After the sunrise service, Ayami and Akane returned to their apartment, and Aji prepared a simple breakfast of rice and pickled vegetables and tea. "Our apologies, for our weakness during the ceremony."
The High Priestess hesitated, briefly puzzled at that. "Your tears? No. The weak have no place with Aku, yet such grief as that must have some outlet, and your display was controlled and appropriate." The relief on their faces was clear. "And I have news you will find very welcome: After the sunset prayers, you will be raised to full Sisters, though you will not receive masks." Their faces lit with delight, dismissing the lack of masks as a consequence of their reduced circumstances, and they filed out of the apartment to resume their explorations. So many amazing places to explore, so many goods they'd never conceived of to learn about and examine. They still didn't quite have the nerve to try those theatre places, and it was entirely beyond them why some areas had little crowds of women wearing ridiculously minimal outfits just standing about. City people were weird! But with the steadily growing cold, they chose to seek out stores that sold clothes. Time to get some cold weather clothing; their darksuits weren't sufficient. And that meant they'd need to practice with them. Life was starting to look very complicated.
.oO()Oo.
At their first stop, the Dome, the girls sought out their handler to learn their schedule. That worthy didn't quite sneer as he passed over a paper. "Do try to remember these aren't combat events. I'm quite sure your opponents would appreciate surviving the experience," he told them, and only Ashi's signal to the contrary kept Ami from slapping him for the insult. They looked over the schedule in turn; those not looking at that stared at him, especially his neck, until he started to sweat.
Perhaps I shouldn't have said that, he was starting to think. He'd thought they were like fighting slaves, sheltered and lacking initiative outside their narrow specialities, but was starting to reevaluate. Perhaps it was time for the kid gloves? Happily, they departed quickly, schedule in hand, leaving him to pant and mop his brow.
.oO()Oo.
Back on the streets, the girls spread out and wandered, each finding different areas to explore: shopping areas, residential and business districts, parks and docks and even industrial areas. Only Ashi and Aji had curiosity enough for those places, and even they clung to each other as they tried to make sense of the vehicles and machines and noise and dust. They managed to keep their nerve, wandering and examining and trying to understand, until well past noon before they needed to take the first bus to somewhere else. They didn't care where, just anywhere.
Anywhere proved to be a shopping area, one they'd not seen before. Places to buy food, medicines, various small, badly made products, but unlike most, no clothes. They looked to each other. "We have to find our way back to the Temple, and I have no idea how to do that," Ashi admitted.
Aji looked down. "We need to find a map," she said with a sigh, here eyes wide, bright with tears she would not shed. And she knew her sister felt the same loss of centre, the same fear, as herself. Never before had they been in such a situation, with no clear or even approximate idea of where they were or how to get back to where they wanted to be, and even when they found a place with a view, they could only turn and turn, finding nothing familiar. The bus route had been so winding they'd completely lost track of their turns, and they'd failed to note the number of the bus they'd taken. Yet Aji pointed to the stop. "We'll go there. They might have maps," wonderful things, those, "and then we can find out which to take to get back to the Temple." They schooled their expression to stillness, then went down the stairs to the stop across the road.
The wait was fairly long, and the two spent the time looking at the people passing by, how they dressed, how they moved. Finally, a bus arrived, they went aboard, and collected one of the "rider guides." As the bus jounced along, the sisters tried to make sense of the map included, but found it necessary to debark when they came near a clear space. They simply sat cross-legged on the grass, trying to orient the map to themselves. With a lot of trial and error, by the time the bus had come by twice more, they finally narrowed their likely location down to something that seemed to more or less match, or so they thought. Aji traced the coloured line, then sighed. "I think this will get us near the mall. We want winter clothes anyway, so that should be the place to go, right?"
"So long as we're back at the Temple in time for services," she agreed. They crossed the street again to the bus stop, and not long after, another bus came by, and they boarded, disembarking as soon as they recognized the area. Feet were better than wheels, and the walk was short, only about a dozen short blocks, nothing to girls used to sprinting across caverns a hundred metres long.
They steeled themselves against the crowding and noise of the mall, and even then detoured around the structure to its far entrance, the one nearest the store they wanted, the very large one that reached many floors. The crowds were less bad within the store, and the two made their way to the third floor, where the signs said they would find what they wanted, if they'd read them right. Once there, they started looking through the racks and tables, taking their time. So many colours, so many sizes, at least the clothing was labelled to its use. As they looked through the selection, one by one their sisters trickled in, and they spoke in their private language.
.oO()Oo.
Not long before the sunset service began, the door opened and the High Priestess looked over to see seven bizarre figures step in, figures that seemed to be made of tubes joined to their own ends, then stuck together by their sides, each figure a different colour. She had to look for several slow heartbeats before she finally realized the figures were topped by deep hoods. "Girls?" she asked of them, and hands in thick gloves lowered heavy hoods. Green and blue and red, Ashi, Ami and Avi. White, yellow, purple and grey, Aki, Ari, Adi and Aji. They quickly shed their new outfits, and hung them on the heretofore unused hooks near the door.
Smiling slightly, they turned to face her. "We just bought them. We know they're impediments, and we'll need to train with them, but our darksuits aren't enough for more than short journeys in winter."
Their mother and Ayano and Rika nodded to that. "Very well," she said. "But do not ever forget your mission."
They bowed to her. "We do not, and will not." A slight nod, and the High Priestess lit the fire in the bowl. Ayami and Akane arrived barely in time, Ayano turned off the lights, and the twelve knelt in prayer to their Lord and Master, prostrating themselves repeatedly before the idol. After a suitable period, the High Priestess stood, and Rika turned on the lights, walking hunched over by necessity; the ceiling was not quite tall enough for the giant woman to stand comfortably.
The High Priestess turned her masked face to the little congregation. "I have a most important announcement. This Temple will now bear witness to the advancement of His Daughters. By both years and deeds, they have shown themselves to be women grown, and though we have no masks for them, I name them full Sisters of the Temple."
"How have they earned this?" Rika demanded, and Akane looked to her mother.
"Mommy, why did she ask that?"
Her mother smiled slightly. "She's supposed to. That way, the High Priestess can tell everyone why the new Sister should be advanced." Akane nodded to that, and the High Priestess spoke again.
"First, they are of age to be recognized, and they have been faithful servants of the Temple and of our Lord Father all their lives," she said first. "They lost their home, their mother, their trainers, yet did not lose their faith. They rallied, sought out food, water, shelter, and means to make fire. Did you yourself not see the signs?" Rika made an affirmative sound. "They then sought out the aid they needed, though they hated to call upon her. In the strangest place they could imagine, they learned to adapt to an entirely new way to live, and yet they kept their faith. They found the one they sought, and brought her into their number. At her advice, they have made plans to better hunt the Samurai, and fulfill their purpose. They have learned that they themselves are a sign of the Last Battle, and they have kept their faith and accepted this. If there is greater proof anyone could offer of her faith and her strength, I cannot imagine it. Does anyone doubt their worth?" None objected. "Then stand, my daughters." They stood, and approached her. and she touched each girl lightly with her staff. "I name you full Sisters."
All through the ceremony, their hearts had swelled with anticipation, and when they heard the recitation of their deeds, their mother's pride and praise, an unexpected warmth filled their spirits. They rose smoothly, and at the light touch of her staff, managed to stand a tiny bit taller. They thanked their mother, then knelt before the idol, then finally went to the Dome for yet another new contest, something called "To The Tune of." It promised to be interesting.
.oO()Oo.
"This troubles me, High Priestess," Ayano said once the girls were well away. "Is it wise to let them continue with this Dome business?" Her tone was respectful, but her body language troubled.
"It is needful," her superior answered. "We cannot be so self-sufficient as we were, we need money for food, shelter, warmth, oil, incense. They have a substantial established income, and though they have delayed their mission, it is for reasons I consider sound. They will winter over here, as the Samurai will most likely do elsewhere, and in the spring, will start to broaden their skills, then begin their search for the Samurai. This will not be a simple out-and-back as once planned, it might take weeks or months. Better they learn to deal with the greater world while still under our eye."
Ayano nodded. "Thank you, High Priestess." Rika said nothing; though her mind was healed, she had always been a quiet sort.
.oO()Oo.
The girls returned in time for the sunrise service. "Our apologies, Mother," Adi said. "Our contest tonight was very strange, and we had to do a lot of practicing. But we did perform our devotions as close to midnight as we could."
"It is enough," she said. "The nature of your mission requires a reduced schedule; Asumi 17 is clear on such things."
"Thank you, Mother," she said, and all of them joined in prayer before the sisters had a quick breakfast and settled in to sleep.
.oO()Oo.
They slept through the three normal daytime services, waking just in time for some sparring, more instruction of Rika in reading, and a quick meal before welcoming Ayami and Akane for sunset service, then another reading lesson. The learning temple was wonderful, the sisters were so glad they'd agreed to the simple pledge of membership. But it was time for another contest at the Dome. At least this was one they understood somewhat: something called "tumble dance." They weren't quite clear on how one combined dance and tumbling, but at least they were already proficient in the two arts.
.oO()Oo.
The next day was a day off, and just as well; Ashi needed to give Rika more lessons in reading, though she was almost able to to manage on her own, and all of them needed to practice with their snow suits. The bulky garments were a tremendous hindrance, and they'd shed them if possible before a fight, but that might not be possible. As they began, they quickly realized a great limitation: they had no practical way to access their weapons; to their surprise, their mother declared a halt to the session almost immediately.
"It is time you learned a new technique with your darkness." And she took up her knife, pushing it into her left forearm. They watched this without surprise or upset, for could they not do the same? Then she drew the same knife from her right forearm, and they gasped. "Yes. Anything you place within your darkness, you can remove from any point on its surface. So a moment to pull open the front of your snow suits, and you'll have access to your weapons. This will take a great deal of practice, but by now, I'm quite sure you can do it. So shed your snow suits and begin your practice." Rika too joined the lessons; with her mind once more awake, she wanted to master her darkness, and so it began. Explanations of the technique, demonstrations, and staff strikes when needed; the High Priestess was not a gentle instructor.
.oO()Oo.
And the evening and the morning were the fifth day, and on the sixth, after the sunset service, the High Priestess called Ashi to trial. "You stand charged with blasphemy, Sister Ashi. Reading is a sacred mystery only the most devout can master, yet you have claimed anyone can learn it. Prove your claim or suffer," she said, standing straight and rigid before the altar.
Ashi went to one knee. "Yes, High Priestess," she answered. "In Ayanami 7, there is written, 'humans err, but fact does not, and if the writings should say a thing is so when the facts say it is not, the writings are in error.' Rika is devout, but not so devout as you believe necessary to learn the god-signs, yet I have taught them her, and she has learned them. Choose a passage from the Book of Aku, and she will read it."
"Very well," the High Priestess said. "I choose Ayeka 12." And Rika went to one knee before the lectern that held the Book, and after searching, found the passage named.
"In the valley by the river, as the nights grew ever shorter, there I knelt before the waters, weeping from my violation. Armed with only faith and knowledge, took a stone from bed of river, ground upon it cutting edges," and continued with the tale of Ayeka's penance, how she crafted weapons from what Aku had granted, and though the recitation was slow, still it was clear that she was indeed reading.
The High Priestess remained impassive throughout the reading, then turned to the accused. "You have committed no blasphemy," and she raised her voice. "Let it be known from now on that all Daughters of Aku shall be taught reading, writing, and sums." And Ayami let out a sign of relief. That ruling meant that neither she nor Akane would be in trouble for being literate.
.oO()Oo.
Days came and went, the girls exploring the city and the High Priestess and Ayano mostly tending the Temple. Rika spent little time in the Temple, the ceiling being much too low for her comfort, instead mostly spending her days not posing for photographs either at the gym in heavy exercise or sparring practice, or at the library, exploring the vast world of literature. As promised, Ayami helped the girls in learning how to survive in the city, and also took them to the shore to learn how to catch fish, dig clams, identify edible sea plants, make fires from driftwood, and cook with those flames. The girls found driftwood fires utterly entrancing with their many-coloured flames, and the roasted seaweed surprisingly flavourful.
In the Dome, they faced a vast array of opponents in a truly bewildering array of challenges, from song contests to a weird combination of dance and swimming. Some challenges were easy, and they earned large purses; others were less so, and some just made their heads hurt, like the weird contest with the ropes and pits and carvings of food, or the one with the mats with coloured spots. Granted, that one was a good way to practice flexibility, but it seemed otherwise quite pointless.
.oO()Oo.
As they practiced fighting in their snow suits, Ashi suddenly stopped, and her mother's staff swung toward her head, only to get caught. "I just had an inspiration," she said, and pressed her arms to her sides, then put her hands around her arms and swept down, leaving them bare save for her darkness. "It's not as good as shedding them entirely, but it frees up our arms and lets us get at our weapons."
Her mother nodded. "A good trick." Finally her endless questioning of everything was proving itself useful. Removing the sleeves from their darkness would be a cumbersome process, but after the battle that wouldn't much matter. "Practice it." And the girls began to do just that.
.oO()Oo.
That night, after midnight, three figures crept down the stairs in near-total silence, their slight sounds inaudible through the walls and the heavy door. Beneath their coverlet, the girls slept soundly, then at the faint click of the door coming unlocked, came fully awake and produced kunai; Rika and their mother were only slightly behind, and Ayano wasn't even fully awake by the time the interloper kicked open the door and a kunai sprouted in his throat. The girls had seen guns before in the Dome, and Aki had acted upon the sight of one. Even as the body fell, Aki was on the second, Ashi a heartbeat behind to deal with the last. The men pinned against the walls, sword and sickle at their throats, the fight was over. "Tell us why you're here," Ashi growled. As the brute stepped out, "Or do you need Rika to persuade you?"
The one under Aki's katana very slightly and carefully shook his head. "We'll talk! Jo-Mo, he say to hit you, we get back on top! So, we figure get' em while they sleepin' an' Jimmy…" He glanced at the corpse.
"Tell Jo-Mo," Ashi hissed, "that he's not welcome. His people aren't welcome. Any kind of second try, and we kill you. All of you. And we have killed before. Have you?" He didn't answer, but his expression and body language made the answer clear. She and Aki stepped back, and the men fled. Rika casually tossed the corpse up to the sidewalk, and the three re-entered the Temple.
"You did well, Sisters," said their mother. "Now, remove the blood from the floor, and let us return to sleep." And so they did; the girls, as they normally did, slept through the service between midnight and sunrise, then after sunrise services, went out to explore, and to train under Ayami.
.oO()Oo.
"Sister Ayami, last night, men attacked us with weapons we've seen but don't know the name for. They throw metal pellets or bits of light, and we know they're very dangerous," Aji said after the sunset service.
Ayami considered a moment. "Guns. There are many kinds, they're quite common weapons and are easy to learn. If the High Priestess approves, I can help you select guns and other modern weapons for your mission."
The High Priestess nodded. "I approve. Under the circumstances, it is best you become familiar with such things."
She nodded acknowledgement. "Tomorrow morning, come to my apartment. I used to be a bounty hunter, I still have contacts in the field." Then she and Akane bade the rest polite goodbyes, and departed.
