-1Eyes Of Water
Chapter 6
Answer To My Prayers
By
Bulma
-Many, Many Years Later-
The once small 10 year old girl, who had suffered so much at such a young age, had grown into a young woman of 17 years old. Though she had suffered much over the years from Hatsumomo's wrath; Hatsumomo had not beaten out her beauty not her hopes and prayers she had made at the temple so long ago. Even if Bulma was a slave, she worked hard through her loneliness and visit whenever she could to Geisha school to watch the other girls work and chat happily among t their friends. Bulma envied them so, they did not realize the doors that would open to them once they achieved in becoming a Geisha.
She saw it as a stepping stone to something much greater in your life. And so she would practice as much as she could from what she learned and what she saw. Bulma never let her hope die and kept her faith alive for in hopes one day that prayer she made so long ago would not forsaken her.
Now our story brings us to her scrubbing the Okiya's shoes, as she is polishing them and trying to keep them clean for future outings for Hatsumomo and soon-to-be younger sister to Hatsumomo; Kyoko. Bulma worked hard at her work and sighed as her hands were becoming numb. It was the middle of winter on Vegeta-sei and their Okiya's heat was down. So Bulma was freezing in her slave clothing. She shivered as there was a draft from someone opening the door. Bulma looked up from the wooden platform that she was scrubbing the shoes in the entrance hall and come to see Hatsumomo and Kyoko returning from Geisha school. Hatsumomo sneered at her. "Why isn't it our beautiful slave! My what is that new smell you have on today? Blowfish?" Bulma lowered her head and continue to scrub. She learned long ago that if you ignore Hatsumomo, she will get bored of you and leave you alone.
However, something about Hatsumomo today wouldn't let that pass by. "Slave! I have left something of Kyoko's at the school. Go with Kyoko and go retrieve it for me!" Hatsumomo sneered at her. Bulma didn't pick up her head as she nodded. Kyoko was smiling at this. Hatsumomo had taught her to be like her and helped her succeed. Bulma had gotten up and put on her shoes. She had no coat but her small shawl and followed Kyoko to the Geisha school. They walked in silence. Bulma long ago had forgiven Kyoko for the betrayal.
They entered the Geisha School building as they were walking, Bulma was stopped by Kyoko who was smiling at her. This was a bit strange for Bulma because Kyoko always tries to never talk to her. "Do you see that girl?" Kyoko said pointing at the girl who was in the hallway entering a class. She had a bit of a limp to her, and her eyes seemed a bit crossed eyed. Her hair was limp and hung from her head and her smile was two rows of odd looking dental work of teeth. "Hai…" Bulma replied not sure what Kyoko was going with this. "Take a good look at her. She is a bit mentally challenged and the last in all of our classes. But what I find the greatest amusement of all is that a limp, mentally challenged person is going to be a Geisha and you are going to be a slave for the Okiya forever!" Kyoko laughed loudly at Bulma.
Bulma buried her head in shame. It was true, Kyoko could not find any crueler words than those at this moment in her life. "Oh poor girl, did I hurt your feelings! Oh well, come along then! I have to get my fans." Kyoko continued to laugh at Bulma, she grabbed her arm and pulled her along. Bulma stood outside the classroom while Kyoko went inside to grab her fans. Bulma leaned against the wall. She had her head bowed in defeat. "Why so glum?" asked a voice next to her.
Bulma jumped and saw a girl with the most unusual eyes. They were the shade of violet and long dark hair to bring our her best features. She wore a beautiful black kimono with white diamond flowing over it like night sky with a moon on her right arm. She had a matching white obi on and Bulma bowed to the floor immediately. "Oh, please don't do that! Come on, get up. What is your name?" Bulma kept her eyes on the ground and did not get up from her spot. "Come on now, I'm not going to hurt you. Can't you look at me?"
"I see you have met my slave? And who might you be?" Kyoko emerged from the classroom with her fans. The girl looked at Kyoko. "Just someone passing by. I'm new here to the Royal City. My boyfriend and I were just exploring the city. We have new jobs here and I saw this girl here and she looked so upset and I wanted to see what was the matter." the girl told Kyoko honestly. "She did huh?" Kyoko sneered down at Bulma. She raised her hand up with the fan and strike it down upon Bulma. Bulma let out a whimper from the force. "Perhaps I should tell Hatsumomo what you have done slave! You are not to draw attention to yourself! Now come on, or you are going to make me late!" Kyoko smiled sinisterly.
Bulma rose from the ground. Kyoko walked ahead of Bulma and Bulma stole a glance at the girl who was looking at her in sympathy. As Kyoko was out of earshot Bulma quickly turned to her. "Do not worry yourself over me. I'm Bulma." "Such pretty eyes you have, they remind me of someone I know very well." The girl replied. "I better go. Please don't trouble yourself over me." Bulma tried to smile and hurried after Kyoko, knowing she would get punished by Hatsumomo once they arrived at the Okiya.
-3 Days Later-
Bulma was beaten for the girl talking to her and for making the girl feeling sorry for her as well. She took it as always; no complaints and barely any whimpering. By now she had gotten used to them. Her once small frail body was now torn and worked toughly. She had scars and burns and cuts, but they were only physical. She would heal them and move on. It was the emotional scars that really got her. Those would haunt her in her dreams and she would always wake up with a cold sweat. But never mind that for now, Bulma was working hard around the cold house. She was in the backyard working sweeping the cold snow from the porch that lead to the gardens.
Bulma was freezing cold and her hands felt numb. She can only imagine a time when at a time like this, her Mother would make her some tea and they would sit and watch the newly fallen snow. Bulma smiled at the fond memory. It was those memories that kept her going now. Sure her friend was gone and so her parents, but she was still here. Suddenly she heard running of feet running in the house and Bulma paused to do her work. She entered the house and went to go see what the commotion was all about. Mother appeared behind her. She was fixing her hair and trying to appear civil. This was very strange to Bulma considering that Mother never seemed to care about her appearance.
"Girl! Go answer the door and let Venux in! Go, go now! And for once show some respect and manners you worm!" she hissed hurriedly. Bulma bowed and wondered who in the world who this 'Venux' was. She pushed the mind from her mind and went to answer the door and let in their guest from the cold. Bulma entered the gate to the house. She opened the wooden bar doors and bowed before their guest. She recognized from the form and the exquisite kimono that was a beautiful sunset color. The night sky at the bottom of her feet and as it made way to her neck, the colors had gotten lighter and full of color of pink, orange, and yellow from the setting sun.
This 'Venux' entered the Okiya and looked down at the bowed form of Bulma. A small smile crept upon her lips. She brushed the newly fallen snow off from her kimono and entered the Okiya. Venux passed her without so much as a second look and Bulma lead her to Mother. She bowed and opened the door for her and then went back to the main door to wait for Venux to return and give her, her shoes on which she distributed to Bulma at the door before entering the Okiya.
Bulma looked nervously at her hands. Just what was that girl doing here at the Okiya? What did that smile she gave her mean? So many questions ran through Bulma's mind and she didn't even know if she would get any answers to any of them. "I wish I knew what to do. I have a feeling I'm going to get blamed for this as well…" Bulma spoke quietly to herself. How she wish she could get away. She was so sick of the beatings and bruises and cuts and years of turmoil pain on her body. But, Bulma was so lost in thought she did not notice someone standing before her until she saw yellow boots from a world long ago from which she came from stand before her and the gentle coughing of someone trying to get their attention.
Bulma jumped back from her seated spot in pain and bowed before the person. "Forgive my rudeness, I did not see you sir. Please, remove your shoes and I will take you to Mother?" Bulma asked timidly. Years of pain have beaten her to submission. "Please, get up. You are coming with me and Venux anyway. You will never have to return to this place." a young man's voice told her and gentle hands touched her fragile, cold shoulders from the bitter cold of winter. Bulma gazed at the young man's face in shock. " Sir, I can not leave the Okiya, I was sold here. I can not…" Bulma whispered. It pained her to even say that to him. How she longed for freedom, but what this boy spoke of was traitorous grounds.
The boy must have been about 17 from his looks. He had lavender hair and such unusual eye. They looked like her and she had got lost in them. What brought her out of it was that she remembered it was rude to stare someone directly in the face. It is a major sign of disrespect and she quickly looked away. He had a black tank top and blue jean jacket cover with a long sword clipped together with a belt and dark gray baggy pants. "Don't, don't be afraid to look at me. Please you are no longer going to reside here. I'm going to take you away somewhere safe. Please don't…" His voice was so kind and warm. It reminded Bulma of the warm days in spring, where the scent of the sacred Sakura tree filled the air and the sun shines so brightly. Bulma closed her eyes and couldn't bare to bring herself to look at him.
The boy grew angry about this. "Please, I'm only here to help." "If I am so bold to speak, you will do more damage than good. Please go before Hatsu…" Bulma quietly spoke, but was swung over the head with someone's fist. "You little wrench! What are you doing talking to a guest! You take him to Mother! Have you not learned your place you dirty girl!" Hatsumomo hissed angrily at Bulma but in turn smiled generously at the boy before her. Her eyes brightened as she looked at the handsome person before her. She loved how he looked, smelled, attracted to his every fiber. She didn't know who he was, but she was going to fix that. Regardless if she was a Geisha or not, she knew what she wanted and she wanted this boy before her. "Please do not listen to the girl, she is just our servant. She lets ideas get the better of her. Please, come with me. I shall take you to Mother…or perhaps your business is with me?" She smiled more so widely.
She looked like a cat who was about to receive warm milk just for cuddling with his master. Trunks glared angrily at the beautiful woman before her and bent down to see if Bulma was all right. This did not sit well with Hatsumomo. "Don't touch her and come with me." she ordered. The boy looked at her. "So you are the one who they call Hatsumomo around here?" "That I am. What business do you have here?" "I have come to collect this girl from Miss. Nitta." he told her. Hatsumomo let out a snort at the idea. "Mother will never give up this girl. She has a debt to be repaid." Hatsumomo laughed at the idea of Bulma leaving the Okiya with this man.
Bulma kept herself at the floor bowed before the boy and Hatsumomo. She didn't know what to do. To the front was her savior, to the back was the tiger ready to pounce and devour her only hope. She felt with Hatsumomo telling of the debt and how Mother would never let her go, Bulma could only feel despair. With this new knowledge, she thought, her savior will see she is hopeless and therefore leave her to the mercy of Hatsumomo. But to both her and Hatsumomo's surprise. He reached down and picked her up. "Quite frankly, I don't give a fuck what you plan to do. If you want her, you are going to get her from me and I'm a hell of a lot stronger than you. So come get her if you want her." The boy's voice lowered to a threatening anger and glared daggers at the gorgeous woman before him.
Hatsumomo was positively livid and Bulma shivered from such loathing anger. The boy noticed this and grew more angrier still. Just what power they had over the girl. What did they do to her all these years she has been living in this hell of secret. The group was interrupted with a the clearing voice of Mother and Venux. "Hatsumomo, kindly show Miss. Venux and her Danna and little Bulma to the door. They are ready to leave." Mother told Hatsumomo.
-Bulma
P.S. Moment Of Zen
"A story like mine should never be told. For my world is forbidden as it is fragile. I certainly wasn't born into the world of a Geisha. Like so many things in my life, I was carried there by the current."
- "Memoirs Of A Geisha"
