"Ow! What are you doing now?" The beady eyes stared at a copper coloured bottle. "No. No! Anything but that! You can chop the damn leg off! Just don't use that Iodine!" The child writhed in fear of the impending pain.
"Watch your language, brat! I'm doing this as a favor! And cutting the leg off will hurt more that two drops of Iodine!" A womanly hand held a squirming leg still, while the other dropped some dark liquid into a deep gash. A scream. "You'd think I was going to kill you!"
The hands grabbed a needle and some thick thread.
"Why do you insist on hurting me!" a boyish voice choked through tears.
"You want gangrene? Stop whining, it won't hurt at all." Nimble hands stitched the gash, and wrapped it in cloth.
Large eyes stared down at the cloth wrapping. "Thank God!" he sighed.
The woman pushed the boy off of the table. "Get out of here, Yahiko! And don't mess with that dressing!"
"Whatever you say, Megumi!" Yahiko sneered sarcastically, smacking Megumi sharply on the bottom.
"You little brat! Never come to me for any help again!" A door slammed, her face was gone.
"Yeah, well, I don't see what a guy like Sanosuke would want with a witch like you!" he yelled. He turned on his heel and began to limp down the path towards the centre of town.
"Why would anyone want her? Why?" he mumbled. He took a few more steps and found himself looking back at the clinic. "Why? Because she's gorgeous, and smart, and funny, and perfect." He stopped and covered his mouth. "What the hell is wrong with me? She's twenty-two, I'm thirteen! Anyway, she's Sanosuke's, and she's mean as an old cat." The boy continued on his way.
A brush dipped into thick red liquid, and rose to a pair of plump lips. It danced along them, leaving behind a glistening trail of crimson splendor. A black stick of charcoal carved around deep eyes, making them more prominent than ever. Ebony hair being swept into ivory combs and studded pins, one strand framing the milk white face.
The woman sat up, staring at her scantily clad self in the mirror. The white robe barely covered her figure. She laughed as she pulled a black silk kimono over herself. The clunk of traditional geta, the smell of erotic perfume. A figure slid out of the clinic as the sun began to set.
A clatter at a door, a woman standing in the doorway.
"Ah, Megumi-san, you showed your face," a tall man said. He stood extremely close to her, playing his fingers around her clear cut jaw line.
"Don't touch me, Kenji, I'm not here for you," she said, pushing his all too eager hand away.
"I see. The boss is ready for you, dearest. Might as well get the terror over with," he said, pointing to a door leading to the courtyard. "I'll be waiting for you to escort you home."
"No need. I don't want to be alone with you in the dark," she said.
"Dearest girl, that's why beautiful ones such as you shouldn't be indebted to atrocities such as us," Kenji replied, licking his thin lips.
"Pigs," she mumbled, walking into a wall of steam coming from the fenced in hot spring.
"So you did come," a low voice uttered.
"I value my life, but I have no pride to speak of. I'd rather not die before I gain it back, Tatsunori."
"Come and join me," a dark figure said, a large hand gesturing towards the steaming pool.
"I'd rather not."
"It's better to be cooperative, dear, and just go with what I tell you to do," Tatsunori said. The figure emerged from the pool. Long blond hair fell to his knees. Scars took over the once handsome face. The body was strong, but one leg was lame, and the man walked with a limp.
The dripping naked man neared Megumi. She began to feel at ease. 'Keep your guard up,' she thought to herself, but it wasn't working.
"However did someone like you become indebted to us?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her.
"I had to borrow money, and I can't pay it back," she said, looking into his green eyes.
"I see. You're a lucky girl. Every other girl who's been in debt with us has been slaughtered, but your different, and worthy of my attentions. Do you accept the offer of being my mistress?" he asked, easing part of the robe off of her shoulder.
"I have no other choice," she said, feeling comfort in his mesmerizing presence.
"Message will be sent to you when I request you, and you must not deny me. I do not want to kill you, Megumi, but I will if I am disobeyed," he said, licking her slender neck.
"I won't disappoint you, Tatsunori," she said. He pulled the limp girl into the steaming waters, taking full advantage of her dazed state.
The cock crowed in the morning light as it bathed Megumi in a puddle of warmth. She rolled over and stretched, opening her dark and expressive eyes. She sat up and looked around. She was in her bed, her hair down over her shoulders. Hanging on the a hook on the wall was her kimono from the night before. She looked down at herself and gasped.
Her night robe was the most ornate piece of clothing she had ever seen. A misty silver with intricate beadwork across it. It was light as a feather, and it shone brilliantly in the low morning light. "Where in hell…"
A note was pinned to the wall. She walked to it slowly, and carefully took it from it's place.
Megumi-san,
Last night was one to remember. A gift, from me.
I will send a messenger if you are needed tonight. My dear, you are absolutely gorgeous.
Lovingly,
Tatsunori-dono
"What a lousy, terrible-" A knock on the door. She walked to the main door, hoping it was not a patient. The door flew open and a smiling redhead looked up at her.
"Megumi-dono, what a lovely nightgown!" he said.
"Oh, Ken-san, I wasn't expecting you, I'm not decent," she said, blushing.
"I've just come to ask you to a party tonight! It is Yahiko's birthday, and he'd really appreciate you showing up to his surprise party!" he said, holding out a paper.
"Oh, of course. I'll be there. Thank you Kenshin," she said, taking the paper in her hands.
"Be there at 6:30!" he said, as he was walking away. She watched wistfully as he hummed and walked out of sight. The door closed.
"Six thirty…Semi-formal…Dinner…fun…" she mumbled as she read it.
She tossed it aside, and took out a piece of parchment. She sprayed some perfume on it after writing her message, and tacked it onto the door.
Tatsunori's Messenger…
She smiled as she prepped the clinic for her day's work.