Summary: The experience of waking up beside your lover for the first time. Chapter 2, Yumi's P.O.V. when she gets to know Shishio.
Disclaimer: RuroKen © Watsuki-sensei. Don't bother me.
Who is this man?
Who is him, this man lying next to me on the futon? Who is this man that paid a fortune for an entire night with me? This man, possessive yet caring, strict yet gentle? This man, burned from head to toes, all wrapped in bandages, discouraging the rest of the brothel women? Who exactly is him? Makoto Shishio is his name; by his kimono's waist hung his katana, proving his origin as a samurai. Nevertheless, is that enough to portrait a person?
As a courtesan, even as an oiran, I shouldn't allow myself to think of this questions. I am paid to please, not to ask. Still, I have to work hard in order to keep quiet.
He wakes up, turning to my side lazily. Then, he gazes me for what seems like an eternity, until I decide to sit up, covering my front with the sheets.
"It's morning already, Makoto-sa--"
"Shishio", he bluntly groans.
"Shishio-san. We should be getting up, shouldn't we?", I tell him on a very quiet voice, the way I was teached how to talk to men.
"You are curious," he states, startling me, "I can see it in your eyes."
I stay silent. I'm not allowed to give opinions if I'm not asked to.
He shakes his head, chuckling.
"Feel free to talk, lady Yumi. I scare you, isn't it?"
"Of course not, Shishio-san!"
"You are lying."
"I'm not," I sigh. "I'm not scared. Just... quite puzzled."
"Puzzled... I see." He sighs as well, an ironic smile playing on his lips. "I understand. I'm not a common man, as well as you aren't a common woman."
This time I chuckle.
"Ain't I? A whore isn't common?"
"I'm not talking about occupations, Yumi. I'm talking about you here."
"And that's all I am. A whore."
"No, dear, you are wrong. You are much more than that." I look at him quizzically. "When you showed no fear of me, you proved your strength. Simple whores are weak, you are strong. That is the basis of my philosophy: the strong shall live and the weak shall perish."
"These are very beautiful words, Shishio-san..." I lower my head. "... but they can't be of use for me. What could I do? I'm doomed; a woman like me doesn't have the right to hope... there's no possibility of ascension, of improvement in my life. Your philosophy may apply to men, but for women things are different. In the country we live, the strongest woman is weaker than the weakest boy, and the only way for her ideas to be heard is through an understanding and respected husband. And that, I'm not allowed to dream of.
He reflects on what I said for a long while. So do I, realising how much about myself I have told him. I've just broken the most important of the behaviour rules I've learned long ago: never bother the client with your own problems and interests.
"Yumi... tell me one thing: what do you think of the Meiji government?"
What kind of question is that? I'm not supposed to discuss politics with clients!
"Tell me what you truly think," he adds.
"If that's what you want, Shishio-san... I'll give you the truth." I sigh heavily. "I hate this government. Until the Mary Ruth incident, the oiran had their honour, their pride. Now we have nothing. To those monarchist bastards we are less than slaves. We are less than cows!" Noticing my loudness, I cover my mouth with my hands, then bow solemnly. "I'm sorry for being so impolite. I was taken by my emotions. That won't be repeated," I say, back to my quiet, trained voice, breath held.
"I share your feelings, my dear Yumi. There's no need for all that politeness." His serene voice makes me exhale, relieved. It feels like a great burden has been taken off my shoulders... "I believe I can trust you my plans."
"Plans?"
"I will take over Japan on a very near future, Yumi, of that you can be sure." At that, my eyes glimmer. "Of course, the same way a woman needs a man to expose her ideas, a man also needs a woman to support him in his decisions." Seeing my utter amazement, he comes closer and embraces me from behind, heating my body with his. His hands hold mine, and his lips lightly touch my earlobe while he speaks. "I will be an emperor, my dear Yumi... and you can be my empress. All you've got to do is follow me."
Eyes closed, my fingertips featherly caress his bandaged face. An empress... and all I've got to do is follow him.
This is the man I love.
Glossary:
Oiran - the highest rank of prostitute in the entertainment district.
The "Mary Ruth" incident is descripted on Part 148 of the manga (volume 17). The translations can be found at http://www.maigo-chan.org.
Author's Notes: This time the idea hit me very early in the morning, right after I woke up... Imagination seems to come to me in the oddest hours!!!
Laura-chan said this fic looked good, and that they didn't look OOC... I hope you guys agree with her! It was quite hard to elaborate Yumi's character, and everytime I had to remind myself, "she's an oiran! She would do 'so' and 'so', and not 'blah' or 'blah'!". I guess it worked...
Hmm, that's all. I decided to write all the pairings of RK. I already have some idea of S+M (duh), and a very faint outline for Y+T. A+M is a blank page to me (that's a first). I've never read a Shishio+Yumi before! (I'm lying. I found one yesterday - but never before yesterday.)
Ah, and before I forget... there's another fic here at ff.net called "The Morning After". It's not the same as mine, 'kay? I mean, it IS a 'morning after', but only K+K's and it's very different! By the way, I read this fic a while ago, it's hilarious... go take a peek!
Love, Prudence-chan
On 16/10/2002 (during French and Maths classes... what a shame...)