Lies of Little Ladies [Kaminari/Tsubine/Mayumi]

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine was somewhat surprised. He didn't think they would have known one another—and definitely not in the way she said. He imagined the two of them doing a photoshoot and his face turned a little red. Thankfully Mayumi was a child and changed the subject for them. It got his mind off of racier thoughts. He smiled down at his daughter. "Of course, Mayu."

"Have you been learning anything exciting from your tutor? And where's that bokken I bought for you? J said you were taking it everywhere you went."

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine was glad that J hadn't confiscated it like he threatened. Tsubine said it was important for her to learn. J argued it was too big for her. Tomato-tomato. It'd work out. Hearing her talk about what did bring her joy. "Even bakers need math. How many cups of flower are you going to need for three-dozen cookies? And then what if only half of them want chocolate chip in them and the other want sugar cookies? You'll find yourself using math a lot more than you think. Remember what I said, being a big girl means you gotta do things you may not like. Math may be one of those things you may not like but have to do anyway."

The buildings gave way to trees, and the sky became muddled with leaves as they disappeared under the canopy. The trio (and escorts) soon arrived at the stone wall that gave way to the cemetery of irony. This was a place for the dead to revere their dead. "Just the three of us." The guards nodded and did not follow them in. One handed Tsubine a pail with a variety of items inside—including a bundle of brightly-colored hibiscus flowers.

The grave markers were old. These were not the gravestones of great people. These were not the gravestones of wealthy. Some were written in Hiragana—as that was the only way some residents could read. And tucked in a corner was a thin stone pillar with only two wooden plaques. The first plaque read "Kansuke Shirazumi" in Hiragana and had only a single year. The second read "Kanna Hanashiro-Shirazumi" with much more information. It had a date. Today's date, just seven years past.

Predicting the question from Kaminari, Tsubine explained. "Kansuke was my father. I don't know how he wrote his name, nor his birthday. I only know the year he died. When I finally made enough money, I bought this little marker to be the Shirazumi family grave. I found the only place not taken in this old graveyard and carried it here myself."

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine was proud of his daughter. She was smarter than he was at that age. Tsubine couldn't read when he was that young—he could count and read numbers, but that was it. Her being so advanced filled him with pride. More importantly, it brought a smile to his face. He let his daughter lead the conversation from then on. She was enjoying talking to Kaminari, so that was a plus in his book.

Tsubine thought about having Kaminari help with the traditional ritual they performed. Most families didn't do this except during the even-more-ironic obon period in mid-August. Tsubine did it twice a year; once on the anniversary of her death and then again during the obon festivities. However, Kaminari seemed to excuse herself from this. After filling the pail with water, Tsubine had Kaminari hold his jacket so she had something to do and got down to his knees. He gently but thoroughly scrubbed the stone clean.

Mayumi had helped before, and she was given the important tasks of setting out the offerings—a colorful arrangement of Kanna's favorite flowers, a dumpling from the restaurant they had their first date in, and a horribly-folded origami crane. Mayumi pulled out a wrapped chocolate-covered strawberry from her pocket. That was her own part of the offering. Tsubine lit the incense and he and Mayumi once again joined hands.

They said a prayer in unison, then went silent. Even if Mayumi didn't like being here, she had the routine memorized. The final part was silent. They individually said something to Kanna in silence. Once they finished, they bowed and Tsubine turned to Kaminari and took his jacket back. Without a word, he gestured for Kaminari to take her turn. If she didn't, he'd gesture again with intensity. When she finally did, he'd pull Mayumi back and take a respectful step or four back. Some things weren't meant for others to hear...

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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Tsubine was stuck. He didn't know what to do. This wasn't the first woman he'd consoled. But it was different. When he had to do that for Kanna, they were together and there was a certain bond between them that changed how things would happen. When he had to do that for the families of men who died in his service, it was different. When he had to do that for those who lost people due to wanton violence, it was different. A friend mourning the loss of their own friend?

Tsubine reached down to his pocket and removed the folded kerchief. It was there for fashion's sake, but he didn't wear anything that wasn't also functional. He knelt down and handed it to her. "There's nothing to be sorry for, Kaminari." Tsubine glanced back to Mayumi, thinking she might have some insight. Instead, she took it as her cue. The little girl walked up to Kaminari's other side and wrapped her tiny arms as far around the woman as possible. "It's okay. I miss Momma too."

"We all miss Kanna. She was a special woman who brought a lot of joy into this world." Tsubine couldn't bring himself to hug Kaminari like Mayumi was. It felt a little awkward for him to hug another woman at his late wife's grave. Instead, he patted her back. It was still the connection he felt was the right way to go about this without the intimacy of a hug.

KAMINARI HATAKEYAMA

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