But then again, wasn't that what love was about? Giving your heart to someone and trusting they would not drop it, handing them the power to hurt you and hoping they would never do such a thing. It was all about hope, and though he had never been a dreamer, he wanted to believe.
Links: Masterpost | RP | OCs
Hope
When Kojuro opened the door to his home that day, he found himself smiling. There was little he could do about it—the changes in his life were things he had been longing for, things that he thought he would never have but that somehow life had given him even when he thought all it did was take from him. It was a pleasant surprise, really. He stayed in the doorway for a few more seconds, quietly enjoying the sight in front of him; he had never known Natsu to be one to baby talk anything or anyone, and yet there she was, lost in Bontenmaru and his bowl.
“Isn’t it nice to swim in a clean bowl, Bontenmaru? No papers, clear water…”
“If I didn’t know you, I’d think you accepted to move in just to see Bontenmaru.”
Kojuro chuckled when he got the reaction he was looking for, stepping into the room—Natsu jumped, and looked back at him with a bright pink blush settling on her cheeks. Then, she huffed, crossing her arms over under her breasts in an attempt to look angry and instead she looked adorable—she would never be frightening, not for him, no matter how hard she tried.
“I did not,” She complained. “I could see him whenever I wanted before, when I came to bring you lunch.”
“But now you do not leave,” Kojuro chuckled. “I’m home.”
He grinned, and Natsu found the battle was lost. There was no point in arguing—she needed to get dinner done, for she had wasted precious time with this little guy instead of preparing what she would need. It was weird, and she was still getting used to the fact they lived together and she had no need to go back to her aunt’s home. This was her home. It was theirs.
The thought sent butterflies all over her stomach, fluttering.
“Welcome home, Milord.”
Kojuro placed his hand on top of her head, moving it softly to stroke her hair until it had reached her cheek. The motion was slow and tender, it was warm. He smiled when she leaned into his touch, much like a cat would have done, then discarded the thought; felines, in general, had a dislike for him, he did not want to think about her as someone who could scratch him at some point.
But then again, wasn't that what love was about? Giving your heart to someone and trusting they would not drop it, handing them the power to hurt you and hoping they would never do such a thing. It was all about hope, and though he had never been a dreamer, he wanted to believe. He wanted to be naïve for once and not worry about her leaving. He wanted to love her in a way she would not ever think if she was missing something out of his arms. Kojuro wanted her, but life had stolen so many things from him that sometimes he could not help but be afraid.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” Natsu voiced, softly, placing her hand on top of his, still on her cheek. “Did something happen at the castle? Is Lord Masamune alright? Or did something happen to Pora?”
He shook his head, with a smile tinged with amusement. "No reason. Sometimes I still think this might be a dream. To have you here, with me, at all times.”
“Not at all times, we both have to work,” Caught up in the moment, Natsu turned her head slightly just to press a kiss to his palm. Soft. Quick. She moved away from his touch later. “And I need to get dinner ready.”
“Have you thought about it?”
Natsu paused but did not turn around at the sound of his voice. She knew she had to give them an answer—it was not polite to keep them waiting, and it was definitely not appropriate to turn down Lord Date without a real reason. But she was scared, and no one could blame her for it. Who would not be intimidated to have a job at Yonezawa Castle offered so suddenly?
“No, I have not.”
Kojuro smiled. “Precious girl.”
“Do not precious girl me,” She groaned. “It’s not so easy.”
“I think it is, though. We could go to work and walk home together,” She was not looking at him, but she had come to know him well enough to know he was smirking. “You’d have Pora around too. Besides, I think you impressed them the last time.”
Oh, he did not go there.
Natsu felt the blush creeping over her face, quickly, lighting her up in an instant. Did he not know she was still trying to forget that? She had not been able to help herself—the moment Kojuro had mentioned Lord Masamune had trouble eating and that, in fact, he barely ate, she had reacted without a second thought. She had run around, saying that no lord should starve himself to death while Pora pretty much laughed at her for fretting so much.
She fretted so much they gave her permission to use the kitchen.
At her silence, and knowing very well where her mind was going, Kojuro pulled himself to his feet. It took everything in him not to burst out laughing—she was overreacting, after all—and wrapped his arms around her. She was tense, almost a statue in his arms, and that almost made him lose composure.
“There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Yes, of course, because it was not you who made a fool of himself.”
Oh, she was pouting. This time he was not fast enough, and chuckles rolled out of his tongue before he could stop them.
“You did not make a fool of yourself,” Unfair, as he knew she would say, he pressed a trail of kisses from her ear to her cheek all the way to her jaw. She gasped, and he smiled, pulling away just so he could turn her around and face her. “You just showed that you care deeply for people you love.”
“Kojuro, I need to prepare—“ She tried to argue.
A peck. “Or, in this case, since it is far too early, for the people I love.”
Masamune looked at Kojuro for help, still in a daze. Kojuro, though, merely smiled—this was not his battle to fight.
Links: Masterpost | RP | OCs
The Mother Hen
When Natsu got to the castle that day, she knew something was wrong. It was almost eerie how silent the castle was—she had not been here much after that first dinner with Pora and Lord Masamune, but the few times she had come, it had been much more lively than this. Usually, even Pora came out to receive her and talked her into staying with her for the afternoon. Today, even though it had been Kojuro’s request, no one had come to guide her in.
She thought it odd, but just because she had gotten so used to her friendship with Pora that now she almost felt like Yonezawa was another home for her. The thought took her by surprise, but she laughed it off.
One of the retainers that had gotten used to seeing her around, directed her toward the last place he had seen Kojuro, which was none other than Lord Masamune’s chambers. Natsu hesitated a second before walking through the hallway the retainer had told her, almost as if she was afraid to intrude—if he was with Lord Masamune, he was probably working. That meant she should not intrude in whatever business they were discussing.
However, when she reached the place where she could hear their voices coming out of the room, she realized she was not alone; Pora was there as well, a conflicted expression on her face as she seemed to listen what was going on inside. It did not seem like it was politics, that much Natsu was sure of, but a much more personal matter. She got closer, and once Pora lifted her head to meet her eyes, she offered her a smile.
“Do you mind if I keep you company?”
“I didn’t know you were coming today,” Pora forced herself to smile and the motion did not go unnoticed for her friend. “Kojuro didn’t tell me. If I had known, I would have gone to meet you.”
“You don’t have to,” She shook her head. “I mean, I still get lost in the castle but I can manage.”
Pora smiled despite herself, and soon enough found herself laughing softly. Perhaps, she thought, it was good to have company to distract herself; it was not as if her concerns could be erased, but a distraction seemed attractive enough while Kojuro kept arguing with her husband behind closed doors. They were both worried. They both knew Masamune had been pushing himself too far, and there was only one possible outcome for this situation, one Pora did not want to think about.
Instead, she took a deep breath and moved to take Natsu’s arm. “It seems like they are busy at the moment. Why don’t we get some tea and sweets while they settle? I’m sure Kojuro will come looking for you as soon as he’s done, you know how he is.”
A soft blush appeared on her friend's cheeks, but she did not deny anything nor did she refuse her offer. Natsu followed Pora to the kitchen, where the maids hurried to prepare their tea and then they moved to the veranda—some fresh air would do her some good, as well as the company next to her.
Natsu stayed silent as she took her seat, watching as the concern fogged Pora’s green eyes. There was definitely something going on, and she could not help but wonder if it had to do with what Kojuro had mentioned a few days ago; Lord Masamune had not been eating well as of late, due to the amount of work that made its way to them. He tried to take as much as he could, but there was little he could do to convince his Lord to take a break.
She decided, then, that it was only normal for a wife to be worried about her husband.
“Is everything okay, Pora?” She voiced. “I don’t want to intrude, but you seem… troubled.”
Her friend smiled. “It’s okay. Or I want to think so, at least.”
The hesitation in Pora’s voice was apparent, but she could not bring herself to add more. After all, she knew Masamune was only caring for her in his own way, but that did not make it any easier to see him pushing himself like this. It was in these moments when Pora felt the rush of anger toward her mother-in-law, when she could not help but think of all the damage that woman had caused to her husband… To a point, he could not even enjoy food without the constant worry that it might be his last meal.
“Are you sure? If I can help, you just have to t—“
Screams interrupted her midsentence, and the alerted look on Pora’s eyes was impossible to miss. Something had happened; they could hear the retainers running through the hallways, all of them asking for a doctor. Natsu, too, recognized Kojuro’s voice among all the chaos and the worry it held.
Pora left the tea behind without a second thought, rushing through the hallway and dodging the running retainers as fast as she could. Her heart was beating painfully fast in her chest, the echo making it hard to listen to her own thoughts, and she could feel the tears burning her eyes as she fought to hold them back. Something had happened to Masamune, and that was all she could think of.
When she finally reached the room, she hesitated to open the door. Her husband had not wanted to worry her—perhaps she should wait outside? No, but she could not just stay there and do nothing, she could not let the anguish consume her as it was. Her hand reached for the door, with the slowness only nervousness could cause, and before she could pull it open, Kojuro did.
There was a hint of surprise to see her there, and then worry clouded his eyes. “I apologize, Pora. I think I pushed him too far. He collapsed while we were arguing. I shouldn’t have said—“
He trailed off when he realized Natsu was standing behind Pora, a frown on her face.
“I didn’t know you had arrived. I’m sorry,” He shrugged.
Pora, on her part, could only feel anxiety, as it pooled in her stomach and weighted her down. “W-Will he be okay?”
“Has he eaten anything at all today?” Natsu voiced next, crossing her arms. Kojuro knew that expression very well, having seen it so many times at home. “There’s a big chance that he has overworked himself and exhaustion caught up to him. While the doctor comes, we should prepare something for him.”
Kojuro smiled softly. “You are right.”
He placed a soothing hand on Pora’s head, as a big brother would, and offered her a smile. He understood very well how she was feeling, he understood the deep desperation that had taken root in her heart because he felt it as well, but right now it was his turn to be her rock to hold on to, and not the other way around.
"Would it be okay if I borrowed your kitchen, Pora?" Natsu smiled next as if she wanted to promise her that it would be fine. "Lord Masamune needs to eat something, but I don't really know where it is. You could also help me out, I don’t know what dishes he prefers.”
“But…” She frowned.
Kojuro laughed. “I will be right next to him, Pora. The doctor will be here soon.”
“That’s right,” Natsu pulled her softly, almost teasingly. “Kojuro knows better than to step in the kitchen, we are all way safer if he stays here.”
“I can’t cook to save my life either, Natsu,” That was Pora.
“Lucky us, I can,” She smiled. “And you will help me telling me all about the things he loves, so he can enjoy the food. Let’s go.”
Kojuro watched them go with a mix of pride and love, almost like he could not believe it had not occurred to him before. If Natsu had actually managed to make him clean after himself, then that meant she would be able to make Lord Masamune eat—or he hoped so, at least. He could still feel the knot on his throat when he stepped inside the room once again, where he had left Lord Masamune in his futon with a cold cloth on his forehead.
Oh, his Lord.
He worked so hard to win everyone's approval that sometimes he forgot to take care of himself as if his health was not as important as taking care of the Clan. Kojuro sighed to himself, taking a seat on the right and he waited patiently for the doctor to come, secretly hoping that it would all work out in their favor.
He was also secretly relieved that it had been exhaustion what made him collapse this time and not another poisoning attempt.
Once she was in the kitchen, she moved around. Pora seemed to be doing a little bit better now, which was a relief for Natsu—she could not begin to imagine what she must have been feeling, but if she could help then she would. She had heard the stories from Kojuro and a few more from Pora, about the Lord Masamune’s evil mother and her attempts of assassination toward her son. She had not wanted to believe it at first, but seeing the pain in both their faces had convinced her about it.
“You think he is going to eat this time?” Pora asked, from her place next to Natsu. She had asked her to stay close, even if she would not help her cook. “I’ve been trying for days, but…”
“Oh, I will make sure he does,” Natsu frowned. “As a liege lord, he should be taking better care of himself. If I have to make him eat, then I will. He will not get better if he doesn’t eat.”
That made Pora laugh a little, perhaps just because it was easy for her to picture Natsu speaking in that same tone to Kojuro.
“Thank you. It’s hard to trust the food brought to us with Yoshihime’s threats around.”
Natsu huffed. “Well, to poison my food she would have to poison me first, and I’m not letting that happen. You don’t have to worry.”
Pora watched everything in silence, with the anxiety still circling her body. Would her husband recover? Was it only exhaustion or something more serious? Had the doctor arrived already? The questions were endless in her mind, and no matter how much she tried to quiet it, it was useless. By the time she had managed to regain some more control of herself, Natsu was already placing the food on a tray.
Her friend only smiled, and Pora returned the gesture with some more meaning than before.
As they approached the room, Pora recognized Kojuro’s voice as he spoke to who she assumed was the doctor, and relief rushed through her like cold water. By the sound of things, it was nothing so serious, and that made her feel more confident to open the door and step in.
It did not make the scene any easier to watch, but the knowledge that it was nothing they should worry about was enough for now. Her husband was pale, she noticed it immediately, and a concerned frown fell on her face at the sight. She wanted to cry, again, but she did not. Pora heard Natsu entering after her, while she moved to ask the doctor his condition.
“He should be alright after a good rest,” The doctor said. “Exhaustion is not a silent illness, which means he must have ignored all the signals. But he will be fine, you do not have to worry.”
“Thank you.”
The doctor excused himself after that, a bow meant for everyone inside the room, and Pora fell silent. She moved closer to her husband, her fingers combing his hair softly… The frown was still on her face, as the concern had yet to abandon her, but she did not say anything. Kojuro decided to focus on something else, almost as if to give them some space and turned to speak to Natsu.
With a grimace on his lips, Masamune groaned in pain, causing a gasp to leave Pora’s eyes. This time, though, as much as she tried, the tears came rushing. It was relief and anger and worry all at once, awoke by the sudden sight of his eye. She gave him a tiny smile, her fingers soft on his hair.
“Welcome back,” Her voice was barely a whisper, only audible for him. “I’m so glad you’re back with us. I’ll bring you some tea.”
Hurriedly, Pora pulled herself to her feet and exited the room. Her tears, as much as she had tried to hide them, had been apparent for Natsu—she felt her feathers being ruffled, a frown on her face as she moved the tray toward Lord Masamune. What had he been thinking? Oh, he was going to listen to her.
“Good afternoon, Lord Masamune,” She placed the tray in front of him, her voice firm. “Are you aware of what happened to you?”
Masamune looked at Kojuro for help, still in a daze. Kojuro, though, merely smiled—this was not his battle to fight.
“I—“ He tried to answer.
“No, Milord, you are clearly not aware of what happened,” Natsu placed the chopsticks in his hand and moved the tray closer in a gesture that left no room for arguments. “You have been neglecting your health and as a result, you have not only collapsed, but you have worried everyone around you as well. I understand that as a liege lord you have no choice but to put up with this workload, but you should know better than to push yourself too far.”
Perhaps if Natsu were less protective of her friends she would realize that this was no way to speak to the Lord of the Castle. But she was not, and all she could think of was Pora and her conflicted expression, her tears full of concerns, and how this man dismissed his health as if it was not a matter of importance.
“Can you not see it? Not taking care of yourself is not a matter that only affects you, it affects everyone here that loves you,” Natsu crossed her arms, lips pressed into a thin line before sighing. “You cannot keep doing this, Lord Masamune. It is very inconsiderate of you, and more than that, putting yourself at risk means risking the Clan as well. Is that not your goal? To protect the Date? If something happens to you, then you cannot protect it. If you cannot take care of yourself, then you cannot take care of other people. It is as simple as that.”
Kojuro watched the scene with a pinch of amusement, having been on the other side himself. Judging by the conflict wavering in Lord Masamune as he pulled himself to a sitting position and did not refuse the food, it was clear that some of her words had made its mark on him. That was good enough for him.
"I'm sorry I've worried you all," That was all Masamune could mutter as if he was afraid the wrong word would make her go off on him again. Was this what Kojuro went through as well?
“If you are so sorry, then I hope you start taking better care of yourself, Milord,” This time, though, Natsu’s voice recovered the softness he was used to hearing. There was a smile on her face as well. “And the first step is to eat everything I’ve made for you. In the meantime, I think you owe your wife an apology as well.”
Masamune realized then that Pora was standing in the doorway, concern framing her eyes as she looked inside. He had really made a mess of himself, hadn't he? He took a bite, slightly afraid that he would taste the bitterness of poison he had grown accustomed to but found none of it there. The sigh of relief Kojuro let out did not go unnoticed, as it did not the tiny smile his wife wore.
Tatsu’s hands on his face were gentle, like she was trying to memorize his face by touch. Her green eyes glimmered with curiosity, touching his nose and letting out a giggle when her father gasped with surprise.
Links: Masterpost | RP.
To Be a Father
There were a lot of reasons why Date Masamune was so insecure. People around him had made sure he doubted everything and everyone, beginning with his own mother. Danger, that’s what his eyes told everyone. He was odd in a way people had not seen before. Unknown things caused fear among people, and so he was feared.
Instead of the childhood a normal child would have gone through, instead of all the happy memories one would hold from that time… He only got that ‘demon spawn’; his mother had made sure to remind him every time that he was exactly that. Loving words never left Yoshihime’s lips, at least not directed at him. He grew up thinking that an evil child like him deserved not love.
But that evil child got married. Masamune was still not sure how he had managed to have someone as wonderful as Pora in his life, but he had her. She was his greatest strength, his shelter. She gave him all the love he could have never asked, and he gave her his heart in return. Yet, the insecurity had never vanished completely.
His mother’s words came back from time to time. Making him hesitate, doubt if the greatest light of his life deserved to be with someone as dark as him. Those thoughts never really disappeared. They went back and forth, sometimes vanishing for a few months, then coming back with more force than before.
Sometimes he still wondered if it was even fair for her to be stuck with someone like him. His wife was odd in her own way. In a beautiful way, if he was honest. Colorful, honest, brilliant... That was his Pora. She was one of a kind and he had been lucky enough to find her, despite of the circumstances they had met in.
A sigh escaped him, as the quiet laugh of the baby he was holding took him back to reality.
Masamune looked down, somewhat afraid, and his eye fell on his daughter’s face. That fragile thing was his. That beautiful girl was his. She was small in his arms, soft and warm. Her green eyes were glued to his face, watching every movement of his features with nothing but love… But, again, he was not sure if he deserved that much.
The Demon Spawn had a child. And oh, he had been so excited when Pora told him the news. But having a girl was different. He saw his own wife in her every time those eyes looked at him. Every time Tatsu stretched his arms to him, demanding her dad’s presence. Masamune could not tell if he deserved to have such a thing. It almost felt like a luxury: having a family, one that loved him.
After all, his own family had not done much for him.
Just like he had done with Kojirou all those years, Masamune wanted nothing but to protect that little girl on his arms. But the fear was strong, probably stronger than he was. He was afraid of cursing her, for he was a cursed child himself. The relief he felt when he saw she had not gotten his eyes could not be described, but he still felt it whenever he looked at her. She was pure, good. She was nothing like him.
His hand trembled slightly.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice barely audible.
Tatsu was stretching her arms to him, trying to reach his face with the most serious expression he had ever seen in a baby. It made him laugh. If he looked at her long enough, he knew he would lose himself in all the love he had for her, all the love he felt like he should not have within him. But just like her mother, Tatsu did not seem to care at all. She wanted him. And just that serious expression on her green eyes made him feel better; Pora, too, had that same talent to make his days brighter with the simplest things.
Her hands finally reached his face, touching it softly. So small, so fragile, yet so loving; that was how her touch felt against his skin. Even though this was not the first time he held a child, it always felt different. It felt different when he held Momoko, when he held Katsumori… Tatsu was his, and every time he took her in his arms it was like the first time all over again.
Did he really deserve all that? That joy of holding his child? Children were something he knew he’d have eventually. Being the Head of the Clan included that kind of responsibilities. He never thought much about it until he realized what he felt for Pora was not only affection. After that, Masamune knew children were not only part of his job, they were something he wanted.
Having a girl was different.
She was softer, warmer, and so many things he was not.
Tatsu’s hands on his face were gentle, like she was trying to memorize his face by touch. Her green eyes glimmered with curiosity, touching his nose and letting out a giggle when her father gasped with surprise. Masamune was definitely not used to those little moments, no matter how many times he took care of her instead of Pora. His daughter was always quiet yet full of surprises.
Just like when she tried to pinch his cheeks.
“No, Tatsu… Don’t do that.”
When he reached to take her hands from his face, she took one of his fingers in his hand. His hand trembled slightly; were babies supposed to be this strong? His little girl sure was small, but powerful; her grip on his finger was firm, her eyes on him. It was almost like she was asking him to not leave her, not yet.
He sighed. “What are you doing to me?”
Masamune did not know.
There were so many things spinning on his head that he felt dizzy. He was scared. He was excited. But, at the same time, he couldn’t help but be afraid of all those new emotions that the little cherub he had in his arms had awaken on him. Was it all right for a cursed child to feel that happiness? Was it ok for someone like him to be holding something so precious like Tatsu was to him?
She was his daughter, and his love for her would never falter… But what about her love for him?
His finger still trapped in her hand, Masamune watched her. It was the indescribable bond of daughter and father, silence being more important than any pointless words. His heart was full of doubts, of fears. He was scared that when, perhaps, when Tatsu grew old she would realize just what kind of man he was…
What kind of man was him, anyway?
Heart beating hectic against his chest, he tried to free his hand from her grip. Maybe it was time to check on Pora. Maybe Tatsu would feel better with her mother than with him, because he was not entirely sure what he was doing now. All the mixed emotions were rushing through his veins, but his eyes never left the green orbs of his daughter. Tatsu was pouting now, like she knew that he was about to disappear.
Her grip on him just got tighter.
“Dada…” Tatsu frowned, upset and with teary eyes.
Masamune held his breath. Had he heard her right? Did his daughter just talked? And more than that, her first word had been his and only his. That made him forget any doubt, any thought that was not about her. Tatsu pursed her lips together, forming a pout, and Masamune thought he was going to melt in that exact moment.
How could someone be so… endearing?
It was a relief, though. Tatsu had taken longer to talk. She never babbled, and somehow that made him think that perhaps there was something wrong with her. But there wasn’t. His lips drew a proud smile, as he pulled her closer to his heart, to him. Tatsu just rather do things when she felt prepared for them… Like saying the right words in the perfect moment. Time seemed to have stopped around him, his entire attention again on Tatsu. Her free hand reached for his kimono, grabbing him just as tightly as she had his finger. No, she was not letting him go. Her lip trembled, as she watched him.
She didn’t want him to go.
“Dada…” she repeated. “Go?”
Warmth arised from within him, strong with the love he felt for her. It was like a flame, he knew. A flame that would protect her from anything, even from himself… Though, for the look on her green eyes, Masamune knew there was nothing about himself he had to protect her from. His hand took hers, wrapping it around the tiny had of her daughter as she tried to keep her grip on him.
“No, I’m not going anywhere.”
Masamune didn’t know how badly he had needed to hear her saying that single word until then.
Just outside the door, Pora smiled to herself. That glint of happiness and pride that her husband wore now was more than enough for her. That sweet smile that she loved so much had appeared on his lips, as he turned himself to dote on his daughter with no regrets, with nothing holding him back.
There was no trace of the doubts she had seen on his eyes since Tatsu had been born. Not anymore. The hesitation in his eyes was gone, replaced only by the proud love only a father could feel for his daughter. And as little Tatsu reached for him, the smile on Masamune’s face only grew wider.
“They have been here the whole time,” He said, smile dancing on his lips as he took a glance at his two boys, now all grown up. “They saw the best in me, the worst in me, and stayed. That is what family is all about.”
He took a glance at the mirror, his trembling body betraying his terrified heart as he proved to see if it was true. If he was a demon, like his mother had said. Yet, he could not find anything different in his face...
“My eyes,” He whispered, suddenly hopeful. “Maybe it lives in my eye. If I cover it, maybe...”
If he won, then he would demand some of moms anmitsu and a new ball to play with. He was going to win, too, but even if his dad came in here there would be no way he could find him.
Written by Crystal.
Links: OCs | RP.
Peek-A-Boo
“I will count to 10. Make sure you are hidden well before then, you don’t want me to find you.”
Katsumori nodded and waited for his father to close his eyes, arms crossed. The moment he started to count though, he shook head harshly. “No, Dad. Cover your eyes!”
Kojuro opened one. “Do you not trust me?”
“You are tricky.” He mumbled.
Kojuro laughed, closed his eyes and then covered the with one hand. “Like this, then?”
“That’s better!”
“One…two…”
It did not take him any time at all to scramble from the room and down the hall; Katsumori knew exactly where to hide that his father would never find him. If he won, then he would demand some of moms anmitsu and a new ball to play with. He was going to win, too, but even if his dad came in here there would be no way he could find him.
He slid the door open to his father’s study, found the biggest pile of books and covered himself with them; and then he waited.
“Ten. I hope you have hidden well.”
Katsumori smiled and crouched lower, allowing the books to fall over him in a more messy way. It didn’t matter if he could see or not; his dad would never find him in here. He couldn’t even find Bontenmaru when he left his bowl in this room. He knew, because he overheard his mom fussing about it the night before. It was perfect.
He could hear his father opening cabinets and drawers in the other rooms, listened to him slide the doors open and shut in others. His feet padded past the study twice before he opened the door; Katsumori held his breath and waited.
“Not here either?” Kojuro’s voice was full of doubt, and it took all of Katsumori’s control not to laugh and give himself away.
He walked into the room, glanced under the table; Katsumori watched what he could see, observing how his father tossed a few books around and stepped toward the pile he was in with a pause. There were layers upon layers of books on top of him. Kojuro too one and then dropped it back onto the pile.
“Maybe he’s outside…?”
When Kojuro walked back out of the room and the sound of his footsteps was far enough way, Katsumori let out a deep giggle. It worked! He had tricked his dad, no matter how smart he was, no matter how tricky, for one Katsumori had been trickier. Now he just had to wait for his father to say that it was time for him to come out.
It took a long time; he almost fell asleep under the pile of books. Kojuro had opened the door to the office three more times, circled back through the house, and even begun to offer incentive to expose himself, and still Katsumori remained hidden. It was not over until his father decided that he had been bested.
“Katsumori, this is no longer funny.” His father was in the room next to the study. “You need to come out.”
He was quiet. Those were not the words.
Kojuro sighed. “I give up. Show me where you are.”
“I’m in here, Daddy!”
His father’s footsteps pounded out of the room next door and into the study, slamming the screen open. Katsumori popped out of the pile like a fish out of water, spraying them everywhere with no concern for the shape they fall in. He had won, and that was all that mattered.
“I win! I win!” Katsumori cheered, then lowered his arms at the lost expression on his father’s face. “Daddy…?”
Kojuro shook his head when he realized just how tightly he had been holding his fists, letting out a short laugh. “Your mother is never going to let me hear the end of this. I lost my own son in my mess.”
“I wasn’t lost. I knew where I was.”
He laughed again. “Yes, you did well Katsumori; is there any way I can convince you not to tell your mother?”
“Anmitsu. And a new ball!”
“Of course.” Kojuro closed the space between them, taking his son’s hand in his own. “Just don’t leave my side, Katsu. No more hiding.”
“Books, my dear,” Her mother smiled, placing the old poetry book in her small hands. “They will be your best friends in times of loneliness, the best confidants in times of sorrow. You just have to treasure them, and they will treasure you back.”
