Rika looked at Junko, trying to estimate a vague size for the clothes they would need. She picked a purple silk kimono, decorated with a golden lily on the right side. She moved to her, holding it to her body to see if it would suit her. After some seconds she put it near Junko to search for another one, this time a orange one decorated with a red dragon.
Holding both of them in front of Junko, she asked which one she would like. After a few seconds Junko decided to pick the purple one, with the golden lily on it. Rika smiles as she would have picked the same.
"You will have to try if it fits, I will wait outside, hai?" She inspected her with another glance, realizing that she still wore her boots "And shoes are over there" She points to a locker on the other side of the room, then leaves her alone.
The departure of Rika was followed by the glazed look of Junko, holding the purple silk kimono in her hands. As the door slammed behind the leaving woman, the soldier was again, left alone.
She unzipped her combat vest and gently took it off, throwing it below a bunch of kimonos hanging on a cloth rack. The following item to be removed was her pistol belt, tied around her waist. As she undid the buckle, it just occurred to Junko that even though her pistol was taken away by the Chrysanthemums in the hangar bay, she still had fitting ammunition clips in the pockets of the belt, as well as a hand held radio device.
Following the wild thought regarding her chances of escape, a smile curled on the pilot's face as she stared at the radio labeled with the Kusarian insignia. She paused for a moment, then removed the belt and dropped it near where she stood.
Her pitch-black flight uniform was the last piece of clothing left. She started unzipping the shirt, revealing her dog tag just above her breasts. She gently sighed, then tore off the chains with an expression of disgust, dropping it near the pistol belt.
After the removal of her shirt, she clumsily took off her boots and pants, using a chair as aid. There she stood, with only her private parts still covered by clothing, in the middle of a base belonging to her former arch enemies, preparing to put their representative kimono on.
She walked in front of the mirror again, now inspecting her almost entirely naked body, looking for the signs of cardamine use. Little did she realize that long-term symptoms altering her DNA structure don't come out following the first use of the drug, yet she thought she could point to some changes already.
To hide from the symptoms she thought to be noticeable, she quickly looked away from the mirror and grabbed the kimono, embracing her body into the silk clothing. She looked up at her reflection again, observing her new uniform, finding that only her worn out face needed a change.
She sighed and left the room while wearing the purple dress, spreading her arms, revealing as much as her clothing as possible to Rika, who was standing near the door, waiting for her commentary on her new looks without a word, but a pleasant smile.
Rika looked at the young women in her purple kimono, still having the picture of the soldier in her mind, a picture she slowly released to make place for a 'new' Junko. The golden lily on the right side of the purple kimono, which emphasized her physique, gave a perfect contrast with it, her brown eyes and her smooth black hair. She moved slowly towards her, whispering in her ear "Only one thing missing" and then placing a yellow Chrysanthemum in her hair.
She looked over Junko once more, to be sure that everything was as it should be. She nodded and after a short "Come" took her arm to pull her with her to another room. This room was filled with smoke, spreading the smell of Cardamine.
Once they entered it, their thoughts became loose helping to forget about their sorrows. They were not alone there twenty other Chrysanthemums were there to watch the ceremony. Rika left the room for a short period of time to come back with a book, decorated with ornaments.
She asked "Are you ready Junko?". Junko nod, a bit unsure about the things which would happen.
Rika took Junkos hand and placed it on the book, its surface felt like velvet. She was able to read the authors name, Yuyu Matsuda, as far as she knew, the Golden Chrysanthemums founder.
Rika looked into her eyes and said "Repeat what I say". After those words she started "I Junko Okanaya, promise to fight, together with my Sisters, for the equality and justice in Kusari. I will show no mercy against those, who oppose our goals. I will not rest until our fight was successful."
The scent of cardamine filling Junko's lungs entirely made her forget all her worries. She felt once again among sisters, even as some questioning eyes looked over her, still watching for her moves, inspecting her gestures.
She let Rika's soft hands place hers on the book she held, the sensation of the book's touch, enhanced by the cardamine in the air, was a magical experience to the young woman. She figured she might be holding the infamous book called the "Golden Chrysanthemums in Blossom", which serves as a base for the movement's goals, sparking the uprising itself. She couldn't however, make out the title.
Rika's speech helped Junko regain focus. She looked up at Rika, staring at her open eyes, repeating her words with a devoted, serious tone.
"I, Junko Okanaya, promise to fight, together with my Sisters, for the equality and justice in Kusari. I will show no mercy for those, who oppose our goals. I will not rest until our fight is successful."
She kept staring into the eyes of Rika, even as she finished. It was over.
After Junko spoke the words, Rika put the book away and embraced Junko, giving her a kiss on her left, then on her right cheek.
She looked straight into Junkos eyes, saying "You are now one of us Junko Okanaya, welcome in the Sisterhood. I will teach you what it means to be a Chrysanthemum.", with those words the Ceremony ended and they left the room, looking to find quarters for Junko.