The jorogumo stood amongst the flames, her spider legs bending and flexing in irritation. The medicine seller had taken a knee, holding the poisoned Kayo in one arm while the other held the taima sword. His movements would be limited given Kayo's condition, but leaving the mononoke alive wouldn't be any better.
The mononoke took a step forward, her feet heavy against the wooden floor boards. "You will not take them away from me. Just like that samurai, you just want to take them away from me!"
The medicine seller didn't move from his kneeling stance. "You wish to protect them."
"I will protect them all!" the mononoke insisted. "No lord will take them away against their will!" She paused, studying the medicine seller carefully. He didn't belong in this story, but he was like the other men who dared come to this house. They only wanted Ai. No matter what happened, she would protect Ai. She would protect them all.
That taima sword of his could take everything away, but there was another factor here she hadn't considered. He gingerly held Kayo, protecting her. She was suffering from the poison. While such suffering would normally bring her much joy, Kayo's condition had struck a sympathetic nerve with her. She wanted the men to suffer for what had happened, but here a woman was suffering instead.
The medicine seller could see hesitation on the mononoke's face, leaving him wondering what might be causing her such internal conflict. He glanced down at Kayo as her grip on his kimono began to loosen.
"My….. my legs…." she gasped between breaths.
Gently he set her down on the floor, laying her on her side. He had to end the mononoke's pain so he could end Kayo's as well with a proper antidote. Standing tall, he placed the taima sword in a defensive position. "You have been showing us the truth of your creation, singing the reason for your ire."
The mononoke's spider legs extended, causing the flames to burn more intently on the walls.
Leaning over slightly to avoid the smoke and flames, he continued to hold the taima sword out. "Miss Ai refused Lord Genbei's advances, causing a fight. You ejected them from the house. When the lord returned, he set the geisha house ablaze in a fit of jealousy. If he could not have Miss Ai, no one would. This is your truth."
The taima sword chattered in confirmation.
"When the house burned, the geisha all perished along with an old spider who resided in the kitchen," he continued, repelling a fiery blast with the sword. "Your regret that you could not protect the house carried to the orb weaver to form the mononoke's reason."
"Release!" the sword shouted over the crackle of the blaze. The colorful streaks of the taima's blade billowed out into the fire as the other self grasped the hilt. His long white hair flowed around the flames as the markings on his arms shifted to protect Kayo from their heat.
"You will not take them from me!" the jorogumo screamed. Extending her spider arms, the fire seared. The walls began to turn to ash, falling to the ground around them and threatening to drop the roof on their heads.
He glanced at Kayo laying nearly motionless behind him. Illusion or not, this fire would only worsen her condition. He had to fight this battle a different way. Reaching behind him, he took the offered mirror and flipped it around. The reflection grew larger, showing the mononoke a reflection of Mego and Ai as they once were. It showed a reflection of a time when the geisha house was thriving, a time before Lord Genbei had ever visited.
The geisha house was bustling, entertaining the most powerful of lords in the region. They had traveled far to request geisha entertainment specifically from this house. Mego had never been so pleased to see her business thrive so well. Her geisha were happy. Her maiko were well trained. Her ladies were educated and refined. It was a happier time.
The jorogumo fell to her knees, burying her face in her hands. "Why can't it just go back to that? Why must we suffer for trying to protect everyone? Should I have simply let Ai go with them? Was I wrong?!"
The medicine seller didn't reply, simply watching the flames flicker as the mononoke sobbed miserably.
"Why won't you answer me? Why?!" She rubbed at her face, the white and red makeup running from her tears. She looked up at him. He looked rather statuesque and much different than the men who threatened this house.
She didn't need him to say anything to know without a doubt that She had made the right decision. Letting them take Ai away from the geisha house would've only resulted in her suffering. In the end, all had suffered for her decision, but it still was the right one. No one touched the geisha of this house. "Please make the pain stop. Please don't let Miss Kayo die."
"She shall be fine as I lay you and this house to rest." Grasping the mirror in one hand, he swung the sword with the other. In a colorful swipe of reds, blues, and greens, the fire flickered out and the illusion fell around him. The outer self held the sword out amongst the remains of a building which had burned long ago. The geisha's suffering was finally over.
…
Kayo stirred. She could feel the softness of the futon, hear the birds chirp outside the window, see the light stream into the room. She rubbed at her face with sluggish hands. Last she recalled was the fire and the pain in all her limbs. It had grown difficult to breathe, her chest feeling restricted like tying an obi too tightly.
She managed to push herself up to a seated position, finding her outer kimono hanging up near the doorway. A pot of tea steeped near the futon along with a mortar and pestle with a small amount of medicine remaining inside. Her hair ornaments were arranged carefully on the side table. She could feel her limbs once again though they still felt weakened. "An inn?"
She frowned. She wasn't exactly fond of inns, particularly after that mononoke candle inn, but at least it wasn't that repeating geisha house anymore.
She managed to stand up, her legs feeling wobbly underneath her for a moment as she staggered towards the door and eventually bumping into it. On the other side, she could hear the medicine seller peddling wares. He was talking about ginseng, teas, and other remedies that could help with certain bedroom issues.
Coins dropped on the table and another door slid open and shut. Fortunately they didn't end up outside this time. She slid the door open, staggering in. She looked a mess in her kimono under layer with her hair down and only one tabi sock on. She rubbed at her face.
"You are awake, Miss Kayo." He collected the dropped coins, pushing them into a pouch. "How do you feel?"
"Like I got hit by a cart," she frowned, flopping down at the table and leaning against it. "Is the mononoke….?"
"Slain," he replied simply. "You were poisoned by the jorogumo's venom. It may take some time to fully regain your strength."
"I'll be fine," she insisted. "I don't want to run out of coins and have to eat grass or something."
"Miss Kayo."
"Or end up spider food again," she frowned.
"Miss Kayo."
She pursed her lips together. "What?"
"We are not eating grass unless your diet is suddenly changing." He grinned, a bit amused.
She huffed sharply at him.
"This town has not seen a medicine seller in some time due to rumors," he continued. "Plenty of sales to be made until you are well enough to travel. We shall be fine."
She breathed in deeply. It did feel nice to not feel so constrained. And perhaps a little rest would do some good. Traveling with such wobbly legs wouldn't be good for either of them. He probably could carry her and the chest no problem but she wanted to walk on her own two feet.
"Rest, Miss Kayo," he insisted.
She peered back at the futon. "You'll tell me what happened to that geisha house, right?"
"Of course," he nodded. "After you have rested."
"Fine, fine." Not that she had to truly object that much. She felt weary still. She managed to push herself up away from the table and stagger into the room. She could learn more about what became of Ai and Mego another time. She flopped down on the futon and promptly fell asleep.
...
Author's notes
Mego meant well! It just didn't end well. At least she's found some rest with the rest of her house now.
And Kayo is on her way to healing. Surely you didn't think I would kill her off, right?
Name meanings!
The names in this chapter reference love
Ai - love
Mego - an old-fashioned name that possibly means Love or Girl
Genbei - a semi-common name in the Edo era (not referencing love. sorry)