So for my 43rd story on this site I venture off into yet another fandom - this time Donten Ni Warau, or Laughing Under The Clouds. I adored this anime and loved the manga even more, and it's well worth both watching and reading.
Spoilers, funnily enough.
The Things Kinjou Shirasu Left Behind
Eight complete disguises and more than seventeen partial ones, including three Gokumonjo prison guard uniforms. Tenka appropriated all of them, citing the fact that he was going to be the most awesome father/mother/uncle/brother/grandfather that any Kumoh child could ever need.
Seven wooden sandals – a ninja had no need for the noisy shoes, and besides, Gerokichi had hidden one of them so the fourth pair was incomplete.
Six small, round, deep baskets that Soramaru tried to burn and Tenka rescued at the last minute. "Why would you even need to dress up as a woman again?" Soramaru had spluttered, but returned the baskets to the chest where the other, more convincing disguises were held. After all you could never tell with Tenka.
Five boxes of household items and cleaning equipment that hadn't really been Shirasu's, but he'd been in charge of them and their use so it was basically the same. They sat in a corner for a long time before Chutarou discovered that polishing the floor with rags tied to your feet was easily the best fun you could have on a winter's day, and proceeded to take all of the cloths. Tenka tried to claim the (unused) cooking pots, but this time Soramaru actually managed to stop him. "Not a chance," he was heard to mutter.
Four black-and-purple, leaf-shaped knives with an edge that never dulled, not even when Soramaru threw one at a tree in a fit of betrayed fury. Nishiki quietly hid one, and two more disappeared without trace one night. Chutarou swore that he had heard soft-shod feet creeping around and Gerokichi had been restless until just before dawn, but no-one could find a trace of any intruder.
Three young men who would never quite trust strangers in the same way.
Two kimonos, white as new-fallen snow.
One room that always felt a bit too empty.
And one long strand of pure white hair, caught in a snag in the doorway.