Chapter 6: Return of the Past

Kikome woke feeling groggy. The sky was cloudy and gray; the room was cold since the fire died out long ago. It was impossible to tell what time it was.

It took her a few minutes to remember what had happened the day before. How Aoshi had left her, alone. Used her, tricked her, and despised every moment of their time together.

She felt nothing. No rage, no anxiety, no sorrow. She simply felt empty. Kikome sat up and glanced around the room. She became painfully aware of the emptiness it held without Aoshi. Shaking her head, she stood up and went to the teapot, only to remember she was out of tea leaves. In fact, she was out of a lot of things.

Sighing, Kikome resolved to go to the midst of Tokyo. The busy nature of the city would be a welcome distraction; perhaps she would stay in the city for a few days in an inn, taking advantage of the warmth there.

She hooked the katana to her belt and set down the mountain, a purse full of money jingling inside her robes. She refused to think of Aoshi.

The stares she received in town reminded her that no female really dressed like she did. Kikome scowled. If she was going to remain inconspicuous, she might as well dress like every other woman. She ducked into an inn and went to the receptionist.

The receptionist only stared for a brief moment before he regained his composure.

"How may I help you?" he asked politely.

"I'd like to stay for a few days," Kikome replied. "A week, actually."

He consulted his books. "Yes, we can definitely accommodate you. Name please?"

"Nato Kikome."

He wrote it down in his book.

"Would like anything else? Anything particular?"

"Actually…" she pondered for a moment. "I don't have any other clothes with me. Could you provide me with, say, three or four yukata? Nothing fancy, but they have to be nice quality. It would save me the time to look for it. I'll pay extra, of course."

She gave him a dazzling smile.

He seemed taken back for a moment. "Ah, yes, I can do that…would you like to pay now or when you leave?"

"Now would be fine."

She counted out a fourth of the money with her and gave it to the receptionist.

He led her to her room, relatively comfortable and plain. A futon was already laid out for her, since it was quite late already.

"Would you like dinner?" the usher asked pleasantly.

"That would be fine," she said nonchalantly. "Some sake as well, please."

"They'll be brought presently," he answered. "Your yukata will also be brought to you in the morning."

He bowed out of the room.

Kikome breathed a sigh of relief. Tokyo was definitely much warmer. It still had a spring-like temperature and weather. She would go shopping in the morning and wandering in the afternoon. She abruptly remembered that she had arranged to stay for a week.

She'd go wandering tomorrow then.

A warm, delightfully delicious dinner was brought to her, along with some excellent sake. Kikome ate and drank to her heart's content, then fell fitfully asleep.

She awoke to birds chirping and a golden color illuminating the room. Kikome sat up, hair disheveled and not in the best mood. Her dreams had been filled with things she didn't want to think about. People, in fact.

Souzou had been walking to her with a slight smile and arms outstretched. Kikome had seen a figure behind him with a blade, had cried out to warn him, but it had been too late. Souzou fell in front of her; she caught him in her arms and looked up to see who it was.

Aoshi's green eyes had glimmered and haunted her for the rest of the night.

"What a stupid dream," she muttered angrily. Her fury at Aoshi washed over her like a tidal wave, unstoppable and dangerous. She felt an increasing need to cause him pain. Not that he was here to experience it.

A maid knocked on the door.

"Ojou-sama?" she asked hesitatingly.

Kikome made a face. Ojou-sama? How the hell did she look like a pampered rich girl? It must have been the receptionist. She might have given him too much money, giving him the wrong impression of a woman who came strolling to Tokyo at every whim and fancy.

"Come in," Kikome said.

A girl in her late teens slid open the doors. She was dressed in a dark blue kimono with a red obi. She was kneeling formally with a breakfast tray in front of her.

"Um…I-I was wondering if Ojou-sama wanted any breakfast…" she stammered. "If n-not, then I-I'll leave…"

Kikome raised an eyebrow. Why was she so scared? She must have mistaken Kikome to be some high class daughter who could order her killed at whim.

"You don't need to call me Ojou-sama," Kikome said gently. "I'm not from a wealthy household."

"B-but they said I should treat you like…a princess."

Kikome raised an eyebrow. "Then they're wrong. Please don't do that. It's unnecessary."

"B-but…"

"Please."

"Yes…um…"

"Kikome-san is fine."

Kikome led out a sigh as the maid brought her the breakfast tray.

"What's your name?" Kikome asked, eating nattou.

"Miyuki, Kikome-san."

"Miyuki-chan, you don't need to worry about being formal with me, alright? It'll make me uncomfortable." Kikome continued eating. "Now, I requested some yukata to be delivered today. I'd like to go out right after I eat, so would you mind bringing them?"

"They're already here, ma'am. Right outside, so I'll go get them for you." She walked to the screen doors and slid them open, peering outside. The package seemed rather large, as she had trouble bringing it in.

Kikome finished her miso rather quickly and stood up, facing a mirror. Her hair spread up in random directions, giving her an overall weary and unkempt look. She sighed, her mind trailing back to her nightmare. Aoshi's presence was still imprinted in her memory. She felt the need to get out into the city, and quickly. Perhaps she could find something to distract her.

Miyuki brought in the clothes and began unwrapping them.

"Kikome-san, would you like a specific color?" she asked.

"No, anything will be fine," Kikome answered, turning to face her.

"Then…red?"

Of all colors, it had to be the same as the red kimono that Souzou had given her so long ago. It looked strikingly similar, but with a white pattern of cherry blossoms undulating down to the hem. Her heart pained unconsciously.

"Actually…how about blue?"

"Of course," Miyuki said reassuringly, having gained more confidence with the easier atmosphere. She unwrapped another package and lifted up its contents.

The kimono was elegant and obviously expensive. Kikome scowled to herself; hadn't she said nothing fancy? But she had to admit that it was beautiful, with its deep sea blue color and lighter blue design of a flowing waterfall.

"That'll do," Kikome said finally.

"Would you like me to help you get dressed?" Miyuki offered hopefully.

"Er…"

Kikome stared at the yukata. No doubt she would have trouble figuring out how exactly to tie the obi and whatever complicated designs the kimono entailed.

"That would be wonderful."

Miyuki looked delighted as she helped Kikome into the kimono, tying one sash this way and another that way. Kikome attempted to remember the steps, then finally became so confused that she utterly gave up and let Miyuki dress her. Remembering sword techniques was so much easier.

After the long and intricate process was completed, Miyuki insisted on helping Kikome with her hair. She brushed through it gently and wove it into a simple but elegant bun, securing it with an ivory pin.

Miyuki stepped back to admire her work.

"Kikome-san, you are absolutely beautiful," she beamed.

Kikome felt the color rise to her cheeks. "Thank you, Miyuki-chan. For the compliment and for your help."

"Are you leaving now?" she inquired.

"Yes," Kikome answered, tired of her solitariness. Not that Miyuki did not provide satisfactory company—she was really quite delightful—but it alone was not enough to distract her from her thoughts of Aoshi.

"Um…Kikome-san," Miyuki said shyly. "May I ask you a favor?"

"Certainly."

"May I attend to you while you're here?"

Kikome raised an eyebrow.

"I don't mind, but you certainly can't be at the inn all day…"

"Oh, I'm the daughter of the owner," Miyuki said bashfully. "I'd like to keep you company though…"

"That'd be wonderful," Kikome smiled. It seemed odd, as if her muscles were working extra hard to stretch so far.

"Thank you!" Miyuki exclaimed, delighted. So odd that her presence would give her such happiness. It usually drove people away from her.

Waving a farewell to Miyuki, Kikome strolled to the entrance of the inn, debating where she should go. The receptionist from the night before rushed to her upon seeing her.

"Nato-sama," he beamed. "I hope you had a restful night?"

"It was excellent," she lied. Was it normal for the receptionist to inquire of the wellbeing of every guest?

"That makes me glad to hear," he said, still beaming. "How may I be of service to you today?"

So officious. She wanted to wander by herself.

"There's nothing I need right now," she said. "I'll be going now."

His face fell slightly as he bade her a good day. Kikome walked into the streets and mingled with the passing crowd. Tokyo was so busy. It had certainly grown in the last few years. Various shops and restaurants beckoned to her as she strolled through, scanning her eyes for anything that might interest her.

She stopped at a small cart selling portraits. An older man sat behind the counter, smoking and reading a newspaper. Kikome approached silently and looked intently at the paintings. She had always held an appreciation for art in any form, and these certainly seemed well-done.

"Well, what do we have here?" the salesman said pleasantly. "Looking for anything in particular? We have some of Tsunan's works—"

He stopped abruptly when he looked at her face closely.

"Is something wrong?" she asked, taken back by his stare.

"…You are very beautiful," he commented.

"…Thank you."

"I was just thinking that you looked a lot like one of Tsunan's works. In fact…"

He shifted through some paintings and came upon a painting, shoving it into my hand.

"You look just a bit older than her, anyway. It's quite a painting; the woman is truly beautiful, much like yourself."

She glanced at the portrait. Her eyes widened. She stared at the profile of a young girl, dressed in a red kimono. A red kimono with the same design as the one Souzou had given her. She scrutinized the face, noticing the minute details of an almost haughty tilt of the chin and the ebony eyes, dark and hard. She gazed at a profile of herself. But there was no way anyone knew what she looked like then. No one who knew the kimono Souzou had given her.

"How—" she began incredulously.

She stopped when her eyes landed on another portrait. She snatched it up and shock spread throughout her expression.

"Did this Tsunan draw this as well?" she asked, almost whispering.

The salesman looked at the painting she held and nodded. "Doesn't sell well, that one. Strange, you're the second one to pick that up all day. Don't see why Tsunan would paint a portrait of the leader of the false Sekihou Army…"

He trailed off as he thought. Kikome continued to stare at the painting in disbelief. Souzou stood in the center of the painting, sword in front of him. At his right side was Sano-chan, at his left was Katsu.

Kikome stopped breathing.

They were alive.