A/N: OMG we're back! Yatta! Okay, so I've moved in, still no internet, so no Guild Wars, (Sorry Carrie! Ginny and Hermione will have to level together some other time) no deviantART (Sorry A.J., I'm sure you've caught my kiriban already), anyways, I finished "Deathly Hallows" a long time ago. In fact, I reread the entire series of seven books in less than 2 weeks. So I'm pretty bored. My supply of fresh reading material is bone dry. I'm still trying to get registered for school over here, but that's been a pain in the ass. Jesus Christ transferring over is like asking someone to cut off their hand! I've made three trips to the school and I don't have a schedule or an ID or any of my books! So in essence the main negative thing of this move is that my school schedule, for lack of better words, is fucked. My senior year is gonna suck. (Sigh) Alas, I'll make due with what I can. Hopefully I won't have to take math. XD I HATE math. I only need 45 credits to graduate! GYAA!!! I saw my unofficial transcript and was like, O.o Oh crap I'm rambling. Alright enough about my life, this is a fanfic author's note not my journal on dA. So to do the disclaimer is…Toji!
Toji: Aki doesn't own Inuyasha, Naruto, or Memoirs of a Geisha. Those are the respective properties of Rumiko Takahashi, Kishimoto Masashi, and Arthur Golden. Aki does own her characters and this plot. The only OC characters she does not own are Zetsuei and Mizumi, and in a sense Aki doesn't own Miseru, Ikarisu, or Kyoriko as they are the names of three of Carrie's Guild Wars characters (Miseru Sen, Ikarisu Nintai, and Kyoriko Ryoshima if Aki remembers correctly) so Aki supposes that they belong to Carrie, along with Mizumi, since she's yet another Guild Wars character of the same name, Mizumi Ichitani. Ah hell, Carrie owns ALL of the characters mentioned in the East except for Masashi and Mamoru and Masashi's drinking buddies and the Torayoukai people. This is the longest disclaimer ever and Aki is making me talk far too much, so I'm going to leave. Without any longer delay than there already is, here's chapter thirteen.
Chapter Thirteen: Divine Intervention
"We've waited long enough, Masashi-sama," Takeda Katsuyori began. "Your daughter has run away, the wedding is off. There's no reason to delay any further. The western troops have long since departed for Kyoto. In fact I hear today they make for Nagashino Castle as we speak! We have to mobilize our units before it's too late! If we delay any longer Nagashino will be lost before we can even arrive!"
Masashi sighed. "Very well, it is just as you said. We have to mobilize. I shall brief my army and they shall be ready for departure before nightfall. In the meantime, I shall go contact my allies and prepare my battle strategy." He said at last, sounding weary.
Katsuyori nodded and left the room. Masashi rubbed his head in hopes of alleviating his stress. He turned to his new head of the guard. "Any news?" he asked.
"We know that Mizumi-sama fled from the forest wall. It was the only wall with a final change of guard ceremony. Also, every five miles or so we've found white thread or pieces of white silk snagged on the branches. We can safely assume that we're finding pieces of Mizumi-sama's wedding kimono. The trail appears to be headed north. So far this is all we can tell you." The head of the guard replied.
Masashi sighed again. "I see. Continue to search. I want any new information reported to me immediately."
"It will be done, my lord."
-
Meanwhile, Mizumi and Zetsuei had just stopped at the outskirts of Kyoto.
"I just realized something," Mizumi began suddenly.
Zetsuei turned to look at her.
"We can't both go to Kyoto. Who's going to inform the West of the attack?" she continued.
"What do you propose?" Zetsuei asked.
"You go back. Go to the Western Lands and tell them Ichitani Mizumi of the East sends this warning: An attack is coming to your lands, the Neko no Taisho has ordered a double assault on the Inuyoukai clan. Please prepare accordingly." She answered. "And if they don't believe you, give them this," the Nekoyoukai girl pulled off one of the bracelets from her wrist and handed it to the Torayoukai assassin. "It bears my father's seal. The residents of the West will know you speak the truth."
The Torayoukai nodded and in the blink of an eye, he vanished. Mizumi turned towards Kyoto, taking in the scents in the area. Sesshoumaru and his company had come and left several days prior, yet the scent of one Inuyoukai remained. It was her only chance. The girl strode forward and headed into the city.
-
Miyoharu's eyes slowly began to open, blinded by the sunlight. Someone quickly drew a curtain and the girl's eyes were able to adjust easily. Once she was able to focus her eyes after clearing her vision of sunspots, she saw her onee-san looking over her.
"How are you feeling, Miyo-chan?" the geisha asked.
"I'm very tired," the girl answered honestly. "What happened to me?"
Haruka sighed. "You got lucky. Extremely lucky. The arrow's holy powers had just about died out when it struck you. On top of that, it hit you through the obi of your kimono. It just barely grazed your back. Morimoto-san was furious though," she replied.
"What about my family? Did they figure it out?" Miyoharu asked worriedly.
"Iie, they still believe you to be a young maiko who bravely stepped forward and saved their son's life, nothing more."
Miyoharu sat silently in thought, going over her onee-san's words. "The kimono…you knew didn't you? That it'd save my life?"
Haruka nodded. "Hai. It was thick enough to slow down the arrow and cause it to not strike too deep. But you're still lucky. You should've been mortally wounded from the holy powers coming into contact with your skin. Apparently your mother's miko powers passed down into you and protected you from being purified. You don't even have a scar."
"How long have I been unconscious?"
"Almost three days. Your family left Kyoto immediately after you saved Tsurugi, so you need not worry about them."
The maiko sighed and sat up at last, her back feeling incredibly stiff. She rose and dressed, then proceeded downstairs. Hatsumiyo and Mameha both looked overjoyed to see her up and walking around, relieved that the arrow hadn't done any serious damage. After a quick breakfast, Miyoharu decided to take a walk. Her head was muddled with thoughts and distorted and blurred images she had seen in and out of consciousness over the past few days.
She stepped outside at last, breathing in the fresh morning air and clearing her head. Then she remembered. Hatsumomo betrayed them and organized Tsurugi's assassination attempt. She jumped in front of him and took the arrow meant for him. Her mother thanked her for saving Tsurugi, not a single soul recognizing her for who she was. Then, all went black. She remembered being inside and Haruka pulling out the arrow. More blackness, then silence. She sighed and kept walking, still caught up in her thoughts.
In fact, she was so engrossed in her mental wanderings she was oblivious to the fast approaching footsteps sounding behind her. It wasn't until someone yelled, "Hey, dog girl!" that she snapped quickly out of her reverie.
Miyoharu turned, seeing a girl around her age running toward her. Her nose informed her that the girl was Nekoyoukai. The maiko's eyes narrowed. What was a Nekoyoukai doing out here? The maiko quickly turned away and walked briskly forward.
"Hey, wait!" The Nekoyoukai girl's voice called after her. "Please wait! I've been running for days! I have to tell someone, I have to warn the Inuyoukai!"
Miyoharu slowed her pace slightly and waited for the girl to catch up to her before walking down an empty alley.
"Who are you?" the maiko asked, the moment the Nekoyoukai was in hearing range. "And how do you know I'm a youkai?"
The girl caught her breath for a moment before she replied. "My name is Ichitani Mizumi, my father is the Neko no Taisho. I smelled you here, that's how I knew you're an Inuyoukai." She answered.
"Why should I trust the daughter of the enemy?" Miyoharu inquired coldly.
"I ran away from home to avoid an arranged marriage to a heartless man named Harukichi and also to escape a live of subservience to both my father and that Ryuuyoukai bastard."
Miyoharu turned to look at the girl. "I know Harukichi…well, I know of him. I met him when I was little. He tried to kill my aunt and threatened to kill me and my siblings and the rest of my family as well," she said. "He truly is a heartless man. I can trust you."
Mizumi sighed with relief. "I'm glad I've earned your trust,"
"Why's that?"
"My father and Harukichi plan to attack Tsurugi directly during the coming battle. My father also plans to gather youkai to attack the Western Lands while it's unguarded and vulnerable. He hopes to crush the West's power once and for all and eliminate the Inuyoukai. Also, he hopes to disguise youkai of the East as the guards of Nagashino Castle and surprise attack the Western forces. I've sent my traveling companion, Zetsuei, a Torayoukai, to the Western Lands to warn the residents there, while I came here in hopes of catching up to Sesshoumaru-sama. Unfortunately, I've missed his departure, so I'm telling you, seeing as you're Inuyoukai as well. You can help me,"
"But-"
"Look, there isn't much time. The siege at Nagashino is coming."
Miyoharu sighed and nodded. "Please, follow me." She said.
Together they walked back to the okiya, finding it surprisingly empty. Its only occupant was Haruka.
"Onee-san," Miyoharu greeted.
Haruka inclined her head. "Who's this?" she asked, looking at Mizumi.
"Her name is Mizumi Ichitani. She's the daughter of the Neko no Taisho and escaped fiancée of Harukichi. She came to warn Sesshoumaru and the others of her father's and Harukichi's battle plans." The maiko answered.
"I see. Well, you'd best get a futon laid out for her."
Mizumi seemed to have lost her patience. "Listen to me! My father's troops are undoubtedly mobilizing right now! There isn't any time to waste! We have to warn the others before it's too late!" She shouted hotly.
"I understand completely Mizumi-san, but Miyo-chan and I simply can't waltz out of here without saying anything or even taking the time to say goodbye. We are bound to the hanamachi. I shall set our affairs in order and we shall leave when the both of us have formally retired and the okiya's future is secured." Haruka said calmly, completely unbothered by the girl's recent outburst.
The Nekoyoukai girl sighed and nodded. She would have to wait.
-
Toji slowly opened the door before him where a dozen black cloaked figures turned to look at him.
"What do you need, child?" The Fates asked in unison.
The Spirit of Life sighed. "I wish to kill myself. I can't live any longer like this. I miss her too much." He said.
"You have no authority to eradicate yourself. You have a purpose, Adachi Toji. You have no reason to die." The Fates replied.
"Well I've got no reason live either! Without Reika, I'm alone, I'm nothing! I feel hollow and cold! There's nothing left for me here. I've got no reason to continue living! Why can't I just die and get it over with? Why can't I just join her and be at peace? At least in death I'll be with her!"
"We forbid you to do such a thing! You have a duty that needs to be served! Until that duty has been fulfilled, you are henceforth forbidden to die or attempt to remove yourself from this world! Is that understood?"
Toji gritted his teeth angrily. Slowly but surely he nodded. He quickly turned on his heel and slammed the door shut.
So…he was forbidden to kill himself now was he?
'I'll show them…' He thought. 'I'll be with her…Reika, I'm going to see you again very soon…'
He headed to his beloved's room and shut the door, finding the object he desired. He picked up the dagger with the teardrop shaped ruby set in the handle. It was with this dagger that Reika stabbed herself and so ended her own life to save Mei Lhi from death. He twirled it idly between his fingers. Then it was only fitting he would end his own life with the same object that ended hers.
Toji stood and looked toward the heavily curtained window. He could almost see her. Reika was beckoning him.
"Soon Reika, soon." He whispered.
-
Hundreds of miles away, Haruka felt the Book of Fate grow heavy and cold. At that same instant, she could feel Toji's pain. With trembling fingers she picked up the book and opened it.
'Adachi Toji, suicide. Estimated time left until death: five minutes forty seconds.'
She screamed. "No! Not you…anyone but you!" she cried.
Miyoharu looked up worriedly from where she sat, rushing to her onee-san's side. "What's wrong, Onee-san?" she asked.
Haruka couldn't speak. Her face was hidden in her hands as she began to cry. Miyoharu saw the book and picked up, reading the latest entry.
"Onee-san! You have to stop him! You can't let him do this! You have to let him know you exist! Otherwise, you'll never see him again!" The maiko exclaimed.
The geisha looked up and choked back sobs and nodded slowly. Mizumi, intrigued by all the commotion abandoned the bowl of rice that Miyoharu had sneaked upstairs for her to eat and picked up the book. "Who's Adachi Toji?" she asked.
"My mate…" Haruka whispered.
Mizumi's eyes widened slightly. "You're a youkai too?" she exclaimed in surprise.
Haruka nodded. "I'm a Jyuu rank Ryuuyoukai of the Spirits, the Spirit of Anti-Life, or as it's better known, the spirit of death."
The Nekoyoukai girl nodded in understanding then looked back at the book. "According to this, you've got four minutes left."
The geisha flinched and grabbed the book, closing her eyes as she begged for a vision to come. She saw him. Toji was in the North in a dark room, playing with a dagger, waiting for sunset. He would die when she died, die by the same instrument that she had. He looked around the room and sighed. It was almost time.
Haruka's eyes snapped open. Glancing at the page in her book, she saw she now had three minutes left.
"I'll be back soon." She said hurriedly.
Without a second thought, she extended her right arm parallel to the floor and made odd motions with her left hand and vanished into ashes.
-
She reappeared in the North instantly, checking her book. Two minutes. She ran through the halls and had to stop several times as a vision of Toji piercing his heart with a dagger clouded her thoughts.
She kept running, searching desperately for any sign of him. He was nowhere in sight. She started flinging open door after door. No, all these rooms were brightly lit. She checked her book again. One minute.
'Shimatta…where are you Toji?' she thought desperately.
She continued to run, now on the next level, still tearing open door after door. She checked her book again and to her horror saw that it read 'thirty seconds'. Running as fast as her feet could carry her, she proceeded to the next floor.
"Toji!" She screamed. "Toji! TOJI! TOJIIIIIII!"
She shut her eyes again. Toji sighed and began to tighten his grip on the dagger. A dagger with a ruby in the shape of a teardrop. He raised it to his chest.
"I'll put it here," He murmured. "Just like she did."
He looked around the room one final time. So many memories. In the spot just two feet away from where he stood was where they shared their final kiss. Then to his right stood the bed where they had last made love. He sighed. He raised the dagger over his head and prepared to strike.
"Reika, I'll be with you soon."
Her eyes snapped open. She knew exactly where he was. Her room. She glanced at her book. Ten seconds. She looked around quickly. Her room was still two floors up. She'd never make it in time.
Five seconds. She pictured the bit of floor right in front of where Toji now stood and extended her right arm, making swift motions with her left hand. She vanished into ash and began to count down.
'Four…Three…Two…One.'
She reappeared and grabbed Toji's wrist in the nick of time. He froze, his eyes wide with shock.
"Rei…ka…" He breathed.
"Don't you dare. I'm not worth it." The Spirit of Anti-Life said once she had caught her breath.
She twisted his wrist so that he released the dagger from his grasp. Toji continued to look at her disbelievingly. Then without warning he embraced her tightly, burying his face into her hair.
"Kami-sama, how? You're supposed to be dead." The Spirit of Life said, his voice quavering.
Without warning he began to cry, still too stunned to believe that Reika, his Reika, was here with him now and alive, truly alive. It was then that Haruka realized she could never return to being a geisha ever again. She was Reika again. The girl she thought she'd left behind fourteen years ago.
"I know," she whispered. "And I'm sorry, so sorry, that I didn't tell you. I promise you, I'll tell you everything. But Kami-sama, after I thought I'd died, I was so scared you'd be angry with me and hate me for not telling you I was alive."
She began to cry too and Toji raised his head, looking straight into his beloved's deep violet eyes.
"I could never hate you. I mean it when I say it. There's nothing you could do that would make me feel that way." He said.
He tilted her chin upwards and leaned closer to her and kissed her as if to prove that his words rang true. She kissed him back and suddenly it felt as if time had not passed at all. She was fourteen again and so was he. Their marks blazed with heat as their bodies burned with desire. They fell to the floor and soon found themselves lost in the past.
-
Dawn broke on a very different day.
For a moment, Toji was frightened to completely wake. Perhaps it all had been a dream? He opened his eyes and promptly realized that the events of the previous day were all real. Instinctively, he tightened his grip on the young woman that lay beside him. His touch caused her to stir.
"What is it?" she asked, looking over her shoulder to glance at him.
"I'm just glad this wasn't a dream." Toji replied.
Reika smiled and turned onto her other side so that she was facing him. "I, unfortunately, don't specialize in fantasies, only realities," She said simply. "You should know that."
He nodded. "Hai, I know."
They stayed silent for a few moments, staring into one another's eyes. Reika looked away after a while, her eyes staring at the floor as if pondering something.
"Do you still hate the world?" she asked hesitantly. "Do you still think you don't have a reason to live anymore?"
Toji seemed quite taken aback at her questions, with a small grin he began to answer. "I seem to find I have a much brighter outlook on the outside world now and I'm perfectly content to continue to live because my reason to live returned to me yesterday at sunset," He replied. "You're here with me now, everything, all the pain and anger; it's all been washed away."
The Spirit of Anti-Life nodded, satisfied with his answer. She turned towards the heavily curtained window and seemed to sense that morning had arrived.
"It's time to leave," she said.
"Leave where?" Toji asked.
"I rushed out of my okiya yesterday to save you. Nobody knows where I am right now. Knowing Mameha-san, she's going to be out of her mind with worry."
"Well I'm coming with you."
"Of course you are. You think that after all this, I'd leave you alone again? I'm going to retire today so that we can finally get started on the life we should've had together."
Toji nodded and smiled. Today they could finally begin their lives.
-
Miyoharu was starting to nod off when a swirl of ashes in the middle of the floor began to ascend and solidify into two people. She stood, fire blazing in her eyes.
"Where the hell have you been? What took you so long?" The maiko raged.
Reika flinched slightly, but quickly recovered. "Didn't you sleep last night?" She asked.
Miyoharu shook her head and realized that her onee-san was accompanied by none other than Toji. She also noticed that the geisha's kimono was looser than usual and it exposed a lot more of her neck and chest than it normally did. The girl's eyes were quickly drawn to small bruise-like marks all over her elder sister's skin. The maiko smirked.
"Well, I can see that you did more than sleep last night too," She commented dryly.
Reika looked confused. "What do you mean?" she asked absentmindedly.
Miyoharu gestured at her kimono, how it rested properly on her body, covering up everything, only exposing her neck and a small bit of skin just below the base of her neck. "Well, look at yourself," she said finally, clearly enjoying teasing her elder sister about what she had done the night before.
The Spirit of the Anti-Life finally seemed to have realized what the maiko spoke of and with a flushed face and a dark look at Toji, she fixed her kimono. "I was in a rush to get back here." She replied.
Miyoharu sighed. "Well in any case, I'm happy that you and Toji-san have made up." She said.
Toji turned to her. "Wait, how do you know me?" he asked.
Reika smiled. "She's Tsuki-chan." She said.
The Spirit of Life looked at her incredulously. "Nani? But she's supposed to be dead too!"
"It seems that the dead nowadays have an uncanny habit of suddenly coming back to life, or not being dead in the first place. Check the 'Shi' side of the book, you'll find that Tsuki-chan isn't listed in it."
Mizumi had been watching the entire event unfold, getting progressively more confused by the minute. "Hold on, so what's going on here? First off, who's that guy? Second, what are you two talking about Miyoharu being 'Tsuki-chan'? Third, what's all this business about the dead coming back to life?" She inquired.
Miyoharu and Reika both sighed. They seemed to have forgotten that Mizumi was there.
"That guy over there is Adachi Toji, the person my onee-san rushed off to save yesterday. My name really isn't Miyoharu and my onee-san isn't really named Haruka either. As for the dead coming back to life, because my onee-san is the Spirit of Anti-Life, she can't die, but Toji-san thought she was dead and so did I, well, until I ran into her accidentally when I was six. I'm also supposed to be dead, but I faked my death so I could run away here and become a geisha." The maiko explained.
Mizumi blinked several times. "Then if your name really isn't Miyoharu, then who are you really?" she asked.
"Tsukimisou Taisho." Miyoharu replied.
The Nekoyoukai girl leapt to her feet. "Nani?! That's not possible! Tsukimisou was kidnapped and killed in the woods!" She exclaimed.
"Or," The maiko began. "Tsukimisou went outside her room, broke down the wall and then left her room in disarray, making it look like she was kidnapped, then ran out into the rain and left a trail. As for being killed in the woods, perhaps she dug her claws into her own body and allowed herself to bleed enough to where it looked as if she'd been murdered, leaving her blood soaked clothes behind. After that, she probably decided to pursue her dream of becoming a geisha, since her mother wouldn't allow it. She ran as fast as she could until she made it to Kyoto where a kind geisha named Haruka, who recognized her instantly for who she really was, took her in and taught her everything she knew." She concluded.
"Ah, so that's how you did it," Toji said. "I was starting to wonder, Tsuki-chan."
The girl looked up and nodded. Mizumi said nothing, still trying to comprehend the younger girl's words. Finally, Reika broke the ice.
"I think we could all use some breakfast, don't you?" she said, turning to them all.
The three nodded and then Miyoharu paused. "What about Toji-san? Won't Mother get upset?" she asked. (A/N: Men aren't allowed in okiya before 10:00am I believe. And even then, they can only stay in the main entrance room. They're never allowed inside the inner chambers and especially not in the bedrooms of geisha and maiko. But let's just say Mameha-san is very lenient.)
Reika shook her head. "Not if I say he's my danna, which he is, I might add, Mameha-san won't mind. Besides, she should remember him. It's because of Toji that this okiya is financially set for at least the next two hundred years." She replied.
Miyoharu shrugged and headed downstairs, Mizumi hesitantly followed after, unsure as to how this Mameha-san the others spoke of would take her sudden and unannounced appearance at their table. Reika turned to Toji and took his hand and the pair followed after the others.
-
Once Mameha had been introduced to Mizumi and reacquainted with Toji, breakfast that morning went off without a hitch. It wasn't until midway through the meal that Reika finally believed the time was right to announce her retirement.
"Mameha-san, I wish to retire," she said suddenly.
Everyone at the table looked up at her surprised. Toji had already known, but was nonetheless surprised that she'd announce it so early in the day.
Mameha stared at the geisha seriously for several seconds. "Will you be coming back? Like you did before?" she asked finally.
Reika shook her head. "Iie. This time, I'm retiring for good. I won't be coming back." She replied.
"Under what grounds do you wish to retire?"
The Spirit of the Anti-Life sat silently in thought for a moment before answering. "I wish to live my life. The man I love has come back into my life. I've sacrificed time I could have spent with him for dance once before. I don't plan to do it again." She said finally.
Mameha took a sip of her tea before speaking. "As daughter of this okiya, you're allowed to set conditions, what do you request be done before you leave?" The head geisha asked.
"Firstly, I want you to adopt Hatsumiyo as your successor. She has great potential and she deserved much more than what Hatsumomo gave her. Secondly, the money from my mizuage, I don't want it. You can keep it and help support the okiya. I don't want any sort of parting gifts either. And thirdly, this is the last request I will make, but I wish for Miyo-chan to be allowed to retire and come with me when I leave." Reika answered.
The head geisha seemed frozen in shock. "Miyoharu can't retire. She's only a maiko. Until she comes of age, she can't leave." She said firmly.
Reika sighed. "You don't understand, Mameha-san. I can't leave Miyo-chan. I've known her for a very long time, even before she came to this okiya. In a sense, we truly have become sisters. Where I go, she goes. There are things happening around us that cannot be undone," Reika began.
"You mean the battle between Nobunaga and Takeda? What does Miyoharu have to do with them?"
"Not with them, but Sesshoumaru and the Neko no Taisho."
"What do you mean?"
"Our guest, Mizumi, is the daughter of the Neko no Taisho. She came to warn Sesshoumaru of her father's intentions, which turn out to be killing Tsurugi."
"I still don't see how Miyoharu ties into all of this."
"Miyoharu's given name was never Tanaka Arisu. It was something I made up in order to protect her. Her true given name is Tsukimisou Taisho. That is why she's concerned. Her brother is the central target in the battle ahead. And if Tsurugi dies, the West falls, and Japan falls with it."
Mameha went stiff with shock, staring at Miyoharu disbelievingly. "She looks nothing like Sesshoumaru-sama or any other member of the Inu clan. She appears ningen!" The head geisha protested.
The Spirit of Anti-Life sighed. "That's because I took her to the North shortly before she arrived and had one of the Ryuuyoukai clan heads change her appearance so that her family wouldn't find out she was here. Show her, Tsuki-chan." The geisha said.
The girl nodded and closed her eyes. Immediately her appearance began to change. The girl's hair turned silver and youkai markings appeared on her face, her ears became pointed, claws and fangs grew, and when the girl opened her eyes, they were a warm golden amber color. She shut her eyes again and resumed her human appearance.
Mameha sat silently, her face showing both her shock and disbelief. Hatsumiyo was wide-eyed in shock that the person she came to know as one of her closest friends was the supposedly dead daughter of Sesshoumaru. Finally, after a few moments, the head geisha spoke again.
"Very well, I accept your retirement conditions. It has been an honor having both you and Miyoharu in this okiya. I will miss you both dearly." She said at last.
Reika bowed her head. "Arigatou gozaimasu, Mameha-san. It's been an honor to have been able to call you my onee-san." The now officially ex-geisha replied.
Mameha smiled warmly. "I hope that your lives together are long and happy," she began. "You are welcome back as my guest any time you like. But if you do change your mind further along the road of life, I will graciously accept you both back into this okiya."
Reika nodded. The two women stood and bowed to one another.
"It has been an honor to serve," Reika said softly.
"As it has been an honor to provide," Mameha replied. "I release you both from the confines of the hanamachi. Hatsumiyo, you are my successor now."
Hatsumiyo stood and bowed deeply. "Thank you, I promise to work hard and live up to the name of atotori!" (A/N: 'Atotori' is the title of the person named to be the successor to the okiya, but I believe in actuality, girls are groomed from early childhood to become atotori, they don't just get the title randomly. PS: The whole retirement thing, I made it up. I really don't know how geisha retire.)
"I'm certain you will, Hatsumiyo."
-
Meanwhile, thousands of soldiers marched toward Nagashino.
"Ready, halt!" Nobunaga shouted.
The soldiers stopped immediately.
"We've arrived. I want everyone to set up camp. This will be our new base of operations. We wait until the enemy arrives and makes the first move." The daimyo ordered.
Immediately, soldiers broke formation and set to work. They were in a large clearing, exactly one mile away from the castle. From the clearing, Sesshoumaru could clearly see the castle ahead. In the trees surrounding the castle, there wasn't the slightest inkling that their enemies had arrived before them. The taiyoukai felt someone touch his arm. He looked to his side and saw Hana staring off into the distance with him.
"So, this is where it will begin?" she asked.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Hai. Be prepared, it can happen without warning."
A/N: Yeah I know I'm killing you all. It'll be well worth it in the end. I suppose this final week of summer vacation's really getting to me. Of course by the time these chapters go up, I'll have long been already in school. The internet people are supposed to come on August 31st, so hopefully I can get these up. But yay me! This is the second chapter I've cranked out in 2 days! WOO! And I can't believe it; I'm actually able to keep the plot at a relatively even pace. "Threads" went by way too fast. I got my schedule for school yesterday (August 28) and holy crap! I'm only taking 2 real classes. I've just got Economics/Government and English! Everything else is all electives! WOOT! So I should be able to have plenty of writing time, since I'll only be having two classes worth of homework instead of five or six like it's been the past three years. I finally have an easy high school year! Ah, I could sing. Oh wait I am. I signed up for choir this year. XD Only problem with that is I'm embarrassed about singing in front of people…I have an unconscious fear that I sing off-key, even though my brain is telling me I'm fine. XP Oh well, I'll get over it. Anyways, I'll shut up. Time to go and write the next chappie. XD Ja ne until next time!