DRAFT OF A LETTER TO KANONE HILBERT
[A torn first draft deposited in a wastebasket, written in the middle of the night in restive English cursive. It's been copied out without the mistakes and delivered in a alter form by post to a private cell in the heart of Osaka]
[Scrunched at the top, as an afterthought introduction, the original introduction crossed out afterwards:]I'd ( Read more... )
[Scrunched at the top, as an afterthought introduction, the original introduction crossed out afterwards:]I'd ( Read more... )
Dear Eyes,
Do come visit but do not bring Kiyotaka with you--I would sooner jump off a cliff than see him--no, I would sooner spend a week with Hizumi than Kiyotaka. [ At this point is where the paper might or might not have been stabbed. ] Do please be careful, though, on your trip. And thank you [ kitten drawing in corner ] for taking care of that rip. Mr. Whiskers will be very pleased to see that his comrade is well.
My value--I wonder what that is these days. Kirie tells me things--about how it's going out there, about you, about Ayumu. I know some things, yes, by being here, and they will be taken care of. At least, that is--as much as I can take care of them where I am at.
Do not get me wrong. I do not wish to leave this cage right now. Right now, I'm as okay with this as I'll ever be. I don't need the comfort--I just need the results. Little Narumi will bring me such things, I hope--yes, hope. What a funny thing that is. I hope. You hope. We all hope. It's weird now, to know that everyone is putting such hope [ Yes, this is hope after all-- ] into Little Narumi. But, I suppose this is how is it to be.
After all, that man [ Another kitten. ] is absolute. I hate him. I really, really hate him.
Your mum--I apologize. I wish I could come with you, but I am here. I know though, that I'll see you when you get back. [ And finally, a second before last kitten! ]
[ And, no, he doesn't hold back. Not him. This is Kanon; he never holds back anything. ]
Love,
Kanon ♥ [ Yes, yes he did draw a heart in there. And, yes, there is one final kitten at the bottom of the page. ]
Reply
Dear Kanone,
I've an irrational desire to send you a box of crayons, but I fear my meaning might be lost. Instead I'll say quite plainly, "don't be such a child".
My intentions would be to bring you back forthwith to your gidled cage at the excursion's close.
Something of the notion of Kirie Tsuchira expending her considerable temper upon you tempts me in regard of the idea of...vacation, Mum and the absolute machinations of Kiyotaka aside.
To reassure: the journey, regardless of whether or not Kiyotaka takes his liberties, is intended to be quite brief, and certainly would give you more to preoccupy yourself with than the questionably titled "Mr. Whiskers."
I am assured of this particularly in considering the fact I took the liberty of purchasing you a female Himalayan kitten.
...Some cabin fever is to be expected in your condition.
I've some doubt of my ability to arrange such a short notice holiday in the future.
I urge you to reconsider.
Your expressions of hope are most reassuring. This only reassures me of the rightness of your accompaniment.
With warmest regards,
Eyes Rutherford
Reply
I think I would like a box of crayons, actually. The meaning would have been very lost, for I would have used them to draw more kitties!
I don't want to go. He tried to have me killed. I will not -- [ This is cut off on accident actually, as he's staring at Mr. Whiskers in his lap. Wait, what? Mr. Whiskers is a girl? ... be right back, going to check this.
... FFFFUUUU--just. Beet red. Handwriting is a bit scribbly. ] -- just shhh! Mr. Whiskers already answers to Mr. Whiskers even though Mr. Whiskers is a girl and just. [ Ahhhh, embarrassment. How if feels to know this feeling again. Normally, if talking with him normally yes, Kanon would whine and tell him to stop being a meanie face. ]
Yes, there may be some cabin fever. I--apologize beforehand then.
I doubt anyone's ability for that arrangement.
Maybe--I'll take it into consideration.
I would only hope they were reassuring. [ He sure reassured himself, that's for sure. ]
Love,
Kanon ♥ [ Yes, more hearts; this is how Kanon rolls. ]
Reply
Dear Kanone,
Expect a box of crayons as per your request, on my next visit. [Also expect a light tap over the head with it, if he doesn't catch it first. Killer reflexes laugh in the face of certain crayons, he's sure.]
I'm certain your cat could care less what you call her, provided you call her. I'm also quite sure she has no ability to read my letters, and therefore come face to face with the apalling truth. [A hint of sarcasm? From Eyes?]
Once again, I commend your powers of observation, and keen instinct for names, brother. Clearly someone must urinate in your bedding in my place. [More than just a hint, that's probably a whole crayon box's worth of sarcasm...but he's amused despite the meanness of the tone. There's affection in it, and not an uncommon bit of nostalgia]
The difficulty comes in considering which gender of cat to gift you with the next time: Male would lead to unpleasant revelations unto Mister Whiskers, and Female would simply be...inappropriate, considering.
On the matter of your vacation, your esteem for my organizational abilities is more flattering than is proper, I'm sure.
Consider quickly.
In the happiness of those who believe,
Eyes Rutherford
Postscript: Is it really necessary to deface every paper you send me?
Reply
Dear Eyes,
[ You can have a kitten to start out with. Kanon will catch those crayons. Totes. 8|b ]
You're hurting Mr. Whiskers's feelings. Don't be so mean to her. [ Frownie face. ] And, no, she doesn't urinate in my bed in your place. Only you can urinate in my bed--if that makes any sense at all, of course. [ Smiley face! ]
I feel rushed. But, if you can arrange it, I'll go.
Love,
Kanon ♥♥ [ And now there are two hearts. Along with this hurried in after: ] and, sorry--it just happens~
Reply
It's certainly not my intention to insult a cat. [not in front of Kanone, anyway. Eyes can't help but be fond of cats because Kanoen was fond of them.]
Certainly some training must occur to make the necessary shifts for Mr. Whiskers--who lacks a first name--to truly take my place as your roommate:
-The capacity for pinpoint accuracy, to start. [A touch of nostalgia at the time Eyes hurled a knife right behind him into Kanone's head...]
-The capacity to belittle you with questionable humor over matters most others know nothing about, for another.
-The capacity to kidnap you with little warning, and call it vacationing without so much as a guilty twinge, for still another.
[Even now, he wont' catch him being guilty about it, though he plays at it in the letter.]
-The capacity to be dear enough to you, for you not to feel the slightest bit disagreeable on the subject. [An unspoken fondness...]
...I fear there's so great an amount lacking. No matter the cleverness and desirability of the cat I chose for you, she may just shirk her duty.
[How does he say he loves him without saying it outright? Surprise surprise...]
Consequentally, I may need to get you another cat so that the duties may be split evenly between the two, that their affections might rest on you properly.
[A little hesitantly, a drawing, sketched lightly, and carefully, of a cat, bats at the last word, tail high in the air. It looks almost as though it's been engraved there.]
Of course, that leaves it entirely to you to break the news to Mr. Whiskers that she is not, in fact, male, and any actions as such upon a female housemate would be certainly less appreciated.
I expect the new cat to be a suitable role model of appropriate feminine virtue and grace to Mr. Whiskers. [More very dry humor]
Please be prepared for our little excursion when next we meet, and forgive me in advance for certain elements of its timeliness.
As ever, your brother,
-Eyes Rutherford.
[A small sketch of a spilled out pool forming a lopsided puddle-flat...heart? It's indistinct, perhaps deliberatley so. A kitten bats at the water, just in the very bottom corner of the paper, almost unnoticeably tiny...]
Reply
Leave a comment