KADILIMAN ang unang sumalubong sa mga mata ni Kourin nang magmulat siya. Ilang sandali rin ang pinalipas niya bago nakapag-adjust ang paningin niya sa kadiliman ng paligid. Kasabay niyon ay napabalikwas siya ng bangon nang maalala niya ang mga pangyayari.
Oo nga at natatandaan pa ni Kourin na nawalan kaagad siya ng malay nang may tumakip sa bibig niya at may humablot sa kanya. Nakaramdam siya ng biglang pagsigid ng kung anong masakit sa batok niya. Until it came to her that she was struck at that particular part of her neck that surely rendered her unconscious almost in an instant.
But who would do something like that to the princess? Just as she was about to get away from her perpetrators.
"It seems to me you're awake," anang isang tinig ng babae na nagpatigil sa ginagawang pag-iisip ni Kourin. "Princess Kourin of the Shinomiya Clan."
Nanigas at nanlamig si Kourin sa narinig niyang pagtawag ng kung sino man na iyon sa kanya. Dahan-dahan siyang napalingon sa pinagmulan ng tinig na iyon sa kabila ng takot at kabang pilit niyang ikinukubli. But then it was weird of her to frown at the sight of a beautiful woman sitting in a seiza-style wearing a pale lavender kimono holding a Japanese musical instrument called shamisen.
As the woman faced Kourin with a gentle smile, the young clan princess saw her begin to play the instrument. She could tell that the woman was playing a traditional Japanese song. But somehow, she had a feeling she had never heard that song before.
"Paano mo nalaman ang totoong pangalan ko? Were you acquainted with my family?"
Subalit patuloy lang sa pagtugtog ang babae. The way the woman played the shamisen made Kourin feel calm somehow. Weird... Hindi naman dapat ganoon ang maramdaman niya, 'di ba? Was she being hypnotized by the song or something?
"You have nothing to fear, young princess. It's true that I was acquainted with your family and I still am." Tumigil sa pagtugtog ang babae at saka hinarap si Kourin. "That is how I knew your real name even though you're living your life right now in a different persona."
"Mukhang hindi yata considered na perfect ang pagtatago ko ng tunay kong katauhan."
Napabuntong-hininga si Kourin nang ma-realize niya iyon. Well, sino ba naman ang hindi makakaramdam ng disappointment? Lalo na sa isiping sa loob ng nakalipas na dalawang taon ay malalaman niyang hindi pala iyon successful?
But the woman who was watching Kourin's expression merely smiled at the sight of it then resumed playing the shamisen. For some reason, it was the only way she knew to let the young princess realize that there was truly nothing to be afraid of. And from the looks of it, her way had somehow worked.
Kourin frowned slightly soon after, however. Weird ba para sa kanya na isiping parang may kung ano sa paraan ng pagtugtog ng babae sa shamisen ang nagpaalala sa kanya ng ilang bahagi ng kanyang nakaraan?
"I played this song a long time ago. And it was during your fourth birthday, Princess. Which is why it probably stirred a few of your memories," anang babae na patuloy lang sa pagtugtog.
Of course, what the woman said had indeed surprised Kourin. It was true she recalled some of her mother's story about a certain female musician who would constantly visit the Shinomiya mansion every time there was a special occasion ― more especially during her birthdays. Posible kaya na ito ang babaeng iyon?
Pero saka na pagtutuunan ni Kourin ng atensiyon ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon. Sa ngayon, marami pa siyang kailangang malaman.
"Why did you bring me here?" Iyon ang tanong na agad lumabas sa bibig ni Kourin.
The woman stopped playing the shamisen once more and placed it on one side before facing the young clan princess. "We had to take you out of there before those grunts could even reach you. I had no doubt that the Blue Shadow could take down those men but we can't take any chances right now. Even Shiro and Akemi had been put into the job of taking them out just to ensure your safety."
Lalo lang nagtaka si Kourin sa paraan ng pagsagot ng babae. It was true that Shiro Nishikawa and Akemi Mikazuki weren't known in any particular titles except with regards to their skills as warriors. Maybe that was the reason why the woman called them as such. But for her to call Amiko by her Knight title she was truly known for ― the Blue Shadow, parang may palagay na siya kung sino ang babaeng kausap niya nang mga sandaling iyon.
"Kung ganoon, ikaw ang nagpatulog sa akin at nagdala sa akin dito?"
But all of a sudden, a thought hit the princess.
That couldn't be it! Sa pagkakaalala ni Kourin, malalakas ang mga brasong puwersahang humila sa kanya. And she even recalled that the person who grabbed her had a hard chest.
"It looks like you recalled and had an answer to your own question."
Tumango na lang si Kourin. That only means hindi ang babaeng ito ang gumawa niyon sa kanya. Kung ganoon, sino?
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