Daughters of the Moon

Her father had taught her to never judge people by their appearances, so that is why Kaoru didn't say or think anything bad of the woman in front of her, wearing the very low cut kimono that revealed much of her shoulders and breast.

Her appearance was captivating. Her dark red hair reminded her of some of the red silk fabric her mother used to wear a long time ago. Her skin was darker than her own, but nevertheless beautiful. Her lips were sinfully painted dark purple and one small mole adorned her bottom left chin . She was indeed beautiful.

"You seem to really enjoy flowers," the beautiful stranger said to her suddenly. She had caught Kaoru looking at some different flower arrangements a young girl was making.

"Not exactly," Kaoru replied thoughtfully, "I do think them pretty, but I enjoy looking at them mostly because they remind me of my mother."

"Your mother?"

"Yes…she died years ago."

"I'm sorry to hear that," the woman replied sincerely. She suddenly looked at Kaoru with interest, "May I inquire why such a woman as yourself is wondering the streets of Kyoto alone, do you not have an escort?"

"I should ask the same thing of you, don't you think?" Kaoru replied amused.

"Well, I live here; however, I get the impression you don't. That is why I ask." The woman said, with a hint of amuse too.

"Good impression. I do have an escort….actually too many, if I may say. That is why I wonder the streets alone. I'm tired of the company."

" Too many escorts? Why you must really receive male attention…"

"Not exactly," Kaoru said with a laugh, "One is like a big brother, the other a small one, and the third…well the third I'm not quite sure yet."

Sensing that Kaoru did not want to talk about the third escort, the woman wisely changed the subject.

"Would you mind taking a walk with me. It has actually been a long time since I've talked with a woman similar to my age…"

Kaoru looked at her for a second, doubting. However, she really liked the woman's friendly approach and she had never seen someone so exotic-looking before. She was curious about the woman…

"Yes, that would be nice."

They began to walk slowly through the streets of Kyoto. The sun was just beginning to set and people started to clean up and close. The two woman kept on walking.

"I can see by the way you walk and the marks on your hands that you practice the art of swordmanship, am I correct?" The woman asked Kaoru.

"Why, yes, I do. It surprises me though that you would know. Most women can't figure it out…"

"Oh, I'm not really an expert on the subjet---far from it actually. I just know some people who practice the art, that is all…"

"You do not?"

The woman stopped for a moment, a flash of sorrow crossing through her eyes. She slowly raised her head to reveal a sad smile.

"There are few special woman like you that live their lives by their own judgement. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. I am a woman of grace and femininity. I was born to master the art of serving a cup of tea, not swordmanship."

Kaoru looked at the woman in wonder. Her words were not cruel. They were not meant to offend Kaoru or to show vanity. No…there was actually regret in the voice. A small tone of anger towards herself, not her walking companion.

"But, anyways, each of us must embrace our fate and live with it," the woman said, hiding all sorrow and anger with a sweet smile.

"You said you lived here. How long?" Kaoru asked, changing the subjet.

"Mmm….truth is I can't remember a time when I didn't live here. Actually…" the woman stopped for a moment as if remembering something, "I have one memory of when I was a little girl and my father and I were in Tokyo. Yes, I believe that's true. But that is all; the rest of my memories are here in Kyoto."

"What happened to your father?"

"I'm not quite sure…" the woman suddenly laughed, "That must sound amusing. Truth is he left me…"

"Really? A small child?"

"Yes, he never wanted a girl and from what I know my mother died during my birth. So he left me with his brother and I never saw him again."

"That is terrible."

"I suppose…." The woman said thoughtfully, "But it was such a long time ago I feel nothing on the matter."

"So, you now live with your uncle?"

The woman gave her a strange look at that comment. It seemed as if she thought Kaoru was crazy for thinking such an idea but suddenly remember the young woman had no idea of her story.

"No, I ran away from my uncle's house at the age of 10."

"Why was that?" Kaoru asked without thinking.

"He used to rape me."

There was a piercing silence after that. The woman said the last phrase with such a calm expression that it frighten Kaoru. It seemed as if she was used to the thought. Gathering courage, Kaoru tried to speak.

"You say that…with much calmness."

"I know. It's terrible, isn't it? However, it was such a long time ago…and, well, I have experience much more that it seems like a far away memory…"

"I'm sorry…"

The woman laughed, "Why are you sorry? Why would you say that?"

"I…well, I know I had nothing to do with your pain, but I grieve with you and that is why I'm sorry. I'm sorry for your pain."

The woman stopped laughing. She suddenly looked towards the setting sun which was already half-way down. Taking her arm under Kaoru's she guided their walk towards another empty street. Kaoru kept silent, not knowing what else to say.

"You are something, dear friend. I may call you that, yes? But do not worry for my pain. It has long been past, and truth is I myself have done many horrible things with my body. So do not grieve for this sinful piece of flesh…"

"I do not grieve for the sinful flesh but for the pure that's deep inside. I can guess by your words what things you have done with your body, but that will not change my sympathy…"

The woman suddenly turn towards her and gave her a quick kiss in the cheek and a hug.

"Dear friend, I wish I had known you before! We would have been great friends…"

"You say that as if we cannot now."

"Yes, well, truth is we cannot. What I am doing right now, being here with you, is breaking the rules. But I do not regret it."

"What rules---?"

"Shush...," the woman said, placing a finger on Kaoru's lips, "Don't ask anything. Let's just keep on walking and enjoy our small time together, neh?"

They kept on walking, Kaoru remaing silent, knowing she wouldn't get any answers. They finally reached the cemetery of Kyoto. Kaoru never notice until then that the woman had been guiding them into the streets towards this cemetery. Taking Kaoru's hand, the woman guided her into the melancholic place, smiling.

"You think me strange for taking you into this forsaken place?"

"Not exactly."

"Good, because I love cemeteries. Now, do not think me sick, it's just that….well, the calmness and peace of it is what I love."

"Indeed," Kaoru replied, "most people fear or hate cemeteries, but it is a place to find peace. The dead must truly be happy…"

"That is exactly what I say." Said the woman, "Look here. Here's the tomb of a woman and there's fresh flowers. Tomoe Yukushiro….wonder what she was like? Guess we'll never know."

The name made Kaoru's heart skip a beat, though she did not know why. Ignoring the feeling she walked passed the woman, looking at other tombstones. The woman looked once more upon the tomb then turned and walked with her companion.

"May I ask you something personal?" the woman said suddenly.

"Umm…sure."

"When you talked about your escorts, the third…he is not like a brother, am I correct?"

Kaoru stayed silent for a moment. Kenshin. No, he was not like a brother…but, what then? She came all the way from Tokyo just to see him and well, did he understand her purpose of being here with him? She wanted him to know, but since all these incidence with Shishio and the Juppon Gatana…there was barely time.

"No, he is not like a brother. He is something else. I'm not quite sure what, but something else…"

"Ah…he bears your heart in his hand. No wonder your eyes shine and your cheeks blush when you speak of him…"

"Do you have a lover?"

"Yes, and I love him truly. He saved me from my past life. He picked up the broken pieces and gave me a knew purpose. But…."

"What?"

"I fear for him. He is dealing with a problem and he is not himself. Well, he has aways been a little…crazy, but this problem has made him distant and so self-absorb…"

"Mmm…sounds familiar," Kaoru said sadly.

"Your man has a problem too?"

"Yes, well…he is not exactly self-absorb---on the contrary, he worries too much about others. But he distances himself so much that I think I will never be able to reach him. I don't know what to do…"

"It seems we both have the same problem."

"Indeed."

The sun already had set, and stars were appearing slowly. The moon was coming in all her glory, representing all woman-kind. Smiling at all her daughters…

"It seems it is already late," Kaoru said, "I should be getting home, or the other's will worry."

'Yes, yes…I should too."

They stood silent, staring at each other. Both feeling the same emotions. Frienship can be a sad thing too…

"It was really nice meeting you." Kaoru said, "I had a wonderful day thanks to you."

"Yes, I did too. I regret to leave you, though. We could have been very good friends…"

Kaoru bowed making her leave, but suddenly turned remembering something.

"I'm sorry, this is stupid, but I just realized we don't know each other's name. I am Kamiya Kaoru, and you…?

"Yumi…Kamagata Yumi."

Kaoru smiled and bowed again, this time really making her leave. Yumi bowed too, and both women then turn towards different directions. And the moon kept on smiling, for two of her daughters had shared a short time of peace together…