An Old Tale

By: Esuna

Chapter Seven: A Fearful Confrontation

Anastasia felt really sick that night as she lay scrunched up in bed. That horrible knot in her chest was acting up again. Her poor, feeble chest heaved swiftly up and down. The intense throbbing was becoming so unbearable. Her eyes had begun to swell up with agonizing tears as the pain gnawed deeper into the core of her chest. She squeezed her teary eyes shut and gnashed her teeth as she spent the entire night tossing and turning in bed.

By morning, there was only an unusual heaviness in the girl's chest but nevertheless, it was still a great improvement from the tremendous pain she had experienced last night. She had not slept a wink though. Sitting up in bed, the girl stroked that weak spot restlessly, hoping the heaviness would eventually go away. Slowly, she got out of bed to change and to get ready for work. It would be a long day.

Not only did she have to work at the tavern, but she also have to work by Master Zhuzhen's side as his new and approved apprentice from now on. He had agreed to take her in as his apprentice only because she had the sixth sense, which would be useful to him if he ever encountered any problems detecting a malevolent spirit. The old sorcerer still had some business to attend to in Yokohama – there were a few more locations that required his exorcisms. Because of this, the girl was able to continue working in Ogen's tavern for the time being. That is, until it would be time to leave Yokohama for good. Zhuzhen had mentioned traveling to Europe after he was done with the matters here in Japan.

Anastasia knelt in front of the basin of clean water by the mirror in order to do her morning wash up. After she was done, she slipped on a clean light-green kimono with a dark green obi. She stood in front of the mirror now and combed out every single tangle of her long waves. She flicked her light brown hair over her back and tied that same white ribbon behind it. Satisfied with how she looked, she slipped on her wooden clogs and walked out of her bedroom.

"Good morning," Yoshiko smiled at the older girl as she placed a dish full of white buns down on the wooden table.

"Good morning," Anastasia answered in return, realizing that Naniwa Kawashima and Blanca were not here. Where did they go? Perhaps, they went out together for a morning stroll or something.

Anastasia knelt by the short table and tucked her legs under her bottom. She took a hot bun that was nothing but flour, in her hand and took a small bite out of it. The younger girl placed a small glass in front of the Russian princess and poured some fresh steaming green tea in it. "Thank you, Yoshiko," she smiled gratefully.

"Lady Anastasia," the girl inquired as she peered closely into her face, "are you alright? You look very pale."

The older girl was startled by that unexpected remark. Was she really? She didn't notice that at all when she had looked in the mirror this morning. "Um…that's because…I…didn't sleep that well last night."

"Oh, I see…," Yoshiko said, trailing off.

Anastasia finished up her bun and sipped the rest of her green tea, despite it being so hot. She stood up to go now. "Well, I'm off," she said to the younger girl as she clasped her hands together.

"Have a good day!" she beamed with a warm smile.

Anastasia felt at her cheeks as she walked to work through the Yokohama Streets. The little Yoshiko had just said she looked very pale this morning. Pale, was it? It was probably because of her lack of sleep due to that sudden painful attack she felt clawing at her chest last night. She tried to avoid thinking about that traumatic experience. It was a dreadful one. She shook her head in order to disregard that troubling thought again.

It was a very quiet morning as the girl was going her merry way. Most of the vendors had just begun placing their items out by the corner of the streets. One of the vendors had caught her utmost attention though. She couldn't resist edging near that vendor in order to stoop forward to peer at some beautiful, silk handkerchiefs of various colours. They were folded neatly on top of a red velvet stand. There was only one unique handkerchief that caught her special interest. It was a pasty green handkerchief with two hand-etched white swans by the bottom right hand corner of the silk material. It was absolutely beautiful.

Anastasia gazed sadly at the etching of these two swans. Somehow, her mind had strolled back to that one time when she and...and…Kurando…had once spent a marvelous time together gazing at a flock of these lovely birds swim in a pond. However, that wondrous moment they spent together was long dead in the past now. Regretfully, the girl turned away from the stand, already feeling the knot in her chest tighten with sudden discomfort at the thought of it. She held one hand over that uncomfortable spot as she walked away, gazing forlornly up at the morning sky.

The girl still had her hand over her chest when she had finally reached the tavern. She was looking tiredly down at her wooden clogs as she stepped noisily inside. Ogen, who had been wiping a table with a wet cloth, spun around to gaze curiously at this girl up and down with a worrisome face. "Mayu? What's the matter? Are you feeling ill today?" she asked immediately.

"I-I'm not sure," was all she could say as she strolled over to the nearest table and collapsed on a chair. She took a short moment to catch her uneasy breath. "I…I think…I'll be alright. Don't you worry about me."

Ogen had walked up to her and placed an arm around her shoulders. "Now, don't you push yourself so hard if you are not feeling well," she said, frowning. "Where do you feel ill?"

"J-Just my head," she lied, although she did feel light-headed. "But I will be fine," she added right after.

The older woman had pursed her lips together, contemplating what to do with this stubborn young girl. She was feeling ill and yet, she still wanted to work. Finally, an idea came to mind. "If your head is hurting, I don't want you moving around so much," she said. "It will make the throbbing worse than it already is. So, I want you to take over Chihiro's task and just sit in the backroom to do the dishes. Does that sound alright with you, Mayu?"

"But…"

Ogen pulled the girl closer to herself as she explained warmly, "Everything will be just fine. Chihiro and I will take over during your absence."

With that conclusion, Anastasia spent the entire day in the backroom sitting in a small wooden chair washing a huge stack full of dirty dishes in a large wooden basin. The tightening of her pitiful chest had finally subdued but what remained afterwards was a strange heaviness that loomed over that one spot. It had left her feeling queasy all day.

The girl was beginning to regret having listened to that tragic tale from Master Zhuzhen last night. Why did she even ask about that woman's story anyway? How stupid could she be? If only she hadn't asked about it then she would have been just fine today. However, it was already too late for that. What was worse, the old tale happened to portray her own tale. She found herself in a position so frighteningly similar to that pitiful young woman where she had given her heart and soul to that one man she loved and in the end, he had a change of heart. Love could be cruel sometimes.

"…I believe you must mean Mayu," Ogen could suddenly be heard saying to someone as she came pushing the backroom's navy curtain aside to call the girl's attention. "Mayu," she said, "there is someone asking for you in the main parlor."

"Asking for me? Who is it?" the girl asked as she placed the dirty dish that she was just washing back into the basin. She stood up and turned to face the older woman as she rolled her long clumsy sleeves down.

Ogen shook her head confusedly. "I do not know. Perhaps one of your companions?"

Anastasia contemplated for a second with regards to who this 'companion' might be but unfortunately, no one in particular came across her mind. She would just have to go out there and find out for herself. The girl stepped forward just as the older woman disappeared behind the curtain. She brushed it aside with her right hand and ducked outside.

"Mayu will be out shortly," she could hear Ogen say to that person.

As the girl stepped out of the backroom, she looked around the main parlor in wonder. There was only a familiar crowd of loyal customers. However, she didn't notice that person until he stepped out from behind that crowd. Her eyes widened in shock as she lifted both hands over her mouth at the sight of this young man. She gasped, realizing she had finally come face-to-face with "him". It was someone whom she had loved. Someone whom had crushed her heart flat. And also someone whom she had feared. It was the same face she had tried so hard to cast out of her mind. It was the very same person she had struggled so hard to let go of. Yes, it was him. It was him indeed. It was Kurando. Standing right here, right now. At last, the two were reunited again.

"…Anastasia?" Kurando faltered unbelievably after a heavy silence. A completely foreign-looking girl stood right before him. She was dressed in a lovely kimono that defined her stunning figure with beautiful long hair tumbling all the way down to her supple waist. He couldn't help but to ogle at her ravenous beauty.

The girl's bright green eyes was still widened to that of complete shock at the sight of this young swordsman. Her heart was beating wildly now. She retreated by a few steps as she clasped her hands over her bosom now. "I-I don't know you," she stammered as she hardly knew what she was saying. "I don't know who this 'Anastasia' is. My name is Mayu."

Kurando stepped closer as his crimson eyes burned intensely into hers. "…Mayu?" he repeated the name skeptically.

Anastasia tried to avoid his flaming red eyes. "Y-Yes…" Her body began to tremble slightly but either way; she knew he was aware of it. She hardly fought the fear creeping up her fragile limbs. Why was she so afraid of him? Why…? Was she afraid of getting hurt again?

"Anastasia or not," he said right after, "there are some important things I must know from you. You have to answer me in earnest." This time he marched straight for the girl, his eyes still fixed rigidly on her frightened but beautiful face.

The girl gasped in fear as she cowered even further until she felt the wall against her back. "No! Don't come any closer!" she screeched as she swung her head to the side in a wild attempt to avoid his sight.

Of course, Kurando took no heed of her desperate plea as he stood exactly one step away from her now, so close that the girl could feel his gentle breaths against her white cheek. He hovered over the pathetic girl, studying her sad, pained face in silence. This was the very same face he had seen flashing across his troubled mind back in the waterfall cavern at Inugami Village. Yes, this was the exact same face…

Anastasia was practically hyper-ventilating as she clasped her hands over her troubled heart. Not only did her heart beat so furiously, but that knot in her chest was beginning to uncoil itself from within its depths. So many things tumbled inside of her. Most notably, it was the pain…the sadness… And with "him" gazing so intensely at her, those things seemed to intensify like a wild spark of fire.

Kurando hesitated. But slowly, he placed his gloved hand under her chin and turned her face towards him. She felt her entire body tense up at the startling, unexpected touch. However, she still refused to look into his eyes. He placed his hands firmly on her shoulders now.

"You knew all along, didn't you," he finally said. "About me…and Sayori."

The girl flashed her startled green eyes unexpectedly into his fiery ones. She went pale.

He took a deep breath. "Anastasia, there is something you must know first," he heaved out.

Again, she dreaded those words. Her eyes flashed with unmistakable fear. She wanted to run away from him but somehow, her legs refused to obey. He was going to do it. He was going to tell her how important Sayori was to him. The knot in her chest had by now, uncoiled to that of freedom. The heaviness in her chest was gone, having been replaced by an excruciating pain instead. A strange rumbling could be heard and she felt it inching up her lungs and to her parched throat. The girl could hardly fend it off. With her hands over her throat, she choked out her own blood in one giant effort. It splattered all over the front of Kurando's samurai wear.

Kurando was still holding onto her by the shoulders. However, his eyes widened to that of unbelievable shock as he gazed down at the bloody mess on his outfit. He returned his panic stricken eyes on the girl's ghostly white face now. Anastasia gasped at the sight of all that blood she had spewed on the young man. She looked guiltily up at him as she raised her hands over her bloody mouth.

The entire tavern became dead silent now. Practically everyone in the parlor had turned to look at them in horror. Ogen could suddenly be heard screaming in the background.

Anastasia didn't wait a moment longer as she shoved Kurando away from her and ran as fast as she could to the door. Out in the Yokohama Streets, the girl stumbled away from the tavern in fear. As if she had just gone mad, she was screeching insanely as she staggered forward. She hardly knew where she was going. All she could do was stumble along the streets with two bloody hands by her side, glaring blindly up at the late afternoon sky. The sun was just beginning to set. The longer she gazed at this reddish orange light, the more chaotic her head began to spin.

The girl's legs were giving out on her now. She felt herself stumble forward but no sooner, someone had yanked her back by the arm. She felt her body twist to the side. Still, she was falling but that person had caught her in his arms in time. He knelt over the girl just as she glanced weakly up at him. The sunset from behind him had cast a dark long shadow over his face. Still, she knew it had to be him. She knew it had to be Kurando. Yet, she didn't know how disoriented he looked as he held her there in his arms. Soon, the girl's tired green eyes fluttered to a close…