- Chapter 2: Visions of Another Side -
The moonlight filtered into the coach with the sounds of sharp stomps of the horses' hooves filling the passengers' heads. Okita sat on the opposite seat of Akira, observing his friend's somberness. Akira sat with his gaze out into the passing scenery. There was only silence as Okita took out his pocket watch and checked the time. It was midnight. An hour their families would probably be outraged about, but it was a great night. His hand retreated back into his pocket to place the small watch in its holding.
"That Tomoe was quite an enchanting woman, don't you agree?" he piped up in hopes of coaxing Akira into conversation.
"Oh yeah." Akira said almost detached as if he weren't listening.
Okita frowned and Akira turned to see his friend displeased.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"I asked if you thought Tomoe was appealing to you at all."
"She works at a teahouse. She's as conniving as all the other women."
"Akira!"
"Well, what would you like me to say?"
"I know you fancy her."
Akira snorted and stifled a laugh.
"I've never seen you be so cynical. It's so unlike you."
"I'm not ten anymore, Okita. I live in the real world and if you would've saw what I did, you would think just like me."
"It's a shame. I saw you look at her from the corner of your eye and I thought maybe you liked her."
"Well, thanks for thinking of me." Akira said as he flashed him a slight smile.
"She wanted me to come up to her quarters, Akira, and I probably would've accepted."
There was a silence as Akira stared Okita in the eye with confusion. He had never heard of his companion ever to take on a woman of any kind. Even though he was handsome and appealing to the opposite sex, he was always shy and feared what people would think if he were presumptuous. But it was wonderful to know that he placed Akira above his own need.
"I didn't, of course. But now that I know that you don't like her, I kind of regret it. This is my last night in Kyoto and I'm still glad I got to spend time with you."
"Me, too, Okita. Me, too."
* * * * *
"You're probably one of Kanryu's puppets, aren't you?"
The words echoed in Tomoe's mind as she watched me pour the sake for her.
"Tomoe-sensei? Is that correct?" my voice questioned softly.
The seductress snapped out of her stupor to see my expectant face. In my own uneasy state, I put down the bottle of sake shakily and sat down in my seat, hands folded neatly in my lap.
"You were nervous. You never show fear of rejection in a man's presence, let alone your own teacher." Tomoe criticized.
"Forgive me." I, the faithful pupil, said with a bow of my head.
At that moment, one of the other women residing in the teahouse came by Tomoe's doorway. In my time there, I had found out that she was Kanryu's special possession as well. She made the drugs that he sells on the streets and with Megumi around, he found her to be irreplaceable. She was the only woman who knew how to make drugs in all of Kyoto. He'd be damned to kill her or lose her to another man. But in social rank in the teahouse, Megumi was second to Kanryu's beautiful creature, Tomoe. These two women were his weapons and so it's obvious that the two of them became quite close.
"Megumi-san, how delightful to see you. Would you like to have a drink with me?" Tomoe asked politely.
"I would be more than glad to." she responded.
She was seated opposite of Tomoe in her own intricate kimono. Light blue seemed to be Megumi's color for I don't think there was a day I saw her in any different shades, except for a few nights she wore a black kimono and another she wore dark blue. She was the woman I had seen my first night in the main entertainment room. She was the one who had taken that man to her quarters after accepting a fee. She was somewhat similar to my teacher in features. Tomoe looked more soft-spoken and softer, even though both of them were feminine in every sense. But Megumi's features made her look more cunning. She had a bit more accentuated cheek bones and a bit darker tone of skin. Her cheeks had a natural blush applied to it and there was always that deep shade of rouge lipstick she always wore. She never seemed to be without it on. Her black hair had a natural way of just laying on her shoulders, as if it were meant to always be flipped back flirtatiously. And when her brown eyes rested upon men, they went weak at the knees. She was definitely the more aggressively seductive of the two.
So, here I sat, pouring her tea and she smacks the bottle from my hands. Tomoe looks impassive as she watched the sake turn into a puddle on the table. I tried to clean it up with a cloth in horror and looked at Megumi with shock.
"Seriously, Tanuki(1), you must learn how to pour. If a man saw me do that, he would've done worse and smacked you." she snapped.
I couldn't answer and just earnestly cleaned up the mess.
"Second rule of seduction: To be the best, you must be a lady first." Tomoe stated calmly as she smoothed out her kimono.
"Forgive me." I murmured.
I collected the bits of the broken sake bottle into my damp cloth-covered hand and stood up. I excused myself with an apologetic bow before running out of the room in anguish. I had ruined Tomoe's meeting with Megumi over a simple mistake as pouring. If I was going to be a seductress and start earning money, I decided I needed to push myself harder. As I went downstairs, Megumi smiled in satisfaction.
"That was improper." Tomoe remarked, "And to give her such a horrible nickname..."
"She deserved it. I was never treated so delicately."
"Still, she is learning fast."
"I suppose."
From her lap, Megumi pulled up a small pouch and placed it on the dry part of the table.
"It's for you, so you don't get caught with an unwanted bundle." she stated in a serious tone, "And Kanryu requests your presence in his office."
"I see..."
* * * * *
"Aoshi, how did Tomoe fare last night?" Kanryu inquired before taking a sip from his glass.
The leather squeaked a bit as he sat down in his chair behind his desk. Aoshi stood obediently in the corner, his hands behind his back.
"She can explain it all. I wasn't with her."
"And where were you?"
"Watching over another one of your women who was having troubles with your customers. I thought Tomoe could handle it alone like she always does."
"You thought wrong, didn't you, my boy?"
There was a soft knock at the oak doors, and Kanryu turned his chair so that the back was facing the entrance. Aoshi watched as his boss rubbed his temples, his glass still in one of his hands, and groaned in dissatisfaction.
"Come in!" he shouted.
Tomoe entered as quietly as she could, but the silence was sign enough of Kanryu's anger. With a soft click of the door's lock, Aoshi glanced over at Tomoe nervously.
"Okita Souji moved to Tokyo today."
Kanryu's voice cut through the silence sharply, dripping with a dark velvet emotion full of ire. There was a silence that lingered as both Tomoe and Aoshi could not muster a reply. Their master grew impatient and his grip on the glass violently shook, the contents splashing about only to soak his hand.
"The police inspected one of my warehouses last night. Luckily, the police are just as corrupt as politicians. I paid the chief off. Do you know how much it cost me?!"
In that next moment, he furiously whipped his body around, his arm following. The glass left his hand and hit the wall by Tomoe. She gasped, but before she could even react, she found her boss had trampled towards her. She shrunk back in fear just before he grabbed her by her arms and shook her violently. Aoshi took a few steps forward, ready to help Tomoe, as she whimpered in pain.
"Stay back, Shinomori!" he commanded and raised his right hand in the air, "This woman needs to be taught a lesson!"
He backhanded her and she fell to the ground, clutching her reddened cheek. Tears didn't fall from her eyes even as she looked back up at Kanryu who towered above her. He adjusted his glasses on the bridge of his nose with his middle finger.
"Don't let it happen again." he muttered calmly as he tread back to his desk.
Aoshi kneeled beside Tomoe. He tried to help her up, but she recoiled from his touch.
"I couldn't help it. Souji-san was obviously not interested." Tomoe informed as she stood up.
"Well, he must be gay. It could be possible. Souji was never seen with a lover before." the entrepreneur reasoned.
"It's too late, Kanryu. Souji won't be coming back." Aoshi stated coldly as he stood up.
"It's no matter. I will find a way to hide my business, but in the meantime, I want more business. I want your presence out more in the teahouse. The party is in full swing tonight. Don't disappoint me."
"I'm sorry, Takeda-sama(2)." Tomoe apologized.
Kanryu flinched and turned to show his face. His eyes showed compassion, but his mouth was in a grim line. In slow, careful strides like a lion coming in for his prey, he walked over to Tomoe, placing a hand upon her marred cheek.
"You know I don't like to hurt you. So don't give me a reason, love." he said softly.
She nodded, mostly in fear of not doing so.
"Now, go. Get ready for tonight's big event. We're welcoming some business partners of mine and they've brought some gifts."
* * * * *
Day faded into night and the exotic lights of the teahouse were bright and illuminating the blithe evening. Men came and left as they always did, but the night was filled with more men than usual. It was a busy night for all the women to entertain, but sounds of rapture still filled the air as music boomed from the new band imported from Europeans. Their brass instruments blurted out fast tempo beats with a type of melodious whining. The taut-skinned drums were beat under the bright lighting, their rhythm causing the urge for the inhabitants to sway their bodies. It was on that night, I was to watch Tomoe once again. Her slender form was covered with another elegant kimono. It was a deep crimson color with ivory white flowers printed randomly on the fabric. A deep ebony obi was tied around her abdomen to complete the ensemble. Her hair was in its usual style and a bit of rouge was applied to her lips to show off the shape of them.
"Kaoru, be careful out there. The men will not be so inattentive if you are in the room. Not even the darkest corner can hide you. Stay in the light, so that Aoshi can watch over you." she said softly.
"Good luck, Yukishiro-sensei." I said softly as I smoothed out my plain blue kimono I once again sported for my observation.
At this point in time, I was too poor to afford new, exquisite kimonos. And watching Tomoe, I kind of wished that day wouldn't come. She peered down at me underneath her lush lashes with a very faint smile. The first smile I had seen from her since I came to stay at the teahouse.
"Tonight...is your last night inactive in the teahouse."
I looked at her in shock. I wasn't expecting to be put out in the field so early, especially after I just started lessons.
"Kanryu sees potential in you and is impatient to test you out. So enjoy this night. Your last night as an innocent girl." she said almost sadly.
I saw the gleam in her eye. Her eyes probably wished they could shed tears, but a woman with no heart-who does not even own herself-was not allowed to show emotion.
"Now." she said with finality as she raised her head up high, "Let's get out there."
* * * * *
Akira entered the establishment once more with the same group of friends. He seemed to be coming in without much force. He looked rather sheepish as he entered the warmth of the room and heard the din of mirth fill his head. He was a swinging bachelor was all his friends' reasoning as they forced him there once again. He hadn't been there since the previous night just before Okita left for Tokyo. He never planned to go back. It was because of this place, his cynicism grew in the midst of the crowd. It was then that he caught sight of the cold beauty. She was swung out to him by one of the men, and he caught her by her forearms. She apologized and flashed him a sensuous smile.
"Welcome, good sir. I hope you enjoy your time." she said uncharacteristically, talking over the garrulous company.
And with that, she was swept away by the crowd once again, disappearing from Akira's sight.
"Hey, isn't that the woman who Okita talked to yesterday?" one of Akira's friends asked.
But he was barely listening. He was lost in the trail of where she had gone and it took him a second to reply a breathy, "Yeah..."
"Hey, Akira! Snap out of it!"
"Yeah?" he said as he turned to his companions.
They pushed a drink into his hands and he looked to them with a puzzled expression.
"Have a drink."
* * * * *
As Tomoe charmed the men in the room with her melodic voice, graceful dances, exquisite conversations, and just her presence in general, I was watching her like a hawk. I watched every little thing she used to keep the opposite sex's attention. Aoshi told me to find my own way of being seductive, but I doubted myself then. I didn't want to be cheaply seductive like the other women, and I doubted I could match Tomoe's silent yet mysterious demeanor. She was an enigma to men and I-I was just a plebeian compared to her. Her way with words and her natural grace. How could I compete with that?
As I stood in the room, I had not realized that one of the drunkards had taken an interest in me. He took a firm grip upon my shoulder, snatching me from my concentration, and pulled me close to him.
"Forgive me, sir, but I am in the middle of something." I tried to explain, but he obviously wasn't listening.
His eyes were glued upon my tiny figure and the more I tried to wriggle out of his grasp, the more excited he became. He chuckled at my attempts to escape and the dire pleas to let me go. Each hearty chuckle he emitted, I could smell the bold stench of alcohol and common bad breath. I stayed in the light as Tomoe instructed, but she was not lying when she said the men were more cognizant tonight. I tried to escape without hurting him for fear of Kanryu's wrath. My eyes searched for Aoshi, but he was nowhere in sight. I never realized how much I needed him until now. It was then that I heard Tomoe's voice. She was far, but I could hear her crying out for me. Apparently, the room was becoming aware of my struggle, but choosing to ignore it. It was in that moment that Akira's chivalry consumed him. Dropping his cup, he stalked towards my captor and punched him in the face. Many women screamed in shock and the men gathered around to see if the outcome would be a fight. I fell to the ground on my side as the man discarded me.
"Don't touch her." Akira growled.
"I'll touch whoever I damn well please. She's just a whore!" the man spat.
It hurt me when he said that. I hadn't even done anything yet and here this man stood, classifying me as nothing more than a whore. Akira's anger grew and it came out in the form of a shove. The man flew back and caught his clumsy stance before running towards Akira, tackling him to the ground. Akira was knocked out as his head hit the ground and the drunk man collapsed on top of Akira. Aoshi finally arrived and pushed the man off of Akira, dragging him outside. Tomoe came, too. She ran to Akira's side and lifted his head up a bit to lay in her lap.
"Aoshi! Help me!" she yelled.
I stood up and watched as Aoshi placed one of Akira's arm around his neck and Tomoe took the other. As they walked past me, with Akira in their possession, Tomoe called me to her. I ran after them and opened the door to our quarters as she instructed almost inaudibly. With the curiosity of many people making a big hype in the room, the women of the teahouse tried to calm them and distracted them as I shut the door behind us.
* * * * *
I sat in my room, with only the roaring flames built in the fireplace to warm me. Aoshi entered silently. His footsteps muted as he walked towards me. He matched the darkness. Adorned in an all black gi and hakama, the only distinction was his pale skin and blue eyes. I shivered uncontrollably as his hand touched my shoulder.
"Are you okay?" he asked huskily, his voice just richly deep.
"I'm fine. Is that man okay?" I asked, not daring to meet his eyes as I stared at the ground.
"He's with Tomoe. She'll take care of him."
"Oh...I see."
He stood up and I heard him move around my room. I wanted to see what he was doing, but he scared me. Something about him kept me in place as if I were to never question what he was doing. And suddenly, I felt it. A heavy warmth placed about my shoulders. I saw the fabric of the thick blanket and clutched it tightly.
"Forgive me. I wanted to protect you, but the men kept me away." he said softly.
"Aoshi-san..."
I trailed off, not knowing what to say or what the appropriate thing to do was. All I knew was that I wanted him to speak more. But he didn't. He left me alone in the dimness of the room to my thoughts reflecting on the conflicting night. Never had I thought that I would ever be put in that situation. And there was that one question that was wracking my brain. Was it really all for what I had originally intended? Was my family's well-being actually worth it? No, that was never a question. I cared for my father and would do anything to save him from any pain, even financially. But that question lingered in my head. Why would I aspire to be a whore?
* * * * *
Akira awoke, the sounds of the crickets chirping in the night air. He silently looked about the room, catching an ethereal figure near the window. The moonlight bathed the image of the siren, Tomoe, as she sat arranging flowers. The look of contentment filled her facial expression when she paused, letting her hands rest in her lap as she inspected her creation. With a glance, she looked out to see the moon, new and bright. How she loved to feel the cool night air upon her skin and stare at that almost unattainable object in the sky. From the corner of her eye, she saw Akira stir and quickly turned.
"So...you're awake." she said softly in that effeminate charm she naturally possessed.
"Yes." he said as he sat up, rubbing his temples, "I have a killer headache though."
"Wild parties and bar brawls will do that."
He looked up to see her rise gracefully to her feet, her curious gaze upon him in the darkness of her room as she padded over to the futon where she laid him.
"You need to go."
Her voice was gentle, but he knew it wasn't meant to be nice. He got up and walked over to the door. He knew it would be dark, and he'd need to find his way home before anyone worried.
"Thank you...for saving Kaoru."
Her voice was almost inaudible, but he had heard it. He didn't want to acknowledge it for some reason, so he left quickly, leaving her in the darkness of her room. At that moment, both felt that some things were left unsettled, but they quickly surmised that they wouldn't see each other again. It was inevitable for what fate had planned for them, the possibility of their worlds crashing before them with simple contact. And fate had twisted an ill-fated path, for little did Akira know that the eyes of the wolf was watching him depart.
Reference for Readers:
1 – tanuki – racoon (it seems that women are classified as different types of animals, but this nickname is kind of crude)
2 – -sama – a suffix for high respect, for bosses or even God.
Author's Note: I hope this chapter met to your approval. I took a sick day (I am sick) and had some time to type my thoughts down (a rarity in my life). I'm just warning you that I may not update very often, but I will write whenever I can. I'm just glad that people enjoy my story. Believe me, this is very rare that I actually write three parts of a story in a week! Well, please review! Just click the button! ^.^
Linay – Thank you so much for reviewing! I love your stories (both RK and Esca.) and I review whenever you update! I am truly honored to have you review. Salama' po (s/p?)! Anyway, my story is not exactly a happy one, I'll give you that much. I don't really know how to write angst, so I only classified it as drama. I am making Tomoe a main character. This story is actually a bunch of story lines in one. The main story line is about Tomoe and her life through her student's eyes. But the side stories deal with the other characters and you'll see who they are in later chapters.
Marstanuki – Yes, it could be classified as an A/K fic, but you'll just have to wait and see. I have plans for Kaoru. And no, I don't exactly dislike writers who make Megumi an antagonist because we all know she could make the perfect bad guy. By the way, I enjoy your fics and think sometimes it's an allowance. But, as much as I dislike her, I've decided to brush up her reputation in this fic. Besides, in the series, we know she can't get Kenshin! So we win, don't we?
Black Wings Angel, Rin, and Isilwen Nyx Silverstar – thank you both for the reviews. Your encouragement means a lot.
G3ozLizh – I'm sorry. This isn't a Megumi fic. I made her a very minor character. But she is an important character, nonetheless. And thank you for your review!
Kamorgana – Yes, it could be classified as a Tomoe/Akira story. I have written one before (and still am *ducks when Enishi throws a balled up paper*). Thank you. I hoped I could make this as original as possible. But your other question about the Shinsengumi Captain should be answered in this chapter... I'm sorry I didn't classify this, but it is an AU fic. None of the characters are who they are in the series (obviously *smacks herself in the head*). And I think Kanryu is the perfect villain, too! That's why I picked him!
