-1Eyes Of Water
Home
By
Bulma
The adrenaline rush filled Bulma. It was slowly setting from dusk to night. All day Bulma's stomach was filled with butterflies of the worst kind in her stomach. She felt sick, tired, and nervous all over. It was a miracle she managed to keep a cool head throughout her classes. But apparently Bulma had a vibe of uneasiness as Andrea pulled her aside. She knew exactly what was ailing Bulma and managed to encourage her with comforting words that it was their time to go and that she needed to put her fear aside and let things come. To take things one step at a time. It was easier said than done Bulma felt.
Slowly, one by one, the stars came out from the settling sky as Bulma looked from her attic window. This was it, this would be the last time she would see this Okiya and go back to her Mother. How she dreamed of this day to come and now, it was finally here. Although Bulma had not expected it to come so soon. Bulma was broken from her train of thought as three knocks from under her signaled it was time. Bulma took a deep breath and grabbed a small sack beside her. This is what she had to her name and climbed out the window and headed slowly down the tree that lead outside the Okiya's back entrance.
Bulma gingerly climbed down and into the dark and damp street. As the sky was settling, it began to drizzle, but regardless Bulma did not care. Tonight was good as any night in her eyes of escaping. She was scared but glad that she was leaving the Okiya. Before she could think of another thought, Bulma felt someone pulling at her arm. She looked to see Kyoko had joined her. "This way. Be quiet and follow me. Do not lose site of me and do not lose not even one step behind me. If you do, you will get lost and someone will be bound to find you. So keep up." Kyoko instructed. Bulma nodded as she understood her task. "I all ready took care of Andrea and she is awaiting our arrival. So we must hurry before someone is to find her."
With this said, Bulma rushed after Kyoko like a shadow to it's owner. Making sure not to fall even one second of a fraction behind her. She clutched her sack to her for dear life and rushed along. She kept her head down as for no on to recognize her, not that there was a lot of people out and about since by now it began to downpour. As they hurried along, Kyoko saw a figure in a beautiful red Kimono ahead of them with a matching silk umbrella. She pushed Bulma in the nearby bushes. Bulma was shocked and before she could stand up and ask why Kyoko could have done such a thing, Hatsumomo's voice filled the night's air above the rain.
"And where are you going Little Miss Stupid?" Bulma went cold and numb at this. She shrunk lower in the bushes and hope to Kami that she would not be spotted. She could not see physically what was going on, but she heard the conversation clearly. "Mistress Hatsumomo, I am going to retrieve an errand for Mother. She has a bit of a cold you see and needs some medicine." Kyoko told Hatsumomo. There was a pause and Bulma had to strain to listen to what was being said. Then Hatsumomo gave a reply along the lines of "Whatever, I do not care" and Bulma heard her footsteps leave them.
Then without warning, she was yanked out of the bushes by Kyoko. "That was close. Come on hurry. I have to get you to the vehicle before she goes and sees Mother, or our plan is ruined." Kyoko seemed a bit worried. "But…how will you cover for me. They are bound to notice I'm gone when Hatsumomo can't beat me with her bamboo stick later tonight?" Bulma questioned. "Don't you worry about that. I have come up with a plan. But I can't explain now, we must hurry for you friend's sake. Come on." Without hearing an answer from Bulma, Kyoko and Bulma ran all the way to the docking port.
It was pitch black and Bulma couldn't see from all the rain and slush in the air. Thankfully, Kyoko brought a lantern and tried to shield it from the rain. As small as it was, they could barely see; but it gave some light. With the small light, Bulma could barely make out the vehicles. Thankfully, Kyoko lead the way and found it in a heartbeat. She open the door to it and light filled the damp night from within. Andrea was sitting in the drivers chair reading over the instructions that Kyoko left for them. "You know the drill. Have a safe journey and remember, should you come back; you both will suffer pains that you would ever undergo." Kyoko told them.
"Kyoko…you do not know how much this means to me. I'm sorry we could not have gotten closer as friends. But you will always be in my debt. Nothing could show my gratitude for all you have done." Bulma's voice wavered as she grabbed Kyoko and hugged the girl who risked herself for her and her friend. Kyoko had a small smile on as she returned the hug. "No Bulma, you and Andrea have done me a great favor in return. Don't worry about anything. Please go home to your Mother and be happy. Live the rest of your lives in peace." Kyoko told them. Bulma removed herself from Kyoko as she took this as her cue to leave. Bulma closed the door as Andrea, wordlessly started the engine, and began to move it into the dreary night.
For the longest time, both girls didn't say anything. Bulma was so nervous. The vehicle was not much. There were two seats, and a back where there were 10 cells to put slaves. It was cold and dreary even in the vehicle. But it was better than anything. Both were so worried that they would be caught. But they made it past the checkpoint gate, which the guards appeared to be sleep on the job, and they made it out of the site of the city and into the barren desert wasteland. Both were holding their breath. It wasn't until they came to another town that they knew they had escaped from the horrid place from which they were dragged from.
Finally Bulma spoke. "We did it…we escaped." "Appears so." Andrea finally glanced over at Bulma. They were free from the tyranny of the Royal City. All that mattered now was what to do now. "Andrea…" "We are going to see your Mom first, apparently Kyoko is very resourceful. She gave us a map and directions on how to get to your village. After that, I should go to find my family. And since I know your village, I know where I'm heading." Andrea spoke to her kindly. Bulma felt the coldness of realization. "So that means we will part…" "Hai." Andrea told her. Bulma nodded as she understood and tried to keep the tears from falling.
"Hey, don't look like that. We will visit and meet. It's not like I'm saying we won't be friends anymore; it's just I am sure my family misses me." Andrea told her. Bulma nodded once again. "Right. But you come visit me first and we will see from there." she tried to sound cheerful but her eyes told differently. Andrea didn't say anything else about it and they continued on joking and telling of what they would do once they arrived at their destination.
-3 Day Later!-
They were nearing Bulma's village; Bulma felt a sudden chill of excitement and nervousness. She was happy she will see her Mother, but she did not know what to expect. But she knew one thing. She would never ever go back to Hatsumomo. As they moved into her village, Bulma recognized many of the homes and place. She smiled as she knew they would never expected the small girl with blue eyes to return home. Then as if Kami had granted her everything she wanted, there stood her house. Tears welded up in her eyes. She was finally home.
-10 Minutes Later!-
Andrea let Bulma out in front of her house. Andrea didn't want to come in as she wanted to get to her family and dusk was starting to settle. Bulma waved goodbye as her friend drove off into the night. As soon as her friend turned the corner, Bulma turned to face the house. Butterflies filled her. She cautiously went up to the house and knocked on the house's door. It was silent. Bulma tried the doorknob and it opened with a creaking sound. As she stepped through the door, she felt she was stepping into another world. Dust kicked up from the ground as she walked in. It was as quiet as a cemetery. "Momma?" Bulma's voice quivered through the dark and quietness of the house.
Silence was her answer. Bulma began to move through out it. Trying to look for any sign of anyone inhabiting the house. Bulma first went to her Mother's room. The sheets were unmade and the room reeked of something awful. Bulma had to cover her mouth to block out the smell. "Momma?" Bulma tried louder. Still no answer. Bulma went to her room. It was left as it was the night she was taken away. Bulma found her teddy bear on her bed and walked over to it. She picked it up and hugged it close to her. "Trunks…" she breathed into it and tried to will the tears back and managed to. This house seemed so empty and sullen now.
Bulma continued to make her way through out the house to the backyard. Upon reaching it, a chill overcame her as her world froze in place. The minute she stepped outside, she came come face to face with two graves. Dark clouds of the night surrounded her as Bulma lit a lantern and she stumbled to it. "Momma…" Bulma's voice barely came over a whisper. She fell upon her knees at the graves that spelled her parent's names.
Even if Bulma tried to stop the tears, it would make no difference. Her strong walls came crumbling down and all her thoughts of coming home were in vain. She had no home. All this time of working hard, trying to drive herself through the pain of Hatsumomo, the taunting of the other children, the loneliness of cold nights, and the hardships of the Okiya and Mother, all was for nothing. For all her hard work, this was her reward. Trembling fingers reached out and stroked the grave. Small hands clenched in fists as she beat upon the ground, shrieking in emotional pain as she let it all out. Every suppressed emotion since her stay at the Okiya came out of her, as she wept bitterly upon the cold ground.
She hated her Father, she hated the Okiya and the horrid women who lived there, she hated the fact that all her work was for nothing, and most of all she hated herself. Her crying and bitter emotions were short lived as a chuckle filled her backyard. "My, my little Bulma, what ails you?" Bulma jumped and whirled around to see Hatsumomo, Kyoko, Mother, and few Saiyan guards with them. "How dare you dishonor me and the Okiya!" Mother screamed angrily. She went and held up the bamboo stick and strike it across the poor girl's face. Sending her sprawling upon her Mother's grave.
Bulma let out a cry of pain as Mother again and again beat her while the rest watched, until blood spewed upon the grave and Bulma was covered in cuts and bruises. She laid fetal position with her hands trying to protect her head. Once Mother was satisfied, she threw down the stick. "You are alone now! We are the only family you have left! Now I will expect you to make you way to the vehicle in 5 minutes. I will let you apologize to the dead for the dishonor you have brought them and your family name." Mother hissed bitterly, then she stormed off with the guards. Bulma wept helplessly into the ground. Hatsumomo giggled at the display before her.
"Stupid little girl." "Why! Why are you finding this funny! And why did you betray me Kyoko!" Bulma cried out through her tears as she gazed at the two. "Because little idiot, Kyoko was working for me the whole time. You were becoming a threat to her and her becoming my younger sister. So now, you will never ever become a Geisha. You will become a slave to Mother. And what is so funny about all of this, was that you thought you were going home, when you should know by now that you do not have a home. You are the reason your Mother died and why your Father sold you. Because he couldn't stand to be near you." Hatsumomo laughed wholeheartedly.
With that Hatsumomo left Bulma to be in her misery as Kyoko stepped up and stood towering over Bulma. "You brought this upon yourself you know." "I trusted you…I hugged you and called you my friend…" Bulma wept. "Shut up! That doesn't matter me! In this world you must learn to look out for yourself. Your Mother of all people should have told you this." "Now I have no Mother. I do not have a home." was Bulma last words before her body overcame her and she gave out.
-Bulma
P.S. Moment Of Zen!
"An officer took his pistol out of his holster during a party beneath the boughs of a maple tree and laid it on the straw mat to impress me. I remember being struck by its beauty. The metal had a dull gray sheen; it's curves were perfect and smooth. The oiled wood handle was richly grained. But when I thought of its real purpose as I listened to his stories, it ceased to be a beautiful at all and became something monstrous instead. This is exactly what happened to Hatsumomo in my eyes after she brought my debut to a standstill."
Chi-you
(Saiyuri)
"Memoirs Of A Geisha"
