Chapter Six: Courtesans and Journalists
The edge in Kate's voice and the annoyed look that flashed across her face when she said; "Masseuses Rick, not masseurs?" surprised Rick and annoyed him in turn. What right did she have to question him, even in passing. She was only supposed to be interviewing him and that was certainly not part of the interview.
"Yes masseuses Kate. What difference should it make whether I use a masseuse or a masseur? She huffed. "That should be obvious. A woman's going to have her hands all over you. Things could happen."
"First of all, Kate, no man is putting his hands on me unless he has M.D. behind his name."
"Secondly, these masseuses are not prostitutes. "Rick was splitting a very fine hair. The exclusive bath house he patronized were not brothels and the masseuses not prostitutes. Expensive courtesans, yes, but not prostitutes, available to any man with 100 yen. Their affairs were never conducted at the bath house and an evening with them was much more than just sexual congress. In reality, a very large percentage of other establishments and their employees were exactly what Kate had implied.
"Third, I fail to see how, even if they were, it is any concern of yours what I do with my free time. You've known me all of two days. That's hardly enough time to engender that amount of concern."
Kate turned away from him to hide the anger and hurt on her face. How can I be so attracted to him and concerned for him in only two days? Not just attracted, I want him. How can he not see it? I know he's neither stupid nor insensitive. I've got to calm down. He's not the kind of man to be pushed. If I push I'll ruin it but I really have so little time. What do I do?
Rick was in fact, neither stupid nor insensitive. There were little tells that Kate was not even aware of. He knew full well that she was attracted to him. He was attracted to her. She was the kind of woman that he wanted. Beautiful, intelligent and honestly naturally sexy. But those things were also Kyra's characteristics and the pain she'd inflicted still resonated in him.
Attraction or not he wasn't willing to risk his heart again. After all, it had been stomped on three times. Some people built walls to protect their hearts. Rick didn't, walls could be breached. He preferred armor plate. But where there was armor plate there were also shaped charges. (Or shapely charges)
Kate took a moment to compose herself and turned back around and placed her hand on his chest. "Why isn't two days enough to be concerned with someone's welfare? You know that there are so many bad things that can happen to foreigners in certain parts of Tokyo. I'm not naive Rick. If you must go, please promise me that you'll be careful."
Rick chuckled. "I'm not going to the red light district, Kate. The establishment I'm going to is in an upscale district. If it makes you feel any better, I promise that I'll be back before midnight."
"You had better be, Cinderfella."
On that more relaxed note they went to their respective quarters to get ready for dinner.
Inside the officer's club it seemed like any very nice restaurant or club, only belied by the fact that most of the people present were in uniform, mostly Air Force but a couple of Army and one Navy officer. There were a few ladies in civilian dresses, which caused Kate a bit of envy. She hadn't brought any nice dresses with her. She desperately wanted to look beautiful for Rick. Well, this was Tokyo. She would remedy that lack tomorrow. She asked him.
"Rick I want to have breakfast with you but after that I would like to go into Tokyo and do a little shopping. Is there a way that I can conveniently do that?"
"Of course. You can take a taxi from the base. There are a couple of companies that have been vetted by the Air Force. Their rates are honest and the drivers speak English. They can also take you to the good shops. If you like, I can ask if one of the off duty nurses would be willing to accompany you."
"I couldn't ask one of them to sacrifice her off duty time." Rick laughed.
"Are you kidding? Do you really think any of them would pass up a chance to go shopping with a civilian woman from home who isn't constrained my regulations? Never going to happen. Besides they'll get a chance for some of the big town gossip. Give me a few minutes please."
Kate shook her head as Rick got up and walked over to a table where four nurses were sitting. Kate hadn't even noticed. Rick leaned down and said something to a rather severe looking major who stared at him for a minute then burst out laughing. Rick walked back and sat down.
He grinned. "All arranged. Major Pulaski will contact you a little later tonight. She'll talk to her nurses and set it up."
Kate looked a little piqued. "Why didn't you offer to escort me?" Rick laughed at that.
"Oh please Kate, I have a mother and a daughter living with me. I've had to escort them on shopping trips. I don't know you well enough to endure that kind of torture."
Kate huffed. He may be different than any other guy I've ever met but sure is a "guy reaction" if I've ever seen one. Well, maybe that's not so bad after all. Maybe I can find something elegant yet sexy plus some lacy dainties and ambush him. I know what I want him to do for me. I want him to take me dining and dancing in Tokyo. If we stick to slow dancing, he should be able to handle it.
"Well if you won't take me shopping you'll just have to wait to see what I wear when you make your amends to me."
"You've decided how you want me to make amends?"
She smiled, coyly. "Oh yes. I want you to take me to dinner and dancing in Tokyo. The evening of the day after tomorrow. You should be healed enough by then to handle slow dancing. "She arched an eyebrow. She knew enough about the man to know that he'd never resist a challenge.
"That is if you think that you can handle me at all." It was his turn to raise an eyebrow.
"You're going to be so sorry you said that, Kate." No I won't, not if I get what I want."
The sly smile that appeared on Kate's face told Rick that he'd just walked right into her trap. He been as much as ordered to do anything he could to make Kate happy. Not that making her happy was a bad thing as far as he was concerned, he had been raised as a gentleman, it was just that were strict limits as to how far he was prepared to go. Casual sex was fine with him as long as it didn't involve any real emotion, especially any kind of commitment. He sensed that casual sex was not what she truly wanted although she might think otherwise in the heat of the moment.
He was sure that she was the kind of woman who would be about making love, not just having sex. Yeah, he'd stick to courtesans for his needs, no commitment there, just a transaction.
"Okay Kate that's a date."
"Thank you Rick and please wear civilian clothes. I want to know a little about Rick Rodgers off duty as well as Major Richard Rodgers ace pilot."
They kept their conversation light through the rest of an excellent meal, after which he escorted her to her quarters and he bid her good evening. Despite his assurances, Kate couldn't help feeling hurt and resentful as he departed for Tokyo.
The owner of the bathhouse and spa greeted Rick at the door. In flawless English he said;
"Ah Major Rodgers it is very good to have you with us again. It has been too long since your last visit. Has the fighting been bad in Korea?"
"War is always bad Kyoto San but this one is not as bad as the last war."
"That is true Major but one is thankful for even small favors. It is obvious that you have some injury Major how may we help you?"
"After the bathing, I will need your hottest pool to relax in followed by a massage. Is Miko available?"
"Of course Major. I will have a tub brought to a private room and Miko will bathe you."
Rick knew that this was highly unusual treatment as the bath tubs were usually set up in a common room and each customer bathed himself.
Rick entered the private room and undressed then donned the cotton robe provided. Two men carried the tub into the room then brought in several buckets of varying temperature water. Miko then entered the room and mixed the water to the correct temperature.
"Please remove the robe and get into the tub Hayabusa." Rick laughed as he dropped the robe and stepped into the tub. Miko had dubbed him Hayabusa on his second visit to the bath house, several months ago. When she learned that he was a fighter pilot. Hayabusa was Japanese for falcon. Miko spoke English nearly as well as Mr. Kyoto, half owner of the bath house with her brother. Miko had gasped as he dropped the robe, exposing the extensive bruising on his ribcage, shoulders and thighs from his parachute harness and impact with the ground. Miko gasped at the sight. In spite of the fact that he was a client, she genuinely cared for Rick. He treated her gently and with the respect due any woman. He didn't seem to attach any stigma to her profession
"You are injured my falcon. I shall be very gentle with you."
She bathed him carefully then led him to the hottest of the common pools to soak. When he was done she led him to the private room with its massage table. Miko Kyoto would be considered a beautiful woman in any society. Petite with delicate features and large expressive dark eyes. Rick was amazed at the strength in those slender hands.
"Will you be staying with me tonight for a time of joy?"
"No, I am sorry Miko, not this night or the next two but before I return to Korea we will have time together."
Miko sighed, she enjoyed sex with this man who, as large and powerful as he was, treated her gently and with great skill, almost like a lover, more than a client. She had experienced several orgasms with him which was rare as she seldom climaxed at all with other clients. They would spend an entire evening and night together, with her finally sleeping in the wee hours of the morning, waking beside him. Rick relaxed as she rubbed fragrant oils into his skin and ointment into the strained muscles of his back and ankle. She asked him to turn over and as he did, she broke one of the rules of the house. She removed her kimono and said;
"You are injured my falcon but I am not." She quickly brought Rick to full arousal and took him into her mouth briefly before straddling him, it was quickly over but it was enough and she smiled. "In three days then, my falcon, come to me, beneath the moon."
Kate couldn't believe herself. She was standing by the window of her room watching the senior officer's BOQ, waiting to see if Rick kept his word. Damn it I'm acting like a jealous girlfriend and I have no right to feel this way. He's not my boyfriend, damn it! She checked her watch as she saw the taxi pull up in front of the BOQ and Rick stepped out of it. He handed the driver some cash then said something to him. She couldn't hear what he said but she definitely didn't like the look of the grin he wore. I hope that grin doesn't mean what I think it does, damn him!
Kate awoke, still irritated with Rick although she had no right to be. He hadn't made any promises to her, nor implied anything at all. No, he hadn't done any of that but the feeling was still there, like a betrayal although that thought was totally out of line. She didn't care, out of line or not it was how she felt.
She got up, showered and applied what little make-up she used then dressed in a smart pants suit over a soft blouse. Not being at a forward base she could wear civilian clothes. She met Rick for breakfast, just barely managing not to be snippy with him. He still caught something of her mood. He decided to ignore it and gave her a smiling good morning.
She couldn't help admiring him. He wore the Air Force's new blue uniform instead of his old pinks and greens, the color of the uniform accenting his eyes, perfectly tailored it was obviously not off the officer's sales store rack.
"Good morning Rick." There was more than a little snark in her question when she said;
"Did you have a good massage?" Ignoring the snark he said;
"Yes I did. Between the massage itself and the pain relieving oils plus the hot soak, my back and calf feel much better." She rolled her eyes. "What about the rest of you?"
"Well it didn't help my ribs or my ankle but you've nothing to worry about. My ankle will have healed enough to take you dancing tomorrow night."
"I certainly hope so; I don't take kindly to being stood up."
"Why in the world would you think I might stand you up?"
"You might have found something more interesting to do." Or someone more interesting.
"Hardly Kate, you're a fascinating woman." Too damn fascinating, dangerously so.
Most of her annoyance had vanished but not all of it. "Words Rick, only words. You are going to have to prove it to me. We will continue with the interview after I get back from shopping. I have to meet with Lieutenant Oliver right after breakfast."
Lieutenant Brianna Oliver was a petite blue-eyed blonde that looked like she should be a high school cheerleader instead of a commissioned officer. Despite the seriousness of her duties she retained the cheerful upbeat attitude that had made her the most popular of the nurses.
"Hello, I'm Brianna Oliver, Miss Beckett. I'm so pleased to meet you."
Kate smiled. "I'm pleased to meet you too, Lieutenant Oliver. Please call me Kate. May I call you Brianna?"
The woman blushed. "Just Bree, if you will."
"Thank you Bree. It means a lot that you'd sacrifice your free time to escort me to Tokyo."
"Sacrifice, are you kidding me? It's no sacrifice to get off this base and go shopping in Tokyo. and to have the blessing of the Air Force while doing it. This is going to be so much fun. All the other nurses are green with envy. The icing on the cake is that it's a favor to Major Castle."
Kate's eyebrows rose. "A favor to Major Castle. Why is that so important?"
"Why? Geez Kate, are you blind? That guy's every girl's dream. He's handsome, sexy and nice to everybody. Last time he was here to visit one of his men and bought chocolates and flowers for all the nurses, yet never made a pass at any of us! If I do a favor maybe, he'll be nice to me."
The way Brianna said nice, told Kate just what she meant by nice.
He'll never get a chance to be nice to you if I have anything to say about it. I want all the nice for myself. Oh! I'm in so much trouble. I'm jealous over a man I barely know. Well I have a very good chance to know him a lot better.
A taxi and a staff car pulled up at the same time. Lieutenant Shively got out and said;
"Miss Beckett, Colonel Preston has put his staff car at your disposal, Sergeant Welles will drive you wherever you wish to go. He feels that two American women shouldn't be in Tokyo unescorted."
Kate shook her head, refusing the offer of the staff car. "We'll be fine Lieutenant. Besides, sergeant Welles wouldn't know where to take us The cabbie will and he's vouched for."
Lieutenant Shively didn't know that Kate's confidence was backed by the Colt .380 she carried in her purse. The women's first stop was at a lingerie shop, both making hopeful purchases. Kate chose a pair of lace trimmed scarlet silk panties, matching bra, a garter belt and sheer silk stockings. Brianna chose similar items in black.
Their next stop was a high end dress shop that carried both Japanese and western style clothing. Once again Kate felt that something was guiding her. In less than five minutes she found a dress that she loved. It was a combination of western and Asian style. Silk, in a shade almost matching her new lingerie, the bodice was cut in a Chinese style. Close fitting that perfectly outlined her slim figure, it had a v neckline that allowed just a hint of cleavage, extending into a mandarin collar.
The skirt was also form fitting reaching to mid-calf but with a slit on the right side, to mid- thigh, allowing her freedom of movement and putting one gorgeous leg on display. They visited a more modestly priced store so that Brianna could buy a dress within her budget. They finished their shopping with a visit to a tea house for refreshment.
Kate wanted to complete her outfit with a nice pair of heels but she thought that it would be easier to find those at the base exchange.
Ironically, less than a mile from the tea house, Miko Kyoto sat in her apartment crying softly. She'd made the worst mistake possible for a courtesan. She'd fallen in love with her client. A man she'd been with only half a dozen times in the past year. She'd called him her falcon but she knew that he wasn't truly hers and never would be. He would return to America or be killed in action, leaving her bereft in either case.
Her brother had seen the warning signs and had said;
"Be careful Miko, you cannot hold a falcon's heart. Hayabusa has the soul of a samurai."
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