lookie, lookie - how this for an update? it's like, what -a month since the last update? i'm getting better! well,i can't really say that, but...
well, school's out for summer (yeah, baby!), but as well as lazing around, i've been kinda busy. i bought a car (though i owe dad $1000, sigh...), and i've been looking for jobs. i've applied for woolworths circle of companies, and later today i'm finding out about a position for a polo groom... but i'll have to live away from home to work there... ah, what to do...
now, anything to say about the chapter? hmm... well, kenko is a bit spiteful in one bit, so it's kinda ooc... but it was funny, i had to leave it in! honest! and also, from here the story takes a slightly different course, as you may see by the end. nothing too bad, but it should leave some vague hints...
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Yaku ga Kawaru – To change roles
Kenko's eyes slowly opened a few minutes before the sun would peer over the city's horizon. Her night had been filled with the usual dreams, but she felt slightly more rested than normal. Taking a deep breath, she stretched her arms forward, her sword still in her hand. Looking over towards where Tomo was lying the night before, she noticed that he was also waking up. As he sat up and turned his head in her direction, she froze, arms still in front of her. His gaze seemed to go right through her, as if he was trying to see something. After a moment of silence, though it seemed to take longer, Tomo finally blinked and broke the silence with a quiet, "Ohayou gozimasu, Himura-san."
"… Ohayou… Tomo-san," Kenko acknowledged, bringing her arms back down. Not knowing what to do, since she had not expected him to wake so early, she stood up and walked stiffly towards where she put her wakazashi the night before. Aware of the black eyes still following her every move, she refused to look in his direction before she turned around and reached the door. Pausing as she opened the shoji, she looked over her shoulder and curtly said, "I'll let you prepare for the day in peace."
Closing the shoji behind her, Kenko quickly made her way down the stairs, slipping her weapons by her waist. There was something in his look that unsettled her. It was a different feeling to what she felt in the kitchen yesterday, but it still made her nervous. Moving out to the laundry area as the sun's first rays filled the sky, she went to the well and brought up two buckets of water. The first was for her to use to wash up, and the second was for the kitchen, which she would then use to make tea. Soon after arriving at the inn, she had made a habit of always making tea for herself and the other women, who she usually beat to the kitchens. Even now, when she did not help out everyday, she still made sure that it was there, ready for them.
After washing her face and trying to clean her hands as well as she could, it had been fifteen minutes since she had left Tomo in her room. Picking up the other bucket she walked to the kitchen, noticing without surprise that the others had not yet arrived, and set about boiling the water. As she watched the bubbles slowly rise to the surface, she was faintly aware of footsteps coming towards her. Assuming it was Okami-san, she paid no heed to it, and started preparing the o-cha power for the tea. When the footsteps passed the door and continued down the hall, she paused, wondering what the older lady was doing.
A few minutes later, as she was preparing to pour the water into the first cup, another set of footsteps came in the same direction, and this time they stopped at the kitchen entrance. The shoji rolled open to reveal Okami-san. "Ara, Himura-chan, making our tea as always, I see? I trust you managed to sort out your situation with Tomo-kun, then."
Looking hard at the inn's owner, Kenko asked slowly, "Okami-san, that wasn't you earlier walking towards the laundry?"
A confused expression came to her face. "No… but who else would be up now – I know the girls certainly are not…"
Frowning, Kenko slowly stood up, fingering the hilt of her katana. "Okami-san, if you could continue making the tea," she murmured, slipping past her and into the passage. Kenko knew it was probably one of the men who had happened to wake up early this morning – it had happened before. But the footsteps she heard were light, deliberate – not one of a man who had just woken up. They did not want to be heard, or at least not suspected. Carefully, she glided down the hall and peered into the back garden.
She heard movement in the laundry, and paused in the shadow of the doorway. After a moment, a person exited the area, drying their hands on their sleeves. It was Tomo. Apparently not noticing he was being watched, he walked towards the koi pond, crouching down to watch the fish swim. After brushing his fingers across the water's surface, he stood up and turned away. Suddenly, he reached for the sword by his side. Thinking that she had been noticed, Kenko withdrew slightly, holding her breath. When she heard no sound of him coming towards her, she stole a glance again. Tomo had drawn his sword, and was holding it straight out in front of him, left hand hovering above his right. A few seconds later, he slowly began to move, his right hand bringing his sword across his chest, left hand now moving to rest near the point. As he moved into another position, Kenko realised – he was going though kata. So it seemed Iizuka was wrong – he did seem to know how to use it. She smirked at the thought.
Tomo had begun to speed up his actions, when he paused in mid-form, catching her attention. After a moment, he slowly shifted out of his pose, and turned his head slightly towards where she was. "Who's there?"
His soft voice rung through the air gently, but it still managed to make Kenko start. Frowning at her reaction and how easily she was spotted, she moved out of the shadow and into view. "Tomo-san," she said as nonchalantly as possible, "Would you like some tea?"
She watched as he blinked, seemingly unsure what to do. Soon, he had regained his facade and replied, "I would, thank you, Himura-san. However, shouldn't you be resting today?"
Frowning again, Kenko retorted, "Why should I be?"
"I was hired to take over the arduous jobs that you were asked to do, as so you could recover better from… your assignments." He answered, his voice becoming slightly cold at the end.
It didn't go past Kenko, though. "I would hardly call making tea an arduous job." Turning her back to him, she added before she left him in the garden. "You can have your tea in the kitchen when you've finished here. The servant girls will be up in about five minutes." She wasn't sure why she told him that last part, but she heard a quiet thank you before she left. Perhaps it was because she had to go back outside soon to shop the wood for the day, and she didn't want him to be around. Hopefully the thought of being glomped by the two flirts would give him an incentive to drink his tea quickly and then make himself scarce.
---
Upon entering the kitchen, she saw Okami-san whisking the last cup of tea together. After getting another cup, she knelt down by the woman and prepared some more o-cha powder.
Okami watched her for a moment before saying, "Himura-chan, I already have made your tea…"
Lifting her eyes to the older woman for a moment, she nodded, replying, "I saw – thank you. However, this is for Tomo-san."
"Ah, so it was him outside… who would have though – a man getting up before me?"
"Yes, he was going though some kata." Kenko added, reaching for the teapot.
The innkeeper studied Kenko as she carefully poured the hot water into the cup, then mixed in the powder with the bamboo whisk. The tea they were preparing wasn't ordinary tea, but traditional tea usually reserved for sadou ceremonies and formal events. The tea itself was more refined, and had other ingredients added to it, giving it a more green appearance. Also, the texture was different, and most people found the taste to be too bitter for regular consumption. However, Kenko seemed to like it, after being forced to learn the ceremony from Ikumatsu and the girls one time. While she never tried the ceremony again, she still seemed to hold a sense of elegance when making the tea, as if she wanted to do it perfectly.
After drawing the finishing 'no' in the cup, the shoji was rolled open, and Ayame and Miyuki stepped into the kitchen, still appearing to be half-asleep. After seeing Kenko put down the bamboo whisk, Ayame moaned and slurred, "Mou, why must it be that type of tea every time, Himra-chan?"
"Come now," Okami said curtly, motioning to the futon pillows beside them, "You know how well it invigorates you – it seems to be the only thing that can wake you two up."
"That's because it's soo bitter," Miyuki retorted, slumping down onto the pillow none too gracefully. "Eh? Why is Himura-chan making five cups? Is she still asleep as well?" she asked, giggling slightly.
"No, that cup is for Tomo-kun," Okami answered for Kenko, who seemed to be impatient for some reason.
"Eh? Tomo-kun's awake? Kyaa!" the worker girl exclaimed, immediately perking up. "Is he to join us? Ah… if only I'd known, I would have made more effort this morning – ah, why does Himura-chan get to make his tea? She better not be serving him – she gets more than her fair share of him at night."
"As if I'd want to serve him!" Kenko snapped, not particularly happy at where the girl's words were going. "And what is taking him so long?"
In the pause of her slight outburst, a slow, thudding sound filled up the silence. After a few moments, Kenko slowly rose, her mood turning more sour. What did the man think he was doing?
Shoving the door open, she strode down the hall, and turned into the garden to see – sure enough – Tomo cutting up some wood. Wood that she had put out last night for her to chop.
"Tomo-san!" she called out curtly, not caring that she could have spooked him and make him slip. Jumping slightly at her voice, he turned around, a surprised expression on his face. "Your tea is ready."
"Oh… thank you…" Setting the axe down carefully, he picked up several pieces of wood before he walked over to where she was. As he came next to her, he could see the irate look in her eyes. "Is something wrong, Himura-san?"
"Just how many of my jobs to do plan to take?" Kenko asked, not bothering to hide her annoyance.
A tiny smile graced Tomo's lips. "Well, I would say that chopping up wood is slightly more arduous work than making tea. But since I have no skills in cooking, you're welcome to help out in the kitchen."
Staring at him, she turned away as she felt her cheeks start to burn. "Don't forget your place here, Tomo-san. You are an employee, so watch your tongue…" Not waiting for a reply, she led the way back to the kitchen.
---
When they slid the shoji open, they were greeted with a much happier and brighter Ayame and Miyuki, with both of them motioning to a futon pillow in between them, Tomo's teacup in front of it. "Hai, Tomo-kun – we've made you some tea!"
Smirking inwardly, Kenko took the wood out of Tomo's arms, murmuring, "Yes, Tomo-san, have some tea with your fellow employees." Normally, she wasn't a very spiteful girl. But after enduring peculiar looks from the other men, and the thought of Iizuka's inevitable teasing, she thought she was justified to vent her irritation somehow. Letting the young man responsible for her problems become victim to two flirts seemed fair enough.
After setting the wood by the stove and putting one piece in, she knelt by her usual spot – the cushion closest to the door. Seeing Okami-san had already put her cup there, she picked it up, blowing gently across the top to cool it down.
Meanwhile, Tomo was looking at his tea while the two girls next to him told him that it was sadou tea by default – since both Okami and Kenko preferred it. While Miyuki was apologising, and telling him how she would have given him normal tea if she could, he also blew across his tea, and took a careful sip. Looking over at where Kenko knelt briefly, he turned back to Miyuki and said, "It doesn't matter – I also prefer this type of tea." Smiling slightly at their disbelieving looks, he added, "So, which of you made this? Considering neither of you like the taste, it is very well done."
Kenko blinked owlishly as the two girls blushed slightly and tried to answer. Realising that Tomo had just teased them, knowing that Kenko had made the tea, she took only a moment longer in enjoying the other girl's discomfort before deciding to save them. "Ayame-san, where is Okami-san?"
"Oh," Ayame turned to her, looking somewhat relieved that they were saved from their white lie. "Someone was at the entrance, so she went to greet them. It's been a while, so she should be back in a moment… but who could it be, at this ungodly hour?"
Sure enough, two sets of footsteps came along the hallway outside, and two figures made their entrance through the shoji. One was Okami-san, the other was Ikumatsu.
Kenko couldn't help but feel troubled when Katsura's lover looked over where Tomo was sitting and smiled somewhat slyly. When her eyes rested on Kenko, she waved lightly, then beckoned her over. Hesitantly, she stood up and made her way over to the doorway.
"Ah, Himura-chan, what a coincidence," Ikumatsu began, smiling brightly, "I heard that you had brought a witness home, but who would have thought it'd be the boy you were eyeing?"
"I believe it was you who was eyeing him, Matsu-san," Kenko muttered, not daring to look over her shoulder to see if the others could hear them. "What are you doing here, anyway? You've never come this early before."
"Oh, yes," Ikumatsu began to look a bit more serious, but still smiled. "It actually is related to you finding this man. Can we go to your room to talk?"
Nodding, she turned to Okami-san to excuse herself, then led the way up the stairs. She had a feeling that whatever the older woman had to say this early in the morning, it couldn't be good.
---
After sitting down and exchanging the usual pleasantries, Ikumatsu made herself more comfortable before fixing her gaze on Kenko. It was time to start the conversation.
"Now, Himura-chan, I mentioned earlier that my business with you had to do with the witness you brought here. Yesterday, after talking to Yukishiro-kun and yourself separately (– ah, Yukishiro is Tomo-kun's last name, apparently), he came over to visit me. He had already seen me earlier, as he needed to ask me about our night before you left the bar. But this time, he talked to me about you."
Seeing Kenko stiffen at this, she laughed lightly and waved her hand. "No, no, don't worry – it was nothing bad. Rather, it was s discussion about your position. When Katsura first brought you to Kyoto from Takasugi's grounds, he had planned to use you more as a spy then a general swordsman, because of your gender. You might remember Okami-san and I trying to teach you things like sadou, and of course I've always tried to get you into various kimono. However, as you proved yourself to be good enough to fill the role as… well, as our main hitokiri, he decided to let you be for the most part. You needed to concentrate on your skills and assignments, and your identity needed to be kept secret. In fact, this incident with Yukishiro-kun happens to be the first time someone from the outside has come in contact with you. Though now, of course, he is an employee of Okami-san, so he is no longer an outsider. And that's where I come to my main point."
Kenko's eyes narrowed slightly. It seems there was no getting rid of Tomo – no, Yukishiro-san now that even Ikumatsu referred to him as one of their own.
"Okami-san told me that she hired Yukishiro-kun because he would be able to do the jobs she had previously relied on you to help out with. If he takes on these jobs, it means that you will have more free time to rest. Katsura has informed me that for the time being, there are no assignments for you to complete, which means you'll be free everyday. And this is where I come in." Ikumatsu's smiled widened at the confused look on the girl's face. "We are going to resume your training."
Kenko blinked. "Eh? Training you say… what for?"
"Training to be a lady."
Kenko visibly paled. "Matsu-san… I hardly think I need that kind of training… you just said yourself, I am more than suited for my current role as a hitokiri, so…"
"But Himura-chan, that will not always be the case!" Ikumatsu suddenly cried. "Do you not see? The Bakufu will be brought down one day, most likely by your sword. The new era will begin. And then what becomes of you? You will only just be a woman, with no skills other than to kill."
Pausing, she looked sadly at the carefully vacant look on the girl's face. Talking about her role in such blatant terms was somewhat taboo, but she had to make her point. "A girl your age needs to know how to dress, how to cook, how to make conversation and entertain. She needs to know what is socially expected of her. From what I understand, you started learning the sword from your master when you were eight, and even before then you were not raised as girls in your position usually are. You have very little skills from back then to fall back on. I will not allow you to submerge yourself within the violence just to become insignificant when the peace finally arrives.
"While I don't intend to turn you into a full-fledged geisha, I will train you so you can one day fill your original role as a spy away from the killing, and one day be able to become a normal member of society. You don't intend to kill people forever, do you?"
Finally pausing, she watched Kenko for her reaction. After a long moment, she took a long breath, and raised her head to meet her gaze. "No, Matsu-san. One day… I would like to stop…"
Ikumatsu forced a smile on her face. "Good. Now, this is what I plan to do. Yukishiro-kun has already taken over the jobs you would do around the house, so during the day I will teach you basic social skills, sowing and the like. One the weekends, you will come to my place, where I will teach you the arts. When we go out, you will wear a kimono and make-up. When you are here, you will take an active role in making the meals, where Okami-san will teach you all she knows. Understood?"
Sighing, Kenko meekly nodded. This was going to be almost as bad as training with Shishou was.
"And the first thing we'll do is fix that kimono I got you. How on earth did you get it so messed up? It will take hours to repair!"
… Make that just as bad. Or worse.
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Notes –
Sadou – also pronounced 'chadou', this is the traditional tea ceremony done in Japan. The entire ceremony is quite complex, including the special way of folding the cloth, the placing of the jars and even the actual making of the tea. I've mentioned the last stroke being in the shape of the hiragana 'no', but I'm not going into the whole thing. I did the whole thing once in a school club when I went over, and the main thing I remember is that you don't think you legs will ever work afterwards. The tea is a special powder that is like the colour of grass, and it's more bitter than normal. I can't remember exactly how it tastes, but people used to tell me that I didn't have to finish it if I didn't want to, but I told them I didn't mind. So, I don't think it's that bad – and neither does Kenko, so there P.
Translations:
Ohayou (gozaimasu) – good morning
Kata – set moves in a sword style. Imagine someone doing tai-chi exercises, but with a sword in hand or something.
O-cha – Japanese (green) tea
Sadou – tea ceremony. See notes
i hope you don't think i'll update even earlier next time... i've gone from about a year to a month, but the next certainly won't be a week... i have got the idea for the chapter, but it's kinda delicate, making it work... ciao for now, then...