I do not own Ranma ½ or any characters part or parcel of that great work, nor lay claim to any of the incredible ideas expressed by Rumiko Takahashi, or Viz video. This is just a labor of love from one fan to the rest.
Like Fallen Leaves, the Willow Weeps. A Ying, Yang, Yakuza story (Y3)
Chapter 10: The strongest prison is one's own mind.
A few days had passed since they had recovered Kotori's yukata from the hoodlums, and Rei could not fail to notice the look that often haunted her friend's eyes. Seh had a distanced look to her, like she had stared at something that only she could see, and it haunted her. She had also been frequenting the workroom often, and was busy with something behind closed doors. Odd floral scents seemed to linger on her afterwards, wholesome and comforting in a clean way. It only made Rei more and more curious about what was going on. As the apprentice to one of the Blooming Lilies, she knew better than most what lurked under the pleasant, quaint exterior of the Teahouse. She had been brought into some of the secrets that they all kept, but not all of them, she was sure of that.
She knew of the magic that bound the unwanted form of her teacher and sponsor, of the strange ties with China that the Teahouse had, and knew that, on some level, Qiang Pu was bound into that arrangement as well. She suspected that one day, Kotori would be making the trip to China and return as literally a new woman, and she was happy about that. No one deserved a chance at a new life more than Tachi's little bird did.
And if something came of the odd relationship that Qiang Pu and Kotori seemed to share, well, she would be one of those happiest about it. It was almost a shame that what seemed to be obvious to everyone else, was completely lost on those two. She suspected that Kotori had more of an interest in men than women, but Qiang Pu had a certain magnetism about her that seemed to draw in anyone and everyone. She knew for a fact that Qiang Pu, perhaps because of her upbringing here and in her mysterious village, never really seemed to be overly concerned with the gender of anyone, she treated them all according to how she saw them. That said, it was not always a good thing. The sometimes impulsive Joketsuzoku could insult people without even trying or meaning too, because she often spoke her mind and not exactly what society dictated was correct. Rei suspected that Ranma and Nabiki might be at fault for that.
Nabiki was the most competent business woman Rei had ever met, but she could be cold and calculating when it was needed, or when it was the most expedient method. Ranma was a force of nature. Unwavering, unstoppable, and completely devoted to whatever cause had stirred the infamous warrior to action. Rei was sure that she only knew the tip of the iceberg when it came to Ranma's exploits, but what she knew often sent a shiver down her spine. And to think that her mentor Michi had accompanied Ranma on more than one adventure? It was more than slightly unnerving, especially when Michi was currently playing with her daughter with such a blissful look on her face.
Rei cleared her throat, and drew the attention of her mentor to her as she stood quietly in the doorway of Michi's private room. "Teacher? Can this One ask a question of you, regarding Qiang Pu?"
Michi paused for a moment, then slipped her two year old into her lap and wrapped her arms around the toddler to keep her in place. "You may ask this One, child, but she may not be able to answer."
Rei nodded and pressed onward. "What is it that haunts Qiang Pu so? What… What is the task she has been set that makes her so troubled?" Rei asked as she bit her bottom lip in concerned worry.
Michi sighed and looked at her apprentice. "We all have duties that only we can do, and ones that we are well suited for. You know that we of the House keep our secrets and trusts over all other bonds and promises. It is one of the foundations that allow us to live here, and do what we do." Michi paused as she gently stroked her child's hair, settling the little one down again. "Qiang Pu has a very particular talent, one she learned from her mother, the woman who gave birth to her. A secret technique that she doesn't like to use, buit the alternative is much worse, if you were to ask this One. This One can not say more, but tomorrow at the latest, you will find out." Michi said cryptically, and Rei bowed before she left the presence of her teacher.
As Rei walked through the halls of the back of the Teahouse, she heard a commotion from ahead, a voice shouted shrilly before it went silent suddenly. Curious, Rei peeked around the corner, and saw a group of four women in bodysuits holding up another woman in a tattered skirt and blouse standing before Konatsu. Konatsu had a sad, almost lost look in her eyes as she leaned in close and whispered something to the woman before the four dragged her off.
For one heartstopping moment, Rei met the eyes of the woman who was the Mother of the Teahouse and she ducked back around the corner. When she dared to look back, the corridor was empty once more and she breathed a brief sigh of relief.
That relief was short-lived as she turned to walk away and saw Konatsu standing before her, quiet and still. Rei swallowed heavily as she looked into the unreadable eyes of the Mother of the House.
"This One would appreciate it if you did not speak of what you saw here today, my child. All will be revealed soon enough, sadly. This One does not wish it were so, but it would seem that the Kami have decided." Konatsu said before she silently walked off, without waiting for any form of response from Rei.
What exactly was going on, and how did it involve Qiang Pu, Rei wondered again.
That night, Kotori couldn't help but notice that Tachi seemed distracted. She had barely touched her meal, and her gaze often drifted towards the center building of the compound. Kotori steeled her resolve, and decided it was time to talk to her teacher, to find out what had Tachi so out of sorts.
"Tachi? Can you tell me what is bothering you? I know I might not be able to do much… But anything I can do, I will." Kotori said with a tentative little smile on her lips.
Tachi looked over at Kotori, a rare unguarded moment when Kotori can see the unease that lies behind that gaze before Tachi can pull that placid mask back over her scarred features before she gave a soft, genuine smile to her student. "This One appreciates your offer, but sadly there is little that any of us can do right now about what is to come. All that this One can do, is hope that the lesson taught is one that never again must be repeated." Tachi said before she focused once more on her meal.
Kotori gave her teacher one more confused look before she also tried to focus on her meal, even as her gaze often strayed to Tachi, a worried look in her expressive eyes.
What had happened, she couldn't help but wonder.
After the last guest had left for the night, A soft bell tolled a mournful note throughout the compound and a sign was hung on the front gate, notifying all those who saw it that the Teahouse would be closed the next day. One of the Mikai was tasked with delivering a letter in a white envelope to each of the Geisha present in the House that their presence was needed at the stroke of midnight in Mother's inner court for a ceremony. This unusual request was met with confusion by most of those that received it, but a select few knew all too well what it meant, and tears were shed for what was to come, and what it meant.
Trust had been broken, and someone had to be admonished.
It was a sombre gathering that filed slowly into Konatsu's inner court, each Geisha and a few select apprentices sitting silently in their assigned places. The Blooming Lilies sat in a block to one side, Rei and Kotori the only ones among them that did not belong to that particular group.
The bell sounded once more before the doors to the outer ward were closed, and Konatsu herself entered at the head of a silent procession. Behind Konatsu walked a quartet of Geisha dressed in the purest white, their faces hidden behind Noh masks. Walking between them was a geisha who had her eyes cast down, her kimono and makeup done expertly, perfectly. The last to enter was Qiang Pu, who was also dressed in her finest kimono, her makeup helping to hide the distressed look in her eyes as she carried a case of red wood.
Konatsu stopped in the middle of the room, and turned slowly to look at her gathered children as the four carefully made the woman they had guided kneel on a patch of white silk that was laid out on the floor. Her gaze swept all of them, before she turned back to the kneeling woman, and a sad look crossed her usually placid face.
"We are gathered here to admonish one of us who has broken the most sacred bond that we all share. Trust. This One established this refuge where all who reside would be safe from the predations and hatred of the outside world, where our secrets and deepest truths would be safeguarded. This One has seen that trust betrayed and the oaths that we live by cast aside, and for this there must be an admonishment." Konatsu stepped forward as she pulled her fan from her sash and lifted the kneeling woman's face. "Yumi Sanada, you have broken the most sacred of the tenets that we live by in these walls. You have betrayed the trust that was given to you as a geisha of the House. The fault lies not just on you, but on myself for allowing you to live in our walls and to learn our secrets. We shall deal with those responsible, those that sought to pull our truths and secrets from us in time. For now, though, it is time to be admonished."
Yumi glared up at Konatsu and started to rise, but was prevented by the women who surrounded her. "So, are you going to kill me, then? The people I work for will know for sure what monsters you all are! You, and the rest of the so-called people who live here! You're all monsters! Especially them!" She pointed angrily at the Blooming Lilies. "What kind of freaks are you all! You know, I don't care. I told them all I know, you know. They will get you." She glared defiantly into the unwavering eyes of Konatsu.
"We know how much you told them, and how much you held back hoping for more money. We know what of our secrets have been betrayed, and what is still safe. And no, we will not kill you. That is a mercy that you will not have, not at our hands at least. You will leave this place, and never return. But, we will leave our own mark on you, in our own way. Goodbye, my child." Konatsu said softly, then looked at Qiang Pu. "Take it all, Qiang Pu."
Qiang Pu swallowed heavily and nodded. "How long. How much am I to take from her?"
Konatsu sighed and ignored the struggling woman as she addressed Qiang Pu. "Three years."
Qiang Pu nodded as she unfolded the legs from the case, turning it into a table. She quickly pulled a selection of items from within, scissors, combs, and a small glass bottle that was labeled "110". She stepped up behind the woman, and met Konatsu's sad look before she set to work. The woman became oddly still as Qiang Pu worked on her, cutting her hair and giving her a very thorough scalp massage as she worked in the shampoo and then rinsed into a bucket. In a short time the woman is left slumped forward, her once long hair in a stylish bob cut as Qiang Pu bowed stiffly to Konatsu before she walked out of the court, gathering her case on her way out.
A pair of Geisha stepped forward and stripped off the outer layers of her kimono, leaving Yumi in a plain yukata. Her make up is removed next, and then the befuddled woman is led out of the courtyard. The silence hung heavy in the air as Konatsu looked at her gathered children sadly.
"Remember this, and let us never have to repeat it. We keep our secrets, it is the deepest bond that we all have. That here, our secrets will be safe. We will not be judged by the outer world for being who and what we are. We will be closed tomorrow, so that we can deal with this properly. If anyone needs to speak to me, my door will be open. Rest, my children." Konatsu said before the outer doors were once more opened, and the assembled Geisha slowly filed out.
Kotori and Rei were gently escorted out as well, Michi leading them both off together. Once they were away from the others, Michi sighed and stopped, looking at the pair of confused young women. "You have questions, and this One will answer what she can."
Rei cleared her throat as she looked at her teacher "What...Was that? What did Qiang Pu do, anyhow? How was Yumi punished?"
Mich sighed softly and led the girls into a room, and poured them each a cup of tea. "Yumi has had her memories of the last three years sealed away. Qiang Pu has a technique from her village, one of the greatest secrets that are kept here. The Xai Fang Heng Gao is a shiatsu technique that, if used with a special herbal shampoo, will block memories. Some would consider what Qiang Pu did a mercy, otherwise we would have been forced to deliver a much more final punishment and face the repercussions of it. Now, Yumi will leave and never return, and our secrets can be kept safe. Those that used her for this will be punished in a more… Permanent.. Way if Konatsu decides that is what is needed. Qiang Pu will need you, both of you. She has bad memories of using that technique, and it is one that we do not ask her to use lightly."
Kotori spoke softly as she looked at Michi. "Why is that? I mean, it seemed not that bad, if it really worked?"
"Because the first time she used it, she had to wipe the person clean, taking all that they knew, all that made them who they were." Michi said sadly.
Rei and Kotori shared a look before Kotori stood up suddenly, and looked at Michi. "Can..I go see her?" She asked fretfully.
"You may. Her parents are on their way here, but she could probably use the company until they get here." Michi said, and at an unseen signal, the door opened and one of the Mikai from earlier entered and led the worried young trans girl away.
"Is QIang Pu going to be okay, and you said that Ranma and Nabiki are on their way here, now?" Rei asked.
Michi nodded as she sighed and reached for the hand of her student, giving it a gentle squeeze. "She will be, and yes the Tendo's had just arrived back in Japan and are on their way to the Teahouse as we speak. It will be okay, Rei. It will be okay."
Rei isn't sure if Michi had said that for her sake, or her own. Either way, she took what comfort she could in it. It would be okay.
It had to be.