It was a beautiful day, and Sakamoto Taniko was on her way home after finishing her class representative reports. She was walking when she heard a noise from behind her.
* cluck* * cluck* * cluck* * cluck* * cluck*
Taniko became terrified and hid near a telephone pole. The noise was becoming louder, but as she looked around, she noticed a lady wearing wooden Sandals, which was the source of the noise.
Taniko sighed in relief, believing she was being followed by a stalker. She appeared to notice the woman wearing a plain black kimono with a white obi as she was relieved. She stood tall and had a slim build. She was frail and pale-skinned, as if she were a ghost. She gradually followed the lady. The lady happened to come to a halt near a knife sharpening shop.
Taniko became intrigued and approached to find out what she was up to inside. But, as she noticed, she wasn't in the shop, and the only person present was an elderly man sharpening knives. As she looked across the street, she noticed a woman with a black leather luggage in her left hand.
Taniko followed her to a nearby alley and saw her come to a halt in front of one of her classmates' house. She was curious to find out if the lady was suspicious.
As she waited, she noticed the lady leaving and noticed that her classmate, who had hip-length hair, had chin-length Bob hair. As she approached her, she inquired, "Wow! Chika, you had long hair; why did you cut it? Did she cut your hair?"
"Yes, Taniko, my mother complained that I was losing a lot of archery competitions because of my long hair, so she called that lady to do my hair," the girl responded.
"But you could have gone to a salon to get your hair done; why hire someone to come to your house?" Taniko inquired.
"I don't know Taniko; my mother said it was her day off, but with an urgent request, she came to my house by surprise and gave me a haircut; she doesn't accept money, but only the hair she cuts as payment. She doesn't say anything while working and does it neatly "replied the girl
" It's really strange"
" The weirdest is I can't hear here panting and breathing, it's as if she's a dead lady"the girl replied.
" AHH.. That gives me chills, so how can I contact her"
" As per my mother, she is stationed near a shrine down the hill"
" I see, thank you Chika, you really look great, but didn't you like this look" asked Taniko
" I feel sad that my hair is gone but ,It doesn't matter where you cut your hair, it's enough for me to concentrate with my competitions" said the girl.
"Oh Ok, forgive me for bothering you, I will check myself too"said Taniko.
"No problem at all"the girl replied.
When Taniko left, the girl forgot to tell something to her but as she checked, she had already gone. "I think she can figure out herself."
Taniko went to check the shop but it was difficult to find, there was no one there but thinking of her classmate's hairdo, she too wanted to experience the same. As she left, from the shadows stood the lady as she sees Taniko and turned as she opened her parasol and walked.
And so as Taniko left to her house, she couldn't get her mind off the lady. She only thought about it and it lasted all night.
The next day as she was thinking whether the letter reached the strange lady a voice came from the back, " Hey Taniko- San, what wrong: said her friend Mei
" Oh it's nothing, I saw Chika getting her hair done and I too want to trim my hair with the lady who cut her" said Taniko
" So where is the problem here: said Mei
I don't know whether she received my message and I don't know if I should cut my hair or not: said Taniko
"Whatever it is You will would look great with short hair" said Mei
"Really?"
Mei nods
Though she was ready, she did not feel like she couldn't find the shop. as she came home, she found the letter, as she opened it returned.
" I heard from your classmate that you want a haircut. I have sent an address of my shop, please come tomorrow morning at at 10:00 hrs sharp"
She was surprised at what she had got and how the lady without knowing knew where she was addressing.
The next day, As she dressed, with excitement she went to the shop after following the instructions,As said in the map, the shop was near the alley of the forest. As she walked, she saw a man walking from there.
"Excuse me, I would like to know whether there is a a hair salon here."
The man was deaf, but as he saw the map, he pointed as it goes straight into the forest. as she entered, she found a board " Katsumi Beauty" and walked up stairs and found a small shop made of bamboo. There was a sliding door and she found a rotating chair and some hair hanged on top of the wall, music from a gramaphone was playing. Then she heard the Wooden Sandle noise
*cluck* *cluck* *cluck*
The footsteps came near to the curtain door and out came from the door, she saw a the lady standing next to her as she saw her face to face, she realized she wore the same black kimono as before, she had Bob like black hair and her skin was white and pale. She was Slimer as iff she hasn't eaten anything and wore makeup as traditional Japanese woman and had dark red lips. As she stood against Taniko, she looked six foot in size.
"To the Winds of flower, to the stream of the river, Katsumi Kejoro at your service"
"Wow you're so formal? and Kejoro, the yokai " laughed Taniko but the lady didn't speak" Are you the one who cut Chika's hair"
she nods
" Have you come for a cut" Kejoro asks
she nods
" Come in then .." she said as she escorted her to the chair
the woman without any delay started unpacking her things.
" All the preparations are ready, may we start by washing your hair first"
" Umm okay" said Taniko where she bends her hair and the Kejoro rinses her hair and then takes out a bottle and applies on Taniko's head. She felt strange but feel relaxed by the massage. After the woman washed her hair, she put on the towel and help her walk back to the chair and so Taniko took a deep breath.
When She sat in the chair where the woman told her, " I will now take care of your hair"
" You're under my care" said Taniko as she started getting nervous
The lady the covered her whole body with a white silk cape and then placed a tissue strip on her neck, she started to feel even more nervous and couldn't get out any single words from mouth.
Then the woman folded her sleeves of her kimono and asked her, "So what may I do for you, young lady?"
At this time Taniko, without realizing it, replied as if she were going to answer about what her classmate had, she advised to go short to focus her studies.
" Noted, My lady" said the woman as she went and returned to get the tools needed to perform her haircut.
Taniko saw that when the woman returned, she held out the tools in her hand in a tray and placed them on Taniko's lap. There were scissor, combs, spray and manual clipper.
Taniko couldn't figure out why she needed a clipper, but before she could inquire why needed clipper, the woman started combing her hair and collecting it in a ponytail.
The woman then took the scissors and began cutting her hair.
*snip* *snip* *snip*
After the barberette finished cutting her hair, they already had a shaggy bob, so Taniko thought the barber would make the necessary adjustments and even the bob, so it ended, but then the woman did something that would surprise her. She grabs the clipper and returned from Rias with any hesitation and took out a comb.
Taniko was so surprised by the lady action that she did not speak at all.
The Woman started clipping her nape and Taniko's anxiety began to increase more and more.
But she could not utter a single word, then the woman placed the clipper on her forehead and moved it upwards toward the top of her head.
"Wait what are you doing?" screamed Taniko
The woman stopped and replied: My lady, you told yourself me that you want the a short cut and I gave to you"
"Yes, but that too short".
"I apologize".
"No is not your fault, it's actually mine. I didn't properly instruct"said Taniko "It is me who must apologize"
After she finished the sentence, the woman spoke
"Miss then you have finally decided to cut your hair.?"
" I don't know, please suggest me a way"
" Then, I will do something that will leave you satisfied" said the woman as she continues cutting her hair
After checking the damaged amount of her hair and started snipping everywhere and brings out the clipper and then pushes Taniko's head down and starts buzz her nape and then moved to the left side of Taniko's ' head and placed the clipper on the edge of her ear and moved it towards the top towards her head and shaved smooth with a razor. The move the lady cut, Taniko felt excited.
The lady turned her head back to her chest and put the clipper on her nape again and started moving it towards the top of Taniko's head and after a few passes all the back of her head was already white and Rias scalp was exposed for the first time and continued to be exposed more and more.
After the lady had finished shaving and then applied oil to her and finished by removing the cape from Taniko's body.
After Taniko got up from her chair, she checked in the mirror and found that she has a pixie like haircut , she happily thanked the lady and asked her how much she owed her for the cut.
But at that time the the woman refused to take money and pilled up the hair and put in a jar and said " This is all what we want"
"Is that so, then thanks for the amazing cut" Taniko replied.
"I just did my job My lady and I hope you come back again."
"Yes please" She said as she thanked the lady. The lady bowed as Taniko left.
Taniko wanted to give something but then she wished her hair to grow long so that she could have that experience again.