Reincarnation
~*~
Koushirou awoke to the sun pouring in through the thin windows at the top of the wall. He rolled over and found that the rest of the girls were still asleep, peaceful and dreaming. He smiled and stretched, yawning and wondering what that day was going to bring him.
It still hadn't quite hit him yet.
He decided to take the opportunity to have the washroom all to himself. He opened the drawer that was designated for him and pulled out a fresh new kimono made of fabric he had never imagined. Even the nightclothes had been made of fabric nicer than his regular clothing! He quickly slipped into the hallway and found that the mansion was oddly quiet; everyone must be a late sleeper.
Still a little anxious, he quickly removed his clothes and washed his face free of the makeup from the day before. The other girls had not washed theirs, but it felt so disgusting that he had to take it off. He could wake up Mimi and get her to reapply it before anyone saw. He dipped into the small pool of water and washed himself, feeling relieved of the sweat and grim that had coated his body. Then he slipped into the kimono and walked back into the room.
They were still sleeping. He tip-toed over to Mimi and tried to nudge her awake, but she wouldn't budge.
Wow, she's an awfully heavy sleeper...
He turned towards her bag – where all of the makeup was.
Well, I suppose I'll have to learn how to do it myself at some point anyway.
He took out the looking glass and propped it up against the drawers, the bottom balanced on a partially opened drawer. He took out the foundation and started applying it; that wasn't so difficult. A little uneven hear and there, but nothing too noticeable, right?
The blush was easy enough, too, although it definitely didn't look as good as when Mimi and Ayako had applied it. But the eyeliner...he didn't want to ruin the kimono. Should've thought about that before I put it on... He grumbled to himself, his hand still shaking as he held the brush. He brought it up to his eye several times but couldn't bring himself to do it...
"Need some help?"
He whirled around to find a pretty girl probably a bit younger than him (but not as young as Iori) standing in the doorway. She had shoulder-length brown hair and kind, ruby eyes. And she almost looked slightly...familiar in a way.
"Y-yes, thank you..." Koushirou flushed in embarrassment. "I'm not used to doing this."
"Oh, that's quite alright. I'll be glad to help." She softly walked over and sat down next to him. Her kimono was pink and nicer than Koushirou's green one, so he knew that she must be of importance.
"Here, close your eyes." Koushirou did so. She took the eyeliner from him and started painting it on, light as a feather. Within moments, she told him to open his eyes. "There! That looks good."
He looked in the looking glass and was happy with her work. "Thank you very much."
"It's no problem. I'm happy I was able to meet you. What's your name?"
"Kouko, and the other new one is Misumi-chan." He paused. "But you can call her Mimi."
"Well, very nice to meet you, Kouko-chan, and I hope to meet Mimi-chan when she wakes." She stood up gracefully and headed towards the door. "I hope you will be happy here."
And before Koushirou could even think of asking her name, she was gone.
~*~
"That was Lord Taichi's sister, you idiot!"
Koushirou's mouth formed an "oh." "So that's why she seemed almost familiar..."
"Hikari-san is so nice!" Miyako continued as she brushed her hair. "She doesn't visit us terribly often, but when she does, she'll usually stick around and give us gourmet candy or something."
"Well, she was definitely kind," Koushirou commented.
The door slid open. It was Iori with breakfast. "Good morning," he greeted humbly.
"Good morning!" the girls – and Koushirou – echoed back.
"How are you today, Iori-kun?" Miyako asked cheerfully.
"Fine, thank you, Miyako-san," he replied shyly. "Is there anything else you need?"
"Just for you to lighten up." Miyako winked as she took a rice bowl.
He looked down. "I try, Miyako-san. Enjoy your meal." And he slid the door shut.
"He still seems rather downcast about his parents," Mimi noted sadly.
"Yes, I think that's it," Sora agreed. "I wish him all of the happiness in the world." She turned to the rest of the concubines. "I wish us all of the happiness in the world."
~*~
Embroidery and playing the shamisen weren't exactly familiar activities to either Mimi or Koushirou. Mimi could sew and Koushirou learned how to play a little fue back when he was young, but otherwise, they were clueless. But Sora and Miyako helped them, thankfully.
"The kimonos we make are sold for millions of yen," Sora explained. "And luckily, some of the money actually goes towards us. For example, we're able to have a private viewing of a Noh or Kabuki play a few times a year."
"Oh, I hate Noh!" Miyako exclaimed, frowning. "It's so slow and boring, and I always fall asleep! Kabuki is much more exciting!"
"I like Noh," Sora commented, smiling. "It's very peaceful, and I love the symbolism and meaning. It makes you relax. But I also have no problems with Kabuki."
"Some traveling Kabuki actors came to our village once," Koushirou said. "It was very interesting. I've never heard of Noh."
"My cousins are into Noh," Mimi said. "They tried to act out a scene one day when they were visiting, but I didn't get it."
"You definitely have to think about it," said Sora as she threaded a needle. "But once you do get it, you realize how beautiful it is."
Koushirou was about to ask another question when the door slid open, almost making him mess up.
Hasn't anyone here heard of knocking?
It was Daisuke. "Misumi, your presence is requested by the daimyo."
"Oh, oh!" She immediately dropped everything she was doing and started running her fingers through her hair. "Do I look okay, girls? Oh, Kami-sama, such short notice! Why in the middle of the day!?"
"Erm, it's not for that," Daisuke replied, and at this Mimi was relieved, but also slightly disappointed. "He simply wishes to walk with you through the gardens. He would like to know more about you."
"Ah, he always does that for the new concubines," Sora told her.
"Um...what about me?" Koushirou asked, looking up.
"You will walk with him, too, don't worry. Ken will come get you when it's your turn."
"Okay, okay, here I go! See you later!" Mimi waved to the girls and walked out, Daisuke following behind her.
~*~
Koushirou couldn't embroider; he was too nervous. He frantically kept glancing into the looking glass to make sure he looked okay.
Oh, gosh, I'm acting like such a girl right now. He paused in his thoughts. Maybe that's a good thing?
It was a long while before Ken appeared in the doorway.
"Kouko."
That was all he needed to say. Koushirou nervously rose from his place and nodded. "I'm coming."
Sora and Miyako wished him good luck as he walked out, and he started to shake as Ken led him towards the entrance to the gardens. His heart was pounding his ears and he was beginning to sweat. What if he said something stupid? What if Lord Taichi completely changed his mind about him?
"I'll leave her to you," Ken said. Then he bowed and exited.
Koushirou looked up to find the blond advisor he had seen the day before.
"So, you are Kouko."
"Y-yes, sir."
"Please, do not call me sir. You may call me Ishida-san."
"Yes, Ishida-san."
His eyes softened a little. "Glad to see he picked a polite one."
"Th-thank you, Ishida-san."
"He and Misumi should be back any minute. Just wait here for a few moments until then."
"Yes, Ishida-san."
Yamato looked at him peculiarly. "I hope that isn't the only thing you will say when you talk to Lord Taichi."
"I-I'll try not to."
"Ah, speak of the devil..."
Koushirou's eyes immediately flicked over to the open archway, and he could see Lord Taichi and Mimi walking over the nearest bridge. Mimi was chattering away and Lord Taichi was respectfully listening. But his eyes flipped up to Koushirou's and caught them – and Koushirou's breath with them. He did not break the gaze until he reached them.
"Ishida-kun. Escort Mimi back to her room."
So he's calling her Mimi now. That's a good sign. Mimi, indeed, winked at him as she walked away with Yamato.
And before he knew it, he was alone with Lord Taichi.