Hey everyone, another day, another chapter. We're about halfway through, please keep up the wonderful reviews! Read and enjoy!
-Mia21
The next morning, Kaoru headed outside with Naomi following as usual. Kaoru walked quickly, leaving Naomi to trail behind her. As she neared a low brick wall, a little cry sounded from behind. Kaoru whirled around and saw that Naomi had tripped over a clump of weeds. Once she ascertained that Naomi wasn't truly hurt, Kaoru walked over to her.
"Listen, every once in a while, I must get away to the woods by myself. If you'll stay over here by this wall with your sewing or whatever, I'll promise to be back within two hours and to keep my clothes clean. A break for me, less work for you. What do you say?" Kaoru asked, crossing her fingers that Naomi would agree.
"Very well, Miss."
"I am leaving today," Enishi announced a few mornings later. Kaoru was glad there had been no mention of the disastrous kiss. "I'll be gone a few weeks. As promised, you shall safeguard my keys." He held out an iron ring to her. Kaoru took it, and was surprised by how heavy it was.
"You may use all but two. This one -" He showed her a plain black one – "Goes to the churchyard gate. And this one -" He held up an enormous silver key with a cross shaped head – "Opens the chapel. Those places are unsafe and I must forbid them. All the rest I make you free with."
"Thank you, Sir."
He kissed the top of her head and left. Once she was sure he was gone, Kaoru scurried up two flights of stairs to the attics, which were dim and dingy. Kaoru wove her way between sofas with the stuffing falling out, antiquated tallboys and wash stands. She was moving around a dust-sheet covered mound when she nearly stepped on a portrait lying face-up on the floor. A black-haired woman with blue eyes laughed up at her. Which one was she? Which bride? She stood beside a horse, and her expression was one of mischief, as though all the world were a joke. Kaoru could guess, her guess was that this was Rika, she of the fierce temper and vase-smashing fights with her husband. Yes, somehow she was certain. Were the other portraits here? Kaoru began peeking behind other paintings and furniture, and soon found what she was looking for.
Ravishingly beautiful Takara held a slender, dark-haired child, who must be Haru, on her lap. Here stood Shiori in the orchard. And here must be Ayano, pale and hollow-cheeked, with green eyes that were great pools of heartache. Each of them had hair that was black, though different shades. A black so light it was almost brown to a blackish/gray to a black so dark it was like obsidian. Seeing their faces only whet her desire to know more of them. She rifled through their trunks, finding kimonos from Takara's time period and a chest that contained a boy's clothing and plaything's. There was something particularly tragic about the items remaining when Haru did not. Shiori's chests contained a baby's layette among the other items, the seams and trimming's beautifully stitched, probably by the expectant mother.
As Kaoru touched their things, she felt no morbidity because they were deceased, but instead a growing fondness.
She would have liked these women.
Sorry, kinda short. Tune in again tomorrow to read the next chapter, and please review!
-Mia21
