The session had ended and I was once again taking my seat at my old Tatami matt. I seemed to feel a bit more depressed than usual, I can't fathom why.

As soon as my rump hit the back of my feet, I heard voices. Whispers of the girls, no doubt talking about my encounter with the handsome stranger. Not surprising. Gossip was rare and when spotted the girls went crazy, making up rumors and reasons of why it happened. The only form of entertainment other than sex here at the brothel.

What a pitiful life to have...

~Beauty~

Or so I thought. But gradually my life became better, little by little I would see the stranger. See his dirty blonde hair that contrasted from the dark haired Japanese that surrounded us, or catch a bit of his speaking, using that Western accent that was just simply mezmerizing. From time to time I'd catch a quick peek of him staring into the brothel and fantasize that he was trying to get a glance of me.

Just hopeful wishing, I know. But I needed something to keep my head up before I submerged into the boring whorish way of life, if one could even call it a life.

I have a theory of why the stranger won't come any closer than across the street. Instead of waiting outside the paper made walls, Okaa-san's brother watched over us inside the room. Making sure customers didn't loiter around for too long. Thus, I had to find a way to get him closer, seeing as I was confined to this prostituting prison.

If only I knew how...

~Beauty~

The stranger came now, nearly every day, and I couldn't be more thrilled. He and I have somehow managed to have small conversations here and there. I can't tell how many times he's been chased off by Okaa-san's thugs. But he's tall, muscular, and perfectly fit, so even if he was caught, I'd imagine that he'd come out of the scuffle unharmed.

Our small talks were the highlight of my day, and the days he was absent felt like there was a hole in my being. Many of the brothel girls stopped talking to me and a handful of them have actually admitted to hating me, behind my back of course. I couldn't blame their jealousy.

Brothels served for quick fun, so men never stayed. Sure we had our regulars, but nothing ever lasted. Many of the older girls, who had their hearts broken by false promises in their prime years, only shook their heads at me. Years of experience had jaded their personalities as well as their perspectives.

They all knew that the stranger's and I meetings were leading to the inevitable heartbreak that'd leave me in shambles. Obviously they were wrong. This foreigner was different, he was something new.

And I cherished every moment I had in his presence.

~Beauty~

He's here. At the same place he always loiters. Across the street from the brothel, next to the little fish market, leaning against a building. Only this time was different. He was not leaning, he was standing rather stiffly with his head down. He looked...ashamed in a way. Very pecuilar behavior indeed...

He must've felt my penetrating gaze on his person because he looked up to me, revealing sad baby blue eyes. At once my ears went down atop my head, a sign of confusion and sadness. I felt Okaa-san's brother, the watcher, turn my way but I paid him no mind.

The stranger was sad, and I had no way of comforting him. The world was still as we held onto the simple connection we had, eye contact. Putting all the emotion I could into my emerald orbs, I begged him to come closer, like he had been doing. If only just once more. He heard my plea and proceeded forward.

Inching my way closer to the bars, I made no sound. The blue-eyed blonde had crossed the short distance and now was squatted right across from me. I took a moment to inspect him. He seemed slimmer, his skin not as healthy glowing as it once was, but there was still that childish spark in those glorious pools of azure.

"Hey."

Such a simple greeting and yet my heart skipped a beat, finally hearing that accent I'd missed so much. Dark clouds were moving in to cover the sky, the wind picking up and sending chills. Soon it would rain and once again the darkness would come to envelope me in it's thickness.

"Ello."

He cracked a small smile at my greeting. He looked at me, seemingly trying to read my mind, to delve deep into my thoughts. For what purpose? He took a deep breath and let out a sigh, preparing himself to speak.

"I've fallen in love with you."

Twenty-two letters that seemed to clog up my throat and make me tear up. How many times had I heard that? Men sweet talked me all the time, I should be used to it. I shouldn't have been shocked by six measly words. But I was and I wanted to believe them, no matter how much my subconscious warned me against it.

"How much would you pay for my love?"

These words belonged to someone else, my mouth was spilling out a question that was not mine. This stranger who had single-handedly stolen my heart in a time period of only a month. I didn't even have a name to associate that handsome face with for Christ's sake! I could not let myself be lead away by a confession that could very well be a lie.

The wind howled, thunder echoed in the distance, and rain drops began to descend. He suddenly looked so tired. I reached a hand through the bars and gingerly cupped his face. His face was cold, yet hot against my skin.

"Love is not something that can be bought."

Suddenly, I couldn't hear the rain, nor the thunder, nor the howling wind. I could only hear the rapid pounding of my heart in my ears, the blood rushing into my cheeks. An answer so simple and so honest.

So true.

"Oi! Get away!"

The brute called, eyeing the stranger with a distrusting gaze. I didn't turn to glance back, I could not miss even a second of this encounter.

"I'm leaving. Back to my home country America."

I had given him my heart, and he crushed with a simple sentence. My mouth was agape, but I was silent. I could not form words. Leaving? To a place called America? Where was that? Was it far?

"Will I ever see you again?"

My voice sounded shaky, even to my ears, as if I would break any second. He squeezed my hand in an effort to comfort me, but it did nothing.

"Yes. I will go and work. I'll earn enough money for you. I'll buy your freedom, I swear it!"

His words brought tears to my eyes. Silent drops of liquid almost identical to the ones dropping from the sky. Such an honorable promise to make, but promises were meant to be broken.

"Oi! Didn't you listen! Idiot!"

The brute was standing now, a scowl on his ugly fat face. He was making his way towards us, and I felt my love move. I turned back to him as he began to stand, my hand still in his grasp.

"I must go now."

A gentle squeeze and my hand was slipping away. Thunder and rain and air all roared in anger, joining together to form a massive storm. It almost seemed as is they were the forces pulling the stranger away.

"Wait!"

I called out, grasping his hand tightly. I was unwilling to let go just yet.

"Y-Your name."

He looked confused for a moment, when a smile took over his face. Genuine happiness lighting up his face.

"Alfred and yours?"

"A-Arthur..."

"Shh, don't cry anymore okay? I'll be back Arthur, I have a promise to keep!"

And with that the connection was lost. His hand left mine, now alone to face the coldness of reality without any warmth to shield it. I could only stare at his retreating form as he vanished into the rain, with thunder outlining his silouette. The brute stood next to me, yelling Japanese profanities at Alfred.

Alfred.

My dear Alfred.

Please come back soon.

~Beauty~

Whispers. Whispers all around me. They were like the darkness, surrounding me, suffocating me. There were people, faceless people that were all whispering and giggling, then whispering again. And no matter how hard I tried to listen I could not make out their mumbles and murmurs.

I grew nervous, there was laughter. A cruel type of laughter that echoed around and ran in my ears. My head felt as if it were being split open, like I was being torn in two by an unseen force. I screamed but I couldn't hear myself over the laughter, and the whispering, and the darkness. I reached up to cover my head, anything to stop the noise, but another silent scream tore out of me.

My hands were pale, almost translucent and bathed in blood. Was it mine? No, I felt no pain. I looked down and found that my kimono had multiple splatters of blood all across it, and the laughter grew louder. Suddenly a bright light flashed and momentarily blinded me. When I could see again, I was in a room.

A room with paper walls, all empty and bare. And it was quiet. So very quiet, I couldn't even hear my breathing.

Something was wrong.

There was no more whispers, no more laughter or giggling. It wasn't even dark. It was just silent. But I was afraid. So very deathly afraid of the silence that I'd almost wished the faceless people would come back.

And suddenly there was an outline of a person in the distance. He was tall, but that was it. I couldn't see his face, or hear his voice. He was different somehow, he had a gentle aura around him. I ran to him as fast as I could, stretching out my hand to him.

I saw a gleam and realized he was grinning. But he began to fade, to loose focus and I struggled to reach him. Farther and farther away, until he was no more than a speck, and I was left alone once again.

That is my nightmare that haunts me every night.

So many page breaks -.-' Sorry but that's my writing style so I hope you can bear with it, the next few chapters shouldn't have this many ((I hope)) Hoped ya liked this chapter!

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-Empress

((Low-key, this is the fastest I've ever updated XD))