so i would have updated earlier but my internet decided to take a little vacation and when it came back fan fic decided to do a little maintanance Well regarding that i almost died of electric shock today i guess it just wasnt my day.
We could not do anything about being stuck in Japan. We landed in about, I was taking a look around and my gaze fell upon a fragile, pretty vase with a blue dragon print, Heian period, I figured from the stile. To be honest I did not really have a problem with that. Japan had always been a memory I very much enjoyed to wallow in from time to time. Plus I did not object sharing it with Rachel at all. I had been all but a monster.
While the emperors grew weaker and weaker, because they kept on loosing influence, they tried, in a last desperate rescue attempt, to use us demons to hold on to their power. At those times a lot of us had roamed the little island state. But the hunting grounds had been strictly divided. I had made sure I got hold of Kyoto first.
Everyone had laughed at me, for at back then it had only been a meaningless farming village. But as the royal residence had been moved from there from Nara, they all were laughing on the other side of their faces. Most of all Ku who had hold power over Nara, had seethed with rage. Who is to say I had no head for business.
Oni they had called me. It meant something close to our word devil and I found the term unbelievably fitting. I had indeed been a devil who had come and gone to the emperor's palace as he had pleased and just took whatever he desired. I smiled at the thought.
"What now?" Rachel asked. I had almost forgotten about her. I let the peaks of the bonsai I had eyed run through my fingers and noticed that he could need some trimming. "I was thinking about a massage. A tea ceremony maybe. Oh and I would kill for a good game of Shogi. Try to find a worthy opponent these days. I can tell you it is almost impossible." Rachel shook her head in disbelieve. "We are in trouble big time and all you are thinking about is a game of chess." I was surprised that Rachel could handle the term Shogi. Maybe she was not as dumb as I had thought. "If this is a memory of yours then why aren't you to be found anywhere?" She was eying the room wearily and her eyes fixated the door as if someone was about to enter every second now. "These have been my hunting grounds back then. I knew them like the back of my hand. Don't you think that your memory is able to save more than just moments? Memories are merely a reflection of reality in your head. Or are you thinking about specific moments or certain people when thinking about your kitchen." I could see Rachel picturing her kitchen then she wrinkled her forehead. "Point taken."
"I suggest we roam this memory a bit longer and maybe then I get a clue how to get out of here." Rachel nodded hesitantly. I could see that she did not like the idea of being stuck in my head even a minute longer one bit. There was nothing she could do about it now.
"Alright. Before going out on the street we probably should blend in a little more." I snapped my fingers one and changed my looks. I now had the outlook of a smart young Japanese with a long black ponytail and very dark, brown eyes. I was wearing a blue Jukata, a yellow Obi around my waist and traditional brown sandals. That's what I liked to call comfortable. I gave Rachel a little smirk when I noticed her starring at me. "Well, Al" she stumbled and pointed at my new body. "Why the heck are you looking like one of these boys in that Japanese boy band? What's their name again?" I swore. I knew I had seen this body before. I only had thought it had been in early not in modern days Japan. "Arashi", I grumbled not really happy about having picked a body that would at best fulfill schoolgirl fantasies. "Doesn't look that bad" Rachel stated when she noticed my dissatisfaction. She tossed her hair behind her ear embarrassedly. Oh Rachel, deep down you're still a little teenager. The corners of my mouth lifted a bit and I turned around one time so she could get a decent look. The choice had not been that bad after all. Because despite the Asian body I still was taller than Rachel. And that was quite a thing for Japanese.
I looked at her critically. "And now let's do something about that" Rachel looked down. Black trousers, red top, Socks with pixi print. I looked at Rachel and she lowered her gaze at the mentioned socks. "It was a present from Jenks." She said defensively. I had to grin. The pixi had some humor. "But now seriously, what's wrong with my clothes." "Well if you start like that, in my opinion you don't show nearly enough skin. But apart from that you will stand out like a white elephant wearing that in 12th century Japan." "As if anyone could see me" she retorted and I began to falter. I had not thought of that at all. I had just assumed that everybody could perceive us. But of course we could not be sure. After all we had hid from Ceri and the other Al. "Are you ready to take the risk?"
Rachel put out her chin challenging "Yes maybe." I had totally forgotten that I was speaking to Rachel-infant-Morgan. "My dear" I said controlled yet dangerous. I took a step towards her and she took one step back. "What did I say not a minute ago?" I came yet another step closer and at the attempt to back of further Rachel pumped with her back in to the wall. "Your head, you rules?" Rachel asked and licked her lips nervously. "So when I tell you to change you attire…?"
"I change my attire" I saw that it was hard for Rachel to give in. I had communicated in apparently the only language she understood: Threat. I backed off and allowed her some space to breath. "It is not even going to hurt." I promised. This time I even meant it. A short mist of Ever After embraced her and out of it came a newly dressed Rachel. My chaw almost dropped to the floor.
I had been aware that every woman cut a fine figure in a kimono but Rachel looked like Izanami-no-Mikoto, the goddess that had created Japan. The kimono was waved out of green silk. The under layers were a pale white and a soft grey-blue and showed a little at the collar. The Obi was grey-blue as well and it was richly ornamented with flowers. An ice-blue rope held it in place. At the hem of the kimono there were lotus blossoms to be found as well as a few herons that either flew through the air or enjoyed themselves at the river, while farmers worked in the rice fields. The whole landscape was embroidered in pure gold. The hem played around her feet and made her look as if she would float over the ground. Hundred geishas would have had to work their whole live to afford such a kimono.
"The cherry blossoms would be jealous." I said when I had recovered. I offered my arm to her like a real gentleman but she did not even pay any attention to it. "I am not you little puppet you can dress up and show off like an exhibit." she complained offended and tried to rush by me. As she was wearing Getas, special wooden shoes, she did not get very far without my help. She had barely had taken a step, when she was falling down already. I sighed. Wouldn't have happened if she had listened to me. I caught her before she could hit the floor or worse ruin the kimono. "Nobody will think that you're a prostitute, Rachel. Everyone will believe that you are a Geisha, an artist and they will assume that I have paid a fortune to show you off." Rachel looked at me doubtfully. "Nobody is going to buy that" I helped her up, carefully so she would not fall again. "You are prettier than every girl in all of Kyoto." I told her and stroke softly over her hair. I was proud of crating such a beautiful piece of art. If Rachel were mine I would be the central subject of every gossip in the Ever After. But sadly Rachel was like a songbird, if you shut her in a cage she would not even sing a single peep. Well in fact she would complain nonstop, but that would kind of ruin the whole metaphor. I offered her my arm and this time she did not decline. That much flattery could not even go past Rachel without making an impression. She somehow seemed flattered. Just butter her up.
Carefully I led her to the mirror. When Rachel stood in front of it she opened and closed her mouth in disbelieve. Her fingers made their way to her face. I had taken the liberty to put some eyeliner on her and to make her lips a dark red. Her hair combed into an artistic up-do. "I…" obviously she was in a loss for words. She starred into the mirror as if she was not sure if it really was her reflection looking back at her. "I look bloody…" she turned from side to side and then she stroke over her silhouette."…good. Almost noble." I put a comb with a green dragonfly made out of emeralds in her hair. "Holy shit!" Rachel exclaimed when she saw the expensive piece. "Noble? Only if you keep your mouth shut." She threw a punch in my direction but only half heartedly. She was still busy with starring at herself. Me again, I was starring at her but then I remembered what this dress up initially had been for.
I offered my arm to Rachel. "Shall we?"
