake from a pitcher, and much to his shock to
himself, too. He never had been allowed even to get close to the sake-pitcher
in his parents-home! He had to swallow and furtively watched Takagi and
Irie who took one sip, the whole cup was empty. Instantly Karla re-filled
the cups. He eyed the cup, suspenseful, and followed Takagi's and Irie's 
example. He swallowed the content in one sip.

OOOO, it burned in his throat! He felt tears coming into his eyes, and
with great effort he kept his composure. Nobody seemed to notice his dilemma
as he glanced aside.

"Uncle Irie!!!!" The door was shoved aside with force and Tokio charged
into the room, throwing herself at the dignified old man. He endured it
and hugged her back heartfeltly.
"Tokio-chan, my lovely! How are you? I have something for you."
As if by magic a kanzashi appeared in Irie's hands.

"OOO, this is wonderful, Uncle Irie!" enthusiastic Tokio turned the 
glimmering hairpin in her hands.

"Tokio-chan!" Karla scolded her daughter, who made herself comfortable on
Irie's lap.

"Thank you very much, Uncle Irie."
Tokio couldn't divert her eyes from the twinkling hairpin... typical girl.

"You're welcome, Tokio-chan." Irie seemed to laugh down in his throat.

"Since we are altogether now, we might start?"

"A, yes." Irie made himself comfortable. "Kobayashi is starting his assaults
again, talking about your impropriate marriage and your children."

"He should care about his own problems." Takagi hissed through clenched
teeth and nodded in Hajime's direction. "Furthermore I have a heir now, he
better shouldn't doubt my position."

"But he is, Takagi-san, he is. He is openly questioning you within the
inner circle of the clan when you are absent. And you know that some are on 
his side. They don't want to accept their lower status and they want your 
daughter to prove that she is worthy of the task."

"She is still too young!" Much to his astonishment Karla interfered. Wasn't
she, as a woman, supossed to stay quiet in an open discussion?
"Hiko has trained her and admitted that she is talented! What more
could they want in this state of affairs?"

Tired Irie shook his head.
"I don't know, Karla-san. All we can do is wait and be on guard. On the 
long term a fight is inevitable, you will have to face them."

What were they talking about? He tried to follow the conversation,
but he felt exhausted and maybe this *tea* was still slowing him down.
The whole discussion, nearly lasting one hour passed his attention.
He felt utterly relieved when he finally could leave for *his* room
and lay himself down.

And though he was all churned up inside, he fell asleep immediately.

During the years with his parents he had gotten used to a light sleep,
ever attentive, and so he was woken up a little later by furtive footsteps.
He needed a few seconds to recall where he was, still unsure if he wasn't 
dreaming. Then he felt someone kneeling beside him and opened his eyes. In the
full-moon-light he saw Tokio beside him, observing him. He scarcely suppressed 
his need to yell out his shock or to shove her away. Takagi wouldn't be 
pleased.
"What are you doing here, Tokio-chan?"

Sternly she eyed him intensely, a strange look of concentration on her girl's 
face.
"Daddy said you are a very special and rare person, so I wanted to find out 
by myself."

WHAT? Takagi considered him to be special and rare?
Before he could recover from his surprise, Tokio was already gone,
and he wondered if this had been real or just a dream...
like everything on this day.

****

Reconsidering every of Takagi's words in his mind, Irie walked home.
Would they be able to follow their plan and fulfil their duty? They were
carrying a heavy burden.

His sharpened senses perceived a rustling and rushing beside him, and he
looked up to the roof. Irie wasn't able to stifle a sardonic grin as he
spotted the source of the noises: Hagen's faithful messengers, crows.
The demons were watching each one of their steps, it was astonishing to him 
that they hadn't taken action yet, trying to get their grip on the First. 
Maybe they were waiting for the Second and the Third? Were they an easier prey?

He felt nervousness stirring inside him. They planned something, so much was 
sure. Otherwise they wouldn't have kept quiet for so long... and all three
Beasts were needed to prevent a horrible fate for earth.

He pulled his haori closer and sent a look in the direction of the crows,
telling them they were discovered. With a shriek they spread their wings
and flight in a western direction.

Irie knew that it wouldn't make sense to look for Hagen in this direction.
The crows weren't stupid, and they would change their route at last twice.

More troubled than before, he continued his way home.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Started: July 2002
Finished: February 2003
First posted: May 2003

Author's note:

(1)
It was quite common to have a little separated house just for bathing 
(connected to the main house through a floor with a roof). And it was also
quite common that families bathe together... there is more to come, believe
me =^^=. The separated bathing (in hot springs etc) and prostitution was
only frowned upon after the US-occupation after the WWII. BTW... one of the
first things the US 'cleaned' in Japan were the extensive red-light districts,
trying to prevent prostitution. Among other things =^^=.

I hope you all still enjoy reading the story =^^=. There is more to come...
The next chapter will contain a lemon which will not be posted here. 
I think you all know where to find it =^^=.
Though I don't think very much of the NC-17-ban of FF.net, I respect it and
will not post a lemon here with a R-rating like many others.

Ja ne,

Mara