I exited the compound and went straight to Gion. Without my swords, i was feeling completely naked. I stationed myself near the okiya and saw that i had been faster than the woman. I saw her get in, in her palanquin, as if she was some kind of lord or something, and I stayed there, waiting for anything that could happen, Chizuru getting out, a man getting in... Anything. As a man, i couldn't get into the okiya uninvited and i had no illusions that the guards had already spotted me. It was late afternoon when i saw Chizuru and Toudou exiting the okiya.
« Hisae ! » i called to him and he came closer, leaving Chizuru with their guard. Normally, they wouldn't have let him get away so easily but with all the guards present, i believe they thought that i wasn't a threat.
« Saito ! Don't come here ! You want to blow our cover ? »
« You have a kaiken ? » i asked him, ignoring the question.
« Yeah, in my obi, but... »
« Good. » i cut him « be ready to use it. »
His eyes widden and he gave me a puzzled look.
« What do you mean ? Have we been discovered ? Is Chizuru-chan in danger ?»
« The okiya master was at the compound today. She was talking about mizuage. »
« Oh. Well, she can try but i won't let her do it. » he said with volition.
« I agree. Try to find out the man who made the offer. Where are you working tonight ? »
« Same as usual, the Himawari tea house... »
« Alright. I'll be there. »
« But Saito ! You can't get in there ! Is this really an order from Hijikata ? »
To hell with Hijikata-san.
I wasn't really thinking it, of course, the Shinsengumi was my everything. Still, i had to do something for Chizuru. And if Hijikata-san wasn't willing to act, i had to do it myself. I left Toudou and walked all the way from Gion to Shimabara. Going to see Yuki after all these months and our last conversation had something strange. It sounded so much like a farewell and at that moment, i really thought it was one. But the gods work in mysterious ways.
I entered the room and she greeted me with a wry smile.
« Welcome back, Saito-han. I missed our encounters. » she bowed.
« I came because i need your help, Yuki. » i said to not let the hope invade her heart.
« My help ? » she repeated, confused « what kind of help could you seek from an oiran like myself ? »
I sighed, knowing that the words which will get out of my mouth would be some that i would instantly regret. I knew Yuki and her enthusiasm...
« I need a disguise. Would you lend me a kimono ? »
Her eyes lit, limit predatory and a laugh escaped her delicate lips.
« Just to be sure. You're asking for a woman kimono right ? »
I nodded.
« For... yourself ? »
I nodded again.
She guffawed loudly and took some time to calm herself. Some time that i didn't have. I had to find another plan. I stood up but she grabbed my sleeve.
« No, no, no ! This is so much fun, you're not going anywhere ! » she pulled on my arm to make me sit again. « Alright... My kimonos are gonna be too small for you... I should ask Kiku, she's the tallest. Can you wait a second ? »
I nodded and she stormed out of the room. She got back shortly carrying highly decorated kimonos in her hands.
« They are used, they were supposed to go to the laundry but this way, Kiku will not see that one is missing. It's the property of the pleasure house you see, you'll have to give it back. » she sounded very serious.
« I will. » i just said and she knew i was telling the truth.
« Try them on. »
I executed myself, trying them on top of my black kimono. Most of them were too open, showing the collarbone, it wouldn't work. During the entire time, Yuki was chuckling gently.
« Why so shy ? I've already seen you naked countless time, Saito-han. »
I ignored her and put down the last kimono.
« I need something less... suggestive... More in a Geiko style... »
« These prudes... » she sneezed which disdain. « wait here, i'll see if i can get something else. »
Again, she left me alone and came back with another kimono. It was deep blue with a silver patern representing peacocks on the bottom. The feathers of the peacocks were rising, proud. The obi with it was a very long and large one, silver like the patern. It was simple yet refined and perfect for the winter season. A geiko could wear it. I tried it on and it fitted perfectly to what i wanted. I nodded in agreement.
« Great ! » said Yuki, clapping her hands. « Now, hair and makeup. »
I frowned, i wanted to take care of that part myself. I just came here for the kimono. But i guess having someone helping with my hair wouldn't be a bad idea, i couldn't ask anyone at the compound. Hijikata-san would be furious. Anyway, Yuki didn't seem to be in the mood to listen to my objections and she was already behind me, trying to comb my hair.
« Gods... This is messy... Are you combing them sometimes, Saito-han ?! » as i wasn't answering, she continued « and you always tie them in the same way... You've got a lot of broken hairs here... You should try other hairstyles sometimes to not damage them always on the same spot... Poor mistreated hairs... What is Saito-han doing to you ? »
I remained silent and she turned my hair into a Geiko hairstyle like she had magic in her fingers. And with oil. A lot of oil. The scent was rather unpleasant. She then came in front of me for the makeup. She was totally absorbed by her task and i had all the time to look at her concentrated gorgeous face. I noticed the hairpin in her hair, the fox i offered her. It was still contrasting a lot with the ostentatious luxury of her other hairpins. She started with the white foundation then the lips but when she approached from my eyes, i took a step back.
« Wait. I'll do it myself. » i said in a voice that left no room for objections.
« But, you know, it's not that easy and you'll probably ruin my... Oh. Saito-han, i can guess quite easily that you've done this before. »
My hand wasn't trembling as i applied the blue and black eyeshadow. Yuki was right, it wasn't the first time. When i fled from my home after the... incident... I dressed as a woman for a few weeks so that i would not be recognized and could escape easily. When Serizawa-san learned about it, he gave me a lot of spying missions in the Rōshigumi that requested to look like a woman, a geiko or even an oiran. Of course it was easier back then. I was eighteen and my features were less masculine than today. Now at twenty-two, i was grateful for all the heavy makeup that Yuki used. Without it, i could never pass for a woman.
I looked at myself in the mirror, i wasn't wearing the obi nor the blue kimono but Yuki came to put it on my shoulders.
« You look gorgeous. » she looked at my face for a second and added « hey, that blue highlights your eyes. »
Seriously, why is everyone commenting on my eyes everytime i wear something else than my black kimono ?!
I nodded and folded the kimono with the obi and a few hairpin she lent me. I hid the items in my own kimono and my sleeves but there was no way i could hide my face and hair. I thanked Yuki and exited the room, trying to be as silent and discreet as possible. But with a face like mine, it was impossible. I came across the path of the owner and she looked at me with puzzled eyes. I opened my mouth to say the first thing that came to my mind.
« I lost a bet with Yuki. »
The owner threw herself on the ground, bowing frenetically and apologizing.
« I'm so sorry, dear customer ! Yuki really has no manners, we are going to punish her hard ! You can count on us ! This behavior is unacceptable ! Please do not speak ill of our establishment ! She will be whipped ! »
I put my hand on her to ask her to stand up and i looked at her with an icy threatening gaze.
« If she is whipped, i'll know about it. And you wouldn't like me to know about it. She won't be punished. »
Her eyes widden and she nodded, probably thinking that i had some kind of weird fetish. Without another word, i got out of the pleasure house. I stopped in a back alley outside Shimabara and took everything i was hiding to put them on. Even after 4 years, i could remember quite well how to tie a woman obi. When i was ready, i took the direction of the Himawari tea house in Gion.