I Am Me; No One Else

Chapter 2: Leaving and Traveling

Kagome woke up at roughly six am when her mother shook her. She groaned and tried to roll over as she muttered about it being Saturday and not having to go to school today. Sayuri smiled sadly, "Kagome, you have little time before the well permanently seals itself over. Please wake up."

Kagome then groaned again but yawned and stood blearily.

"I am going to help you with the kimono you wanted to wear back and show you how to dress in it." She said, "So pay attention."

Kagome then realized her mother had begun undressing her and despite it being her mom; she flushed in embarrassment. She was eighteen, and here was her mom undressing and re-dressing her like she was three.

"Okay so this is the susoyoke, and it is the closest layer to the skin you will have for now. It is a half-slip worn by women as a sort of underwear. You won't need bra's anymore, but you are free to wear one if you want and to take some of them with you." Sayuri told her

Kagome nodded and listened carefully despite it was so early.

Sayuri watched as Kagome undid where she had did the susoyoke and re-did it with almost near perfection. Then she stubbornly took her bra from her dresser and put it on. She was not going to be in a land of men who grabbed at her with her boobs so openly loose for them. No way.

Sayuri nodded, "Now, this is the second piece called the Nagajuban. It is the inner layer of the kimono and this is how you put it on."

Kagome watched her mother with wearing interest since she knew this routine was going to become tiresome really fast.

"Kagome, pay attention." Her mother chided her

Kagome regained focus and watched her. When she was finally done, Sayuri made Kagome undo the garment and to redo it. Kagome bit her lip in annoyance to this, but understood why her mother had made her do this.

Sayuri nodded, "Good enough. The outer most piece is the actual outer kimono and obi sash. The kimono is always folded with the left side over the right, unless you are at a funeral and are burying the dead; then it is right over left. The obi is tied this way for more casual days and this way for more formal things." Sayuri instructed

Kagome followed the instructions and her mother smiled when she did the correct motions.

"Very good Kagome. You look beautiful." She said softly

Kagome whined now, "Don't make me cry."

Sayuri smiled as tears came, "I want to do your hair one last time, Kagome."

Kagome's eyes watered as she nodded in compliance and sat down. Kagome's mother then brushed her daughter's slightly tangled hair until it was like satin and proceeded to do her hair in a traditional braid and bun combo. It was a bit more formal than she would have wanted for her leaving, but Kagome also felt like she would never forget this moment. Her mother took care to make her appear her best; as if she was expecting her to run into someone who would love her for who she was there.

Sayuri then finished, "Stay here a minute."

Kagome obliged her and watched her leave while wondering what was going on.

Her mom returned with a black lacquer box held gently, but firmly in her hands that Kagome easily recognized with a sudden start. Sayuri opened it and Kagome gasped in shock that her mom still had these. She thought she had been forced to sell them once.

"These hair combs were my mother's as a gift from her mother before her marriage. Then they were mine when I was engaged to your father from my mother. Now they are yours: I give them to you freely and without any hesitance because I know that I won't see you married, nor will I have the chance to pass them to you if I don't do so now." Sayuri said, "I do not wish you to forget where you come from."