Mrs. Boldt and the Big Bad Wolf: a short story from the Mieji.

I do not own Rurouni Kenshin, in fact, he never shows up in this story. I do own Georgina Boldt, from The Wanderer's Pillow. I missed her and wanted to use her again. Since I'm in the process of working on a Haijime Saitou story (I don't own him either - DAMN!), I thought it might be amusing to bring the two of them together. Let's see if sparks fly. To totally understand some of this story, you will have to read my previous story. Plus, you can pick up a few hints for the next one.

Don't like it that I don't write in perfect order? Go read something by Kafka or Burroughs (William S., not Edgar Rice) and come back to this. It will be a model of clarity.

This is for the Mouse, who wants Georgina's wardrobe, including the corset she refuses to wear. Sometimes the gerbils and I worry about that.

God, I wish that they would let us use spaces when we need them.

December 1870 Yokihama

Words written in italics have no Japanese equivelent.

He heard a soft deep woman's voice say "Please show the gentleman in, Shiori." He entered a room of mixed styles. Western furniture and Japanese tatamis, English tea set and the scent of Chinese Oolong tea. The woman standing to meet him was also a mix of styles. Her hair was worn in one thick braid, with small ringlets hanging past her ears, a western style. But her clothing was that of a Chinese matron, a deep copper brown satin tunic with wide sleeves and long satin trousers. She wore black velvet shoes embroidered with cockerels; the same pattern edged the jacket's neck and front. She was almost as tall as he- it was odd to meet a woman's eyes straight on. Especially eyes like hers. The woman bowed in a western manner, but with more grace than he was used to seeing in one of the foreigners.

"Welcome to my home, Assistant Inspector Goro. It is a pleasure to meet you. If you would be so kind as to take a seat, I would enjoy offering you the hospitality my homeland prides itself upon."

Her homeland was full of hotheaded men who interfered in other people's politics and messed up their cultures, Saitou thought. But she was perfectly polite, as polite as the best whore's always were. "I thank you for your courtesy, Madame Undersecretary. Forgive me for not attempting your most honorable name, I fear to offend you by mangling it."

"You should not allow such a foolish thing to disturb your visit to my home. I certainly still have trouble with your beautiful language."

Indeed, her Japanese was halting, with a soft sibilant accent. "Do you have a name you prefer to be called Madame? By your friends and associates in this country?"

"Yes, I do. Please sit, Goro-san. May I offer you some tea?"

She would not allow him to get too friendly with her. Did she know something was up, or was it just shyness with a stranger? "I would love some good Chinese tea. It has been too long." He sat across from her at a small black table flanked with two western-style chairs. At this distance, he could pick up her scent, an odd sweet fragrance that he had somehow smelled before. She held back her right sleeve to gracefully pour the tea and her exposed flesh radiated the scent even more strongly. She smelled like – Hiko?

Saitou almost jumped out of the chair to grab the woman and shake her till she told him where Hiko was hiding. The whore had not just slept with the pupil – she had the Master in her bed as well? She smiled and took a small plate of pastries from the maid.

"Please try one of these, sir. They are a specialty of my country. They are called sugar cookies. Shiori, you may leave now. Let me know if I am needed." The maid bowed and left them.

"You entertain men alone here, Madame?"

"In my land, a woman doesn't fear to engage in conversation with a guest of either sex. Much different from the Chinese, eh? Or even here, where women have a bit more freedom in the Meiji era. My maid is within hearing distance if I should raise my voice, but I am certain that won't be necessary. Please, try a cookie?"

He took one of the thin brown disks. It smelled the same as she did –and Hiko did during… The texture was crumbly, the taste sweet and melting, just like Hiko's … He realized the woman was looking at him with a polite, curious expression. Her eyes never left his face. "This is very good, Madame. What is the flavor in this cukie? Is that how you say it?"

"Close enough for government work. Sorry, that's a sort of saying from my home. The flavor is vanilla. It's from an orchid and is a favorite scent of mine as well as a flavoring." -Let's see you calm down now, you bastard, she thought. I was expecting you to fly at me there a minute ago. What's the burr under your saddle and what game have you come here to play?

So it was a perfume, not Hiko. Not that it explained him having that taste and scent during sex, along with earth, wood smoke and sake. He had just never had a word for it till now. She was watching him again; he had to keep his mind on his business. The maid was gone but it would be better still to cover their conversation further.

"I have heard you are fluent in Chinese, Madame? Perhaps you would be more comfortable in that tongue?"

"You are most kind. I speak three dialects fluently. Would you rather speak Cantonese, Soo-Chow or the language of the rulers' of Beijing?"

"I am most familiar with Beijing's, since I was taught it in my youth."

"Good," she said, dropping into that language. "We will speak fluently and plainly as well."

"Plainly, is not a word I would use to describe such a flowery language, Lady."

"Plain speech is a skill, not a facet of language. Now you wished to question me about my kidnapping last year?"

"Yes, There are a few things which still need clarification."