Chapter 4: Dedication Masks the Bitterness of Tears
While I was occupied with my own life and training, I hadn't realized Aoshi's dilemma. He hadn't an idea of where the girl that he was to protect had gone. Aoshi never talked about her to the residents of Kanryu's business. To his knowledge, he knew that the girl was still alive. Though Kanryu did keep her alive, he got her caught in between his business deals. On the streets of Kyoto, a jade-eyed beauty named Misao was well-known for her innocence and unknowingly seductive looks. Kanryu took the girl, seeing her beauty at an early stage, and used her. She was tossed about to different men that were dissatisfied with Kanryu's debts. He would use the girl to influence them otherwise, and they would use her until they were done. Finally, she had come into the hands of one of the men who was in charge of prostitutes. Kanryu offered the girl to him in exchange for his loyalty and that she stay alive.
On that particular night, she had been crying with one of the clients and tossed out onto the street. During her client's time, her thoughts wandered to her brother, and if he were all right. Tears sprung from her eyes and at the first sign of them, she was tossed out, the client dissatisfied.
She hit the ground, scraping her hands and knees. Sobs escaped her involuntarily as she got up on all fours, gasping for air that she was choking on. Her black hair veiled her eyes from the moon shielding the sight of her own weakness. If her boss had seen her do this, he would have punished her. She sat back on her heels and wiped away the moisture with the back of her hands, hiccups wracking her body. She had to pull herself together.
"What did you do, Misao?" a deep voice asked angrily.
She gasped and turned in surprise. Fear filled her jade orbs, and she tried to stand up.
"I started to cry and the customer-."
A sharp sound filled the air and Misao fell back to the ground. She looked back up to the man, her eyes puffy and her left cheek was swollen.
"You are an incompetent whore." his voice spat vehemently.
She winced and bowed her head in shame, the hair curtaining her face once again. The man stepped out of the shadows to reveal himself. A medium-sized man with a balding head. He was dressed up in the regular attire of the men, his sandals scuffed along as he walked forward.
"Katagai-sama! Please forgive me!" She pleaded desperately, backing up each time he advanced.
He saw what she was doing. To him, it was an attempt to escape what was coming to her. She needed to be taught a lesson. He jutted forward to reach her and took hold of her hair. She screamed as she felt her scalp burn with the pain of his yanking. He pulled her up by his grasp, and she rose obediently.
"How stupid do you think I am? Do you think I wouldn't find out about this?!" Katagai berated.
"Forgive me!" she screamed when he gave her hair a firm tug.
He threw her to the ground in disgust. While she cried, he rubbed the back of his neck and sighed in frustration.
"You may be one of the most used of the women, but I don't know why..." he muttered and took out a cigarette from his pocket.
She relaxed at the sound of his match and turned around to see if he would hurt her, but he just stood there, savoring the tobacco. Misao sat up, shivering from the cold night air against her skin. It was getting chilly, and she was wearing a flimsy blue kimono. She wanted to go into a building in a room with a fireplace. She could just feel the warmth radiating off of the cackling fire. But it was so distant from where she was or at least it felt that way.
Gathering up her kimono tightly to her, she turned to see Katagai. The minute her eyes focused on the stranger behind Katagai in the darkness of the back streets, she froze. Fear overrided her senses, and she feared for her life. He was a tall brunette with a grim expression plastered on his face, his brown eyes focused on Katagai before him, only regarding Misao for a second. Unfortunately, Katagai saw the look in Misao's eyes as he exhaled from his cigarette. His lips parted in disbelief and then, he saw darkness.
"Oh no..." the small girl found herself murmuring in disbelief.
Katagai's big-boned body lay on the ground right in front of her, his nose barely touching her tabi-covered foot. She could only see the top of his balding head and decided to see his attacker. Misao looked up to meet his cold, brown eyes and started to loose all sense. She was scared of who he'd kill next. He was tall with bandages wrapped around his wrists up to his knuckles. The white pants he wore came up a bit before his ankles to reveal the bandages that stuck to him like a second skin on the lower part of his legs. His well-toned chest lay exposed to her for all he had on was an open, long-sleeved white shirt. To complete his attire, he had a red bandana wrapped around his head, his hair still sticking up in various places.
"You must be Misao Makimachi..." he uttered.
Her eyes were focused on his lips as they moved and found her lip trembling with the fear running through her. He had walked up to stand over Katagai's body, a thin, black shoe-adorned foot kicked the body. Katagai emitted a groan. His eyes moved back to the girl who was starting to run away. He frowned and spit to the side.
"Listen, lady, I don't have time for chasing you. You're coming with me." he yelled as he began to run at a fast yet even pace.
Misao didn't even look back when he grabbed her shoulder. She screamed and she fell behind him after the force of the grasp he had on her made her get flung back. She was tired and running was futile. She had no more hope anymore. No matter where she went, life would be no different. The last thing she saw was the "bad" symbol on his back.
* * * * *
Kyoto was busy in the morning. The streets were filled with common people working and selling goods or trying to get to their destination of daily ritual. It was on this morning that a certain man had made his way to a proud family home.
"Akira!"
"Yes?"
Akira emerged from the house to see his mother with a police officer. Though in Akira's mind, he looked rather suspicious with the gaunt figure standing at the gate to his property. His blue attire was fit to him down to the buttoned collar and white gloves. A sword was attached to his side, his hand leaned upon it casually. His eyes were small-too small for Akira's taste-with thin, long bangs scattered over them and his smiled seemed too artificial. He reminded him more of a criminal than a man of law.
"Good afternoon. How may I help you?" Akira asked with his usual innocent smiles plastered onto his face.
His mother smiled at the sight of her son and bowed to the officer.
"I must be off to the market. Good day, Fujita-san." she said and sauntered away.
The officer walked up to Akira and stopped before him.
"Well, Kiyosato-san, I was hoping to find you here." the officer said in his dark, yet false sincere tone.
"Well, it is where I live." Akira said mockingly, but in a kind voice.
The officer emitted a chuckle and took out a cigarette. Akira raised an eyebrow as the officer lit it, and his smile faded while his eyes opened to still be small and slanted.
"I saw you in the teahouse at the edge of town after a fight in there. If I remember correctly, you were the one who was involved in it, were you not?" he inquired with a drag of his cigarette.
"Yes. But what does that have to do with anything now?"
"You left one of the women's rooms that night. So you were a client?"
"Absolutely not!" Akira protested with indignation.
"Well, aren't we a little riled up over a little question?" the officer drawled.
"Who are you?" Akira questioned sternly.
"My name is Fujita Goro-."
"Your real one." Akira cut in.
A smile graced his face as he looked up at Akira.
"Saitou Hajime."
"Well, Saitou, what business do you have with me? I have not been taking service from that brothel if that's what you came for. I was just knocked out, and the girl took me there until I woke up. That is not a service I paid for nor did I ask for."
"I see."
He took a long drag of his cigarette and blew it into the air, looking up at the passing clouds overhead. A bird made a noise on the roof, agitating Akira a bit that this man was just taking his time enjoying his cigarette on duty. What was the city paying this man for, anyway? But Saitou's mind was on Akira. He wanted to ask him for his help. It's what the chief of the police department wanted, but why ask a boy to go in.
"How old are you? Fifteen? Sixteen?" Saitou asked gruffly with another drag of his cigarette.
Akira frowned.
"I'm twenty. Why?"
"You're a young man. You've probably heard a lot of stories about dangerous cases from your grandfather, right?"
"I'm not a child, Saitou." the young man growled.
"Well, if I remember correctly, you're Akira Kiyosato, right? Okita Souji's friend?"
"And?"
"I heard that you were very friendly and sincere. You've been showing nothing but hostility in my presence."
"I don't take kindly to whores and people who have such a combative aura that they shouldn't be policemen. I should have never went with Okita. It's been nothing but trouble, and I just want to go back to my happy life."
"Oh, c'mon, Kiyosato. I have a proposition for you."
"No." Akira replied curtly and began to walk away.
"You'd be doing your family a service to the country and bring pride to your samurai family, Kiyosato. You know why I was there. That is not just a place for entertainment. It's used for luring Kanryu's enemies there. And once he does, he kills them. I can't prove it without you. Don't walk away from what I'm giving you when Japan asked me to give it. Your father would've done it for his country."
The young man stopped in his tracks. His family always had a sense of honor. He knew it from the days when the war had just ended and his father was stripped of most of his wealth and his title. Surely, Akira, his only son, could bring back honor and make them proud. But he didn't trust the officer. He looked and acted suspiciously.
"If you think I'm lying, I have a note from the police chief. That is...if you're doubtful of me."
Saitou smirked as he took out a note from his belt and held it out.
"Why me?" Kiyosato queried.
"You are the one who can get in and probably infiltrate the compound."
"You could, too. You're sneaky enough."
"Aa. But it's not that simple. I'm the one who busted one of his warehouses. He knows me very well."
"So I ask again: why me?"
"You were there, and I saw you. I recognized you, and you were the fortunate one. You also happen to own a business that's on it's way to being very successful. I'm pretty sure if you don't make the decision now, I could find ways to expedite it for you."
Akira turned on his heel and walked up to him, taking the letter in his own hand.
"Please leave." Akira said with his teeth clenched.
"Thank you...from Japan." he said almost mockingly and walked off his property.
* * * * *
At the time of Saitou's proposition to Akira, Kanryu had began to take notice of my presence at the teahouse. The men talked about Tomoe, but even more about the girl around Tomoe at night. I was mysterious, and the men indulged in their fantasies of what I was like. I rarely spoke and Tomoe was constantly leading their attention away from me. This intrigued them more of why I was so unattainable. Kanryu was delighted to hear this from his colleagues and congratulated Aoshi for finding me. Even more, he praised Tomoe for being so perfect in handling my reputation. On one of the days, he had paid a visit to his prized possession for his casual chats.
"Tomoe, you seem distracted more. Is it because of Kaoru?" he asked nonchalantly as she poured him some tea.
Tomoe sat back down, placing the teapot gently back on its tray. She waited to speak until after she had settled into her seat. Her disposition was more thoughtful when he mentioned my name and her voice seemed to float along as she spoke.
"Kaoru has not continued her lessons, so putting her out onto the field so early is not wise." she stated.
"I'm sure you've taught her the basics."
"How to pour tea, walk, and manners, but that's it."
"Tomoe, she can't be as perfect as you are. Your place in the house will never be taken away. The way you're talking, it's like as if you're teaching her to take your status. I just want to get her started on making money."
Tomoe frowned and bowed her head down a bit, so he wouldn't see it. He reached over the table and used his index finger to lift her chin. She met his eyes, her expression was placid as he spoke to her.
"Oh, Tomoe...you are quite the dedicated one. That's why I treasure you the most. You always do what I want." he whispered.
He stood up and made his way to the door.
"I'll see you tonight, Tomoe."
As he walked out the door, I was making my way to her room, and we bumped into each other. He took a step back from the impact, but he still took time to stare at me. I apologized profusely, but he didn't seem angry.
"Kaoru Sasaki..." he said almost softly, "Why don't you start touching bases on seduction with your teacher. I have much in store for you, and then the money will come in abundance."
My eyes lit up as he walked away, brushing past me. I was happy because I would finally have money to send to father. But at that moment, my expression dropped. I was to dig into my lessons more, and Tomoe couldn't protect me any longer. I entered Tomoe's room, bowing respectfully as I entered and she greeted me. I closed the door behind myself while outside Kanryu met up with Aoshi down the hall.
"Aoshi, I want you to escort her to Katsura Kogoro's tonight. He's throwing a function of some sorts and he has invited you and I, but I can't go. I have a business deal to make, so bring Kaoru. I'm sure one of the men there will become rather fond of her, don't you agree? Perhaps the influential artist, Tsunan Tsukioka...hm?"
Aoshi just nodded his head as his boss went down the stairs. His attention was still on the door I closed and the silence lingering in the hall. His peace was interrupted by the rustling of fabric and padded footsteps. Megumi leaned against the wall behind him and crossed her arms.
"Kaoru hasn't even gone through her lessons yet. I doubt that tanuki would catch any man's attention at that party, especially Tsukioka-san. He's a lady's man, and has woman falling at his feet. He wouldn't need to pay for her." she commented with a placid expression.
Her ruby lips were in a thin, grim line and her lids half-lowered over her eyes as she looked to the door. Aoshi stirred, taking a step forward.
"Megumi, you seem to forget that she's not a geisha. But she has as much dedication as one."
"Does that mean you have faith in the little tomboy?"
"More than you do."
"I'm not her teacher."
"But you know her teacher. Have faith in what she educates to the girl, and have faith that the girl is learning."
"Aoshi, am I sensing a little hostility about my doubts...?" she asked smugly.
He turned around to glower at her. The corners of her mouth turned up a bit, a bemused smile upon her face.
"You scrutinize more than you should."
"Oh, Aoshi-sama, I believe you have a soft spot for the little runt. She cuts deep, doesn't she?"
"Bite your tongue, woman." he said coldly.
He walked past Megumi and down the stairs while she smiled with satisfaction.
* * * * *
That night, Aoshi and I departed from the teahouse to attend my first party. Tomoe's short lesson turned into a longer session than I had expected. She kept me until it was soon time for my departure, and she attempted to teach me how to tease with eye contact and try to persuade conversations away from my personal life to focus on my client's. That was as far as we got. Tomoe was hesitant to let me go, but Aoshi's warning for me to be ready stopped her from speaking. Before I left the room, I turned my head to catch a glimpse of her. She was still sitting, hands in her lap, and her head bowed as if Kanryu was in her presence. That man haunted her even in her times of isolation. It made me wonder more and more of how long Tomoe was actually here.
"Aoshi-san..." I called to him as I trailed behind.
"Yes?" he answered.
"How long has Tomoe-san been here?"
"Why do you ask?"
I fiddled with my fingers, afraid to reveal my true intentions.
"Well, she just seems like she's been here forever." I replied.
He didn't comment on it and just continued walking on.
"And she seems so dedicated. Like as if she had been doing this and working hard on it since she was a child. But I don't understand it. She seems so sad. Her eyes are so dull. I wonder what she was like before she came to stay at the teahouse. I would've liked to have known Tomoe-san then." I said, a smile creeping up on my face as I imagined a small Tomoe playing with other children, her laughter almost contagious.
"Don't dwell too much on other people's past. Sometimes dedication masks the bitterness of tears."
I did not pry any further. I was silent the rest of the way, and Aoshi was as well. But the funny thing was that the silence wasn't awkward for me. It was very comfortable, almost as if words didn't need to be communicated during this time. It was just peaceful to walk in the night with the cool air chilling my exposed skin. Winter was on it's way, and that would mean more people seeking shelter in the warmth of the teahouse.
While back from where we had come, Aoshi and I had long since left when Tomoe entered the mainroom of the teahouse. She sat with a group of men, their attention immediately glued to her. Everything went as usual. All the men tried to get her attention while she obediently listened and poured them drinks as appropriate the timing came. But this time, the night was different. Akira came once again to the teahouse, her eyes immediately catching him upon his entrance. He seemed to drink in all the merriment and the smell of smoke. She averted her gaze to a man at her table who was telling a story with apparent comedy for all the men bust into laughter at the end.
Meanwhile, Akira had found Tomoe. For some reason, he found himself searching for her among the crowd, even though he knew his main purpose for being there was Kanryu. He was still entranced with her. Her graceful moments, her empty eyes, and her small, but kind gestures. She truly was everything the men found attractive. He wasn't blind. He saw her beauty as a very attractive feature about her, but her personality even moreso intrigued him. She was an enigma, a mystery to the common detective. A man had left the table, the seat next to Tomoe currently vacated. He took this opportunity to sit beside her.
She felt warmth beside her and assumed the man had returned for more fun, but only found Akira's smile.
"I never really got to thank you-for what you did-I mean." he almost stuttered.
He never wanted it to come out like that, but something about her made him nervous. She tilted her head to the side, confused yet amused at the awkward phrasing.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No. I just wanted to properly thank you, that's all."
"You smile? It's certainly a change from shrewd remarks about my virtues."
"I apologize for that. But you were trying to kill my friend."
"Okita-san is of no importance to me now. And neither is your apology."
"One minute you ask me if I'm all right and the next, your holding me in contempt? You are some woman..." he said with a chuckle.
She pursed her lips in annoyance at the smile he still kept on his face. For some reason, the smile bugged her to no ends. It was too pure for a person she deemed as spiteful.
"Don't thank me. I was only returning the favor because you saved one of the girls here." she explained and took a hold of a cup of sake.
She quaffed the contents and placed the cup down as gently as she could while Kanryu approached from behind.
"Well, Akira Kiyosato, I presume?" he said with a smile-one Akira didn't trust.
Akira turned to see Kanryu towering over him in a brown, western-style suit.
"Kanryu Takeda?" he said almost unsurely.
"I'm available to talk in private, if you're ready, of course."
"I am."
"Then follow me."
Before Akira stood, he managed to let a few words slip to Tomoe.
"It was nice to see you again, for a short time anyway."
While Akira stood up, Kanryu noticed Tomoe's calm demeanor and spoke to her.
"Go entertain, Tomoe. The night is young." he said and walked away, Akira not far on his heels.
They walked to the door leading to the women's quarters and his office. The young man entered before Kanryu as he politely stepped aside. Sure enough, Tomoe's eyes had followed them and fixed on the door that Kanryu closed after them. Her curiosity arose at that moment. That Kiyosato person seemed too proper to even consider a deal with Kanryu, yet why was he entering the office with him? And his best friend was Kanryu's enemy. Was Akira another victim Kanryu lined up? If so, a part of Tomoe wished it weren't so.
Author's Note: Katagai? A pimp? Now that's a turn-around! If nobody knows who Katagai is than...watch the OVAs! He's apart of Katsura's crew (as I'd like to say). And yes, Tsunan will be in it. But I don't understand how so many fanfic writers think Tsunan would ever try to get Kaoru. I mean, I don't think they even met in the series. But then again, Aoshi and Kaoru haven't really had interaction either. I just go as I see the characters put into different stories. I'm sorry I haven't had much time to write. I have the next three chapters written out in ideas, but I haven't had time to type them down. I hope you enjoyed this chapter though. Please read and review!
chez – Tomoe is meant to be a mysterious character in the story that Nobuhiro Watsuki made, so I decided to go along the lines of what Nobuhiro was going for. She's supposed to be like Rei Ayanami from Evangelion and I kind of used her as inspiration for her character. I basically characterized her as a reclusive woman who doesn't give off her life story to anyone. I also think if I were her, I wouldn't talk about my past unless I really trusted them, otherwise it's nobody's business. Everybody seems to want Aoshi/Kaoru. But I'm telling everybody that I already had the couples planned from the start. I did plan on one or a few usual couples, but most of them are unusual in my dictionary.
Yuki – Thank you for the compliment!
Relena Maxwell – Thank you! I plan to continue with the little free time I have to write. I will tell you this though: I don't plan on involving Kaoru in love triangles. She's just an observing character to the real happenings of the teahouse, but she does have her own story line and it does involve a certain someone *hint hint*.
Marstanuki – lol! Well, I'm glad your enjoying Megumi's moments... I hope you enjoyed her *ahem* bitchiness in this chapter.
