The Newcomer sighed to himself a bit as the train slowed upon reaching smaller stretches of track and sunnier skies, nothing like the grey rainshowers he had to duck through just the other day. The other passengers spoke lightly around him, but he paid them no mind. Instead, he sorted through his going-away gifts one final time to put them back into his bag. Loads of letters from his classmates plus a picture of his parents posed nicely on the deck of a ship, making him smile. Were they in England already?
"Inaba is our next stop," The attendant droned, but he nodded and gathered up his belongings, exiting the train with several other people. They walked off without worry but he took a deep breath, taking in the cool mountain air and warm sunshine on his face.
Not sure where to go next, he stood at the station, looking at the address and name his mother gave him. Maybe he should've brought a book, who knew how long this would take? Others walked past, women in their kimono, men in their suits, so he seemed perfectly ordinary in his own grey suit and jacket, a simple cap on his head.
"You Narukami Yu?" A gruff voice reached him, making Yu look up. "I'm your uncle if so. We'd best get going, you'll want time to unpack and everything."
"Good to meet you..." He bowed quickly but the man waved him off.
"Dojima Ryotaro." He wore a more casual suit with a brimmed hat, the smell of smoke still on him.
"Nice to meet you too!" A little girl said cheerfully, wearing a white blouse and pinafore with short pink skirt. Her hair was tied up with little ribbons. "I'm Nanako!"
"I have a cousin!" Yu couldn't stop himself from exclaiming, making Dojima chuckle. "They never said-"
"It won't be an issue," He tried to usher the two along and Yu did follow, bumping into a girl as he did so.
"Sorry." He apologized, trying to move out of her way.
"It's fine," She held out her hands. "You dropped this."
"Thanks." He took his uncle's address and tried to look into the girl's eyes before he heard Dojima call for him. In an instant, the girl seemed to have vanished, so he just shook his head and ran to catch up with his relatives.
Their house was a small but quaint wooden design in the residential area with plenty of outdoor space if needed and minimal furnishings inside. A tiny toy chest was in the corner that also boasted the table and a big window, and just off that was the kitchen. Nanako hurried inside and once her shoes were off she took out a small booklet from the toy chest and puzzled over it, frowning.
"Your room is upstairs. I put some stuff in there for you already but do with it as you please," Dojima explained. "Most nights I'm working so you'll be on your own, but you're a strong man."
Yu hurried upstairs and set his bag down in a bedroom with a cot, bookshelf, dresser, and a picture of his mom and uncle when they were younger. It was colored differently and he smiled at how weird his mother looked in a kimono with her hair pinned up to look fluffy.
Well, best to just unpack and rest, he reasoned. He took out his several changes of seasonal clothing and put them in his drawers, leaving the sanitary things like his toothbrush and towel in his bag. Later he'd have to ask where the closest bathhouse was or if they had their own.
Well, this would be his new home for the next year; a short amount of time to be abroad but a long time to just move to the countryside. And the countryside it truly was, as at the station he caught sight of girls wearing hakama and there were very few horsedrawn carriages, he and his relatives rented one out but he could tell by Nanako's amazement but shy nature regarding the horses it was a rare occurrence. He himself barely remembered the ride; they rented the carriage so the long walk from the station wouldn't tire Nanako out, there was a man there who spoke proudly but sternly about the horses as he showed Dojima around, then welcomed Yu himself into town with a firm handshake. The idea of a handshake had been strange too and he found himself thanking his parents for telling him that's how men and sometimes women greeted each other in England so he knew what to do, but why would someone just decide to do it suddenly? After that, he just recalled arriving at the house, and that was it.
Maybe the long train ride just tired him out, he reasoned. Though it'd make him sad to miss out on some bonding with his family, he could go to bed early without dinner. He'd need the extra sleep to prepare for his first day at high school, his new one. Yasogami High. What a name.
Having decided that, he changed into a simple white robe and laid down on his futon, hoping he'd fall asleep quickly.
The Merchant frowned to himself, slamming his head down on the counter. His legs were hurting from running all through the market-place to get fabric or fish or finery, it was just too much! He hadn't had a proper break that afternoon yet, and most of the customers just declined so he'd have to go put it back! He disliked the job most days.
"You're busy too?" He looked up to see the familiar waves of curls pulled up into a bun, her simple blue and white kimono clashing with the loud primary colors and huge text of her Junes happi. Konishi.
"Not too busy to talk!" Yosuke sprung back to life, dusting himself off. "Is something bothering you? Customers being rowdy?"
"No..." She looked away from him, the usual melancholy air she always had. Yosuke liked those girls the most, those who seemed very mysterious and far-off, longing in their eyes. "I just wanted to check on you..you're working hard and never got a break..." From the folds of her kimono, she produced a squished onigiri.
"You made this for me?! You're too sweet! My charms won you over." He took the riceball from her and ate it slowly, feeling the rough nori squeak on his tongue.
"No. It's left-over...but you looked hungry." She took a step back and frowned before she bowed.
"Any woman who can cook is perfect in my book!" He insisted before she walked off. Seriously, she made and saved him food! She had a caring soul and her future husband was a lucky man indeed. If he were lucky enough, it'd be him...but there were so many good choices, why limit himself? The countryside just knew how to raise women right. They were prettier, had fresher faces, were more innocent about the world...
"Mister Worker! You have to help me pick the right props! None of these go with my clothes!" A teenager yelled from the photo area, so Yosuke sighed and stuffed the rest into his mouth.
Back to work again.
The Schoolgirl ran her hands through her hair, trying to see every angle of it in her bedroom window. It stubbornly grew fast so it trailed down to her mid-back, making her long for some scissors. Long hair just didn't suit her, but she preferred staying out of trouble more. At least she could braid it back with her ribbon for school. She took one more look at herself before she stepped back and glanced around her room, taking in the clutter of athletic equipment and heavy shoes and gloves. Should she do her training today? It was raining earlier, but it seemed to have cleared and just left grey clouds and mud behind, so the riverbank would be empty and perfect for her.
"Slick too..." She grumbled, remembering the last few times she practiced right after it rained it ended with her getting badly bruised knees Yukiko fussed over for days after they healed. Should she visit Yukiko? She kept the illusion of business but would drop everything to spend time with her. But what would they talk about? Lately Chie had just been stumped on her schoolwork, but Yukiko couldn't help with that. She'd smile and attempt, but it was impossible for someone who'd never gone to school before. Even Chie didn't get it and she did go to school!
Sometimes she'd tell Yukiko about what sort of mischief Yakiniku had gotten into that day; he was a fast dog so he'd terrorize the town by digging through the refuse piles of restaurants just to get at their leftovers and would often get chased away by a broom or cane. Yukiko loved those stories and would giggle softly, her mouth hidden behind a white hand.
Other times they'd just lay on the floors together, staring up at the ceiling. They'd do it more when they were kids together, when Chie had hair to her shoulders and light green kimono that flowed instead of split, and they'd giggle and entangle their sleeves together, their lips just barely touching as they stared into each other's eyes. Yukiko used to pretend she was a princess from the moon while Chie was her loyal handmaiden and they'd protect each other no matter what.
They were older now, Yukiko was essentially a woman, but they still had those fancies. She needed protection. Chie finally sifted through her room until she found her trusty bo, spinning it around.
"Alright, you'll do for today!" She spun it away from her body before she struck a pose.
The Maiden looked at herself in the mirror, spinning around and holding out her arms to study her new furisode. The sleeves swung nicely and the color was the perfect violet of spring with lighter flowers patterned in, but it still seemed strange to give up her beloved red at last. Chie always told her red looked the best on her, but her parents said it was a girl's color so she had to upgrade to something more womanly. And yet...it didn't suit her. Would she still blend in or be noticed more? Her hair was topped with a matching kanzashi of spring blossoms, ume and wisteria in between ribbons and combs and balls the same shade as her clothing. It was a beautiful kimono, to be sure, and it made her parents happy...
"Our daughter is starting to grow into a woman!" Her mother smiled when Yukiko entered the main room, trying to walk with slow grace so her kimono sleeves didn't knock anything over. "Soon to be married off...maybe we should take your picture."
"You just did," Yukiko reminded them with a tilt of her head. "On my seventh birthday."
"Yes, but cameras are meant to be used more than once! What of your wedding, surely you'd love to have that photographed?" Her father chimed in.
She remained silent.
"Of course you will still remain here in town once you marry. Your husband will help you manage this inn. We've chosen several possibilities but we think the best choice would be the Tatsumi boy-"
"Sir Kanji?!" Yukiko suddenly blurted out before she bowed her head. "I apologize for my outburst, however, why him?" She thought of his gruff exterior and how he yelled everything and somehow felt giggles bubble up in her throat. She coughed. "He's very...different."
"Our families have been close for ages, we even attended his father's funeral. They help us out with what we need, plus they're one of the few families left in town who still stick to their traditional roots. He's perfect!" Her father explained.
She'd seen him in town or when he brought fabric over to make things, but they rarely spoke. Usually she just peeked out at him from behind sliding doors, her pastel red and pink kimono spilling out onto the tatami mats.
"There's some other options, but he'd be the best," Her mother gently put her hand on Yukiko's shoulder. "It's overwhelming, so give it some thought. There's still plenty of time left."
Yukiko just nodded. "I will." She peeked over at the photos her parents spread out on the table and found herself making faces or frowning at most of the choices before she caught herself. It surely didn't help that the vast majority were photographed in Western hats and suits, the dark colors visible through the sepia film. Kimono were better. "Send these back."
"To their families? But they will know you rejected them!" Her father protested. "Let them down gently. Give them a chance."
"I am sorry, but most simply uninterest me. I will give Sir Tatsumi a chance," She then looked at her mother for guidance, who smiled.
"Would you like to start your lessons early today? Which one should we start with first?"
"Music!" She just seemed to feel much more relaxed with something in her hands, whether it was the shamisen she plucked with grace, her painted comb she ran her hair through, or her fan she danced with.
Her mother nodded and gently helped her up, steadying her wobbles when she stepped too hard on her kimono suddenly. She followed her over to her study which contained everything she used for her art, music, dance, tea, and flower-arranging lessons. Yukiko walked over to one corner and sat nicely with her feet tucked under her, plucking some strings on the shamisen.
"Let's continue from where we left off last time..." Her mother said, so Yukiko started to play softly, trying to remember the notes in her head as she played an upbeat song about the blossoming of spring flowers. She smiled as she pictured said flowers in her head; the pink cherry blossoms perched delicately on trees sometimes still covered in light snow, the perfect juxtaposition of the changing seasons. She couldn't wait until Hanami time came once more and she could go out to view the blossoms with her parents, drinking warm beer and eating flowery dango. Perhaps she'd even invite Chie to come along and wear matching kimono for once!
The images of beauty in her head, Yukiko closed her eyes and played faster, remembering how the melody went at last.
The Samurai put the finishing touches on his latest project, a small cat doll that had a delicately-crafted gown on, made from just one silk strip from the shop. It wouldn't do good to just use up every product for the customers! The doll wasn't too shabby but her dress was a gorgeous one he saw a woman wander by a week or so ago wearing; it was big in the back but the most vibrant shade of red and orange he had ever seen and he knew he had to recreate the memory in some way.
Almost as soon as it was done, he shoved it into the chest kept at the foot of his futon like everything else he did, just wanting it out of his sight. Besides, there was work to be done. He stepped out to where the main shop was and saw their usual customers sorting through the patterns and fabrics, mulling over the brighter shades or newer materials.
"Kanji! I heard the news!" His mother smiled at him as he handed her some more rows.
"What? Out with it!"
"That Amagi girl, she's thinking about answering our proposal!"
Though it would've been very rude, Kanji was glad nothing was in his mouth at the moment or he would've spat it out.
"You're kiddin'!"
"This would be a very good opportunity for the both of us!" She gently sewed a sleeve onto a blue furisode, most of the snowy material flowing out of her lap. "Joining our families together like this-"
"No way!" He blurted out. "I don't know her! She's my elder and shit..." The only times they even saw each other was when he'd go over to deliver fabrics or clothing to the inn and sometimes he'd see her peeking out from behind a door, her kimono draped around her body, long hair left to flow, and curious eyes staring at him. Girls confused him and she was no exception. He bet she was whiny, or talkative, or spoiled, or laughed at everything, or...something! They all were.
"Don't you want to take this chance to bond with her? She likely feels the same as you." His mother didn't look up once from her sewing, but he knew her firm tone by that point.
"It ain't gonna make a difference," He went back up to the front, hearing five different customers trying to get his attention at once and groaned.
At least this would be more manageable than his future relationship prospects.
The Musician spun around on-stage, finishing her scene with a flourish. She winked and curtsied to the sound of uproarious applause, heading behind the curtain. She sighed and fanned herself with her hands, suddenly very glad her role as a floral fairy meant she got to wear airy pink gowns adorned with flowers, oh-so-scandalous with the slightest hint of her leg peeking through. Did she receive a standing ovation? Knowing her role in the opera was done, Rise sat down and stretched out her feet, revealing soft cloth slippers light enough to dance in. What good was a fairy who couldn't fly, after all?
Knowing she'd be there until the remainder of the show, she touched her toes, stretching out more and musing over what the lovely Risette, the Blooming Rose, the Innocent Lark could do. She brought her little silver flute she bought in Germany, but she couldn't risk being heard over the other singers. Some girls brought books with them to read, often romances, but a few favored more heavy works of science-fiction or more realistic things, but that was not for her either. While the image of her reading Grimms' Fairy Tales would certainly do wonders for her image of innocence, she didn't have the strongest ability due to leaving school at ten to pursue her music career. Oh, it didn't bother her one bit! She was not dumb or slow, she knew her stuff, those bigger books just confused her at times and she'd never write good enough poetry like others her age, but she had her voice and her feet. It was all she needed.
A group of giggling ballerinas, dolled-up in their floral finery like she was, hurried past, whispering over when they'll go on next.
Did Rise send that letter to her grandmother? She stretched out to touch her other toe. She preferred the super modern telegram machines, they sent messages much faster and over long distances, but she knew her grandmother wouldn't get it. She could smell the rosy scent of one of the ballerinas. The telegrams were sent exclusively to her parents, short things just exchanging pleasantries, along with sometimes some money she received from certain fans. She was sure by the time they reached her parents most of her lines would be outdated anyway. Right now she was in Italy in the middle of her European tour. She hoped she'd go to America or Canada next. Somewhere they spoke English would be nice.
Her stretches finished, she dug around in her tiny bag, finding her flute, the oh-so-scandalous light pink lipstick she liked to wear, an extra hair ribbon, and a white lace handkerchief. She pouted.
If she played quietly, she wouldn't be heard. She put the flute up to her lips and blew a few soft notes, humming the harmony.
"I drive you crazy, my love.
Your love for me, it's obscene
Saw a fire, a rose, the wind, you ran!
By the time they saw you, it was too late
My petals blew you away and you were no more!
Your craziness for me, you fool,
Mortals were never meant to love the sylphs,"
She played her flute alongside her melody, her delicate voice smoothing out her rough Italian pronunciations. It was from another show, an older one from months ago, yet the image stuck with her. She blew another note and sang again, the faint rosy scent of the long-gone ballerina still tickling her nose.
The Princess was utterly enthralled by what she was seeing. Once they docked, she hurried past the men who scoffed 'spoiled brat' at her, ignoring the weight of her bag, and even when her servant came to collect her she couldn't stop looking. She kept her head steady despite her quaky boots; months on a ship would do that to any sensible person. She secretly stared at the colorful patterned robes and suits, smelled fruit and fish that tickled her nose in unknown yet spicy ways, and the huge brick stores built right next to stacked wooden houses. It was so unlike her previous home, so lively, warm, and clean too!
She felt eyes on her too, quizzing eyes, taking in her snowy skin and super long braid, her embroidered green gown, and her signature kokoshnik. Some glared at her but she delivered those same sharp eyes back. This would be a new start for her and she couldn't let herself be distracted by nay-sayers. Why, she was the daughter of the greatest detectives ever! The fifth in their lineage! She could hardly wait to offer up her expertise once she got settled in.
The two walked for a bit before arriving at a lustrous state mansion, gilded windows and greenery everywhere. She stood up straight and entered when the man bid her to, smiling when she came into the parlor and beheld a familiar face.
"Hello, Grandfather!" She curtsied politely but still stood in front of him until he put his newspaper down.
"Yekaterina. Yekaterina Mikhailovna Surkova, Princess of Ekaterinburg,"
He spoke to her in Japanese, but she did not falter and answered easily; her mother taught her very well.
"How was the voyage? Not difficult, I hope?" He continued.
"It was fine," She was the only girl on the voyage so she had to deal with drunken sailors who'd pull her braid or hide her locket or laugh at her bust, plus the food was terrible. The highlight had been undercooked fish with a flour cake and orangeade for some man's birthday; the drink was too warm yet fizzed without pause. "I could not wait for us to dock."
"Take your time to settle in. I know it's a huge adjustment." Her grandfather smiled at her, dressed in a kimono she stared at briefly before she started to run through the rest of the mansion, making mental notes of everything. Most rooms were empty or used for servants, but she got her own bedroom with adjacent study and bathroom. She stared at herself in the vanity mirror, shaking her head. Her eyes seemed to carry bags and her skin was curdled milk.
Her room was done up similarly to her old room at home in ivory and sea-foam, academic objects spread about such as a telescope, geology set, and a huge bookshelf.
"Maman, Father, I suppose this is where I'll be until I come of age." She prayed in delicate French before she helped the servants unpack her things; dresses mostly, but she brought some books and her toolbox which she placed under her bed. There were also candles and some other cultural things she took with her to continue doing her festivals throughout the year. She helped where she could, only stopping when her grandfather announced the servants made dinner.
Stretching, Yekaterina sat down at the expansive white table, expecting her usual flare but receiving a bowl of yellow noodles, vegetables, and an egg that smelled of chicken. She stared at her grandfather, confused.
"You are my only grandchild, Yekaterina. You carry little of your mother but her vast intellect. She was a very smart and determined woman. When she planned to drop everything here to live with your father...well, I supported her. It's what she wished to do. She ran your father's branch with ease. It's still there, correct?" He began. She nodded eagerly. "Things are different here. I tried to get an exception for you, citing your culture and lineage, but they..." He stood up and pulled Yekaterina's face up, making her blink.
"You think I'm scared of those people?" She challenged.
"There's rules here. I tried, but you can't argue with the law. Ironic seeing what you came here to do."
"So you're just sending me back? The law there says-"
"You're staying, there'll just be some adjustments," He stepped back and looked at her. "That's all from your father, isn't it? Those blue eyes and hair."
"Yes."
"Tomorrow morning, you'll start school. It's a wonderful place where you'll fit right in," He gave her a small piece of paper and Yekaterina studied it. "St. Anne's Academy. It's taught by a nice woman from America. It's designed just for students born of foreigners, or one foreign parent."
She didn't look up.
"As for your job..." He hesitated at that and sighed at her uneaten meal. "I love you and nothing will change that. This is why I must do this. You'll still be yourself."
Yekaterina was silent as several servants moved her from the dining table in front of her vanity. They fussed over every aspect of her appearance; her hair and eyes were too bright, her bust was too big, her braid was too long, her wardrobe too womanly. She said nothing as they replaced her embroidered dress with a checkered uniform with trousers or her kokoshnik with a blue cap designed to hide her soft face and Western colorings. One of them gently ran their hands through Yekaterina's braid before she caught sight of the glint of silver, making her sit up with alarm.
"You can't! You can't touch my hair!" She yelled, pulling it out of the servant's hands and pulling it close to her. "If it is cut, then I am a shameful woman, never to be taken seriously again!"
"It's the way it has to be." A quick swipe and the sharp snap was all it took before she gasped at the weight falling from her head. She crumpled up beside the braid, watching her grandfather remove it.
"Shirogane Naoto." He helped her to her feet; she caught sight of herself in the mirror and choked. "Your mother's maiden name, and Naoto means something similar to Yekaterina, correct? I don't know Russian, forgive me." He laughed a bit.
"You cannot do this to me, you cannot-"
"It's for your own safety." He replied with such strength she instantly silenced, seeing his stern eyes. "If they ever find out about your sex or your nationality, Heaven help us all. You'd be jailed, fined, cast out."
She took another look at herself and felt warm tears flow down her face.
"Shirogane Naoto...Shirogane Naoto..." She clutched her locket and put her head on her vanity, hiding her tears from the others. "What am I to do?"
-In 1872, a law was passed in Japan preventing girls from cutting their hair to strike back against all the ones who bobbed it when they became students. Failing to comply meant a fine. Thus, here both Chie and Marie have long hair.
-Red and pink were seen as colors for children, according to some sources. Japanese women were said to be confused by Western women wearing these colors openly. However, according to most sources, red and pink kimono were allowed not for solid colors but seasonal patterns such as flowers. Going forward, I'm going to mix both ideas where Yukiko does wear red and/or pink patterns but a fully red or fully pink kimono is still out of the question.
-Yekaterina means 'serenity' or 'purity'. It's also the name of a saint.
-In Imperial Russia, women would grow their hair out into a super long braid and to cut it was meant to shame the woman. It was most commonly used as a punishment for adultery. However, in some cases, women who cut their braids would then give them to their lover for safe-keeping as they grew out their hair again.
Welcome to my newest obsession! A huge historical epic where I retell the entirety of Golden as such! Obviously, this contains major story and character spoilers for that game, so turn back now if you're yet to finish. Every chapter will end with historical notes or other notes on stuff like culture or mythology as needed due to the relatively obscure time period we'll be covering. If something here seemed confusing, just remember it's the prologue and some stuff here is going to be better explained and expanded on in future notes.
With all that said, please enjoy an AU that's been nearly three years in the making now...