“That was the woman, I remember seeing her picture in the newspaper at the airport when we first came to Japan!” Taryn said as she paced back and forth as she dried her hair, she had felt too restless, and Rachael told her to go and have a bath to gather her thoughts. “I knew I recognized her from somewhere.”
“From what I could find, June was a freelance journalist for a reputable newspaper in Tokyo,” Rachael said as she scrolled through her laptop. “She had written some small-time columns before getting involved in a case with the Yakuza and Tokyo Police force about four years ago. Apparently, because of that, it kicked off her career.”
Taryn stopped her pacing to join her friend, looking over her shoulder to see what she was currently looking at. “Anything of note about what we found?”
“Nothing that would connect to missing people, if those journal notes are to be believed.” She paused to look at Taryn. “Which I don’t doubt. But from what I could find, June disappeared about three months ago.”
At the start of summer. “Anything else?”
“Well, no, but that’s due to the crap internet here. I shouldn’t be complaining, but still.”
“Just be thankful you’re at least able to use it at times,” Taryn said as she went and sat down in a chair across from her friend.
Rachael tried a few more searches before ultimately giving up and closing her laptop. “So, now what?”
“I’m not sure,” Taryn admitted softly. “There are still some things that got me questioning. The maid I mentioned? Yoko? She wants us to leave after the festival is over.”
Rachael’s confused expression mirrored how Taryn felt at the time. “Why?”
“She wouldn’t tell me, or probably couldn’t. Either way, it’s strange. What do you think?”
Rachael folded her arms across her chest. “It was just one person, right? Maybe she’s worried about more people disappearing? Or maybe she’s the one who’s been leaving those notes? No one else is telling us to pack up and leave.”
“She may have been the one to leave the note about the Shrine, and the one we just received. But that doesn’t explain getting one in my bra. At least I think she didn’t, she didn’t outright say. And it’s not like she’d tell me if I asked her either.”
“But you said before you felt that something was off, didn’t you?” Rachael asked. “Do you still feel that way?”
“Not by much now. But that’s just because I’ve acclimatized to it. Like a person’s body adjusting to the weather during the winter or summer.”
“Your analogy of that is so weird…” Taryn merely responded to her by sticking out her tongue. “And childish…” she added only to snicker when she did it again.
“It’s the truth though, my body has adjusted to it. And it’ll probably be like it’s not even a thing the longer we remain here.”
The human body is weird… Rachael thought flatly before a knock came at the door, followed by it opening and a woman calling out in English with a heavy Japanese accent.
“Hello? Is anyone in here?” the unfamiliar woman that looked to be in her mid-twenties came further into the room. She had large dark expressive eyes that matched her dark hair that had been pulled back into a bun as she gave what looked to be a tight-lipped smile to them as if she was forced to do so. “Oh, hello, I would like it if you followed me please.”
Both Rachael and Taryn stood only to have the unfamiliar woman come up and grab Taryn’s arm, practically pulling her out of the room, into and down the hall to the first floor regardless of how Taryn looked as Rachael simply followed.
“Hurry now,” the woman demanded in English, her grip on Taryn’s arm tightened, causing the other woman to grimace slightly. Did she need to pull like this?
“May you please let go?” Taryn asked her in English. Only to have the woman dig her nails into Taryn’s arm before letting go. Taryn quickly pulled her arm back, her other hand gently holding the place where the woman had grabbed her. They merely looked at each other before the woman spoke again.
“This way.” Then briskly walked ahead.
“Did she just scratch you?” Rachael whispered harshly as she now looked at Taryn’s arm.
While Taryn merely pulled the sleeve of her robe to hide it from view. “It’s not that bad. You know how quickly my skin reacts to stuff.”
“Still,” she looked at the Japanese woman with a narrowed stare. “What the hell is her problem?”
Good question. Taryn hadn’t the faintest idea as to why this woman whom she had never met did what she had. For all Taryn knew, it could have very well been an accident and merely wished to get them to this place in the mansion as fast as possible. Yet the way she stared at Taryn unnerved her.
The woman then eyed her thoroughly, looking at Taryn’s outline before giving a condescending smirk before entering a nearby room. Giving Taryn the sudden feeling that she was being mocked silently about her appearance. It wasn’t anything new, but the woman’s actions bothered her, just in how she stared at her like she wanted her dead.
Taryn dealt with such stares early in her life, so much so that if she ever caught someone looking at her in such a way, she would do everything in her power to avoid those types of people. It reminded her of what Yoko had said about leaving the mansion. Could this have been the reason why? No, that can’t be right. She thought to herself. The way Yoko had sounded began to nag at the back of her mind again. Maybe there was something more to what she said regardless of unknown paranoia that Taryn couldn’t fully grasp yet.
As the two young women entered the room, they saw both Robert and Stephanie being prepared, wearing a white under-kimono Stephanie then waved at them, an excited grin on her face. While Robert glanced at Taryn for a moment before looking away rather awkwardly.
Taryn let out a breath, at some point after this, they needed to talk.
Then another woman came to greet them, a woman who looked to be in her mid-fifties. As her kimono looked to be for someone higher up in comparison to the rest. The woman in question stared at both women before speaking in English.
“Ah, good, please come over here, will have the two of you dressed properly with hair and makeup.” The moment she snapped her fingers, a few women took hold of Rachael and pulled her away to be appropriately prepared behind a separate screen. The look on Rachael’s face when it happened so quickly made Taryn laugh in response.
Taryn’s laugh came to an abrupt stop when she realized that the older woman was now looking at her, so she asked in English. “Is something wrong?”
“No,” Ayako said with a shake of her head. Before resting the tips of her fingers along Taryn’s jaw. “I am merely admiring your facial structure. You have such delicate features; I apologize if it comes off as rude.”
Okay, that was interesting… “I’m a lot more used to people commenting on how pale my skin is or my eyes, at least in this country.”
She continued as though she didn’t hear her. “You and your friend have lovely eyes, as blue as the sky with such a dark ring, and grey as storm clouds while Stratford-san has eyes as the dark blue sea. Such eyes complement well with the Master’s own eyes. As for your skin, white skin used to be in high demand, even here. A sign of wealth, status and beauty. It is a shame all of it is being tossed to the wayside for tanned skin from those horrid tanning beds.”
“Not all tans are bad,” Stephanie chimed in before proudly indicating to herself. “I happen to be a natural tan, thank you very much.”
“That’s because you’re outside all the time, Steph,” Robert added.
She folded her arms across her prominent chest. “Excuse me for being active.”
Ayako chuckled; the sleeve of her embroidered kimono was brought up toward her lips. “Of course, there is a difference between what I speak of. I’ve seen many young ladies in my day who have wasted what skin they have. I merely see their skin as a refreshing change.”
Taryn didn’t respond and merely cleared her throat. Feeling that the topic went off in another direction as she readjusted the sleeve of her robe.
Ayako noticed this as a frown slowly creased her brow, and before Taryn could do anything, the woman lifted the sleeve of Taryn’s robe to reveal the red mark of the scratch. She lifted the arm and studied it before calling out. “Shoko!”
The woman that had grabbed Taryn’s arm stood up from where she was, but before she could say anything in response, Ayako quickly strode towards her and slapped the other woman across the face. The whole room went silent. Taryn merely looked back and forth between the two women. The way the two looked at each other, both seemingly coming to a silent understanding, given their expressions. As Yoko gently grasped Taryn by her left hand to pull her behind a screen away from the women and the rest as Ayako began to reprimand the woman named Shoko, who seemed far more annoyed at being slapped.
“You must be mindful of Shoko,” Yoko spoke in Japanese, her voice a whisper. “She is like a child with that rotten personality. She does not like to share.”
Share? But before Taryn had the chance to ask what she meant; Ayako came over to them.
“My deepest apologies,” Ayako said in English. “Shoko has always been temperamental. She has gotten the idea that the Master and she are in a relationship and chose to take it out on you. Regardless of where you are from, it gives her no right to treat you in such a way. Will your arm be all right? Does it need treatment?”
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“Ah, no. It’s fine. It’s not like she tore the skin; I’ll be okay. But… wasn’t doing that going a bit far?”
“It is the fact that she hurt you.” Ayako gently grasped Taryn’s chin, tilting her head back to look at her face even more. “You need to be perfect for tonight.”
“Uh… okay?” was the only thing Taryn could say in response. “But you mean everyone, by that, right?”
“Yes,” she said as she pulled her hand away. “A mistranslation, English is a rather difficult language to speak.” She looked at Yoko. “Start the process. Call if they need anything.”
Yoko merely nodded in response before Ayako left the room, taking Shoko with her. “Shoko has been here for well over a year and acts like she is a queen. Even Lady Ayako is tired of her antics.”
Why would they keep her then? She thought before asking softly in Japanese. “Why not just fire her then if she’s like this? Wouldn’t that be better?”
Yoko merely shook her head before asking. “How was the village? Did you find what you were looking for?”
Taryn paused, realizing the meaning behind her words. “Yes and no.” she still had more questions than answers.
Yoko nodded in response before pulling out another white robe. “Please change into this, I will wait behind the screen until you are done.” She then left Taryn to change, sitting correctly on the floor as she waited.
Taryn did so without question since she felt that there wasn’t much she could ask at the moment. By the time she was done, the others had come out in the same white under-kimono. Ayako merely excused herself, saying that they would be back momentarily with the women’s kimonos of choice since Robert had his ready. Leaving Stephanie to ask.
“What the heck was that about?”
When Taryn lifted her scratched arm, showing the other two, Rachael added. “The woman that was slapped, she did this earlier. Right before we came into the room.”
“God, that looks like it hurts,” Stephanie said as she looked at the scratch while Robert looked at it with an expression of concern. “Why would she do that?”
Rachael shrugged. “She said it was because that woman was jealous,” Taryn said as she looked at the now-faded scratch. “At least that’s what one of the workers told me. But I’m not sure as to why…”
The sliding doors opened again, and in came Ayako and the other women. “Pardon the wait.” She said in English. As the women in question laid out three colourful kimonos’, one pink, one blue and one purple. All with their different patterns and designs. Both Taryn and Rachael noticed that the kimonos in question were Houmongi and not summer Yukata before Rachael and Stephanie picked one. Stephanie with blue, and Rachael with, obviously, pink. While Taryn was left with purple. But the moment she went to reach for it, some type of oil fell and coated the fabric.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Shoko said in Japanese with a fake apologetic tone. “I didn’t mean to hurt you like that.”
Yeah, you sure look like you mean it. Taryn thought dryly.
“Shoko, what is the matter with you?” Ayako demanded in Japanese. “When the Master finds out about this, he will…”
“I’ll what?” Taryn looked past them to see that Toya was now standing in the doorway. “I heard that the others were getting ready to see the festival, so I thought to come by and see how things were. But I see you bicker.” His gaze moved to Ayako. “What’s this about?”
“Shoko spilt something on Lowell-san’s Houmongi,” Ayako said, showing the Houmongi in question. “I was about to suggest getting it cleaned for her.”
Toya moved to pick up the oil-stained kimono in question as a scowl rested on his face. “No, cleaning it will take too long. It would be better to simply get another.”
“I could wear my regular clothes.” Taryn offered in English. “I don’t have to wear one. If that’s what you’re talking about, I mean.”
Toya remained quiet for a moment before speaking in English as well. “No, actually, I have one that would be even better for you to wear, but it will be slightly different from that of the other young women.” He looked to Ayako and Shoko switching back to Japanese. “Both of you come with me.” He turned to Yoko. “Please start to prepare Lowell-san’s hair and makeup. This won’t take long.” The three were gone before Taryn had the chance to say anything else.
Yoko rested a hand along Taryn’s shoulder, stopping her from going forward. She looked at the others seeing that the others were getting dressed in the proper Japanese clothing.
All the while, Taryn watched the others get dressed, then decided to go and grab her camera so that when things were done, they could at least take a photo together. Only to be thwarted by Yoko, who made Taryn sit back down.
“Your friend is almost finished, ask her when she’s done.”
“It won’t take that long,” Taryn insisted. “Really, I’ll be fast.”
But the look the woman gave said otherwise. “Please, remain seated, Lowell-san, we need to get started on you.” Taryn fell quiet and could only comply, but couldn’t help but internally question what was going on. Even looking at Rachael, she too seemed to be internally asking the same thing. And now, sitting behind a screen, when Taryn spoke.
“Why do you want us to leave?” she asked in Japanese, this caused Yoko to pause in brushing her hair. “I know you said that we should leave. I’m trying to understand why you want us to do that. Is it because of June? Was there an accident?”
“There was no accident.” She bit out harshly, her voice low, before eyeing Taryn fully. “Too many have been lost, I have witnessed many in my life pass on before coming here. I had hoped for change. I do not wish to see another youth vanish.”
Taryn fell silent for a moment. The words the woman used made it sound like June had been taken against her will. If that were true, then someone or something took her and subsequently killed the journalist not long after. And if she was killed, then where was her body?
“Is that why you want us to leave? Did you see what happened?”
“I did not.”
“Then, why? Why be so vague?”
Suddenly, Yoko grasped Taryn’s shoulders and drew her in close. Dark brown eyes were unwavering with determination as the woman looked on. As if looking deep into Taryn’s soul. “Because it is not safe. Whether you believe me or not, I do not care. I do not wish to see those of Wolf’s blood go down the same path as the journalist.”
“You know what my last name means…” Taryn said after a moment of silence, the information sinking in. She was then going to ask about June and how the woman knew of her last name. Only to be cut off before having the chance to speak.
“Lowell-san?” Toya spoke softly from the other side of the screen, causing Taryn to look at the screen, seeing Toya’s shadow as he knelt, waiting. “We have the outfit for you, may you please come out for a moment?”
Taryn glanced at Yoko before the two of them came out. Toya, now seated on the floor with the kimono in question, draped across his arms, holding it out for her to see.
The kimono in question was black, with embroidered white chrysanthemum flowers and dark red butterflies. It was beautiful, far more beautiful than the purple kimono Taryn would have worn instead had it not been ruined.
“It’s beautiful,” she said in English, as she slowly picked it up to look at it more closely. Before turning to Toya. “Is it really alright for me to wear it?”
“It is called a Ko-Furisode, normally it would be paired with Hakuma, a type of pants. But it will not be needed here.” He then gave a warm and endearing smile. “It would make me truly happy if you wore this. I think it will suit you well. Better than the other one.”
Taryn hesitated as Yoko took the ivory white of the obi belt for the Ko-Furisode with a dark red rope to hold it all together, the white holding the same chrysanthemum flowers, her blue eyes looking at Toya again for clarification. This Ko-Furisode was indeed different from the rest as he had said. And not just in design or longer sleeve length.
Somehow it just seemed far more expensive and older in design than the other two. Maybe it was just Taryn overthinking, but it was how she felt.
“Lowell-san,” Yoko waved her over to be behind the screen. Taryn then thanked Toya and did so. When she had the kimono put on with Yoko’s assistance, Taryn found herself looking down at the kimono that she now wore. It felt light against her body in a way, something that she thought would have more prominent in weight.
When it was done, Taryn stepped out from behind the screen only to be greeted with a bright flash. Rachael had gone and grabbed both cameras, hers and Taryn’s, and was currently holding on to Taryn’s as a broad grin came to her face.
Dressed in the pink kimono with white cherry blossom flowers embroidered into the fabric with a bright red Obi belt holding it all in place as her hair was braided into a bun with a pink ribbon holding it all together.
“You look outstanding in that,” Stephanie said with a somewhat teasing grin with her dark blue kimono that had embroidered dark purple plum blossoms with a matching purple Obi belt. Her blonde hair was held back with a silver clip. “It makes me wonder if it’d be possible to buy it, so you can take it home.”
Toya laughed before looking at Stephanie. “You seem so eager, but would you be willing to buy all of them? They are very expensive, after all. Yours, for instance, is close to ten thousand, while Blake-san’s is nearly fifty thousand. And for Lowell-san, it is close to a million. Grayson-san would be the cheapest out of the four. With it being made with more modern materials.”
Robert frowned and looked down at the dark green kimono that he wore, was this guy trying to make some remark based on what they were given to wear?
Taryn staggered slightly back when hearing this. First, the necklace, and now this. “Should I be wearing this?”
Toya laughed again. “I’m kidding, I only wanted to see what all of your reactions would be if given a price. Some would be more than willing to buy one. But these are not for sale. If you were to look, I know you can find shops with kimonos that are well made and incredibly reasonable in price. Just not these.”
Still exceeds my budget. Rachael, Robert and Taryn thought around the same time.
“That as it may, we are lending them to you, so be sure to take proper care. If you would like, a room next to us has been prepared if you wish to take photos.”
Taryn then felt a hand grasp her own, looking down to see that it was Toya as he gently tugged her to sit while the others went to the adjoining room. “While they do that, I’ll assist with your hair and makeup.”
Taryn looked at him with slight surprise. “You’ve done that before?” originally, she intended to ask Stephanie to help with her hair while doing her makeup.
He smiled softly. “I’ve assisted several women in the past.”
Taryn then felt hands resting on her shoulders; she looked upwards to see Stephanie peering down at her. “I heard hair and makeup.” She then looked at Toya. “I can do her hair.”
He looked somewhat surprised. “You’ve done it before?”
She pointed to her hair. “Who do you think did mine?” then pointed over to Rachael, who looked somewhat embarrassed. “Or even Rachael’s hair?”
Toya then looked to Taryn. “Are you okay with that?”
Taryn merely gave a smile of defeat. “I don’t see it being done any other way.”
“Very well then, Stratford-san, there are some hairpins over there that I had picked out that would go well with the Ko-Furisode that Taryn is wearing. Feel free to give them a look.” When she had left, Toya placed a hand lightly on Taryn’s chin, causing her to look right at him as he began applying makeup. And after a moment of silence, he said. “Do you speak Japanese?”
Taryn stilled.
Toya continued, eyeing her fully as his smile remained. “In the hallway, I thought I heard you speaking with Yoko-san a little while ago. So, I’m curious. Do you speak Japanese?”
“Of course, she does!” Stephanie said, overhearing the conversation as she came back with two silver ornate butterfly hairpins with red stones in the wings and attached with a chain to dangle with two more red stones like a tail for they would be used for Taryn’s hair. “Both she and Rachael do, better than me even. Taryn, you haven’t spoken to him in Japanese yet?”
Taryn caught Yoko’s look of dismay before lowering her head in defeat. Was she blaming herself for speaking to her in the hallway had he somehow overheard them? I’m sorry, Yoko. “Yes, but that was only because you kept speaking in English when we talk. I actually would have if you hadn’t responded to me in English when we first met.”
“A shame,” Toya said softly. “I suppose I should have waited, but I would love to have conversations in Japanese.” He then switched to Japanese. “I’d still like to know why you didn’t speak Japanese, but I would prefer to talk with you now. In Japanese.”
“I didn’t think of it at the time,” Taryn lied to him in Japanese. “I hope you’re not offended by it.”
His smile broadened. “No, I don’t think I could ever be offended by you, Lowell-san. You’re Japanese truly sounds lovely.” He switched back to English. “But, let us continue with this so you can have more fun with your friends. All right?”
Taryn could only nod while Stephanie brought over some of the hairpins, trying to find out which would suit her best. But deep down, Taryn felt as though she should have said nothing, that revealing that she could speak Japanese might have been something she should have done.
As though what she had done was terribly wrong.