[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

A small village less than a day away... Shiina's estimate had been spot on. Along the journey his haori had once again found its way around her shoulders.

She had seemed a bit... off since they departed. But he hoped the change of weather would ease some of the tension she had. "So this is it?" He would finally ask, stopping to gaze around the village. A hand rose to adjust the bandaged gear slung over his shoulder. "How do you feel?" Uemon's eyes turned to Shiina. As he looked she would notice his eyes linger longer than usual. Checking to see if she was alright... and appreciating her features and form as he often did. An artist's eye was discerning, after all. He would allow her to lead on.

As they walked his eyes would drift around to the various people and homes they passed. New places were always a bit exciting despite his ever neutral expression. Taking his black book out from within his kimono he would open to a new page and begin scribbling some words down. Like always he was keeping track of his travels. Experiences. What awaited here?  

Beauty, he hoped. It was something he always welcomed and never turned a blind eye to.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

The weather and temperature near Kaminari no Kuni was definitely not as cold as the Land of Iron, but Shiina would still appreciate when Muramasa placed his haori over her shoulders once again. The chill on the winter air was aggravating an underlying illness, and during the one day or so travel time, if he looked closely enough, he would be able to see that countless of time she winced in pain, one hand always finding its way on her chest. But for the most part, she kept the façade up, knowing that all she needed to do was get to the geisha house and she would be fine. Her okaa-san or mother, the owner of the house, always had her remedies prepared in advance. "Please brace yourself, Muramasa-san, my geisha house houses three formal geisha, two other than myself, and at least six maiko or geisha in-training. Some of them are not used to having company that is not one of us at the house, so they may act...a little different." This was as much forewarning as Shiina could possibly give the man, her mind drifting to the others who she guessed would be anxiously getting ready for that night's performance.

As they now stood outside a building, the woman would wave an arm towards it, standing in front of it and speaking to Muramasa. "Welcome to my geisha house. As you can see, it is like any other building on this street. This street is part of the geisha district. In daytime, it looks like every other street but at night, you will be able to see a long line of carriages with horses parked outside each house, taking the summoned geisha to their designated performances." The building was that similar to a Japanese ryokan, a small water fountain nestled at the front before the steps leading up to the entrance. Unlit paper lanterns hung on the roof ridges of the house. Like any Japanese house, there was a small zen garden at the front, and the pavement leading to the door was made of stone. The woman would lead him towards the door, ducking under a cloth that hung over the door with the kanji for orchid, her hand on the door. "I must announce your arrival to the others first, please wait here..."

Sliding the door, she would open the door enough for her own self to fit in before closing it firmly behind her. Shiina headed towards her teacher's room, announcing herself as she entered. "Okaa-san, I'm home. I've brought a guest with me..." she bowed to her teacher, an elder woman with greying hair, propped up in a bun. She was wearing a silk kimono of dark green and gold. The woman took one look at Shiina and nodded, before following the girl to the entrance of the house. She would open the door to face Muramasa, her dark crimson staring into his face as though she was trying to stare into his soul. "Ran here tells me she has brought a guest," waving an arm in Shiina's direction. "Our geisha house, like all others, follow a very strict code. I can allow you into the establishment, but what you see, who you meet and anything about this house must not be disclosed to the public or else you will be hunted..." the woman's voice was cold, waiting for Muramasa to acknowledge before moving out of the way so that he could enter.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

One of his eyebrows arched as the woman told him to prepare.

"Brace myself?" He thought, his eyes falling to Shiina as she explained. Two more geisha aside from her plied their trade and six geisha-to-be honed their skills at this establishment. Uemon's dark eyes widened a bit upon hearing this. A small amount of rogue bloomed on his cheeks. "If they're half as... elegant as yourself I'm lucky to be a guest." Came his response, his mind imagining the scene. He was in for a treat.

Before long the pair arrived at the geisha house. It was refined in its simplicity, and yet the surrounding air seems different. More... alluring, somehow. "So this is where Shiina-san works..." Naturally, his curiosity was gnawing at him. She'd had a glimpse into his past. His life. It was time for him to do the same. Shiina went to announce his presence and he nodded. Waiting. Etiquette was something his parents and master all taught him to respect. He did not necessarily know the ins and outs of this lifestyle... but he was a quick learner.

A door opened and he was met with an older woman. She called Shiina by her other name and explained the rules of the establishment. Politely, he bowed. "Of course, I defer completely to your code." His voice was quiet but firm. As he raised his head to stare at the woman he noticed her sharp gaze. Similar to Shiina's own. "My name is Muramasa. I thank you for your hospitality." Manners were not something he had the chance to employ frequently... but his aloof demeanor did not mean he was uncivilized. Quite the opposite, in fact.

If allowed entry he would bow again before slowly making his way inside. Astounded, no doubt, by the sights within.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Shiina blushed at the response he gave to her forewarning, almost giggling as she imagined that a young boy like him would imagine something that may or may not be what reality was. "Of course, to be geisha we have to have a certain image, our geisha house is more like a training dojo but for performing more than anything. Each client is allowed to choose the geisha house and the geisha they would like to perform at their events. If chosen, we have to practice our arts for at least one full day before the event date, depending on the nature of the performance. For dances and instruments, we usually have a core set that we choose from based on the season and setting. For tea ceremony, it is highly dependent on the number of guests present." She thought to her first days after promotion, when she would be overly anxious before performances. "We also have facilities at our home like a hot spring or a sauna to help us relax our muscles after an entire of night of performances."

As her teacher stepped aside to allow Muramasa's entrance, nodding her head curtly at his response, he would walk inside. The long hallway paved with wooden floor boards creaked a little as he walked, and at the end of the hallway came a sort of crossroad. To the left was the kitchen, the 'common room', and the hot springs area. To the left was a tea room, and a guest living room. As he continued forward, he would be met with young girls dressed in either purple or white yukata, their hair styled exactly the same, with a gold and black obi. They were the geisha in-training. One girl, Sana, was the tallest of the three in the hallway, blushing slightly as she looked at the man. One girl, Mina, dropped a cup she was holding, perhaps surprised that a man had entered their quarters. "Girls, don't just stand there! Go on with your lessons! Mina, clean up that glass and Sana, prepare the hot spring bath for Ran." And then her teacher would call upstairs. "Momiji, get down here this instant! Your performance is in a few hours, stop wasting time with your makeup. Akari, take this man to the guest living room and make some tea!"

A flurry of activity would follow, with a girl with light red hair and the same yukata appear from the kitchen, escorting Muramasa to the left, where the guest living room was. Her teacher took Ran aside, her voice hushed as she looked at her. "You've aggravated your illness...I can see in your eyes." She felt the girl's forehead. "And likely from this fever of yours too...you should know by now to be more careful. Any slight aggravation especially from a cold or fever could cause an infection." Despite chiding her for her carelessness, she deeply cared about Shiina, knowing that the woman would work herself to death if that was it took. "Now go soak up in the hot spring. Sana will be there with your medication." Shiina nodded, knowing better than to refute her okaa-san. Her teacher would walk towards the guest living room. with Akari carrying two cups of hot tea.

The living room was a simple tatami room with a low wooden table and some low wooden chairs. Cushion on top of the chairs, it was slightly uncomfortable to sit on, but most of the girls living in the house had already grown accustomed to it. On the wall was a scroll that said Prosperity, Tranquility, Integrity, in kanji. The woman ushered for Muramasa to take a seat and wouldn't speak again until Akari left the room, closing the sliding door behind her. She stared at the man for a long time, as though assessing him. "My name is Toko, I am the okaa-san or owner of this geisha house. To say that I'm surprised that Ran brought you here is an understatement. As geisha, we have strict rules about who we can bring and not bring to the lodgings, so excuse me for my abruptness and hostility moments before." She paused, taking a slow sip of her tea. "If I may ask, how did you meet Ran? She is this house's top performing, winning over 85% of our clientele. As one of the most sought after geisha in this village and perhaps from neighboring villages, I am very interested to know what sort of relationship you two have harbored."

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Talk of fine images and artful performance made his mind race.

A treat, it was. "What's your favorite art to perform yourself?" Curiosity swirled about her favored skills. He had a decent guess. "Tea ceremony?" Remembering her mentioning it at the ryokan that's where his money lied. It had been a while since he'd seen an actual performance. Aside from his own impromptu puppet shows. Getting to witness one was an enticing prospect. As she mentioned a hot springs his eyes drifted to the side, his cheeks gaining even more color.

Recalling their bareness together in the waters only days ago... he could not shake the memory of her form from his mind.

Upon entering the house he was greeted by three girls. "Hello." Was his calm greeting. "I like your yukata." One blushed and another dropped a cup on the floor. Shattering it. Kneeling down to help pick up some of the shards he heard the okā-san waste no time in issuing decrees to the young women. Handing the broken pieces to Mina gently, he would politely step aside allowing the others to pass by unobstructed.

As a red-haired girl arrived he would gesture with a hand in front of him. "After you, Akari-san." Following her into the guest room he noted the décor. Tasteful and traditional. Something he appreciated. Waiting there he took a seat as the okā-san offered it and accepted his cup with a courteous nod. "Thank you." He said to Akari, his half smile gracing his face as he stared. Thus far he had not been disappointed. Plenty of lovely sights to admire and amuse. Somewhere in the excitement he lost track of Shiina. "Hope she's feeling alright." He thought as he sipped his tea. As the matron spoke he turned his eyes towards her. Listening closely.

"A pleasure to meet you, Toko-sama." He began with a polite nod. She asked his for her curtness to be excused and he slowly shook his head. "Nothing to excuse. I understand your caution." Lifting the cup once more to his lips his dark eyes widened slightly upon hearing of Shiina's reputation. "Didn't realize she was so renowned... though she is a rarity. So it's not hard to believe." Uemon's voice was soft, as usual. He looked into the woman's eyes. "Due in part to your training, I'm sure." Now that pleasantries were out of the way he ruminated on her question. Staring into his cup he responded. "I met Ran-san during my travels." Truth. But there were things he would have to omit in this tale. "She helped me out with a family matter... something very important to me." Flashes of Jinzashin and Noriyaki returned to him. "For that, I'll always be grateful." On the question of their relationship he paused. His eyes narrowed slightly.

Thinking. "We're... companions." His answer. Only recently had they met, but in that short time they shared much. More than he typically did. His eyes moved to wander around the room, appreciating the atmosphere of it all. "You have a lovely establishment." He said softly, the tea doing its part to warm and perk him up. Noticing a lone shamisen he fixated on the instrument, turning to the matron. "Do you play, Toko-sama?" Fingers on his right hand tapped the teacup, nearly itching.

It had been a long time, years even since he'd seen one up close. Especially one so nice and well cared for.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Mina would bow her head profusely, silently thanking Muramasa for picking up the glass shards on the floor for her and quickly slid into the kitchen, avoiding all eye contact with him. All the girls blushed at the simple compliment of their yukata, something that could only be the result of youth and ignorance to the interaction between men and women. But they were girls after all, and they were training to be entertainers, to build acceptable boundaries for men and women relationships. They all heeded to Toko's words, hurrying off to finish what they were set out to do, though the blushing lingered. Shiina followed Sana into the hot springs room, slowly removing her kimono with the help of her maiko attending. "Ran-san, who is that man? Why did you bring him here?" Sana had always been one of the nosier ones, despite having a nonchalant attitude on the outside. She had taken on one of Ran's characteristics, being just the right amount of distant to mask her otherwise warm heart. Shiina smiled at the girl, understanding that she wanted to gossip, slipping into the hot spring waters before answering her. "He is an acquaintance of mine. We traveled together and I had told him about my work." She closed her eyes to take in a deep breath, exhaling shakily. "We are no more than just acquaintances though, if your mind has wandered where it shouldn't, Sana."

"I thought he was here to buy out your contract! I was beginning to get worried, Ran-san. Other than Momiji-san, you are one of okaa-san's most proud pupils. She and all of us would be devastated!" To buy out a geisha's contract to their okiya was almost an impossible task. The years they spend at the lodgings, the training they receive, all amounted to a cost that was seen as an investment from the okiya onto the geisha, an investment that wouldn't and couldn't be easily written off. In the case of Shiina, she had only been a geisha in training for a couple of years, moving up to becoming a geisha at half the time it took the others. Still, the debt she owed to Toko and this place was far from paid off, most of her earnings split to the okiya to cover. "Momiji-san is okaa-san's first student. She had trained for many years under her directly, and okaa-san has done nothing but pass on all that she knew to her. She and I...are not the same." Though not common in the geisha world, there always existed conflict and turmoil where there existed people. Unfortunately, because Shiina had joined the okiya at such a late age, and had risen to become the top of their okiya, it was not a secret that Momiji and Akari, who had both trained with Toko since they were mere children felt a certain type of way to her.

Not to mention the simple fact that where there were women, there was bound to be drama.

Shiina felt a jolt, as pain surged through her system, the pain from earlier now taking over her entire body. Grabbing onto the edges of the hot spring basin, her body trembled as she winced. Sana moved quickly, gathering a vile from the table and took one of Shiina's hands. She poured out two pills of some kind, watching anxiously as the purple-haired woman placed them both in her mouth. "Ran-san, are you alright...?" The pills would take some time to take effect, her brows furrowing as another wave of pain washed through her. She held up a hand to quiet Sana, indicating that she wanted some personal space and time. In truth, she didn't want the girl to see her in any weaker of a state than she already was.

Back in the guest living room, Toko continued a careful eye on Muramasa, nodding her head slowly as he spoke. Each word rang in her ear and in her mind, conscious of the fact that he could and would be omitting some of the truth. "I see..." The woman would say, acknowledging that the two young people were companions. "While I am in no place nor do I want to intercept with your companionship..." she stressed on the last word, eyeing him once more, "I do suppose I should warn you that she is not a person you should ever take lightly. She has a good heart and will do anything for those she cared about." And she would have continued to answer his question had a piercing scream not echoed just then from the second floor, a scream that belonged to Akari, one of the three geisha in the establishment.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Another sip of tea helped to warm him further, he could feel the caffeine content doing its job wonderfully.

Toko seemed a strict, but fair matron. "Reminds me of someone else I know..." He thought as he began to get the measure of the woman. Perhaps it seemed surprising due to his age, but being around women, even so many, was something he was perfectly comfortable with. He had four sisters after all. Not to mention his master whom he'd traveled with for years. And other more... casual encounters he had during his travels. It was clear from his body language that he was not tense. Relaxed, he was almost never. But calm. Easy with his movements.

Listening as the woman continued on he would nod his head. "Don't know if I could take her lightly even if I wanted." Uemon concurred with her assessment of Shiina that she had a good heart. "Yes, she does." A soft spoken response. His eyes returned to his tea. "She's already done a lot for me..." He began, words trailing off as he stared into the liquid in his cup. "I'm glad she has good people in her life. You and the others... to look out for her." Eyes rising to meet Toko's once more he nodded to her as his muted smile returned.

Only to be abruptly wiped as a bloodcurdling scream tore through the quietude of the okiya. "One of the girls."

Instinctually he sprang to his feet, setting his cup down and moving briskly towards the door. "No time to ask for permission." Swiftly he made his way to the second floor and began a search. His training would be apparent in his movements and reflexes. "Akari-san?" His voice called out, attempting to discern the source. A stern frown was on his face. He'd left his gear in the guest room, but he prepared himself for anything. Danger lurked in every corner of the Shinobi World, so he expected trouble. "What happened?" Sliding open the door his eyes would scan the room, looking for any sign of disturbance. Ready to take action if need be.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Almost with equal efficiency, Toko sprang to her feet, eyeing Muramasa as he rushed to the source of the scream. By now the entire okiya was running towards Akari's room, the air in the building became tense. But before Muramasa got there, all of those on the second floor were now at Akari's room. Sprawled on the ground was an unconscious woman, her yukata half slid from her body, possibly having been mid-tie before something had happened to her. Shiina had rushed to the scene too, albeit the latest of them all. Toko, seeing Akari's limp body on the floor rushed into the room, turning to the crowd gathered in the entryway. "Muramasa-dono, you are not to step in. I understand your concern but this is the bedroom belonging to one of my geisha. Shiina, Sana, Momiji, Mina, you all stay behind. The rest of you are dismissed." And seeing no one move, she stared at them coldly. "Now."

Shiina rushed into the room, immediately rushing to Akari's side, kneeling to check her vitals. After a short assessment, she would assure those who remained in the room and Muramasa, who she assumed was just in front of the doorway that the girl was still alive. "She seems to have lost consciousness, okaa-san." A simple check of the woman's body revealed no physical injuries. There was no blood and from the looks of the room, nothing seemed really amiss."Sana, Mina, can you carry Akari to her bed..." she herself would attempt to get up when another wave of pain overtook her and for a moment she could only kneel, not realizing that half of her own yukata was draped off her shoulder, revealing a small butterfly tattoo, clear to anyone who was standing at the doorway to see. "Okaa-san, I understand Muramasa-san is skilled in medicine. Allow him to come in after the girls have helped Akari change to assess. I assure you...he's the best I've seen..."

Her words came out in a raspy whisper, trying to keep her composure. Momiji, who was standing to the right of Toko and slightly in front of Muramasa would click her tongue impatiently. "Okaa-san, I have preparations that need to be done still. I'll be in my room." The woman turned around and casted a cold glare upon Muramasa. Momiji had long dark red hair and golden brown eyes, standing slightly taller than Shiina. Her kimono was a dark brown and orange, with momiji leaf patterns decorated on it. The glare the woman gave the man was one that would be revisited later, but for the purposes of this current moment, she merely retired to her own quarters, down the hall from where Akari's room had been.

Toko, though skeptical, nodded her head, ushering the man to stand outside while all the women in the room helped clothe Akari. For a woman to expose any part of her body especially sprawled on the floor like this was shameful and to rectify the shame, her entire geisha house moved efficiently. Toko helped Shiina up from the ground, not oblivious to the pain she was feeling. Shiina shook her head, as though to tell her that she was alright and that there was no need to make a mountain out of a molehill. At least not yet. A few moments would pass before the bedroom door would open again, the two geisha in training and Toko would exit, giving right of passage to Muramasa.

Ushering the man to Akari's bedside, Shiina would look at him sternly, her gaze depicting the seriousness of the matter."I didn't tell Toko about your skills in toxins but I think from my preliminary understanding that Akari may have been poisoned..."The woman would point to the sleeping woman's face. "The makeup is covering a lot of what I think are rashes, and do you see that her lips are turning a purplish black? I don't know much about poisons so I was hoping you can tell me what toxins you know of that could at least have the effect of turning someone's lips black like this? And more importantly, how long do we have to cleanse it before she may not wake up ever?"

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Biting his tongue was not something that he typically did, but in this instance he had to mind himself.

Despite his concern, this was not his home. "Alright." All he would say, stepping aside to allow the others in. Entry was forbidden, but his eyes were ever watchful. Taking note of every person who was present. Something bad had happened... and in his experience that meant someone else was responsible.

More often than not, anyway.

As he saw Shiina kneel down he caught sight of a tattoo. One that he had not notice before. A question for later. Feeling eyes on him his own gaze snapped to Momiji. Coldness. Beautiful but icy. "Seems composed given the situation..." As she walked past him he maintained eye contact, watching as she retired to her room. Very odd indeed... but curiosity could wait. "I can help." He added, eyes flicking to Shiina as she vouched for him. "I will." Medicine was not his strong suit... but if she was thinking the same thing he was he might be able to assist.

Ushered outside the swordsmith would lean with his back against a nearby wall. As soon as the door opened again he entered. "Akari-san." He called softly to her, kneeling down. Two fingers moved to check her pulse. "Fluttering." Not good. "Can you hear me?" He would ask her, a hand moving to feel her forehead. "You might be right." Uemon responded, his eyes moving to Shiina for a moment. She looked to be struggling. All of this excitement likely did not help. "Toko-sama." He called out to the hallway. "Did Akari-san drink or eat anything today? If so, how long ago?" Poison was easy enough to slip into either. Something he knew firsthand.

He checked her exposed skin for any signs of puncture wounds just in case, making sure to mind her modesty.

Dark eyes looked her over Especially the rash that Shiina pointed out. And her lips. "Nightshade." Was his whispered reply. "Or something similar... if we're quick she should be alright." Good thing he was prepared. Slipping a small vial of black powder from his sleeve he uncorked it. "Please bring hot water and a towel. Cold drinking water, too." Another request to the women in the hallway. Tipping the girl's head up slightly he would place the vial to her lips. "Won't taste very good... but this should help." His words were calm despite the gravity of the circumstances. Hands steady. "You'll be making tea again soon, Akari-san." Uemon would wait for the water before administering an Antidote to the girl, slowly allowing some cool water to trickle into her mouth to help swallow. Lowering her softly to the pillow, he would observe.

Ingested poisons could be neutralized without much trouble. If it was complex though... drastic measures could be required. Uemon squeezed the girl's hand gently, trying to provide some measure of comfort. "Are you alright?" His eyes moved to Shiina once more. His brave face faltering just slightly. "Chest still bothering you?" During their journey he had noticed, but chose not to stay silent. If she was hiding it he was sure she had her reasons. Though his concern was now apparent.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Muramasa was definitely more thorough than Shiina had been, rushing to Akari's bedside to examine the girl. The amount of care he took to assess her was truly like that of a doctor, despite knowing that he was only doing this because he wanted to know if toxins were really at play here. She heard him ask Toko if Akari had eaten or drank anything. Even Shiina knew that poisons were easiest to be laced in food and drink. "Akari-san had the same breakfast of miso soup, rice and tamagoyaki as everyone else. She also drank two cups of green tea." Mina spoke up at this point, having brought the food and drink to the geisha earlier that morning. Shiina directed Mina to grab the utensils Akari used to eat, and possibly any remnants of food that could still be in the kitchen. But something told the woman that there was something more...there had to be.

Shiina moved to examine the furniture in Akari's room. There was the wooden table and chair, a set that she got for herself with a giant mirror to put on her makeup. The mirror had lightbulbs around it and was indeed one of the most expensive drawer set a geisha would own. But Akari loved testing and trying on new makeup, as well as buying new clothes, something that Momiji also shared. Shiina was different; she liked new clothes, especially with silk fabric, but she didn't like makeup. In fact, she often shared foundation and eye makeup palettes with Akari. She skimmed the contents on the drawer, her eyes resting on the half-opened powders. It was strange that they were half-open, considering she knew that the other girl cared a lot about organization and cleanliness when it came to her belongings.

"Muramasa-san, can poison be mixed in things like creams or makeup? As geisha we use a lot of both of these things and if it is toxins at play, I think it's worthwhile to check all of the creams and makeup Akari uses...to be sure." Another wave of pain that made her body shudder, her eyes avoiding his gaze so that he wouldn't catch on. By then, he was already administering some kind of antidote, in liquid form, tilting Akari's head so that she could drink the substance. "I suppose if the rashes and her lip color does not return to normal that the antidote isn't what we're looking for, correct?" She was using the laws of inference and common sense as she spoke, more to herself than to him.

And then her eyes met his, their gaze holding for a second too long as Muramasa questioned whether her chest was bothering her. He had noticed, she thought to herself, noticed enough to deduce that something was amiss but had been respectful to her privacy and not asked. She nodded her head, a hand fluttering to her chest as she spoke. "Yes, I'm alright. This is perhaps a conversation that we should have after this is settled with Akari..." she glanced at him again though before adding, "You are one very observant and caring man..." she gave him a genuine smile, despite the pain that was gnawing at her insides.

They would soon find that the antidote hadn't worked, assuming that because Akari's rashes were still present, that the antidote had not provided them with a cure. Shiina told Sana to grab a bucket of warm water and a towel, as she would gently wipe the makeup off of her friend's face, careful not to be too rough. She wanted to know the extent of the rashes, and their geisha makeup was often a hinderance. Both Muramasa and Shiina would see that once the makeup was taken off that the rash applied to all parts of her face, giving the girl somewhat severe burns to her skin.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Makeup... he hadn't thought of the makeup.

Sloppy. "Good idea." He said, rising to move towards Shiina as she inspected Akari's cosmetic products. Noticing her shudder he would place a hand on her back, helping steady her if he could. "Don't push yourself, Ran-san." Uemon told her quietly. Reaching for a few of the containers he would scan them closely with his eyes. Tampering. At least it seemed like it. Returning to Akari's side he knelt down to examine her again.

Uemon nodded his head to Shiina's observations. "Absorption through the skin has similar effects. Though it's usually slower." In this case, the sheer amount of makeup used was likely the reason it acted so quickly. And if the creams had been tainted... she could have been dosing herself for who knows how long. His fingers moved to gently open one of the girl's eyelids. "Pupils are dilatated... I'd say contact poison is a safe bet." Liquid Antidote did not work... but there were other methods still left for him to try. Hopefully it would be enough.

Moving aside so Sana could wipe the girl's face, he observed carefully. "Burns..." Whatever toxin had been used was nasty stuff. Taking the black powder from earlier he would brush some hair from the girl's face and lift her head once more. "Remember what I said about activated charcoal?" He asked Shiina, pouring some of it into Akari's mouth. "This will help flush toxins out of her system. With luck, it'll save her." Facial burns were another story. He gave her some more water to help swallow. Dabbing the girl's face with the towel again to make sure all of the makeup had been removed he looked to the others in the room. "Topical ointments, salves, or balms for her face. It should help with scarring." Uemon looked to the maiko with a slight frown on his face. "Poor girl."

Hearing Shiina say that he was a caring man he would slowly shake his head. "I'm no different than anyone else." Something he truly believed. Uemon was just a man. Made up of good and bad like others. It was all he could say. "About Momiji-san..." He spoke quietly as he remained kneeling at the girl's bedside. His eyes turned to the others once more. "Did she seem... unusually calm to anyone else?" A pointed question perhaps, but his serious expression revealed there was more. "More importantly did she or anyone else share makeup with Akari-san?" It wasn't a full-blown accusation, but his natural skepticism was showing. If she was somehow involved she just might be the key to helping Akari.

Poisoners often kept antidotes for toxins they used. If the activated charcoal was not enough to help... they would need to get their hands on the specific counteragent.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES -

Shiina wouldn't fail to notice that he had called her Ran again, had called her the geisha name that everyone here knew her by. It was true, that despite the closeness she shared with some of them people here, only Toko knew of her real name, strictly because she was the one who gave Shiina the opportunity to adopt a new identity, a new life and all that came with it. She turned to face Muramasa, or rather Uemon now, her eyes looked into his and for a second there was more than just appreciation for his skill in them. Of course, she wouldn't say nor hint at anything, for she was too preoccupied by all that was happening around them right now. But there was definitely a shift in how she saw him, and it was a dangerous shift if not handled properly, especially because she understood that he was a man with an overwhelming goal and with that all of its emotions. No, she decided firmly, she was not going to explore this shift just yet. "You would be surprised how many of these 'normal' behaviors you claim are lost in the general population nowadays." she whispered, her turning towards the bed to look at Akari. "She is one of my closest friends, if people were allowed to use that word to describe their competitors..." She would leave it at that for now, once more examining the makeup and brushes on the table.

"Momiji..." despite the way he had put it, she understood the underlying tone almost instantly, and it hadn't not crossed her mind the same thing, from the comment the woman made and then subsequent departure from the scene. "She's never been the warm kind of person, and if there was one person who lived to compete, it was her..." Shiina would comment solemnly, remembering the days when she first entered the okiya as a geisha in-training. She had learned from both Akari and Momiji, and the relationship she built with both of them were very different. "I'm not ruling out what you say completely, Muramasa-san...but I must say that Momiji doesn't use the same makeup jar as Akari. In fact, she is very adamant about what she uses and refuses to share." She turned to look at him once more before adding, "Akari and I, on the other hand, share all of our cosmetics. I don't really care for the substance and know very little about them so Akari has always been the one to teach me." Shiina wasn't embarrassed in the slightest to admit that she was not skilled in this department.

She was a firm believer of natural beauty and had thought it rather absurd that the clients they performed for didn't share the same sentiment.

Did she think that Momiji was the culprit? From the second she saw Akari on the floor, Shiina's first thought had been exactly that, but she understood that she needed to find out everything she could about this poison, if it was poison at all, before she confronted the woman. Lacing anything with poison was a criminal offense, but in the geisha world, sabotaging a woman's face was like taking her life. "I hope her burns can heal soon..." The purple-haired woman's voice was soft and held a hint of sadness, as she observed her burns. Remembering what Muramasa had taught her about activated charcoal. Watching as he poured the substance into Akari's mouth, Shiina could only hope that this could help flush out the toxins. A knock on the door revealed Mina, who had come back from the kitchen with a plate of half finished food, to which the geisha in-training told them was Akari's left over breakfast.

Almost immediately, Shiina took a hair pin from the table, one of Akari's favorite. It was one that was of a butterfly, held together at the tip of a long silver rod. Geisha often used these long hairpins to tie up their hair in performances. Compared to traditional hairpins, the silver rod was much thicker and allowed for more hair to be wrapped around them. Shiina poked the end of the rod into each of the leftover food, each time pulling it out to look at the tip to see if the silver would turn black, indicating poison. When the rod didn't react to the food and drink, she would send the girl away with the tray, looking at Muramasa again. Either way, they were going to have to question everyone at the geisha house, for poison couldn't be inflicted without a person directly lacing something with it. And her first thought was to Momiji.

"Would you like to accompany me to pay Momiji a little visit, Muramasa-san?"

Assuming that the man would comply, she would close Akari's bedroom door behind them, instructing one of the attendings standing outside to watch over the girl and to notify both herself and Muramasa if something was to go wrong. The two would head down the hallway towards Momiji's room, all the while Shiina couldn't understand why the woman would poison Akari. They had known and trained each other for the longest of time. Despite Momiji being Toko's first student, Akari had soon followed and thought there was rivalry between the two, competition was always present at geisha houses, for the person winning the most business for the okiya would have the most power, technically.

And then she would stop, her feet just outside of Momiji's room. The girl's room was open, which was rare, for Momiji was a great fan of privacy. She never wanted people to go inside her room without permission and only a certain few attendings were trusted by the woman to allow passage. Shiina exchanged a glance with Muramasa before entering the room, clearing her throat as she went. "Momiji...I wanted to ask you..." She didn't get to finish her sentence as they would soon find the woman perched over her dresser table, as though she had fallen asleep there. Shiina walked briskly yet cautiously over to her, touching the girl's shoulder lightly. As she turned the woman's face to face them, they were horrified to find that Momiji too had deep burns on her face, her lips the same color of black and purple as Akari.

"Momiji...!" This was turning into one hell of a mystery, and for once, Shiina had a very bad feeling about this.

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Hearing Shiina's words nearly lured another half smile out of the young man.

If it wasn't for the severity of this all. Still, he appreciated them nonetheless. "I'll do everything I can to save her." Uemon replied softly, nodding to the Ryuujin woman. Akari was important to her, and he was not one to stand idly by while innocents suffered. "I promise." He did not take vows lightly. If charcoal and antidotes did not work... he had a card still left to play. Momiji being cold was apparently not unusual. Putting a hand to his chin he thought. "Hm..." A bad assumption maybe. 

Yet... he could not shake the feeling that they were missing something here. Something big, if not obvious.

Intellect was not a trait either of them lacked. So what had they overlooked? "What could it be..." Quietly he observed the woman test the food and drink Mina presented. Finding them clean his hand tightened. Shiina asked him to accompany her and he nodded. "Of course." Giving Akari one last look he rose to follow. As they walked he watched Shiina closely.

Doubtless she would feel his eyes on her. Rarely had they strayed far from her visage since they met. Arriving at Momiji's room he noticed her glance. Uemon glanced back. He reached out to give her hand a small reassuring squeeze. They entered.

Shiina could not even finish her sentence before they noticed something was amiss. "No..." Ominously his worry proved true as the woman turned to reveal similar burns on her own face. "More water, now! Nobody touch any cosmetics!" Time for patience was over. Moving to her side instinctually Uemon would do his best to help Momiji to her bed. When the requested water arrived he immediately began working to wipe any makeup from the woman's face. "Momiji-san." Akari could not hear them... but perhaps she had enough lucidity to respond. "Did you see anything? Anyone?" One smart enough to lace makeup with poison was unlikely to be so careless with their physical presence. But it was worth a try.

Uemon gave the same activated charcoal to Momiji and did his best to ensure all creams were removed from her face. Checking her pulse he turned his eyes to Shiina. His expression was muted as usual... but grim. "Think, Ran-san." A plea. She knew the okiya and its inhabitants better than him. Clients as well. "Who has motive to do something like this?" Dark eyes narrowed as he glanced towards the door. Watching for signs of approach. "And the access?" To him, those who lived and worked here topped the list of suspects. But Shiina had crucial context he lacked. She knew the ins and outs of the place. Personalities. Desires. Impulses. "A jealous competitor? A spurned patron?" By now he had realized he would not be the one to solve this mystery. There was too much he didn't know.

All he could do was help in the small way he could... it was up to her to fill in the blanks. Before anyone else got hurt.

[Ryuujin Shiina]

In the city of fools, I was careful and cool but they tore me apart like a hurricane.

TAG - Muramasa Uemon



NOTES - 

Shiina was actually stunned, taken half a second longer to react as she stared at Momiji. From what she could see, she suffered less severity of burn degrees. And this would be confirmed as one of the attendings brought a bucket of water, having been summoned to do so by Muramasa. Shiina was still trying to understand what was going on, her eyes shifting left and right and her body simply refused to move. Her pupils watched as Muramasa move Momiji to the bed. She had no more answers than what Muramasa had, and that was quite annoying to her. For a few minutes, Shiina would simply stand there, her composure slightly faltered, "I-Is she going to be okay...?"

And then rapid footsteps interrupted her thoughts.

"Restrain her, now!" came the voice of Toko, and immediately two of the attendings rushed to Shiina, each of them grabbing onto one of her arms. Shiina, her eyes with obvious disbelief, looked at Toko. The older woman would walk towards Momiji's bed, her eyes glancing between Shiina and Muramasa. "Muramasa-dono, please step away from Momiji." she turned to the attendings restraining the purple-haired woman, telling them to take the woman downstairs to the living room, before turning to the man. "Akari has regained consciousness and has testified against Ran. We have reason to believe that there was tampering the foundation she uses. We will also test the foundation cream Momiji uses to be sure. If you don't mind, please follow us downstairs and test both bottles."

With that, they would move out of the room, if Muramasa also decided to follow, he would sense that there was something more than just this incident that had triggered the reactions of everyone in the room.

The attendings led the way, and as they got to the living room, they pushed Shiina to the ground, forcing her to kneel in front of a chair, to which Toko would sit in. Shiina neither screamed nor yelled, but her eyes would not mask the confusion that she felt. "We have reason to believe that you tampered with the creams, in an attempt to not only sabotage the performances and advancements of Momiji and Akari, but also possibly kill them." The woman would begin saying, as another two attendings brought both creams from the geisha's rooms. "Akari has mentioned that you and her share this cream and that there is without a doubt that only you could and would tamper with it."

"Why would I do this..." Shiina's voice was soft and raspy, staring at the ground.

"Because you know that Momiji has surpassed you, and Akari can surpass you. You're afraid you'd lose your position in this okiya, and lose everything you've built. I've been watching you for months, Ran, and I can see that you have been very disturbed in both your performances and in every day life."

"...disturbed? And you think I would stoop so low as to poison others in such an underhanded manner?" the woman looked up at Toko defiantly. "After all that you know about me...and what I'm capable of doing?" Her words spat out like venom, with an underlying tone that implied that Toko knew exactly how she became a nukenin. And Toko did, having had a conversation with Shiina before she joined the geisha house.

"You haven't been yourself, Ran, and your illness..." The room fell silent. The secret was out in the open, aired out like some dirty laundry. Shiina took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, the secret of her illness had been kept from everyone except for Sana and Toko until this very minute. She glared at Toko, the confusion now turned into anger. "I've kept it a secret for you long enough. It seems that you have caught on that Momiji and Akari have seen your lapses and inconsistencies and you're afraid that they were going to expose and ruin your career, am I wrong?" As a geisha, it was highly frowned upon to have any sort of illness, especially one that seemed to linger. For Shiina, as soon as she had found out about her heart problem, she had gone to Toko, and the two of them agreed to keep it between them for the sake of her career. A geisha with an illness like that could affect not just performance and it would damage the reputation of the geisha house in question.

Shiina gave a bitter laugh, tears slowly formed in her eyes, threatening to cascade down her face. Her teacher that she trusted her entirety too was now betraying her trust, after years of being taught by the woman, she couldn't believe what was happening.


"If you tell me now the truth, Ran, I can make sure that you can keep your status in this house. Just tell the truth..."

MADE BY MIZO

[Muramasa Uemon]

Muramasa

Asked if Momiji was going to be okay, he paused. "I'll do what I-" Hurried footsteps interrupted. Eyes snapped to the door.

What happened next made his narrow gaze widen. Toko burst in, demanding the Ryuujin woman be detained. "What's the meaning of this?" Defensive. Not something he usually was. He was told to step away from Momiji. A faint frown formed on his face. Slowly he rose, and took a single step back. "Testified?" Akari had regained consciousness? And named Shiina her assailant? "None of this adds up..." Uemon thought to himself, his steely gaze shifting between those in the room. It didn't... but he had to choose his words carefully. Any hopes of clearing Shiina's name required level heads and clear minds. He had to think... no more oversights could be afforded now. "Make sure she stays hydrated, and do your best to keep her temperature down." He said to one of the attendings.

Giving Shiina a knowing glance he would nod solemnly to Toko and follow them downstairs. Watching them kneel her before Toko he took a step forward. "There's no need for this roughness." His voice was tinged with concern, but moreover his air of politeness had decreased. Understandably, so. Standing near the door with his arms folded he listened as the matron spoke. Of tampering and attempted murder. For the moment he would remain silent, gathering all the details. Uemon's mind raced, fitting the jagged pieces of the puzzle together as he observed. Try as he might they did not meld. Too many inconsistencies. He would get to work testing both of the creams, finding out in a short time that they did indeed seem to be contaminated. "Poisoned, for sure." He would say, his dark gaze narrowing. Someone here was responsible. Who?

Listening to Shiina plead her case his ears perked up as Toko mentioned something. "Illness?" Her chest problems? If so, why had the older woman brought this up now? Something didn't smell right. "Toko-sama, if I may..." No longer could he simply observe. It was time to throw cold water on this farce. "True, Ran-san and Akari-san share cosmetics. But that doesn't explain how Momiji-san was dosed since neither share with her." First issue he noticed with it all. There were more. "Moreover, Akari-san and Momiji-san display signs of the early stages of poisoning— as in any tampering was recent." A pause as he looked around the room. Uemon was appealing to everyone present, not Toko. "Ran-san has been gone for days." He looked to Shiina, seeing tears welling up in her eyes. Surely this had to be hard on her... and for some reason he could feel something bubbling up within himself.

Anger. "I don't know of any toxin that lies dormant until its owner is near." Making sure to maintain a somewhat respecting tone didn't stop disbelief from coming through in his tone. Snark, even. "Lastly... Ran-san knows nothing of poisons." He said, his dark gaze coming to meet Toko's own. "It would take someone with access to both Akari-san and Momiji-san's rooms to pull this off..." His brow furrowed as he stared at the woman. "...and experience." Breaking eye contact he would look to the attendings present. "We've been here all of... what, thirty minutes?" Another appeal to the onlookers common sense. "In that short time she would have had to contaminate both containers, one of which was in a room she could not enter." But there was something else. A final detail that made such a story implausible. "Ran-san... where did you go when we arrived? Were you alone?" Relying on Shiina for the final touch he would then go silent.

Uemon was no great orator but he was a rational person with the exception of his vendetta. Any reasonable person should be able to see the flaws in this tale. He wondered... would they?

Even if they did, the question of the true culprit remained. He did not accuse Toko... but no one could be dismissed at this point. "You said yourself that Ran-san has a 'good heart', Toko-sama... that she would 'do anything for those she cared about'." The swordsmith's voice grew quiet. Severe. "Why would she try to kill one of her closest friends?" A pause broke up his words, a look of faux confusion spreading across his face. "For money?" Glancing once more to Shiina he would shake his head in disbelief. It simply did not make sense.

Looking to the others he'd gauge their reactions. When said aloud, he hoped the story's improbability would at least sow some doubts in the others' minds. If not... ugliness lied ahead.