Star Girl (Tanjiro X OC)

Audrey Harding: Thriving Willpower - Chapter 5

I listen as Ms. Takemoto begins to go over the rules. My legs are getting comfy on the cushion.

"One: Under any circumstances, you are not allowed to go out at night, especially when you're all alone. There are dangers that are unpredictable and difficult to escape from. You can put yourself in danger, and you can put others in danger, too. You are to stay in this mansion with me where it is safe."

I nod in agreement. She moves on. "Two: You must behave in accordance with what I teach you. Some people here do not know about your culture, ergo they are not influenced by it. I will do my best to teach you everything about Japanese culture and etiquette in order for you to fit in."

I nod again.

"Three: Have fun and live a good life. Be grateful and don't forget how much I do for you. I know you miss your family, but believe me, they will see you again." Her tone is sweet when she tells me the last rule. I give a small grunt and nod in agreement. She says, "Now, first things first, you need to take a shower. Go to the ofuro and undress yourself."

"Yes, ma'am," I say and stand up quickly to go to the bath. I enter the luxurious space and begin to take off my dress, then I take off my shoes and socks and everything else. I am about to go to the bathtub when Ms. Takemoto stops me.

"Audrey, remember what I said earlier about the bathtub? You can't bathe in there unless you've taken a shower first," She says, and I stare open-mouthed at her. "Sit down." She motions me to the small stool beside me, and I do as I'm told. I watch as she grabs the bucket and fills it with water from a tube in front of me. Then, she grabs two bottles and places them next to the stool with the bucket. The next thing I know, I find myself feeling the strokes of my hair and the bubbly lather. It takes five, no, ten seconds for me to realize how soothing this is, and I genuinely like it. Then, the woman rinses my hair and starts scrubbing my body with a sponge. Let me tell you, it feels like a heavenly paradise. I'm sure you would want to experience this sort of feeling, too.

When she is done washing and rinsing me off, she then lets me take a step inside the bathtub. I sit in the water and regard the view outside the window with a soft smile on my face. Thirty minutes later, I get out and wrap a towel around my skinny figure before exiting the bath.

I am free from the embrace of the nose-burning stench of the past. This new flowery scent clings to me like a magnet. This scent will be the scent of the present and the future.

I see her standing beside the door to my new room, and she gestures for me to go inside. I open the door and I see two kimonos lying on the wooden floor—a black one with red and yellow flowers and a light blue one with a circle pattern. She says, "Choose one that you like better. That will be your new clothing. I will also style your hair and decorate it if you like."

I stare at the two colored robes and think about which color I like better. And honestly, I can't decide, as I want to know which color looks better on me. I let out a soft groan, and Ms. Takemoto gives me a questioning look.

"What's wrong? You don't like these? I have more you can check out," She says, standing up.

"Okay," I reply and nod.

When she shows me all the kimonos she has, I am dazzled by the vivid colors and detailed patterns on all of them. She has me try on all of them—I think there are about thirty of them—and I like pretty much all of them. And guess what? I still can't decide which one I will wear.

"Hmm...let me see..." She points to a red kimono with white flowers and blue petals. "I think this one might look good on you. Why don't you try it on one more time?"

Staring at myself in the mirror, I admire my beauty to its fullest, my lips gradually parting into a smile. "Well, do you like it?" She asks.

"Yeah, I think I do," I reply.