Purchase
The shop is dark and cool after the bright sun.
I blink.
The walls are lined with clothing. The more decorative are near the back. I cannot help but smile. I know I will not be able to find my usual garb, but there are plenty of other flattering outfits I can make.
A long wine red overcoat catches my eye. The gold trim starts on the collar and winds its way the length of the coat in intricate coils. It is beautiful. I cannot afford it. That will not stop me. I have enough strength to conjure a little illusion. It only needs to last until I am out of the shop.
I will buy pants. They will look fantastic with the coat. I pull the pants off the shelf and the coat from its hanger.
I concentrate. The illusion is harder for me to create than I expected. I really did overexert myself.
With my shin the previous nights illusion would have been easy. I would not have fallen into a state of deliriousness and I would not be so weakened now. I will have to be more sparing with my power.
I smile sweetly at the shopkeeper. "How much for these?"
The old man grunts a price. It is more than they are worth.
I pay the man what he asks.
I step outside.
I run into a man. My purchases fall into the dusty street.
"Sorry." He stumbles, handing me my things. He stands. "I didn't see you."
I start. His eyes are blue, his face finely chiseled. The unruly mop of dirty blond hair completes the picture.
-'Nakago'- He reminds me of the shogun when he was young.
I incline my head, my lips curving in a smile. "It was I that did not see you." My voice is honey.
I look him up and down. He is leanly muscled and a head taller than me (which is not much to say because I am rather short.)
-'He is indeed very like my dear shogun.'-
"Sorry..." he mumbles. My glance catches and holds his. He turns.
"Wait." I rest my hand on his arm. He tenses. "Could you tell me where I might find cosmetics?"
"Fountain Market probably." He eyes me. "Why?"
"I am a performer at the inn down the way."
"Oh." He leaves. I watch him.
[]
I stick to the shadows. The sun is hot.
I walk in the direction he pointed.
Rumbling. A deep rumbling.
I turn a corner. The rumble is a roar.
Water shoots into the sky. A geyser sprays the square with a fine mist.
-' Fountain Market. An apt name.'-
The edges of the square are lined with booths.
I walk to the nearest booth. "Cosmetics?"
The owner points to the other end of the square.
"Thank you." I step into the crowd.
[]
I hang the burnoose on the peg.
The inn is cool.
I need to find Jia. I need a mirror.
I will be Tomo tonight. I wont allow any weak emotions. No more Ryo Chuin tendencies.
I find her about to walk into the kitchen.
"Jia." She starts. "Send a mirror to my room."
"Okay." She doesn't look at me. She must still be angry.
"And hot water."
"Right away." Her eyes are on the ground. Cheeks red.
I leave her. Walking to my room.
I lay my new clothes on the bed.
A knock.
"Come in."
It's Jia. And another maid. They struggle with a full-length mirror. They set it down. Another maid follows. She has the water.
They leave.
I strip. The water is too hot. I let it cool.
I stand in front of the mirror, naked.
The scar is pink. It is the size of my fist. I trace it with my finger. The skin around it is tight.
I turn. It is the same size on my back.
"I should not have survived." I wonder at the healer's abilities. My wonder turns to hate. "Suboshi did this to me." I grit my teeth. "He will pay."
I face the mirror. I am too thin. My muscles to lax.
I run my fingers through my hair. Too coarse. Too dirty.
I am disgusted with my appearance. I look like the boy. Thin. Weak. I cannot return to Nakago in such a state. He doesn't tolerate weakness.
I turn to my bath.
The water is lukewarm. I scrub my face and wash my hair. Dust clouds the water.
I sit on my bed, pulling my hair over my shoulder. It is heavy. I comb it, working out the tangles.
I throw is over my shoulder. It falls to my thigh in a heavy mass.
"What to do with it." I wish I had my crown. It always made my hair more manageable. "I'll do what I've always done."
I put my hair up, as if I were wearing my crown. A stray lock on each side with a high ponytail.
I pull on my pants. Too big. I will need to bring them in. Later.
I get out my new paints.
White, blue and black. I couldn't find red. That I will also have to do later.
It's easy to paint my face. I'm used to it. All it takes is time and patience. Both I have.
The paint is cold against my skin. I feel like myself. Like Tomo.
I button the jacket.
I look at myself. My gold eyes stare back through a painted face. A thrill runs through me. I am beautiful.
I am restored. I am Tomo.
A knock.
"Enter."
She gasps. She stares. She blushes.
I smile. The effect is perfect. I have stunned her.
I follow her through the hall. She doesn't say a word.
The common room is loud. I don't plan on using many illusions. I need to save my strength. I will have to use petty tricks and slight of hand.
I walk to the front. Waiting.
Silence. All eyes are on me.
I perform.
The shop is dark and cool after the bright sun.
I blink.
The walls are lined with clothing. The more decorative are near the back. I cannot help but smile. I know I will not be able to find my usual garb, but there are plenty of other flattering outfits I can make.
A long wine red overcoat catches my eye. The gold trim starts on the collar and winds its way the length of the coat in intricate coils. It is beautiful. I cannot afford it. That will not stop me. I have enough strength to conjure a little illusion. It only needs to last until I am out of the shop.
I will buy pants. They will look fantastic with the coat. I pull the pants off the shelf and the coat from its hanger.
I concentrate. The illusion is harder for me to create than I expected. I really did overexert myself.
With my shin the previous nights illusion would have been easy. I would not have fallen into a state of deliriousness and I would not be so weakened now. I will have to be more sparing with my power.
I smile sweetly at the shopkeeper. "How much for these?"
The old man grunts a price. It is more than they are worth.
I pay the man what he asks.
I step outside.
I run into a man. My purchases fall into the dusty street.
"Sorry." He stumbles, handing me my things. He stands. "I didn't see you."
I start. His eyes are blue, his face finely chiseled. The unruly mop of dirty blond hair completes the picture.
-'Nakago'- He reminds me of the shogun when he was young.
I incline my head, my lips curving in a smile. "It was I that did not see you." My voice is honey.
I look him up and down. He is leanly muscled and a head taller than me (which is not much to say because I am rather short.)
-'He is indeed very like my dear shogun.'-
"Sorry..." he mumbles. My glance catches and holds his. He turns.
"Wait." I rest my hand on his arm. He tenses. "Could you tell me where I might find cosmetics?"
"Fountain Market probably." He eyes me. "Why?"
"I am a performer at the inn down the way."
"Oh." He leaves. I watch him.
[]
I stick to the shadows. The sun is hot.
I walk in the direction he pointed.
Rumbling. A deep rumbling.
I turn a corner. The rumble is a roar.
Water shoots into the sky. A geyser sprays the square with a fine mist.
-' Fountain Market. An apt name.'-
The edges of the square are lined with booths.
I walk to the nearest booth. "Cosmetics?"
The owner points to the other end of the square.
"Thank you." I step into the crowd.
[]
I hang the burnoose on the peg.
The inn is cool.
I need to find Jia. I need a mirror.
I will be Tomo tonight. I wont allow any weak emotions. No more Ryo Chuin tendencies.
I find her about to walk into the kitchen.
"Jia." She starts. "Send a mirror to my room."
"Okay." She doesn't look at me. She must still be angry.
"And hot water."
"Right away." Her eyes are on the ground. Cheeks red.
I leave her. Walking to my room.
I lay my new clothes on the bed.
A knock.
"Come in."
It's Jia. And another maid. They struggle with a full-length mirror. They set it down. Another maid follows. She has the water.
They leave.
I strip. The water is too hot. I let it cool.
I stand in front of the mirror, naked.
The scar is pink. It is the size of my fist. I trace it with my finger. The skin around it is tight.
I turn. It is the same size on my back.
"I should not have survived." I wonder at the healer's abilities. My wonder turns to hate. "Suboshi did this to me." I grit my teeth. "He will pay."
I face the mirror. I am too thin. My muscles to lax.
I run my fingers through my hair. Too coarse. Too dirty.
I am disgusted with my appearance. I look like the boy. Thin. Weak. I cannot return to Nakago in such a state. He doesn't tolerate weakness.
I turn to my bath.
The water is lukewarm. I scrub my face and wash my hair. Dust clouds the water.
I sit on my bed, pulling my hair over my shoulder. It is heavy. I comb it, working out the tangles.
I throw is over my shoulder. It falls to my thigh in a heavy mass.
"What to do with it." I wish I had my crown. It always made my hair more manageable. "I'll do what I've always done."
I put my hair up, as if I were wearing my crown. A stray lock on each side with a high ponytail.
I pull on my pants. Too big. I will need to bring them in. Later.
I get out my new paints.
White, blue and black. I couldn't find red. That I will also have to do later.
It's easy to paint my face. I'm used to it. All it takes is time and patience. Both I have.
The paint is cold against my skin. I feel like myself. Like Tomo.
I button the jacket.
I look at myself. My gold eyes stare back through a painted face. A thrill runs through me. I am beautiful.
I am restored. I am Tomo.
A knock.
"Enter."
She gasps. She stares. She blushes.
I smile. The effect is perfect. I have stunned her.
I follow her through the hall. She doesn't say a word.
The common room is loud. I don't plan on using many illusions. I need to save my strength. I will have to use petty tricks and slight of hand.
I walk to the front. Waiting.
Silence. All eyes are on me.
I perform.