"Ah, there's my lady now," he sighed. "All right then, run along and tell her I'm impatient for her," he jerked his head in the direction of the private rooms. "You've got me all worked up now, so I'll have to take it out on your mistress's beautiful body since you only know how to say no to me." She started to scramble off him, but he still held her wrist. She stared at him warily, and then his smile faded.
"Before you go, I still want that kiss," he said quietly.
"I won't," she tugged her arm, but he held her tight.
"Then I'll leave and break your lady's heart as you're breaking mine," he stated plainly. Her eyes widened. The bell tinkled again.
"Apparently, my lady is as impatient for me as I am for your kiss," he leaned forward and pulled her toward him. "Just a little kiss, Kouchou. A secret between us."
"But, my lady…" she whimpered and trembled.
"On the cheek, then?" he turned his face. "Just a kiss on the cheek to show we're still friends and you still like me."
She swallowed the dry lump in her throat and looked at his rough, but handsome face, turned and waiting expectantly. The bell tinkled again, this time for a few seconds longer than before.
"Hurry up now. You're keeping everyone waiting," he admonished her.
With panic surging in her blood, she clenched her eyes shut and stooped down quickly to kiss his cheek. However, her lips landed on his when he turned at the last second, and she snapped open her eyes as one of his hands cupped the back of her head and held her firmly against his moving mouth. His other hand wound around her waist again and he pulled her down against him. She squealed against his mouth as he pried her lips open and snaked his tongue against hers. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't pull away. He was too strong, too forceful.
When the hand around her waist stole up to cover her breast, fury took over her body and she began to pummel him with every bit of her energy. He laughed into her mouth and clutched her breast in a bruising grip, making her wince. The bell on the wall rattled noisily. Suddenly, in a rage she had never felt before, she bit down as hard as she could on his tongue and bottom lip. He howled and threw her to the floor.
Kouchou rushed for the door, but he beat her to it and grabbed her again, lifting her up and pinning her back to the door, so his mouth was at her breasts. He leered up at her, blood trickling from his lip.
"What did I tell you about fighting me?" he grinned, his eyes sparking with excitement. "You're a stubborn one. You refuse to learn your lessons. I see that you're going to be a handful," he remarked and lowered her to her feet. "Consider this your first lesson, Kouchou. The first of many. I'll make sure of that," he smirked.
He knelt down in front of her on one knee and straightened her robes carefully back into place. He gently brushed her hair back and then swiped his thumb at the corner of her bruised and reddened lips where he had smeared her lip rouge. When he was done, he chucked her playfully under the chin.
"Lesson number one is the man is the master," he explained. "That is how God intended it. The sooner you understand that, the better it will be for you. A woman has her powers, and you, my dear, have them even before you're a woman. But ultimately, they exist for her master's use."
He stood up then, a massive man, strong, handsome, noble, and the first man Kouchou hated with every inch of her being. She understood for the first time in her life how deceitful and evil people could be, as she watched him blotting his handkerchief at his bloody lip.
Just then, the door opened, bumping Kouchou in the back and thrusting her forward. She whirled and stared wide-eyed at her mistress, who looked uncharacteristically upset. Instantly, Kouchou fell to the floor and touched her forehead at her lady's feet.
"Kouchou…" the lady muttered in shock. "Did you not hear the bell?"
"Oh, forgive her, my sweet," the general turned and beamed his most devastatingly handsome grin at her. "I'm afraid I tripped and hit my mouth. Damned clumsy of me. Kouchou-chan stopped to help heal my lips. You should be proud of her. She's a most thoughtful and considerate child."
The lady swept quickly into the room and closed the door behind her. She rushed past Kouchou's crouched form to tend to the general's wound.
"Oh, my dear, this house is cursed," she moaned. "I will be glad to be rid of it. I am so sorry for your injury," she simpered and pressed herself to his chest.
"There now," he patted her back. "It was my own fault. You know, I often barge into things when I should be more gingerly. Too much on the battlefield instead of the boudoir. Perhaps I will correct that when something more enticing awaits me in my bed."
Her mistress giggled sweetly, her laugh like airy chimes in a soft breeze. However, even at such a young age, Kouchou knew his words had double meaning, one intended for her mistress, the other for her.
"Shall I kiss your hurt away," the lady whispered softly.
"My sweet," he muttered.
Kouchou grimaced, hearing the sounds of their lips meeting behind her back. She touched her own lips, now knowing how his kiss felt. It disgusted her that he could kiss her lady, who loved him so, after just attacking her. Rage filled her so much, she shook with it.
"Kouchou-chan, come here, please," he called to her, and her eyes widened as she climbed to her feet. She called on all the skills she had learned from her mistress to marshal her emotions behind a mask of calm disinterest. She turned and came to stand next to her mistress. She glanced up to see the smirk on his face, as he noted that she purposely kept her distance from him.
"Thank you for your kindness to me, Kouchou-chan. You are a credit to this house and to your mistress," he said in a gentle voice. "I will be sure to inform the house mother."
"Master, she is a very good girl. Is she not growing up so beautifully," the lady rested a gentle arm on Kouchou's shoulder.
"She has a most attentive mistress. You've raised her well and encouraged her beauty to blossom. I hardly would've expected you to be talented at raising children as well, my dear. It pleases me," he touched the lady's cheek tenderly, and the woman bowed her head.
"Master, I beg your indulgence, but I fear for my dear Kouchou-chan here in this house," the lady raised sad eyes to the shogun.
"Oh?" he frowned.
"Already…she has been…approached…" she explained and stroked the young girl's hair.
"Has she?" he replied, and the dark sound of his voice drew Kouchou's eyes up to him. "I'll crush any man that looks at her the wrong way." She turned away in disgust when she saw jealousy cloud his expression.
"Master, I know I am but a whisper in your thoughts," her mistress simpered, clutching the shogun's hand firmly in both of hers, "but may it be possible to bring this dear child with us? She will be no trouble. She hardly eats and she works very hard. I should be so grateful."
Kouchou's head shot up to her mistress's face and then to the general's, whose lips curled up at one corner.
"A brilliant idea, my dearest," he growled with satisfaction. "And she may eat as much as she likes. She's a bit too skinny as it is. A man likes a full bosom and hips to get his hands around, no?" he teased the lady and squeezed her round rump, pulling her against him, as she giggled and hugged him tightly.
Kouchou wanted to retch. Her mind raced with what she could barely imagine lay in store for her once the shogun had her secluded in his home. She began to visibly tremble.
"Kouchou-chan!" the lady nudged her shoulder. "Thank Master for his generosity to you."
She bowed a little too forcefully and almost toppled over. He caught her shoulders and steadied her, kneeling before her.
"Ah, so formal, Kouchou-chan?" he smiled gently at her. "We're going to be family now. A close and loving family. Surely, a hug and kiss is not too much to ask?"
Kouchou's eyes shot up to her lady's and she caught an unsteady expression on the older woman's face. "It's all right, Kouchou. The master wishes it. He will be kind to you, so be a good girl."
Kouchou felt her stomach drop as she turned back to the handsome, dark and sinister face grinning with anticipation before her. He turned his cheek and tapped his face for the kiss.
She closed her eyes and steadied herself, leaning hesitantly toward him. Her mouth met rough, stubbled skin and quickly brushed it before drawing back. However, before she could move away, he gathered her in his arms and drew her softly against his broad chest in a warm hug.
"Now, that's not so bad, is it, Kouchou-chan?" he said at her ear. "Am I so scary? I'm a soldier, but I will be gentle to you."
She dug her nails into his arm where her lady couldn't see, but deep enough so he could feel it through his heavy uniform sleeve. He snickered against her ear.
"You hug very nicely, Kouchou-chan, for someone who doesn't like to hug," he drew back and smiled at her kindly. "Your lady likes my hugs, and you'll learn to like them too. I promise you."
He stood up and dropped a kiss on the lady's cheek, ruffled Kouchou's hair playfully and told them to pack Kouchou's things while he paid the house mother for their release, a tidy sum considering how much the house would lose without its prize courtesan and her protégé.
After he left the room, the lady dropped to her knees and gathered Kouchou in her arms. "My happiness is complete! Oh, Kouchou, my sweet girl, daughter of my heart! Is he not a wonderful master? He will grant us anything! I love him so, so much."
She hugged her again and when she drew back, Kouchou was shocked to see a tear course down her lady's pristine cheek.
"Ojou-sama!" she exclaimed, her lessons about emotional reserve running through her mind.
"I can't help it, Kouchou…I'm so happy that you will be coming with me. I was a little scared to go to his house alone, but now you will be with me. I will be as brave as you have always been. We will be so happy! Now, let us gather our things and be ready as soon as possible."
Kouchou hesitated for more than a few seconds, on the verge of blurting out the truth of the shogun's intentions, of his misgivings about her life as a courtesan, of his actions toward Kouchou. Yet, when she saw the lady's face, alight with joy, with hope, with denial of what the woman already suspected, she lowered her head.
"Yes, Ojou-sama," she closed her eyes and closed her heart forever.