Sorry for the wait, it's been like weeks…I went on this medical thing and was all like busy getting ready for uni stuff…whatever- you don't want excuses! On with the show:
Imagine a stage. On this stage there are buildings of every colour, but their colours are hidden for the entire setting is swamped by overruling colours of white, purples, blues and a silver shimmer of light. If these buildings were some part of a play they would look false; as though a wicked wind could blow them away; they are as beautiful and weak as the women who dwell within them. A faint mist travels across the surface of the cobbled streets, allowing this place to have a dream like quality; never letting the outline of anything be too defined for fear of losing you to reality. Now place, in that town square, jewels, everywhere, every colour, every size, so that wherever you looked it was as though you were seated in the centre of the universe and the stars were around you. Allow neon lights in their bright, shimmering, bold colours to penetrate through all else; these are what give light here. There is no moon; there are no street lights, just the twinkling purples, pinks, oranges in the distance. In the centre, place a fountain; as grand and as elaborate as any man could imagine, as beautiful and as intricate in design as any woman could hope. Hear music; faint, enticing, seductive in melancholy and welcoming to a soul like yours who is lost to a place like this. This town is one that never sees sunlight; it is a town where the blankets of the night stay put, never penetrated by natural light. Beyond the fountain, in the distance, there is a stream running through the centre of the square; but also remember that this place is hidden away in a mirage in the desert. How the water came there is none of your concern. Add now women, matching the coloured lights, walking, talking, and giving life to this place. Each woman in their own colour; a shawl around them, acting as a cover for their bodies and a veil to cover their hair loosely. Anklets jingle in unison as they walk to and from each other's building; discussing business, killing time by writing rhymes, conversing in sadness over lost loyal customers. These are the women who live life by singing not breathing, by dancing not running, by laughing, never crying. Welcome, to the White Light District.
"Ai, this is where you came from?" Kankuro looked out of the carriage window and gave a low whistle, "even I have not come to the centre of the district before." He turned to her and she laughed as his face went from a portrayal of unease to happiness at the thought of some awaiting treasure. "But I thought you lived with Megumi on the outskirts." Ai glanced back out of the window, taking in the familiar scent of flowers on the breeze.
"Megumi found me aged six, we lived here until I was nine-"
"What made you leave?" Shinji asked suddenly, he was sat opposite her in the carriage and had been silent the entire time. Ai's glassy stare appraised him for a moment.
"I never asked. Perhaps we had enough money to get out of here and move to the outskirts; that is a more respected place and therefore more…affluent political figures come there." Kankuro nodded as she said this.
"Like Kazekages?" He smiled at her and she nodded. "Like sons of feudal lords?" He nodded towards Shinji who blushed.
"Who travels here then?" Shinji joined Ai as she looked out the window; she was thoughtful for a moment.
"Poets, writers, musicians, those are the people who come for work; the arts are in high demand here. As for customers…" she faltered, "I cannot say."
"Why not?" Shinji pestered her and she had recently become accustomed to his presence but she realised it's because he hadn't said or done anything in the two hours they had been together, but as soon as he opened his mouth, she was annoyed. She fought down the desire to humiliate him in some way in front of Kankuro; he was only curious after all.
"I've never worked here; never been part of the public spectrum of society. I was hidden away from the world. Grew close to my maids and fellow children there." She smiled, "the kazekage was of my first audience; it was only then I had ever met the men I was to-"
"OK Ai!" Kankuro put his hands to his hears, "we don't need to hear stuff like that." She smiled at him and looked Shinji up and down.
"Why go back?" Shinji asked and Ai sighed.
"There was a woman I left here; Haru-sama, she was like another mother to me. You see every woman here is part of my family; everyone is a sister, mother, friend-"
"But never wife…lover?" Shinji said quietly and Ai looked at him quickly; Gaara had once said something very similar. She nodded.
"We were taught that these things were not good enough for us. In order to make sure a courtesan stays and works is to tell her that things like marriage were a pitiful waste of time. You'll see what I mean; the women here are vain, arrogant, and too good for such a thing like heartbreak; for that is what you get if you fall in love."
"So what happened to you; why did you turn out so different?" Kankuro asked her and she couldn't think of a proper answer. She shrugged.
"Meeting him, made me realise that something that was so easily denied to me, could be mine." She said simply. Kankuro laughed and shook his head.
"That makes no sense; Gaara had no idea what love is…how could he have possibly given it to you?" Even shinji laughed; he had heard about Gaara of the desert before Ai had entered his life. Again Ai shrugged.
"It's a strange paradox I live in." The carriage came to a stop; Ai glanced out of the window and gasped. "Akina house." She whispered, her carriage door was opened for her and she got out, closely followed by Shinji and Kankuro. They took in the view of the giant building; light blue lights portraying the name…no they weren't blue lights…they were candles light behind lots of tiny, crystal, blue flowers. Looking closer they could see that most of the wall of the building was made of brick with a few Akina thrown into it to add the illusion that the building was made of shimmering ore. The steps of the building lead up to huge wooden doors with Akina placed within the wood.
"You told us this is a place that never sleeps," Shinji said to Ai as he glanced about the place, "but there is no one here." Ai smirked.
"Business goes on as usual, to whatever hours of the night, but this place, Akina house, belongs to Haru-sama. It used to be owned by her and Megumi, but we left. It's a school; this is where the girls come to learn. But it is also a place of refuge; Haru opened doors to anyone who was not working." Ai began to walk up the steps, "therefore it is the only place that sleeps." Before she even reached the doors they swung open and an old, elegantly dressed woman stood in the doorway. They all stood in silence for a few moments as Haru looked Ai up and down. Taking in the long dark hair hidden beneath the black hood of her cloak, the light blue eyes that sparkled like the blue Akina in front of them and that envied fair, flawless skin she always had. The woman spoke in a voice as soft as the red silk she was wearing.
"No," the old lady shook her head so her veil shimmered in the candlelight, "this isn't Ai?" She held a hand out and touched Ai's head; Ai had to crouch slightly so the woman could reach. "Not my Ai; that scared little thing that left this place?" She used her other hand to wipe a tear away.
"Haru-sama," Ai whispered in return, a feeling of happiness overwhelming her.
"Yes," the woman laughed and pointed an accusing finger at Ai, "that's how she used to say my name, right before asking-"
"May I take of the safety pin today?" Ai said and laughed before collapsing into the woman's outstretched arms. After silent tears had subsided from both women, Haru held Ai at arms length. Shinji and Kankuro exchanged looks; safety pin? What an odd thing to ask.
"How…did you become so beautiful?" Haru gasped; "oh yes, I heard; you fell in love." Ai nodded and smiled slightly ashamedly. "It's not true though is it; that you are in love with the Kazekage….Gaara…the demon child?"
"He is no demon." Ai corrected her and the woman threw her head back and laughed, but when she looked back at Ai her face saddened, she but a hand to Ai's face. "The moon has been gone from this place for so long. Welcome back."
"Thank you." Ai said and wiped tears from her face with the end of her shawl.
"I see the Kazekage would not send you alone." Haru nodded towards Kankuro and Shinji. Kankuro took a step forwards.
"Haru-sama," he said delicately, "if Ai brings the moon then I bring many other things you would hope for too." He smiled at her; Haru laughed and took his arm.
"I like this one, Ai!" She said enthusiastically, "and you, young boy, are?" Ai laughed as Haru nodded at Shinji; what would he think about being called a young boy?
"Tadao Shinji." He said with an embarrassed smile but Haru nodded.
"hmmm…I can tell from the way you talk you are one who has kept to the outskirts of the town." Haru turned around and, dragging Kankuro with her, walked away. "One who has stayed on the outskirts of indecency?" She laughed again, "Ai, come, we have much to discuss, much to exchange." Ai nodded, laughed quietly at Shinji's dumbfounded look, and walked on after Haru.
"Sir, we have arrived." Gaara heard as he waited for his carriage to come to a stop. He had decided to go with Ai in the end…no that was a lie: he had decided to go and spy on her. In truth he was slightly ashamed of himself; but after all Gaara had been through when it came to people "loving" him, he found it difficult to trust anyone. But this was Ai! Of all people in the world he should trust her the most. But this was completely different; he knew Ai would never hurt him in any way; whether that was through embarrassing him with her actions or by acting on her old profession. But Miko was partially right, he knew that; music, dance, romance, was etched on Ai's heart. It's what she had been told were the greatest things in the world; she wouldn't be able to resist them. And if she didn't she could end up in a very dangerous situation. So Gaara was just looking out for her, right? "Ahem…Sir?"
"Oh," Gaara said suddenly, remembering that in his disguise people wouldn't refer to him as "Kazekage-sama."
"This is the centre of the town." The footman told him, gesturing around the place. The sight took Gaara's breath away; lights of every colour framed the scene and…was that a lake? In a town that was somewhere in the desert? Miko was right; this place was one of dreams.
"Thank you." Gaara said as he climbed out of the carriage; the driver left immediately, not thinking to help Gaara for the Kazekage was disguised as an ordinary man. Brown hair, brown eyes, slightly darkened skin that came from working in the desert sun every day. Gaara gulped; he had no idea where to go now, although he heard many shouts, beckoning him to come closer, to become a shadow in their doorway. He ignored them and went up the first person he saw. A girl, dressed in dark blue, stood a little way off, on the ledge of a fountain. It was a beautiful fountain, some white stone that sparkled in the candlelight. The girl stood, twirling around on its ledge, her long skirt flowing as she moved, the shawl around her moved also and Gaara blushed as he caught a glimpse of her bare midriff. The jewels that adorned her head, wrists, ankles and hands were dark blue set in antique gold. She stopped as he coughed pointedly.
"Oh!" She said and turned to him, Gaara saw the girl was carrying an umbrella; it rained here too? "What brings you here stranger?" She spoke in a soft voice but pronounced every word as though talking was a waste of time; slowly and with deliberate pronunciation of each syllable. She put the umbrella over her shoulder and looked him up and down.
"I am looking for someone," Gaara spoke quickly; he could see the girl was already bored, she blew a long strand of curly brown hair from her face.
"Aren't we all?" She whispered.
"Haru, owner of Akina House." The girl looked at him as he said this.
"Why, that's where I was just going!" She said happily although it looked to Gaara as though she wasn't planning on going anywhere.
"Will you take me there?" He asked her and saw a mischievous smile spread across her face.
"I will." She said happily, "If you put a name to that handsome face." Gaara took a step away from her.
"Danju." He said quickly, "and yours?"
"Sakina." She smiled at him and Gaara was suddenly aware that she was very pretty. "Let's go." She turned on her heel and jumped down from the ledge of the fountain. "Be careful not to get lost amongst the lost souls here." She said back at him but then turned so suddenly Gaara almost walked into her. "Danju, won't you take my hand? That way you won't get lost." He shook his head and she laughed. "Shy?!" She laughed harder. "Here," she held the pointed end of the umbrella and held out the handle to him. "Take the handle, not my hand." He took it.
They must have looked odd, walking through the streets of the White Light District, Sakina leading and Gaara holding an umbrella handle behind her. Every now and then people would call to her and she'd laugh, reply in a few poetic words and walk on. She reminded Gaara of Ai, but only for a beauty and elegance; he could tell Sakina was arrogant, vain and snot as modest as Ai. Sure he called Ai vain but that was in jest, just between them.
"What brings you here traveller," Sakina called back to him. "You refuse to touch me and yet you come to this town; slightly contradictory wouldn't you think?" The girl had gold eyes! He had never noticed before in such darkness but looking now in the light he could see that her eyes were the colour of amber. "Well?" She asked and laughed as he came out of his stare.
"I have things to discuss with Haru-sama," he said quickly. "What brings you here?"
"Apart from birth?" Sakina said and turned away.
"You were born into your profession?" She shrugged.
"I inherited the trade of false romance." She turned a corner sharply and Gaara let go of the umbrella. "Here we are…Akina house." She said as the gigantic, beautiful building came into view. "I hear the infamous Ai is coming back tonight-"
"Infamous?" Gaara enquired and Sakina turned to him.
"She is a traitor." Sakina said softly, "she knows nothing of the pain we go under and yet she takes the easy way out' gets the Kazekage to fall in love with her." Sakina raised an eyebrow, "and yet the bow to her as though she walks on gold." She laughed.
"She spoke of you all as though you were her family-"
"She spoke? You have spoken with her?" Sakina turned to him and he thought fast.
"I have heard her talking; I work at the palace." Sakina sighed.
"If she were our sister she'd help us out here a little more." The girl took a step forwards, "let's enter shall we?"
Ooooh, new people keep entering the story!
Oh, and shame on those of you who favourited Romancing the Kazekage and not this…because this is going to be SO much better :D
Review it if you love it. I know I do.
