This story is growing in ways I didn't expect it to do...
"The secrets we keep: Tomoe"
June, 1865
It had only been a couple hours since the sun had set, so the sky still had a little light between its clouds. The day was still somewhat warm, but it was a fact that it was coming to an end.
The blue-eyed priestess let out a long sigh, but she refused to stop waiting for him...
It was early summer, and although it was still before the rainy season, the fireflies had already begun to arrive at the lake on Inari Mountain, on the way to the shrine. That was where she was now. Patiently waiting.
"The fireflies look beautiful tonight."
Her heart jumped with joy.
"Kenshin!"
The young samurai stopped his steps when he was a safe distance from his companion, who had jumped and turned towards him with a smile.
"Hello, Kaoru dono"
The miko's heart flapped its wings.
"You came." She said excitedly.
His smile grew.
"It's your birthday, I wouldn't allow myself to be absent."
How long had it been since their last meeting? The truth was that, compared to their other separations, this one had been short. Of course then, their feelings hadn't been so clear, not to mention the argument they had after the previous Guji's death.
Kaoru's smile faded at the memory.
"I was worried," she confessed. "I thought... given how we ended last time..."
"I could never stay angry with you." He told her immediately, taking two steps towards her.
"You would have been within your right." The miko refuted.
"Just like you, Kaoru." He interrupted her again, getting closer to her. "Being away from you with this feeling was a very painful experience. To think that I let you down..."
Just a step away, the young woman couldn't help but look into his eyes.
"Kenshin..." She sighed... the anguish that the redhead had suffered was clear. "Let's not talk about it anymore. It is clear that we both regret what we said."
That ended up giving the boy hope.
"Kaoru." He approached again, remaining at a not so proper distance, while taking his partner's hands in his own. "I must confess, being apart made me understand the great need I have for you."
The young woman's cheeks turned red. The look het partner was giving her made her legs feel like manju.
"Kenshin, what do you mean?" She asked nervously.
A deliciously cold current slid down her back as she felt his hand pull her towards him by the waist.
"I told you that I gave you my heart; don't reject it now, sweet Kaoru." He whispered to her in a deep voice, like silk sliding down her skin.
Her heart raced wildly in her chest. She felt her body burning with heat.
"This... now... I don't know what to say." She stammered, turning her face away, blushing.
Kenshin cupped her face by the chin, forcing her to look at him, their faces a breath away.
"Say you accept me, and make me the happiest man in the world."
Her vision began to blur. The redhead pulled her close to him and decided to kiss her.
"Ken, Kenshin..." She whispered before closing her eyes and letting herself go.
The scene dissolved in the heat of the moment. Little flashes of skin, fabric, lips...
"Kenshin... oh, Kenshin..." Kaoru murmured, hands on each of her cheeks, eyes closed, and her body half dancing in the spell of her fantasy.
Hikari fought back the urge to vomit. She took a deep breath, puffing out her chest before calling her partner.
"Kaoru!" She shouted.
The aforementioned jumped in her place, startled.
"Ah!" She cried out.
And she ended up falling from the veranda where she had been sitting, sideways on the tatami.
"Hikari! How long have you been there?" She questioned embarrassed.
"Fortunately not enough. -The minor responded. She then approached the miko and helped her up. -Aren't you dreaming too much?"
Kaoru blinked.
"You think?" She asked not very sure, and a little embarrassed.
Hikari snorted.
"You haven't even fixed their last misunderstanding. -Pointed the eternal chokkai. -Although well, when it comes to Himura kun, I don't think he resents you. And I suppose you yourself are aware of this or else, you wouldn't be dreaming of hugs and kisses." She teased smiling sideways.
Kaoru jumped up instantly, cheeks flushed.
"I was not!"
"Yeah, sure."
Kaoru pouted, before looking away towards the window where she had been sitting moments ago. The air was cool and contrasted with the latent heat of the summer sun.
"Wasn't it the same for you and Kago kun?" She questioned.
After the silence that followed, the miko looked at her companion, realizing her mistake. Hikari's face looked sad.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have." She apologized.
The chokkai shook her head before smiling again. Suddenly remembering the order of talismans in her hands, she went to the miko's desk to arrange the tablets.
"It's alright. It's been two years now. Although it still hurts, I'm not bitter. -Said the youngest. -With Kago it was different, we grew up together, and that made us develop greater trust. Although he never actually kissed me, I did dream about it many times. And I was even more of a girl than I am now! What a shame... -Hikari said embarrased.
"On the contrary, I think it is beautiful. -Kaoru said, realizing that at the moment, her feelings for Kenshin were similar to those that Hikari had felt for her deceased friend. -I don't know how it is, but I can imagine it. -She completed, returning to sit on the window veranda.
Hikari blinked in confusion.
"You and Himura Kun, have never?" She inquired, leaving the question in the air.
Kaoru looked at her sympathetically.
"Why did you think it was different?"
"Well..." Hikari looked embarrassed, she had inadvertently assumed something inappropriate about her friend. "Your story is more like epic love stories. Although now that I think about it, knowing you both, it's normal that you go so slowly."
Kaoru smiled.
"The truth is that it was difficult for me to define my feelings. -Kaoru told her while looking back at the landscape behind the window.
Kyoto was quiet that morning. The miko's eyes clouded over as she remembered the night of the kuchiyose "And to be honest, I am grateful to my superiours, especially Yumi sama. If it had not been for their interventions, I would already..."
Her voice was lost after those words. But there was no need for the miko to complete such a thought; Hikari knew it after all. After the attack on the sanctuary and the precarious situation in which the clergy of Inari found themselves, everyone knew that the rest of the maekkai would look for a child of the gods, regardless of the age of the young seer. If her previous mentors, especially Yumi, had not intervened, Kaoru would have surrendered her virtue that night.
For that moment, Hikari felt remorse.
"I confess that when Yumi sama told us that Himura Kun was with you, I thought he would be the one to take you. -She confessed. -Even more so after the rumors about what happened outside the atrium spread."
The miko continued without looking at her. She remembered Kenshin's presence, and how discovering the events he had intervened in that night had shaken her to her core. She had been so disheartened then, that she hadn't even thought about the possibility that Kenshin could have filled the role of her full-fledged ruling kami.
And she honestly doubted Kenshin would have even considered the idea. Like her, he had been too stunned by their shattered escape plan to think about profiting from a tragedy.
"I was planning to run away that night with Kenshin," the miko suddenly confessed, to the surprise of her companion.
"What?!"
"He was supposed to meet me after the kuchiyose, and we would run together," she smiled. Even now she could imagine that possible scenario. "But after the fire, I ended up being the one who broke that plan. So, you weren't so wrong. Although I doubt Kenshin would have taken me that night."
Hikari looked at her for a moment.
Despite all the tragedies they had experienced, Kaoru had never stopped smiling in front of her as if she considered her own sorrow less important than that of her friends. Even during her grief, she always focused on moving forward in spite of her separation from Himura Kenshin.
"Sometimes I envy you. And other times, I feel sorry for you." Hikari told her.
Kaoru let out a sing-song laugh.
"You shouldn't feel any. I'm fine the way I am."
Hikari would have liked to shake her by the shoulders then.
"Even despite your feelings, will you continue with the omiai?" She questioned.
The black-haired woman sighed. It was difficult for her to talk about that with the arguement still present between her and Kenshin.
"It is only a political agreement, Kenshin knows that. If everything goes well, said arrangement will be invalid. And even if the worst happens, there is a way to get out of the commitment." She explained.
Hikari felt that Kaoru was being too optimistic, but knew it was out of line to point it out.
"I suppose it's enough for you to agree. But, if you decide something different, you know I can take your place."
Kaoru looked at her instantly.
"It would be too much." She refuted.
"It would just be a political agreement," the minor cut her off rephrasing her partner's previous words. "Think about it." She asked then, she remembered why he had gone to look for her besides bringing her the tablets. "By the way, Kiyosato dono has requested an audience with you."
"Tomoe san?"
"I have told her you can receive her this afternoon, but she has refused to leave the sanctuary. She said she'll wait here. It seems to be urgent."
The miko's heart trembled. She hadn't seen Tomoe since before the Guji incident.
"Are there any commitments today?"
Hikari denied.
"Only a divination, but it is in the enclosure; it will not take you more than an hour. And as far as I know, it's not urgent. However, today you intended to make another visit" She told her with intention.
The miko thought about it for a moment.
"In that case, I will receive her before leaving," she informed. "Please tell her to wait for me while I change."
Hikari nodded before leaving her friend's room. It had been less than a week since the previous Guji, Jineh, had been buried, barely two days before Kaoru fell prey to that premonition. She had sent the letters as she had requested, and had in turn allowed Sasaki to keep Hiko informed of what had happened between the miko and his former apprentice. But she had not said anything to Kaoru about the threat - disguised as a proposal - that had come to the sanctuary from the Kiyosato clan, fearful of how that could affect her friend. On the contrary, he had sent it to Himura.
However, now, with Tomoe there, she could only pray that the young woman would have the prudence not to reveal what was not her business.
Kaoru sighed as soon as Hikari left the room and her footsteps were lost behind the hallway. She looked again at the landscape outside the window.
"You must not listen to absurdities." Tomoe had told her the last time they went out for a walk, days before Kenshin's return, weeks even before the Guji incident.
Since then, the stories and rumors had been increasing, even more so after the latest victories in the Kanto region. Stories of the red-haired, armored samurai, the demon Battousai, were shared in whispers among the inhabitants of Kyoto.
Little by little, the destiny that she had previously tried to undo had found its course again, albeit in a somewhat different way. But there had been events that had completely altered the course of destiny.
"Akira's death was delayed, but it is still marked." The miko thought to herself.
The samurai was supposed to die the previous year, but his death had not occurred. Kaoru knew why. The Guji had died before his time, twelve years before to be exact; and his death had paid for Akira's life - and many others -. However, the vision of his death - Akira - continued to visit the miko from time to time, warning her that it would still happen and that it would not be beyond that year.
"Kenshin," Invariably her thoughts always converged on the memory of her most important person. "I hope you come back soon." She prayed.
...
EDO
Back in Edo, just outside the imperial city, where the Sekihotai was resting for the moment, Sanosuke was running through the streets of the small prefecture. Barely three days had passed since Kenshin's recovery, and they had barely managed to establish a new camp. That morning, Sanosuke had gotten up like hell when he realized he was late.
"Have you seen Captain Sagara?" He asked one of his compatriots, a boy barely four years older than him.
"Sano! He just left in the direction of the camp." The boy informed him.
The brunette felt faint.
"So soon?" He complained, then cursed under his breath.
He thanked and said goodbye to his companion, deciding to retrace his steps. The next day, he would have to leave for Kyoto in the company of Kenshin, so he would not have the opportunity to see the captain again until he finished the assignment he had given him.
"You must go to the sanctuary." Sosou had told him the night Kenshin had woken up.
Then Sanosuke had felt faint, as if he had suddenly lost value as a soldier and was being destroyed.
"Why should I leave the front?" He had complained.
"It is necessary." Sozo had declared seriously.
"Am I a nuisance?"
The older man smiled understandingly.
"It's not about that Sanosuke." He assured. "On the contrary, you are so necessary that I must legitimize you before you continue fighting."
The youngest's heart skipped a beat.
"You mean…"
Sozou nodded.
"I will recognize you as my son." He declared.
The minor's smile had been immense.
"Yukatta (Thank God)."
Back in the present, still happy about what was revealed days ago, "Sanosuke cursed his luck while kicking small stones in his truck.
"I wanted to say goodbye." He sighed.
Just then, a current of air passed strongly to his right. No. It hadn't been a draft, he corrected himself; his most recent friend had run past him and was heading towards the center of the prefecture, towards the mansion of the doctor who had received them after the first battle in which said friend had been seriously injured.
"Kenshin!" He called him, but the redhead continued running without stopping. "Has something happened?"
Without giving it any more thought, he ran in the same direction his friend had gone.
…
In the main area of the mansion where Dr. Genzai resided - and belonging to the properties of the Kamiya clan - several samurai and aristocrats were discussing sitting around a rectangular table. Piles of documents along with a large map of Edo dominated the wooden surface.
"Master Genzai!"
The doctor recognized the voice immediately. Kenshin had somehow bypassed the mansion's security and infiltrated the compound. The man could not deny that he was amazed at the boy's quick recovery and the motor skills he possessed. But above all, after recognizing the samurai's connection with his lord's daughter, he knew why he was there.
"Himura... -He spoke to him in greeting, excusing himself from the group to stand up and receive the samurai. -You shouldn't be standing."
Kenshin didn't even try to pretend he cared about protocol.
"Is it true?" He pressed, concern palpable in the tone of his voice.
Genzai sighed.
"You found out, I see."
"Since when?" The redhead pressed again, aware of the doctor's response by not giving a negative to his first question.
The doctor looked behind him. Only when the majority of those present nodded did he decide to inform the boy in front of him of the situation.
"They arrested him just one night ago." He declared.
Kenshin sharpened his gaze.
"Under what charges?" He demanded to know.
"I'm afraid I can't tell you. Not completely at least."
It was then that Sanosuke managed to enter. His entrance had not been as smooth as that of his partner, and he had barely managed to escape the mansion's guards.
"What's all this fuss about?" More than one complained.
Genzai told them that there was no problem; he knew the boy and his loyalty to the captain of the Sekihotai. The guards left him alone then. But Kenshin continued to stare at the doctor who was trying to delay as much as possible that confrontation.
"What's going on?" Sano asked.
Kenshin, still looking at the doctor, answered.
"The leader of the Kamiya clan has been arrested. And his heir, Kamiya Koishijiro, is a prisoner in his own home. The dojo has been closed."
"Kamiya Clan?" The brunette questioned. 'Why would that be important to Kenshin?' He questioned himself, then remembered his first meeting with Inari's miko.
"My name is Kamiya Kaoru."
It was as if a bucket of water had fallen on him.
"Jouchan…!" He murmured with concern.
"Master Genzai -Kenshin pressed again. -Is there nothing we can do to help him?"
The man let out the breath he had inadvertently been holding.
"I understand how you feel, believe me, since I find myself in the same situation of helplessness as you. But there is no way to penetrate the castle in principle without being seen."
"If it is a rescue mission, I can do it without a problem."
Sano jumped upon hearing this.
"Kenshin, wait." He said, finally approaching him, while Genzai continued.
"It's not as simple as you make it out to be, we can't afford a confrontation," he reprimanded in a stern voice. "That would only lead to the sinking of the entire clan and would end up affecting even members who are not in Edo."
Kaoru, it would affect Kaoru, was what the man inferred.
Kenshin, however, was not intimidated. His left hand tightly gripped the handle of his katana.
"No one will detect me. And there will be no confrontations. None unless they leave a trace."
Sanosuke finally caught up to him.
"You can't go alone. -He reproached him. -What will happen if they catch you? You are very important to the Sekihotai; Captain Sagara trusts you. What if something happens to you?"
The redhead gritted his teeth, closing his eyes for a moment to try to control his irritation. Then he looked at the brunette.
"You're forgetting something, Sanosuke. I am a free sword. I make my own decisions regarding my interventions in the fight. And at this moment, it is more important to me to rescue my friend's older brother." He declared with a deep and firm voice.
Sano felt faint.
"How can you say that?" He reproached.
Genzai, after analyzing Kenshin, finally saw something that convinced him of the samurai's determination in front of him.
"Very well. " He said, attracting the attention of the two boys. "I'll draw you a map of the Kamiya mansion. -Kenshin almost smiles -But you will not infiltrate with such a wound; you will have to wait at least two more nights."
"At that time the situation could get worse!" He claimed desperately.
"Or improve. -The doctor reproached him. -For the success of the mission, I prefer that you go in your best condition, Himura. You don't want to ruin it because of a heat error in judgment."
The aforementioned retracted as if he had received a blow, his teacher's words reverberated in his mind.
"If you jump into the flames without a plan, you will only get burned."
Kenshin clenched his hands into fists.
"I understand." He gave in.
It would be of no use to object now. He had promised himself to be more accurate in his decisions, so he had no choice but to control his temper.
Sanosuke, for his part, was analyzing his most recent friend then. He had to remind himself of the three days that Kenshin had been unconscious and the times that Kenshin had constantly called Kaoru's name. Sano also knew about the feelings the samurai harbored for Jouchan, but still...
In the end, when Kenshin retreated with Genzai to the room where the strategists were, Sano could only wait outside.
…
Hours later, Kenshin was resting in one of the mansion's spare rooms, the same one where he had fallen unconscious five nights ago. Since he had woken up, even despite the news from Kyoto, he had decided to wait until he was completely healed. At the moment, there didn't really seem to be anything urgent that required his presence. Despite his initial reaction to the letter he had received, upon further reflection he had realized that there was little he could do when it came to political issues. However, after the news of Kamiya Koishijirou's arrest, he had understood the message sent to him differently.
"Kamiya Koishijirou," he said to himself.
Kenshin remembered, of course, the sadness with which Kaoru spoke whenever she mentioned her brother.
"Since my ascension, I am no longer allowed to approach him as his sister."
"Kaoru..." Kenshin sighed.
There were then two knocks on the shoji door, Kenshin had forgotten to close it completely, he finally realized. A young girl with black hair and brown eyes was standing in the doorway.
"It was very brave of you to propose such a rescue," the young woman told him with a smile.
Kenshin frowned.
"Excuse me, do I know you?" He questioned.
The young woman let out a sing-song laugh, before inviting herself to enter the room.
"One could say, yes. My name is Megumi. I am one of the assistants who helped in your recovery."
Kenshin blinked in surprise and stood up instantly afterwards, ending up doing a small bow.
"I thank you for your attention."
The young woman blinked, startled and somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh! But how formal."
She laughed, the boy in front of her looked away somewhat dazed.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. -She apologized. -Can I ask you something?"
Kenshin looked at her for a moment before nodding his head, not expecting her question to end up touching a sensitive chord in his soul. "Is Kamiya Koishijiro someone close to you?"
"I can still plan your marriage." The man had told him, with a smile that had been honest.
The samurai couldn't help his cheeks turning red.
"I guess I could consider him a friend by extension. -He said. -His sister... was my first friend, and she is also the most important."
Megumi blinked somewhat surprised.
"The princess of Kyoto?" She asked; Kenshin nodded again, not knowing that his cheeks were still tinted red, and that had been all she had needed to understand his feelings. "You are in love with her"
The reaction was instantaneous.
"Ah!"
His hand had flown to his katana.
"Aww! / Oh kami!" Both Kenshin and Megumi exclaimed at the same time.
Because Sanosuke had then entered and hit Kenshin right above his head.
"Don't worry, she didn't say it that way." The brunette assured the redhead.
The latter rubbed the injured area, but internally he was grateful for that intervention, perhaps wishing that his friend had been less abrupt.
Megumi, for her part, had jumped upset.
"Why are you hitting him?! Don't you see he's still hurt?"
Sanosuke did his best to ignore her complaints.
"You better watch your words when you refer to Jouchan."
"Jouchan?" Megumi blinked confused.
"He refers to Kaoru dono, the priestess of Inari. -Kenshin answered in his place, after the pain in his head subsided. -Considering the current political situation of the sanctuary, it is not advisable to involve her in any scandals." He said, with a clear plea to her not to talk again about what he felt for the miko so freely.
"You heard him, try not to be reckless." Sano reprimanded her.
Her cheeks puffed out in annoyance.
"It was not my intention! You don't have to be so pedantic."
Sano ignored her again.
"Kenshin, the letter you received… was it from Jouchan?"
The aforementioned jumped for a moment. While the letter had been from the sanctuary, it had not been from who he had expected.
"No." He answered.
"So…" Sano prompted.
"Another acquaintance of mine, who is also close to Kaoru dono, informed me of the situation that is about to unfold in Kyoto. -He told them. Hikari had been the one who had written to him, urging him to return as soon as he could. -I have to go back. If her words are true, Kaoru dono's legitimacy will be sullied, unless…"
His voice was lost. Clenching his jaw, he didn't want to have to say those words.
"Unless, what?" Sano insisted after the moment of silence.
Megumi was the one who ended up taking pity on the samurai and answering for him.
"Unless she joins another family politically," she declared.
Sano looked at her even more confused.
"But why would she have to do that?"
Megumi rolled her eyes.
"It's obvious, stupid. Didn't you pay attention to what happened a few hours ago?"
"Of course I did, but still, she belongs to the sanctuary. She renounced her family when she became a priestess."
The young woman rolled her eyes.
"I have to remember that you are a farmer."
"Hey! Do not insult me!"
"It's more complicated than that, Sano. -Kenshin interrupted him. -Kaoru dono is now the image and the main representative of the Inari sanctuary. If she were to be linked to any faction or her honor besmirched by a political disturbance, the entire sanctuary would fall with her. Unless of course they kick her out."
Sano's heart sank.
"Would they be able to do that?" He questioned with concern.
Kenshin considered it for a moment.
"The members who live with her would not do it, but I can't say the same for the rest of the clergy. Not to mention, being a psychic, they would have to consider the reaction of the people of Kyoto. The most convenient thing would be to cleanse her honor in the best possible way. And given the circumstances it would have to be done soon, before news of the possible fall of her clan spreads."
Sanosuke considered it then. Finally realizing what a child he still was for not being able to see the implications of the possible fall of the clan; he reproached himself for not having a cool head and for having such a closed mind. He had to become better.
"The sanctuary supports the revolutionary movement," he said then, "seeing it that way, I have no choice but to help you."
"Sano!" Kenshin looked at him perplexed.
"Don't say more. You saved my life not long ago. Admit it, we're friends now. Helping you is what I have to do. And I want to do it, Kenshin."
The samurai nodded gratefully.
Megumi looked from one to the other. Considering the path she wanted to follow, it would be most convenient to stay close to the samurai, so she nodded as well.
"I guess in my case, I'll help you from the rear," she said. "I will be ready to heal your possible wounds."
Kenshin smiled at last.
"Thank you."
Sanosuke snapped the fingers of both hands.
"Then we better start with the plan." He declared.
…
KIOTO
"How quickly the seasons change." Tomoe thought as she watched the sakura flowers that had managed to prevail so close to summer fall.
On the outside, she gave the image of a calm and serene woman; on the inside, however, she was a sea of anxiety. Months ago, upon her return to Kyoto, she had been so afraid that Akira would reveal the secret of the Kamiya clan to the blue-eyed priestess, that she had intervened to the point of frustrating such a meeting.
The Guji inccident had been a kind of blessing in disguise. But now, with the secret so close to being revealed, Tomoe wondered if it wouldn't be better for someone close to tell the miko, instead of letting her find out the hard way, when it will be impossible to do anything about it.
And there was also the matter of their engagement. That secret had cost her a debt with Kiyosato Shinji, but she was grateful for having learned the truth.
If only Enishi wasn't such a child.
"You're quieter than normal." Her little brother had told her a few days ago, after noticing how conflicted she was during breakfast. "Sister, you're scaring me. Did something happened?"
Tomoe had too many things she wanted to say, but her upbringing forced her to watch her tongue. However, that had also taught her to say more with less.
"Enishi." She called him with a stern gesture.
"Nani (what)?" He answered without stopping eating.
Because the silence that followed, however, the young man looked up at his sister. After a moment of analyzing her, the boy ended up snorting.
"I should have assumed that was what was bothering you." He complained.
"How can you promise yourself to someone you don't love?"
He chuckled before answering.
"Sister, remember that I am a man. Those details are not important to us. In your case it was an exception, one for which I am grateful, but you can't expect it to be the same for me. -He declared, returning to his food. You shouldn't worry anyway, they told me that my fiancée is a good woman."
Good, no doubt, but not quite a woman.
"Both of you are just children." She refuted.
Enishi rolled his eyes.
"It's only three years before my promotion, and she is a year older than me. In any case, why do you worry? By the time the wedding arrives we will have the appropriate ages. And if Shinji niisan's plans proceed as planned, I won't even have to get married."
Tomoe had no way to refute that. But after finding out about the miko's feelings and meeting again with the samurai - who was the owner of said young woman's affections - the black-haired woman couldn't help but get distressed.
"I'm just worried. You even plan to be part of the Minami faction, it's dangerous, Enishi."
The aforementioned looked irritated. Deeper inside he understood his sister's feelings. The revolution was getting closer and closer to Kyoto.
"I will only be an apprentice. -He assured her without completely getting rid of the annoyance he felt -I know you have many other pressures, sister, but you shouldn't worry. Everything will be fine."
After calmly analyzing him, Tomoe understood that she would not achieve anything with Enishi. Even if he shied away from the responsibility given to him, he would only be expelled from the clan.
"I'm sorry for making you wait."
Tomoe woke up from her thought bubble. Turning towards the miko, a smile formed on her lips almost immediately. Kaoru was accompanied by her eternal chokkai, Hikari, and two more apprentices who had entered the shrine at the end of the previous year. The blue-eyed priestess wore ceremonial clothing but without the many ornaments and accessories required. That intrigued Tomoe a little.
"Your excellence." She greeted her with a bow.
"I thought you would like to be in the garden. It's a beautiful day," Kaoru told her, smiling equally. "However, if it is not a bother, I would like you to accompany me on my assignment today."
For a second, Tomoe felt uneasy. Then, seeing that as a sincere invitation from her friend and not from the princess of Kyoto, she smiled again.
"It'll be my honor."
They took a cart pulled by two horses; it was not exactly a carriage but something more similar to wagons pulled by people, there was barely room for two passengers in the front seat, plus the driver who was in front. The rest of the company took different vehicles. The minor waited until she had left the sanctuary area to try to start a conversation with her companion.
"You look worried," she pointed out. "As if you were carrying a great weight on your shoulders."
Tomoe took a deep breath and sighed regretfully.
"It has been a difficult few months, your excellency, considering the departure of the previous Guji."
Silence.
Kaoru looked away, her heart still grieving. After the death of one of her most beloved mentors, lots of vicious rumors had spread throughout the city. Although Saito had been true to his word and had passed it off as a crime by a shinsengumi member, most saw it as an act of rebellion; and many were already thinking twice about alliances with the sanctuary to Inari.
Kaoru had done everything in her power to quell these accusations, but not even she could escape the pain of having to face the truth, what had really happened to the former guji Jineh's psyche.
The youngest was startled when she felt her friend's hand take hers.
"My condolences," she said with clear sorrow in her dark eyes. "The previous Guji was someone honorable. He was always kind to everyone."
Kaoru felt a lump in her throat.
"Thank you, Tomoe san." She nodded, squeezing the hand that held hers. "I guess you can't tell me what's bothering you right now."
The aforementioned shook her head slightly, even in moments as small as those, the older woman maintained her regal profile.
"I'm sorry for the inconvenience, but I would prefer if we could be alone," she asked.
The miko's heart clenched in her chest.
"I understand."
Then they were leaving the city limits; the road had become uneven, and it was somewhat uncomfortable to move forward. Tomoe felt a little nervous.
"If I may ask, where are we going?" She inquired.
The young woman next to her smiled knowingly.
"It is an unrecognized district of Kyoto. -She said to her surprise. -It is not a secret place, however, I suppose that more than one person still does not know of its existence."
"Could it be, a village of renegated people?"
Kaoru frowned.
"Even if it is, I don't like the sound of it. But yes. -She nodded. -With the advances of the revolution, no, even before that, many families fell into extreme poverty. Lots of children were orphaned. While it is true that any profession carries honor in its servitude, the reality is that they are still slaves. They serve to pay their debts, sometimes even those of their parents. They are used to pay for the food on their plates."
Tomoe could sympathize with that. After her mother's death her own father had fallen into a depression that almost led to their ruin. If it hadn't been for Akira's support, Tomoe and Enishi would not have gotten aunt Kagome's shelter. However, that had meant abandoning their own father. Even now, she thought about him from time to time, with a feeling that could well be considered guilt. And at the same time, she could not regret leaving, since by doing so, they had saved themselves from having to pay the debts of a father who barely remembered he had children.
But not everyone could have the same luck as them.
"During my pilgrimage trip - the miko continued - I had the opportunity to see the harsh reality of the people of Japan. Seeing the efforts of so many to change the destiny of many for a better future, I thought there must be something I could do too. Something that would at least ease the pain of rebellion a little and might prevent parentless children from throwing their lives onto the battlefield." The miko smiled. "Of course I had inspiration from somewhere else -Sanosuke Souzo-, and support from many others. What started as something small began to grow into what it is today."
The car stopped then.
"We have arrived, Your Excellency." Informed the coachman.
Tomoe admired the small village, a space of huts scattered in a forest of mostly summer trees. The air was humid. There were children running and playing in the dirt and among the trees, while elderly people sat at the entrance of their homes talking, and others did different tasks.
"Your Excellency, Kaoru miko sama has arrived!" Someone exclaimed.
And soon cheers of voices mixed with the sound of the footsteps of the people who came out to greet the miko followed. Tomoe observed with fascination the sincere emotions on the faces of the people who came out to welcome her friend. She felt true admiration for the miko, who was rightly called the princess of Kyoto.
So she couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Here she was with her selfish concerns, thinking about the heart of the young woman she was fond of and realizing that she hardly understood it. Kaoru, even though she was much younger than her - although not quite a girl anymore - was much more commited to her role of servanthood.
She suddenly felt that there was no reason for her to be there. She considered herself an intruder and was about to turn around.
"Ne, don't go abandoning me now, Tomoe san."
The woman was startled when she felt her friend's grip on the sleeve of her kimono. Kaoru smiled and looked at her expectantly. The woman then let go of her absurd worries.
"I wouldn't allow it, your excellency."
Tomoe closely accompanied the priestess as she performed various tasks, a baptism, a ritual of healing and protection, and a divination. As he watched her, her admiration for her grew in the same way. She also took the opportunity to look around her, taking details of that remote place but, at the same time, so close to Kyoto. Most of them were children and elders, the few young adults were mostly women, from their features and behavior it was easy to guess that they came from some brothel.
"If my honorable aunt had not taken me in, I wonder if that would have been my destiny as a woman." She thought to herself.
"Kiyosato dono," Hikari spoke to her then, the chokkai holding a basket with utensils and ornaments typical of a wedding. "Can you come with us?"
Tomoe blinked, for a moment confused.
"Hai.(yes)" She nodded, and started to advance with the chokkai.
They headed towards one of the three large huts in the wooded area. It was even on an elevated plain above the rest of the village. Tomoe marveled at the effort that said building had in its structure made of stone and wood; undoubtedly designed to serve as a sanctuary, or at least an altar area.
"I hope I'm not too late." A man spoke from behind them.
Tomoe felt cold when she recognized that voice; her fear intensified when she saw him.
"Saito Hajime Taichou (captain)" she recognized him.
The man gave her his characteristic closed-eyed smile.
"Oh, Kiyosato dono, I didn't expect to find you here." He said pleasantly. He then turned to greet the eternal chokkai with a slight bow of his head.
The young woman, however, could not help but look at him with disgust, and her hands clenched over the basket. She seemed ready to insult him when Kaoru stopped her by putting her hand on her shoulder.
"Hikari," she called, giving her a meaningful look.
The chokkai finally gave way.
"Welcome Captain Saito," the miko greeted, then she retired with him towards the car he had arrived; it was full of food supplies.
"He is one of the benefactors." Hikari informed Tomoe.
The latter realized only then that she had been observing the miko and the captain with obvious interest.
"I know it's hard to believe considering the type of man he is," the chokkai continued. "But his wife used to live on the edge of Kyoto before moving to Edo, and always felt the desire to help. Kaoru dono achieved a miracle for her, and after several conversations by letter, they both started this project."
"I had no idea that the captain was a married man."
"It's hard to believe. -Hikari mocked. -His wife resides in Edo, and is close to the sanctuary. So I know that such help really comes from her and not from him."
The black-haired woman then analyzed the chokkai. Her gaze was sharp, her brow furrowed, and her hands continued to grip the basket tightly.
"I see that you hold a grudge against him." Tomoe said.
Hikari didn't deny it.
"It was he who murdered Guji." She blurted out with rage.
Tomoe did nothing to correct the minor. She could understand the pain she felt. Once again, she marveled at the ease with which life took away a person's childhood. At the same time, she trembled as she recognized the changes her own brother had been displaying.
It was true that Tomoe had bought that information from Shinji, but what the latter did not know were his sister-in-law's loyalties. The young woman had no intention of betraying her husband's family - much less now that it was hers too - but she was not willing to let them use Enishi as they pleased.
"It would be better to continue with the preparations," she told Hikari.
The chokkai barely softened her face a little, but she ended up nodding.
"In the end everyone has their own fight" she thought to herself.
After all, if her husband served as a double agent, she, as his wife, could also play the same role.
If perhaps with the intention of avoiding a tragedy.
...
After emptying the cart, Saito approached Kaoru; though he was smiling, the tension in his voice denoted the seriousness in his words.
"This will be the last support you will receive this year. Things are about to get complicated in Edo." He warned her.
The miko continued to tighten the fabric of her hakama in an attempt to control her emotions, and at the same time, heed the man's warnings.
"It will be better to maintain strict control over those who arrive. At some point it will be impossible to receive everyone."
"I understand. -She agreed. -I will keep you informed captain."
Upon hearing the nickname, Saito undid his smile and finally gave the miko a meaningful look. He would be lying if he said that he hadn't been worried about her during the days of her delirium - that was what he called her visions - although he wouldn't admit it, the truth was that he felt guilty of how things had ended with the previous Guji.
"I thought you would still hold a grudge against me." He finally said.
Kaoru smiled sadly.
"I'm not going to lie to you captain; I'm still upset. But I don't hold a grudge against you." She confessed, giving him a look. "The truth is that even if you had spared his life, I had no real way to heal Guji sama. Considering your statement about the event, the truth is that you absolved us of any charges that we should have paid."
Saito snorted. Her response made him remember why Tokio, his wife, was so fond of this young woman.
"A murderer will always be a murderer, no matter if he stops killing. The dead do not revive, your excellency. -He warned. -I'll be seeing you. Don't make another mistake again."
Kaoru tightened the gesture. She looked frustrated.
The captain's eyes then fell on the young Kiyosato and his gaze sharpened.
"By the way, is she trustworthy?" He questioned.
Kaoru then looked behind her, in the direction the man next to her was looking. Tomoe was helping Hikari with the preparations for the altar.
"She is. -The miko agreed. -I wouldn't have brought her with me if it weren't like that."
Saito analyzed her for a moment longer, before he was satisfied. After a bow, he left the place along with the page who had accompanied him.
Only until his figure was lost in the distance did Kaoru sigh with relief.
Kaoru returned to the building that would serve as a sanctuary for the moment. The accessories had been arranged and the bride and groom were waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was not common to have a formal wedding unlike the events of the aristocracy, but both Kaoru and Tomoe considered that they had equal beauty if the bride and groom looked as in love as the couple present.
"I'm sorry for being late." The miko apologized.
Then, the ceremony began. It would be Sato who would officiate the wedding, starting with the purification ritual in which Hikari assisted him. Kaoru, for her part, remained to the side, close to Tomoe.
"You can ask." The girl said to the woman.
Neither of them took their eyes off the front.
"It would be inappropriate of me." Tomoe answered.
Kaoru shook her head while smiling. Sometimes she thought that Tomoe and Kenshin were similar in a way.
"You are my friend, and I was the one who brought you." Refuted the minor. Then her look turned contrite. "Listen Tomoe san, I need you to keep Captain Saito's secret, not even Captain Okita knows anything about this."
That surprised the woman. It was public knowledge that both captains were close. But with the last thing Hikari said, it was clear that this was not Captain Saito's business to share, the secret was his wife's. And in a way, it was understandable why he sought to do this in secret; many of those who lived in that small village were not only disowned, but fugitives...
"I understand." She said after a moment. "After all, we all have our secrets."
Kaoru smiled.
"Arigatou (thank you) Tomoe san."
...
After the ceremony, the banquet had begun; it had been held outdoors so everyone could participate. Hikari took it upon herself to inform Tomoe about the bride and groom. Both had been servants in a pleasure house, had not paid all their debt when the establishment collapsed, and ended up fleeing out of the red light district. Like many of the residents, they had secretly heard the secret of a free village.
Kaoru was ecstatic. Looking at the bride and groom from a distance, she felt satisfied that they had been able to achieve so much in such a short time. Although it was true that the greatest credit had gone to Captain Saito's wife; she could not do less her own participation. She was so engrossed in her musings, separated from the rest of the group, that she did not notice when a new presence arrived where she was.
"It was a beautiful ceremony."
The miko's heart flapped its wings.
"Kenshin! -she jumped excitedly -what are you doing here? when did you come?"
"I have followed you since you left the sanctuary," he answered. "But I wasn't sure if it would be convenient to go out."
The young woman understood it perfectly; in spite with the events during the fight against the Guji, she could not assure that more than one person related him to a rebel group.
"Was it difficult to get here?" She questioned.
He denied with his head.
"Battousai's identity still remains a mystery," he replied. "Kaoru dono, if I may..."
"Nani?
The young man approached her at a sure pace; the girl hesitated for a moment but managed to avoid taking a step back. Her heart was pounding in her chest. Kenshin moved closer until he was a breath away.
"Should we take advantage and get married now?" He asked her in a whisper.
Heat invaded the miko.
"But what are you saying Kenshin?" She refuted with a red face. "It would not be appropriate to steal someone else's event."
Kenshin smiled, taking advantage of her carelessness to hug her waist.
"Then," he said, "we should skip the vows part," he proposed in a hoarse voice, "or maybe drink from the same cup and let our bodies speak for themselves afterwards?"
The priestess felt like she would melt right there.
"Kenshin... dame(no)..."
"Drink with me Kaoru," he told her; at that moment a glass materialized in his hand; he drank from it and then offered it to his partner.
Kaoru took it with trembling hands.
"Kenshin... I... this..."
"Should I give you to drink from my mouth?" He offered when he saw the girl's shyness.
Kenshin then took a second drink and drew his lips to his maid.
The scene faded again into haze and flashes of short images.
"Aah... Kenshin..." the miko whispered, with her eyes closed, and both hands on her flushed cheeks.
Hikari looked at her again with irritation and displeasure.
"There she goes again," she complained.
Tomoe felt like laughing.
The chokkai, just like that morning, took another deep breath.
"KAORU!" She shouted.
"Aaah!" The miko almost fell face down on the ground again.
This time, Tomoe couldn't help but let out a laugh.
"Honestly," the chokkai snorted, "you should control yourself."
"Gomen (sorry)" Kaoru apologized. "It's just that everything is so beautiful that I couldn't contain myself."
After a sigh, Hikari smiled with them.
Just then, a great commotion was heard. The bride was pulled away; the groom would wait a little moment before following her. There was a house ready for the couple's first night, away from the hustle and bustle of the party.
Kaoru looked at this scene with admiration and genuine curiosity, without missing any detail. "How will it feel?" She wondered "To give yourself to a person of your own free will?" Her eyes had taken on a dreamy glow, a fact that did not go unnoticed by her friends, especially Tomoe, who was then feeling dazed with worry.
Hikari then apologized, she had to help Sato prepare everything for his departure. The day was ending after all; dusk was at its peak.
When both young women were left alone, Kaoru suddenly couldn't help but search for answers to her concerns.
"Ne, Tomoe san" She spoke to her, her partner looked at her attentively "Was it the same for you? ...I remember how beautiful you were that day."
A heartbeat.
Two beats.
"Although there was much more fanfare, it was certainly similar." Tomoe answered with a smile at the corners of her lips.
"Were you nervous?"
"A lot. But Akira san was kind to me," she confessed. "Even after the pain subsided, I truly enjoyed my first night with him."
The fire crackled.
"Kaoru dono," Tomoe finally spoke to her without using the nickname. -Will you really sign the omiai agreement with my little brother?"
A heartbeat.
Two beats.
A sigh.
"I'm sorry, Tomoe san," the miko apologized. "It is not my intention to use your brother; it is only a political arrangement."
"So you don't plan to carry it out?"
How much did Tomoe know? The miko asked herself, for the first time realizing that she was traveling alone, without company. Only then did she remember that after her return to Edo, she had not been able to speak to Akira, and that it had always been the young woman in front of her who had caused such a circumstance. So she decided she wouldn't beat around the bush.
"What do you know, Tomoe san? Does Akira san knows that you are with me?"
The aforementioned pressed her hands on the fabric of her kimono.
"I... I have something to confess," she said.
...
In the hubbub of the music and the voices of those present, Tomoe's words went unnoticed by all those present at that wedding, except for one. Kaoru watched and listened attentively to every word of that confession. And the more she listened, the more her expression changed to one of bewilderment.
Even from a distance, Hikari knew that the secret had been revealed.
...
EDO
"We have problems!"
Those present in the room turned their faces in the direction of the entrance, towards the person who had forcefully opened the doors of the fusuma.
"What is happening?" Genzai questioned, half annoyed by the interruption and worried by his servant's expression alone.
"The shinchogumi has ended up getting involved." The young man explained, to the confusion of everyone.
"Genzai!" One of the aristocrats of the Kamiya clan urged him.
"Why would they get involved? Until now it was just a clan feud." The man complained, but the anguish he felt was clear.
"Master Genzai."
The doctor looked at the newcomer, Kenshin was standing with Sanosuke behind him.
"We can't wait any longer," the redhead urged. "We must mobilize now."
The room erupted into arguments.
...
In the main room of the Kamiya mansion, where the heir remained under arrest, a servant hurriedly entered after announcing himself.
"Koishijirou sama!" He exclaimed.
The young heir sat in a ceremonial pose in front of a wall full of tablets with names of the members of the clan.
"They are going to prosecute your father!"
Koishijirou clenched his hands into fists, his face looking full of anguish.
"I know. -He said finally. -I won't be able to hide it any longer."
His servant seemed to feel his same pain.
"Kaoru" Koishijirou thought. "I just wish I could protect you."
...
Her words seemed to echo in her mind to reverberate until they were released and reached where said young woman had gotten up to run into the depths of the forest.
"I'm a spy now, so I know what's about to happen. The Kamiya clan will be purged in less than a day, with your father and the secret he keeps being the key to the conflict."
A/N: It has been exhausting to find reliable information, or any kind of historical information really, regarding Japan and its customs and technology during the bakumatsu. So yes, nothing is further from reality than what I wrote here xD
Sigh ... T_T