I've researched a bit about Geisha stuff and the war…I think they're pretty neat…especially the Mizuage part…So Sachi Gosetsuke, I guess you're right. This story won't be rated 'T' for long, and I can't wait…
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Endless Love
By: Elie
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APRIL 16, 1942 - 5:45 am: JUNSEI MILITARY CAMP, KYOTO
My life would never be the same. I have made a few friends here in camp. And to think I would be happy, but I'm still desperate.
"When's breakfast?" I asked my fellow soldier, Taka Eumatsu. He groaned at my question and kept his head low between his knees as we took a break from our squatting exercise.
It was cold this morning, and I'm sure not only was my stomach the only one grumbling, even his.
"Don't ask. I want to forget about breakfast. They serve us the same shit everyday," he replied, now placing his palms over his ears to circulate the heat.
I held a chuckle at my friend, ignoring the cold as I sat on the cemented field, "Hey, Taka, tell me your plans for the evening," my voice sounded anxious as I watched the sun rise from the horizon, "Because, I want to go with you."
I felt his hand touch my shoulder, resting there as I found his eyes beam in amusement at me. My cheeks reddened and I instantly knew what was in his mind. I looked away.
"You want to see her again, huh?" I heard him say.
Well, yes. But as if I'm going to admit it. And there's no way I'm telling either. I hate to curse, honestly, but if you're in the military –
"Fuck," I heard Taka mutter, "I think my feet slept…"
I stood up and chuckled, considering his situation. Wow, he looked terrible…looking at me with eyes watery at the edges.
Closing my eyes, I nodded with sarcasm. "Painful isn't it?"
"Ishiro," his voice trembled.
This time, I couldn't laugh much, so I pulled him up until I found satisfaction from his yelp. We soldiers usually had this problem – sleeping nerves – and I'm sure I didn't want to feel it ever again.
Man…was Taka just overreacting? I wonder what took him so long to budge.
"Hey, are you okay?" I asked and then I felt him shudder from my cold breath.
"Ishiro…I can't…move…"
I laughed and gently dragged him by the arm toward our cabin while ruffling his dark hair. "You're as crazy as I am!"
"Nope…You're crazier now that you're in love," he teased, and I ignored him.
…
When sunset came, me, Taka, and the rest of our troops would roam around town and look for the best spots to have dinner or simply put, have a good time to drink.
Sake or other alcoholic beverages have their weak spots in me. I down these for, let's say rather, personal reasons…they help me forget my problems, and sometimes, I can loose myself…and when I loose myself, I'm happy.
I go absolutely crazy, cranky or…idiotic. I'm horrible, I know. But I can't stop it…and if there's anything or any way that can make me feel good other than alcohol, then I'll find it…but hardly, in this war, there can't be.
Probably, another reason is her. She laughs when I laugh, and smiles when I smile. I try to think of the things I can do if I'm not drunk…just stare mesmerized at her, maybe. Because when I turn to reality, I cannot do those things…I guess.
I remember the first time we met. That was two weeks ago when I arrived coming from Seoul, leaving my foster parents behind with their small business running there. I was sluggish and homesick, but I had no choice…
APRIL 2, 1942 - 6:45 pm: NASU RESTAURANT, KYOTO
New soldiers like me were invited by General Ken Kojima for dinner at a popular restaurant in Kyoto. Luckily, our training would be in Kyoto – a really nice place… but I couldn't tell whether I'd enjoy it here or not…probably I'd still nauseate for a couple of days…
"I have a surprise for you, gentlemen," Gen. Kojima said, and I turned my attention towards the sliding doors to where his finger pointed at.
We were seated cross legged on a small cushion laid on the mat facing the long table, back erect, and gazes focusing on the sliding doors, and only the sliding doors.
"Can you guess what it is?" I craned my neck to see a dark haired guy sitting beside me. He smirked and let out his hand. "By the way, I'm Taka Eumatsu,"
"Ishiro Kaze," I replied, our hands shaking. And there I realized I've made a new buddy.
Creek
My gaze snapped back at the door, and it slid open. I heard Taka gasp, as I did, when eight lovely faces entered the room, donned in colorful kimonos and with their hairs tied up in one big bun, their faces like porcelain, and their lips blood red.
Geisha girls…
"They sure wear heavy make-up, don't they?" Taka whispered in my ear from out of the blue, but I felt his gaze also transfixed at the geishas.
I nodded. "Yeah…but still,"
"What?"
"They're pretty."
Our eyes barely blinked as we watched the girls take their places beside us…each of us. But I wonder why no one sat beside the general.
"I'm Miharu," the geisha, seated with me, said, "and you are?'
Smiling, I turned to her and tugged my uniform in my left chest with the small, embroidered name.
She nodded and looked at me. "Kaze, Ishiro…nice name."
"Thanks," I replied, trying to be sincere in my voice until I looked away and hid a frown. God…my name is Ishiro Kaze, Ishiro Kaze! And never will it be Hwoarang…ever again.
But when the door slid open again, my heart automatically constricted, and then my thoughts filled up with curiosity…no one ever made me feel like this before…no one.
Then there she was, the geisha who bind my heart, taking her place beside Gen. Ken Kojima…that lucky bastard…
"So, let the feast begin!" He proclaimed.
Exquisite dishes with mouthwatering aromas were served before us, and we soldiers, hungrily dug in…in a formal way.
Chewing my food, I couldn't help but curse my stupid, stupid, seemingly perverted eyes for constantly taking a glimpse at the beauty seated beside the general.
"She's still a maiko…and her name's Asuka Kazama. Pretty, isn't she?" Then I felt my body tense out to know who was telling me all these.
I tilted my head to peer at Miharu. "How did you-"
"You know, you were looking at her for quite a while, and it gave a good show." She mused and I hated it.
Turning back at my food, I groaned slightly, "Yeah, so?"
Miharu took a teacup and femininely poured a little of its contents in my cup. She chuckled a bit. "I can help you with her…and I know she will want that,"
My eyes snapped at her suspiciously. "What are you saying?"
"Come on, you like her, don't you?"
I was quiet for a moment as I watched her hands take my cup tenderly up to me. "Here,"
"Thanks," I took the cup and then smirked.
Sipping the tea, my eyes traveled to where this geisha, Asuka, was, and allowed them to stay…just there at her.
Everyone continued to munch on their food while I was getting mesmerized by Asuka and her alone. She didn't look much happy, and her smile seemed to have been forced. She just remained still, nodding constantly when the general would gesture to her. And for a long while of me staring…our eyes meekly locked – and abruptly, I looked away, feeling flushed.
What? Am I BLUSHING? But I thought women were the only ones who…ah, never mind…
…
Our reaction was incomparable when the general had to leave us to have fun on our own when he was called for camp right away.
We were like…HOOORAAAYYYY!
What made me overjoyed was the glint in Asuka's eyes. I could see she's happy without having to serve anyone as of the moment. And this was my perfect opportunity to approach her.
Raiker Sendoh, my fellow newbie, ordered a lot more sake and beer. And it happened that the rest of my fellow soldiers as well as the geishas were beginning to get drunk. I lingered in my place for a while…watching her drink.
"Hey," I said, moving to her side cautiously. I didn't know she drinks beer.
"Hey there," she said simply but then, she asked me all of a sudden, "Do I look funny or something?"
What? But she looked incredible!
I shook my head hysterically. "No, no! What makes you think that?"
"You've been staring at me throughout dinner,"
Swallowing, my cheeks flushed again and I snatched the bottle she was holding and guzzled its contents into my mouth just to cover up my face…I realized I was acting so stupid.
I heard her chuckle as I gave the bottle back to her, now with my face really red from alcohol. At least it was from alcohol.
"Tell me," she began, "What do you think of us geishas?"
"I think…all of you are beautiful," I laughed afterwards and she laughed, too.
"Really?" she sounded excited now, "What's your name?"
"Hwoarang," Then I mentally slapped myself, "I mean, Ishiro Kaze...sorry."
I was surprised when she giggled. Maybe we were starting to get drunk…but really, I don't give a damn anymore.
"I'm Asuka Kazama," she held out her hand and I eccentrically accepted it.
As I've imagined, her palm was soft or flawless or something…but when it brushed onto mine, it was rough and seemed to have worked a lot. And then, someone came into my mind…Asuka, in a way, was like my sister, Ok-soo. Both of them were beautiful, but at the same time, their hands were rough.
After she had let go, she handed me another bottle of beer.
"Enjoy," she said, "Hwoarang," she winked.
I stared at her in surprise, and my smile showed signs of disbelief. She just called me by my real name…she just called me Hwoarang!
…
"So, how was she?" Miharu asked as she caught up with me while going outside the restaurant.
I couldn't help but smile and stop from walking. I tilted my head up toward the stars and held my breath. "She was awesome…" I replied, exhaling.
"Told you she would want you…" she giggled, "Look, she's over there,"
I peered to where Miharu was pointing…and saw her. "Hey, where are you girls going?"
"Hmm…you soldiers are taking us home, remember? Fortunately, we didn't get that drunk,"
"Great, then I'll know where she's living," I smirked.
"Yep, and you could come visit her everyday if you want."
Then I asked Miharu to go with me to Asuka, while we waited for the others to get outside.
"Asuka!" Miharu called out and silently, I just followed.
Asuka turned and saw us, "Oh, hello guys!"
Without much to say to her, I practically just said the words that pooped into my mind. "So, got rid of the hang-over?"
She nodded. "But it really isn't easy to recover for just an hour…"
Miharu secretly nudged my side with her elbow and I quickly looked straight at her. She narrowed her eyes at me and looked away.
Yeah, yeah…she wanted me to say something more interesting to Asuka, and if there's anything, I'd be spilling it out now.
"I guess we're all ready to leave," Asuka said, and craning my neck, I peered behind and saw everybody with their partners.
"I think you should go with her," Miharu whispered in my ear.
Hey, I think she's right…after all, Asuka had no partner. But –
"But who're you going with?" I whispered back, anxiously.
"Oh, don't worry about me, I'll be fine!"
All of a sudden, Taka loomed in from out of nowhere. "Do you mind?" he was gesturing at Miharu, but he still had another geisha clutched in his other arm.
"See?" Miharu sounded giddy, "Now let's go!"
"Umm…" I turned to Asuka, my palms sweating helplessly…I wasn't drunk anymore so I feel rather…shy.
I extended my arm out to her, and I felt like jumping when she wrapped her hands around it. She was clinging to me! Heh…must be from the cold.
…
We got to the Okiya safely, and as all the geishas went up, we soldiers stayed down for a bit. Actually, they were just waiting for me and Taka. Haha…fools.
Asuka walked toward the door, yet I could see the hesitation she had in her actions. Unexpectedly, she walked back to me and said, "You know, you're really nice and fun to be with."
Well, I guess those flattering words were worth a big thumbs up for me! Maybe I should think of any compliments for her…man…I couldn't think of any!
Smiling, she spun from me and took a lazy step forward…and it made me think she was hinting at me or something. Should I go tell her something at least? Man, I was getting desperate.
"A-Asuka," I choked…suddenly my hand grew out of control and I grabbed her shoulder and made her face me.
"Is there something wrong…" she sounded nervous, and guilt overcame me, "…Ishiro?"
Quickly, I pulled my hand and buried it deep inside my pocket. On second thought, I couldn't deny feeling disappointed…she just called me Ishiro.
"No, nothing," I mumbled, "I'd better be going now, my troops are waiting,"
She raised her toes to peer above me, "Yeah, they are…"
"Bye,"
"Goodbye,"
What the? Did I just say goodbye without telling her something? I spun around…and saw her not moving an inch. But it was freezing.
"Hwoarang…" I swore I heard her murmur…
Stunned, I just let it slip and smiled. Discreetly, I walked over to her and held her hand. Sensing her shiver, I reluctantly let it go and stepped closer instead. My mind raced and my heart palpitated faster and faster, realizing that I wasn't only reluctant to let of the hand, but also her whole.
"Asuka," my voice nervously croaked, "Would you mind if we could see each other again sometime?"
Really, I felt as if there was a drift that fell upon me. I chuckled nervously, "Or…maybe not," I turned away, disappointed once again.
"Meet me at the same restaurant," a high, yet soft voice said behind me, "I'll be there again two weeks from now."
Haha…my efforts weren't put to waste.
TBC
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I'LL SAY THIS AGAIN FOR THE LAST TIME: I LOVE REVIEWS AND I WANT TO SEE ONE COMING FROM YOU.
