Act 4: Playing the Role
Oboro past through Shinano with her friends. The fields soon turned to lush grass, the sky was beginning to grow dark as they grew closer to Mino. Near the edge of the province, they re-met the assassins who had released the onis on them, and the two groups commenced combat.
"Blast, princess!" one of them cursed. "Just how strong are you?"
"Doesn't matter," the other said, pulling out a fuma shuriken. He began to spin it in his hand. "We'll kill her here and now."
The ninjas' threats proved to be in vain as Oboro and Kisuke cut through them with ease using their Muramasas. Every kill, however, made her stomach twist.
"What's wrong?" Kisuke asked.
"I hate killing other humans," she responded. "It isn't right."
"No one said you had to enjoy it," he said, turning to face Oboro. "But you need to do it when your life is threatened by someone else; especially by someone who is evil at heart."
She nodded, and then looked at him. "But what if the person is good? Even if it's in self-defense, then killing them would be wrong," she pointed out.
"Of course," Kisuke agreed. "I've noticed you spare others' lives because you didn't want to kill. And that's a good thing, Oboro. You'll be able to tell the bad from the good. You don't need to kill in order to defend yourself."
"I suppose you are right," she said. She heard Kiku let out a yelp, and Oboro looked at her. The little fox was looking at her with curiosity. Oboro stopped, knelt down and scratched behind Kiku's ears. She licked her hand in response. "Such a good girl..."
Oboro felt someone pat their hand on her shoulder. She glanced up to see Yuzuruha smiling at her. "You seem very fond of that fox," she said.
"I am," Oboro responded with her own smile. She picked up Kiku in her arm (carrying the knapsack in the other) and continued to walk. "And she's very fond of me. When I left my grandparents a month ago, she followed me and she has never left my side since."
"Strange..." Kisuke muttered. Oboro looked at him, blinking. "Eh, it's nothing," he said, rubbing his shoulder while looking away from her.
How odd... Oboro thought. She shrugged and continued on with her friends. Then, she ran into large, overwhelming statues of the gods. They were so large that there was no way to climb over them.
A voice echoed in Oboro's mind. "The gods will block your path; there will be no hope." That cloaked man again? "Oh no..." The mere thought of his words made her feel slight despair. "How do we get through?" She wondered if they would have to go around to reach Mino.
"Easy," Kisuke said, drawing a rather large Muramasa. "We cut them down."
"Won't that—?" Oboro started, but he was too fast to answer her question as he slashed apart the statues, breaking them down. To her surprise, the blade was in one piece. "How...? What...?" She boggled at Kisuke.
He smirked. "Heh, Muramasas have been known to cut through anything. Some say that even souls can be severed in half with a Muramasa," Kisuke said with a wicked grin on his face.
"Really?" Oboro asked, feeling stunned. But... where was the 'no hope' part? She wondered. Was the cloaked man wrong this time?
"Oboro?"
She shook her head and looked over to see Yuzuruha looking at her with concern. "Is everything all right, child?" she asked with a soft voice, placing her hand gently on Oboro's shoulder. Oboro felt Kiku lick her chin.
"Y-yes, everything's fine," Oboro half-lied. Why did it bother her so much that the cloaked man was wrong this time? Or was he? She had felt no hope for a moment until Kisuke destroyed the statues.
They kept walking. This time, Yuzuruha took the lead as they entered the Mino province. The grassy road was soon surrounded by large bamboo trees. Oboro stopped.
"Those trees...! It was in my dream about Narukami Castle!" she exclaimed. "Did I dream about this place, too?" Oboro looked from Kisuke to Yuzuruha.
"Of course," Kisuke said, nodding. "Narukami Castle is in Mino, so why not?"
Oboro smiled meekly. "That makes sense, I suppose." She sighed and placed Kiku on the ground. The moon was shining above and the stars had already gathered, it was a lovely sight.
Soon, they had left Shinano behind completely and were in depths of Mino. They passed by large Shinto arches, made to guide travelers. Oboro had never seen such, yet she was amazed by the sight of them. And yet...
"This is odd..." she said, stroking her cheek with a finger. "I feel as if I had been very angry in this place.
"A memory?" Kisuke asked as he walked across the grass—crunching underneath his feet.
"Yes, I think so..." she said. "Someone... betrayed me nearby? ... I was very angry."
Then she saw an image of herself, brandishing a Muramasa at an obese man. For some odd reason, she felt enraged at the man, but herself—who she was watching, seemed calm. Her head began to hurt slightly, and she felt her anger come out; she stopped walking. She slouched her shoulders and frowned. "Why me?" she complained. "Why does my amnesia have to be so deadly to my mental health? Why am I suffering this way? I just want my memory back! ... and to know who Jinkuro is."
"Come, keep pace," Yuzuruha said, her voice soft. Oboro looked at her to see an expression of peace on the kitsune's face. "This is your trial, Oboro, and you must bear it. But you don't bear it alone, the rest of us, who know many parts of your past, must stay our mouths. Otherwise, we would harm you."
Oboro started walking again, and she sighed. "I suppose you're right, Yuzuruha."
"Are you two going to keep dawdling back there?" Kisuke called from far down the road. "Or do you want me to go into Narukami Castle alone?"
Oboro frowned again. "How dare you!" she said. She raced up to him, gritting her teeth. "You... wait... what am I saying?" She scratched her head. "I'm... I'm sorry, Kisuke."
"It's not a problem," he said, stretching. "Are you coming, Yuzuruha?"
Oboro heard the kitsune giggle. "Yes, yes," she called to them. "I'll be behind you two. Besides, Kiku is with you, so you'll both be fine."
Oboro glanced at the road and saw the little white fox there. Kiku yelped at her, wagging her tail. She smiled and scratched the fox's ears.
"All right, let's go," she said. "Kisuke," she turned her head to him, "do you know the path to Narukami Castle? My dream... didn't show me the way."
"Yes, I do," he said with a nod. "It's beyond these arches." He pointed to the crimson arches that led deeper into the forest. "And then we'll keep on the path westward until we reach the main gate."
"Oh, good," Oboro said with a smile; she felt relieved because they weren't far.
"I will stop at the shrine," Yuzuruha said. She sounded a little closer than before. "And wait for you there. Kisuke, you best escort Oboro to the castle."
"That's what I was planning to do," he said. He beckoned to Oboro.
After passing the arches and parting ways with Yuzuruha, Oboro followed Kisuke down the road. For some odd reason, he was running, and thus, she ran also. What's the hurry? Narukami Castle shouldn't be far, if he was correct.
But it seemed to be a fair ways down the road. After about five minutes of running, Oboro saw a great castle with cascading rooftops one top on of the other before them. It looked exactly like the castle in her dream. Kisuke's dash slowed into a walk, and Oboro slowed to his pace.
A familiar feeling passed through her; a feeling of comfort that she hadn't felt since she stayed with her grandparents. Was it possible that she lived near the castle once? They went up the castle's stairs, and were greeted by guards.
But not in the way she expected.
"Leave, peasants!" one of the guards ordered. "Or we'll throw you back on the road!"
"What's wrong?" Oboro asked, her voice soft and curious. "Is there a reason we cannot go inside? I... I need to get inside."
"Do you have an invitation?" the other guard asked. "I highly doubt it."
"An invitation to what?" Oboro asked, cocking her head to the side.
"The royal banquet," the guard said, snorting. "Go away, peasants. Your presence is not wanted here!"
"But I—!"
"Leave or I'll throw you out!"
Oboro bit her lip, she felt Kisuke tug at her kimono. "Come on, they aren't going to let us in like this, maybe Yuzuruha will have an idea," he whispered.
She frowned. "But I need to get inside!" she whispered back.
"Don't worry, you will," Kisuke said, pulling on her kimono sleeve. "Just come to the shrine with me, and I'm sure everything will be fine." He turned and went down the stairs.
She turned away from the castle, giving it one last longing glance and then followed him to the shrine.
-S-
"What?" Oboro said when Yuzuruha unveiled her plan.
"That's right," she said. "We're going to have you pose as Momohime since you look so much like her," she added with a cough.
"Why did you cough just now?" Oboro asked.
"Oh, it's nothing. Anyway, you'll need a slight change in attire." She took out a peach-colored kimono of which the sleeves changed to yellow at the ends. It, and its teal sash, had beautiful flowers printed on it. With it, came a pair of purple stockings, coupled with black socks. "Your normal zori sandals should suffice, Oboro.
"You best go change, I will have some accessories for you in a bit," Yuruzuha continued. "Oh, and don't worry, Kisuke won't peep on you," she added with a mischievous giggle. Oboro looked at Kisuke, who was slightly red in the face; however, not with embarrassment—she could tell.
"Oh, stop that!" he exclaimed. "I would never peep on a girl!"
The kitsune giggled again. "Oh, Kisuke, you're so fun to tease," she said with a broad smile. Oboro was wondering if she was flirting with him. A kitsune? And a human? That's bizarre! No, no, best not to think about it.
Kiku let out another yelp, and Oboro nodded at her. "Of course you can come, Kiku, you're a girl," she said to the fox. She bounded happily over to Oboro and followed her into the woods.
Once out of eyeshot of anyone, Oboro undressed and swapped her clothes out to Momohime's. When she put on the peach kimono and tied the sash around her waist; she felt oddly comfortable, just like she had when she was before Narukami Castle. She felt like she had worn this outfit before.
She slipped on the stockings, the back socks and then put her usual zori back on.
When she was finished, Oboro returned to Kisuke and Yuzuruha—Kiku bouncing around her feet—and she looked to them for their approval.
The kitsune smiled. "You look lovely, Oboro, and you're exactly right for the part," she said. "Now." She pointed to a set of accessories she had in her hand. A red hair comb, and two patches of sakura flowers. "You'll need these if you wish to pass as Momohime."
She nodded and accepted the accessories. Oboro placed the red comb on just below the crown of her head, and fit it in with her hair neatly. Then, she took the two cherry blossom flower sets on both sides of her head just above her ears.
She turned to Kisuke and Yuzuruha. "Well?" she asked. "Do I look like Momohime?"
"More than 'like,'" Kisuke said, folding his arms. "You look spot on. I feel like I'm talking to Momohime herself."
"Wait, have you even talked to her before?" Oboro asked, blinking.
"More than you think," Kisuke said with a smirk.
Oboro blinked again, wondering what he was suggesting.
Yuzuruha stepped toward Oboro. "Indeed, you look exactly like Momohime right now," she said with a sort of pride in her voice. "Now, it's best you be on your way, Oboro. Do not take anything with you besides yourself. It would be odd, and perhaps frightening, to see princess Momohime walking around with a knapsack and Muramasas."
"What if I get attacked?" Oboro asked. She felt like parting with her Muramasas was to separate from a part of herself. "I've had my share of assassins, if I'm unarmed..."
"Yes, I know. That's why Kisuke will go with you as your bodyguard."
"But the guards have seen him before," Oboro said, cocking her head to the side. "Won't they realize I'm a fake if they see him again?"
"No, they won't," Kisuke said. He was leaning against a bambootree. "I'll stop at the bottom of the stairs and hide in the shadows—I was a ninja once myself—and you'll go up the stairs as if you were alone."
Oboro smiled and nodded. "All right, that sounds like it would work." She took in a deep breath, and then looked at Yuzuruha. "Um... how do I act as Momohime?"
"Well, think of how a princess acts and behaves," she instructed. "And then, be that person; believe you're a princess, have confidence and everything else will fall into place."
"Very well," Oboro said. "I... I hope that will work."
The kitsune giggled. "You're already acting the part. Now then," she said, kneeling down to Oboro's height. "You must remember that if Naurkami is a place of memories for you that you must be on guard with your mind. A false step will drive you insane. So, if your mind starts to hurt, make excuses to get away and run. Even if it looks strange, do it. Your mental health right now is more than important than your reputation."
Oboro nodded. "I understand." She looked over at her little fox friend. "Can Kiku come?" she asked.
Yuzuruha shook her head. "I'm sorry, she cannot. She's... needed here. Trust me, don't look so confused, it would alarm the nobles to see a white fox in the castle," she said, standing up. "Now, go, you two. The longer you wait here, the less time Oboro will have at the banquet."
Oboro nodded to the kitsune and then followed Kisuke back to Narukami Castle.
-S-
Oboro was relieved that no assassins came to kill her. The atmosphere was quiet; she could only hear the wind and Kisuke's footsteps. She was biting her lip the whole time down to Narukami. What if she slipped up? What if she got caught? What if she made a fool of herself?
She tried to relax, though it was difficult with her heart beating so fast. Was there a way to calm it down? Oboro tried as hard as she could, placing her hand on her chest. She felt like the wind had been sucked out of her.
Soon, they arrived at steps up to Narukami Castle. Oboro waved goodbye to Kisuke and proceeded up the steps; alone.
Every step she took felt heavy. She had the sudden urge to turn around and flee back to the safety of the shrine. I can't... she thought. I have to know... what's in that castle for me? She continued up the steps, trying to relax; she needed to look as prim and elegant as a princess would.
Finally, she reached the guards, pulling her herself together. She stared at them, would they recognize her as Oboro or Momohime? One of the guards noticed her and looked stunned.
"Princess Momohime?!" he exclaimed. "You've missing for several months! Where... ah, it's not my business. Please, come in, the royalty will be happy to see you."
"Thank you," Oboro said, feeling a little relieved; they had fallen for the ruse.
The other guard opened the door for her and bowed. She blushed. Oboro was not used to such treatment... or was she? A person bowing to her so lowly was a familiar sight to her. But why? She was merely a village girl.
Not wanting to waste time, she headed through the doors with the most grace and elegance she could possibly muster.
Once inside, she was astonished at the castle. It was beautiful beyond belief. There was a circular scarlet carpet on the floor of the finest silk she had ever since. Columns lined the walls and also were laid out to support the arches above. They were made of fine wood, and painted red. The walls were covered with paintings—lovely paintings that Oboro could have only dreamed of.
Yet, all of this, again, felt familiar to her. Maybe she had been a servant girl here once? But then the kimono she wore, the flowers on her head, the comb in her hair were all Momohime's. How could she have been a servant girl if she had felt as if the clothes were her own?
Maybe... I am Momohime? Just like the assassins called me?
Her thoughts were interrupted as a horde of nobles surrounded her.
"Princess!"
"My goodness! You've returned!"
"Where have you been all this time?"
"Dear Momohime, we're so glad you have returned to your home here."
All her grace and elegance melted away as she looked from noble to noble. She felt panic in her heart; what would happen if she talked to them? Would her mind break down? Quickly, she tried to think of something to say.
"Are you all right, princess?" one of the nobles asked, concerned.
"She looks pale, perhaps some rest in her room would do her good."
"Well, it's not exactly your place to decide that after the death of her father and sister..."
Although, her head was not hurting, Oboro was becoming more and more scared about her mental health. Then, she thought of something, putting a fake smile on her face.
"Ah, yes! I'm sorry," she said with deep breath. "It's been a long time since I was around royalty, so I was a little startled. I'm glad you all came to the banquet, and I hope you enjoy yourselves. Please, though, I would ask you all to give me some room so I can... breathe."
"Oh, of course, your highness."
"Forgive us."
"We meant no harm, princess."
"Of course, I understand," Oboro said, her confidence building. Her grace and elegance began to return to her. "Please, go your ways and enjoy the evening."
The nobles nodded and dispersed. Oboro sighed in relief; however, she overheard one of the nobles say, "just as kind as she usually is. It is going to be a happy day for us!"
She was acting like Momohime? That was good, it meant she was playing her role well.
Oboro walked around the hall; the food looked wondrous, and the smells that accompanied them were fantastic. Roasted pheasant, roasted squid, sweet potatoes, finely roasted boar, wine, warm rice, salads and more. She wanted to try everything, but knew she couldn't eat everything.
Besides... I'm not here to eat. I'm here to find out more about my past.
Regardless, Oboro took a sweet potato with her. She made sure to eat it as delicately as possible.
She decided to look at the paintings at the walls. Each showed gorgeous scenes of the royal family during various events. It was like a story, beginning with the rise of the castle and the Narukami clan to their golden age under the guidance of the Kagami royal family.
The paintings were lovely, each drawn with steady hands that painted to the smallest detail. Oboro was enjoying herself when she stopped at a large painting of two women, and a man. The man above the two woman, she could only assume was the Daimyo—the Kagami Lord—and the other two were his daughters. One was fastened in strong armor, yet her face was not covered. She had Oboro's eyes and hair, making Oboro curious about her. Who was she? And why did Oboro think she knew her?
Then she looked at the painting of the other girl, and she dropped her sweet potato, gaping. The young girl looked exactly like Oboro. What? What is this? She was suddenly flooded by images of the past.
She saw a very young girl, probably around four, with black hair and hazel eyes running across a green field. She wore a royal kimono and was chasing an older girl, laughing.
"Torahime! Torahime! Wait up! I wanna see Mount Fuji, too!"
"Come on, to the top of the castle then, Momohime, at the keep."
"Okay!"
Laughing, the young Momohime chased after her sister. Torahime caught her around the waist and embraced her. "Got you!" They giggled together.
Another memory flowed into her mind. She saw herself at a distance, but she, herself, was bemoaning something terrible.
"Sister... father... why did you have to die? Why was our family betrayed?"
The power of the image hit Momohime like a hammer, she could not have believed that she would feel the things she did now. Her tears rolled down her cheeks, and she continued to look at the painting.
The scene in her mind changed and she saw an obese man at the knees of herself, pointing a Muramasa at his face.
"The authorities should take care of you."
"What?" Oboro's voice echoed. "You're sparing him? Why? He deserves to die for betraying my family!"
"You whine too much."
The images then vanished and although Oboro's mind hurt, she continued to stare at the painting. "Father..." she muttered. "Sister..." Then, something in her mind clicked. It stung her mind, but she could not help herself.
"My father...! My sister...!" she said, tears streaming down her eyes. "Why... why did you have to die?" She looked at her hands as if they were someone else's. Then she remembered; a political plot against her family had occurred about seven months ago. Her father and sister were murdered, yet Momohime had escaped.
Momohime? Am I...? The tears dropped onto her hands. The love she felt for the two others in the painting, the remorse that gripped her heart now that they were gone, and the sorrow that such a terrible thing had to happen to them. These feelings revealed to her more than words could have ever done.
"I am..." she said quietly to herself. She began to cry. "And yet... I don't want to be her." Oboro—or Momohime fell to her knees, weeping.
"What's wrong?" a strong male voice said above her.
Momohime looked up, she could feel her face stained with tears. Before her was a man of great stature. He wore a blue kimono and had a samurai sword sheathed at his side. His eyes were striking and his black hair was handsome—as was the rest of him.
"I... I..." Momohime couldn't say what was just revealed to her, not to a random stranger. "I'm just sad, that's all. It's... uh... been awhile and... I didn't realize how much I missed my family."
"I know, it was a sad event," he said with a gentle voice. He knelt down and picked up Momohime's potato and handed it to her. "Dry your eyes, Momohime, and cheer up. Your family is most likely in the heavens."
She felt comforted, and rose to her feet, wiping her eyes. "Thank you, sir," she said. Then, she realized that this man knew her and she had the feeling... shouldn't she know his name?
"Are you all right?" he asked, looking bewildered. "You seem confused."
"Um... uh..." Momohime bit her lip. "I just... um... I have an... uh... illness that took some of my memory. Can you remind me?" she asked politely.
"Yagyu Yukinojyo," he said with a bow. "We've been trying to unite the Yagyu clan and the Narukami for quite some time now. Although... ah... nevermind." Dread filled her heart; she already knew what that meant. "Since you have returned, why don't we go ahead and get married as planned?"
Momohime stood there, stunned. Planned? Her marriage was planned? But she felt no love for this man. And it seemed so sudden that he would ask her like that. "Uh... um..." Her heart felt like it was with someone else. "No, I don't think so," she responded, looking at the floor. "I'm very—"
"They told me that you might resist after your adventures," he said. Adventures? What was he referring to? Did he know that she left her grandparents? "But time is growing short. I don't want to force you into this, Momohime."
"But... but..." was all she could say. "Could... I have some time to think about it?" Maybe Kisuke, Yuzuruha, and Kiku could rescue her before the arranged marriage.
"You had already agreed several months ago—before the attack," he said, placing his hands on his hips. "There's nothing to think about. Again, I don't want to force your hand. Come willingly."
His words were sweet, but his tone was too strong for her. Marriage was not what she wanted, and it was dangerous for her mind; too dangerous. "I... I can't. I've changed my mind," she said, backing away from him.
"Why? What made you change your mind?"
"I... I... I don't know," she said.
"Momohime, your family is dead. If you do not marry me, you will lose your claim to the throne, please understand," Yukinojyo said. There was a pause, and she shook her head again.
"I have no choice then," he said with a regretful sigh. He took her by the hand. "I would like to get the attention of everyone here!" Momohime tried to pull away, but his grip was firm. "Princess Momohime and I are going to commence with the marriage in order to secure her family's future."
"No!" Momohime shouted. But her shout was drowned out by the applause and cheering in the room. "No... no... please no," she muttered.
"I told you that you already agreed to it," Yukinojyo said to her. He sighed. "I'm sorry." He let go of her hand as handmaidens came and took her away.
"Wait! This is a mistake!" Momohime protested.
"Look at her, so flustered," one of the handmaidens said. "Don't worry, Yukinojyo is a good man, he'll make a fine husband. Now, come along," she said before Momohime could protest further. "We're going to get you ready for the wedding."
"Wait... doesn't this take days of planning?" she asked, her voice high-pitched and fast. She pushed off the handmaidens. "I mean, I can't just marry someone at random in a day!"
The other handmaiden smiled. "Your highness, forgive us, but like master Yukinojyo said, your wedding was planned. It's all ready to begin. We just have to get you dressed up for it."
"But I..."
"Come now," she said. They tugged at her kimono sleeve. Momohime bit her lip and said a prayer in her heart that Yuzuruha, Kisuke, and Kiku would come to save her from this madness. Until then, she decided to comply.