I dressed in the finest kimono I had, for today I was to talk to Okaa-san. After hiding my face behind a white mask of powder, I made my way to her room. Knocking on the wooden panels that took the place of doors, I was granted entrance. Immediately after entering, I sat in front of Okaa-san, and gave her a respectful bow, my nose touching the ground.
"You called for me, Okaa-san?"
"Yes. You are the British Neko, the only whore who has never been defiled in anyway. By neither man nor woman, correct?"
"Yes."
"Perfect."
She was kneeling on a soft, plush Tatami matt, shuffling around papers and solving equations with her aged abacus.
"Okaa-san?"
"Permission to speak."
"Why was I called in?"
She looked at me for a bit, dark coal eyes scrutinizing me, making the hairs on the back of my skin stand. Through her tiny glasses, she narrowed her eyes, and turned once more to her papers.
"I have decided that you will help bring this Brothel more money."
"How?"
"I'm going to sell your Mizuage."
"My...Mizuage?"
"Hai. Your Mizuage or virginity, will be offered out to any willing paying patron. You are infamous in all of Japan and some foreign countries. There will be many patrons willing to pay, some might even pay to be your Danna*."
"W-what? I...I never agreed to this! I don't want my virginity stolen by some stranger, or a Danna!"
"Whatch your tongue child! Your Mizuage belongs to me, and it will go for a high price. This brothel has made you what you are today. Your de-flowering will be the right of the highest patron to take. The preparations are being set into motion as we speak."
"But Okaa-san!"
"My word is final! You are dismissed."
I ran out of the room as fast as I could, tears streaming down my face. I didn't care if I got whipped for disrespecting Okaa-san, this was too much! Some stranger was going to take my virginity, the one thing that I am left with, and I had no right to disagree. I ran to the girl's room, where all of us slept.
Some of the elder girls heard my rapid footsteps and shook their heads behind their fans, all too knowing of what had , I screamed out my misery and sadness. My sobbing could be heard by everyone, but not one person tried to comfort me.
"Alfred please hurry back!"
~Beauty~
Again the day was dark, the Sun hiding behind large grey clouds. Today, accompanied by Okaa-san and her two brutes, I would go to the grand theatre where I would perform for my odori; my dance. Under normal circumstances, I would have been ecstatic to finally be out of that shameful brothel and skillfully dance for an audience.
But this audience was not like any other. These women and men had travelled from around the globe to see my presentation. Or so Okaa-san said.
"Listen to me child, you will go out there and dance! You will dance with the same grace of a geisha and impress every suitor in the audience! You will bring honor to my brothel, understand?"
"Yes Okaa-san."
Her words were harsh and uncaring, but the mischevious grin on her ugly, wrinkled face stayed in place. I could practically see the currency signs in her greedy dark eyes.
I had been dressed in one of the finest yukatas that Okaa-san could afford. The long yukata was white, the color of purity or in my case virginity, with little red petals near the bottom to symolize passion and lust. It had been custom made to show off my rather feminine form, and had a small hole at the back for my tail.
I was at the back of the stage, with Okaa-san fussing over every little detail. She wanted me to look ripe for the taking as I heard her mumble. Not missing a possible chance to earn money, Okaa-san had also dragged some of the brothel girls to dance alongside me.
They were dressed in pure red robes, the kind I would be forced to wear when my virginity was to be taken. They looked excited, and dare I say, HAPPY. They huddled in little groups, peeking through the curtains into the audience and giggling. I overheard them gushing over the men they wanted as their Dannas.
I didn't want a Danna. A Danna was essentially a master. I would only bed with him, live with him and serve him like a pet, and in return the Danna would have paid the brothel for my freedom. Yet, a Danna didn't have to stay loyal like he would to a wife. He would have bought me with money wouldn't he? Something that is bought shouldn't be so important.
It didn't make any sense to me. To have a Danna was to essentially leave one cage for another. The girls didn't seem to care as they gossiped and giggled.
My white ears flicked forward as I heard Okaa-san's screeching to get into position. The girls hurried to their places in back of me. I was to be the center of attention after all. I pulled out two twin red fans from my sleeves and flicked them open. They were large and beautiful, perfect for twirling and catching attention.I crouched into my position, my white tail fluffed up in anticipation. Dancing was my passion after all.
A soft melody began to play as the giant red curtain was lifted. The blinding light stunned me for a moment before I was able to focus once again. I laid my emerald eyes on each and every face in the crowd. Looking for a young sun-kissed face, with two twin pools of azure that reminded me of an open sky. Free and endless.
A sad smile set itself upon my red painted lips when I didn't find what I was looking for. On the sidelines of the curtain and out of view, I heard the distinct click of two coals rubbing together creating a small spark of fire. I found it funny that we were being wished luck.
All of us were here for one reason and one reason only.
With the grace of the sleek cat I was, I stood up and began to slowly dance on the large stage, twirling my fans like twin red dragons around my elegant fingers. For a moment, everything seemed surreal. My troubles slipped away and I was gliding across the stage. Until I glanced at the greedy faces of the audience and reality crashed upon me all at once.
To be sold.
~Beauty~
The performance had finally ended, I stayed still. My legs began to cramp as I kneeled, putting all my weight back as I curled toward the floor. The pose was suppose to show off my flexibility. The awe struck crowd began to clap, then cheer, and finally stood up to hollering at the girls and I.
We all stood up and bowed before we were ushered back stage. Before I followed though, I turned back to stare at my large red fans that lay in the corner were I had thrown them.
My twin red dragons. They lay defeated on the cold floor of the empty stage.
~Beauty~
A few months passed, and I was once again ordered to go see Okaa-san. The only difference this time is that my stomach felt heavy with dread.
Knocking on the paper doors politely, I entered when granted permission and silently made my way to Okaa-san. I bowed low to floor as I was custom to, and silently awaited my fate.
"Look up child."
I did as she was told, for once glad that I had a white mask of power to hide under. She undoubtly had made a small fortune on the success of the theatre, and had already counted all bidders up.
"Do not look so sad, you should be happy!"
It was bitter amusement I felt. Why was she so happy? I stayed silent, fearing if I spoke, my voice would crack and I would begin to sob.
"Your mizuage has been the highest sold in all of brothel history! ¥11,500* yen!"
I only nodded. How could I possibly be happy? I was just sold, to some stranger, to be ripped away of my innocence. The only thing I had owned in this miserable place, but now that was being taken away from me too. Okaa-san began speaking again, something about how she was so proud of me, but I found myself drifting away.
Away from this horrid brothel, into the warm and protecting arms of Alfred. How long had it been since he had left me? A week? Maybe six months? Possibly a year? And how long had it taken me to fall in love with this stranger who I barely knew? About a month maybe?
I could not believe how utterly pathetic I was. I had fallen in love with some visiting stranger from a strange place called America and had become a moping mess since he left. I sighed at my idiocy, but I knew it was the truth. I guess that's why it hurt so much.
Look, I know a lot of you don't like wimpy/docile/girly Arthur but how else do expect me to write him? Don't worry his British sass will pick up sooner or later. You'd be depressed to if you had to live in a whore house and give up your virginity.
At least there's an epic fight next chapter.
Whoops.
-Empress
