Chapter Twenty-Nine: Dirty Little Secrets

With the kettle of green tea boiling upon the stove, Anna left the kitchen to step outside into the afternoon sunlight. The weather was beginning to cool somewhat. The air now contained a crispness, a promise of snow that she always enjoyed. Autumn was her favorite time of year in this country. Soon the gentle rolling hills and the flares of the mountains surrounding the small village would turn gold and scarlet with the season's changes.

Looking about, she noticed that none of the household was out and about, so she sat, sinking down upon the steps. Leaning forward, she placed her chin in her hands, and closed her eyes slowly, allowing the peace of the afternoon to sink into her weary bones.

Even though her life here was less than ideal, and she truly was alone in this land, there was a beauty about this country that she couldn't help but admire and make her be grateful that it was her home. Japan was a place of tradition, ancient customs, and a sense of purpose. She lifted her eyes opened slowly and looked about, the breeze stirring up loose strands of her hair. Do I have a purpose here?

Scoffing softly, she reached down and idly toyed with the hem of her kimono. Over the breeze, floating along with it, came the soft weeping of a violin, filtering through the air, quiet in its beauty. She closed her eyes again and smiled softly, tilting her head to the side and resting it upon her shoulder. She had missed that so much...

She breathed in deeply, and hoped nothing would disturb this rare and precious moment of peace and contentment of her.

After a month of being away from the instrument, he had found just how much he missed it with the first straining notes. He could have played all night if he wished, though the longer he held the violin, the more his arm was beginning to ache from prior exertion. Instead of hours, it was only half of one that he had played, and with a slow sigh he lowered the violin to its case. With his bath prepared, the thought of soaking away his pains sounded like a good one. She was taking a while with his tea, but he wasn't going to rush her. It took time, and he could live without the drink.

Pressing up to a slow stand he stepped to the dividing screen and sloughed off the kimono. Placing it upon the edge of the screen, he went about loosening both sash and the wide legged pants. Absently he regarded the difference between the clothes here and those in Persia. Just as flowing, but the material wasn't as rich.

The cease of the music brought her out of the nap she had drifted into, her head still lolled over onto her shoulder. She sat up, wincing at the stiffness of her neck, and blinked about, the afternoon's sunshine suddenly a bleary green with the sleep still in her eyes.

But a smile crossed her face as she stretched out her arms, and arched her back, the fine muscles along each side of her spine stretching out. The nap the music had sent her into had done her good. She felt rested even.

Standing slowly to her feet, she turned back into the house. The fierce shriek of the tea kettle nearly scared her out of her wits as she entered the house. Anna, you twit! She took off running and lifted the kettle off of the stove, its handle nearly scalding her. She lifted the lid and took a sniff, making sure it hadn't scorched, but it merely smelled extraordinarily strong. She set up the delicate tea service and carried it to his room quickly, mindful of the unusually elevated temperature of the tea.

The heat of the water was a welcoming sensation, and he lounged comfortably within it. Tipping his head against the back of the basin, he sank deeper where the curve of his chin nearly touched the water. All had been stripped save for the mask. That was one thing he was never going to take off, not even in the false comfort of his own room.

Yawning, he crossed his arms over his stomach and turned his head to one side. The sun was slowly making its descent, and he was looking forward to the night. Only then would he truly find some form of peace. Perhaps I shall take the horse out of his stable tonight, he thought to himself, then closed his eyes with a slow exhale of breath.

Anna knocked upon the screen, then slid it open, carrying his tray of tea into the room. She cast one quick glance over at the screen placed in front of the basin. She could hear the soft lap of water, and his yawn, and knew he was in his bath.

She didn't call out to him, knowing that he often stayed in for long periods, and most likely slept within the tub at times. At his low desk, she looked down at the surface, then carefully rolled up some of the parchments spread there, twisting gently until they were in slim rolls. She set them gently down by the desk, then set the tray upon its surface, and arranged the lemons and tea, pouring him a cup to have ready when he left the bath.

As she was setting the cup upon the saucer, she heard a screen shut hard within the house, then heard Kito bellow her name. The cup in her hand trembled, spilling out tea upon her hand, and she hissed softly at the pain, but quickly finished setting up the tray, then scurried from the room, without bidding a farewell to Erik. If Kito was only just know coming back, then he didn't know that Erik had returned.

He had been resting peacefully, until the loud voice of the boy had echoed through the house. Cracking his eyes open slowly, he drug in a breath then exhaled it sharply with a disgruntled mutter. Finally climbing from the water and taking up his towel to dry, he wrapped it around the sharp, jutting curves of his hips then took down his kimono. His eye caught upon the tea immediately and, stepping close, he gathered the small cup within his fingers to tip to his lips and sip.

Pulling it away from his mouth he curiously regarded the cup, as if it had bitten him. That tea..was strong. A moments pause, a shrug, and he returned to drinking while pushing an arm through the sleeve of the top. Switching hands and repeating the process, the cloth was belted closed. Near ankle length, he didn't have to worry over replacing the hakama. Truth be told, he had no desire to go through the pleating process. As he drank, he listened carefully to the voices outside of his room.

Bellowing for Anna, Kito stepped into the house, then slammed the screen shut behind him. He kicked off his sandals with negligence and strode across the hall, lifting off his satchel, and tossing it into the open screen of his room. Stupid girl, doesn't she know when to come at her master's call?

He stopped and looked into the kitchens, lifting his lips in a sneer when he didn't see her within. He had just gotten back from a night spent with friends in town, and his head was pounding from the late hours of whoring and drinking. He needed a bath, then a long sleep.

His irritation grew as he could not find the little twit. Shirking on her duties? He'd have to see about that! He grinned, satisfied, as he looked out into the gardens for her. Ever since that freak had turned tail and ran after having his disgusting face revealed, Kito had pretty much enjoyed the unrestrained behavior he'd always indulged in before. There was no one here for his father to compare him to, no one to usurp his authority... That thing was gone and he couldn't be happier. The face rose in his mind, along with the sensation of a belt knotted about his throat. It was impossible to slake a shudder of bone-deep fear. He was happier in more ways than one.

Finally he spotted Anna's small form hurrying toward him from Erik's room. With a roll of laughter, he called out to her down the hall. "In there touching his things again? Like a little fool who can't let go of the past?" He stalked toward her and grabbed her arm and hauled her off in the direction of the kitchens to draw his water.

"Face it, Anna. That monster you're so in love with isn't coming back! I made sure of that!" At her terrified expression, he burst out laughing again and dragged her into the kitchen.

The exuberant proclamation of his disappearance brought an ill humored smile to his lips. He made sure of him being gone, did he? Unable to resist the chance of seeing Kito gawk, he donned the last of his clothing as well as his odori as he planned to take a trip through the gardens. He had come to find out that those boot like socks were actually rather comfortable, if not a bit awkward with the way the largest toe was split from the others.

Quietly exiting his room, he slid the door behind him and listened for the voices to steadily follow them. From what it sounded like, they were making their way toward the kitchen. Tucking his hands behind him with the back of one cupped in the palm of the other, a languid stride lead him in that direction.

With Kito's hand wrapped like an iron band around her upper arm, Anna didn't fight him, but followed meekly at his side, her head lowered as she continued to poke fun at her, teasing and mocking her for the absence of her 'friend'.

"You and I get along fairly well, when that corpse isn't here, Anna." He looked her up and down, a sneer on his fat lips. "No one to interfere." He reached out his opposite hand and slid it down her throat as he turned her in the kitchen pressing her back against the kitchen counter. She shuddered in disgust, and wriggled away, and he let her. Quickly, she rushed over to the hot water supply and began filling buckets for his bath, her hands trembling as she did so.

Part of her wanted very much to turn about and point out to him that that room was occupied once more, but caution and fear of what might happen if he decided to call her bluff kept her silent. Erik had still been in his bath when she had left the room. She remembered all too well the sight of Erik dropping to his knees after Kito driving his fist between his thighs. She felt herself whiten at the image of what he could do if Erik was naked and defenseless. So she kept silent, wearily listening to Kito go on and on about how he had made sure he'd never have to worry about anyone interfering in his business again.

She turned, buckets in hand, and froze at the sight of Erik in the doorway, fully dressed, looking on as Kito continued to make an ass out of himself.

"...especially that ugly little creature." Kito sneered, appearing to have lost some steam. Either that, or he was planning on going again. Deja vu; Erik's voice came from behind him. "Come now. You are no rose yourself, you realize. Did your mother ever tell you that if you do not have something nice to say, then do not say it at all?" So casual, his voice, though it was devoid of the joviality that the words should have had.

The boy might have gotten the upper hand once, but that was the only advantage he was going to gain, ever. This time Erik was prepared for any altercation, either by being armed himself, or using one of the numerous objects within the kitchen. He would be quick to use a skillet to his advantage and definitely attempt to shove the thing down Kito's throat.

Drawing close to the sink, he lowered the delicate cup almost daintily within the basin then turned completely toward the larger man with a kind smile. The type a panther might give before going for the jugular. "My, I must wonder if you missed me enough for almost every sentence out of your mouth to be about me. Affected more by that hit than I was, were you?"

Kito's sneer froze on his broad face, and he turned, moving like an automaton, toward the doorway. Despite his bravado of earlier, despite his mockery of the other man, who he had believed had taken his worthless hide off for good, despite his bragging to Anna about how he had scared that hideous thing off, fear, icy and sickening, ran down his spine.

Erik stood there, the mask in place, and all traces of the sniveling corpse from that night were gone. One amber eye and one blue-green eye bore into his own, the visible lips and chin set in a kind smile.

For a moment, Kito wondered if he might be sick, so sudden was the fear. A memory of being strangled returned, his air completely cut off, his lungs starved for oxygen. But following that chill of fear came the familiar rage, burning low in his gut and spreading outward at the other man's mocking, insulting words.

"I'm surprised you can even stand after that blow, Erik." He leaned back against the counter and cast a look over his shoulder at Anna, who was motionless, her face almost comical in its wide eyed state. "No woman would ever want you before with that face. Now you most likely cannot even be a man in the only way that you are human." He grinned, waiting for that grave insult to sink in and find its mark.

Instead, it veered wide, striking nothing.

Erik brushed off the insult, not even letting it faze him. It wasn't those words that had his eyes narrow within the shaped slots of the mask, but something else entirely. A pantherine prowl took him closer to the man, and his smile only seemed to become crueler as his voice lowered. "I grow immensely tired of you badgering the girl, Kito. What, cannot take your aggressions out upon the one who has evoked them? I am here now. Do it. But do not think me so foolish as before."

Tipping his head to the side, dual colored eyes locked to the darker ones of Kito's and he finally stilled, no more than five feet in front of him. "I am quite sure you recall the feel of my belt wrapped about your throat, choking the very life from your lungs. I wonder if you have ever imagined what it would feel like to get your throat severed by a length of fine cat gut. Maybe if I yank hard enough it would cut clean through your larynx, the muscle and your neck bone alike." Every word was cool and calculated, as if he was speaking of the weather.

Or was it a dissection in this case?

"Did you know that the eyes can see for thirty seconds after the head is removed from the body, Kito? Perhaps I shan't use a rope this time. Perhaps the cut of a blade is more deserving?" One brow lifted behind the mask, even if it wasn't seen and he shifted the cloth of the sleeve just enough for a portion of the leather wrapped bracer to be revealed.

"Leave. The. Kitchen." Each word had its own pregnant pause, and sharp threat behind it.

Bile rose in Kito's throat, burning its way up from his stomach, as he stared up into those chilling mismatched eyes. They seemed to fill his vision, just as the image of his neck being severed and his head snapping from his body did. He could feel that belt again, but this time, he allowed himself the imagination to picture what would happen if that belt had been replaced by the weapon Erik spoke of...He thought he might very well vomit.

Behind him he heard Anna's low whimper and felt a similar reaction to the knowledge this foul thing imparted to him about the eyes. His stomach rolled low in his gut. The fury that had possessed him before was replaced by a very real terror that threatened to choke him alive. He suddenly realized how very tall Erik was, and remembered the strength he possessed that night. That face flashed through his mind, sickening in its hideousness and foul appearance. Monster...

Rationality returned, as soon as he looked down and saw the thin straps of leather wrapped about Erik's bony, corded forearm. The cut of a blade... How dare he threaten him in his own home! But he was more than aware of the girl behind him, and his family deeper within the house. Now was not the time.

With a curl of his lips as if he smelled some distasteful, he shoved past Erik, making his way to the door.

Nonplused, he stepped aside, brushing down the sleeve, which again concealed his hand as he loosely clasped his wrists. Raising his chin he smiled toward Anna. "Oh, and Kito?" He paused a moment, listening to the abruptly ceased movement of the boy behind him. "Touch her again and you will come to know that a scorpion is not the most dangerous thing that can find you in your sleep."

Moving from his spot, Erik stepped further into the kitchen to check if there had been more tea prepared. Of course he didn't expect any, he only came into the kitchen to place fear back into that boy's breast. "You were cooking dinner?", he asked, glancing toward her, then he brought his eyes to the doorway, almost expecting Kito to return with a vengeance.

Anna waited, frozen, her hands wrapped around the steaming buckets of water she carried. Her eyes remained fixed upon Kito's frame in the doorway, knowing that he would whirl about any minute and strike. But he didn't. His body stiff and his wide shoulders set, he left, without looking back. The confrontation was over. There would not be a repeat of that horrific violence that she'd had to witness that night.

She broke down. The buckets fell out of her now limp hands, but landed on their heavy bottoms, only sloshing just a bit. She pressed one hand to her mouth, and turned away, stifling a sob low in her throat.

Oh God! She thought she might be ill. The horrific images that Erik's words has brought to her mind felt burned there, into her brain. She pictured her parents, their heads nearly lolling from their bodies. They had been able to see...The thought was too much.

She shut her eyes tight against the flood of tears that that realization brought. How did he know such things? The weapon he had spoken about...

He had killed…That phrase became a mantra in her brain.

Erik remained completely oblivious to her plight, and for the moment only seemed interested in seeing if there was any food or tea set out. Finding neither, he finally turned his head around to see what that noise was. The buckets were upon the floor and she looked as if she was ready to keel over.

Brows lowered and a subtle frown settled before it was smoothed over. "Anna..?" That boy hadn't severely harmed her, did he? No, he couldn't have. She seemed just fine just moments ago when he was watching the two. Shifting his weight to face her, he stepped closer, curious as to what was wrong. An odd thing. An hour prior there had been an icy wall built so thick around him that it would take an eternity to get through.

Anna took several breaths, her body shuddering, then finally straightened at the questioning way her name was spoken. She knotted her hands together, her fingers gripping each other so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She finally raised her eyes to his, blinking through the tears that burned there.

"I'm fine," she whispered hoarsely. She stared up into his eyes for a long moment searching for...she didn't even know. The coldness and raw hatred that had been there only moments was now gone, replaced by...concern? It was impossible to tell with him. He stood not far from her, closer than she could remember him being to her in a very long time. She could reach out and touch him if she wanted, but she hadn't dared lay a hand on him since his return. He seemed too cold, too shielded.

Touch her again...The words she had been too horrified to listen to suddenly rose in her mind. Touch her again...She knew, knew to her core, that he had killed. And that if Erik learned of Kito harming her again, that he wouldn't hesitate to kill him either. She didn't know whether to feel safe...or horrified.

She stated she was fine, though she didn't look fine. He straightened, nodding once, then turned around to move away from her and out of the kitchen all together. He had his bath, and his tea for the evening, now he had to find something to occupy the rest of his time. He had thought about going out into the garden, perhaps even riding Noko, but those things seemed almost droll now.

With the adrenaline going through his veins he needed something more exciting to do. Pulling in a slow breath he decided upon the latter nevertheless.

Making a detour, he exited the house and traveled toward the stables, regardless of the fact that even being within that building roused a venomous hatred. The reminder of that night was far too strong. Nudging the doors open, he made his way over to the supplies and collected the items he needed. First a soothing brushing of the stallion, then he would saddle the animal and ride.

In the kitchens, Erik now gone, Anna finally was able to breathe normally again. She closed her eyes, then leaned down, and picked up the buckets of hot water. Kito would still be wanting that bath...

Despite Erik's threats, and Kito's inaction, she knew that she still was wise in not showing her impudence to her youngest Master again. As she carried the buckets to his room, and stepped inside after being admitted by Kito's strained voice, she realized something that made her ache inside as much as it chilled her.

She was afraid of Erik.

She had always had respect for him, and wary respect at that. But had she ever truly been afraid of him? She was now. The violence he'd spoken with, the utter callous way he'd spoken of taking another's life. She still felt the horror of the images that had risen in her mind.

As she poured the water in the basin, her hands shook. How had she ever had the gall touch him, to allow herself be comfortable with him? She had always spoken so freely with him, always enjoyed her time with him. He had killed. Her parents flashed again, burning in her memory. He was a murderer.

And she could never forget it.