AL19: Sumiko will have both bad and good luck in this story before the end. She's had a crummy start in life.
whatapity: Sorry to disappoint you that there's no Kamui romance, but I hope you enjoy the fic anyway.
Chapter Three: Harusame
Early the next morning, Sumiko arose to leave Yoshiwara forever.
The packing had already been done. Her luggage had been transferred to the Harusame shuttle that would take her away. She dressed simply in travelling clothes, hugged her friends goodbye and went to receive her last instructions from her mentor, Lady Kikuyu.
Kikuyu really didn't have much to say. She said she had already taught her pupil everything she could, and she trusted in Sumiko to do her duty with dignity and courage.
"You're the first of my girls to leave Yoshiwara." Kikuyu added. "I don't know what fate holds for you, Sumiko-chan, but it must be extraordinary. I hope you will find happiness at last."
Sumiko was teary-eyed when she left the house.
The journey to the surface, accompanied by her new chaperon and attendant Kotsune, was quick and marvelous. They ascended via an elevator and stepped out into the warm sunlight of an Edo morning. It had been twelve years since Sumiko had last seen the sun and she and Kotsune stood blinking in the light. The guards accompanying them had to hurry them along to the car waiting to transport them. Everything was so bright and fantastic-seeming that Sumiko felt unable to move.
Once in the car, she began to recover a little and ended up enjoying herself staring at the window as they drove to the rendezvous point with the Harusame shuttle. Edo had certainly grown since she was seven-years-old, the year her parents had sold her to Yoshiwara.
The shuttle was parked in a forest about half an hour's drive outside Edo. The Harusame pirates were secretive in their comings and goings, so they didn't use the main Edo space terminal.
The moment she climbed out of the car at their destination, she was astonished by the men working around the shuttle. Their skin was incredibly pale, almost as pale as her face paint. But the most surprising thing about them was that each one of them carried a large umbrella.
She tried not to stare as she was escorted onto the shuttle, even though everything was so new and intriguing.
Their guards brought them to a small room screened off from the larger body of the shuttle, in which there were seats, a table, a small refrigerator, a TV, and a sink.
A man was sitting on one of the seats as they entered and he rose to greet them.
"You must be Sumiko-san," he said, nodding to her. "Welcome to Harusame's Seventh Division. My name is Abuto and I'm your escort on this excursion."
There was something faintly mocking about the way he said this, no matter how polite he sounded. Like the men outside, he was pale-skinned, with sandy-coloured hair and stubble on his chin.
"Thank you, Abuto-san," said Sumiko, bowing.
"Is this room private for my lady's use on this voyage?" asked Kotsune.
"That is the idea," said Abuto.
"And what if she needs to use the toilet?" Kotsune demanded.
"Is she incapable of walking to the next room and using the shared toilet?" asked Abuto, raising an eyebrow.
"Hmppph," said Kotsune. "I expected much more respect for a lady of Yoshiwara."
"Kotsune-san!" Sumiko exclaimed in dismay at her attendant's incivility.
"That's a servant's job, to negotiate the best deal for her mistress," Abuto said, his eyes flickering with amusement. "But here's a question for you, Sumiko-san. Are you really so picky?"
"I don't think I have the right to be," Sumiko answered honestly.
"Correct. There's a fact you should remember and you'll do well. Did your teachers in Yoshiwara tell you anything about the Yato?"
"That you're one of the three strongest races in the galaxy," she ventured.
"Exactly. The Seventh Division of Harusame is the Yato division. How do you suppose that makes our captain feel? To be the commander of the strongest unit in Harusame?"
"He must be very proud of his position." She answered with what seemed an innocuous statement.
"Proud as a demon," Abuto replied. "The Night King Housen has his underground city of beauties. So Kouto must have his own Yoshiwara beauty. A young, fresh one that will make him him feel strong and important. Can you do that, Sumiko-san?"
"Isn't that a rather personal question?"
He chuckled. "So they haven't erased your spirit. Careful, then. I can't say our Captain wants a girl with spirit."
Sumiko lowered her eyes. "I apologize, Abuto-san."
"No apologies needed. Maybe I'm growing a bit sentimental in my middle age, but I'd like to see you prosper."
Kotsune complained about Abuto's disrespectful attitude as soon as he left the room. Sumiko puzzled over their interaction. Abuto had been direct and brusque in his questions and explanations, but he had also seemed rather friendly. His advice to act submissive towards his captain was probably very good advice indeed.
It was an eight-hour long journey to reach the Seventh Division's main ship. The last three hours were spent with Kotsune preparing Sumiko for her debut. It took over an hour to dress in the elegant kimono that had been set aside for this occasion. Her hair had to be dressed elaborately and the make-up put on with expertise. Over the years, Sumiko had become an expert at sitting and standing very still while this went on.
Once the shuttle had docked with the ship, Abuto returned to fetch them. He whistled when he saw Sumiko in all her finery. "Can you walk in all that?" he asked.
"I can. It takes a lot of practice," Sumiko told him.
She and Kotsune followed Abuto out into the docking bay of the ship. The moment she stepped out of the shuttle, the entire bay fell silent. Men had put down their tools or loads for a moment to look at her. A buzz of whispers followed her as she walked towards the exit.
"Hey, is this the girl Old Housen's sent our captain?" a teenage-looking boy with fiery red hair tied into a long braid called out to Abuto.
"This is Sumiko," Abuto replied, stopping for a moment. "This young pup with no manners is named Kamui, Sumiko-san."
Kamui had bounded over to join them and was now looking her up and down. "So you're a Yoshiwara beauty," he said brightly. "I've always wondered what keeps Housen tied down in that hole."
"So now you've seen one. Any more questions?"
Kamui shook his head. "Weak men will do anything for a woman," he said, his large blue eyes somehow widening even further as he said this. "I suppose that's just the way it is."
"You'll understand some day, kid," said Abuto.
Kamui laughed. It was the merriest laughter Sumiko had ever heard. "You are a romantic, Abuto." Then he bounded off before Abuto could retort.
"Pffaw," muttered Abuto. "Young idiot." But he didn't sound too upset. Sumiko would almost swear he was quite fond of Kamui.
There were a few more rooms and hallways to navigate, then they came to the suite in which Sumiko would live. Servants were already moving her luggage into the room and Kotsune took over directing where everything should go.
"I'm to tell you Captain Kouto will be calling on you in two hours," Abuto said, once he'd pointed out all the main features of her new living quarters.
Sumiko nodded and then thanked him for his help.
He grinned. "Keep your chin up, girl. I'll be keeping an eye out for you."
The suite Sumiko would live in was both grand and strange. There was a bedroom with a huge four-poster bed. Sumiko had never slept on anything but a futon before. There was a luxurious bathroom with a sunken marble bath, a servant's room for Kotsune, a sitting room/dining room with armchairs and a table with stiff-backed upright chairs. Everything was new and dizzying.
The servants worked quickly unpacking the luggage, so that they would be finished and away by the time the captain came to pay his new concubine a call.
At last, the knock Sumiko was dreading sounded on the door, Kotsune went to answer it and ushered in the Yato captain.
Captain Kouto was like Bansai had described him: a very ordinary man. He was quite tall with a worn face, and greying hair. Like Bansai had hinted, he was slightly overweight. Not a really repulsive man, but there was nothing attractive about him. Sumiko's heart sank as she bowed to the floor in Yoshiwara fashion.
The man looked at her attentively. "You're very lovely," he said. A slight smile appeared on his face.
"Thank you sir," replied Sumiko.
"You may leave us," Kouto instructed Kotsune.
Once Kotsune had departed, he closed the distance between himself and Sumiko and took her hands into his.
"So you are Sumiko."
"Yes sir." She was trembling like a leaf now. She couldn't hide it.
"Don't be frightened, little one. I'm very pleased with you." Then, laughing, he scooped her up into his arms and carried her to her bedroom. He carried her like she was a feather, she thought.
Once in her room, he deposited her on the bed, then reached to take the pins out of her hair, tugging her tresses so that they fell down around her shoulders.
"Like silk," he remarked, twining a strand of hair around his finger. Then he laughed again. "How do I get you out of this outfit?"
She showed him the sash he had to untie. Despite his best efforts, he ended up ripping her fine kimono while undressing her, and the shock must have shown in her face, for he said, "Your clothes can be replaced. We don't have to worry about money here."
She nodded mutely.
"You'll be all right, little one," he whispered into her ear. "The first time's always the hardest."
"I know."
An hour later, she was lying on her bed alone, feeling bruised and empty. Kouto had taken his leave. He'd seemed pleased with her. It'd been a painful, humiliating experience for her, but he had enjoyed himself.
She couldn't say that he'd been cruel. He'd taken his time, tried to put her at ease. And she knew it wouldn't be so painful the next time.
The next time . . . She nearly gagged at the thought.
"Sumiko, I've run you a hot bath," Kotsune was standing by her bed.
"Go away.."
Kotsune grabbed hold of her arm. "Get up. You've been trained for this your whole life. It's no good moping around like this."
"Please. Let me be alone right now."
Kotsune's hand lifted up the hair that covered her face. "You're crying," she said gently.
At those words, Sumiko burst into sobs.
Kotsune sat down on the side of the bed, then pulled Sumiko up and put her arm around her. "It's all right, sweetheart. You're going to be ok. You'll learn how to handle this."
"I can't stop thinking about it," she sobbed.
"I know, Sumiko-chan, I know."
Sumiko suddenly realized what Kotsune was implying. "Was it like this for you?" she asked slowly.
"I was fifteen," Kotsune said slowly. "I wanted to die. But I survived, Sumiko. I became strong. Just like you're going to be. Now come take that bath. We'll wipe off the blood and the hot water will help with the pain."
Sumiko nodded and let Kotsune lead her to the washroom. In the unlikeliest of places, in her darkest hour, she had found a new friend in Kotsune.
That was a dark chapter. I felt horrible for putting Sumiko through that. Bansai's back in the next chapter.