MANJUSHAGE: "The Eternal Vow" 【KNY】

『 VI 』

Recollection VI
— " Resolve " —

Taisho Period (1912–1926)
City of Mito, Japan


Streams of sunlight shone into the windows, illuminating the once dim–lit room with a soft golden glow. Not far away from one of the glass–fitted apertures was an ornate desk, where a certain female sat in an unperturbed quietude.


Throughout the entirety of the midday hours, while surrounded by the peaceful ambience of rustling leaves and the faint chirping sounds in the distance, (Y/N) wrote away on the parchment spread in front of her. Conveying her thoughts in each refined stroke, through the black–tinted ink flowing out of the nib-- with such delight, and a glimmer in her eyes that emanated hints of wistfulness.


Although her ideas coursed around like a rampant torrent, every now and then, the young lady would take a short break to let her writings dry up; gazing upon her current progress, right from the utmost top, as she mulled over everything else that she wanted to write about. Sometimes, she would close her eyes and let out gentle hums. Other times, she would tap the end of her pen against her chin in deep thought. All in all, it usually doesn't take her long until she would pick up where she left off; mainly, to recount the days that had already gone by.


For someone who had never set foot to the world that lies beyond the outskirts, almost anything can become more meaningful in value. Hence, as uneventfully trifling as they might seem to be, every experience that (Y/N) faced around that time eventually carved itself into her recollections. Her fascination for the new things that she discovered haven't died down for a bit, and it reached the point where she wanted to share it with someone else. Besides her friend Emiko, who has other activities to take care of, (Y/N) had no one else to talk to.


Until one evening, when amidst her sleepless state she recalled the previous days that she spent with those who resided on the town nearby the mountain, the young woman pondered about their well–being and decided to send a letter.


Which leads back to the present, where (Y/N) continued to fill said letter to the brim with details of her experience in the city, as well as inquiries regarding the people that she knew of; doing so in a cordial manner, despite knowing the surly nature of her main recipient, Takahashi Yuuma. For the reason why she wrote to the grumpy male, in particular-- oddly enough, he seemed like the best person for her to talk to. Not only is he blunt with his words, but she does consider him as one of her friends too; as much as he tries to deny that claim.


Even now, as she imagined the disgruntled look on his face the moment he saw her long–winded letter, the young woman couldn't help but chuckle sheepishly.


At some point, only her name was left for signage at the paper's bottom column. When the flow of the nib came into a gradual stop, eventually, (Y/N) leaned back to her seat and exhaled. Placing the fountain pen gently beside the parchment, she pursed her lips and let out a contemplative hum. Her (E/C) eyes trailed each lines of vertically–written syllabaries, limning her messages with the opening:


'...Dear Takahashi–kun. In this beautiful springtime, I was reminded of the fields that stretched quite vastly at the foot of the mountain. I believe that by now, the flowers there are in full bloom. I'm sure that it will be a pleasant sight to see.'


And as her lips curved upwards, (Y/N) read more internally. 'I hope everyone can enjoy the scenery there, especially now that the weather has become so nice...'


From then on, the young lady skimmed through the contents of her letter once more; not with the intention of correcting some mistakes, but with the purpose of taking it all in before it is time to part with it. In silence, while basking partly in the warmth provided by the rays of the sun, she sat there and went over the letter down to the very last line. At which, all of a sudden, she paused.


'...Please give my regards to everyone.'


For a moment, the light seeping from the windows dimmed; casting some sort of shadow in her downcast gaze. For a moment, her fingertips traced the surface of the parchment; careful not to touch the areas written still in fresh ink. When she stood up from her seat and walked towards one of the windows, (Y/N) looked far in the distance. From the huge garden below, to the forested area in its borders, and towards the horizon, where the sun is already at the brink of setting.


Clutching the hem of the shawl wrapped around her form, the young Fukunaga watched the afternoon sky in breathless awe. Her thoughts, those continuously wandering inside her head, then drifted back to the place that she had to leave behind. A place that used to be so close, but now far from where she stood. And in the midst of her musings, there was one thought that prevailed and flickered more than the others--


Just how is she faring right now, exactly...?


"...(Y/N)–sama?"


Suddenly, there was a cautious voice who called from behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, (Y/N) came across a maid, who was standing a few feet away from her position. Upon realizing her startled expression, the maid bowed down and smiled apologetically.


"Pardon me for disturbing you, but Master asks for your presence."


(Y/N) blinked, and slightly tilted her head.


That was... unexpected. Ever since she came to their estate, it was usually Emiko who tends to call for her, not her husband. She rarely saw him around given how busy he is, and knowing that, there shouldn't be any reason for him to talk to her over a cup of tea anyway. That being said, the least she could think of so far was that it must've been something really urgent.


"Did he tell you the reason why?"


"I'm afraid not."


"I see. I'll be there shortly." She softly uttered before recalling her recent work and adding, "Oh, could you please do me a favor?"


When the maid nodded her head, (Y/N) strode back towards the ornate desk and grabbed the letter she wrote; carefully folding it in half, before placing it inside an envelope nearby. Then, held in both hands, she showed it to the patient maid and said, "I wrote this letter for a friend back home. But since I'm still unfamiliar with directions here in the city, I was hoping you could send this to the nearby post office on my behalf."


"Ahh, of course." Without hesitation, the maid took the letter from her grasp and politely asked, "Is there anything else that you need, (Y/N)–sama?"


"No, that's all. Thank you very much."


The maid, who seemed glad to fulfill one of the young lady's scanty requests, bowed her head and eventually left to accomplish the other. Meanwhile, (Y/N) adjusted the shawl that was wrapped around her upper body; walking towards the spot where she previously stood, to the spot in front of the nearest window.


Holding its two latches at the same time, the young lady opened the aperture and closed her eyes as soon as the cool breeze blew on her face. Although her skin shivered from the sudden exposure, she never moved away. Her tranquil expression never changed as she gazed at the endless sky; now teeming with the color of its cycle's advancing end-- a deep shade of red, merging with the darkness of the forthcoming night.


For some unknown reason, it reminded her of that evening. Where amidst the bright lights, the same cold breeze, the thunderous beating of drums and the loud cheering by the sidelines, there came a fleeting moment that seemed to play in a slow and painstaking motion; a moment that could have been easily forgotten, yet remained etched into her memory. An occurrence that was far from an encounter, yet still recurred as if it was something more important.


The moment when (Y/N) caught a glimpse of a man who, for some reason, stood out within the crowd. Even with a vague face.


Perhaps it was just her overthinking things. Perhaps it was just that she had nothing else better to do, that someone-- a stranger, no less, kept returning in her mind now and then. Yet, deep down, she knew that those reasons were not enough. Deep down, she knew that there was something else. Something odd, absurd even; but more than anything else, she couldn't put her finger on it.


Especially when, despite the immense distance between the two of them on that night, for a brief glance, (Y/N) already knew that his eyes were that specific hue: a warm amber glow within the hearth, waiting to fully ignite.


"...It had always suited him, you know?"


Swiftly, (Y/N) spun on her heels and glanced around her surroundings. Besides herself, there was nothing else in that large room. Nothing out of the ordinary. And yet, it seemed like the wind had turned a bit colder than before. Her hand rose to her neck and descended to her beating heart. As the remaining light in the room died down from the setting sun, she suspired and gazed forward.


For a brief moment, she could've sworn that she heard someone else speak right beside her ear. Gentle yet also clear-- a feminine voice that resembles her own...