The two women Katsumi Kejoro and her apprentice had come to Kyoto to sightseeing as they visited their hometown. After freshing up at the hotel, with help of the innkeeper, both were dresses in fine kimono to visit Katsumi's old friend.
Katsumi dresses in a fine navy Oshima Tsumugi and Chisato worked a yellow Yukata. They walked across the streets of Gion.
Gion district famous for traditional sightings with traditional Japanese houses and most wire the traditional attire. As they walked, they could see geishas and Maiko and Katsumi could remember her time as the yokai Kejoro when she was in Gion hundreds of years ago.
They stopped at a kimono shop where all the fine silk and kimonos were made. The kimonos were made by a well-known designer and yokai Jorogumo who started her life after exorcism as a weaver and stitched the best dresses in all Japan.
As they met her, the two Bowed before her as greeting.
As Chisato was excused to go explore the city. Katsumi Kejoro sat with Yaka Jorogumo to have a drink. Unlike the folk tales. Jorogumo looked like a common 60 year old woman who wore a purple iromuji Kimono. Her long hair was tied in a Mimi Kakushi. The both sat to have a drink to celebrate Yaka Jorogumo's 33rd (1633 physical age) year old birthday.
As they drank, Jorogumo removed a envelope and hands to Katsumi.
Katsumi Kejoro is beyond shocked to see that her friend was going to marry.
" I am getting married to a person I know who invests for my business.He and I love each other"
"Wow, Yanka. congratulations sister," Katsumi was happy for her
"Yes, but you know... ; he insists we are good together, and said that I need to cut my ankle length hair short, I too agree with him, we will tie the knot soon so I need to cut my hair,".
Katsumi was stunned and said: "Really, he demanded that and your gonna accept that as marriage proposal only if you cut off your hair" Yasha said" I know, and that's where you come in, I need you to cut my hair, maybe a short Pixie Cut."
"Are you sure?" question Katsumi
she nods.
Agreeing Katsumi Kejoro agreed to cut her hair. She went to get her tools and took out a wasted sheet which was handed by Jorogumo's assistants.
Katsumi undid the band in Yasha's hair and brushed out the knee length mass of hair for the last time. She then braided the hair for the last time, then seated yasha in the chair and capped her up, pulling the long braid from under the cape and placing it onto the lap in a coiled mass. She then fastened the cape around Yasha's neck and then got the scissors out.
She pulled the braid to the rear of the chair, Yasha's eyes were watching as Katsumi raised the scissors to the braid and started cutting into the mass of hair. Yasha watched as her friend cut away the hair and it started to fall away into a chin length bob cut as she went through the mass of hair one snip at a time. Such thick hair being severed with each snipping, one, two—twenty eight, twenty nine thirty and the thick braid was severed.
Katsumi held the braid up to her shoulder and watched it fall to the floor in all its thick splendid glory, sadly she handed the braid to to Twila who started to cry holding the mane in her hand.
Yasha then said "OK , now for a really short cut"
Agreeing, She started snipping all the hair making her all short and then Finishing up she was uncapped and got up and Katsumi handed her the braid saying, "Here take this, consider as a wedding gift from me"
We laughed as Katsumi and Jorogumo enjoyed their time in Kyoto before returning to their main reason why they were in Kyoto.