Saiyuu no Ryokou: The Continuing Adventures of Yuriko
The Story So Far: Yuriko has spent a pleasant afternoon picnicking with Midori and some of the other Yumi women. Now she and Midori have an appointment for a television appearance. Yuriko can't shake a sense of dread about the whole endeavor.
Volume 2, Issue 12
"Down a Peg"
Midori drove them into town to the local network affiliate's studio. Yuriko watched the landmarks pass by, asking Midori about the unfamiliar buildings. As expected, the writer had a wealth of knowledge about the area's history.
"What's that?" Yuriko pointed at an old-fashioned building practically obscured by pine trees. It wasn't a temple, that much she could see. There wasn't any obvious sign in front and the windows seemed dark.
"That old building? That one has an interesting story. It was the home of an old, wealthy family for a very long time, but after the Meiji restoration, the sons left to join the modernists in Tokyo and the family fell on hard times. During the war, it was used as a hospital for officers...there's some rumors to the effect that the kind of healing that went on there wasn't strictly medical, if you know what I mean." Midori shot a knowing look over at her lover. "After the war, it became a "hospital" for Occupation Forces. You wouldn't think they'd have bothered all the way up here, but..." she shrugged eloquently.
"After the Occupation forces left, three of the nurses from the hospital stayed in the building – the rest married American officers – and they ran the place as an orphanage. The assumption," she said, catching Yuriko's eye, "was that they were left with unwanted children from the days of the hospital.
"When I was a child, there was one old woman still living there. She had Alzhemier's and would call out as we passed by, thinking we were the children who lived there when she was younger. It was very creepy to be called by someone else's name." She fell silent for a long moment.
"Can I ask a personal question?" Yuriko asked. "I mean, this could affect us, so I guess I ought to know."
"What's that?" Midori's eyes were dark and impenetrable.
Yuriko steeled herself. "It's about children." When Midori didn't respond, Yuri continued. "I never thought about it, because I really never had any intention of having any, but I just realized today – you don't actually like them much, do you?"
"Not really," Midori admitted. "For short amounts of time, I guess they're alright. They aren't very interesting."
Yuriko smiled at her lover. "So it's not going to be a problem if we don't plan on having any?"
Midori laughed. "Hardly. I can't see me as Mother of the Year."
"I can't see me as Mother for a second." Yuriko joked. "In fact, I need so much taking care of myself, it'd be ridiculous to contemplate. " She snorted at the idea of herself as a parent.
Quiet settled between them, as they both relaxed marginally, knowing that this, at least wouldn't be a problem for them.
This time Midori broke the silence. "I guess it's a good idea to talk about it, though." She smiled at Yuriko, her eyes warm and bright. "It's better to know now. It would have been ugly to find out later that one of us wanted children and the other didn't."
"Midori," Yuriko breathed her name softly. "My beautiful Midori." She leaned into the other woman and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Placing her hand over Yuriko's, Midori blew a kiss back. "I'm sorry I've been so distant today..." she began.
"No, it's all right," Yuriko interrupted quickly. "I understand, I think."
"No, you don't." Midori said quietly. "Not yet." Her smile was a bit weak, but she tried to sound cheerful as she spoke. "I've never...this is the first time I've ever brought a lover home to meet them."
"Really?" Yuriko could not keep the surprise out of her voice. "The first time?" She ran her hands through her hair. "I am so glad you didn't tell me that before we came up here. I'd have been a nervous wreck."
"I've been a nervous wreck for both of us." Midori's voice shook a little. "There's more we need to talk about...about my family and me and us, but...," they pulled into a parking lot and stopped at the gate, "we're here."
Before they entered the building, Midori paused. "I owe you an explanation, Yuri, but I can't talk about it now. I promise we'll talk later. Trust me?"
The blonde smiled crookedly. "Implicitly. Seriously – whatever's eating you, I'll wait until you want to talk about it – forever if it's got to be that way."
Midori laughed at that. "Oh my goodness – have I made it sound *that* portentous?" She took a deep breath and smiled up at her lover. "How about until tomorrow morning? I have a surprise planned for you."
Yuriko nodded happily. Opening the door to the building, she gestured for Midori to precede her. "A surprise, huh? Does it involve a weekend alone, with no television appearances?"
"A few hours alone, anyway," Midori assured her with a grin. As they entered the building, she said, "And definitely no TV."
***
The television studio was old, built in the Sixties. Yuriko found herself obsessed by the mosaic on the wall in the green room. Apparently, some interior decorator of the past had taken the nickname seriously – the mosaic was festooned with virulent flecks of chartreuse and olive. It made her feel vaguely queasy.
She turned her attention back to the television. Midori looked absolutely resplendent in the dress she was wearing – but then, her lover had exquisite taste in clothes. Yuriko smiled at the memory of her first glimpse into the writer's closet...her amazement at the spectrum of high-end designer names. Yuriko's smile spread at the thought of the surprise she had waiting for Midori when they returned to town. She had arranged a visit with a very exclusive designer…
A loud noise from the television broke her chain of thought and she watched as Midori parried semi-intelligent questions about her life and writing neatly. Yuriko could feel nervousness settle into her stomach as the moment for her to join Midori approached.
She wasn't alone in the green room, but none of the other guests seemed to be in a talkative mood. She smiled down at a young girl who was becoming well known for her paintings and was rewarded with a shy smile in return.
Then the door opened and an assistant with a clipboard called out her name. "Please come with me – you're on after the next commercial break." Yuriko waved goodbye to the painter and followed the assistant.
"How long has this show been on TV?" Yuriko asked politely.
The assistant whirled around in agitation. "About five years – why?" There was a suspicious edge to her voice, something that spoke of an innate nastiness.
"I was just curious," Yuriko explained mildly. "Is Osaka-san local? She seems to have a very big local following."
"Osaka-san is a self-made woman," the assistant intoned. "She's from Akita Prefecture and has made her mark on the television world with programming for a female audience."
Yuriko lifted an eyebrow at the assistant's canned answer. "So, the answer is `yes', then?" She shot a smile at the woman and ignored her from then on. She didn't know much about Osaka Teruo, but she knew that the woman had a cult-like following among young and middle-aged married women.
The assistant scowled at Yuriko, and left her with mumbled instructions at the side of the stage. Yuri could make out a medium sized studio with a full audience. They looked to be mostly middle- aged women. Well, that was to be expected.
Yuriko craned her neck to see Midori in her seat. She looked slightly paler than usual. That was to be expected, the singer supposed. It wasn't like her lover was in the habit of doing morning talk shows. Not like she was, anyway. Yuriko thanked the sound engineer who fitted the mic to her lapel and smiled at the PA who stood by her side. No one returned her smile. In fact, everyone seemed just this side of hostile. But there was no time to think of this now – her name had just been announced and it was time for her to join her lover on the stage.
It wasn't until she saw Midori's face close up that Yuriko knew that something was very, very wrong.
Continued
Saiyuu no Ryokou, all characters and situation copyright E. Friedman. All rights reserved.