All For Love

Disclaimers apply. No offence is intended to anyone.

Misao: Cao, or Xiao Cao
Omasu: Zeng/Ah Zeng
Okon: Jin/Ah Jin
Okina: Lao Die (Old Father)
Shiro: Ah Bai
Kuro: Ah Hei
Megumi: Hui/ Xiao Hui
Kaoru: Xiao Xun/ Xun
Kenshin: Jian Xin
Tsubame: Yan-er
Kanryuu: Guan Liu
Yu Ting Ban Zong: Oniwabanshuu(!)

Chapter 6: A Friend in Danger

Cao was stunned still, as Xiao Xun collapsed to the floor, sobbing. "That Guan Liu whom she was talking to yesterday--he...he made it seem like he was a member of the underground anti-Japanese resistance. Dr. Hui was fooled by him...she let slip to him that she treated the wounds of some of the anti-Japanese fighters...the Kempei found out about it--I think it's Guan Liu, he's an informer, I know it's him! He told on Dr. Hui and now she's been arrested--for collaborating with resistance fighters! !"

"In these times, the truth is that no one can be trusted..." Lao Die voiced out his thoughts.

Zeng shook her head. "Poor Hui...I hope she stays strong enough to survive this."

"If she even survives, it will be a miracle. You don't know what they do to those whom they see to be collaborating with the anti-Japanese forces. If only there was any way to get her out..."

Like a flash of lightning, an idea struck Cao. "If you ever need any help, you can come to me." Aoshi had told her that, not once but twice. Would he be willing to help this time? It would be difficult to get Dr. Hui off the hook, after all aiding the resistance was a huge offence. But she would do anything to help her friend--anything to save a life.

I won't know if he will help unless I try! She grabbed Xiao Xun's arm and ran down the stairs. "Let's go! I think I know a way!"

***

"Shinomori-sama, here are the files on the person you were looking for information about." Aoshi looked up at the junior Kempeitai officer who had handed him the files.

"Thank you, Kawada." He scanned through the information. "A Formosa-born arms dealer. So, you say he has infiltrated the underground resistance?"

"Yes, and he has been providing information about them. But..."

"But what?" Aoshi looked at him straight in the eye. "Tell me everything!"

"There have been reports that he is a double agent...he's been telling the resistance some of our military secrets as well. Not only that..."

Aoshi looked at him with piercing eyes, waiting for him to finish his sentence. "We have evidence to prove that he's providing arms to the resistance as well. And we're still investigating reports that he has been smuggling opium here from Thailand, and been selling them on the black market."

"And probably those reports are true too. I have been suspicious of him for some time." His eyes narrowed. Then, he realised that Kawada was still in the office. "You may go."

He then glared at the photo--one of a thin man with a centre parting and small, sneaky eyes, spectacles resting on the nose. "Takeda Kanryuu...I'll get to the bottom of this. And when I do, you are not going to be let off so easily."

***

They were stopped by the sentry just outside the barracks.

"What do you want?" He asked them roughly. Cao took a deep breath. "I'd like to look for Major Shinomori."

"What is your relation to him?"

Xiao Xun was looking at her in anticipation. Cao took another deep breath, remembering what Aoshi had told her to say.

"I'm his woman, and I have something very important to tell him about."

To her surprise, the sentry laughed. "So you're Shinomori's woman, the one everyone has been talking about--the one whom he brought back with him last night. Good luck, finally somebody has managed to prove that that iceberg is really a man after all." Cao glanced at Xiao Xun, whose eyes were so wide in surprise that they looked like...like roti prata! [local Indian delicacy, a flat round piece of fried dough, eaten with curry.]

"Major Shinomori isn't here, he is at his office in the Kempeitai East District Branch." He gave her directions. "Mustn't have been easy huh, getting him to open up."

As they made their way to the office, which wasn't that far away, Xiao Xun asked Cao nervously, "What was that about? You didn't really...you-know-what with him did you?"

"Don't worry, I'm not really his woman, it was just what he told me to tell them. It does work wonders, doesn't it?"

"But what about that part...about him bringing you back with him." Xiao Xun was still concerned.

"Don't worry, we didn't do anything! It was raining and I kind of fainted...he found me and brought me back. As it rained the whole night, he brought me back only today."

Xiao Xun thought for a while. "He doesn't seem that bad after all--either he's really that much of a honorable 'samurai' or he's gay."

Cao shot her a glare. "He's not gay!"

"And how do you know that?"

Not knowing how to answer, Cao blushed again. "Well, I just know."

By then, they had reached their destination. Cao asked a young soldier standing guard at the entrance for directions to Aoshi's office, giving the same explanation that she was his woman and had something important to tell him. The guard gave her simple directions, and soon the two girls found themselves outside the door to Aoshi's office. There were some words in kanji on the door--Aoshi's title and his name.

She knocked.

"Haitte," [Come in] Aoshi's familiar voice said. Cao hesitated, not understanding the command. A few seconds later, the gingerly pushed open the door and walked in, with Xiao Xun following behind uncertainly.

He was bent over his table, poring over a file, barely looking up even as she approached him. His dark green uniform cap lay on the table.

"Nani yo? Hayaku!" he growled.

"A-Aoshi..."

He finally looked up, surprised to hear her voice. "Cao? What are you doing here?"

She couldn't bear it anymore, and started to cry, blurting everything out. "You said I could come to you for help if I ever needed it," she sobbed at the end. "Dr. Hui doesn't deserve this...it was only her duty to save lives! It's the duty of any doctor to do so!"

To his utter astonishment, she actually kneeled down to him. "Major Shinomori, please help Dr. Hui! I'll do anything...as long as you save her. Take it that I'm begging you..." Her friend joined in the kneeling.

Aoshi couldn't bear to see Cao like this. He didn't like the sight of the girl he cared for, kneeling down and begging him. He stood up from his chair.

"I'll try my best."

Her eyes lighted up almost at once. "Really? Thank you so much!" On impulse, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. His body stiffened, unused to being touched so intimately. At once, Cao realised what she was doing--and remembered that Xiao Xun was in the office as well. Blushing deeply, she let go of him and stepped away, not daring to meet his eyes.

Cao, you idiot! How could you have done that? She had never felt so embarrassed in her life. Hugging a man like this...who was neither her brother, boyfriend, fiancé or husband...wasn't exactly proper either.

An awkward pause.

"Who was that man whom you think told on your friend?" Aoshi asked, breaking the silence.

"Guan Liu. Wutian Guan Liu," Xiao Xun told him.

Aoshi's eyes narrowed at once. So it was you again, harming innocent people to earn our trust. He flipped the pages in the folder to one that had a photograph on it, and showed it to them. "Is this him?"

They nodded, looking surprised. He met Cao's questioning gaze.

"He's a suspected double agent and provides weapons to both the military and the underground resistance. he's also a drug smuggler. He's known to us as Takeda Kanryuu. Wutian Guan Liu is just the Mandarin reading of his name."

"But since he's committed so many crimes, why doesn't the police arrest him?" Cao asked.

"They don't have enough evidence yet. Besides, he also has the backing of an influential general. Without enough evidence, he cannot be arrested."

Then, his eyes softened as he changed the subject again. "I'll find out more about your friend...Dr. Gaohe Hui right? She's probably under interrogation now." He noticed the worried look in both girls' eyes. "They won't deal with her too severely."

After they left the office, Xiao Xun turned to Cao. "Wow, he's really not as fierce as I thought he would be. But he seems rather...cold."

"He doesn't like to talk much," Cao told her. "By the way, I'm sorry about yelling at you yesterday..."

"It's okay. I shouldn't have been so harsh anyway. I guess I shouldn't have said that Aoshi was just like any other soldier. He is nice after all." Xiao Xun smiled at Cao. "Go for him! You two look good together. And he does seem to have a soft spot for you...although you should work harder to get him to soften a little when you hug him," she added mischievously. Cao glared at her, but blushed a little, feeling pleased inside. At least she now had her best friend's support.

A mischievous look then came into her eyes. "What about you and Jian Xin? Maybe you should get him to harden a bit when you hug him..."

It was Xiao Xun's turn to blush. "Cao, I'm shocked! But Jian Xin isn't that bad anyway..." Her eyes glazed over. "Such a gentleman..." She suddenly remembered something. "Cao, you must attend my wedding next Wednesday...it's no grand affair because--well, you know--but I still want you to be there."

Wednesday was just around five days away. "Don't worry, I will be. But it's so soon too...you'll be a grown up woman and I'll still be a little girl," Cao sighed.

"When I think of it, it's rather scary too. It's like I have to grow up all of a sudden, and be someone's wife. I don't feel ready for it, although Jian Xin's just about the nicest man." She blushed again. "Okay, I know he does seem kind of sissy sometimes but most of the time, he's just really sweet. I can't wait for you to meet him."

"I will--on your wedding day!" Cao smiled, but she couldn't help but sigh as she thought or Dr. Hui, being interrogated by the Kempeitai. The word 'interrogated' definitely did not give any clue to the brutal torture that the 'secret police' used to extract a confession from their victims. Some, unable to endure the vicious tortures inflicted on them, confessed to their alleged crimes, whether they really did it or not, and were either thrown into jail or executed, depending on the gravity of the crime. Others who were stubborn enough not to confess had to bear with more torture which included the infamous water treatment (where water was pumped into the victim's body nonstop). This would stop only when or if 1) the victim died, 2) the victim confessed, 3) a relation or friend of the victim bribed the officer in charge of the case and even then, it relied on the officer's willingness to accept the bribe or 4) a high-ranking officer or important personality who had connections with the military interceded for the victim. It was no wonder that Cao was worried, after hearing all the stories which had been circulating on the streets and in the clinic, each one more horrendous than the other.

Guessing what her friend was thinking about, Xiao Xun squeezed her hand, trying to comfort her. "Don't worry, Dr. Hui has done so many good deeds, having saved so many people. Heaven will help her, and all those like her."

"Let's hope so. " Cao looked up at the sky, eyes filling with tears, silently begging for Guanyin the Goddess of Mercy to protect Dr. Hui.

***

Wednesday

Although a wedding usually called for a big celebration, this was not so for the ones held during the war.

Xiao Xun and Jian Xin's wedding was no exception. Apart from family and a few close friends, no one else attended. The Japanese had forbidden people from congregating.

There was a sense of gloom and darkness in the air even as the bride stepped out of her room in her bright red intricately embroidered wedding gown, the mood a far cry from the gaily coloured wedding finery , reminiscent of happier times not so long ago.

If the wedding had taken place just before the Japanese took over, the groom would have at least been able to fetch the bride to his house on a bicycle. Far cry from the weddings of earlier days though it was, it was still one of the customary rituals. However, now even that was gone as Xiao Xun's parents feared that she would be taken away by the soldiers while on her way to Jian Xin's house, and the wedding ceremony was simplified to the barest necessities.

Cao stood near the altar, wearing her best cheongsam and watched as her best friend, together with the groom who was dressed in a simple Chinese suit, took the customary three bows to heaven and earth, to Xiao Xun's parents (as Jian Xin's parents were deceased, they bowed to their altar tablets instead) and to each other, all in front of the two lighted candles on the altar.

Even the tea to be offered to the elders were leftovers from better days, watered down so that there would be enough. Xiao Xun, eyes lowered shyly under her red veil, kneeled down beside her new husband and took the tiny teacups from the tray held by a younger relative, offering it to first her grandparents, then her parents, and finally her aunts and uncles, all in a show of respect and filial piety. And then it was over. She then headed into her room to change into simpler men's clothes, tucking her hair up into a cap and picking up a bag full of her belongings, ready for the long walk to Jian Xin's house.

The two girls met at the door. Cao realised through her teary eyes that her best friend was weeping too, and they hugged each other.

"Please take care of yourself," Xiao Xun begged Cao.

"You too, Mrs. Feicun," Cao replied, using Jian Xin's surname.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her," Jian Xin, who had been standing beside Xiao Xun all along, reassured Cao.

And then they walked out of the door, not looking back.

-------

She was surprised to see Aoshi, in plain clothes, waiting for her outside the shophouse when she came back. But before she could open her mouth to ask, he forestalled her.

"I have news about your friend. She confessed and is now in jail at Changi Prison." Then, he noticed the way she was dressed. "Was there a wedding or something?"

She nodded. "My friend--the one who was with me the other day--just got married."

He nodded. "She seems a little young..."

"Not really. I'm younger than her and my family wants to marry me off too." Aoshi raised his eyebrows. "Not that I want to. They haven't found a match which I agree with--and they never will," she continued. "Anyway, about Dr. Hui..."

"Your doctor friend...as she confessed quite soon, there wasn't much harm inflicted on her. But she still insists that she did not wrong."

"Can I see her?"

"I was just about to take you there. Go up and change--I'll wait here."

Cao scurried up the stairs as fast as she could, thanking the Goddess of Mercy with every step she took. Rushing into her room and changing into her everyday clothes hurriedly, she zoomed out of the house again, yelling out to Jin in the kitchen that there had been news about Dr. Hui and she was going to see her.

Aoshi was waiting as he promised, and he led her to his car, not saying a word.

Oh, please let Dr. Hui be okay...Cao begged silently to no one in particular. It seemed like a long time, and even as she watched the trees and houses practically fly by, she still wished that they could travel at the speed of light, then she would be able to see Dr. Hui immediately.

And then, at last they were there. Aoshi escorted her into the prison, flashing his military pass to the guards at certain points. Cao noticed that they all greeted him with bows, though of varying depth. The lower the rank, the lower the bow and the longer it was held.

Hand on her back, he guided her through the maze of cells, some empty, many with prisoners staring out at them. At last, they stopped in front of one.

"I'll leave you two alone for a while. You have five minutes." With that, he turned and disappeared into the darkness of a corner.

Cao's eyes filled with tears again at the sight of a forlorn figure, crumpled on the floor of the cell, clothes dirty and torn in certain places.

"Dr. Hui! Dr. Hui!" she cried out softly. The figure stirred and clambered up laboriously, turning to look at her.

"Xiao Cao? What are you doing here?" Dr. Hui asked weakly. She looked tired, as if she had not slept in days (which she probably hadn't) and her hair and face, once well-groomed and vibrant, was now bedraggled and pale, with dark eye bags and scratches and bruises.

"A friend brought me here. Dr. Hui, you--you--" Cao couldn't control herself anymore and wept. Dr. Hui reached out between the bars and took her hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine. They can't do anything to me...it was only a doctor's duty to help the injured...after all I treated their soldiers too and some of my ex-patients spoke up for me. "

Somehow, Cao guessed that it was probably Aoshi, working behind the scenes again. She made a mental note to thank him later.

"I, Gaohe Hui, will not die so easily. Don't worry Cao, just take care of yourself." The doctor petted her hand. "The clinic--find my friend Boon Tat, he's a medical student and will be able to help. Even if I'm not there the sick and injured still need help."

"Dr. Hui..." Cao was impressed. Even at a time like this when her life is in danger, she still cares more about her patients than herself.

"Just do it." Dr. Hui gave her a determined smile. It was then that Aoshi stepped out of the shadows.

"Your time is up. We have to go now." Cao stood up, unwilling to leave.

"Go on. I'll be alright," Dr. Hui assured her again. They looked at each other tearfully for a while, until Aoshi placed a hand on Cao's shoulder and led her out.

Unknown to them, Aoshi had heard every single word of their conversation, and had been silently awed by Hui's brave, selfless words as well.

Such a dedicated doctor is hard to come by. She should not be wasting time behind bars. I must try to get her out as soon as possible...she is an asset to us. Besides, it will make my little Cao here happy. Having decided on that, Aoshi began planning ways to convince the general in charge of the case to release the doctor.

tbc......

Notes: 1) I made Kanryuu/ Guan Liu a Formosan (Taiwanese) as Formosans in Singapore at that time were seen as spies of the Japanese, and many of them were. Taiwan, unlike Singapore, had been under the Japanese for a much, much longer time, and their people accepted Japanese rule without much resistance or hostility. (Don't remember which source I got this information from, perhaps it was "The Price of Peace") As a result, Formosans could speak fluent Japanese and many of those in Singapore began working for the Japanese as informers and translators, regarded more highly than the other Chinese in Singapore by the Japanese rulers. A well-known Formosan was Wee Twee Kim, who acted as a translator and informant for the Kempeitai and posed as the 'friend and protector of the China-born Chinese". [When Singapore was Syonan-To by N.I Low and Syonan: My Story by Shinozaki Mamoru]. Many of the Formosans did not even need to change their names, just the pronunciation of them. A Lim Peh San ( Lin Bai Shan) could become "Hayashi Shiroyama" and nobody would know the difference. This 'name change' was reversed at the end of the war, and was how many of the Formosans silently 'melted away' to escape the wrath of the people. (Again, this info is from When Singapore was Syonan-to)

2)Information about weddings during the war from http://ourstory.asia1.com.sg/war/ref/wedding.html.

Happy New Year mina-san, and thanks for reading!