The True Beauty Of A Withered Camellia: The Life Of A Peony

As the sun set in the distance, Yoshiwara came to life once again, drawing in it's usual patrons for their night of pleasure. Kiku could see passers by looking at each shop attempting to find the best establishments. He secretly prayed that they would pass the establishment he now worked in.

To his dismay, those around him would immediately be pulled in by his effeminate looks and soft demeanor, "My... what a beautiful person," men would say as they entered the Scarlet Peony with eyes honing in Kiku's small frame.

Kiku tried to avoid eye contact as more and more men made there way into the establishment, when the courtesan thought there were enough customers, he told Kiku to go back upstairs and wait until he called for the young male.

Kiku obliged and went upstairs and back into the room with the other prostitutes to wait for the inevitable. Seconds turned into minutes and minutes turned into two hours, he was curious as to why no one had purchased him yet, not that it really upset him.

Before he could sigh a breath of relief he heard the shoji open as the courtesan walked into the small room once again. "Come down stairs right this minute," the courtesan said in a stern voice as he grabbed Kiku by his slender wrist and guided him downstairs into the main room.

"It's seems as though no one wealthy enough has come around to be able to purchase you...I bet you are ecstatic about that..." the courtesan said in a dry tone. "Well since it seems that you will not be purchased, I should at least put you to work as a server...here," the courtesan said as he handed Kiku a round wooden serving tray and sent him into the kitchen to pick up the food to bring back out for the customers.

Kiku made his way through the doors and returned with a tray of alcoholic beverages and one order of gyoza for an entire table of men. Kiku approached slowly as he heard the boisterous laughter from the table in front of him.

He swallowed hard as he walked closer and placed the items on the table, "Here is your order...t-thank you for waiting," Kiku said timidly as he went to turn. Before he could move away he felt a hand glide across his back, "Where's such a pretty little thing like you tryin' to run away to in such a hurry?" the man asked.

"E-Excuse me, but I have other tables that I must serve, so I must be on my," Kiku was interrupted by another one of the men, " Now now...are you tryin' to say that we're not as important as them? Now that hurts..." Kiku looked on a bit weary of the men.

"No that isn't what I meant..." Kiku tried to explain before he was interrupted again, " You can make it up to us by stayin' here and havin' a drink with the lot of us," the man said as he held up a drink towards the small framed male in front of him.

"I-I'm very sorry, but I cannot...I have to keep working, I hope you'll understand...please excuse me," Kiku went to bow apologetically. Before he could ascend from his bow he felt a large hand around his waste pulling him closer.

"Sorry to break it to ya, but I don't think we'll be takin' no for an answer," the man said as his once soft looking eyes turned harsh and pierced into the small Japanese male's dark eyes. "Now come here," he barked as he tried to pull Kiku in closer. "Please, no...I...I said I cannot!" Kiku raised his voice slightly.

"Damn this one's a little stubborn... I said sit..." before the man could finish his sentence a guard's hand came down in front of the section of table that was unoccupied by dishes, "I think it would be wise to leave this worker alone," the courtesan said as he took an inhale from his pipe.

"Just who do you think you are?" one of the other men asked as he looked up at the courtesan. "The owner of this establishment; you mustn't be that foolish?," the courtesan said in a sarcastic manner as he turned his nose up slightly.

"Now wait just a second," one man started as he went to stand from his seat, hands sprawled out on the table, "If you think I'm gonna let some man dressed up to look like some tart insult me you got another thing comin'!"

"Hmm, It's funny how you try to insult me by calling me a "man dressed up as a tart" when you in turn come here to purchase these "over dressed tarts"that are just like me, if you don't like it then why don't you leave?" the courtesan said slyly.

The man went to grab for the courtesan when he was stopped by the guard, "Ryota, kindly escort these four men out of the establishment," the courtesan said as he turned his back to walk away. "M-Mistress Yao..." Kiku said softly under his breath.

The courtesan stopped with his back still facing Kiku, "You will go up stairs and refrain from serving for the rest of the night," the courtesan said. "T-Thank you for saving me from those men," Kiku said as he bowed.

The courtesan took another long inhale from his pipe before speaking again, "Saving you? It had nothing to do with saving you, you would have lost all worth if I had let those men continue on with their actions... just consider yourself lucky," the courtesan replied coldly.

"Always causing me trouble..." the courtesan said under his breath as he began to walk away. Kiku looked around the establishment to see the eyes of the other patrons on him; questioning the events that had just transpired. He blushed softly before turning to make his way back up the stairs to the small room where he slept.

As the hours passed by once again, things began to slow down for the night as it came to a close; it was now five o'clock in the morning as the lights outside of the lattice windows could be seen shutting off as the patrons flocked from the brothels back onto the street to return back to their homes for another day until the sky was darkened again by the night.

Kiku slept on his futon, tired from only the first night of many that would be filled with unnerving and stressful events that would make him feel even more helpless than he already did, the only thing he could hope for was to be spared from having to dirty his body in order to pay off the tremendous debt his father had created.

Sorry for the delay, here is the newest chapter, there is still more coming ^_^
*gyoza: dumplings (just in case you didn't know) ^_^

Thank you for continuing to read, please review 3