Opium Dream

Chapter three: Unexpected Developments

By Funara

Disclaimer: You guessed right. I don't own it.

Notes: The title's not great, but I'm pretty happy with this chapter, on the whole.

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Hiei tracked swiftly along the snow-covered streets, following the trail as quickly as he could. When he had noticed the multiple footprints gathered around the spot where Kurama had stood, on the steps of the army headquarters, he had traced them immediately. Hiei set his jaw grimly. Four sets of footprints had led to the spot, but only three had led away. He couldn't waste more time if he wanted to find Kurama.

As he turned into another road, Hiei paused and cursed silently. The tracks had been covered and crisscrossed by other, fresher footprints leading in all directions. The sun had been up for several hours; soldiers would be traversing the streets. Hiei bent to examine the snow, but to no avail. Frustrated, he backtracked through the alley and emerged on another road.

He glanced up and down the road, and in the same moment, saw a flash of bright red emerging from another side street. Hiei started, but sure enough, it was Kurama. But he wasn't walking by himself; in fact, he was being carried in the arms of a tall figure in a black cloak. Abruptly, Hiei felt a flash of jealousy as he saw the figure bend to whisper something to the beautiful redhead in his arms. He strode angrily towards them.

Kurama vaguely recognized the street they were on and told Karasu so, in response to his query of whether he knew where they were. Looking to the right, he suddenly saw a familiar figure approaching them. "Hiei?"

Hiei reached them in four more quick strides, and Kurama smiled at him, relieved to see him. "Thank the gods—we were just looking for you." The dark soldier said nothing but fastened his gaze on Karasu, animosity flickering in his eyes. Kurama frowned, but did not remark on it.

"You are a soldier of the army here." Karasu nodded towards the sheaf of paper in Hiei's hand and the seal it bore—a hawk clutching a scythe in one talon and a scepter in the other. "That is the seal of the Republican Army."

Hiei narrowed his eyes. "And if I am?"

Karasu was untroubled by the young man's clear dislike of him. "You can show us the way to the army headquarters."

"And why would I choose to do that?"

"Yomi and I need to speak with people there."

Kurama could see a refusal forming on Hiei's lips, and intervened. "Hiei," he said quietly, his tone asking him to cooperate.

Hiei's eyes flicked towards Kurama for a moment, and he felt his anger melt into disappointment and resignation. He turned away. "Fine."

Beneath his mask, Karasu smirked.

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Inside the military headquarters, a soldier hurried towards them. "How may I assist you?"

Karasu did not answer him until he had located a long couch tucked almost under the staircase. After Kurama had sat down on it, Karasu turned back to the soldier. "We want to see your head general."

The soldier bowed and led Yomi and Karasu up the staircase, leaving Hiei to sit next to Kurama, his back towards the redhead.

Kurama examined his wrists and ankles, making sure the ropes had not caused any serious injury. He glanced sideways at Hiei when he had finished. From the moment he'd laid eyes on Karasu, Hiei's hostility had been apparent. He'd thought that Hiei had had a grudge against Karasu, but it appeared that they didn't know each other. And Kurama himself hadn't done anything to provoke the crimson-eyed soldier. Unless…his eyes widened. After scarcely a day of knowing each other, was Hiei jealous?

He appraised Hiei and decided that the only way he was going to know for sure was if he used the direct approach he'd been preaching to himself that morning.

"You know, Hiei," Kurama began finally. "Karasu and I aren't involved."

From the slight jerk of his shoulders Kurama knew he had his attention. But Hiei didn't turn around.

"So am I expected to believe that you and he weren't having a nice screw while I was away?" he asked sardonically.

Kurama was surprised at the bitterness of his tone, as though he had long ago resigned himself to things like this. "Yes, you are. Look Hiei, I just met Karasu. I wouldn't—"

"You just met me yesterday."

"That was different. You had just saved me."

Hiei finally turned to face him. "And what had Karasu done to allow him to carry you?"

"He and Yomi resc—" Kurama fell silent. Hiei regarded him for a few more moments before moving to turn away. Kurama grabbed his arm, and he stiffened. "Hiei, let me tell you the whole story and then you can decide to believe me or not. I was standing on the steps outside this building, waiting for you, when three soldiers came up to me. They asked me if I wanted to go somewhere with them, but I said no. One of them grabbed me, but I hit him. One of the others must have hit me, because when I woke up, I was tied and gagged and lying on a wooden floor.

"The soldiers were planning to sell me as a slave, but a while later, I heard explosions. My door was knocked down, and I saw Karasu and Yomi. They untied me and took the gag out. Karasu carried me out, because my legs were weak, and then we met you in the street. That's it. Nothing else."

Hiei was still watching him when he finished. He pulled his arm from Kurama's grasp. "The situation was not different from last night," he said quietly. "You would have done the same if he'd approached you."

"No, I wouldn't have," replied Kurama, equally quiet. "Why would I want to, when I already have you?" Kurama smiled a little at the look of astonishment on Hiei's face. "Not all nobles are promiscuous harlots you know…though I used to know quite a few of them."

Hiei said nothing for a long time, his expression guarded once more. When he eventually started to speak, he was cut off.

"Am I interrupting something?"

Both young men started in surprise. It was Karasu.

"No," said Hiei shortly, eyeing the masked young man with resurgent dislike.

"Good." Karasu took a step towards Kurama and pulled off his iron mask. "I have a request to make of you, Kurama. The general is holding a celebration tonight at the Unabara no Shinju teahouse. I would like you to come." Karasu's glance flicked towards Hiei. "Unfortunately, I cannot extend this offer to your friend."

Hiei shot him a cold and disdainful look. "I couldn't attend anyway. I have guard duty at the barracks tonight."

"A pity." Karasu shifted his attention to Kurama, expectant.

"I don't think that would work out. As a former noble, I doubt that the general will be pleased to see me."

"Their happiness is not my concern. They won't say anything if you are a guest of mine."

Kurama hesitated. It's not like I have anywhere else to go tonight. "I'll go. Where is the teahouse?" Karasu explained how to get there.

"You can arrive any time after dark. I look forward to seeing you there." He tossed a strange, slight smile over his shoulder and headed for the staircase.

Hiei stood up as soon as Karasu had disappeared from sight. "Where are you going?" Kurama asked. I hope he isn't angry about what just happened.

"The stable. I need a horse to get to the barracks."

The mention of horses suddenly reminded Kurama of something he had to do. "Will they lend me a horse?"

"Why?"

"I have to go home and tell my family what happened at the trial yesterday."

"How did you get here without a horse?"

"I did have one. Both the horse and the carriage were stolen."

Hiei gazed at him, an inscrutable expression on his face. "I'll get two horses."

Kurama blinked. "You don't have to—" But Hiei was already out the door.

A while later, Hiei rode up to the front of the building leading a black and white speckled horse. Kurama met him at the base of the steps. Using the wide stone railing as leverage, Kurama mounted his horse and took the reins from Hiei. "Thank you."

"Hn." Hiei turned his horse to the left and prepared to gallop away.

"Wait!" Kurama's horse swerved abruptly in front of Hiei. "You don't have to run away every time I finish a sentence."

The sable-haired soldier raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Where will you be tomorrow?"

The eyebrow rose. "Why?"

"Because I want to borrow your boot shine," Kurama replied sarcastically. "Because I want to see you."

Hiei 'hmph'ed softly. "Meet me right here then. Tomorrow morning, at sunrise." He nudged his horse and it trotted away briskly.

Kurama smiled, a wind ruffling his long red hair. When it subsided, he turned his horse around and rode towards his home.

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The atmosphere inside the Unabara no Shinju teahouse was familiar to Kurama, reminiscent of the dozens of parties he'd attended as the head of the family. Food and drink were plentiful and varied, and the guests usually spent their time doing whatever they wanted after a formal meal. Smoking opium quietly in a corner, engaging in conversation, watching the pretty, ubiquitous geisha sing and dance—these were the kinds of activities he'd come to expect at such gatherings.

Only a few hours ago, he had formally closed the chapter of his life that had required him to attend these events as a proud noble. The members of his family had accepted his tidings with grace—most had probably expected it. Kurama had separated between them what objects of worth they had left—not many, as soldiers had already raided their property during the war. He himself took nothing.

When they had finished, Kurama had gathered them in front of their grand home, and all of them, from the lowest stable-hand to Kurama himself, had spent a silent moment gazing upon what was no longer theirs. He had explained to them that they had to go their separate ways, for if the new government found that they were communicating frequently, they might suspect a rebellion and exile them. The members of his household had accepted this, once again with dignity.

Kurama wept no tears on the road back to the capital. A few miles down, he passed a group of officers riding in the opposite direction, heading to the place he had left, eager to take charge of the estate.

A woman sat down silently next to Kurama, surprising him out of his depressing reminiscences. After having eaten, he had settled himself against the wall with a cup and a bottle of rice wine. Nobody joined him; after all, he knew only one or two generals from his trial, and he doubted they would enjoy his company. He had caught glimpses of Karasu and Yomi, deep in conversation with another man. Kurama had idly wondered why Karasu had invited him.

"Hello," he said uncertainly to the brown-haired woman next to him.

"Hey," she replied, sipping from her cup. She was not dressed as elaborately as the other young woman—she wore a dark green kimono with a single pale pink flower near the bottom edge. Her sash was light green. Kurama could not help thinking that her subdued outfit was incongruous with her loose, sandy brown hair, and the look of lazy indifference in her eyes.

"Can I help you?" he asked politely.

She refilled her cup from Kurama's bottle before answering. "Kind of."

"How?"

Again she took a long time in answering. "My girls and I were wondering why you weren't joining in the fun."

The red-haired young man glanced at the crowd of officers and geisha, all of them jovial and cheerful. "There is no one here that I know well."

"Who invited you?"

"Karasu."

"Ah." She folded her legs beneath her. "You're not a soldier, are you?"

Kurama shook his head. "No."

"A noble, maybe?"

He laughed quietly. "You are observant. How did you guess?"

She shrugged nonchalantly. 'The way you carry yourself, the way you talk. We used to get a lot of nobility here before the war."

Kurama nodded. "And now you get soldiers."

"Uh huh. They're all the same, regardless of social position."

"Are you a geisha then?"

"Used to be. Now I just own this place."

"Retired at such a young age?" Kurama teased.

The sandy-haired woman chuckled. "What's your name?"

"Kurama."

"Shizuru. Kuwabara Shizuru."

"Hajimemashite, Shizuru-san."

"As cordial as the best of your fellows." Shizuru sipped her wine. "What will you do now that your kind are in disfavor?"

Kurama sighed. "I don't know."

"I'll make you an offer then." The redhead looked up in surprise. "Have you ever considered becoming a geisha, Kurama-san?"

The former noble choked on his wine. "What?" he asked disbelievingly.

Shizuru was unruffled. "Become a geisha. You certainly have the looks and charm to be a successful one."

Kurama stared at her. "Thank you, but…aren't geisha usually women?"

"Yes. Usually." She gestured toward a group of young women, one playing a long, stringed instrument, the others dancing. "One of those 'women' is a man."

He blinked and glanced towards them. "Which one?"

"Figure it out if you can. I promised not to give him away." As her companion studied the geisha carefully, Shizuru continued. "My point is that even without pretending to be a woman, you could be a well-known geisha. It's certainly one of the few non-military options available."

The slender redhead turned to her. "Maybe…but it's an extremely odd choice. Who would want to be…entertained by a male geisha?"

Shizuru cocked her head. "Difficult times call for strange choices. You can't be a soldier. What are you going to do, starve?"

Kurama gave a slight, resigned shrug, but he saw the pragmatism behind her words.

"And as for who would want you for a companion, you'd be surprised by how broadminded some of these men are. I'll bet you've met at least one already."

He flushed lightly before realizing an underlying meaning of what she had said. "And I would be expected to…lie with these customers?"

The young woman shot him a piercing glance. "That's your decision. I never force my girls to do what they don't want to. If you don't want to, don't. A lot of the people who come here just want some sympathetic company. They know my rules." When Kurama remained silent, her eyes softened a little, losing some of their bored indifference. "The notion of doing things with men isn't the most critical issue, is it? You're not as bothered as others I know would be."

Kurama shook his head. "I have never found issue with that. Recent events have…well…" he trailed off, a little smile on his lips. A moment later though, he frowned. "No, what bothers me the most, and I hope you're not going to be offended by this," he spared her a quick glance, "is that after living the life I lived, I don't know if I can adjust to being something…lower."

Shizuru laughed. Kurama looked up at the sound, startled. "You're an honest person, Kurama-san. Yes, a geisha is much lower than what you're used to, but we get the most respect these days." She untucked her legs and began to stand up. "It's your choice. I like you; you're a good person, and that's rare. I'm offering you a job and a home here at the Unabara no Shinju teahouse. In the end, you have to decide. Pride is hard to overcome, but at least you'll be doing it on a full stomach and under a roof, eh?" She moved towards the crowd of laughing officers.

The redhead gazed unseeingly at the scene before him, his thoughts distant. He had never before been offered such a strange opportunity. And it certainly was a blow to his pride to act in the place of a woman, especially considering what he had faced in the past. He wryly remembered his stepfather's shocked first reaction to seeing his long hair.

On the other hand, Shizuru had said that she never forced her geisha to do anything against their wills. He would not be dressed in women's clothing or made to sing or dance…in fact, he could probably just talk to the clients if he wanted. He might even be able to make true friends, something he had not had since he was small. Kurama wondered if he was crazy to consider this bizarre offer.

As he continued to weigh pros and cons, another figure settled beside him. Kurama looked up, half-expecting to see Shizuru again. But instead, he saw a man dressed in robes made of shining black material, with the emblem of the Republican Army stitched in red on the right sleeve. His long, silky black hair was barely distinguishable against the fabric. Only his violent eyes provided a vague contrast. Karasu.

"I apologize for not speaking to you sooner, Kurama. Both our evenings would have been pleasanter if we had been able to…speak…privately." The expression in Karasu's eyes made Kurama's stomach clench uneasily.

"It's fine; I spoke to Shizuru-san."

"Our lovely hostess?" There was little enthusiasm in the compliment.

"Yes. She made me an interesting occupational offer."

Karasu's eyes narrowed. "What sort of offer?"

Kurama was slightly taken aback at his tone. "She asked if I wanted to be a geisha here."

He relaxed. "I see." Kurama wondered what he had thought Shizuru had said. "And do you?"

Kurama leaned forward, his arms on his knees. "I don't know. Some aspects of such a career trouble me."

"Such as allowing the advances of other men?" The red-haired young man looked up, amazed at his directness. Karasu put one hand on the floor between them and leaned toward him. "There is a simple fix for unwanted attentions. I will make sure no one else ever touches you again." Before Kurama could react, Karasu grasped his chin and kissed him.

—to be continued—

Hajimemashite—Nice to meet you.

Notes: I'm not sure if I like the way I'm characterizing Karasu. Other than that, I think I've managed to balance the HxK and the KxK all right…it'll equalize later. Reviews?