Author's note: I just recently discovered this awesome anime, and I just had to take a shot at writing a story for it! XD I'll try to keep Kusuriuri in character, but he's just so darn mysterious~!
This is set after the Nue arc but before the more modern version of the Bakeneko episode.
I own nothing but my OC.
"Speech."
'Thoughts'
{locations and settings}
=/=/=/= scene/time change and transition
Flashbacks will be labeled
Japanese and other references will be explained at the end
Bancho Sarayashiki
(Prologue)
She was falling. Falling deep, deep down into that cold, dark place.
SPLASH!
The night was silent as her body floated in the freezing water of the well, bobbing up and down. Up and down. And, then… she spoke…
"One… Two…"
"Ho, ho, hotaru koi~"
As he walked along the rural dirt road, Kusuriuri could hear a sweet and gentle voice floating through the air, accompanied by rather skillful shamisen playing. Even though it was a simple children's song, it had a certain depth and emotion to it that attested to the performer's skill and talent. There was a snack shop up ahead on the side of the road, and it seemed to have gathered quite a crowded for a place that was located in such a remote area. The children giggled happily as they danced and skipped about to the beautiful song.
"Ho, ho, yama michi koi~"
As he drew closer to the shop, Kusuriuri could now make out the figure of the voice's owner through the gaps in the crowd. She was an attractive young lady, who appeared to be about sixteen years of age, and she held herself with the grace and elegance of a trained geisha. She was smiling warmly as she played, her fingers dancing playfully as she plucked the strings of her shamisen. She truly enjoyed playing, and it could be felt as well as heard in her song. It lifted the hearts of everyone who heard it.
"Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho~" She sang, letting her voice fade away as she plucked the last remaining notes, ending the song.
"Haha, that was some of the finest Shamisen playing I've ever heard!" A rather wealthy looking patron of the shop praised her as he and the rest of the small crowd took turns dropping coins into her instrument's open case, as thanks for the entertainment while they rested on their journeys, and the children pleaded for another song.
"That's enough everyone." The plump shop owner said firmly as she clapped her hands together to get their attention. "Let the poor girl have a rest now. Here you go, you must be thirsty after walking so far and then singing!" She told the young lady, smiling kindly at her as she handed her some tea, and the others cleared out, clearly disappointed that their entertainment had been put to an end.
"Oh, thank you very much." The young lady said, smiling politely, as she reached into the case for some money to pay for it.
"Oh, no you don't! This is on the house as thanks for attracting more paying customers for me. I don't think most of them would've stopped if they hadn't heard your playing." The woman scolded her playfully, winking. "Besides, did you think I wouldn't recognize you after all this time, Momo-chan~?"
"In that case, thank for your hospitality… but my name isn't 'Momo-chan', Ueda-san…" The young lady said, smiling wryly as she sweat dropped. "It's Kotone."
"Since when?" Ueda-san asked, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
"Since birth." Kotone deadpanned. Kusuriuri smirked slightly as he watched the exchange. Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to take a short break here.
"Nonsense!" Ueda-san said lightly, waving her hand. "You'll always be our cute little 'Momo-chan'~! Although, you're not so little anymore, are you…?" She teased with a gleam in her eye as she looked over the beautiful young lady before her.
"Ueda-san… You have a new customer." Kotone said, smiling wryly as she sweat dropped, and blushed slightly out of embarrassment as she transferred her earnings from the shamisen's case to her coin purse that was tucked safely into her kimono sleeved and sipped her tea.
"Oh, my!" Ueda-san gasped in surprise when she turned around and saw Kusuriuri seated on the other bench. The older woman blushed slightly when she realized how handsome the medicine seller was. "Forgive me, kusuriuri-san! I didn't see you there… can I get you anything? Tea? A couple of onigiri?"
"I'll just have some tea, thank you." He replied politely.
"Alright. One tea, coming right up!" Ueda-san said, smiling brightly, as she hurried off to prepare his tea. Not only was business was booming, but she actually got to see such a handsome man up close~!
Kusuriuri noticed that Kotone seemed to be staring at him thoughtfully, as though trying to figure something out.
"… Yes?" He asked, smirking slightly when she blushed out of embarrassment from being caught acting so rudely.
"Ah! I'm sorry… It's just… you wouldn't happen to be the kusuriuri that Kayo-san told me so much about, would you…?" Kotone asked, smiling wryly and laughing a little nervously as she rubbed the back of her neck.
"Oh? So you've met Kayo-san, have you?" Kusuriuri asked, slightly curious. "And what did she say about me?"
"She said you're simply amazing and that you can kill and exorcise mononoke, and you even helped the ship she took to Edo escape from the 'Ayakashi Sea'. She asked me to tell you hello for her and to let you know she's found a great new job that has nothing to do with any mononoke whatsoever." Kotone explained, smiling wryly as she laughed a little, remembering her latest friend's expression as she recounted the tales of her thrilling and dangerous encounters with the supernatural. To be honest, Kotone had thought she was pulling her leg until she saw the medicine seller sitting right there, in the flesh, and exactly as Kayo had described him.
"Eh…?" Ueda-san gasped from behind them, drawing their attention. "Can you really kill mononoke?" She asked Kusuriuri, stunned.
He nodded.
"Yes, but there are a few requirements I must fulfill befo––" He started to explain, when Ueda suddenly closed in on him, invading his personal space.
"Then you should definitely go to the Okamoto household!!" She exclaimed anxiously, wringing her hands nervously. "The truth is, I have a nephew who just started working there, and I keep hearing these strange rumors from my customers that that place is being haunted by the ghost of a servant girl that committed suicide by throwing herself into the well!"
"Calm down, Ueda-san… I'm sure it's just a rumor." Kotone said soothingly as she helped the older woman sit down, rescuing Kusuriuri from her. "If she committed suicide, then why would she haunt them? That would only really make sense if the people of the house had actually done something to her." She said reasonably. "Did they even mention the poor girl's name?"
"… Th-They said it was Sumiko-san…" Ueda replied sadly, glancing worriedly at the girl beside her. Kotone stared at her, shocked.
"S-Sumiko-san…? Are you sure…?" She asked, hoping the other woman was mistaken somehow. Unfortunately, Ueda-san only nodded her head in confirmation. Kotone bowed her head in sorrow as she clenched her fists, resisting the urge to cry.
"Thank you for telling me, Ueda-san… Take care of yourself, and tell your husband hello for me when he gets home." Kotone said calmly as she set her teacup down and pulled the strap on her shamisen's hard case over her shoulder.
"K-Kotone-chan… Where are you going?" Ueda-san asked, furrowing her brow slightly in concern as the young lady started to walk away, headed in the same direction Kusuriuri had been going before he stopped.
"…" Kotone said, pausing, as she glanced back at them. "I figured I should at least pay my respects… besides… There's no way Sumiko-san would commit suicide. She's not that kind of person." She stated resolutely, her eyes clear of any doubt. She glanced at Kusuriuri "It was nice meeting you, Kusuriuri-san. I don't know if her spirit is really haunting them or not, but… I guess I'll probably see you at the Okamoto's house later." She told him, smiling sadly, as she turned and continued on her way.
"Yes… I suppose you will." Kusuriuri said thoughtfully as watched her leave.
Notes:
The tile 'Bancho Sarayashiki' means 'The Dish Mansion at Bancho' and I am basing this off of the story of Okiku.
The song Kotone sings is a children's nursery rhyme about fireflies called 'Hotaru Koi' (Come Firefly). I left it in Japanese because I think it sounds better that way.
When I capitalize 'Kusuriuri', it means they're using it as his name. If it's lower-case 'kusuriuri', they are just referring to him by his profession as a medicine seller.
Also, just to be clear, Kotone is not actually a geisha. She's just a wandering musician and is in the same social class as our favorite medicine seller.
** I also added a link to my profile for a picture of Kotone.
