EEEEEEE! I'm so glad you guys are enjoying the new story thus far! It makes me quite a happy camper!
I really want to start on the second and final epilogue chapter of YCHIS,
but I am scared to finish something that was so fun to bring into existence! :'(
I will need to mentally prepare myself for that...
Anyway, enjoy this next chapter of MEMOIRS
-Warning- Mature themes regarding sexuality (no lemons though sowwy :P)
Chapter 5: Compassion and Cruelty
"Izayoi-sama?" Rin questioned timidly as she opened the fragile sliding door to the eldest Geisha's room. However, the owner was, surprisingly, not present. This was strange, because the women at Kodachi were forced to maintain a strong routine in their day to day lives. And this was the time that Izayoi-sama was required to write out the reservations of all incoming clients for the day. Of which required her to tediously note their preference of Geisha, along with any specific requests or needs.
Having thought of this fact briefly, the young, upcoming Maiko peered curiously towards the scroll files along the wall.
…The past files that held such client preferences and requests.
Remembering her purpose and the reason for her sponsorship in becoming a Geisha, Rin got a brilliant idea.
Seeing no harm in doing such, the girl trekked across the tatami mats towards the scroll keepers. Arriving before the towering bamboo shelves, she slowly maneuvered her fingers over the holders marked in alphabetical order, seeking out a specific scroll.
"あ。。。え。。。い。。。," her hand came to rest over "い," the first hiragana for "Inu."
And within seconds she found the scroll keeper that she sought.
Written in eloquent kanji, 犬大将と家族 (Inu Taishou and Family)
"This is great!" she whispered to herself, excited. Intentions pure, Rin grabbed the scroll keeper from its place of rest; seeking only to study her assigned client, Lord Sesshoumaru, so that she may avoid further disapproval in the future.
But as she removed the scroll, a completely separate piece of folded papyrus fell out of its hiding place from behind; almost as if it were purposefully hidden. Perplexed, Rin averted her eyes from the strange piece of loose paper to peer at the now-empty space in the bamboo shelf. Several similar pieces of folded paper were pressed firmly in hiding at the back.
Blinking, Rin returned her gaze to the one that had fallen. Unable to contain her curiosity, she knelt to pick it up with gentle fingertips.
Scroll keeper now tucked in arm, Rin unfolded the high-quality note.
Her eyes widened slowly as she read over the letter.
あなた、いざよいーさん、
あの時は近くです。でも、私は竜骨栄がくろしてなければ。
もう少しいだけ、こい。その後、私達は一緒に住め。
愛してる、
犬大将
Dearest, Izayoi-san,
The time is near. All that is left is to finish off Ryukotsuei .
Only a little longer, my love. Afterwards, we will be able to live together.
I love you,
Inu Taishou
"RIN?!"
Heart leaping into her throat, Rin turned in shock at the sudden call.
She had been caught.
Izayoi-sama stood in the doorway. Her cheeks were stained red as if she had been crying until this particular discovery. But at this moment, her face was filled with nothing other than fear. The Geisha's eyes trickled down to the letter in Rin's hand, and she raised her fine hands to her mouth in horror.
Rin struggled to bring the necessary words that she needed into existence.
"I-Izayoi-sama…," she began, turning to her superior while her hands trembled; crinkling the thin paper, "I-I am sorry, I was only trying to learn of Lord Sesshoumaru's preferences in Kodachi, and this letter, it kind of jus-"
"I beg of you, Rin," Izayoi interjected, falling to the ground upon her knees and hands, weeping in a very controlled manner. Rin looked taken aback as she continued, "Please… Please tell no one of this."
"Eh?" Rin couldn't believe that Kodachi's most high-ranking Geisha was bowing before her, a lowly servant.
"Izayoi-sama, I don't understand. I'm the one that went through your things, I should be…,"
"Did you read the letter, Rin?" Izayoi had stopped her tears and was now simply shaking upon the ground. At this moment, no one would have guessed she was a refined Geisha.
"…"
Rin looked across the room with shame, "Yes… I did."
"Then you know how blasphemous my actions, and intended actions, are…," her voice cracked as she took in Rin's concession, losing the lady-like control she was known for after each passing moment.
"…You are in love with that dog demon?" Rin questioned sympathetically.
Izayoi, still bowing and refusing to look her in the eyes, simply nodded.
Pivoting her gaze to the side and thinking to herself for a moment, Rin asked another due question.
"Why can't you run away with him now?"
It was a completely compassionate inquiry that caused Izayoi to stare at Rin with astonishment.
"He is a wealthy demon, is he not? If he loves you as he says, why can't you leave now? Your debt has long been cleared, Izayoi-sama," Rin said with complete concern for the feelings of the kneeled woman before her; despite her inability to comprehend such feelings.
Bitterness swept over Izayoi's voice as she responded.
"Rin, you wouldn't understand… But…," she paused trying to find the right words, "As a human… life is small. It lasts a very short time. However, this is probably something you have yet to think about, since you are so young…"
Rin merely stared at her, trying to understand Izayoi-sama as best as she could.
"Though, for someone who fell for a demon… like me… I was able to realize just how fleeting my life truly is…," Izayoi looked back up with despair into Rin's eyes, "His and my intentions since the beginning has been to live with each other forever… to be a family. But the hierarchy that he serves will not allow humans into high-ranking families. Inu Taishou-sama is working hard to change that system, but it could not possibly be done within my lifetime. And so…"
She breathed deeply before finishing, "We have been working steadily towards changing me from a mere mortal to a demon…"
Rin's eyes shot wide open. She didn't understand. She couldn't understand. Why would anyone want to be something so…
Despite these condemning thoughts, sympathy managed to wash over the young girl once again as Izayoi resumed her shaken bow. And, upon closing her eyes, she willingly calmed the Geisha's fears.
"I won't tell anyone, Izayoi-sama. So please, don't be like this anymore."
The stricken face of the older woman shot up with a relieved smile, "Rin… Do you mean it? You will tell no one?"
Rin smiled lightly before reasoning, "You stood up for me with the godmothers, Izayoi-sama… I owe you my life."
Wiping the remaining tears that threatened to fall, Izayoi stood and regained her fair composure.
"You are a very kind girl, Rin," the Geisha smiled the sweetest smile Rin had ever seen before.
Wishing to relieve the odd atmosphere, Izayoi changed the subject with poise, "I suppose you came here wishing to know how things are to proceed?"
Still in a daze from all that had just occurred, Rin could only nod.
Izayoi walked towards her, explaining, "I have already sent a messenger to the most prestigious Geisha Training School in the district. You will start today."
Rin's eyes lit up in mild excitement and with a bow gave her regard, "Thank you Izayoi-sama."
Smiling, the Geisha reached out and took both the letter and the scroll from Rin's hands; folding the letter and securely tucking it into her kimono sleeve.
"You may call me Onee-san, now. For when you return today as a Maiko, you will be studying directly under me, as my apprentice."
Rin's legs nearly betrayed her as her ears took in the Geisha's gracious words. Izayoi-sama had not taken an apprentice in over five years. To train under her was the greatest honor of any Maiko, but since Izayoi's own apprenticeship to eventually run the Kodachi house, she had refused all potential mentees.
How could she be any different from the rest?
"I-I don't know what to say…," the adolescent barely managed. What could she say? Everything that had happened… Everything that was happening…
Her life had completely turned upside down in just a matter of hours.
Chuckling, Izayoi replied, "Just say 'thank you, Onee-san,' and be on your way… lest you be late. In the meantime, I will find Lord Sesshoumaru's preferences for you," Rin bowed her thanks as Izayoi promptly finished with ailing news, "…After all, they are scheduled to visit our house again in only two days' time."
The girl nodded with haste, proceeding to rush out of the room when Izayoi's voice stopped her once more.
"Rin-chan… Thank you so much."
0oooooo0ooooooo0ooooooo0
"Hahaha! Your father is as feeble as ever, Sesshoumaru," a dastardly-looking demon with long tresses of stark black hair jabbed at his best friend.
Sesshoumaru took a gulp of absinthe from the golden sake' container that had been provided to the two brother-like youkai. During idle times of relaxation, the heir to the Western lands would content himself with his right-hand man at Souyu, the most luxurious tavern in the Western province. A towering structure with various windows and patio-like amenities, Souyu's purpose was to provide a tranquil environment; allowing its clients extravagantly tall views of both the Western and human provinces. It displayed a sight that Sesshoumaru, the up and coming ruler of all such territory, had found pleasurable refuge within.
Propped up by his elbow, the young dog lord relaxed in a pristine manner. Under the comfort of such trusted company, he had allowed his body freedom from the constraints of his armor and footwear. Though his powerful sword, Bakusaiga, remained at his side.
"I have given up on trying to understand him and his pathetic sentiments," Sesshoumaru curtly replied, ignoring the insult bestowed upon his father. In other cases, he may have risen to protect his elder's name. But on this night, he hadn't the slightest care for such vain loyalty, "His position is deteriorating... All because his heart has been cursed by a pathetic human disease."
"Oh?" His friend replied, beckoning further explanation.
Sesshoumaru scowled towards the cities in the distance as the word bitterly fell off of his tongue, "Love."
His counterpart closed his eyes, laughing to himself.
"Heh. What a pity. To have been bewitched by creatures of such a senseless nature... Perhaps you are correct, Sesshoumaru. Why not prove your demon sensibility by removing your father from the equation?"
The dog lord's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he eyed his comrade with scold, "I do not wish death upon my father, Naraku. I have enough patience to play his games until he relinquishes his power to me."
"Haha… What bone do you have to fetch this time?" Naraku smirked, drinking in merriment.
Face falling at the thought of such, Sesshoumaru replied with disgust,
"I must suffer the embarrassing company of a tattered mortal girl throughout our international dealings."
"Ha! He has you on a leash at Kodachi, now, does he? It was only a matter of time before he was going to force that ritual upon you, anyway, wasn't it?" Naraku let out a hearty laugh.
Sesshoumaru, expressionless as usual, simply stared out into the night. He found no need to answer his friend's rhetorical question. But then a more intriguing one found his ears.
"So Sesshoumaru… would this girl be worth a good fucking? Sounds like this could be fun for you if she's the submissive type. I know how you like your women, after all…"
Sesshoumaru chuckled, his voice growing passively amused, "You are a wretched thing, Naraku. I am not required to partake of the pleasure district. And I would rather kill myself than bed a mortal…," he paused for a brief moment as Rin's beatings from the night prior flashed through his mind.
The spicy scent of her previous arousal paired with the sweet scent of her blood consumed his sensitive nose as he dwelled on the memory.
A smirk suddenly snaked its way across Sesshoumaru's lips as he conceded,
"…Though, I suppose she would be more tempting if she were writhing and begging for her life beneath the power of my unforgiving body."
"Haha, goodness me... You are more vile than I gave you credit for…," Naraku sneered, taking one more swig of absinthe.
I think the next chapter I will have the two meet again in Sesshoumaru's next visit to Kodachi. :P
Still trying to formulate the length for this story...
But for my YCHIS fans, you can probably tell that this Sesshoumaru is way different than my Sessh in the other story.
Please don't hate me for it, but he is a bit more vile in this onr... Not back breaking though ;)
LOVE YOU ALL! r&r pwease. :)
